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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/39606-8.txt b/39606-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..07c1ef5 --- /dev/null +++ b/39606-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11835 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Ande Trembath, by Matthew Stanley Kemp + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Ande Trembath + A Tale of Old Cornwall England + + +Author: Matthew Stanley Kemp + + + +Release Date: May 3, 2012 [eBook #39606] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDE TREMBATH*** + + +E-text prepared by Chris Curnow, Sue Fleming, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made +available by Internet Archive (http://archive.org) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 39606-h.htm or 39606-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/39606/39606-h/39606-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/39606/39606-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + http://archive.org/details/andetrembathtale00kempiala + + +Transcriber's note: + + The oe-ligature is indicated by [oe]. + + + + + +ANDE TREMBATH + + + + To My Friend + + THE RIGHT REV. CORTLANDT WHITEHEAD, S.T.D. + _Bishop of Pittsburgh_ + + In memory of pleasant hours spent together + at "Burgtown." + + + +[Illustration: ANDE TREMBATH] + + +ANDE TREMBATH + +A Tale of Old Cornwall England + +by + +MATT. STAN. KEMP + +Author of +"Boss Tom" + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + +C. M. Clark Publishing Co., Inc. +Boston, Mass., U.S.A. +1905 + +Copyright, 1905, by +C. M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO., Inc. +Boston, Mass., U.S.A. + +Entered at +Stationer's Hall, London +Foreign Copyrights Secured + +All Rights Reserved + + + + +Contents + + + _CHAPTERS_ PAGE + + I A Calamity at the Manor 1 + + II The Son of a Traitor 16 + + III The Runaway 26 + + IV The Primrose Cottage and Tom Glaze 31 + + V "The Big Ha' Bible Ance His Father's Pride" 41 + + VI Squire and Parliamentarian 46 + + VII Tea-table Politics 55 + + VIII "Off With His Head" 66 + + IX The Village Stocks 73 + + X Reparation 77 + + XI Defeat of Bully Bob Sloan 87 + + XII Christmas and Christmas Play 98 + + XIII The Cornish Droll-teller 113 + + XIV St. George and Fair Sabra 123 + + XV The Helston Grammar School 135 + + XVI The Hurling Match 146 + + XVII The Smugglers' Battle 160 + + XVIII The Duck Cave Adventure 173 + + XIX Creakle's Revenge 185 + + XX Adrift On the Deep 197 + + XXI Around the Tavern's Flaming Grate 214 + + XXII The Lycamahoning 240 + + XXIII The Raft Pilot's Home 253 + + XXIV The Hunter of the Loop 261 + + XXV Eureka! The Eldorado! 266 + + XXVI The Rising 285 + + XXVII The Secret of the Snuff Box 293 + + XXVIII Misfortunes 313 + + XXIX Tom Glaze to the Rescue 327 + + XXX The Major's Home-Coming 334 + + XXXI Ande's Revenge 355 + + XXXII Christmas In the Old Hall 375 + + + + +Illustrations + + + Frontispiece _Ande Trembath_ + + PAGE + + "There was a vision of a flying, athletic, youthful + form--clinging with the grip of a vice--" 27 + + "It's a compact, said the former" 54 + + "Yes, give three hoots for the red-'eaded Deane and all his + traitor hancestors" 89 + + "I am that Knight, said Ande, warmly" 128 + + "They say you are the son of a traitor" 189 + + "The old hunter straightened up as if shot, and gazed at them" 250 + + "Sweet bird of the wilderness, sweet is thy song" 302 + + "The door was opened, and the gleam of candle light shot + over all concerned" 332 + + "He opened his speech in clear, ringing tones" 364 + + + + +ANDE TREMBATH + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A CALAMITY AT THE MANOR + + +"Never before in the history of the Manor have deeds like these been +perpetrated," said the squire, his genial, rubicund countenance turning +pale with anger. + +"Prithee, prithee, cool thyself; look at the affair calmly and you will +speedily discover the rogue," replied the parson. + +"Cool myself!" replied the squire, in some heat; "it is easy enough to +talk, but this is the third offence in a week. Last Monday the tulip +beds and shrubbery were trampled and ruined; Wednesday, the fish-pond +drained and the best fish secured; and last night, the unknown miscreant +killed poor, faithful Borlase. It is becoming unbearable,"--and the +squire, with angry features and the semblance of a tear in his eye, +knelt down by the body of the English mastiff to convince himself again +that the life of his canine friend was extinct. + +The scene was in a remote corner of the gardens of an old Cornish manor +estate. Some distance away, looming up above the nodding heads of trees, +were the gables and chimney pots of the squire's residence. Near a clump +of shrubbery was the kneeling form of the squire, with flushed face and +unsteady hand, for his soul was trembling with indignation, examining +the head of his slain, four-footed friend. The parson, with dignified +step, was closely scrutinising the ground between the squire and the +road-side hedge. + +"Ah! Here, do you see? Here is where the missile struck him." It was the +squire who spoke, for he had found a long deep gash near the right ear. + +"From what I can see," said the parson, who was a keen observer, "the +rogue was making for the hedge, the most natural deduction, the hedge +being the nighest escape from the dog. Then," he continued, with +homiletical precision as if outlining a pulpit theme, "since the dog +followed him, he must have hurled some missile at him. What more natural +missile than a stone, and what more natural place to secure it than from +the hedge? Now the missile must be around here somewhere. Ah! Here it +is," and Parson Trant picked up a good sized stone from amidst the +shrubbery. "There is blood upon it; proof, number one; now let us +discover its place in the hedge." + +The squire arose and accompanied the parson to the hedge and, after a +minute examination, the stone's former location was discovered. + +"So far, good," ejaculated the parson. "Now what servants would be most +likely around the gardens last evening?" + +"Tut, tut, you would never make a barrister, parson. To suspect any of +my servants! You are well versed in theology, and no one knows better +how to preach a sermon, but in matters of law and trespass we, +magistrates, must take the precedence." + +Now at times Squire Vivian could be as genial and pleasant as the sun on +a June-tide morning. Kind-hearted, generous, frank, bluff, with a rough +veneer of the old-time courtesy was the old squire, and yet with a +choleric spirit underneath all, that would sometimes burst forth into +passionate invective, to the scandal of his friends and to his own +aftertime regret. Add to this a dignified opinion of his position as a +landed magistrate and the squire of Trembath Manor is evident. He had a +goodly amount of hard English sense and in managing his estates and +finances had been tolerably successful, but in sharp penetration of +character and shrewd judgment in other affairs, he was lamentably +deficient. His frank and open nature had not given him much chance to +develop these talents, even had he ever possessed them, and, like many +persons whose positions require talents in which they are lacking, or at +best but meagrely gifted, the squire felt vexed when his little +magisterial keenness was surpassed. + +"Tut, tut, parson, you are losing your judgment if you suspect the +servants. There's old George Sloan, the hostler, and Ned Pengilly, the +gardener, the only two persons likely to be on the grounds at that time, +and they loved old Borlase,--ay,--even better than they love his master. +No, no, parson, you are at fault there." + +Parson Trant smiled, for he knew one of the chief failings in the +squire's character. + +"No, I did not suspect them, but they, being on the grounds, can no +doubt enlighten us and bring to view more evidence. The most learned and +keen-sighted judge, at times, profits by the evidence of common +labourers and country parsons, who are far beneath him in the knowledge +of law and criminal investigation." + +"To be sure, to be sure," said the squire, somewhat mollified, "but here +comes Sloan." + +An old man, whose erect form and sturdy step belied his grey hair and +wrinkled brows, was seen approaching from the direction of the stables. + +"Canst tell us anything more about this outrage, Sloan?" + +The hostler was now close at hand and had removed his cap in deference +to the gentlemen near him. + +"A bad job, beant it, squire, as I was a-telling nephe Bob this marning. +No, sir, I can't say as Hi knaws much. I 'eard Borlase barking +savage-like last night, and I ups and slips quiet-like down from my room +o'er the stables, and run through the paddock just in time to see the +rogue on the other side of the 'edge. It was dark, squire, and I 'aven't +the heye-sight I used to 'ave, and so I couldn't make un out who 'e was. +This marning I looked around and found poor Borlase a-lying there and +brought you word. That's all I knaws, only I 'opes the villain will be +caught and 'anged." + +"And did you see no person around the grounds late in the afternoon, +George?" asked the parson. + +"None, sir, except my nephe Bob, who comes hover to the stables to 'elp +me in my work, now and then, but 'e always leaves afore evening. Now--as +I think of it, Bob was a-telling me 'e 'ad seen Ande Trembath nigh the +Prospidnic road gate, as 'e was going 'ome last night; 'e may 'ave seen +the rogue and could tell you summat." + +Blackness as of a thunder-cloud rolled across the old squire's features, +and a purple stream of blood mounted and flushed his temples. + +"Spawn of the traitor! He shall smart for it!" + +"What a horrible oath! Squire, you are beside yourself," said the +parson, with gentle, chiding reproof. + +"Well, damme, parson, what's a man to do? Here's all these outrages, and +it's perfectly clear to my mind, now, that that traitorous son of----" + +"Tut, tut, fie, squire!" + +"That that traitorous son of a traitor, knowing that I have the +possession of the manor of his ancestors, which the King--God bless +him--took from their family on account of their treason, that boy--don't +interrupt me, Parson Trant--that boy is the culprit, and damme--I'll +have him arrested for malicious mischief and trespass." + +"Not so fast, squire. What evidence do you have except your own +suspicions and the fact that the lad was seen nigh the Prospidnic road +gate? If I know aught of law there's not sufficient evidence." + +"There, there, you talk of law--as if a magistrate didn't know the law." + +"Well, the evidence is lacking," said the parson, gently, though firmly, +for he would not allow the squire to shake his confidence in his best +pupil. "The lad has a good reputation, is a bright scholar in my parish +school, and----" + +"Well, well, we'll get more evidence," interrupted the squire, a little +testily. "George, see that the dog is buried, and--here, hitch up the +black mare for Mistress Alice; she's going out this morning." + +The hostler paused, fingering his cap. + +"I'm feared, squire, Queeny is a little huntrusty; she's been standing +in the stall some time." + +"What!----" + +The presence of the parson restrained the squire from saying more, but +his flushed countenance spoke volumes. George saw it and, touching his +cap, hastened off to obey. + +"Here's a pretty pass things are coming to! Outrages committed daily, +and my own servants in open rebellion, disputing my word." + +"Come now," said the parson, gently, "he meant no harm and no +disrespect, I'm sure. Suppose we go down to the lodge and see Pengilly." + +Squire and parson wended their way across the gardens to the broad +carriage-way and thence down to the main entrance of the manor estate, +the latter talking and the former keeping down his temper as best he +could in silence, until he became of a more quiescent frame of mind. In +truth, the squire was inwardly regretting his outburst of temper, and +the violent language he had used in the presence of his friend, the +parson. + +"Such a thing is possible but not probable. Ande has been the best +scholar in the parish school and a model boy, so the master assures me. +We must not condemn him too hastily and without being heard. His mother +is a noble woman and has inculcated high principles in her training of +the lad." + +There was silence for a moment unbroken save by the crunch, crunch of +the gravel underfoot and the twitter of bird overhead. Then the squire, +sufficiently calmed, spoke. + +"All very true, but envy and malice crop out even in the very best of +characters; especially is it true in those who, having been deprived of +high position, see others occupying that which was formerly theirs. They +are apt to allow their feelings to bias their judgment." + +"And are you sure that you, my old friend, are not doing the same +thing?" said the parson, with a winning smile, referring to the last +remark of the squire. + +Squire Vivian flushed at this rejoinder. + +"Well, we'll give the lad a fair chance; perhaps I was a trifle too +hasty, but you well know, parson, that next to my Alice and you, I was +extremely fond of Borlase, and naturally feel angry at his loss. I +secured him when a puppy from an old friend, one of the Borlases of +Borlase at St. Just. You know, to be sure, Dr. William Borlase, the +scholar and antiquarian?" + +"Aye, I have studied his works with interest." + +"Well, I named the mastiff after him; the intelligence of that dog, +parson, was phenomenal. Ah, here we are at the lodge." + +The drive-way terminated at the entrance gate, a large affair of massive +iron bars, fancifully and artistically wrought at the top into intricate +curves and flourishes. Huge square pillars of Cornish moor-stone +surmounted at the top with the Trembath arms--a Lyonnesse warrior +galloping amidst ocean waves--flanked the gate on either side and gave +it desired support. Why the squire, or his father, had not removed the +arms of his predecessor, replacing them with his own, is hard to tell. +The whole gateway stood out like fret-work upon the background of the +squire's woods beyond the highway, woods and trees of ancient standing, +as scrupulously cared for as the members of the squire's own household. + +Within the gate and close on one side, lovingly environed by beds of +blooming gilli-flowers and marigolds, and almost concealed by enveloping +masses of English ivy that affectionately embraced its walls, was a +small, neat, stone cottage that bore the dignified name of "the Lodge." +A man, still in the prime of life, was labouring assiduously over some +strawberry beds in the rear. + +"Ned, this way, please," shouted the squire, and Ned Pengilly, who acted +in the double capacity of gardener and porter, dropping his hoe, +hastened to comply. There was independence and respect for his master +admirably blended in the demeanour of the gardener, as he stood before +parson and squire. + +"Ned, did you see Ande Trembath nigh the place of late? We want you to +freshen up your memory and tell us when and how often you have seen him +about the place of late." + +"Well, I seed him going through the Manor woods--yesterday; 'e was +whistling a tune, bright and cheery-like, and bid me the time of day as +'e passed the gate. We all likes young Squire Ande, as we calls 'im--no +offence, squire, I 'opes;--we all calls 'im 'young squire' 'cause 'is +grandfather was squire 'ere years ago, afore 'e turned for the +French--which the lad can't 'elp." + +"Which the lad can't help!" fairly thundered the squire, his wrath +getting the better of him once more, no doubt fired at the term of young +squire. "I suppose he couldn't help draining the fish pond? I suppose he +couldn't help trampling the shrubbery? I suppose he couldn't help +killing Borlase last night? Couldn't help----" + +The latter part of this ebullition of passion died away in a hoarse +growl of something like "blood will tell." + +The effect upon the porter of this news of the killing of Borlase was +most striking. + +"Bless m' well, squire! What! Borlase dead--killed! Good hold Borlase! +'ow fond we were of 'im! Dead!" + +There was a curious working of the gardener's features and he hastily +rubbed the sleeve of his rough shirt across his eyes. + +"You must excuse me, squire--to blubber 'ere like a babby--but then you +knaw 'ow I brought un, nigh ten year ago, from St. Just--a puppy 'e was +then, and I loved un--ay--like--like--like a father. 'Ow 'e used to +bark--just like the roar of a lion--ah was--and 'ow sensible 'e was too +when 'e would come nigh me at work on the flower beds; 'e'd wag 'is tail +and look on like a gentleman, as if saying, 'thas all right, my man,' +and yet 'e'd ne'er put foot on a posy or stamp on my work. Dead! But +bless'ee, squire, you can't suspect Ande. Why, I knawed Ande when 'e was +only a hinfant, and I knawed him from then up, and a brighter, better, +honester lad ne'er breathed. Soul of 'onour, 'e ez, sir! Ande! Why 'e +wouldn't 'urt nothing, sir." + +"I agree with you, Ned," said the parson. "Ande has too kind a heart to +hurt any of God's creatures. His character is above suspicion in the +matter." + +"'Zactly so, so 'e ez," affirmed Ned. + +"The principles and character of his father and grandfather were not +above reproach. He's a chip of the old block," growled the squire. + +"But, I am afraid the commonwealth is against you in your judgment of +the lad. You know the old adage, 'a man's innocent until proved guilty,' +squire," rejoined the parson. + +"Aye, but in this case it's the Irish verdict, 'guilty, but not proven.' +Ned, fix up the berry bushes and trim the shrubbery to-day. In the +meantime keep an ear open, and report to me any news you may hear of +last night's outrage." + +The gardener touched his cap and returned to his labour, and squire and +parson, still conversing, sauntered away through the grounds. + +"A man shouldn't allow his feelings to run away with his judgment," said +the latter, warmly championing the cause of his favourite. + +"The days of the Stoics are past. You have a marvellous predilection for +that lad, Parson Trant. Now, I shall just send the steward down to the +village, this evening, and have him up here, not for a trial, but just +for a private examination, and he shall have fair play. But going to +other subjects, old friend,--what think you of young Master Lanyan?" + +"Master Lanyan--um--a bright young man--bright beyond his years, I +think. He will certainly make his mark in life if he keeps to right +principles." + +"Ah, exactly so," said the squire, rubbing his hands in the first +satisfaction he had had for the whole morning. "I wanted to get your +opinion and am glad you think so highly of him." + +His companion shook his head. + +"As to thinking highly of him--I don't know. He has a strong, subtile +mind,--culture,--and a determined will, but he plays cards and----" + +"Pooh! Pooh! Pish! Physician, heal thyself; you know that you and I +engage in a social game at times." + +"But we don't gamble." + +"Only a few wild oats. That is natural to a high-spirited lad. He has +culture, a strong head--a genuine gentleman," stoutly maintained the +squire. + +"Ah, but those things in my estimation are not the true requisites of a +gentleman. I consider the foundation principles of a man's life." + +"Yes, but the English gentry are supposed to be dominated by the highest +principles," said the squire, earnestly. + +"As a class, yes, but in reference to the individual, it is a +supposition without the fact, frequently; and, if your statement holds +good, how about my young friend, Ande Trembath?" + +The squire flushed with angry impatience. + +"Back again to that young villain! Well, parson, that family no longer +belongs to the English gentry class, as you can readily see. Attainder +of property and corruption of blood!" + +It was the parson's time to "Pish! Pish! Pooh! Pooh!" + +"Pshaw! Nothing of the kind. Does a plant cease to be the same when it +is transplanted to another soil, or the king of the jungle cease to be a +lion when surrounded by the bars of a cage?" + +"Yes, to an extent. Environment has a large influence on life; at least +so our parson said in last Sabbath's discourse." The squire laughed +heartily, and thwacked the discomfited parson on the back with his +large, broad hand. + +The parson smiled and resumed. + +"I am beaten with my own stick, yet, notwithstanding that you quoted me +correctly, you are wrong. Environment is not a paramount influence. Man +can conquer. Tertullian and Origen----" + +Afraid of starting his friend on some long-winded discourse on ancient +church worthies, the squire interrupted him. + +"Your idea of a gentleman is----" + +"My idea is that wealth, culture, position, etc., are the emoluments or +adjuncts, and that high, sound, moral principles, a righteous heart and +a noble soul, whether under the blouse of the peasant or under the silk +vest of the prince, are the only badges of gentility." + +"Well, well,--little did I think that my old, conservative friend would +turn out such a radical." + +"Not at all. My firm belief, that these, by training, education, blood, +descent, are embodied more fully in the gentry class of England than in +any other, has made me an extreme conservative. But, about young Master +Lanyan?" + +"Young Richard? Young Richard in a year or so will attain his majority. +What think you of a match between the young Richard and my Alice? You +see," added the squire, as he linked his arm in that of the parson, "I +am getting old and I would like to see my only child well settled in +life before I leave the earth. The Lanyan estates are nigh to ours and +they will fall to Richard after his father's death. What better match +than Richard? My Alice is worthy of being called 'My Lady' and Richard +will be Baronet in time. Now, what think you, old friend?" + +"You asked me two questions; let us consider one at a time. In reference +to young Richard. It is not the playing of cards that I object to; it is +the trait that his gambling reveals. You know of the schemes of his +grandfather, and of his great-grandfather; the rage for speculation, the +South Sea Bubble, and the hundred and one schemes that that family has +engaged in. Blood will tell. Richard's gambling reveals that. He will +either make or break his family. This mad rage for speculation is an +evil thing. Some day either Sir James or Richard will overreach himself +and should--but of that anon. He is determined and has a strong will, +but should his will be thwarted might not the young Richard be like his +grandfather, a man of no principle. I do not wish to misjudge the young +man, but I fear me that he is one who will allow nothing to come between +himself and his ends, and even to stoop to questionable and evil things +to accomplish those ends. God forgive me if I have judged wrongly. Then +he is proud and even supercilious at times, a disdainer of the commons. +Should he be brought to poverty, the lack of principle which I fear is +in him would hasten the degradation of his character. He may be +different than I have said, but whenever I see him I have an undefinable +suspicion of incipient evil within. Now in reference to Alice and this +projected alliance. Alice is a good child and has commendable traits. No +'My Lady' will enhance her worth any more than it is now. Her happiness +is no light consideration. I believe she can be happy with no man except +one of high and noble principles. Then, in event of this alliance being +consummated, there may be danger of Trembath Manor being involved in the +ruin that may come upon Lanyan Hall. Has she been consulted? Would she +offer no objection to this plan of yours?" + +"Objection! No," said the squire, a little testily, for he had been +listening impatiently to this advice of his friend. "Alice is a good +child and will do as I say." + +The parson had his own opinion, but said nothing. + +The great gables and chimney-pots of the "great house," as it was +generally called by the peasantry around about, loomed up in the +distance and suggested to the parson that the hour was getting late. +Taking out his watch---- + +"I declare! I had no thought that the hour was so late, and Harriet +will be waiting for me, too. I must go and we'll talk about the matter +later on." + +The squire tried to prevail upon his friend to stay for lunch, but, +finding that it was unavailing, cordially shook hands and they +separated, the former going on toward the Manor house, the latter +hastening down to the entrance gates. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE SON OF A TRAITOR + + "Blithe bird of the wilderness, sweet is thy song, + Blithe lark of the wildwood, O, all the day long, + A-singing so cheerily in the green tree, + Thy anthem dispels gloom and sorrow from me; + Thou sayest in thy song, 'What can sadness avail? + Injustice shall fall and the good shall prevail.' + + "Yet bird of the wilderness, sad is our lot, + Our home, confiscated, our name, a dark blot; + The Cornish chief, stricken at Prestonpan's fight, + Wounded at Culloden for King and the right, + And captured at Braddock's defeat in the glen, + Was branded at home by a sycophant's pen. + + "Oh, bird of the wildwood, upon the green bough + Thy ancestor sang just as sweetly as thou, + He sang, as thou singest, that evil should fail, + Injustice should fall, and that good should prevail; + But surely the goddess of justice is blind, + When traitor is honoured and patriot maligned. + + "Sing sweetly, O wild bird, upon the green tree, + And let me draw comfort and solace from thee, + Though home's confiscated, dishonoured our name, + And poverty adds a deep sting to our shame, + And father's departed,--yet, evil shall fail,-- + Some day,--right shall triumph and good shall prevail." + + +Clear and sweet arose the melody, and yet with a plaintive element of +sadness in it. The parson paused in his steps to listen. On one side of +the highway stretched the woods of the Manor, their shadow etched darkly +by the slightly slanting sun-rays; on the other side were the fields, +yellow, ripe, all ready for the sickle of the reaper. A wood-lark, the +sweetest of all English birds, arose in the air from the Manor woods +and, still twittering, flew over hedge and field, no doubt seeking its +home and mate. + +A smile of pleasure lit up the saintly old rector's face and then merged +into the thoughtful. He made a pleasing picture leaning on his +silver-headed cane, his long skirted coat slightly open at the neck, +revealing the white stock-cravat in its fluffy folds, his head slightly +inclined as if not willing to lose a single bar of the song. Not until +the song was ended did he venture forward. + +"Most remarkable song and most remarkable sweet tenor voice--yes--a +great deal sweeter than Penjerrick's. I must have that voice for our +parish choir." + +Arriving at the corner of the woods, the silence of the singer was +explained in a single, brief, cursory glance. There, seated on the hedge +that separated the woods from the road, sat the figure of a boy, tall, +sinewy and strong, yet still a boy. His cap had fallen to the ground and +the tangled masses of dark red hair lay deep on his brow. With +melancholy, abstracted air, he was gazing across the fields as if in +meditation. + +"Why, Ande, you are quite a singer," said the parson, in a pleasant +voice. + +The lad, startled from his reverie, leaped down from the hedge, picked +up his cap and coming forward gave his customary salutation, +"Good-morning, Parson Trant." + +The parson returned the salutation and then there was silence for a +moment, during which the rector scrutinised him with his kindly, yet +keen grey eyes. + +The lad's face was both attractive and strong. His slightly aquiline +nose revealed a sensitive nature; his prominent chin and firm lips, a +resolute will; his high, rolling forehead--swept by the tangled waves of +rollicking hair--intellectuality; the hue of his locks and the deep blue +eye, a soul that, though kind and affectionate, could be fired by strong +passions. At least so conjectured the parson, who thought he could read +character in human lineaments. + +But these thoughts did not occupy the latter long. It was the manner of +the lad that disturbed him. With bright, cheery smile he had been +accustomed to greet him heretofore. Now the youth stood before him +almost with the air of a culprit. He shunned the rector's eyes, and +seemed as if wishing to avoid that calm scrutiny. A fleeting thought +possessed the mind of the pastor. Could the youth possibly be guilty of +the misdemeanours committed at the Manor? Was he wrong in his judgment +of his favourite pupil? The truth of the matter was that the youth had +been crying over petty vexations. At least there were tears in his eyes +and, like many of his age, he disliked to be seen thus. + +"Well, Ande," said Parson Trant, breaking the silence, "you have a voice +that ought to be in our parish choir. Now what do you say about coming +in next Sabbath morning? Mr. Penjerrick will give you a little +preliminary training Saturday afternoon." + +"I--I would rather not come, sir, if you could excuse me. I--I don't +sing in church." + +"And why not?" asked the parson, kindly. + +"Because I would be singing the praises of God when--when--I don't feel +like it," responded the lad a little slowly, and with some effort. + +"Why, Ande, you are a Christian lad--true, you have not yet been +confirmed and united to the church--but still, you are a Christian lad. +Are you not?" + +"I don't know, sir," said the lad, and again relapsed into silence. + +"My poor lad," said the good old man, as he put one arm over the boy's +shoulder, affectionately, "there's something wrong with you to-day; you +are not yourself. Come now, confide in me. Tell me about it and let me +give you my advice in the matter. You have not done anything wrong, have +you?" + +Thus questioned by the good old rector, Ande, who loved him for his +worth as a true man and a noble exponent of Christianity, could not help +but respond. Flinging up his head and pushing back the masses of hair +that would persist in falling over his eyes, he said: + +"It is this way, Mr. Trant, I have made up my mind to leave the +country. There is room for me on the sea or in foreign parts. I can't +bear the taunts of some of the lads at the parish school. The master +doesn't know and you don't know how mean some of the boys act. There's +Bob Sloan, Dick Denny and some more of that stripe that are becoming +unbearable." + +"Why, what do they say?" asked the parson, kindly. + +"They call me the ugly Dane or Deane and cast slurs upon my father and +grandfather, saying they were traitors to the government." + +"Ah, in reference to the first name, methinks, my lad, you are old +enough to know that that old story of the Danes seizing the wives of +Englishmen has no historical foundation; in reference to the second +matter, time itself must clear up the truth or falsity of the +accusation. It certainly shows a mean, petty spirit to vilify a son for +the reputed deeds of a father." + +"Aye, there's just the point about my not singing in church. The Bible +says 'the sins of the fathers shall be visited upon the children,' and I +think that's unjust. Here," said the boy with a trace of angry passion +in his tones, "I am taunted, despised, looked down on, not only by the +lads, but by some of the grown people as well. I believe, just as you +say, that it shows a small spirit in lads, men and the Bible, to condemn +a lad for the faults of his father. How can I sing then?" + +The parson was dumfounded and completely silenced for a moment. He was +grieved and dismayed to hear how his last remark was misapplied. + +"And," continued the youth, rather bitterly, "I believe, and know you +believe, that neither father nor grandfather were guilty of any treason, +that there's a mistake somewhere. Yet--yet I have to stand all this. +Squire Vivian looks upon me with an angry look. Sir James Lanyan looks +upon me as if I was a dog. Master Richard called me a traitor's cub, +because I happened to be in his way this morning, and if he hadn't been +on horse-back I would have made him take it back--and--and--I hate them. +I hate them all!" The lad's face was marked with passion, his fists +clenched, and there was an angry tear in his eye that he could not +conceal. "Why does God allow all this? Why--and--and--but I'm not going +to stay here and bear it." + +The parson looked grave and turned the conversation for a moment by +asking the name of the author of the song he had heard. + +"The Song of the Lark, you mean? That was made by my father, and my +mother taught me to sing it when I could first finger the harp. The harp +is the only thing we have now that used to belong to the Manor." There +was a sad ring in the boy's voice that but indicated the feelings +within. + +"Do you believe in the truth of that song?" + +"Yes," responded the lad. + +"Well, why don't you put in application the thought?" and Parson Trant +quoted the words: + + "'What can sadness avail, + Injustice shall fall, and good shall prevail.' + +Now, Ande," continued the parson, "I know the history of your family +almost as well as you. Your grandfather was a faithful subject of the +king. He fought with Gardner at Prestonpans, at Culloden, and also +against the French in the American colonies. He disappeared after +Braddock's defeat and was shot a year afterward by General Armstrong's +troops, by mistake, no doubt. Now consider,--at the time he had on a +tattered French uniform, with a commission as captain in the French army +in his pocket. These things were brought to England and, through the +instrumentality of Sir Richard Lanyan, father of Sir James, the +attention of the authorities was directed toward them and the Manor +confiscated. Under the circumstances was not the king justified in +suspicioning his loyalty? Consider, too, that England and the Hanover +dynasty had been threatened seriously, by the Pretender, with another +invasion of French troops. Culloden was still fresh in men's minds. +Cornwall was noted for her adherence to the Stuarts in the Cromwellian +wars, and even at the time of the young Pretender many noted Cornish +families sympathised with him and the Stuart claims. You know the story +of Burnuhall[1], and how young Prince Charles, the Pretender, spent +several nights there in concealment. Do you wonder at a ready ear being +given to suspicion coming from this quarter? Blame not the king or your +fellows, my lad. The suspicion was natural, although the friends of your +family believe that there was a mistake somewhere. Hope for the best and +bear up cheerfully, my lad. You misapplied my remark some moments ago +about God being unjust and that therefore you could not sing His praise. +My remark applied only to men and not to God. God is above our judgment. +He cannot be measured by our standards. You spoke about playing the +harp. It was hard work to learn, was it not?" + + [1] Burnuhall--A fine old mansion near the English Channel in the + parish of Buryan, Cornwall, England. Sheltered the young Pretender + in 1746. + +"Yes, sir, but mother kept me at it." + +"Well, so God is trying to teach you some things. You heard my sermon +last Sabbath. Can you tell me the text?" + +"Part of the eighteenth verse of the Hundred and Fifth Psalm, 'He was +laid in iron,'" responded the boy. + +"I am glad you remember it. You remember how Joseph was treated, sold +into slavery, maligned, slandered, imprisoned. Yet he had done no wrong. +Now is your case any worse than his? No, not nearly so bad, yet he +didn't refuse to sing God's praise, although he knew God permitted him +to be slandered and to be unjustly imprisoned. Now, what was it for? You +remember the old Hebrew rendering that I quoted as the last thought, +'Barzel baah naphsho,' and its meaning iron entered his soul. You +remember I said his soul was strengthened as with iron, on account of +his suffering and dishonour, and that through that same discipline he +gained the courage, wisdom, resolution and position of a prince, and +became ruler o'er all Egypt. Now, Ande, God may be training you in the +same way. You know Cowper's hymn, no doubt, by heart. + + "God moves in a mysterious way + His wonders to perform; + He plants His footsteps in the sea + And rides upon the storm. + Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, + The clouds ye so much dread + Are full of mercy and will break + In blessings on your head. + Judge not the Lord by feeble sense + But trust Him for His grace, + Behind a frowning Providence + He hides a smiling face!" + +The beautiful hymn was quoted to the very end, and the good old parson, +apparently filled with the glad, stirring thought, had a smile of +exalted hopefulness on his countenance. Ande gazed at him and it seemed +in that smile he read a happy augury of his own future. The parson had +preached a sermon without realising it, but yet he could not fail to see +the effects of his words on the youth at his side. There was a serenity +on the boy's features and a new, hopeful light in the eye as he grasped +the parson's hand with fervour, and said, "I'll not doubt God again, +Parson Trant, and I'll not refuse to sing." + +"And not hate Squire Vivian, Sir James Lanyan, or the young Master +Richard?" asked the parson. + +The parson had overreached himself. The youth's countenance flushed with +anger and the hands were slightly clenched. There was silence. + +"Perhaps it is a little too much to ask that now. That will come. Don't +doubt God. Love Him and you will soon love men. In reference to the +slurs of the lads, pay no attention to them and they will soon cease +their annoyance. In reference to your name and the stain upon it, +resolve to make a new name for yourself and your family by your own +conduct. Can you think of anything more noble than to labour against +unfavourable circumstances, against slander, encumbered by a stained +name,--false though the accusation may be,--fighting against odds, and +yet finally coming forth from the struggle, a victor, having made a new +and honourable name for yourself and family? Can you, my lad?" Parson +Trant gave the lad an affectionate pat upon the back. + +There was silence for a moment. + +"Yes, I can." + +The rector was taken aback, for he had expected a different answer. + +"And what is more noble?" he asked. + +"I think it is better to clean the old name; and I'll do it, if I can." +There was a steady light of purpose in the eye of the youth, as he +replied. + +The parson said nothing for a time and they walked on in silence and +then---- + +"Perhaps you are right, lad. You are very much like your father. Those +were his words and sentiments. I trust you may be more successful, +though." + +Parson Trant, while giving vent to these brief, epigrammatic sentences, +was thinking of another matter,--the depredations on the estate of the +Manor,--and had just decided to broach that unhappy subject. They were +standing near the village stocks and the parson, placing his arm again +in that of Ande, began the subject in an indirect manner. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE RUNAWAY + + "And as the chariot rolled along the plain, + Light from the ground he leaped, and seized the rein; + Thus hung in air, he still retain'd his hold, + The coursers frighted, and their course controlled." + + --_Dryden's Virgil._ + + +"Ande, my lad, if--" + +His remarks were very unceremoniously cut short by a shout from the lad. + +"Look out, Mr. Trant! A runaway!" and before he had finished speaking, +he caught the old parson by the shoulders and gave him a shove to one +side of the road. Now the action of the youth was so quick and with such +vigour, that the parson had no alternative but to go in a very +undignified manner. His shovel-shaped hat went into the hedge, and with +coat-tails flying like the pennants of a man-of-war, the parson was +following, but tripped on some obstacle and plunged very quickly and +involuntarily into a bunch of stinging nettles and thistles by the +road-side. + +Nor was the action too quick, for down the road, galloping and plunging +as if mad, her eyes flashing and nostrils distended with terror, came +the squire's black mare, Queeny. A brief glance had sufficed for the +youth's quick eyes. The bit had broken in the mare's mouth. The +chaise in the rear rocked from side to side in a most frightful manner, +but the plucky driver, Mistress Alice, with resolute will, though pale +with fear, still held the lines, seeking in vain to restrain the +maddened creature. There was a quick thud, thud, thud; the creaking of +wrenched axle; a rolling cloud of dust; and through it all in the rear a +strained face, beautiful, yet fear-stricken, with wide, dark eyes and a +tumbling mass of curly hair as black as the clouds of a moonless night. + +[Illustration: "There was a vision of a flying, athletic, youthful +form--clinging with the grip of a vice--"] + +Then there was a leap and a vision of a flying, athletic, youthful form, +and Ande was clinging with the grip of a vise to the black, flowing +mane. With his right arm up over the animal's neck, supporting himself, +with the other hand he grasped the mare by the nostrils, completely +shutting off all air. Then there was a struggle for the mastery. The +infuriated creature reared, plunged, until there was imminent danger of +the shafts breaking, but the lad was too strong to be thus shaken off. +There was a cry, almost a shriek, like unto a scream of human agony, +from Queeny. On, on, on plunged the creature with its human burden, but +there was a slowness of speed until some hundred yards from the parson's +position, when the runaway was brought to a standstill, although +trembling in every limb with fright. + +The squire's daughter, only too anxious to alight after that mad ride, +stepped from the chaise, and between her petting and speaking to Queeny +and Ande's grip, that he still maintained, the mare was pacified. + +"Now," said the lad, speaking for the first time, "please unbuckle those +backing straps and unhook the traces." + +The girl, though unaccustomed to be ordered in this manner, saw the +necessity of complying, since her rescuer did not dare to leave his +position at the mare's head. + +"Now, let me have the halter in the chaise." + +The girl produced it, and the animal thus secured was led out of the +half-ruined shafts. + +Parson Trant, in the meantime, had disengaged himself from the unwelcome +embrace of the nettles and thistles. Picking up his shovel-shaped hat +and dusting it with his handkerchief, he placed it on his head after +first arranging his scattered locks, and then hurried forward to assist +the squire's daughter. That young lady had, however, finished the work +before his arrival. + +"Well, well, well!" exclaimed the parson, as he came up, puffing with +over-exertion and mopping the perspiration from his brow. "That was a +narrow escape, Mistress Alice--thank God for it--also--this brave young +man. Mistress Alice, this is Master Ande Trembath." + +The parson in the midst of his hurry had neither forgotten his religion +nor his courtesy that seemed inherent in his very nature, but he little +realised the ludicrous figure he presented in that scene. His +neckerchief was all awry; one coat-tail was sadly torn by the violence +of his fall and was now hanging in a most melancholy manner by a few +threads from his coat; his broadcloth trowsers were soiled and covered +with nettle stickers and thistle down; and his hat, in the hurry of +putting it on, was located on one side of his head in a most rakish and +disreputable manner. + +A silvery peal of laughter from the girl, which was joined by a hastily +suppressed chuckle from Ande, caused the rector to notice his condition +and he was much chagrined in consequence. There was a flush on his +countenance that made both of the young parties regret their hasty +merriment. + +"Parson Trant, you must pardon my rudeness in pushing you aside, but if +I hadn't done it we both might have been hurt." + +"To be sure, to be sure--don't mention it, my brave lad. You did a noble +action and probably saved my life as well as that of Mistress Alice," +said the parson kindly, as he patted the lad on the back. + +"And as for me, dear Parson Trant, I must beg pardon for my rudeness in +laughing," said the girl with regret in her tone, and then turning to +Ande she thanked him for his brave conduct. "And now you must both come +up to the Manor for lunch, will you not? O do, please; father will be so +delighted." + +Parson Trant cast a rueful glance at his clothes, saying he was hardly +presentable, and then his face relaxed into a smile that widened into a +good-humoured laugh as he pictured himself seated at the squire's table +in his present condition. As for the lad, the invitation would have been +acceptable, had he not thought of the squire's antipathy toward himself. +He declined also, but accompanied the squire's daughter to the Manor +gates, having first bid the kind-hearted parson adieu. + +"I can't tell why it was that Queeny ran away. She never acted that way +before. I was so frightened. It was very brave of you to stop her." + +The lad was a trifle confused under these glowing tributes to his +heroism and could make but little reply. + +"Trembath--Trembath," continued the girl musingly, "why that's the name +of the former owner of the Manor--that is, before my grandfather. They +said he was killed in America, and you----" + +"He was my grandfather," said the youth with a sensitive flush on his +face. "He was an honourable man." + +The flush on the face of the youth was reflected on the countenance of +the girl, for she realised that she had committed an indiscretion in +referring to the death of his grandfather. + +There was an embarrassed silence for a time and then the girl exclaimed, + +"There's Ned Pengilly!" + +It was indeed the worthy lodge-keeper who appeared at the gates. To him +Ande consigned the animal that he was still leading and, receiving the +thanks again of the girl, he turned and wended his way toward home. +Within a short distance he paused and turned, watching the retreating +forms of the girl and the lodge-keeper leading Queeny. Then, with a +feeling he knew not what, he once more continued his journey. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE PRIMROSE COTTAGE AND TOM GLAZE + + +"Ande, laddie, thou art late to-day. Here it is almost one +o'clock--and--why--what have you been doing? Hast been fighting? Why, +your jacket has a rent of fully five inches and your trowsers look as if +you had been rolling over in the dirt." + +The scene was in the main living room of a little stone cottage. Indeed +the cottage could only boast of having two rooms and an attic--but this +room was the main living room. A primrose vine covered the house front +and several roses that still retained their position, though late in the +season, drooped on their stems over the small, diamond-shaped window +panes, as if anxious to catch a glimpse of the speaker within. A fire of +Cornish furze and sea coal was blazing brightly in a grate in the +chimney. A tea-kettle, suspended from a crane o'er the fire, had been +humming away for quite a time and mingling its tune with the steady +tick-tick-tick of a great-grandfather clock standing in the angle of the +stairs that led up to the attic. A harp, its gilded framework much +tarnished with age, stood in the opposite corner near the dresser, a +striking contrast to the humbleness of its surroundings. A few cheap +prints of country scenes, one a scene of Wellington at the battle of +Waterloo, and a picture in oils of a rugged soldier--an officer +evidently--who had a striking resemblance to Ande, adorned the plain +white-washed walls. + +The room altogether presented a cosy appearance and just now was filled +with the odour of steeping tea, fresh biscuit and a scrowled +pilchard--most welcome indeed to a hungry boy. + +A kind, motherly looking woman, who had not yet passed middle age, was +busy laying a cloth on a small centre table. She had a pleasant, refined +countenance, marred a little with care, a countenance classic with its +profile and grey eyes. Hair, dark, mingled with a few grey streaks, fell +down gracefully o'er the ears from a parting in the centre, lending a +sweet, motherly appearance to the classic features. Though clad in an +ordinary common house dress, a stranger gazing at her for the first time +would say she must have occupied a higher station in life in her earlier +years; and his estimate would be correct. + +Mrs. Thomas Trembath, the mother of Ande, for it was she, was the +daughter of William Borlase, a younger son of a young branch of that +illustrious Cornish family. He had been a rising young barrister of +Bodman town, and would have won fame in his profession had not death +claimed the bright mind. His wife and child managed to live on a +thousand pounds that constituted the bulk of his little fortune. It was +to Bodman that Captain Thomas Trembath came, seven years after the war +with the American colonies terminated. He had never married, partly +because he had been engaged in the American war and had no time to think +of matrimony; partly because one great thought absorbed his attention, +the vindication of his family name; and partly, most potent reason of +all, no doubt, he had found no lady of his rank willing to take upon +herself a name so stained with treason as his own; and, as for marrying +beneath him, he gave it not a thought. He was then approaching middle +age and was thinking most seriously of the problem, when, meeting young +Mistress Elizabeth Borlase, he mentally decided the question. For three +years this soldier, who had the courage to face the American batteries +and the charge of Washington's horse, attended the Borlase home before +he had the courage to settle his doubts. The daughter accepted him, but +when the consent of the widow was asked there was a stormy scene. She +was much outspoken against it, alleging the difference in ages, the +Captain being fully fifteen years older than his affianced bride. The +truth of the matter was that the widow had resolved to secure the +handsome middle-aged Captain as a mate for herself and was mortified to +find it was the daughter and not herself he desired. + +For ten years no children were born of this union. In the year 1805, +however, a male child was born. + +"We will call him Borlase Trembath," said the mother, "for he has the +Borlase mouth; those lips are like his grandfather's. He will be a +speaker and a good singer." + +As if in testimony of his mother's opinion the babe set up a lusty +wail, sometimes crescendo, sometimes staccato, then babbling recitando, +flourishing his fists and kicking his limbs in animal spirit. + +"Oratory enough to oppose a Pitt," said the Captain, with a grimace, and +putting his fingers in his ears. "He will be a parliamentarian some day, +no doubt. See, he is already beginning to gesture." Then, changing his +bantering tone, "He has the nose, the forehead, the blue eyes, the hair +of his grandfather, Squire Andrew Trembath, my father, and why not the +name." + +The wife saw the desire of her husband and acquiesced in the name. "He +shall be called Andrew," she said. + +The Captain, though much pleased with the comforts of home and the +presence of his wife and child, still retained the passion for war and +battlefields. He came of a long line of Cornish soldiers and the war +spirit had become intensified in himself. Was there any truth in the old +legend of the blood of the Danish freebooters mingled in his ancestors? +He knew not and gave it not a thought. War called him, and he joined the +Iron Duke in the Peninsular campaign. When the War of 1812 with America +began, fired with the same old passion to redeem his family name from +the stain of treason, he secured his discharge, with the rank of major, +and was soon on his way to participate in that struggle. Here he +disappeared after the defeat of Proctor, and his wife and son, Ande, +were succoured from dire distress and want, into which this event +plunged them, by the death of the widow Borlase. Her fortune of a +thousand pounds, depleted somewhat, was by regular process of law +conferred upon Mrs. Thomas Trembath. Such was the condition of affairs +at the time our tale opened. + +"Ande, laddie, hast been fighting?" + +"Well, I had a bit of a fight with Bob Sloan--a great hulking bully 'e +is--but the master parted us. He called father and grandfather names and +said I was a coward, and I beant a coward." + +"Laddie, why are you always picking up the insults of the lads, and how +often have I told you about language. 'Beant' isn't good English." + +Now before the parson and other dignitaries Ande was accustomed to use +good language, but before the boys and at times before his mother, he +drifted into a little of the vernacular. + +"Well, I forget sometimes, mother dear, but my torn clothes are due to +another affair and not the fight." + +The lad recited the incidents of the runaway, while engaged in eating +the lunch that had been so long delayed. The mother listened with bright +eyes, attending occasionally to the wants of the table, and when the +tale was fully narrated, she leaned over the back of his chair, kissed +his forehead, and called him her "brave laddie." + +"But, laddie, how rudely you must have treated Parson Trant! Was he not +angry at his fall?" + +"No, mother, parson saw that I did not mean to push him down, but only +tried to get him out of danger, and he laughed afterward, too." + +The lunch was ended and Mrs. Trembath was bustling around, clearing the +table. Ande had a project in view that afternoon. It was a half-holiday +and he had purposed going to the Loe Pool with some of his fellows to +gather shells, and a swim in the lake or in the sea adjoining was a +pleasure to his athletic nature. The Loe Pool had other fascinations for +him also. What wonderful tales were related about it! A little sheet of +water below Helston, kept full by the little River Cober, having no +outlet to the sea except by percolating through the sandbar which Mother +Ocean, inhospitably, threw up between herself and her child; yet was it +not the remnant of the old harbour of Helston. He had heard of it from +the old Droll Tellers, and loved to lie on the sandbar meditating, +dreaming of the things that had happened there centuries before. He knew +the Ph[oe]nicians had sailed over that sandbar with their ships and the +Danish freebooters in later times. It was a pleasure highly anticipated. + +"Well, laddie, I suppose you must hurry back soon to school." + +"No, there's no school. The master gave us a half-holiday to-day; that +is the reason I loitered some on the way home." + +"Then thou canst cut the furze in the croft." + +Submissive to his mother, not even mentioning his disappointment, with +furze cutter o'er his shoulder, the youth sallied forth and was soon +busy in the furze croft, a sort of high, rough land in which the furze +grew. The prickly, shrubby plant grew around him in great abundance, +some of them reaching the height of three feet. He paused for a moment +during which he viewed with delight the abundance of its golden flowers, +dappling the whole field with its starlike disks. It was a pity to cut +them down, thought the lad, but then we must have something to burn, and +what is equal to furze in a grate on a cold evening? With this thought +he again wielded the cutter with a will, and the desired amount was soon +bound in bundles, ready to carry to the cottage. + +"Well, young squire, and how dost like the work?" + +The remark emanated from a tall, muscular man, in shirt-sleeves, who, +leaning on the hedge, calmly smoked a "bob" or short Cornish pipe. He +was a little over the medium height but looked short because of the +heavy shoulders and thick, muscular arms and limbs which nature and hard +work had given him. The face was kindly, good-humoured, honest and open. +By his general outline he was neither a hard eater or drinker. There was +a suppleness and ease in this young man of twenty-six that made him +admired by the whole country around, a suppleness demonstrated by the +ease with which he placed one hand on the hedge and leaped lightly over. + +"Pretty well, thank 'ee, Tom Glaze," responded Ande. + +"I 'eard that thou and Bob Sloan 'ad a bit of a scrimmage this marning +and that 'e was a bit too much for 'ee. Is that so?" + +The welcome look died out of the lad's face and he flushed, angrily. + +"There's no truth in that at all," he said, curtly. + +Glaze laughed heartily and then, seeing he had offended his young +friend, sought to soothe his spirit. + +"Come now, no offence, I 'opes. There's no dishonour in your being +licked by Bob, seeing as how 'e is both bigger and older. He 'as beaten +you when 'ee were smaller, 'asn't 'e?" + +"Yes, 'e has, but I would like to know why you are throwing the defeats +at my 'ead, when you say they were no dishonour." + +Tom Glaze laughed again and then seated himself boy-fashion on the turf, +embracing one knee with his great arms. + +"Let me tell 'ee a tale. There was once a great rogue elephant that +lived in the jungles of Africey. He was a very bad 'un, 'e was, I can +tell 'ee. He 'ad great long tusks and a great trunk and everybody was +afeared of 'im because 'e was so large. He was mean, too. The other +elephants banded together and drove 'im from the herd, and in spite 'e +began to abuse all the other animals of the jungle. There was also a +young lion that come that way one day. He 'adn't been long away from 'is +mother's 'ome in the jungle, but he thought 'e was big enough to go +forth to seek 'is fortune in the world. He was a-lying asleep in the +path when Mr. Elephant come by. 'Out of my way,' bellowed the elephant. +Young Lion reared up and says he wasn't going to move a step. With that +Mr. Bad Elephant seized 'im with 'is trunk and flung 'im pretty 'ard +into the bush and walked on. What did Young Lion do? He went straight +'ome to 'is father and told 'im all about it and 'is father was pretty +mad, but 'e didn't say much. He thought a bit and then 'e said: 'My son, +'ee need a few tricks of the lion trade.' And then he began to teach 'im +some of the tricks, 'ow to spring and where to land. The next time Young +Lion met Mr. Bad Elephant, 'e 'ad all the tricks of the trade and 'e +just beat the elephant all around, clawed 'im up so that 'is best +friends wouldn't know 'im. The animals of the jungle all come together +and gave a public feast in honour of Young Lion and they thought 'e was +a public hero." + +Tom Glaze ceased speaking, and smiled again. + +The lad said nothing. + +Now this Tom Glaze had always inspired Ande Trembath with admiration. +Tom had been a tin miner for years, but he also had another calling. +Cornwall was and always will be noted for her wrestlers and boxers, and, +though Glaze was not a champion, he was on the highway to that +distinction. There were only three or four wrestlers in the whole +country that he could not defeat. In addition to this he was an +all-round athlete. Many a time Ande had seen him break the head of his +opponent at the contest of quarter-staff at the county fairs. + +"Now why do I tell 'ee about thy defeats? Why? 'Cause I've sized 'ee up, +many a time, and says I to myself, that with summat of a training thee +could do wonders. All 'ee needs is the tricks and the training." + +"And could I beat Bob?" asked Ande, eagerly. + +"Bob? Aye, and two like 'im, and I would like to see 'ee do it. Now +thee art about through with furze cutting let me give 'ee a lesson or +two." + +Ande sprang nimbly to his feet and Tom having arisen, they set to work. + +What tugging there was in the scrimmages! What dodging! At first it was +slow work, but as the lad learned point after point he speedily put them +into practice. With all his heart, with the remembrance of Bob's insults +strong within him, with the consciousness of his strength yet +undeveloped, and with the burning desire to avenge some of those insults +to his family honour, Trembath was resolved to profit by the instruction +of his teacher. + +"Bravo! Bravo! That was finely done," exclaimed Tom, when the youth, +having learned a new dodge and counter, put the same into practice in a +way that delighted the wrestler. + +"Now, I suppose we 'ad better go 'ome, as thy mother may be looking for +'ee. But, mind 'ee, my lad, doant'ee go a-telling of this. Doant'ee go +a-telling. Why? 'Cause you want to take Bully Bob by surprise. Thee meet +me 'ere every evening, and thee will soon knack Bob off 'is pins." + +The good-humoured wrestler vaulted the hedge and strode lightly and +rapidly away, while Ande shouldered his burden of furze and started +toward the Primrose Cottage. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +"THE BIG HA' BIBLE, ANCE HIS FATHER'S PRIDE."[2] + + [2] Burns' "Cotter's Saturday Night." + + +Burns has beautifully described the cotter's Saturday night, but that +was the cotter of Scotland. Cornwall, too, has that beautiful and +appropriate custom, not only of closing the week but also the day with +the worship of God. + +Supper is over in the Primrose Cottage. The sun is slowly sinking to +rest in the watery bed of the western sea, flecking and streaking the +distant blue into a variegated coverlet for its nightly repose. In a few +hours twilight will come and then night with its darkening mantle. The +main living room of the cottage is gilded by the slanting sunbeams that +glisten through the small, diamond window panes and the open doorway. +The floor of stone has been freshly sanded with white sea sand and raked +and marked in neat figures. Ande Trembath is interested in a new tale +that seems fascinating to him. It is Scott's "Lady of The Lake." Mrs. +Trembath is seated in a comfortable rocking chair, knitting, for Ande +must have warm stockings for the coming cold weather. The hour of +worship peals out from the great clock in the corner of the stairs. +Without a word, the lad places away the tale he has been perusing and +picks up the worn gilded volume of God's word. The mother places her +knitting on the small side table and prepares to listen, while her +laddie opens the book with care at the One Hundred and Fifth Psalm. The +reading of God's providence revealed there seemed to have additional +interest for the lad, and he paused for a moment over the eighteenth +verse and thought over the parson's morning talk. The Scripture ended, +the mother and son kneel in prayer, using not only the prayer of +ordinary evening worship, but that other prayer for the safety of those +astray on sea or land, and as the mother reads reverently the latter +prayer, the thoughts of both are concentrated on the dear one lost +amidst the American wilds eight long years ago. Then followed the Lord's +prayer, repeated in concert, until the part "forgive us our trespasses +as we forgive those who trespass against us," where the lad's voice +faltered, and ceased for a moment, resuming the prayer in concert with +his mother when the phrase was passed. + +The prayers were ended and the harp was brought forth with loving care. +The lad handled it with reverence, for it was his father's, and his +grandfather's, and he knew not how far it had dwelt in the annals of his +family. Then came the strains of Bishop Ken's Evening Hymn, + + "Glory to Thee, my God, this night, + For all the blessings of the light; + Keep me, O keep me, King of kings, + Under Thine own almighty wings." + +The worship was finished and the Word, the prayer book, and the harp +replaced in their usual positions; Ande had returned to his "Lady of +The Lake," the mother to her knitting. There was no sound for a time +save the monotonous click, click of the knitting needles, keeping up a +sort of recitative duet with the tick, tick of the clock. + +"Ande, laddie, why is it that thou dost not repeat the whole of the +Lord's prayer with me? I have noticed the last few times and have +wondered." + +The lad was silent for a moment and his face flushed. + +"I cannot, mother dear," he said simply. + +"Why, laddie?" + +"Because there are some I cannot forgive, it seems. There's Sir James +Lanyan and Richard, his son, Squire Vivian, and Bob Sloan, +and--and--they treat a person mean. When I think of the Lanyans and +Squire Vivian and how they or their people treated ours and took away +the estate, and--and when I think to-day how they treat father's and +grandfather's memory, I cannot feel like forgiving them and I can't say +'forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,' +for that would be asking God not to forgive me." + +As Ande Trembath referred to the Lanyans there was an angry light in his +eyes, which softened into gloom as he spoke of the Lord's prayer. + +"Ande, laddie, we must pray to God to help us to forgive. 'If ye forgive +not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your +trespasses.'" + +The widow was silent. She felt as keenly as her 'laddie' the injustice +done the Trembath family and there was a half-inaudible sigh from her +lips. She had not that bitter, unforgiving spirit, but she knew the +temper and spirit of her laddie. Will time ever remove the sting of an +unjust act? she thought. It was of no use to urge the point now with her +boy. She must think. + +There was a clicking of the garden gate; a step was heard on the stone +garden walk, and a figure appeared at the door. It was that of a man +clad in livery dress--knee-breeches of nankeen, long stockings, and low +shoes with immense silver buckles, and a coat of velveteen. In short, he +was clad very much like a gentleman of the period fifteen years before, +but inasmuch as the majority of the gentry had adopted the new costume +of trowsers, the knee-breeches, low shoes, and long stockings generally +indicated the servant. And such he was--Master Stephen Blunt, Squire +Vivian's steward. Master Blunt doffed his cap and hesitated a moment. +Mrs. Trembath paled a little, for the steward was scarcely ever the +bearer of good news. He was a general factotum of the squire. He rented +farms, collected the dues, was an officer of justice, the terror of +small boys, and, in short, was a kind of constable, sheriff, and prime +minister of the squire's little domain. + +Concerning the rent there was nothing to fear, for the Trembath's had +owned in fee simple as it was called, for many years, the Primrose +cottage and the few fields adjoining. + +Master Blunt was a silent man, not wasting many words. + +"The squire wanted to see Ande a bit," he stated. + +A new thought flashed across the mother's mind. It was her laddie's +bravery in stopping the runaway in the morning. Yes, the squire was +going to reward her laddie and a more favourable understanding was going +to be established between the squire's people and theirs. She +communicated her opinion to her boy in a whisper as she assisted in +getting him ready. There was a smile of happiness on her countenance +which Master Blunt, seated on the garden settle outside, did not +observe. + +Ande Trembath, however, was not so happy to go. Honour heaped upon him +for an act that he considered only an ordinary matter-of-fact affair, +and especially by one whom he considered in the light of an enemy, to be +hated and to be hated in return, was distasteful to him; but he knew the +necessity of going, as one did not dare disobey the squire. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +SQUIRE AND PARLIAMENTARIAN + + +Thud, thud, thud, thud. + +Squire Vivian was riding at a smart pace on the solid roads. He was fond +of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the +hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the +turnpike. This was not exercise, however. He must see his old friend, +Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch +and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob +and was off. His thoughts were not very pleasant as he started forth. He +was thinking of the conversation he had had with Parson Trant just a +short time before. + +"The lad is guilty," he muttered, and then there was silence save for +the rapid hoof strokes. + +"He shall smart for it. The traitor's cub!" + +The squire compressed his lips and the frown on his ruddy features boded +ill to Ande Trembath. Then pleasant thoughts gained the upper hand. He +had reached the confines of his estate and the fields and woods of +Lanyan Hall stretched on either side of the highway. There were round +hillocks nodding like Indian chieftains with their proud headgear, downs +alive with cattle and sheep, farmhouses of stone--as short and thick-set +in appearance as the sturdy farmers that occupied them. Yes, thought +Squire Vivian, with a smile, these shall belong to Alice when she +marries young Richard. My Lady Alice sounds as good as any other name +with a Lady attached to it. The pleasant expression passed and a worried +look came in its place. He was thinking of the Parson's disapprobation +of young Richard. The vale was passed and Lanyan moor, as wild and +uninviting as his thoughts--Lanyan moor, a high rough land of a few +miles in extent, covered with a rank, rough grass, extended on either +side. Under the influence of his surroundings and pressed by his +thoughts, the squire spurred the cob into a gallop and after a few +minutes the gables and tower of Lanyan Hall greeted his vision. It was a +stately mansion, built partly in the Queen Anne style and partly in the +style of previous times, one side being built during the Crusades, of +Cornish moor-stone that lent a heavy warrior-like appearance to the +whole structure. + +The owner, Sir James Lanyan, a son of that Lanyan whose agitation in +certain quarters of the government had produced the confiscation of the +Trembath estates, like his grandfather, had devoted considerable time to +politics and had been twice in Parliament; but failing of re-election he +had turned the strength of his ambitious mind to the rebuilding of his +fortunes, which were sadly shattered by the schemes and speculations of +his grandfather. + +His grandfather, in coöperation with Sunderland, the Premier of that +time, had been unduly interested in the South Sea Bubble; but though +Sunderland cleared his skirts in the gigantic swindle, Sir James, Sr., +was entrapped. His estates were heavily mortgaged and his private +fortune ruined. He died of a broken heart, bequeathing to Sir Richard, +Sr., his son, the ancestral hall and its liabilities. + +Sir Richard, Sr., was a rogue, with very little ability. Casting about +by hook or crook to retrieve his father's reverses, he thought he saw an +opportunity in the reputed treason of Squire Andrew Trembath. His +covetous eye surveyed the rich farms and woods adjoining his own, and +so, with the outward reason of loyalty to King George, and the inward +hope of profit, he turned the keen eyes of government authorities upon +the matter. + +The name of the Stuart and France were still to be dreaded. The first +tendency in that direction must be crushed and an example made. The fiat +went forth, the estates were confiscated, but Sir Richard, Sr., instead +of receiving them or even a money reward, received a flattering letter +from London, a ribbon of honour and a star. With a muttered oath he +flung the bauble from him and ground the letter under his heel. He knew +what all men were to know in time, that neither Newcastle nor Pitt were +as free-handed as Walpole. + +The present Sir James, a son of Sir Richard, Sr., had inherited the +bold, daring, scheming ambition of his grandfather, and was in every way +superior to his father, Richard. At first, a great Parliament man, he +gradually lost power with the electors, or rather they lost interest in +him; then he turned his attention to the task in which both his father +and grandfather had laboured in vain. + +On the day mentioned, the squire rode up the drive-way and with a sigh, +for the gallop had wearied him. He slipped from the saddle, gave the cob +into the hands of a servant, and mounting the veranda, raised the rapper +and sent a peal through the old house that speedily brought to the door +a footman, clad in green livery. By him he was ushered into the main +living room--a large hall, its walls curiously and artistically panelled +in wood. Here he reposed himself in a large armchair by the open +fireplace and awaited, musingly, the coming of Sir James. + +Yes, thought the squire, a fine old place--a fine old place--and my +Allie will be one of the first of Cornwall. Then he mused on. + +There was a sound of a soft tread on the floor behind him, and a smooth, +liquid baritone voice broke the reverie. + +"Well, my old friend, so you have decided to return my call." + +The squire almost leaped to his feet, for, lost in his thoughts, the +voice startled him. + +"Zounds! Sir James, you come in like a spirit." + +Perhaps there were not two men in the whole kingdom of such a contrast +as Sir James and the squire of Trembath Manor. The latter was a perfect +picture of the gentleman of the olden school. His hair, silvery white, +curled in ringlets over his forehead. His face was a sturdy English +one, smooth, round, rubicund and pleasant, and yet with a dignity +peculiarly its own. He was stoutly built and as he stood switching his +Wellington boots with his riding whip, a close student would say, "Here +is a man easily imposed upon, but when that imposture stood revealed +what a hot, indignant enemy he would make!" + +Honesty, frankness, integrity, were stamped all over the old squire's +frame. + +Sir James was just the opposite in many respects. He was tall, dark, and +sallow of countenance. A hooked nose, like the beak of an eagle, +overhung a mouth that was firm and thin-lipped. His eyes, that were the +strangest feature about him, were dark and had an unsteady, shifting +light in them. He was clad in the conventional broadcloth tail-coat and +trowsers of the same material. A man of the world, having felt the pulse +of national life, he was generally cool, calm, and self-possessed. + +With the remark above mentioned, he came forward and his own pale, slim +hand was grasped by the strong, brown one of the squire. + +"Welcome to Lanyan Hall. It is not often we have the pleasure of +entertaining such an old friend of the family; and how are all things at +the Manor? Mistress Alice, is she well?" + +"My Allie is tolerable well, but of her--more anon. It is of other +matters, not so well, in which I want your advice." + +"Ah--and what is wrong? The rents not paid, failure of your tin mine, +or has Midnight Jack been making some depredations on your hen roosts or +sheep-folds?" + +"Well," rejoined the squire, as he once more seated himself beside the +fire, his friend having done likewise, "as to Wheal Whimble tin mine, +things are moving steadily, but the new shaft is costing a heap of +money. The rockmen dull six or seven jumpers before they can make much +of an impression in drilling a hole, and though they receive ten pounds +a foot, yet say they can't make a living. I don't see how I am going to +come out of it. As to rents, they have all been paid but Farmer +Samson's, but quite a few of his sheep were taken with the murrain, and +one must give a man a chance when he's honest." + +"And about Midnight Jack?" + +"As sturdy a knave as ever lived, but he and his gipsy band have left +the neighbourhood some time ago. I suspected him of stealing a sheep and +threatened to have him hanged if he showed nigh the place. He knows well +enough not to fool with me. I don't think we shall ever be annoyed with +him again. There has been, though, some unknown miscreant lurking around +the estate. I do not mind so much when a sheep is stolen, I can +reprimand a man and threaten him as I did Midnight Jack, but when +property is wilfully destroyed and faithful retainers killed--it is too +much," and the squire flushed, angrily. + +"Why, there has been no murder?" said Sir James, startled out of his +ordinary self-possession. + +"Aye, as good as a murder," rejoined the squire, and he related with +flushed countenance and angry voice the incidents of the morning. + +The master of Lanyan Hall interrupted him midway by asking him to the +study, where they could talk at their leisure. They arose and passed +from the main hall to a side apartment fitted up in elaborate style. +There, surrounded by tomes of learning and every mark of ease and +comfort, the squire and his friend were soon discussing the former's +grievances and suspicions. + +"Now, what I want to know is this, what does the law allow a man to do +in such circumstances? You, Sir James, are well versed in law, have been +to Parliament and can advise me. I confess I cannot find anything about +it in the statutes." + +"Well, the only thing you can do, having nothing but suspicion, is to +have a private interview with the lad and worm a confession out of him," +said Sir James, and there was a scarcely perceptible little smile of +amusement that lingered around the lips of Lanyan. + +"I am pleased to find out that I have acted wisely, for that was exactly +my plan," said the squire, flushing with gratified vanity to think that +his views and the learned parliamentarian's coincided. "And now what are +your plans for reëlection to Parliament?" + +"Reëlection. Plans--none at all, friend Vivian." + +"Why, you are certainly going to stand for the section, are you not?" + +"No, I think not; my interest is not strong enough with the classes. To +tell the truth, squire, I am heartily disgusted with Tory principles, +and were it not for the name I would become a Liberal." + +"What! what!" said the squire aghast; "you jest, Sir James!" + +"Jest! Not at all. It is this way. It matters not what talents a person +may possess, he must stand in with a few of one's brother notables +before election is possible. Our elections are nothing but a humbug. We +have no representative house; the House of Commons does not represent +the nation." + +"Why, Sir James, you did not talk this way formerly, and I am +exceedingly sorry to see one of our most distinguished parliamentarians +so inveterately opposed to the system." + +The master of Lanyan Hall said nothing in reply. Indeed he was inwardly +debating with himself how far he should trust his honest friend with his +own plans and schemes. The fact was that Sir James had lost his +influence with the electors and saw no hope but in an extended +franchise; he was politician enough to see that the times were getting +riper and riper for reform. There was more hope of election for him in +the future than at the present; he must bide his time. Now it was not +any great affection for the people that induced him to take this stand. +His political creed was James Lanyan--how can he become great and +powerful, a creed dominant among politicians of all times. + +"Well, we must talk of that more anon. There is another matter pressing +on my mind," said the squire, and with a little reluctance he began the +topic. "Young Master Richard has been paying some attentions to my +Allie, and it is a matter that we fathers ought to talk about. There is +nothing dearer to my life than my Allie, and I am anxious to see her +settled in life before I leave the earth; but then you, Sir James, and I +ought to have some understanding before matters go any farther. Our +estates lie adjoining. What better thing than that they should be united +after you and I pass away. I thought it better, though, to speak to you, +so that we might have a clear understanding." The old squire fastened +his clear, honest eyes on the master of Lanyan. The latter was silent +and there was a gleam in the shifty light of his eyes as he thought. +Then he spoke. + +"A good thing, no doubt, if there are no objections on your part." + +The master of Lanyan stretched out his hand which was grasped heartily +by the squire. + +"It's a compact," said the former. + +"Aye, a compact," affirmed the latter. + +There was a tap at the door and a servant entered to announce tea in the +hall. Squire and parliamentarian adjourned their informal meeting and +emerged from the study. + +[Illustration: "It's a compact," said the former.] + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +TEA-TABLE AND POLITICS + + +There were three parties assembled around the tea-table, bluff Captain +Thomas Lanyan, a brother of Sir James, a sturdy old widower; Mistress +Betty Lanyan--a spinster and a distant relative of the family, and +Master Richard--a young man in his last year in Eton and the perfect +counterpart of his father, only much younger. + +Mistress Betty was tall and angular, like Sir James, yet with a good +supply of feminine sweetness in her features. The sole drawback to her +countenance was her nose, that was neither a thing of beauty nor grace. +It was of the large hooked variety, so common to the family. Yet so +strange are the freaks of Madam Nature, that the eagle nose of Sir James +was universally commended as giving him the commanding and dignified +appearance of a statesman; while one of the same variety on the +countenance of Mistress Betty was considered exceedingly derogatory and +shrewish. Notwithstanding this detractive feature, Mistress Betty was a +good-hearted soul. She always had, at least in company, that mellow +smile on her face that gave a vivid reality to the stanza, + + "Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, + And waste its fragrance on the desert air." + +The Captain was moulded more like his mother's side of the house. Clear +grey eyes lighted up a countenance that was rugged and weather-beaten, +while the family nose was absent and in its place was the straight, +plain variety characteristic of his mother's family. Over his forehead +was a long, livid scar that ran from the centre of the forehead, +obliquely, to the right ear, a cavalry slash of the battle of Waterloo. +Mistress Betty always persisted in having this covered by the Captain's +waving grey hair, but the Captain would just as persistently throw his +hair up and to one side, revealing the full extent of his old wound. +What Mistress Betty was ashamed of was the Captain's glory. Captain Tom +lived in tolerable contentment on a government pension, and of all the +family, none were upon such intimate terms with the squire as himself. + +"Ah, Captain Tom, what cheer?" said the Squire as he cordially shook the +hand of the veteran. "And Master Richard, you are quite a man and every +inch like your father. And Mistress Betty, I hope I see you well," and +the squire made a profound bow that would shame an old-time knight, at +the same time grasping her small hand delicately with his own. + +The salutations were returned and then, seated around the tea-table that +was placed near the immense bow-window, the master of Lanyan requested +his guest to pronounce the blessing. The squire, who was seated beside +Mistress Betty, perhaps designedly, who knows, for that lady had not +given up the custom of angling, proceeded according to his usual custom. + +"We thank thee----Oh! zounds and the devil!" + +The latter part was like the explosion of a battery of artillery, and +with reason. Mistress Betty's lap-dog, an unsightly brute, deeming +himself insulted by the proximity of the squire, or perhaps jealous of +his mistress' attentions to another--like many a human rejected suitor +filled with vengeful spleen, or perhaps--kept waiting for his +dinner--and seeing a fat limb much larger than the usual chicken leg +near him, he decided to forage for himself. Whatever reason he had +within him, the results were the same, for he fastened his teeth most +vindictively in the squire's nankeen trowsers. Human nature was not +proof against such an assault, and the victim gave vent to the above +startling and most unseemly expression. He leaped up from the table, +slapping and rubbing the affected part to relieve the pain. + +The young Etonian had a grin on his generally calm countenance. Captain +Tom with more zeal than wisdom grasped the poker and shoved it through +the bars of the grate, saying that they had best have the wound +cauterised at once. Sir James was profuse in apologies and Mistress +Betty, much vexed, hurried the snarling brute into the library. + +"This is out--outrageous," faltered the squire, in the midst of his +pain; "such a savage brute, I wonder why you don't have him killed, Sir +James." + +"Cruel man, to abuse poor Cæsar so," said Mistress Betty, with a flash +of the eye. + +"Zounds, madam," replied the squire, but he went no further. His +inherent courtesy to ladies, and the appearance of Captain Tom with the +hot poker, caused him to beat a hasty retreat to the table. + +With a smile of anguish he sat down, saying, "It is nothing, madam, +nothing, Captain Tom--I do assure you--no need of cauterising--the pain +has already gone." + +Captain Tom very reluctantly replaced the poker, and soon they were all +seated, chatting merrily, as if nothing had happened. The squire, +occasionally slipping his hand beneath the table and giving the smarting +limb a soothing rub, talked as cheerfully as the rest. + +"And you won't stand for re-election," said the squire to Sir James. + +"Not at present; the times are not yet ripe for reform and we must have +a more extended suffrage before I can stand with success," said Sir +James, helping himself to another lump of sugar and dropping it +carefully into his cup with the air of a sage. + +"Fudge," said Captain Tom, "the country doesn't need extended suffrage. +Why, brother James, if your ideas go into effect the landed estates will +be ruined. We have seen enough of those things over there in France. The +people got extended suffrage and the king and the gentlemen got the +suffering. Bah!" said Captain Tom in some disdain, "the landed estates +must rule, pass out of existence, or give place to a Napoleon," and the +Captain thumped the table emphatically with the sugar tongs. + +"What a sage student of history you are, Captain Tom, and yet there are +some things yet to learn. The revolution in France was not caused by +their obtaining the suffrage, but by the retention of suffrage from them +until they arose in revolt. A fortunate thing is it for the government +that yields to the demands of the people and is not compelled to yield. +When the proper form of government is in vogue, then there will be no +occasion for the people demanding or of the government yielding. +Government should stand halfway between the highest pinnacle and the +broadest base of the populace." + +"Why, Sir James, you surprise me!" ejaculated the squire; "you may as +well turn American with those ideas! Tut--tut!" followed by a +disapproving shake of the head. + +"A vast discrepancy between Americanism and my ideal. Government in +America stands upon a broad base, but is not as truly representative as +our own government will become in a few years." + +"You speak in riddles, Sir James," replied the squire. + +"Well, let me explain. Strictly speaking, there is no real +representative government. Even in America, women, negroes and Indians +are not represented; neither among those that are represented is there +any fair proportion of representation. Jefferson, their great sage, +wrote the most foolish thing imaginable when he said 'all men are +created free and equal.' It is evident that the opposite is the case. +All men are different, different in physical strength, mental power, +culture, attainments. Even in infanthood they are different. Equality +is nowhere on earth, neither in the vegetable nor animal kingdom. It is +a manifest injustice then to alter the plan of the Creator." + +"Aye, aye, now you are coming around to our opinion," said Captain Tom. + +"Not at all. Our present conservative system is wrong and unsafe. +Government is resting on the highest pinnacle of the populace, from +which position it may easily be deposed." + +"Pshaw," said the squire, "I can't understand you; I thought you said +our government was more representative than the American." + +"No. I said it will be in a few years. In America the Church is not +represented, neither are the institutions of learning--although they +ought to have some special representation as well as the States. Now +mark me well. In a few years, a decade at the most, the franchise will +be extended to the humblest shop owner, house owner and tenant, and only +the criminals and the utterly uneducated will have no voice in the +government. Then we will have a more representative government and a +more stable one than our American cousins. More representative, because +colleges, universities, the clergy, and large and small property owners +will have their respective portion of power; more safe because the +roughest and lowest element of society will not have a controlling and +dominating influence. How is it now, however? The landed proprietors and +men of influence pack our House of Commons as they please. Everyone +knows of Old Sarum--that it hasn't a single inhabitant, and yet it +sends a member to the Commons, while Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham +have no voice whatever in the affairs of the nation. We must have an +extended suffrage. The people want it," and Sir James silenced his +batteries. + +"Well, so far as I can see," said Captain Tom, doggedly returning to the +charge "the people are not demanding anything. Our people are +comfortable and happy. Corn has arisen in price and our farmers are +growing rich." + +"Aye," said the squire, "so far as I can see, things are pretty +prosperous. Corn has risen to fifty shillings per quarter." + +"Ah," said Sir James, contemptuously, "what benefit is it for Cousin +Jack in Cornwall to have a full stomach, and Tom in York and Devon to +have an empty one? Fine national prosperity, that. Squire, you are +interested in your own section, Captain Tom reads nothing but war news, +and so both of you are blind to the signs of the times. The memory of +the Blanketeers is still before the public and the pulse of the middle +classes is mounting higher and higher. What signify the riots of last +year and the affair of Peterloo?" + +"A set of rebellious knaves, that need the hand of the Iron Duke to +teach them their manners," replied Captain Tom, who was indignant to be +accused of ignorance on national affairs. "A set of rebellious knaves, +but where do you find gentlemen marching side by side in a cause with +such a rabble." + +"William Cobbet, the journalist," rejoined Sir James. + +"Aye, a ploughman," sniffed Captain Tom, in some disdain. + +"Aye, and more than a ploughman," added young Master Richard. "There's +Sir Francis Burdette, Lord Brougham, the great Canning, Lord John +Russell, Grenville, and Earl Grey--and Canning and Grey were Etonians." +The last part was uttered with a little triumph in the tone. + +"Ah, the young cock is beginning to crow," said Captain Tom, who knew +not what else to reply. + +Sir James looked pleased at this heavy broadside from his son and then +again took up the reform cudgel, saying: "Very true, and even the +younger Pitt over twenty years ago agitated the subject." + +Here the squire thought it time to assist his friend, Captain Tom, and +also show that he was not destitute of knowledge on national affairs. + +"Tut, tut, that is a bad argument; Pitt abandoned his position as +untenable, and----" + +"Aye, he knew he couldn't hold the position and retreated as a sensible +general should," interrupted Tom. + +"Because of the excesses of the French revolution," replied Sir James. + +The spirited debate went on with varying success to either party, +Mistress Betty participating, sometimes on one side, and at times on the +other, always sympathising with the weaker party, as women generally do. +Toward the close, Captain Tom and the squire being hopelessly put to +rout by the combined wisdom of Etonian and parliamentarian, she +faithfully adhered to the former side, until even Captain Tom was forced +to admit that, though a woman was of no service in a battle, yet they +made pretty fair tongue-soldiers. + +"Well," said the squire, as he was preparing to go, "your remarks, Sir +James, have convinced me of one thing, and that is your sincere +disinterestedness in self and your love for old England and her welfare. +You are a statesman, sir, and we shall soon see if we can't place you in +Parliament; aye, Tory or Liberal,--what matter--so long as the man is +honest and capable." + +Now this was exactly what Sir James had expected, and he shook hands +cordially. + +"Hold on, squire, we must have James there as a Tory. I don't believe he +is as much a Liberal at heart as he pretends. Don't surrender the +standard, squire," said Captain Tom. + +A servant was holding in readiness the squire's cob, and assisted him to +mount. Raising his hat, gallantly, to Mistress Betty, and waving an +adieu to the others he paced briskly down the drive and out on the +highway. + +"What a courteous gentleman, and young, though he is a widower," +murmured Mistress Betty. "Did you notice how, out of respect for my +feelings for Cæsar, he didn't utter any complaint." + +"Fudge," said Captain Tom, "that was due to his brave spirit in enduring +pain. What a soldier he would make!" + +"Pshaw!" exclaimed young Master Richard, "the old gentleman thought +more of the hot poker than he did of courage or courtesy." + +"It was courtesy," reaffirmed Mistress Betty. + +"It was courage," exclaimed Tom. + +"It was hot poker," reiterated the Etonian again and again, until under +a score of reproaches from Mistress Betty and Captain Tom,--the former +emphasising the courtesy, the latter the courage of the squire,--he +found safety in speedy retreat. + +Sir James said nothing until after Master Richard's exit, and then he +broached the squire's desire of an alliance between the families. + +"It seems we'll get the estates of the Manor in our family after all, +and by a much more honourable method than father tried. That deed always +did make me half ashamed of our name." + +"Captain Tom," said Sir James, with a little of asperity in his voice, +"the plan that exposed a traitor was perfectly honourable." + +"I have always had my doubts whether my old comrade, Major Tommy +Trembath, was a traitor, or his father either. They were both too honest +to be guilty of treason. Why, look at the record of old Captain Ande at +Culloden and Prestonpans. He was a hero. There he stood with Gardner at +Prestonpans, fighting gallantly until stricken down with overwhelming +numbers, and there was Major Tommy in the Peninsular campaigns. Aye, the +more I think of it the more am I inclined to disbelieve the report of +their treason,--but circumstances were against them," and the old +soldier sighed, and with a halting step, due to a wound--a relic of the +Napoleonic wars,--he tramped once or twice up and down the veranda. When +he ceased, the look of sadness was gone and a humorous twinkle was in +his eye. Around his weather-beaten countenance there was the faint trace +of a smile of merriment. + +"However, it is a good plan,--this marriage--and--if Cousin Betty can +catch the squire we'll have a double claim on the Manor." + +"Why, Captain Tom, how absurd!" exclaimed Mistress Betty, blushing +confusedly. + +"A tell-tale blush! I'll have to tell my old friend, the squire, of his +opportunities to capture the stronghold of ages, that has remained +unconquered for----" + +"How absurd!" exclaimed Mistress Betty, in mingled anger and confusion, +as she beat a hasty retreat to her apartments. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +"OFF WITH HIS HEAD."[3] + + [3] "King Richard III." + + +It was still twilight when the squire reached the Manor. Hastily giving +the cob into the hand of Sloan, he hurried into the hall and seated +himself by a large window, where was stationed a large oaken table +littered with a motley array of books and papers. This was the squire's +position when any petty case was brought before him. Whether the books +were kept for show or use no one knew. The only time the squire was +known to look at them was during a trial, and this he did with the air +of a Lord Chief Justice, which air had a very perceptible effect upon +the trembling culprit. + +If the truth were told, the squire had a more intimate knowledge of +fishing, hunting, farm and mine management, the origin of ancient +village plays and customs, than about law. Law always was a perplexing +study to him. But as a compensation for his lack in this respect, he +more than made it up in the learned dignity of his demeanour. + +There were approaching steps heard on the veranda, and then the opening +of a door, and in a moment more Stephen Blunt and Ande Trembath stood +before him. + +The steward took the chair that he was accustomed to occupy, ushered to +such position by a wave of the squire's hand, and sharpened his quill +pen preparatory to writing. Ande, neither invited to sit down nor stand, +remained near at hand. His mother in her fond delight, thinking that he +was to be rewarded for his morning heroism, had determined that he +should be dressed in a manner suitable for the occasion. He presented a +very creditable appearance in his snow-white trowsers, neckerchief, and +neat blue jacket. His feelings were not as pleasant as his garments. +Since he was evidently going to be rewarded for his services in saving +the life of Mistress Alice, he felt exceedingly out of place. He rested +his weight on one foot, fidgeted with the other, and fumbled his cap in +a nervous manner. He grew restless under the steady eye of the master of +Trembath Manor, and his restlessness increased the suspicions in the +mind of the latter. + +"Master Trembath." + +The lad felt relieved that the silence was at length broken. + +"Master Trembath, you were nigh the estate of late?" + +"Yes--s, sir. I frequently go through the Manor woods, sir." + +"Note that down, Master Blunt." + +A bewildered look passed over the lad's face. + +"You were nigh the estate last evening, and will you now tell us what +you were doing in that place at that time?" + +Ande grew more amazed and confused; amazed because he knew not what the +squire was trying to ascertain, confused because he had been there and +even in the gardens, but for a purpose he did not wish to divulge. A +wave of crimson swept over his countenance, rivalling the sanguine hue +of his locks. + +"Take notice of his confusion, Master Blunt," and then in a stern voice +to the lad, "You may as well out with it, we know all the facts of the +affair." + +Ande tried to answer, but his tongue clave to the roof of his mouth. His +heart seemed to sink lower and lower in his chest. + +"Sir, sir,--I--I----" + +"You were in the gardens last evening," thundered the squire, his wrath +getting the better of him. "You were in the gardens, were you not? +Answer on your honour?" + +"I was," falteringly. + +"And for what purpose?" + +"That I cannot tell." + +"And why not?" + +The youth was silent. He had the appearance of a culprit, and felt +wretched and miserable. The squire continued to question and +cross-question, but of no avail, and at length, growing nettled and +peevish, he said, "I will state the case plainly to you, Master +Trembath. You were in the gardens last evening, last Wednesday night and +last Monday night. On Monday night you drained the fish-pond and stole +the best fish; on Wednesday you ruined the shrubbery beds; last evening +you took a stone from the hedge and killed my faithful mastiff, +Borlase. What answer do you make to these accusations? Make a clean +breast of it and it will be better for you, my lad." + +The accusation, thus plainly stated, had a directly opposite effect upon +the crestfallen lad. All his diffidence and confusion fell away from him +like a garment. He flung up his head like a young lion cub, his blue +eyes scintillated, and his red locks shook like the mane of a savage +beast under rising passion. Blunt was alarmed and the squire was awed. + +"What have I to say to these accusations? I say they are lies! They are +false! I was not here on Monday or Wednesday. I never stole your fish or +drained the pond, or trampled the shrubbery, or killed the dog. Who +accuses me? Who, I say?" The lad advanced to the table, boldly, all his +confusion gone, and the wild soldier blood of his ancestors coursing +like molten fire through his veins. "Why am I brought here in the home +of my fathers to be insulted? Have not you, Squire Vivian, and the +Lanyans, done enough evil to our family but that you must charge me with +being a thief, and----" + +"Silence!" thundered the squire, who had been stirred up by the lad's +charge of injustice. Ande stood silent, with heaving breast. The squire +mastered himself before he continued. + +"Your charge against me is not to the point. If you do not know, I will +tell you that this estate was bought from the government by services +rendered, which had no connection with your family. Your family affair, +neither my father nor myself had anything to do with; that is between +the Lanyans and yours." + +Ande Trembath had heard for the first time that the Vivians had had no +hand in the confiscation of the Manor, and there was a revulsion of +feeling within him. The squire nor his family, then, were enemies of +his. He felt, notwithstanding the accusation against him, a better +feeling, and even a little gladness within his heart. Why, he did not +know. + +"I beg your pardon, your honour. I had never heard it put that way." + +"That is neither here nor there," said the squire, sternly, "and has no +connection with the case. You were seen nigh the grounds. You confess to +being on the grounds a short time before last evening's outrage, yet you +say you are innocent of the charge." + +"I am innocent." + +"Well, why were you on the grounds?" + +Again the lad flushed painfully and was silent. + +"Now," said the squire, "since there is no direct evidence, but only +circumstantial, I shall dismiss you with a reprimand, and a caution to +be careful in the future and amend your ways, or Newgate will have you +yet, and"--here the squire pushed his countenance into a large law-book, +as if consulting reference--"and as to punishment, I will let you off +lightly. Master Blunt, call Sloan." + +The steward dropped his writing and left the hall, returning soon with +the stout, old hostler. + +"George, take Master Trembath out and put him in the stocks for one +hour." + +The old hostler opened his mouth slightly in amazement, as if to say +something, but the frown on his master's brow checked him. Without a +word, George Sloan and Stephen Blunt took the dazed lad out of the hall, +down the garden avenue, and out through the gates to the very scene of +his morning exploit, where was situated the village stocks. Resistance +was out of the question, and so he submitted, as if his spirit was +crushed. + +"I am sorry for 'ee, my lad," said old George, "but us has to hobey +horders. To think that the grandson of old squire shud be shut in th' +stocks," and old George shook his head, for he felt the disgrace as +keenly as the lad. + +Stephen Blunt, who was not a native of the section, but had come in with +the squire's father from the East, said nothing. The Trembaths were +nothing to him, having never known them intimately. But old George +Sloan, Ned Pengilly and others native to the soil, who had served with +their fathers under the Trembaths, took great umbrage at the shabby +treatment of the "young squire." + +Ande thought of the misery of the disgrace; he, the best scholar in the +parish school, condemned and punished as a common thief. He thought of +his father and his grandfather. They were of the bravest gentry in +Cornwall. None could show a better record in the annals of the county. +They had taken their part in every prominent movement in the nation. +The last of the line, branded as a thief, and, like a common vagrant, +imprisoned in the stocks! He thought of his mother and her pride in him. +He gave an impatient wrench to free his imprisoned ankles, but the +framework was too heavy to be opened in his position. He thought of the +parson's sermon of the previous Sabbath. Yes, he was like Joseph. The +iron was entering his soul. He gave vent to his pent up feelings in +tears. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE VILLAGE STOCKS + + +"'Allo! What 'as us 'ere?" + +It was a coarse voice, half boy's and half man's. + +Ande looked up and perceived, coming through the gloom, a long-legged, +stout lad, about three years older than himself. He had just emerged +from the Manor woods and was engaged in what he thought a manly +occupation, smoking a short pipe--or Cornish bob. The prisoner did not +recognise him at first, for the twilight had begun to darken into night, +but as the newcomer advanced he saw the most unwelcome sight of his +bitterest school enemy,--Bully Bob Sloan. + +The recognition was almost simultaneous and the newcomer allowed his +freckled face to relax into a grin of delight. + +"'Allo, can't 'ee speak? What has tha done, boy, to git in they wooden +leggins?" + +"The squire did it, Bob, but I 'adn't done anything. Squire said I 'ad +drained the fish-pond, but I didn't. Now, let me out of here, do, Bob." + +This was said in a propitiating tone, for, thought the lad, Bob might +help him. But he had not estimated Bob aright. + +"Um," with a sage air and a shake of the head, "can't go against the +squire's horders; and then I 'alf suspect 'ee'rt guilty, my lad, for I +seed 'ee myself and told squire, or rather caused 'e to hear it, that I +had seed 'ee a-lurking nigh the grounds. Ah, my lad, think what a fall +ah be for 'ee, the best scholard in the school,--a criminal, a-sitting +in the stocks; and by and by 'ee will be hung for more thieving and +willainry. What a karacter! What a disgrace!" and Bob shook his head, in +mock sadness. "And when I tell the master and the lads at school, 'cause +I got to tell them to save they from associating with a thief, 'ow +shocked they will feel. I expect, too, I 'ad better clear out myself, as +my repertation might be a-hinjured a-talking 'ere with a criminal." + +"Don't lad me," said Ande, in some wrath, "you're no more of a man than +I am, and as for reputation, you've none to spare." + +"Softly, softly, little lad; 'ow pretty 'e looks, a-dressed in 'is +Sunday clothes, a-sitting in the stocks, and as I do live, the little +lad 'as been a-crying. Aren't 'ee afeared 'ee'll spoil your pretty new +jacket?" + +Bob advanced a step or two, and placing the pipe again in his mouth at a +dangerous angle, and grinning with Satanic pleasure, shoved his freckled +countenance almost into Ande's face. + +Now the stocks was an instrument of confinement in which the ankles were +held securely, while the arms and hands were free. Bob had evidently +forgotten the latter fact, but was made aware of it by a stinging +left-hander, that sent the pipe flying and Bob likewise into the dust. + +"Now, damme, for a traitor's cub, I'll eat 'ee up," exclaimed Bob in +his wrath, as he arose from the dust, with bloody lip and vengeful eye. +And he doubtlessly would have made some attempt to carry out his dire +vengeance had not the sound of approaching footsteps and a cheery +whistling in the distance been heard. Dreading some encounter with the +Hall people, and with a threat of vengeance at some future time, he made +off for the village. + +The whistling came nearer and nearer. A tall, dark figure emerged from +the gloom, walking with a quick, jaunty step. + +"What ho, my Bob Cuffins, scragged in wooden leggins!" The white +trousers and blue jacket caught his eye. "Well, a gentry cove." Dropping +all dialect, his language became more respectful. + +"And what hast done, lad, to be trussed up like this?" + +Ande looked at the stranger, doubtingly. He was clad in a long rough +coat, the skirts of which were slightly torn. His countenance was dark, +but with a healthy bloom on it. + +"Come, my lad, I look rather unprepossessing and rough, but mayhap I am +better than I appear." + +Ande, reassured, told his story briefly. + +"And you're Squire Trembath's grandson, and you were accused of the +mischief at the Manor?" said the fellow, and then softly whistled to +himself. "I think I had better let you out for two reasons. First, +because you couldn't have done the things said, since one of my partners +did that. I don't mind telling you, as you can't prove your innocence +otherwise, and as long as you don't tell the squire before a day or so, +it won't hurt us. Then, in the second place, I like to pay my debts to +friends. If you ever see your father, tell him that Midnight Jack +returned his favour of over sixteen years ago." + +With a quick movement, the tall gipsy chief leaned down, wrenched open +the clasp of the stocks, and the imprisoned lad was free. He was gone +even before the lad could thank him. + +Burning with indignation at his disgrace, Ande hastened home with flying +feet. His mother had already retired. In anguish of soul, he quietly +stole up the little attic stairs to retire, but not to sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +REPARATION + + +Some days elapsed before Ande went near the village or the Manor. With a +boyish burst of confidence, he related the whole affair to his mother, +who was not only shocked, but highly indignant at the treatment accorded +her "laddie." The lad refused to attend school and lost some of his old +buoyant spirit. In these days, he spent most of his time working around +the home place, meeting frequently Tom Glaze, in the furze croft, and +profiting much by his training. Tom had heard of Ande's shameful +treatment, and had given him much advice, that seemed phenomenal, coming +from such a pugilistic character. + +"See 'ere, my lad, doan't 'ee go a-moping around, looking as ghastly as +a death's head on a mopstick. Thee might as well knaw there's no use +a-fighting sarcumstances that way. The squire will discover his mistake +some day, and will maake all right. When the lads tease 'ee a bit about +the stocks, doan't 'ee take any offence. Doan't 'ee fight o'er little +things." + +"Aye, but the world treats a man pretty hard once when he is down, and +what's a fellow to do?" + +"Why, above all things, doan't 'ee be a great chuckle-head, but have +some judgment," said Tom, at which Ande flushed angrily. "Now doan't +'ee take no offence. What I means is this. Did 'ee ever see a kicking +donkey? Treat un kindly and 'e won't kick. Smile and duck your 'ead to +the world and say, 'What cheer,' or ''Ow do 'ee do,' and the world will +smile and bow or duck back and say, 'Pretty well, thank 'ee,' or 'Brave, +thank 'ee.' Frown, and give the world the cold shoulder, and you gets +the same. They say the Golden Rule is 'Do unto others as 'ee would be +done by,' but the practical rule is 'Others do to 'ee as 'ee do by +they.'" + +"Well, Master Glaze, that doesn't 'old good in my case. Here I did good +to Squire Vivian and received evil in return." + +"Exceptions prove the rule. Anyhow, try my hadvice." + +Ande did try Tom's advice, and was gratified to see that, with the +exception of Bully Bob Sloan, all the village lads improved in their +conduct toward him. The rescue of Mistress Alice was soon noised abroad, +and he was considered almost in the light of a hero by the juvenile +element. + +One evening, as the lad was returning from the furze croft, he noticed a +chaise and pony at his mother's door. It was the chaise of Mistress +Alice, who had, since the affair with Queeny, betaken herself to the +pony and chaise when desiring an airing. His mother had received her +with a certain amount of cold dignity which her feelings would scarcely +allow her to conceal. + +There was a variety of emotions in the lad's breast as he approached. +There was anger at Squire Vivian's indignity to him, a feeling of shame +at the report of his depredations, and an emotion that had lived in his +soul for quite a time, but which he had never fully analysed. From early +childhood he had remembered the squire's daughter. He remembered, with +all a youth's tenacity, how he was led to church by the tall, soldierly +man, his father, and how rapidly he had to move his infantile feet to +keep up with the soldier's tread. In the family pew he would sometimes +turn his head to a nice dark-haired little miss of a few summers' age, +seated in Squire Vivian's pew. Once she had shyly and demurely returned +his look, then quickly turned away, as if displeased. He had asked his +father afterward whether he didn't think the squire's girl a "pretty +little maid," and he remembered the hearty roar of laughter with which +his father responded. Since he had been attending the parish school, he +had not seen her much. Indeed, he had never become acquainted with her +before the affair of the runaway. He had always admired those dark elfin +locks, and in church he had thought if he had one of them how he would +cherish it, and then he had flushed crimson at what he thought almost a +profanation. He had always admired her, but the feeling he had had for +quite a time past could neither be admiration nor friendship. He had not +analysed it. It was this strange sentiment that had led him frequently +into the vicinity of the Manor, before the regrettable affair of the +stocks. His appearance there on the evening of the killing of the +mastiff was an incident of that kind. He had conceived a passion for +flowers, and especially for the flowers of a garden plot, watered and +attended by the hand of Mistress Alice. Could he secure one of those +blossoms? Now, Ande was the perfect soul of honour, but he had had a +hard fight with himself to keep from appropriating what was not his own. +The slightness of the offence, the intensity of his feelings, the +heritage of his ancestors, all urged the harmlessness of the deed. He +might have secured one by request, but he would have died before +exposing his feelings to ridicule. + +Ande stood near the threshold with a tumult of feelings within him, that +made him look more like an awkward, country lout than the grandson of a +squire. + +"Master Trembath, I have come to beg your pardon for the hasty act of +father." + +Ande could not help noticing the slight colouring of her features, +enhanced by the wealth of dark locks overhead. There was a sincerity and +earnestness in her tone that made her a hundred times more attractive +than he had ever seen her before. He mastered himself with a great +effort. + +"The apology comes from the wrong person, Mistress Vivian, and the deed +being done, cannot be undone." + +"It was a cruel injustice," said Mrs. Trembath, with some little warmth +in her tone, "and I wondered how the squire could have done it, seeing +how bravely my laddie acted in the runaway." + +The young girl flushed at the charge of injustice. + +"Indeed, father was not aware of Master Trembath's brave conduct; he was +away all afternoon, and I was not aware of the judgment on Master +Trembath until the following day. I was very much vexed over the whole +affair, and when I told father, he, too, was chagrined, yet he said the +circumstances were so much against Master Trembath that he didn't see +how he could amend matters. I want you to accept these flowers, Master +Trembath, as a token of my high esteem, and I trust that you will +neither consider my father nor myself in any hard light." + +She placed the large bouquet of flowers on the settle and turned to +depart. Mrs. Trembath placed her hand on the dark, raven locks of the +squire's daughter as she stood on the portico step. + +"And may God's blessing attend you, Mistress Vivian, for your kind and +charitable spirit, and may your father be imbued with the same!" + +Ande accompanied her to the pony chaise. His righteous indignation +against the squire was mitigated by this unexpected visit and by the +flowers. He had coveted only a single blossom; here was a gorgeous bunch +from her very hand. + +They made a pretty picture, standing without the gate, in the rays of +the setting sun. The pony stood patiently waiting near the hedge, +occasionally nibbling a choice bit of herbage that seemed to seek safety +from his investigating jaws in the rough rock crevices. + +"I thank you very much; the flowers are very beautiful." + +"And you will not think hard of my father." + +The youth was silent and bit his lip; then avoiding the question, he +answered: + +"It was not the stocks, but the accusation and the condemnation, that +has made all people look down on me." + +"Oh, Master Trembath----" + +"Call me Ande; it's more natural to me; you were going to say----" + +"I was going to ask whether you could not clear yourself from being on +the grounds at that time." + +"No. I was there." + +"After your having saved my life. I shudder to think of it----" + +"You shudder to think of my saving your life," said the youth, a little +stiffly. + +"Oh, no. How you misunderstand me!" + +"You mean you are pleased," said Ande, brightening. + +"Stupid!" said the girl, a little indignant. "Why don't you let me +finish my sentence." + +Ande was abashed at this rebuff. + +"I shuddered at the accident that might have been, and I want to see you +justified. Now if you could tell me why you were there I could inform +father, and he, being the soul of honour, would make all right." + +"No, I cannot tell my reason," said the youth, flushing painfully. + +"And not even tell me, when you know I am so interested in having you +brought out from under this cloud." + +"If you knew you would not tell him either," said the youth, doggedly. + +She gazed at him quickly. Somehow in her young woman soul she seemed to +read his reason. Yes, in a moment, with that keen intuition, developed +earlier in woman than in man, she read through this hesitation, this +confusion. She knew. + +"I can tell who did the deed, though," said the lad, for he thought of +the information of the gipsy chief, and that now he was at perfect +liberty to tell. + +"Who?" asked the girl, eagerly. This youth that had so bravely saved her +life should be justified. + +Ande related the events of his rescue from the stocks and the tale of +the gypsy chief. The girl listened with brightening eye and kindling +cheeks. + +"It must be so, for how could you have gotten forth from the stocks? No +one would have dared to let you out but a person like that. I know how +we all wondered when Stephen Blunt came in and told my father that the +stocks were empty. But why did you not tell this before?" + +"Because Midnight Jack told me it would not hurt them if it wasn't told +for a day or so." + +"I shall see that you are justified. You have been shamefully treated." + +The squire's daughter mounted into the pony chaise, grasped the lines +with her slender, gloved hands, and with a smile was gone. + +"Poor lad! He has been shamefully treated and he shall be justified," +she thought to herself. "How foolish I was not to see before. He loves +me," she said softly. "He is good looking and tall and man-like for his +age." Then there was a pause in her soliloquy, unbroken save by the pony +hoofs. Then she drew her brows down with a slight frown. "Pshaw!" Then +the scowl left her features and she broke into a slight, nervous laugh. +"Absurd!" + +The remainder of the drive was spent in silence, but there was +heightened colour in her cheeks and a soft, pellucid light in her eyes. + +Old Sloan took the pony and chaise at the entrance of the great house, +and Mistress Alice tripped up the steps and into the hall. The old +squire was seated by the hall fire, meditating apparently, for his chin +was resting on his hand and he had his eyes fixed upon the flaming +coals. His daughter bent over his chair, and lightly kissed his +forehead; then drawing a stool near him she seated herself, leaning her +head against him and waiting for him to speak. + +But the old squire did not speak for a time; he placed his big, brown +hand upon his daughter's dark locks, and still gazed into the fire. It +was the daughter that broke the silence. + +"Father, I have news to tell you." + +"Well, Allie?" + +"It was not Master Trembath that killed Borlase, or drained the pond; it +was one of the gipsies." Then she poured forth the whole story of Ande's +escape from the stocks, while the old squire listened, as he gazed into +the fire. When she had finished he gazed at her. + +"I know it, Allie. I had my eyes opened, and even saw the rogue, this +afternoon, at Sir James Lanyan's. Sir James had him up for some offence +and he confessed all, the rogue." + +"And about Master Trembath?" + +"Aye, that's what troubles me. I can't see what I can do to justify him. +True, I can exonerate him, but to make reparation for the injustice of +putting the lad into the stocks--I can't see what I can do. The lad is +better than I thought, if he does have treasonable blood." + +"We must exonerate him by announcing it in the parish school and at the +church. We ought to reward him, too, for stopping the runaway. It ought +not to be said that a Vivian received a favour of such kind, from any +one, without doing something in return." + +"Reparation shall be made!" exclaimed the squire, emphatically. Alice +had touched him in his pride. She had also touched him on the side of +his honesty and uprightness. + +"We will have it announced in the parish school and church, as you say; +the whole parish knew it when he was placed in the stocks, and the whole +parish shall know of it--that he is not guilty--that--that----But we +must do something else. That will be only common justice. We must reward +the lad,--but how?" + +The eyes of Mistress Alice became luminous; she was winning her case. +With deftness she proceeded. + +"He doesn't like to attend school, so Parson Trant says, and I was +thinking how nice it would be to send him to the Helston Grammar School. +Now, father, if you could make the offer?" + +The squire brightened. He had found a way out of his difficulties. He +kissed his daughter and called her a wise, little prime minister. He +hastened away that very evening to the parson's house, and the old +rector was delighted to be the means of Ande's reinstatement in popular +favour. + +After the departure of Mistress Alice from the Primrose Cottage, Ande +had better thoughts of the squire and his people. Somehow or other he +felt lighter of heart, but his mind was strangely confused. During the +evening hymn instead of the sweet strains of Ken's Evening Hymn he was +guilty of fearful, musical blunders. + +As he lay awake under the eaves that night, his imagination still +carried him back to the garden-gate scene. Yes, she stood before him +just as attractive in memory as she did then. In impatience he tried to +banish her face. + +"Fudge," said he "I'll get Glaze to give me a skevern in the chacks that +will knock some sense into my addled head." + +He dreamed that night that he was under the walls of the great house, +near Mistress Alice's window, and that he was playing on the harp of his +fathers. Once he thought he saw her face--then it changed to the +features of the squire--and, wonder to relate, a smile upon his rugged +features--then over the squire's shoulders appeared the sardonic +countenance of Sir James Lanyan. He changed the strains to the Hymn of +the Lark, and Sir James paled and fled. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +DEFEAT OF BULLY BOB SLOAN + + "I am the Valiant Cornishman + Who slew the giant Cormoran." + + --_Cor. Ballad._ + + +"Ande, my lad, I have been thinking about you and your unfortunate +experience, and have been pondering in my mind, for quite a time, what +to do. Your education, already so advanced, must not be slighted. You do +not feel like continuing school here?" + +It was the parson who was speaking. Parson Trant with Ande was seated in +the study room of the rectory, a pretty, half stone, half brick edifice, +nearly concealed from the public road by masses of ivy and foliage. It +was built for the express use of the parson, and, according to his +desires, was as retiring from public notice as a mother bird ensconced +in her nest amidst enveloping leaves. + +"No, Parson Trant, I think not." + +"I thought so; but your education shall not be neglected. Squire Vivian +has come to me and realising how bravely you acted in the runaway, and +how unjustly you were treated, proposed that you should go to the +Helston Grammar School." + +Ande's countenance flushed. The parson perceived it and continued. + +"Now, Ande, lad, the ill feeling between the squire and you ought to +cease. He is good-hearted in the main. He has made ample reparation for +the offence of the stocks and he wishes to show his good will and +thankfulness for the rescue of his daughter. It is a creditable action +of his, and you are not receiving any favour, but a just due. I have +talked to your mother of the matter and she is willing for you to go. I +have written to the head and he will make room for you. You must not +allow any hard feeling on your part to mar the happiness of your mother +and the hopes of your best friends. Besides, it is not courteous to +refuse to meet the overtures of friendship from one whom you have always +esteemed an enemy, especially when that person meets you more than +halfway. Your father would not have scorned to do so, and you desire to +be as much of a gentleman as your father was." + +The youth was won over by the earnest manner and words of his friend, +the parson. There was quite a conversation as to the time of entrance, +the necessary preparations, and the conclusion of it all was that Ande +should go after the Christmas holidays. + +His mind delighted with the prospect of attending the Grammar School, +and with airy dreams of what that existence would be, he left the +rectory and wended his way with light steps down the walk and out on the +public road. The sun seemed to smile brighter upon him, the birds to +warble sweeter, and all nature seemed to be tinged with the bright hues +of his day dreams of the future. There were voices in the distance, +boyish voices, and with laugh and rude joke, a crowd of parish school +lads, bubbling with spirits, surged around a neck of woods. The master +had given them a half-holiday and they were bound to the Giant's Quoit, +a huge rock said to have been used as a plaything by the ancient Cyclops +of Cornwall. + +[Illustration: "Yes, give three hoots for the red-'eaded Deane and all +his traitor hancestors"] + +"'Allo, come along, Ande, will 'ee?" exclaimed Tommy Puckinharn. + +"No, can't go," replied Ande, shaking his head. He must go home and talk +with his mother over the great prospects of attending the Grammar +School. + +"Naw,--'e must ask 'is mawther fust," cried Bully Bob, with a great +coarse laugh. The laugh and the reference to his mother stung Ande, but +he pretended not to notice. + +"'E's getting up too far now in society to 'sociate with we; 'e was +calling on squire some time ago, and squire give 'im the seat of +honour--fact," said Bob with a wink and a grin that seemed to bring +forth additional grins upon the countenances of several of his +satellites. + +Ande stood for a moment, irresolute, then resumed his way. + +"Les give three hoots for the red-'eaded Deane and all his traitor +hancestors." + +The last was too much for the impatient spirit of the lad to brook. +Turning about and with a calm, steady voice, he cast his gauntlet at Bob +in the shape of a few words in the dialect, equivalent to a challenge to +battle the world over. + +"Bob, thee'rt a great, ghastly coward, and thee knaw it." + +A wave of redness swept over Bob's face, completely drowning the +freckles with which it was freely sprinkled. + +"'Ow's that! I 'ave a good mind to scat thee in the chacks for thy +himpudence, m'lad." And then in a tantilising manner, as Ande +approached, he continued, "Thee art a traitor, for thy faather and +grandfaather were traitors. Everybody knaws they were traitors and +cowards hout in blooming hold America." + +The words had hardly emanated from his lips when--smack!--went Ande's +hand on the mouth that had spoken this base libel. A thrill of +expectancy passed over all the crowd, a thrill of amazement, awe, vivid +interest. + +"Damme," said Bob, as he spat his blood and froth from his lips, "I'll +make 'ee think Saint Michael's Cormoran had 'ee when I get done weth +'ee. Wilt fight or must I knack 'ee down?" + +There was no occasion to ask, for Ande, boiling with rage, was coming at +him with a rush, when a deep voice from the side of the hedge cried, +"'Old hard, there a-bit." + +Tom Glaze vaulted the neighbouring hedge and strode forward into their +midst. + +"Now, I observed the quarrel and I suppose you 'ave got to fight un out, +but 'ee must follow the regular Cornish rules. Thee, Ande, get thy +second, and thee, Bob, get thine, wost tha, and I'll be timekeeper and +referee." + +Glaze led the way over the hedge and the crowd of lads followed, +leaping the barrier like a flock of sheep. A circle was formed in true +British style. Bob chose one of his satellites, and Ande chose +Puckinharn to act as second. The crowd looked on with intense interest. +Was not this to be the greatest fight they had ever seen? Who had ever +dared to challenge redoubtable Bob before? And to make it additionally +interesting, Tom Glaze, one of the most expert wrestlers and boxers of +the Duchy, was to be the one in charge. It was of as much moment to them +as the battle of Waterloo to their fathers. + +The coats of the contestants were cast aside and their sleeves were +deftly rolled up by the seconds. + +"One, two, three," counted Glaze, and then the battle began. + +With a roar, Bully Bob rushed as if to break every bone in his +antagonist's body, and truly had the blow fallen the battle would have +been a short one, for in age, height and weight Bob had the advantage. +Now did Ande feel grateful for the training in the furze croft. +Heretofore, it was stand up, take and give, but now, to Bob's intense +amazement and disgust, his blow landed on empty air, and as he swept by, +carried by his momentum, he received a fierce jab in the ribs that added +nothing to his good humour. Observing, after one or two encounters like +this, that he had no ordinary battle to fight, he began to be more +cautious and his usual confident, sneering face assumed a doubtful air, +but he still pressed the conflict. With his sledge-hammer fists he shot +out blows that would have felled a much larger opponent, but they were +either parried or fell on air. With the litheness and agility of a +leopard his opponent was here, there, everywhere, side-stepping and +putting in heavy body blows that made Bob gasp with something more than +astonishment. + +But Ande was growing too confident. Pushing his antagonist in turn, he +sought to reach Bob's freckled countenance, fell short, and, to use his +own expression, "received a skevern on the noase and eyes that made un +see fire." + +A yell went up from Bob's satellites. Bob had drawn first blood, and he +now pressed the dazed Ande, showering on him a number of blows that he +with difficulty avoided. + +The mute silence of the crowd was broken by Bob's success. Whooping, +yelling, they urged Bob on. + +"Give it to the hugly Deane! Knack down the traitor! Hooray! +Braavo-o-o!" + +Only Puckinharn shouted encouragement to his principal. + +"'It un in the ribs, Ande! Thee cussent reach 'is faace. Braavo! Braavo, +now he's gurking."[4] + + [4] Gurking--weakening. + +The latter was said in response to a crashing left jab in the ribs that +made Bob lower his guard spasmodically. "At un, Ande; his faace now is +like that of a roasted herring on a gridiron. Up and at un, lad!" +Puckinharn's shouts were swelled by the voices of one or two others who +had been silent before. + +Bob now sought to end the battle in close quarters, and rights and +lefts were freely exchanged. Ande wheeled and his friends were silent in +dread for a moment, but only for a moment. Bob staggered back with a +heavy elbow jolt in the small ribs, but not before he had given his +opponent a blow that sent him to the ground, dazed. Ande's pivot blow +had left a bad opening. Bob seeing his opponent down, was rushing in to +finish the contest on the ground, apparently, no rules having as yet +been devised against it, when Tom Glaze shoved himself between. + +"Round's hup." + +The boys began to cheer for Bob, thinking that the battle was over and +that Bob was a victor, but that worthy silenced them with a growl. + +"Shut up, will 'ee; 'e edent licked yet." + +His crestfallen adherents were silent. In the meantime some of the crowd +had brought water to bathe and refresh the youthful gladiators. An old +horse trough was used by Bob and a battered field kibbel[5] by Ande. The +first round was manifestly Bob's. He had drawn first blood and had +knocked his antagonist down. His face was untouched, while Ande's was a +bit drawn; but to judge by the many soft rubs that Bob gave his ribs, he +had not come out of the first round unscathed. + + [5] Kibbel--bucket. + +As Ande rested on Puckinharn's knee, that worthy gave him sundry pieces +of advice. + +"Thee must keep on 'itting 'im in the ribs; 'e's taller than 'ee, and +thee cussent reach 'is faace; 'e's sore and weak there now; 'e's +gurking, I tell'ee." + +"Time!" called Tom Glaze, and to the fray again they rushed. + +Bully Bob, flattered by his adherents, had regained his confidence. He +would finish the battle in close quarters, and rushed again and again, +but his wily antagonist was as agile as an eel. Bob paused for breath +and glared. + +"At un, Bob! Eat un up!" + +"I will," said Bob, "as soon as I catch un." + +The fighting continued, Ande playing his old tactics--hitting in the +ribs and getting away. Puckinharn grinned in delight. Round two was up +and honours were equally divided. Bob was filled with wrath. + +"See 'ere," he said to Tom Glaze, "I want to knaw if that is fair, for +'e to go running and dodging around like that? Us aren't playing fox and +hounds. Why doan't 'e stand up and take and give like a man?" + +He was reassured by Glaze, and Glaze's word was law. + +"Thee didn't think it was unfair to crack to Ande when he was down, did +'ee,--thee great bucca," exclaimed Puckinharn. + +A bucca was the highest title of reproach that Puckinharn had in his +vocabulary. + +"Silence," said Glaze; "the rules are that all dodging is allowed." + +"And wrastling, too," said Bob. + +"Aye, and wrastling, too," affirmed Glaze with a peculiar smile. + +And so the rounds went on until the seventh, when + +Bob being unwary, Ande seized his left guard, gave his ankle a queer, +Cornish side kick, and sent in a blow on Bob's jaw that toppled the +redoubtable bully over on his back. + +"Hooray! Braavo!" exclaimed Puckinharn, swinging his cap up in the air +in his delight. + +Bob was up the next instant and began to fight in a cautious, crouching +attitude. His ribs, black and blue, he sought to shield by drawing his +body back and shoving his head and arms forward. There was a better +chance, too, for a wrestle, he thought. The small boys held their +breath. This was the attitude Bob always assumed when meeting hard +opponents. Rumour had credited him with throwing a sailor in this +manner. The bully was at bay and would fight hard. Now, Ande, you have +need of all your skill, so hardly earned in the practice bouts with Tom +Glaze. There was no further chance at Bob's ribs, and his head seemed +perfectly guarded. They circled warily around each other seeking for an +opening. Then, like a flash came Ande's chance, the opportunity that he +would not let slip. "If 'ee ever get that chance and take it, it will +put thy opponent down and hout sure," Glaze had told him time and time +again, in their practice bouts. + +Bob made a slight pass with his left. The next instant his wrist was +grasped in an iron grip. Up over his neck Ande raised Bob's arm, then +bending his back he grasped with his other hand his opponent's right +knee, and putting forth all his strength, Bob went up in the air as if +hoisted with a derrick. + +"A clinch! a clinch!" shouted some, and it was a clinch in which one did +all the clinching. + +Bob struggled manfully, but the grip that had stopped the squire's +runaway mare could not be unloosened. Up, up, up, went Bob, and then +with a heave the form of the bully, like a comet, went over his +opponent's head and over the heads of the close-pressing ring-siders, +his foot kicking off the cap of one of the lads in his involuntary +flight. There was a thud and a cry. The battle was ended. Bully Bob had +a broken collar-bone, and his prestige was forever terminated. + +Trembath was the hero of the hour. Tom Glaze was jubilant and slapped +the victor on the back. + +"Thee did what I telled thee, and I couldn't do un better myself. +Thee'lt be champion of the county yet. Thee make off home now, for thy +mother will be looking for 'ee, and I'll see to the tother chap." + +Ande started homeward. The boys still remained around the fallen bully, +or in little knots by themselves discussed the great battle. Then a +short distance away were seen the approaching figures of the squire and +parson, and the spectators melted away like magic, until only Tom Glaze +remained. + +"Ah, Tom, a bad day's work, inciting the young to fight," said Parson +Trant, shaking his head disapprovingly. + +"Well, lads will fight and sometimes it does them good," said the +squire, who loved the old British game of boxing, and felt like +supporting Glaze, who was a favourite of his. + +"A bad thing, stirring up the worst passions," replied the parson. + +"I doan't knaw about that," sturdily replied Glaze, encouraged by the +squire's words. "This was a thing that 'ad to come off, and seeing as +'ow the little one 'as given the big un a much needed dressing down,--I +think it proper, sir," and Glaze touched his cap. + +"Another case of the valiant Cornishman and the giant Cormoran, eh, +Glaze?" said the squire, laughingly. + +"Aye, sir, 'tez so," said Glaze, as they passed on. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY + + "Come, bring with a noise, + My merrie, merrie boys, + The Christmas block to the firing; + While my good dame, she, + Bids ye all be free, + And drink to your heart's desiring." + + --_Herrick._ + + +There was bustle and activity in the parish. There was a chill in the +air, the presage of the rapidly approaching Christmas time. House +cleaning and baking occupied the time of the busy housewives. The small +boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, +currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the +oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of +retention. Then the bag-puddings--a most indigestible mass--yet sweet +and toothsome, the pastries, pies, and fuggans, passed in regular order +through the hands of the cook. + +There is activity among the male population as well as among the +housewives. Small lads run hither and thither crying shrilly, "Pennorths +of Christmas," and exhibiting evergreen, holly and mistletoe for sale. +The farmers are preparing bands for saluting the apple trees. Youngsters +are planning schemes for watching the oxen kneel. Singers are +practising, night after night, the Christmas carols or "curls." Youths +are preparing for the Christmas play of St. George and the Turk. + +Ande had been to Helston with the donkey and cart to purchase needed +supplies, and in returning along the "Red Revver" road was allowing the +animal to take his own gait. + +"'Allo, Ande, we want 'ee for St. George in the Christmas play," said a +voice from the hedge. It was Puckinharn. + +"How art tha, Tommy! Up with 'ee and 'ave a ride. Who's in the company?" +said Ande, all in one breath. + +"We doant knaw as yet, but thee must be St. George, that's settled," +said Tommy, as he clambered up into the cart. + +"Well, if I'm to be St. George, we had better begin soon. Suppose we +meet in our furze croft and get down to business this afternoon." + +"The very place," assented Tommy. + +The donkey was hurried on, while both lads planned and talked. That +afternoon saw a crowd of the village boys assembled in the rough +highland, "the croft," and after much debate the parts were assigned and +practising begun. + +Christmas eve came at length. The moon shone serenely from between +broken clouds. The air was clear, crisp and cold, and made great coats a +necessity to comfort. The trees had lost their leafy robe, and now +stood shivering or shaking in envy of their evergreen brethren, while +all the green hedges had aged into withered brown. There was a flash of +light from the parish church tower, and then the single pencil of light +was increased by another and another, until every window of the old +structure was ablaze with illumination in honour of the coming birthday +of the Nazarene. Light after light appeared in cottage of peasant and +mansion of gentleman, as if an answer to the summons of the old church +to do honour to Him who is the "light of the world." Then on the night +air came the song of choirs and carol of singers, mingled with the +strains of musical instruments. From cottage and hall sounded the merry +noise of revelry, the hearty laugh and general good cheer. + +Forth through the night, bubbling with good spirit and anticipated +merriment, stalked the St. George Band of Christmas players, adorned in +such a brave manner as even to make the redoubtable British champion, +had he lived to see it, green with envy. What variable garments! What +coats adorned with tinsel, red, and gold, and striped! What shields of +brilliant paper or tin, spears of warlike hickory, and swords--not near +so sharp as the Saracen blade, but still as sharp as wood could be +whittled with a jack-knife; and caps of tall, many-hued tinsel; had the +real St. George worn one of them the terrible, ripping, snorting, +steam-breathing dragon would have bellowed in anguish, and have fallen +down in a dead faint. But they were good enough for the occasion and +their very form was sacred by ancestry. + +House after house was visited and the fun grew fast and furious. At very +few places were they not given a ready entrance and hearty welcome. + +"Now les to the squire's!" exclaimed one, and the proposition was hailed +with delight. The distance was not far, and the time was shortened by +conversation and by a little warlike practice between St. George and his +Mohammendan enemy, the Turk, in which practice the Turk received a +terrific, broad sword slash, that made him pucker up his face like the +picture of the Saracen's head at the village inn. The Turk was not +gifted in the Turkish language, but made up for it by giving vent in +broad Cornish dialect to his feelings. + +"Damme, Ande, ef thee'rt going to cut my nose off my faace and scat my +brains out, I'll be a Turk no longer," and Tommy Puckinharn flung down +his sword in disgust, and stalked on ahead of the company. With one hand +nursing his injured olfactory and the other thrust in his breast, and +meekly followed by his fellows, he looked like Napoleon and army on the +retreat from Moscow. Some one picked up the Turk's weapon and +immediately a discussion arose. No one but a knight must carry a sword +in the company. Sword bearing was the special prerogative of a knight +and "tother chaps must carry spears." The sword bearer then pleaded to +be made a knight, and if Tommy wouldn't be the Turk to install him in +his place. But that was what Tommy didn't want. He had no desire of +being turned out of the second place in the company, even if he did +throw down his weapon, and so he returned and indignantly protested. +When a soldier loses his sword and another finds it, he ought to return +it, was the Turk's argument. + +St. George settled the affair by raising the sword finder to the rank of +a squire. The bravery of the Turk in their late encounter, and his +heroic courage on other occasions, merited that he should have an armour +bearer, a squire, to be his constant attendant. The sword finder was +elated and, somehow or other, the pain in the Turk's nose was healed by +this new dignity that his valour had added to his reputation. There was +no more practice in the warlike arts, for the Manor gates were passed +and the great house was near. + +The numerous chimney pots sent up various curling clouds of smoke that +glistened palely in the moonlight. The diamond-shaped window panes +gleamed and scintillated with the illumination within, except where a +dark shadow of holly wreath obstructed the light. The broad verandas +were festooned with ropes of evergreen. Up the broad steps strode the +players and, after a few mute looks and a little whispered colloquy, the +herald lifted the rapper and sent a peal through the old building that +would have been certainly heard at any other time but Christmas eve. + +Within there was the noise of frolick. The servants were haw-hawing in +the kitchen department over some joke or amusement, and the occasional +thump, thump of feet in measured time indicated a dance, perhaps between +the cook and hostler. The squire's hall was replete with good cheer. +Wreaths of evergreen intertwined with sprigs of holly were hung at +regular spaces on the waxed, panelled walls. At one end was a large +life-sized painting of George the Second. Squire Vivian had a great +reverence for the king that had secured to his family the estate of +Trembath. His father had served King George faithfully in the east, and +there had ever been a strong friendship between the Vivians and the +Hapsburgs. At the other end of the hall hung the picture of the squire's +father and, although in warlike garb, yet had a friendly smile on his +features as if in greeting to His Majesty, the King, on the opposite +wall. In the centre of the side wall was the great open fireplace, the +grate having been removed to make room for the great yule block that was +kindled every Christmas eve with almost religious ceremonies, and near +its warm glow was the form of the squire, seated in his great armchair. +He looked the very impersonation of Father Christmas, minus the beard. +Near him were two or three of his friends from the east, men of his own +age, who seemed to enjoy his conversation and laughed as merrily as +himself. A whist party was in progress on the other side of the +fireplace, while down the long room, here and there, were scattered +various groups engaged in various Christmas games. The hall floor was +not carpeted, for the squire scorned such modern improvements as +innovations and desired nothing better than the old-fashioned waxed +floors. Neither did he see fit to remove any of the emblems of his +father's predecessors, for above the flaming firelog stretched the high +oak mantel, and carved in relief on its shiny surface was the figure of +a Lyonnese warrior galloping amidst devouring ocean waves. + +The squire was just chuckling over a young lady's mishap in getting +under the mistletoe when the herald of the St. George company, tired of +raising the great knocker, pushed open the door and entered the hall. +There was a thump on the floor to demand attention, and then in as +authoritative voice as he could command came the heralding of the brave +gallants without. + + "Room, a--a--room, brave gallants, room! + Within this court, + I do resort + To show some sport + And pastime; + Gentlemen and ladies, in the Christmas time." + +There was silence in the hall for a moment and then the squire spoke out +with a cheery welcome, for he heartily appreciated the amusement. + +"Bring in your gallant crew. Ho, there, children, move to one side and +give them room for fair play." This latter to various groups of +merrymakers in the hall. + +The whist players dropped their cards, the hall occupants withdrew to +either side, and the elderly parties around the squire ceased their +conversation to give full attention to the antics of these new +merrymakers. + +The herald bowed to the squire and company and waved his wand, and in +capered a queer, uncouth figure in mask and flowing wig and whiskers. +The young children burst into peals of laughter at his grotesque +movements, and he had to uphold his authority and gain silence for +himself by thumping the floor vigorously with his tall staff. He had a +right to demand attention, for he was Father Christmas; his round, +cheery face proclaimed it, even without his speech which he proceeded to +make. + + "Here come I, old Father Christmas, + Welcome or welcome not, + I 'ope hold Father Christmas + Will never be forgot; + I bring the cold of winter time, + That kisses red the nose; + I bring the snow, the rain, the frost + That bites and stings the toes; + But, then, I'm welcome anyway + Because I am the seer + That brings the nuts, and cake, and pies + Of happy Yuletide cheer." + +Father Christmas executed a few joyous capers, but was interrupted by +the herald who, with a little fear on his countenance, stated: + +"Father Christmas, thee must stand aside a bit for I think I see an +enemy of thine and of our good Christmas cheer a-coming." + +Father Christmas moved aside with a shake of his hoary locks and +muttered: + + "Ah, 'tez the Saracen, I fear, + I would our bold St. George were near." + +All eyes were fastened on the door through which the valorous Turk, in +his green turban, was entering, his face a little more ferocious by the +wound received from St. George's sword in the contest on the public +road. The Saracen has some difficulty in expressing himself in good +English, but that was to be attributed to his Turkish training. +Flourishing his sword he began: + + "Bally, bully mally can + Hodak 'ee St. George ann, + Baresesh tally man, + Abdul caliph Hassan!" + + "Pray, speak in English, brave Turk, + Let's 'ear what mischiefs in thee lurk." + +The herald had spoken in response to his heathen jargon, and the Saracen +scowled upon him hideously and answered: + + "'Tis plain 'ee cannot understand + The language of the Turkey land + And so I'll tell as plain I can + In the words of the Englishman. + Here come I, a Turkey snipe, + Come from the Turkey land to fight, + And if St. George do meet me here + I'll try 'is courage without fear." + +The Turk stalked around in brave manner, when a new arrival, the +redoubtable St. George, entered. A cheer went up from the younger +element of the squire's visitors, and even the whist players clapped +their hands, for the Turk was no favourite, and did they not love St. +George, the patron saint of England? St. George bows to the spectators, +and by his speech does not appear very modest over his great victories. + + "Here come I, that St. George, + That worthy champion bold, + And with my sword and spear + I won three crowns of gold. + I fought the dragon old + And brought him to the slaughter, + By that I gained fair Sabra, + The king of Egypt's daughter." + +The Turkish knight drew his sword and with a warlike pass at St. George, +hurled his defiance: + + "St. George, I pray, be not too bold, + If thy blood is hot I'll soon make un cold." + +The squire smiles, for there is a strong Cornish accent in the Turk's +tone, notwithstanding his efforts to conceal it. But now St. George also +has drawn his sword and with the threat, + + "Thou, Turkish Knight, I pray, forbear, + I'll make thee dread my sword and spear," + +the contest begins. + +The servants have opened the door leading to the kitchen department and +now stand crowding in the entrance. Little ones that had been taken to +bed by their nurses were brought down to see the fun. Fair play and a +clear field, the squire had said, and so the centre of the great room +was theirs. And how they did fight! Surely no earthly battle was like +it. In no battle was so much blood shed and so many hard blows +delivered, at least so thought the Turk in reference to the latter, for +he was battered from head to foot with side blows and over cuts, jabs, +and slashes, until he ardently wished for the time to come when he must +fall down dead. + +The squire and the others applauded when a good blow was given or one +neatly parried. The Turk at length steadily gave way, to the delight of +the little ones among the spectators. One little maid in her exuberance +of joy danced up and down clapping her hands and saying, "The old Turk +is going to be whipped, and I'm glad." At length, under a shower of +blows, the Turk fell to the ground amid the plaudits of the onlookers. +St. George bends over him to see the extent of his wounds, and the Turk +whispers: + +"Ande, I guess I 'ad better stay killed this time." + +But St. George is inexorable. Standing erect he +speaks: + + "He lives, he breathes, he speaks, + Now in the name of Elicompane + Let the man rise and fight again." + +The Turk arises on one knee and continues the conflict, but not for +long, as he is again stricken down and becomes at once a suppliant. + + "Oh, pardon me, St. George, + Pardon me I crave, + Pardon me this once, + And I will be thy slave." + +Bold St. George had no idea of mercy toward the Turk, and so he spurs +him once more to the conflict. + + "I'll never pardon a Turkish Knight, + Therefore arise and try thy might." + +Again the contest raged, the Turk, seeking to save himself as much as +possible from the onslaughts of St. George, fights with a good bit of +desperate valour, but down he goes again. St. George shakes his head as +if it were all over and then cries: + + "Is there a doctor to be found + To cure a deep and deadly wound?" + +Why he should be so solicitous for the welfare of the Turk as to seek a +doctor can hardly be told, unless for the pleasure of fighting with him +again. The doctor is not long in appearing from the hall entrance. With +three-cornered hat perched above an enormous wig and painted face, there +was a professional air about him. With a leer and a funny grimace at the +crowd he began his doggerel speech. + + "Oh, yes, there is a doctor to be found, + The best old doctor in the town, + On my back I carry my pack, + Of pills both white, and brown, and black." + +St. George stalked toward him and asked, "What can you cure? Can you +cure this man?" + + "Cure? I can cure the palsy, and gout, + If the devil's in him, I'll soon pull 'im out." + +The spectators crowded forward. Could the doctor cure the slain Turk? +Oh, yes. How wisely he goes about his work! He tries one remedy after +another, but of no avail. The Turk had told St. George in their last +encounter that he was going to fight no more. He wasn't going to fight +again, but to sham being dead, and then they would have to bring on the +other players. He was shamming wonderfully well, until even the squire +thought he was possibly badly hurt. The doctor knew different, however, +for he had been posted by St. George, and so he drew from his pocket a +bottle of exceedingly strong smelling salts. He had purloined it from +his mother's bureau. This would make him well, he averred. St. George +had kindness enough to hold the Turk's head down, while the doctor was +administering the dose. Three great strong whiffs entered the Turk's +nostrils, and seemed to enter every part of his head like the stinging +of a million hornets. He would have gotten up then and there and fought +the whole crowd had not St. George held his head, and the doctor thought +he had better have the full dose. + +"Achew! Achew! Achew!" + +St. George let go the Turk's head, and the doctor nimbly stepped aside; +the Turk with all the wrath of his race in his face, grasped his sword +and fought like a demon for a few moments. His being killed three times +seemed to increase his power. Then the natural superiority of Ande in +the use of the sword began to assert itself, and the Turk thought that +the sooner he fell the better, and accordingly did so. The old doctor +slowly advanced and shook his head, as if all his skill was of no avail +to resuscitate the slain Saracen. + + "Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust, + If man can't cure 'im, old Nick must." + +The doctor waved his staff, and in capered the dragon, a sort of hobble +horse made of hoops under distended canvas, and worked by an inside +performer. The great snapping jaws and staring eyes scared the little +ones, but they laughed when they found it was only the slain Turk that +he wanted. The unfortunate Turk, grasped by those rigorous jaws, was +dragged from the hall. + +The entertainment ended with the passing of the Christmas box, into +which each one threw an offering, and as if in thankfulness for the +amount the Christmas band, Turk, and dragon as well, mingled in a +ludicrous dance, after which the whole crew was regaled with hot egg-nogg +and cake. + +In the midst of the conversation and laughter new sounds penetrated the +hall from without. + + "Angels from the realms of glory, + Wing your flight o'er all the earth, + Ye who sang creation's story, + Now proclaim Messiah's birth." + +Some of the hall occupants rushed to the hall windows to see the +singers. There in the pale moonlight were singers from the parish church +and neighbourhood. They were singing, accompanied with the music of +clarionet and serpent players. After the anthem the squire sent the old +steward out to bid the choristers enter. He did so by saying to the +choristers: "The squire wants hall hangels to come in." They entered and +continued singing. + +In the midst of the singing the Turkish knight leaned over to St. George +and muttered: + +"Ande, I'll be a Turkey snipe no more, when thee art St. George." + +"Why?" said Ande, "and for goodness sake why do 'ee call it 'Turkey +snipe'? Did 'ee notice the squire smile? A Turkish knight, you mean." + +"Aye, I forgits the name; but 'ee nearly beat my insides out with thy +old wooden sword, so 'ee did,'" growled Tommy Puckinharn, softly. + +Ande gazed at the Turk's melancholy countenance, and chuckled in +amusement. + +"It was all in the play, Tommy, and if 'ee didn't fight so hard and I +didn't cut and slash as I did, perhaps we wouldn't 'ave the cake and +good stuff that we are eating here now," said Ande, at which reply Tommy +seemed some mollified. + +The "curl-singers" had finished their anthems and were regaled in the +same manner as the Christmas players, and there was a lull in the +amusements, when the great knocker on the hall door sounded the presence +of a new visitor. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE CORNISH DROLL TELLER + + "Seest thou not my harp? + Emblem of my peaceful calling." + + --_Harper Ballad._ + + +A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent +under the weight of a harp under its green covering. He was clad in the +ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long +stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now +generally being discarded by the gentry. From the hue of his hair, that +was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight +stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty +years of age. There was a trace of humour around the corners of his +mouth, and much fun-light in the gleam of his twinkling eyes that seemed +to belie the tragic nature of his heavy beetling brows. + +"Uncle Billy! Uncle Billy!" shouted some of the younger ones, in glee. + +"'Tis Uncle Billy, the droll teller," said the squire to one of his +eastern friends in a side tone, and then to the new arrival, "Welcome to +the Manor Hall, Uncle Billy, and to our Christmas cheer. Come nigh the +fire and get thy fingers loosened up, for we must have a tune to-night." + +Uncle Billy, the droll, sat himself near the yule log and, while he +warmed up his cold hands, entered into conversation with the squire and +one or two of his elder friends. + +The droll teller of Cornwall was a privileged character in the olden +times. Somewhat embodying the profession of the minstrel and the +story-teller, he was always assured of a ready welcome. For ages the +western part of Saxon England terminated at the River Tamar, and the +people west of that stream, girt with hills and wild moors, had little +communication with the outside world. Hence when the profession of the +minstrel began to decline in the days of Elizabeth, this section gave it +a ready welcome and asylum. The lack of railways and newspapers gave the +droll the profession of a news courier, and at any house he tarried he +was regarded with favour and reverence. How they stood around him in the +evening hours, in cottage or hall, and listened with eager interest to +the news of the great outside world, and how with awe upon their faces +they listened to the tales of Tregeagle, the giant Cormoran of St. +Michael's Mount! Many knew the tales, but none could tell them with the +vivid realism of the droll, and then how the eyes of the youths would +flash at the tales of King Arthur, the greatest king of the Cornish +line. + +Of all droll tellers, Uncle Billy was the most loved and the most +famous. He could enter into the cottages of the common people and be one +of their midst, speaking in their own dialect, or could associate with +the gentry speaking in language as good as their own, and at times +better. He was not only gifted with oratorical and musical power, but +also had a fund of information in legendary lore and was as familiar +with the tales of Rome and Greece as a university scholar. Some even +went so far as to say that he was a scholar of Eton College when he was +a lad, had been disappointed in a love affair and had drifted away from +all who knew him in consequence. At times, after some legend told with +great power, some of his friends among the gentry would remonstrate with +him on his wandering life and offer to assist him into some greater +sphere of usefulness, in better keeping with his education. + +"Sphere of usefulness," Billy would respond. "What profession is more +useful than that of the minstrel, or as people call me, the droll? I +have brought happiness into cottage and hall and wiped the tears from +sorrowing eyes with fun and laughter. I have made the youth's heart burn +with high purpose to emulate the heroic deeds of old, and I have +implanted thoughts of soberness in the giddy headed. What could be more +useful? And could I have a happier occupation were I in the position of +a servant? No, I prefer the old independent life of the droll; and as +for my high education," Billy would always stop here, and with a funny +twinkle in his eyes and dropping into the language of the country clout +say, "I beant much of a scholard." + +"Well, Billy, give us a song," said the squire, seeing that the droll +teller had become sufficiently thawed out to finger the harp. + +"Or a story," said a relative of the squire. + +"Tell us of the oxen kneeling on Christmas night," piped in a young, +shrill, boyish voice. + +"Les have Duffy and The Devil," said one of the "curl" singers. + +"Or the Cornish Tale of King Arthur," said another. + +"Well, well, one at a time. Suppose I sing ye one of the old Christmas +songs first," responded Uncle Billy, and tuning up his harp he swept +with rapid, light fingers the opening bars of "The First Good News That +Mary Had." This was followed by "I See Three Ships Come Sailing In," and +was greeted with great applause at the close. + +The old butler brought in a steaming bowl of egg-nog punch which he +placed on the table near the harper's chair; after refreshing himself +the droll began the tale of Duffy and the Devil, telling it, as was his +custom, partly in verse to the accompaniment of the harp, and partly in +prose. + + +THE TALE OF DUFFY AND THE DEVIL. + + An old bachelor squire of Cornubia's race + Was the master of old Lovell Hall; + He'd a jolly round face, and the fox he would trace + Over moor and through dale in a glorious chase, + But of women he would none at all. + + Cider making was nigh and in Buryan church town + For more hands he was seeking one day; + Words and blows did resound, and with her swing-tail gown, + Old Janey was beating her stepdaughter around, + In her cottage, that was by his way. + +"Hallo, what's the row," said the squire, as he dismounted and entered +the cottage. Being a magistrate, he thought it was his duty to settle +all quarrels, but he had scarcely got within when he was sorry he had +meddled. Old Janey had been using the skirt of her gown to carry out the +grate ashes, and beating Duffy, her stepdaughter, with the gown +afterward; there was such a dust in the air that the squire went into a +fit of coughing. + +"'Tis Duffy," said old Janey. "She can't knit nor spin and does nothing +for her living. She's that lazy, your honour," and Janey, the dust +settling a bit, dropped a curtesy to the squire. + +"'Tedn't so, your honour," said Duffy, as the tears gathered in her blue +eyes. "My knitting and spinning is of the very best." + +Well, the upshot of the matter was that the squire took Duffy home with +him to Lovell Hall, and the hall housekeeper sent her into the attic to +spin. Old Janey was glad to get rid of her stepdaughter, and Duffy was +glad to get away and, though she had told an untruth to the squire, it +didn't bother her much, until she found herself surrounded by the wool +sacks in the upper part of Lovell Hall. There, casting herself down on +the wool sacks, she said: "The devil may spin for the squire, but I +can't and won't." Scarcely had she said this when a voice was heard: + + "A bargain! A bargain!" said the voice loud and clear + Of a neat little man in garb black; + "But remember, my dear, since ye've called me here, + If ye can't guess my name, I'll have 'ee in a year," + And he brought his tail down with a rap. + +"All right," said Duffy undaunted, and tossed up her head in disdain, +and then fell to lolling on the wool sacks and idling and singing away +the whole day. In the evening the little man in black handed to her the +result of his day's spinning and she descended with it into the great +hall below. + +"Zounds! What a liar old Janey was," said the squire, as he viewed the +fine amount of spun yarn, and casting a favouring glance on Duffy he +said she was the finest spinner in Cornwall. + +The next day Duffy took the yarn with her to the attic to knit the +squire's hunting stockings, and the little man, true to his contract, +performed the work for her and soon,---- + + The stockings were finished, and knit strong as leather, + Squire Lovell was filled with delight; + With dogs all together, in all sorts of weather, + His old shanks were sound in furze, brambles or heather, + Whether hunting by day or by night. + +But now came a worrying time for the old squire, for the lads from the +whole country around had heard of Duffy's fine spinning and were not +indifferent to Duffy's charms. The squire feared that she would marry +one of them and then he should lose his fine stockings, and so resolved +to forestall such a dire thing by marrying Duffy himself. They were +married in the old parish church before a great assemblage from far and +near. The old squire's heart was full of glee as he gazed at the young, +disappointed men around him. "Ha! Ha!" thought he, "she soon shall be +mine." But no sooner had he thought this than there was a terrible, +distinct voice echoing the same thoughts. + + "Ha! Ha! She soon shall be mine!" blood curdling and dire, + Echoed a voice; the people were still, + And from window of choir gazed the black man in ire, + Yet knew that the end of his compact was nigh her, + When she must be subject to his will. + +The people in the church heard the voice, but no one knew who had spoken +the words. The rector was indignant that the service should be +interrupted and would have had the party, then and there, up before the +gentlemen at the court if he could have found him. The supposition was +that some jealous suitor had spoken, and the thing was soon forgotten by +everyone but Duffy, or Lady Lovell, as we must now call her. She knew +and was nigh to fainting had not the squire supported her with his +sturdy arm. They were happy in their married life, for the squire loved +his wife and Duffy had always a secret regard for him, but there was a +dread in her mind that the words of the little man in black must soon +come true. The year was nigh up and she had tried all plans to discover +his name, but of little avail. She was nigh in despair when a person +whom she had befriended relieved her of much of her anxiety. That person +was old Betty of the mill, who was commonly supposed to be something of +a witch. + +She carefully inquired of Lady Lovell when the squire went on his next +hunting trip, and having ascertained the time to the very hour, she +obtained from her a jack of the squire's best beer. + +That day the squire went hunting far from home and even at nightfall +returned not to Lovell Hall. As the hours of nightfall came on, the +dogs, one by one, came back all lathered in foam, but no Squire Lovell. +At ten o'clock came the squire and he was visibly excited and seemed +bubbling over with laughter. + +"Duffy," said he, "I have had as great a lark as I have ever had in my +life. I hunted all day over all the moors and downs, Trove, Trevider, +Lemorna and Brene, and didn't catch a thing. The mare was tired out and +so was I, when up jumped as fine a hare as I had ever seen, from a hedge +along the road-side. She was away and so were the dogs instantly, and I +followed. What a chase! This way and that way she doubled, and at length +entered the mouth of Fugoe's dark cave." + + In went the dogs and in follow'd I, water dripping, + Mud flying, dogs yelping in full cry, + Owls wheeling, bats flapping, the place was nigh sick'ning + And black as the night, but the pace was now quickening, + When a singular sight caught my eye. + + We had gone nigh a mile when the dogs turn'd to flight, + For Alack! On the farthermost shore + Of a lake was a light of a fire. What a sight! + There was old Nick a-dancing with all his might + With witches; there was more than a score. + +"And there was old Bet of the mill a-thumping and a-beating her crowd, +giving music for the dance, and, as I live, by her side was my best jack +of beer, and each time old Nick would come around he would take a +drink. The old witches sang as they danced, + + "Here's to the devil, + With wooden pick and shovel, + Digging tin by the bushel + With his tail cocked up." + + The wild dance and frolic grew fast and furious, + Brighter blaz'd the fire-flames, blue and hot, + Then Nick in full chorus, with witches, uproarious, + Shouted and sang like the spirit of Boreas, + "My name is Terrytop, Terrytop." + +"Aye, and he kept shouting it as if he had lost his head with the +drinking of too much of my beer. Then he jumped among the old witches, +and such a sight!" + + He kicked the old witches and Bet the old dame, + 'Till I laughed out aloud at the lark, + Then he whirl'd and he came, in a reel, through the flame, + "Go it, old Nick," said I, "you are worthy your name," + And then--in a moment--'twas dark. + + And away galloped I, with the mare at full speed; + With a din, the whole crowd followed fast; + With old Nick in the lead, over moor and o'er mead, + But I distanc'd them soon, for the mare knew my need, + And now here I am, Duffy, at last. + +"Why doesn't 'ee laugh, Duffy?" said the squire. Duffy, who had turned +pale at the mentioning of the little man's name, now regained her good +spirits and laughed merrily and long, for she knew she was safe. The +squire stretched out his limbs in weariness, for he had hunted far and +wide and felt the need of sleep, so he soon retired. But not so Duffy, +for she knew that in an hour or so the little man in black would come to +claim his prize. First she said the Creed, and then she prayed, for she +had resolved to become an exemplary woman could she escape the +consequences of the rash vow she had made a year before. Then in the +midst of her devotions there was heard the wild neighing of a horse +without, and then the door, though shut with bolt and bar, opened, and +in stepped the little man in black, bowing low, and yet with a cunning +leer in his eyes. + +"I 'ave come for 'ee, Duffy," said he, "unless"--and he paused,--"unless +ye can guess my name." + +"Terrytop!" said Duffy, with a confident look on her features. + +"Correct, m'lady," said Terrytop with a sigh of regret, and then with a +sweep of his tail he was gone. + + * * * * * + +The droll ceased his tale and was greeted by a round of applause, for it +was not only the story, but the manner of the harper, at one time frank, +ruddy and jovial like Squire Lovell, at another time with a cunning leer +like the man in black, at another time disdainful or tearful, fearful or +glad, according to the mood of Duffy, that drew forth the appreciation +of his auditors. He calmly sipped a bowl of punch, while the auditors +entered into conversation, though expecting more tales when the harper +had rested himself. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +ST. GEORGE AND FAIR SABRA + + Blest as Immortal Zeus is he, + The youth who fondly sits by thee, + And gazes at the witchery trace + Of gladsome laughter in thy face, + The music of thy voice to hear, + The incense of thy presence near. + + +During the recital of the droll's tale where was Ande? Generally, he was +interested in the tales of Uncle Billy, the droll, but this night he had +eyes and ears only for the squire's daughter. + +The latter was in her element. She was young, but the death of her +mother had long made her the mistress of the great house. The presence +of the guests inspired her to do her utmost as hostess, and she was not +unequal to the task. The earlier part of the evening saw her flitting +about, a fairy figure in lace and ribbons. During the entertainment of +the droll she was at leisure, and sat on one side at a little distance, +entirely engrossed in the narrative. Here it was that Ande found her. + +"And is St. George welcomed by fair Sabra, the King of Egypt's +daughter?" he said, as he sat himself near her. + +In those weeks intervening between the squire's reparation and the +Christmas period, Ande had been a frequent visitor at the Manor. The +squire could not easily forget his prejudice against the name stained +with treason, but he was generous enough to smother it in the light of +the youth's brave conduct in the runaway, and wished also to make some +amends for the injustice of placing him in the stocks. + +So the lad was found frequently in the neighbourhood of the Manor. The +Manor walks were familiar to him. He had often assisted Mistress Alice +in her garden work in her own favourite plot, and a warm and strong +attachment had grown up between them. The old squire occasionally nodded +to him and smiled, but beyond that there was little friendly +conversation between them. + +But to the squire's daughter how useful he became. Was there any work +that would soil her dainty fingers? Ande must perform it. Was there any +task that seemed too hard for her? Ande was in requisition. Once she had +hurt her finger over a rose bush. It was Ande who heard the faint +exclamation of pain and who flew instantly to her side, and how tenderly +and with what a vague thrill, as if he himself were hurt, did he proceed +to extract the jagged thorn. It was his own handkerchief that bound up +the wound, and with what gallantry he had requested her to keep it as a +remembrance of him. He knew not that that piece of linen was stored up +among Mistress Alice's special treasures. She knew that her womanly +intuition at the gate of the Primrose Cottage was true. This youth did +love her, and it was not displeasing to her; but she knew something +else. She was gradually knowing her own feelings, that she cherished a +deeper sentiment than friendship for this brave youth who had saved her +life. The thought of this sentiment would send the crimson waves o'er +her countenance when she dwelt upon it, for a moment, in her own pretty +rooms. She would not have him suspect such a thing--not for the world. +She knew her father's hatred for treason, his strong loyal sentiments. +No, she dare not think of it too often. Her father had revealed his +plans for her future--the marriage with young Richard Lanyan. But she +had neither acquiesced nor refused. Master Lanyan was a welcome visitor +to the Manor, and she treated him well as her father's guest. + +Lanyan and Ande had met once in her presence at the Manor. There was a +gleam of hatred in each eye. This was the son of the hated family that +had deprived the Trembaths of their rightful possessions, and now Ande +could perceive the marked favour with which he was greeted by the old +squire, and had a dim consciousness of the squire's hopes. It was as +much as Mistress Alice could do to so conduct herself as to offend +neither. Lanyan, after the first quick, sharp glance at Trembath, paid +little heed to him. Calmly and tranquilly he ignored him and devoted his +attention to Mistress Alice, taking the conversation into such +scholarly, Etonian themes that Ande, finding himself out of his depths, +was constrained to silence and soon moved homeward with bitter feelings +within him. + +He had not come near the Manor for a week after that, and somehow or +other Mistress Alice had a foreboding that something was wrong. Did it +pain her? She would not acknowledge that it did, even to herself. But +how graciously she treated him when he did return. So had affairs been +before the Christmastide, and on account of it there was not that +strangeness between them that existed at the first. + +With the remark above mentioned, the Knight, St. George, seated himself +near Alice. She smiled pleasantly and responded: + +"I am afraid fair Sabra and the King of Egypt are too far remote from +our locality and times to be mixed up with us. I must congratulate you, +Ande, for your able impersonation of St. George. By the way, who is that +Turk that so murders the king's English?" + +"Thomas Puckinharn, one of the village lads. He is a good fighter, but a +blow or two harder than usual saps his courage. I had hard ado to make +him fight at all," and he related their practice upon the village road +and the strategy of allowing Tommy a squire as a balm to heal his +wounded feelings. She laughed at his droll manner of reciting it, and +her laugh seemed to be music to his soul and to quicken the beating of +his heart within. + +"Why," she was saying, "did you beat the Turk so savagely? I must +confess I never saw a real battle, but I imagined I saw one all the time +you were fighting. You beat down his guard and struck him over the head +and shoulders, until I trembled. I believe you would make an excellent +knight, had you lived in their times," and she shook her elfin locks in +approbation of his fighting prowess. + +"Well, I thought I was fighting for fair Sabra, and the reality of it +seemed to put greater strength into my arms. A knight always fights more +bravely in the presence of his lady." + +"It must be nice to have such a brave knight. And who is the lady?" + +"One surpassing fair and worthy of the crown of Egypt. One whom I have +served, as a knight always serves his lady." + +"I suppose you mean me," said the maiden, with a flush, and yet with +some gaiety in her tones. "Well, be it so. You shall be my knight and +defender and shall wear a pledge of your valour as a remembrance," and +she plucked a hothouse blossom from the knot at her breast and presented +it to him. "Fight bravely in life, and you will be a true knight." + +"That I will," said Ande, as he received the flower, "and I shall +remember this Christmas eve, throughout my life, as one of its best +days. I shall even remove the stain of treason from our name. Treason +that is so hateful to me!" + +"I trust you may," said the girl, earnestly. "It has been a hard burden +to bear. And with the ideas of our times, it is hard to advance under it +to positions of honour and trust. But I believe you will succeed." + +"You do not believe, then, in the current report, held true even by your +father, of the truth of the accusation that has always clung to our +name from my grandfather's times?" + +"Knowing you as I do, no. If your father and your grandfather were at +all like you, they could not have done what current report states. No. I +do not believe it." + +"I am glad that you do not believe it. It gives me courage to succeed." +There was a light in the eyes of St. George, a gleam of genuine +pleasure. + +"The removal of that stain, which you have often told me of, will +remove, perhaps, many barriers of which you are ignorant. My knight must +do it." + +"I am that knight," said Ande, warmly. + +"The knight that I should admire would be one that will not despair at a +few difficulties." + +"I am that knight," eagerly. + +"He must be truthful and scorn a lie." + +"I do, from the bottom of my heart." + +"He must be a worker, and brave and courageous." + +"My principles exactly." + +"He must not be satisfied to be an ordinary knight. He must be a +leader." + +"My ambition," emphatically. + +"He must be an exceptional man, noble, upright, a defender of the weak, +and--and--and--must be my knight, and no one else's." Her eyes were +shining darkly with a happy gleam, and there was a glow on her cheeks +that made her a thousand times more attractive to the enthralled soul +before her. Her countenance was close to his. Ah! The magic of its +influence! + +[Illustration: "I am that knight," said Ande, warmly] + +His heart was beating so tumultuously he feared all heard it. He knew +then and there the reason of his interest in her. Those vague feelings, +which he had not taken the trouble to analyse, burst suddenly upon him +like a revelation. He loved, yes, he knew it. Heretofore he had gone on +blindly, driven by the subtile promptings within. Now he understood his +own heart. There was a pang as he thought of the stain on his name, and +then a joyous bound of his heart as he thought she believed in him, in +his ability to eradicate the blot. She had called him her knight. He +would be so. But then the thought of Master Lanyan emerged from the +depths of the past, the squire's favour, and that scene when he was so +contemptuously ignored by the haughty, young Etonian in the gardens. He +had thought then that his hatred for him was due to the injustice to his +family; now he knew. Her features, so close to his own, were the most +prominent thing in the world to him then. What cared he for the twanging +harp of Uncle Billy, the droll. He was ordinarily interested in the +tales of Billy, but not now. That last sentence of hers of being her +knight and a knight of no one else, sent a thrill through him. He longed +to kiss her, then to throw himself at her feet and pour out the +adoration of his soul. But he knew his situation and he simply said, "I +am your knight, and no one else's." + +Then the thought of Lanyan again came to his mind, "And since I am your +knight and belong to no other, it is but fair to ask you to have no +other knight," half doubtingly. + +"Queens and ladies of old always had many knights to do them service," +in mischievous, jesting tones. + +Ande's heart died within him and the light left his features. + +"And you intend to have many knights?" + +"Perhaps." + +"At least not Master Lanyan," fiercely, in an undertone. + +"My knight must not be a dictator." + +"But I must know," persistently. + +"You are impertinent," with some dignity. + +"He and his are the enemies of my house," doggedly. + +"And the friends of ours," quickly. + +"But he is an enemy of your knight." + +"I will not be catechised." There was the gleam of a tear of vexation in +her eyes and a quiver in her voice, that sent the militant spirit in the +breast of Ande headlong in defeat. She turned her face from him in an +effort to hide her feelings. An agony of remorse swept o'er his soul. + +"I have hurt you," he said, timidly. + +No answer. + +"What have I done. I am a brute and a coward. I am not worthy to be +called your knight," exclaimed Ande, in remorseful self-reproach. + +No answer. + +"Look at me, please. Speak to me," pleadingly. "You will not. I am the +worst coward living--to hurt the feelings of the best of women," in +doleful misery. + +"You are hateful and unjust." An answer at length from the hidden face +that made his countenance blanch and pierced even within, but he +answered humbly: + +"I am. I have been hateful and unjust to you." + +"No. Hateful and unjust to yourself." The face again came into view and, +could he believe it,--yes,--the tear was gone and the fun-light was +twinkling in merriment. + +"How?" in bewildered discomfiture. + +"When you called yourself a coward and the worst of ones, you were +unjust to yourself and hateful to yourself." + +"I suppose you are right," humbly. + +"Don't look so doleful; you may be noticed. I would have my knight +cheerful and happy." + +"And you are not angry?" + +"No," and she shook her elfish curls and smiled. + +"And you will have no other knight but me?" + +"You must not be presumptuous," seriously. + +"Mistress Alice, it is not presumptuous for me to speak to you on a +subject that is dear to me," said with great earnestness, his eyes +devouring her face. "And specially so here in the hall of my ancestors. +Do you see the coat-of-arms o'er the mantelpiece, engraved in the oak?" + +The girl was relieved by what she thought a change in the conversation. +She brightened into new interest. + +"Yes, and I wondered ever since a child what was the meaning of the +horse with his rider surrounded by the waves of the sea. Oh, do tell me, +please!" + +"That is the coat-of-arms of our family. The earliest records speak of +them as occupying the Lyonnesse country, which is now under the sea +beyond Land's End. Sir Trembath, the head of the family, was overtaken +by the flood, that happened about in the eighth century, and just had to +gallop and swim his horse to the hills for refuge. He was the only one +who escaped the inroads of the ocean. All the lands of his barony, +together with others, and a hundred and forty parish churches, are now +covered by the deep. My ancestry is as noble as any, and it is not +presumption for me to speak to you on a subject that is very important +to me. As my ancestry was then, so am I now. Mistress Alice, the last +heir of the Trembaths needs a star of hope to guide him." He was +speaking rapidly, although only loud enough for her to hear. The wild +tempest of feeling was at length breaking forth. + +"Listen," said the girl, demurely, "Uncle Billy is speaking now of the +Lyonesse and Arthur." + +The unruly tongue was silenced. Ande, though he listened, heard not. His +eyes were on the squire's daughter, but seeing that she kept her gaze +riveted on the harper, he grew moody and silent. + +Whether she listened or not to the song of the droll is a question. +Certainly there was nothing in the narrative of the droll, just then, to +cause her cheek to glow with a damask hue. + +The harper's song and tale was ended, and since the hour was late there +was bustle and confusion to be gone. + +"I have been unjust in dictating to you," said Ande, humbly. + +"And I can have whatever knights I please?" archly. + +"You are the best judge. But I would rather not," said he, with slightly +woeful look. + +"Then you choose to let me be my own judge?" + +"To be sure." + +"Then you are my knight. Master Lanyan is not and cannot be my knight. I +choose so freely. Be upright, noble, and good." + +Is it any wonder that the Knight of St. George departed with light +footsteps. He was but a lad merging into manhood. Love was strong within +him and flourished in keeping with the vigour of his youth. He knew not +that she cared for him. Sometimes he thought so. He even dared to hope +so when the doubts did not becloud his vision. It was something, though, +to be her chosen knight. He knew by her last words that he was a closer +friend at least than Lanyan. The thought lightened his spirits. + +The Christmas players were the first on the way to the village. There +was a chatter among them, some extolling the squire's generosity, +others--the ability of the droll. Ande was silent. He was busy with his +thoughts. + +"Ah! The squire's maid gave 'ee as hard a drubbing as thee gave me. +Edent it so?" said Tom Puckinharn, and he gave Ande a nudge in the side, +as he whispered this in his ear. + +"Ah! Get along, Tom, do!" replied Ande. + +Tom was the only one who noticed the _tête-à-tête_ of St. George and +Sabra. Being a loyal friend of Ande, he prudently kept his own counsel. +The remoteness of their situation, the voice and sound of the harp, the +intense interest of the guests in the harper's entertainment, precluded +any from hearing the conversation of that period. + +Ande's dreams that night were very much confused. Now he was with King +Arthur at Lyonnese; now against the dragon or the Turk; then on +horse-back riding through the roaring waves of ocean, bearing in front of +him the form of the fair Sabra, who appeared wonderfully like the +squire's daughter. Then casting his eyes behind, he caught a view of the +dragon, beating and lashing the waves into foam, in his rage, and +somehow the dragon's head was that of Master Lanyan. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE HELSTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL + + +Three weeks elapsed and Master Ande Trembath had entered upon a new +life. He was enrolled upon the list of the scholars of Helston Grammar +School. + +For four centuries the school had been the centre of education for the +west of Cornwall. Gentlemen can point to it with pride this day, as they +could then, as the birthplace of their early efforts and the inspiration +of their ambitions. At the time of Ande's entrance it had emerged from +the obscurity of the past into the foremost school of Cornwall. This +result was due much to the energetic labours and talents of the head +master, Rev. Mr. Trewan, M. A., a scholar of Oxford. Stern, yet kind and +affectionate to the youths under his charge, he was universally beloved +by his pupils. In his dealings with his pupils of whatever age, he was +of the same opinion as Quintilian that "a child too disingenuous to be +corrected by reproof, like a slave, will only be hardened by continuous +blows." + +Though the scholars loved and revered the head, yet the under-master, a +certain Mr. Sherwood, received little or no affection from them. He was +sharp-featured as a weasel, sarcastic in speech, a scholarly egotist, +with the garment of dignity and a predilection to the use of euphonious +words. + +The new scholar, entering in the midst of the year, found himself sadly +handicapped. In age and size, he should have been enrolled among the +fifth form. His withdrawal from the parish school after the lamentable +affair of the stocks placed him in no higher position than near the head +of the fourth. + +The head of the sixth, a certain William Jordan, a great scholar--almost +a demigod--in the estimation of the lesser forms, and one of the school +monitors, took Ande in charge after his examination, and courteously +showed him around the school. The schoolroom with its row of desks and +forms, the cloakroom, the dining hall, the library, the dormitory, all +were successively inspected. + +"This will be your sleeping apartment," said Jordan, as he opened a +green baize door on the second floor. Within were several beds and other +bedroom furniture. A few windows that opened toward the playground gave +abundance of light. + +The new scholar soon became accustomed with his new surroundings and set +in to study with a zeal that surprised masters and pupils. He won the +hearts of his fellows of the fourth by setting out a feast for them that +first night in the fourth form dormitory. Mrs. Trembath had not +forgotten a hamper of good things, among them several bottles of mild +herby beer. These she had sent in with his luggage. The feast was spread +on one of the beds, and his fellows, after it was terminated, promptly +voted him a trump and proclaimed him, then and there, "King of the +Fourth Form." + +The king accepted his title by giving an entertainment that night in a +noiseless manner. With the aid of a little phosphorus he caused many +uncouth and laughable figures to appear upon the wall, to the great +wonder of the smaller fourth form boys. + +Before he had been in the fourth a month he had made such progress that +Master Sherwood entertained seriously the thought of his promotion, and +indeed, did promote him at the opening of spring. There was great sorrow +among the fourth when the news became known, as he had been of great +assistance to them in difficult points in the various lessons. A fifth +form scholar was not so accessible as one in their own form. + +The fifth were not near so desirable a set of fellows as those he had +left. There was a difference between being king of the fourth, both in +learning and strength, and occupying the lowest position in the fifth +form. There were two in the form that were prominent, but in a different +degree. One, a certain Albert Tenny, the head of the form, who made +particularly bright recitations; the other, Richard Thomas, the one who +was stationed next to him, the son of a well-to-do farmer of the Lizard +Point. Thomas was heavy set, elephantine in size and strength, and on +account of the latter and a dulness in study was named by the boys King +Dullhead, although they never mentioned the latter in his presence, or +dire would be his vengeance. + +There was not much of a contest between Dick, as he was called, and +Ande, to see which should be the head of the tail end of the form. The +very first lesson Ande went above Dick. + +"I see," said Mr. Sherwood, with a sarcastic smile on his sharp +features; "I see, Master Thomas, you are resolved to maintain your old +position." + +There was a slight laugh on the part of the rest of the form. Dick +squirmed under the sarcasm and half audible laughter of his fellows, and +looked down in dogged silence, growling something under his breath. +Sarcasm and taunts had made him sullen and revengeful, and the laughter +at his mistakes had made him more stupid and awkward. He would sit at +his desk in an idle manner with his large flat feet sprawling over the +floor in different directions. Ambition had left his features, if, +indeed, he ever had any. How he ever made the fifth was a wonder. He had +tried year after year, but never succeeded in raising himself above the +foot of the fifth. + +The crisis between Dick, Tenny, and Ande came about in this way. The +form had started in on the study of Virgil, and thought it exceedingly +hard after the simple, narrative discourse of Cæsar's Commentaries. +Master Sherwood was not sparing in his assigning of lessons, and had +assigned a few lines in addition to the regular, allotted portion. There +was much secret dissatisfaction, and especially from Dullhead Dick. The +thing had occurred once before and they had universally decided not to +read more than the generally allotted portion. Ande had been the soul of +honour on that occasion, had refused to read, and the Master had passed +him over lightly as he was a new fifth form lad. To his surprise several +of the fifth arose when called upon and recited the extra portion. Now, +disgusted with the whole fifth, he refused to assemble with them to +consider their grievances. The secret conclave was called and the +decision made, but they stupidly said nothing to their absent member. + +The eventful recitation came, and the close of the allotted portion read +by Ande himself. Then he paused. + +"Proceed," said Sherwood. + +"If you do," growled Dick, who was next in line, "you'll take a licking +after school." + +The whispered threat exasperated the reader, and he proceeded resolutely +on. Dick gave him a sly kick under the bench in his rage. + + "Æolus, haec contra; Tuos, O regina, quid optes + Explorare labor; mihi jussa capessere fas est.'" + +"Stop there," said the master. "You may begin, Richard Thomas." + +"We haven't got any farther," blurted out Dick. + +"Ah! I thought I assigned to the eightieth line." + +"We only take thirty-five lines," persisted Dick. + +"Master Thomas, will you recite?" sternly asked the master. + +Dick made no movement, but sat in dogged and sullen silence. + +"Very well," said Mr. Sherwood, "you may write out the next thirty lines +and commit them to memory." + +"I'll pay you back," growled Dick to Ande, as he gave him a fierce +nudge. + +"Tenny, you may scan and translate." + +Tenny, the head, did not dare disobey, although he had promised with the +others not to read the extra portion, and even had not studied it. He, +however, trusting in his natural ability, thought he could weather +through. He began, but stumbled lamentably until Mr. Sherwood, incensed, +gave his lines to the next, who made as bad a failure of them; and so it +continued until Ande was again reached. Mr. Sherwood compressed his +lips. + +"Well, Trembath, we'll try you again." + +Ande arose and scanned and translated in a truly commendable manner. + +"Master Trembath, you have done credit to those lines," said Mr. +Sherwood, well pleased. "You have saved the credit of the form; you may +take your place at the head of the fifth." + +The lads above were furious with jealousy, and burly Dick vowed threats +of vengeance for his thirty lines. + +The meeting was not long in appearing. Ande was on the Bowling Green +that same evening, when Dick and a crowd of the fifth met him. The +stupid and the bright had clasped hands against him; the bright ones out +of jealousy, the dull ones out of revenge. + +"Here's the red 'eaded Deane," said Dick, insultingly. + +"I would just as soon be a descendant of the red-headed Danes, as an +offspring of the Lizard[6] barbarians, who, if history is correct, +didn't know enough to walk upright, but travelled on all fours like a +donkey," said Ande, coolly surveying the crowd. + + [6] Lizard Barbarians.--An old legend of the Lizard Point states + that its inhabitants were so ignorant in olden times that they + walked on hands and knees until some shipwrecked sailors taught them + the art of standing. + +Dick was in a fury of rage. The legend had been frequently poked at him +and it always reached a sore part. + +"Wilt fight," he roared, "and I'll show 'ee a donkey's heels." Dick, +before the masters, tried the best English he could use, for he had +tasted the scorn of Sherwood often, but in a rage, and before the lads, +the dialect was good enough for him. Now, I suppose he meant that he +would make Ande feel the weight of his shoes, but that worthy responded +in sarcastic vein. + +"No need to fight for that, for I see them already," and he gazed +contemplatively at Dick's large feet. + +Even the duller ones could not refrain from a grin of delight, but they +were determined to have Ande whipped, and so arrangements having been +made, they wandered out some distance from the Bowling Green to secure a +place. The news had been carried to the fourth form, and the whole form +came as his supporters. Now, the fifth were certain of Dick's victory, +for in size, age, and strength he seemed superior to Ande. The fourth +were exceedingly anxious, while Ande himself had no doubts of the +outcome. Dullhead, though heavier and larger than the redoubtable Bully +Bob Sloan, had nothing but brute strength, and even Bully Bob would have +made short work of him. + +"Art ready?" said Dick, and an affirmative answer being given, "then +come on," and with a bellow, Dick lowered his great head and charged +like an enraged bull. His antagonist caught his head in a vice-like +chancery grip, and hitting him a playful tap, released him with a spin +that sent him some distance back. Dullhead shook his head, as if he +wondered what had happened, and then again charged. This time Ande +side-stepped, and tapping Dick with his right, and crooking his foot, +sent him head over heels. + +"Dost see the donkey's heels, lads?" + +The fourth roared, and shouted their applause. + +Then was Dick's blood at fever heat. He must get the desired underhold +for a wrestle, of which he knew some tactics, and so again came the +charge, which was met with no love-taps this time. A straight, hard, +left-hander caught Dick full upon the nose, and then, crash, another +upon the eye. Dick, dazed, still came on, for he was the soul of +courage. This kind of fighting was new to him, however. To be hit again +and again, without being able to get a grip on his foe, was maddening. +Meantime, Ande's hands were playing a lively tattoo upon Dick's eyes, +ears, and nose. At last, fairly unable to stand the punishment, Dick +broke for his corner, but it was not in retreat; it was but to gain the +impetus for a new rush, by which he sought to gain the desired grip for +a throw. On he came, like a whirlwind, and then, no one knew how it +happened, but there was a quick flash of an extended arm, and burly Dick +went down as if he was shot, and laid motionless. + +Some of the fifth rushed forward to assist Dick, but were withheld by +the voice of his antagonist, who wished to know if any of the fifth +desired to take up Dick's cause. + +Not a one responded, and then he did a thing for which he was always +admired, and rightly so. He had not forgotten his knighthood. He came +forward and was the leader in bringing Dick to consciousness. Some, at +his word, brought water from the river Cober and tenderly he chafed +Dick's hands and forehead, until the unconscious fellow was fully +restored. + +"Much hurt?" said Ande. + +"Hah--hah!" gasped Dick, as he opened his eyes, and caught his breath in +gasps. "Not much--all right, soon." + +Then followed more chafing and Dick was at length slowly assisted to his +feet. + +"No offence," said Ande, as he held out his hand, "you know I had to +fight." + +Dick took the outstretched hand, a little sheepishly, and shook it +gingerly. + +"No offence. Better luck next time." + +"Come, now. Is there going to be a next time? I don't want to +permanently cripple my hands by hitting such an ironsides as you are," +laughingly. + +Dick rubbed his great head tenderly, felt of his battered features, and +then, with a slight smile: "No, I guess we've satisfied the code of +honour." + +Together, fourth and fifth, wended their way amicably back to the school +grounds. Ande continued to hold his position as head of the fifth, and +won the regard of all by championing the cause of the school against all +outsiders. In the latter he was ably assisted by Dick, who, strange to +say, became his most devoted and attached friend. Dick was a magnificent +fellow physically, and there was a good bit of fine principle about him, +but his strength, dulness, and awkwardness had made him heretofore a +bully. Under the warm glow of Ande's friendship, new life and hope was +implanted within him; he applied himself with diligence to his studies, +and under his chum's fostering care, made progress. The two were now +partners in the same study. + +One night, when they were preparing the coming day's lessons, Dick +looked up from his book. + +"Ande, remember the fight we had?" + +"Yes." + +"Did you 'ave anything in your hand when you struck me that last time?" + +"No. Why?" + +"'Cause, I thought it was a club," and Dick grinned. + +"I hated to hit so hard. But it seemed none of my former blows were +having much effect. It was like hitting an elephant." + +There was silence in the study room for the space of half an hour, and +then Dick asked his companion to review him o'er his lesson. Ande did +so, and was agreeably surprised; it was the best lesson that Dick had +ever prepared. + +"I'm much obliged," said Dick. "This hearing of a lesson helps +wonderfully." + +"Dick," said Ande, "a red-headed Dane is a pretty-fair sort of a fellow, +after all. I say, he has some redeemable virtues." + +"Yes, and I 'ave discovered something else." + +"What's that?" + +"A donkey has a head as well as a pair of heels," whereupon they both +laughed heartily. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE HURLING MATCH + + "Toms, Wills and Jans + Take off all's on the sands." + + --_St. Ives' Hurlers._ + + "Gware wheag, yeo gware teag." + Fair play is good play. + + --_Ancient Cornish Hurler's Motto._ + + +"Gware wheag, yeo gware teag," roared Dick, as he seized Ande by the +shoulders and engaged in a playful wrestle, in which, however, he was +worsted, for the latter, though taken by surprise, soon had Dick down on +the sward of the Bowling Green. + +"Now," said he, "is it fair play for a wrestle, or is there something +else in the wind? What's up?" + +"Can't guess, old fellow?" + +"No, unless it's hurling, my elephantine infant. There is nothing that +stirs your blood like that. Is it hurling?" + +"Aye, you've got it," and tumbling up from the sod, Dick shook his huge +frame and adjusted his neckerchief that had become slightly awry in the +brief wrestling match. + +"Who's challenged the school?" asked Ande, with a little trace of +excitement. + +"The louts of Breage parish. Their captain, a husky chap, brought in a +challenge. Squire Vivian, Sir James Lanyan, and other gentlemen put up a +prize of ten pounds and a fine hurling ball to the victors. The hurling +ball has a silver plate on it, with the old motto engraved on it, and +the school decided to accept the challenge. The gentlemen are anxious +for the school to wipe out an old score against Breage that happened +years ago in a match against that parish. They are going to elect a +captain of the school team and so I hurried off to find the Dane." + +"Well, here I am, my husky Ajax," and Ande, seizing Dick's arm, hurried +with him up to the Grammar School. + +At the school there was bustle and excitement. The schoolroom was +crowded with sixth and fifth form boys, and the interest of the lesser +forms was noticed in the babbling of many tongues. Jordan, the monitor, +the sage of the sixth, presided, and rapped for order, and the mass of +lads crowded to their respective places. In calm, even tones, he speaks. + +"We know why we are here. The captain of the Breage hurlers has just +left us with our acceptance of the challenge to a hurling match. For the +glory and honour of the school, and to wipe out an old score against us, +we are going to play them, though they have forty stout fellows, and we +are a little deficient in number. We are going to make up in training +and zeal what we lack in number, and we are going to win the prize. But +a great deal depends upon the captain we elect to lead us. He must be +skilful, active, resourceful. In the election we must not be influenced +by favouritism, but by worth. The sixth has heretofore always had the +captain, but in this match I would recommend that the fifth be eligible +also. If there is no objection, we will proceed to elect a captain from +the sixth and fifth." + +There were a few murmurs of disapproval from the sixth, but no open +objections, so the election proceeded. Jordan was wise in his bringing +in the fifth as eligible to the captaincy, for in that form were the +best hurlers, the strongest, the most daring. + +In the first ballot there was a scattering of votes, but the chief +candidates were Ande and Dick, the latter on account of his experience +and strength, the former on account of his activity, mental and +physical. + +Once more the ballots were taken and Ande won. There was a cheer, in +which Dick heartily joined, for he had been urging the lads from the +beginning to choose his friend. + +And now began the enlisting of the team. To even up the deficiency in +numbers, several of the town's expert hurlers were admitted. + +The next evening, on the Bowling Green, began the practice and training. +There was wrestling, running, tumbling, jumping, and kindred exercises +to improve the agility and endurance of the crew. Three times a week +there was a long run to Porthleven, and even to Breage and back, to +improve the wind of the team, and get them more thoroughly acquainted +with the ground. Dick and a few others needed constant practice to +improve their quickness and activity. + +The eventful day came at length, in the beautiful month of April, and +forth from Helston sallied the hurling crew, followed by a hurrahing +company of spectators. Halfway between the parishes the Breage men were +lined up, with the gentlemen on one side to start the ball. Ande and the +Breage captain consulted with the gentlemen about the rules. + +"The object is to carry the ball, as soon as it is touched off, to your +respective towns and hurl the same in through the open parish church +doors," said Squire Vivian. + +"Aye, us knaws that," said the Breage man, "but how about rules? +Wrastling, passing, hurling, all to be allowed in the old style, or be +there any changes?" + +"All to be done in the old style unless you wish, both of you, to make +modifications," said another of the gentlemen. + +No modifications being advanced the captains returned to their stations +and began to arrange their men. Then Ande anxiously consults with Dick +and the other leaders of his side. He is once more outlining his +signals. He has a small boatswain's whistle. One blast signifies close +up on the ball; two sharp blasts means scatter out in the rear; three +blasts, in quick succession, call the attention of the dogs to expected +action on their part. Jordan nods his head gravely, as he listens to the +captain, Dick shakes himself like a great mastiff, as if he would rather +be engaged in active play than listen to rules. The gentlemen are sizing +up the players and putting bets on either side, according to their +fancy. + +The heavy players, with Dick in the centre, are well up in front. There +are some twenty of these, and they will make their weight and prowess +felt ere the game is over. Back of them stands the captain, and back +still beyond him, some ten players of lighter build, upon whose +quickness and agility depend much. But who are those some two hundred +yards farther back on the road to Helston? They are lighter players from +the fourth and third forms, hard as pine knots, trained to perfection in +fleetness of foot, and able to dodge and race like hares. They are the +captain's latest addition to the efficiency of his team. They are to +serve in the capacity of "dogs," as Ande calls them. They are to watch +their chances; not to engage in the scrimmages where weight will tell, +but to grasp the ball when opportunity comes, and speed with it to their +own goal. Notice them playfully wrestling with each other, filling in +the time until the game opens. + +The Breage men are not thus trained or lined up. They depend more upon +individual action and weight of their numbers than tactics. But now +there is a movement up in front. The players are all in position. + +"Are you ready?" shouts a gentleman, preparatory to casting off the +ball. He is standing to one side, in front of the other gentlemen and +spectators, and is holding the new hurling ball in his hand. + +An affirmative answer is given from both captains, and up goes the ball +in the air, midway between the two contesting parties. The next instant +there is a charge of both heavy brigades for its possession as it +descends. An outstretched hand catches it, and then there is a furious +heap of wriggling arms and legs, and then who is it that is speeding +away towards Breage, with a shout of triumph on his lips? It is the +Breage captain. He is fully determined to race at that speed the two +miles intervening between him and his own parish church, and he is going +to hurl the ball, now in his possession, in through the Breage church +door, and thus win the game. But not so fast. Two miles is quite a +stretch, and there is some one on his track. Out from behind the mass of +prone players leaps a form, like a horse and rider from the clouds of +battle smoke. In one bound he has cleared the heap of wriggling bodies +on the ground, and then, with the speed of a greyhound, he is after the +Breage man. Will he overtake him? Oh, yes. If he can't, no one else can. +Dick and his sub-lieutenants rest from their exertions. They are +confident that the ball will be back ere long. A cheer goes up from the +heavy brigade of the Helston players. + +"He has him!" + +"He has downed him!" + +"He has the ball!" + +It was true. The school captain had leaped on the back of the runner, +and with a cute, wrestling trick brought him to the ground. The ball +flew out of his hand and was possessed the next instant by the Helston +captain, who was now returning with full speed. But now a new obstacle +presents itself in the shape of the great mass of Breage players. Will +he charge through them, elude them? No, there are too many for that. +There are two shrill blasts on the boatswain's whistle, and along the +Helston road, in the rear of their heavy brigade, scatter out the school +men. They understand the signal and are ready to catch the ball. Then, +just as the Breage men are upon him, out goes the hand, and with the +full force of his muscular right arm, the ball is hurled full a hundred +and fifty yards, over their heads, on the way to Helston. + +A member of the light brigade caught it and was racing the next moment +with might and main toward the town. There is a whoop and hallo among +the dogs, as with their best efforts they strive to keep ahead of the +runner, to be ready for an emergency throw, should he be overtaken. And +now, in the rear, great Dick and his warriors of the heavy brigade get +in their work, and work it is. It is no easy task for twenty or thirty +fellows to stop and hinder the forty husky Breage men that are resolved +to overtake the runner. Dick is in his element. He has profited by +Captain Ande's training. In a twinkling he has thrown a half a dozen +players to the ground, and is preparing to actively hinder others. The +Breage men are swearing under their breath. But "Old Ironsides," as the +boys dubbed Dick after his memorable encounter with Ande, could not +handle all, and some there were that escaped around the wings and were +speeding after the Helston player. It is Ande, the captain, who sees the +danger. + +There is a sharp blast on the whistle, the signal for the heavy brigade +to close up on the ball. The light brigade are no match in a scrimmage +against the great Breage men. They must have the assistance of the +heavy brigade, and away go the heavy first line men, Dick lumbering +along in a clumsy gallop, yet with considerable speed. + +Three sharp blasts on the captain's whistle, and the dogs prepare with +alertness, for action. And it is time, for a Breage man has seized the +Helston runner. He promptly hurls on the ball. It is caught by one of +the dogs in front, who sets off with it at full speed, accompanied by +his fellows. These young striplings have not raced over moors and downs +in the game of fox and hounds for nothing. See how he runs, dodging the +great Breage men, who are now almost upon him. Ah, he is caught at last, +but the ball is in the hands of another dog, passed to him rapidly in +the time of danger. But now the light brigade are also among the dogs, +and the heavy brigade is following up fast in the rear. The Breage men +have been split into two factions, fifteen of them in front, among the +light brigade, the others still in the rear of the heavy brigade men of +the school team. + +The second dog is caught, but he has time to hurl the ball to a light +brigade runner near him, who as promptly hurls it on to the light +runners ahead. One of the dogs seizes it and instantly diverges from the +road to the fields. He realises that he has a much better chance among +the hedges and fields than on the highroad with the big runners of +Breage. Over the hedge go the runners of Breage. A little farther on the +Helston light brigade men also leap the hedge and seek to hinder their +progress. The heavy brigade follow suit. And now follows a battle +royal. Helston and Breage men are close on the ball, and the Breage men +are battling hard, for the town of Helston is but a scant quarter of a +mile distant. + +A crowd of sightseers line the road and hedges, for is not this for the +glory of Helston and her grammar school? Labourers, with their shovels +on their shoulders, farmers, with their produce, all are anxiously +watching. They have come to see the ball brought in. They know it will +be victory for the school, now it is so near. + +Bravos, hurrahs, sound on all sides. The dogs and light brigade men are +jubilant with expectation. The brook, or river Cober, is in sight. Could +the runner make the bridge, or even dash through the flood, victory +seemed sure. But no, there is a swift Breage man on his track, and bids +fair to overtake him. He has him, and he hurls the ball toward town. + +It was an unlucky throw, for splash!--it is in the river. Nothing +daunted, a light brigade man has leaped in after it, and then a Breage +man on top of him, and then others, until the little stream is choked +with wrestling bodies, heaving, gasping, and the air is full of spray. + +"'E 'as it! Bravo!" shouted the enthusiastic Helston spectators. + +"Now, clear the way for un!" shouted a town beadle, as he made the +people stand back to give the runner a clear track to their own town. + +To their dismay and open-mouthed chagrin, it was the Breage captain that +leaped out of the stream, ball in hand, and charging like a bull +through the light brigade men, he scatters them right and left like +chaff before the wind. With a whoop and hallo, the heavy brigade strive +to block him, but he makes a detour, leaps another hedge, and is +speeding through another field. What matter brambles or thorns, the game +must be saved for Breage. + +"Ah! dear! dear! us thought 'e was our man, but it 'twas t'other side," +said some Helston labourers, as they gazed after the rapidly receding +players. + +"Ah wadn't fair, so ah wadn't," said others, disconsolately. + +"Us may as well go back to market; the day is lost for Helston," said +several farmers, as they turned from the scene. + +"Man alive! Did 'ee see 'ow 'e runned. Ah runned like a white-head." + +With many similar expressions, the crowd of spectators melted away. + +But follow the runner of Breage. By leaping successive hedges he has +distanced the pursuers, but he is some degree out of his course, and +makes obliquely for the highway. The Helston players perceive his +purpose, and gain the highway first. Here they can make faster progress. +By the time the Breage captain vaults the hedge with a few of his +fellows, the van of the Helston crew, their captain in the lead, is but +a hundred yards in the rear. And now comes a race with fair footing. The +heavy brigade is closing up fast, and the light and dogs running rapidly +in the rear. He is overtaken at last, but the ball is hurled onward to +Breage. A Breage runner seizes it and speeds rapidly onward. It was now +Breage's chance, and they were doing their best. Ande blew his whistle +valiantly for his men to close up on the ball. And close up they did, +running with a will. The course again diverged from the highway and +approached near the coast. He is downed at last without chance to hurl +the ball. Quickly on top of him pile the other runners in the lead. + +"Off of me; I've lost the ball!" + +It was the Breage man underneath who had shouted, and the five or six +players on top of him slowly arose, gazed at each other, then for the +hurling ball, but it had disappeared as if by magic. + +The players arrived one by one, panting hard with their exertion, but +the ball was not found. A new ball was forthcoming for the emergency, +tossed off by a ploughman, and the fierce contest renewed. All the +remainder of the afternoon the battle went on, victory favouring, +smiling, on one side, then on the other. The players showed the effect +of their hard usage. The dogs were torn and bleeding with brambles and +thorns, and of the hue of earth from their constant contact with it. The +larger players were also battered and soiled, but they only played the +harder. Sunset was approaching and gilded the western heavens with hues +of scarlet. The ball was once more stopped within a quarter-mile of +Helston. The brook, or river Cober, had been passed. The heavy brigade, +the light brigade, and even the dogs, were mingled in one great heap +with Breage men. Who had the ball was a mystery. A Breage runner had it +when he went down. It was Dick who downed him. The Breage men were +desperate, the school men determined. Tenny, Creakle, Jordan, and others +resolved that the ball should not leave them thus close to victory. + +But suddenly the great mound was heaved and tossed like the earth +undulated by an earthquake. + +"Pin 'im down! Hold un!" roared the Breage captain. "E's their man, and +'e's got the ball!" + +The dogs and lighter men nimbly stepped aside to make way and assist +their own runner. The Breage players made a last futile effort to hold +the runner down. + +"'Old un! 'Old un! damme, can none hold un!" shouted the Breage captain, +in wrath at the apparent weakness of his men. + +Frantically the Breage men piled on the heap, but of no avail, for there +crept at that moment from the mound a great hulking form with the ball. +He was on his feet the next instant and speeding away toward town, +cheered on by the dogs and light brigade and spectators. + +The Breage captain, with an oath of rage, hurling to right and left, +like feathers, his own and the school men that impeded him, leaped upon +the brawny runner's shoulders and sought to bring him to earth; but +though hampered, the Helston runner strode on. + +Now, like the phalanx of an army, the school men spread out, and with +blocking tactics, withheld those that would follow. On went the runner, +unimpeded, save by the human burden on his shoulders, the Breage +captain, who in vain sought to drag him down. The ascent to old St. +Michael's was reached at last, and up went the runner, striding on. It +was harder progress now, but the open church door was near. Another few +yards and the game was won. He is there at last. The runner's arm shoots +out. The Breage captain strives in vain to catch and deter the aim, but +the ball is gone, flung with unerring hand straight through the open +tower door. The victory was won. Helston school had wiped out the score +against Breage. + +What cheers and what bravos resounded on all sides! The bells of old St. +Michael's pealed out in concert with the acclamations of the people. The +Breage crew were humiliated, especially the captain, but on every other +countenance there was the gladness of victory won. + +A feast was held in the school that night on a part of the prize money. +Jordan was master of ceremonies. Around him clustered the warriors of +the day, their garments, wet and soiled, now changed to clean and dry. +With his arm extended for silence, he exclaimed: + +"Who saved the day and brought in the ball with the Breage captain on +his back? Who saved the game?" + +"Dick Thomas!" was the roaring answer. + +"Here's a huzza for Old Ironsides!" shouted another. + +The cheer was given and the toast followed, and then they sang, "For +He's a Jolly Good Fellow." + +"A speech, Dick," shouted some one. + +Dick arose and there was more cheering. "Well, I don't know whether old +Dick Dullhead can make a speech." + +Here there were protests of "No Dullhead any more, but Old Ironsides." + +"Well, I want to drink a toast and I want you all to drink the same. +Here's to the fellow that made Dick Dullhead a name and fellow of the +past, and made me Dick Ironsides instead. Here's to the one that trained +all of us so faithfully and well that each one of us had the swiftness, +strength, and endurance to win the game. Here's to the fellow that so +trained me that I was able to carry both ball and Breage captain to the +goal. Here's to our valiant captain, Ande Trembath." + +There was a storm of cheers as they responded; but where was Ande? + +Though he had been missed since the regular ball had disappeared, yet +every one had supposed him among the crowd somewhere. Now calls for the +captain were on all sides, but he was not present. + +The majority, believing that he was out, but would be in shortly, kept +up the feasting, singing, and speaking. + +Dick, after an inquiry here and there, went out and disappeared in the +night. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +PRUSSIA COVE. THE SMUGGLERS' BATTLE + + "Seventy years since, a native of Breage called 'Carter,' + but better known, from a most remarkable personal resemblance + to Frederick the Great, as the 'King of Prussia,' monopolised + most of the smuggling trade of the west. He chose as the seat + of his business a rocky cove two miles east of Marazion, which + continues to bear the name of Prussia Cove."--_Robert Hunt, + F. R. S._ + + +Where was the captain of the Helston hurlers? + +The last time he was seen was on the cliff when the prize hurling ball +disappeared. He had disengaged himself from the tumbling contestants +when the ball escaped from the hand of the prostrate player, and saw it +roll swiftly into a neighbouring ravine that led downward, like a +funnel, to the sands below. Like a meteor he was after it and was out of +view before any of his fellows noticed his absence. Down the narrow +pathway he plunged with reckless steps, intent only on possessing the +ball and had just grasped it, when crash! a part of the footpath gave +way and down, down, down, he slipped, faster and faster. He saw the +ground and pebbles fly past him upward as if endued with the power of +ærial flight. He grasped futilely at the flying shrubs and boulders and +then came the sickening sense of flying out into space over the cliff +edge. + +Then there was a shock, a sharp pain and,--all was a blank. + +When he returned to consciousness, he was on a cot with a rough, kindly +face bending over him. + +"Drink, m'lad, it'll do 'ee good. Clunk un all down." + +He felt something at his lips and mechanically swallowed it. The liquor, +or whatever it was, revived him in a short time and he sat up. + +"Where am I? Am I hurt?" + +He slowly placed his hand to his head and felt a bandage around it. + +"Ah, I remember now. I fell in the hurling game, but I still have the +ball." Ande gazed around and found himself in what appeared an ordinary +fisherman's cabin, rough and uncouth, but still comfortable. Fishing +tackle hung here and there and there was an odd, fishy smell. A few +cheap prints hung on the wall and there was a window through which a +glimpse of the sea was visible. + +"Why, bless 'ee, young sir, I thought 'ee would never come round, so Ah +did; Ah was holding my breath to see whether 'ee was mazed by the fall +or 'ad come round, and I'm glad 'tez the latter. But, bless 'ee, what a +fall! Damme, it was worse than a blow of a cutlass." + +It was the voice of the attendant who had been bending over him; he was +to all appearances a simple fisherman, clad in rough fisherman's +clothes, and with a shaggy crop of hair that needed much the barber's +art. + +"And what place is this?" + +"This es Prussia Cove." + +A revelation dawned upon the mind of the captain of the Helston hurlers. +He had often heard of Prussia Cove and its famous smuggling hero, +Captain Carter, who, on account of his great resemblance to Frederick +the Great, was named the "King of Prussia." Many a keg of brandy and +bale of silk and lace found its way into the neighbourhood of Helston +through him. Many a landlord and poor peasant profited by this illicit +trade. But smuggling was not esteemed a crime by the people. The +government, by imposing duties on imports, was viewed partly in the +light of a tyrant and justly to be opposed and hoodwinked. The people +loved the smuggler better than the king. Even rectors of the church +considered smuggling an honourable occupation and the smuggler a brave +citizen seeking a livelihood. The government itself was not bitterly +opposed to it, at least such was its position until after the Napoleonic +wars, for by smuggling a hardy race of seamen was bred that laid, +primarily, England's prestige on the sea. + +The lad, like many others, felt a kindly interest in them and looked for +their welfare. + +"And you are the King of Prussia?" + +"Not 'zackly," said the man with a smile; "I'm just 'is prime minister +on land." + +"The watchman?" + +"Aye, and I saw 'ee a-tumbling down the cliff just now and brought 'ee +in. I thought 'ee was done for, sure." + +"And the King?" + +"Is out on the King's highway taking a walk." + +"By which you mean that he is out on the sea, and is expected home +to-night?" + +"'Zackly so." + +"I'm much obliged for your kind care; and now I feel able to stand I'll +have to be travelling after the boys, for it's getting dusk." + +"I think 'ee had better stay, at least until the King comes, for 'ow do +I know but what 'ee favours the coastguard." + +There was an anxious and cunning look in the watchman's eye. + +"Well, just as you say; I'll stay." + +The adventure of coming in contact with the watchman and the idea of +meeting the celebrated King of Prussia harmonised with the lad's daring +spirit and he was not loathe to remain. + +"That's right, better so, and 'ee'll see a fine sight," nodded the +watchman, relieved of much of his fears. "And now I suppose 'ee'rt +hungry, leastways I be, and we'll 'ave a bit of scrowled pilchards and +say biscuit." + +The watchman set about the little cabin preparing the evening meal for +himself and guest and became quite communicative. Exploits of the King +of Prussia, his smuggling trips, his hairbreadth escapes, his great +courage, all formed the burden of his tales. Ande listened and felt more +and more the desire to meet this hero of the smuggling trade. The supper +was ready and together watchman and hurling captain fell to with a +will, the latter eating with the gusto that the hard day's game +naturally brought. + +In the meantime the night settled in dark and stormy. For some time +there had been dark, leaden clouds pendant upon the western horizon and +a low, weird murmuring, increasing to a sullen, muffled growl as of many +beasts, mad with hunger in a jungle fastness. With the increasing wind +the leaden mass burdening the horizon rolled steadily inward, a roof of +tumbling blackness, now still, then rolling on, and fretted here and +there with jagged gleams of lightning. There was a crashing roll of +thunder like the peal of many guns. + +"Hark!" said the watchman, raising his fork in midair; "just as I +thought, a storm a-coming; so much the better for the King. A storm +brings a clear coast, and yet I wish the captain was ashore, for there's +going to be uncommon 'igh wind." + +More thunder and more violent wind, and the waves along the shore, that +generally rollicked and played with boulders and companion cliffs, began +to rear their foam crowned heads and bellow back in harmony with the +thunder tones above, beating the defiant rocks with a scourge of green +watery thongs. The sea-gulls were silenced by the increasing roar and +sought safety in the crannies of the cliffs. And now the full force of +the storm was on, and even in the retired cove was its power felt, for +the small window panes began to rattle and vibrate as if moved by a +spirit of unrest. + +"'Ark!" said the watchman, as he pushed back his chair and arose +hurriedly. There was a sound of a solitary gun at sea, heard in the lull +of the wind, and then through the window was seen the shooting course of +a rocket, comet-like, athwart the stormy sky. + +"Ah! The King is coming in, and 'ard pressed too. Damme, the government +dogs are after 'im. Now there was a time when a man could earn a decent +living without 'aving 'is lugger sent to Davy Jones' locker, but +now--damme--there's another gun! Les out and give 'im a light! Bear a +hand there with that lantern." + +The watchman jerked an oilskin on his back and a sou'wester on his head, +and casting a hasty glance at the cabin, turned and bolted through the +door, closely followed by his companion. + +Without the storm was not much felt in the sequestered cove, although +there were occasional blasts of wind that penetrated the harbour +entrance, terrific in force, and seemed to fairly take their breath on +their exit. Above, streaks of twilight were still visible, and flying, +scudding fragments of clouds driven on the blast. Then came sleet and +hail that stung the face like needles. The lad staggered a moment almost +blinded by the withering, hail-burdened wind. + +"Avast a bit, lad," roared the watchman, and running back and securing +an oilskin and sou'wester, "'ere, stow tha cargo in that," handing the +oilskin, "and clap that on your main-top," handing the great sou'wester. +Lights were stationed on both points of the narrow entrance and they +returned to the beach where they awaited. There was a fascination in the +great waves and breakers, hurling themselves from the gloom like vast +mountains of green darkness toward the cove's entrance, where they would +shiver themselves to pieces with a deep roar, augmented by its +reverberating throughout the hollow length of the harbour. + +Then as they watched, a higher wave than usual seemed to approach the +entrance--nearer and nearer, larger and larger, until it seemed to fill +the narrow cove's mouth from cliff to cliff, and threatened engulfment +of cove and all in one watery grave. The wind ceased for a moment. The +feeling Ande had was inexpressible. + +"See!" he roared to the smuggler watchman, "see, it'll sweep the whole +cove!" He was turning to bound up the cliff, when the watchman seized +him. + +"Avast, lad, 'tez only the lugger." + +True, it was the lugger, that with shortened, bellying sails, rushed in +like a thing of life, and so great was her momentum that there was +danger of her beaching. The skipper was a skilful hand, and not new at +his business, which he demonstrated by the quickness of his orders. A +cry of command, and in a twinkling all sails were neatly folded and +closely reefed. Another command, and gently the smuggler vessel drew in +to the landing. + +A scene of apparent confused activity instantly ensued. Kegs of brandy, +bales of silk, and rich fabrics were hurled recklessly out on the sands, +and numbers of hardy frames, springing from the very earth, bore them +away in the darkness. There was a hollow boom beyond the entrance, and a +solid shot sped in through the cove-mouth, swept across the sand, and +buried itself in the cliff beyond. There were oaths, loud and deep, from +the husky, straining figures at work in the lugger and on shore, but +they paused not. Ande's attention was concentrated upon one who seemed +the chief, standing on the landing, giving orders, and, as he turned, he +was startled by the intense resemblance of the countenance to a picture +he had seen once of Frederick of Prussia. He was of ordinary height, a +little inclined to stoutness, and had fair hair, and blue eyes that +flashed under the light of the flaming torches; his regular, delicate +features had great power of expression. With an oath, he saw Ande, and +grasped him by the shoulder with a grip of steel. + +"Who art thou, lad?" + +The explanation of his supper companion, the watchman, was forthcoming, +and with a word of apology the captain turned to other and more pressing +affairs. + +Again came the booming sound at sea,--this time closer--and another shot +sped through the entrance. The revenue cutter was nearing the +cove-mouth, but the smugglers were prepared for a grim resistance. Pikes +and cutlasses were gleaming on all sides. + +"Zounds!" muttered Captain Carter, "they'll be upon us in another +moment, and that before we 'ave time to store the cargo. Up aloft, +there, Jack, on the headland, and see if you can't beat off the dogs. +Open on them with solid ball," he roared, after the watchman, who was +already climbing the ascent. Ande, totally forgetting his injuries in +the excitement, sped up after him. + +Up, up, up, following the flickering light of the watchman's lantern, he +went. And now the wind became more violent, the higher the ascent, until +near the top he was scarcely able to stand. + +"Larboard, port your helm, there!" shouted the voice of Jack, and he was +seized by that worthy and dragged into a less exposed place. "No man +could stand in a gale like this any further up," shouted Jack in his +ear. Another step or two, and a sequestered place was reached, where +were stationed two pieces of ancient ordnance, and Jack and Ande were +speedily loading, and none too soon, for down below, the cutter's lights +were seen a short distance from the entrance. + +There was a flash and then a roar, and the ball was on its mission. + +"Too high. Better luck next time. But I swear that I thought that 'ould +'a' gone amidships. I do think old Nick must a-turned un aside, I do." + +"It's had some effect, for they are beating off," answered Ande. + +"That's to get a shot at we. They're luffing. But we'll tap them first, +I say. 'Ere, let's give 'em another." + +Again was the flash and roar from the cliff, and Jack fairly chuckled, +as one of the lanterns was snuffed out. + +"Took a part of 'er taffrail that time." + +But now the cutter was ready for action, and boom went one of her guns, +and the next moment a ball struck the cliff below them, splintering the +rock into fragments. Then again the cliff guns spoke, answered once more +by the cutter's, and soon the action became general. The roar of the +cliff guns and the revenue cutter's mingled with the howling blast, and +made the night hideous with noise. Though so far above the sea, yet the +spray of crashing breakers frequently swept over them as they worked the +cliff guns, and it and the occasional flying sleet, at times, so +dampened the powder that the guns had to be recharged. + +Ande was in his element. Here was a real battle, and he paused not to +think that he was firing upon a government boat. The wild soldier blood +of his ancestors was coursing through his veins like molten fire. He had +cast aside the sou'wester hat, as obstructing his vision, and truly he +looked a martial figure with his bandaged head and flowing locks swept +by the blast. + +In the midst of the detonating roar, a figure bounded from the gloom +behind them. Jack, with a sulphurous oath, swung his cutlass on high, +thinking that some revenue men had landed and were charging, but Ande +grasped the blade before it could descend. Although he cut his own hand +badly in the act, yet he saved the stranger's life. + +"Dick!" + +"Ande!" + +It was Dick, who, searching in the locality for his friend, was +attracted by the noise of battle. He asked no questions, but stolidly +set to work to assist in charging and firing the guns. At length the +cutter's guns were fairly silenced; she had been beaten off and her +lights were seen fainter and fainter in her hasty retreat out to sea. + +"Now, stand by, men; one more shot to let them remember Captain Carter +and Prussia Cove." + +It was the gunner, Jack, who spoke, as he finished aiming the last +piece. There was another flash, and away bounded the iron messenger. A +moment and one of the lights of the distant cutter was quenched, as if +the bay had engulfed it. + +"As I'm a sinner, ef that didn't go straight through their cabin +winders. And now, les down below and see 'ow fares the captain and the +cargo." + +They descended and found the King of Prussia in excellent humour. The +whole cargo had been safely landed and concealed in numerous secret +places, and even the lugger had mysteriously disappeared. + +"And let's shake hands with our new comrades of the night," said the +captain, as he grasped the hands of Ande and Dick. "You 'ave shown us +your good will to-night, and ye had better now turn in and get a bit of +rest afore morning, when, if ye are so minded, you can take the way back +to Helston. But, mind 'ee, my lads, no word of to-night's affair." + +Both accepted the generous invitation of Captain Carter, and weary with +the double exertion of a hurling game and the smugglers' battle, they +soon lost themselves in the land of dreams. + +On the morrow they were awakened by voices in angry altercation without. +The cutter had returned, but slightly damaged, and had landed a force in +the cove capable of sweeping all opposition. But there was no +opposition, nothing incriminating being found. Even the very guns on +the cliff had disappeared, and the marks of numerous feet on the shore +were partly obliterated by the tide. The lads, cautiously peering out +from the small window, saw the King of Prussia angrily expostulating +with the captain of the cutter. Prussia was clad in an ordinary +fisherman's garb, and seemed what he professed to be by those garments. + +"Damme," he was saying, "'tez a downright shame that my family and I, +peaceful folks, have to 'ave our slumbers disturbed by the banging of +your practice guns all night. Why doan't 'ee practice out at sea?" + +The captain of the cutter was nonplussed, apologised slightly, and +reëmbarked with his crew. Carter came into the cabin with a merry +twinkle in his eye. The lads were convulsed with laughter. + +"And now," said the captain, "I suppose it is time for 'ee to be going," +and he pressed into their hands a small package, which later +investigation proved to be a jar of currant wine. On the highway, Ande +told Dick of his accident and his possession of the first hurling ball. + +When they arrived at the Grammar School, they were notified to appear +before the head. Mr. Trewan was seated at his desk, and looked at the +two culprits very gravely, for to be absent all night was a serious +offence. Then the grave look gave place to one of anxious concern, as +Ande's bandaged head and hand caught his vision. Explanations were made, +the fall over the cliff, the period of unconsciousness, and Dick's +search the greater part of the night for his friend. The battle of the +smugglers was not touched, as they deemed that treachery to their +smuggler friends. + +Mr. Trewan seemed touched by the accident, and the devotion of Dick, and +let them both off without even a reprimand. + +That night there was another festive scene, but in the fifth form +dormitory instead of in the dining hall, and in it the currant wine +formed a prominent part. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE DUCK CAVE ADVENTURE + + +"Ande, cocoa is pretty dry with such stuff." + +Dick's great head arose from the hamper package which he was examining, +and he flourished in one hand a roasted chicken. The hamper was one he +had received that very day from home. They had ordered it brought into +their study room, and, miracle to relate, it was done without the +knowledge of monitors or small boys. + +"What do you propose?" said Ande, as he, too, began investigation. Dick +scratched his head dubiously and then his face brightened. + +"Eggs." + +"Old Ironsides is gone daft. Where does your majesty expect to get eggs, +and if ye do get them, what are we going to do with them? Do ye think we +are going to be egg-sucking weasels?" + +Dick grinned, and, as he tried to set a dramatic attitude, flourished +his arm, "We'll set forth the vessels of silver and gold----" + +"Avast, there, my lad," said Ande, imitating the tones of smuggler Jack. + +"And 'ave a-blooming----" + +"Cough it out, my elephantine infant." + +"Belshassar's feast. I have an idea." + +"Whisper it not in Gath, publish it not in Ascalon. An idea," chuckling, +"from an egg-regious Lizard philosopher." + +"Egg-nogg," continued Dick, grinning. + +"The very thing," said Ande, assuming a more sober tone, "but where?" + +"We must first get outside of town," said Dick, soberly. + +"No stealing?" + +"No stealing." + +"'Pon honour?" + +"'Pon honour." + +Forth they started, cautiously slipping downstairs and out into the +street, where both darted away at a rapid pace. On the highroad that led +to the little town of Prospidnic, the foremost paused, and puffing like +an engine the latter caught up to him. + +"Ande, remember the Truro champion footrace?" + +Ande nodded. + +"Well, I believe 'ee could beat the champion; you went so fast I nigh +lost sight of you." + +"Now, what's your plan?" + +Dick paused a moment to gain his breath, and then spoke. + +"Do ye remember the cave near the Red River? Well, the ducks from all +around gather there. It's public property, being on the free downs. Eggs +used to be there in plenty, but some snivelling squire's steward put a +door on it and now tries to bag the industry." + +"Art sure the squire didn't buy the section?" + +"Well, if he 'as, the ducks that gather there are not his, and 'e 'asn't +a mortgage on the eggs of futurity infinitum. The squire's steward is +the robber of public rights and human freedom, and----" + +"Public eggs," said Ande. "Down with the tyrant,--_sic semper +tyrannis_--and up with the eggs." + +Onward they pressed at a dog-trot. It was evening and getting dusk when +they reached the neighbourhood. + +"You go in, Dick, and I'll mount watchman." + +The door was the contrivance of a genius, for, while it was designed to +hold out boys and men, yet a small aperture beneath favored the entrance +of ducks and other smaller creatures. The cave was in the side of a hill +near the Red River stream, and opened on the roadway. + +"I'll go in as soon as I get un open," says Dick, as he wrenched at the +latch. By dint of tugging and pulling, the hasp was loosened, and in +went Dick, crawling on his hands and knees, the height of the tunnel not +permitting him to walk upright. + +"Hast found any?" + +"No, steward must 'ave been here. 'Tis a most beastly place and nigh +turns one's stomach," muttered Dick from the interior. + +There was the sound of a horse's tread in the distance, and the sound of +whistling approaching. Fearing that the open door would excite +suspicion, Ande gently closed it, and the hasp being a spring affair, +fell into place. Then, stealing cautiously behind a neighbouring hedge, +he awaited the passing of the traveller. + +Dick, having made certain and wealthy discoveries in the egg line, his +bag full and certain pockets bulged to their utmost, was, in the +meantime, cautiously returning to the exit, where, before he knew it, he +had bumped with the force of a battering ram against the closed door. It +would not yield to any of his efforts, and then, thinking Ande was +joking him, he cried out in impatient voice, "Lemme out, Ande, do, I got +eggs a-plenty." Receiving no answer, he began butting afresh, and roared +louder. + +Now the horseman had approached and heard the infernal roaring and +racket that seemed to come from the very bowels of the earth. He was a +simple, unsophisticated countryman, with an appetite for ale and a +passion for thievery that was well known to the community. Greggs, as he +was surnamed, was not noted for his personal courage, and the loneliness +of the place, even in daylight, the gloom of the overshadowing trees, +and the dusk of twilight, was not calculated to make or add any more +heroism to his nature. Within his breast, as within all countrymen of +the time, and even still, in many districts, there had constantly been +drilled the old beliefs in witches, fairies, giants, goblins, and a host +of other superstitions with which Cornwall has been replete for ages. It +was no wonder, then, that when he came within the border of the shadow, +etched darkly by the trees, he whistled louder, and finally burst into +singing a hymn tune, to let all wandering spirits realise that he was a +godly fellow, kicking his steed all the while to hasten its ambling +pace. + +"Got eggs--lemme out--Ande--lemme out!" + +The horse stood stock still, refusing to budge an inch forward, and +trembling in great terror. In vain the fearful man began to belabour and +kick his leathery sides; the animal would not go forward, but began to +uneasily sidle around and around. The butting and bellowing of Dick +still continued, with little intermission. Greggs ceased singing, the +great drops of perspiration stood out in beads on his face, and with +another frantic effort he kicked his horse's sides in an agony of fear. +Then, as the butting was renewed with greater force, a cry came from +Greggs's lips: + +"Oh, Mr. Devil, 'ave mercy 'pon me!" + +Dick was indefatigable in his butting and bellowing, but even his +patience began to give way and he began to swear in a mild way. + +"Damme, Ande, come take eggs!" + +Each word was punctuated by a savage butt from Dick's great head on the +door. + +"Oh, no, Mr. Devil,--not that--Greggs done no 'arm," mistaking Dick's +cry for the devil's warning "Damnation to Greggs." + +Again came the stifled underground roar, coming forth with a muffled: +"Take--(crash)--eggs--(crash)--damme--(crash)"--and a word beginning +with h. + +"Mercy, Mr. Devil, doan't 'ee take Greggs there. Ah, why did I leave the +hangel tavern!" + +"Damnation!" + +"No, no, Mr. Devil." + +"A beastly trick," roared Dick, still butting away. + +"Aye, kind sir, I'm guilty of many beastly tricks." + +"Ande, you deceiving cad." + +"Yes, I confess I 'ave deceived dad." + +"Here I am--beating m'head." + +"Aye, I beat un on the 'ead, too," moaned Greggs. + +"Like a thieving robber." + +"Yes, Mr. Devil, I robbed un, but 'ave mercy. I promise to take un all +back," groaned Greggs, in terror, still kicking his steed, that shied +around and around. + +"Come, take the bag, you wretched cad." + +"Aye, I promise; I'll take the bag back to dad." + +"It's full," roared Dick. + +"No, no, it was honly 'alf full." + +"Zounds!" swore Dick. + +"Pounds! No 'e wadn't; they were mostly shillings." + +"Let me out!" + +"No! Doan't 'ee come out. I promise, Mr. Devil--Oh!----" + +The last remark of Greggs gave place to a shriek of agonised fear. The +door, under repeated blows of Dick, gave way, and out he rolled with his +bag of eggs, looking in the darkness like a hideous monster come up from +the deep. The horse, in mad terror, wheeled and galloped back to town; +Greggs, praying and howling like a madman, hugging his horse's neck, let +fall his basket in the way. Ande was rolling in the grass beyond the +hedge, choking with laughter. + +Dick was a picture of wrath, as he stood sputtering by the road-side. His +clothes were foul, the natural result of crawling into a duck cave, and +he was apparently sick at the stomach. + +"What's wrong, Dick?" + +"A beastly trick,--phew--ah, egg--phew--ah, in +mouth,--phew--ah--addled--broke." + +Ande roared and roared with shrieking laughter. Dick had filled the bag +and his pockets, and finding one extra one, had placed it in his mouth +for safe keeping, just before the latch gave way. + +"Well," said Ande, "they aren't all broke, and the most must be good." + +Dick, at first was very much incensed, but Ande, while he helped to +clean him up at the Red River, explained how he had closed the door to +avert suspicion. Dick was mollified when the description of Greggs's +terrors was related, and laughed a faint laugh that partly brought back +his good humour. + +It appeared that Greggs had ill-treated his poor old father, and had +robbed him of some of his savings. Taking warning from the supposed +admonition of his Satanic majesty, he afterward treated his father with +the greatest consideration, refunding the shillings he had stolen. +Nothing, however, could induce him to pass that way again, and the story +getting wind and becoming much exaggerated, few would trust themselves +in that locality after dusk. + +"Whew! Look here, Dick." Ande picked up the basket and drew from it a +small bottle of rye. + +"The very thing we need," gasped Dick, "the egg-nog shall become +punch." + +"I don't know, Dick. You see, if we take it, it'll be stealing. The +school rules are against it, and no matter how sparingly and temperately +a fellow uses it no allowance is made." + +"Well, if we give it back to Greggs, it'll do 'im more harm than it will +us; then, we can send Greggs the cost of it, so it won't be stealing, +and as to school rules, why, we are breaking school rules now by being +away," said Dick, reassuringly. + +"'Twon't do, Dick; the breaking of one law doesn't justify the breaking +of another. We'll let it behind." + +"Very well," said Dick, but at the same moment, concealed by the dusk of +the evening, he slipped the flask into his pocket. + +"You'll 'ave to 'cave' about getting the eggs in," said Ande, as they +trotted along home, back to Helston. + +"That's what's worrying me," said Dick. + +"I have it," said Ande, and the plan seemed so feasible that he resumed +his old bantering tone. "Dick, old lad, congratulate your friend on +being a man of infinite resources. I have a plan, my Ajax of egg-hunting +renown and Lucifer reputation." + +"Huh," growled Dick, "we're getting near town." + +"A rope--the hamper rope," said Ande; "that beast, Creakle, will be on +guard within, or Tenny. I go in empty-handed,--see--you stay out below +the study window, in the dark angle; I let down the rope,--presto--up +come the eggs. You come in empty-handed,--see?" and Ande gave Dick a +nudge. + +Dick brightened up perceptibly. + +"But 'ow to get you in with that pungent, ducky aroma, without exciting +the blatant curiosity of Creakle, or the sharp smellers of +Sherwood--um--das ist die frage. Whew! What a beastly odour." + +Dick looked worried and down-hearted. + +"But cheer up, Dick, you can't help it, and we'll get you in some how, +never fear. The plan is sure to work." + +The plan did work like a charm, and soon they were in the comfortable +study, Dick clothed in clean garments, and the steaming egg-nogg and +eatables before them. The evening's adventure, the terror of Greggs, the +chicken, and other viands, made the evening pass pleasantly by. During +the close of the feast, Tenny rapped, but was not let in. + +"Now Creakle will be next," said Ande, "and we can't keep a monitor out. +Away with the things!" + +The things were hurriedly placed away, the Virgils opened, and with +lexicons in hand, they seemed busily and studiously engaged when steps +were heard advancing quickly along the corridor. The door was swung +open, it being unbarred, and in stalked Sherwood and Creakle. The latter +had a cunning twinkle in his eye; the former with grave, severe +countenance. + +"Gentlemen," began Sherwood, in stern voice, but he went no further. +Ande looked up with a mild, reproving eye. + +"I believe no student is to be disturbed in the evening study hour, +except upon probable cause of misdemeanour; I believe that is an +unwritten law." + +"Quite right, gentlemen, excuse me," and Master Sherwood backed out, +followed by Creakle. Humiliation is a poor word to express the feelings +of the under-master. Creakle could be heard expostulating with him in +the corridor. + +"I saw them both, on the run out of town, and saw them enter on their +return, and there was a smell of ducks, sir, on Mr. Thomas's clothes." + +"Nonsense," said Master Sherwood, "how should it not be manifest to me +also?" Sherwood had not thought of the possibility of Thomas changing +his clothes. + +Creakle still protested. + +"Absurd! Why, sir, do you know you are accusing the head of the fifth?" +said Master Sherwood, exasperated. "Do you know your misplaced zeal has +involved me in censure that was just, and a rebuke from fifth form boys +that was, to say the least, humiliating? You, sir, should have known +better. There must have been an upheaval of latent stupidity within you +to thus bring disgrace upon both master and school. Sir, how will the +public esteem our reputation when they are informed that master and +monitor are banded together to disturb the study hours, and falsely +accuse honourable students." + +"I thought," began Creakle, humbly. + +"You thought, sir; what right had you to think? You must know before +recklessly accusing honourable students and bringing disgrace, not on me +alone, but on the head." + +Master Sherwood, in high dudgeon, went to his study, and Creakle, +crestfallen, retired to the form room, where he had charge over the +smaller form study hours. + +"Now," said Dick, "that spying cad must be brought down to give him some +sparks of honour." + +"What's the plan?" + +Dick, for the first time, refused to divulge to his chum his course, but +divesting himself of his shoes cautiously slipped down to the cloakroom +below. + +That night, as Creakle was donning his gown, which he always left in the +cloakroom, there arose a fearful uproar in the corridor above. Hastening +upstairs with full speed, he tripped over an invisible something and +fell with a crash to the floor. Instantly doors opened, lights appeared, +and a confused sound of many voices, and in the midst of all, along +stalked Master Sherwood. + +"What is the meaning of this, Creakle?" he asked of that worthy, who was +still on the floor, dazed with his fall. + +"I fell, sir." + +"You did, and pray why?" with biting sarcasm. + +Just then he smelt the fumes of rye on the garb of the miserable +Creakle, and his face grew dark with severity. + +"You have been drinking, sir?" + +"I have not," stammered the monitor. + +"Don't give me the lie, sir; you are reeking with the fumes of an +ale-house. Ugh! you putrescent miscreant! This is a case for the head. +You will appear before him to-morrow. Such a disgrace! In what light +will the public view this scandalous demoralisation? Outrageous, +sir! This is the second offence to-night. I thought you were +inebriated,--intoxicated--in short, what the vulgar tongue calls drunk, +when you brought me a silly, drivelling tale of a misdemeanour of two +honourable students, and now you make it evident by staggering around, +sprawling, and destroying the peace and sobriety of the school!" + +"I--I--I am not drunk." + +"I call you all to witness the state of filthy inebriety of this +fellow," said Sherwood, with cold dignity. + +"What do you say, sir?" said the tutor to Dick. + +"He smells horrid, sir," said that worthy. + +"Ah! You are all witnesses," said Sherwood, and then, turning to the +dejected Creakle, "in with you to your study, and relieve honourable men +from the abhorrent, filthy odours that assail decent olfactory organs." + +Mr. Sherwood retired in dignified silence, and Creakle slunk into his +study. + +"Dick, what is the moral?" said Ande, after they had reëntered their +study. + +"The revenge of diabolical Ajax?" + +"No, the moral is this: the man who takes delight in spying on others +and revelling in their disgrace, even though he be a monitor, shall be +beaten with his own stick." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +CREAKLE'S REVENGE + + +"It's true; I heard it myself when I was over that way this last week," +said Creakle, nodding his head affirmatively. + +"Who was it told you?" said Tenny. + +"A fellow called Sloan, a big, honest sort of a fellow in the employ of +the Lanyans. He's a sort of an understrapper to young Master Richard, +who will be graduated soon from Eton College." + +"What did he say?" + +"That Trembath's father was a traitor to the government; that he turned +traitor in the late war with America, leastways he has not shown his +face hereabouts since the war. Some think he is dead, and others think +he was a traitor, and daren't show his face in England, but is living in +exile somewhere in America. Sloan--I think his first name is Bob--told +me himself that Richard and his father, Sir James, both believe that he +was a traitor." + +"No proofs but their thoughts," said Tenny, doubtfully. + +"Well, it is the current belief of the whole neighbourhood, and then, +there is strong proof of his grandfather being a traitor. There is no +doubt about that at all. Bob told me that it was through the patriotism +of Richard's grandfather that the matter was called to the attention of +Newcastle, and Trembath Manor was confiscated." + +"How? What was the treason?" + +"Well, he was a soldier in the war of England against France, in the +colonies. He was in Braddock's defeat, and after that battle he turned +for the French. He was with them for upwards of a year or so, and no one +knows what harm he did during that time. They say he consorted with the +French of Quebec, was a spy in their employ, and was afterwards raised +to some rank as an officer." + +"A traitor to his own land and his own people!" exclaimed Tenny. + +"Yes, and that isn't all. They say he became as bloody a savage as the +Indians. I suppose he received a good reward from the French. Some say +he was an aide of Montcalm." + +"And how was he found out?" + +"He was shot in the van of a fight between Armstrong's troops and the +French. They found his body and recognised it by letters from England. +He had on a French officer's uniform and a commission in the French army +in his pocket. They brought him home, and Sir Richard Lanyan brought the +facts to the knowledge of the government, and the Trembath home was +confiscated, and they were driven out. It served them right, I say." + +"That it did," asserted Tenny. + +"And here's one of the family, this Ande, that's lording it over us. I +believe it was he that soaked my gown in that beastly rye and got me in +such a scrape with the head." + +Tenny smiled, for he had no love for Creakle, except as a tool. + +"It was no laughing matter, I can tell you. The head nearly fired me," +said Creakle, a little sullenly. + +"Come, come, no offence. I have as much reason to dislike Trembath as +you have. Didn't he sneak into being head of the fifth through meanness, +getting up and reciting, when all the rest of the fellows had agreed to +refuse to recite. He has been there ever since, but he never would have +got there if he hadn't turned traitor to his form, like his father and +grandfather to the government. Blood will tell." + +"And, I say, we ought to let the fellows know, and pull him down a peg +or two. Let him know his place among the sons of honourable Englishmen. +He ought to be sent to Coventry, I say." + +"Come over here and we'll talk it over with one or two of the fellows," +said Tenny. + +A little coterie of fellows of the fifth form were soon assembled around +Tenny and Creakle, on the Bowling Green, and their nodding heads and +colloquy portended mischief to the head of the fifth. Tenny had never +forgotten the way in which he was shouldered out of the headship of the +fifth form, and Creakle was burning with more hate since his late +disgrace, which he blamed on Ande. Now, had it depended upon Creakle +alone, nothing would have come of the disclosure of the stain upon +Ande's name, but when Tenny took up the matter it was eagerly listened +to. The latter portrayed in indignant tones the treachery of Ande's +family to the government. Should they consort with him, after this +knowledge? It was all well enough, as long as they did not know the +family disgrace. But, now they knew, they ought to show their abhorrence +of such conduct. + +He ought to be expelled from the school, but they couldn't do that, but +they could, at least, debar him from fellowship and keep him from the +leadership in the form that he had always maintained. The son and +grandson of a traitor shall not lead us in our sports. He was a traitor +at heart, like his people before him, for had he not gained the headship +of the form through an act of treason to his fellows, and his remarks of +the injustice of the king also bore testimony. Such was the line of +Tenny's sophistry, in which Creakle was a second. + +One or two of the form demurred, with the remark that it was hard for a +son to be villified on account of the errors of his fathers. + +"I'll prove the contrary from the Bible," said Tenny. "Aren't the Jews +to-day despised, and righteously, for their treason to their king, and +doesn't the Bible say that the sins of the fathers shall be visited upon +the children?" + +The demurrers were overborne by Tenny's reasoning. Dick, being so close +a friend of Ande, was not taken into the conference, but he was not so +slow in taking in the cold demeanour of the students to Ande, and even +to him self, in a milder degree. Henceforth there were no games in +which Ande participated. If he sought entrance to a game, the game was +instantly adjourned, and he found himself left more and more to himself. +He, as well as Dick, was at a loss to know the reason of the altered +manner of treatment. The revelation came to Dick. + +[Illustration: "They say you are the son of a traitor"] + +He was going to enter a game of hurling on the Bowling Green, when +Creakle objected. + +"Why?" said Dick, in amazement. + +"Because you are the friend of the son of a traitor. His father and his +grandfather were traitors to the government, and he's a traitor +himself," sneered Creakle. + +"Who?" + +"The Dane," said Creakle, with another sneer. "All the fellows have +refused to have anything to do with him. He's been sent to Coventry. +He's a traitor's son, and the blot of treason hangs to his name." + +"It's a lie," said Dick, hotly; "he's not a traitor's son," and with a +back-handed slap of his hand, he sent Creakle reeling. + +"It's true," said Tenny, as he edged in among the other lads. "All the +lads of his home place will tell you the same thing, and you'll be +treated the same way as we are treating him, if you don't cut him." + +Dick, scarcely believing his ears, hurried off to his friend, Ande, +bursting into the study with a bound. + +"Do ye know why the fellows have cut you and me?" + +"No." + +"Why, they say you are the son of a traitor. That your father and +grandfather were traitors to the government. Creakle said so, and I give +him a back-handed slap that sent him some feet. It was Creakle who told +me." + +"The contemptible dog!" exclaimed Ande, with a flash of the eye. "It's +not true, though the circumstances look the other way. They were both +honourable men." + +"You needn't tell me," said Dick. "I believe if your father and +grandfather were like you, there couldn't be a bit of treason in them. I +told Creakle it was a lie, and then Tenny spoke up and said that it was +true, and that if I didn't cut you the same as the rest of them are +doing, they would cut me. They have sent us to Coventry." + +"Dick, you 'ave been a good friend to me, and you did right in treating +Creakle as you did, for I should have done the same. The old blot that +drove me from my native village will drive me from here as well. It is +the curse that has been on our family since my grandfather's death, but +you have no hand in this. You had better cut me, or they will make your +life here as unbearable as mine. I'll move into a study of my own. It is +for your own interest that I am looking." + +"Stuff! Let them send me to Coventry if they will. I don't believe there +is any truth in the rumour, and we don't part like that. Didn't you save +my life in the smugglers' battle, and I'm going to stick to you through +all this Coventry business. Put it there," and Dick stretched his great +hand across the study table and grasped the hand of Ande and shook it +warmly. There was a grateful look in the latter's eyes. + +"You have done too many things for me, to turn in with a rabble like +that. You have changed old Dullhead into a brighter man, and made him +Old Ironsides, and we'll let them know that Old Ironsides is going to +stick to you. Why, Ande, you and I could clean out the whole crew in a +personal fight on the Bowling Green, and--zounds! I'd like to do it." + +"And they would gain their desires. We'd be expelled." + +"Never thought of that." + +"It's what would happen, though." + +There was silence in the study for the space of half an hour, during +which they laboured on the coming lessons. Then, it was Dick, who broke +the silence. + +"How did it happen that the idea of treason got out. I don't believe it, +but I'm a bit curious." + +"It's a long story, but I'll tell you some day, Dick, and let you see +some documents that I have still in my possession. There's the gong." + +A deep sound of a gong, indicating the dinner hour in the dining-room +below, broke the silence, and they hurried forth to its summons. + +After the discovery of Dick, and the encounter with Creakle, neither he +nor Ande sought the games of the others. If they needed recreation, they +took it in long walks along the sea-coast or in the country. The enmity +of Creakle and Tenny was shown in many petty ways. They were not content +with sending to Coventry alone. Once, on their return, they found a +placard on their study door with the sentence of, "The Home of Treason," +written on it, but this did not stir the wrath of Ande as much as a +later placard, a rude sketch of a soldier with red hair, hands bound, +eyes blindfolded, and before him a file of soldiers with weapons +presented, ready to fire, and near at hand a grave and a coffin. With a +burst of passion, he tore it down and ground it under his heel. + + * * * * * + +"And how is my knight progressing in the tournament of the schools?" + +It was in the gardens of Trembath Manor, and it was Mistress Alice who +was speaking. She was clad in light spring garb that wonderfully set off +her trim figure and brought out into greater prominence the wavy +darkness of her hair, and depth of her eyes, that seemed deeper and +brighter under the mellow sunlight without. She was standing near one of +her favourite rose-beds, and near her was the tall form of Ande +Trembath, the few months at school adding new dignity and age to his +features. He was glad to be there, near her, and to be called "her +knight," as she had called him on the last Christmas eve. He was home on +a short vacation, and it seemed wonderfully pleasant to be with her in +the gardens of old Trembath, especially after the dreary atmosphere of +the school, rendered more dreary and wretched by the uncharitable spirit +of his fellows of the fifth; to watch the dark eyes kindling and +rekindling at some jest, and then the sober shadow at the recital of +the escapage of the smugglers. He told her all, the merry adventure at +the duck cave, the hurling game, and then the sending to Coventry. Yes, +this was going to be his last year at the school. The curse of treason +had followed him, and even his friend, Dick, was involved in the petty +spirit of malice of the students. He was discouraged, and she knew it. +His face betokened it as he related the sending to Coventry. + +"Do you know that my knight has forgotten some of his pledges made last +Christmas eve?" she said, and her eyes flashed once more, back from the +sombreness brought into them by the Coventry recital. + +"How?" + +"I said that the knight that I should admire would not despair at a few +difficulties, and my knight said that he would not." + +"Neither am I," doubtfully. + +"Your very tone indicates the contrary." + +"You think it best to remain and stand all taunts and malice?" + +"Assuredly; and will not that be the very best way to prepare yourself +for the future battles. Is it brave to run away from a foe?" + +There was a flush on the face of the youth. + +"I see you are right. I shall stay and fight it out, and they will see +who grows tired of the Coventry business first. You give me the same +advice as Parson Trant. He said stand firm, and stick to the school." + +"Parson Trant is generally right." + +"And so are you." + +"Of course, in this case, I am right, but at times, I suppose, I am +wrong." + +"For instance?" + +"Well, my father has broached a plan that lies close to his heart. You +know the Lanyan estate lies close to ours, and he is anxious for me to +be settled in life soon." + +A cold, icy hand seemed to clutch his heart and hold it in a vice-like +grip. The blood forsook his features, for a moment, as he listened. + +"And he?" interrogatively. + +"And he was thinking how well the two would go together, and that Lady +Alice would not sound so bad. Then it would place our family among the +highest in the county. I thought at first that it was all foolishness, +but I suppose he is right and I am wrong." + +"No, no, no, you are right. You must not sacrifice yourself to a whim." + +"No, I am wrong," pensively. + +"You are right. It must not be," and then at the remembrance of Master +Richard and Sir James, he flushed an angry hue and clenched his fists +tightly. + +"Must not be?" archly. + +"Aye, it shall not be." + +"Why?" + +"Because I say it shall not be." + +"Indeed, since when have I had a new master, or a master at all, for +that matter?" + +There was a rebellious tone in her voice, and a quick, tumultuous +beating of her heart. To be told she should not do this or that was +something new to her, the mistress of the Manor, and yet, his tone, his +manner of speaking, that masterful way of asserting himself--she liked +him better for it. + +"I say it shall not be," doggedly. + +"And why?" + +"Because--because--because--I am your knight," he said, desperately, +"and I cannot see any harm come to you, and your happiness wrecked by +marrying such. If you only knew the Lanyans as I know them." + +"Perhaps my happiness would not be wrecked." + +"Ah, but it shall not be. It must not be." + +"You have given me no reason why it should not. Should not a child obey +her father?" + +Her eyes were glowing mischievously. + +"Alice, Alice, if you will not listen to reason, it is because I say so, +and I--I--I--love you. Oh! Alice, I have wanted to tell you so long--but +the stain of treason--but give me at least hope that if the stain be +removed--and it shall--that I shall not love you in vain." + +The hue of Mistress Alice's cheeks rivalled her own roses. She fought +down the exultant, happy feeling within, and strove to be her former +self; yes, even strove to be angry, but what woman is angry when told +that she is loved. + +"There is father. Calm yourself, or he will notice you." + +Coming over the green terrace was the stout frame of old Squire Vivian, +most unwelcome sight at this hour, at least to Ande. His question was +doomed to remain unanswered. The squire greeted him in his bluff, +cheery manner, asked him of the school and his progress. The excellent +reports he had received from Master Trewan had inclined him a little +more favourably to his _protégé_. Taking advantage of the presence of +her father, Mistress Alice slipped away and hid herself in the privacy +of her own rooms. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +EXAMINATIONS--ADRIFT ON THE DEEP + + +Examinations were coming on apace. The end of the half was near. Prizes +had been established by gentlemen of the neighbourhood, and the diligent +ones were striving for them with assiduous application to study. The +sports of the students had little attraction for Ande now. Even had he +not been sent to Coventry, he would have avoided them for the extra +chance it gave him for work. He was determined to win the prize for +general scholarship in the fifth. There were others working for the same +goal, among them, Tenny, the former head. Tenny's ambition was of a +double nature. Not only must he win the general prize, but also the +silver medal for the best essay. The days sped rapidly by, and soon came +the day of examination. The essays had been handed in to a special +committee, some time previous, under various nom-de-plumes. + +Most of the examinations were oral, and occupied some time. Generally, +the master would put the questions, but at times one of the visiting +gentlemen would throw in a question bearing on the special subject under +consideration. + +The contest of general scholarship in the fifth was manifestly between +two students,--the old and the new head, and even after it was over, +none could prophesy how the judges would decide. The decision came, +after a brief pause and consultation. + +The Reverend Mr. Trewan arose, and after clearing his throat several +times began by complimenting the students. + +"I am pleased to find the excellent form in which most of our scholars +have passed this examination. The marks are far above the average of the +half. I am glad to state that the whole form will enter the sixth at the +next half without a single exception." + +There was a little cheer from the mass of students. + +"In reference to the prize for the general scholarship, there are two +between which there has been a close contest. For quite a time one was +in the forerank and the other close behind. Then the marks were even. +Then the second forged ahead. Master Tenny," and the head paused to +clear his throat, while Tenny flushed with gratification, "your marks +have been admirable; they were far ahead of your average during the +year. For quite a time you were ahead, then even with another, Master +Trembath, then Master Trembath gained first place. The prize goes to +him, however, who has the highest average of the whole examination, and +I, therefore, declare Master Trembath the winner by four points; and the +committee has given Master Tenny the highest honourable mention." + +The master paused and extended twenty pounds to Ande, the prize for +general scholarship. Dick was the first to congratulate him, and was +followed by one or two others, notwithstanding the decree of Coventry. +Tenny maintained his silence in bitter chagrin. He had hopes of the +essay prize, however, the chairman of which committee now arose to +report. + +"We find," he said, after a little preliminary speech, "that six of the +essays were most laudable, but out of them two were selected for their +excellence--one on account of the beauty of the language, the other on +account of its vivid realism and striking, rhetorical figures. The one +written by Hector is admirable in wording and has many fine points, but +lacks the realism and subject matter and thought of the other. We have +decided that the silver medal goes to him who has adopted the certainly +inappropriate and inapplicable nom-de-plume of Asinus Cornubiensus." + +There was a pause, and the students at length, realising the meaning of +the Latin nom-de-plume, which was the "Ass, or Donkey of Cornwall," +burst into a roar of laughter. + +"Certainly," resumed the gentleman, "this Asinus Cornubiensus has +demonstrated a grasp of thought, power of language, and vivid +description that belies his humble name, and renders him worthy of the +prize. Stand up, Asinus Cornubiensus, and receive the silver medal." + +Dick stood up, much confused, and received the prize. There was a cheer. +Even Ande was astonished, and greeted his old friend with more respect. +It is needless to say that Hector was Tenny, who was bubbling over with +rage and mortification, to think that he was not only beaten in the +general prize but also in the essay, and in the latter case by one whom +he had always considered a stupid dunce, the worst scholar in the form. + +The rest of the day was dedicated to the examinations of the sixth and +the distribution of prizes in that form. Our two prize winners of the +fifth wended their way out from the school and hied away from the town +to one of their accustomed haunts, near the coast, high up on the +cliffs. Here, throwing themselves down on the long grass, they watched, +for the time, the active sea-birds and the flitting sails far out on the +channel. At length, turning from the contemplation of these, Ande +addressed his friend. + +"Dick, what led you to choose such a queer nom-de-plume?" and he smiled. + +"Well, I was always considered a dull'ead and never thinking I'd get the +medal, I put down the name in a little disgust, thinking it to be the +most appropriate one." + +"What was the subject?" + +"You can't guess?" + +"No." + +"Well, it was on that hurling game between Breage and our fellows, and I +just played the game over again in imagination when I was writing." + +"That accounts for its realism, no doubt." + +"Did 'ee notice Tenny after the general prize was given?" + +"No." + +"His face was as wisht[7] as a herring." + + [7] Wisht--sickly. + +"No doubt. I noticed him after the silver medal was given and he was +green around the eyes." + +"Serves him right," said Dick, "for sending us to Coventry on account of +that tale of Creakle about your father and grandfather." + +There was silence for a moment, unbroken save by the breaking of the +waves on the beach beneath. + +"Dick, you asked me once out of curiosity concerning that tale and I am +now going to tell you and get your ideas. You have a better head than we +gave you credit for." + +"Fudge, Ande, your head would make two of mine, but fire away. I've been +anxious for a long time to know." + +Ande related the history of his family and the treasonable stain, while +his companion listened attentively, and sympathetically. The tale was +related to the finish. + +"And the papers?" + +"They were all confiscated except two, that are now in my possession." + +"And your father?" + +"He left a letter. You see the last letter that my mother received +before father's disappearance contained one sealed, directed to me, +which should be given to me when I came to mature years. It was given me +when I came first to the Grammar School. Here it is," said Ande, as he +pulled out of his inside pocket a long envelope that had been sealed +with red wax. + +"I have long since made myself familiar with its contents, but I am now +going to read it to you," and opening it he read the following: + + "FORT MALDEN, Canada, Sept. 10th, 1813." + + "MY DEAR SON ANDREW.--This letter is enclosed and sent in one to + your mother, and is to be given to you when you are old enough to + understand its contents. Whether I shall accomplish that for which I + started to this blood-stained region or not yet remains to be seen. + If not, and I should fall either in battle or a captive, you must + faithfully carry out my request. Proctor has let hell loose upon the + Americans and it has come back upon our own heads. I have no taste + for this fighting side by side with savage Indians, and certainly + Proctor is abusing his authority and position. He ruthlessly permits + the savages to perform the most fiendish things imaginable, and has + no respect for his word to a fallen foe. + + "All Michigan was taken by his predecessor, General Brock, but he + was unfortunately killed and now this unscrupulous man is over us. + It makes me blush at the name Englishmen must bear through him, and + disgusts me with the present service. At the battle of Frenchtown, + last January, the American general, Winchester, and his men were + captured. They surrendered on Proctor's word that their lives and + property should be safe, but Proctor returned to Malden and left the + wounded and prisoners to be scalped and burned alive by the + blood-thirsty devils, our red allies, who even dragged some through + the streets of Detroit for sale. Detroit people remonstrated with + Proctor, but he only shrugged his shoulders. + + "The same proceedings were repeated after the attack on Harrison at + Fort Meigs. The battle was as good as a victory for us. Our men were + on both sides of the river Maumee. Our left was repulsed with a + small loss, but our right was victorious, taking prisoners nearly + six hundred men. Then the same savage atrocities began. Even + Tecumseh, the great chief, was more merciful than our general. With + an appalling yell he rescued an American prisoner from two of his + followers and then insulted Proctor to his face. + + "'Why do you allow such things when I am not here?' he said. + + "'Your Indians can't be controlled,' said Proctor. + + "'Go, put on petticoats; you are not fit to command men,' said + Tecumseh, and with that he stalked proudly away. But those who heard + it agreed with the bold chief. He's a good soldier, but no general, + and his cruelty and indifference to his word of honour has made the + soldiers sick of such service. On account of this, and Admiral + Barclay's defeat to-day, Michigan is lost to us and even Canada may + be taken away from the home government. The splendid opportunities + that Brock placed in our hands are of no value on account of + incapable Proctor and pusillanimous Barclay. The naval battle was + won before it was fought. Barclay had six vessels and Perry nine, + but what of that? Englishmen have conquered before against odds. But + there was Barclay, keeping under the guns of Malden, casting down + the spirits of his men with the thought of certain defeat, while the + American ships were out in the open inviting him to the attack. The + sailors and gunners begged him to attack, and even wept in + humiliation at his cowardice. Tecumseh, with several thousand + Indians, were on an island waiting to witness the encounter. + Tecumseh rowed over and sought Proctor. + + "'You said you were master of the waters. Why don't you go out and + fight? The Americans are daring you to come out and fight.' + + "The result of that battle is known, or will be known soon. Oh, for + men like Nelson, and Marlborough, and Wellington! + + "But to the point of my request. My father has a dishonourable stain + on his name, though unworthy of it, I believe. I have travelled + among the Shawnese, our allies, who were father's foes at Braddock's + defeat. I was sent by Brock as an agent to the Ohio, and witnessed + their dances and the Prophet's agitation a year ago. Ah, they were + blood-curdling scenes. While there I talked with an old Shawnee + about King Shingas and Captain Jacobs, father's captors. He said he + was a sub-chief under Shingas and was in the ambush at the defeat, + and from what I could glean from his description, father was among + the batch of prisoners consigned to his charge. He knew not what I + had in mind at first. He was so old that his hair had turned white + or grey, an unusual thing among the Indians. He spoke to me of the + greatness of Shingas and the suffering of the prisoners until I felt + like shooting him on the spot, the hoary old sinner. All were not + burned, for after running the gauntlet one escaped, snatching a club + from an Indian in his flight. The Shawnee called him the Long Red + Wolf, at least such is the meaning of the Shawnee name in English. + From the red hair, length of limb, and swiftness of foot, it must + have been my father, who was accounted the swiftest foot in old + Cornwall when young. + + "Now hark ye, son Andrew, among the papers of your grandfather, + found on his person, was one overlooked by the King's officers. It + was a rude map of the Kittanning region and the rough vale of the + Lycamahoning. I send a copy with the same directions in Shawnese and + English. The vale leads down from the Allegheny Mountains, and the + river empties into the Ohio some distance above the old Indian town + of Kittanning, as you can readily see from the accompanying sketch. + I have learned from long association with the Indians that this + region is rich in silver and lead, possibly gold. At least there are + legends to that effect. The ability of the natives to obtain lead + for their weapons and their silver ornaments testify to an eldorado + somewhere in the region. Now father was much interested in mining + and metals, as what Cornishman is not. I asked the old warrior of + Shingas concerning the Indian legend of this eldorado and quoted the + old directions in Shawnese, for I speak their language: 'On one side + a plain, on the other a steep that a smart Indian can climb.' He + gazed at my red hair and became silently suspicious. A bullet that + passed through my hat on my way back to Malden told me my knowledge + had made me a mark of vengeance. + + "This is all I know. Connect this Indian eldorado with the map found + on father's body; explain how the French commission as captain was + filled in with his own name, and how he happened to be in French + uniform, and the problem is solved. If these could be explained I + believe our family could raise its head once more among the loyal + families of the delectable duchy,--Cornwall. I'll find this Indian + eldorado and your grandfather's exoneration at the same time. They + are both connected, I believe. If I fail you must take up the + cause." + + "Your affectionate father, + "THOMAS TREMBATH, + "_Major---- 6th Royal Infantry._ + + "FORT MALDEN, Canada." + +"That's what we were studying about the other day," said Dick, as Ande +ceased reading. "De 'ee remember, Ande, about Proctor and Tecumseh?" + +"Aye," said Ande, musingly. + +"Are you going to take up the search?" + +"Some time,--when, I don't know. What do you advise?" + +"I should say after you get through with the sixth," said Dick promptly; +"but, Ande, you haven't told me of Sir James Lanyan and Master Richard +and----" + +Ande gave a gesture of impatience and his countenance clouded over with +anger. + +"Dick," he said passionately, "parson says it's wrong, but I hate that +family and I can never forgive them the wrong they did me and mine. When +the time comes I will be terribly revenged upon them for the cruel +slander and injustice that they, for the sake of capital, brought upon +us." + +Dick was silenced; he had never seen the pleasant face of his friend +become so angry. A look like that of a demon had passed over his +features at the very mentioning of Lanyan's name. + +"Hist!" said Ande, and his countenance resumed its old expression. + +Both youths listened, in their sequestered position. + +"Remember, Penner, to 'ave the men 'ere within a half an 'our. See that +each is well armed with pistols and cutlass. The cutter 'as been +notified and is a-beating down the coast, and the paths be all guarded. +This time we'll catch the hold Prussian fox or my name beant Penhall." + +Gazing out cautiously, the youths saw, on the beach below, two men in +seaman's garb. + +"That's Captain Penhall of the coastguard, and his lieutenant, and they +mean to surprise the King of Prussia Cove. We must give our old friend +warning, Dick, lad." + +"Les up and away." + +"Hold on. Didn't 'ee hear the paths are all guarded." + +"That's so," said Dick rubbing his head, doubtfully. + +"Come, I have a plan at last," said Ande after a moment's thought, and +he led the way cautiously at first and then rapidly inland. For a mile +or more they kept up a smart pace, Dick following with some difficulty. + +After a wide detour inland, they rapidly approached Prussia Cove. His +plan was nothing less than to enter the cove by the perilous path from +which he had fallen in the hurling game between Breage and the school. +It was now twilight, and darkness was rapidly setting in. + +"Halt!" said a quick, sharp voice ahead. + +"On," whispered Ande, "there's only two of them. I'll take the right, +and you take the left." + +Dick grappled with his man and there was a moment of struggle. But the +sudden impetus of Dick's rush decided the battle, for the coastguard +tripped and, aided by his antagonist's bulk, fell. Ande was more +fortunate, not suffering the other to lay hands on him. With a blow of +his fist and a quick Cornish side kick he toppled him over. + +"On!" shouted Ande and down the narrow pathway they rushed at breakneck +speed. There was now no concealment. Shots flew after the two and Ande +felt a sharp, quick pain in the left arm, but he gave it no attention. +In a moment or two they emerged on the sands below, and their arrival +was none too soon. The smugglers had already secreted half the cargo. + +"The coastguard! They're coming!" shouted Ande as he rushed among the +crowd. + +Down the path was heard the approach of charging feet. From other paths +the same ominous sounds were heard, all converging on the cove, and soon +the head of the cove was dotted with black figures of guardsmen. + +Now did Captain Carter show his courage. His men grasped desperately +their pikes and cutlasses, and not even awaiting the attack of the +guard, charged at the command of their king. Then followed a sanguinary +battle. Shots, oaths, dull resounding blows, and groans made the silent +cove a veritable pandemonium. In the midst of it a sail was seen +gradually nearing the harbour entrance. The quick eye of Carter saw it. +Flourishing his cutlass on high he roared: + +"To the lugger, men, the hawk's at the entrance!" + +The two youths, not knowing where to go, clambered on board, followed +speedily by the captain and his men. The struggle continued to the very +lugger's bulwarks, for the attacking guard were more numerous than their +foes and felt loathe to leave them go. The appearance of the revenue +cutter near the entrance also gave them renewed courage. They strove to +follow after the captain and his men. A select guard of the smugglers +was speedily appointed by the captain to repel boarders, and these did +their work well, wielding boathooks and cutlasses with telling effect. +In the meantime sweeps were gotten ready by the others and the lugger +was under headway, slowly leaving the frenzied guardsmen of the +government on shore. + +A gun sounded from the entrance and a ball tore through the limp +mainsail. + +"Between two fires," muttered the captain with a smothered oath, and it +was true, for the revenue cutter had stationed herself midway in the +narrow entrance. + +"Pull, my hearties, pull," shouted the captain, "we'll run 'er down, for +we be heavier!" + +The lusty fellows at the sweeps did pull, and with a will. The cutter's +captain, seeing the intention of the smugglers, tried to frustrate it, +and partly succeeded, but--crash!--the next instant the lugger's heavy +prow ran athwart the cutter's bow. + +"She's done for," gleefully said the smuggler captain, as the next +moment the lugger glided into the bay. But Carter was mistaken, for the +cutter though badly damaged, was not disabled. The blow was above the +water-line and pursuit was kept up out into the channel. There was a +light breeze blowing, the sails were set, and the sweeps were taken in. +The cutter was steadily gaining. + +"Can she catch us?" asked Ande of the smuggler captain. + +"No," said the captain, pleasantly, "I think not. We are obliged to 'ee, +lads, for your timely warning." + +Ande wondered at his good humour and at his denial that there was any +danger of being overtaken, when it was plain that the cutter was +gaining. Evidently the captain had some plan, he thought; and he had. + +"Port your helm!" shouted the skipper, and then at another command, more +sheets were spread to the wind as if by magic, and away went the lugger +staggering under a cloud of canvas, like a winged bird of the sea. + +"Jack," said the captain to our old acquaintance of the cliff battle, +"Jack, do 'ee think 'ee could wing that chap?" + +"I'll try," said Jack, and away he rushed to the stern where a long +brass cannon called "Long Tom" was stationed. The gunner sighted for an +instant, then changed the sights and sighted again; then as if +satisfied, he quickly applied the lighted linstock. There was a flash +and a roar and the ball sped on its mission. + +"A good shot, Master Jack, you've brought down 'er mainmast," said the +skipper, who was examining the effects with a night glass. + +He had hardly spoken when there was a puff of smoke from the cutter, +then crash! the sound of rending plank, and a ball passed straight +through the lugger at the water line. The next instant there was another +puff of smoke and another ball crashed through close to the second. The +cutter was avenged. + +Captain Carter, with a pale set face, hastened below to ascertain the +injuries, but returned in a moment. The lugger was rapidly filling and +settling. + +"Jack and I will give them a shot to pay for that while the rest of ye +get ready the long boat," said the captain, sternly. But it was a fatal +delay, for scarcely had Long Tom been sighted e'er in a mad swirl of +waters the lugger plunged to her watery grave--down, down, down, +dragging, in her deadly, downgoing eddy, captain and crew. Ande had the +sound of many waters in his ears, and kicked desperately to free himself +of its deadly influence. Then, after an interminable time, to his joy he +felt himself going upward, upward and upward. His lungs felt like +bursting under the terrible strain. Could he hold out until he reached +the surface? He made another desperate downward kick and joy,--his head +shot above the surface--but--nothing visible but the dark, tossing +waters and the pale stars o'erhead. Stay! There was a dark mass but a +yard or so away and a form. He drifted nearer. He shouted and a hand +grasped him and drew him up on a floating piece of deck timber. + +"Dick." + +"Ande." + +Two simultaneous shouts, but that was all, as these two friends of +school day life floated together on the loosened spar. + +Then after a time: + +"Didst see the captain or any of the crew?" + +"All drowned, no doubt," said Dick. + +Then there was more silence. Dick was a famous swimmer, but clung to the +spar reserving his strength for the future; Ande was less expert in the +swimming art and his wound and exposure was gradually weakening his +grasp. It was now past midnight. + +"Dick, do'ee think the cutter will pick us up?" + +"Hardly; you see, she can't do much with her mainmast gone, and then the +tide is ebbing." + +Hours passed and the sickening sense of weakness became stronger and +stronger, and that weary, pallid expression, the presage of +unconsciousness, swept o'er Ande's countenance and remained there. It +was Dick who realised it first, and he flung his own great arms o'er +those of Ande, binding him to the spar with his own strength. + +"Hold on. Don't give in." + +"Dick, I was shot in the arm coming down the cliff, and I think that's +what's making me weak." + +"Weather it out until daylight and we shall be picked up. Some one is +bound to see us." + +"Dick, do 'ee think we did right in warning the smugglers?" asked Ande, +weakly. + +"Aye," said Dick, stoutly; "they were honest men trying to earn a +living." + +"Because,--you see--you'll get through all right, but I--I'm getting +weaker every minute, and I can't hold out much longer--and a fellow +thinks of these things when he hasn't long to live." + +"Nonsense, we'll both pull through all right. Pluck up courage." Then as +he noticed a piece of rope attached to the spar, "I do believe I'm still +a dull'ead. Here we 'ave been floating in danger of falling off through +weakness every moment and there is the means of our salvation." + +He plucked out a knife from his pocket and severed the rope at the end +from the spar and passing it around Ande and himself securely lashed +themselves to the float. + +"There, if we can't hold out much longer, we'll at least be on top of +the water as long as this spar floats." + +There was silence for another half an hour and then Ande said wearily. + +"Dick, if you get back to land--and I don't,--you--remember me to mother +and tell her I--died a Christian." + +"Aye, aye, old fellow, but cheer up!" But the tears in his own eyes +indicated that he needed his own advice. + +"We must trust in God, Dick." + +"Aye," said the other, as he reached over and shook hands earnestly. + +"And Dick, remember me to her." + +"Aye," said Dick once more. He knew for quite a time Ande's interest in +the squire's daughter, and that "her" could mean no one else. + +On they drifted, now on a swelling surge, then in a dark valley of +water. Dawning light appeared in the east, but no land was visible. + +"Cheer up," said Dick, "day is coming," but there was no answer. Grim +unconsciousness had come at last. Dick, for another hour, battled with +the terrible faintness, then the sea seemed to fade from his vision +and--the sun arose beaming brilliantly on the world of tossing waters. +Nothing was visible but the circling gulls and a stick of timber, and +two unconscious, half-drowned lads. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +AROUND THE TAVERN'S FLAMING GRATE + + Around the tavern's flaming grate, + The rafting done and the hour late, + The raftsmen sit and laugh and sing, + Or 'bove the conversation's din, + Keep time with feet to violin, + On which the lively strains are played, + Of Devil's Dream or White Cockade. + + +"Right--Right--t!--Halt! Left--Left! Halt!" + +Loud and clear rang out the voice of the raft pilot, so loud and +prolonged that even the roar of rushing waters and the wild lashing of +wind among the tree laden banks were not able to overcome the stentorian +commands. + +It was a rough night in the wilds of western Pennsylvania. The rain had +descended steadily for three days, and now the Lycamahoning had arisen +from its ordinary rippling tranquillity into a boisterous, turbulent +onrushing tide. Raftsmen had been constantly busy throughout the winter, +felling the gigantic pines and firs, squaring them with their great +broad axes, and then with the aid of hickory saplings and pins and bows +of the same tough material, lashing them securely one against the other, +rafting them in for the cruise down the river to the Ohio. The first +flood had come, and so violent was its nature that many a hardy raftsman +had added additional bulyokes and hawsers to his rafts, fearing the loss +of his winter's labour. The night had set in stormy and dark. The clouds +that had covered the face of the heavens for the greater part of the +week had grown in intensity, and had been belching down their floods +with renewed violence. The wind had arisen, softly at first, and then +augmenting into a small tornado, charging through the acres of treetops +that added additional sombreness to the murky night, until beaten to +madness with the invisible storm weapons and stung with the drenching +rain, tree fought with tree, lashing themselves with their wooden arms +into an agony of conflict. + +"Who in the name of common sense can be running timber on a night like +this? He is either a madman or an imbecile," so thought rather than said +a horseman who had paused on the road to listen to the shouts. He placed +his hand up over his brows, shielding his view from the drenching rain, +and stared, from his elevation, out over the roaring stream. There was a +flash of lightning, illuminating the yellow foam-flecked flood and out +in the centre a raft, long and heavy, yet tossed like a feather on the +rolling flood waves. There were two figures at the great rear oar, one +of whom was the pilot, one figure in the centre with a coil of rope in +his grasp, and at the front oar-running backward and forward, leaping on +the great oar handle to jerk its cumbersome blade from the stream, +running it back to the opposite side, plunging it in the flood once +more, and with handle overhead pushing with might and main,--were six +figures, seeming in the distance like the dancing forms of a puppet +show, whose various motions were controlled by the dark form of the +pilot in the rear. The flash of lightning passed away in a roll of +thunder, and all was wrapped in darkness again. + +"Left! Left!" + +"Halt!" + +"Left! Left!" + +The raft was rounding a curve in the stream. + +"Left! Left! Push! Push, with a will. More backbone to it, boys! Once +more and a glass of toddy at Burke's for each man! Left! Left! Now then! +Heave to it! With all your might! Halt! Don't let it pull you off! Hold +on to her!" bawled the raft pilot. + +"Again! Left! Left!" + +"Halt!" + +"Now then, Tom! Jump for it!" + +"Run out the rope!" + +"Snub! Snub!" + +"There, ease up, Tom! Take the next tree!" + +"All right," bawled a voice from the shore. + +And slowly the great raft, a hundred and twenty feet long and forty +wide, swung in from the flood after two trials had been made to break +the speed. Closer and closer to the bank, away from the force of the +current, until alongside she was safely secured with a double hawser, a +prisoner under the guardianship and control of two massive oaks. The +immense oars were swung clear of the water and their handles lashed to +the centre-pieces. Up over the creek bank, stumbling through thick +underbrush and over fallen trees, came the hardy crew and at length +gained the turnpike. The weather in the meantime had grown colder and +the rain changed to falling snow. The wind had fallen in its violence. +Onward stumbled the crew, then at length up a slight elevation, through +a covered bridge, and the lights, twinkling through many small windows, +flashed before their eyes. It was the town of Burgtown, famed for its +two rows of log houses, each having an upper story, and doubly famed for +its renowned hotel of sawn timber and its hospitable but talkative host; +famed also for the scholarship and mystery surrounding its founder. +Scholarship and mystery! Yes, scholarship, for no one could withstand +the logic of the Reverend Mr. Burg, and his tall, dark form, his deep +eyes with their unfathomable look, was enough to awe even the stoutest. +Mysteriousness? Yes, mysteriousness, for he had come in the night and +had gone in the night. He was like Melchizedek in one respect, no one +knew his father or his mother, no one knew his birthplace, and no one +knew his end. There was a story rife among some of the town people that +he had been guilty of some unministerial conduct in the neighbourhood of +Standing Stone, thought it best for him to put the Alleghenies between +himself and his old location, and had accordingly travelled with more +speed than elegance to the Lycamahoning, where with the aid of a +ploughline he had plotted and laid out the town. He was gone before the +settlers that poured in became fully acquainted with him. Two years had +elapsed since then and people remembered little of him with the +exception of Peter Burke, the tavern keeper, and it seemed that Burke's +knowledge increased with the years, and Burg became in the annals of his +mind a demigod, a sort of modern Romulus, whose figure and deeds became +larger and mightier as they reached into the dimness of the past. + +The raft pilot, followed by his men, entered the door of Burke's place. +The roaring fire of logs in the great stone chimney was most welcome to +them after their night of toil. They made a picturesque group as they +stood stamping the mud and snow from their long-legged logging shoes and +brushing the great, soft flakes from caps and homespun wamuses. The +majority of the eight were stout, ordinary-looking young men, with +something of the air of the woods in their manner and appearance. The +pilot was an exception. He was of medium height and stoutly built, with +an intelligent face, lighted up with keen, sharp, grey eyes, that +flashed in merriment in repartee, and that were even cunning and +penetrating at times. He was the American product of the "canny" +Scotchman, a Scotch American. + +Along one side of the public room ran the rude bar counter with a few +homely bottles and jugs, and near them, his rounded form a living +advertisement for his wares, one eye smiling a welcome, the other, which +was squint and cross-eyed, gazing unwinkingly, blankly, out of the +window as if trying to penetrate the darkness, was the form of the +tavern keeper. + +"Supper for eight?" asked the tavern keeper. + +"Aye, ye ken that," answered the raft pilot. + +Peter Burke, with a rolling motion, tumbled off to a rear door which he +swung wide. + +"Supper for eight rafters," he bawled. + +"Arright," squeaked a distant, feminine voice. + +"Hallo, Hugh," said a deep voice from a corner near the flaming +fireplace. + +"Hallo yerself," said the pilot. + +"What led you to pilot on a night like this, when the creek is getting +higher and higher. I thought a raftsman ought to know that the proper +time to raft is when the flood is falling, not rising." + +"Not always," said the pilot, and then added, "Is that you, Bill?" + +"Yes, it's I, sure enough." + +"Well, you're school-master and I'm raft pilot; every man to his own +calling, and I suppose every man ought to know best what to do in his +own calling; yet you'd criticise me for running timber on a rising +flood." + +"There are little things in all trades that most everyone ought to know. +I was riding to the Burg when I heard your shouts on the raft and I +wondered what ill-witted fellow was running on a rising flood on a night +like this." + +"Don't think it science, eh?" a little nettled to be called ill-witted. + +"No. Every one ought to know that when the stream is rising it is higher +in the centre than it is on the sides and when falling higher on the +sides than in the centre. Hence by due process of ratiocination,"--the +school-master paused to give the large, scholarly word due +emphasis--"you must run on a falling flood." + +"That's what 'tiz to be a scholard," muttered the tavern keeper, +admiringly. + +"Aye, science and scholard," snorted Hugh Lark, the pilot; "and I +suppose if you had a raft on a sand bar, you'd wait for a falling flood +and jack it off with a hoisting jack, eh?" + +There was a roar of laughter from the crowd of raftsmen, and Hugh +smiled, his good humour once more restored. + +"Oh, in that case it's different, but that's a single exception," said +Professor Bill, in some humiliation. + +"No single exception. Suppose ye had a raft tied up above the island or +down under the hill, would ye run on a rising or wait for a falling +flood?" + +"I would most assuredly wait for a falling flood, and--" + +The school-master was interrupted by a chuckle from Hugh, and broad grins +from his assembled men. + +"I've no doubt that ye would, but you'd find your raft a-scattered all +the way twixt here and Pittsburgh. Why, mon, there's ne'er a hawser made +that can hold a raft in those positions in a rising flood. 'There are +more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your +philosophy.'" + +Professor Bill Banks, or Professor Bill, as he was commonly known, was +silenced. The last remark and the quotation from Shakespeare had put him +to rout. He flushed and kept his eyes on the fire. The raftsmen were +delighted. There was nothing they enjoyed so much as a tiff between Bill +and their pilot. Professor Bill was the most learned man of the +neighbourhood. Since the exodus of the Reverend Burg he had held the +pre-eminence. He was the leader, and there was none to dispute with him +with any fair show of success except Hugh, the pilot. Hugh had +invariably come off second; here he had achieved first honours. Hugh was +well read in a number of subjects, but his knowledge was only such as he +could find by perusing history, in which indeed he was a fair scholar, +and the topics of the day. + +"Was stuck, Hugh?" asked the tavern keeper, with some new measure of +respect. + +"Aye, yesterday the creek was full of floating timber and we stuck on a +sand bar. There were no rafts behind to shove us off and we had to wait +for a greater flood. We wouldn't have stuck if Tom, there, hadn't lost +his head." + +Tom, a great hulking fellow, looked a trifle sheepish. + +"You see," continued Hugh Lark, "I was up at the crosscut and in making +the bend, I was just gitting the raft pinted when he was afraid we'd +strike and tear up. He bellowed like a bull, 'We'll strike, we'll tear +up, some un run out a rope and tie up.'" + +"It war pretty nigh striking, though," muttered Tom, in some apology. + +"Nonsense! Why, there were fully fifteen feet of water on either side. +How could we strike or even run out and tie up when we had nothing to +run on but water? The rain had stopped for an hour or two and we were +getting on fine. The flood was a-carrying us on with a good speed. The +banks were slipping by as if they were running the other way. The front +men were dipping occasionally, but they hung on to the oar. Then come +the bend. I could see it a hundred yards before we come to it, the water +a-swirling and a-twisting like a yallow ribbon and then disappearing +from sight behind the trees. 'Left, men, left,' I shouted. Then Tom lost +his head. He let go the oar, and the oar being too much for the other +chaps, and being afeared of being yanked into the flood they let go too, +and the next minute came the thud of grounding. I saw that it was +a-coming and braced myself, hanging on to the oar. But the fellows in +front, how they tumbled! They were around Tom in the centre, +a-galleyhooting and shouting. I never had such a crew of numbskulls. +When the grounding came they tumbled over each other like nine-pins." + +Supper was announced and the hungry raftsmen wended their way to the +eating department, a plain long room, ceiled with pine, and adorned with +sundry prints of "Babes in The Wood," and "Red Riding Hood." The table +was a heavy wooden affair, evidently the result of home labour; the +provisions with which it was plentifully laden were of the class found +in every woodsman's home, viz., pork, beans, corn bread, burr-wheat +bread, and home-made syrup. + +A split log, the level side up, the rounded side down, into which were +inserted several hickory legs, served in lieu of chairs, and seated upon +this, the hungry raftsmen fell to with a will. + +Meantime the public room was occupied by the tavern keeper and Professor +Bill Banks. Professor Bill was apparently thirty years of age. He had a +high forehead, blue eyes, a mass of dark hair overhanging his ears, and +a prominent Roman nose. The nose seemed to give great strength to his +features, as also did his chin. He was clad in the customary tail coat, +tight pantaloons with straps, neckerchief, and over all towered his tall +"nail keg" silk hat. Professor Bill was attired for a special occasion. +He was going to visit, ostensibly, the father of a certain rustic +damsel, and had stepped in for his mail. The talk with the pilot nettled +him, for in an argument he liked to show his superiority, as he was the +recognised great man of letters in the place. The talk was not the only +thing that disturbed and ruffled his feelings. His horse had +inadvertently stepped into a washout on the road, and had fallen so lame +that it was utterly impossible for him to proceed. + +"Hear of Big Paddy's accident?" asked the tavern keeper, wishing to +promote a better feeling. + +"No," curtly said Bill. + +"Ha! Ha! He!" cackled the tavern keeper, "it war amusin'." + +"Come, cease those asinine cachinations and explain," said Bill, with +some irritation. + +"Yer a great scholard, Bill," said the tavern keeper, in some admiration +at this flow of erudite language, "but when ye'd speak highly of me, I'd +wish ye could use plainer words. Well, big Paddy and his uns are +a-building a new church in the burgh, and they were all a-drinking of +rye to make the work go lively. Big Paddy would always do the heaviest +work. At last there war the heavy corner stone to lift off the wagon, +and none could roll her down. Paddy were nigh full when the stone come. +Ha! Ha! He!" and the tavern keeper went off into another cackle of +laughter, his cross-eye blinking with tears of merriment, and his +protuberant stomach laughing in sympathy. "Ha! Ha! He!" and he went off +into another cackle that threatened to strangle him. + +"If it's your whiskey that made him ridiculous, I do not wonder, for its +the most catholicon panacea for the diminution of intelligence and +propagating of blatant puerility and asinine imbecility extant. Witness +yourself for an example." Bill was becoming sarcastic. + +"So 'tiz, so 'tiz," said the tavern keeper, highly pleased. "I say, +Professor, what a high larnt person ye are; now--do ye,--do ye think ye +could write that daoun?" + +"Why?" + +"I could git it printed on a sign and it 'ould look grand-like. I'd be +much 'bleeged to ye, Bill," said Burke, earnestly. + +Professor Bill smiled good humouredly, and asked, "Well, about Paddy?" + +"Oh, he looked at 'em all a-tugging at the stone, for it war a whopper, +and then he ups and says, 'Let be, now, let the auld man have a chance,' +and with that he grabbed a-hold of it. He pulled it off, but it war too +much for him, and it come down kerflop on his foot. There war an uproar +and the big paddies and little ones come a-running up and screaming and +shouting: 'And are ye hurted now, Daddy? And--and--and are ye hoorted +now, Pappy? And are ye hoorted now, grand-daddy?' Big Paddy war mad. +'Tare and hounds,' said he, 'trow a stun like that on a man's fut and +ask if he war hoorted, ye spalpeens.'" + +The tavern keeper went off into another cackle of laughter, and the +school-master feebly joined in. + +The rafting crew now returned from the supper-room and gathered around +the flaming open fireplace. Rafting stories followed each other in rapid +succession, Hugh Lark seeming to have the greatest fund. Clay and +corncob pipes were brought out from various pockets and soon wreaths of +smoke began to dim the atmosphere. + +"Hear of old Jim Handy's trip?" asked one after Hugh had told a rather +exciting story. + +"No," said Hugh. + +"Let's hear it," said the others. + +"Jim had ne'er been on the water and thought it would be a nice thing +for him to go on a trial trip. He had allers said that the land war good +enough fer him, and that he would ne'er trust himself to nawthing but +solid land. Some of the boys up on the Big Lycamahoning, that were +cutting timber fer him, up and began talking of the funny times they had +down at the mouth, the dancing and the parties. And then they begun to +talk of the ride down, just as easy as riding a good hoss. The old man +had a powerful set of rafts to run, and he saw one after another go +down the stream and the fellows cherry and 'parently enjying the ride. +They got him so worked up over the ride, and the good times they had, +that he decided to go, too, on the last raft. They told him that all he +would have to do would be to stand in the centre and perhaps they could +make a chair fer him to set on. The old man war tickled with the idea. +On the river they told him they could put up a regular shanty on the +raft and it would be like travelling in a coach, and then he would have +a chance to see Pittsburgh. The old man had never seen Pittsburgh and it +war the capping argument. Then some fool fellow told him of the dams and +the going under the water five or six feet when the raft would plunge +over the shoots. The fellows told him that they could fix that all +right. They would make a high wooden horse fer him to sit on when they +would take the shoots. That fixed him. Last week the raft war ready to +make the trip. They had a slanting pole fixed in the centre, and a seat +up at the top where the old man could sit in the dry when the raft would +plunge under. It went all right till they come to the big dam. Then as +they war making fer the shoot and were fairly in it, all the fellows at +the front oar dropped it and run up the pole after the old man. The old +man hollered to them that they would break it down, but they didn't +keer. Up they went, and just as they were plunging under, the pole +broke, and down tumbled the old man with all the others. The raft war +oak and sunk dead, like lead. It went to the very bottom and then rose +again. The old man hung on and so did the others, but he was mad, +a-cussing and swearing and spitting water like a water dog. It war a +sight to see." + +The fellow burst into a laugh that was echoed by the others. + +"If he had been a-riding that sixty-foot stick that you rode, Hugh, he +would been scared worse, eh," said one of the rafters. + +"Tell us the story, Hugh," said others. + +"It were not much," said Hugh. "A sixty-foot stringer war torn off by +one of the rocks in the Rough Water. I thought we ought not to lose it, +and so gave the rear oar into the hands of my assistant and jumped for +it. I landed clear in the centre of the stick as it slipped behind me. +The raft was going faster than the stick. How do ye account for that, +Bill?" asked Hugh, pausing in his narrative. + +"Very easy," said Bill. "The timber stick did not give so much surface +for the force of the current as the raft. Hence the raft went the faster +of the two. But the stick?" inquired Bill, who was also interested. + +"Well, I landed as I said in the centre of the stick, then slipped down +on my hands and knees, and began to guide it. Sometimes it would roll +and I would have to roll with her to keep on top. Then I had to watch +lest I should get jammed against the rocks. I jumped off several times +to avoid being squeezed, and swum back again. Once I got atween the +stick and the rocks and she was a-coming for me. I dived under it, come +up on the other side, and that's what saved me from certain death. I +couldn't catch up to the raft and so I rode the stick all the way to the +river, where the raft was awaiting for me. That was all there was to it. +It was an exciting time, though." + +There were murmurs of admiration from the assembled raftsmen and then +more tales followed. Rafts torn up in the rough water, raftsmen drowned +though expert swimmers, deeds of rescue, and things of a similar nature +followed in rapid succession. The home distilled liquor was used +sparingly, and finally the fiddle was brought forth and music enlivened +the public room. White Cockade, Devil's Dream and others followed, the +raftsmen keeping time with their heavy boots and sometimes by dancing. +One of the younger raftsmen executed a woodman's fling in a creditable +manner, encouraged by the handclapping of the others and the occasional +shouting in tune with the melody "Heigh ho--de-do, de-do, de-do, de-do!" + +In the midst of the revel the door was opened and two strangers entered. +They had evidently been riding far, for their garments showed the trace +of hard travel. The one who appeared to be the spokesman was tall, well +proportioned, with a tangled mass of auburn hair, more tangled by the +pelting storm without, and a beard trimmed in the Vandyke style and of +the same hue as his hair. The other was a giant in size, standing fully +six feet six inches, and broad in proportion. He had the dark hair and +features of the Celt. + +The tavern keeper was all hospitality. Room was made for them around the +flaming fire log and their clothes, damp with the storm, were soon +drying. There was a lull in the conversation of the raftsmen, the fiddle +had been consigned to its place o'er the chimney piece. + +"Can we get supper?" asked the one with the red beard. + +The tavern keeper nodded and added, "Certain, and a good one at that," +and going to the rear door he bawled to the cook, "Supper fer two +gents." + +"Arright," squeaked the distant, feminine voice. + +"Our horses must be fed and stabled also," said the same gentleman. The +tavern keeper gave the necessary directions to a tow-headed boy, who +disappeared into the outer darkness. + +"And 'ere," thundered the larger of the two strangers, as he opened the +door after the boy, "see that you rub the horses down well and give them +a good bed, and a warm mash." + +The giant returned to the fire and stood before its pleasing blaze. + +"You uns kin sign yer names when ye git warm." It was the tavern keeper +that spoke, and the travellers, taking the hint, moved over to the +soiled record book and added their names to the few already inscribed +there. Peter Burke, tavern keeper, scrutinised the names carefully with +his good eye, while the other seemed to be studying the appearance of +the strangers. One of the raftsmen leaned over to Hugh and whispered in +his ear that to be cross-eyed was a wonderful talent for the tavern +keeper; he could read the names on his book and size up the people at +one and the same time. + +"You uns travelling fer?" asked one of the raftsmen. + +"No, sir," laconically responded the red-headed one. + +"Come from Kittanning?" said another. + +"Yes, sir." + +"How's election news down there, and what's opinion on John Quincy +Adams?" + +"Adams seems to be very popular, and Jackson has a good following." + +"Adams will carry the day, no doubt," said the pilot. + +"He'll not can do that," muttered some one in dissent. Whereupon there +followed a small debate on the merits of the two candidates for +Presidential position. + +"Up here 'lectioneering?" inquired a third, turning to the strangers +again. + +"I calculate you are from the west, stranger," said Hugh Lark. + +"You've struck it partly," laughingly said the red-headed stranger, and +then apparently tired of answering questions, added, "We're here from +Louisiana and are here prospecting." + +Curiosity, instead of being appeased, was instantly aroused. A sharp +look flashed into Hugh's eye as he scrutinised them. + +"Wall," said the tavern keeper, "I allers said thar war something in +these hills. What ye think 'tiz, stranger, gold?" + +"No, we're prospecting for character." + +"Karakter," said the tavern keeper, musingly, "I ne'er hearn tell of +that metal afore." + +"Don't think there's much about here?" asked the red-headed stranger, +with just the shadow of a smile. + +"Not as I knows of," and the tavern keeper rubbed his head in doubt. + +Professor Bill snorted in disgust. + +"Look here, stranger, we have more character, good sterling character, +in this section than our dotard friend informed you of." + +Peter Burke, tavern keeper, looked pleased at this compliment. To be +called a friend of Professor Bill's and a friend, too, with that "high +larndt word ahead of it!" If Professor Bill was a drinking man he would +have set up a glass to Bill then and there free. + +"Character, sir!" continued Bill. "We sent forth the most stalwart +characters during the Revolution, though not from this immediate +neighbourhood, yet from Western Pennsylvania--Captain Brady, the Indian +fighter, and scores of others. Hugh Lark, there, can tell you of his +father, Captain Ande Lark, the sharpshooter, who performed prodigies of +valour in many a hard fought field." + +"Aye," said Hugh, "'tiz all true." + +"And didn't they hold the Britishers down at Concord and Lexington, +Yorktown and Stony Point?" continued Bill. + +"Aye, all ken they did that," said Hugh. + +"And what was it for?" said Bill, getting oratorical. "The tyrant +oppressed us; taxed us without representation; quartered soldiers on us +in times of peace, and seized the patriots' powder and ball. Then, sir, +the American eagle screamed in wrath and the noble characters, +Washington, Putnam, Morgan, Green, Brady, Lark, and hundreds of others +went forth to war, to battle valiantly for the cause of freedom and shed +their blood for the rights of man. Even in the humbler walks of life +sterling character was demonstrated. The ploughboy, the woodsman, the +tradesman, the farmer, all left their habitations, and with their old +flint-locks over their shoulders sped to the defence of their nation's +life and honour. This country was won by the stout courage of the +colonial fathers, and their stout-hearted sons to-day have within their +breasts the same doughty heroism that dominated the republic in that +day. Yes, but a few years ago, the War of 1812 made lucid that fact. +Lundy's Lane, Fort Meigs, Thames River,--who has forgotten them? +Character! The country is full of it, sir." + +"So 'tiz, so 'tiz," interjected the tavern keeper; "Professor Bill's +high larndt and orter know." + +"And," said Bill, "should the tocsin of war sound once more, the temple +of Janus be closed, and strife with bloody claws sweep like a dragon +over the land, should even all Europe band together against us, send +their fleets to harass our waters, their hirelings to devast our land, +they would find how patriots could contend for the heritage of their +ancestors, how they could battle against the iron heel of oppression, +and victory again would ultimately crown the American arms. All, because +of her brave characters." + +"Thas so; Bill's a scholard and orter know," said the tavern keeper, +nodding sagely. + +"Patrick Henry was not the only one who said 'give me liberty or give me +death.' The spirit of heroism is in the hearts of the American citizens. +They breathe it in the very air. Mountains, trees, birds, and even the +very beasts of the wild, proclaim alike the freeman's land. None can +wrest it from us while there is a God and while Americans are true to +themselves." + +Professor Bill sat down amidst a round of applause from the admiring +raftsmen, while the tavern keeper rubbed his hands in the keenest of +pleasure. + +"Bill," said one of the raftsmen, "ye'll hev to git that speech down fer +the Fourth o' Jerly. That's the best speech we uns heard since the +Senator talked in Indiana." + +"So 'tiz," said the tavern keeper. "Bill's a scholard. I say, Bill, +could yer write that daoun?" + +"What's that?" inquired Bill. + +"Why, about the eagle a-hollering like mad fer liberty and so on. Ye +see, we uns are gitting a new brand of stuff with an eagle on it and it +would look grand like to hev them words on, too." + +"Aye, perhaps," said Bill with a smile, "but I wonder how they teach +those events over in England. They must ignore them. Say, stranger, how +do they teach in Louisiana those salient points of our national +history?" + +"What a scholard!" murmured the tavern keeper as he passed a drink to a +newcomer. + +"Concerning the salient points of American history," responded the +red-bearded stranger, "they teach about the same as in this section, I +surmise,--that is, local events are dwelt upon unduly and there is a +tendency to glorify the victories and mitigate the defeats. The school +children, there, know more about Jackson and the Battle of New Orleans +than about Ross or Fort Meigs. In England the same thing obtains. Local +events are prominent and the glorious things are magnified, while the +dark, unhappy events are passed lightly over." + +"Yes, so I thought. Now in this country, though, there is a tendency to +do those things, yet national and international questions are fairly +represented," said Bill. + +The stranger shook his head in dissent. + +"The very same thing is as prevalent in America as in England. The +bright things are haloed and the dark obscured. The schoolboy gets but +one side of the question at issue. History ought to be taught for the +sake of truth and not for the sake of generating patriotism. Take the +American Revolution. Children, here, are taught that England was a +hateful tyrant, taxing us unreasonably, simply for the pleasure of +showing the strong hand, and wantonly aggressive in destroying the +patriots' powder and ball. Yorktown, Stony Point, and Saratoga are dwelt +on. What American does not know those battles by heart and how feebly +impressed on the American mind are the occupations of Boston, New York, +Philadelphia, the Battle of Brandy-wine, the Long Island defeats, and +the disasters in the South? Now a fair way would be to emphasise both +sides of the war, the battles, and the causes. Causes are given in many +American histories of the war, but they are American causes; the English +are not mentioned. Would it not be foolish to war without a cause?" + +"Well, what causes did Britain have for the war and her oppression?" +said Bill, sharply. + +"Many," said the red-bearded stranger, sharply. "Taxation, for instance, +is not wrong in itself. The government of a country is supported by +taxes. Britain sent quite a few armies to this country in the time of +the French and Indian war to protect the colonies. Could the colonies, +notwithstanding the bravery of her few colonial troops, have withstood +the armies of France, Montcalm and the others, without aid? Hence the +armies of Braddock, Amherst, Wolf and others. The home government was +burdened with a debt that had been greatly for the protection and +augmentation of the American colonies. Indeed, had that war not been; +had Wolf not taken Quebec, the glorious United States would be only a +narrow strip of country along the Atlantic seaboard. Even this part and +other parts west of the Alleghenies would be French soil, and you would +all be French citizens." + +"The stranger must be a scholard, too," muttered the tavern keeper. + +"And," continued the stranger warming up, "England, therefore, incurred +a great debt and insured to America the territory to the Mississippi and +even beyond partly. What benefit was this to the English citizen? Had +he a right to pay it all? Ought not America a right to bear a part of +the burden?" + +"True," said Bill, thoughtfully, "but how about non-representation? Was +it right to tax us without our consent?" + +"Easily explained," resumed the stranger. "England herself did not have +representation. Many parts, great cities, Manchester, Sheffield, and +others had none. The House of Commons did not represent England. Was +representation to be given to the colonies when it was denied to England +herself?" + +"Very true," said Bill, uneasily, "but what about oppressive taxes?" + +"Not much oppression. Americans admitted themselves that it was not the +weight of the taxes, which were small, but the principle of the thing. +The chief taxes were stamp and tea taxes and taxes of a similar nature. +The burden was laid on the rich, mostly. The labouring man had little +occasion for stamped paper. In reference to tea, tea was a luxury and +not a necessity at that time. Is there much oppression in that? And +about the seizing of powder and ball of the patriots, that's nothing +more than the United States would do should the State of Pennsylvania +gather up powder and ball to be used against the national government." + +"Well, why did the American nation arise en masse in revolt, if they +were not overly oppressed," persisted Bill. + +"The American people did not arise en masse," responded the stranger. +"There were thousands of citizens, wealthy and influential, on the +King's side, until toward the middle of the war. Would it have been so +easy for the British to take Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and +Charleston, if they were wholly in favour of Washington and the war? No. +They would have burned their cities like the Russians did Moscow. Both +sides ought to be taught in the study of history and a better grasp of +truth would result. About non-representation, that was wrong and the +Americans were partly justified in struggling against it. The English +people are struggling for the same thing, to-day. They have no real +representation, but will get it soon. It is much better, however, to win +representation and liberty by peaceful means than by war." + +There was silence for a moment, and then Professor Bill responded. + +"Those are new ideas to me, and you have opened up a new channel of +thought; but at least you will admit that our histories are +substantially correct and fair in reference to the late war, the War of +1812. What right had England to prey upon our commerce and impress our +seamen even though they were formerly Englishmen?" + +"The preying upon commerce was piracy upon the part of England----" + +"Good and well said," affirmed Professor Bill. + +"The impressment of American seamen--Americans must handle the subject +carefully or----" + +"Or what?" + +"They'll be trampling on their own laws and government. England claimed +once an Englishman always an Englishman, naturalisation notwithstanding. +American law, that is based on English to a great extent, is somewhat +the same. A citizen of the United States cannot throw off his allegiance +and unite with another nation without the consent of the United States. +Witness the case of Murray and the _Charming Betsey_ in 1804, before the +Supreme Court. In the case of Isaac Williams before the Circuit Court of +the United States for the District of Connecticut, in 1797, it was +decided that no member could dissolve the compact of citizenship except +by consent of the United States, and there had been no consent on the +part of the United States. These cases were of Americans who attempted +to become citizens of the newly formed republics of South America. And +yet we say England was wrong in taking American citizens, who had been +formerly Englishmen, and had become naturalised Americans contrary to +England's will. There is an apparent inconsistency in the matter, +visible even to the dullest mind." + +Professor Bill was silent and apparently in deep thought. + +"You have travelled some," said Hugh Lark. + +"Yes," said the red-bearded stranger. "My friend here and myself, during +the last eight years have been travellers. We have been in Brazil and +other American countries. That is why I remember the cases of the +_Charming Betsey_ and Williams. The decision of the United States in +those cases still rankles in the hearts of the people of the southern +continent." + +The raftsmen and school-master were eager for tales of adventure and +strange countries, when the supper bell rang, and the two gentlemen +disappeared into the long dining-room. After supper they retired, being +thoroughly tired with the travel of the day. + +"Who air those fellows?" asked one of the raftsmen. + +The question was voiced by all in the public room. + +The tavern keeper, obsequiously handed the record book to Bill, who read +out for the benefit of all the following: + +"Andrew Trembath, Esq., New Orleans." + +"Richard Thomas, New Orleans." + +"The one must be a lawyer," said Professor Bill, with a good bit of +respect in his tones. + +"Did you notice the silent one? What a giant in size he is? He'd make an +oar fly, I'll wager, eh, Hugh?" said one of the raftsmen. + +"Aye," said Hugh, meditatively. + +"The one fellow is a Cornishman," said Bill. + +"Whas that, Bill?" said the tavern keeper. + +"A native of the southwest of England, a section noted for its minerals +and seamen." + +"How do ye ken that, Bill?" asked Hugh Lark. + +"Because," said Bill, + + "By Tre, Tri, and Pen, + Ye may know the Cornishmen." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE LYCAMAHONING + + +The sun arose o'er the eastern hills of Lycamahoning, a great disc of +flame, fretted with the great solemn pines and oaks of the hilltops, and +driving before it the opaline radiance of early twilight. Pine needles +lost the sombre hue of night and glistened and gleamed with a richer +emerald where the ever-shifting sunbeams touched and gloried them with +light. Trees of oak and pine, a hundred and fifty feet in height, +enveloped with interlacing branches hill and lowland, except where, +oasis-like, the fields and cabin of some squatter dappled the general +surface of woodland. A few clouds still remained on the western horizon, +dark and threatening, but the day was propitious for fine weather. + +Ande and Dick, for the strangers were none other, were aroused by the +first, glancing rays of the sun that penetrated the curtains of their +little window. Flinging aside the curtain drapery, they gazed forth +delighted on the scene. Within a few yards of the house wall rolled the +roaring, yellow flood of the Lycamahoning, a mighty torrent, sweeping +beyond its natural bounds. Tree trunk and brush and what not tossed +hither and thither by its rollicking mood, yet bore ever onward. It was +an ambitious stream, for the banks could not hold it. The turnpike, +beyond the bridge, was hidden three feet from sight, and tearing through +the underbrush on either side of the public way was an ever-widening +torrent. The town was on higher ground than the turnpike beyond and so +escaped the damage of the flood. + +"What a grand country, Dick, old chap," said Ande, surveying the scene +with interest. "This is better than hot Louisiana or even the +Mississippi prairies." + +"Humph!" yawned Dick; "but not better than Brazil." Then as he ceased +stretching his great arms over his head; "Just think of it, Ande, if we +had not been picked up by that outward bound Brazilian ship, we would +not be independent now. Ah! diamonds and gold! That's the country, lad." + +"Softly, softly, Dick," said Ande in a lower tone, "we're not going to +advertise our circumstances. A month or so here, then home to Merrie +England." + +"And right glad will I be," said Dick; "but let's down and see what this +settlement in the backwoods is like." + +Ande followed by Dick went cautiously down the steep stairway, that +seemed squeezed between the great chimney and the farther wall and led +out at the bottom into the public room. There was no one in the public +room when they entered, and so they wended their way across to the door +and thence out into the street, if street it could be called. The hotel +of Peter Burke was at the head of the main and only street of Burgtown, +and one walking straight from the front door of the hotel would pass +down an avenue, prolific in stumps, midway between two rows of log +houses. Back of the tavern and but a few yards from it rolled and roared +the Lycamahoning, and but a few yards from the north end was the covered +bridge. It thus stood with the homes stretching from it in parallel +lines, like a captain at the head of his soldiers. Several citizens were +abroad already with their axes and were busily felling a forest giant +that, isolated and ostracised with a few others, waved its branches in +the air above the middle of the main thoroughfare of Burgtown. Several +raftsmen with Hugh Lark at their head were standing at the end of the +broad porch gazing over toward the bridge and the rushing yellow flood, +shaking their heads dubiously at it, well knowing that there would be no +rafting either that day or the next. The flood was too high. + +There was the sound of cracking and rending of wood from the +thoroughfare, a swishing and snapping of branches, a cry of warning, +then one of terror, and with a resounding blow the mighty, woodland +giant sprawled its full length on the ground. With an exclamation Hugh +Lark leaped into the roadway followed by the other raftsmen and Ande and +Dick. They were soon on the scene. There pinned to the earth under the +heavy tree trunk, unconscious, his brow streaked with blood, was a man, +evidently the chief chopper. + +Women from the neighbouring homes were wringing their hands in dismay, +and then from a distant cabin came a woman's scream, a cry full of +anguish, and then a flying form burst the crowd and flung herself down +near the head of the unconscious chopper. With tender hands she mopped +the blood from his forehead and kissed his pale brow again and again, +calling by every endearing name to the unconscious one to answer her. +Hugh Lark wiped the moisture from his eyes, as did many others. Then +with the instinct of the leader of men: + +"Run, Jack, and get the rope and tackle and block from the raft. Jim, go +get the heaviest crowbar from the tavern, and the rest of you men get +crowbars. Peter Burke, get to thy tavern as fast as your legs will carry +you and bring a flask of brandy." + +"Can nothing be done until the coming of the block and tackle," ventured +Ande. "Is it too heavy for a couple of fellows to lift by main +strength?" + +The raft pilot shook his head. "Three men could not lift the butt of +that tree, and more than three couldn't try, without doing more injury +to Tom underneath. I only hope he won't die before the rope comes." + +Dick had not said a word, but he now hauled off his coat, and placing +his big arms around the butt end of the fallen tree began to exert his +strength. + +"The man is mad," muttered Hugh Lark to one or two bystanders, while +they all looked and wondered. + +The blood mounted to his face and forehead, crimsoning his features like +the sunrise of a rainy day, and then the veins stood out like whipcord +upon his brow and arms, but the tree moved not. There was a straining of +the eyes of Old Ironsides until they threatened to burst from their +sockets, a rigidity of the limbs that though motionless yet indicated +that the giant was putting forth every atom of his strength. The +spectators scarcely breathed. Then, even before the people were aware of +it, the tree began to move, silently, slowly, almost imperceptibly, inch +by inch, up from the fallen, injured chopper. There was a suppressed +murmur from the crowd, then Hugh with a bound was beside the injured +man, and with the assistance of Ande quickly and deftly hauled him from +his perilous position. There was a shout from the tavern. The rope and +tackle was coming, but there was no need of them. Then Peter Burke, his +cross eye glaring at the bystanders, and his other fastened upon Hugh +and the succoured one, pushed his rotund, sebaceous body through the +crowd, and with one fat, trembling hand extended to Hugh the brandy. A +swallow of the fiery liquor and the fellow opened his eyes. + +"Hurt much, Tom?" asked Hugh and the chopper's wife in almost one +breath. + +"Not much. Pretty well shuk up. Yes--pretty well shuk up." + +They assisted the fellow to his feet, and then to his cabin home, still +muttering in his dazed fashion: "Pretty well shuk up! Yes--pretty well +shuk up." + +Hugh was relieved. It was evident that whatever injuries he had +received, the shock was more than them all, and with rest he would +evidently pull through it. + +The clang of a breakfast bell sounded on the morning air, and the +rafters and travellers trooped to the tavern. + +The fame of Dick and his companion speedily spread through the +neighbourhood. Dick, according to rough estimates, had lifted a weight +of two hundred stone. Hugh Lark was the most affable of all. Tom, the +injured chopper, had been a lifelong friend, and this aid to a friend in +distress he could not forget. + +"Ye'll come down and see my raft," said he after breakfast. "You have +never seen a raft and it'll be interesting to see how it's put together, +and how we manage it with the great oars; and then I have something to +tell you that will be, no doubt, interesting." + +Together Hugh and our travellers wended their way around the tavern end, +and down the edge of the stream. They rounded a bend in the stream and +there, riding in the comparatively quiet water of the eddy, was the raft +of the night before. With a bound Hugh was on it, followed by the +others. + +"Ye'll notice the way it's put together. First we square the timber +sticks after they are cut to proper lengths, then tumble them into the +water side by side, and bore these holes with the augur three inches +apart. Then we get the stoutest ash or hickory poles, green and strong, +and lay across the top of them midway between the holes, and bind them +to the timber with well seasoned hickory bows and wooden pins. Ah! I see +you are trying the oar." This last to Ande, who swung with his weight +the great oar blade from its fastenings, and shoved it to and fro. "It's +not easy work in a strong flood, and especially in the Rough Water." + +"The Rough Water?" + +"Aye! That's a section of the stream in the Big Lycamahoning some +fifteen miles from here, where in a course of ten miles the water rushes +with the speed of a race horse. It's most dangerous because of the rocks +and requires a steady head and a ready hand to pilot through. Yet I have +done it many a time and had no accidents. I suppose, with the exception +of old Pegleg, I'm the only pilot that can say as much," and then seeing +the look of inquiry on the faces of his auditors he continued: "Pegleg +is a one-legged pilot who feels as much at home on the bobbing raft as +he does on the land. But," and Hugh looked at his auditors kindly, "I +didn't fetch ye here for the sake alone of showing the raft. I wanted to +get you away from the prying eyes and ears of old Peter Burke and the +rest. Last night I felt little like saying much about certain knowledge +that I have, but men who have favoured our village by saving the life of +one of its citizens, and one of my best friends at that, deserve +something in return. If you are prospectors, come to my place to-morrow +evening and mayhap I can give ye the information that would be of value +to you. But not a word to any others, and especially to old Peter." + +"We'll be on hand, never fear," said Ande. + +There was a crashing in the underbrush of the shore, and two or three of +the raftsmen leaped on the raft. + +"When do ye think we can safely start, Hugh?" asked one. + +"In two days, not before. The flood will take that time to go down to a +good rafting stage. In the meantime, boys, we'll go home; but day after +to-morrow we start out for down stream." + +All returned to the tavern where, after some conversation, the raftsmen +betook themselves to their homes and Ande and Dick having mounted their +horses, well rested with the night, pushed down stream, toward the west, +on a rude, half-cleared mountain trail. The road wound itself in a +sinuous line over hills and through deeply wooded glens, but always the +roar of the stream was in their ears. + +"What boundless forests these are," said Ande, as they rested their +horses on the summit of a steep declivity and gazed o'er the rolling +mass of treetops. "No wonder Professor Bill was so oratorical. This is +the famous country through which Armstrong marched his troops in 1756 +against Shingas and Jacobs, the Shawnese chiefs of Kittanning, and near +this section, no doubt farther south, poor grandfather lost his life. It +was a fatal mistake." + +"Perhaps we shall find something in this section that will tell us of +your grandfather." + +"If we do, it will be in connection with the Indian eldorado, spoken of +by my father." + +They had pushed on rapidly and were now nearing the mouth of the Little +Lycamahoning. The gleam of a great expanse of water between the trees +ahead indicated their approach. + +"That must be the Big Lycamahoning of which Lark spoke." + +"Hist!" said Dick, "there are some wild geese on the big creek. Hear +them gabble. There must be fully a score. It's fortunate we have our +guns with us." + +They were now fairly in the outer shadow of the trees that o'erhung the +trail, and the stream, swollen by the flood to three times its natural +size, stretched before them three hundred yards in width. + +"You take the right of the group, and I'll take the left," whispered +Ande. + +Simultaneously with the crack of their own guns another sounded from the +midst of the willows that fringed the shore. There was a confused +"Hank--Hank!" from the frightened birds as they rose in flight. A second +later, a light canoe darted swiftly from the willows, and an aged +hunter, its only occupant, gathered up the five or six birds that were +slain, placed them in his canoe, and rapidly paddled up stream. All +happened so quickly that the canoe with its aged occupant shot around a +bend in the stream and disappeared from sight before Ande or his friend +could say a word. + +"Cool robbery! let's after him," said Ande, and suiting his action to +the word, he pushed his horse into the stream and swum to the other +side, followed by Dick. The trail was struck again on the other side and +up the stream they went at as fast a gait as the many stumps and fallen +trees would allow. Several times they crossed the stream by swimming +their horses. Two miles up stream the creek valley widened and the +stream, winding around the base of a hill, formed a loop or peninsula of +some fifteen acres or so in extent. Here, in a small, grassy clearing, a +rude cabin of unhewn logs greeted their vision. It was a one-storied +affair pierced with loopholes, and had a small window in the end facing +the stream. The roof of heavy hand-made clapboards, weighted down with +poles, was green with age as also were the mossy logs of its walls. The +door, a heavy affair of split timber, was ajar and near it on a wooden +settle was the figure of the hunter, a man of some seventy years. The +hair of his head and beard were snowy white, but his active frame belied +his years. He was clad in leathern breeches, heavily fringed along the +outer seams, and moccasins of the same tough material. A loose, woollen +wamus, the product of the settlements, served in lieu of shirt and coat. +His coonskin cap was beside him on the bench and he was busily engaged +in plucking the captured birds. The sound of trotting horses aroused him +from his work and he cast a keen, scrutinising, blue eye on the +approaching invaders of his little domain. + +"I say, sir, we'd like to know why you appropriated our birds," said +Ande. + +"Aye?" inquired the hunter. + +Ande repeated the question. + +"I shot these birds." + +"Well, we shot some too and you seized them all." + +"Ye did shoot some?" + +"Yes, we did; we were on the road at the fording and fired at them." + +The old man gazed at them earnestly, and evidently believing their tale, +said: + +"I thought that more were killed with my shot than customary, and if ye +fired at the same time that I did, that explains my not hearing the +report of your guns. Ye are welcome to some of them." + +"Oh, no," said Ande, somewhat mollified by the hunter's generosity and +explanation. "We thought you were robbing us, but it was clearly a +mistake." + +"Will ye sit down; it's nigh dinner time and, if ye can eat with a lone +old man, you're most welcome. Ye can pasture your horses in that bit of +clearing." + +The invitation was accepted. The horses were tethered out where they +could nibble the grass, and they returned. + +"Come from afar?" interrogated the old hunter. + +"From Louisiana," said Ande. + +"Here hunting?" + +"No, prospecting." + +The old hunter straightened up as if shot, and gazed at them as if he +would pierce them through with those keen, blue orbs of his. + +"What for?" suspiciously. + +"Metal, either silver or gold," explained Ande, whose suspicions were +also aroused. + +"Do ye think ye will find it?" + +"Yes, somewhere." + +"Where?" + +"Along this stream." + +"And do ye have any aid to help ye in your search?" + +"We have little but our own knowledge." + +"And your home is in Louisiana?" + +"No, we came from there." + +[Illustration: "The old hunter straightened up as if shot, and gazed at +them"] + +The old man arose with the birds which he had finished plucking and +cleaning, and was silent for a time while he placed them in a home-made +oven for cooking. Returning to the settle he took up the conversation. + +"Ye'll find naught here but woods and hills and coal." + +"Have you been here long?" asked Ande, in turn becoming the inquirer. + +"Nigh sixteen years." + +"How does it happen that you, a hunter, should frequent this section, +which is rapidly becoming civilised?" + +"Well, the country is becoming more peopled the last year or so, but +there is still tolerable hunting. There's black bear in plenty, and +there's deer, beaver, coon, and wild birds, and then I have other +reasons. This is nigh the place where my father was slain." + +"Your father was a hunter, too, then?" + +"Aye, aye, he hunted some. He hunted some," went on the old hunter, more +to himself than his auditors. + +"And did Indians kill him?" asked Dick, becoming interested. + +"He was captured by Indians and----" The old man shook his head and +then: "Dinner is nigh ready and ye are no doubt as hungry as I am +myself." The trapper led the way into the little cabin. Everything +within was comfortable as the life of the woods could make them. A rough +oak table stood near the opened window, a pile of bear and deerskins in +one corner near the fireplace indicated the place where the aged hunter +took his rest at night, several rifles hung affectionately on the +branches of deer antlers o'er the fireplace, and along the wall ran a +slab bench cut from a split log, the rounded side down, into which was +inserted the legs. The dinner of roast goose was soon placed on the +table and the hungry men sat down and did full justice to the fare. The +old hunter fell into a stage of taciturnity from which he could not be +aroused. Toward the close of the meal the host again became talkative +and pressed his guests, if they stayed long in the neighbourhood, to +call as often as they liked. + +"It's a bit lonely for an old man, and I like company at times," said +he, as they were preparing to leave. They promised to come. + +The horses were soon untethered and mounting they rode back to Burgtown. + +"Dick," said Ande in the privacy of their own room, "I believe that old +fellow could tell us something about father, possibly about grandfather. +I believe he knows at least something about the eldorado." + +"He looked most suspicious when you mentioned that we were prospectors." + +"His father was a hunter before him, and surely the one or the other +must have met him. We'll see as time goes by. We'll call upon him again +and try to worm some knowledge out of him. To-morrow we'll get +something, I believe, from Hugh Lark, that will bring us close to the +mark at least, I'm a-thinking." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE RAFT PILOT'S HOME + + "Here easy quiet, a secure retreat, + A harmless life that knows not how to cheat, + With home-bred plenty--the owner bless, + And rural pleasures crown his happiness; + Unvexed with quarrels, undisturb'd with noise, + The country king his peaceful realm enjoys." + + --_Dryden_. + + +There was the steady tramp, tramp of horses' feet o'er the woodland +trail and, by the moon's shimmering gleam that sifted down through the +shadowy forest screen o'erhead, two horsemen could be perceived picking +cautiously their way in the darkness of the shadow. In clear places, +where the moonlight beamed unhindered, they pressed forward into a brisk +trot and then again slowing down to a steady tramp as they plunged once +more into some shadow. The road was uncertain, filled with pitfalls, +stumps of fallen forest giants, and other hindrances that necessitated +careful procedure. It was Ande and Dick on their way to the home of Hugh +Lark, raft-pilot, and squatter on a ridge of hills, the watershed +between the Great and Little Lycamahonings that poured their floods into +the Allegheny River. The hoot of a night owl sounded dismally in the +neighbouring forest and then, as if his call was the waving of an +orchestra leader's baton, forth burst in full chorus hundreds of other +birds of night, the most with the weird song "Whip-poor-will, +whip-poor-will." + +The effect was grewsome and Ande shivered slightly. + +"Dick," said he, "I had a dream last night that troubled me much." + +Dick was all attention. + +"It seemed in my dream that I had found somewhere a pearl of great price +and I cherished it as I did my own soul. In the upper Big Lycamahoning +district I found a large, silver ingot. In seeking to grasp the ingot I +lost the pearl, and I was filled with sorrow, and then the ingot turned +into a diamond of the first water and I was glad. I awoke then, and the +sun was beaming brightly in through the tavern window on my face." + +Ande ceased speaking. Dick was silent for he was thinking, and, though a +good, sincere Methodist, was slightly superstitious. + +"God knows, Ande, what it all means, but it seems to me that ee'll lose +summat and gain summat better." + +Dick had spoken partly in the old Cornish dialect, which they frequently +spoke when by themselves. + +"Aye, I guess that's the interpretation," said Ande, thoughtfully. The +way was pursued in silence for some time, unbroken save by the tramp of +horses' feet and the whirring wings of some bird whose solitude was +disturbed. + +A mile or so was passed over and then through the trees ahead was the +gleam of a light, and after a time they rode into Hugh Lark's clearing. +The log house, two stories in height, loomed up darkly in the dusk of +evening. The moonlight touched up its clap-board roof and the edges of +its huge stone chimney, lighting them fantastically, and through the +greased paper-paned window came the glow of a fire within, evidently +from the great fireplace. There was the baying of a hound, and then the +quick bark of a shepherd dog in concert, and then the door opened and +the frame of Hugh was outlined against the inner light. + +"Get back, you dogs! Back to your kennel, Shep, and you, Jack, over to +the barn with you!" he bellowed, and the dogs, that looked most +aggressive, slunk off at the word of their master. The horses were soon +fastened to the rail fence and the horsemen approached the house to be +greeted on the threshold with the outstretched hand of Hugh. + +"Come in, mon, come in. It's a cauld nicht, as they ca' it in auld +Scotland," and he grasped each man's hand welcomingly and drew them +within and up to the great fireplace, for though spring had come, yet +the nights were cold. Hugh had greeted them as a Scotchman can. Though a +tolerably educated man, yet he loved to drop now and then back into his +mother tongue. The pilot's wife, a comely dame but little younger than +himself, sat near the light of the fireplace busily spinning. His two +chubby children had been put to bed in the room o'erhead and the scene +within was that of quiet, home comfort. Bunches of dried herbs and a few +hams and flitches of dried bacon and deer meat depended from the rafters +of the ceiling. A few common prints adorned the rude white-washed walls +and o'er the mantle piece, supported by deer antlers, was an old-time +flint-lock rifle of great weight and heavy bore. The pilot introduced +his wife, who, having made the customary courtesy, resumed her spinning, +the whir, whir of the wheel mingling with the cracking of the fire-logs. + +Hugh drew forward two home-made chairs for his visitors, and Ande sat +down, but Dick was interested in the great rifle o'er the mantle piece. +Hugh noticed his concentrated look on the old rifle. + +"Aye, ye are looking at a highly prized relic in that rifle. Test the +weight of it, sir; notice the large bore capable of carrying a ball the +size of a schoolboy's marble." + +Dick took down the gun and examined it. + +"That rifle could tell many a tale, Mr. Dick, if it could speak. It was +my father's, Captain Ande Lark's gun. Ye ken that captains of +sharp-shooters in the days of Washington carried guns. A gun was more +use to them then than all of the swords made. Father fired the last shot +out of it in 1794, when he was mortally wounded by Indians on the +Kiskiminatas. It was this way," said Hugh, seeing the look of interest +on the faces of his visitors. "After the Revolution, the nation was +heavily indebted, and not even the efforts of Robert Morris could save +the nation from financial ruin had not many patriots, among whom was my +father, withheld their claims for service. Some speculating jobber +offered to trade father a thousand acres of land, where Braddock met his +defeat, for the commission papers and his claims. Father accepted, and +loading up his goods on a flat boat he floated down the river +Kiskiminatas. He was attacked by lurking savages along the river side +and, although he succeeded in bringing down several of them by bullets +from 'Old Thump,'"--and the pilot waved his hand expressively toward the +old rifle,--"yet he received a wound himself from which he afterward +died." + +Hugh Lark was silent and his usually pleasant face was sober and sad. +There was a long pause, unbroken save by the puffs and clouds of +ascending tobacco smoke. + +"Light the lamp, Mary," he at length said. + +Mrs. Lark arose from her work and took from a receptacle in the wall a +species of lamp much used by the woodsmen. It consisted of a turnip, +split, and hollowed out within. A stick, around which was wrapped a +strip of oiled linen, was inserted upright in the centre, and the vessel +having been filled with deer grease was ready for use. The visitors +gazed at this primitive vessel, that at best gave forth but a dismal +light and a far more disagreeable odour. + +"Candles are too much of a luxury for us at present, so we still use the +old turnip lamp. But to get down to business. I wanted to speak to you +of prospecting." + +Hugh poked the fire logs a little, and Mrs. Lark arose and brought in a +pitcher of home-made cider and some drinking vessels, and then retired. + +"Ye must ken that the Indians kenned more of this country than we do, +having lived here longer," said Hugh, as he raked a brand from the fire +and lit his pipe; and then without pausing for an answer he continued: +"I have read much for a backwoodsman and know of how the spirit of +jealousy has ruled nations as well as people. The same spirit of +jealousy that led the Asiatics to conceal from Europeans their arts and +sciences is within the Indian breast. The Ph[oe]necians, so I have read, +hid so truly their art of making their beautiful colour called +Ph[oe]necian purple that to-day we know nothing of it. The pyramids +to-day are monuments of the lost sciences of the ancients. There is much +wealth in the hills of the country, known to the Indian alone. Father +thought the same as I did and was convinced of it by a wound he received +in an Indian expedition with the famous Sam Brady. His wound was probed +and the bullet ye see tied to the old lock by a cord was the one taken +out of the wound." Both examined the silver bullet that was attached to +the lock of "Old Thump." + +"He found the mine. Then you know its location, Mr. Lark?" + +"Perhaps we had best have an understanding first, before I say much +more. If ye are agreed to give me a fair share with yourselves we will +go ahead." + +"We are perfectly agreed, and more. If you give my friend, Dick, a +share, I desire nothing." + +Hugh looked mystified at Ande and said partly in the Scotch dialect, +"And ye're not after the siller yoursel'?" + +Ande seeing that he must explain, related the tale of his grandfather's +dishonour, and Hugh, with various nods and puffs, listened. + +"Aye, I see, I see," said Hugh; "and ye think the unearthing of this +Indian mine will bring to light your family honour. Ye said the other +night that ye were prospecting for character, and we thought it was a +joke on the tavern keeper," and Hugh's features relaxed into a smile. +"But now for my tale. Indians appear here, from the Shawnee tribes in +the west, every few years. They remain for a time and then disappear. +Some say they come for hunting, some for to visit the graves of their +tribe, but I always had my own opinions. Some years ago there was a +great flood and we raftsmen went down to get the rafts in safer +positions. I was busy piloting when I thought I saw something out on the +waters. It was not a rock nor a piece of driftwood, and after I had +almost wearied my eyes I saw it was the head of a man. I gave the oar to +Tom, the fellow ye saved from the tree the other day, Mr. Dick, and +flung out a rope. It fell nigh the fellow and we dragged him in, and if +it wasn't a half-breed Indian, a Canadian, so he afterward told me. He +was far from his tribe and people and had hurt himself in some scrimmage +or other with a wild animal. After we got the raft safe in good +quarters, we took him up to our place here and nursed him for many a day +until he was ready to leave, and then he showed what stuff he was made +off. He wanted to reward me for my kindness. By his directions I got +some paper and a pen and drew off a rude map of the Big Lycamahoning +region. After it was made he put his brown finger on a certain section +and said, 'If white man know what under there they shoe their oxen with +silver.' Here's the map," and Hugh took from an inner pocket of his +woollen wamus a rude roll of paper which he spread out for their view +near the old turnip lamp. Ande took out his father's map and compared it +with the other. + +"Ye have a map, too," said Hugh. + +"The one sent me years ago by my father." + +The two maps coincided in all the essential features. + +"And now we know the place and the only thing that remains for us is to +set the date of going on our search. The first night of the full moon +would be best suited to our purpose. And there must be another let into +the secret, for we can't get along handily without the use of the only +canoe on the Big Creek, and that's Hunter Tom of the Loop," said Hugh. + +"Who's Hunter Tom?" asked Dick. + +"He's a queer old character, and has been in the neighbourhood of the +Big Creek for the--well--as long as any of us around here, and for a +great time longer. He's a hunter and has a cabin over in a little +clearing alongside of the Big Creek." + +"The very man we ate dinner with the other day," said Ande, and turning +to Hugh he related the circumstances of their adventure. + +"The very same man, and a better guide and hunter none ever saw," +replied Hugh, emphatically. Good-nights were now spoken, and, mounting, +the young men rode back to Burgtown. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE HUNTER OF THE LOOP + + +Several times had Ande and Dick visited the old hunter's cabin in the +Loop, and there was a growing friendship between the old trapper and the +young men. They told him quite a little of their travels, but never +mentioned the mines of Brazil. Once the hunter mentioned that he had +been a soldier under Brock and had been a hunter ever since. New hope +sprang up within the breast of Ande. If this old hunter had been in the +service of Brock and had travelled the American wilds for such a time he +must surely have met his father. At length the question found utterance. + +"You were in the service of Brock. Did you ever meet one of my name +either in the army or afterwards. My father was in his service and +possibly you may have met him." + +"One of your name,--thy father? No, no, Mr. Ande, I know naught. None of +that name has ever met me." + +Ande, having received this reply, had not the temerity to push his +inquiry further. He admired the old hunter for his kind disposition, and +especially because he had seen service under Brock. He had frequently +tried to get him to relate tales of battles and adventures, but the old +man was of a taciturn nature, a quality born in him by his years of +woodcraft. But his taciturnity did not hinder their intimacy or his +friendship. He had given them rare treats in canoeing; night after night +they had dropped down with the stream to the shelter of willows, and +secure from observation had quietly awaited the coming of the deer to +slake their thirst at the margin of the stream. On one occasion he had +taken them with him through the Rough Water, shooting the rapids with +consummate skill, and pointing out to them the marks of interest, such +as Pilot Rock or Shawnee Rock, Driftwood, the Sluice and others. + +It was the evening just before the full moon when they made their last +trip, still-hunting for deer. They had dropped down with the current, +and had just secluded their craft beneath the willows when harsh, +guttural, sometimes musical voices were heard on shore, at some +distance. The old hunter placed a warning hand on the shoulder of Ande, +and with the whisper of "Hist!" they listened. Bidding the young men be +silent, and on no account to move from their position, the old trapper +slipped up o'er the bank and in an instant was gone from sight. The same +voices continued for the space of many minutes without interruption, and +then, as cautiously as he had withdrawn, the hunter returned. With +finger on his lip to indicate silence he cautiously dipped the paddle, +and they moved silently up stream, skirting the willows in their +journey. When beyond hearing distance he spoke in audible tones. + +"The Shawnese are in the land. They must have come up from the Ohio." + +"But they are peaceful, no doubt?" + +"Aye, they are peaceful; but I always mistrust them. The cruelties they +heaped upon my father and the cruelties that I have witnessed at their +hands have always made them hateful to me." + +"How do you know that they are Shawnese?" asked Dick. + +"How do I know, lad? I have had more dealings with the Indians and the +Shawnese than any one around this section. I remember the time I met +Tecumseh and his brother, the Prophet, in the Ohio region years ago, and +their language is as familiar to me as my own. The silver mine that the +pilot was a-telling ye of was even then current among them, but more as +a legend than as an active fact." + +"The silver mine?" + +"Aye, the silver mine. Haven't I searched for it, and found it not. I +searched for it until I was weary, and then I gave it up. Of what value +is silver or gold to me now. My friends are all dead, and I, myself, +have not so many years to live that I should delve after the curse of +earth. Two years after I left the old Dart I swore, on the receipt of +news of the death of my dear ones, never to return, unless,----" The old +hunter was silent. + +"Unless?" + +"Not unless I accomplish my purpose here. I came not here as a hunter, +lad, alone;--there were other purposes, vain probably now." There was +an element of sadness in the hunter's tone. "And yet I should like to +see the old home once more. It is very dear to me." + + "'Ah, happy hills! Ah, pleasing shade! + Ah, fields beloved in vain! + Where once my careless childhood strayed + A stranger yet to pain! + I feel the gales that from ye blow, + A momentary bliss bestow, + As waving fresh, their gladsome wing + My weary soul they seem to soothe, + And redolent of joy and youth + To breathe a second spring.'" + +"Why, Hunter Tom, that's Gray's Ode to Eton College," said Ande with +increased respect. + +"Aye, sirs, ye are a bit surprised to hear an old backwoodsman and +hunter quote that, but I have a right to it, for I was an Etonian, +myself, in younger days." + +The keel of the light canoe grated on the rocky shingle of the Loop +shore. Hunter Tom had insisted on going straight to his cabin on his +discovery of the Shawnese. The young men waited until early dawn and +then started for Burgtown. On the way they met Hugh Lark astride of his +gray mare. + +"Hallo! hitting the trail as usual! Well, we'll have a different trail +to-night. We meet at Hunter Tom's place at eight o'clock and set out +from there. See ye to-night," and Hugh was off up the trail. + +"Hunter Tom is a queer character," said Ande to Dick, as they continued +their way. "He's a combination of the old hunter and the scholarly +civilian. It's a wonder we never heard of his scholarly attainments +before." + +"From what I have heard, he doesn't mix up with the people around here. +What a marvellous woodsman he is, and how silently he approached the +Shawnese camp!" + +The log houses of Burgtown hove in sight, and they dropped all +conversation as they rode up through the double row of log homes and +alighted at the tavern of Peter Burke. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +EUREKA! THE ELDORADO! + + "So the boat's brawny crew the current stem + And, slow advancing, struggle with the stream; + But if they slack their hands or cease to strive, + Then down the flood with headlong haste they drive." + + --_Dryden_. + + +It was still early dawn when Hugh Lark reached the hunter's cabin. +Hunter Tom was cleaning his rifle and before the door was a pot of lead +melting o'er a slow fire. A bullet mould was lying near by ready for +use. + +"Halloo, Tom!" said Hugh, as he dismounted. + +"Good-morning," said the old hunter, a little curtly and yet with some +dignity, for he liked not the unceremonious manner of Hugh, though Hugh +was the only intimate acquaintance he had resident in the neighbourhood. + +"Going hunting?" + +"No," said the old hunter, a little more friendly. "I was down the creek +and saw some Shawnese." + +"Why, ye don't expect a brush with them in these days of peace?" + +"I tell ye," said the old man, testily, "those were the enemies of my +father and, peace or no peace, I trust them not unless I have Brown +Bess ready and a quantity of powder and ball nigh at hand," and he +continued his polishing and oiling. + +"Well, we have some work and we would like to have ye along, if ye can +go." The old man made room for him on the rude bench, and looked at him +inquiringly. Hugh related the purposed expedition. + +"And ye think there is a silver mine, and ye want me to help find it, +and if I do I go fair shares?" + +"Aye," and Hugh nodded. "Ye see there are two young chaps, travellers, +prospectors; they say they know ye----" + +"Aye! ye mean the English travellers, Mr. Ande and Mr. Dick." + +"Well, ye see they are prospectors and know the real stuff when they see +it." + +"So they told me," said the old man, nodding. + +"Well, we want ye to go along and use your big canoe. I calculate +between your intimate knowledge of the section and their prospecting +science and my divining rod that we can get at the bottom of this. +To-night will be full moon and we would like to start from your place +for up stream about eight o'clock." + +"Aye," said the old hunter, but he looked a bit dubious when Hugh +mentioned the divining rod. Hugh was a firm believer in the accuracy of +the rod that he had constructed. It was witch-hazel, curiously carved +and with a bit of silver at the end of it. The principle, according to +Hugh's statement, was like attracted like. + +"Well, I'll go," said the old man, after some thought. "I warn ye, +though, to take your guns with ye, for the Shawnese are here." + +"Oh, they'll give us no trouble, but we'll take our guns. There may be a +chance of shooting a deer or so," said Hugh as he departed. The old man +shook his head, forebodingly, as Hugh's form disappeared down the trail. +On his way back to Burgtown the pilot met the Shawnese, a full fifteen +in number, great, strong, athletic fellows, but beyond a brief, cursory +"Howdy!" and a glance they passed on. + + * * * * * + +At about seven o'clock that evening Hugh Lark rode up to the tavern of +Burgtown. Burke, the tavern keeper, met him at the entrance. + +"Going rafting, Hugh?" + +"No. Air the two strangers here?" + +"Been rafting?" + +"No. Air Mr. Ande and Mr. Dick here?" + +"But ye surely have more rafts to run, Hugh?" + +"Ye ken well enou' that I'm not a-going rafting. How could I go rafting +a-horse-back. But perhaps ye think that I can get the gray mare to pull +an oar, and I've no doubt that she could do that, for she has a heap +more sense than some men I know that are not very far from me," said +Hugh, exasperated. + +"Yes, the mare has great sense," replied Peter, gazing at the animal +with a bland eye. "I kalkilate you uns air going to find that mine, +Hugh?" + +"We are going a-hunting," said the nettled Hugh. + +At this moment Ande and Dick came forth upon the long porch, and Hugh's +anger was mollified. + +"Are ye ready?" + +"Yes," said Ande, and the next moment two horses were led around to the +front by the stable lad and they vaulted into their saddles and prepared +to leave. + +"I say, Mr. Ande,"--the tavern keeper had the habit of calling them by +their first names, perhaps from Hugh's custom--"I say, air you uns +a-going hunting fer thet mine?" + +Ande gazed at the curious tavern keeper gravely and then responded: + +"The primary intention of our nocturnal expedition is to reconnoitre the +situation of the argentiferous fissures indigenous to this locality, the +elucidation of which will be beneficial to us and of salient value to +the community at large." + +"Oh, I thought you uns were a-going to find the mine," said Burke, +apologetically, and as they rode off he said, to himself, "Wot +langwidge! wot a scholard! He beats Bill, but,--dang it, if I believe +they're going fishing, though. They hain't no hooks or rods and who ever +hearn tell of a man going fishing with a gun." + +So saying, he went within. + +The sun had gone down and twilight was creeping on, enveloping the earth +with its soft hazy light, as the three rode over the lower bridge and +o'er the trail to the forks of the creek. The moon was not up, but it +was twilight still when they forded the Big Creek and turned up the +trail to Hunter Tom's cabin. A short distance, and a glimmering light +penetrated the trees and underbrush ahead. + +"Some one on the trail," said Dick. + +"No," responded the pilot, "'tis a light from Hunter Tom's cabin. The +old man must be getting ready to start." + +The light was dimmed by a brighter effulgence beyond. A rim of silver +shoved itself above the neighbouring hills, and then a semi-circular +disc, gradually growing in brightness and flooding hill and ravine with +mellow light. Giant boulders and tree trunks were silhouetted against +its rising disc, and on a tree branch just athwart the centre was, +grotesque and huge, the figure of the lone bird of night--an owl. + +"Plenty of light to-night," said Hugh. + +"But not more than we need; the search will require all the light we can +get," said Ande. + +They arrived at Hunter Tom's cabin and dismounted. The horses were +hobbled and turned out to graze in the clearing. Tom, hearing the noise, +opened the door, and cheerfully welcomed them within. The hunter was +clothed in his customary fringed buckskin and home-made moccasins, but in +his belt, in addition to the usual hunting knife, was a small Indian +tomahawk. + +"Why, Tom, one would think ye were on the warpath," said the pilot, +jokingly. + +"Aye, and a warpath it may prove," soberly, and then seeing the look of +the pilot concentrated on the tomahawk in his belt: "This tomahawk I +secured in the Indian country of the Ohio in 1812. It is an effective +weapon." + +"But surely you don't expect a fight," said Dick. + +The old man shook his hoary locks mysteriously and muttered, "The +Shawnese." + +By the light of the turnip lamp the pilot brought forth his map and +spread it out on the rough wooden table. The hunter scanned it +approvingly, and then: + +"Where did ye get it, Hugh?" + +The pilot related his experience with the Canadian Indian, and the +hunter nodded his head as the pilot repeated the Indian legend and +directions. + +"I know the place so well that ye have no need of a map." + +"Ye ken the place without a map?" said Hugh. + +"Aye! haven't I searched for it full eighteen years ago, and ten years +ago, before there was a settler in the region; I hunted until I was +weary. If ye find no more success than I found, ye will have your labour +for your pains. But we can try. The place where we will land is there." +The hunter placed his knotty finger on a portion of the map. All crowded +around the table. + +The old hunter's finger was placed on the map at the mouth of a small +stream. A moment passed in silent contemplation. + +"And now we must be off if we would do much to-night." The old hunter's +words aroused all to action. A couple of pickaxes, a shovel and a +crowbar, that were in readiness, were shouldered by the pilot, and Dick, +at the hunter's suggestion, took up an old tin lantern, pierced with +holes and having a candle within, to be used in an emergency. The hunter +carefully extinguished the turnip lamp and drawing the door shut behind +him led the way to the canoe. The tools were placed in the stern and +then the pilot, followed in regular sequence by the hunter, Dick and +Ande, took their stations, and soon under the steady sweep of four stout +paddles the canoe, though heavily laden, glided up stream. + +The evening was still, save for the cry of some wild bird of night and +the plash of some wavelet breaking on the shelving shore. Trees and +shrubbery, underbrush of the shores, glided by slowly, and were +swallowed up in the obscurity of the regions passed. Here and there with +a skilful sweep of the paddle the pilot changed the course of the canoe +to escape contact with some rock or sunken log. Now and then the hunter +would give a sign of silence, and the paddles in their incessant sweep +would be stilled into inactivity, while the canoe would drift for a +moment until the hand of the pilot in the bow grasped some over-swinging +tree branch and stayed her downward course. A moment of silence, in +which the hunter strained his ears, would ensue, and then with a shake +of the head he would give the sign to proceed. Once he insisted much to +the protests of the pilot of going ashore. They drew in to the heavily +wooded bank and he disappeared with no change on his immovable +countenance. The pilot grumbled to himself at this unnecessary caution. +The old man was in his dotage or had become filled with childish fear, +thought he, and so he informed the others when the hunter was absent. + +Who was going to hurt them? Not the settlers, for they were all safe +abed by this time. Not that wandering band of Shawnese. It would be too +perilous for them in these days of peace and in a section already +vacated by their fathers to make room for the settlers. After the first +hour the work of paddling became less arduous, the force of the current +had abated, and they shot into a long stretch of slightly moving water. + +"Still Water," said the pilot. "It'll be easy from now on until we reach +some distance above." + +"Aye," murmured the hunter; "but it'll not be still for long." + +"No sign of rain; the sky up there is so closely studded with stars that +there's not room for a cloud. There'll be no rain, or I'm no pilot. +Haven't I piloted here for years, and before I came to this region I run +as many rafts down the Susquehanna as any raftsman in the State." + +The hunter raised his hand as if deprecating the sound of the pilot's +voice, and then said in low tones: + +"I have lived in the cabin at the Loop for nigh ten years, and have +tramped these regions before my cabin was built, and I can read the +stream as well as a scholar reads his book. In three hours what we call +the 'Still Water' will be running like a mill race." + +The pilot smiled a smile of superior wisdom. + +"Look," said the hunter, as he dipped his palm in the water and drew up +a little for the pilot's inspection. "The stream is turbid and +discoloured, the first sign of the coming flood. There has been great +rain at the headwaters. I can see it in the water; I can smell it in +the air." + +The pilot's smile left his features and he scanned the bosom of the +Still Water and then: + +"There's some truth in that." + +"Aye," said the hunter, "and if we would get to the place we must paddle +as strongly as possible. There's the swifter water beyond." + +All bent to the paddles again with renewed efforts and the Still Water +was soon passed, and the heavier paddling in the swifter water of the +upper stream followed. Now they were in the shadow of some towering hill +or under the dark tree boughs--that interlaced and formed a dark canopy +overhead; now again the canoe shot out into a flood of pale moonlight. +The latter the hunter disapproved and the pilot, grumbling, changed the +course at times, avoiding the moonlight sections of the stream for the +shadowy regions along the shores. At length the hills receded from the +stream on the right and gave place to a gently rising plain, burdened +with oaks and wild grasses, while the hills to the left seemed to be +higher and more precipitous than those down stream. + +"The place is nigh here," said the hunter. + +They rested on their paddles for a moment in the shadow of a great +boulder that stayed the downward drift of the canoe. Ande and the pilot +instinctively felt for their maps and tried to refresh their memory in +reference to the directions, but the dim light almost made it useless. +Hunter Tom, in the meantime, was scanning the stream and shores and +seemed to be ill at ease. + +"The mouth of the little run is but a dozen rods up stream. Ye can put +away the maps, lads, for I know the place." At the words of Hunter Tom +both Ande and the pilot dropped their maps in the canoe, and all bending +to the paddles while the hunter with his keen sight directed their +movements, they moved on. Then came the babbling, rippling sound of a +little run as it leaped, gurgling with delight, into the stream, like a +child into the arms of its mother. The craft was turned to shore and +soon grated on the pebbly beach. They stepped ashore and stretched their +cramped limbs, while Hunter Tom tied the canoe to a swaying pine, and +then pursuing his directions, they followed up the run. Ten yards up the +run a divided oak was located. + +"Now," said the Hunter, as he gazed around uneasily, "fifty yards due +north." + +Dick, having a pocket compass, now took the lead, following a course due +north, and in the rear was the pilot balancing his divining rod, while +Ande as closely as possible measured the distance. Hunter Tom, taking +little interest in the affair, seemed to concentrate his attention on +the trees, underbrush and regions around about. + +"'Tis here, as near as I can calculate it, that the fifty yards end," +said Ande. + +"And the divining rod says the same, and it tells truth," said Hugh, the +pilot, with a little triumph in his tones. + +"My calculations, heretofore, located the spot a bit beyond," said the +hunter, with the first interest he had betrayed since they landed. "Ye +may be right." + +Dick and the pilot grasped the pickaxes and set to work with vigour, +while Ande used the shovel and occasionally removed with his hands some +large boulder that impeded their work. The hunter seemed to constitute +himself watchman and was incessantly on guard. The work went on for an +hour, and considerable debris was removed when Dick's pickaxe slipped +from his hands and disappeared from sight. With an exclamation he leaned +forward and found that it had disappeared in an old excavation a few +feet in depth. The excavation was widened and the pilot, leaping in, +began to work with increased vigour. Hunter Tom now became as deeply +interested as the others. It was at a spot that he had not investigated +before. That old excavation must mean something, he thought. + +There was the sound of a metallic click as the pilot's implement struck +something hard. With an exclamation of "I've found it," he reached down +and grasped something which he handed up to Ande for investigation. It +was a small tobacco or snuff-box of ancient make. + +"Time enough to look at that when we find the ore," said Ande, as he +placed it in his inside pocket. The work was again resumed. The labour +of excavation now became harder and Dick with his great strength took +the pilot's place. At length a peculiar, grey, metallic substance +rewarded their labour. A handful of small cubes and octahedral pebbles +were passed up for inspection. + +The tin lantern was lighted and around about clustered the pilot, Dick, +and the hunter, while Ande held the handful close to the flame. + +"The grey, metallic lustre looks like silver glance. It may be the +blossom of sulphide of silver or sulphide of lead. We ought to have +daylight for a better examination," said Ande; "now----" + +Crack! Crack! Crack! + +Crack! Crack! Crack! + +There was the whistling of bullets in the trees around them, and +spiteful thuds as leaden missiles flattened themselves against the +rocks. The lantern fell with a crash to the ground, perforated with a +dozen bullets. The candle sputtered and went out. + +"Quick!" shouted Hunter Tom. "'Tis the Shawnese. Aye, I feared it." + +The pilot grasped his rifle and the prospectors theirs. + +"This way! To the canoe!" roared Tom, and slipping from tree to tree, +they reached the landing in breathless haste. Then came a yell that +echoed through the hills, a yell--hellish and replete with rage. +Trusting in their numbers, scorning concealment and fearing their +victims would escape, the Shawnese charged after them. At the landing +there was a sanguine scene, and now it was that old Tom showed the +experience and skill he had gained in the Ohio region. Stationing +himself behind a tree the old hoary-headed hunter fired, loaded, and +fired again and again, and each time by the yell the bullet had found a +mark. But the Shawnese were now close at hand and a hand to hand +conflict ensued that was savage in the extreme. Hunter Tom seemed to be +possessed with the fury of a madman. The presence of the foes that had +tortured his father seemed to fill him with a wrath that was demoniacal. +With clubbed rifle he beat back the foremost and sent him to the ground, +lifeless, then with a swift turn he flung the useless weapon into the +canoe, and with knife and tomahawk gave blows right and left. Swifter +than a weaver's shuttle the bright weapons flashed in the pale +moonlight. Nor was the hunter alone active in the fray, for Dick--great +Dick, made more effective use of the butt of his gun than the muzzle by +using it as a farmer would his flail. Ande and the pilot, for a time, +had fired from a natural breast-works of boulders along the shore, but +the proximity of the enemy was so close that they, too, were compelled +to resort to the butts of their guns. At one time the pilot was down, +but the dusky face over him went down a moment later under a crashing +sweep of Ande's gun. The desperate valour of these few men was beginning +to tell upon the spirits of their foes. One-third of their number were +upon the ground, dead or helpless. There was a shout and a few +unintelligible words among them, and then, as if in concert, they began +to retreat slowly, followed by the impetuosity of Dick and Ande. Tom +thanked his good fortune then for his understanding of the Shawnese +tongue; he understood their plan to draw them from the shore and to give +chance for two or three skulking forms to gain the rear. + +"To the canoe! Back for your lives!" he shouted, and simultaneously +rushed for the shore. Dick and Ande were either too confused by the +yells around them or hard pressed in the conflict to give heed. Not so +the crafty pilot. With instinct he seemed to understand the import of +the retreat, and rushed headlong into the water after the canoe. The +rope by which it was attached had stretched itself to its full length +and the canoe had edged out by the force of the rising current. He had +almost reached it when a shot rang out from the shore, and the pilot, +flinging up his arms, plunged into the muddy tide. Hunter Tom who was +next to him, tried ineffectually to grasp his falling form, but the next +moment the swirling waters bore him away. There was no time for regret. +The canoe was hauled in and Tom in its bow, with knife ready to sever +the rope, looked shoreward for his friends. + +Ah! What a scene! A sight that, though it filled the old hunter with +alarm, yet thrilled him with admiration. Ande, apparently deeply +wounded, was on the ground and Dick--did he ever appear so heroic? +Standing head and shoulders above the tall savages, he seemed like a +pine surrounded by scrub oaks. Nor was the giant Cornishman idle for, +like a child's toy, the heavy rifle whirled and whistled around his head +and shoulders. Death lurked in its sweeping circle. Nor was strategy of +any avail. One sought to run in under his guard, while another was +receiving the attack, but the attacking party went down under a terrific +swing, while the stooping, swiftly moving strategist received, the next +moment, a jolt from the end of the gun barrel that was as disastrous as +the blow of the butt. Four had already fallen under those sweeping +blows. Old Tom paused not for an instant. While some occupied Dick's +attention in front, one or two were edging toward the rear, and should +they accomplish their purpose the end was certain. With a cry of "Have +at them," the hunter leaped from the canoe, beat off the skulking forms +in the rear, and then reaching down he grasped the unconscious Ande, +like a father would a child, and hurriedly placed him in the canoe. + +"Back, Dick, lad!" he shouted as he pushed out a little from the shore. + +Dick heard the call, and with another sweep of his weapon cleared a +broader circle, but the rifle unused to the unnatural strain, broke at +the lock. Flinging the shattered piece in the face of an advancing enemy +he leaped to the shore. Two Shawnese, one a powerful built fellow, +strove to intercept him, but there were other defences. + +Crack! A shot rang out from the canoe. It was the trapper's gun that +spoke, and one fell under that unerring aim. Crash! went Dick's great +fist on the countenance of the other, and the dazed Shawnese sat down in +a heap. Hunter Tom could have laughed then and there at the repulse of +the latter, but there was not much time for sentiments of any kind. Dick +had leaped into the stream after the canoe and was pushing toward it +through the swift current. There were a few yells of disappointment on +shore, and then a perfect fusillade of bullets hissed spitefully on the +waters and crashed through the underbrush on the farther shore and +then--like the falling of a forest giant that had felt the biting +steel in its vitals, Dick fell. He struggled for a moment to reach the +hunter's outstretched hand and then sank, and the swift current, now a +roaring turbulent, gyrating mass, swelled to foaming madness by the rain +at the headwaters, whirled his great body under the bellying bow of the +canoe--and he was gone from sight. + +With a quick sweep of the knife Hunter Tom cut the rope, and the canoe, +freed, bounded away on the surface of the flood like a thing of life. +Carefully pillowing Ande's head on his rolled up wamus in the rear, he +lay down in the bow and with one hand over the gunwale, holding the +paddle, he sought to guide the swiftly floating craft, while with his +head slightly raised he kept a keen lookout for the bodies of Dick and +the pilot. The Shawnese kept up a running fire on shore for the distance +of a half a mile, when the fire slackened, and evidently the swiftness +of the current and the gloom cast by the heavy foliage overhead had +caused pursuit to be abandoned. The Still Water was reached and the aged +hunter perceived with grim satisfaction that his prediction had come +true. What was some hours before a still, softly flowing body was now a +rollicking, turbulent mass that glowed with a yellow, dunnish hue in the +moonlight. Onwards bounded the canoe, the hunter guiding it with +unerring hand, now avoiding a towering rock, now bending with the full +power of his muscles to guide the craft around a sharp bend in the +stream. Fear of pursuit having long been left behind, he had arose to a +sitting posture, and was lending to the onward force of the current the +might of his own arms. No vessel ever scudded before a gale faster than +the canoe on that eventful night. Once the sole, lone canoeist thought +he saw the body of Dick floating before him on the surface of the tide +and he redoubled his efforts to overtake him. The object was reached, +but proved but a piece of driftwood, darkly dappling the yellow flood. +With the first feeling of relief that he had experienced that night he +saw the winding course of the Loop before him. Once more the paddle was +brought into vigorous requisition, and then with a sigh of relief he +turned the prow toward shore and the keel grated on the shelving beach. +Tenderly he lifted Ande from the stern and laid him on the sward, then +turning to the canoe he lifted it bodily from the water and, taking it a +few yards inland, hid it securely in the underbrush. Then returning to +his unconscious companion he carried him to his cabin home. Knowing that +he dared not leave his wounded friend, and yet wishing to arouse the +citizens of Burgtown, he went without, unhobbled the horses, and with a +smart blow sent each galloping home to town. This done he returned to +the cabin, barricaded the house, both window and door, loaded his rifle, +and feeling secure, turned to resuscitate the wounded man. With a +woodsman's skill he laboured through the long hours of the night until +the dawn appeared, examining, with muttered commentations. + +"Ah, a wound in the arm. It could not have been the last. A brave young +man and fought like an old Indian fighter. Aye, another wound in the +leg; 'tis only a flesh wound and will heal soon or old Tom doesn't know +his art. And here's a slash of a knife in the breast. Ah! 'twas a cruel +stroke, that. But none of them are strong enough to lay such a man out. +He has the strength of a young lion and Tom will bring him through. But +what's this?" In handling the unconscious man's head the hair had fallen +aside and revealed the stroke of a tomahawk or knife. "Zounds! A ghastly +wound that. It must have stunned him." With water taken from an earthen +basin in the corner of the cabin he bathed the wounds, poured in some +healing lotion and bound them up with a rude skill. Then, having poured +a little brandy down his throat, he began to chafe his hands and wrists +until, with the glimmering light of dawn, the light of consciousness +returned. + +"Where am I?" + +"Safe here in my cabin, lad." + +"And Dick and the pilot?" + +"They are gone, my lad, the Lord knows where," answered the old hunter, +and with his eyes glistening with tears he related the closing scenes of +the fight, and how Dick and the pilot were shot and swallowed up in the +flood. + +"Poor Dick--I have lost in him the pearl, and my dream is fulfilled." + +He sank back in weariness and closed his eyes. Suddenly the wounded man +started to a sitting position and whispered with excited face: + +"The Shawnese. Don't you hear them, Tom, Hunter Tom? They are stealing +through the woods and around the house. I hear them. Give me a gun, and +we'll defend the cabin." + +The effort was too much, and he sank back again on the couch of +deerskins in a semi-conscious condition. + +Tom, too, had heard something, but it was not the tread of Indians. The +next moment there was a shout without and the clatter of approaching +horses' feet. 'Twas the settlers. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE RISING + + "All parts resound with tumults, plaints and fears; + And grisly death in sundry shapes appears." + + --_Dryden_. + + +There was great excitement in Burgtown. The old tavern keeper had found +three horses without his door, standing there jaded, tired, in the early +dawn. He recognised them as the animals of the pilot and the two +prospectors. Around the tavern's long porch were assembled Professor +Bill Banks, the town citizens, and several outside squatters, a motley +assemblage, listening to old Burke's recital. The tavern keeper was +filled with importance, for once he was the centre of attraction and +seemed like a Fourth of July orator, so breathless did all seem to hang +upon his words. His round body was swelled to greater proportions as he +proceeded, in a roundabout way, to narrate what he knew of the affair. + +"It war this way. The pilot, Hugh Lark, he kem a-riding up about dark +last night and asked fer the strangers, whether they was to home in the +tavern. He seemed powerful anxious to have them right away. 'Going +rafting, Hugh?' sez I, social-like. 'No,' sez he; 'air Mr. Ande and Mr. +Dick in?' 'Been rafting?' sez I. Then he fired up, mad-like, and talked +about the grey mare of hisn being able to pull a oar as good as any +raftsman. I had my doubts of that, though the mare has a heap of sense. +But I thought he war joking, and I guess he war. About that time I up +and asked whether he war a-going a-hunting for the mine. You see the +strangers air pros--whatever it is--I mean they war miners, and we uns +had the idee that they were a-searching for something of that kind. He +up and sez, short-like, that he warn't and that they war just going +hunting. 'Bout this time Mr. Ande and Mr. Dick come out, and their +hosses were brought around, and they jumped on, and then I thought I +would ask Mr. Ande, being as he war allers social-like. 'Air ye going to +find thet mine, Mr. Ande?' sez I. Then he up, and in high larndt +langwidge, told we uns about their going after some kind of fishes, but +I ne'er hearn tell of a man going fishin' without hooks and with a gun +and----" + +"Come, cut it short," said Professor Bill, impatiently. "At what hour +did they go?" + +"'Bout seven o'clock last night, and----" + +"And when did the horses return?" + +"Well, if I do hev to say it----" + +"Come," said Bill, with the authority of a leader, "when did they +return?" + +"Well--I kalkilate 'bout five o'clock in the morning, leastways they +were here when we uns got up." + +"And which way did they go?" + +"Well, ye see, Mr. Ande, who is a great scholard and high larndt, +he----" + +"Egregious dolt! Vociferous driveller!" exclaimed Bill, in exasperation, +"can't you say which way they went." + +"Gosh, what langwidge!" murmured the tavern keeper in excessive +admiration of Bill's explosion, but seeing that Bill was getting angry +he answered quickly: "As I live, Bill, I think they went down creek to +old Hunter Tom's, seein' as Hugh war fond of Tom. Leastways they went +that way and----" + +Old Burke's words were drowned in the commands of Bill. + +"Every man get his horse and gun and we'll start in five minutes. Others +can follow. We go to Hunter Tom's place. Perhaps some accident has +happened. Fetch me some brandy, Burke; if they are hurt they may need +it." + +Rapidly the men collected, and under the able generalship of Professor +Bill Banks forth they sallied. The tavern keeper watched them gallop +down the town road and thunder over the lower bridge, and when they had +disappeared among the trees of the farther shore he entered the tavern. + +"Wot a scholard Bill is," he murmured as he endeavoured to write down +his learned words. "Egg--egg--" he murmured, and then he slowly allowed +his tongue to follow the twisting, uncertain movements of his quill pen. +"It's no use," he said, as he flung down the quill; "Bill will hev to +write her down fer me. Wot a scholard! He'll be a Congressman yit." + +Bill and his men in a short time reached the hunter's cabin in the +Loop. Tom, hearing the shout of familiar voices, flung open the door, +and in a few, brief words narrated the adventures of the night. They had +been up the creek, he said, and had been attacked by Shawnese. About the +object of their night expedition he was silent. + +The news of the presence of Indians in the neighbourhood was new to all +but two of the party, who had seen them as the pilot had seen them on +the former day. Bill, with the skill of a general, divided his forces. +Two he told to remain with Ande in the cabin; some were sent down the +river in search of the pilot and Dick; the remainder and greater number, +with the hunter in their midst, were to take the trail up stream to +avenge themselves on the remaining Shawnese. According to the hunter's +account but half a dozen at the most remained. Tom was in little hopes +of finding them, as by this time they had made good their escape; but +Professor Bill was inflexible, and forth up the creek trail they +started. Part of the expedition went in Tom's canoe and the rest, +leaving their horses in Tom's clearing, started forth on foot. The place +of the battle was reached after an hour or so, but little was to be +learned. At the landing, with the exception of trampled ground and a few +pools of blood, nothing could be seen. The bodies of the slain Shawnese +were either buried or consigned to the flood. The neighbourhood was +thoroughly searched, the woods and hills beaten by the scattering +settlers, but Shawnese, living and dead, and even Dick's broken rifle, +had disappeared. Expecting the rising of the settlers they had decamped +in haste. Disappointed in their quest they returned to the Loop. + +There they waited the return of the party down stream while they +listened to Hunter Tom's cursory narrative of the battle and the chief +events. He told how they were surprised, but not for what purpose they +had journeyed to that locality; how the pilot fought and slew a couple +of the foe and afterward, rushing into the flood to reach the canoe, was +shot down by an Indian bullet; how Dick, "the giant," as he was +sometimes called by the settlers, towered a head and shoulders o'er the +enemy. + +"I'll wager he knocked them down like nine-pins," said Professor Bill +Banks. + +"Aye," said the hunter, "he did that; he handled his rifle like a +farmer's flail, and every time he struck he threshed their top-knots +out. Then, when I caught up the lad in yonder and took him back to the +canoe, he cleared a wider circle for himself and leaped like a kangaroo +toward shore." + +"And they didn't dare stop him?" asked one. + +"Not they? They couldn't. Aye, there were two fellows, one a stout one, +good-sized, that did hedge in to cut him off, but one was shot down and +the other----" The old man allowed his weather-beaten face to relax into +a grim smile of humour as the scene arose before him in mind. + +"And the other?" + +"Well, the other come too nigh to Mr. Dick's big fist, and he went down +in a heap with the most astonishing look on his countenance that I ever +saw on the face of any one. It makes me smile now when I think of it. +Then Mr. Dick came leaping and pushing through the water. I had pushed +out a little from shore and had my knife ready to cut the rope as soon +as he could reach the canoe, when a hailstorm of bullets skipped across +the water and Dick plunged under and I saw him no more. The rest of the +tale you know." + +The narrative was finished, but it was noticed by several that the old +hunter spoke very little of his own achievements in that battle. And yet +they knew that he had not been idle. + +"And did Mr. Ande do much fighting?" asked Professor Bill. + +"Fighting? Aye, he fought like an old Indian fighter. In all my +experience with Indians, I have come across none who put up a braver +battle than the young lion cub in yonder; aye, and fighting wounded at +that, for he carries a wound in the chest that would have killed an +ordinary man, and a wound in the leg, and another in the arm that would +have made many a stout heart give in, but he fought on until he received +that blow on the head that rendered him unconscious. Brave--very brave." + +"And how about yourself, Tom?" asked one of the settlers. + +"Oh, I killed a few," said the old hunter, simply. + +There was a shout from down the creek trail, and the sound of horses' +hoofs, and proceeding as rapidly as possible over the uncertain trail +the band from down stream entered the clearing. + +"What news?" asked Professor Bill, rising from his recumbent position. + +"We found the pilot and he's living, but pretty badly hurt. He was +pulled on a raft by the Pegleg pilot, and they put him off at a tavern +further down stream." + +A cheer went up from all the assembled settlers, and the wildwood rang +with their voices again and again, and then when silence had come there +were various comments. + +"I thought the pilot was too tough to be put out by a single bullet," +said one. + +"I knew that ye couldn't drown an old water dog like him," said another. + +"Did they get a doctor," said Professor Bill. + +"Yaas," drawled one of the returned expedition, "they got a doctor and +he fixed him up, but he can't be moved yet for some time, but he'll pull +through, he said. We didn't have much time fer to talk with Hugh, for we +uns wanted to see about the tother fellow and the Shawnese. We went all +the way to the mouth of the creek, and there we learned thet five +Indians were seen crossing the river in a canoe some hours before. Now, +I remembers it, some of the fellows at the mouth said they seemed in a +powerful hurry, and passed over the river in the early dawn, and were +making their way toward Michigan." + +"And Mr. Dick?" asked the Professor. + +"Nawthing was seen of him at all. He must be drowned by this time." + +There was a little conference between Professor Bill and the hunter +about moving Ande to Burgtown, but the old man strenuously opposed it, +and Bill acquiesced in his plan of leaving him at the Loop until he +should recover. The setting sun saw all of the expedition trotting +homeward to Burgtown, where the events of the day were gone over again +and again for the benefit of Peter Burke, tavern keeper. In the mind of +that worthy they were tabulated and placed on the same shelf in his +memory as the records of Reverend Burg. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +THE SECRET OF THE SNUFF-BOX + + +It was in the late fall and the forests and wildwood had adorned +themselves with their autumnal dress. Hills, mountains and ravines were +gorgeous with mantles of scarlet, of brown, and of gold, while amidst it +all several hardy ranges of pine seemed to resist the onward sweep of +the frost, and triumphant in their vernal-hued robes, seemed to fling +their plumy tops this way and that in contempt of their conquered +brethren who wore the livery of the frost tyrant. Here and there several +forest giants, weaker than their brethren, were completely denuded of +their garments and stood mournfully shivering, trembling, sighing, in +the faint afternoon breezes. The rocks and boulders of the Loop, once +covered with green creepers, now were bare and desolate, except where a +creeper, its leaves smitten to blood red hue, sought to lend its warmth +to its cold, rocky, affianced one. The cabin of Hunter Tom seemed to +stand out more clearly in relief against the general background of +leaves and hills. The door was ajar and the window partly open, but it +had no occupant. In a little glade near the cabin, and on a pile of bear +and deerskins, was the form of Ande Trembath, apparently in a gentle +slumber. Near him, seated on a rude, wooden bench, wedged in between the +bases of two chestnuts, were the forms of Hunter Tom and the pilot, Hugh +Lark. Hugh had recovered from the severe injuries of the Shawnese battle +and had returned to his home and his pursuit of rafting. The old hunter, +his hoary hair falling like a veil o'er his ears and shoulders, was +engaged in cleaning "Brown Bess," as he called his trusty rifle, but he +was not so intent upon this as he was in listening to the conversation +of the pilot. It was their first meeting after the notable events of the +previous spring, and Hugh was relating his experience. + +"I don't remember much of the things that happened after the first few +moments that I was shot. I was intent on bringing the canoe closer to +land, and was just reaching out for it when I heard a shot and then felt +a sting alongside of the head, and then I remember falling and hearing +the waters buzzing around my ears like ten thousand bees. Then I kenned +naething for, it seemed to me, quite a time. Then there was a time of +dim consciousness, and I knew I was floating on at a pretty good speed, +but it seemed I didn't care where I went, until at last I came to my +full senses by a heavy blow that I got on the arm. I had been dashed by +the flood against one of the rocks below the Still Water. Then I +realised where I was, and tried to make for land, but the strength of +the flood, or my own weakness, made all my efforts useless. I swept past +the cabin there and soon approached the place where the Little +Lycamahoning empties into the Big, and there I made a strong effort to +get ashore, and did succeed in getting away from the violence of the +current, but in the meantime I was swept onward past Pilot Rock and I +began to hear the roar of the rapids of the Rough Water. I knew I could +never get through that stretch of water alive, and had given myself up +for lost, when old Pegleg with his raft hove in sight. There ne'er was a +more welcome sight. I shouted to them and they heard me, and, as I swept +by, they flung me a rope that I managed to grasp, and they hauled me on +board. I was so done out that I couldn't speak until they put me off at +the tavern, some miles down." + +"It was a marvellous escape, and ye ought to thank God for it," said the +hunter. + +"Aye, I have many a time." + +"I'm afraid we have seen the last of Mr. Dick." + +"If he wasn't killed outright he must have been battered to pieces in +the Rough Water, for I don't think there is a man living that could go +through the Rough Water without some support. I have taken a stick of +timber through, but riding a stick of timber and going through with +nothing but your own arms is a different case. I have seen sticks of +timber that have drifted through and been gathered in at the mouth of +the creek, and the way they have been gouged and splintered in contact +with the rocks was a caution. No man could be beaten around that way and +live." + +There was a pause of some length, during which Hunter Tom forgot his +cleansing of the rifle, and there was a moisture in his eye, a faint +indication of the sadness that he had within him, and all the while the +mellow autumnal sunshine poured down and around them through the crimson +foliage o'erhead, and the birds of the neighbouring woods seemed to sing +merrily as if jesting, laughing, at the solemn import of the pilot's +words. It was the pilot who broke the silence. + +"Is Mr. Ande nigh well?" with a nod at the slumbering form on the +bearskins. + +"Still weak, although his wounds have healed. I believe he came off the +worst of any of us in the battle. But he's getting stronger. He was much +worried about Mr. Dick and the maps being lost." + +"Maps lost?" + +"Aye. He said that both maps were placed in the bottom of the canoe +before we landed. They may have been dropped out when I hauled the canoe +ashore and hid it among the underbrush when I returned. The doctor +thinks, though, he will be able to be moved soon, and then we shall have +a search for them." Tom mentioned the doctor with a tinge of sarcasm as +if in contempt of doctors and their medicine. "The lad was getting on +well enough under my care, but Professor Bill insisted on calling in the +doctor, and so I handed over the case to him, though the lad would have +done just as well, if not better, under my own care." + +"Do ye think ye can find the mine again?" + +"Aye, perhaps, and yet 'twill be a hard thing. I looked o'er the ground +when the searching party was with me. The oak and the stream can be +found easy enough, but the place of excavation I looked for in vain. +The whole hill is covered with loose stones and debris and should we +find it, I doubt whether it will prove much more than a small vein of +sulphide of lead. I might possibly find it again, for my memory is good, +but I have sickened of the whole affair. What use is it to me?" There +was a tinge of bitterness in the old man's tones. + +"Ye were interested in it, though, years ago, for ye told us so." + +"Aye, that was when I was younger than I am now. But my friends and +family are all dead, and I am an old man. The rifle gives me all that I +need; the spring that gushes forth from under the big rock gives all my +drink; I am content to be as I am until God calls me hence; and then I +shall go where there is no injustice and where traitorous friends shall +be rewarded according to their due and all wrong righted; I am content." + +The old man had finished cleaning his rifle; he entered the cabin and +returned with a battered violin. Placing it tenderly 'neath his chin, he +proceeded gently to draw the old bow across the strings, gently as if he +was loathe to awaken the slumbering form on the bearskins near at hand. +But the first, faint tones, quivering and like a child's cry, awakened +the sleeper. He turned his eyes to Hugh and smiled a welcome and then +extended his hand. + +"Ah, Hugh, old fellow, glad to see you back and well. I heard that you +had returned," shaking Hugh's hand as he knelt down beside him, "and +wondered why you didn't come over and see your fellow soldier. Poor +Dick is gone, though, and the maps are lost." + +"And Hunter Tom says it's useless to try and find the mine," said Hugh, +regretfully. + +"It may be useless, but we can try. You know that it's not for the +silver alone that I'm looking, Hugh." + +"Aye, I ken well enou' that." + +"Tom, could you play us something. You didn't know, Hugh, that Hunter +Tom is a player. He can make the violin talk, and he has often made me +cheerful when I felt sad." + +Hunter Tom readjusted the violin, and forth upon the afternoon air, +silencing the birds for a time and rivalling them in sweetness, pealed +the tones of the old violin. It was a martial strain at first that +seemed to swell and soar like some triumphant march of some hero +returning from the wars. The stream back of the cabin seemed to roar in +harmony with the melody, like the thrilling chords of some giant bass +viol. The blood mounted to Ande's cheeks as he listened, and his eyes +brightened. The pilot gazed at the figure of the old hunter with awe and +reverence. If the melody was warlike and stirring the figure of the old +man was more so; yes, it was imposing, like some old Viking, who had +dared the deep and conquered it; the hunter's figure straightened, his +eye flashed, and his hoary locks and beard, stirred by the breeze, +appeared to roll away from his head and features like the dashing waters +of some cataract from its rocky crest. On and on went the melody, +soaring and wildly triumphant with its strong major chords. Then, +almost imperceptibly, there was the change to the minor key, and then a +number of changes from one to the other, and the effect was like hearing +the distant murmur of crashing pieces of artillery. At times there would +be a wild shriek from the upper chords and then the same repetition of +booming artillery fire. The old man seemed to be giving a musical +history of one of his own battles. Then, all of a sudden, all was in the +minor key, soft and sorrowful. There was a wailing hopelessness in the +tones. The old man's form ceased to tower at his full height, his head +sank lower and more lovingly upon the violin, and the strains were like +the requiem of a lost soul. The pallor returned to Ande's cheeks and +Hugh bowed his head in his hands. The leaves o'erhead rustled in +whispering sympathy, and here and there one would fall--a crimson tear +from the eye of a giant. + +The melody ceased. + +"Tom, I didn't ken that ye could play like that. It made me feel that I +was fighting the Shawnese again, and that I was knocking them right and +left, and then it seemed to me that I was in the Rough Waters, hearing +the noise of the rapids, and guiding a raft around the rocks, and then +it seemed to me as if the raft was a-dashed to pieces and I was flung +solitary and alone on the shore without a friend and without a baubee in +my pocket to buy a night's lodging. It near made me greet. Hunter Tom, +ye are a wonderful man." + +There were tears in the pilot's eyes. + +"I tell you, Hunter Tom, you should be on the stage. Play like that +before an audience in New Orleans, New York, or London and your fortune +is made. Whose melody was it?" said Ande. + +"The melody is my own. Ne'er a note of it was e'er on paper; I composed +it here in the wilderness and it's a history of my own life and my +family. The end of the piece represents me now, a solitary dweller in +the wilderness, an exile from home, with no friends but the great God +above." The old man bowed his head in weariness, and then sat down on +the wooden bench 'neath the trees. + +"Ye have other tunes?" asked Hugh. + +"Hunter Tom, you never told me that you were a composer and ne'er played +that for me before. You have other melodies of your own; play them for +us," said Ande. + +"Aye, I have other tunes, and many of my own, but I'm not going to make +ye sad with an old man's woes. I'll play ye 'Chevy Chase' and 'I See +Three Ships Come Sailing In,' to make your hearts glad, and then I'll +give ye some more of my own composition." The familiar airs, one after +the other, in sequence, airs so delightful to the English ear, came +forth from the violin under the magical touch of the old man, and all +the while the pilot listened as if he was entranced, and Ande,--it +seemed as if the green fields and coasts of England arose before him. +Again he saw the Manor and the Manor woods, the Bowling Green of old +Helston, and the gleaming, shimmering waters of the Lowe, and the +rolling blue of the channel beyond. All passed before him again as if +in a dream, and then there were faces that passed before his mind, Tom +Puckinharn, Pengilly, and Tom Glaze, and the face of his mother, and +back beyond all, a dark-eyed, youthful face, with dark curling locks +deep on a broad brow, a countenance, merry, and with something of the +joyousness of spring flowers in the gently flushing cheeks. There was an +intense longing in his eyes as he allowed his imagination to roam at +will. Ah, it was eight long years since he had seen her, and heard those +words: "You are my knight." Would she remember him still? Was she +married? + +The thought gave him pain, and he drove it from him and thought of other +themes. The Primrose Cottage arose clearly to his mind. Ah, he must get +well soon and return to those haunts of boyhood, and to the dear ones of +years ago. But what was that that the old hunter was playing? It could +not be "Chevy Chase." The opening bars were swept off the strings with a +master's hand. Soft at first and then with louder, more resonant tones. +The old man was standing again, his head partly elevated, a look of +hopefulness on his weather-beaten countenance. The pilot was drinking +in, with eager ears, the melody, and sat motionless. The opening bars +were finished, and the old hunter's voice rang out clear and with a +wonderful pathos in the tones. He had sung before in other melodies, but +never with such feeling as now. Ande rose on one elbow and stared +excitedly at the old man. That song! Where had he learned it! + + "Blithe bird of the wilderness, sweet is thy song, + Blithe lark of the wildwood, O, all the day long, + A-singing so cheerily in the green tree, + Thy anthem dispels gloom and sorrow from me; + Thou sayest in thy song, 'What can sadness avail? + Injustice shall fall and the good shall prevail.'" + +Old Hunter Tom seemed wrapped up in the melody and utterly oblivious to +all things around him. With a low plaintive interlude, he continued: + + "Yet bird of the wilderness, sad is our lot, + Our home confiscated, our name a sad blot; + The Cornish chief stricken at Prestonpan's fight, + Wounded at Culloden for King and the right, + And captured at Braddock's defeat in the glen + Was----" + +There was an outcry from one of the auditors, that interrupted the +melody. + +"Hunter Tom! Hunter Tom! Where did you get that song? Where?" + +The old man had paused with the bow in midair, and with a vexed look at +being interrupted, and then, seeing the flushed countenance and gleaming +eyes of his patient, thought the heat was too much for him, and that his +head was affected. + +"The heat of the sun has affected his head, Hugh. Come let us get him in +the shade." + +"No! No! Where did you get that melody?" excitedly. + +"I told ye that I was going to sing ye some of my own songs. It's my own +song, lad," soothingly, "and now, Hugh----" + +[Illustration: "Sweet bird of the wilderness, sweet is thy song"] + +"Oh! God be thanked! My father! My father!" striving to arise to his +feet. + +"The poor lad is raving, Hugh," and yet with some pallor in his bronzed +features. + +"I am not raving! You are my father and I am your son!" + +The violin crashed to the ground and was splintered on a projecting +rock. + +"No, no, you are raving, lad. I have no son. They are all dead, these +many years." + +"Mr. Ande," said the pilot, striving in vain to calm him. "Mr. +Trembath----" + +"What!" exclaimed the old man in agitated tones. "Is thy name Trembath? +Thy father's name, lad?" + +"Major Thomas Trembath." + +"Of where?" + +The old man asked the question with trembling, faltering lips, eager, +yet fearful of mistake. + +"Of Cornwall, and Major under----" + +"My son--my son!" The cry that went up rent the air and startled even +the birds o'erhead. Old Tom was down on his knees, his arms encircling +his patient, and with streaming eyes uplifted to the heavens, he +murmured fervently, "God, great God, I thank thee! Thou art very good." +And then to his new-found son: "But they told me that mother and you +were dead. The black sealed letter! Who sent it? It reached me after +Proctor and Tecumseh's defeat at the----Ah! I see it all. Another +scheme of Lanyan's! A curse upon their race! But no, I must be merciful +since God has been merciful to me in restoring to me, in my old age, a +son. Thy mother, lad?" + +"Is well when I left home and there will be many happy days for her when +we return! and as for me, I'm not dead, although the Indians did near +finish me." + +"And ye were all these years searching for me?" + +"No; mother and I thought you were dead, and yet, at times, we would +have hope of you still being alive. I was searching mainly for the +honour of grandfather and to remove the stain from our name." + +"A true son of your race," said the old man warmly and with pride. "Ye +are just the same as I was at your age. I might have known ye for my +son, and yet the letter of your death and your mother's death took all +thought on that subject from my mind." + +The pilot with a sense of delicacy, and wondering to himself, had +withdrawn from the scene at the start, but was now returning. He saw +them seated side by side on the bearskin, and seating himself near them +listened with interest to the tales of both father and son. + +Before beginning his narrative of his eventful life he turned to the +pilot. + +"Hugh, this is my son, Andrew Trembath, who with his mother I had long +thought dead, and I must introduce myself also, for the Loop and the +settlers of Lycamahoning will see me not much longer. Now I know that my +wife is living I shall return to the place of my birth. I have long been +known by the name of Hunter Tom, and unknown by any other. I am Thomas +Trembath, once Major of the 6th Royal Infantry of England, and have +been a soldier in three wars, the War of the Colonies against England, +the Peninsular War under the great Wellington, and the War of 1812 under +Brock and Proctor. The tale of my whole life would be useless, but it is +but fair to my son to narrate the last one, and the history of my hunter +life here. Ye must know that there was a stain of treason against our +house." + +Hugh nodded his head. + +"I mentioned that to him the first night I spent at his home," +interjected Ande. + +"Well," continued the Major, "it was mainly for the purpose of removing +the stain that I came to this region from Spain. I would have much +preferred to fight under the Iron Duke and against the French than +against the Americans, but the thought of once more being in the region +where my father was shot, and possibly gleaning something of value that +would remove the stain of treason, spurred me on. Our regiment was on +board the _Royal George_ and landed at Quebec, and from thence to the +interior it was a weary march, only part of the time alleviated by canoe +trips. At first we were under that worthy imitator of Wellington, Brock, +and had he lived I have no doubt but what the war would have terminated +differently; but he was slain, and Proctor, a stain on British +generalship, was placed in his stead. My life was spent part of the time +with my regiment and then, for some months, I was an agent of the +government among the Indians of the Ohio. It was my purpose to glean +from them, of my own account, news of my father. Possibly some aged +chiefs would still remember the capture of my father, and would know +something of his being found in French uniform with a French commission +as captain in his pocket. Should he be guiltless of any treason against +England these savages, being so closely allied with the French of that +time, would no doubt know of it. Since they were our allies then and +friendly, an affidavit from them might be of some service. An Indian's +word is as good as another in a court of law. I overcame the natural +repugnance that I had to them, and ingratiated myself with them. An old +chief gave me much knowledge of my father's capture, but concerning the +rest nothing was to be learned. Then I thought of the second plan. My +father had a great knowledge of mining and metals, and, while he was +resident with the Indians of the Kittanning region, learned the secret +of a mine somewhere in the neighbourhood of the Lycamahoning. I resolved +to discover the whereabouts of the mine and possibly solve my father's +honour at the same time. I learned much as to its location, but nearly +lost my life by my incautious repetition of the Indian legend, for on +the way back to Malden I was slightly wounded by an Indian. From that +time on we were busy fighting, and due to the conduct of our own +generals we lost Michigan and a part of Canada. It was after the fatal +battle of the Thames that I received the letter from home that filled my +heart with sorrow and made me an exile. It was a cruel letter, stating +that my wife and boy were dead. England had no more charms for me. I +plunged off into the wilderness of New York and Pennsylvania, and after +a few years worked my way into this region. I hunted for many years +before I resolved to make it my home. The mine I searched for again and +again, but met no success, and I finally gave it up in despair. Then I +built the cabin here, and the rest of the tale is known to you both as +well as myself. Though I have not discovered the honour of my father, +yet I shall return to my old home and take up my former life." + +The Major finished his tale. + +"Ye have had a wonderful life, Tom," said the pilot, "and I'll be right +sorry to see you leave, but I have no doubt that Mr. Ande has a tale to +tell?" He gazed questioningly at Ande Trembath. + +Ande, thus summoned, related the story of his life. The Helston Grammar +School, the smugglers, and that long night with Dick on the waves of the +channel, the rescue by an outward bound Brazilian ship, their adventures +in Brazil, and their sojourn in Minos Geraes in the Sierra Do Frio +district, were all successively dwelt on, but he mentioned not the +wealth he had accumulated there. + +"Mr. Ande," said the pilot, after he had finished, "do ye ken aught of +the metal box I handed up from the old excavation that night?" + +"The metal box? Why, it must be still in the pocket of my coat, that I +have not worn since that eventful time." + +The Major entered the cabin and soon returned with the garment. The box +was still there, from the bulging appearance of the exterior. + +"Father, take it out and examine it." + +The old Major did so. + +"Truly, an ancient specimen," said he, and then he started, for there on +the one side was the engraved figure of a warrior galloping amidst ocean +waves. He turned it over, and on the silver lid, in slightly worn +characters, was the following: + +CAPTAIN ANDREW TREMBATH + +"'Tis the snuff-box of my father!" exclaimed the Major, trembling with +excitement. "At last the secret of his latter life may be explained. God +be thanked if it can!" + +The box was opened and, crowding around it, they examined the contents. +A few papers, yellow with age, met their vision. The first was +extracted, opened, and spread out. + +"A letter from thy grandmother to thy grandfather, son Ande," said the +Major, and he read it with an agitated voice. The next, a small book, +was taken out, and the Major turning to the fly leaf read, "The Diary of +Captain Ande Trembath." The first part was a record of sundry things at +home in the palmy days when Captain Ande Trembath was Squire of Trembath +Manor, and the Major hurried over it, for he was interested in what was +beyond. Toward the middle of the diary he paused, and began to read. + + "8th July, 1755. We are not more than twenty miles from Du Quesne, + and in a day or so we will see the flag of our country planted on + that fortress. So far no attempt has been made to hinder our march. + The enemy must be demoralised." + +"Ah, Braddock and his soldiers had great confidence," said the Major; +"but see here is a great blank of many days." He hurried over the blank +pages and again paused and began to read. + + "Nov. 30th, 1755. Quite a time has elapsed since writing. The + glorious hopes of our army were shattered in a day by a few hundred + savages. I was wounded and left on the field for dead. When I came + to myself I saw an Indian face bending o'er me. It was Musqueta, a + sub-chief under Shingas, and seeing me able to move and alive he + promptly took me prisoner, and with a few others I was taken to the + chief's headquarters, the Indian town of Kittanning. They told me + the whole army was slain. Incredible fact! I was not able to write + on account of my bonds. I learned their language and they had some + idea of adopting me into their tribe. Indeed, Musqueta had lost a + son, and no doubt it was on account of that that he spared me at the + defeat, hoping to adopt me into the tribe as his own son. The thing + was detestable to me, and I refused all offers of the kind. Then I + was forced to run the gauntlet, but it was my salvation, for, + seizing a club and leaping through the weakest part of their + grinning line, I escaped by my running powers. The swiftest foot of + old Cornwall can outstrip the savage." + +"He must have been a swift runner," interjected Hugh. + +"He was that, but we must see what happened after his escape. All this I +knew before by my conversation with the Shawnese under Tecumseh when I +was an Indian agent, but nothing more," said the Major, and turning to +the diary he again resumed. + + "There was a shout and such a yelling when I escaped that it almost + unnerved me, but I distanced my pursuers, and utterly left them in + the course of a mile or so. My escape was toward the north along the + banks of the river, but I had not gone more than a few miles before + I encountered a small detachment of French troops. There was no + getting by them at first, but at length I succeeded, after having + first slain the French captain, their commander, which, since I + could not avoid it, I trust God will forgive me. I accidentally met + him in the wood, slew him, and since I could better make my escape + in a French uniform, the whole region being French, I exchanged + clothes. A commission was in his pocket, in which commission I + inserted my own name for greater security." + +The old Major paused and wiped the tears of joy from his eyes and +murmured, "Thank God for that. Ande, my son, our family name may now +stand forth as honourable and upright as any in the British Isles. He +was no traitor. Here is the proof. We will depart for England and lay +this diary before the authorities and get the signatures of Hugh, here, +and the other settlers in testimony." The diary was forgotten for a +moment, but the pilot was intensely interested in what followed. + +"Read on, Tom, and let's see what happened, and how he got to this +region," said he. + +Major Trembath resumed reading. + + "I arrived the same day at the mouth of a small stream coming from + the east, where I found a canoe." + +"Must have been the mouth of the Lycamahoning," said the pilot. + +"Aye," said the Major, and continued: + + "Up this stream I journeyed for fully ten miles when the force of + the current became swifter, and I perceived that there were rapids + ahead, and so once more took to the land, carrying the canoe, since + it was a light affair, with me. I was anxious to place as many miles + between me and the Kittanning region as possible. I am now fully + forty miles from the enemy and deem myself safe for the time at + least. Knowing their language, I discovered a secret when among + them--the existence of a silver eldorado, and from remarks I surmise + it must be nigh my present location. + + "Dec. 1st, 1755. I have found the location of the eldorado. I shall + remain a time and investigate. + + "Dec. 25th, 1755. It is Christmas day, but I cannot keep it in the + old style. I have laid in a supply of deer meat for the winter. In + the spring I shall endeavour to find my way east to Standing Stone + and be once more among the loyal people of the crown. Excavated two + feet of the mine. It is either sulphide of lead or silver or both." + +The Major ceased reading and ran over in silence a number of short +entries, then paused, and then continued reading: + + "August 1st, 1756. I shall work for a day or so yet and then taking + some of the stuff east with me get it assayed. The hunting parties + of Indians are becoming more numerous, and I cannot stay much longer + concealed. In a few days I shall start for Standing Stone." + +"The last entry," said the Major, as he closed the diary and replaced it +in the snuff-box. "The subsequent events are as clear to me as if they +were written on paper. The snuff-box, with its contents, was lost in the +old excavation some time before my father left the neighbourhood. Later +he left the section, and on his overland trip encountered Armstrong's +troops, who shot him by mistake. The honour of our name is cleared." + + * * * * * + +Early the following spring a canoe was seen descending the Big +Lycamahoning. Two occupants were in it, Major Thomas Trembath and his +son. They were going to shoot the rapids of the Rough Water, and +descending the river to Pittsburgh depart thence to the sea coast, and, +to use the Major's own expression, "From there, home to Merrie England." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +MISFORTUNES + + +"'Tis a downright shame," said bluff Captain Tom Lanyan, with some +warmth, as he flung his grey hair back from the livid scar along his +forehead, and stumped once or twice up and down the room in indignation. + +"A shame rather to Miss Midget, herself, to refuse the alliance of a +house like ours," snapped Mistress Betty. + +"Now the old squire is in ill health and the estate is entirely within +your power, brother James. I say it's a shame to pester the poor girl to +marry Richard, if she doesn't want to," continued the captain. + +"Very well," said Sir James with the slightest trace of a scowl on his +placid features, "she shall not be pestered any longer, although many a +girl would jump at the chance. I have changed my plans." + +"Bless you, brother, you are more generous than I thought," and the +captain's face actually lighted up with a smile, that was like the +sunshine on a beetling, ragged cliff. + +"I have changed my plans," continued Sir James, "I have another plan for +Richard. Of what benefit is it to us to have an alliance with a fallen +family. It would be much better to seek the Godolphin family. There is +the daughter of Lady Godolphin, who will fall heir to the inheritance +that a prince might envy, and I do not think the earl would oppose my +purpose, for the fortunes of the Lanyans are ascending. With the +Godolphins back of me, securely tied in alliance, I could demand +anything from the government, and obtain it." + +"I shall not marry the daughter of Godolphin," said young Mr. Richard, +and his thin lips, so like his father's, closed in a narrow, determined +line. "I shall marry Mistress Alice Vivian." Sir James's features +flashed with anger. Richard Lanyan continued unawed. "The squire is in +favour of it, and you were yourself some time ago. It remains only for +the girl to be won over." + +"Yes, I was in favour of it, but that was when the Vivians were in good +circumstances. The old squire proposed it, himself, years ago, but times +have altered. There shall be no alliance with the Vivians. Godolphin is +friendly and is relying upon me for support in the House of Commons. For +the last two weeks things have looked most favourable toward an alliance +with the most distinguished and powerful family of Cornwall, and I am +not one to slight the opportunities presented." There was determination +in Sir James's tones. + +"I shall marry Mistress Alice Vivian," said the son. + +"You shall not," with a click of the jaws. + +"I shall," with an answering, determined click. Richard Lanyan turned on +his heel and left the hall. + +"It will be so much better, after all," said Mistress Betty, echoing her +brother's thoughts. "Our family might rival the Godolphins in time. Miss +Midget will be sorry the day she ever refused. I must set myself to win +Richard over from his infatuation, and I flatter myself I shall succeed. +When did a woman ever fail?" Mistress Betty tilted her heavy eagle nose +at an angle, as much as to say, you'll soon see how a woman's superior +wisdom will manage it. + +The old captain slowly shook his head as if in doubt. + +"You may manage it, and I hope you will, but I would as soon attack a +battery of artillery as try and turn a man away from the girl of his +choice. I hope you will succeed, for the girl doesn't want Richard, and +it is a shame to pester her and the poor old squire. I am glad the thing +is settled, though, in brother James's mind, for you'll let them stay, +brother James?" + +"Squire Vivian must pay the mortgage within a week, when it comes due, +or leave the premises. I already have a tenant for the Manor should he +fail." + +"But--Zounds! That's an outrage!" fumed Captain Tom. + +"Nothing but a common procedure of law," asserted Sir James, coolly. + +"Aye, it all sounds fine enough, and I suppose it must be so," said the +captain, angrily shaking his head, and stumping up and down; "but 'tis +an outrage all the same. The poor old squire will be driven out without +a home." + +"Captain Tom, don't be unreasonable. You know that Squire Vivian will +not be homeless, for James intends to let him have the Primrose Cottage +at a nominal rent," said Mistress Betty, championing Sir James. + +"Aye, and the poor widow, Trembath, has already been driven from the +Primrose Cottage, and whether she is in the Union Home, or elsewhere, no +one knows. Is that just, James?" + +"The Trembaths were traitors to the government," said Sir James, wincing +a little under Tom's sharp shaft, "and beside I am not responsible for +her loss of money by investment. I offered to loan her the money, and +took a mortgage. How could I know that the investment would fail?" + +"You advised her," said Captain Tom, bluntly. + +"It was her own doing," said Sir James, sharply, "and besides it has all +turned out favourably to us. We can't all be on top of the heap, Captain +Tom; some must be up and some must be down to make room for those who +get up. It's a law of nature, the survival of the fittest, and through +it all the circumstances of the Lanyans are better now than they have +been for a hundred years." So saying, Sir James turned on his heel and +wended his way into the library, where he was soon absorbed in his +London mail. Captain Tom called for his horse and rode off to Helston, +and Mistress Betty retired to her own private apartments. + +Such were the scenes that happened two years previous to the discovery +of Major Thomas Trembath by his son Ande at the Loop. At Trembath Manor +was a far different scene. + +"Ally, dear, draw the curtains and let me look out once more on the +park," said the querulous voice of the old squire. A tall, young lady, +with a sweet, though pallid countenance, arose to do his bidding. The +curtains were withdrawn, and the bright afternoon sunshine flooded the +sick man's bed chamber, and cast a halo of brightness o'er his features. +But what a countenance! Time and sickness had wrought great changes. The +old, hale, hearty, rubicund look was replaced by the pale, pained +expression of suffering. + +"Come hither, dear." + +Alice approached the bedside, and the old squire, taking her hand, +looked at her earnestly for a moment. + +"I have fallen into the hands of a cruel master, my child. He who was my +friend is partly responsible for my position. After all I did for him, +working for his election to Parliament some years ago; for you must +understand, dear, that had it not been for old Squire Vivian and some of +his friends, Sir James Lanyan would not now represent our section. And +how has he repaid it?" continued the old man bitterly, and angrily. + +"Father," laying her cool hand on his throbbing temples, "you know the +doctor says you must not excite yourself." + +"Aye, I know. I know, Allie, but I can't help speaking of it. He +inveigled me into schemes of his own making, purposely, I believe now, +to ruin me, and get the estate and the mine into his own hands. A +dastard! A selfish villain! And now he is going to foreclose the +mortgage, and in a week, my poor Allie, your old sick father and +yourself will be without a roof to shelter them. An ungenerous rogue!" +said the old man with another burst of anger. + +"Never mind, father, you have me, your Allie, left, and I'll take care +of you," and she smoothed down his scattered locks and laid her cheek +close to his. The action and words seemed to quiet the old squire for a +time, and he kissed the pale cheek of his daughter. + +"You are a good daughter. Has Mr. Richard Lanyan been here to-day?" + +"No, father." + +"Has his man--Bob Sloan--as untrustworthy as the villain, Sir James--has +he been here?" + +"No, father," endeavouring to soothe him. + +"Aye, he is giving me time to think; you know his proposition, child," +said the old man gently. "I shall not live long, and it distresses me to +think of my child homeless when I am gone." He laid his hand, that once +stout, brown hand, now pale and thin, upon the bowed head of the girl, +who was silently weeping. "It may prolong my life if you accept Richard, +and our home will be yours. Long ago, before I knew of the villainy of +Sir James, I purposed in my heart your marriage to Richard. Now, though +I know the father and his trickery, yet I think I know the son, Richard, +and I believe him free from his father's faults. He seems a good young +man and talented, and loves you, child, sincerely, and he may make up in +kindness to you for the injustice done to me. Years ago, in my strength, +I thought it must be so, but now I have learned many things by sickness, +and I would not urge you against your will." + +"Father," said the girl, raising her tear-stained face, "if it will +make you live longer I will not oppose; I will freely and gladly +consent. I will do anything to add to your life. Have you not been both +a kind, loving father and mother to me?" + +"Bless you, my dear Allie," said the squire as he sank back exhausted, +and then, in a whisper, "'Tis better than doctor's medicine. Call +Stephen Blunt--and write an answer to James Lanyan's letter that you +will find in yon desk." + +Alice gave the order and sat herself down at the desk to answer as +briefly as possibly the epistle of Lanyan. It was soon written, and the +next moment Stephen Blunt appeared. He came in looking more bent and +decrepit than usual, for the sickness of his master was weighing heavy +upon him. + +"Stephen," said the squire faintly, "send one of the servants with that +to Lanyan Hall and await a reply." + +The taciturn, old steward took the missive handed him by Alice, bowed +and withdrew. A great load seemed to be removed from the old squire's +mind, and he slept peacefully for three hours. By that time the servant +had returned with the answer. Alice would have rather read it herself +first, but the querulous voice of the squire must not be resisted, and +so she passed it unopened to him. He unfolded it with trembling, eager +hands, and devoured the few lines written there. His countenance grew +paler, and then flushed an angry hue, until the great veins on his brow +stood forth like whipcords. + +"What! What! It can't be so!" he shrieked. He crushed the letter in +his hands with rage and was about to fling it from him, but the +motion and passion was too much for him, and with a gasp he fell +backward--unconscious. The crushed letter dropped from his relaxed +hand and fell to the floor, where it remained unnoticed for the time. + +"To the doctor, quick!" said Stephen Blunt to the servant that was in +the room. The servant was down and out in a moment. The same horse that +carried him to the Lanyans' was near at hand, and he vaulted into the +saddle, and went tearing down the carriage drive. + +With a shriek of "My father!" Alice fell to the floor in a faint. + +"Carry her to her rooms! He is not dead! I will not believe it until the +doctor comes," said old Stephen Blunt. The servants carried their young +mistress to her apartments, while Stephen, murmuring many things to +himself, bathed the squire's forehead until the physician came. In a few +minutes there was the sound of clattering hoofs on the gravel of the +drive-way, then a rapid step on the stairs, and the physician was in the +sick man's room. A look and a touch sufficed. + +"He is past help. It is as I feared--a sudden stroke of apoplexy +produced by some shock." He picked up the crumpled letter from the +floor, opened it, read it with compressed lips, and placed it in his +pocket. + +The news spread o'er the whole village with the rapidity of wildfire, +and by night every man, woman and child knew and sympathised with the +bereavement at the Manor, for Squire Vivian was generally liked. + +The funeral was held in the parish church, and old Parson Trant preached +the sermon. With his eyes wet with the flood of sympathy and sorrow, and +his voice unsteady and quivering, he delivered to the hushed multitudes +an address upon "How are the mighty fallen." He called to their minds +the deeds of the squire and his open, frank, generous life in such a +tender manner that many of the audience wept in sorrow as acute as his +own. There was possibly one of that audience who felt more keenly than +others, and he bowed his head down as if ashamed to meet the gaze of the +people around him. It was Captain Tom Lanyan. His sorrow was increased +with the thought that it was some action of his brother that caused the +squire's death. None of the other Lanyans were present. Sir James had to +leave to attend to some business in Plymouth, and, informing his lawyer +to foreclose the mortgage on the estate and tin mine and secure a tenant +for the Manor, he embarked on the first vessel from Falmouth. Mistress +Betty was ill of same fancied ailment, and Richard was, no one knew +where. + +After the funeral there was much condolence offered to Mistress Alice +Vivian, but no personal help, no one being aware that the Manor and even +the home furniture had passed out of the hands of the Vivian family. But +Alice knew, and with a sickening sense of loneliness and helplessness +she passed out of the gates of the Manor on the evening of the same day +of the funeral. She had packed up her little personal belongings and had +forwarded them that afternoon to Penzance, where she intended following +on the morrow. With a heart full of unuttered grief she wended her way +to the old parish church and churchyard to pay a last visit to her +father's tomb. The sun had long since disappeared beneath the horizon, +and the pale, glimmering moon flooded hill and dale with ghostly, limpid +light, whitening the cornices of the old church tower in the distance, +deepening the shadows 'neath the trees, and bringing into gleaming +prominence the white monuments of the departed. The gates of the +cemetery were passed at length, but there was no fear or terror in her +heart. Why should she fear? The dead could not hurt her, and it was less +lonely here than in the great, empty Manor house. The church door was +not locked, and opening it she passed down the long aisle, the tile work +underneath echoing hollowly to her faint tread. Near the altar was the +tomb of her father. The moonbeams, penetrating the coloured windows, +illuminated it with a soft warm radiance, so clear, that the lettering +could be easily discerned. She contemplated the inscription with +tearful, stony gaze and then read softly to herself: + + RICHARD VIVIAN, ESQ. + Trembath Manor + "How are the mighty fallen." + +It was the text of the funeral sermon that was inscribed below. There +was nothing more save the dates of birth and death. Suddenly a keener +sense of her loss and loneliness came upon her, and she bowed herself to +the floor, giving vent to the first outpouring of grief--a grief that +she had restrained until then. Sobs and cries, low, yet full of grief, +shook and convulsed her frame. + +"Oh, father! father! do you know how lonely I am? I am your daughter, +your Allie, and you always wanted me near you. I am here near you, +father, and yet I cannot feel your presence, for you are gone and I am +alone." A great sob checked her utterance, and for a long time she +struggled with her grief, murmuring incoherently, and, then arising, she +dried her eyes. + +"Perhaps he sees still, and pities my grief and solitude. Parson Trant +said that the dead are more alive than the living--'I am the God of +Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; God is not the God of the dead, but of the +living.'" She quoted the Scripture passage softly to herself, and it +seemed to give some comfort. "Yes, he must see and hear." A noise near +the distant tower door startled her. She gazed that way, though not in +fear. Who could be in these sacred precincts at night beside herself? +she asked mentally. The noise was not repeated. It was some owl or bat, +or perhaps it was a slight breeze that had moved the slightly opened +door, she thought, and then turning to the altar she knelt down in +prayer. + +"O God, I have now no father, no friend, no helper but Thee. I am +friendless, homeless, poor and lonely. Be my helper and give me +strength. Be my father, O Thou who art above, and hold me in Thy +protecting arms. Thou art the defence of the widow and the fatherless; +be Thou the defence of the fatherless now and hold me in the hollow of +Thy hand. O God, all Thy waves and Thy billows have gone over my soul. +At one blow I lose all. Supported by a father's love, it is taken from +me; reared in comfort, I am reduced to bitter poverty; surrounded by +friends--yet to-day alone and helpless, and yet,--Thou wilt not forsake +me, for Thou dost mark the sparrow's fall. I go a stranger among +strangers in a strange land, yet Thou wilt not forsake me. Oh, be a +light to my feet, a guide to my way, and a stay in my helplessness." + +Some time more she spent at the altar in silent prayer, and then arising +and casting a long lingering look at the silent tomb near her, she +slowly wended her way down the silent and deserted church, and thence on +and out of the cemetery. + +Without she walked rapidly along the highway, when the figure of a man +emerged from the shadow of the cemetery gate and followed and overtook +her. + +"Mistress Alice," he said, laying a detaining hand on her arm. She +started and would have fled, but he restrained her. "You are out late; +let me attend you." + +"I asked not your escort, Mr. Richard Lanyan." + +"Ah, but I choose to give it," said the young man, in a determined tone, +and then added: "Mistress Alice, why will you not listen to reason? You +know that you are friendless and poor and I would help you,--yes, lay +down my life for you. I----" + +"I do not require your aid. Why do you push your attentions upon me when +you know they are unwelcome, and especially at this sad time?" + +"Ah, but Mistress Alice, my love for you----" + +She gave an impatient gesture. + +"Have I not often said that it is vain and useless. I do not wish it, +and your father----" + +"Does not wish it, either," interjected Lanyan with an unpleasant scowl, +"but that matters not; I wish it." + +"But I do not, and I must not encourage you. I cannot give you what I +have bestowed upon another." Her face flushed and then resumed its +pallid expression. + +Mr. Richard Lanyan was silent, but his facial muscles twitched with +emotion, and his dark eyes gleamed with hidden fire. + +"I say that no one shall take you from me. My father nor no one else +shall stand as a bar in the way." + +"I stand in the way, myself. My own heart is the strongest bar." + +"If you will neither listen to reason or affection, there are other +means," he said, threateningly. + +"You are a coward and a miscreant, sir, to use such words to me." + +"There are other means and----" + +The words were scarcely uttered when she was seized from the rear and a +cloak flung o'er her head. + +"The coach, Bob," said Richard. + +"'Tis coming, sir." + +There was the rattle of wheels and a coach stopped near them. The door +was wrenched open and as he placed her within he finished the sentence, +"There are other means, and he, whoever he is, will never get you, +except over the dead body of Richard Lanyan." + +The deed was done so quickly that the dazed girl had but time to utter a +muffled shriek as the door slammed, and her subsequent cries were +drowned by the rattling wheels and trotting horses. + +Mr. Richard Lanyan, angry with repeated rejections, had made his master +movement. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +TOM GLAZE TO THE RESCUE + + "Oh, here's to the ale, + The merry King Ale, + It makes one jolly + Though home comforts fail; + We'll swing and we'll sing, + Merry as a king, + The tankard we love + For the joy it'll bring." + + Chorus. + + "Then swing tankard round + With ale pale or brown, + We'll clunk and we'll clunk + Till we clunk un all down! + Down! Down! + + "King George, rich and hale, + Is naught to King Ale, + He reigns and cares not + For the poor man's wail, + But jolly King Ale + Makes sorrow to fail, + Huzza for the tankard + Of rud, brown or pale." + + +Loud and boisterous came the roaring voices of half-drunken tipplers +from behind the green doors of an ale-house in the upper part of +Falmouth. At the close of each chorus there was a thumping of tankards +and fists upon the tables within that made the midnight hour a perfect +babel of sounds. + +"That's Tom Puckinharn's voice, I could swear to un," said a tall, +well-built man, as he paused on the pavement without. He was talking to +himself and evidently referred to one voice louder than the others, +leading the chorus. A frown swept over his rugged features. + +"Here I be following 'im all the evening from tavern to tavern and just +missin' 'im at every place, and he a-spending his 'ard-earned money in +drink and his poor wife, Susy, at home a-crying her eyes out. If it +wadn't that I had promised Susy to fetch 'im home I'd wash my 'ands and +disown 'im." + +His thoughts were interrupted by the overturning of a table, the +upsetting of chairs, the crash of falling tankards and voices in angry +altercation within. + +The stimulating effect of the ale he had imbibed had increased Tommy's +natural proclivity to wit and repartee in the earlier part of the +evening, and some of his shafts of ridicule had been directed at two +young Scottish Highlanders, soldiers of Castle Pendennis on leave of +absence. The petticoat men, as he had called them, had remembered him, +and in the drinking chorus they took umbrage at the trifling mentioning +of King George's name. There were angry words and then the ringing of +steel. + +The sounds stirred the man without to action. Pushing aside the swinging +doors, a sight met his vision that tinged his spirit with righteous +indignation. Chairs and tables were overturned; tankards were on the +floor, with their spilt contents trickling away in sundry streams; +Tommy's friends were huddled in fear in one corner, while unfortunate +Tommy, in the grasp of the two half-intoxicated Highlanders, was forced +to his knees. They had jerked him over the table and, with irate mien +and with murder in their bloodshot eyes, had their sword points close to +his breast. + +With a quick bound and a blow the stranger sent the one Highlander +reeling to the floor, and, with a Cornish side-kick on the ankle and a +blow of his other fist, Highlander number two fell with a crash among +the overturned chairs and spilt liquor. + +"Ah! ye call yourselves sodjers and braave men, but thee'rt +bubble-'eaded cowards for two of 'ee with swords to attack one unarmed +man! Ah! ye drunken buccas! see if I don't report 'ee to your governor." + +The two fallen Highlanders were either too inebriated with liquor, or +dazed by the sudden attack, or dismayed by the threat of informing the +governor of Pendennis Castle, to arise at once, and the stranger, +casting a look of supreme contempt on them, grasped Tommy by the collar, +jerked him to his feet and led him from the place. As they were going he +could not but hear the admiring comments of two or three of the +spectators. + +"Ah! Dear!--Dear!--Man alive!--Did 'ee see un? 'Ow he knacked the +sodjers down! 'Tez Tom Glaze, the Carnish champion!" + +"The Carnish champion, the Carnish champion," went from lip to lip. The +green doors fell to behind Glaze and Puckinharn and cut off the murmured +admiration. Glaze hurried his nephew down one street and then into +another before he suffered himself to speak the anger that was within +him. Then giving Tommy a great shake to add to his soberness and +intelligence, he began: + +"I tell 'ee, Tommy, thee'rt a great chuckle-head and will wend up by +being a brocken buddle if 'ee keeps on like this. Here I come to see my +nephew, a respectable pilchard seller, and find un spending his time and +money in taverns. Thee ought to be ashamed of thyself. Do 'ee call +drinking and fighting a good time? Thee wert singing that ale would make +'ee hearty and merry and that sorrow would fail. I tell 'ee that ale +brings trouble, and poverty, and sickness and broken health, and would +'ave caused thy funeral if I 'adn't come in when I did, for they sodjers +had blood in their eyes. And thy wife at home a-crying her eyes out and +without money. I tell 'ee I felt more like giving thee a skevern than I +did the sodjers, a great chuckle-head, as 'ee art." + +"Ah, Uncle Tom, doan't 'ee go on like that," said the crestfallen Tommy. +"My head is almost mazed with the 'eadache; les go down to the kay +[quay] and see if I won't feel better." + +"Hark 'ee, Tom Puckinharn, let this be the last of thy drinking. Will +'ee promise?" + +"Umsh--Yes--I promise." + +"A man is always wuss off when he drinks. His money is gone, 'is time is +gone, and 'is health is gone, and he winds by going into the Union Poor +House. Now here I am,--I, Tom Glaze, champion Cornish wrastler and all +round fighter, and I ne'er would be so had I took to drink. There was +Jack Trewlan, champion before me, stout and strong, the champion of a +dozen battles, and I thrawed 'im in ten minutes. I got an under holt and +heaved 'im over my shoulders, and 'e went down like a bullock. Cause +why? Cause 'e took to drink." + +"'Ark!" said Tommy. "Wasn't that a woman's cry?" + +They listened and the cry was repeated. + +"'Urry up," said Glaze, "some woman in distress,--upon a foach if thee +art drunk, 'ee can run a bit." + +Away they went in the direction of the quay from which the shriek came, +Tommy's uncle ahead, while he himself lurched along in the rear, like a +distressed ship in a storm. They arrived at the entrance of the pier, +and saw by the glimmering, flickering light of the lamp, at its head, a +woman struggling in the grasp of a burly man. A coach swept by them at +this moment and passed around the corner and up market street. + +"Bring her along, Bob," cried a voice from a boat at the landing. + +Bully Bob, for it was he, seeing the approach of newcomers, redoubled +his efforts, when he received a blow that staggered him and he released +his grasp. The woman ran screaming to her rescuers and Glaze placed +himself in front of her. Bully Bob, recovering from the sudden assault, +rushed in wrath at his aggressor, crying fiercely, "I'll eat 'ee up!" + +Glaze grasped him with a quick, deft movement, and with a heave, threw +him over his shoulder into the deep harbour water beyond. There was a +cry of rage, and then a splash, and then the sound of oars in a long, +steady pull, rounding the head of the pier. + +"The fellow in the boat will pick un up, and I think they won't bother +us nor the lady for the present," said Glaze. + +"Why, 'tes Mistress Alice Vivian!" exclaimed Tommy Puckinharn, now +thoroughly sobered. She had fainted under the excitement and he +supported her with his arms. Glaze gazed at the countenance of the +unconscious woman. + +"'Zackly so; so it is," and he paused in some thought, and then, as +though he had reached some conclusion, he relieved Tommy of his burden, +and, followed by his nephew, he strode along to the nearest house, a +small brown cottage, from the lower window of which gleamed a light. A +rap on the door brought an answer, in the shape of a woman's quavering +voice, demanding who was there. + +"It's me, Tom Glaze, Mrs. Trembath." There was a pause within, then some +hurried movement. + +"Mrs. Trembath," said Tommy to his uncle, in some surprise. "Is that +Ande's mother? How did she get here, and how did 'ee know she lived +'ere, Uncle Tom?" + +"When she was turned out by the Lanyans, I got 'er this cottage," said +Glaze. Further conversation was interrupted by the rattling of bolts +within, the door was opened, and the gleam of candle light shot over all +concerned. + +[Illustration: "The door was opened, and the gleam of candle light shot +over all concerned"] + +Bearing his unconscious burden, Glaze, followed by his nephew, entered, +and soon related his tale. + +"Poor girl! Poor dear!" said Mrs. Trembath, as she chafed Alice's hands +and then essayed to pour a little reviving cordial down her throat. The +cordial revived her, and she opened her eyes, and then, in as many words +as kind, motherly Mrs. Trembath would allow, she told her story. + +"The young villain!" exclaimed Glaze, indignantly, as he heard of the +doings of Mr. Richard. "I wish it was 'im instead of Bob, that I flung +into the harbour." + +"Poor child!" said Mrs. Trembath, as she drew the girl to herself. "The +ones who afflicted you and defrauded you of your home, did the same to +me. We are in similar circumstances, and you shall stay here until you +feel better." + +But Mistress Alice was far from soon being strong and well again. The +long period of nursing her sick father, his death, the loss of the +Manor, and the harrowing experience of that wild night's ride to +Falmouth, were too much for her worn constitution, and she succumbed to +brain fever. Throughout the long period of her sickness Mrs. Trembath +would have been sorely distressed had it not been for the generosity of +Glaze and Puckinharn. Glaze, as a friend of the old squire, having +received his patronage, thought he was in duty bound to leave a +sovereign now and then in Mrs. Trembath's hands, and his nephew, having +taken the pledge, found he had many spare shillings and sixpences to +spend in so good a cause. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +THE MAJOR'S HOME-COMING + + +"Ande, son, we'll push straight on to the village; thy mother, lad, was +always an early riser, and mayhap will have a light in the window," said +the old Major, after they had eaten a light breakfast in the Angel Inn. +Major Trembath and his son, Ande, had arrived three o'clock that morning +at the Falmouth Breakwater. They had hurriedly left the ship and had +taken the early morning stage coach for Helston, arriving there in time +for an early breakfast. + +"Shall we get horses?" asked the son. + +"Horses, lad, what do I want with a horse? Have I not tramped scores of +miles with the rifle over my shoulder, when I was a solitary hunter at +the Loop. My limbs are as strong now as they were a score of years ago, +and I doubt much, after these years of hunting and tramping, whether I +would feel as much at home on horse-back as I would on my own feet. Then +we must remember, lad, that though our name is untarnished and +honourable, we are still poor, and it behooves us to be devotees of +economy. Horses, no; they are not to be thought of." + +Ande acquiesced, and forth in the morning twilight they started. What a +happy two-mile walk that was! The Major related tales of his youth +associated with the section through which they wended their way, and the +son related tales as well. The incident of the duck cave and the scared +Greggs was forcibly brought to mind as they passed the cave, and he told +the story much to the hearty amusement of his father. + +The activity of youth seemed to fill the frame of the old Major as he +approached the proximity of the village. His steps seemed to lengthen +and increase in rapidity. Then through the dim twilight the outlines of +the village burst upon their vision, and then the Major strained his +keen eyes to catch the first view of the Primrose Cottage. At length he +saw it. + +"It's there still," he cried joyously, and then added, "But no light. +Thy mother is late in rising, lad." + +They followed the roadway past the village and up the ascent to the +cottage home. The hedges on either side of the little domain were sadly +out of repair, and the Major noticed it. + +"Things gone badly since I was in these parts, but we will soon have +them on a better footing." + +They opened the rickety gate softly, and then stole into the doorway. +Then grasping the rapper, the Major lifted it and rapped hard several +times. Then smilingly, with dancing expectant eyes, they stood back and +awaited. What a joyful greeting, they thought. But there was no answer, +nor even the shadow of a sound that greeted their own echoes. + +"You try, Ande, lad." + +Ande advanced to the door and rapped, but the same death-like silence +prevailed. + +"Something wrong," said the old Major. "Ah! what's that writing?" His +keen eyes, sharpened by years of woodcraft, had caught the glimpse of a +paper tacked to the upper portion of the door. In the happy anticipation +of coming reunion they had not noticed it before. Ande tore it from its +fastenings and brought it forth more closely to their vision. + +"For rent,--James Lanyan," slowly read Ande. + +"Some cursed doings of the Lanyans," said the old man weakly, and he sat +down on the steps, for in his disappointment his strength began to fail +him. Just at this moment a lad was seen passing, and Ande accosted him. + +"Mrs. Trembath? Why--her's gone nigh two years ago. Sir James Lanyan got +the place and sold her out." + +"Where did she go, lad?" asked the Major, faintly. "No one knows that, +sir." + +The old man buried his face in his hands. His spirit, so cheery a short +time before, seemed broken. + +"Are the Vivians still here?" asked Ande, sharply, for there was an +angry passion raging within him. + +"Old squire died a year or so ago. The Lanyans got the Manor, and some +says as how the old squire died of a broken heart, sir." + +"And Mistress Alice?" + +"Her's gone, too; no one knows where; the Lanyans turned 'er out." + +"The black-hearted villain! Thief! Rogue!" roared Ande, his passion +bursting forth beyond all bounds. The lad fled in affright at the +dreadful words and the black countenance, that was in truth diabolical +with rage. The old Major sought to calm him, but of little avail. + +"For all that the Lanyans have done to me and mine, the dishonourable +scandal on our name, the suffering and humilation it has caused us, and +these last cruel and inhuman deeds, I will be terribly revenged on him +and his!" Ande Trembath raised his hand to heaven and continued his +invective. The hatred of a lifetime seemed to culminate in a torrent of +expressions like these. Then there was silence. + +"We'll go and see Parson Trant at the rectory, father," said Ande, and +the old Major, seemingly with no resolution of his own, was assisted to +his feet, and on they trudged. + +The glimmering twilight had merged into dawn, yet there was a light in +the parson's study window and his head, now thoroughly silvered, could +be seen bending over his manuscript. The short walk seemed to revive the +Major's spirits. They knocked and were admitted. + +The old parson knew neither of them for a moment. Then Ande spoke. + +"What! Parson Trant, and do you not remember me, Ande Trembath?" + +"Why, Ande, my dear lad! This is a surprise! How you have grown! Why, +lad, where have you been all these years? And this is your friend?" With +his kindly, fatherly greeting, he shook hands warmly, and then turned +to the other stranger. + +"More than friend," said Ande. + +"And do you not know me?" smilingly said the old Major, as he advanced +with outstretched hands. The rector passed his hand o'er his forehead +once or twice, as he scrutinised the stranger, and then,-- + +"What! Impossible! Yes--No--Yes, it must be he. My old friend and +school-fellow, Thomas Trembath! Well, well, well, well!" and the old +parson upset a pile of books in his eagerness to reach the Major. Tears +of delight were in his eyes as he flung open the study door and called, +"Harriet! Harriet!" His wife, a pleasant old lady, soon came in. + +"Harriet, do you know these two gentlemen?" The genial old parson was +smiling, and rubbing his hands in delight. "Ah, I thought you wouldn't. +This is our old friend, Major Thomas Trembath, and this is his son, +Ande." + +"Goodness me!" exclaimed Harriet, as she cordially welcomed them, and +entered into her husband's pleasure. + +"And now come in and have a cup of tea. Breakfast is about ready?" said +the parson aside to his wife, inquiringly, and receiving an affirmative +answer, notwithstanding protests that they had already breakfasted, the +Major and his son were ushered into the little breakfast room, where, +over the tea table, the parson related the facts of Squire Vivian's +sickness, and how both Manor and cottage had passed into the hands of +the Lanyans. He mentioned the fatal letter that had caused the squire's +death, and brought it forth, and mentioned both the disappearance of +Mrs. Trembath and Mistress Alice Vivian. If ever Ande swore revenge in +his heart it was during that narrative, in which all the brutal plans of +Sir James Lanyan were revealed in a plain, unvarnished manner. Woe +betide James Lanyan or his, if their paths crossed. + +"I am glad he and his are not of my parish," said the old parson; "but +now tell me of your experience and wandering." + +The Major briefly narrated his wanderings, to which Ande added a short +sketch of his own, with the exception of his good fortunes in the gold +and diamond regions of Brazil. + +"Wonderful!" exclaimed the old parson, and then as a sudden thought +struck him. "But now you must find Mrs. Trembath, and I would suggest +that you would find some news of her, no doubt, at Helston, for this is +the Floraday. Ah! there are the bells of old St. Michael, now, and in a +short time the town will be crowded with people from far and near to +keep the old festival. You will get news of her from some one." + +"That I will," said the old Major, as he arose from the table. "That I +will; and if I fail there, I shall search through every town of +Cornwall." + +The parson insisted upon their going in his own carriage, but the very +thought of news to be obtained in Helston made the old Major impatient +of any delay, and he persisted in going on foot, and so with a friendly +handshake, Major and son left the rectory for Helston. + +"Hark'ee, son Ande, injustice shall fall yet and right shall prevail; I +feel it," and the old Major strode on with renewed hopefulness. + +Long before they entered the town it had put on its holiday attire. +Homes were decorated, windows garlanded, doors swung wide open, and the +bells of old St. Michael were booming and pealing in the festival which +the abrasion of centuries could not obliterate. From the upper portion +of the town came the pealing of fifes and rattling of drums and the +drawling voices of old men mingled with the more melodious voices of +boys and girls, singing the ancient Hal Lan Tow chant. Up in front of +the Helston Grammar School stand the authorities of the borough +demanding a holiday in behalf of the pupils, and when it is granted, +according to custom, how the lads and young men pour out of the old +dormitory, with hats tossing in the air! Vehicles, from the humble cart +to the emblazoned coach of the gentleman, keep rolling into town, while +every road and footpath is dotted with foot travellers. The streets +begin to crowd more and more. Citizens in the finest broadcloth rubbed +elbows with the humble fustian of farmers, and ladies in the finest +brocades and silks pass, with kindly greetings, the figures of country +maidens and women in humbler attire. Lads are blowing whistles, and +others are shouting to their fellows. But now the noon hour has come, +and from the head of Coinage Hall street come the rolling of drums, the +signal for the commencement of the annual, festival, street dance. In +front of the forming procession are the two town beadles with wands, +fancifully and artistically garlanded with flowers. The wands are the +emblems of their authority. They are the great men of the hour. Behind +them are the drummers, the fifers, and the serpent players, with their +instruments and forms so festooned with flowers and evergreen that it is +almost impossible to see their features. They are in motion. The old +beadles prance in a dignified way in front of the advancing procession, +waving their wands and giving directions in the meantime. The music of +the various instruments are pealing out in one steady strain, punctuated +here and there with the sullen, "boom, boom--boom--boom" of the big +drums, and the "rat a-tat-tat" and occasional roll of the kettle drums. +Now they are dancing, hand in hand in the rear, to the first half of the +melody. Now with a rattle of the lesser drums the second half begins. +The gentleman with the second lady releases her hand and seizes the +first and whirls her out of the procession in a circle and returns. The +action is continued by the second gentleman and so on down the line. +Then again the first refrain is taken up and the procession moves +onward. They are followed by a great crowd of spectators. Now the +beadles have disappeared. They have but entered one of the homes. The +procession of merrymakers follow. The beadles emerge from another door +and on goes the festival parade. Is that customary? Oh, yes. It is one +of the customs of time immemorial, and the party owning any of the homes +thus entered feels highly honoured. Through all the streets wends the +dance and then it is brought to a close by a turn on the Bowling Green. +Now follows a dance of the tradespeople in one of the inns of the town, +while the gentry enter the renowned Angel Inn for a purpose similar. + +A porter stands at the door of the hall above the Angel Inn to solicit +sixpences to defray expenses. A dignified, aged man, with hair and beard +neatly trimmed, passes in with the others. He is followed by another, a +younger one, his exact counterpart in height and facial appearance. Both +of them are well tanned by exposure, and their garments seem to be of +foreign make. They are the old Major and his son, Ande Trembath. + +"Bless my soul!" exclaims a rugged old fellow, stumping up with a slight +limp in one limb. He stands in front of Major Trembath and stares at +him; then passes a hand, rough and brown and heavy, through his grey +hair, throwing it back from his brow, revealing a long, livid scar along +the forehead. + +"Bless my soul! You are my old comrade, Tommy Trembath, or my eyesight +fails me. Is it not so?" + +"I am that person," said the Major, smiling, and grasping the extended +hand he shook it warmly. "And how is my Captain Tom Lanyan?" + +"I am right well, and I can't say how glad I am to see my old comrade, +once more, back in England. We all thought you dead. You haven't been on +British soil the last eighteen years. Where have ye been wandering all +this time?" + +The Major related a part of his adventures briefly. + +"The honour of our family is established, Captain Tom; my father was no +traitor and the proof of it is in the hands of the government +authorities at this time," concluded the Major. + +"I always knew it; I always knew it," said Captain Tom. "I have always +had my beliefs, and I'm right glad now that they have come true." + +"Aye, I know it," said the Major. "You were always my stoutest friend, +in the camp and out." + +The two old comrades of the Napoleonic wars talked on and on, while Ande +wandered from them, earnestly scanning the features of those he met, but +none did he recognise. The violins, sweeping into the melody of the +Floraday, announced that the dance was on, but he did not engage in it. +He gazed here and there, vainly endeavouring to behold a face he loved. +He was becoming wearied with his search, when, across the hall, he +noticed an aged, veiled lady and near her another, much younger. It was +the young lady that held him spellbound for a moment. His eyes were +riveted upon her countenance that was in profile. There was a shooting +thrill through his whole system and his blood seemed to be mounting in +great billows to his head. He caught a fuller glimpse of her features, +and then his heart gave one mad leap and apparently stood still for a +moment. Could he ever forget that countenance, pale and yet beautiful as +on the eve, in the long ago, when she had called him her knight. With a +half cry he was up and pushing through the crowd, but, before he reached +the other side, he saw them both pass out of the crowded ballroom. With +a few, rapid steps and bounds he passed down the stairway, almost +knocking over the porter at the door. + +In the street without he missed the familiar figure, then his heart beat +joyfully once more, for he caught a glimpse of her entering the Bowling +Green. The aged, veiled lady was not with her. He hastened down the +crowded street and entered the comparatively deserted Bowling Green. He +swept a rapid glance around, but she had disappeared and his heart sank +once more. Then he saw a flutter of lace amidst the leaves of a retired +garden seat. She was standing when he reached her, but perhaps the +record of his diary is better descriptive of the scene that followed. + +DIARY OF ANDREW TREMBATH, _Gent_. + +_May_ 8th, 1829; _Afternoon_. + +I saw my lady in the garden seat arbour, my lady Alice, the love of my +childhood, the ideal of my waking hours, the vision of my wanderings, +and the dream of my slumbers. She whose features were engraven on my +heart by the memory of other years, and around whom clustered the +fondest recollections of youth, was standing gazing at the setting sun +that, as it sank in golden and roseate hues, painting the sea and sky +with the glories of heaven, seemed likewise to retouch, with its +refulgent beams, her curling raven locks and beauteous eyes with +additional splendour. There was a faint flush on her cheeks in the midst +of their pallor, like an early wild-rose nestling by a belated +snowdrift. It seemed to me that she was much taller than formerly. So +tall and majestic indeed was she that I was awed, notwithstanding my +love that had been slumbering for years. I heard her murmur, +meditatively: + +"Ah, if he would only come,--my life, my hope!" + +My heart smote me with despair and an icy coldness seized me; a lump +arose in my throat that seemed to choke my breathing. My hopes seemed +dashed to the ground, my idol shattered and a mass of chaotic ruin. I +tried to withdraw, but had advanced too far, for she saw me and there +was a slight additional flush on her countenance, and gentle recognition +in her eyes. I advanced to the shadow of the arbour and bowed low, +humbled with my previous thought, yet persistent and determined to know +the truth once and for all. + +"Mistress Alice Vivian,--Mistress Alice, I am Andrew Trembath, who has +loved you all these years. You called me your knight once and gave me +reason to hope that you were not indifferent to my feelings for you. But +there was a bar, sinister and heavy, between us,--the stain of treason +against our name. Now all bars have been removed; our name is +honourable; no wealth is a hindrance. You have been my dream throughout +my boyhood days and the star of my wanderings in more mature years, and +I lay my hand and heart at your feet." + +She answered not, and I feared to lift my eyes lest I should read what I +half suspected from that brief, murmured exclamation I had heard, that +there was another. Despair seized me at her continued silence. + +"You were expecting some one?" + +"Yes," she said, meditatively. + +"And you love him,--him?" How bold was that question! I know not now +whether I feared more her rebuke or the proof of my agonizing doubt. + +"Yes," she said gently, and I thought pityingly. + +I arose, staggered, and would have fallen but for the friendly support +of a tree. Better to have perished with brave Dick in the floods of the +Rough Water than to have my love thus wrenched from my heart and my +cherished longing prove a vain delusion. I recollect the substance of my +rambling, half incoherent apology for disturbing her. Oh! How empty +heart, earth, life appeared then! The sun had gone down, and with it the +sun of happiness for me! I turned to go. + +"Ande,--Mr. Trembath." + +There was something commanding in that tone that I could not resist. I +paused and waited for her to continue. + +"Is it not unseemly for old friends to part thus. Here, seat yourself +with me in this arbour." I moodily did so. "I cannot say how glad I am +to greet once more a friend of my childhood days. You have been a true +friend to me." What a bitter mockery those words seemed to me. I was +silent and she continued: "You have been a true friend and I cannot +choose but to speak plainly. But tell me of your life and wanderings." + +Little by little I told my story, but I could not refrain from my love +for her, for one was so involved with the other that they could not be +sundered. I told all with the exception of my fortune in the Brazilian +mines. She seemed interested with the interest of a friend. I gazed at +her after my tale was finished, and with the melancholy thought of what +I had aspired to and what I had lost. She smiled, and I thought she was +laughing at my presumption in laying my poor affections at her feet. It +enraged me, and I arose to go. + +"One moment," she said; "I have news for you; your mother is found and +your father is with her, but I have other matters to mention." + +This was the solitary joy that now filled me and life seemed brighter. + +"I was expecting some one this evening." + +"Yes," I said, the clouds again coming over my soul; "yes, I know." + +"No, you do not know; I was expecting some one, and, as you rightly +surmised, I love him." + +"Aye," I murmured, for she seemed cruel, "and you could not love +another?" + +"No, no, I could not love another. You would not desire to see me +unhappy and poor?" + +"No," I said, doggedly, digging with my heel in the turf. + +"Suppose I had the opportunity to marry," she said, mischievously, and +with a merry light scintillating in her eyes, "to marry one who would +give me wealth, happiness, love, and my old home, who took me on a long +ride of twenty miles and told me of these things, would you say, 'No.'" + +"No," I said, sadly, "marry where your heart directs you." + +"But suppose he was Mr. Richard Lanyan?" + +I bounded to my feet as if shot. Oh, what a demoniacal thing is hatred! +Humbled and sad at the loss of her, the thought of one of that accursed +race possessing her seemed like turning my blood from freezing coldness +to boiling heat. My countenance must have been frightful; it terrified +her. I could not speak. She trembled and drew away from me and hastily +said, "But suppose I did not love him?" I was dumbfounded, and she +continued, earnestly, while her eyes beamed with a new light. + +"Suppose I did not love him? I was expecting him whom I loved--yes, +loved from girlhood; I mourned him as dead, yet loved him more and more, +and after many years I saw him at a Floraday in the Angel Inn ballroom. +I saw him push through the crowd and I came here expecting him. I love +him and could not love another,--and--and--and--Oh--Ande,--can't you +see?" + +Change darkness into sunlight and my feelings can be expressed. The full +light of all seemed to burst upon my vision and dazed me; then as I saw +more clearly, I recollect her stretching her arms toward me, and my +leaping forward to clasp that wavering form. + +Here the incident in the diary closes, and it remained for others to +relate what happened afterward. They sat down again in the arbour and +her head was on his shoulder. + +"And you did love me, after all," said Ande, and the old, happy, boyish +smile illuminated his features. + +"I have always loved you from that moment at the gate of the Primrose +Cottage, so many years ago. Forgive me for the doubt I put you in, but +you looked so doleful at my first words that I could not resist the old +mischievous spirit." + +He leaned down and kissed her lips, and there was a long silence, +unbroken save by the chirping birds and rustling leaves. A short time +afterward thither came the veiled, elderly lady, accompanied by the +Major. + +"Alice, child, art here? I have found him, Major Trembath, my husband." + +"Mother!" joyfully cried the young man, as he flung himself into her +arms. + +"How tall you are, son Ande," said his mother, after their first +affectionate greeting; "yes, as tall as your father, and"--here she +turned her gaze upon Alice--"you have found a sister along with myself." + +"No, not sister, but my affianced wife," said Ande, proudly. + +"And I can call you daughter in reality," said happy Mrs. Trembath, as +she kissed her affectionately. + +But now the Bowling Green became crowded with people. The ball was over. +Gentlemen and tradespeople mingled in the sight-seeing of the great +event of that memorable day--the wrestling. A space had been cleared and +roped off in the centre of the Bowling Green, and soon forth came the +gladiators, great, tall, muscular fellows, farmers from the country, +miners from the tin mines, and seamen from Penzance and the Lizard +Point. The men from the Lizard were great, giant-like men over six feet +in stature. The spectators watched with intense interest. Jack Trewlan, +anxious once more for honours, was among them, but went down and out of +the lists in the very first contest. The poorest wrestlers were disposed +of first, and then came men of the first class. Among the latter was a +great Lizard Point fellow,--a veritable Goliath in size. Six feet, six +inches he stood in his stocking feet and weighed fully two and twenty +stone. The measurement of his chest was fifty-three inches, of his waist +thirty-nine, of his arms--the right biceps--nineteen inches, the +left--a trifle less; his limbs were in proportion to his other +measurements. A wild cheer went up from the Lizard men as he stood forth +in the roped arena. He had easily vanquished all his fellows,--the great +Lizard fellows were as wooden men in his powerful grasp,--and he was +entitled to do battle with the champion. + +There was another cheer, mainly from the tin miners and farmers, as the +champion of Cornwall, Tom Glaze, the victor of nineteen pitched battles, +came forth to do battle for the twentieth time for the position he held. +The champion was not near so tall or heavy as his opponent, but he was +stoutly and toughly built; his muscles were iron-like with constant +practice, and in his many battles he had gained that dexterity, +cautiousness, tack and trickiness, that was characteristic and essential +to a champion. + +"A tough opponent, Tom," said one of the gentlemen. + +"The bigger they are the heavier they fall," said Tom, and yet there was +a little doubt in his mind as he sized up the Goliath before him. A +moment they stood, their white duck wrestling jackets in relief against +the background, and then they closed into action. The young Lizard +fellow was cautious and wary. Tom Glaze seized his favourite hold,--the +celebrated Cornish hug, and back and forth they wavered, but the young +Colossus seemed to have his great limbs, like pillars, firmly rooted in +the ground. Glaze was as agile as a panther, twisting and trying trick +after trick. Once he nearly had him on the hip and a hoarse "Huzza" and +"Bravo" went up from many throats,--but it was only a partial success. +The young Lizard fellow now tried to bring into play his great strength, +but every grasp was eluded. Glaze had not been champion so long without +learning many things. + +"At un, Tom, thraw un down!" cried the men of Helston and the miners to +their champion. + +"At un, lad, heave un over thy 'ead!" exclaimed the Lizard and Penzance +men to their partisan. + +"Wait a bit," said a Lizard man, with a knowing wink to a companion, +"wait a bit, till 'e uses 'is strength; our man is only playing with un, +I tell'ee." + +"Ah, dear, dear,--us thought Glaze 'ad un then; but 'e's up again." + +"Bravo! Bravo!" shouted the men of Penzance and the Lizard, and they +fairly danced with delight, as Glaze went partially down. + +"No fall!" bawled the referee. + +"Ah was a fall, sure enough!" shouted an excited Lizard fellow; "I seed +un." + +"Seed un," snorted Tommy Puckinharn, who was near at hand; "thee doesn't +mean to say thee seed un with they great, fishy eyes of thine, do 'ee?" + +"Ah was a fall," persisted the Lizard man. + +"'Twasn't," said Tommy. + +"Ah was." + +"What's the use of saying ah was when ah wasn't," said Tommy, +philosophically. + +"'Ere, 'ere, no fighting," said a town beadle, as he came up to preserve +peace. + +The wrestlers after a brief rest again approached each other. Now in a +crouching position they circle around each other, each waiting for an +opportunity for a good hold. Suddenly they spring forward like tigers. +It was a collar and elbow hold; they tugged, strained, now pushing, now +pulling. Determination is on the features of each. It is apparent that +the young giant is exerting his strength to the utmost. He is slowly +pushing Glaze backward. Glaze gave way slowly and then with a smile and +a twist and a sudden jerk-- + +"Huzza! Huzza! Glaze forever!" bellowed the Helston men. The young +Lizard giant had gone, like a crashing oak, to the ground. + +"No fall," bawled the referee. The Lizard gladiator had but fallen to +his knees and was soon up again, and the contest was renewed. + +"Man alive! Did 'ee see un? 'E went down like a kibbel in a shaft," said +one tin miner to another. The one addressed answered not, but kept +shouting to Glaze: + +"The Carnish ankle kick, boy! Kick un in the ankle, and poke un over!" + +"Another case of Corineus and the giant Gog-ma-gog,"[8] said Captain Tom +Lanyan to his friend, the Major. + + [8] Wrestling match of Corineus, the Trojan, and Gog-ma-gog on + Plymouth Hoe--"Polyolbion," Michael Drayton, 1563-1631. + +"Aye, possibly," said the Major. + +On went the wrestling match, with the advantage at one moment to Glaze, +at another to the young opponent. Glaze seemed the better in agility and +wrestling tricks, but his skill in these things were offset by the +giant's strength and wariness. The crowd from a wildly shouting mass +became silent, and were alertly watching every movement of the straining +figures. They were at last becoming aware of what Glaze knew for quite a +time. The champion had met his match. He knew it, for with all of his +skill he was unable to overcome his opponent. But what was still more +manifest was that the young Lizard giant, with all of his strength, +could not conquer the old, wrestling hero. + +The time was up at last, and there were stout huzzas for both as they +shook hands. The decision went to Glaze, not on falls, but on points, as +he showed the greater skill. + +Then Glaze held up his hand for silence and began to speak. + +"I want to congratulate my opponent on his stout defence, and say 'e's +the hardest man I ever met in a wrastling match." + +There was a roar of cheers, and then when silence came, he continued: + +"Men, you knaw the decision is just as to points. My opponent could not +thraw me, as 'ee have seen, and I couldn't thraw 'im. Now, I'm getting +old for the ring, and am about going to quit wrastling. This is my last +battle. I 'ave only waited until I could find the man I couldn't thraw, +and now I've found un, I give to him the championship and all the +honours of the position. What do 'ee say? Is it right?" + +There was silence for a moment, and then, after the import of Glaze's +generous offer became more fully understood, there was a resounding +cheer that went up again and again. The people knew that, next to Glaze, +there was none more capable or worthy of defending the championship of +Cornwall than the young Lizard giant. + +"Do ye know, lad, who the young Lizard chap was?" asked the Major of +Ande,--but Ande was gone. Both wrestlers had been taken up on the +shoulders of the crowd and carried, with various shoutings, to the Angel +Inn. Ande followed, pushing and shoving his way through the crowd. When +he entered the Inn, he shouted, "Where's the champion?" + +"He's up in his room, changing his clothes," said the landlord. + +Ande pushed his way up the stairs and opened the door of the room +indicated. + +"Dick, Dick, Dick, old fellow!" + +"Ande,--why bless----" + +The two friends were locked in each others arms. Then came a time of +explanation. Dick had passed through the Rough Waters of the +Lycamahonings safely. He who had breasted the breakers of the Lizard +could easily take care of himself in the rapids. He was wounded, to be +sure, and the struggle through the rapids had exhausted him, but he was +picked up in the river and for some time was in the care of the good +settlers of Kittanning; then he had returned. + +"You must come back with me to see my father and mother and my intended +wife," said Ande. Ande insisted, and Dick yielded. They passed out +through the inn and down to the Bowling Green. There were Major +Trembath, Mrs. Trembath and Mistress Alice Vivian, to each of whom Dick +was successively introduced. + +"What's wrong, Dick?" asked Ande. Dick was staring with all his eyes at +the Major, and then he burst forth in answer: + +"Why, bless me, Ande, if the Major and old Hunter Tom are not the same, +they are brothers." + +"The same, Dick, lad," said the Major, smilingly, and Dick again grasped +his hand and shook it warmly. + +"I never expected to see you and Ande again, and I can't say how glad I +am that things have turned out as they have," said Dick. + +He explained how he had returned to his people, who had long mourned him +as dead, and how overjoyed they were to see him. He was now a +prosperous, independent farmer of the Lizard, and was also preparing to +enter the shipbuilding trade. "Thanks be," said he, in an undertone to +Ande, "to the mines of Sierro Do Frio." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +ANDE'S REVENGE + + ----"A grudge, time out of mind begun, + And mutually bequeathed from sire to son." + + --_Tatian_. + + +"Lanyan forever! Lanyan forever!" + +"Trembath forever! Trembath forever!" + +The old town of Helston was a roaring, gesticulating mass, and the +shouting of bellowing partisans reverberated up and down Coinage Hall +Street. Crowd met crowd, waving their respective banners, opprobious +names were shouted, fists flung in the air, and a special force of +officers were busy from early morn quieting unruly fellows, some of them +more stirred by the spirits of the Angel Inn than the spirits of +politics. It was the period of the election for the Reform Parliament. +Sir James Lanyan had come forth on the old party platform, and, most +unexpectedly, in opposition to him, came Andrew Trembath. The latter had +made himself eligible by the purchase of the Primrose Cottage, thus +making himself a landholder of forty shillings annual value. + +Towards noon the crowds converged upon the Bowling Green, where upon a +raised platform sat the Mayor, the town functionaries, the candidates, +and their proposers and seconds. + +The figure of Sir James was just as tall as of old; the same eagle nose +and piercing eyes; the same easy, urbane manner and distinguished +appearance. The Conservatives admired him. His wealth, astuteness, +experience, all urged the necessity of his return to the forum of +government. There was an easiness of manner in the very position Sir +James occupied that augured well his own hopes of the coming election. +Why should he not have hopes? The interests of the landed party were all +back of him. The Godolphins and all their followers were in his train. +Reform measures were dangerous in their eyes to the staid health, +political, of the country. + +On the left, Andrew Trembath was not so easy in his mind. Sir James was +an old general, and he knew it; but within Ande's breast was the buoyant +hopes of youth. Here was the first stroke of revenge against an ancient +foe. Could Sir James be beaten in his cherished hopes, and that by an +upstart of a hated family, the more triumph. + +The preliminary proceedings were gone through rapidly. Sir James, with a +good bit of wisdom, had selected as his proposer a retired country +gentleman and as his second a tradesman of Helston, thus drawing from +the sympathy of both classes. The proposer, however, weakened his cause +by his interlarding his speech with many classic quotations, learned no +doubt when he was a lad at Eton, and also by a most unfortunate +mentioning of the stain of treason on the name of the opposing +candidate. Sir James, himself, though he sympathised with his proposer, +felt irritated that he should make such a blunder, and a slight frown +passed over his placid features. + +The proposer of Andrew Trembath was none other than the Reverend Mr. +Trewan, headmaster of the Grammar School. In a short, neat speech, and +with a few, withering remarks, he scattered the arguments of the +proposer's speech in favour of Sir James. Then speaking of his +candidate, Andrew Trembath, he referred to his being a scholar of his +own school, his honesty, uprightness, and his grasp upon the problems +that were stirring old England to her very centre, and closed with an +able plea for the seating of ability, though that ability was young. +There were strong cheers and many "hears!" from the crowd on its +conclusion. But none of these preliminary cheers were so hearty as those +which greeted the second, as he arose to greet the audience. And no +wonder, for the seconder of Mr. Trewan's speech was the new champion of +Cornwall, Dick Thomas. Sir James looked a trifle worried, for he saw the +diplomacy in the choice of these. The headmaster of the Grammar School +had weight, and Dick Thomas had the hearts of the commonality. The +speech which he made was homely enough, and demonstrated that he was, as +he said, more a man of action than one of words. But he was Dick Thomas, +and Dick Thomas was a host. + +Sir James arose with a look of relief on his features. He was a man +accustomed to deal with the masses, and wished to offset, as much as +possible, the blunders of his own proposer and the enthusiasm of the +crowd over the speeches of the opposition. His speech was replete with +smooth phrases, and the whole was conducted to the close with the +arguments of a logician and the subtility of an old parliamentarian. He +demonstrated that he had a clear grasp on the problems of the day, and +the temper of the people toward them, but what he did not know was the +growing popular estimation of himself among the masses. They were +getting to realise that Sir James Lanyan was a "trimmer" and was more +for Sir James Lanyan than anything else. He said in part: + +"For upwards of a dozen years I have served the people of this section +as their representative in the House of Commons, and I trust that, at +this time, the confidence of the electors, that they have manifested so +often heretofore in my experience and labours, will still remain with +me. [Hisses and groans.] These are stirring times and the storms have +swept over, again and again, the ship of state, threatening to founder +her, and reduce the civilisation of the grandest and most enlightened +country under the sun to a melancholy wreck and ruin, battered and +beaten by every sea, and a prey of the pirates of Europe. To a careful +observer, what perils threaten our country? The spirit of the old-time +Luddites has again broken forth in the wrecking of machinery and +ruthless destruction of property, and there is trouble and turmoil on +every side that, unless checked by the firm hand of a Conservative +government, will bring anarchy and ruin. In the midst of all these +movements come our friends of the opposition with their so-called, +universal panacea of Reform. Reform! Reform what? + +"Would you reform the introduction of machinery? We cannot do it. If the +people themselves could see the benefits of the oncoming flood of +invention, they would not desire to do it. With the vision of a prophet +I clearly see the time when business shall be enlarged, living become +cheaper, wages higher, all on account of the increased output and +increased commerce brought and caused by the introduction of machinery. +Will this affect Cornwall? To-day, Cornwall has nothing but her farms, +her fisheries and her mines, but with the advent of new machinery will +come the spreading of new factories, until even within the 'Delectable +Duchy' shall roar and sound the noise of spindles, giving employment to +thousands of Cornishmen and their children. The increased wealth of the +country will add to the price to be obtained for fish commodities and +farm products, and there will be an era of prosperity for the hardy +miner, fisherman and farmer such as they have never dreamed of before. +Reform? Shall we reform the election laws and boroughs. The statement is +frequently made that the election laws give unequal representation, and +that there are members of the Commons not placed there by the people, +and it is true; but abolish the present system and you will purloin from +the nation the services of some of her stoutest pillars. If everything +is to depend upon a wider suffrage and the throwing out of what has been +called pocket boroughs, where would our broad-minded statesmen, who +have, temporarily, not the support of the people, come in? Had it not +been for a pocket borough, Burke, that Cicero of English politics, would +never have entered the halls of legislation. Had it not been for the +pocket borough, our most eminent statesmen, North, Flood, Canning, +Plunket, Brougham, and others, equally indispensable, would not have +gained a foothold in the parliamentarian halls. Sheridan, defeated at +Stafford, found support in Ilchester; Grey, refused by Northumberland, +was returned by Tavistock." + +Here Sir James was interrupted by a rough, country lout, who said +gravely that he had a question to ask of great importance. + +"Well, my man," and Sir James flashed a keen look at him. + +"I would like to ask," said the fellow with a leer, "whether m'lord +could lend me half a sovereign?" + +The absurdity of the thing gave the audience its desired fun, and a roar +of laughter came from the crowd. But Sir James was not the man to be put +down with the word of a buffoon. With a smile of sarcasm, he responded: + +"Yes, my man, I can lend you not only a half a sovereign, but twenty +sovereigns, when the cause of good government, which I represent, has +prevailed, and then you will need no borrowing, but you will have so +many, easily earned by yourself, that you will want to lend instead of +borrow. The very reason that so many are out of half sovereigns to-day +is because of the mob spirit and discontent stirred up by the element of +so-called reform. I ask whether it was patriotism that stirred up the +agitation for so-called reform? No. It could not have been that, for the +best good of the nation, at the present time, requires peace and +harmony." + +Continuing, Sir James referred to the agitation of France that gave vent +to Napoleon, and was interrupted here and there with various crys of +"Tommy-rot!" and "Gammon!" from his opponents, and equally strong +"Hears!" from the Conservative wing, and closed his speech with a strong +plea for the upholding of the old line party. + +He was not nearly so confident when he finished as when he began. He was +beginning to realise that there was an undercurrent against him, +personally. His agents had brought him word before of this, but he had +placed it all down to the spirit of the reform movement. But now he was +beginning to realise different. Dick Thomas and Ande's agents had not +been idle in the period of the canvass. Sir James' conduct in reference +to the Trembaths, to the Vivians, and his crookedness in politics, was +fully aired among the voters, and those who could not be persuaded to +vote against the old line policies, were moved, by the revelation of the +unscrupulous conduct of Sir James, to abstain from voting at all. + +There was silence when the new candidate, Andrew Trembath, arose to +respond. Shaking back the tangled masses of auburn hair from his +forehead, he opened his speech in clear, ringing tones. His introduction +demonstrated that he had a tolerably clear perception of the issues of +the day. He spoke feelingly of the popular agitation. + +"These riots, this breaking of machinery, this tumult in many parts of +the kingdom, to what is it due? To the spirit of reform? No. Rather is +it due to the desire of the people for better conditions. The time has +come when the voice of the people shall be heard, and that voice speaks +in no uncertain accents. Too long has the government been in the hands +of demagogues who have little to recommend them for election but +corruption; and now all over this fair land of ours the people have +arisen in their might, and demanded an extended suffrage. It is true, as +Sir James has said, that great and good men have been returned from +these pocket boroughs, but that single advantage can be offset by +innumerable and inevitable disadvantages. These pocket boroughs are +generally nests of corruption, held and dominated by some lord or +landholder. The half a dozen or so good men that were placed in position +by them can be offset by the hundreds of members that are fitter for +Newgate than for the parliamentarian halls." + +"Men like James Lanyan," shouted some one in the crowd. + +An angry hue was on Sir James' countenance for a moment, but neither he +nor Ande noticed the interruption. + +"What right has a green mound in a grassy field or a hayrick to send a +representative, while great and flourishing towns like Manchester and +Sheffield have none?" + +"Hear! Hear! Hear!" shouted many in the crowd. + +Continuing, Ande took up, one by one, the arguments of the opposition, +and tore them shred by shred, until not a vestige remained. Then he +triumphantly drew from his pocket a perfect arsenal of facts, culled +from Sir James' speech of years ago, when, turned down for a time by his +own party, he sought refuge in the ideas of reform. The very facts used +in his conversation with Squire Vivian, Captain Tom Lanyan and the +others, when around the tea table in Lanyan Hall so many years ago, and +which facts he used in a speech on the hustings at that time, were +quoted now, and they were like arrows piercing his very soul. The +Conservative wing were silent with consternation, and Sir James looked +down, uneasily. Then turning to the record of Sir James in the Commons, +he quoted how he had again and again voted against the will of his +constituents. Then after a few, withering flights of oratory, which sent +the Radicals wild with delight and chilled the Conservatives into icy +stillness, he said: + +"And now, members of the Conservative wing, you are going to vote for a +man who has uttered sentiments like these, and acted in this manner. I +need not speak to the members of my own party, I know their +determination for good government, but to you Conservatives. You are +going to vote for a man who has thus betrayed your sacred trust and thus +surrendered your standards to the enemy. What does all his actions and +speaking amount to in your minds? Just this, that though he is an +experienced hand, yet you know not what he stands for. Like a +vacillating weather vane, he is apt to be turned one way or the other as +the interests of Sir James Lanyan may direct." + +There was an uproarious "Hear! Hear!" from the Radicals, and the black +looks that the Conservatives turned on Sir James were perceived by even +that worthy himself. He shrugged his shoulders and took on his +indifferent and placid expression. But Andrew Trembath was not through +yet, for he continued bringing up clause after clause of Sir James' +speeches, sweeping the audience fairly off its feet with a torrent of +indignant oratory such as it had never before heard. All the poetry in +his nature, all the passion of years of wrong heaped upon his family, +burst forth then and there. There was no more applause from any in that +assemblage, for they were all so enthralled that they hung upon each +word uttered, riveted their eyes upon each gesture, and remained +motionless like a painted throng. Then turning from indignant invective, +he gazed lovingly over the Bowling Green and swept his vision around +toward the town, and his eyes became misty with emotion. + +"Helston! Dear old Helston!" he exclaimed, and he stretched out his arms +to the town and people, and there was such emotion, tenderness and love +in that tone that the crowd wept though they could not tell why. + +[Illustration: "He opened his speech in clear, ringing tones"] + +Sir James' proposer had called him a foreigner in little touch with +English ideals. He proved the contrary. He called vividly to mind the +days spent as a school lad among them, the exciting days of the hurling +match when Breage was defeated, and men nodded their heads and smiled +as they remembered. Then sweeping into the closing address, he said: + +"We need a strong and experienced hand at the helm in these perilous +times, it is true, but far more do we need honesty, virtue, and +manliness. Is youth, though inexperienced, yet with average +intelligence, to be despised and condemned by the very fact of youth? +Ask the rector or parish minister the names of the two most prominent +lights in the expansion of religion, and he will say young Saul and +youthful Timothy. Gray at thirty-four finished the most beautiful elegy +in the English tongue. Milton began his career at a tender age. +Shakespeare was but twenty-seven when his name became an authority on +the drama. Napoleon, in his meteoric career, astonished and convulsed +the world, yet he was a young man. What name more brilliant in English +annals for courage and success than that of the well-beloved Wolfe of +Quebec fame--yet he perished on the field of battle at the age of +thirty. + +"Civil government has also her young heroes. Need I mention the great +name of Burke, who, at the age of twenty-six, won for himself a +reputation for statesman-like judgment and skill that has placed his +name high on the imperishable roll of fame. Need I mention Fox, and that +other character who still lives as a blessing in the minds of +Englishmen--still lives as the greatest diplomatist of the age--still +lives in the agitation for liberty and fair representation that so +pervades the country to-day?" + +"Pitt! Pitt! Pitt!" roared the crowd. + +"Aye, you have named him. Ask any bookman for a life of William Pitt, +and he will hand you down a history of England from 1781 to 1806, for +from twenty-one years of age down to the day of his death, his life has +been a history of the empire. Is youth and inexperience to be despised? +No! No!" + +"No! No!" shouted the crowd, taking up the words of the speaker. "Huzza +for Andrew Trembath!" And for the space of a few minutes the crowd let +out its pent-up enthusiasm in wild gesticulating of hands and roaring of +voices. + +The speaker concluded with a peroration that was eloquent and +passionate. Pathetic passages at times hushed that great crowd into +silence, moved it to tears, and then again swayed it to applause, and +when it was finished, and the speaker resumed his seat, there was +silence for a moment--then, like the roaring of great guns in battle +action, the throng, Radical and Conservative, sent up shout after shout, +that reverberated again and again o'er the town of Helston, and caused +the birds in the neighbouring trees to take refuge in flight. Such a +speech had never been delivered from the hustings before. Old men shook +their heads sagely, and muttered to each other that in a short time +another Pitt would astonish England and the world, and that one would be +from Cornwall. + +Suffice it to say, that Andrew Trembath was elected by an overwhelming +vote as M. P. for Helston. + +Old Parson Trant met him the next day near the Primrose Cottage, and +congratulated him on his election and bright, future prospects. + +"I had a purpose in view," said Ande. "It was not so much my desire to +enter Parliament as my antagonism to Sir James. I have had my first +revenge, and there are others to follow." + +"Lad, lad," said the old parson, as he sadly shook his head, "I like not +that revengeful spirit, though you have had much provocation. There is a +better way of revenge." + +"What way?" + +"'If thy enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink.'" + +Ande said nothing, and the conversation, after a time, passed to other +themes. + +After his defeat, Sir James Lanyan gave his attention to speculation, +but the ventures turning out unprofitable, he was compelled to sell +Trembath Manor, through his solicitors, to the agents of a wealthy +American traveller. But this was but a drop in the bucket of his +financial reverses, and Lanyan Hall followed suit. The purchaser of +Lanyan Hall was Andrew Trembath, but the fact was unknown to any one but +old Parson Trant, to whom Ande had confided the secret of his wealth. +Subsequently the purchaser was revealed to Sir James, and the revelation +seemed a crushing blow to him, for he sickened and began to sink +rapidly. + +"'Tis my second revenge," said Ande to old Parson Trant, and there was a +grim, determined look on his features. "There are others to follow." + +"Lad, lad, you must not go on in this way. Vengeance is of God. +'Vengeance is mine, I will repay.' There is a much better way, and you +can do me, your old pastor, a favour, and render God a service at the +same time." The old parson drew a pathetic picture of Sir James in his +present condition, poor, helplessly sinking into the grave. To follow up +any more of this revenge was hellish. It belied Ande's nature to +continue thus, and if this revenge should continue, he, the parson, +could not love him any more. There was one thing that would prolong Sir +James' life, and that was the bringing back to him of his son, Richard, +who was leading a wild, vicious life somewhere in London. This was the +report of the physician. "He must be brought back to his father, who is +calling for him. Who is better fitted for that mission than yourself, +Master Ande? You are going to attend Parliament in a few weeks. Go a +little before--aye, go at once to London, and take up this mission." + +"I! I!" stammered Ande, in some astonishment and with a little of the +old, angry feeling tingling in his veins. "You know what we have +suffered--you----" + +"But, Ande," interrupted the old rector, as he placed his arm around his +shoulder in the same, affectionate manner as in the olden days, and with +kind, loving tones resumed, "If Christ had felt that way to us, where +would we be?" The old parson preached one of the most appealing sermons, +then and there, that he had ever delivered. Concluding, he said, quoting +the words of Scripture: "'Ye have heard that it hath been said an eye +for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; but I say unto ye, resist not evil. +Ye have heard that it hath been said, ye shall love thy neighbour and +hate thine enemy; but I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them +that curse you, do good to them that hate you,--that ye may be the +children of your Father in heaven.' 'Be not overcome of evil, but +overcome evil with good.'" + +"Would it not be hypocritical to show kindness, when you are bitter with +revenge within?" + +"No; by showing kindness, even though you do not feel it within, yet +nevertheless it has a healthy action on the soul. Do a kindness and you +grow kind. We become what we do, my lad. Do it now, not because of your +feelings, but because the Lord commanded it. And by and by you will do +kindness to an enemy because your own heart commands it." + +"I will go in the morning." + +"And God will bless you, my son," said the old rector, as he parted from +him and wended his way home. There, the parson mentioned the matter to +his wife, Harriet, with some doubt as to the issue. + +"I fear me, Harriet, it is like sending a fire-brand to quench a +fire-brand." + +Andrew Trembath was true to his promise, for that week saw him in +London, actively pushing the search. Hearing of a midnight brawl, in +which Richard was engaged, and which was publicly published in the +newspapers, he sought that quarter, but Richard, fearing perhaps the +police, had fled. His father had also heard of the brawl. It was the +last of a series of crushing disgraces on the part of his son that sent +Sir James into the grave. Ande did not give up the search, but +Parliament convening, he was forced to give more time to other affairs. + +It was in the early hours of the morning when one of the night sessions +of Parliament adjourned, and Andrew Trembath, tired of the stupid, +blocking tactics of those opposed to reform, was wending his way home to +his rented quarters in Portman Square. The streets were deserted and he +hastened along absorbed in his thoughts. A figure stole out from the +shadow of some buildings in his rear. There was a quick leap, the +glitter of steel in the air, and then Ande felt a stinging sensation in +his shoulder. Like a flash he turned and had his assailant pinioned in +an iron grip. He struggled to release himself, but to no avail. The +knife dropped with a clang to the pavement and Ande kicked it from him. +The light of a street lamp flashed on the would-be assassin's features. + +"Richard Lanyan! You! You! You, who broke your father's heart,--you, the +Etonian scholar,--you, base as you are, stoop to be the assassin!" + +"Yes, curse you!" gritted the answer from between the clenched teeth of +the writhing assailant. + +"And why?" + +"Because you have been the ruin of father, and not I. You occupy his +place in Parliament. You took away Lanyan Hall. You took away the only +woman I ever loved, and it is--revenge." + +"Lanyan, listen to me," sternly, and still keeping his grip. Ande +related in brief epitome the injuries he and his and the Vivians had +received at the hands of Richard and his father, closing with the +question: "Who has been the injured party? Your father's place I occupy +because the people put me there. Your father lost Lanyan Hall because of +his foolish speculations. If I hadn't bought it, some one else would. +His death was mainly brought on by your own sottish conduct." + +The eyes of Lanyan flamed with sullen passion, as he muttered, "I'll not +endure this from you," and again made an effort to escape. + +"Make another effort to escape and I hand you over to the watchman, or +perhaps better still I could kill you where you are. What would the law +and opinion say if I should? They would say it was good riddance of a +rough character and in self-defence, and you see I have the strength to +carry it out." + +Lanyan paled a little, notwithstanding the brave heart he had, for he +realised that he was but feeble in the hands of this man, his captor. He +ceased his struggles and listened sullenly. + +"But I have other plans," said Ande, gently. "I believe the fellow who +won a prize at Eton is capable of better things. I place the best +construction on your past actions. It was the ungovernable love for +Mistress Alice Vivian that caused much of your past action." + +There was no answer. + +"I know that was the cause, and also the cause of your whole life being +spent thus, and also of this last attempted deed. And I had been +searching for you for months before your father's death, plunging into +every slum and dive of London. I promised to bring you back to your +father, and thus prolong his days. Your name was the last he called upon +in his delirium. I tried to find you, but failed." + +Ande released his grasp, for it was unnecessary. Lanyan was weeping in +an agony of remorse and wretchedness. + +"But still the hour is not too late now to begin again in right paths, +and rear up your family name to its former, ancestral honour. You can do +it." + +"I cannot," groaned Lanyan, all hatred and vengeance apparently gone +from him. "I cannot; I have no money, and to live honestly in a poor +position----No--No." + +"I will help you. Come now, Lanyan, let us forget the past evils between +our families. Oh, think how good God is to prevent you in the commission +of a great crime, this night, that would blast your name irretrievably. +God is better to us both than we deserve. He bestowed upon us these +minds, these souls, and placed us in a beautiful world, and yet we abuse +His gifts. Think, Lanyan, that you and I have souls to present upright +and pure before the great God, the Father. It is a terrible thing to +think that these passions, if we allow them to rule us here, by God's +judgment, they shall rule us in the future. I confess that my hatred for +you and yours has mastered me heretofore, but Parson Trant preached me +a special sermon privately, when he asked me to seek you, and I have +revolved it over and over again in my mind, and, with God's help, which +I prayed for and received, my hatred is gone. If I had found you before, +I should not have spoken to you in this way. I should have probably +mentioned your father's desire to see you and left. Now it is different. +Let the past be past, and here is my hand." + +Lanyan grasped the hand extended to him and there was a wavering in his +voice as he said: + +"Trembath, you have a much better nature than I have. I must go." + +"No, no," said Ande, detaining him, and he poured forth his plan, then +and there, for the turning over of Lanyan Hall to Richard. This was +conditioned on his reform. + +Richard was to have possession of the ancestral place at a nominal rent, +and when the rent would total the sum Ande had paid for it, the deed of +complete ownership was to pass over to Richard. + +There was silence for a moment. + +"Come," said Ande, as he placed one arm over his shoulder, "don't on +account of past ill feeling refuse this chance of making a man of +yourself and uplifting, once again, your ancient family." + +There was a period of inward conflict in the breast of the man beside +him, and then, in resolute tones, he answered, simply: "I'll try. +Forgive me, Trembath, for to-night's action, and for the injustice done +by our family." + +The two men shook hands firmly, and separated, Ande to seek a surgeon to +have his wound dressed. But the wound gave him little pain, and what +pain there was was wonderfully alleviated by the gladness of soul +within. He knew that the best vengeance was forgiveness, as the old +rector had said. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +CHRISTMAS IN THE OLD HALL + + "Lo, now is come the Christmas feast + Let every man be jolly, + Each room with yvie leaves is dress'd + And every post with holly; + Now all our neighbours' chimneys smoke + And Christmas blocks are burning, + Their ovens, they with baked meats choke, + And all their spits are turning; + Without the door let sorrow lie, + And if for cold it hap to die, + We'll bury un in a Christmas pie, + And evermore be merry." + + --_Withers_. + + +"Ah, this is like Christmas," said the old Major as he wended his way +with his wife and Ande to Trembath Manor on Christmas eve. The Manor was +to be reopened that night and the strange owner, through his secretary, +had sent out invitations to the country around, and among those +receiving invitations were the Major and his wife and son. + +They passed through the gates, the old Major pausing a moment to scan +the Trembath arms and remarking, "I am glad the new owner has not seen +fit to remove our coat-of-arms from the gates." + +"The drive-way is in better shape than it was in the days of Squire +Vivian," said Ande, as the gravel crunched under their advancing steps. + +"A careful and neat owner; it will do me good to meet him," said the +Major. + +Forth through the trees ahead gleamed the twinkling lights of many +windows, only obstructed by the passing of forms within and the figures +of many great holly wreaths. The great lantern in front of the double +doors was gleaming brilliantly through its festoons of evergreen, and +from the hall could be heard the sound of ringing festivity and +jollification. The door was opened widely at the sound of the great +knocker, and the butler footman, bowing low, ushered them into the great +hall. Groups of elderly people were engaged at their favourite game, +whist, at different tables, and down the long room were others engaged +in sundry amusements. The panelled walls had been rewaxed and were +glistening with holly and mistletoe. The large picture of Squire +Vivian's father still smiled friendly at the picture of King George II +on the other wall, and in the great open fireplace roared, cracked, +leaped, danced and shouted with all the ecstacy of Christmas jollity the +flames of the great yule log. + +"Where's the new squire?" whispered the old Major to his son. He had +hardly asked the question, before he started back in amazement at a +sight he saw over the great, panelled fireplace. Two great +oil-paintings, heavy in their rich framings, riveted his attention. He +stared at them and then at the crowd of Christmas revellers, who, though +now thoroughly quieted, yet had gleams of suppressed merriment on their +countenances. What could it mean? Those pictures? Where had they +obtained them? Was his mind affected? He knew that he was growing old, +and as he dazedly thought of this, he hurriedly passed his hand through +his whitened hair, a gnarled, brown bough in the midst of a snowdrift. +The folding doors, separating the servants' hall from the apartment they +were in, were thrown open, revealing the merry faces of group after +group of servants. It was a tableau of suppressed excitement, broken at +length by the voice of Parson Trant. + +"My friends, we have gathered here not only for Christmas festivity, but +to do honour to the dead and to the living." Pointing to the picture on +the right, he continued: "Behold the picture of Captain Andrew Trembath. +You are all aware of the terrible injustice done his memory. He was the +most patriotic and loyal of Cornish gentlemen. His long war record amply +testifies the fact. He was wounded at Prestonpans, and at Culloden, and +did worthy service under Braddock in America. After that deplorable +battle, he was captured by the Indians, escaped from them, slew a French +officer, garbed himself in his uniform and for greater security in the +enemy's country inserted his name in the dead officer's commission +papers. He was accidentally shot by the troops of General Armstrong, the +thought of treason penetrated the public mind and the estate of Trembath +was confiscated. Yet, after all these years truth prevails. An old +snuff-box, found in the wilds of America, reveals the secret, and though +dead, Captain Andrew Trembath is once more honoured by the people as a +faithful soldier and loyal subject of the King." Then, turning to the +other picture, he continued: + +"Behold the picture of Major Thomas Trembath, who served the King nobly +in the Peninsular campaign, in the War of the American Colonies and in +the Canadian War. He disappeared, due to an impression conveyed to him +that his family was dead, and for many long years was an exile in the +wilds of America. Then as a hunter he lived by the pursuit of game. To +the place of his abode came his son, Andrew Trembath, and after a time +became known to him, and through the finding of the records of the +snuff-box, already mentioned, he is restored to his former +honours,--friends and country. His life formerly was sad, now we trust +his declining years will be full of sunshine, and I greet and welcome +him as Squire Trembath, the rightful master of Trembath Manor." + +"Welcome to your own, again, comrade," said old Captain Tom Lanyan, as +he heartily shook the squire's hand. + +Others crowded around the old squire, among them Dick Thomas, Tom Glaze, +and numerous of the parish gentry. + +The old squire and his wife were so dazed that they could not speak, and +so they were escorted to the great armchairs in readiness for them near +the great yule log, and one by one the Christmas guests came near and +gave their greetings. When it was all finished, the new squire found his +voice. + +"I am glad, my friends, to be with you here in the hall of my fathers, +but all this seems too wonderful to me to be true; yet I cannot help but +believe what has been told me--but how has all this come about? Has the +government----" + +"There has not been anything wonderful about it but the kindness of +Providence," said Ande Trembath, arising to speak. "Years ago, when a +lad, I resolved to remove the stain of treason from our name. My life +here and at school is familiar to you all. By a strange series of +adventures my classmate, Dick Thomas, and myself found ourselves adrift +on a bit of wreckage in the English channel. We were picked up by a +Brazilian ship and after a weary journey were landed at Rio de Janeiro. +For some time we laboured in the fields of planters, and then betook our +way inland to the ridges of Sierro Do Frio. It was here that we laboured +under a brazen sun for the space of three years. I cannot tell of all +the various vicissitudes that overtook us there. At one time I was down +with fever and, but for the help of Dick, would have succumbed to its +ravages. At another time I repaid the debt by nursing Dick through a +serious illness. Gentlemen, you have all seen him wrestle with Tom +Glaze, but he was not the hardest opponent he met. He had the hardihood +to win championship honours in a struggle with an immense Brazilian +puma, or mountain lion. I do not remember whether Dick sprang at the +lion or the lion at him. All I remember was seeing man and beast in a +hideous mix-up, worse than any wrestling match I had ever seen. I ran +to our cabin for a gun, but it was unnecessary, for when I returned, +there were Dick and the lion stretched beside each other. He had choked +it to death, but was so lacerated himself that it was months before he +became well. In the midst of our work we were successful, both in +diamonds and gold, and quitted the regions wealthy men. I deposited my +wealth in the banks of New Orleans, and the charm of the hunting life +still being on me, and being anxious to visit the place of my +grandfather's death, we journeyed to the Kittanning region. The result +of that Kittanning trip is now known to all England. I heard that the +Manor was for sale, and secretly, through agents, purchased it. And now, +father and mother, I hand over to you the title deeds of Trembath Manor +and the Wheal Whimble tin mine as a Christmas present. I wish also to +add this check on the Bank of England for the sum of fifty thousand +pounds. A merry Christmas, and may you have many, happy years in the +home of our people." + +"Merry Christmas! 'Tis the merriest Christmas I have had in years," said +the old squire with emotion, as he wiped the tears away, that would +persist in gathering in his eyes. + +Mrs. Elizabeth Trembath said nothing, but her bright shining eyes +revealed her happiness as she gently pulled her son's head down and +kissed him. + +Here the thrumming of a harp was heard and a curtain was drawn from an +alcove near by, revealing Uncle Billy, the droll, with an orchestra at +his back. In the meantime Ande withdrew. The droll and his orchestra +paused not a moment, but plunged, with voices and instruments combined, +into the Hymn of the Lark. + +The song was sung to its very end, and the old squire, as he nodded, +said, "Yes, yes, it's true; evil fails at last and right prevails." + +He had hardly finished speaking when the orchestra burst into strains of +Mendelssohn, and down the great, hall stairway came a procession such as +it had never witnessed before. First came a troop of little girls +bearing flowers and scattering them profusely in the way. Then followed +ladies. "Ah, the bridesmaids," whispered some one, and then followed by +their respective attendants, in regular procession, came Ande Trembath +and his affianced bride, Mistress Alice Vivian. Slowly they proceeded up +the hall and took their respective positions before old Parson Trant. +The orchestra gave one clashing peal of music and then was silent, and +then arose the mellow voice of the rector in the marriage ceremony of +the Church of England. At the words, "Can any man say aught why these +two should not be joined together in holy wedlock," the voice of the +squire was heard. + +"There have been so many things happening on this Christmas eve, that I +hesitate to interrupt the service, but have the laws of England changed +in my absence. I mean that law that states that no marriages are lawful +except those performed in a parish church?" + +"The laws of England are the same," said Parson Trant, "but we have a +special dispensation from the archbishop, dispensing with the banns, and +allowing, in consideration of the return of Squire Trembath and the +happiness of this occasion, the ceremony to be performed in the Manor of +Trembath." + +"Ah, that is different; my blessing and heartiest well wishes," said the +squire, as he sank back in his armchair. + +After the ceremony all adjourned to the dining hall, where an elaborate +wedding dinner awaited them. During the wedding feast the old squire +told of his many adventures, to which Dick and Ande added some of their +own. + +"It tells like a story-book," said Tom Glaze, in admiration. + +"Or rather like a drama," said bluff Captain Tom Lanyan. "Wouldn't I +have liked to have been in the Shawnee fight," and the tough, old, +Wellington veteran rubbed his hands in delight. + +"I have a bit of news," said Ande, as he drew a letter from his pocket. +"Here is a letter from Hugh Lark in America, just received." He scanned +it rapidly and replaced it, and then turned with a smile to his father +and the company. "He says that he has given up the idea of the silver +mine, that Professor Bill Banks has been elected to Congress, and that +old Burke still thinks Bill is high larndt." + +The voices of carol singers were heard without, and the wedding dinner +being ended, they again returned to the main hall to enjoy the singing. +The "curl" singers were followed by the old play of St. George and the +Turk, performed by village lads. Then, in the closing scenes of the +evening's festivities, Parson Trant proposed his favourite hymn, and +out on the evening air, echoing even far beyond the walls of Trembath +Manor, the mellow voices of the trained singers, the piping of childish +voices, the worn voices of the older parties, and the music of the +droll's orchestra mingling all together, pealed the strains of Cowper's +hymn: + + "God moves in a mysterious way, + His wonders to perform, + He plants his footsteps in the sea + And rides upon the storm." + + +THE END + + + + + All Lovers _of_ Nature Should Read + + "Jay Gould Harmon" + + with + + Maine Folks + + BY + + GEORGE SELWYN KIMBALL + + Ten + A Beautiful Full Page + Picture _of_ Illustrations + Life in _the_ [Illustration] with + Maine Woods Frontispiece + in Color + Stunning + Cover Price $1.50 + + + + ANOTHER + "QUINCY ADAMS SAWYER" + + C. M. Clark Publishing Co., Inc., Boston + + + + + Lords of the Soil + + By LYDIA A. JOCELYN ... _and_ ... NATHAN J. CUFFEE + + A Story of Indian Life Among + the Early English Settlers.... + + Since the days of Fennimore Cooper there has been no Indian book so + true to life, as brilliantly written or as interesting. + + 10 Full-Page Pictures with Colored + Frontispiece by A. B. Shute.... + + 480 pages that one is sure to read without + stopping. + + Mrs. Jocelyn has championed the Indian cause in her novel, showing + in vivid colors the gross injustice and rapacity of the early white + settlers in their treatment of the magnanimous and unsuspecting + "Lords of the Soil." + + Price, . . . . $1.50 + + Sold by all Booksellers or sent postpaid by the Publishers on + receipt of price + + C. M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO., Inc., + + 211 Tremont Street, ... Boston, Mass. + + + + + THE + Baronet Rag-Picker + + _A ROMANCE OF LOVE AND ADVENTURE_ + + By CHARLES S. COOM + + MR. COOM HAS WRITTEN OF CLEVER, LOVABLE PEOPLE + SUCH AS WE ALL KNOW IN EVERY DAY LIFE + + Ten Full-Page + Illustrations with + Colored Frontispiece + + 380 Pages of most Bound in Silk + interesting reading Cloth stamped in + and a story that will many colors making + please every one most unique and + attractive Cover + + In Paper, Press-work + and Typography + it is the climax of + Bookmaking + + RETAIL PRICE + + $1.50 + + FOR SALE BY ALL BOOKSELLERS OR SENT POSTPAID + BY THE PUBLISHERS ON RECEIPT OF PRICE + + C. M. Clark Publishing Co., Inc. + 211 Tremont St. Boston, Mass. + + + + + Hope Hathaway + + _IS ANOTHER STRONG WESTERN STORY OF MONTANA RANCH LIFE BY THE AUTHOR + OF_ "Marie of the Lower Ranch," _AND WITH EACH COPY THE PUBLISHERS + ARE GIVING_ + + FREE + + Eight Stirring Pictures + + _BY_ + + CHARLES M. RUSSELL + + _The Cowboy Artist_ + + _These pictures are the exact size and true reproductions of the + originals and are all ready for framing_ + + [Illustration] + + _The above pictures are reproductions of three of the originals._ + + Price of Book and Pictures, $1.50 + + C. M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO., (_Inc._) + + _BOSTON, MASS._ + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +Some printing errors in punctuation have been corrected. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDE TREMBATH*** + + +******* This file should be named 39606-8.txt or 39606-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/9/6/0/39606 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a +href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></p> +<p>Title: Ande Trembath</p> +<p> A Tale of Old Cornwall England</p> +<p>Author: Matthew Stanley Kemp</p> +<p>Release Date: May 3, 2012 [eBook #39606]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDE TREMBATH***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4 class="center">E-text prepared by Chris Curnow, Sue Fleming,<br /> + and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> + from page images generously made available by<br /> + Internet Archive<br /> + (<a href="http://archive.org">http://archive.org</a>)</h4> +<p> </p> +<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + <a href="http://archive.org/details/andetrembathtale00kempiala"> + http://archive.org/details/andetrembathtale00kempiala</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i"></a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 372px;"> +<img src="images/i_007.jpg" width="372" height="600" alt="" /> +</div> + + + + +<h1><i>ANDE<br /> +TREMBATH</i></h1> + + + + +<p class="center">To My Friend<br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">The Right Rev. Cortlandt Whitehead,</span> S.T.D.<br /></p> +<p class="center"><i>Bishop of Pittsburgh</i><br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center">In memory of pleasant hours spent together<br /></p> +<p class="center">at "Burgtown."<br /></p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii"></a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 238px;"> +<img src="images/i_008.jpg" width="238" height="400" alt="" /> +</div><p><br /> +<br /> +</p> + +<p class="center">Copyright, 1905, by<br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center"><i>C. M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO., Inc.</i><br /></p> +<p class="center"><i>BOSTON, MASS., U.S.A.</i><br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center"><i>Entered at</i><br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center">STATIONER'S HALL, LONDON<br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center"><i>Foreign Copyrights Secured</i><br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center"><i>All Rights Reserved</i><br /></p> + +<p><br /> +<br /></p> + + + + +<h2><i>CONTENTS</i></h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr> + <td align="right"><small>CHAPTER</small></td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right"><small>PAGE</small></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">I.</a></td> + <td align="left">A Calamity at the Manor</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_14">1</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">II.</a></td> + <td align="left">The Son of a Traitor</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_29">16</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">III.</a></td> + <td align="left">The Runaway</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_39">26</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">IV.</a></td> + <td align="left">The Primrose Cottage and Tom Glaze</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_46">31</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">V.</a></td> + <td align="left">"The Big Ha' Bible Ance His Father's Pride"</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_56">41</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">VI.</a></td> + <td align="left">Squire and Parliamentarian</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_61">46</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">VII.</a></td> + <td align="left">Tea-table Politics</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_72">55</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">VIII.</a></td> + <td align="left">"Off With His Head"</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_83">66</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">IX.</a></td> + <td align="left">The Village Stocks</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_90">73</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">X.</a></td> + <td align="left">Reparation</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_94">77</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">XI.</a></td> + <td align="left">Defeat of Bully Bob Sloan</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_104">87</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">XII.</a></td> + <td align="left">Christmas and Christmas Play</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_117">98</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">XIII.</a></td> + <td align="left">The Cornish Droll-teller</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_132">113</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">XIV.</a></td> + <td align="left">St. George and Fair Sabra</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_142">123</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">XV.</a></td> + <td align="left">The Helston Grammar School</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_156">135</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">XVI.</a></td> + <td align="left">The Hurling Match</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_167">146</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">XVII.</a></td> + <td align="left">The Smugglers' Battle</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_181">160</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">XVIII.</a></td> + <td align="left">The Duck Cave Adventure</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_194">173</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">XIX.</a></td> + <td align="left">Creakle's Revenge</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_206">185</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">XX.</a></td> + <td align="left">Adrift On the Deep</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_220">197</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">XXI.</a></td> + <td align="left">Around the Tavern's Flaming Grate</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_237">214</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">XXII.</a></td> + <td align="left">The Lycamahoning</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_263">240</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">XXIII.</a></td> + <td align="left">The Raft Pilot's Home</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_278">253</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">XXIV.</a></td> + <td align="left">The Hunter of the Loop</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_286">261</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">XXV.</a></td> + <td align="left">Eureka! The Eldorado!</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_291">266</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">XXVI.</a></td> + <td align="left">The Rising</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_310">285</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">XXVII.</a></td> + <td align="left">The Secret of the Snuff Box</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_318">293</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">XXVIII.</a></td> + <td align="left">Misfortunes</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_340">313</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">XXIX.</a></td> + <td align="left">Tom Glaze to the Rescue</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_354">327</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">XXX.</a></td> + <td align="left">The Major's Home-Coming</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_363">334</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">XXXI.</a></td> + <td align="left">Ande's Revenge</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_384">355</a></td> + </tr> +<tr> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">XXXII.</a></td> + <td align="left">Christmas In the Old Hall</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_406">375</a></td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p><br /> +<br /></p> + + +<h2><i>ILLUSTRATIONS</i></h2> +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations"> +<tr> + <td align="left">Frontispiece</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_i"><i>Ande Trembath</i></a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left"></td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right"><small>PAGE</small></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">"There was a vision of a flying, athletic, youthful form—clinging with the grip of a vice—"</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_42">27</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">"It's a compact, said the former"</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_72">54</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">"Yes, give three hoots for the red-'eaded Deane and all his traitor hancestors"</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_108">89</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">"I am that Knight, said Ande, warmly"</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_148">128</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">"They say you are the son of a traitor"</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_212">189</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">"The old hunter straightened up as if shot, and gazed at them"</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_274">250</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">"Sweet bird of the wilderness, sweet is thy song"</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_329">302</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">"The door was opened, and the gleam of candle light shot over all concerned"</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_361">332</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">"He opened his speech in clear, ringing tones"</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="right"><a href="#Page_395">364</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> + + + +<h2>ANDE TREMBATH</h2> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<p class="center">A CALAMITY AT THE MANOR</p> + + +<p>"Never before in the history of the Manor have deeds like these been +perpetrated," said the squire, his genial, rubicund countenance turning +pale with anger.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Prithee, prithee, cool thyself; look at the affair calmly and you will +speedily discover the rogue," replied the parson.</p> + +<p>"Cool myself!" replied the squire, in some heat; "it is easy enough to +talk, but this is the third offence in a week. Last Monday the tulip +beds and shrubbery were trampled and ruined; Wednesday, the fish-pond +drained and the best fish secured; and last night, the unknown miscreant +killed poor, faithful Borlase. It is becoming unbearable,"—and the +squire, with angry features and the semblance of a tear in his eye, +knelt down by the body of the English mastiff to convince himself again +that the life of his canine friend was extinct.</p> + +<p>The scene was in a remote corner of the gardens of an old Cornish manor +estate. Some distance away, looming up above the nodding heads of trees, +were the gables and chimney pots of the squire's residence. Near a clump +of shrubbery was the kneeling form of the squire, with flushed face and +unsteady hand, for his soul was trembling with indignation, examining +the head of his <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 2]</a></span> slain, four-footed friend. The parson, with dignified +step, was closely scrutinising the ground between the squire and the +road-side hedge.</p> + +<p>"Ah! Here, do you see? Here is where the missile struck him." It was the +squire who spoke, for he had found a long deep gash near the right ear.</p> + +<p>"From what I can see," said the parson, who was a keen observer, "the +rogue was making for the hedge, the most natural deduction, the hedge +being the nighest escape from the dog. Then," he continued, with +homiletical precision as if outlining a pulpit theme, "since the dog +followed him, he must have hurled some missile at him. What more natural +missile than a stone, and what more natural place to secure it than from +the hedge? Now the missile must be around here somewhere. Ah! Here it +is," and Parson Trant picked up a good sized stone from amidst the +shrubbery. "There is blood upon it; proof, number one; now let us +discover its place in the hedge."</p> + +<p>The squire arose and accompanied the parson to the hedge and, after a +minute examination, the stone's former location was discovered.</p> + +<p>"So far, good," ejaculated the parson. "Now what servants would be most +likely around the gardens last evening?"</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut, you would never make a barrister, parson. To suspect any of +my servants! You are well versed in theology, and no one knows better +how to preach a sermon, but in matters of law and trespass we, +magistrates, must take the precedence." <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> + +<p>Now at times Squire Vivian could be as genial and pleasant as the sun on +a June-tide morning. Kind-hearted, generous, frank, bluff, with a rough +veneer of the old-time courtesy was the old squire, and yet with a +choleric spirit underneath all, that would sometimes burst forth into +passionate invective, to the scandal of his friends and to his own +aftertime regret. Add to this a dignified opinion of his position as a +landed magistrate and the squire of Trembath Manor is evident. He had a +goodly amount of hard English sense and in managing his estates and +finances had been tolerably successful, but in sharp penetration of +character and shrewd judgment in other affairs, he was lamentably +deficient. His frank and open nature had not given him much chance to +develop these talents, even had he ever possessed them, and, like many +persons whose positions require talents in which they are lacking, or at +best but meagrely gifted, the squire felt vexed when his little +magisterial keenness was surpassed.</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut, parson, you are losing your judgment if you suspect the +servants. There's old George Sloan, the hostler, and Ned Pengilly, the +gardener, the only two persons likely to be on the grounds at that time, +and they loved old Borlase,—ay,—even better than they love his master. +No, no, parson, you are at fault there."</p> + +<p>Parson Trant smiled, for he knew one of the chief failings in the +squire's character.</p> + +<p>"No, I did not suspect them, but they, being on the grounds, can no +doubt enlighten us and bring to view more evidence. The most learned and +keen-sighted <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 4]</a></span> judge, at times, profits by the evidence of common +labourers and country parsons, who are far beneath him in the knowledge +of law and criminal investigation."</p> + +<p>"To be sure, to be sure," said the squire, somewhat mollified, "but here +comes Sloan."</p> + +<p>An old man, whose erect form and sturdy step belied his grey hair and +wrinkled brows, was seen approaching from the direction of the stables.</p> + +<p>"Canst tell us anything more about this outrage, Sloan?"</p> + +<p>The hostler was now close at hand and had removed his cap in deference +to the gentlemen near him.</p> + +<p>"A bad job, beant it, squire, as I was a-telling nephe Bob this marning. +No, sir, I can't say as Hi knaws much. I 'eard Borlase barking +savage-like last night, and I ups and slips quiet-like down from my room +o'er the stables, and run through the paddock just in time to see the +rogue on the other side of the 'edge. It was dark, squire, and I 'aven't +the heye-sight I used to 'ave, and so I couldn't make un out who 'e was. +This marning I looked around and found poor Borlase a-lying there and +brought you word. That's all I knaws, only I 'opes the villain will be +caught and 'anged."</p> + +<p>"And did you see no person around the grounds late in the afternoon, +George?" asked the parson.</p> + +<p>"None, sir, except my nephe Bob, who comes hover to the stables to 'elp +me in my work, now and then, but 'e always leaves afore evening. Now—as +I think of it, Bob was a-telling me 'e 'ad seen Ande Trembath nigh the +Prospidnic road gate, as 'e was going 'ome last <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 5]</a></span> night; 'e may 'ave seen +the rogue and could tell you summat."</p> + +<p>Blackness as of a thunder-cloud rolled across the old squire's features, +and a purple stream of blood mounted and flushed his temples.</p> + +<p>"Spawn of the traitor! He shall smart for it!"</p> + +<p>"What a horrible oath! Squire, you are beside yourself," said the +parson, with gentle, chiding reproof.</p> + +<p>"Well, damme, parson, what's a man to do? Here's all these outrages, and +it's perfectly clear to my mind, now, that that traitorous son of——"</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut, fie, squire!"</p> + +<p>"That that traitorous son of a traitor, knowing that I have the +possession of the manor of his ancestors, which the King—God bless +him—took from their family on account of their treason, that boy—don't +interrupt me, Parson Trant—that boy is the culprit, and damme—I'll +have him arrested for malicious mischief and trespass."</p> + +<p>"Not so fast, squire. What evidence do you have except your own +suspicions and the fact that the lad was seen nigh the Prospidnic road +gate? If I know aught of law there's not sufficient evidence."</p> + +<p>"There, there, you talk of law—as if a magistrate didn't know the law."</p> + +<p>"Well, the evidence is lacking," said the parson, gently, though firmly, +for he would not allow the squire to shake his confidence in his best +pupil. "The lad has a good reputation, is a bright scholar in my parish +school, and——" <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 6]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, well, we'll get more evidence," interrupted the squire, a little +testily. "George, see that the dog is buried, and—here, hitch up the +black mare for Mistress Alice; she's going out this morning."</p> + +<p>The hostler paused, fingering his cap.</p> + +<p>"I'm feared, squire, Queeny is a little huntrusty; she's been standing +in the stall some time."</p> + +<p>"What!—--"</p> + +<p>The presence of the parson restrained the squire from saying more, but +his flushed countenance spoke volumes. George saw it and, touching his +cap, hastened off to obey.</p> + +<p>"Here's a pretty pass things are coming to! Outrages committed daily, +and my own servants in open rebellion, disputing my word."</p> + +<p>"Come now," said the parson, gently, "he meant no harm and no +disrespect, I'm sure. Suppose we go down to the lodge and see Pengilly."</p> + +<p>Squire and parson wended their way across the gardens to the broad +carriage-way and thence down to the main entrance of the manor estate, +the latter talking and the former keeping down his temper as best he +could in silence, until he became of a more quiescent frame of mind. In +truth, the squire was inwardly regretting his outburst of temper, and +the violent language he had used in the presence of his friend, the +parson.</p> + +<p>"Such a thing is possible but not probable. Ande has been the best +scholar in the parish school and a model boy, so the master assures me. +We must not condemn him too hastily and without being heard. His <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 7]</a></span> mother +is a noble woman and has inculcated high principles in her training of +the lad."</p> + +<p>There was silence for a moment unbroken save by the crunch, crunch of +the gravel underfoot and the twitter of bird overhead. Then the squire, +sufficiently calmed, spoke.</p> + +<p>"All very true, but envy and malice crop out even in the very best of +characters; especially is it true in those who, having been deprived of +high position, see others occupying that which was formerly theirs. They +are apt to allow their feelings to bias their judgment."</p> + +<p>"And are you sure that you, my old friend, are not doing the same +thing?" said the parson, with a winning smile, referring to the last +remark of the squire.</p> + +<p>Squire Vivian flushed at this rejoinder.</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll give the lad a fair chance; perhaps I was a trifle too +hasty, but you well know, parson, that next to my Alice and you, I was +extremely fond of Borlase, and naturally feel angry at his loss. I +secured him when a puppy from an old friend, one of the Borlases of +Borlase at St. Just. You know, to be sure, Dr. William Borlase, the +scholar and antiquarian?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, I have studied his works with interest."</p> + +<p>"Well, I named the mastiff after him; the intelligence of that dog, +parson, was phenomenal. Ah, here we are at the lodge."</p> + +<p>The drive-way terminated at the entrance gate, a large affair of massive +iron bars, fancifully and artistically wrought at the top into intricate +curves and flourishes. Huge square pillars of Cornish moor-stone +surmounted <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 8]</a></span> at the top with the Trembath arms—a Lyonnesse warrior +galloping amidst ocean waves—flanked the gate on either side and gave +it desired support. Why the squire, or his father, had not removed the +arms of his predecessor, replacing them with his own, is hard to tell. +The whole gateway stood out like fret-work upon the background of the +squire's woods beyond the highway, woods and trees of ancient standing, +as scrupulously cared for as the members of the squire's own household.</p> + +<p>Within the gate and close on one side, lovingly environed by beds of +blooming gilli-flowers and marigolds, and almost concealed by enveloping +masses of English ivy that affectionately embraced its walls, was a +small, neat, stone cottage that bore the dignified name of "the Lodge." +A man, still in the prime of life, was labouring assiduously over some +strawberry beds in the rear.</p> + +<p>"Ned, this way, please," shouted the squire, and Ned Pengilly, who acted +in the double capacity of gardener and porter, dropping his hoe, +hastened to comply. There was independence and respect for his master +admirably blended in the demeanour of the gardener, as he stood before +parson and squire.</p> + +<p>"Ned, did you see Ande Trembath nigh the place of late? We want you to +freshen up your memory and tell us when and how often you have seen him +about the place of late."</p> + +<p>"Well, I seed him going through the Manor woods—yesterday; 'e was +whistling a tune, bright and cheery-like, and bid me the time of day as +'e passed the gate. We all likes young Squire Ande, as we calls 'im—no <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 9]</a></span> +offence, squire, I 'opes;—we all calls 'im 'young squire' 'cause 'is +grandfather was squire 'ere years ago, afore 'e turned for the +French—which the lad can't 'elp."</p> + +<p>"Which the lad can't help!" fairly thundered the squire, his wrath +getting the better of him once more, no doubt fired at the term of young +squire. "I suppose he couldn't help draining the fish pond? I suppose he +couldn't help trampling the shrubbery? I suppose he couldn't help +killing Borlase last night? Couldn't help——"</p> + +<p>The latter part of this ebullition of passion died away in a hoarse +growl of something like "blood will tell."</p> + +<p>The effect upon the porter of this news of the killing of Borlase was +most striking.</p> + +<p>"Bless m' well, squire! What! Borlase dead—killed! Good hold Borlase! +'ow fond we were of 'im! Dead!"</p> + +<p>There was a curious working of the gardener's features and he hastily +rubbed the sleeve of his rough shirt across his eyes.</p> + +<p>"You must excuse me, squire—to blubber 'ere like a babby—but then you +knaw 'ow I brought un, nigh ten year ago, from St. Just—a puppy 'e was +then, and I loved un—ay—like—like—like a father. 'Ow 'e used to +bark—just like the roar of a lion—ah was—and 'ow sensible 'e was too +when 'e would come nigh me at work on the flower beds; 'e'd wag 'is tail +and look on like a gentleman, as if saying, 'thas all right, my man,' +and yet 'e'd ne'er put foot on a posy or stamp on my work. Dead! But +bless'ee, squire, you can't suspect Ande. Why, I knawed Ande when 'e was +only a hinfant, and I <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 10]</a></span> knawed him from then up, and a brighter, better, +honester lad ne'er breathed. Soul of 'onour, 'e ez, sir! Ande! Why 'e +wouldn't 'urt nothing, sir."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you, Ned," said the parson. "Ande has too kind a heart to +hurt any of God's creatures. His character is above suspicion in the +matter."</p> + +<p>"'Zactly so, so 'e ez," affirmed Ned.</p> + +<p>"The principles and character of his father and grandfather were not +above reproach. He's a chip of the old block," growled the squire.</p> + +<p>"But, I am afraid the commonwealth is against you in your judgment of +the lad. You know the old adage, 'a man's innocent until proved guilty,' +squire," rejoined the parson.</p> + +<p>"Aye, but in this case it's the Irish verdict, 'guilty, but not proven.' +Ned, fix up the berry bushes and trim the shrubbery to-day. In the +meantime keep an ear open, and report to me any news you may hear of +last night's outrage."</p> + +<p>The gardener touched his cap and returned to his labour, and squire and +parson, still conversing, sauntered away through the grounds.</p> + +<p>"A man shouldn't allow his feelings to run away with his judgment," said +the latter, warmly championing the cause of his favourite.</p> + +<p>"The days of the Stoics are past. You have a marvellous predilection for +that lad, Parson Trant. Now, I shall just send the steward down to the +village, this evening, and have him up here, not for a trial, but just +for a private examination, and he shall have fair play. But <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 11]</a></span> going to +other subjects, old friend,—what think you of young Master Lanyan?"</p> + +<p>"Master Lanyan—um—a bright young man—bright beyond his years, I +think. He will certainly make his mark in life if he keeps to right +principles."</p> + +<p>"Ah, exactly so," said the squire, rubbing his hands in the first +satisfaction he had had for the whole morning. "I wanted to get your +opinion and am glad you think so highly of him."</p> + +<p>His companion shook his head.</p> + +<p>"As to thinking highly of him—I don't know. He has a strong, subtile +mind,—culture,—and a determined will, but he plays cards and——"</p> + +<p>"Pooh! Pooh! Pish! Physician, heal thyself; you know that you and I +engage in a social game at times."</p> + +<p>"But we don't gamble."</p> + +<p>"Only a few wild oats. That is natural to a high-spirited lad. He has +culture, a strong head—a genuine gentleman," stoutly maintained the +squire.</p> + +<p>"Ah, but those things in my estimation are not the true requisites of a +gentleman. I consider the foundation principles of a man's life."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but the English gentry are supposed to be dominated by the highest +principles," said the squire, earnestly.</p> + +<p>"As a class, yes, but in reference to the individual, it is a +supposition without the fact, frequently; and, if your statement holds +good, how about my young friend, Ande Trembath?"</p> + +<p>The squire flushed with angry impatience.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Back again to that young villain! Well, parson, that family no longer +belongs to the English gentry class, as you can readily see. Attainder +of property and corruption of blood!"</p> + +<p>It was the parson's time to "Pish! Pish! Pooh! Pooh!"</p> + +<p>"Pshaw! Nothing of the kind. Does a plant cease to be the same when it +is transplanted to another soil, or the king of the jungle cease to be a +lion when surrounded by the bars of a cage?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, to an extent. Environment has a large influence on life; at least +so our parson said in last Sabbath's discourse." The squire laughed +heartily, and thwacked the discomfited parson on the back with his +large, broad hand.</p> + +<p>The parson smiled and resumed.</p> + +<p>"I am beaten with my own stick, yet, notwithstanding that you quoted me +correctly, you are wrong. Environment is not a paramount influence. Man +can conquer. Tertullian and Origen——"</p> + +<p>Afraid of starting his friend on some long-winded discourse on ancient +church worthies, the squire interrupted him.</p> + +<p>"Your idea of a gentleman is——"</p> + +<p>"My idea is that wealth, culture, position, etc., are the emoluments or +adjuncts, and that high, sound, moral principles, a righteous heart and +a noble soul, whether under the blouse of the peasant or under the silk +vest of the prince, are the only badges of gentility."</p> + +<p>"Well, well,—little did I think that my old, conservative friend would +turn out such a radical." <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not at all. My firm belief, that these, by training, education, blood, +descent, are embodied more fully in the gentry class of England than in +any other, has made me an extreme conservative. But, about young Master +Lanyan?"</p> + +<p>"Young Richard? Young Richard in a year or so will attain his majority. +What think you of a match between the young Richard and my Alice? You +see," added the squire, as he linked his arm in that of the parson, "I +am getting old and I would like to see my only child well settled in +life before I leave the earth. The Lanyan estates are nigh to ours and +they will fall to Richard after his father's death. What better match +than Richard? My Alice is worthy of being called 'My Lady' and Richard +will be Baronet in time. Now, what think you, old friend?"</p> + +<p>"You asked me two questions; let us consider one at a time. In reference +to young Richard. It is not the playing of cards that I object to; it is +the trait that his gambling reveals. You know of the schemes of his +grandfather, and of his great-grandfather; the rage for speculation, the +South Sea Bubble, and the hundred and one schemes that that family has +engaged in. Blood will tell. Richard's gambling reveals that. He will +either make or break his family. This mad rage for speculation is an +evil thing. Some day either Sir James or Richard will overreach himself +and should—but of that anon. He is determined and has a strong will, +but should his will be thwarted might not the young Richard be like his +grandfather, a man of no principle. I do <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 14]</a></span> not wish to misjudge the young +man, but I fear me that he is one who will allow nothing to come between +himself and his ends, and even to stoop to questionable and evil things +to accomplish those ends. God forgive me if I have judged wrongly. Then +he is proud and even supercilious at times, a disdainer of the commons. +Should he be brought to poverty, the lack of principle which I fear is +in him would hasten the degradation of his character. He may be +different than I have said, but whenever I see him I have an undefinable +suspicion of incipient evil within. Now in reference to Alice and this +projected alliance. Alice is a good child and has commendable traits. No +'My Lady' will enhance her worth any more than it is now. Her happiness +is no light consideration. I believe she can be happy with no man except +one of high and noble principles. Then, in event of this alliance being +consummated, there may be danger of Trembath Manor being involved in the +ruin that may come upon Lanyan Hall. Has she been consulted? Would she +offer no objection to this plan of yours?"</p> + +<p>"Objection! No," said the squire, a little testily, for he had been +listening impatiently to this advice of his friend. "Alice is a good +child and will do as I say."</p> + +<p>The parson had his own opinion, but said nothing.</p> + +<p>The great gables and chimney-pots of the "great house," as it was +generally called by the peasantry around about, loomed up in the +distance and suggested to the parson that the hour was getting late. +Taking out his watch——</p> + +<p>"I declare! I had no thought that the hour was so <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 15]</a></span> late, and Harriet +will be waiting for me, too. I must go and we'll talk about the matter +later on."</p> + +<p>The squire tried to prevail upon his friend to stay for lunch, but, +finding that it was unavailing, cordially shook hands and they +separated, the former going on toward the Manor house, the latter +hastening down to the entrance gates.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<p class="center">THE SON OF A TRAITOR<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Blithe bird of the wilderness, sweet is thy song,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Blithe lark of the wildwood, O, all the day long,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A-singing so cheerily in the green tree,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thy anthem dispels gloom and sorrow from me;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou sayest in thy song, 'What can sadness avail?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Injustice shall fall and the good shall prevail.'<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Yet bird of the wilderness, sad is our lot,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Our home, confiscated, our name, a dark blot;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Cornish chief, stricken at Prestonpan's fight,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wounded at Culloden for King and the right,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And captured at Braddock's defeat in the glen,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Was branded at home by a sycophant's pen.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Oh, bird of the wildwood, upon the green bough<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thy ancestor sang just as sweetly as thou,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He sang, as thou singest, that evil should fail,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Injustice should fall, and that good should prevail;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But surely the goddess of justice is blind,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When traitor is honoured and patriot maligned.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Sing sweetly, O wild bird, upon the green tree,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And let me draw comfort and solace from thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Though home's confiscated, dishonoured our name,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And poverty adds a deep sting to our shame,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And father's departed,—yet, evil shall fail,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Some day,—right shall triumph and good shall prevail."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>Clear and sweet arose the melody, and yet with a plaintive element of +sadness in it. The parson paused <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 17]</a></span> in his steps to listen. On one side of +the highway stretched the woods of the Manor, their shadow etched darkly +by the slightly slanting sun-rays; on the other side were the fields, +yellow, ripe, all ready for the sickle of the reaper. A wood-lark, the +sweetest of all English birds, arose in the air from the Manor woods +and, still twittering, flew over hedge and field, no doubt seeking its +home and mate.</p> + +<p>A smile of pleasure lit up the saintly old rector's face and then merged +into the thoughtful. He made a pleasing picture leaning on his +silver-headed cane, his long skirted coat slightly open at the neck, +revealing the white stock-cravat in its fluffy folds, his head slightly +inclined as if not willing to lose a single bar of the song. Not until +the song was ended did he venture forward.</p> + +<p>"Most remarkable song and most remarkable sweet tenor voice—yes—a +great deal sweeter than Penjerrick's. I must have that voice for our +parish choir."</p> + +<p>Arriving at the corner of the woods, the silence of the singer was +explained in a single, brief, cursory glance. There, seated on the hedge +that separated the woods from the road, sat the figure of a boy, tall, +sinewy and strong, yet still a boy. His cap had fallen to the ground and +the tangled masses of dark red hair lay deep on his brow. With +melancholy, abstracted air, he was gazing across the fields as if in +meditation.</p> + +<p>"Why, Ande, you are quite a singer," said the parson, in a pleasant +voice.</p> + +<p>The lad, startled from his reverie, leaped down from the hedge, picked +up his cap and coming forward gave <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 18]</a></span> his customary salutation, +"Good-morning, Parson Trant."</p> + +<p>The parson returned the salutation and then there was silence for a +moment, during which the rector scrutinised him with his kindly, yet +keen grey eyes.</p> + +<p>The lad's face was both attractive and strong. His slightly aquiline +nose revealed a sensitive nature; his prominent chin and firm lips, a +resolute will; his high, rolling forehead—swept by the tangled waves of +rollicking hair—intellectuality; the hue of his locks and the deep blue +eye, a soul that, though kind and affectionate, could be fired by strong +passions. At least so conjectured the parson, who thought he could read +character in human lineaments.</p> + +<p>But these thoughts did not occupy the latter long. It was the manner of +the lad that disturbed him. With bright, cheery smile he had been +accustomed to greet him heretofore. Now the youth stood before him +almost with the air of a culprit. He shunned the rector's eyes, and +seemed as if wishing to avoid that calm scrutiny. A fleeting thought +possessed the mind of the pastor. Could the youth possibly be guilty of +the misdemeanours committed at the Manor? Was he wrong in his judgment +of his favourite pupil? The truth of the matter was that the youth had +been crying over petty vexations. At least there were tears in his eyes +and, like many of his age, he disliked to be seen thus.</p> + +<p>"Well, Ande," said Parson Trant, breaking the silence, "you have a voice +that ought to be in our parish choir. Now what do you say about coming +in next Sabbath morning? Mr. Penjerrick will give you a little +preliminary training Saturday afternoon." +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I—I would rather not come, sir, if you could excuse me. I—I don't +sing in church."</p> + +<p>"And why not?" asked the parson, kindly.</p> + +<p>"Because I would be singing the praises of God when—when—I don't feel +like it," responded the lad a little slowly, and with some effort.</p> + +<p>"Why, Ande, you are a Christian lad—true, you have not yet been +confirmed and united to the church—but still, you are a Christian lad. +Are you not?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, sir," said the lad, and again relapsed into silence.</p> + +<p>"My poor lad," said the good old man, as he put one arm over the boy's +shoulder, affectionately, "there's something wrong with you to-day; you +are not yourself. Come now, confide in me. Tell me about it and let me +give you my advice in the matter. You have not done anything wrong, have +you?"</p> + +<p>Thus questioned by the good old rector, Ande, who loved him for his +worth as a true man and a noble exponent of Christianity, could not help +but respond. Flinging up his head and pushing back the masses of hair +that would persist in falling over his eyes, he said:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 20]</a></span> "It is this way, Mr. Trant, I have made up my mind to leave the +country. There is room for me on the sea or in foreign parts. I can't +bear the taunts of some of the lads at the parish school. The master +doesn't know and you don't know how mean some of the boys act. There's +Bob Sloan, Dick Denny and some more of that stripe that are becoming +unbearable."</p> + +<p>"Why, what do they say?" asked the parson, kindly.</p> + +<p>"They call me the ugly Dane or Deane and cast slurs upon my father and +grandfather, saying they were traitors to the government."</p> + +<p>"Ah, in reference to the first name, methinks, my lad, you are old +enough to know that that old story of the Danes seizing the wives of +Englishmen has no historical foundation; in reference to the second +matter, time itself must clear up the truth or falsity of the +accusation. It certainly shows a mean, petty spirit to vilify a son for +the reputed deeds of a father."</p> + +<p>"Aye, there's just the point about my not singing in church. The Bible +says 'the sins of the fathers shall be visited upon the children,' and I +think that's unjust. Here," said the boy with a trace of angry passion +in his tones, "I am taunted, despised, looked down on, not only by the +lads, but by some of the grown people as well. I believe, just as you +say, that it shows a small spirit in lads, men and the Bible, to condemn +a lad for the faults of his father. How can I sing then?"</p> + +<p>The parson was dumfounded and completely silenced for a moment. He was +grieved and dismayed to hear how his last remark was misapplied.</p> + +<p>"And," continued the youth, rather bitterly, "I believe, and know you +believe, that neither father nor grandfather were guilty of any treason, +that there's a mistake somewhere. Yet—yet I have to stand all this. +Squire Vivian looks upon me with an angry look. Sir <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 21]</a></span> James Lanyan looks +upon me as if I was a dog. Master Richard called me a traitor's cub, +because I happened to be in his way this morning, and if he hadn't been +on horse-back I would have made him take it back—and—and—I hate them. +I hate them all!" The lad's face was marked with passion, his fists +clenched, and there was an angry tear in his eye that he could not +conceal. "Why does God allow all this? Why—and—and—but I'm not going +to stay here and bear it."</p> + +<p>The parson looked grave and turned the conversation for a moment by +asking the name of the author of the song he had heard.</p> + +<p>"The Song of the Lark, you mean? That was made by my father, and my +mother taught me to sing it when I could first finger the harp. The harp +is the only thing we have now that used to belong to the Manor." There +was a sad ring in the boy's voice that but indicated the feelings +within.</p> + +<p>"Do you believe in the truth of that song?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," responded the lad.</p> + +<p>"Well, why don't you put in application the thought?" and Parson Trant +quoted the words:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i10">"'What can sadness avail,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Injustice shall fall, and good shall prevail.'<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>Now, Ande," continued the parson, "I know the history of your family +almost as well as you. Your grandfather was a faithful subject of the +king. He fought with Gardner at Prestonpans, at Culloden, and also +against the French in the American colonies. He <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 22]</a></span> disappeared after +Braddock's defeat and was shot a year afterward by General Armstrong's +troops, by mistake, no doubt. Now consider,—at the time he had on a +tattered French uniform, with a commission as captain in the French army +in his pocket. These things were brought to England and, through the +instrumentality of Sir Richard Lanyan, father of Sir James, the +attention of the authorities was directed toward them and the Manor +confiscated. Under the circumstances was not the king justified in +suspicioning his loyalty? Consider, too, that England and the Hanover +dynasty had been threatened seriously, by the Pretender, with another +invasion of French troops. Culloden was still fresh in men's minds. +Cornwall was noted for her adherence to the Stuarts in the Cromwellian +wars, and even at the time of the young Pretender many noted Cornish +families sympathised with him and the Stuart claims. You know the story +of Burnuhall<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a>, and how young Prince Charles, the Pretender, spent +several nights there in concealment. Do you wonder at a ready ear being +given to suspicion coming from this quarter? Blame not the king or your +fellows, my lad. The suspicion was natural, although the friends of your +family believe that there was a mistake somewhere. Hope for the best and +bear up cheerfully, my lad. You misapplied my remark some moments ago +about God being unjust and that therefore you could not sing His praise. +My remark applied only to men and not to God. God is above our judgment. +He cannot be measured by our standards. You spoke about playing the +harp. It was hard work to learn, was it not?"</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Burnuhall—A fine old mansion near the English Channel in +the parish of Buryan, Cornwall, England. Sheltered the young Pretender +in 1746.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 23]</a></span></p></div> + +<p>"Yes, sir, but mother kept me at it."</p> + +<p>"Well, so God is trying to teach you some things. You heard my sermon +last Sabbath. Can you tell me the text?"</p> + +<p>"Part of the eighteenth verse of the Hundred and Fifth Psalm, 'He was +laid in iron,'" responded the boy.</p> + +<p>"I am glad you remember it. You remember how Joseph was treated, sold +into slavery, maligned, slandered, imprisoned. Yet he had done no wrong. +Now is your case any worse than his? No, not nearly so bad, yet he +didn't refuse to sing God's praise, although he knew God permitted him +to be slandered and to be unjustly imprisoned. Now, what was it for? You +remember the old Hebrew rendering that I quoted as the last thought, +'Barzel baah naphsho,' and its meaning iron entered his soul. You +remember I said his soul was strengthened as with iron, on account of +his suffering and dishonour, and that through that same discipline he +gained the courage, wisdom, resolution and position of a prince, and +became ruler o'er all Egypt. Now, Ande, God may be training you in the +same way. You know Cowper's hymn, no doubt, by heart."</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"God moves in a mysterious way<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His wonders to perform;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He plants His footsteps in the sea<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And rides upon the storm.<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 24]</a></span> +<span class="i0">Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The clouds ye so much dread<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Are full of mercy and will break<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In blessings on your head.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Judge not the Lord by feeble sense<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But trust Him for His grace,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Behind a frowning Providence<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He hides a smiling face!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The beautiful hymn was quoted to the very end, and the good old parson, +apparently filled with the glad, stirring thought, had a smile of +exalted hopefulness on his countenance. Ande gazed at him and it seemed +in that smile he read a happy augury of his own future. The parson had +preached a sermon without realising it, but yet he could not fail to see +the effects of his words on the youth at his side. There was a serenity +on the boy's features and a new, hopeful light in the eye as he grasped +the parson's hand with fervour, and said, "I'll not doubt God again, +Parson Trant, and I'll not refuse to sing."</p> + +<p>"And not hate Squire Vivian, Sir James Lanyan, or the young Master +Richard?" asked the parson.</p> + +<p>The parson had overreached himself. The youth's countenance flushed with +anger and the hands were slightly clenched. There was silence.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it is a little too much to ask that now. That will come. Don't +doubt God. Love Him and you will soon love men. In reference to the +slurs of the lads, pay no attention to them and they will soon cease +their annoyance. In reference to your name and the stain upon it, +resolve to make a new name for yourself and your family by your own +conduct. Can you think of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 25]</a></span> anything more noble than to labour against +unfavourable circumstances, against slander, encumbered by a stained +name,—false though the accusation may be,—fighting against odds, and +yet finally coming forth from the struggle, a victor, having made a new +and honourable name for yourself and family? Can you, my lad?" Parson +Trant gave the lad an affectionate pat upon the back.</p> + +<p>There was silence for a moment.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I can."</p> + +<p>The rector was taken aback, for he had expected a different answer.</p> + +<p>"And what is more noble?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I think it is better to clean the old name; and I'll do it, if I can." +There was a steady light of purpose in the eye of the youth, as he +replied.</p> + +<p>The parson said nothing for a time and they walked on in silence and +then——</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are right, lad. You are very much like your father. Those +were his words and sentiments. I trust you may be more successful, +though."</p> + +<p>Parson Trant, while giving vent to these brief, epigrammatic sentences, +was thinking of another matter,—the depredations on the estate of the +Manor,—and had just decided to broach that unhappy subject. They were +standing near the village stocks and the parson, placing his arm again +in that of Ande, began the subject in an indirect manner.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<p class="center">THE RUNAWAY <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"And as the chariot rolled along the plain,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Light from the ground he leaped, and seized the rein;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thus hung in air, he still retain'd his hold,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The coursers frighted, and their course controlled."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i25">—<i>Dryden's Virgil.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>"Ande, my lad, if—"</p> + +<p>His remarks were very unceremoniously cut short by a shout from the lad.</p> + +<p>"Look out, Mr. Trant! A runaway!" and before he had finished speaking, +he caught the old parson by the shoulders and gave him a shove to one +side of the road. Now the action of the youth was so quick and with such +vigour, that the parson had no alternative but to go in a very +undignified manner. His shovel-shaped hat went into the hedge, and with +coat-tails flying like the pennants of a man-of-war, the parson was +following, but tripped on some obstacle and plunged very quickly and +involuntarily into a bunch of stinging nettles and thistles by the +road-side.</p> + +<p>Nor was the action too quick, for down the road, galloping and plunging +as if mad, her eyes flashing and nostrils distended with terror, came +the squire's black mare, Queeny. A brief glance had sufficed for the +youth's quick eyes. The bit had broken in the mare's mouth. The +chaise in the rear rocked from side to side in a most frightful manner, +but the plucky driver, Mistress Alice, with resolute will, though pale +with fear, still held the lines, seeking in vain to restrain the +maddened creature. There was a quick thud, thud, thud; the creaking of +wrenched axle; a rolling cloud of dust; and through it all in the rear a +strained face, beautiful, yet fear-stricken, with wide, dark eyes and a +tumbling mass of curly hair as black as the clouds of a moonless night.</p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"></a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 249px;"> +<img src="images/i_040.jpg" width="249" height="400" alt="" /> +<span class="caption">"There was a vision of a flying, athletic, youthful +form—clinging with the grip of a vice—"</span> +</div> + +<p>Then there was a leap and a vision of a flying, athletic, youthful form, +and Ande was clinging with the grip of a vise to the black, flowing +mane. With his right arm up over the animal's neck, supporting himself, +with the other hand he grasped the mare by the nostrils, completely +shutting off all air. Then there was a struggle for the mastery. The +infuriated creature reared, plunged, until there was imminent danger of +the shafts breaking, but the lad was too strong to be thus shaken off. +There was a cry, almost a shriek, like unto a scream of human agony, +from Queeny. On, on, on plunged the creature with its human burden, but +there was a slowness of speed until some hundred yards from the parson's +position, when the runaway was brought to a standstill, although +trembling in every limb with fright.</p> + +<p>The squire's daughter, only too anxious to alight after that mad ride, +stepped from the chaise, and between her petting and speaking to Queeny +and Ande's grip, that he still maintained, the mare was pacified.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now," said the lad, speaking for the first time, "please unbuckle those +backing straps and unhook the traces."</p> + +<p>The girl, though unaccustomed to be ordered in this manner, saw the +necessity of complying, since her rescuer did not dare to leave his +position at the mare's head.</p> + +<p>"Now, let me have the halter in the chaise."</p> + +<p>The girl produced it, and the animal thus secured was led out of the +half-ruined shafts.</p> + +<p>Parson Trant, in the meantime, had disengaged himself from the unwelcome +embrace of the nettles and thistles. Picking up his shovel-shaped hat +and dusting it with his handkerchief, he placed it on his head after +first arranging his scattered locks, and then hurried forward to assist +the squire's daughter. That young lady had, however, finished the work +before his arrival.</p> + +<p>"Well, well, well!" exclaimed the parson, as he came up, puffing with +over-exertion and mopping the perspiration from his brow. "That was a +narrow escape, Mistress Alice—thank God for it—also—this brave young +man. Mistress Alice, this is Master Ande Trembath."</p> + +<p>The parson in the midst of his hurry had neither forgotten his religion +nor his courtesy that seemed inherent in his very nature, but he little +realised the ludicrous figure he presented in that scene. His +neckerchief was all awry; one coat-tail was sadly torn by the violence +of his fall and was now hanging in a most melancholy manner by a few +threads from his coat; his broadcloth <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 29]</a></span> trowsers were soiled and covered +with nettle stickers and thistle down; and his hat, in the hurry of +putting it on, was located on one side of his head in a most rakish and +disreputable manner.</p> + +<p>A silvery peal of laughter from the girl, which was joined by a hastily +suppressed chuckle from Ande, caused the rector to notice his condition +and he was much chagrined in consequence. There was a flush on his +countenance that made both of the young parties regret their hasty +merriment.</p> + +<p>"Parson Trant, you must pardon my rudeness in pushing you aside, but if +I hadn't done it we both might have been hurt."</p> + +<p>"To be sure, to be sure—don't mention it, my brave lad. You did a noble +action and probably saved my life as well as that of Mistress Alice," +said the parson kindly, as he patted the lad on the back.</p> + +<p>"And as for me, dear Parson Trant, I must beg pardon for my rudeness in +laughing," said the girl with regret in her tone, and then turning to +Ande she thanked him for his brave conduct. "And now you must both come +up to the Manor for lunch, will you not? O do, please; father will be so +delighted."</p> + +<p>Parson Trant cast a rueful glance at his clothes, saying he was hardly +presentable, and then his face relaxed into a smile that widened into a +good-humoured laugh as he pictured himself seated at the squire's table +in his present condition. As for the lad, the invitation would have been +acceptable, had he not thought of the squire's antipathy toward himself. +He declined also,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 30]</a></span> but accompanied the squire's daughter to the Manor +gates, having first bid the kind-hearted parson adieu.</p> + +<p>"I can't tell why it was that Queeny ran away. She never acted that way +before. I was so frightened. It was very brave of you to stop her."</p> + +<p>The lad was a trifle confused under these glowing tributes to his +heroism and could make but little reply.</p> + +<p>"Trembath—Trembath," continued the girl musingly, "why that's the name +of the former owner of the Manor—that is, before my grandfather. They +said he was killed in America, and you——"</p> + +<p>"He was my grandfather," said the youth with a sensitive flush on his +face. "He was an honourable man."</p> + +<p>The flush on the face of the youth was reflected on the countenance of +the girl, for she realised that she had committed an indiscretion in +referring to the death of his grandfather.</p> + +<p>There was an embarrassed silence for a time and then the girl exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"There's Ned Pengilly!"</p> + +<p>It was indeed the worthy lodge-keeper who appeared at the gates. To him +Ande consigned the animal that he was still leading and, receiving the +thanks again of the girl, he turned and wended his way toward home. +Within a short distance he paused and turned, watching the retreating +forms of the girl and the lodge-keeper leading Queeny. Then, with a +feeling he knew not what, he once more continued his journey.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<p class="center">THE PRIMROSE COTTAGE AND TOM GLAZE</p> + + +<p>"Ande, laddie, thou art late to-day. Here it is almost one <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 31]</a></span> +o'clock—and—why—what have you been doing? Hast been fighting? Why, +your jacket has a rent of fully five inches and your trowsers look as if +you had been rolling over in the dirt."</p> + +<p>The scene was in the main living room of a little stone cottage. Indeed +the cottage could only boast of having two rooms and an attic—but this +room was the main living room. A primrose vine covered the house front +and several roses that still retained their position, though late in the +season, drooped on their stems over the small, diamond-shaped window +panes, as if anxious to catch a glimpse of the speaker within. A fire of +Cornish furze and sea coal was blazing brightly in a grate in the +chimney. A tea-kettle, suspended from a crane o'er the fire, had been +humming away for quite a time and mingling its tune with the steady +tick-tick-tick of a great-grandfather clock standing in the angle of the +stairs that led up to the attic. A harp, its gilded framework much +tarnished with age, stood in the opposite corner near the dresser, a +striking contrast to the humbleness of its surroundings. A few cheap +prints of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 32]</a></span> country scenes, one a scene of Wellington at the battle of +Waterloo, and a picture in oils of a rugged soldier—an officer +evidently—who had a striking resemblance to Ande, adorned the plain +white-washed walls.</p> + +<p>The room altogether presented a cosy appearance and just now was filled +with the odour of steeping tea, fresh biscuit and a scrowled +pilchard—most welcome indeed to a hungry boy.</p> + +<p>A kind, motherly looking woman, who had not yet passed middle age, was +busy laying a cloth on a small centre table. She had a pleasant, refined +countenance, marred a little with care, a countenance classic with its +profile and grey eyes. Hair, dark, mingled with a few grey streaks, fell +down gracefully o'er the ears from a parting in the centre, lending a +sweet, motherly appearance to the classic features. Though clad in an +ordinary common house dress, a stranger gazing at her for the first time +would say she must have occupied a higher station in life in her earlier +years; and his estimate would be correct.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Thomas Trembath, the mother of Ande, for it was she, was the +daughter of William Borlase, a younger son of a young branch of that +illustrious Cornish family. He had been a rising young barrister of +Bodman town, and would have won fame in his profession had not death +claimed the bright mind. His wife and child managed to live on a +thousand pounds that constituted the bulk of his little fortune. It was +to Bodman that Captain Thomas Trembath came, seven years after the war +with the American colonies terminated. He had <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 33]</a></span> never married, partly +because he had been engaged in the American war and had no time to think +of matrimony; partly because one great thought absorbed his attention, +the vindication of his family name; and partly, most potent reason of +all, no doubt, he had found no lady of his rank willing to take upon +herself a name so stained with treason as his own; and, as for marrying +beneath him, he gave it not a thought. He was then approaching middle +age and was thinking most seriously of the problem, when, meeting young +Mistress Elizabeth Borlase, he mentally decided the question. For three +years this soldier, who had the courage to face the American batteries +and the charge of Washington's horse, attended the Borlase home before +he had the courage to settle his doubts. The daughter accepted him, but +when the consent of the widow was asked there was a stormy scene. She +was much outspoken against it, alleging the difference in ages, the +Captain being fully fifteen years older than his affianced bride. The +truth of the matter was that the widow had resolved to secure the +handsome middle-aged Captain as a mate for herself and was mortified to +find it was the daughter and not herself he desired.</p> + +<p>For ten years no children were born of this union. In the year 1805, +however, a male child was born.</p> + +<p>"We will call him Borlase Trembath," said the mother, "for he has the +Borlase mouth; those lips are like his grandfather's. He will be a +speaker and a good singer."</p> + +<p>As if in testimony of his mother's opinion the babe set <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 34]</a></span> up a lusty +wail, sometimes crescendo, sometimes staccato, then babbling recitando, +flourishing his fists and kicking his limbs in animal spirit.</p> + +<p>"Oratory enough to oppose a Pitt," said the Captain, with a grimace, and +putting his fingers in his ears. "He will be a parliamentarian some day, +no doubt. See, he is already beginning to gesture." Then, changing his +bantering tone, "He has the nose, the forehead, the blue eyes, the hair +of his grandfather, Squire Andrew Trembath, my father, and why not the +name."</p> + +<p>The wife saw the desire of her husband and acquiesced in the name. "He +shall be called Andrew," she said.</p> + +<p>The Captain, though much pleased with the comforts of home and the +presence of his wife and child, still retained the passion for war and +battlefields. He came of a long line of Cornish soldiers and the war +spirit had become intensified in himself. Was there any truth in the old +legend of the blood of the Danish freebooters mingled in his ancestors? +He knew not and gave it not a thought. War called him, and he joined the +Iron Duke in the Peninsular campaign. When the War of 1812 with America +began, fired with the same old passion to redeem his family name from +the stain of treason, he secured his discharge, with the rank of major, +and was soon on his way to participate in that struggle. Here he +disappeared after the defeat of Proctor, and his wife and son, Ande, +were succoured from dire distress and want, into which this event +plunged them, by the death of the widow Borlase. Her fortune of a +thousand pounds, depleted somewhat, was by regular process of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 35]</a></span> law +conferred upon Mrs. Thomas Trembath. Such was the condition of affairs +at the time our tale opened.</p> + +<p>"Ande, laddie, hast been fighting?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I had a bit of a fight with Bob Sloan—a great hulking bully 'e +is—but the master parted us. He called father and grandfather names and +said I was a coward, and I beant a coward."</p> + +<p>"Laddie, why are you always picking up the insults of the lads, and how +often have I told you about language. 'Beant' isn't good English."</p> + +<p>Now before the parson and other dignitaries Ande was accustomed to use +good language, but before the boys and at times before his mother, he +drifted into a little of the vernacular.</p> + +<p>"Well, I forget sometimes, mother dear, but my torn clothes are due to +another affair and not the fight."</p> + +<p>The lad recited the incidents of the runaway, while engaged in eating +the lunch that had been so long delayed. The mother listened with bright +eyes, attending occasionally to the wants of the table, and when the +tale was fully narrated, she leaned over the back of his chair, kissed +his forehead, and called him her "brave laddie."</p> + +<p>"But, laddie, how rudely you must have treated Parson Trant! Was he not +angry at his fall?"</p> + +<p>"No, mother, parson saw that I did not mean to push him down, but only +tried to get him out of danger, and he laughed afterward, too."</p> + +<p>The lunch was ended and Mrs. Trembath was bustling <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 36]</a></span> around, clearing the +table. Ande had a project in view that afternoon. It was a half-holiday +and he had purposed going to the Loe Pool with some of his fellows to +gather shells, and a swim in the lake or in the sea adjoining was a +pleasure to his athletic nature. The Loe Pool had other fascinations for +him also. What wonderful tales were related about it! A little sheet of +water below Helston, kept full by the little River Cober, having no +outlet to the sea except by percolating through the sandbar which Mother +Ocean, inhospitably, threw up between herself and her child; yet was it +not the remnant of the old harbour of Helston. He had heard of it from +the old Droll Tellers, and loved to lie on the sandbar meditating, +dreaming of the things that had happened there centuries before. He knew +the Phœnicians had sailed over that sandbar with their ships and the +Danish freebooters in later times. It was a pleasure highly anticipated.</p> + +<p>"Well, laddie, I suppose you must hurry back soon to school."</p> + +<p>"No, there's no school. The master gave us a half-holiday to-day; that +is the reason I loitered some on the way home."</p> + +<p>"Then thou canst cut the furze in the croft."</p> + +<p>Submissive to his mother, not even mentioning his disappointment, with +furze cutter o'er his shoulder, the youth sallied forth and was soon +busy in the furze croft, a sort of high, rough land in which the furze +grew. The prickly, shrubby plant grew around him in great abundance, +some of them reaching the height of three <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 37]</a></span> feet. He paused for a moment +during which he viewed with delight the abundance of its golden flowers, +dappling the whole field with its starlike disks. It was a pity to cut +them down, thought the lad, but then we must have something to burn, and +what is equal to furze in a grate on a cold evening? With this thought +he again wielded the cutter with a will, and the desired amount was soon +bound in bundles, ready to carry to the cottage.</p> + +<p>"Well, young squire, and how dost like the work?"</p> + +<p>The remark emanated from a tall, muscular man, in shirt-sleeves, who, +leaning on the hedge, calmly smoked a "bob" or short Cornish pipe. He +was a little over the medium height but looked short because of the +heavy shoulders and thick, muscular arms and limbs which nature and hard +work had given him. The face was kindly, good-humoured, honest and open. +By his general outline he was neither a hard eater or drinker. There was +a suppleness and ease in this young man of twenty-six that made him +admired by the whole country around, a suppleness demonstrated by the +ease with which he placed one hand on the hedge and leaped lightly over.</p> + +<p>"Pretty well, thank 'ee, Tom Glaze," responded Ande.</p> + +<p>"I 'eard that thou and Bob Sloan 'ad a bit of a scrimmage this marning +and that 'e was a bit too much for 'ee. Is that so?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 38]</a></span></p><p>The welcome look died out of the lad's face and he flushed, angrily.</p> + +<p>"There's no truth in that at all," he said, curtly.</p> + +<p>Glaze laughed heartily and then, seeing he had offended his young +friend, sought to soothe his spirit.</p> + +<p>"Come now, no offence, I 'opes. There's no dishonour in your being +licked by Bob, seeing as how 'e is both bigger and older. He 'as beaten +you when 'ee were smaller, 'asn't 'e?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, 'e has, but I would like to know why you are throwing the defeats +at my 'ead, when you say they were no dishonour."</p> + +<p>Tom Glaze laughed again and then seated himself boy-fashion on the turf, +embracing one knee with his great arms.</p> + +<p>"Let me tell 'ee a tale. There was once a great rogue elephant that +lived in the jungles of Africey. He was a very bad 'un, 'e was, I can +tell 'ee. He 'ad great long tusks and a great trunk and everybody was +afeared of 'im because 'e was so large. He was mean, too. The other +elephants banded together and drove 'im from the herd, and in spite 'e +began to abuse all the other animals of the jungle. There was also a +young lion that come that way one day. He 'adn't been long away from 'is +mother's 'ome in the jungle, but he thought 'e was big enough to go +forth to seek 'is fortune in the world. He was a-lying asleep in the +path when Mr. Elephant come by. 'Out of my way,' bellowed the elephant. +Young Lion reared up and says he wasn't going to move a step. With that +Mr. Bad Elephant seized 'im with 'is trunk and flung 'im pretty 'ard +into the bush and walked on. What did Young Lion do? He went <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 39]</a></span> straight +'ome to 'is father and told 'im all about it and 'is father was pretty +mad, but 'e didn't say much. He thought a bit and then 'e said: 'My son, +'ee need a few tricks of the lion trade.' And then he began to teach 'im +some of the tricks, 'ow to spring and where to land. The next time Young +Lion met Mr. Bad Elephant, 'e 'ad all the tricks of the trade and 'e +just beat the elephant all around, clawed 'im up so that 'is best +friends wouldn't know 'im. The animals of the jungle all come together +and gave a public feast in honour of Young Lion and they thought 'e was +a public hero."</p> + +<p>Tom Glaze ceased speaking, and smiled again.</p> + +<p>The lad said nothing.</p> + +<p>Now this Tom Glaze had always inspired Ande Trembath with admiration. +Tom had been a tin miner for years, but he also had another calling. +Cornwall was and always will be noted for her wrestlers and boxers, and, +though Glaze was not a champion, he was on the highway to that +distinction. There were only three or four wrestlers in the whole +country that he could not defeat. In addition to this he was an +all-round athlete. Many a time Ande had seen him break the head of his +opponent at the contest of quarter-staff at the county fairs.</p> + +<p>"Now why do I tell 'ee about thy defeats? Why? 'Cause I've sized 'ee up, +many a time, and says I to myself, that with summat of a training thee +could do wonders. All 'ee needs is the tricks and the training."</p> + +<p>"And could I beat Bob?" asked Ande, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Bob? Aye, and two like 'im, and I would like to <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 40]</a></span> see 'ee do it. Now +thee art about through with furze cutting let me give 'ee a lesson or +two."</p> + +<p>Ande sprang nimbly to his feet and Tom having arisen, they set to work.</p> + +<p>What tugging there was in the scrimmages! What dodging! At first it was +slow work, but as the lad learned point after point he speedily put them +into practice. With all his heart, with the remembrance of Bob's insults +strong within him, with the consciousness of his strength yet +undeveloped, and with the burning desire to avenge some of those insults +to his family honour, Trembath was resolved to profit by the instruction +of his teacher.</p> + +<p>"Bravo! Bravo! That was finely done," exclaimed Tom, when the youth, +having learned a new dodge and counter, put the same into practice in a +way that delighted the wrestler.</p> + +<p>"Now, I suppose we 'ad better go 'ome, as thy mother may be looking for +'ee. But, mind 'ee, my lad, doant'ee go a-telling of this. Doant'ee go +a-telling. Why? 'Cause you want to take Bully Bob by surprise. Thee meet +me 'ere every evening, and thee will soon knack Bob off 'is pins."</p> + +<p>The good-humoured wrestler vaulted the hedge and strode lightly and +rapidly away, while Ande shouldered his burden of furze and started +toward the Primrose Cottage.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<p class="center">"THE BIG HA' BIBLE, ANCE HIS FATHER'S PRIDE."<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Burns' "Cotter's Saturday Night."</p></div> + + +<p>Burns has beautifully described the cotter's Saturday night, but that <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 41]</a></span> +was the cotter of Scotland. Cornwall, too, has that beautiful and +appropriate custom, not only of closing the week but also the day with +the worship of God.</p> + +<p>Supper is over in the Primrose Cottage. The sun is slowly sinking to +rest in the watery bed of the western sea, flecking and streaking the +distant blue into a variegated coverlet for its nightly repose. In a few +hours twilight will come and then night with its darkening mantle. The +main living room of the cottage is gilded by the slanting sunbeams that +glisten through the small, diamond window panes and the open doorway. +The floor of stone has been freshly sanded with white sea sand and raked +and marked in neat figures. Ande Trembath is interested in a new tale +that seems fascinating to him. It is Scott's "Lady of The Lake." Mrs. +Trembath is seated in a comfortable rocking chair, knitting, for Ande +must have warm stockings for the coming cold weather. The hour of +worship peals out from the great clock in the corner of the stairs. +Without a word, the lad places away the tale he has been perusing and +picks up the worn gilded volume of God's word. The <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 42]</a></span>mother places her +knitting on the small side table and prepares to listen, while her +laddie opens the book with care at the One Hundred and Fifth Psalm. The +reading of God's providence revealed there seemed to have additional +interest for the lad, and he paused for a moment over the eighteenth +verse and thought over the parson's morning talk. The Scripture ended, +the mother and son kneel in prayer, using not only the prayer of +ordinary evening worship, but that other prayer for the safety of those +astray on sea or land, and as the mother reads reverently the latter +prayer, the thoughts of both are concentrated on the dear one lost +amidst the American wilds eight long years ago. Then followed the Lord's +prayer, repeated in concert, until the part "forgive us our trespasses +as we forgive those who trespass against us," where the lad's voice +faltered, and ceased for a moment, resuming the prayer in concert with +his mother when the phrase was passed.</p> + +<p>The prayers were ended and the harp was brought forth with loving care. +The lad handled it with reverence, for it was his father's, and his +grandfather's, and he knew not how far it had dwelt in the annals of his +family. Then came the strains of Bishop Ken's Evening Hymn,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Glory to Thee, my God, this night,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For all the blessings of the light;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Under Thine own almighty wings."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The worship was finished and the Word, the prayer book, and the harp +replaced in their usual positions;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 43]</a></span> Ande had returned to his "Lady of +The Lake," the mother to her knitting. There was no sound for a time +save the monotonous click, click of the knitting needles, keeping up a +sort of recitative duet with the tick, tick of the clock.</p> + +<p>"Ande, laddie, why is it that thou dost not repeat the whole of the +Lord's prayer with me? I have noticed the last few times and have +wondered."</p> + +<p>The lad was silent for a moment and his face flushed.</p> + +<p>"I cannot, mother dear," he said simply.</p> + +<p>"Why, laddie?"</p> + +<p>"Because there are some I cannot forgive, it seems. There's Sir James +Lanyan and Richard, his son, Squire Vivian, and Bob Sloan, +and—and—they treat a person mean. When I think of the Lanyans and +Squire Vivian and how they or their people treated ours and took away +the estate, and—and when I think to-day how they treat father's and +grandfather's memory, I cannot feel like forgiving them and I can't say +'forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,' +for that would be asking God not to forgive me."</p> + +<p>As Ande Trembath referred to the Lanyans there was an angry light in his +eyes, which softened into gloom as he spoke of the Lord's prayer.</p> + +<p>"Ande, laddie, we must pray to God to help us to forgive. 'If ye forgive +not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your +trespasses.'"</p> + +<p>The widow was silent. She felt as keenly as her 'laddie' the injustice +done the Trembath family and there was a half-inaudible sigh from her +lips. She had not <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 44]</a></span> that bitter, unforgiving spirit, but she knew the +temper and spirit of her laddie. Will time ever remove the sting of an +unjust act? she thought. It was of no use to urge the point now with her +boy. She must think.</p> + +<p>There was a clicking of the garden gate; a step was heard on the stone +garden walk, and a figure appeared at the door. It was that of a man +clad in livery dress—knee-breeches of nankeen, long stockings, and low +shoes with immense silver buckles, and a coat of velveteen. In short, he +was clad very much like a gentleman of the period fifteen years before, +but inasmuch as the majority of the gentry had adopted the new costume +of trowsers, the knee-breeches, low shoes, and long stockings generally +indicated the servant. And such he was—Master Stephen Blunt, Squire +Vivian's steward. Master Blunt doffed his cap and hesitated a moment. +Mrs. Trembath paled a little, for the steward was scarcely ever the +bearer of good news. He was a general factotum of the squire. He rented +farms, collected the dues, was an officer of justice, the terror of +small boys, and, in short, was a kind of constable, sheriff, and prime +minister of the squire's little domain.</p> + +<p>Concerning the rent there was nothing to fear, for the Trembath's had +owned in fee simple as it was called, for many years, the Primrose +cottage and the few fields adjoining.</p> + +<p>Master Blunt was a silent man, not wasting many words.</p> + +<p>"The squire wanted to see Ande a bit," he stated.</p> + +<p>A new thought flashed across the mother's mind. It <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 45]</a></span> was her laddie's +bravery in stopping the runaway in the morning. Yes, the squire was +going to reward her laddie and a more favourable understanding was going +to be established between the squire's people and theirs. She +communicated her opinion to her boy in a whisper as she assisted in +getting him ready. There was a smile of happiness on her countenance +which Master Blunt, seated on the garden settle outside, did not +observe.</p> + +<p>Ande Trembath, however, was not so happy to go. Honour heaped upon him +for an act that he considered only an ordinary matter-of-fact affair, +and especially by one whom he considered in the light of an enemy, to be +hated and to be hated in return, was distasteful to him; but he knew the +necessity of going, as one did not dare disobey the squire.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<p class="center">SQUIRE AND PARLIAMENTARIAN<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 46]</a></span></p> + + +<p>Thud, thud, thud, thud.</p> + +<p>Squire Vivian was riding at a smart pace on the solid roads. He was fond +of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the +hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the +turnpike. This was not exercise, however. He must see his old friend, +Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch +and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob +and was off. His thoughts were not very pleasant as he started forth. He +was thinking of the conversation he had had with Parson Trant just a +short time before.</p> + +<p>"The lad is guilty," he muttered, and then there was silence save for +the rapid hoof strokes.</p> + +<p>"He shall smart for it. The traitor's cub!"</p> + +<p>The squire compressed his lips and the frown on his ruddy features boded +ill to Ande Trembath. Then pleasant thoughts gained the upper hand. He +had reached the confines of his estate and the fields and woods of +Lanyan Hall stretched on either side of the highway. There were round +hillocks nodding like Indian chieftains with their proud headgear, downs +alive with cattle and sheep, farmhouses of stone—as short and thick-set +in appearance as the sturdy farmers that occupied them. Yes, thought <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 47]</a></span> +Squire Vivian, with a smile, these shall belong to Alice when she +marries young Richard. My Lady Alice sounds as good as any other name +with a Lady attached to it. The pleasant expression passed and a worried +look came in its place. He was thinking of the Parson's disapprobation +of young Richard. The vale was passed and Lanyan moor, as wild and +uninviting as his thoughts—Lanyan moor, a high rough land of a few +miles in extent, covered with a rank, rough grass, extended on either +side. Under the influence of his surroundings and pressed by his +thoughts, the squire spurred the cob into a gallop and after a few +minutes the gables and tower of Lanyan Hall greeted his vision. It was a +stately mansion, built partly in the Queen Anne style and partly in the +style of previous times, one side being built during the Crusades, of +Cornish moor-stone that lent a heavy warrior-like appearance to the +whole structure.</p> + +<p>The owner, Sir James Lanyan, a son of that Lanyan whose agitation in +certain quarters of the government had produced the confiscation of the +Trembath estates, like his grandfather, had devoted considerable time to +politics and had been twice in Parliament; but failing of re-election he +had turned the strength of his ambitious mind to the rebuilding of his +fortunes, which were sadly shattered by the schemes and speculations of +his grandfather.</p> + +<p>His grandfather, in coöperation with Sunderland, the Premier of that +time, had been unduly interested <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 48]</a></span> in the South Sea Bubble; but though +Sunderland cleared his skirts in the gigantic swindle, Sir James, Sr., +was entrapped. His estates were heavily mortgaged and his private +fortune ruined. He died of a broken heart, bequeathing to Sir Richard, +Sr., his son, the ancestral hall and its liabilities.</p> + +<p>Sir Richard, Sr., was a rogue, with very little ability. Casting about +by hook or crook to retrieve his father's reverses, he thought he saw an +opportunity in the reputed treason of Squire Andrew Trembath. His +covetous eye surveyed the rich farms and woods adjoining his own, and +so, with the outward reason of loyalty to King George, and the inward +hope of profit, he turned the keen eyes of government authorities upon +the matter.</p> + +<p>The name of the Stuart and France were still to be dreaded. The first +tendency in that direction must be crushed and an example made. The fiat +went forth, the estates were confiscated, but Sir Richard, Sr., instead +of receiving them or even a money reward, received a flattering letter +from London, a ribbon of honour and a star. With a muttered oath he +flung the bauble from him and ground the letter under his heel. He knew +what all men were to know in time, that neither Newcastle nor Pitt were +as free-handed as Walpole.</p> + +<p>The present Sir James, a son of Sir Richard, Sr., had inherited the +bold, daring, scheming ambition of his grandfather, and was in every way +superior to his father, Richard. At first, a great Parliament man, he +gradually lost power with the electors, or rather they lost in <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 49]</a></span>terest in +him; then he turned his attention to the task in which both his father +and grandfather had laboured in vain.</p> + +<p>On the day mentioned, the squire rode up the drive-way and with a sigh, +for the gallop had wearied him. He slipped from the saddle, gave the cob +into the hands of a servant, and mounting the veranda, raised the rapper +and sent a peal through the old house that speedily brought to the door +a footman, clad in green livery. By him he was ushered into the main +living room—a large hall, its walls curiously and artistically panelled +in wood. Here he reposed himself in a large armchair by the open +fireplace and awaited, musingly, the coming of Sir James.</p> + +<p>Yes, thought the squire, a fine old place—a fine old place—and my +Allie will be one of the first of Cornwall. Then he mused on.</p> + +<p>There was a sound of a soft tread on the floor behind him, and a smooth, +liquid baritone voice broke the reverie.</p> + +<p>"Well, my old friend, so you have decided to return my call."</p> + +<p>The squire almost leaped to his feet, for, lost in his thoughts, the +voice startled him.</p> + +<p>"Zounds! Sir James, you come in like a spirit."</p> + +<p>Perhaps there were not two men in the whole kingdom of such a contrast +as Sir James and the squire of Trembath Manor. The latter was a perfect +picture of the gentleman of the olden school. His hair, silvery white, +curled in ringlets over his forehead. His face <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 50]</a></span> was a sturdy English +one, smooth, round, rubicund and pleasant, and yet with a dignity +peculiarly its own. He was stoutly built and as he stood switching his +Wellington boots with his riding whip, a close student would say, "Here +is a man easily imposed upon, but when that imposture stood revealed +what a hot, indignant enemy he would make!"</p> + +<p>Honesty, frankness, integrity, were stamped all over the old squire's +frame.</p> + +<p>Sir James was just the opposite in many respects. He was tall, dark, and +sallow of countenance. A hooked nose, like the beak of an eagle, +overhung a mouth that was firm and thin-lipped. His eyes, that were the +strangest feature about him, were dark and had an unsteady, shifting +light in them. He was clad in the conventional broadcloth tail-coat and +trowsers of the same material. A man of the world, having felt the pulse +of national life, he was generally cool, calm, and self-possessed.</p> + +<p>With the remark above mentioned, he came forward and his own pale, slim +hand was grasped by the strong, brown one of the squire.</p> + +<p>"Welcome to Lanyan Hall. It is not often we have the pleasure of +entertaining such an old friend of the family; and how are all things at +the Manor? Mistress Alice, is she well?"</p> + +<p>"My Allie is tolerable well, but of her—more anon. It is of other +matters, not so well, in which I want your advice."</p> + +<p>"Ah—and what is wrong? The rents not paid, failure of your tin mine, +or has Midnight Jack been making some depredations on your hen roosts or +sheep-folds?" <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well," rejoined the squire, as he once more seated himself beside the +fire, his friend having done likewise, "as to Wheal Whimble tin mine, +things are moving steadily, but the new shaft is costing a heap of +money. The rockmen dull six or seven jumpers before they can make much +of an impression in drilling a hole, and though they receive ten pounds +a foot, yet say they can't make a living. I don't see how I am going to +come out of it. As to rents, they have all been paid but Farmer +Samson's, but quite a few of his sheep were taken with the murrain, and +one must give a man a chance when he's honest."</p> + +<p>"And about Midnight Jack?"</p> + +<p>"As sturdy a knave as ever lived, but he and his gipsy band have left +the neighbourhood some time ago. I suspected him of stealing a sheep and +threatened to have him hanged if he showed nigh the place. He knows well +enough not to fool with me. I don't think we shall ever be annoyed with +him again. There has been, though, some unknown miscreant lurking around +the estate. I do not mind so much when a sheep is stolen, I can +reprimand a man and threaten him as I did Midnight Jack, but when +property is wilfully destroyed and faithful retainers killed—it is too +much," and the squire flushed, angrily.</p> + +<p>"Why, there has been no murder?" said Sir James, startled out of his +ordinary self-possession.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 52]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Aye, as good as a murder," rejoined the squire, and he related with +flushed countenance and angry voice the incidents of the morning.</p> + +<p>The master of Lanyan Hall interrupted him midway by asking him to the +study, where they could talk at their leisure. They arose and passed +from the main hall to a side apartment fitted up in elaborate style. +There, surrounded by tomes of learning and every mark of ease and +comfort, the squire and his friend were soon discussing the former's +grievances and suspicions.</p> + +<p>"Now, what I want to know is this, what does the law allow a man to do +in such circumstances? You, Sir James, are well versed in law, have been +to Parliament and can advise me. I confess I cannot find anything about +it in the statutes."</p> + +<p>"Well, the only thing you can do, having nothing but suspicion, is to +have a private interview with the lad and worm a confession out of him," +said Sir James, and there was a scarcely perceptible little smile of +amusement that lingered around the lips of Lanyan.</p> + +<p>"I am pleased to find out that I have acted wisely, for that was exactly +my plan," said the squire, flushing with gratified vanity to think that +his views and the learned parliamentarian's coincided. "And now what are +your plans for reëlection to Parliament?"</p> + +<p>"Reëlection. Plans—none at all, friend Vivian."</p> + +<p>"Why, you are certainly going to stand for the section, are you not?"</p> + +<p>"No, I think not; my interest is not strong enough with the classes. To +tell the truth, squire, I am heartily <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 53]</a></span> disgusted with Tory principles, +and were it not for the name I would become a Liberal."</p> + +<p>"What! what!" said the squire aghast; "you jest, Sir James!"</p> + +<p>"Jest! Not at all. It is this way. It matters not what talents a person +may possess, he must stand in with a few of one's brother notables +before election is possible. Our elections are nothing but a humbug. We +have no representative house; the House of Commons does not represent +the nation."</p> + +<p>"Why, Sir James, you did not talk this way formerly, and I am +exceedingly sorry to see one of our most distinguished parliamentarians +so inveterately opposed to the system."</p> + +<p>The master of Lanyan Hall said nothing in reply. Indeed he was inwardly +debating with himself how far he should trust his honest friend with his +own plans and schemes. The fact was that Sir James had lost his +influence with the electors and saw no hope but in an extended +franchise; he was politician enough to see that the times were getting +riper and riper for reform. There was more hope of election for him in +the future than at the present; he must bide his time. Now it was not +any great affection for the people that induced him to take this stand. +His political creed was James Lanyan—how can he become great and +powerful, a creed dominant among politicians of all times.</p> + +<p>"Well, we must talk of that more anon. There is another matter pressing +on my mind," said the squire, and with a little reluctance he began the +topic. "Young <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 54]</a></span> Master Richard has been paying some attentions to my +Allie, and it is a matter that we fathers ought to talk about. There is +nothing dearer to my life than my Allie, and I am anxious to see her +settled in life before I leave the earth; but then you, Sir James, and I +ought to have some understanding before matters go any farther. Our +estates lie adjoining. What better thing than that they should be united +after you and I pass away. I thought it better, though, to speak to you, +so that we might have a clear understanding." The old squire fastened +his clear, honest eyes on the master of Lanyan. The latter was silent +and there was a gleam in the shifty light of his eyes as he thought. +Then he spoke.</p> + +<p>"A good thing, no doubt, if there are no objections on your part."</p> + +<p>The master of Lanyan stretched out his hand which was grasped heartily +by the squire.</p> + +<p>"It's a compact," said the former.</p> + +<p>"Aye, a compact," affirmed the latter.</p> + +<p>There was a tap at the door and a servant entered to announce tea in the +hall. Squire and parliamentarian adjourned their informal meeting and +emerged from the study.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 242px;"> +<img src="images/i_070.jpg" width="242" height="400" alt="" /> +<span class="caption">"It's a compact," said the former.</span> +</div> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<p class="center">TEA-TABLE AND POLITICS</p> + + +<p>There were three parties assembled around the tea-table, bluff Captain +Thomas Lanyan, a brother of Sir James, a sturdy old widower; Mistress +Betty Lanyan—a spinster and a distant relative of the family, and +Master Richard—a young man in his last year in Eton and the perfect +counterpart of his father, only much younger.</p> + +<p>Mistress Betty was tall and angular, like Sir James, yet with a good +supply of feminine sweetness in her features. The sole drawback to her +countenance was her nose, that was neither a thing of beauty nor grace. +It was of the large hooked variety, so common to the family. Yet so +strange are the freaks of Madam Nature, that the eagle nose of Sir James +was universally commended as giving him the commanding and dignified +appearance of a statesman; while one of the same variety on the +countenance of Mistress Betty was considered exceedingly derogatory and +shrewish. Notwithstanding this detractive feature, Mistress Betty was a +good-hearted soul. She always had, at least in company, that mellow +smile on her face that gave a vivid reality to the stanza,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And waste its fragrance on the desert air."<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 56]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>The Captain was moulded more like his mother's side of the house. Clear +grey eyes lighted up a countenance that was rugged and weather-beaten, +while the family nose was absent and in its place was the straight, +plain variety characteristic of his mother's family. Over his forehead +was a long, livid scar that ran from the centre of the forehead, +obliquely, to the right ear, a cavalry slash of the battle of Waterloo. +Mistress Betty always persisted in having this covered by the Captain's +waving grey hair, but the Captain would just as persistently throw his +hair up and to one side, revealing the full extent of his old wound. +What Mistress Betty was ashamed of was the Captain's glory. Captain Tom +lived in tolerable contentment on a government pension, and of all the +family, none were upon such intimate terms with the squire as himself.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Captain Tom, what cheer?" said the Squire as he cordially shook the +hand of the veteran. "And Master Richard, you are quite a man and every +inch like your father. And Mistress Betty, I hope I see you well," and +the squire made a profound bow that would shame an old-time knight, at +the same time grasping her small hand delicately with his own.</p> + +<p>The salutations were returned and then, seated around the tea-table that +was placed near the immense bow-window, the master of Lanyan requested +his guest to pronounce the blessing. The squire, who was seated beside +Mistress Betty, perhaps designedly, who knows, for that lady had not +given up the custom of angling, proceeded according to his usual custom.</p> + +<p>"We thank thee——Oh! zounds and the devil!" <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> + +<p>The latter part was like the explosion of a battery of artillery, and +with reason. Mistress Betty's lap-dog, an unsightly brute, deeming +himself insulted by the proximity of the squire, or perhaps jealous of +his mistress' attentions to another—like many a human rejected suitor +filled with vengeful spleen, or perhaps—kept waiting for his +dinner—and seeing a fat limb much larger than the usual chicken leg +near him, he decided to forage for himself. Whatever reason he had +within him, the results were the same, for he fastened his teeth most +vindictively in the squire's nankeen trowsers. Human nature was not +proof against such an assault, and the victim gave vent to the above +startling and most unseemly expression. He leaped up from the table, +slapping and rubbing the affected part to relieve the pain.</p> + +<p>The young Etonian had a grin on his generally calm countenance. Captain +Tom with more zeal than wisdom grasped the poker and shoved it through +the bars of the grate, saying that they had best have the wound +cauterised at once. Sir James was profuse in apologies and Mistress +Betty, much vexed, hurried the snarling brute into the library.</p> + +<p>"This is out—outrageous," faltered the squire, in the midst of his +pain; "such a savage brute, I wonder why you don't have him killed, Sir +James."</p> + +<p>"Cruel man, to abuse poor Cæsar so," said Mistress Betty, with a flash +of the eye.</p> + +<p>"Zounds, madam," replied the squire, but he went no further. His +inherent courtesy to ladies, and the ap <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 58]</a></span>pearance of Captain Tom with the +hot poker, caused him to beat a hasty retreat to the table.</p> + +<p>With a smile of anguish he sat down, saying, "It is nothing, madam, +nothing, Captain Tom—I do assure you—no need of cauterising—the pain +has already gone."</p> + +<p>Captain Tom very reluctantly replaced the poker, and soon they were all +seated, chatting merrily, as if nothing had happened. The squire, +occasionally slipping his hand beneath the table and giving the smarting +limb a soothing rub, talked as cheerfully as the rest.</p> + +<p>"And you won't stand for re-election," said the squire to Sir James.</p> + +<p>"Not at present; the times are not yet ripe for reform and we must have +a more extended suffrage before I can stand with success," said Sir +James, helping himself to another lump of sugar and dropping it +carefully into his cup with the air of a sage.</p> + +<p>"Fudge," said Captain Tom, "the country doesn't need extended suffrage. +Why, brother James, if your ideas go into effect the landed estates will +be ruined. We have seen enough of those things over there in France. The +people got extended suffrage and the king and the gentlemen got the +suffering. Bah!" said Captain Tom in some disdain, "the landed estates +must rule, pass out of existence, or give place to a Napoleon," and the +Captain thumped the table emphatically with the sugar tongs.</p> + +<p>"What a sage student of history you are, Captain Tom, and yet there are +some things yet to learn. The <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 59]</a></span> revolution in France was not caused by +their obtaining the suffrage, but by the retention of suffrage from them +until they arose in revolt. A fortunate thing is it for the government +that yields to the demands of the people and is not compelled to yield. +When the proper form of government is in vogue, then there will be no +occasion for the people demanding or of the government yielding. +Government should stand halfway between the highest pinnacle and the +broadest base of the populace."</p> + +<p>"Why, Sir James, you surprise me!" ejaculated the squire; "you may as +well turn American with those ideas! Tut—tut!" followed by a +disapproving shake of the head.</p> + +<p>"A vast discrepancy between Americanism and my ideal. Government in +America stands upon a broad base, but is not as truly representative as +our own government will become in a few years."</p> + +<p>"You speak in riddles, Sir James," replied the squire.</p> + +<p>"Well, let me explain. Strictly speaking, there is no real +representative government. Even in America, women, negroes and Indians +are not represented; neither among those that are represented is there +any fair proportion of representation. Jefferson, their great sage, +wrote the most foolish thing imaginable when he said 'all men are +created free and equal.' It is evident that the opposite is the case. +All men are different, different in physical strength, mental power, +culture, attainments. Even in infanthood they are different. Equal <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 60]</a></span>ity +is nowhere on earth, neither in the vegetable nor animal kingdom. It is +a manifest injustice then to alter the plan of the Creator."</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, now you are coming around to our opinion," said Captain Tom.</p> + +<p>"Not at all. Our present conservative system is wrong and unsafe. +Government is resting on the highest pinnacle of the populace, from +which position it may easily be deposed."</p> + +<p>"Pshaw," said the squire, "I can't understand you; I thought you said +our government was more representative than the American."</p> + +<p>"No. I said it will be in a few years. In America the Church is not +represented, neither are the institutions of learning—although they +ought to have some special representation as well as the States. Now +mark me well. In a few years, a decade at the most, the franchise will +be extended to the humblest shop owner, house owner and tenant, and only +the criminals and the utterly uneducated will have no voice in the +government. Then we will have a more representative government and a +more stable one than our American cousins. More representative, because +colleges, universities, the clergy, and large and small property owners +will have their respective portion of power; more safe because the +roughest and lowest element of society will not have a controlling and +dominating influence. How is it now, however? The landed proprietors and +men of influence pack our House of Commons as they please. Everyone +knows of Old Sarum—that it hasn't a single inhabitant,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 61]</a></span> and yet it +sends a member to the Commons, while Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham +have no voice whatever in the affairs of the nation. We must have an +extended suffrage. The people want it," and Sir James silenced his +batteries.</p> + +<p>"Well, so far as I can see," said Captain Tom, doggedly returning to the +charge "the people are not demanding anything. Our people are +comfortable and happy. Corn has arisen in price and our farmers are +growing rich."</p> + +<p>"Aye," said the squire, "so far as I can see, things are pretty +prosperous. Corn has risen to fifty shillings per quarter."</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Sir James, contemptuously, "what benefit is it for Cousin +Jack in Cornwall to have a full stomach, and Tom in York and Devon to +have an empty one? Fine national prosperity, that. Squire, you are +interested in your own section, Captain Tom reads nothing but war news, +and so both of you are blind to the signs of the times. The memory of +the Blanketeers is still before the public and the pulse of the middle +classes is mounting higher and higher. What signify the riots of last +year and the affair of Peterloo?"</p> + +<p>"A set of rebellious knaves, that need the hand of the Iron Duke to +teach them their manners," replied Captain Tom, who was indignant to be +accused of ignorance on national affairs. "A set of rebellious knaves, +but where do you find gentlemen marching side by side in a cause with +such a rabble."</p> + +<p>"William Cobbet, the journalist," rejoined Sir James.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Aye, a ploughman," sniffed Captain Tom, in some disdain.</p> + +<p>"Aye, and more than a ploughman," added young Master Richard. "There's +Sir Francis Burdette, Lord Brougham, the great Canning, Lord John +Russell, Grenville, and Earl Grey—and Canning and Grey were Etonians." +The last part was uttered with a little triumph in the tone.</p> + +<p>"Ah, the young cock is beginning to crow," said Captain Tom, who knew +not what else to reply.</p> + +<p>Sir James looked pleased at this heavy broadside from his son and then +again took up the reform cudgel, saying: "Very true, and even the +younger Pitt over twenty years ago agitated the subject."</p> + +<p>Here the squire thought it time to assist his friend, Captain Tom, and +also show that he was not destitute of knowledge on national affairs.</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut, that is a bad argument; Pitt abandoned his position as +untenable, and——"</p> + +<p>"Aye, he knew he couldn't hold the position and retreated as a sensible +general should," interrupted Tom.</p> + +<p>"Because of the excesses of the French revolution," replied Sir James.</p> + +<p>The spirited debate went on with varying success to either party, +Mistress Betty participating, sometimes on one side, and at times on the +other, always sympathising with the weaker party, as women generally do. +Toward the close, Captain Tom and the squire being hopelessly put to +rout by the combined wisdom of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 63]</a></span> Etonian and parliamentarian, she +faithfully adhered to the former side, until even Captain Tom was forced +to admit that, though a woman was of no service in a battle, yet they +made pretty fair tongue-soldiers.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the squire, as he was preparing to go, "your remarks, Sir +James, have convinced me of one thing, and that is your sincere +disinterestedness in self and your love for old England and her welfare. +You are a statesman, sir, and we shall soon see if we can't place you in +Parliament; aye, Tory or Liberal,—what matter—so long as the man is +honest and capable."</p> + +<p>Now this was exactly what Sir James had expected, and he shook hands +cordially.</p> + +<p>"Hold on, squire, we must have James there as a Tory. I don't believe he +is as much a Liberal at heart as he pretends. Don't surrender the +standard, squire," said Captain Tom.</p> + +<p>A servant was holding in readiness the squire's cob, and assisted him to +mount. Raising his hat, gallantly, to Mistress Betty, and waving an +adieu to the others he paced briskly down the drive and out on the +highway.</p> + +<p>"What a courteous gentleman, and young, though he is a widower," +murmured Mistress Betty. "Did you notice how, out of respect for my +feelings for Cæsar, he didn't utter any complaint."</p> + +<p>"Fudge," said Captain Tom, "that was due to his brave spirit in enduring +pain. What a soldier he would make!"</p> + +<p>"Pshaw!" exclaimed young Master Richard, "the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 64]</a></span> old gentleman thought +more of the hot poker than he did of courage or courtesy."</p> + +<p>"It was courtesy," reaffirmed Mistress Betty.</p> + +<p>"It was courage," exclaimed Tom.</p> + +<p>"It was hot poker," reiterated the Etonian again and again, until under +a score of reproaches from Mistress Betty and Captain Tom,—the former +emphasising the courtesy, the latter the courage of the squire,—he +found safety in speedy retreat.</p> + +<p>Sir James said nothing until after Master Richard's exit, and then he +broached the squire's desire of an alliance between the families.</p> + +<p>"It seems we'll get the estates of the Manor in our family after all, +and by a much more honourable method than father tried. That deed always +did make me half ashamed of our name."</p> + +<p>"Captain Tom," said Sir James, with a little of asperity in his voice, +"the plan that exposed a traitor was perfectly honourable."</p> + +<p>"I have always had my doubts whether my old comrade, Major Tommy +Trembath, was a traitor, or his father either. They were both too honest +to be guilty of treason. Why, look at the record of old Captain Ande at +Culloden and Prestonpans. He was a hero. There he stood with Gardner at +Prestonpans, fighting gallantly until stricken down with overwhelming +numbers, and there was Major Tommy in the Peninsular campaigns. Aye, the +more I think of it the more am I inclined to disbelieve the report of +their treason,—but circumstances were against them," and the old +soldier <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 65]</a></span> sighed, and with a halting step, due to a wound—a relic of the +Napoleonic wars,—he tramped once or twice up and down the veranda. When +he ceased, the look of sadness was gone and a humorous twinkle was in +his eye. Around his weather-beaten countenance there was the faint trace +of a smile of merriment.</p> + +<p>"However, it is a good plan,—this marriage—and—if Cousin Betty can +catch the squire we'll have a double claim on the Manor."</p> + +<p>"Why, Captain Tom, how absurd!" exclaimed Mistress Betty, blushing +confusedly.</p> + +<p>"A tell-tale blush! I'll have to tell my old friend, the squire, of his +opportunities to capture the stronghold of ages, that has remained +unconquered for——"</p> + +<p>"How absurd!" exclaimed Mistress Betty, in mingled anger and confusion, +as she beat a hasty retreat to her apartments.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<p class="center">"OFF WITH HIS HEAD."<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> "King Richard III."</p></div> + + +<p>It was still twilight when the squire reached the Manor. Hastily giving +the cob into the hand of Sloan, he hurried into the hall and seated +himself by a large window, where was stationed a large oaken table +littered with a motley array of books and papers. This was the squire's +position when any petty case was brought before him. Whether the books +were kept for show or use no one knew. The only time the squire was +known to look at them was during a trial, and this he did with the air +of a Lord Chief Justice, which air had a very perceptible effect upon +the trembling culprit.</p> + +<p>If the truth were told, the squire had a more intimate knowledge of +fishing, hunting, farm and mine management, the origin of ancient +village plays and customs, than about law. Law always was a perplexing +study to him. But as a compensation for his lack in this respect, he +more than made it up in the learned dignity of his demeanour.</p> + +<p>There were approaching steps heard on the veranda, and then the opening +of a door, and in a moment more Stephen Blunt and Ande Trembath stood +before him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<p>The steward took the chair that he was accustomed to occupy, ushered to +such position by a wave of the squire's hand, and sharpened his quill +pen preparatory to writing. Ande, neither invited to sit down nor stand, +remained near at hand. His mother in her fond delight, thinking that he +was to be rewarded for his morning heroism, had determined that he +should be dressed in a manner suitable for the occasion. He presented a +very creditable appearance in his snow-white trowsers, neckerchief, and +neat blue jacket. His feelings were not as pleasant as his garments. +Since he was evidently going to be rewarded for his services in saving +the life of Mistress Alice, he felt exceedingly out of place. He rested +his weight on one foot, fidgeted with the other, and fumbled his cap in +a nervous manner. He grew restless under the steady eye of the master of +Trembath Manor, and his restlessness increased the suspicions in the +mind of the latter.</p> + +<p>"Master Trembath."</p> + +<p>The lad felt relieved that the silence was at length broken.</p> + +<p>"Master Trembath, you were nigh the estate of late?"</p> + +<p>"Yes—s, sir. I frequently go through the Manor woods, sir."</p> + +<p>"Note that down, Master Blunt."</p> + +<p>A bewildered look passed over the lad's face.</p> + +<p>"You were nigh the estate last evening, and will you now tell us what +you were doing in that place at that time?" <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> + +<p>Ande grew more amazed and confused; amazed because he knew not what the +squire was trying to ascertain, confused because he had been there and +even in the gardens, but for a purpose he did not wish to divulge. A +wave of crimson swept over his countenance, rivalling the sanguine hue +of his locks.</p> + +<p>"Take notice of his confusion, Master Blunt," and then in a stern voice +to the lad, "You may as well out with it, we know all the facts of the +affair."</p> + +<p>Ande tried to answer, but his tongue clave to the roof of his mouth. His +heart seemed to sink lower and lower in his chest.</p> + +<p>"Sir, sir,—I—I——"</p> + +<p>"You were in the gardens last evening," thundered the squire, his wrath +getting the better of him. "You were in the gardens, were you not? +Answer on your honour?"</p> + +<p>"I was," falteringly.</p> + +<p>"And for what purpose?"</p> + +<p>"That I cannot tell."</p> + +<p>"And why not?"</p> + +<p>The youth was silent. He had the appearance of a culprit, and felt +wretched and miserable. The squire continued to question and +cross-question, but of no avail, and at length, growing nettled and +peevish, he said, "I will state the case plainly to you, Master +Trembath. You were in the gardens last evening, last Wednesday night and +last Monday night. On Monday night you drained the fish-pond and stole +the best fish; on Wednesday you ruined the shrubbery beds; last evening +you <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 69]</a></span> took a stone from the hedge and killed my faithful mastiff, +Borlase. What answer do you make to these accusations? Make a clean +breast of it and it will be better for you, my lad."</p> + +<p>The accusation, thus plainly stated, had a directly opposite effect upon +the crestfallen lad. All his diffidence and confusion fell away from him +like a garment. He flung up his head like a young lion cub, his blue +eyes scintillated, and his red locks shook like the mane of a savage +beast under rising passion. Blunt was alarmed and the squire was awed.</p> + +<p>"What have I to say to these accusations? I say they are lies! They are +false! I was not here on Monday or Wednesday. I never stole your fish or +drained the pond, or trampled the shrubbery, or killed the dog. Who +accuses me? Who, I say?" The lad advanced to the table, boldly, all his +confusion gone, and the wild soldier blood of his ancestors coursing +like molten fire through his veins. "Why am I brought here in the home +of my fathers to be insulted? Have not you, Squire Vivian, and the +Lanyans, done enough evil to our family but that you must charge me with +being a thief, and——"</p> + +<p>"Silence!" thundered the squire, who had been stirred up by the lad's +charge of injustice. Ande stood silent, with heaving breast. The squire +mastered himself before he continued.</p> + +<p>"Your charge against me is not to the point. If you do not know, I will +tell you that this estate was bought from the government by services +rendered, which had no <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 70]</a></span> connection with your family. Your family affair, +neither my father nor myself had anything to do with; that is between +the Lanyans and yours."</p> + +<p>Ande Trembath had heard for the first time that the Vivians had had no +hand in the confiscation of the Manor, and there was a revulsion of +feeling within him. The squire nor his family, then, were enemies of +his. He felt, notwithstanding the accusation against him, a better +feeling, and even a little gladness within his heart. Why, he did not +know.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, your honour. I had never heard it put that way."</p> + +<p>"That is neither here nor there," said the squire, sternly, "and has no +connection with the case. You were seen nigh the grounds. You confess to +being on the grounds a short time before last evening's outrage, yet you +say you are innocent of the charge."</p> + +<p>"I am innocent."</p> + +<p>"Well, why were you on the grounds?"</p> + +<p>Again the lad flushed painfully and was silent.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the squire, "since there is no direct evidence, but only +circumstantial, I shall dismiss you with a reprimand, and a caution to +be careful in the future and amend your ways, or Newgate will have you +yet, and"—here the squire pushed his countenance into a large law-book, +as if consulting reference—"and as to punishment, I will let you off +lightly. Master Blunt, call Sloan."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 71]</a></span></p><p>The steward dropped his writing and left the hall, returning soon with +the stout, old hostler.</p> + +<p>"George, take Master Trembath out and put him in the stocks for one +hour."</p> + +<p>The old hostler opened his mouth slightly in amazement, as if to say +something, but the frown on his master's brow checked him. Without a +word, George Sloan and Stephen Blunt took the dazed lad out of the hall, +down the garden avenue, and out through the gates to the very scene of +his morning exploit, where was situated the village stocks. Resistance +was out of the question, and so he submitted, as if his spirit was +crushed.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry for 'ee, my lad," said old George, "but us has to hobey +horders. To think that the grandson of old squire shud be shut in th' +stocks," and old George shook his head, for he felt the disgrace as +keenly as the lad.</p> + +<p>Stephen Blunt, who was not a native of the section, but had come in with +the squire's father from the East, said nothing. The Trembaths were +nothing to him, having never known them intimately. But old George +Sloan, Ned Pengilly and others native to the soil, who had served with +their fathers under the Trembaths, took great umbrage at the shabby +treatment of the "young squire."</p> + +<p>Ande thought of the misery of the disgrace; he, the best scholar in the +parish school, condemned and punished as a common thief. He thought of +his father and his grandfather. They were of the bravest gentry in +Cornwall. None could show a better record in the annals of the county. +They had taken their part in every <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 72]</a></span> prominent movement in the nation. +The last of the line, branded as a thief, and, like a common vagrant, +imprisoned in the stocks! He thought of his mother and her pride in him. +He gave an impatient wrench to free his imprisoned ankles, but the +framework was too heavy to be opened in his position. He thought of the +parson's sermon of the previous Sabbath. Yes, he was like Joseph. The +iron was entering his soul. He gave vent to his pent up feelings in +tears.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<p class="center">THE VILLAGE STOCKS <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> + + +<p>"'Allo! What 'as us 'ere?"</p> + +<p>It was a coarse voice, half boy's and half man's.</p> + +<p>Ande looked up and perceived, coming through the gloom, a long-legged, +stout lad, about three years older than himself. He had just emerged +from the Manor woods and was engaged in what he thought a manly +occupation, smoking a short pipe—or Cornish bob. The prisoner did not +recognise him at first, for the twilight had begun to darken into night, +but as the newcomer advanced he saw the most unwelcome sight of his +bitterest school enemy,—Bully Bob Sloan.</p> + +<p>The recognition was almost simultaneous and the newcomer allowed his +freckled face to relax into a grin of delight.</p> + +<p>"'Allo, can't 'ee speak? What has tha done, boy, to git in they wooden +leggins?"</p> + +<p>"The squire did it, Bob, but I 'adn't done anything. Squire said I 'ad +drained the fish-pond, but I didn't. Now, let me out of here, do, Bob."</p> + +<p>This was said in a propitiating tone, for, thought the lad, Bob might +help him. But he had not estimated Bob aright.</p> + +<p>"Um," with a sage air and a shake of the head,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 74]</a></span> "can't go against the +squire's horders; and then I 'alf suspect 'ee'rt guilty, my lad, for I +seed 'ee myself and told squire, or rather caused 'e to hear it, that I +had seed 'ee a-lurking nigh the grounds. Ah, my lad, think what a fall +ah be for 'ee, the best scholard in the school,—a criminal, a-sitting +in the stocks; and by and by 'ee will be hung for more thieving and +willainry. What a karacter! What a disgrace!" and Bob shook his head, in +mock sadness. "And when I tell the master and the lads at school, 'cause +I got to tell them to save they from associating with a thief, 'ow +shocked they will feel. I expect, too, I 'ad better clear out myself, as +my repertation might be a-hinjured a-talking 'ere with a criminal."</p> + +<p>"Don't lad me," said Ande, in some wrath, "you're no more of a man than +I am, and as for reputation, you've none to spare."</p> + +<p>"Softly, softly, little lad; 'ow pretty 'e looks, a-dressed in 'is +Sunday clothes, a-sitting in the stocks, and as I do live, the little +lad 'as been a-crying. Aren't 'ee afeared 'ee'll spoil your pretty new +jacket?"</p> + +<p>Bob advanced a step or two, and placing the pipe again in his mouth at a +dangerous angle, and grinning with Satanic pleasure, shoved his freckled +countenance almost into Ande's face.</p> + +<p>Now the stocks was an instrument of confinement in which the ankles were +held securely, while the arms and hands were free. Bob had evidently +forgotten the latter fact, but was made aware of it by a stinging +left-hander, that sent the pipe flying and Bob likewise into the dust.</p> + +<p>"Now, damme, for a traitor's cub, I'll eat 'ee up," <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 75]</a></span> exclaimed Bob in +his wrath, as he arose from the dust, with bloody lip and vengeful eye. +And he doubtlessly would have made some attempt to carry out his dire +vengeance had not the sound of approaching footsteps and a cheery +whistling in the distance been heard. Dreading some encounter with the +Hall people, and with a threat of vengeance at some future time, he made +off for the village.</p> + +<p>The whistling came nearer and nearer. A tall, dark figure emerged from +the gloom, walking with a quick, jaunty step.</p> + +<p>"What ho, my Bob Cuffins, scragged in wooden leggins!" The white +trousers and blue jacket caught his eye. "Well, a gentry cove." Dropping +all dialect, his language became more respectful.</p> + +<p>"And what hast done, lad, to be trussed up like this?"</p> + +<p>Ande looked at the stranger, doubtingly. He was clad in a long rough +coat, the skirts of which were slightly torn. His countenance was dark, +but with a healthy bloom on it.</p> + +<p>"Come, my lad, I look rather unprepossessing and rough, but mayhap I am +better than I appear."</p> + +<p>Ande, reassured, told his story briefly.</p> + +<p>"And you're Squire Trembath's grandson, and you were accused of the +mischief at the Manor?" said the fellow, and then softly whistled to +himself. "I think I had better let you out for two reasons. First, +because you couldn't have done the things said, since one of my partners +did that. I don't mind telling you, as you can't prove your innocence +otherwise, and as long as <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 76]</a></span> you don't tell the squire before a day or so, +it won't hurt us. Then, in the second place, I like to pay my debts to +friends. If you ever see your father, tell him that Midnight Jack +returned his favour of over sixteen years ago."</p> + +<p>With a quick movement, the tall gipsy chief leaned down, wrenched open +the clasp of the stocks, and the imprisoned lad was free. He was gone +even before the lad could thank him.</p> + +<p>Burning with indignation at his disgrace, Ande hastened home with flying +feet. His mother had already retired. In anguish of soul, he quietly +stole up the little attic stairs to retire, but not to sleep.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<p class="center">REPARATION <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> + + +<p>Some days elapsed before Ande went near the village or the Manor. With a +boyish burst of confidence, he related the whole affair to his mother, +who was not only shocked, but highly indignant at the treatment accorded +her "laddie." The lad refused to attend school and lost some of his old +buoyant spirit. In these days, he spent most of his time working around +the home place, meeting frequently Tom Glaze, in the furze croft, and +profiting much by his training. Tom had heard of Ande's shameful +treatment, and had given him much advice, that seemed phenomenal, coming +from such a pugilistic character.</p> + +<p>"See 'ere, my lad, doan't 'ee go a-moping around, looking as ghastly as +a death's head on a mopstick. Thee might as well knaw there's no use +a-fighting sarcumstances that way. The squire will discover his mistake +some day, and will maake all right. When the lads tease 'ee a bit about +the stocks, doan't 'ee take any offence. Doan't 'ee fight o'er little +things."</p> + +<p>"Aye, but the world treats a man pretty hard once when he is down, and +what's a fellow to do?"</p> + +<p>"Why, above all things, doan't 'ee be a great chuckle-head, but have +some judgment," said Tom, at which <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 78]</a></span> Ande flushed angrily. "Now doan't +'ee take no offence. What I means is this. Did 'ee ever see a kicking +donkey? Treat un kindly and 'e won't kick. Smile and duck your 'ead to +the world and say, 'What cheer,' or ''Ow do 'ee do,' and the world will +smile and bow or duck back and say, 'Pretty well, thank 'ee,' or 'Brave, +thank 'ee.' Frown, and give the world the cold shoulder, and you gets +the same. They say the Golden Rule is 'Do unto others as 'ee would be +done by,' but the practical rule is 'Others do to 'ee as 'ee do by +they.'"</p> + +<p>"Well, Master Glaze, that doesn't 'old good in my case. Here I did good +to Squire Vivian and received evil in return."</p> + +<p>"Exceptions prove the rule. Anyhow, try my hadvice."</p> + +<p>Ande did try Tom's advice, and was gratified to see that, with the +exception of Bully Bob Sloan, all the village lads improved in their +conduct toward him. The rescue of Mistress Alice was soon noised abroad, +and he was considered almost in the light of a hero by the juvenile +element.</p> + +<p>One evening, as the lad was returning from the furze croft, he noticed a +chaise and pony at his mother's door. It was the chaise of Mistress +Alice, who had, since the affair with Queeny, betaken herself to the +pony and chaise when desiring an airing. His mother had received her +with a certain amount of cold dignity which her feelings would scarcely +allow her to conceal.</p> + +<p>There was a variety of emotions in the lad's breast as he approached. +There was anger at Squire Vivian's <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 79]</a></span> indignity to him, a feeling of shame +at the report of his depredations, and an emotion that had lived in his +soul for quite a time, but which he had never fully analysed. From early +childhood he had remembered the squire's daughter. He remembered, with +all a youth's tenacity, how he was led to church by the tall, soldierly +man, his father, and how rapidly he had to move his infantile feet to +keep up with the soldier's tread. In the family pew he would sometimes +turn his head to a nice dark-haired little miss of a few summers' age, +seated in Squire Vivian's pew. Once she had shyly and demurely returned +his look, then quickly turned away, as if displeased. He had asked his +father afterward whether he didn't think the squire's girl a "pretty +little maid," and he remembered the hearty roar of laughter with which +his father responded. Since he had been attending the parish school, he +had not seen her much. Indeed, he had never become acquainted with her +before the affair of the runaway. He had always admired those dark elfin +locks, and in church he had thought if he had one of them how he would +cherish it, and then he had flushed crimson at what he thought almost a +profanation. He had always admired her, but the feeling he had had for +quite a time past could neither be admiration nor friendship. He had not +analysed it. It was this strange sentiment that had led him frequently +into the vicinity of the Manor, before the regrettable affair of the +stocks. His appearance there on the evening of the killing of the +mastiff was an incident of that kind. He had conceived a passion for +flowers, and especially for the flow <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 80]</a></span>ers of a garden plot, watered and +attended by the hand of Mistress Alice. Could he secure one of those +blossoms? Now, Ande was the perfect soul of honour, but he had had a +hard fight with himself to keep from appropriating what was not his own. +The slightness of the offence, the intensity of his feelings, the +heritage of his ancestors, all urged the harmlessness of the deed. He +might have secured one by request, but he would have died before +exposing his feelings to ridicule.</p> + +<p>Ande stood near the threshold with a tumult of feelings within him, that +made him look more like an awkward, country lout than the grandson of a +squire.</p> + +<p>"Master Trembath, I have come to beg your pardon for the hasty act of +father."</p> + +<p>Ande could not help noticing the slight colouring of her features, +enhanced by the wealth of dark locks overhead. There was a sincerity and +earnestness in her tone that made her a hundred times more attractive +than he had ever seen her before. He mastered himself with a great +effort.</p> + +<p>"The apology comes from the wrong person, Mistress Vivian, and the deed +being done, cannot be undone."</p> + +<p>"It was a cruel injustice," said Mrs. Trembath, with some little warmth +in her tone, "and I wondered how the squire could have done it, seeing +how bravely my laddie acted in the runaway."</p> + +<p>The young girl flushed at the charge of injustice.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, father was not aware of Master Trembath's brave conduct; he was +away all afternoon, and I was not aware of the judgment on Master +Trembath until <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 81]</a></span> the following day. I was very much vexed over the whole +affair, and when I told father, he, too, was chagrined, yet he said the +circumstances were so much against Master Trembath that he didn't see +how he could amend matters. I want you to accept these flowers, Master +Trembath, as a token of my high esteem, and I trust that you will +neither consider my father nor myself in any hard light."</p> + +<p>She placed the large bouquet of flowers on the settle and turned to +depart. Mrs. Trembath placed her hand on the dark, raven locks of the +squire's daughter as she stood on the portico step.</p> + +<p>"And may God's blessing attend you, Mistress Vivian, for your kind and +charitable spirit, and may your father be imbued with the same!"</p> + +<p>Ande accompanied her to the pony chaise. His righteous indignation +against the squire was mitigated by this unexpected visit and by the +flowers. He had coveted only a single blossom; here was a gorgeous bunch +from her very hand.</p> + +<p>They made a pretty picture, standing without the gate, in the rays of +the setting sun. The pony stood patiently waiting near the hedge, +occasionally nibbling a choice bit of herbage that seemed to seek safety +from his investigating jaws in the rough rock crevices.</p> + +<p>"I thank you very much; the flowers are very beautiful."</p> + +<p>"And you will not think hard of my father."</p> + +<p>The youth was silent and bit his lip; then avoiding the question, he +answered:</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It was not the stocks, but the accusation and the condemnation, that +has made all people look down on me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Master Trembath——"</p> + +<p>"Call me Ande; it's more natural to me; you were going to say——"</p> + +<p>"I was going to ask whether you could not clear yourself from being on +the grounds at that time."</p> + +<p>"No. I was there."</p> + +<p>"After your having saved my life. I shudder to think of it——"</p> + +<p>"You shudder to think of my saving your life," said the youth, a little +stiffly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. How you misunderstand me!"</p> + +<p>"You mean you are pleased," said Ande, brightening.</p> + +<p>"Stupid!" said the girl, a little indignant. "Why don't you let me +finish my sentence."</p> + +<p>Ande was abashed at this rebuff.</p> + +<p>"I shuddered at the accident that might have been, and I want to see you +justified. Now if you could tell me why you were there I could inform +father, and he, being the soul of honour, would make all right."</p> + +<p>"No, I cannot tell my reason," said the youth, flushing painfully.</p> + +<p>"And not even tell me, when you know I am so interested in having you +brought out from under this cloud."</p> + +<p>"If you knew you would not tell him either," said the youth, doggedly.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 83]</a></span></p> + +<p>She gazed at him quickly. Somehow in her young woman soul she seemed to +read his reason. Yes, in a moment, with that keen intuition, developed +earlier in woman than in man, she read through this hesitation, this +confusion. She knew.</p> + +<p>"I can tell who did the deed, though," said the lad, for he thought of +the information of the gipsy chief, and that now he was at perfect +liberty to tell.</p> + +<p>"Who?" asked the girl, eagerly. This youth that had so bravely saved her +life should be justified.</p> + +<p>Ande related the events of his rescue from the stocks and the tale of +the gypsy chief. The girl listened with brightening eye and kindling +cheeks.</p> + +<p>"It must be so, for how could you have gotten forth from the stocks? No +one would have dared to let you out but a person like that. I know how +we all wondered when Stephen Blunt came in and told my father that the +stocks were empty. But why did you not tell this before?"</p> + +<p>"Because Midnight Jack told me it would not hurt them if it wasn't told +for a day or so."</p> + +<p>"I shall see that you are justified. You have been shamefully treated."</p> + +<p>The squire's daughter mounted into the pony chaise, grasped the lines +with her slender, gloved hands, and with a smile was gone.</p> + +<p>"Poor lad! He has been shamefully treated and he shall be justified," +she thought to herself. "How foolish I was not to see before. He loves +me," she said softly. "He is good looking and tall and man-like for <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 84]</a></span> his +age." Then there was a pause in her soliloquy, unbroken save by the pony +hoofs. Then she drew her brows down with a slight frown. "Pshaw!" Then +the scowl left her features and she broke into a slight, nervous laugh. +"Absurd!"</p> + +<p>The remainder of the drive was spent in silence, but there was +heightened colour in her cheeks and a soft, pellucid light in her eyes.</p> + +<p>Old Sloan took the pony and chaise at the entrance of the great house, +and Mistress Alice tripped up the steps and into the hall. The old +squire was seated by the hall fire, meditating apparently, for his chin +was resting on his hand and he had his eyes fixed upon the flaming +coals. His daughter bent over his chair, and lightly kissed his +forehead; then drawing a stool near him she seated herself, leaning her +head against him and waiting for him to speak.</p> + +<p>But the old squire did not speak for a time; he placed his big, brown +hand upon his daughter's dark locks, and still gazed into the fire. It +was the daughter that broke the silence.</p> + +<p>"Father, I have news to tell you."</p> + +<p>"Well, Allie?"</p> + +<p>"It was not Master Trembath that killed Borlase, or drained the pond; it +was one of the gipsies." Then she poured forth the whole story of Ande's +escape from the stocks, while the old squire listened, as he gazed into +the fire. When she had finished he gazed at her.</p> + +<p>"I know it, Allie. I had my eyes opened, and even saw the rogue, this +afternoon, at Sir James Lanyan's. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 85]</a></span> Sir James had him up for some +offence and he confessed all, the rogue."</p> + +<p>"And about Master Trembath?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, that's what troubles me. I can't see what I can do to justify him. +True, I can exonerate him, but to make reparation for the injustice of +putting the lad into the stocks—I can't see what I can do. The lad is +better than I thought, if he does have treasonable blood."</p> + +<p>"We must exonerate him by announcing it in the parish school and at the +church. We ought to reward him, too, for stopping the runaway. It ought +not to be said that a Vivian received a favour of such kind, from any +one, without doing something in return."</p> + +<p>"Reparation shall be made!" exclaimed the squire, emphatically. Alice +had touched him in his pride. She had also touched him on the side of +his honesty and uprightness.</p> + +<p>"We will have it announced in the parish school and church, as you say; +the whole parish knew it when he was placed in the stocks, and the whole +parish shall know of it—that he is not guilty—that—that——But we +must do something else. That will be only common justice. We must reward +the lad,—but how?"</p> + +<p>The eyes of Mistress Alice became luminous; she was winning her case. +With deftness she proceeded.</p> + +<p>"He doesn't like to attend school, so Parson Trant says, and I was +thinking how nice it would be to send him to the Helston Grammar School. +Now, father, if you could make the offer?" <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 86]</a></span></p> + +<p>The squire brightened. He had found a way out of his difficulties. He +kissed his daughter and called her a wise, little prime minister. He +hastened away that very evening to the parson's house, and the old +rector was delighted to be the means of Ande's reinstatement in popular +favour.</p> + +<p>After the departure of Mistress Alice from the Primrose Cottage, Ande +had better thoughts of the squire and his people. Somehow or other he +felt lighter of heart, but his mind was strangely confused. During the +evening hymn instead of the sweet strains of Ken's Evening Hymn he was +guilty of fearful, musical blunders.</p> + +<p>As he lay awake under the eaves that night, his imagination still +carried him back to the garden-gate scene. Yes, she stood before him +just as attractive in memory as she did then. In impatience he tried to +banish her face.</p> + +<p>"Fudge," said he "I'll get Glaze to give me a skevern in the chacks that +will knock some sense into my addled head."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 87]</a></span></p><p>He dreamed that night that he was under the walls of the great house, +near Mistress Alice's window, and that he was playing on the harp of his +fathers. Once he thought he saw her face—then it changed to the +features of the squire—and, wonder to relate, a smile upon his rugged +features—then over the squire's shoulders appeared the sardonic +countenance of Sir James Lanyan. He changed the strains to the Hymn of +the Lark, and Sir James paled and fled.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<p class="center">DEFEAT OF BULLY BOB SLOAN</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"I am the Valiant Cornishman<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who slew the giant Cormoran."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i25">—<i>Cor. Ballad.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>"Ande, my lad, I have been thinking about you and your unfortunate +experience, and have been pondering in my mind, for quite a time, what +to do. Your education, already so advanced, must not be slighted. You do +not feel like continuing school here?"</p> + +<p>It was the parson who was speaking. Parson Trant with Ande was seated in +the study room of the rectory, a pretty, half stone, half brick edifice, +nearly concealed from the public road by masses of ivy and foliage. It +was built for the express use of the parson, and, according to his +desires, was as retiring from public notice as a mother bird ensconced +in her nest amidst enveloping leaves.</p> + +<p>"No, Parson Trant, I think not."</p> + +<p>"I thought so; but your education shall not be neglected. Squire Vivian +has come to me and realising how bravely you acted in the runaway, and +how unjustly you were treated, proposed that you should go to the +Helston Grammar School."</p> + +<p>Ande's countenance flushed. The parson perceived it and continued.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 88]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now, Ande, lad, the ill feeling between the squire and you ought to +cease. He is good-hearted in the main. He has made ample reparation for +the offence of the stocks and he wishes to show his good will and +thankfulness for the rescue of his daughter. It is a creditable action +of his, and you are not receiving any favour, but a just due. I have +talked to your mother of the matter and she is willing for you to go. I +have written to the head and he will make room for you. You must not +allow any hard feeling on your part to mar the happiness of your mother +and the hopes of your best friends. Besides, it is not courteous to +refuse to meet the overtures of friendship from one whom you have always +esteemed an enemy, especially when that person meets you more than +halfway. Your father would not have scorned to do so, and you desire to +be as much of a gentleman as your father was."</p> + +<p>The youth was won over by the earnest manner and words of his friend, +the parson. There was quite a conversation as to the time of entrance, +the necessary preparations, and the conclusion of it all was that Ande +should go after the Christmas holidays.</p> + +<p>His mind delighted with the prospect of attending the Grammar School, +and with airy dreams of what that existence would be, he left the +rectory and wended his way with light steps down the walk and out on the +public road. The sun seemed to smile brighter upon him, the birds to +warble sweeter, and all nature seemed to be tinged with the bright hues +of his day dreams of the future. There were voices in the distance, +boyishvoices, and with laugh and rude joke, a crowd of parish school +lads, bubbling with spirits, surged around a neck of woods. The master +had given them a half-holiday and they were bound to the Giant's Quoit, +a huge rock said to have been used as a plaything by the ancient Cyclops +of Cornwall.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106"></a></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107"></a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 243px;"> +<img src="images/i_106.jpg" width="243" height="400" alt="" /> +<span class="caption">"Yes, give three hoots for the red-'eaded Deane and all his +traitor hancestors."</span> +</div> + +<p>"'Allo, come along, Ande, will 'ee?" exclaimed Tommy Puckinharn.</p> + +<p>"No, can't go," replied Ande, shaking his head. He must go home and talk +with his mother over the great prospects of attending the Grammar +School.</p> + +<p>"Naw,—'e must ask 'is mawther fust," cried Bully Bob, with a great +coarse laugh. The laugh and the reference to his mother stung Ande, but +he pretended not to notice.</p> + +<p>"'E's getting up too far now in society to 'sociate with we; 'e was +calling on squire some time ago, and squire give 'im the seat of +honour—fact," said Bob with a wink and a grin that seemed to bring +forth additional grins upon the countenances of several of his +satellites.</p> + +<p>Ande stood for a moment, irresolute, then resumed his way.</p> + +<p>"Les give three hoots for the red-'eaded Deane and all his traitor +hancestors."</p> + +<p>The last was too much for the impatient spirit of the lad to brook. +Turning about and with a calm, steady voice, he cast his gauntlet at Bob +in the shape of a few words in the dialect, equivalent to a challenge to +battle the world over.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Bob, thee'rt a great, ghastly coward, and thee knaw it."</p> + +<p>A wave of redness swept over Bob's face, completely drowning the +freckles with which it was freely sprinkled.</p> + +<p>"'Ow's that! I 'ave a good mind to scat thee in the chacks for thy +himpudence, m'lad." And then in a tantilising manner, as Ande +approached, he continued, "Thee art a traitor, for thy faather and +grandfaather were traitors. Everybody knaws they were traitors and +cowards hout in blooming hold America."</p> + +<p>The words had hardly emanated from his lips when—smack!—went Ande's +hand on the mouth that had spoken this base libel. A thrill of +expectancy passed over all the crowd, a thrill of amazement, awe, vivid +interest.</p> + +<p>"Damme," said Bob, as he spat his blood and froth from his lips, "I'll +make 'ee think Saint Michael's Cormoran had 'ee when I get done weth +'ee. Wilt fight or must I knack 'ee down?"</p> + +<p>There was no occasion to ask, for Ande, boiling with rage, was coming at +him with a rush, when a deep voice from the side of the hedge cried, +"'Old hard, there a-bit."</p> + +<p>Tom Glaze vaulted the neighbouring hedge and strode forward into their +midst.</p> + +<p>"Now, I observed the quarrel and I suppose you 'ave got to fight un out, +but 'ee must follow the regular Cornish rules. Thee, Ande, get thy +second, and thee, Bob, get thine, wost tha, and I'll be timekeeper and +referee."</p> + +<p>Glaze led the way over the hedge and the crowd of lads <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 91]</a></span> followed, +leaping the barrier like a flock of sheep. A circle was formed in true +British style. Bob chose one of his satellites, and Ande chose +Puckinharn to act as second. The crowd looked on with intense interest. +Was not this to be the greatest fight they had ever seen? Who had ever +dared to challenge redoubtable Bob before? And to make it additionally +interesting, Tom Glaze, one of the most expert wrestlers and boxers of +the Duchy, was to be the one in charge. It was of as much moment to them +as the battle of Waterloo to their fathers.</p> + +<p>The coats of the contestants were cast aside and their sleeves were +deftly rolled up by the seconds.</p> + +<p>"One, two, three," counted Glaze, and then the battle began.</p> + +<p>With a roar, Bully Bob rushed as if to break every bone in his +antagonist's body, and truly had the blow fallen the battle would have +been a short one, for in age, height and weight Bob had the advantage. +Now did Ande feel grateful for the training in the furze croft. +Heretofore, it was stand up, take and give, but now, to Bob's intense +amazement and disgust, his blow landed on empty air, and as he swept by, +carried by his momentum, he received a fierce jab in the ribs that added +nothing to his good humour. Observing, after one or two encounters like +this, that he had no ordinary battle to fight, he began to be more +cautious and his usual confident, sneering face assumed a doubtful air, +but he still pressed the conflict. With his sledge-hammer fists he shot +out blows that would have felled a much <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 92]</a></span> larger opponent, but they were +either parried or fell on air. With the litheness and agility of a +leopard his opponent was here, there, everywhere, side-stepping and +putting in heavy body blows that made Bob gasp with something more than +astonishment.</p> + +<p>But Ande was growing too confident. Pushing his antagonist in turn, he +sought to reach Bob's freckled countenance, fell short, and, to use his +own expression, "received a skevern on the noase and eyes that made un +see fire."</p> + +<p>A yell went up from Bob's satellites. Bob had drawn first blood, and he +now pressed the dazed Ande, showering on him a number of blows that he +with difficulty avoided.</p> + +<p>The mute silence of the crowd was broken by Bob's success. Whooping, +yelling, they urged Bob on.</p> + +<p>"Give it to the hugly Deane! Knack down the traitor! Hooray! +Braavo-o-o!"</p> + +<p>Only Puckinharn shouted encouragement to his principal.</p> + +<p>"'It un in the ribs, Ande! Thee cussent reach 'is faace. Braavo! Braavo, +now he's gurking."<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Gurking—weakening.</p></div> + +<p>The latter was said in response to a crashing left jab in the ribs that +made Bob lower his guard spasmodically. "At un, Ande; his faace now is +like that of a roasted herring on a gridiron. Up and at un, lad!" +Puckinharn's shouts were swelled by the voices of one or two others who +had been silent before.</p> + +<p>Bob now sought to end the battle in close quarters, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 93]</a></span>and rights and +lefts were freely exchanged. Ande wheeled and his friends were silent in +dread for a moment, but only for a moment. Bob staggered back with a +heavy elbow jolt in the small ribs, but not before he had given his +opponent a blow that sent him to the ground, dazed. Ande's pivot blow +had left a bad opening. Bob seeing his opponent down, was rushing in to +finish the contest on the ground, apparently, no rules having as yet +been devised against it, when Tom Glaze shoved himself between.</p> + +<p>"Round's hup."</p> + +<p>The boys began to cheer for Bob, thinking that the battle was over and +that Bob was a victor, but that worthy silenced them with a growl.</p> + +<p>"Shut up, will 'ee; 'e edent licked yet."</p> + +<p>His crestfallen adherents were silent. In the meantime some of the crowd +had brought water to bathe and refresh the youthful gladiators. An old +horse trough was used by Bob and a battered field kibbel<a name="FNanchor_2_5" id="FNanchor_2_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> by Ande. The +first round was manifestly Bob's. He had drawn first blood and had +knocked his antagonist down. His face was untouched, while Ande's was a +bit drawn; but to judge by the many soft rubs that Bob gave his ribs, he +had not come out of the first round unscathed.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_5" id="Footnote_2_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Kibbel—bucket.</p> +</div> + +<p>As Ande rested on Puckinharn's knee, that worthy gave him sundry pieces +of advice.</p> + +<p>"Thee must keep on 'itting 'im in the ribs; 'e's taller than 'ee, and +thee cussent reach 'is faace; 'e's sore and weak there now; 'e's +gurking, I tell'ee."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Time!" called Tom Glaze, and to the fray again they rushed.</p> + +<p>Bully Bob, flattered by his adherents, had regained his confidence. He +would finish the battle in close quarters, and rushed again and again, +but his wily antagonist was as agile as an eel. Bob paused for breath +and glared.</p> + +<p>"At un, Bob! Eat un up!"</p> + +<p>"I will," said Bob, "as soon as I catch un."</p> + +<p>The fighting continued, Ande playing his old tactics—hitting in the +ribs and getting away. Puckinharn grinned in delight. Round two was up +and honours were equally divided. Bob was filled with wrath.</p> + +<p>"See 'ere," he said to Tom Glaze, "I want to knaw if that is fair, for +'e to go running and dodging around like that? Us aren't playing fox and +hounds. Why doan't 'e stand up and take and give like a man?"</p> + +<p>He was reassured by Glaze, and Glaze's word was law.</p> + +<p>"Thee didn't think it was unfair to crack to Ande when he was down, did +'ee,—thee great bucca," exclaimed Puckinharn.</p> + +<p>A bucca was the highest title of reproach that Puckinharn had in his +vocabulary.</p> + +<p>"Silence," said Glaze; "the rules are that all dodging is allowed."</p> + +<p>"And wrastling, too," said Bob.</p> + +<p>"Aye, and wrastling, too," affirmed Glaze with a peculiar smile.</p> + +<p>And so the rounds went on until the seventh, when <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 95]</a></span></p> + +<p>Bob being unwary, Ande seized his left guard, gave his ankle a queer, +Cornish side kick, and sent in a blow on Bob's jaw that toppled the +redoubtable bully over on his back.</p> + +<p>"Hooray! Braavo!" exclaimed Puckinharn, swinging his cap up in the air +in his delight.</p> + +<p>Bob was up the next instant and began to fight in a cautious, crouching +attitude. His ribs, black and blue, he sought to shield by drawing his +body back and shoving his head and arms forward. There was a better +chance, too, for a wrestle, he thought. The small boys held their +breath. This was the attitude Bob always assumed when meeting hard +opponents. Rumour had credited him with throwing a sailor in this +manner. The bully was at bay and would fight hard. Now, Ande, you have +need of all your skill, so hardly earned in the practice bouts with Tom +Glaze. There was no further chance at Bob's ribs, and his head seemed +perfectly guarded. They circled warily around each other seeking for an +opening. Then, like a flash came Ande's chance, the opportunity that he +would not let slip. "If 'ee ever get that chance and take it, it will +put thy opponent down and hout sure," Glaze had told him time and time +again, in their practice bouts.</p> + +<p>Bob made a slight pass with his left. The next instant his wrist was +grasped in an iron grip. Up over his neck Ande raised Bob's arm, then +bending his back he grasped with his other hand his opponent's right +knee, and putting forth all his strength, Bob went up in the air as if +hoisted with a derrick.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A clinch! a clinch!" shouted some, and it was a clinch in which one did +all the clinching.</p> + +<p>Bob struggled manfully, but the grip that had stopped the squire's +runaway mare could not be unloosened. Up, up, up, went Bob, and then +with a heave the form of the bully, like a comet, went over his +opponent's head and over the heads of the close-pressing ring-siders, +his foot kicking off the cap of one of the lads in his involuntary +flight. There was a thud and a cry. The battle was ended. Bully Bob had +a broken collar-bone, and his prestige was forever terminated.</p> + +<p>Trembath was the hero of the hour. Tom Glaze was jubilant and slapped +the victor on the back.</p> + +<p>"Thee did what I telled thee, and I couldn't do un better myself. +Thee'lt be champion of the county yet. Thee make off home now, for thy +mother will be looking for 'ee, and I'll see to the tother chap."</p> + +<p>Ande started homeward. The boys still remained around the fallen bully, +or in little knots by themselves discussed the great battle. Then a +short distance away were seen the approaching figures of the squire and +parson, and the spectators melted away like magic, until only Tom Glaze +remained.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Tom, a bad day's work, inciting the young to fight," said Parson +Trant, shaking his head disapprovingly.</p> + +<p>"Well, lads will fight and sometimes it does them good," said the +squire, who loved the old British game of boxing, and felt like +supporting Glaze, who was a favourite of his.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A bad thing, stirring up the worst passions," replied the parson.</p> + +<p>"I doan't knaw about that," sturdily replied Glaze, encouraged by the +squire's words. "This was a thing that 'ad to come off, and seeing as +'ow the little one 'as given the big un a much needed dressing down,—I +think it proper, sir," and Glaze touched his cap.</p> + +<p>"Another case of the valiant Cornishman and the giant Cormoran, eh, +Glaze?" said the squire, laughingly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 98]</a></span> "Aye, sir, 'tez so," said Glaze, as they passed on.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<p class="center">CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Come, bring with a noise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My merrie, merrie boys,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Christmas block to the firing;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While my good dame, she,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Bids ye all be free,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And drink to your heart's desiring."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i25">—<i>Herrick.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>There was bustle and activity in the parish. There was a chill in the +air, the presage of the rapidly approaching Christmas time. House +cleaning and baking occupied the time of the busy housewives. The small +boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, +currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the +oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of +retention. Then the bag-puddings—a most indigestible mass—yet sweet +and toothsome, the pastries, pies, and fuggans, passed in regular order +through the hands of the cook.</p> + +<p>There is activity among the male population as well as among the +housewives. Small lads run hither and thither crying shrilly, "Pennorths +of Christmas," and exhibiting evergreen, holly and mistletoe for sale. +The farmers are preparing bands for saluting the apple trees. Youngsters +are planning schemes for watching <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 99]</a></span> the oxen kneel. Singers are +practising, night after night, the Christmas carols or "curls." Youths +are preparing for the Christmas play of St. George and the Turk.</p> + +<p>Ande had been to Helston with the donkey and cart to purchase needed +supplies, and in returning along the "Red Revver" road was allowing the +animal to take his own gait.</p> + +<p>"'Allo, Ande, we want 'ee for St. George in the Christmas play," said a +voice from the hedge. It was Puckinharn.</p> + +<p>"How art tha, Tommy! Up with 'ee and 'ave a ride. Who's in the company?" +said Ande, all in one breath.</p> + +<p>"We doant knaw as yet, but thee must be St. George, that's settled," +said Tommy, as he clambered up into the cart.</p> + +<p>"Well, if I'm to be St. George, we had better begin soon. Suppose we +meet in our furze croft and get down to business this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"The very place," assented Tommy.</p> + +<p>The donkey was hurried on, while both lads planned and talked. That +afternoon saw a crowd of the village boys assembled in the rough +highland, "the croft," and after much debate the parts were assigned and +practising begun.</p> + +<p>Christmas eve came at length. The moon shone serenely from between +broken clouds. The air was clear, crisp and cold, and made great coats a +necessity to comfort. The trees had lost their leafy robe,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 100]</a></span> and now +stood shivering or shaking in envy of their evergreen brethren, while +all the green hedges had aged into withered brown. There was a flash of +light from the parish church tower, and then the single pencil of light +was increased by another and another, until every window of the old +structure was ablaze with illumination in honour of the coming birthday +of the Nazarene. Light after light appeared in cottage of peasant and +mansion of gentleman, as if an answer to the summons of the old church +to do honour to Him who is the "light of the world." Then on the night +air came the song of choirs and carol of singers, mingled with the +strains of musical instruments. From cottage and hall sounded the merry +noise of revelry, the hearty laugh and general good cheer.</p> + +<p>Forth through the night, bubbling with good spirit and anticipated +merriment, stalked the St. George Band of Christmas players, adorned in +such a brave manner as even to make the redoubtable British champion, +had he lived to see it, green with envy. What variable garments! What +coats adorned with tinsel, red, and gold, and striped! What shields of +brilliant paper or tin, spears of warlike hickory, and swords—not near +so sharp as the Saracen blade, but still as sharp as wood could be +whittled with a jack-knife; and caps of tall, many-hued tinsel; had the +real St. George worn one of them the terrible, ripping, snorting, +steam-breathing dragon would have bellowed in anguish, and have fallen +down in a dead faint. But they were good enough for the occasion and +their very form was sacred by ancestry.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> + +<p>House after house was visited and the fun grew fast and furious. At very +few places were they not given a ready entrance and hearty welcome.</p> + +<p>"Now les to the squire's!" exclaimed one, and the proposition was hailed +with delight. The distance was not far, and the time was shortened by +conversation and by a little warlike practice between St. George and his +Mohammendan enemy, the Turk, in which practice the Turk received a +terrific, broad sword slash, that made him pucker up his face like the +picture of the Saracen's head at the village inn. The Turk was not +gifted in the Turkish language, but made up for it by giving vent in +broad Cornish dialect to his feelings.</p> + +<p>"Damme, Ande, ef thee'rt going to cut my nose off my faace and scat my +brains out, I'll be a Turk no longer," and Tommy Puckinharn flung down +his sword in disgust, and stalked on ahead of the company. With one hand +nursing his injured olfactory and the other thrust in his breast, and +meekly followed by his fellows, he looked like Napoleon and army on the +retreat from Moscow. Some one picked up the Turk's weapon and +immediately a discussion arose. No one but a knight must carry a sword +in the company. Sword bearing was the special prerogative of a knight +and "tother chaps must carry spears." The sword bearer then pleaded to +be made a knight, and if Tommy wouldn't be the Turk to install him in +his place. But that was what Tommy didn't want. He had no desire of +being turned out of the second place in the company, even if he did +throw down his weapon, and so he returned <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 102]</a></span> and indignantly protested. +When a soldier loses his sword and another finds it, he ought to return +it, was the Turk's argument.</p> + +<p>St. George settled the affair by raising the sword finder to the rank of +a squire. The bravery of the Turk in their late encounter, and his +heroic courage on other occasions, merited that he should have an armour +bearer, a squire, to be his constant attendant. The sword finder was +elated and, somehow or other, the pain in the Turk's nose was healed by +this new dignity that his valour had added to his reputation. There was +no more practice in the warlike arts, for the Manor gates were passed +and the great house was near.</p> + +<p>The numerous chimney pots sent up various curling clouds of smoke that +glistened palely in the moonlight. The diamond-shaped window panes +gleamed and scintillated with the illumination within, except where a +dark shadow of holly wreath obstructed the light. The broad verandas +were festooned with ropes of evergreen. Up the broad steps strode the +players and, after a few mute looks and a little whispered colloquy, the +herald lifted the rapper and sent a peal through the old building that +would have been certainly heard at any other time but Christmas eve.</p> + +<p>Within there was the noise of frolick. The servants were haw-hawing in +the kitchen department over some joke or amusement, and the occasional +thump, thump of feet in measured time indicated a dance, perhaps between +the cook and hostler. The squire's hall was replete with good cheer. +Wreaths of evergreen inter <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 103]</a></span>twined with sprigs of holly were hung at +regular spaces on the waxed, panelled walls. At one end was a large +life-sized painting of George the Second. Squire Vivian had a great +reverence for the king that had secured to his family the estate of +Trembath. His father had served King George faithfully in the east, and +there had ever been a strong friendship between the Vivians and the +Hapsburgs. At the other end of the hall hung the picture of the squire's +father and, although in warlike garb, yet had a friendly smile on his +features as if in greeting to His Majesty, the King, on the opposite +wall. In the centre of the side wall was the great open fireplace, the +grate having been removed to make room for the great yule block that was +kindled every Christmas eve with almost religious ceremonies, and near +its warm glow was the form of the squire, seated in his great armchair. +He looked the very impersonation of Father Christmas, minus the beard. +Near him were two or three of his friends from the east, men of his own +age, who seemed to enjoy his conversation and laughed as merrily as +himself. A whist party was in progress on the other side of the +fireplace, while down the long room, here and there, were scattered +various groups engaged in various Christmas games. The hall floor was +not carpeted, for the squire scorned such modern improvements as +innovations and desired nothing better than the old-fashioned waxed +floors. Neither did he see fit to remove any of the emblems of his +father's predecessors, for above the flaming firelog stretched the high +oak mantel, and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 104]</a></span> carved in relief on its shiny surface was the figure of +a Lyonnese warrior galloping amidst devouring ocean waves.</p> + +<p>The squire was just chuckling over a young lady's mishap in getting +under the mistletoe when the herald of the St. George company, tired of +raising the great knocker, pushed open the door and entered the hall. +There was a thump on the floor to demand attention, and then in as +authoritative voice as he could command came the heralding of the brave +gallants without.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Room, a—a—room, brave gallants, room!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Within this court,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I do resort<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To show some sport<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And pastime;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Gentlemen and ladies, in the Christmas time."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>There was silence in the hall for a moment and then the squire spoke out +with a cheery welcome, for he heartily appreciated the amusement.</p> + +<p>"Bring in your gallant crew. Ho, there, children, move to one side and +give them room for fair play." This latter to various groups of +merrymakers in the hall.</p> + +<p>The whist players dropped their cards, the hall occupants withdrew to +either side, and the elderly parties around the squire ceased their +conversation to give full attention to the antics of these new +merrymakers.</p> + +<p>The herald bowed to the squire and company and waved his wand, and in +capered a queer, uncouth figure in mask and flowing wig and whiskers. +The young <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 105]</a></span> children burst into peals of laughter at his grotesque +movements, and he had to uphold his authority and gain silence for +himself by thumping the floor vigorously with his tall staff. He had a +right to demand attention, for he was Father Christmas; his round, +cheery face proclaimed it, even without his speech which he proceeded to +make.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Here come I, old Father Christmas,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Welcome or welcome not,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I 'ope hold Father Christmas<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Will never be forgot;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I bring the cold of winter time,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That kisses red the nose;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I bring the snow, the rain, the frost<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That bites and stings the toes;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But, then, I'm welcome anyway<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Because I am the seer<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That brings the nuts, and cake, and pies<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of happy Yuletide cheer."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Father Christmas executed a few joyous capers, but was interrupted by +the herald who, with a little fear on his countenance, stated:</p> + +<p>"Father Christmas, thee must stand aside a bit for I think I see an +enemy of thine and of our good Christmas cheer a-coming."</p> + +<p>Father Christmas moved aside with a shake of his hoary locks and +muttered:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Ah, 'tez the Saracen, I fear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I would our bold St. George were near."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>All eyes were fastened on the door through which the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 106]</a></span> valorous Turk, in +his green turban, was entering, his face a little more ferocious by the +wound received from St. George's sword in the contest on the public +road. The Saracen has some difficulty in expressing himself in good +English, but that was to be attributed to his Turkish training. +Flourishing his sword he began:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Bally, bully mally can<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hodak 'ee St. George ann,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Baresesh tally man,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Abdul caliph Hassan!"<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Pray, speak in English, brave Turk,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let's 'ear what mischiefs in thee lurk."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The herald had spoken in response to his heathen jargon, and the Saracen +scowled upon him hideously and answered:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"'Tis plain 'ee cannot understand<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The language of the Turkey land<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And so I'll tell as plain I can<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the words of the Englishman.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Here come I, a Turkey snipe,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Come from the Turkey land to fight,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And if St. George do meet me here<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'll try 'is courage without fear."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The Turk stalked around in brave manner, when a new arrival, the +redoubtable St. George, entered. A cheer went up from the younger +element of the squire's visitors, and even the whist players clapped +their hands, for the Turk was no favourite, and did they not love St. +George, the patron saint of England? St. George <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 107]</a></span> bows to the spectators, +and by his speech does not appear very modest over his great victories.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Here come I, that St. George,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That worthy champion bold,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And with my sword and spear<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I won three crowns of gold.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I fought the dragon old<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And brought him to the slaughter,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">By that I gained fair Sabra,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The king of Egypt's daughter."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The Turkish knight drew his sword and with a warlike pass at St. George, +hurled his defiance:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"St. George, I pray, be not too bold,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If thy blood is hot I'll soon make un cold."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The squire smiles, for there is a strong Cornish accent in the Turk's +tone, notwithstanding his efforts to conceal it. But now St. George also +has drawn his sword and with the threat,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Thou, Turkish Knight, I pray, forbear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'll make thee dread my sword and spear,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>the contest begins.</p> + +<p>The servants have opened the door leading to the kitchen department and +now stand crowding in the entrance. Little ones that had been taken to +bed by their nurses were brought down to see the fun. Fair play and a +clear field, the squire had said, and so the centre of the great room +was theirs. And how they did fight! Surely no earthly battle was like +it. In no battle was so much blood shed and so many hard blows +delivered, at least so thought the Turk in reference to the latter, for +he was battered from head to foot with side blows and over cuts, jabs, +and slashes, until he ardently wished for the time to come when he must +fall down dead.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> + +<p>The squire and the others applauded when a good blow was given or one +neatly parried. The Turk at length steadily gave way, to the delight of +the little ones among the spectators. One little maid in her exuberance +of joy danced up and down clapping her hands and saying, "The old Turk +is going to be whipped, and I'm glad." At length, under a shower of +blows, the Turk fell to the ground amid the plaudits of the onlookers. +St. George bends over him to see the extent of his wounds, and the Turk +whispers:</p> + +<p>"Ande, I guess I 'ad better stay killed this time."</p> + +<p>But St. George is inexorable. Standing erect he +speaks:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"He lives, he breathes, he speaks,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now in the name of Elicompane<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let the man rise and fight again."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The Turk arises on one knee and continues the conflict, but not for +long, as he is again stricken down and becomes at once a suppliant.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Oh, pardon me, St. George,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Pardon me I crave,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Pardon me this once,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And I will be thy slave."<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 109]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>Bold St. George had no idea of mercy toward the Turk, and so he spurs +him once more to the conflict.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"I'll never pardon a Turkish Knight,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Therefore arise and try thy might."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Again the contest raged, the Turk, seeking to save himself as much as +possible from the onslaughts of St. George, fights with a good bit of +desperate valour, but down he goes again. St. George shakes his head as +if it were all over and then cries:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Is there a doctor to be found<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To cure a deep and deadly wound?"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Why he should be so solicitous for the welfare of the Turk as to seek a +doctor can hardly be told, unless for the pleasure of fighting with him +again. The doctor is not long in appearing from the hall entrance. With +three-cornered hat perched above an enormous wig and painted face, there +was a professional air about him. With a leer and a funny grimace at the +crowd he began his doggerel speech.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Oh, yes, there is a doctor to be found,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The best old doctor in the town,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On my back I carry my pack,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of pills both white, and brown, and black."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>St. George stalked toward him and asked, "What can you cure? Can you +cure this man?"</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Cure? I can cure the palsy, and gout,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If the devil's in him, I'll soon pull 'im out."<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 110]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>The spectators crowded forward. Could the doctor cure the slain Turk? +Oh, yes. How wisely he goes about his work! He tries one remedy after +another, but of no avail. The Turk had told St. George in their last +encounter that he was going to fight no more. He wasn't going to fight +again, but to sham being dead, and then they would have to bring on the +other players. He was shamming wonderfully well, until even the squire +thought he was possibly badly hurt. The doctor knew different, however, +for he had been posted by St. George, and so he drew from his pocket a +bottle of exceedingly strong smelling salts. He had purloined it from +his mother's bureau. This would make him well, he averred. St. George +had kindness enough to hold the Turk's head down, while the doctor was +administering the dose. Three great strong whiffs entered the Turk's +nostrils, and seemed to enter every part of his head like the stinging +of a million hornets. He would have gotten up then and there and fought +the whole crowd had not St. George held his head, and the doctor thought +he had better have the full dose.</p> + +<p>"Achew! Achew! Achew!"</p> + +<p>St. George let go the Turk's head, and the doctor nimbly stepped aside; +the Turk with all the wrath of his race in his face, grasped his sword +and fought like a demon for a few moments. His being killed three times +seemed to increase his power. Then the natural superiority of Ande in +the use of the sword began to assert itself, and the Turk thought that +the sooner he fell the better, and accordingly did so. The old doctor +slowly <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 111]</a></span> advanced and shook his head, as if all his skill was of no avail +to resuscitate the slain Saracen.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If man can't cure 'im, old Nick must."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The doctor waved his staff, and in capered the dragon, a sort of hobble +horse made of hoops under distended canvas, and worked by an inside +performer. The great snapping jaws and staring eyes scared the little +ones, but they laughed when they found it was only the slain Turk that +he wanted. The unfortunate Turk, grasped by those rigorous jaws, was +dragged from the hall.</p> + +<p>The entertainment ended with the passing of the Christmas box, into +which each one threw an offering, and as if in thankfulness for the +amount the Christmas band, Turk, and dragon as well, mingled in a +ludicrous dance, after which the whole crew was regaled with hot egg-nogg +and cake.</p> + +<p>In the midst of the conversation and laughter new sounds penetrated the +hall from without.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Angels from the realms of glory,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Wing your flight o'er all the earth,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ye who sang creation's story,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Now proclaim Messiah's birth."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Some of the hall occupants rushed to the hall windows to see the +singers. There in the pale moonlight were singers from the parish church +and neighbourhood. They were singing, accompanied with the music of +clarionet and serpent players. After the anthem the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 112]</a></span> squire sent the old +steward out to bid the choristers enter. He did so by saying to the +choristers: "The squire wants hall hangels to come in." They entered and +continued singing.</p> + +<p>In the midst of the singing the Turkish knight leaned over to St. George +and muttered:</p> + +<p>"Ande, I'll be a Turkey snipe no more, when thee art St. George."</p> + +<p>"Why?" said Ande, "and for goodness sake why do 'ee call it 'Turkey +snipe'? Did 'ee notice the squire smile? A Turkish knight, you mean."</p> + +<p>"Aye, I forgits the name; but 'ee nearly beat my insides out with thy +old wooden sword, so 'ee did,'" growled Tommy Puckinharn, softly.</p> + +<p>Ande gazed at the Turk's melancholy countenance, and chuckled in +amusement.</p> + +<p>"It was all in the play, Tommy, and if 'ee didn't fight so hard and I +didn't cut and slash as I did, perhaps we wouldn't 'ave the cake and +good stuff that we are eating here now," said Ande, at which reply Tommy +seemed some mollified.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 113]</a></span></p><p>The "curl-singers" had finished their anthems and were regaled in the +same manner as the Christmas players, and there was a lull in the +amusements, when the great knocker on the hall door sounded the presence +of a new visitor.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<p class="center">THE CORNISH DROLL TELLER</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Seest thou not my harp?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Emblem of my peaceful calling."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i25">—<i>Harper Ballad.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent +under the weight of a harp under its green covering. He was clad in the +ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long +stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now +generally being discarded by the gentry. From the hue of his hair, that +was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight +stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty +years of age. There was a trace of humour around the corners of his +mouth, and much fun-light in the gleam of his twinkling eyes that seemed +to belie the tragic nature of his heavy beetling brows.</p> + +<p>"Uncle Billy! Uncle Billy!" shouted some of the younger ones, in glee.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 114]</a></span></p><p>"'Tis Uncle Billy, the droll teller," said the squire to one of his +eastern friends in a side tone, and then to the new arrival, "Welcome to +the Manor Hall, Uncle Billy, and to our Christmas cheer. Come nigh the +fire and get thy fingers loosened up, for we must have a tune to-night."</p> + +<p>Uncle Billy, the droll, sat himself near the yule log and, while he +warmed up his cold hands, entered into conversation with the squire and +one or two of his elder friends.</p> + +<p>The droll teller of Cornwall was a privileged character in the olden +times. Somewhat embodying the profession of the minstrel and the +story-teller, he was always assured of a ready welcome. For ages the +western part of Saxon England terminated at the River Tamar, and the +people west of that stream, girt with hills and wild moors, had little +communication with the outside world. Hence when the profession of the +minstrel began to decline in the days of Elizabeth, this section gave it +a ready welcome and asylum. The lack of railways and newspapers gave the +droll the profession of a news courier, and at any house he tarried he +was regarded with favour and reverence. How they stood around him in the +evening hours, in cottage or hall, and listened with eager interest to +the news of the great outside world, and how with awe upon their faces +they listened to the tales of Tregeagle, the giant Cormoran of St. +Michael's Mount! Many knew the tales, but none could tell them with the +vivid realism of the droll, and then how the eyes of the youths would +flash at the tales of King Arthur, the greatest king of the Cornish +line.</p> + +<p>Of all droll tellers, Uncle Billy was the most loved and the most +famous. He could enter into the cottages of the common people and be one +of their midst, speaking in their own dialect, or could associate with +the gentry speaking in language as good as their own, and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 115]</a></span> at times +better. He was not only gifted with oratorical and musical power, but +also had a fund of information in legendary lore and was as familiar +with the tales of Rome and Greece as a university scholar. Some even +went so far as to say that he was a scholar of Eton College when he was +a lad, had been disappointed in a love affair and had drifted away from +all who knew him in consequence. At times, after some legend told with +great power, some of his friends among the gentry would remonstrate with +him on his wandering life and offer to assist him into some greater +sphere of usefulness, in better keeping with his education.</p> + +<p>"Sphere of usefulness," Billy would respond. "What profession is more +useful than that of the minstrel, or as people call me, the droll? I +have brought happiness into cottage and hall and wiped the tears from +sorrowing eyes with fun and laughter. I have made the youth's heart burn +with high purpose to emulate the heroic deeds of old, and I have +implanted thoughts of soberness in the giddy headed. What could be more +useful? And could I have a happier occupation were I in the position of +a servant? No, I prefer the old independent life of the droll; and as +for my high education," Billy would always stop here, and with a funny +twinkle in his eyes and dropping into the language of the country clout +say, "I beant much of a scholard."</p> + +<p>"Well, Billy, give us a song," said the squire, seeing that the droll +teller had become sufficiently thawed out to finger the harp.</p> + +<p>"Or a story," said a relative of the squire.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Tell us of the oxen kneeling on Christmas night," piped in a young, +shrill, boyish voice.</p> + +<p>"Les have Duffy and The Devil," said one of the "curl" singers.</p> + +<p>"Or the Cornish Tale of King Arthur," said another.</p> + +<p>"Well, well, one at a time. Suppose I sing ye one of the old Christmas +songs first," responded Uncle Billy, and tuning up his harp he swept +with rapid, light fingers the opening bars of "The First Good News That +Mary Had." This was followed by "I See Three Ships Come Sailing In," and +was greeted with great applause at the close.</p> + +<p>The old butler brought in a steaming bowl of egg-nog punch which he +placed on the table near the harper's chair; after refreshing himself +the droll began the tale of Duffy and the Devil, telling it, as was his +custom, partly in verse to the accompaniment of the harp, and partly in +prose.</p> + + + + +<h4 class="center"><a name="THE_TALE_OF_DUFFY_AND_THE_DEVIL" id="THE_TALE_OF_DUFFY_AND_THE_DEVIL"></a>THE TALE OF DUFFY AND THE DEVIL.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">An old bachelor squire of Cornubia's race<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Was the master of old Lovell Hall;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He'd a jolly round face, and the fox he would trace<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Over moor and through dale in a glorious chase,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">But of women he would none at all.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Cider making was nigh and in Buryan church town<br /></span> +<span class="i1">For more hands he was seeking one day;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Words and blows did resound, and with her swing-tail gown,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Old Janey was beating her stepdaughter around,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">In her cottage, that was by his way.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Hallo, what's the row," said the squire, as he dis <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 117]</a></span>mounted and entered +the cottage. Being a magistrate, he thought it was his duty to settle +all quarrels, but he had scarcely got within when he was sorry he had +meddled. Old Janey had been using the skirt of her gown to carry out the +grate ashes, and beating Duffy, her stepdaughter, with the gown +afterward; there was such a dust in the air that the squire went into a +fit of coughing.</p> + +<p>"'Tis Duffy," said old Janey. "She can't knit nor spin and does nothing +for her living. She's that lazy, your honour," and Janey, the dust +settling a bit, dropped a curtesy to the squire.</p> + +<p>"'Tedn't so, your honour," said Duffy, as the tears gathered in her blue +eyes. "My knitting and spinning is of the very best."</p> + +<p>Well, the upshot of the matter was that the squire took Duffy home with +him to Lovell Hall, and the hall housekeeper sent her into the attic to +spin. Old Janey was glad to get rid of her stepdaughter, and Duffy was +glad to get away and, though she had told an untruth to the squire, it +didn't bother her much, until she found herself surrounded by the wool +sacks in the upper part of Lovell Hall. There, casting herself down on +the wool sacks, she said: "The devil may spin for the squire, but I +can't and won't." Scarcely had she said this when a voice was heard:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"A bargain! A bargain!" said the voice loud and clear<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Of a neat little man in garb black;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"But remember, my dear, since ye've called me here,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If ye can't guess my name, I'll have 'ee in a year,"<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And he brought his tail down with a rap.<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 118]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>"All right," said Duffy undaunted, and tossed up her head in disdain, +and then fell to lolling on the wool sacks and idling and singing away +the whole day. In the evening the little man in black handed to her the +result of his day's spinning and she descended with it into the great +hall below.</p> + +<p>"Zounds! What a liar old Janey was," said the squire, as he viewed the +fine amount of spun yarn, and casting a favouring glance on Duffy he +said she was the finest spinner in Cornwall.</p> + +<p>The next day Duffy took the yarn with her to the attic to knit the +squire's hunting stockings, and the little man, true to his contract, +performed the work for her and soon,——</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The stockings were finished, and knit strong as leather,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Squire Lovell was filled with delight;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With dogs all together, in all sorts of weather,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His old shanks were sound in furze, brambles or heather,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Whether hunting by day or by night.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>But now came a worrying time for the old squire, for the lads from the +whole country around had heard of Duffy's fine spinning and were not +indifferent to Duffy's charms. The squire feared that she would marry +one of them and then he should lose his fine stockings, and so resolved +to forestall such a dire thing by marrying Duffy himself. They were +married in the old parish church before a great assemblage from far and +near. The old squire's heart was full of glee as he gazed at the young, +disappointed men around him. "Ha! Ha!" <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 119]</a></span> thought he, "she soon shall be +mine." But no sooner had he thought this than there was a terrible, +distinct voice echoing the same thoughts.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Ha! Ha! She soon shall be mine!" blood curdling and dire,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Echoed a voice; the people were still,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And from window of choir gazed the black man in ire,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet knew that the end of his compact was nigh her,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">When she must be subject to his will.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The people in the church heard the voice, but no one knew who had spoken +the words. The rector was indignant that the service should be +interrupted and would have had the party, then and there, up before the +gentlemen at the court if he could have found him. The supposition was +that some jealous suitor had spoken, and the thing was soon forgotten by +everyone but Duffy, or Lady Lovell, as we must now call her. She knew +and was nigh to fainting had not the squire supported her with his +sturdy arm. They were happy in their married life, for the squire loved +his wife and Duffy had always a secret regard for him, but there was a +dread in her mind that the words of the little man in black must soon +come true. The year was nigh up and she had tried all plans to discover +his name, but of little avail. She was nigh in despair when a person +whom she had befriended relieved her of much of her anxiety. That person +was old Betty of the mill, who was commonly supposed to be something of +a witch.</p> + +<p>She carefully inquired of Lady Lovell when the squire went on his next +hunting trip, and having ascertained <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 120]</a></span> the time to the very hour, she +obtained from her a jack of the squire's best beer.</p> + +<p>That day the squire went hunting far from home and even at nightfall +returned not to Lovell Hall. As the hours of nightfall came on, the +dogs, one by one, came back all lathered in foam, but no Squire Lovell. +At ten o'clock came the squire and he was visibly excited and seemed +bubbling over with laughter.</p> + +<p>"Duffy," said he, "I have had as great a lark as I have ever had in my +life. I hunted all day over all the moors and downs, Trove, Trevider, +Lemorna and Brene, and didn't catch a thing. The mare was tired out and +so was I, when up jumped as fine a hare as I had ever seen, from a hedge +along the road-side. She was away and so were the dogs instantly, and I +followed. What a chase! This way and that way she doubled, and at length +entered the mouth of Fugoe's dark cave."</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">In went the dogs and in follow'd I, water dripping,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Mud flying, dogs yelping in full cry,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Owls wheeling, bats flapping, the place was nigh sick'ning<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And black as the night, but the pace was now quickening,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">When a singular sight caught my eye.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">We had gone nigh a mile when the dogs turn'd to flight,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">For Alack! On the farthermost shore<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of a lake was a light of a fire. What a sight!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There was old Nick a-dancing with all his might<br /></span> +<span class="i1">With witches; there was more than a score.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"And there was old Bet of the mill a-thumping and a-beating her crowd, +giving music for the dance, and, as I live, by her side was my best jack +of beer, and each <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 121]</a></span> time old Nick would come around he would take a +drink. The old witches sang as they danced,"</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Here's to the devil,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With wooden pick and shovel,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Digging tin by the bushel<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With his tail cocked up."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The wild dance and frolic grew fast and furious,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Brighter blaz'd the fire-flames, blue and hot,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then Nick in full chorus, with witches, uproarious,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shouted and sang like the spirit of Boreas,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">"My name is Terrytop, Terrytop."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Aye, and he kept shouting it as if he had lost his head with the +drinking of too much of my beer. Then he jumped among the old witches, +and such a sight!"</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He kicked the old witches and Bet the old dame,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">'Till I laughed out aloud at the lark,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then he whirl'd and he came, in a reel, through the flame,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Go it, old Nick," said I, "you are worthy your name,"<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And then—in a moment—'twas dark.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And away galloped I, with the mare at full speed;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">With a din, the whole crowd followed fast;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With old Nick in the lead, over moor and o'er mead,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But I distanc'd them soon, for the mare knew my need,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And now here I am, Duffy, at last.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Why doesn't 'ee laugh, Duffy?" said the squire. Duffy, who had turned +pale at the mentioning of the little man's name, now regained her good +spirits and laughed merrily and long, for she knew she was safe. The +squire stretched out his limbs in weariness, for he had hunted far and +wide and felt the need of sleep, so he <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 122]</a></span> soon retired. But not so Duffy, +for she knew that in an hour or so the little man in black would come to +claim his prize. First she said the Creed, and then she prayed, for she +had resolved to become an exemplary woman could she escape the +consequences of the rash vow she had made a year before. Then in the +midst of her devotions there was heard the wild neighing of a horse +without, and then the door, though shut with bolt and bar, opened, and +in stepped the little man in black, bowing low, and yet with a cunning +leer in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"I 'ave come for 'ee, Duffy," said he, "unless"—and he paused,—"unless +ye can guess my name."</p> + +<p>"Terrytop!" said Duffy, with a confident look on her features.</p> + +<p>"Correct, m'lady," said Terrytop with a sigh of regret, and then with a +sweep of his tail he was gone.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>The droll ceased his tale and was greeted by a round of applause, for it +was not only the story, but the manner of the harper, at one time frank, +ruddy and jovial like Squire Lovell, at another time with a cunning leer +like the man in black, at another time disdainful or tearful, fearful or +glad, according to the mood of Duffy, that drew forth the appreciation +of his auditors. He calmly sipped a bowl of punch, while the auditors +entered into conversation, though expecting more tales when the harper +had rested himself.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<p class="center">ST. GEORGE AND FAIR SABRA <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 123]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Blest as Immortal Zeus is he,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The youth who fondly sits by thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And gazes at the witchery trace<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of gladsome laughter in thy face,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The music of thy voice to hear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The incense of thy presence near.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>During the recital of the droll's tale where was Ande? Generally, he was +interested in the tales of Uncle Billy, the droll, but this night he had +eyes and ears only for the squire's daughter.</p> + +<p>The latter was in her element. She was young, but the death of her +mother had long made her the mistress of the great house. The presence +of the guests inspired her to do her utmost as hostess, and she was not +unequal to the task. The earlier part of the evening saw her flitting +about, a fairy figure in lace and ribbons. During the entertainment of +the droll she was at leisure, and sat on one side at a little distance, +entirely engrossed in the narrative. Here it was that Ande found her.</p> + +<p>"And is St. George welcomed by fair Sabra, the King of Egypt's +daughter?" he said, as he sat himself near her.</p> + +<p>In those weeks intervening between the squire's repa <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 124]</a></span>ration and the +Christmas period, Ande had been a frequent visitor at the Manor. The +squire could not easily forget his prejudice against the name stained +with treason, but he was generous enough to smother it in the light of +the youth's brave conduct in the runaway, and wished also to make some +amends for the injustice of placing him in the stocks.</p> + +<p>So the lad was found frequently in the neighbourhood of the Manor. The +Manor walks were familiar to him. He had often assisted Mistress Alice +in her garden work in her own favourite plot, and a warm and strong +attachment had grown up between them. The old squire occasionally nodded +to him and smiled, but beyond that there was little friendly +conversation between them.</p> + +<p>But to the squire's daughter how useful he became. Was there any work +that would soil her dainty fingers? Ande must perform it. Was there any +task that seemed too hard for her? Ande was in requisition. Once she had +hurt her finger over a rose bush. It was Ande who heard the faint +exclamation of pain and who flew instantly to her side, and how tenderly +and with what a vague thrill, as if he himself were hurt, did he proceed +to extract the jagged thorn. It was his own handkerchief that bound up +the wound, and with what gallantry he had requested her to keep it as a +remembrance of him. He knew not that that piece of linen was stored up +among Mistress Alice's special treasures. She knew that her womanly +intuition at the gate of the Primrose Cottage was true. This youth did +love her, and it was <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 125]</a></span> not displeasing to her; but she knew something +else. She was gradually knowing her own feelings, that she cherished a +deeper sentiment than friendship for this brave youth who had saved her +life. The thought of this sentiment would send the crimson waves o'er +her countenance when she dwelt upon it, for a moment, in her own pretty +rooms. She would not have him suspect such a thing—not for the world. +She knew her father's hatred for treason, his strong loyal sentiments. +No, she dare not think of it too often. Her father had revealed his +plans for her future—the marriage with young Richard Lanyan. But she +had neither acquiesced nor refused. Master Lanyan was a welcome visitor +to the Manor, and she treated him well as her father's guest.</p> + +<p>Lanyan and Ande had met once in her presence at the Manor. There was a +gleam of hatred in each eye. This was the son of the hated family that +had deprived the Trembaths of their rightful possessions, and now Ande +could perceive the marked favour with which he was greeted by the old +squire, and had a dim consciousness of the squire's hopes. It was as +much as Mistress Alice could do to so conduct herself as to offend +neither. Lanyan, after the first quick, sharp glance at Trembath, paid +little heed to him. Calmly and tranquilly he ignored him and devoted his +attention to Mistress Alice, taking the conversation into such +scholarly, Etonian themes that Ande, finding himself out of his depths, +was constrained to silence and soon moved homeward with bitter feelings +within him.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> + +<p>He had not come near the Manor for a week after that, and somehow or +other Mistress Alice had a foreboding that something was wrong. Did it +pain her? She would not acknowledge that it did, even to herself. But +how graciously she treated him when he did return. So had affairs been +before the Christmastide, and on account of it there was not that +strangeness between them that existed at the first.</p> + +<p>With the remark above mentioned, the Knight, St. George, seated himself +near Alice. She smiled pleasantly and responded:</p> + +<p>"I am afraid fair Sabra and the King of Egypt are too far remote from +our locality and times to be mixed up with us. I must congratulate you, +Ande, for your able impersonation of St. George. By the way, who is that +Turk that so murders the king's English?"</p> + +<p>"Thomas Puckinharn, one of the village lads. He is a good fighter, but a +blow or two harder than usual saps his courage. I had hard ado to make +him fight at all," and he related their practice upon the village road +and the strategy of allowing Tommy a squire as a balm to heal his +wounded feelings. She laughed at his droll manner of reciting it, and +her laugh seemed to be music to his soul and to quicken the beating of +his heart within.</p> + +<p>"Why," she was saying, "did you beat the Turk so savagely? I must +confess I never saw a real battle, but I imagined I saw one all the time +you were fighting. You beat down his guard and struck him over the head +and shoulders, until I trembled. I believe you would <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 127]</a></span> make an excellent +knight, had you lived in their times," and she shook her elfin locks in +approbation of his fighting prowess.</p> + +<p>"Well, I thought I was fighting for fair Sabra, and the reality of it +seemed to put greater strength into my arms. A knight always fights more +bravely in the presence of his lady."</p> + +<p>"It must be nice to have such a brave knight. And who is the lady?"</p> + +<p>"One surpassing fair and worthy of the crown of Egypt. One whom I have +served, as a knight always serves his lady."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you mean me," said the maiden, with a flush, and yet with +some gaiety in her tones. "Well, be it so. You shall be my knight and +defender and shall wear a pledge of your valour as a remembrance," and +she plucked a hothouse blossom from the knot at her breast and presented +it to him. "Fight bravely in life, and you will be a true knight."</p> + +<p>"That I will," said Ande, as he received the flower, "and I shall +remember this Christmas eve, throughout my life, as one of its best +days. I shall even remove the stain of treason from our name. Treason +that is so hateful to me!"</p> + +<p>"I trust you may," said the girl, earnestly. "It has been a hard burden +to bear. And with the ideas of our times, it is hard to advance under it +to positions of honour and trust. But I believe you will succeed."</p> + +<p>"You do not believe, then, in the current report, held true even by your +father, of the truth of the accusation <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 128]</a></span> that has always clung to our +name from my grandfather's times?"</p> + +<p>"Knowing you as I do, no. If your father and your grandfather were at +all like you, they could not have done what current report states. No. I +do not believe it."</p> + +<p>"I am glad that you do not believe it. It gives me courage to succeed." +There was a light in the eyes of St. George, a gleam of genuine +pleasure.</p> + +<p>"The removal of that stain, which you have often told me of, will +remove, perhaps, many barriers of which you are ignorant. My knight must +do it."</p> + +<p>"I am that knight," said Ande, warmly.</p> + +<p>"The knight that I should admire would be one that will not despair at a +few difficulties."</p> + +<p>"I am that knight," eagerly.</p> + +<p>"He must be truthful and scorn a lie."</p> + +<p>"I do, from the bottom of my heart."</p> + +<p>"He must be a worker, and brave and courageous."</p> + +<p>"My principles exactly."</p> + +<p>"He must not be satisfied to be an ordinary knight. He must be a +leader."</p> + +<p>"My ambition," emphatically.</p> + +<p>"He must be an exceptional man, noble, upright, a defender of the weak, +and—and—and—must be my knight, and no one else's." Her eyes were +shining darkly with a happy gleam, and there was a glow on her cheeks +that made her a thousand times more attractive to the enthralled soul +before her. Her countenance was close to his. Ah! The magic of its +influence!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148"></a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 242px;"> +<img src="images/i_148.jpg" width="242" height="400" alt="" /> +<span class="caption">"I am that knight," said Ande, warmly</span> +</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149"></a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 129]</a></span></p><p>His heart was beating so tumultuously he feared all heard it. He knew +then and there the reason of his interest in her. Those vague feelings, +which he had not taken the trouble to analyse, burst suddenly upon him +like a revelation. He loved, yes, he knew it. Heretofore he had gone on +blindly, driven by the subtile promptings within. Now he understood his +own heart. There was a pang as he thought of the stain on his name, and +then a joyous bound of his heart as he thought she believed in him, in +his ability to eradicate the blot. She had called him her knight. He +would be so. But then the thought of Master Lanyan emerged from the +depths of the past, the squire's favour, and that scene when he was so +contemptuously ignored by the haughty, young Etonian in the gardens. He +had thought then that his hatred for him was due to the injustice to his +family; now he knew. Her features, so close to his own, were the most +prominent thing in the world to him then. What cared he for the twanging +harp of Uncle Billy, the droll. He was ordinarily interested in the +tales of Billy, but not now. That last sentence of hers of being her +knight and a knight of no one else, sent a thrill through him. He longed +to kiss her, then to throw himself at her feet and pour out the +adoration of his soul. But he knew his situation and he simply said, "I +am your knight, and no one else's."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 130]</a></span></p><p>Then the thought of Lanyan again came to his mind, "And since I am your +knight and belong to no other, it is but fair to ask you to have no +other knight," half doubtingly.</p> + +<p>"Queens and ladies of old always had many knights to do them service," +in mischievous, jesting tones.</p> + +<p>Ande's heart died within him and the light left his features.</p> + +<p>"And you intend to have many knights?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps."</p> + +<p>"At least not Master Lanyan," fiercely, in an undertone.</p> + +<p>"My knight must not be a dictator."</p> + +<p>"But I must know," persistently.</p> + +<p>"You are impertinent," with some dignity.</p> + +<p>"He and his are the enemies of my house," doggedly.</p> + +<p>"And the friends of ours," quickly.</p> + +<p>"But he is an enemy of your knight."</p> + +<p>"I will not be catechised." There was the gleam of a tear of vexation in +her eyes and a quiver in her voice, that sent the militant spirit in the +breast of Ande headlong in defeat. She turned her face from him in an +effort to hide her feelings. An agony of remorse swept o'er his soul.</p> + +<p>"I have hurt you," he said, timidly.</p> + +<p>No answer.</p> + +<p>"What have I done. I am a brute and a coward. I am not worthy to be +called your knight," exclaimed Ande, in remorseful self-reproach.</p> + +<p>No answer.</p> + +<p>"Look at me, please. Speak to me," pleadingly. "You will not. I am the +worst coward living—to hurt the feelings of the best of women," in +doleful misery.</p> + +<p>"You are hateful and unjust." An answer at length <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 131]</a></span> from the hidden face +that made his countenance blanch and pierced even within, but he +answered humbly:</p> + +<p>"I am. I have been hateful and unjust to you."</p> + +<p>"No. Hateful and unjust to yourself." The face again came into view and, +could he believe it,—yes,—the tear was gone and the fun-light was +twinkling in merriment.</p> + +<p>"How?" in bewildered discomfiture.</p> + +<p>"When you called yourself a coward and the worst of ones, you were +unjust to yourself and hateful to yourself."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you are right," humbly.</p> + +<p>"Don't look so doleful; you may be noticed. I would have my knight +cheerful and happy."</p> + +<p>"And you are not angry?"</p> + +<p>"No," and she shook her elfish curls and smiled.</p> + +<p>"And you will have no other knight but me?"</p> + +<p>"You must not be presumptuous," seriously.</p> + +<p>"Mistress Alice, it is not presumptuous for me to speak to you on a +subject that is dear to me," said with great earnestness, his eyes +devouring her face. "And specially so here in the hall of my ancestors. +Do you see the coat-of-arms o'er the mantelpiece, engraved in the oak?"</p> + +<p>The girl was relieved by what she thought a change in the conversation. +She brightened into new interest.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I wondered ever since a child what was the meaning of the +horse with his rider surrounded by the waves of the sea. Oh, do tell me, +please!"</p> + +<p>"That is the coat-of-arms of our family. The <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 132]</a></span> earliest records speak of +them as occupying the Lyonnesse country, which is now under the sea +beyond Land's End. Sir Trembath, the head of the family, was overtaken +by the flood, that happened about in the eighth century, and just had to +gallop and swim his horse to the hills for refuge. He was the only one +who escaped the inroads of the ocean. All the lands of his barony, +together with others, and a hundred and forty parish churches, are now +covered by the deep. My ancestry is as noble as any, and it is not +presumption for me to speak to you on a subject that is very important +to me. As my ancestry was then, so am I now. Mistress Alice, the last +heir of the Trembaths needs a star of hope to guide him." He was +speaking rapidly, although only loud enough for her to hear. The wild +tempest of feeling was at length breaking forth.</p> + +<p>"Listen," said the girl, demurely, "Uncle Billy is speaking now of the +Lyonesse and Arthur."</p> + +<p>The unruly tongue was silenced. Ande, though he listened, heard not. His +eyes were on the squire's daughter, but seeing that she kept her gaze +riveted on the harper, he grew moody and silent.</p> + +<p>Whether she listened or not to the song of the droll is a question. +Certainly there was nothing in the narrative of the droll, just then, to +cause her cheek to glow with a damask hue.</p> + +<p>The harper's song and tale was ended, and since the hour was late there +was bustle and confusion to be gone.</p> + +<p>"I have been unjust in dictating to you," said Ande, humbly.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And I can have whatever knights I please?" archly.</p> + +<p>"You are the best judge. But I would rather not," said he, with slightly +woeful look.</p> + +<p>"Then you choose to let me be my own judge?"</p> + +<p>"To be sure."</p> + +<p>"Then you are my knight. Master Lanyan is not and cannot be my knight. I +choose so freely. Be upright, noble, and good."</p> + +<p>Is it any wonder that the Knight of St. George departed with light +footsteps. He was but a lad merging into manhood. Love was strong within +him and flourished in keeping with the vigour of his youth. He knew not +that she cared for him. Sometimes he thought so. He even dared to hope +so when the doubts did not becloud his vision. It was something, though, +to be her chosen knight. He knew by her last words that he was a closer +friend at least than Lanyan. The thought lightened his spirits.</p> + +<p>The Christmas players were the first on the way to the village. There +was a chatter among them, some extolling the squire's generosity, +others—the ability of the droll. Ande was silent. He was busy with his +thoughts.</p> + +<p>"Ah! The squire's maid gave 'ee as hard a drubbing as thee gave me. +Edent it so?" said Tom Puckinharn, and he gave Ande a nudge in the side, +as he whispered this in his ear.</p> + +<p>"Ah! Get along, Tom, do!" replied Ande.</p> + +<p>Tom was the only one who noticed the <i>tête-â-tête</i> of St. George and +Sabra. Being a loyal friend of Ande,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 134]</a></span> he prudently kept his own counsel. +The remoteness of their situation, the voice and sound of the harp, the +intense interest of the guests in the harper's entertainment, precluded +any from hearing the conversation of that period.</p> + +<p>Ande's dreams that night were very much confused. Now he was with King +Arthur at Lyonnese; now against the dragon or the Turk; then on +horse-back riding through the roaring waves of ocean, bearing in front of +him the form of the fair Sabra, who appeared wonderfully like the +squire's daughter. Then casting his eyes behind, he caught a view of the +dragon, beating and lashing the waves into foam, in his rage, and +somehow the dragon's head was that of Master Lanyan.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 135]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<p class="center">THE HELSTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL</p> + + +<p>Three weeks elapsed and Master Ande Trembath had entered upon a new +life. He was enrolled upon the list of the scholars of Helston Grammar +School.</p> + +<p>For four centuries the school had been the centre of education for the +west of Cornwall. Gentlemen can point to it with pride this day, as they +could then, as the birthplace of their early efforts and the inspiration +of their ambitions. At the time of Ande's entrance it had emerged from +the obscurity of the past into the foremost school of Cornwall. This +result was due much to the energetic labours and talents of the head +master, Rev. Mr. Trewan, M. A., a scholar of Oxford. Stern, yet kind and +affectionate to the youths under his charge, he was universally beloved +by his pupils. In his dealings with his pupils of whatever age, he was +of the same opinion as Quintilian that "a child too disingenuous to be +corrected by reproof, like a slave, will only be hardened by continuous +blows."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 136]</a></span></p><p>Though the scholars loved and revered the head, yet the under-master, a +certain Mr. Sherwood, received little or no affection from them. He was +sharp-featured as a weasel, sarcastic in speech, a scholarly egotist, +with the garment of dignity and a predilection to the use of euphonious +words.</p> + +<p>The new scholar, entering in the midst of the year, found himself sadly +handicapped. In age and size, he should have been enrolled among the +fifth form. His withdrawal from the parish school after the lamentable +affair of the stocks placed him in no higher position than near the head +of the fourth.</p> + +<p>The head of the sixth, a certain William Jordan, a great scholar—almost +a demigod—in the estimation of the lesser forms, and one of the school +monitors, took Ande in charge after his examination, and courteously +showed him around the school. The schoolroom with its row of desks and +forms, the cloakroom, the dining hall, the library, the dormitory, all +were successively inspected.</p> + +<p>"This will be your sleeping apartment," said Jordan, as he opened a +green baize door on the second floor. Within were several beds and other +bedroom furniture. A few windows that opened toward the playground gave +abundance of light.</p> + +<p>The new scholar soon became accustomed with his new surroundings and set +in to study with a zeal that surprised masters and pupils. He won the +hearts of his fellows of the fourth by setting out a feast for them that +first night in the fourth form dormitory. Mrs. Trembath had not +forgotten a hamper of good things, among them several bottles of mild +herby beer. These she had sent in with his luggage. The feast was spread +on one of the beds, and his fellows, after it was terminated, promptly +voted him a trump and proclaimed him, then and there, "King of the +Fourth Form." <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 137]</a></span></p> + +<p>The king accepted his title by giving an entertainment that night in a +noiseless manner. With the aid of a little phosphorus he caused many +uncouth and laughable figures to appear upon the wall, to the great +wonder of the smaller fourth form boys.</p> + +<p>Before he had been in the fourth a month he had made such progress that +Master Sherwood entertained seriously the thought of his promotion, and +indeed, did promote him at the opening of spring. There was great sorrow +among the fourth when the news became known, as he had been of great +assistance to them in difficult points in the various lessons. A fifth +form scholar was not so accessible as one in their own form.</p> + +<p>The fifth were not near so desirable a set of fellows as those he had +left. There was a difference between being king of the fourth, both in +learning and strength, and occupying the lowest position in the fifth +form. There were two in the form that were prominent, but in a different +degree. One, a certain Albert Tenny, the head of the form, who made +particularly bright recitations; the other, Richard Thomas, the one who +was stationed next to him, the son of a well-to-do farmer of the Lizard +Point. Thomas was heavy set, elephantine in size and strength, and on +account of the latter and a dulness in study was named by the boys King +Dullhead, although they never mentioned the latter in his presence, or +dire would be his vengeance.</p> + +<p>There was not much of a contest between Dick, as he was called, and +Ande, to see which should be the head <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 138]</a></span> of the tail end of the form. The +very first lesson Ande went above Dick.</p> + +<p>"I see," said Mr. Sherwood, with a sarcastic smile on his sharp +features; "I see, Master Thomas, you are resolved to maintain your old +position."</p> + +<p>There was a slight laugh on the part of the rest of the form. Dick +squirmed under the sarcasm and half audible laughter of his fellows, and +looked down in dogged silence, growling something under his breath. +Sarcasm and taunts had made him sullen and revengeful, and the laughter +at his mistakes had made him more stupid and awkward. He would sit at +his desk in an idle manner with his large flat feet sprawling over the +floor in different directions. Ambition had left his features, if, +indeed, he ever had any. How he ever made the fifth was a wonder. He had +tried year after year, but never succeeded in raising himself above the +foot of the fifth.</p> + +<p>The crisis between Dick, Tenny, and Ande came about in this way. The +form had started in on the study of Virgil, and thought it exceedingly +hard after the simple, narrative discourse of Cæsar's Commentaries. +Master Sherwood was not sparing in his assigning of lessons, and had +assigned a few lines in addition to the regular, allotted portion. There +was much secret dissatisfaction, and especially from Dullhead Dick. The +thing had occurred once before and they had universally decided not to +read more than the generally allotted portion. Ande had been the soul of +honour on that occasion, had refused to read, and the Master had <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 139]</a></span> passed +him over lightly as he was a new fifth form lad. To his surprise several +of the fifth arose when called upon and recited the extra portion. Now, +disgusted with the whole fifth, he refused to assemble with them to +consider their grievances. The secret conclave was called and the +decision made, but they stupidly said nothing to their absent member.</p> + +<p>The eventful recitation came, and the close of the allotted portion read +by Ande himself. Then he paused.</p> + +<p>"Proceed," said Sherwood.</p> + +<p>"If you do," growled Dick, who was next in line, "you'll take a licking +after school."</p> + +<p>The whispered threat exasperated the reader, and he proceeded resolutely +on. Dick gave him a sly kick under the bench in his rage.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Æolus, haec contra; Tuos, O regina, quid optes<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Explorare labor; mihi jussa capessere fas est.'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Stop there," said the master. "You may begin, Richard Thomas."</p> + +<p>"We haven't got any farther," blurted out Dick.</p> + +<p>"Ah! I thought I assigned to the eightieth line."</p> + +<p>"We only take thirty-five lines," persisted Dick.</p> + +<p>"Master Thomas, will you recite?" sternly asked the master.</p> + +<p>Dick made no movement, but sat in dogged and sullen silence.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Mr. Sherwood, "you may write out the next thirty lines +and commit them to memory." <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'll pay you back," growled Dick to Ande, as he gave him a fierce +nudge.</p> + +<p>"Tenny, you may scan and translate."</p> + +<p>Tenny, the head, did not dare disobey, although he had promised with the +others not to read the extra portion, and even had not studied it. He, +however, trusting in his natural ability, thought he could weather +through. He began, but stumbled lamentably until Mr. Sherwood, incensed, +gave his lines to the next, who made as bad a failure of them; and so it +continued until Ande was again reached. Mr. Sherwood compressed his +lips.</p> + +<p>"Well, Trembath, we'll try you again."</p> + +<p>Ande arose and scanned and translated in a truly commendable manner.</p> + +<p>"Master Trembath, you have done credit to those lines," said Mr. +Sherwood, well pleased. "You have saved the credit of the form; you may +take your place at the head of the fifth."</p> + +<p>The lads above were furious with jealousy, and burly Dick vowed threats +of vengeance for his thirty lines.</p> + +<p>The meeting was not long in appearing. Ande was on the Bowling Green +that same evening, when Dick and a crowd of the fifth met him. The +stupid and the bright had clasped hands against him; the bright ones out +of jealousy, the dull ones out of revenge.</p> + +<p>"Here's the red 'eaded Deane," said Dick, insultingly.</p> + +<p>"I would just as soon be a descendant of the red-headed Danes, as an +offspring of the Lizard<a name="FNanchor_5_6" id="FNanchor_5_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> barbarians, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 141]</a></span>who, if history is correct, +didn't know enough to walk upright, but travelled on all fours like a +donkey," said Ande, coolly surveying the crowd.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_6" id="Footnote_5_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Lizard Barbarians.—An old legend of the Lizard Point +states that its inhabitants were so ignorant in olden times that they +walked on hands and knees until some shipwrecked sailors taught them the +art of standing.</p></div> + +<p>Dick was in a fury of rage. The legend had been frequently poked at him +and it always reached a sore part.</p> + +<p>"Wilt fight," he roared, "and I'll show 'ee a donkey's heels." Dick, +before the masters, tried the best English he could use, for he had +tasted the scorn of Sherwood often, but in a rage, and before the lads, +the dialect was good enough for him. Now, I suppose he meant that he +would make Ande feel the weight of his shoes, but that worthy responded +in sarcastic vein.</p> + +<p>"No need to fight for that, for I see them already," and he gazed +contemplatively at Dick's large feet.</p> + +<p>Even the duller ones could not refrain from a grin of delight, but they +were determined to have Ande whipped, and so arrangements having been +made, they wandered out some distance from the Bowling Green to secure a +place. The news had been carried to the fourth form, and the whole form +came as his supporters. Now, the fifth were certain of Dick's victory, +for in size, age, and strength he seemed superior to Ande. The fourth +were exceedingly anxious, while Ande himself had no doubts of the +outcome. Dullhead, though heavier and larger than the redoubtable Bully +Bob Sloan, had nothing but brute strength, and even Bully Bob would have +made short work of him.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> +<p>"Art ready?" said Dick, and an affirmative answer being given, "then +come on," and with a bellow, Dick lowered his great head and charged +like an enraged bull. His antagonist caught his head in a vice-like +chancery grip, and hitting him a playful tap, released him with a spin +that sent him some distance back. Dullhead shook his head, as if he +wondered what had happened, and then again charged. This time Ande +side-stepped, and tapping Dick with his right, and crooking his foot, +sent him head over heels.</p> + +<p>"Dost see the donkey's heels, lads?"</p> + +<p>The fourth roared, and shouted their applause.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 143]</a></span></p><p>Then was Dick's blood at fever heat. He must get the desired underhold +for a wrestle, of which he knew some tactics, and so again came the +charge, which was met with no love-taps this time. A straight, hard, +left-hander caught Dick full upon the nose, and then, crash, another +upon the eye. Dick, dazed, still came on, for he was the soul of +courage. This kind of fighting was new to him, however. To be hit again +and again, without being able to get a grip on his foe, was maddening. +Meantime, Ande's hands were playing a lively tattoo upon Dick's eyes, +ears, and nose. At last, fairly unable to stand the punishment, Dick +broke for his corner, but it was not in retreat; it was but to gain the +impetus for a new rush, by which he sought to gain the desired grip for +a throw. On he came, like a whirlwind, and then, no one knew how it +happened, but there was a quick flash of an extended arm, and burly Dick +went down as if he was shot, and laid motionless.</p> + +<p>Some of the fifth rushed forward to assist Dick, but were withheld by +the voice of his antagonist, who wished to know if any of the fifth +desired to take up Dick's cause.</p> + +<p>Not a one responded, and then he did a thing for which he was always +admired, and rightly so. He had not forgotten his knighthood. He came +forward and was the leader in bringing Dick to consciousness. Some, at +his word, brought water from the river Cober and tenderly he chafed +Dick's hands and forehead, until the unconscious fellow was fully +restored.</p> + +<p>"Much hurt?" said Ande.</p> + +<p>"Hah—hah!" gasped Dick, as he opened his eyes, and caught his breath in +gasps. "Not much—all right, soon."</p> + +<p>Then followed more chafing and Dick was at length slowly assisted to his +feet.</p> + +<p>"No offence," said Ande, as he held out his hand, "you know I had to +fight."</p> + +<p>Dick took the outstretched hand, a little sheepishly, and shook it +gingerly.</p> + +<p>"No offence. Better luck next time."</p> + +<p>"Come, now. Is there going to be a next time? I don't want to +permanently cripple my hands by hitting such an ironsides as you are," +laughingly.</p> + +<p>Dick rubbed his great head tenderly, felt of his battered features, and +then, with a slight smile: "No, I guess we've satisfied the code of +honour."</p> + +<p>Together, fourth and fifth, wended their way amicably back to the school +grounds. Ande continued to <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 144]</a></span> hold his position as head of the fifth, and +won the regard of all by championing the cause of the school against all +outsiders. In the latter he was ably assisted by Dick, who, strange to +say, became his most devoted and attached friend. Dick was a magnificent +fellow physically, and there was a good bit of fine principle about him, +but his strength, dulness, and awkwardness had made him heretofore a +bully. Under the warm glow of Ande's friendship, new life and hope was +implanted within him; he applied himself with diligence to his studies, +and under his chum's fostering care, made progress. The two were now +partners in the same study.</p> + +<p>One night, when they were preparing the coming day's lessons, Dick +looked up from his book.</p> + +<p>"Ande, remember the fight we had?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Did you 'ave anything in your hand when you struck me that last time?"</p> + +<p>"No. Why?"</p> + +<p>"'Cause, I thought it was a club," and Dick grinned.</p> + +<p>"I hated to hit so hard. But it seemed none of my former blows were +having much effect. It was like hitting an elephant."</p> + +<p>There was silence in the study room for the space of half an hour, and +then Dick asked his companion to review him o'er his lesson. Ande did +so, and was agreeably surprised; it was the best lesson that Dick had +ever prepared.</p> + +<p>"I'm much obliged," said Dick. "This hearing of a lesson helps +wonderfully." <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Dick," said Ande, "a red-headed Dane is a pretty-fair sort of a fellow, +after all. I say, he has some redeemable virtues."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I 'ave discovered something else."</p> + +<p>"What's that?"</p> + +<p>"A donkey has a head as well as a pair of heels," whereupon they both +laughed heartily.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<p class="center">THE HURLING MATCH</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Toms, Wills and Jans<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Take off all's on the sands."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i25">—<i>St. Ives' Hurlers.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Gware wheag, yeo gware teag."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fair play is good play.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i25">—<i>Ancient Cornish Hurler's Motto.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>"Gware wheag, yeo gware teag," roared Dick, as he seized Ande by the +shoulders and engaged in a playful wrestle, in which, however, he was +worsted, for the latter, though taken by surprise, soon had Dick down on +the sward of the Bowling Green.</p> + +<p>"Now," said he, "is it fair play for a wrestle, or is there something +else in the wind? What's up?"</p> + +<p>"Can't guess, old fellow?"</p> + +<p>"No, unless it's hurling, my elephantine infant. There is nothing that +stirs your blood like that. Is it hurling?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, you've got it," and tumbling up from the sod, Dick shook his huge +frame and adjusted his neckerchief that had become slightly awry in the +brief wrestling match.</p> + +<p>"Who's challenged the school?" asked Ande, with a little trace of +excitement.</p> + +<p>"The louts of Breage parish. Their captain, a <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 147]</a></span> husky chap, brought in a +challenge. Squire Vivian, Sir James Lanyan, and other gentlemen put up a +prize of ten pounds and a fine hurling ball to the victors. The hurling +ball has a silver plate on it, with the old motto engraved on it, and +the school decided to accept the challenge. The gentlemen are anxious +for the school to wipe out an old score against Breage that happened +years ago in a match against that parish. They are going to elect a +captain of the school team and so I hurried off to find the Dane."</p> + +<p>"Well, here I am, my husky Ajax," and Ande, seizing Dick's arm, hurried +with him up to the Grammar School.</p> + +<p>At the school there was bustle and excitement. The schoolroom was +crowded with sixth and fifth form boys, and the interest of the lesser +forms was noticed in the babbling of many tongues. Jordan, the monitor, +the sage of the sixth, presided, and rapped for order, and the mass of +lads crowded to their respective places. In calm, even tones, he speaks.</p> + +<p>"We know why we are here. The captain of the Breage hurlers has just +left us with our acceptance of the challenge to a hurling match. For the +glory and honour of the school, and to wipe out an old score against us, +we are going to play them, though they have forty stout fellows, and we +are a little deficient in number. We are going to make up in training +and zeal what we lack in number, and we are going to win the prize. But +a great deal depends upon the captain we elect to lead us. He must be +skilful, active, resourceful. In the election we must not be influenced +by favouritism, but by <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 148]</a></span> worth. The sixth has heretofore always had the +captain, but in this match I would recommend that the fifth be eligible +also. If there is no objection, we will proceed to elect a captain from +the sixth and fifth."</p> + +<p>There were a few murmurs of disapproval from the sixth, but no open +objections, so the election proceeded. Jordan was wise in his bringing +in the fifth as eligible to the captaincy, for in that form were the +best hurlers, the strongest, the most daring.</p> + +<p>In the first ballot there was a scattering of votes, but the chief +candidates were Ande and Dick, the latter on account of his experience +and strength, the former on account of his activity, mental and +physical.</p> + +<p>Once more the ballots were taken and Ande won. There was a cheer, in +which Dick heartily joined, for he had been urging the lads from the +beginning to choose his friend.</p> + +<p>And now began the enlisting of the team. To even up the deficiency in +numbers, several of the town's expert hurlers were admitted.</p> + +<p>The next evening, on the Bowling Green, began the practice and training. +There was wrestling, running, tumbling, jumping, and kindred exercises +to improve the agility and endurance of the crew. Three times a week +there was a long run to Porthleven, and even to Breage and back, to +improve the wind of the team, and get them more thoroughly acquainted +with the ground. Dick and a few others needed constant practice to +improve their quickness and activity.</p> + +<p>The eventful day came at length, in the beautiful <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 149]</a></span> month of April, and +forth from Helston sallied the hurling crew, followed by a hurrahing +company of spectators. Halfway between the parishes the Breage men were +lined up, with the gentlemen on one side to start the ball. Ande and the +Breage captain consulted with the gentlemen about the rules.</p> + +<p>"The object is to carry the ball, as soon as it is touched off, to your +respective towns and hurl the same in through the open parish church +doors," said Squire Vivian.</p> + +<p>"Aye, us knaws that," said the Breage man, "but how about rules? +Wrastling, passing, hurling, all to be allowed in the old style, or be +there any changes?"</p> + +<p>"All to be done in the old style unless you wish, both of you, to make +modifications," said another of the gentlemen.</p> + +<p>No modifications being advanced the captains returned to their stations +and began to arrange their men. Then Ande anxiously consults with Dick +and the other leaders of his side. He is once more outlining his +signals. He has a small boatswain's whistle. One blast signifies close +up on the ball; two sharp blasts means scatter out in the rear; three +blasts, in quick succession, call the attention of the dogs to expected +action on their part. Jordan nods his head gravely, as he listens to the +captain, Dick shakes himself like a great mastiff, as if he would rather +be engaged in active play than listen to rules. The gentlemen are sizing +up the players and putting bets on either side, according to their +fancy.</p> + +<p>The heavy players, with Dick in the centre, are well <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 150]</a></span> up in front. There +are some twenty of these, and they will make their weight and prowess +felt ere the game is over. Back of them stands the captain, and back +still beyond him, some ten players of lighter build, upon whose +quickness and agility depend much. But who are those some two hundred +yards farther back on the road to Helston? They are lighter players from +the fourth and third forms, hard as pine knots, trained to perfection in +fleetness of foot, and able to dodge and race like hares. They are the +captain's latest addition to the efficiency of his team. They are to +serve in the capacity of "dogs," as Ande calls them. They are to watch +their chances; not to engage in the scrimmages where weight will tell, +but to grasp the ball when opportunity comes, and speed with it to their +own goal. Notice them playfully wrestling with each other, filling in +the time until the game opens.</p> + +<p>The Breage men are not thus trained or lined up. They depend more upon +individual action and weight of their numbers than tactics. But now +there is a movement up in front. The players are all in position.</p> + +<p>"Are you ready?" shouts a gentleman, preparatory to casting off the +ball. He is standing to one side, in front of the other gentlemen and +spectators, and is holding the new hurling ball in his hand.</p> + +<p>An affirmative answer is given from both captains, and up goes the ball +in the air, midway between the two contesting parties. The next instant +there is a charge of both heavy brigades for its possession as it +descends. An outstretched hand catches it, and then there is a <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 151]</a></span> furious +heap of wriggling arms and legs, and then who is it that is speeding +away towards Breage, with a shout of triumph on his lips? It is the +Breage captain. He is fully determined to race at that speed the two +miles intervening between him and his own parish church, and he is going +to hurl the ball, now in his possession, in through the Breage church +door, and thus win the game. But not so fast. Two miles is quite a +stretch, and there is some one on his track. Out from behind the mass of +prone players leaps a form, like a horse and rider from the clouds of +battle smoke. In one bound he has cleared the heap of wriggling bodies +on the ground, and then, with the speed of a greyhound, he is after the +Breage man. Will he overtake him? Oh, yes. If he can't, no one else can. +Dick and his sub-lieutenants rest from their exertions. They are +confident that the ball will be back ere long. A cheer goes up from the +heavy brigade of the Helston players.</p> + +<p>"He has him!"</p> + +<p>"He has downed him!"</p> + +<p>"He has the ball!"</p> + +<p>It was true. The school captain had leaped on the back of the runner, +and with a cute, wrestling trick brought him to the ground. The ball +flew out of his hand and was possessed the next instant by the Helston +captain, who was now returning with full speed. But now a new obstacle +presents itself in the shape of the great mass of Breage players. Will +he charge through them, elude them? No, there are too many for that. +There are two shrill blasts on the boatswain's whistle,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 152]</a></span> and along the +Helston road, in the rear of their heavy brigade, scatter out the school +men. They understand the signal and are ready to catch the ball. Then, +just as the Breage men are upon him, out goes the hand, and with the +full force of his muscular right arm, the ball is hurled full a hundred +and fifty yards, over their heads, on the way to Helston.</p> + +<p>A member of the light brigade caught it and was racing the next moment +with might and main toward the town. There is a whoop and hallo among +the dogs, as with their best efforts they strive to keep ahead of the +runner, to be ready for an emergency throw, should he be overtaken. And +now, in the rear, great Dick and his warriors of the heavy brigade get +in their work, and work it is. It is no easy task for twenty or thirty +fellows to stop and hinder the forty husky Breage men that are resolved +to overtake the runner. Dick is in his element. He has profited by +Captain Ande's training. In a twinkling he has thrown a half a dozen +players to the ground, and is preparing to actively hinder others. The +Breage men are swearing under their breath. But "Old Ironsides," as the +boys dubbed Dick after his memorable encounter with Ande, could not +handle all, and some there were that escaped around the wings and were +speeding after the Helston player. It is Ande, the captain, who sees the +danger.</p> + +<p>There is a sharp blast on the whistle, the signal for the heavy brigade +to close up on the ball. The light brigade are no match in a scrimmage +against the great Breage men. They must have the assistance of the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 153]</a></span> +heavy brigade, and away go the heavy first line men, Dick lumbering +along in a clumsy gallop, yet with considerable speed.</p> + +<p>Three sharp blasts on the captain's whistle, and the dogs prepare with +alertness, for action. And it is time, for a Breage man has seized the +Helston runner. He promptly hurls on the ball. It is caught by one of +the dogs in front, who sets off with it at full speed, accompanied by +his fellows. These young striplings have not raced over moors and downs +in the game of fox and hounds for nothing. See how he runs, dodging the +great Breage men, who are now almost upon him. Ah, he is caught at last, +but the ball is in the hands of another dog, passed to him rapidly in +the time of danger. But now the light brigade are also among the dogs, +and the heavy brigade is following up fast in the rear. The Breage men +have been split into two factions, fifteen of them in front, among the +light brigade, the others still in the rear of the heavy brigade men of +the school team.</p> + +<p>The second dog is caught, but he has time to hurl the ball to a light +brigade runner near him, who as promptly hurls it on to the light +runners ahead. One of the dogs seizes it and instantly diverges from the +road to the fields. He realises that he has a much better chance among +the hedges and fields than on the highroad with the big runners of +Breage. Over the hedge go the runners of Breage. A little farther on the +Helston light brigade men also leap the hedge and seek to hinder their +progress. The heavy brigade follow suit. And now <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 154]</a></span> follows a battle +royal. Helston and Breage men are close on the ball, and the Breage men +are battling hard, for the town of Helston is but a scant quarter of a +mile distant.</p> + +<p>A crowd of sightseers line the road and hedges, for is not this for the +glory of Helston and her grammar school? Labourers, with their shovels +on their shoulders, farmers, with their produce, all are anxiously +watching. They have come to see the ball brought in. They know it will +be victory for the school, now it is so near.</p> + +<p>Bravos, hurrahs, sound on all sides. The dogs and light brigade men are +jubilant with expectation. The brook, or river Cober, is in sight. Could +the runner make the bridge, or even dash through the flood, victory +seemed sure. But no, there is a swift Breage man on his track, and bids +fair to overtake him. He has him, and he hurls the ball toward town.</p> + +<p>It was an unlucky throw, for splash!—it is in the river. Nothing +daunted, a light brigade man has leaped in after it, and then a Breage +man on top of him, and then others, until the little stream is choked +with wrestling bodies, heaving, gasping, and the air is full of spray.</p> + +<p>"'E 'as it! Bravo!" shouted the enthusiastic Helston spectators.</p> + +<p>"Now, clear the way for un!" shouted a town beadle, as he made the +people stand back to give the runner a clear track to their own town.</p> + +<p>To their dismay and open-mouthed chagrin, it was the Breage captain that +leaped out of the stream, ball <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 155]</a></span> in hand, and charging like a bull +through the light brigade men, he scatters them right and left like +chaff before the wind. With a whoop and hallo, the heavy brigade strive +to block him, but he makes a detour, leaps another hedge, and is +speeding through another field. What matter brambles or thorns, the game +must be saved for Breage.</p> + +<p>"Ah! dear! dear! us thought 'e was our man, but it 'twas t'other side," +said some Helston labourers, as they gazed after the rapidly receding +players.</p> + +<p>"Ah wadn't fair, so ah wadn't," said others, disconsolately.</p> + +<p>"Us may as well go back to market; the day is lost for Helston," said +several farmers, as they turned from the scene.</p> + +<p>"Man alive! Did 'ee see 'ow 'e runned. Ah runned like a white-head."</p> + +<p>With many similar expressions, the crowd of spectators melted away.</p> + +<p>But follow the runner of Breage. By leaping successive hedges he has +distanced the pursuers, but he is some degree out of his course, and +makes obliquely for the highway. The Helston players perceive his +purpose, and gain the highway first. Here they can make faster progress. +By the time the Breage captain vaults the hedge with a few of his +fellows, the van of the Helston crew, their captain in the lead, is but +a hundred yards in the rear. And now comes a race with fair footing. The +heavy brigade is closing up fast, and the light and dogs running rapidly +in the rear. He is overtaken at <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 156]</a></span> last, but the ball is hurled onward to +Breage. A Breage runner seizes it and speeds rapidly onward. It was now +Breage's chance, and they were doing their best. Ande blew his whistle +valiantly for his men to close up on the ball. And close up they did, +running with a will. The course again diverged from the highway and +approached near the coast. He is downed at last without chance to hurl +the ball. Quickly on top of him pile the other runners in the lead.</p> + +<p>"Off of me; I've lost the ball!"</p> + +<p>It was the Breage man underneath who had shouted, and the five or six +players on top of him slowly arose, gazed at each other, then for the +hurling ball, but it had disappeared as if by magic.</p> + +<p>The players arrived one by one, panting hard with their exertion, but +the ball was not found. A new ball was forthcoming for the emergency, +tossed off by a ploughman, and the fierce contest renewed. All the +remainder of the afternoon the battle went on, victory favouring, +smiling, on one side, then on the other. The players showed the effect +of their hard usage. The dogs were torn and bleeding with brambles and +thorns, and of the hue of earth from their constant contact with it. The +larger players were also battered and soiled, but they only played the +harder. Sunset was approaching and gilded the western heavens with hues +of scarlet. The ball was once more stopped within a quarter-mile of +Helston. The brook, or river Cober, had been passed. The heavy brigade, +the light brigade, and even the dogs, were mingled in one great heap +with Breage <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 157]</a></span> men. Who had the ball was a mystery. A Breage runner had it +when he went down. It was Dick who downed him. The Breage men were +desperate, the school men determined. Tenny, Creakle, Jordan, and others +resolved that the ball should not leave them thus close to victory.</p> + +<p>But suddenly the great mound was heaved and tossed like the earth +undulated by an earthquake.</p> + +<p>"Pin 'im down! Hold un!" roared the Breage captain. "E's their man, and +'e's got the ball!"</p> + +<p>The dogs and lighter men nimbly stepped aside to make way and assist +their own runner. The Breage players made a last futile effort to hold +the runner down.</p> + +<p>"'Old un! 'Old un! damme, can none hold un!" shouted the Breage captain, +in wrath at the apparent weakness of his men.</p> + +<p>Frantically the Breage men piled on the heap, but of no avail, for there +crept at that moment from the mound a great hulking form with the ball. +He was on his feet the next instant and speeding away toward town, +cheered on by the dogs and light brigade and spectators.</p> + +<p>The Breage captain, with an oath of rage, hurling to right and left, +like feathers, his own and the school men that impeded him, leaped upon +the brawny runner's shoulders and sought to bring him to earth; but +though hampered, the Helston runner strode on.</p> + +<p>Now, like the phalanx of an army, the school men spread out, and with +blocking tactics, withheld those that would follow. On went the runner, +unimpeded, save <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 158]</a></span> by the human burden on his shoulders, the Breage +captain, who in vain sought to drag him down. The ascent to old St. +Michael's was reached at last, and up went the runner, striding on. It +was harder progress now, but the open church door was near. Another few +yards and the game was won. He is there at last. The runner's arm shoots +out. The Breage captain strives in vain to catch and deter the aim, but +the ball is gone, flung with unerring hand straight through the open +tower door. The victory was won. Helston school had wiped out the score +against Breage.</p> + +<p>What cheers and what bravos resounded on all sides! The bells of old St. +Michael's pealed out in concert with the acclamations of the people. The +Breage crew were humiliated, especially the captain, but on every other +countenance there was the gladness of victory won.</p> + +<p>A feast was held in the school that night on a part of the prize money. +Jordan was master of ceremonies. Around him clustered the warriors of +the day, their garments, wet and soiled, now changed to clean and dry. +With his arm extended for silence, he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Who saved the day and brought in the ball with the Breage captain on +his back? Who saved the game?"</p> + +<p>"Dick Thomas!" was the roaring answer.</p> + +<p>"Here's a huzza for Old Ironsides!" shouted another.</p> + +<p>The cheer was given and the toast followed, and then they sang, "For +He's a Jolly Good Fellow."</p> + +<p>"A speech, Dick," shouted some one.</p> + +<p>Dick arose and there was more cheering.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 159]</a></span> "Well, I don't know whether old +Dick Dullhead can make a speech."</p> + +<p>Here there were protests of "No Dullhead any more, but Old Ironsides."</p> + +<p>"Well, I want to drink a toast and I want you all to drink the same. +Here's to the fellow that made Dick Dullhead a name and fellow of the +past, and made me Dick Ironsides instead. Here's to the one that trained +all of us so faithfully and well that each one of us had the swiftness, +strength, and endurance to win the game. Here's to the fellow that so +trained me that I was able to carry both ball and Breage captain to the +goal. Here's to our valiant captain, Ande Trembath."</p> + +<p>There was a storm of cheers as they responded; but where was Ande?</p> + +<p>Though he had been missed since the regular ball had disappeared, yet +every one had supposed him among the crowd somewhere. Now calls for the +captain were on all sides, but he was not present.</p> + +<p>The majority, believing that he was out, but would be in shortly, kept +up the feasting, singing, and speaking.</p> + +<p>Dick, after an inquiry here and there, went out and disappeared in the +night.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 160]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<p class="center">PRUSSIA COVE. THE SMUGGLERS' BATTLE</p> + + +<blockquote><p>"Seventy years since, a native of Breage called 'Carter,' +but better known, from a most remarkable personal resemblance +to Frederick the Great, as the 'King of Prussia,' monopolised +most of the smuggling trade of the west. He chose as the seat +of his business a rocky cove two miles east of Marazion, which +continues to bear the name of Prussia Cove."—<i>Robert Hunt, +F. R. S.</i></p></blockquote> + + +<p>Where was the captain of the Helston hurlers?</p> + +<p>The last time he was seen was on the cliff when the prize hurling ball +disappeared. He had disengaged himself from the tumbling contestants +when the ball escaped from the hand of the prostrate player, and saw it +roll swiftly into a neighbouring ravine that led downward, like a +funnel, to the sands below. Like a meteor he was after it and was out of +view before any of his fellows noticed his absence. Down the narrow +pathway he plunged with reckless steps, intent only on possessing the +ball and had just grasped it, when crash! a part of the footpath gave +way and down, down, down, he slipped, faster and faster. He saw the +ground and pebbles fly past him upward as if endued with the power of +ærial flight. He grasped futilely at the flying shrubs and boulders and +then came the sickening sense of flying out into space over the cliff +edge.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then there was a shock, a sharp pain and,—all was a blank.</p> + +<p>When he returned to consciousness, he was on a cot with a rough, kindly +face bending over him.</p> + +<p>"Drink, m'lad, it'll do 'ee good. Clunk un all down."</p> + +<p>He felt something at his lips and mechanically swallowed it. The liquor, +or whatever it was, revived him in a short time and he sat up.</p> + +<p>"Where am I? Am I hurt?"</p> + +<p>He slowly placed his hand to his head and felt a bandage around it.</p> + +<p>"Ah, I remember now. I fell in the hurling game, but I still have the +ball." Ande gazed around and found himself in what appeared an ordinary +fisherman's cabin, rough and uncouth, but still comfortable. Fishing +tackle hung here and there and there was an odd, fishy smell. A few +cheap prints hung on the wall and there was a window through which a +glimpse of the sea was visible.</p> + +<p>"Why, bless 'ee, young sir, I thought 'ee would never come round, so Ah +did; Ah was holding my breath to see whether 'ee was mazed by the fall +or 'ad come round, and I'm glad 'tez the latter. But, bless 'ee, what a +fall! Damme, it was worse than a blow of a cutlass."</p> + +<p>It was the voice of the attendant who had been bending over him; he was +to all appearances a simple fisherman, clad in rough fisherman's +clothes, and with a shaggy crop of hair that needed much the barber's +art.</p> + +<p>"And what place is this?" <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 162]</a></span></p> + +<p>"This es Prussia Cove."</p> + +<p>A revelation dawned upon the mind of the captain of the Helston hurlers. +He had often heard of Prussia Cove and its famous smuggling hero, +Captain Carter, who, on account of his great resemblance to Frederick +the Great, was named the "King of Prussia." Many a keg of brandy and +bale of silk and lace found its way into the neighbourhood of Helston +through him. Many a landlord and poor peasant profited by this illicit +trade. But smuggling was not esteemed a crime by the people. The +government, by imposing duties on imports, was viewed partly in the +light of a tyrant and justly to be opposed and hoodwinked. The people +loved the smuggler better than the king. Even rectors of the church +considered smuggling an honourable occupation and the smuggler a brave +citizen seeking a livelihood. The government itself was not bitterly +opposed to it, at least such was its position until after the Napoleonic +wars, for by smuggling a hardy race of seamen was bred that laid, +primarily, England's prestige on the sea.</p> + +<p>The lad, like many others, felt a kindly interest in them and looked for +their welfare.</p> + +<p>"And you are the King of Prussia?"</p> + +<p>"Not 'zackly," said the man with a smile; "I'm just 'is prime minister +on land."</p> + +<p>"The watchman?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, and I saw 'ee a-tumbling down the cliff just now and brought 'ee +in. I thought 'ee was done for, sure." <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And the King?"</p> + +<p>"Is out on the King's highway taking a walk."</p> + +<p>"By which you mean that he is out on the sea, and is expected home +to-night?"</p> + +<p>"'Zackly so."</p> + +<p>"I'm much obliged for your kind care; and now I feel able to stand I'll +have to be travelling after the boys, for it's getting dusk."</p> + +<p>"I think 'ee had better stay, at least until the King comes, for 'ow do +I know but what 'ee favours the coastguard."</p> + +<p>There was an anxious and cunning look in the watchman's eye.</p> + +<p>"Well, just as you say; I'll stay."</p> + +<p>The adventure of coming in contact with the watchman and the idea of +meeting the celebrated King of Prussia harmonised with the lad's daring +spirit and he was not loathe to remain.</p> + +<p>"That's right, better so, and 'ee'll see a fine sight," nodded the +watchman, relieved of much of his fears. "And now I suppose 'ee'rt +hungry, leastways I be, and we'll 'ave a bit of scrowled pilchards and +say biscuit."</p> + +<p>The watchman set about the little cabin preparing the evening meal for +himself and guest and became quite communicative. Exploits of the King +of Prussia, his smuggling trips, his hairbreadth escapes, his great +courage, all formed the burden of his tales. Ande listened and felt more +and more the desire to meet this hero of the smuggling trade. The supper +was ready <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 164]</a></span> and together watchman and hurling captain fell to with a +will, the latter eating with the gusto that the hard day's game +naturally brought.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the night settled in dark and stormy. For some time +there had been dark, leaden clouds pendant upon the western horizon and +a low, weird murmuring, increasing to a sullen, muffled growl as of many +beasts, mad with hunger in a jungle fastness. With the increasing wind +the leaden mass burdening the horizon rolled steadily inward, a roof of +tumbling blackness, now still, then rolling on, and fretted here and +there with jagged gleams of lightning. There was a crashing roll of +thunder like the peal of many guns.</p> + +<p>"Hark!" said the watchman, raising his fork in midair; "just as I +thought, a storm a-coming; so much the better for the King. A storm +brings a clear coast, and yet I wish the captain was ashore, for there's +going to be uncommon 'igh wind."</p> + +<p>More thunder and more violent wind, and the waves along the shore, that +generally rollicked and played with boulders and companion cliffs, began +to rear their foam crowned heads and bellow back in harmony with the +thunder tones above, beating the defiant rocks with a scourge of green +watery thongs. The sea-gulls were silenced by the increasing roar and +sought safety in the crannies of the cliffs. And now the full force of +the storm was on, and even in the retired cove was its power felt, for +the small window panes began to rattle and vibrate as if moved by a +spirit of unrest.</p> + +<p>"'Ark!" said the watchman, as he pushed back his <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 165]</a></span> chair and arose +hurriedly. There was a sound of a solitary gun at sea, heard in the lull +of the wind, and then through the window was seen the shooting course of +a rocket, comet-like, athwart the stormy sky.</p> + +<p>"Ah! The King is coming in, and 'ard pressed too. Damme, the government +dogs are after 'im. Now there was a time when a man could earn a decent +living without 'aving 'is lugger sent to Davy Jones' locker, but +now—damme—there's another gun! Les out and give 'im a light! Bear a +hand there with that lantern."</p> + +<p>The watchman jerked an oilskin on his back and a sou'wester on his head, +and casting a hasty glance at the cabin, turned and bolted through the +door, closely followed by his companion.</p> + +<p>Without the storm was not much felt in the sequestered cove, although +there were occasional blasts of wind that penetrated the harbour +entrance, terrific in force, and seemed to fairly take their breath on +their exit. Above, streaks of twilight were still visible, and flying, +scudding fragments of clouds driven on the blast. Then came sleet and +hail that stung the face like needles. The lad staggered a moment almost +blinded by the withering, hail-burdened wind.</p> + +<p>"Avast a bit, lad," roared the watchman, and running back and securing +an oilskin and sou'wester, "'ere, stow tha cargo in that," handing the +oilskin, "and clap that on your main-top," handing the great sou'wester. +Lights were stationed on both points of the narrow entrance and they +returned to the beach where they awaited. There was a fascination in the +great waves <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 166]</a></span> and breakers, hurling themselves from the gloom like vast +mountains of green darkness toward the cove's entrance, where they would +shiver themselves to pieces with a deep roar, augmented by its +reverberating throughout the hollow length of the harbour.</p> + +<p>Then as they watched, a higher wave than usual seemed to approach the +entrance—nearer and nearer, larger and larger, until it seemed to fill +the narrow cove's mouth from cliff to cliff, and threatened engulfment +of cove and all in one watery grave. The wind ceased for a moment. The +feeling Ande had was inexpressible.</p> + +<p>"See!" he roared to the smuggler watchman, "see, it'll sweep the whole +cove!" He was turning to bound up the cliff, when the watchman seized +him.</p> + +<p>"Avast, lad, 'tez only the lugger."</p> + +<p>True, it was the lugger, that with shortened, bellying sails, rushed in +like a thing of life, and so great was her momentum that there was +danger of her beaching. The skipper was a skilful hand, and not new at +his business, which he demonstrated by the quickness of his orders. A +cry of command, and in a twinkling all sails were neatly folded and +closely reefed. Another command, and gently the smuggler vessel drew in +to the landing.</p> + +<p>A scene of apparent confused activity instantly ensued. Kegs of brandy, +bales of silk, and rich fabrics were hurled recklessly out on the sands, +and numbers of hardy frames, springing from the very earth, bore them +away in the darkness. There was a hollow boom beyond the entrance, and a +solid shot sped in through the cove <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 167]</a></span>mouth, swept across the sand, and +buried itself in the cliff beyond. There were oaths, loud and deep, from +the husky, straining figures at work in the lugger and on shore, but +they paused not. Ande's attention was concentrated upon one who seemed +the chief, standing on the landing, giving orders, and, as he turned, he +was startled by the intense resemblance of the countenance to a picture +he had seen once of Frederick of Prussia. He was of ordinary height, a +little inclined to stoutness, and had fair hair, and blue eyes that +flashed under the light of the flaming torches; his regular, delicate +features had great power of expression. With an oath, he saw Ande, and +grasped him by the shoulder with a grip of steel.</p> + +<p>"Who art thou, lad?"</p> + +<p>The explanation of his supper companion, the watchman, was forthcoming, +and with a word of apology the captain turned to other and more pressing +affairs.</p> + +<p>Again came the booming sound at sea,—this time closer—and another shot +sped through the entrance. The revenue cutter was nearing the +cove-mouth, but the smugglers were prepared for a grim resistance. Pikes +and cutlasses were gleaming on all sides.</p> + +<p>"Zounds!" muttered Captain Carter, "they'll be upon us in another +moment, and that before we 'ave time to store the cargo. Up aloft, +there, Jack, on the headland, and see if you can't beat off the dogs. +Open on them with solid ball," he roared, after the watchman, who was +already climbing the ascent. Ande, totally forgetting his injuries in +the excitement, sped up after him.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 168]</a></span></p> + +<p>Up, up, up, following the flickering light of the watchman's lantern, he +went. And now the wind became more violent, the higher the ascent, until +near the top he was scarcely able to stand.</p> + +<p>"Larboard, port your helm, there!" shouted the voice of Jack, and he was +seized by that worthy and dragged into a less exposed place. "No man +could stand in a gale like this any further up," shouted Jack in his +ear. Another step or two, and a sequestered place was reached, where +were stationed two pieces of ancient ordnance, and Jack and Ande were +speedily loading, and none too soon, for down below, the cutter's lights +were seen a short distance from the entrance.</p> + +<p>There was a flash and then a roar, and the ball was on its mission.</p> + +<p>"Too high. Better luck next time. But I swear that I thought that 'ould +'a' gone amidships. I do think old Nick must a-turned un aside, I do."</p> + +<p>"It's had some effect, for they are beating off," answered Ande.</p> + +<p>"That's to get a shot at we. They're luffing. But we'll tap them first, +I say. 'Ere, let's give 'em another."</p> + +<p>Again was the flash and roar from the cliff, and Jack fairly chuckled, +as one of the lanterns was snuffed out.</p> + +<p>"Took a part of 'er taffrail that time."</p> + +<p>But now the cutter was ready for action, and boom went one of her guns, +and the next moment a ball struck the cliff below them, splintering the +rock into fragments. Then again the cliff guns spoke, answered once more +by the cutter's, and soon the action became general. The <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 169]</a></span> roar of the +cliff guns and the revenue cutter's mingled with the howling blast, and +made the night hideous with noise. Though so far above the sea, yet the +spray of crashing breakers frequently swept over them as they worked the +cliff guns, and it and the occasional flying sleet, at times, so +dampened the powder that the guns had to be recharged.</p> + +<p>Ande was in his element. Here was a real battle, and he paused not to +think that he was firing upon a government boat. The wild soldier blood +of his ancestors was coursing through his veins like molten fire. He had +cast aside the sou'wester hat, as obstructing his vision, and truly he +looked a martial figure with his bandaged head and flowing locks swept +by the blast.</p> + +<p>In the midst of the detonating roar, a figure bounded from the gloom +behind them. Jack, with a sulphurous oath, swung his cutlass on high, +thinking that some revenue men had landed and were charging, but Ande +grasped the blade before it could descend. Although he cut his own hand +badly in the act, yet he saved the stranger's life.</p> + +<p>"Dick!"</p> + +<p>"Ande!"</p> + +<p>It was Dick, who, searching in the locality for his friend, was +attracted by the noise of battle. He asked no questions, but stolidly +set to work to assist in charging and firing the guns. At length the +cutter's guns were fairly silenced; she had been beaten off and her +lights were seen fainter and fainter in her hasty retreat out to sea.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 170]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now, stand by, men; one more shot to let them remember Captain Carter +and Prussia Cove."</p> + +<p>It was the gunner, Jack, who spoke, as he finished aiming the last +piece. There was another flash, and away bounded the iron messenger. A +moment and one of the lights of the distant cutter was quenched, as if +the bay had engulfed it.</p> + +<p>"As I'm a sinner, ef that didn't go straight through their cabin +winders. And now, les down below and see 'ow fares the captain and the +cargo."</p> + +<p>They descended and found the King of Prussia in excellent humour. The +whole cargo had been safely landed and concealed in numerous secret +places, and even the lugger had mysteriously disappeared.</p> + +<p>"And let's shake hands with our new comrades of the night," said the +captain, as he grasped the hands of Ande and Dick. "You 'ave shown us +your good will to-night, and ye had better now turn in and get a bit of +rest afore morning, when, if ye are so minded, you can take the way back +to Helston. But, mind 'ee, my lads, no word of to-night's affair."</p> + +<p>Both accepted the generous invitation of Captain Carter, and weary with +the double exertion of a hurling game and the smugglers' battle, they +soon lost themselves in the land of dreams.</p> + +<p>On the morrow they were awakened by voices in angry altercation without. +The cutter had returned, but slightly damaged, and had landed a force in +the cove capable of sweeping all opposition. But there was no +opposition, nothing incriminating being found. Even <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 171]</a></span> the very guns on +the cliff had disappeared, and the marks of numerous feet on the shore +were partly obliterated by the tide. The lads, cautiously peering out +from the small window, saw the King of Prussia angrily expostulating +with the captain of the cutter. Prussia was clad in an ordinary +fisherman's garb, and seemed what he professed to be by those garments.</p> + +<p>"Damme," he was saying, "'tez a downright shame that my family and I, +peaceful folks, have to 'ave our slumbers disturbed by the banging of +your practice guns all night. Why doan't 'ee practice out at sea?"</p> + +<p>The captain of the cutter was nonplussed, apologised slightly, and +reëmbarked with his crew. Carter came into the cabin with a merry +twinkle in his eye. The lads were convulsed with laughter.</p> + +<p>"And now," said the captain, "I suppose it is time for 'ee to be going," +and he pressed into their hands a small package, which later +investigation proved to be a jar of currant wine. On the highway, Ande +told Dick of his accident and his possession of the first hurling ball.</p> + +<p>When they arrived at the Grammar School, they were notified to appear +before the head. Mr. Trewan was seated at his desk, and looked at the +two culprits very gravely, for to be absent all night was a serious +offence. Then the grave look gave place to one of anxious concern, as +Ande's bandaged head and hand caught his vision. Explanations were made, +the fall over the cliff, the period of unconsciousness, and Dick's +search the greater part of the night for his friend. The battle of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 172]</a></span> the +smugglers was not touched, as they deemed that treachery to their +smuggler friends.</p> + +<p>Mr. Trewan seemed touched by the accident, and the devotion of Dick, and +let them both off without even a reprimand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 173]</a></span></p><p>That night there was another festive scene, but in the fifth form +dormitory instead of in the dining hall, and in it the currant wine +formed a prominent part.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<p class="center">THE DUCK CAVE ADVENTURE</p> + + +<p>"Ande, cocoa is pretty dry with such stuff."</p> + +<p>Dick's great head arose from the hamper package which he was examining, +and he flourished in one hand a roasted chicken. The hamper was one he +had received that very day from home. They had ordered it brought into +their study room, and, miracle to relate, it was done without the +knowledge of monitors or small boys.</p> + +<p>"What do you propose?" said Ande, as he, too, began investigation. Dick +scratched his head dubiously and then his face brightened.</p> + +<p>"Eggs."</p> + +<p>"Old Ironsides is gone daft. Where does your majesty expect to get eggs, +and if ye do get them, what are we going to do with them? Do ye think we +are going to be egg-sucking weasels?"</p> + +<p>Dick grinned, and, as he tried to set a dramatic attitude, flourished +his arm, "We'll set forth the vessels of silver and gold——"</p> + +<p>"Avast, there, my lad," said Ande, imitating the tones of smuggler Jack.</p> + +<p>"And 'ave a-blooming——"</p> + +<p>"Cough it out, my elephantine infant."</p> + +<p>"Belshassar's feast. I have an idea." <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Whisper it not in Gath, publish it not in Ascalon. An idea," chuckling, +"from an egg-regious Lizard philosopher."</p> + +<p>"Egg-nogg," continued Dick, grinning.</p> + +<p>"The very thing," said Ande, assuming a more sober tone, "but where?"</p> + +<p>"We must first get outside of town," said Dick, soberly.</p> + +<p>"No stealing?"</p> + +<p>"No stealing."</p> + +<p>"'Pon honour?"</p> + +<p>"'Pon honour."</p> + +<p>Forth they started, cautiously slipping downstairs and out into the +street, where both darted away at a rapid pace. On the highroad that led +to the little town of Prospidnic, the foremost paused, and puffing like +an engine the latter caught up to him.</p> + +<p>"Ande, remember the Truro champion footrace?"</p> + +<p>Ande nodded.</p> + +<p>"Well, I believe 'ee could beat the champion; you went so fast I nigh +lost sight of you."</p> + +<p>"Now, what's your plan?"</p> + +<p>Dick paused a moment to gain his breath, and then spoke.</p> + +<p>"Do ye remember the cave near the Red River? Well, the ducks from all +around gather there. It's public property, being on the free downs. Eggs +used to be there in plenty, but some snivelling squire's steward put a +door on it and now tries to bag the industry."</p> + +<p>"Art sure the squire didn't buy the section?" <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, if he 'as, the ducks that gather there are not his, and 'e 'asn't +a mortgage on the eggs of futurity infinitum. The squire's steward is +the robber of public rights and human freedom, and——"</p> + +<p>"Public eggs," said Ande. "Down with the tyrant,—<i>sic semper +tyrannis</i>—and up with the eggs."</p> + +<p>Onward they pressed at a dog-trot. It was evening and getting dusk when +they reached the neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>"You go in, Dick, and I'll mount watchman."</p> + +<p>The door was the contrivance of a genius, for, while it was designed to +hold out boys and men, yet a small aperture beneath favored the entrance +of ducks and other smaller creatures. The cave was in the side of a hill +near the Red River stream, and opened on the roadway.</p> + +<p>"I'll go in as soon as I get un open," says Dick, as he wrenched at the +latch. By dint of tugging and pulling, the hasp was loosened, and in +went Dick, crawling on his hands and knees, the height of the tunnel not +permitting him to walk upright.</p> + +<p>"Hast found any?"</p> + +<p>"No, steward must 'ave been here. 'Tis a most beastly place and nigh +turns one's stomach," muttered Dick from the interior.</p> + +<p>There was the sound of a horse's tread in the distance, and the sound of +whistling approaching. Fearing that the open door would excite +suspicion, Ande gently closed it, and the hasp being a spring affair, +fell into place. Then, stealing cautiously behind a neighbouring hedge, +he awaited the passing of the traveller.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 176]</a></span></p> + +<p>Dick, having made certain and wealthy discoveries in the egg line, his +bag full and certain pockets bulged to their utmost, was, in the +meantime, cautiously returning to the exit, where, before he knew it, he +had bumped with the force of a battering ram against the closed door. It +would not yield to any of his efforts, and then, thinking Ande was +joking him, he cried out in impatient voice, "Lemme out, Ande, do, I got +eggs a-plenty." Receiving no answer, he began butting afresh, and roared +louder.</p> + +<p>Now the horseman had approached and heard the infernal roaring and +racket that seemed to come from the very bowels of the earth. He was a +simple, unsophisticated countryman, with an appetite for ale and a +passion for thievery that was well known to the community. Greggs, as he +was surnamed, was not noted for his personal courage, and the loneliness +of the place, even in daylight, the gloom of the overshadowing trees, +and the dusk of twilight, was not calculated to make or add any more +heroism to his nature. Within his breast, as within all countrymen of +the time, and even still, in many districts, there had constantly been +drilled the old beliefs in witches, fairies, giants, goblins, and a host +of other superstitions with which Cornwall has been replete for ages. It +was no wonder, then, that when he came within the border of the shadow, +etched darkly by the trees, he whistled louder, and finally burst into +singing a hymn tune, to let all wandering spirits realise that he was a +godly fellow, kicking his steed all the while to hasten its ambling +pace.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Got eggs—lemme out—Ande—lemme out!"</p> + +<p>The horse stood stock still, refusing to budge an inch forward, and +trembling in great terror. In vain the fearful man began to belabour and +kick his leathery sides; the animal would not go forward, but began to +uneasily sidle around and around. The butting and bellowing of Dick +still continued, with little intermission. Greggs ceased singing, the +great drops of perspiration stood out in beads on his face, and with +another frantic effort he kicked his horse's sides in an agony of fear. +Then, as the butting was renewed with greater force, a cry came from +Greggs's lips:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Devil, 'ave mercy 'pon me!"</p> + +<p>Dick was indefatigable in his butting and bellowing, but even his +patience began to give way and he began to swear in a mild way.</p> + +<p>"Damme, Ande, come take eggs!"</p> + +<p>Each word was punctuated by a savage butt from Dick's great head on the +door.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, Mr. Devil,—not that—Greggs done no 'arm," mistaking Dick's +cry for the devil's warning "Damnation to Greggs."</p> + +<p>Again came the stifled underground roar, coming forth with a muffled: +"Take—(crash)—eggs—(crash)—damme—(crash)"—and a word beginning +with h.</p> + +<p>"Mercy, Mr. Devil, doan't 'ee take Greggs there. Ah, why did I leave the +hangel tavern!"</p> + +<p>"Damnation!"</p> + +<p>"No, no, Mr. Devil."</p> + +<p>"A beastly trick," roared Dick, still butting away.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 178]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Aye, kind sir, I'm guilty of many beastly tricks."</p> + +<p>"Ande, you deceiving cad."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I confess I 'ave deceived dad."</p> + +<p>"Here I am—beating m'head."</p> + +<p>"Aye, I beat un on the 'ead, too," moaned Greggs.</p> + +<p>"Like a thieving robber."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mr. Devil, I robbed un, but 'ave mercy. I promise to take un all +back," groaned Greggs, in terror, still kicking his steed, that shied +around and around.</p> + +<p>"Come, take the bag, you wretched cad."</p> + +<p>"Aye, I promise; I'll take the bag back to dad."</p> + +<p>"It's full," roared Dick.</p> + +<p>"No, no, it was honly 'alf full."</p> + +<p>"Zounds!" swore Dick.</p> + +<p>"Pounds! No 'e wadn't; they were mostly shillings."</p> + +<p>"Let me out!"</p> + +<p>"No! Doan't 'ee come out. I promise, Mr. Devil—Oh!—--"</p> + +<p>The last remark of Greggs gave place to a shriek of agonised fear. The +door, under repeated blows of Dick, gave way, and out he rolled with his +bag of eggs, looking in the darkness like a hideous monster come up from +the deep. The horse, in mad terror, wheeled and galloped back to town; +Greggs, praying and howling like a madman, hugging his horse's neck, let +fall his basket in the way. Ande was rolling in the grass beyond the +hedge, choking with laughter.</p> + +<p>Dick was a picture of wrath, as he stood sputtering by the road-side. His +clothes were foul, the natural <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 179]</a></span> result of crawling into a duck cave, and +he was apparently sick at the stomach.</p> + +<p>"What's wrong, Dick?"</p> + +<p>"A beastly trick,—phew—ah, egg—phew—ah, in +mouth,—phew—ah—addled—broke."</p> + +<p>Ande roared and roared with shrieking laughter. Dick had filled the bag +and his pockets, and finding one extra one, had placed it in his mouth +for safe keeping, just before the latch gave way.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Ande, "they aren't all broke, and the most must be good."</p> + +<p>Dick, at first was very much incensed, but Ande, while he helped to +clean him up at the Red River, explained how he had closed the door to +avert suspicion. Dick was mollified when the description of Greggs's +terrors was related, and laughed a faint laugh that partly brought back +his good humour.</p> + +<p>It appeared that Greggs had ill-treated his poor old father, and had +robbed him of some of his savings. Taking warning from the supposed +admonition of his Satanic majesty, he afterward treated his father with +the greatest consideration, refunding the shillings he had stolen. +Nothing, however, could induce him to pass that way again, and the story +getting wind and becoming much exaggerated, few would trust themselves +in that locality after dusk.</p> + +<p>"Whew! Look here, Dick." Ande picked up the basket and drew from it a +small bottle of rye.</p> + +<p>"The very thing we need," gasped Dick, "the egg-nog shall become +punch." <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't know, Dick. You see, if we take it, it'll be stealing. The +school rules are against it, and no matter how sparingly and temperately +a fellow uses it no allowance is made."</p> + +<p>"Well, if we give it back to Greggs, it'll do 'im more harm than it will +us; then, we can send Greggs the cost of it, so it won't be stealing, +and as to school rules, why, we are breaking school rules now by being +away," said Dick, reassuringly.</p> + +<p>"'Twon't do, Dick; the breaking of one law doesn't justify the breaking +of another. We'll let it behind."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Dick, but at the same moment, concealed by the dusk of +the evening, he slipped the flask into his pocket.</p> + +<p>"You'll 'ave to 'cave' about getting the eggs in," said Ande, as they +trotted along home, back to Helston.</p> + +<p>"That's what's worrying me," said Dick.</p> + +<p>"I have it," said Ande, and the plan seemed so feasible that he resumed +his old bantering tone. "Dick, old lad, congratulate your friend on +being a man of infinite resources. I have a plan, my Ajax of egg-hunting +renown and Lucifer reputation."</p> + +<p>"Huh," growled Dick, "we're getting near town."</p> + +<p>"A rope—the hamper rope," said Ande; "that beast, Creakle, will be on +guard within, or Tenny. I go in empty-handed,—see—you stay out below +the study window, in the dark angle; I let down the rope,—presto—up +come the eggs. You come in empty-handed,—see?" and Ande gave Dick a +nudge.</p> + +<p>Dick brightened up perceptibly.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But 'ow to get you in with that pungent, ducky aroma, without exciting +the blatant curiosity of Creakle, or the sharp smellers of +Sherwood—um—das ist die frage. Whew! What a beastly odour."</p> + +<p>Dick looked worried and down-hearted.</p> + +<p>"But cheer up, Dick, you can't help it, and we'll get you in some how, +never fear. The plan is sure to work."</p> + +<p>The plan did work like a charm, and soon they were in the comfortable +study, Dick clothed in clean garments, and the steaming egg-nogg and +eatables before them. The evening's adventure, the terror of Greggs, the +chicken, and other viands, made the evening pass pleasantly by. During +the close of the feast, Tenny rapped, but was not let in.</p> + +<p>"Now Creakle will be next," said Ande, "and we can't keep a monitor out. +Away with the things!"</p> + +<p>The things were hurriedly placed away, the Virgils opened, and with +lexicons in hand, they seemed busily and studiously engaged when steps +were heard advancing quickly along the corridor. The door was swung +open, it being unbarred, and in stalked Sherwood and Creakle. The latter +had a cunning twinkle in his eye; the former with grave, severe +countenance.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," began Sherwood, in stern voice, but he went no further. +Ande looked up with a mild, reproving eye.</p> + +<p>"I believe no student is to be disturbed in the evening study hour, +except upon probable cause of misdemeanour; I believe that is an +unwritten law."</p> + +<p>"Quite right, gentlemen, excuse me," and Master <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 182]</a></span> Sherwood backed out, +followed by Creakle. Humiliation is a poor word to express the feelings +of the under-master. Creakle could be heard expostulating with him in +the corridor.</p> + +<p>"I saw them both, on the run out of town, and saw them enter on their +return, and there was a smell of ducks, sir, on Mr. Thomas's clothes."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense," said Master Sherwood, "how should it not be manifest to me +also?" Sherwood had not thought of the possibility of Thomas changing +his clothes.</p> + +<p>Creakle still protested.</p> + +<p>"Absurd! Why, sir, do you know you are accusing the head of the fifth?" +said Master Sherwood, exasperated. "Do you know your misplaced zeal has +involved me in censure that was just, and a rebuke from fifth form boys +that was, to say the least, humiliating? You, sir, should have known +better. There must have been an upheaval of latent stupidity within you +to thus bring disgrace upon both master and school. Sir, how will the +public esteem our reputation when they are informed that master and +monitor are banded together to disturb the study hours, and falsely +accuse honourable students."</p> + +<p>"I thought," began Creakle, humbly.</p> + +<p>"You thought, sir; what right had you to think? You must know before +recklessly accusing honourable students and bringing disgrace, not on me +alone, but on the head."</p> + +<p>Master Sherwood, in high dudgeon, went to his study,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 183]</a></span> and Creakle, +crestfallen, retired to the form room, where he had charge over the +smaller form study hours.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Dick, "that spying cad must be brought down to give him some +sparks of honour."</p> + +<p>"What's the plan?"</p> + +<p>Dick, for the first time, refused to divulge to his chum his course, but +divesting himself of his shoes cautiously slipped down to the cloakroom +below.</p> + +<p>That night, as Creakle was donning his gown, which he always left in the +cloakroom, there arose a fearful uproar in the corridor above. Hastening +upstairs with full speed, he tripped over an invisible something and +fell with a crash to the floor. Instantly doors opened, lights appeared, +and a confused sound of many voices, and in the midst of all, along +stalked Master Sherwood.</p> + +<p>"What is the meaning of this, Creakle?" he asked of that worthy, who was +still on the floor, dazed with his fall.</p> + +<p>"I fell, sir."</p> + +<p>"You did, and pray why?" with biting sarcasm.</p> + +<p>Just then he smelt the fumes of rye on the garb of the miserable +Creakle, and his face grew dark with severity.</p> + +<p>"You have been drinking, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I have not," stammered the monitor.</p> + +<p>"Don't give me the lie, sir; you are reeking with the fumes of an +ale-house. Ugh! you putrescent miscreant! This is a case for the head. +You will appear before him to-morrow. Such a disgrace! In what light +will the public view this scandalous demoralisation? Outra <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 184]</a></span>geous, sir! +This is the second offence to-night. I thought you were +inebriated,—intoxicated—in short, what the vulgar tongue calls drunk, +when you brought me a silly, drivelling tale of a misdemeanour of two +honourable students, and now you make it evident by staggering around, +sprawling, and destroying the peace and sobriety of the school!"</p> + +<p>"I—I—I am not drunk."</p> + +<p>"I call you all to witness the state of filthy inebriety of this +fellow," said Sherwood, with cold dignity.</p> + +<p>"What do you say, sir?" said the tutor to Dick.</p> + +<p>"He smells horrid, sir," said that worthy.</p> + +<p>"Ah! You are all witnesses," said Sherwood, and then, turning to the +dejected Creakle, "in with you to your study, and relieve honourable men +from the abhorrent, filthy odours that assail decent olfactory organs."</p> + +<p>Mr. Sherwood retired in dignified silence, and Creakle slunk into his +study.</p> + +<p>"Dick, what is the moral?" said Ande, after they had reëntered their +study.</p> + +<p>"The revenge of diabolical Ajax?"</p> + +<p>"No, the moral is this: the man who takes delight in spying on others +and revelling in their disgrace, even though he be a monitor, shall be +beaten with his own stick." <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<p class="center">CREAKLE'S REVENGE</p> + + +<p>"It's true; I heard it myself when I was over that way this last week," +said Creakle, nodding his head affirmatively.</p> + +<p>"Who was it told you?" said Tenny.</p> + +<p>"A fellow called Sloan, a big, honest sort of a fellow in the employ of +the Lanyans. He's a sort of an understrapper to young Master Richard, +who will be graduated soon from Eton College."</p> + +<p>"What did he say?"</p> + +<p>"That Trembath's father was a traitor to the government; that he turned +traitor in the late war with America, leastways he has not shown his +face hereabouts since the war. Some think he is dead, and others think +he was a traitor, and daren't show his face in England, but is living in +exile somewhere in America. Sloan—I think his first name is Bob—told +me himself that Richard and his father, Sir James, both believe that he +was a traitor."</p> + +<p>"No proofs but their thoughts," said Tenny, doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"Well, it is the current belief of the whole neighbourhood, and then, +there is strong proof of his grandfather being a traitor. There is no +doubt about that at all. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 186]</a></span>Bob told me that it was through the +patriotism of Richard's grandfather that the matter was called to the +attention of Newcastle, and Trembath Manor was confiscated."</p> + +<p>"How? What was the treason?"</p> + +<p>"Well, he was a soldier in the war of England against France, in the +colonies. He was in Braddock's defeat, and after that battle he turned +for the French. He was with them for upwards of a year or so, and no one +knows what harm he did during that time. They say he consorted with the +French of Quebec, was a spy in their employ, and was afterwards raised +to some rank as an officer."</p> + +<p>"A traitor to his own land and his own people!" exclaimed Tenny.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and that isn't all. They say he became as bloody a savage as the +Indians. I suppose he received a good reward from the French. Some say +he was an aide of Montcalm."</p> + +<p>"And how was he found out?"</p> + +<p>"He was shot in the van of a fight between Armstrong's troops and the +French. They found his body and recognised it by letters from England. +He had on a French officer's uniform and a commission in the French army +in his pocket. They brought him home, and Sir Richard Lanyan brought the +facts to the knowledge of the government, and the Trembath home was +confiscated, and they were driven out. It served them right, I say."</p> + +<p>"That it did," asserted Tenny.</p> + +<p>"And here's one of the family, this Ande, that's lord <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 187]</a></span>ing it over us. I +believe it was he that soaked my gown in that beastly rye and got me in +such a scrape with the head."</p> + +<p>Tenny smiled, for he had no love for Creakle, except as a tool.</p> + +<p>"It was no laughing matter, I can tell you. The head nearly fired me," +said Creakle, a little sullenly.</p> + +<p>"Come, come, no offence. I have as much reason to dislike Trembath as +you have. Didn't he sneak into being head of the fifth through meanness, +getting up and reciting, when all the rest of the fellows had agreed to +refuse to recite. He has been there ever since, but he never would have +got there if he hadn't turned traitor to his form, like his father and +grandfather to the government. Blood will tell."</p> + +<p>"And, I say, we ought to let the fellows know, and pull him down a peg +or two. Let him know his place among the sons of honourable Englishmen. +He ought to be sent to Coventry, I say."</p> + +<p>"Come over here and we'll talk it over with one or two of the fellows," +said Tenny.</p> + +<p>A little coterie of fellows of the fifth form were soon assembled around +Tenny and Creakle, on the Bowling Green, and their nodding heads and +colloquy portended mischief to the head of the fifth. Tenny had never +forgotten the way in which he was shouldered out of the headship of the +fifth form, and Creakle was burning with more hate since his late +disgrace, which he blamed on Ande. Now, had it depended upon Creakle +alone, nothing would have come of the disclosure of the stain <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 188]</a></span> upon +Ande's name, but when Tenny took up the matter it was eagerly listened +to. The latter portrayed in indignant tones the treachery of Ande's +family to the government. Should they consort with him, after this +knowledge? It was all well enough, as long as they did not know the +family disgrace. But, now they knew, they ought to show their abhorrence +of such conduct.</p> + +<p>He ought to be expelled from the school, but they couldn't do that, but +they could, at least, debar him from fellowship and keep him from the +leadership in the form that he had always maintained. The son and +grandson of a traitor shall not lead us in our sports. He was a traitor +at heart, like his people before him, for had he not gained the headship +of the form through an act of treason to his fellows, and his remarks of +the injustice of the king also bore testimony. Such was the line of +Tenny's sophistry, in which Creakle was a second.</p> + +<p>One or two of the form demurred, with the remark that it was hard for a +son to be villified on account of the errors of his fathers.</p> + +<p>"I'll prove the contrary from the Bible," said Tenny. "Aren't the Jews +to-day despised, and righteously, for their treason to their king, and +doesn't the Bible say that the sins of the fathers shall be visited upon +the children?"</p> + +<p>The demurrers were overborne by Tenny's reasoning. Dick, being so close +a friend of Ande, was not taken into the conference, but he was not so +slow in taking in the cold demeanour of the students to Ande, and even +to him self, in a milder degree. Henceforth there were no games in +which Ande participated. If he sought entrance to a game, the game was +instantly adjourned, and he found himself left more and more to himself. +He, as well as Dick, was at a loss to know the reason of the altered +manner of treatment. The revelation came to Dick. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210"></a><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211"></a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 189]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 238px;"> +<img src="images/i_210.jpg" width="238" height="400" alt="" /> +<span class="caption">"They say you are the son of a traitor"</span> +</div> + +<p>He was going to enter a game of hurling on the Bowling Green, when +Creakle objected.</p> + +<p>"Why?" said Dick, in amazement.</p> + +<p>"Because you are the friend of the son of a traitor. His father and his +grandfather were traitors to the government, and he's a traitor +himself," sneered Creakle.</p> + +<p>"Who?"</p> + +<p>"The Dane," said Creakle, with another sneer. "All the fellows have +refused to have anything to do with him. He's been sent to Coventry. +He's a traitor's son, and the blot of treason hangs to his name."</p> + +<p>"It's a lie," said Dick, hotly; "he's not a traitor's son," and with a +back-handed slap of his hand, he sent Creakle reeling.</p> + +<p>"It's true," said Tenny, as he edged in among the other lads. "All the +lads of his home place will tell you the same thing, and you'll be +treated the same way as we are treating him, if you don't cut him."</p> + +<p>Dick, scarcely believing his ears, hurried off to his friend, Ande, +bursting into the study with a bound.</p> + +<p>"Do ye know why the fellows have cut you and me?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Why, they say you are the son of a traitor. That <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 190]</a></span> your father and +grandfather were traitors to the government. Creakle said so, and I give +him a back-handed slap that sent him some feet. It was Creakle who told +me."</p> + +<p>"The contemptible dog!" exclaimed Ande, with a flash of the eye. "It's +not true, though the circumstances look the other way. They were both +honourable men."</p> + +<p>"You needn't tell me," said Dick. "I believe if your father and +grandfather were like you, there couldn't be a bit of treason in them. I +told Creakle it was a lie, and then Tenny spoke up and said that it was +true, and that if I didn't cut you the same as the rest of them are +doing, they would cut me. They have sent us to Coventry."</p> + +<p>"Dick, you 'ave been a good friend to me, and you did right in treating +Creakle as you did, for I should have done the same. The old blot that +drove me from my native village will drive me from here as well. It is +the curse that has been on our family since my grandfather's death, but +you have no hand in this. You had better cut me, or they will make your +life here as unbearable as mine. I'll move into a study of my own. It is +for your own interest that I am looking."</p> + +<p>"Stuff! Let them send me to Coventry if they will. I don't believe there +is any truth in the rumour, and we don't part like that. Didn't you save +my life in the smugglers' battle, and I'm going to stick to you through +all this Coventry business. Put it there," and Dick stretched his great +hand across the study table and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 191]</a></span> grasped the hand of Ande and shook it +warmly. There was a grateful look in the latter's eyes.</p> + +<p>"You have done too many things for me, to turn in with a rabble like +that. You have changed old Dullhead into a brighter man, and made him +Old Ironsides, and we'll let them know that Old Ironsides is going to +stick to you. Why, Ande, you and I could clean out the whole crew in a +personal fight on the Bowling Green, and—zounds! I'd like to do it."</p> + +<p>"And they would gain their desires. We'd be expelled."</p> + +<p>"Never thought of that."</p> + +<p>"It's what would happen, though."</p> + +<p>There was silence in the study for the space of half an hour, during +which they laboured on the coming lessons. Then, it was Dick, who broke +the silence.</p> + +<p>"How did it happen that the idea of treason got out. I don't believe it, +but I'm a bit curious."</p> + +<p>"It's a long story, but I'll tell you some day, Dick, and let you see +some documents that I have still in my possession. There's the gong."</p> + +<p>A deep sound of a gong, indicating the dinner hour in the dining-room +below, broke the silence, and they hurried forth to its summons.</p> + +<p>After the discovery of Dick, and the encounter with Creakle, neither he +nor Ande sought the games of the others. If they needed recreation, they +took it in long walks along the sea-coast or in the country. The enmity +of Creakle and Tenny was shown in many petty ways. They were not content +with sending to Cov <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 192]</a></span>entry alone. Once, on their return, they found a +placard on their study door with the sentence of, "The Home of Treason," +written on it, but this did not stir the wrath of Ande as much as a +later placard, a rude sketch of a soldier with red hair, hands bound, +eyes blindfolded, and before him a file of soldiers with weapons +presented, ready to fire, and near at hand a grave and a coffin. With a +burst of passion, he tore it down and ground it under his heel.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>"And how is my knight progressing in the tournament of the schools?"</p> + +<p>It was in the gardens of Trembath Manor, and it was Mistress Alice who +was speaking. She was clad in light spring garb that wonderfully set off +her trim figure and brought out into greater prominence the wavy +darkness of her hair, and depth of her eyes, that seemed deeper and +brighter under the mellow sunlight without. She was standing near one of +her favourite rose-beds, and near her was the tall form of Ande +Trembath, the few months at school adding new dignity and age to his +features. He was glad to be there, near her, and to be called "her +knight," as she had called him on the last Christmas eve. He was home on +a short vacation, and it seemed wonderfully pleasant to be with her in +the gardens of old Trembath, especially after the dreary atmosphere of +the school, rendered more dreary and wretched by the uncharitable spirit +of his fellows of the fifth; to watch the dark eyes kindling and +rekindling at some <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 193]</a></span> jest, and then the sober shadow at the recital of +the escapage of the smugglers. He told her all, the merry adventure at +the duck cave, the hurling game, and then the sending to Coventry. Yes, +this was going to be his last year at the school. The curse of treason +had followed him, and even his friend, Dick, was involved in the petty +spirit of malice of the students. He was discouraged, and she knew it. +His face betokened it as he related the sending to Coventry.</p> + +<p>"Do you know that my knight has forgotten some of his pledges made last +Christmas eve?" she said, and her eyes flashed once more, back from the +sombreness brought into them by the Coventry recital.</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"I said that the knight that I should admire would not despair at a few +difficulties, and my knight said that he would not."</p> + +<p>"Neither am I," doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"Your very tone indicates the contrary."</p> + +<p>"You think it best to remain and stand all taunts and malice?"</p> + +<p>"Assuredly; and will not that be the very best way to prepare yourself +for the future battles. Is it brave to run away from a foe?"</p> + +<p>There was a flush on the face of the youth.</p> + +<p>"I see you are right. I shall stay and fight it out, and they will see +who grows tired of the Coventry business first. You give me the same +advice as Parson Trant. He said stand firm, and stick to the school."</p> + +<p>"Parson Trant is generally right." <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And so are you."</p> + +<p>"Of course, in this case, I am right, but at times, I suppose, I am +wrong."</p> + +<p>"For instance?"</p> + +<p>"Well, my father has broached a plan that lies close to his heart. You +know the Lanyan estate lies close to ours, and he is anxious for me to +be settled in life soon."</p> + +<p>A cold, icy hand seemed to clutch his heart and hold it in a vice-like +grip. The blood forsook his features, for a moment, as he listened.</p> + +<p>"And he?" interrogatively.</p> + +<p>"And he was thinking how well the two would go together, and that Lady +Alice would not sound so bad. Then it would place our family among the +highest in the county. I thought at first that it was all foolishness, +but I suppose he is right and I am wrong."</p> + +<p>"No, no, no, you are right. You must not sacrifice yourself to a whim."</p> + +<p>"No, I am wrong," pensively.</p> + +<p>"You are right. It must not be," and then at the remembrance of Master +Richard and Sir James, he flushed an angry hue and clenched his fists +tightly.</p> + +<p>"Must not be?" archly.</p> + +<p>"Aye, it shall not be."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because I say it shall not be."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, since when have I had a new master, or a master at all, for +that matter?"</p> + +<p>There was a rebellious tone in her voice, and a quick, tumultuous +beating of her heart. To be told she should <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 195]</a></span> not do this or that was +something new to her, the mistress of the Manor, and yet, his tone, his +manner of speaking, that masterful way of asserting himself—she liked +him better for it.</p> + +<p>"I say it shall not be," doggedly.</p> + +<p>"And why?"</p> + +<p>"Because—because—because—I am your knight," he said, desperately, +"and I cannot see any harm come to you, and your happiness wrecked by +marrying such. If you only knew the Lanyans as I know them."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps my happiness would not be wrecked."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but it shall not be. It must not be."</p> + +<p>"You have given me no reason why it should not. Should not a child obey +her father?"</p> + +<p>Her eyes were glowing mischievously.</p> + +<p>"Alice, Alice, if you will not listen to reason, it is because I say so, +and I—I—I—love you. Oh! Alice, I have wanted to tell you so long—but +the stain of treason—but give me at least hope that if the stain be +removed—and it shall—that I shall not love you in vain."</p> + +<p>The hue of Mistress Alice's cheeks rivalled her own roses. She fought +down the exultant, happy feeling within, and strove to be her former +self; yes, even strove to be angry, but what woman is angry when told +that she is loved.</p> + +<p>"There is father. Calm yourself, or he will notice you."</p> + +<p>Coming over the green terrace was the stout frame of old Squire Vivian, +most unwelcome sight at this hour, at least to Ande. His question was +doomed to remain <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 196]</a></span> unanswered. The squire greeted him in his bluff, +cheery manner, asked him of the school and his progress. The excellent +reports he had received from Master Trewan had inclined him a little +more favourably to his <i>protégé</i>. Taking advantage of the presence of +her father, Mistress Alice slipped away and hid herself in the privacy +of her own rooms. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 197]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<p class="center">EXAMINATIONS—ADRIFT ON THE DEEP</p> + + +<p>Examinations were coming on apace. The end of the half was near. Prizes +had been established by gentlemen of the neighbourhood, and the diligent +ones were striving for them with assiduous application to study. The +sports of the students had little attraction for Ande now. Even had he +not been sent to Coventry, he would have avoided them for the extra +chance it gave him for work. He was determined to win the prize for +general scholarship in the fifth. There were others working for the same +goal, among them, Tenny, the former head. Tenny's ambition was of a +double nature. Not only must he win the general prize, but also the +silver medal for the best essay. The days sped rapidly by, and soon came +the day of examination. The essays had been handed in to a special +committee, some time previous, under various nom-de-plumes.</p> + +<p>Most of the examinations were oral, and occupied some time. Generally, +the master would put the questions, but at times one of the visiting +gentlemen would throw in a question bearing on the special subject under +consideration.</p> + +<p>The contest of general scholarship in the fifth was <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 198]</a></span> manifestly between +two students,—the old and the new head, and even after it was over, +none could prophesy how the judges would decide. The decision came, +after a brief pause and consultation.</p> + +<p>The Reverend Mr. Trewan arose, and after clearing his throat several +times began by complimenting the students.</p> + +<p>"I am pleased to find the excellent form in which most of our scholars +have passed this examination. The marks are far above the average of the +half. I am glad to state that the whole form will enter the sixth at the +next half without a single exception."</p> + +<p>There was a little cheer from the mass of students.</p> + +<p>"In reference to the prize for the general scholarship, there are two +between which there has been a close contest. For quite a time one was +in the forerank and the other close behind. Then the marks were even. +Then the second forged ahead. Master Tenny," and the head paused to +clear his throat, while Tenny flushed with gratification, "your marks +have been admirable; they were far ahead of your average during the +year. For quite a time you were ahead, then even with another, Master +Trembath, then Master Trembath gained first place. The prize goes to +him, however, who has the highest average of the whole examination, and +I, therefore, declare Master Trembath the winner by four points; and the +committee has given Master Tenny the highest honourable mention."</p> + +<p>The master paused and extended twenty pounds to Ande, the prize for +general scholarship. Dick was the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 199]</a></span> first to congratulate him, and was +followed by one or two others, notwithstanding the decree of Coventry. +Tenny maintained his silence in bitter chagrin. He had hopes of the +essay prize, however, the chairman of which committee now arose to +report.</p> + +<p>"We find," he said, after a little preliminary speech, "that six of the +essays were most laudable, but out of them two were selected for their +excellence—one on account of the beauty of the language, the other on +account of its vivid realism and striking, rhetorical figures. The one +written by Hector is admirable in wording and has many fine points, but +lacks the realism and subject matter and thought of the other. We have +decided that the silver medal goes to him who has adopted the certainly +inappropriate and inapplicable nom-de-plume of Asinus Cornubiensus."</p> + +<p>There was a pause, and the students at length, realising the meaning of +the Latin nom-de-plume, which was the "Ass, or Donkey of Cornwall," +burst into a roar of laughter.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," resumed the gentleman, "this Asinus Cornubiensus has +demonstrated a grasp of thought, power of language, and vivid +description that belies his humble name, and renders him worthy of the +prize. Stand up, Asinus Cornubiensus, and receive the silver medal."</p> + +<p>Dick stood up, much confused, and received the prize. There was a cheer. +Even Ande was astonished, and greeted his old friend with more respect. +It is needless to say that Hector was Tenny, who was bub <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 200]</a></span>bling over with +rage and mortification, to think that he was not only beaten in the +general prize but also in the essay, and in the latter case by one whom +he had always considered a stupid dunce, the worst scholar in the form.</p> + +<p>The rest of the day was dedicated to the examinations of the sixth and +the distribution of prizes in that form. Our two prize winners of the +fifth wended their way out from the school and hied away from the town +to one of their accustomed haunts, near the coast, high up on the +cliffs. Here, throwing themselves down on the long grass, they watched, +for the time, the active sea-birds and the flitting sails far out on the +channel. At length, turning from the contemplation of these, Ande +addressed his friend.</p> + +<p>"Dick, what led you to choose such a queer nom-de-plume?" and he smiled.</p> + +<p>"Well, I was always considered a dull'ead and never thinking I'd get the +medal, I put down the name in a little disgust, thinking it to be the +most appropriate one."</p> + +<p>"What was the subject?"</p> + +<p>"You can't guess?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Well, it was on that hurling game between Breage and our fellows, and I +just played the game over again in imagination when I was writing."</p> + +<p>"That accounts for its realism, no doubt."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 201]</a></span> "Did 'ee notice Tenny after the general prize was given?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"His face was as wisht<a name="FNanchor_6_7" id="FNanchor_6_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> as a herring."</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_7" id="Footnote_6_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> Wisht—sickly.</p></div> + +<p>"No doubt. I noticed him after the silver medal was given and he was +green around the eyes."</p> + +<p>"Serves him right," said Dick, "for sending us to Coventry on account of +that tale of Creakle about your father and grandfather."</p> + +<p>There was silence for a moment, unbroken save by the breaking of the +waves on the beach beneath.</p> + +<p>"Dick, you asked me once out of curiosity concerning that tale and I am +now going to tell you and get your ideas. You have a better head than we +gave you credit for."</p> + +<p>"Fudge, Ande, your head would make two of mine, but fire away. I've been +anxious for a long time to know."</p> + +<p>Ande related the history of his family and the treasonable stain, while +his companion listened attentively, and sympathetically. The tale was +related to the finish.</p> + +<p>"And the papers?"</p> + +<p>"They were all confiscated except two, that are now in my possession."</p> + +<p>"And your father?"</p> + +<p>"He left a letter. You see the last letter that my mother received +before father's disappearance contained one sealed, directed to me, +which should be given to me when I came to mature years. It was given me +when I came first to the Grammar School. Here it is," <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 202]</a></span>said Ande, as he +pulled out of his inside pocket a long envelope that had been sealed +with red wax.</p> + +<p>"I have long since made myself familiar with its contents, but I am now +going to read it to you," and opening it he read the following:</p> + +<blockquote><p class="ralign"> +"<span class="smcap">Fort Malden</span>, Canada, Sept. 10th, 1813." +</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">My Dear Son Andrew.</span>—This letter is enclosed and sent in one to your +mother, and is to be given to you when you are old enough to understand +its contents. Whether I shall accomplish that for which I started to +this blood-stained region or not yet remains to be seen. If not, and I +should fall either in battle or a captive, you must faithfully carry out +my request. Proctor has let hell loose upon the Americans and it has +come back upon our own heads. I have no taste for this fighting side by +side with savage Indians, and certainly Proctor is abusing his authority +and position. He ruthlessly permits the savages to perform the most +fiendish things imaginable, and has no respect for his word to a fallen +foe.</p> + +<p>"All Michigan was taken by his predecessor, General Brock, but he was +unfortunately killed and now this unscrupulous man is over us. It makes +me blush at the name Englishmen must bear through him, and disgusts me +with the present service. At the battle of Frenchtown, last January, the +American general, Winchester, and his men were captured. They +surrendered on Proctor's word that their lives and property should be +safe, but Proctor returned to Malden and left the wounded and prisoners +to be scalped and burned alive by the blood-thirsty devils, our red +allies, who even dragged some through the streets of Detroit for sale. +Detroit people remonstrated with Proctor, but he only shrugged his +shoulders.</p> + +<p>"The same proceedings were repeated after the attack on Harrison at Fort +Meigs. The battle was as good as a victory for us. Our men were on both +sides of the river Maumee. Our left was repulsed with a small loss, but +our right was victorious, taking prisoners nearly six hundred men. Then +the same savage atrocities began. Even Tecumseh, the great chief, was +more merciful <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 203]</a></span>than our general. With an appalling yell he rescued an +American prisoner from two of his followers and then insulted Proctor to +his face.</p> + +<p>"'Why do you allow such things when I am not here?' he said.</p> + +<p>"'Your Indians can't be controlled,' said Proctor.</p> + +<p>"'Go, put on petticoats; you are not fit to command men,' said Tecumseh, +and with that he stalked proudly away. But those who heard it agreed +with the bold chief. He's a good soldier, but no general, and his +cruelty and indifference to his word of honour has made the soldiers +sick of such service. On account of this, and Admiral Barclay's defeat +to-day, Michigan is lost to us and even Canada may be taken away from +the home government. The splendid opportunities that Brock placed in our +hands are of no value on account of incapable Proctor and pusillanimous +Barclay. The naval battle was won before it was fought. Barclay had six +vessels and Perry nine, but what of that? Englishmen have conquered +before against odds. But there was Barclay, keeping under the guns of +Malden, casting down the spirits of his men with the thought of certain +defeat, while the American ships were out in the open inviting him to +the attack. The sailors and gunners begged him to attack, and even wept +in humiliation at his cowardice. Tecumseh, with several thousand +Indians, were on an island waiting to witness the encounter. Tecumseh +rowed over and sought Proctor.</p> + +<p>"'You said you were master of the waters. Why don't you go out and +fight? The Americans are daring you to come out and fight.'</p> + +<p>"The result of that battle is known, or will be known soon. Oh, for men +like Nelson, and Marlborough, and Wellington!</p> + +<p>"But to the point of my request. My father has a dishonourable stain on +his name, though unworthy of it, I believe. I have travelled among the +Shawnese, our allies, who were father's foes at Braddock's defeat. I was +sent by Brock as an agent to the Ohio, and witnessed their dances and +the Prophet's agitation a year ago. Ah, they were blood-curdling scenes. +While there I talked with an old Shawnee about King Shingas and Captain +Jacobs, father's captors. He said he was a sub-chief under Shingas and +was in the ambush at the defeat, and from <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 204]</a></span>what I could glean from his +description, father was among the batch of prisoners consigned to his +charge. He knew not what I had in mind at first. He was so old that his +hair had turned white or grey, an unusual thing among the Indians. He +spoke to me of the greatness of Shingas and the suffering of the +prisoners until I felt like shooting him on the spot, the hoary old +sinner. All were not burned, for after running the gauntlet one escaped, +snatching a club from an Indian in his flight. The Shawnee called him +the Long Red Wolf, at least such is the meaning of the Shawnee name in +English. From the red hair, length of limb, and swiftness of foot, it +must have been my father, who was accounted the swiftest foot in old +Cornwall when young.</p> + +<p>"Now hark ye, son Andrew, among the papers of your grandfather, found on +his person, was one overlooked by the King's officers. It was a rude map +of the Kittanning region and the rough vale of the Lycamahoning. I send +a copy with the same directions in Shawnese and English. The vale leads +down from the Allegheny Mountains, and the river empties into the Ohio +some distance above the old Indian town of Kittanning, as you can +readily see from the accompanying sketch. I have learned from long +association with the Indians that this region is rich in silver and +lead, possibly gold. At least there are legends to that effect. The +ability of the natives to obtain lead for their weapons and their silver +ornaments testify to an eldorado somewhere in the region. Now father was +much interested in mining and metals, as what Cornishman is not. I asked +the old warrior of Shingas concerning the Indian legend of this eldorado +and quoted the old directions in Shawnese, for I speak their language: +'On one side a plain, on the other a steep that a smart Indian can +climb.' He gazed at my red hair and became silently suspicious. A bullet +that passed through my hat on my way back to Malden told me my knowledge +had made me a mark of vengeance.</p> + +<p>"This is all I know. Connect this Indian eldorado with the map found on +father's body; explain how the French commission as captain was filled +in with his own name, and how he happened to be in French uniform, and +the problem is solved. If these could be explained I believe our family +could raise its head once more among the loyal families of the +delectable duchy,—Corn <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 205]</a></span>wall. I'll find this Indian eldorado and your +grandfather's exoneration at the same time. They are both connected, I +believe. If I fail you must take up the cause."</p> + +<p class="ralign"> +<span style="margin-right: 8em;">"Your affectionate father,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 4em;">"<span class="smcap">Thomas Trembath</span>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-right: 2em;">"<i>Major——6th Royal Infantry</i>.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p> +"<span class="smcap">Fort Malden</span>, Canada."<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>"That's what we were studying about the other day," said Dick, as Ande +ceased reading. "De 'ee remember, Ande, about Proctor and Tecumseh?"</p> + +<p>"Aye," said Ande, musingly.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to take up the search?"</p> + +<p>"Some time,—when, I don't know. What do you advise?"</p> + +<p>"I should say after you get through with the sixth," said Dick promptly; +"but, Ande, you haven't told me of Sir James Lanyan and Master Richard +and——"</p> + +<p>Ande gave a gesture of impatience and his countenance clouded over with +anger.</p> + +<p>"Dick," he said passionately, "parson says it's wrong, but I hate that +family and I can never forgive them the wrong they did me and mine. When +the time comes I will be terribly revenged upon them for the cruel +slander and injustice that they, for the sake of capital, brought upon +us."</p> + +<p>Dick was silenced; he had never seen the pleasant face of his friend +become so angry. A look like that of a demon had passed over his +features at the very mentioning of Lanyan's name.</p> + +<p>"Hist!" said Ande, and his countenance resumed its old expression.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 206]</a></span></p> + +<p>Both youths listened, in their sequestered position.</p> + +<p>"Remember, Penner, to 'ave the men 'ere within a half an 'our. See that +each is well armed with pistols and cutlass. The cutter 'as been +notified and is a-beating down the coast, and the paths be all guarded. +This time we'll catch the hold Prussian fox or my name beant Penhall."</p> + +<p>Gazing out cautiously, the youths saw, on the beach below, two men in +seaman's garb.</p> + +<p>"That's Captain Penhall of the coastguard, and his lieutenant, and they +mean to surprise the King of Prussia Cove. We must give our old friend +warning, Dick, lad."</p> + +<p>"Les up and away."</p> + +<p>"Hold on. Didn't 'ee hear the paths are all guarded."</p> + +<p>"That's so," said Dick rubbing his head, doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"Come, I have a plan at last," said Ande after a moment's thought, and +he led the way cautiously at first and then rapidly inland. For a mile +or more they kept up a smart pace, Dick following with some difficulty.</p> + +<p>After a wide detour inland, they rapidly approached Prussia Cove. His +plan was nothing less than to enter the cove by the perilous path from +which he had fallen in the hurling game between Breage and the school. +It was now twilight, and darkness was rapidly setting in.</p> + +<p>"Halt!" said a quick, sharp voice ahead.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 207]</a></span></p> + +<p>"On," whispered Ande, "there's only two of them. I'll take the right, +and you take the left."</p> + +<p>Dick grappled with his man and there was a moment of struggle. But the +sudden impetus of Dick's rush decided the battle, for the coastguard +tripped and, aided by his antagonist's bulk, fell. Ande was more +fortunate, not suffering the other to lay hands on him. With a blow of +his fist and a quick Cornish side kick he toppled him over.</p> + +<p>"On!" shouted Ande and down the narrow pathway they rushed at breakneck +speed. There was now no concealment. Shots flew after the two and Ande +felt a sharp, quick pain in the left arm, but he gave it no attention. +In a moment or two they emerged on the sands below, and their arrival +was none too soon. The smugglers had already secreted half the cargo.</p> + +<p>"The coastguard! They're coming!" shouted Ande as he rushed among the +crowd.</p> + +<p>Down the path was heard the approach of charging feet. From other paths +the same ominous sounds were heard, all converging on the cove, and soon +the head of the cove was dotted with black figures of guardsmen.</p> + +<p>Now did Captain Carter show his courage. His men grasped desperately +their pikes and cutlasses, and not even awaiting the attack of the +guard, charged at the command of their king. Then followed a sanguinary +battle. Shots, oaths, dull resounding blows, and groans made the silent +cove a veritable pandemonium. In the midst of it a sail was seen +gradually nearing the har <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 208]</a></span>bour entrance. The quick eye of Carter saw it. +Flourishing his cutlass on high he roared:</p> + +<p>"To the lugger, men, the hawk's at the entrance!"</p> + +<p>The two youths, not knowing where to go, clambered on board, followed +speedily by the captain and his men. The struggle continued to the very +lugger's bulwarks, for the attacking guard were more numerous than their +foes and felt loathe to leave them go. The appearance of the revenue +cutter near the entrance also gave them renewed courage. They strove to +follow after the captain and his men. A select guard of the smugglers +was speedily appointed by the captain to repel boarders, and these did +their work well, wielding boathooks and cutlasses with telling effect. +In the meantime sweeps were gotten ready by the others and the lugger +was under headway, slowly leaving the frenzied guardsmen of the +government on shore.</p> + +<p>A gun sounded from the entrance and a ball tore through the limp +mainsail.</p> + +<p>"Between two fires," muttered the captain with a smothered oath, and it +was true, for the revenue cutter had stationed herself midway in the +narrow entrance.</p> + +<p>"Pull, my hearties, pull," shouted the captain, "we'll run 'er down, for +we be heavier!"</p> + +<p>The lusty fellows at the sweeps did pull, and with a will. The cutter's +captain, seeing the intention of the smugglers, tried to frustrate it, +and partly succeeded, but—crash!—the next instant the lugger's heavy +prow ran athwart the cutter's bow.</p> + +<p>"She's done for," gleefully said the smuggler cap <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 209]</a></span>tain, as the next +moment the lugger glided into the bay. But Carter was mistaken, for the +cutter though badly damaged, was not disabled. The blow was above the +water-line and pursuit was kept up out into the channel. There was a +light breeze blowing, the sails were set, and the sweeps were taken in. +The cutter was steadily gaining.</p> + +<p>"Can she catch us?" asked Ande of the smuggler captain.</p> + +<p>"No," said the captain, pleasantly, "I think not. We are obliged to 'ee, +lads, for your timely warning."</p> + +<p>Ande wondered at his good humour and at his denial that there was any +danger of being overtaken, when it was plain that the cutter was +gaining. Evidently the captain had some plan, he thought; and he had.</p> + +<p>"Port your helm!" shouted the skipper, and then at another command, more +sheets were spread to the wind as if by magic, and away went the lugger +staggering under a cloud of canvas, like a winged bird of the sea.</p> + +<p>"Jack," said the captain to our old acquaintance of the cliff battle, +"Jack, do 'ee think 'ee could wing that chap?"</p> + +<p>"I'll try," said Jack, and away he rushed to the stern where a long +brass cannon called "Long Tom" was stationed. The gunner sighted for an +instant, then changed the sights and sighted again; then as if +satisfied, he quickly applied the lighted linstock. There was a flash +and a roar and the ball sped on its mission.</p> + +<p>"A good shot, Master Jack, you've brought down <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 210]</a></span> 'er mainmast," said the +skipper, who was examining the effects with a night glass.</p> + +<p>He had hardly spoken when there was a puff of smoke from the cutter, +then crash! the sound of rending plank, and a ball passed straight +through the lugger at the water line. The next instant there was another +puff of smoke and another ball crashed through close to the second. The +cutter was avenged.</p> + +<p>Captain Carter, with a pale set face, hastened below to ascertain the +injuries, but returned in a moment. The lugger was rapidly filling and +settling.</p> + +<p>"Jack and I will give them a shot to pay for that while the rest of ye +get ready the long boat," said the captain, sternly. But it was a fatal +delay, for scarcely had Long Tom been sighted e'er in a mad swirl of +waters the lugger plunged to her watery grave—down, down, down, +dragging, in her deadly, downgoing eddy, captain and crew. Ande had the +sound of many waters in his ears, and kicked desperately to free himself +of its deadly influence. Then, after an interminable time, to his joy he +felt himself going upward, upward and upward. His lungs felt like +bursting under the terrible strain. Could he hold out until he reached +the surface? He made another desperate downward kick and joy,—his head +shot above the surface—but—nothing visible but the dark, tossing +waters and the pale stars o'erhead. Stay! There was a dark mass but a +yard or so away and a form. He drifted nearer. He shouted and a hand +grasped him and drew him up on a floating piece of deck timber.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 211]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Dick."</p> + +<p>"Ande."</p> + +<p>Two simultaneous shouts, but that was all, as these two friends of +school day life floated together on the loosened spar.</p> + +<p>Then after a time:</p> + +<p>"Didst see the captain or any of the crew?"</p> + +<p>"All drowned, no doubt," said Dick.</p> + +<p>Then there was more silence. Dick was a famous swimmer, but clung to the +spar reserving his strength for the future; Ande was less expert in the +swimming art and his wound and exposure was gradually weakening his +grasp. It was now past midnight.</p> + +<p>"Dick, do'ee think the cutter will pick us up?"</p> + +<p>"Hardly; you see, she can't do much with her mainmast gone, and then the +tide is ebbing."</p> + +<p>Hours passed and the sickening sense of weakness became stronger and +stronger, and that weary, pallid expression, the presage of +unconsciousness, swept o'er Ande's countenance and remained there. It +was Dick who realised it first, and he flung his own great arms o'er +those of Ande, binding him to the spar with his own strength.</p> + +<p>"Hold on. Don't give in."</p> + +<p>"Dick, I was shot in the arm coming down the cliff, and I think that's +what's making me weak."</p> + +<p>"Weather it out until daylight and we shall be picked up. Some one is +bound to see us."</p> + +<p>"Dick, do 'ee think we did right in warning the smugglers?" asked Ande, +weakly.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 212]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Aye," said Dick, stoutly; "they were honest men trying to earn a +living."</p> + +<p>"Because,—you see—you'll get through all right, but I—I'm getting +weaker every minute, and I can't hold out much longer—and a fellow +thinks of these things when he hasn't long to live."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, we'll both pull through all right. Pluck up courage." Then as +he noticed a piece of rope attached to the spar, "I do believe I'm still +a dull'ead. Here we 'ave been floating in danger of falling off through +weakness every moment and there is the means of our salvation."</p> + +<p>He plucked out a knife from his pocket and severed the rope at the end +from the spar and passing it around Ande and himself securely lashed +themselves to the float.</p> + +<p>"There, if we can't hold out much longer, we'll at least be on top of +the water as long as this spar floats."</p> + +<p>There was silence for another half an hour and then Ande said wearily.</p> + +<p>"Dick, if you get back to land—and I don't,—you—remember me to mother +and tell her I—died a Christian."</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, old fellow, but cheer up!" But the tears in his own eyes +indicated that he needed his own advice.</p> + +<p>"We must trust in God, Dick."</p> + +<p>"Aye," said the other, as he reached over and shook hands earnestly.</p> + +<p>"And Dick, remember me to her."</p> + +<p>"Aye," said Dick once more. He knew for quite a <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 213]</a></span> time Ande's interest in +the squire's daughter, and that "her" could mean no one else.</p> + +<p>On they drifted, now on a swelling surge, then in a dark valley of +water. Dawning light appeared in the east, but no land was visible.</p> + +<p>"Cheer up," said Dick, "day is coming," but there was no answer. Grim +unconsciousness had come at last. Dick, for another hour, battled with +the terrible faintness, then the sea seemed to fade from his vision +and—the sun arose beaming brilliantly on the world of tossing waters. +Nothing was visible but the circling gulls and a stick of timber, and +two unconscious, half-drowned lads.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 214]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<p class="center">AROUND THE TAVERN'S FLAMING GRATE</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Around the tavern's flaming grate,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The rafting done and the hour late,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The raftsmen sit and laugh and sing,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or 'bove the conversation's din,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Keep time with feet to violin,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On which the lively strains are played,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of Devil's Dream or White Cockade.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>"Right—Right—t!—Halt! Left—Left! Halt!"</p> + +<p>Loud and clear rang out the voice of the raft pilot, so loud and +prolonged that even the roar of rushing waters and the wild lashing of +wind among the tree laden banks were not able to overcome the stentorian +commands.</p> + +<p>It was a rough night in the wilds of western Pennsylvania. The rain had +descended steadily for three days, and now the Lycamahoning had arisen +from its ordinary rippling tranquillity into a boisterous, turbulent +onrushing tide. Raftsmen had been constantly busy throughout the winter, +felling the gigantic pines and firs, squaring them with their great +broad axes, and then with the aid of hickory saplings and pins and bows +of the same tough material, lashing them securely one against the other, +rafting them in for the cruise down the river <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 215]</a></span> to the Ohio. The first +flood had come, and so violent was its nature that many a hardy raftsman +had added additional bulyokes and hawsers to his rafts, fearing the loss +of his winter's labour. The night had set in stormy and dark. The clouds +that had covered the face of the heavens for the greater part of the +week had grown in intensity, and had been belching down their floods +with renewed violence. The wind had arisen, softly at first, and then +augmenting into a small tornado, charging through the acres of treetops +that added additional sombreness to the murky night, until beaten to +madness with the invisible storm weapons and stung with the drenching +rain, tree fought with tree, lashing themselves with their wooden arms +into an agony of conflict.</p> + +<p>"Who in the name of common sense can be running timber on a night like +this? He is either a madman or an imbecile," so thought rather than said +a horseman who had paused on the road to listen to the shouts. He placed +his hand up over his brows, shielding his view from the drenching rain, +and stared, from his elevation, out over the roaring stream. There was a +flash of lightning, illuminating the yellow foam-flecked flood and out +in the centre a raft, long and heavy, yet tossed like a feather on the +rolling flood waves. There were two figures at the great rear oar, one +of whom was the pilot, one figure in the centre with a coil of rope in +his grasp, and at the front oar-running backward and forward, leaping on +the great oar handle to jerk its cumbersome blade from the stream, +running it back to the opposite side, plunging it in the flood once +more, and with handle <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 216]</a></span> overhead pushing with might and main,—were six +figures, seeming in the distance like the dancing forms of a puppet +show, whose various motions were controlled by the dark form of the +pilot in the rear. The flash of lightning passed away in a roll of +thunder, and all was wrapped in darkness again.</p> + +<p>"Left! Left!"</p> + +<p>"Halt!"</p> + +<p>"Left! Left!"</p> + +<p>The raft was rounding a curve in the stream.</p> + +<p>"Left! Left! Push! Push, with a will. More backbone to it, boys! Once +more and a glass of toddy at Burke's for each man! Left! Left! Now then! +Heave to it! With all your might! Halt! Don't let it pull you off! Hold +on to her!" bawled the raft pilot.</p> + +<p>"Again! Left! Left!"</p> + +<p>"Halt!"</p> + +<p>"Now then, Tom! Jump for it!"</p> + +<p>"Run out the rope!"</p> + +<p>"Snub! Snub!"</p> + +<p>"There, ease up, Tom! Take the next tree!"</p> + +<p>"All right," bawled a voice from the shore.</p> + +<p>And slowly the great raft, a hundred and twenty feet long and forty +wide, swung in from the flood after two trials had been made to break +the speed. Closer and closer to the bank, away from the force of the +current, until alongside she was safely secured with a double hawser, a +prisoner under the guardianship and control of two massive oaks. The +immense oars were swung clear of the water and their handles lashed to +the centre <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 217]</a></span>-pieces. Up over the creek bank, stumbling through thick +underbrush and over fallen trees, came the hardy crew and at length +gained the turnpike. The weather in the meantime had grown colder and +the rain changed to falling snow. The wind had fallen in its violence. +Onward stumbled the crew, then at length up a slight elevation, through +a covered bridge, and the lights, twinkling through many small windows, +flashed before their eyes. It was the town of Burgtown, famed for its +two rows of log houses, each having an upper story, and doubly famed for +its renowned hotel of sawn timber and its hospitable but talkative host; +famed also for the scholarship and mystery surrounding its founder. +Scholarship and mystery! Yes, scholarship, for no one could withstand +the logic of the Reverend Mr. Burg, and his tall, dark form, his deep +eyes with their unfathomable look, was enough to awe even the stoutest. +Mysteriousness? Yes, mysteriousness, for he had come in the night and +had gone in the night. He was like Melchizedek in one respect, no one +knew his father or his mother, no one knew his birthplace, and no one +knew his end. There was a story rife among some of the town people that +he had been guilty of some unministerial conduct in the neighbourhood of +Standing Stone, thought it best for him to put the Alleghenies between +himself and his old location, and had accordingly travelled with more +speed than elegance to the Lycamahoning, where with the aid of a +ploughline he had plotted and laid out the town. He was gone before the +settlers that poured in became fully acquainted with him. Two <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 218]</a></span> years had +elapsed since then and people remembered little of him with the +exception of Peter Burke, the tavern keeper, and it seemed that Burke's +knowledge increased with the years, and Burg became in the annals of his +mind a demigod, a sort of modern Romulus, whose figure and deeds became +larger and mightier as they reached into the dimness of the past.</p> + +<p>The raft pilot, followed by his men, entered the door of Burke's place. +The roaring fire of logs in the great stone chimney was most welcome to +them after their night of toil. They made a picturesque group as they +stood stamping the mud and snow from their long-legged logging shoes and +brushing the great, soft flakes from caps and homespun wamuses. The +majority of the eight were stout, ordinary-looking young men, with +something of the air of the woods in their manner and appearance. The +pilot was an exception. He was of medium height and stoutly built, with +an intelligent face, lighted up with keen, sharp, grey eyes, that +flashed in merriment in repartee, and that were even cunning and +penetrating at times. He was the American product of the "canny" +Scotchman, a Scotch American.</p> + +<p>Along one side of the public room ran the rude bar counter with a few +homely bottles and jugs, and near them, his rounded form a living +advertisement for his wares, one eye smiling a welcome, the other, which +was squint and cross-eyed, gazing unwinkingly, blankly, out of the +window as if trying to penetrate the darkness, was the form of the +tavern keeper.</p> + +<p>"Supper for eight?" asked the tavern keeper.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 219]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Aye, ye ken that," answered the raft pilot.</p> + +<p>Peter Burke, with a rolling motion, tumbled off to a rear door which he +swung wide.</p> + +<p>"Supper for eight rafters," he bawled.</p> + +<p>"Arright," squeaked a distant, feminine voice.</p> + +<p>"Hallo, Hugh," said a deep voice from a corner near the flaming +fireplace.</p> + +<p>"Hallo yerself," said the pilot.</p> + +<p>"What led you to pilot on a night like this, when the creek is getting +higher and higher. I thought a raftsman ought to know that the proper +time to raft is when the flood is falling, not rising."</p> + +<p>"Not always," said the pilot, and then added, "Is that you, Bill?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it's I, sure enough."</p> + +<p>"Well, you're schoolmaster and I'm raft pilot; every man to his own +calling, and I suppose every man ought to know best what to do in his +own calling; yet you'd criticise me for running timber on a rising +flood."</p> + +<p>"There are little things in all trades that most everyone ought to know. +I was riding to the Burg when I heard your shouts on the raft and I +wondered what ill-witted fellow was running on a rising flood on a night +like this."</p> + +<p>"Don't think it science, eh?" a little nettled to be called ill-witted.</p> + +<p>"No. Every one ought to know that when the stream is rising it is higher +in the centre than it is on the sides and when falling higher on the +sides than in the centre. Hence by due process of ratiocination,"—the +school-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 220]</a></span>master paused to give the large, scholarly word due +emphasis—"you must run on a falling flood."</p> + +<p>"That's what 'tiz to be a scholard," muttered the tavern keeper, +admiringly.</p> + +<p>"Aye, science and scholard," snorted Hugh Lark, the pilot; "and I +suppose if you had a raft on a sand bar, you'd wait for a falling flood +and jack it off with a hoisting jack, eh?"</p> + +<p>There was a roar of laughter from the crowd of raftsmen, and Hugh +smiled, his good humour once more restored.</p> + +<p>"Oh, in that case it's different, but that's a single exception," said +Professor Bill, in some humiliation.</p> + +<p>"No single exception. Suppose ye had a raft tied up above the island or +down under the hill, would ye run on a rising or wait for a falling +flood?"</p> + +<p>"I would most assuredly wait for a falling flood, and—"</p> + +<p>The schoolmaster was interrupted by a chuckle from Hugh, and broad grins +from his assembled men.</p> + +<p>"I've no doubt that ye would, but you'd find your raft a-scattered all +the way twixt here and Pittsburgh. Why, mon, there's ne'er a hawser made +that can hold a raft in those positions in a rising flood. 'There are +more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your +philosophy.'"</p> + +<p>Professor Bill Banks, or Professor Bill, as he was commonly known, was +silenced. The last remark and the quotation from Shakespeare had put him +to rout. He flushed and kept his eyes on the fire. The raftsmen were <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 221]</a></span> +delighted. There was nothing they enjoyed so much as a tiff between Bill +and their pilot. Professor Bill was the most learned man of the +neighbourhood. Since the exodus of the Reverend Burg he had held the +pre-eminence. He was the leader, and there was none to dispute with him +with any fair show of success except Hugh, the pilot. Hugh had +invariably come off second; here he had achieved first honours. Hugh was +well read in a number of subjects, but his knowledge was only such as he +could find by perusing history, in which indeed he was a fair scholar, +and the topics of the day.</p> + +<p>"Was stuck, Hugh?" asked the tavern keeper, with some new measure of +respect.</p> + +<p>"Aye, yesterday the creek was full of floating timber and we stuck on a +sand bar. There were no rafts behind to shove us off and we had to wait +for a greater flood. We wouldn't have stuck if Tom, there, hadn't lost +his head."</p> + +<p>Tom, a great hulking fellow, looked a trifle sheepish.</p> + +<p>"You see," continued Hugh Lark, "I was up at the crosscut and in making +the bend, I was just gitting the raft pinted when he was afraid we'd +strike and tear up. He bellowed like a bull, 'We'll strike, we'll tear +up, some un run out a rope and tie up.'"</p> + +<p>"It war pretty nigh striking, though," muttered Tom, in some apology.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! Why, there were fully fifteen feet of water on either side. +How could we strike or even run out and tie up when we had nothing to +run on but water? The rain had stopped for an hour or two and we were <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 222]</a></span> +getting on fine. The flood was a-carrying us on with a good speed. The +banks were slipping by as if they were running the other way. The front +men were dipping occasionally, but they hung on to the oar. Then come +the bend. I could see it a hundred yards before we come to it, the water +a-swirling and a-twisting like a yallow ribbon and then disappearing +from sight behind the trees. 'Left, men, left,' I shouted. Then Tom lost +his head. He let go the oar, and the oar being too much for the other +chaps, and being afeared of being yanked into the flood they let go too, +and the next minute came the thud of grounding. I saw that it was +a-coming and braced myself, hanging on to the oar. But the fellows in +front, how they tumbled! They were around Tom in the centre, +a-galleyhooting and shouting. I never had such a crew of numbskulls. +When the grounding came they tumbled over each other like nine-pins."</p> + +<p>Supper was announced and the hungry raftsmen wended their way to the +eating department, a plain long room, ceiled with pine, and adorned with +sundry prints of "Babes in The Wood," and "Red Riding Hood." The table +was a heavy wooden affair, evidently the result of home labour; the +provisions with which it was plentifully laden were of the class found +in every woodsman's home, viz., pork, beans, corn bread, burr-wheat +bread, and home-made syrup.</p> + +<p>A split log, the level side up, the rounded side down, into which were +inserted several hickory legs, served in lieu of chairs, and seated upon +this, the hungry raftsmen fell to with a will.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 223]</a></span></p> + +<p>Meantime the public room was occupied by the tavern keeper and Professor +Bill Banks. Professor Bill was apparently thirty years of age. He had a +high forehead, blue eyes, a mass of dark hair overhanging his ears, and +a prominent Roman nose. The nose seemed to give great strength to his +features, as also did his chin. He was clad in the customary tail coat, +tight pantaloons with straps, neckerchief, and over all towered his tall +"nail keg" silk hat. Professor Bill was attired for a special occasion. +He was going to visit, ostensibly, the father of a certain rustic +damsel, and had stepped in for his mail. The talk with the pilot nettled +him, for in an argument he liked to show his superiority, as he was the +recognised great man of letters in the place. The talk was not the only +thing that disturbed and ruffled his feelings. His horse had +inadvertently stepped into a washout on the road, and had fallen so lame +that it was utterly impossible for him to proceed.</p> + +<p>"Hear of Big Paddy's accident?" asked the tavern keeper, wishing to +promote a better feeling.</p> + +<p>"No," curtly said Bill.</p> + +<p>"Ha! Ha! He!" cackled the tavern keeper, "it war amusin'."</p> + +<p>"Come, cease those asinine cachinations and explain," said Bill, with +some irritation.</p> + +<p>"Yer a great scholard, Bill," said the tavern keeper, in some admiration +at this flow of erudite language, "but when ye'd speak highly of me, I'd +wish ye could use plainer words. Well, big Paddy and his uns are +a-build <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 224]</a></span>ing a new church in the burgh, and they were all a-drinking of +rye to make the work go lively. Big Paddy would always do the heaviest +work. At last there war the heavy corner stone to lift off the wagon, +and none could roll her down. Paddy were nigh full when the stone come. +Ha! Ha! He!" and the tavern keeper went off into another cackle of +laughter, his cross-eye blinking with tears of merriment, and his +protuberant stomach laughing in sympathy. "Ha! Ha! He!" and he went off +into another cackle that threatened to strangle him.</p> + +<p>"If it's your whiskey that made him ridiculous, I do not wonder, for its +the most catholicon panacea for the diminution of intelligence and +propagating of blatant puerility and asinine imbecility extant. Witness +yourself for an example." Bill was becoming sarcastic.</p> + +<p>"So 'tiz, so 'tiz," said the tavern keeper, highly pleased. "I say, +Professor, what a high larnt person ye are; now—do ye,—do ye think ye +could write that daoun?"</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"I could git it printed on a sign and it 'ould look grand-like. I'd be +much 'bleeged to ye, Bill," said Burke, earnestly.</p> + +<p>Professor Bill smiled good humouredly, and asked, "Well, about Paddy?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, he looked at 'em all a-tugging at the stone, for it war a whopper, +and then he ups and says, 'Let be, now, let the auld man have a chance,' +and with that he grabbed a-hold of it. He pulled it off, but it war too <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 225]</a></span> +much for him, and it come down kerflop on his foot. There war an uproar +and the big paddies and little ones come a-running up and screaming and +shouting: 'And are ye hurted now, Daddy? And—and—and are ye hoorted +now, Pappy? And are ye hoorted now, grand-daddy?' Big Paddy war mad. +'Tare and hounds,' said he, 'trow a stun like that on a man's fut and +ask if he war hoorted, ye spalpeens.'"</p> + +<p>The tavern keeper went off into another cackle of laughter, and the +schoolmaster feebly joined in.</p> + +<p>The rafting crew now returned from the supper-room and gathered around +the flaming open fireplace. Rafting stories followed each other in rapid +succession, Hugh Lark seeming to have the greatest fund. Clay and +corncob pipes were brought out from various pockets and soon wreaths of +smoke began to dim the atmosphere.</p> + +<p>"Hear of old Jim Handy's trip?" asked one after Hugh had told a rather +exciting story.</p> + +<p>"No," said Hugh.</p> + +<p>"Let's hear it," said the others.</p> + +<p>"Jim had ne'er been on the water and thought it would be a nice thing +for him to go on a trial trip. He had allers said that the land war good +enough fer him, and that he would ne'er trust himself to nawthing but +solid land. Some of the boys up on the Big Lycamahoning, that were +cutting timber fer him, up and began talking of the funny times they had +down at the mouth, the dancing and the parties. And then they begun to +talk of the ride down, just as easy as riding a good hoss. The old man +had a powerful set of rafts to run,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 226]</a></span> and he saw one after another go +down the stream and the fellows cherry and 'parently enjying the ride. +They got him so worked up over the ride, and the good times they had, +that he decided to go, too, on the last raft. They told him that all he +would have to do would be to stand in the centre and perhaps they could +make a chair fer him to set on. The old man war tickled with the idea. +On the river they told him they could put up a regular shanty on the +raft and it would be like travelling in a coach, and then he would have +a chance to see Pittsburgh. The old man had never seen Pittsburgh and it +war the capping argument. Then some fool fellow told him of the dams and +the going under the water five or six feet when the raft would plunge +over the shoots. The fellows told him that they could fix that all +right. They would make a high wooden horse fer him to sit on when they +would take the shoots. That fixed him. Last week the raft war ready to +make the trip. They had a slanting pole fixed in the centre, and a seat +up at the top where the old man could sit in the dry when the raft would +plunge under. It went all right till they come to the big dam. Then as +they war making fer the shoot and were fairly in it, all the fellows at +the front oar dropped it and run up the pole after the old man. The old +man hollered to them that they would break it down, but they didn't +keer. Up they went, and just as they were plunging under, the pole +broke, and down tumbled the old man with all the others. The raft war +oak and sunk dead, like lead. It went to the very bottom and then rose +again. The old man hung <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 227]</a></span> on and so did the others, but he was mad, +a-cussing and swearing and spitting water like a water dog. It war a +sight to see."</p> + +<p>The fellow burst into a laugh that was echoed by the others.</p> + +<p>"If he had been a-riding that sixty-foot stick that you rode, Hugh, he +would been scared worse, eh," said one of the rafters.</p> + +<p>"Tell us the story, Hugh," said others.</p> + +<p>"It were not much," said Hugh. "A sixty-foot stringer war torn off by +one of the rocks in the Rough Water. I thought we ought not to lose it, +and so gave the rear oar into the hands of my assistant and jumped for +it. I landed clear in the centre of the stick as it slipped behind me. +The raft was going faster than the stick. How do ye account for that, +Bill?" asked Hugh, pausing in his narrative.</p> + +<p>"Very easy," said Bill. "The timber stick did not give so much surface +for the force of the current as the raft. Hence the raft went the faster +of the two. But the stick?" inquired Bill, who was also interested.</p> + +<p>"Well, I landed as I said in the centre of the stick, then slipped down +on my hands and knees, and began to guide it. Sometimes it would roll +and I would have to roll with her to keep on top. Then I had to watch +lest I should get jammed against the rocks. I jumped off several times +to avoid being squeezed, and swum back again. Once I got atween the +stick and the rocks and she was a-coming for me. I dived under it, come +up on the other side, and that's what saved me from certain death. I <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 228]</a></span> +couldn't catch up to the raft and so I rode the stick all the way to the +river, where the raft was awaiting for me. That was all there was to it. +It was an exciting time, though."</p> + +<p>There were murmurs of admiration from the assembled raftsmen and then +more tales followed. Rafts torn up in the rough water, raftsmen drowned +though expert swimmers, deeds of rescue, and things of a similar nature +followed in rapid succession. The home distilled liquor was used +sparingly, and finally the fiddle was brought forth and music enlivened +the public room. White Cockade, Devil's Dream and others followed, the +raftsmen keeping time with their heavy boots and sometimes by dancing. +One of the younger raftsmen executed a woodman's fling in a creditable +manner, encouraged by the handclapping of the others and the occasional +shouting in tune with the melody "Heigh ho—de-do, de-do, de-do, de-do!"</p> + +<p>In the midst of the revel the door was opened and two strangers entered. +They had evidently been riding far, for their garments showed the trace +of hard travel. The one who appeared to be the spokesman was tall, well +proportioned, with a tangled mass of auburn hair, more tangled by the +pelting storm without, and a beard trimmed in the Vandyke style and of +the same hue as his hair. The other was a giant in size, standing fully +six feet six inches, and broad in proportion. He had the dark hair and +features of the Celt.</p> + +<p>The tavern keeper was all hospitality. Room was made for them around the +flaming fire log and their <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 229]</a></span> clothes, damp with the storm, were soon +drying. There was a lull in the conversation of the raftsmen, the fiddle +had been consigned to its place o'er the chimney piece.</p> + +<p>"Can we get supper?" asked the one with the red beard.</p> + +<p>The tavern keeper nodded and added, "Certain, and a good one at that," +and going to the rear door he bawled to the cook, "Supper fer two +gents."</p> + +<p>"Arright," squeaked the distant, feminine voice.</p> + +<p>"Our horses must be fed and stabled also," said the same gentleman. The +tavern keeper gave the necessary directions to a tow-headed boy, who +disappeared into the outer darkness.</p> + +<p>"And 'ere," thundered the larger of the two strangers, as he opened the +door after the boy, "see that you rub the horses down well and give them +a good bed, and a warm mash."</p> + +<p>The giant returned to the fire and stood before its pleasing blaze.</p> + +<p>"You uns kin sign yer names when ye git warm." It was the tavern keeper +that spoke, and the travellers, taking the hint, moved over to the +soiled record book and added their names to the few already inscribed +there. Peter Burke, tavern keeper, scrutinised the names carefully with +his good eye, while the other seemed to be studying the appearance of +the strangers. One of the raftsmen leaned over to Hugh and whispered in +his ear that to be cross-eyed was a wonderful talent for the tavern +keeper; he could read the names on his book and size up the people at +one and the same time.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 230]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You uns travelling fer?" asked one of the raftsmen.</p> + +<p>"No, sir," laconically responded the red-headed one.</p> + +<p>"Come from Kittanning?" said another.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"How's election news down there, and what's opinion on John Quincy +Adams?"</p> + +<p>"Adams seems to be very popular, and Jackson has a good following."</p> + +<p>"Adams will carry the day, no doubt," said the pilot.</p> + +<p>"He'll not can do that," muttered some one in dissent. Whereupon there +followed a small debate on the merits of the two candidates for +Presidential position.</p> + +<p>"Up here 'lectioneering?" inquired a third, turning to the strangers +again.</p> + +<p>"I calculate you are from the west, stranger," said Hugh Lark.</p> + +<p>"You've struck it partly," laughingly said the red-headed stranger, and +then apparently tired of answering questions, added, "We're here from +Louisiana and are here prospecting."</p> + +<p>Curiosity, instead of being appeased, was instantly aroused. A sharp +look flashed into Hugh's eye as he scrutinised them.</p> + +<p>"Wall," said the tavern keeper, "I allers said thar war something in +these hills. What ye think 'tiz, stranger, gold?"</p> + +<p>"No, we're prospecting for character."</p> + +<p>"Karakter," said the tavern keeper, musingly, "I ne'er hearn tell of +that metal afore." <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 231]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't think there's much about here?" asked the red-headed stranger, +with just the shadow of a smile.</p> + +<p>"Not as I knows of," and the tavern keeper rubbed his head in doubt.</p> + +<p>Professor Bill snorted in disgust.</p> + +<p>"Look here, stranger, we have more character, good sterling character, +in this section than our dotard friend informed you of."</p> + +<p>Peter Burke, tavern keeper, looked pleased at this compliment. To be +called a friend of Professor Bill's and a friend, too, with that "high +larndt word ahead of it!" If Professor Bill was a drinking man he would +have set up a glass to Bill then and there free.</p> + +<p>"Character, sir!" continued Bill. "We sent forth the most stalwart +characters during the Revolution, though not from this immediate +neighbourhood, yet from Western Pennsylvania—Captain Brady, the Indian +fighter, and scores of others. Hugh Lark, there, can tell you of his +father, Captain Ande Lark, the sharpshooter, who performed prodigies of +valour in many a hard fought field."</p> + +<p>"Aye," said Hugh, "'tiz all true."</p> + +<p>"And didn't they hold the Britishers down at Concord and Lexington, +Yorktown and Stony Point?" continued Bill.</p> + +<p>"Aye, all ken they did that," said Hugh.</p> + +<p>"And what was it for?" said Bill, getting oratorical. "The tyrant +oppressed us; taxed us without representation; quartered soldiers on us +in times of peace,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 232]</a></span> and seized the patriots' powder and ball. Then, sir, +the American eagle screamed in wrath and the noble characters, +Washington, Putnam, Morgan, Green, Brady, Lark, and hundreds of others +went forth to war, to battle valiantly for the cause of freedom and shed +their blood for the rights of man. Even in the humbler walks of life +sterling character was demonstrated. The ploughboy, the woodsman, the +tradesman, the farmer, all left their habitations, and with their old +flint-locks over their shoulders sped to the defence of their nation's +life and honour. This country was won by the stout courage of the +colonial fathers, and their stout-hearted sons to-day have within their +breasts the same doughty heroism that dominated the republic in that +day. Yes, but a few years ago, the War of 1812 made lucid that fact. +Lundy's Lane, Fort Meigs, Thames River,—who has forgotten them? +Character! The country is full of it, sir."</p> + +<p>"So 'tiz, so 'tiz," interjected the tavern keeper; "Professor Bill's +high larndt and orter know."</p> + +<p>"And," said Bill, "should the tocsin of war sound once more, the temple +of Janus be closed, and strife with bloody claws sweep like a dragon +over the land, should even all Europe band together against us, send +their fleets to harass our waters, their hirelings to devast our land, +they would find how patriots could contend for the heritage of their +ancestors, how they could battle against the iron heel of oppression, +and victory again would ultimately crown the American arms. All, because +of her brave characters." <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 233]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Thas so; Bill's a scholard and orter know," said the tavern keeper, +nodding sagely.</p> + +<p>"Patrick Henry was not the only one who said 'give me liberty or give me +death.' The spirit of heroism is in the hearts of the American citizens. +They breathe it in the very air. Mountains, trees, birds, and even the +very beasts of the wild, proclaim alike the freeman's land. None can +wrest it from us while there is a God and while Americans are true to +themselves."</p> + +<p>Professor Bill sat down amidst a round of applause from the admiring +raftsmen, while the tavern keeper rubbed his hands in the keenest of +pleasure.</p> + +<p>"Bill," said one of the raftsmen, "ye'll hev to git that speech down fer +the Fourth o' Jerly. That's the best speech we uns heard since the +Senator talked in Indiana."</p> + +<p>"So 'tiz," said the tavern keeper. "Bill's a scholard. I say, Bill, +could yer write that daoun?"</p> + +<p>"What's that?" inquired Bill.</p> + +<p>"Why, about the eagle a-hollering like mad fer liberty and so on. Ye +see, we uns are gitting a new brand of stuff with an eagle on it and it +would look grand like to hev them words on, too."</p> + +<p>"Aye, perhaps," said Bill with a smile, "but I wonder how they teach +those events over in England. They must ignore them. Say, stranger, how +do they teach in Louisiana those salient points of our national +history?"</p> + +<p>"What a scholard!" murmured the tavern keeper as he passed a drink to a +newcomer.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 234]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Concerning the salient points of American history," responded the +red-bearded stranger, "they teach about the same as in this section, I +surmise,—that is, local events are dwelt upon unduly and there is a +tendency to glorify the victories and mitigate the defeats. The school +children, there, know more about Jackson and the Battle of New Orleans +than about Ross or Fort Meigs. In England the same thing obtains. Local +events are prominent and the glorious things are magnified, while the +dark, unhappy events are passed lightly over."</p> + +<p>"Yes, so I thought. Now in this country, though, there is a tendency to +do those things, yet national and international questions are fairly +represented," said Bill.</p> + +<p>The stranger shook his head in dissent.</p> + +<p>"The very same thing is as prevalent in America as in England. The +bright things are haloed and the dark obscured. The schoolboy gets but +one side of the question at issue. History ought to be taught for the +sake of truth and not for the sake of generating patriotism. Take the +American Revolution. Children, here, are taught that England was a +hateful tyrant, taxing us unreasonably, simply for the pleasure of +showing the strong hand, and wantonly aggressive in destroying the +patriots' powder and ball. Yorktown, Stony Point, and Saratoga are dwelt +on. What American does not know those battles by heart and how feebly +impressed on the American mind are the occupations of Boston, New York, +Philadelphia, the Battle of Brandy-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 235]</a></span>wine, the Long Island defeats, and +the disasters in the South? Now a fair way would be to emphasise both +sides of the war, the battles, and the causes. Causes are given in many +American histories of the war, but they are American causes; the English +are not mentioned. Would it not be foolish to war without a cause?"</p> + +<p>"Well, what causes did Britain have for the war and her oppression?" +said Bill, sharply.</p> + +<p>"Many," said the red-bearded stranger, sharply. "Taxation, for instance, +is not wrong in itself. The government of a country is supported by +taxes. Britain sent quite a few armies to this country in the time of +the French and Indian war to protect the colonies. Could the colonies, +notwithstanding the bravery of her few colonial troops, have withstood +the armies of France, Montcalm and the others, without aid? Hence the +armies of Braddock, Amherst, Wolf and others. The home government was +burdened with a debt that had been greatly for the protection and +augmentation of the American colonies. Indeed, had that war not been; +had Wolf not taken Quebec, the glorious United States would be only a +narrow strip of country along the Atlantic seaboard. Even this part and +other parts west of the Alleghenies would be French soil, and you would +all be French citizens."</p> + +<p>"The stranger must be a scholard, too," muttered the tavern keeper.</p> + +<p>"And," continued the stranger warming up, "England, therefore, incurred +a great debt and insured to America the territory to the Mississippi and +even be <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 236]</a></span>yond partly. What benefit was this to the English citizen? Had +he a right to pay it all? Ought not America a right to bear a part of +the burden?"</p> + +<p>"True," said Bill, thoughtfully, "but how about non-representation? Was +it right to tax us without our consent?"</p> + +<p>"Easily explained," resumed the stranger. "England herself did not have +representation. Many parts, great cities, Manchester, Sheffield, and +others had none. The House of Commons did not represent England. Was +representation to be given to the colonies when it was denied to England +herself?"</p> + +<p>"Very true," said Bill, uneasily, "but what about oppressive taxes?"</p> + +<p>"Not much oppression. Americans admitted themselves that it was not the +weight of the taxes, which were small, but the principle of the thing. +The chief taxes were stamp and tea taxes and taxes of a similar nature. +The burden was laid on the rich, mostly. The labouring man had little +occasion for stamped paper. In reference to tea, tea was a luxury and +not a necessity at that time. Is there much oppression in that? And +about the seizing of powder and ball of the patriots, that's nothing +more than the United States would do should the State of Pennsylvania +gather up powder and ball to be used against the national government."</p> + +<p>"Well, why did the American nation arise en masse in revolt, if they +were not overly oppressed," persisted Bill.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 237]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The American people did not arise en masse," responded the stranger. +"There were thousands of citizens, wealthy and influential, on the +King's side, until toward the middle of the war. Would it have been so +easy for the British to take Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and +Charleston, if they were wholly in favour of Washington and the war? No. +They would have burned their cities like the Russians did Moscow. Both +sides ought to be taught in the study of history and a better grasp of +truth would result. About non-representation, that was wrong and the +Americans were partly justified in struggling against it. The English +people are struggling for the same thing, to-day. They have no real +representation, but will get it soon. It is much better, however, to win +representation and liberty by peaceful means than by war."</p> + +<p>There was silence for a moment, and then Professor Bill responded.</p> + +<p>"Those are new ideas to me, and you have opened up a new channel of +thought; but at least you will admit that our histories are +substantially correct and fair in reference to the late war, the War of +1812. What right had England to prey upon our commerce and impress our +seamen even though they were formerly Englishmen?"</p> + +<p>"The preying upon commerce was piracy upon the part of England——"</p> + +<p>"Good and well said," affirmed Professor Bill.</p> + +<p>"The impressment of American seamen—Americans must handle the subject +carefully or——" <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 238]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Or what?"</p> + +<p>"They'll be trampling on their own laws and government. England claimed +once an Englishman always an Englishman, naturalisation notwithstanding. +American law, that is based on English to a great extent, is somewhat +the same. A citizen of the United States cannot throw off his allegiance +and unite with another nation without the consent of the United States. +Witness the case of Murray and the <i>Charming Betsey</i> in 1804, before the +Supreme Court. In the case of Isaac Williams before the Circuit Court of +the United States for the District of Connecticut, in 1797, it was +decided that no member could dissolve the compact of citizenship except +by consent of the United States, and there had been no consent on the +part of the United States. These cases were of Americans who attempted +to become citizens of the newly formed republics of South America. And +yet we say England was wrong in taking American citizens, who had been +formerly Englishmen, and had become naturalised Americans contrary to +England's will. There is an apparent inconsistency in the matter, +visible even to the dullest mind."</p> + +<p>Professor Bill was silent and apparently in deep thought.</p> + +<p>"You have travelled some," said Hugh Lark.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the red-bearded stranger. "My friend here and myself, during +the last eight years have been travellers. We have been in Brazil and +other American countries. That is why I remember the cases of the +<i>Charming Betsey</i> and Williams. The decision of the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 239]</a></span> United States in +those cases still rankles in the hearts of the people of the southern +continent."</p> + +<p>The raftsmen and schoolmaster were eager for tales of adventure and +strange countries, when the supper bell rang, and the two gentlemen +disappeared into the long dining-room. After supper they retired, being +thoroughly tired with the travel of the day.</p> + +<p>"Who air those fellows?" asked one of the raftsmen.</p> + +<p>The question was voiced by all in the public room.</p> + +<p>The tavern keeper, obsequiously handed the record book to Bill, who read +out for the benefit of all the following:</p> + +<p>"Andrew Trembath, Esq., New Orleans."</p> + +<p>"Richard Thomas, New Orleans."</p> + +<p>"The one must be a lawyer," said Professor Bill, with a good bit of +respect in his tones.</p> + +<p>"Did you notice the silent one? What a giant in size he is? He'd make an +oar fly, I'll wager, eh, Hugh?" said one of the raftsmen.</p> + +<p>"Aye," said Hugh, meditatively.</p> + +<p>"The one fellow is a Cornishman," said Bill.</p> + +<p>"Whas that, Bill?" said the tavern keeper.</p> + +<p>"A native of the southwest of England, a section noted for its minerals +and seamen."</p> + +<p>"How do ye ken that, Bill?" asked Hugh Lark.</p> + +<p>"Because," said Bill,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"By Tre, Tri, and Pen,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ye may know the Cornishmen."<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 240]</a></span></div></div> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<p class="center">THE LYCAMAHONING</p> + + +<p>The sun arose o'er the eastern hills of Lycamahoning, a great disc of +flame, fretted with the great solemn pines and oaks of the hilltops, and +driving before it the opaline radiance of early twilight. Pine needles +lost the sombre hue of night and glistened and gleamed with a richer +emerald where the ever-shifting sunbeams touched and gloried them with +light. Trees of oak and pine, a hundred and fifty feet in height, +enveloped with interlacing branches hill and lowland, except where, +oasis-like, the fields and cabin of some squatter dappled the general +surface of woodland. A few clouds still remained on the western horizon, +dark and threatening, but the day was propitious for fine weather.</p> + +<p>Ande and Dick, for the strangers were none other, were aroused by the +first, glancing rays of the sun that penetrated the curtains of their +little window. Flinging aside the curtain drapery, they gazed forth +delighted on the scene. Within a few yards of the house wall rolled the +roaring, yellow flood of the Lycamahoning, a mighty torrent, sweeping +beyond its natural bounds. Tree trunk and brush and what not tossed +hither and thither by its rollicking mood, yet bore ever onward. It was +an ambitious stream, for the banks <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 241]</a></span> could not hold it. The turnpike, +beyond the bridge, was hidden three feet from sight, and tearing through +the underbrush on either side of the public way was an ever-widening +torrent. The town was on higher ground than the turnpike beyond and so +escaped the damage of the flood.</p> + +<p>"What a grand country, Dick, old chap," said Ande, surveying the scene +with interest. "This is better than hot Louisiana or even the +Mississippi prairies."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" yawned Dick; "but not better than Brazil." Then as he ceased +stretching his great arms over his head; "Just think of it, Ande, if we +had not been picked up by that outward bound Brazilian ship, we would +not be independent now. Ah! diamonds and gold! That's the country, lad."</p> + +<p>"Softly, softly, Dick," said Ande in a lower tone, "we're not going to +advertise our circumstances. A month or so here, then home to Merrie +England."</p> + +<p>"And right glad will I be," said Dick; "but let's down and see what this +settlement in the backwoods is like."</p> + +<p>Ande followed by Dick went cautiously down the steep stairway, that +seemed squeezed between the great chimney and the farther wall and led +out at the bottom into the public room. There was no one in the public +room when they entered, and so they wended their way across to the door +and thence out into the street, if street it could be called. The hotel +of Peter Burke was at the head of the main and only street of Burgtown, +and one walking straight from the front door of the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 242]</a></span> hotel would pass +down an avenue, prolific in stumps, midway between two rows of log +houses. Back of the tavern and but a few yards from it rolled and roared +the Lycamahoning, and but a few yards from the north end was the covered +bridge. It thus stood with the homes stretching from it in parallel +lines, like a captain at the head of his soldiers. Several citizens were +abroad already with their axes and were busily felling a forest giant +that, isolated and ostracised with a few others, waved its branches in +the air above the middle of the main thoroughfare of Burgtown. Several +raftsmen with Hugh Lark at their head were standing at the end of the +broad porch gazing over toward the bridge and the rushing yellow flood, +shaking their heads dubiously at it, well knowing that there would be no +rafting either that day or the next. The flood was too high.</p> + +<p>There was the sound of cracking and rending of wood from the +thoroughfare, a swishing and snapping of branches, a cry of warning, +then one of terror, and with a resounding blow the mighty, woodland +giant sprawled its full length on the ground. With an exclamation Hugh +Lark leaped into the roadway followed by the other raftsmen and Ande and +Dick. They were soon on the scene. There pinned to the earth under the +heavy tree trunk, unconscious, his brow streaked with blood, was a man, +evidently the chief chopper.</p> + +<p>Women from the neighbouring homes were wringing their hands in dismay, +and then from a distant cabin came a woman's scream, a cry full of +anguish, and then <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 243]</a></span> a flying form burst the crowd and flung herself down +near the head of the unconscious chopper. With tender hands she mopped +the blood from his forehead and kissed his pale brow again and again, +calling by every endearing name to the unconscious one to answer her. +Hugh Lark wiped the moisture from his eyes, as did many others. Then +with the instinct of the leader of men:</p> + +<p>"Run, Jack, and get the rope and tackle and block from the raft. Jim, go +get the heaviest crowbar from the tavern, and the rest of you men get +crowbars. Peter Burke, get to thy tavern as fast as your legs will carry +you and bring a flask of brandy."</p> + +<p>"Can nothing be done until the coming of the block and tackle," ventured +Ande. "Is it too heavy for a couple of fellows to lift by main +strength?"</p> + +<p>The raft pilot shook his head. "Three men could not lift the butt of +that tree, and more than three couldn't try, without doing more injury +to Tom underneath. I only hope he won't die before the rope comes."</p> + +<p>Dick had not said a word, but he now hauled off his coat, and placing +his big arms around the butt end of the fallen tree began to exert his +strength.</p> + +<p>"The man is mad," muttered Hugh Lark to one or two bystanders, while +they all looked and wondered.</p> + +<p>The blood mounted to his face and forehead, crimsoning his features like +the sunrise of a rainy day, and then the veins stood out like whipcord +upon his brow and arms, but the tree moved not. There was a straining of +the eyes of Old Ironsides until they threatened to burst from their +sockets, a rigidity of the limbs that <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 244]</a></span> though motionless yet indicated +that the giant was putting forth every atom of his strength. The +spectators scarcely breathed. Then, even before the people were aware of +it, the tree began to move, silently, slowly, almost imperceptibly, inch +by inch, up from the fallen, injured chopper. There was a suppressed +murmur from the crowd, then Hugh with a bound was beside the injured +man, and with the assistance of Ande quickly and deftly hauled him from +his perilous position. There was a shout from the tavern. The rope and +tackle was coming, but there was no need of them. Then Peter Burke, his +cross eye glaring at the bystanders, and his other fastened upon Hugh +and the succoured one, pushed his rotund, sebaceous body through the +crowd, and with one fat, trembling hand extended to Hugh the brandy. A +swallow of the fiery liquor and the fellow opened his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Hurt much, Tom?" asked Hugh and the chopper's wife in almost one +breath.</p> + +<p>"Not much. Pretty well shuk up. Yes—pretty well shuk up."</p> + +<p>They assisted the fellow to his feet, and then to his cabin home, still +muttering in his dazed fashion: "Pretty well shuk up! Yes—pretty well +shuk up."</p> + +<p>Hugh was relieved. It was evident that whatever injuries he had +received, the shock was more than them all, and with rest he would +evidently pull through it.</p> + +<p>The clang of a breakfast bell sounded on the morning air, and the +rafters and travellers trooped to the tavern.</p> + +<p>The fame of Dick and his companion speedily spread <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 245]</a></span> through the +neighbourhood. Dick, according to rough estimates, had lifted a weight +of two hundred stone. Hugh Lark was the most affable of all. Tom, the +injured chopper, had been a lifelong friend, and this aid to a friend in +distress he could not forget.</p> + +<p>"Ye'll come down and see my raft," said he after breakfast. "You have +never seen a raft and it'll be interesting to see how it's put together, +and how we manage it with the great oars; and then I have something to +tell you that will be, no doubt, interesting."</p> + +<p>Together Hugh and our travellers wended their way around the tavern end, +and down the edge of the stream. They rounded a bend in the stream and +there, riding in the comparatively quiet water of the eddy, was the raft +of the night before. With a bound Hugh was on it, followed by the +others.</p> + +<p>"Ye'll notice the way it's put together. First we square the timber +sticks after they are cut to proper lengths, then tumble them into the +water side by side, and bore these holes with the augur three inches +apart. Then we get the stoutest ash or hickory poles, green and strong, +and lay across the top of them midway between the holes, and bind them +to the timber with well seasoned hickory bows and wooden pins. Ah! I see +you are trying the oar." This last to Ande, who swung with his weight +the great oar blade from its fastenings, and shoved it to and fro. "It's +not easy work in a strong flood, and especially in the Rough Water."</p> + +<p>"The Rough Water?"</p> + +<p>"Aye! That's a section of the stream in the Big <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 246]</a></span> Lycamahoning some +fifteen miles from here, where in a course of ten miles the water rushes +with the speed of a race horse. It's most dangerous because of the rocks +and requires a steady head and a ready hand to pilot through. Yet I have +done it many a time and had no accidents. I suppose, with the exception +of old Pegleg, I'm the only pilot that can say as much," and then seeing +the look of inquiry on the faces of his auditors he continued: "Pegleg +is a one-legged pilot who feels as much at home on the bobbing raft as +he does on the land. But," and Hugh looked at his auditors kindly, "I +didn't fetch ye here for the sake alone of showing the raft. I wanted to +get you away from the prying eyes and ears of old Peter Burke and the +rest. Last night I felt little like saying much about certain knowledge +that I have, but men who have favoured our village by saving the life of +one of its citizens, and one of my best friends at that, deserve +something in return. If you are prospectors, come to my place to-morrow +evening and mayhap I can give ye the information that would be of value +to you. But not a word to any others, and especially to old Peter."</p> + +<p>"We'll be on hand, never fear," said Ande.</p> + +<p>There was a crashing in the underbrush of the shore, and two or three of +the raftsmen leaped on the raft.</p> + +<p>"When do ye think we can safely start, Hugh?" asked one.</p> + +<p>"In two days, not before. The flood will take that time to go down to a +good rafting stage. In the mean <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 247]</a></span>time, boys, we'll go home; but day after +to-morrow we start out for down stream."</p> + +<p>All returned to the tavern where, after some conversation, the raftsmen +betook themselves to their homes and Ande and Dick having mounted their +horses, well rested with the night, pushed down stream, toward the west, +on a rude, half-cleared mountain trail. The road wound itself in a +sinuous line over hills and through deeply wooded glens, but always the +roar of the stream was in their ears.</p> + +<p>"What boundless forests these are," said Ande, as they rested their +horses on the summit of a steep declivity and gazed o'er the rolling +mass of treetops. "No wonder Professor Bill was so oratorical. This is +the famous country through which Armstrong marched his troops in 1756 +against Shingas and Jacobs, the Shawnese chiefs of Kittanning, and near +this section, no doubt farther south, poor grandfather lost his life. It +was a fatal mistake."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we shall find something in this section that will tell us of +your grandfather."</p> + +<p>"If we do, it will be in connection with the Indian eldorado, spoken of +by my father."</p> + +<p>They had pushed on rapidly and were now nearing the mouth of the Little +Lycamahoning. The gleam of a great expanse of water between the trees +ahead indicated their approach.</p> + +<p>"That must be the Big Lycamahoning of which Lark spoke."</p> + +<p>"Hist!" said Dick, "there are some wild geese on the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 248]</a></span> big creek. Hear +them gabble. There must be fully a score. It's fortunate we have our +guns with us."</p> + +<p>They were now fairly in the outer shadow of the trees that o'erhung the +trail, and the stream, swollen by the flood to three times its natural +size, stretched before them three hundred yards in width.</p> + +<p>"You take the right of the group, and I'll take the left," whispered +Ande.</p> + +<p>Simultaneously with the crack of their own guns another sounded from the +midst of the willows that fringed the shore. There was a confused +"Hank—Hank!" from the frightened birds as they rose in flight. A second +later, a light canoe darted swiftly from the willows, and an aged +hunter, its only occupant, gathered up the five or six birds that were +slain, placed them in his canoe, and rapidly paddled up stream. All +happened so quickly that the canoe with its aged occupant shot around a +bend in the stream and disappeared from sight before Ande or his friend +could say a word.</p> + +<p>"Cool robbery! let's after him," said Ande, and suiting his action to +the word, he pushed his horse into the stream and swum to the other +side, followed by Dick. The trail was struck again on the other side and +up the stream they went at as fast a gait as the many stumps and fallen +trees would allow. Several times they crossed the stream by swimming +their horses. Two miles up stream the creek valley widened and the +stream, winding around the base of a hill, formed a loop or peninsula of +some fifteen acres or so in extent. Here, in a small, grassy clearing, a +rude cabin of unhewn logs <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 249]</a></span> greeted their vision. It was a one-storied +affair pierced with loopholes, and had a small window in the end facing +the stream. The roof of heavy hand-made clapboards, weighted down with +poles, was green with age as also were the mossy logs of its walls. The +door, a heavy affair of split timber, was ajar and near it on a wooden +settle was the figure of the hunter, a man of some seventy years. The +hair of his head and beard were snowy white, but his active frame belied +his years. He was clad in leathern breeches, heavily fringed along the +outer seams, and moccasins of the same tough material. A loose, woollen +wamus, the product of the settlements, served in lieu of shirt and coat. +His coonskin cap was beside him on the bench and he was busily engaged +in plucking the captured birds. The sound of trotting horses aroused him +from his work and he cast a keen, scrutinising, blue eye on the +approaching invaders of his little domain.</p> + +<p>"I say, sir, we'd like to know why you appropriated our birds," said +Ande.</p> + +<p>"Aye?" inquired the hunter.</p> + +<p>Ande repeated the question.</p> + +<p>"I shot these birds."</p> + +<p>"Well, we shot some too and you seized them all."</p> + +<p>"Ye did shoot some?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we did; we were on the road at the fording and fired at them."</p> + +<p>The old man gazed at them earnestly, and evidently believing their tale, +said:</p> + +<p>"I thought that more were killed with my shot than <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 250]</a></span> customary, and if ye +fired at the same time that I did, that explains my not hearing the +report of your guns. Ye are welcome to some of them."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," said Ande, somewhat mollified by the hunter's generosity and +explanation. "We thought you were robbing us, but it was clearly a +mistake."</p> + +<p>"Will ye sit down; it's nigh dinner time and, if ye can eat with a lone +old man, you're most welcome. Ye can pasture your horses in that bit of +clearing."</p> + +<p>The invitation was accepted. The horses were tethered out where they +could nibble the grass, and they returned.</p> + +<p>"Come from afar?" interrogated the old hunter.</p> + +<p>"From Louisiana," said Ande.</p> + +<p>"Here hunting?"</p> + +<p>"No, prospecting."</p> + +<p>The old hunter straightened up as if shot, and gazed at them as if he +would pierce them through with those keen, blue orbs of his.</p> + +<p>"What for?" suspiciously.</p> + +<p>"Metal, either silver or gold," explained Ande, whose suspicions were +also aroused.</p> + +<p>"Do ye think ye will find it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, somewhere."</p> + +<p>"Where?"</p> + +<p>"Along this stream."</p> + +<p>"And do ye have any aid to help ye in your search?"</p> + +<p>"We have little but our own knowledge."</p> + +<p>"And your home is in Louisiana?"</p> + +<p>"No, we came from there."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274"></a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 241px;"> +<img src="images/i_274.jpg" width="241" height="400" alt="" /> +<span class="caption">"The old hunter straightened up as if shot, and gazed at +them"</span> +</div> + +<p>The old man arose with the birds which he had finished <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275"></a><br /><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 251]</a></span>plucking and +cleaning, and was silent for a time while he placed them in a home-made +oven for cooking. Returning to the settle he took up the conversation.</p> + +<p>"Ye'll find naught here but woods and hills and coal."</p> + +<p>"Have you been here long?" asked Ande, in turn becoming the inquirer.</p> + +<p>"Nigh sixteen years."</p> + +<p>"How does it happen that you, a hunter, should frequent this section, +which is rapidly becoming civilised?"</p> + +<p>"Well, the country is becoming more peopled the last year or so, but +there is still tolerable hunting. There's black bear in plenty, and +there's deer, beaver, coon, and wild birds, and then I have other +reasons. This is nigh the place where my father was slain."</p> + +<p>"Your father was a hunter, too, then?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, he hunted some. He hunted some," went on the old hunter, more +to himself than his auditors.</p> + +<p>"And did Indians kill him?" asked Dick, becoming interested.</p> + +<p>"He was captured by Indians and——" The old man shook his head and +then: "Dinner is nigh ready and ye are no doubt as hungry as I am +myself." The trapper led the way into the little cabin. Everything +within was comfortable as the life of the woods could make them. A rough +oak table stood near the opened window, a pile of bear and deerskins in +one corner near the fireplace indicated the place where the aged hunter +took his rest at night, several rifles hung affectionately on <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 252]</a></span> the +branches of deer antlers o'er the fireplace, and along the wall ran a +slab bench cut from a split log, the rounded side down, into which was +inserted the legs. The dinner of roast goose was soon placed on the +table and the hungry men sat down and did full justice to the fare. The +old hunter fell into a stage of taciturnity from which he could not be +aroused. Toward the close of the meal the host again became talkative +and pressed his guests, if they stayed long in the neighbourhood, to +call as often as they liked.</p> + +<p>"It's a bit lonely for an old man, and I like company at times," said +he, as they were preparing to leave. They promised to come.</p> + +<p>The horses were soon untethered and mounting they rode back to Burgtown.</p> + +<p>"Dick," said Ande in the privacy of their own room, "I believe that old +fellow could tell us something about father, possibly about grandfather. +I believe he knows at least something about the eldorado."</p> + +<p>"He looked most suspicious when you mentioned that we were prospectors."</p> + +<p>"His father was a hunter before him, and surely the one or the other +must have met him. We'll see as time goes by. We'll call upon him again +and try to worm some knowledge out of him. To-morrow we'll get +something, I believe, from Hugh Lark, that will bring us close to the +mark at least, I'm a-thinking."</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<p class="center">THE RAFT PILOT'S HOME</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 253]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Here easy quiet, a secure retreat,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A harmless life that knows not how to cheat,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With home-bred plenty—the owner bless,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And rural pleasures crown his happiness;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Unvexed with quarrels, undisturb'd with noise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The country king his peaceful realm enjoys."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i25">—<i>Dryden</i>.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>There was the steady tramp, tramp of horses' feet o'er the woodland +trail and, by the moon's shimmering gleam that sifted down through the +shadowy forest screen o'erhead, two horsemen could be perceived picking +cautiously their way in the darkness of the shadow. In clear places, +where the moonlight beamed unhindered, they pressed forward into a brisk +trot and then again slowing down to a steady tramp as they plunged once +more into some shadow. The road was uncertain, filled with pitfalls, +stumps of fallen forest giants, and other hindrances that necessitated +careful procedure. It was Ande and Dick on their way to the home of Hugh +Lark, raft-pilot, and squatter on a ridge of hills, the watershed +between the Great and Little Lycamahonings that poured their floods into +the Allegheny River. The hoot of a night owl sounded dismally in the +neighbouring forest and then, as if his call was the waving of an +orchestra leader's baton, forth burst in full chorus<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 254]</a></span> hundreds of other +birds of night, the most with the weird song "Whip-poor-will, +whip-poor-will."</p> + +<p>The effect was grewsome and Ande shivered slightly.</p> + +<p>"Dick," said he, "I had a dream last night that troubled me much."</p> + +<p>Dick was all attention.</p> + +<p>"It seemed in my dream that I had found somewhere a pearl of great price +and I cherished it as I did my own soul. In the upper Big Lycamahoning +district I found a large, silver ingot. In seeking to grasp the ingot I +lost the pearl, and I was filled with sorrow, and then the ingot turned +into a diamond of the first water and I was glad. I awoke then, and the +sun was beaming brightly in through the tavern window on my face."</p> + +<p>Ande ceased speaking. Dick was silent for he was thinking, and, though a +good, sincere Methodist, was slightly superstitious.</p> + +<p>"God knows, Ande, what it all means, but it seems to me that ee'll lose +summat and gain summat better."</p> + +<p>Dick had spoken partly in the old Cornish dialect, which they frequently +spoke when by themselves.</p> + +<p>"Aye, I guess that's the interpretation," said Ande, thoughtfully. The +way was pursued in silence for some time, unbroken save by the tramp of +horses' feet and the whirring wings of some bird whose solitude was +disturbed.</p> + +<p>A mile or so was passed over and then through the trees ahead was the +gleam of a light, and after a time they rode into Hugh Lark's clearing. +The log house, two stories in height, loomed up darkly in the dusk of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 255]</a></span> +evening. The moonlight touched up its clap-board roof and the edges of +its huge stone chimney, lighting them fantastically, and through the +greased paper-paned window came the glow of a fire within, evidently +from the great fireplace. There was the baying of a hound, and then the +quick bark of a shepherd dog in concert, and then the door opened and +the frame of Hugh was outlined against the inner light.</p> + +<p>"Get back, you dogs! Back to your kennel, Shep, and you, Jack, over to +the barn with you!" he bellowed, and the dogs, that looked most +aggressive, slunk off at the word of their master. The horses were soon +fastened to the rail fence and the horsemen approached the house to be +greeted on the threshold with the outstretched hand of Hugh.</p> + +<p>"Come in, mon, come in. It's a cauld nicht, as they ca' it in auld +Scotland," and he grasped each man's hand welcomingly and drew them +within and up to the great fireplace, for though spring had come, yet +the nights were cold. Hugh had greeted them as a Scotchman can. Though a +tolerably educated man, yet he loved to drop now and then back into his +mother tongue. The pilot's wife, a comely dame but little younger than +himself, sat near the light of the fireplace busily spinning. His two +chubby children had been put to bed in the room o'erhead and the scene +within was that of quiet, home comfort. Bunches of dried herbs and a few +hams and flitches of dried bacon and deer meat depended from the rafters +of the ceiling. A few common prints adorned the rude white-washed walls +and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 256]</a></span> o'er the mantle piece, supported by deer antlers, was an old-time +flint-lock rifle of great weight and heavy bore. The pilot introduced +his wife, who, having made the customary courtesy, resumed her spinning, +the whir, whir of the wheel mingling with the cracking of the fire-logs.</p> + +<p>Hugh drew forward two home-made chairs for his visitors, and Ande sat +down, but Dick was interested in the great rifle o'er the mantle piece. +Hugh noticed his concentrated look on the old rifle.</p> + +<p>"Aye, ye are looking at a highly prized relic in that rifle. Test the +weight of it, sir; notice the large bore capable of carrying a ball the +size of a schoolboy's marble."</p> + +<p>Dick took down the gun and examined it.</p> + +<p>"That rifle could tell many a tale, Mr. Dick, if it could speak. It was +my father's, Captain Ande Lark's gun. Ye ken that captains of +sharp-shooters in the days of Washington carried guns. A gun was more +use to them then than all of the swords made. Father fired the last shot +out of it in 1794, when he was mortally wounded by Indians on the +Kiskiminatas. It was this way," said Hugh, seeing the look of interest +on the faces of his visitors. "After the Revolution, the nation was +heavily indebted, and not even the efforts of Robert Morris could save +the nation from financial ruin had not many patriots, among whom was my +father, withheld their claims for service. Some speculating jobber +offered to trade father a thousand acres of land, where Braddock met his +defeat, for the com <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 257]</a></span>mission papers and his claims. Father accepted, and +loading up his goods on a flat boat he floated down the river +Kiskiminatas. He was attacked by lurking savages along the river side +and, although he succeeded in bringing down several of them by bullets +from 'Old Thump,'"—and the pilot waved his hand expressively toward the +old rifle,—"yet he received a wound himself from which he afterward +died."</p> + +<p>Hugh Lark was silent and his usually pleasant face was sober and sad. +There was a long pause, unbroken save by the puffs and clouds of +ascending tobacco smoke.</p> + +<p>"Light the lamp, Mary," he at length said.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lark arose from her work and took from a receptacle in the wall a +species of lamp much used by the woodsmen. It consisted of a turnip, +split, and hollowed out within. A stick, around which was wrapped a +strip of oiled linen, was inserted upright in the centre, and the vessel +having been filled with deer grease was ready for use. The visitors +gazed at this primitive vessel, that at best gave forth but a dismal +light and a far more disagreeable odour.</p> + +<p>"Candles are too much of a luxury for us at present, so we still use the +old turnip lamp. But to get down to business. I wanted to speak to you +of prospecting."</p> + +<p>Hugh poked the fire logs a little, and Mrs. Lark arose and brought in a +pitcher of home-made cider and some drinking vessels, and then retired.</p> + +<p>"Ye must ken that the Indians kenned more of this country than we do, +having lived here longer," said <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 258]</a></span> Hugh, as he raked a brand from the fire +and lit his pipe; and then without pausing for an answer he continued: +"I have read much for a backwoodsman and know of how the spirit of +jealousy has ruled nations as well as people. The same spirit of +jealousy that led the Asiatics to conceal from Europeans their arts and +sciences is within the Indian breast. The Phœnecians, so I have read, +hid so truly their art of making their beautiful colour called +Phœnecian purple that to-day we know nothing of it. The pyramids +to-day are monuments of the lost sciences of the ancients. There is much +wealth in the hills of the country, known to the Indian alone. Father +thought the same as I did and was convinced of it by a wound he received +in an Indian expedition with the famous Sam Brady. His wound was probed +and the bullet ye see tied to the old lock by a cord was the one taken +out of the wound." Both examined the silver bullet that was attached to +the lock of "Old Thump."</p> + +<p>"He found the mine. Then you know its location, Mr. Lark?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we had best have an understanding first, before I say much +more. If ye are agreed to give me a fair share with yourselves we will +go ahead."</p> + +<p>"We are perfectly agreed, and more. If you give my friend, Dick, a +share, I desire nothing."</p> + +<p>Hugh looked mystified at Ande and said partly in the Scotch dialect, +"And ye're not after the siller yoursel'?"</p> + +<p>Ande seeing that he must explain, related the tale <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 259]</a></span> of his grandfather's +dishonour, and Hugh, with various nods and puffs, listened.</p> + +<p>"Aye, I see, I see," said Hugh; "and ye think the unearthing of this +Indian mine will bring to light your family honour. Ye said the other +night that ye were prospecting for character, and we thought it was a +joke on the tavern keeper," and Hugh's features relaxed into a smile. +"But now for my tale. Indians appear here, from the Shawnee tribes in +the west, every few years. They remain for a time and then disappear. +Some say they come for hunting, some for to visit the graves of their +tribe, but I always had my own opinions. Some years ago there was a +great flood and we raftsmen went down to get the rafts in safer +positions. I was busy piloting when I thought I saw something out on the +waters. It was not a rock nor a piece of driftwood, and after I had +almost wearied my eyes I saw it was the head of a man. I gave the oar to +Tom, the fellow ye saved from the tree the other day, Mr. Dick, and +flung out a rope. It fell nigh the fellow and we dragged him in, and if +it wasn't a half-breed Indian, a Canadian, so he afterward told me. He +was far from his tribe and people and had hurt himself in some scrimmage +or other with a wild animal. After we got the raft safe in good +quarters, we took him up to our place here and nursed him for many a day +until he was ready to leave, and then he showed what stuff he was made +off. He wanted to reward me for my kindness. By his directions I got +some paper and a pen and drew off a rude map of the Big Lycamahoning +region. After <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 260]</a></span> it was made he put his brown finger on a certain section +and said, 'If white man know what under there they shoe their oxen with +silver.' Here's the map," and Hugh took from an inner pocket of his +woollen wamus a rude roll of paper which he spread out for their view +near the old turnip lamp. Ande took out his father's map and compared it +with the other.</p> + +<p>"Ye have a map, too," said Hugh.</p> + +<p>"The one sent me years ago by my father."</p> + +<p>The two maps coincided in all the essential features.</p> + +<p>"And now we know the place and the only thing that remains for us is to +set the date of going on our search. The first night of the full moon +would be best suited to our purpose. And there must be another let into +the secret, for we can't get along handily without the use of the only +canoe on the Big Creek, and that's Hunter Tom of the Loop," said Hugh.</p> + +<p>"Who's Hunter Tom?" asked Dick.</p> + +<p>"He's a queer old character, and has been in the neighbourhood of the +Big Creek for the—well—as long as any of us around here, and for a +great time longer. He's a hunter and has a cabin over in a little +clearing alongside of the Big Creek."</p> + +<p>"The very man we ate dinner with the other day," said Ande, and turning +to Hugh he related the circumstances of their adventure.</p> + +<p>"The very same man, and a better guide and hunter none ever saw," +replied Hugh, emphatically. Good-nights were now spoken, and, mounting, +the young men rode back to Burgtown.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 261]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<p class="center">THE HUNTER OF THE LOOP</p> + + +<p>Several times had Ande and Dick visited the old hunter's cabin in the +Loop, and there was a growing friendship between the old trapper and the +young men. They told him quite a little of their travels, but never +mentioned the mines of Brazil. Once the hunter mentioned that he had +been a soldier under Brock and had been a hunter ever since. New hope +sprang up within the breast of Ande. If this old hunter had been in the +service of Brock and had travelled the American wilds for such a time he +must surely have met his father. At length the question found utterance.</p> + +<p>"You were in the service of Brock. Did you ever meet one of my name +either in the army or afterwards. My father was in his service and +possibly you may have met him."</p> + +<p>"One of your name,—thy father? No, no, Mr. Ande, I know naught. None of +that name has ever met me."</p> + +<p>Ande, having received this reply, had not the temerity to push his +inquiry further. He admired the old hunter for his kind disposition, and +especially because he had seen service under Brock. He had frequently +tried to get him to relate tales of battles and adven <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 262]</a></span>tures, but the old +man was of a taciturn nature, a quality born in him by his years of +woodcraft. But his taciturnity did not hinder their intimacy or his +friendship. He had given them rare treats in canoeing; night after night +they had dropped down with the stream to the shelter of willows, and +secure from observation had quietly awaited the coming of the deer to +slake their thirst at the margin of the stream. On one occasion he had +taken them with him through the Rough Water, shooting the rapids with +consummate skill, and pointing out to them the marks of interest, such +as Pilot Rock or Shawnee Rock, Driftwood, the Sluice and others.</p> + +<p>It was the evening just before the full moon when they made their last +trip, still-hunting for deer. They had dropped down with the current, +and had just secluded their craft beneath the willows when harsh, +guttural, sometimes musical voices were heard on shore, at some +distance. The old hunter placed a warning hand on the shoulder of Ande, +and with the whisper of "Hist!" they listened. Bidding the young men be +silent, and on no account to move from their position, the old trapper +slipped up o'er the bank and in an instant was gone from sight. The same +voices continued for the space of many minutes without interruption, and +then, as cautiously as he had withdrawn, the hunter returned. With +finger on his lip to indicate silence he cautiously dipped the paddle, +and they moved silently up stream, skirting the willows in their +journey. When beyond hearing distance he spoke in audible tones.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 263]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The Shawnese are in the land. They must have come up from the Ohio."</p> + +<p>"But they are peaceful, no doubt?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, they are peaceful; but I always mistrust them. The cruelties they +heaped upon my father and the cruelties that I have witnessed at their +hands have always made them hateful to me."</p> + +<p>"How do you know that they are Shawnese?" asked Dick.</p> + +<p>"How do I know, lad? I have had more dealings with the Indians and the +Shawnese than any one around this section. I remember the time I met +Tecumseh and his brother, the Prophet, in the Ohio region years ago, and +their language is as familiar to me as my own. The silver mine that the +pilot was a-telling ye of was even then current among them, but more as +a legend than as an active fact."</p> + +<p>"The silver mine?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, the silver mine. Haven't I searched for it, and found it not. I +searched for it until I was weary, and then I gave it up. Of what value +is silver or gold to me now. My friends are all dead, and I, myself, +have not so many years to live that I should delve after the curse of +earth. Two years after I left the old Dart I swore, on the receipt of +news of the death of my dear ones, never to return, unless,——" The old +hunter was silent.</p> + +<p>"Unless?"</p> + +<p>"Not unless I accomplish my purpose here. I came not here as a hunter, +lad, alone;—there were other pur <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 264]</a></span>poses, vain probably now." There was +an element of sadness in the hunter's tone. "And yet I should like to +see the old home once more. It is very dear to me."</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"'Ah, happy hills! Ah, pleasing shade!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ah, fields beloved in vain!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where once my careless childhood strayed<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A stranger yet to pain!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I feel the gales that from ye blow,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A momentary bliss bestow,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As waving fresh, their gladsome wing<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My weary soul they seem to soothe,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And redolent of joy and youth<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To breathe a second spring.'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Why, Hunter Tom, that's Gray's Ode to Eton College," said Ande with +increased respect.</p> + +<p>"Aye, sirs, ye are a bit surprised to hear an old backwoodsman and +hunter quote that, but I have a right to it, for I was an Etonian, +myself, in younger days."</p> + +<p>The keel of the light canoe grated on the rocky shingle of the Loop +shore. Hunter Tom had insisted on going straight to his cabin on his +discovery of the Shawnese. The young men waited until early dawn and +then started for Burgtown. On the way they met Hugh Lark astride of his +gray mare.</p> + +<p>"Hallo! hitting the trail as usual! Well, we'll have a different trail +to-night. We meet at Hunter Tom's place at eight o'clock and set out +from there. See ye to-night," and Hugh was off up the trail.</p> + +<p>"Hunter Tom is a queer character," said Ande to Dick, as they continued +their way. "He's a combination of the old hunter and the scholarly +civilian. It's <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 265]</a></span> a wonder we never heard of his scholarly attainments +before."</p> + +<p>"From what I have heard, he doesn't mix up with the people around here. +What a marvellous woodsman he is, and how silently he approached the +Shawnese camp!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 266]</a></span></p><p>The log houses of Burgtown hove in sight, and they dropped all +conversation as they rode up through the double row of log homes and +alighted at the tavern of Peter Burke.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<p class="center">EUREKA! THE ELDORADO!</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"So the boat's brawny crew the current stem<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And, slow advancing, struggle with the stream;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But if they slack their hands or cease to strive,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then down the flood with headlong haste they drive."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i25">—<i>Dryden</i>.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>It was still early dawn when Hugh Lark reached the hunter's cabin. +Hunter Tom was cleaning his rifle and before the door was a pot of lead +melting o'er a slow fire. A bullet mould was lying near by ready for +use.</p> + +<p>"Halloo, Tom!" said Hugh, as he dismounted.</p> + +<p>"Good-morning," said the old hunter, a little curtly and yet with some +dignity, for he liked not the unceremonious manner of Hugh, though Hugh +was the only intimate acquaintance he had resident in the neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>"Going hunting?"</p> + +<p>"No," said the old hunter, a little more friendly. "I was down the creek +and saw some Shawnese."</p> + +<p>"Why, ye don't expect a brush with them in these days of peace?"</p> + +<p>"I tell ye," said the old man, testily, "those were the enemies of my +father and, peace or no peace, I <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 267]</a></span> trust them not unless I have Brown +Bess ready and a quantity of powder and ball nigh at hand," and he +continued his polishing and oiling.</p> + +<p>"Well, we have some work and we would like to have ye along, if ye can +go." The old man made room for him on the rude bench, and looked at him +inquiringly. Hugh related the purposed expedition.</p> + +<p>"And ye think there is a silver mine, and ye want me to help find it, +and if I do I go fair shares?"</p> + +<p>"Aye," and Hugh nodded. "Ye see there are two young chaps, travellers, +prospectors; they say they know ye——"</p> + +<p>"Aye! ye mean the English travellers, Mr. Ande and Mr. Dick."</p> + +<p>"Well, ye see they are prospectors and know the real stuff when they see +it."</p> + +<p>"So they told me," said the old man, nodding.</p> + +<p>"Well, we want ye to go along and use your big canoe. I calculate +between your intimate knowledge of the section and their prospecting +science and my divining rod that we can get at the bottom of this. +To-night will be full moon and we would like to start from your place +for up stream about eight o'clock."</p> + +<p>"Aye," said the old hunter, but he looked a bit dubious when Hugh +mentioned the divining rod. Hugh was a firm believer in the accuracy of +the rod that he had constructed. It was witch-hazel, curiously carved +and with a bit of silver at the end of it. The principle, according to +Hugh's statement, was like attracted like.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 268]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, I'll go," said the old man, after some thought. "I warn ye, +though, to take your guns with ye, for the Shawnese are here."</p> + +<p>"Oh, they'll give us no trouble, but we'll take our guns. There may be a +chance of shooting a deer or so," said Hugh as he departed. The old man +shook his head, forebodingly, as Hugh's form disappeared down the trail. +On his way back to Burgtown the pilot met the Shawnese, a full fifteen +in number, great, strong, athletic fellows, but beyond a brief, cursory +"Howdy!" and a glance they passed on.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>At about seven o'clock that evening Hugh Lark rode up to the tavern of +Burgtown. Burke, the tavern keeper, met him at the entrance.</p> + +<p>"Going rafting, Hugh?"</p> + +<p>"No. Air the two strangers here?"</p> + +<p>"Been rafting?"</p> + +<p>"No. Air Mr. Ande and Mr. Dick here?"</p> + +<p>"But ye surely have more rafts to run, Hugh?"</p> + +<p>"Ye ken well enou' that I'm not a-going rafting. How could I go rafting +a-horse-back. But perhaps ye think that I can get the gray mare to pull +an oar, and I've no doubt that she could do that, for she has a heap +more sense than some men I know that are not very far from me," said +Hugh, exasperated.</p> + +<p>"Yes, the mare has great sense," replied Peter, gazing at the animal +with a bland eye. "I kalkilate you uns air going to find that mine, +Hugh?"</p> + +<p>"We are going a-hunting," said the nettled Hugh.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 269]</a></span></p> + +<p>At this moment Ande and Dick came forth upon the long porch, and Hugh's +anger was mollified.</p> + +<p>"Are ye ready?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Ande, and the next moment two horses were led around to the +front by the stable lad and they vaulted into their saddles and prepared +to leave.</p> + +<p>"I say, Mr. Ande,"—the tavern keeper had the habit of calling them by +their first names, perhaps from Hugh's custom—"I say, air you uns +a-going hunting fer thet mine?"</p> + +<p>Ande gazed at the curious tavern keeper gravely and then responded:</p> + +<p>"The primary intention of our nocturnal expedition is to reconnoitre the +situation of the argentiferous fissures indigenous to this locality, the +elucidation of which will be beneficial to us and of salient value to +the community at large."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I thought you uns were a-going to find the mine," said Burke, +apologetically, and as they rode off he said, to himself, "Wot +langwidge! wot a scholard! He beats Bill, but,—dang it, if I believe +they're going fishing, though. They hain't no hooks or rods and who ever +hearn tell of a man going fishing with a gun."</p> + +<p>So saying, he went within.</p> + +<p>The sun had gone down and twilight was creeping on, enveloping the earth +with its soft hazy light, as the three rode over the lower bridge and +o'er the trail to the forks of the creek. The moon was not up, but it +was twilight still when they forded the Big Creek <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 270]</a></span> and turned up the +trail to Hunter Tom's cabin. A short distance, and a glimmering light +penetrated the trees and underbrush ahead.</p> + +<p>"Some one on the trail," said Dick.</p> + +<p>"No," responded the pilot, "'tis a light from Hunter Tom's cabin. The +old man must be getting ready to start."</p> + +<p>The light was dimmed by a brighter effulgence beyond. A rim of silver +shoved itself above the neighbouring hills, and then a semi-circular +disc, gradually growing in brightness and flooding hill and ravine with +mellow light. Giant boulders and tree trunks were silhouetted against +its rising disc, and on a tree branch just athwart the centre was, +grotesque and huge, the figure of the lone bird of night—an owl.</p> + +<p>"Plenty of light to-night," said Hugh.</p> + +<p>"But not more than we need; the search will require all the light we can +get," said Ande.</p> + +<p>They arrived at Hunter Tom's cabin and dismounted. The horses were +hobbled and turned out to graze in the clearing. Tom, hearing the noise, +opened the door, and cheerfully welcomed them within. The hunter was +clothed in his customary fringed buckskin and home-made moccasins, but in +his belt, in addition to the usual hunting knife, was a small Indian +tomahawk.</p> + +<p>"Why, Tom, one would think ye were on the warpath," said the pilot, +jokingly.</p> + +<p>"Aye, and a warpath it may prove," soberly, and then seeing the look of +the pilot concentrated on the tomahawk in his belt: "This tomahawk I +secured in <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 271]</a></span> the Indian country of the Ohio in 1812. It is an effective +weapon."</p> + +<p>"But surely you don't expect a fight," said Dick.</p> + +<p>The old man shook his hoary locks mysteriously and muttered, "The +Shawnese."</p> + +<p>By the light of the turnip lamp the pilot brought forth his map and +spread it out on the rough wooden table. The hunter scanned it +approvingly, and then:</p> + +<p>"Where did ye get it, Hugh?"</p> + +<p>The pilot related his experience with the Canadian Indian, and the +hunter nodded his head as the pilot repeated the Indian legend and +directions.</p> + +<p>"I know the place so well that ye have no need of a map."</p> + +<p>"Ye ken the place without a map?" said Hugh.</p> + +<p>"Aye! haven't I searched for it full eighteen years ago, and ten years +ago, before there was a settler in the region; I hunted until I was +weary. If ye find no more success than I found, ye will have your labour +for your pains. But we can try. The place where we will land is there." +The hunter placed his knotty finger on a portion of the map. All crowded +around the table.</p> + +<p>The old hunter's finger was placed on the map at the mouth of a small +stream. A moment passed in silent contemplation.</p> + +<p>"And now we must be off if we would do much to-night." The old hunter's +words aroused all to action. A couple of pickaxes, a shovel and a +crowbar, that were in readiness, were shouldered by the pilot, and Dick, +at the hunter's suggestion, took up an old tin lantern,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 272]</a></span> pierced with +holes and having a candle within, to be used in an emergency. The hunter +carefully extinguished the turnip lamp and drawing the door shut behind +him led the way to the canoe. The tools were placed in the stern and +then the pilot, followed in regular sequence by the hunter, Dick and +Ande, took their stations, and soon under the steady sweep of four stout +paddles the canoe, though heavily laden, glided up stream.</p> + +<p>The evening was still, save for the cry of some wild bird of night and +the plash of some wavelet breaking on the shelving shore. Trees and +shrubbery, underbrush of the shores, glided by slowly, and were +swallowed up in the obscurity of the regions passed. Here and there with +a skilful sweep of the paddle the pilot changed the course of the canoe +to escape contact with some rock or sunken log. Now and then the hunter +would give a sign of silence, and the paddles in their incessant sweep +would be stilled into inactivity, while the canoe would drift for a +moment until the hand of the pilot in the bow grasped some over-swinging +tree branch and stayed her downward course. A moment of silence, in +which the hunter strained his ears, would ensue, and then with a shake +of the head he would give the sign to proceed. Once he insisted much to +the protests of the pilot of going ashore. They drew in to the heavily +wooded bank and he disappeared with no change on his immovable +countenance. The pilot grumbled to himself at this unnecessary caution. +The old man was in his dotage or had become filled with childish fear, +thought he, and so he informed the others when the hunter was absent.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 273]</a></span></p> + +<p>Who was going to hurt them? Not the settlers, for they were all safe +abed by this time. Not that wandering band of Shawnese. It would be too +perilous for them in these days of peace and in a section already +vacated by their fathers to make room for the settlers. After the first +hour the work of paddling became less arduous, the force of the current +had abated, and they shot into a long stretch of slightly moving water.</p> + +<p>"Still Water," said the pilot. "It'll be easy from now on until we reach +some distance above."</p> + +<p>"Aye," murmured the hunter; "but it'll not be still for long."</p> + +<p>"No sign of rain; the sky up there is so closely studded with stars that +there's not room for a cloud. There'll be no rain, or I'm no pilot. +Haven't I piloted here for years, and before I came to this region I run +as many rafts down the Susquehanna as any raftsman in the State."</p> + +<p>The hunter raised his hand as if deprecating the sound of the pilot's +voice, and then said in low tones:</p> + +<p>"I have lived in the cabin at the Loop for nigh ten years, and have +tramped these regions before my cabin was built, and I can read the +stream as well as a scholar reads his book. In three hours what we call +the 'Still Water' will be running like a mill race."</p> + +<p>The pilot smiled a smile of superior wisdom.</p> + +<p>"Look," said the hunter, as he dipped his palm in the water and drew up +a little for the pilot's inspection. "The stream is turbid and +discoloured, the first sign of the coming flood. There has been great +rain at the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 274]</a></span> headwaters. I can see it in the water; I can smell it in +the air."</p> + +<p>The pilot's smile left his features and he scanned the bosom of the +Still Water and then:</p> + +<p>"There's some truth in that."</p> + +<p>"Aye," said the hunter, "and if we would get to the place we must paddle +as strongly as possible. There's the swifter water beyond."</p> + +<p>All bent to the paddles again with renewed efforts and the Still Water +was soon passed, and the heavier paddling in the swifter water of the +upper stream followed. Now they were in the shadow of some towering hill +or under the dark tree boughs—that interlaced and formed a dark canopy +overhead; now again the canoe shot out into a flood of pale moonlight. +The latter the hunter disapproved and the pilot, grumbling, changed the +course at times, avoiding the moonlight sections of the stream for the +shadowy regions along the shores. At length the hills receded from the +stream on the right and gave place to a gently rising plain, burdened +with oaks and wild grasses, while the hills to the left seemed to be +higher and more precipitous than those down stream.</p> + +<p>"The place is nigh here," said the hunter.</p> + +<p>They rested on their paddles for a moment in the shadow of a great +boulder that stayed the downward drift of the canoe. Ande and the pilot +instinctively felt for their maps and tried to refresh their memory in +reference to the directions, but the dim light almost made it useless. +Hunter Tom, in the meantime, was <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 275]</a></span> scanning the stream and shores and +seemed to be ill at ease.</p> + +<p>"The mouth of the little run is but a dozen rods up stream. Ye can put +away the maps, lads, for I know the place." At the words of Hunter Tom +both Ande and the pilot dropped their maps in the canoe, and all bending +to the paddles while the hunter with his keen sight directed their +movements, they moved on. Then came the babbling, rippling sound of a +little run as it leaped, gurgling with delight, into the stream, like a +child into the arms of its mother. The craft was turned to shore and +soon grated on the pebbly beach. They stepped ashore and stretched their +cramped limbs, while Hunter Tom tied the canoe to a swaying pine, and +then pursuing his directions, they followed up the run. Ten yards up the +run a divided oak was located.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the Hunter, as he gazed around uneasily, "fifty yards due +north."</p> + +<p>Dick, having a pocket compass, now took the lead, following a course due +north, and in the rear was the pilot balancing his divining rod, while +Ande as closely as possible measured the distance. Hunter Tom, taking +little interest in the affair, seemed to concentrate his attention on +the trees, underbrush and regions around about.</p> + +<p>"'Tis here, as near as I can calculate it, that the fifty yards end," +said Ande.</p> + +<p>"And the divining rod says the same, and it tells truth," said Hugh, the +pilot, with a little triumph in his tones.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 276]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My calculations, heretofore, located the spot a bit beyond," said the +hunter, with the first interest he had betrayed since they landed. "Ye +may be right."</p> + +<p>Dick and the pilot grasped the pickaxes and set to work with vigour, +while Ande used the shovel and occasionally removed with his hands some +large boulder that impeded their work. The hunter seemed to constitute +himself watchman and was incessantly on guard. The work went on for an +hour, and considerable debris was removed when Dick's pickaxe slipped +from his hands and disappeared from sight. With an exclamation he leaned +forward and found that it had disappeared in an old excavation a few +feet in depth. The excavation was widened and the pilot, leaping in, +began to work with increased vigour. Hunter Tom now became as deeply +interested as the others. It was at a spot that he had not investigated +before. That old excavation must mean something, he thought.</p> + +<p>There was the sound of a metallic click as the pilot's implement struck +something hard. With an exclamation of "I've found it," he reached down +and grasped something which he handed up to Ande for investigation. It +was a small tobacco or snuff-box of ancient make.</p> + +<p>"Time enough to look at that when we find the ore," said Ande, as he +placed it in his inside pocket. The work was again resumed. The labour +of excavation now became harder and Dick with his great strength took +the pilot's place. At length a peculiar, grey, metallic substance +rewarded their labour. A handful of small cubes and octahedral pebbles +were passed up for inspection.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 277]</a></span></p> + +<p>The tin lantern was lighted and around about clustered the pilot, Dick, +and the hunter, while Ande held the handful close to the flame.</p> + +<p>"The grey, metallic lustre looks like silver glance. It may be the +blossom of sulphide of silver or sulphide of lead. We ought to have +daylight for a better examination," said Ande; "now——"</p> + +<p>Crack! Crack! Crack!</p> + +<p>Crack! Crack! Crack!</p> + +<p>There was the whistling of bullets in the trees around them, and +spiteful thuds as leaden missiles flattened themselves against the +rocks. The lantern fell with a crash to the ground, perforated with a +dozen bullets. The candle sputtered and went out.</p> + +<p>"Quick!" shouted Hunter Tom. "'Tis the Shawnese. Aye, I feared it."</p> + +<p>The pilot grasped his rifle and the prospectors theirs.</p> + +<p>"This way! To the canoe!" roared Tom, and slipping from tree to tree, +they reached the landing in breathless haste. Then came a yell that +echoed through the hills, a yell—hellish and replete with rage. +Trusting in their numbers, scorning concealment and fearing their +victims would escape, the Shawnese charged after them. At the landing +there was a sanguine scene, and now it was that old Tom showed the +experience and skill he had gained in the Ohio region. Stationing +himself behind a tree the old hoary-headed hunter fired, loaded, and +fired again and again, and each time by the yell the bullet had found a +mark. But the Shawnese were now close at hand and a hand to hand +conflict ensued that was <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 278]</a></span> savage in the extreme. Hunter Tom seemed to be +possessed with the fury of a madman. The presence of the foes that had +tortured his father seemed to fill him with a wrath that was demoniacal. +With clubbed rifle he beat back the foremost and sent him to the ground, +lifeless, then with a swift turn he flung the useless weapon into the +canoe, and with knife and tomahawk gave blows right and left. Swifter +than a weaver's shuttle the bright weapons flashed in the pale +moonlight. Nor was the hunter alone active in the fray, for Dick—great +Dick, made more effective use of the butt of his gun than the muzzle by +using it as a farmer would his flail. Ande and the pilot, for a time, +had fired from a natural breast-works of boulders along the shore, but +the proximity of the enemy was so close that they, too, were compelled +to resort to the butts of their guns. At one time the pilot was down, +but the dusky face over him went down a moment later under a crashing +sweep of Ande's gun. The desperate valour of these few men was beginning +to tell upon the spirits of their foes. One-third of their number were +upon the ground, dead or helpless. There was a shout and a few +unintelligible words among them, and then, as if in concert, they began +to retreat slowly, followed by the impetuosity of Dick and Ande. Tom +thanked his good fortune then for his understanding of the Shawnese +tongue; he understood their plan to draw them from the shore and to give +chance for two or three skulking forms to gain the rear.</p> + +<p>"To the canoe! Back for your lives!" he shouted, and simultaneously +rushed for the shore. Dick and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 279]</a></span> Ande were either too confused by the +yells around them or hard pressed in the conflict to give heed. Not so +the crafty pilot. With instinct he seemed to understand the import of +the retreat, and rushed headlong into the water after the canoe. The +rope by which it was attached had stretched itself to its full length +and the canoe had edged out by the force of the rising current. He had +almost reached it when a shot rang out from the shore, and the pilot, +flinging up his arms, plunged into the muddy tide. Hunter Tom who was +next to him, tried ineffectually to grasp his falling form, but the next +moment the swirling waters bore him away. There was no time for regret. +The canoe was hauled in and Tom in its bow, with knife ready to sever +the rope, looked shoreward for his friends.</p> + +<p>Ah! What a scene! A sight that, though it filled the old hunter with +alarm, yet thrilled him with admiration. Ande, apparently deeply +wounded, was on the ground and Dick—did he ever appear so heroic? +Standing head and shoulders above the tall savages, he seemed like a +pine surrounded by scrub oaks. Nor was the giant Cornishman idle for, +like a child's toy, the heavy rifle whirled and whistled around his head +and shoulders. Death lurked in its sweeping circle. Nor was strategy of +any avail. One sought to run in under his guard, while another was +receiving the attack, but the attacking party went down under a terrific +swing, while the stooping, swiftly moving strategist received, the next +moment, a jolt from the end of the gun barrel that was as disastrous as +the blow of the butt. Four had already <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 280]</a></span> fallen under those sweeping +blows. Old Tom paused not for an instant. While some occupied Dick's +attention in front, one or two were edging toward the rear, and should +they accomplish their purpose the end was certain. With a cry of "Have +at them," the hunter leaped from the canoe, beat off the skulking forms +in the rear, and then reaching down he grasped the unconscious Ande, +like a father would a child, and hurriedly placed him in the canoe.</p> + +<p>"Back, Dick, lad!" he shouted as he pushed out a little from the shore.</p> + +<p>Dick heard the call, and with another sweep of his weapon cleared a +broader circle, but the rifle unused to the unnatural strain, broke at +the lock. Flinging the shattered piece in the face of an advancing enemy +he leaped to the shore. Two Shawnese, one a powerful built fellow, +strove to intercept him, but there were other defences.</p> + +<p>Crack! A shot rang out from the canoe. It was the trapper's gun that +spoke, and one fell under that unerring aim. Crash! went Dick's great +fist on the countenance of the other, and the dazed Shawnese sat down in +a heap. Hunter Tom could have laughed then and there at the repulse of +the latter, but there was not much time for sentiments of any kind. Dick +had leaped into the stream after the canoe and was pushing toward it +through the swift current. There were a few yells of disappointment on +shore, and then a perfect fusillade of bullets hissed spitefully on the +waters and crashed through the underbrush on the farther shore and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 281]</a></span>then—like the falling of a forest giant that had felt the biting +steel in its vitals, Dick fell. He struggled for a moment to reach the +hunter's outstretched hand and then sank, and the swift current, now a +roaring turbulent, gyrating mass, swelled to foaming madness by the rain +at the headwaters, whirled his great body under the bellying bow of the +canoe—and he was gone from sight.</p> + +<p>With a quick sweep of the knife Hunter Tom cut the rope, and the canoe, +freed, bounded away on the surface of the flood like a thing of life. +Carefully pillowing Ande's head on his rolled up wamus in the rear, he +lay down in the bow and with one hand over the gunwale, holding the +paddle, he sought to guide the swiftly floating craft, while with his +head slightly raised he kept a keen lookout for the bodies of Dick and +the pilot. The Shawnese kept up a running fire on shore for the distance +of a half a mile, when the fire slackened, and evidently the swiftness +of the current and the gloom cast by the heavy foliage overhead had +caused pursuit to be abandoned. The Still Water was reached and the aged +hunter perceived with grim satisfaction that his prediction had come +true. What was some hours before a still, softly flowing body was now a +rollicking, turbulent mass that glowed with a yellow, dunnish hue in the +moonlight. Onwards bounded the canoe, the hunter guiding it with +unerring hand, now avoiding a towering rock, now bending with the full +power of his muscles to guide the craft around a sharp bend in the +stream. Fear of pursuit having long been left behind, he had arose to a +sitting posture, and was lending to the onward force <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 282]</a></span> of the current the +might of his own arms. No vessel ever scudded before a gale faster than +the canoe on that eventful night. Once the sole, lone canoeist thought +he saw the body of Dick floating before him on the surface of the tide +and he redoubled his efforts to overtake him. The object was reached, +but proved but a piece of driftwood, darkly dappling the yellow flood. +With the first feeling of relief that he had experienced that night he +saw the winding course of the Loop before him. Once more the paddle was +brought into vigorous requisition, and then with a sigh of relief he +turned the prow toward shore and the keel grated on the shelving beach. +Tenderly he lifted Ande from the stern and laid him on the sward, then +turning to the canoe he lifted it bodily from the water and, taking it a +few yards inland, hid it securely in the underbrush. Then returning to +his unconscious companion he carried him to his cabin home. Knowing that +he dared not leave his wounded friend, and yet wishing to arouse the +citizens of Burgtown, he went without, unhobbled the horses, and with a +smart blow sent each galloping home to town. This done he returned to +the cabin, barricaded the house, both window and door, loaded his rifle, +and feeling secure, turned to resuscitate the wounded man. With a +woodsman's skill he laboured through the long hours of the night until +the dawn appeared, examining, with muttered commentations.</p> + +<p>"Ah, a wound in the arm. It could not have been the last. A brave young +man and fought like an old Indian fighter. Aye, another wound in the +leg; 'tis only <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 283]</a></span> a flesh wound and will heal soon or old Tom doesn't know +his art. And here's a slash of a knife in the breast. Ah! 'twas a cruel +stroke, that. But none of them are strong enough to lay such a man out. +He has the strength of a young lion and Tom will bring him through. But +what's this?" In handling the unconscious man's head the hair had fallen +aside and revealed the stroke of a tomahawk or knife. "Zounds! A ghastly +wound that. It must have stunned him." With water taken from an earthen +basin in the corner of the cabin he bathed the wounds, poured in some +healing lotion and bound them up with a rude skill. Then, having poured +a little brandy down his throat, he began to chafe his hands and wrists +until, with the glimmering light of dawn, the light of consciousness +returned.</p> + +<p>"Where am I?"</p> + +<p>"Safe here in my cabin, lad."</p> + +<p>"And Dick and the pilot?"</p> + +<p>"They are gone, my lad, the Lord knows where," answered the old hunter, +and with his eyes glistening with tears he related the closing scenes of +the fight, and how Dick and the pilot were shot and swallowed up in the +flood.</p> + +<p>"Poor Dick—I have lost in him the pearl, and my dream is fulfilled."</p> + +<p>He sank back in weariness and closed his eyes. Suddenly the wounded man +started to a sitting position and whispered with excited face:</p> + +<p>"The Shawnese. Don't you hear them, Tom, Hunter Tom? They are stealing +through the woods and around <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 284]</a></span> the house. I hear them. Give me a gun, and +we'll defend the cabin."</p> + +<p>The effort was too much, and he sank back again on the couch of +deerskins in a semi-conscious condition.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 285]</a></span></p><p>Tom, too, had heard something, but it was not the tread of Indians. The +next moment there was a shout without and the clatter of approaching +horses' feet. 'Twas the settlers.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> + +<p class="center">THE RISING</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"All parts resound with tumults, plaints and fears;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And grisly death in sundry shapes appears."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i25">—<i>Dryden</i>.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>There was great excitement in Burgtown. The old tavern keeper had found +three horses without his door, standing there jaded, tired, in the early +dawn. He recognised them as the animals of the pilot and the two +prospectors. Around the tavern's long porch were assembled Professor +Bill Banks, the town citizens, and several outside squatters, a motley +assemblage, listening to old Burke's recital. The tavern keeper was +filled with importance, for once he was the centre of attraction and +seemed like a Fourth of July orator, so breathless did all seem to hang +upon his words. His round body was swelled to greater proportions as he +proceeded, in a roundabout way, to narrate what he knew of the affair.</p> + +<p>"It war this way. The pilot, Hugh Lark, he kem a-riding up about dark +last night and asked fer the strangers, whether they was to home in the +tavern. He seemed powerful anxious to have them right away. 'Going +rafting, Hugh?' sez I, social-like. 'No,' sez he; 'air Mr. Ande and Mr. +Dick in?' 'Been rafting?' sez I. Then he fired up, mad-like, and talked +about <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 286]</a></span> the grey mare of hisn being able to pull a oar as good as any +raftsman. I had my doubts of that, though the mare has a heap of sense. +But I thought he war joking, and I guess he war. About that time I up +and asked whether he war a-going a-hunting for the mine. You see the +strangers air pros—whatever it is—I mean they war miners, and we uns +had the idee that they were a-searching for something of that kind. He +up and sez, short-like, that he warn't and that they war just going +hunting. 'Bout this time Mr. Ande and Mr. Dick come out, and their +hosses were brought around, and they jumped on, and then I thought I +would ask Mr. Ande, being as he war allers social-like. 'Air ye going to +find thet mine, Mr. Ande?' sez I. Then he up, and in high larndt +langwidge, told we uns about their going after some kind of fishes, but +I ne'er hearn tell of a man going fishin' without hooks and with a gun +and——"</p> + +<p>"Come, cut it short," said Professor Bill, impatiently. "At what hour +did they go?"</p> + +<p>"'Bout seven o'clock last night, and——"</p> + +<p>"And when did the horses return?"</p> + +<p>"Well, if I do hev to say it——"</p> + +<p>"Come," said Bill, with the authority of a leader, "when did they +return?"</p> + +<p>"Well—I kalkilate 'bout five o'clock in the morning, leastways they +were here when we uns got up."</p> + +<p>"And which way did they go?"</p> + +<p>"Well, ye see, Mr. Ande, who is a great scholard and high larndt, +he——" <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 287]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Egregious dolt! Vociferous driveller!" exclaimed Bill, in exasperation, +"can't you say which way they went."</p> + +<p>"Gosh, what langwidge!" murmured the tavern keeper in excessive +admiration of Bill's explosion, but seeing that Bill was getting angry +he answered quickly: "As I live, Bill, I think they went down creek to +old Hunter Tom's, seein' as Hugh war fond of Tom. Leastways they went +that way and——"</p> + +<p>Old Burke's words were drowned in the commands of Bill.</p> + +<p>"Every man get his horse and gun and we'll start in five minutes. Others +can follow. We go to Hunter Tom's place. Perhaps some accident has +happened. Fetch me some brandy, Burke; if they are hurt they may need +it."</p> + +<p>Rapidly the men collected, and under the able generalship of Professor +Bill Banks forth they sallied. The tavern keeper watched them gallop +down the town road and thunder over the lower bridge, and when they had +disappeared among the trees of the farther shore he entered the tavern.</p> + +<p>"Wot a scholard Bill is," he murmured as he endeavoured to write down +his learned words. "Egg—egg—" he murmured, and then he slowly allowed +his tongue to follow the twisting, uncertain movements of his quill pen. +"It's no use," he said, as he flung down the quill; "Bill will hev to +write her down fer me. Wot a scholard! He'll be a Congressman yit."</p> + +<p>Bill and his men in a short time reached the hunter's <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 288]</a></span> cabin in the +Loop. Tom, hearing the shout of familiar voices, flung open the door, +and in a few, brief words narrated the adventures of the night. They had +been up the creek, he said, and had been attacked by Shawnese. About the +object of their night expedition he was silent.</p> + +<p>The news of the presence of Indians in the neighbourhood was new to all +but two of the party, who had seen them as the pilot had seen them on +the former day. Bill, with the skill of a general, divided his forces. +Two he told to remain with Ande in the cabin; some were sent down the +river in search of the pilot and Dick; the remainder and greater number, +with the hunter in their midst, were to take the trail up stream to +avenge themselves on the remaining Shawnese. According to the hunter's +account but half a dozen at the most remained. Tom was in little hopes +of finding them, as by this time they had made good their escape; but +Professor Bill was inflexible, and forth up the creek trail they +started. Part of the expedition went in Tom's canoe and the rest, +leaving their horses in Tom's clearing, started forth on foot. The place +of the battle was reached after an hour or so, but little was to be +learned. At the landing, with the exception of trampled ground and a few +pools of blood, nothing could be seen. The bodies of the slain Shawnese +were either buried or consigned to the flood. The neighbourhood was +thoroughly searched, the woods and hills beaten by the scattering +settlers, but Shawnese, living and dead, and even Dick's broken rifle, +had dis <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 289]</a></span>appeared. Expecting the rising of the settlers they had decamped +in haste. Disappointed in their quest they returned to the Loop.</p> + +<p>There they waited the return of the party down stream while they +listened to Hunter Tom's cursory narrative of the battle and the chief +events. He told how they were surprised, but not for what purpose they +had journeyed to that locality; how the pilot fought and slew a couple +of the foe and afterward, rushing into the flood to reach the canoe, was +shot down by an Indian bullet; how Dick, "the giant," as he was +sometimes called by the settlers, towered a head and shoulders o'er the +enemy.</p> + +<p>"I'll wager he knocked them down like nine-pins," said Professor Bill +Banks.</p> + +<p>"Aye," said the hunter, "he did that; he handled his rifle like a +farmer's flail, and every time he struck he threshed their top-knots +out. Then, when I caught up the lad in yonder and took him back to the +canoe, he cleared a wider circle for himself and leaped like a kangaroo +toward shore."</p> + +<p>"And they didn't dare stop him?" asked one.</p> + +<p>"Not they? They couldn't. Aye, there were two fellows, one a stout one, +good-sized, that did hedge in to cut him off, but one was shot down and +the other——" The old man allowed his weather-beaten face to relax into +a grim smile of humour as the scene arose before him in mind.</p> + +<p>"And the other?"</p> + +<p>"Well, the other come too nigh to Mr. Dick's big fist,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 290]</a></span> and he went down +in a heap with the most astonishing look on his countenance that I ever +saw on the face of any one. It makes me smile now when I think of it. +Then Mr. Dick came leaping and pushing through the water. I had pushed +out a little from shore and had my knife ready to cut the rope as soon +as he could reach the canoe, when a hailstorm of bullets skipped across +the water and Dick plunged under and I saw him no more. The rest of the +tale you know."</p> + +<p>The narrative was finished, but it was noticed by several that the old +hunter spoke very little of his own achievements in that battle. And yet +they knew that he had not been idle.</p> + +<p>"And did Mr. Ande do much fighting?" asked Professor Bill.</p> + +<p>"Fighting? Aye, he fought like an old Indian fighter. In all my +experience with Indians, I have come across none who put up a braver +battle than the young lion cub in yonder; aye, and fighting wounded at +that, for he carries a wound in the chest that would have killed an +ordinary man, and a wound in the leg, and another in the arm that would +have made many a stout heart give in, but he fought on until he received +that blow on the head that rendered him unconscious. Brave—very brave."</p> + +<p>"And how about yourself, Tom?" asked one of the settlers.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I killed a few," said the old hunter, simply.</p> + +<p>There was a shout from down the creek trail, and the sound of horses' +hoofs, and proceeding as rapidly as <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 291]</a></span> possible over the uncertain trail +the band from down stream entered the clearing.</p> + +<p>"What news?" asked Professor Bill, rising from his recumbent position.</p> + +<p>"We found the pilot and he's living, but pretty badly hurt. He was +pulled on a raft by the Pegleg pilot, and they put him off at a tavern +further down stream."</p> + +<p>A cheer went up from all the assembled settlers, and the wildwood rang +with their voices again and again, and then when silence had come there +were various comments.</p> + +<p>"I thought the pilot was too tough to be put out by a single bullet," +said one.</p> + +<p>"I knew that ye couldn't drown an old water dog like him," said another.</p> + +<p>"Did they get a doctor," said Professor Bill.</p> + +<p>"Yaas," drawled one of the returned expedition, "they got a doctor and +he fixed him up, but he can't be moved yet for some time, but he'll pull +through, he said. We didn't have much time fer to talk with Hugh, for we +uns wanted to see about the tother fellow and the Shawnese. We went all +the way to the mouth of the creek, and there we learned thet five +Indians were seen crossing the river in a canoe some hours before. Now, +I remembers it, some of the fellows at the mouth said they seemed in a +powerful hurry, and passed over the river in the early dawn, and were +making their way toward Michigan."</p> + +<p>"And Mr. Dick?" asked the Professor.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 292]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Nawthing was seen of him at all. He must be drowned by this time."</p> + +<p>There was a little conference between Professor Bill and the hunter +about moving Ande to Burgtown, but the old man strenuously opposed it, +and Bill acquiesced in his plan of leaving him at the Loop until he +should recover. The setting sun saw all of the expedition trotting +homeward to Burgtown, where the events of the day were gone over again +and again for the benefit of Peter Burke, tavern keeper. In the mind of +that worthy they were tabulated and placed on the same shelf in his +memory as the records of Reverend Burg.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 293]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> + +<p class="center">THE SECRET OF THE SNUFF-BOX</p> + + +<p>It was in the late fall and the forests and wildwood had adorned +themselves with their autumnal dress. Hills, mountains and ravines were +gorgeous with mantles of scarlet, of brown, and of gold, while amidst it +all several hardy ranges of pine seemed to resist the onward sweep of +the frost, and triumphant in their vernal-hued robes, seemed to fling +their plumy tops this way and that in contempt of their conquered +brethren who wore the livery of the frost tyrant. Here and there several +forest giants, weaker than their brethren, were completely denuded of +their garments and stood mournfully shivering, trembling, sighing, in +the faint afternoon breezes. The rocks and boulders of the Loop, once +covered with green creepers, now were bare and desolate, except where a +creeper, its leaves smitten to blood red hue, sought to lend its warmth +to its cold, rocky, affianced one. The cabin of Hunter Tom seemed to +stand out more clearly in relief against the general background of +leaves and hills. The door was ajar and the window partly open, but it +had no occupant. In a little glade near the cabin, and on a pile of bear +and deerskins, was the form of Ande Trembath, apparently <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 294]</a></span> in a gentle +slumber. Near him, seated on a rude, wooden bench, wedged in between the +bases of two chestnuts, were the forms of Hunter Tom and the pilot, Hugh +Lark. Hugh had recovered from the severe injuries of the Shawnese battle +and had returned to his home and his pursuit of rafting. The old hunter, +his hoary hair falling like a veil o'er his ears and shoulders, was +engaged in cleaning "Brown Bess," as he called his trusty rifle, but he +was not so intent upon this as he was in listening to the conversation +of the pilot. It was their first meeting after the notable events of the +previous spring, and Hugh was relating his experience.</p> + +<p>"I don't remember much of the things that happened after the first few +moments that I was shot. I was intent on bringing the canoe closer to +land, and was just reaching out for it when I heard a shot and then felt +a sting alongside of the head, and then I remember falling and hearing +the waters buzzing around my ears like ten thousand bees. Then I kenned +naething for, it seemed to me, quite a time. Then there was a time of +dim consciousness, and I knew I was floating on at a pretty good speed, +but it seemed I didn't care where I went, until at last I came to my +full senses by a heavy blow that I got on the arm. I had been dashed by +the flood against one of the rocks below the Still Water. Then I +realised where I was, and tried to make for land, but the strength of +the flood, or my own weakness, made all my efforts useless. I swept past +the cabin there and soon approached the place where the Little +Lycamahoning empties into the Big, and there I made a <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 295]</a></span> strong effort to +get ashore, and did succeed in getting away from the violence of the +current, but in the meantime I was swept onward past Pilot Rock and I +began to hear the roar of the rapids of the Rough Water. I knew I could +never get through that stretch of water alive, and had given myself up +for lost, when old Pegleg with his raft hove in sight. There ne'er was a +more welcome sight. I shouted to them and they heard me, and, as I swept +by, they flung me a rope that I managed to grasp, and they hauled me on +board. I was so done out that I couldn't speak until they put me off at +the tavern, some miles down."</p> + +<p>"It was a marvellous escape, and ye ought to thank God for it," said the +hunter.</p> + +<p>"Aye, I have many a time."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid we have seen the last of Mr. Dick."</p> + +<p>"If he wasn't killed outright he must have been battered to pieces in +the Rough Water, for I don't think there is a man living that could go +through the Rough Water without some support. I have taken a stick of +timber through, but riding a stick of timber and going through with +nothing but your own arms is a different case. I have seen sticks of +timber that have drifted through and been gathered in at the mouth of +the creek, and the way they have been gouged and splintered in contact +with the rocks was a caution. No man could be beaten around that way and +live."</p> + +<p>There was a pause of some length, during which Hunter Tom forgot his +cleansing of the rifle, and there was a moisture in his eye, a faint +indication of the sad <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 296]</a></span>ness that he had within him, and all the while the +mellow autumnal sunshine poured down and around them through the crimson +foliage o'erhead, and the birds of the neighbouring woods seemed to sing +merrily as if jesting, laughing, at the solemn import of the pilot's +words. It was the pilot who broke the silence.</p> + +<p>"Is Mr. Ande nigh well?" with a nod at the slumbering form on the +bearskins.</p> + +<p>"Still weak, although his wounds have healed. I believe he came off the +worst of any of us in the battle. But he's getting stronger. He was much +worried about Mr. Dick and the maps being lost."</p> + +<p>"Maps lost?"</p> + +<p>"Aye. He said that both maps were placed in the bottom of the canoe +before we landed. They may have been dropped out when I hauled the canoe +ashore and hid it among the underbrush when I returned. The doctor +thinks, though, he will be able to be moved soon, and then we shall have +a search for them." Tom mentioned the doctor with a tinge of sarcasm as +if in contempt of doctors and their medicine. "The lad was getting on +well enough under my care, but Professor Bill insisted on calling in the +doctor, and so I handed over the case to him, though the lad would have +done just as well, if not better, under my own care."</p> + +<p>"Do ye think ye can find the mine again?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, perhaps, and yet 'twill be a hard thing. I looked o'er the ground +when the searching party was with me. The oak and the stream can be +found easy enough, but the place of excavation I looked for in vain. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 297]</a></span>The whole hill is covered with loose stones and debris and +should we find it, I doubt whether it will prove much more than a small +vein of sulphide of lead. I might possibly find it again, for my memory +is good, but I have sickened of the whole affair. What use is it to me?" +There was a tinge of bitterness in the old man's tones.</p> + +<p>"Ye were interested in it, though, years ago, for ye told us so."</p> + +<p>"Aye, that was when I was younger than I am now. But my friends and +family are all dead, and I am an old man. The rifle gives me all that I +need; the spring that gushes forth from under the big rock gives all my +drink; I am content to be as I am until God calls me hence; and then I +shall go where there is no injustice and where traitorous friends shall +be rewarded according to their due and all wrong righted; I am content."</p> + +<p>The old man had finished cleaning his rifle; he entered the cabin and +returned with a battered violin. Placing it tenderly 'neath his chin, he +proceeded gently to draw the old bow across the strings, gently as if he +was loathe to awaken the slumbering form on the bearskins near at hand. +But the first, faint tones, quivering and like a child's cry, awakened +the sleeper. He turned his eyes to Hugh and smiled a welcome and then +extended his hand.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Hugh, old fellow, glad to see you back and well. I heard that you +had returned," shaking Hugh's hand as he knelt down beside him, "and +wondered why <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 298]</a></span> you didn't come over and see your fellow soldier. Poor +Dick is gone, though, and the maps are lost."</p> + +<p>"And Hunter Tom says it's useless to try and find the mine," said Hugh, +regretfully.</p> + +<p>"It may be useless, but we can try. You know that it's not for the +silver alone that I'm looking, Hugh."</p> + +<p>"Aye, I ken well enou' that."</p> + +<p>"Tom, could you play us something. You didn't know, Hugh, that Hunter +Tom is a player. He can make the violin talk, and he has often made me +cheerful when I felt sad."</p> + +<p>Hunter Tom readjusted the violin, and forth upon the afternoon air, +silencing the birds for a time and rivalling them in sweetness, pealed +the tones of the old violin. It was a martial strain at first that +seemed to swell and soar like some triumphant march of some hero +returning from the wars. The stream back of the cabin seemed to roar in +harmony with the melody, like the thrilling chords of some giant bass +viol. The blood mounted to Ande's cheeks as he listened, and his eyes +brightened. The pilot gazed at the figure of the old hunter with awe and +reverence. If the melody was warlike and stirring the figure of the old +man was more so; yes, it was imposing, like some old Viking, who had +dared the deep and conquered it; the hunter's figure straightened, his +eye flashed, and his hoary locks and beard, stirred by the breeze, +appeared to roll away from his head and features like the dashing waters +of some cataract from its rocky crest. On and on went the melody, +soaring and wildly triumphant with its <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 299]</a></span> strong major chords. Then, +almost imperceptibly, there was the change to the minor key, and then a +number of changes from one to the other, and the effect was like hearing +the distant murmur of crashing pieces of artillery. At times there would +be a wild shriek from the upper chords and then the same repetition of +booming artillery fire. The old man seemed to be giving a musical +history of one of his own battles. Then, all of a sudden, all was in the +minor key, soft and sorrowful. There was a wailing hopelessness in the +tones. The old man's form ceased to tower at his full height, his head +sank lower and more lovingly upon the violin, and the strains were like +the requiem of a lost soul. The pallor returned to Ande's cheeks and +Hugh bowed his head in his hands. The leaves o'erhead rustled in +whispering sympathy, and here and there one would fall—a crimson tear +from the eye of a giant.</p> + +<p>The melody ceased.</p> + +<p>"Tom, I didn't ken that ye could play like that. It made me feel that I +was fighting the Shawnese again, and that I was knocking them right and +left, and then it seemed to me that I was in the Rough Waters, hearing +the noise of the rapids, and guiding a raft around the rocks, and then +it seemed to me as if the raft was a-dashed to pieces and I was flung +solitary and alone on the shore without a friend and without a baubee in +my pocket to buy a night's lodging. It near made me greet. Hunter Tom, +ye are a wonderful man."</p> + +<p>There were tears in the pilot's eyes.</p> + +<p>"I tell you, Hunter Tom, you should be on the stage. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 300]</a></span> Play like +that before an audience in New Orleans, New York, or London and your +fortune is made. Whose melody was it?" said Ande.</p> + +<p>"The melody is my own. Ne'er a note of it was e'er on paper; I composed +it here in the wilderness and it's a history of my own life and my +family. The end of the piece represents me now, a solitary dweller in +the wilderness, an exile from home, with no friends but the great God +above." The old man bowed his head in weariness, and then sat down on +the wooden bench 'neath the trees.</p> + +<p>"Ye have other tunes?" asked Hugh.</p> + +<p>"Hunter Tom, you never told me that you were a composer and ne'er played +that for me before. You have other melodies of your own; play them for +us," said Ande.</p> + +<p>"Aye, I have other tunes, and many of my own, but I'm not going to make +ye sad with an old man's woes. I'll play ye 'Chevy Chase' and 'I See +Three Ships Come Sailing In,' to make your hearts glad, and then I'll +give ye some more of my own composition." The familiar airs, one after +the other, in sequence, airs so delightful to the English ear, came +forth from the violin under the magical touch of the old man, and all +the while the pilot listened as if he was entranced, and Ande,—it +seemed as if the green fields and coasts of England arose before him. +Again he saw the Manor and the Manor woods, the Bowling Green of old +Helston, and the gleaming, shimmering waters of the Lowe, and the +rolling blue of the channel beyond. All passed <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 301]</a></span> before him again as if +in a dream, and then there were faces that passed before his mind, Tom +Puckinharn, Pengilly, and Tom Glaze, and the face of his mother, and +back beyond all, a dark-eyed, youthful face, with dark curling locks +deep on a broad brow, a countenance, merry, and with something of the +joyousness of spring flowers in the gently flushing cheeks. There was an +intense longing in his eyes as he allowed his imagination to roam at +will. Ah, it was eight long years since he had seen her, and heard those +words: "You are my knight." Would she remember him still? Was she +married?</p> + +<p>The thought gave him pain, and he drove it from him and thought of other +themes. The Primrose Cottage arose clearly to his mind. Ah, he must get +well soon and return to those haunts of boyhood, and to the dear ones of +years ago. But what was that that the old hunter was playing? It could +not be "Chevy Chase." The opening bars were swept off the strings with a +master's hand. Soft at first and then with louder, more resonant tones. +The old man was standing again, his head partly elevated, a look of +hopefulness on his weather-beaten countenance. The pilot was drinking +in, with eager ears, the melody, and sat motionless. The opening bars +were finished, and the old hunter's voice rang out clear and with a +wonderful pathos in the tones. He had sung before in other melodies, but +never with such feeling as now. Ande rose on one elbow and stared +excitedly at the old man. That song! Where had he learned it!</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 302]</a></span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Blithe bird of the wilderness, sweet is thy song,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Blithe lark of the wildwood, O, all the day long,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A-singing so cheerily in the green tree,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thy anthem dispels gloom and sorrow from me;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou sayest in thy song, 'What can sadness avail?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Injustice shall fall and the good shall prevail.'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Old Hunter Tom seemed wrapped up in the melody and utterly oblivious to +all things around him. With a low plaintive interlude, he continued:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Yet bird of the wilderness, sad is our lot,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Our home confiscated, our name a sad blot;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Cornish chief stricken at Prestonpan's fight,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wounded at Culloden for King and the right,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And captured at Braddock's defeat in the glen<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Was——"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>There was an outcry from one of the auditors, that interrupted the +melody.</p> + +<p>"Hunter Tom! Hunter Tom! Where did you get that song? Where?"</p> + +<p>The old man had paused with the bow in midair, and with a vexed look at +being interrupted, and then, seeing the flushed countenance and gleaming +eyes of his patient, thought the heat was too much for him, and that his +head was affected.</p> + +<p>"The heat of the sun has affected his head, Hugh. Come let us get him in +the shade."</p> + +<p>"No! No! Where did you get that melody?" excitedly.</p> + +<p>"I told ye that I was going to sing ye some of my own songs. It's my own +song, lad," soothingly, "and now, Hugh——"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328"></a></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329"></a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 242px;"> +<img src="images/i_328.jpg" width="242" height="400" alt="" /> +<span class="caption">"Sweet bird of the wilderness, sweet is thy song"</span> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 303]</a></span> "Oh! God be thanked! My father! My father!" striving to arise to his +feet.</p> + +<p>"The poor lad is raving, Hugh," and yet with some pallor in his bronzed +features.</p> + +<p>"I am not raving! You are my father and I am your son!"</p> + +<p>The violin crashed to the ground and was splintered on a projecting +rock.</p> + +<p>"No, no, you are raving, lad. I have no son. They are all dead, these +many years."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Ande," said the pilot, striving in vain to calm him. "Mr. +Trembath——"</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed the old man in agitated tones. "Is thy name Trembath? +Thy father's name, lad?"</p> + +<p>"Major Thomas Trembath."</p> + +<p>"Of where?"</p> + +<p>The old man asked the question with trembling, faltering lips, eager, +yet fearful of mistake.</p> + +<p>"Of Cornwall, and Major under——"</p> + +<p>"My son—my son!" The cry that went up rent the air and startled even +the birds o'erhead. Old Tom was down on his knees, his arms encircling +his patient, and with streaming eyes uplifted to the heavens, he +murmured fervently, "God, great God, I thank thee! Thou art very good." +And then to his new-found son: "But they told me that mother and you +were dead. The black sealed letter! Who sent it? It reached me after +Proctor and Tecumseh's defeat at the——Ah! I see it all. Another +scheme of Lanyan's! A curse upon their race! But no, I must be merciful +since God has been merciful <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 304]</a></span> to me in restoring to me, in my old age, a +son. Thy mother, lad?"</p> + +<p>"Is well when I left home and there will be many happy days for her when +we return! and as for me, I'm not dead, although the Indians did near +finish me."</p> + +<p>"And ye were all these years searching for me?"</p> + +<p>"No; mother and I thought you were dead, and yet, at times, we would +have hope of you still being alive. I was searching mainly for the +honour of grandfather and to remove the stain from our name."</p> + +<p>"A true son of your race," said the old man warmly and with pride. "Ye +are just the same as I was at your age. I might have known ye for my +son, and yet the letter of your death and your mother's death took all +thought on that subject from my mind."</p> + +<p>The pilot with a sense of delicacy, and wondering to himself, had +withdrawn from the scene at the start, but was now returning. He saw +them seated side by side on the bearskin, and seating himself near them +listened with interest to the tales of both father and son.</p> + +<p>Before beginning his narrative of his eventful life he turned to the +pilot.</p> + +<p>"Hugh, this is my son, Andrew Trembath, who with his mother I had long +thought dead, and I must introduce myself also, for the Loop and the +settlers of Lycamahoning will see me not much longer. Now I know that my +wife is living I shall return to the place of my birth. I have long been +known by the name of Hunter Tom, and unknown by any other. I am Thomas +Trembath, once Major of the 6th Royal Infantry of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 305]</a></span> England, and have +been a soldier in three wars, the War of the Colonies against England, +the Peninsular War under the great Wellington, and the War of 1812 under +Brock and Proctor. The tale of my whole life would be useless, but it is +but fair to my son to narrate the last one, and the history of my hunter +life here. Ye must know that there was a stain of treason against our +house."</p> + +<p>Hugh nodded his head.</p> + +<p>"I mentioned that to him the first night I spent at his home," +interjected Ande.</p> + +<p>"Well," continued the Major, "it was mainly for the purpose of removing +the stain that I came to this region from Spain. I would have much +preferred to fight under the Iron Duke and against the French than +against the Americans, but the thought of once more being in the region +where my father was shot, and possibly gleaning something of value that +would remove the stain of treason, spurred me on. Our regiment was on +board the <i>Royal George</i> and landed at Quebec, and from thence to the +interior it was a weary march, only part of the time alleviated by canoe +trips. At first we were under that worthy imitator of Wellington, Brock, +and had he lived I have no doubt but what the war would have terminated +differently; but he was slain, and Proctor, a stain on British +generalship, was placed in his stead. My life was spent part of the time +with my regiment and then, for some months, I was an agent of the +government among the Indians of the Ohio. It was my purpose to glean +from them, of my own account,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 306]</a></span> news of my father. Possibly some aged +chiefs would still remember the capture of my father, and would know +something of his being found in French uniform with a French commission +as captain in his pocket. Should he be guiltless of any treason against +England these savages, being so closely allied with the French of that +time, would no doubt know of it. Since they were our allies then and +friendly, an affidavit from them might be of some service. An Indian's +word is as good as another in a court of law. I overcame the natural +repugnance that I had to them, and ingratiated myself with them. An old +chief gave me much knowledge of my father's capture, but concerning the +rest nothing was to be learned. Then I thought of the second plan. My +father had a great knowledge of mining and metals, and, while he was +resident with the Indians of the Kittanning region, learned the secret +of a mine somewhere in the neighbourhood of the Lycamahoning. I resolved +to discover the whereabouts of the mine and possibly solve my father's +honour at the same time. I learned much as to its location, but nearly +lost my life by my incautious repetition of the Indian legend, for on +the way back to Malden I was slightly wounded by an Indian. From that +time on we were busy fighting, and due to the conduct of our own +generals we lost Michigan and a part of Canada. It was after the fatal +battle of the Thames that I received the letter from home that filled my +heart with sorrow and made me an exile. It was a cruel letter, stating +that my wife and boy were dead. England had no more charms for me. <span class="pagenum"><a +name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 307]</a></span> I plunged off into the wilderness +of New York and Pennsylvania, and after a few years worked my way into +this region. I hunted for many years before I resolved to make it my +home. The mine I searched for again and again, but met no success, and I +finally gave it up in despair. Then I built the cabin here, and the rest +of the tale is known to you both as well as myself. Though I have not +discovered the honour of my father, yet I shall return to my old home +and take up my former life."</p> + +<p>The Major finished his tale.</p> + +<p>"Ye have had a wonderful life, Tom," said the pilot, "and I'll be right +sorry to see you leave, but I have no doubt that Mr. Ande has a tale to +tell?" He gazed questioningly at Ande Trembath.</p> + +<p>Ande, thus summoned, related the story of his life. The Helston Grammar +School, the smugglers, and that long night with Dick on the waves of the +channel, the rescue by an outward bound Brazilian ship, their adventures +in Brazil, and their sojourn in Minos Geraes in the Sierra Do Frio +district, were all successively dwelt on, but he mentioned not the +wealth he had accumulated there.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Ande," said the pilot, after he had finished, "do ye ken aught of +the metal box I handed up from the old excavation that night?"</p> + +<p>"The metal box? Why, it must be still in the pocket of my coat, that I +have not worn since that eventful time."</p> + +<p>The Major entered the cabin and soon returned with <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 308]</a></span> the garment. The box +was still there, from the bulging appearance of the exterior.</p> + +<p>"Father, take it out and examine it."</p> + +<p>The old Major did so.</p> + +<p>"Truly, an ancient specimen," said he, and then he started, for there on +the one side was the engraved figure of a warrior galloping amidst ocean +waves. He turned it over, and on the silver lid, in slightly worn +characters, was the following:</p> + +<p class="center">CAPTAIN ANDREW TREMBATH<br /></p> + +<p>"'Tis the snuff-box of my father!" exclaimed the Major, trembling with +excitement. "At last the secret of his latter life may be explained. God +be thanked if it can!"</p> + +<p>The box was opened and, crowding around it, they examined the contents. +A few papers, yellow with age, met their vision. The first was +extracted, opened, and spread out.</p> + +<p>"A letter from thy grandmother to thy grandfather, son Ande," said the +Major, and he read it with an agitated voice. The next, a small book, +was taken out, and the Major turning to the fly leaf read, "The Diary of +Captain Ande Trembath." The first part was a record of sundry things at +home in the palmy days when Captain Ande Trembath was Squire of Trembath +Manor, and the Major hurried over it, for he was interested in what was +beyond. Toward the middle of the diary he paused, and began to read.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 309]</a></span></p> + +<blockquote><p>"8th July, 1755. We are not more than twenty miles from Du Quesne, and +in a day or so we will see the flag of our country planted on that +fortress. So far no attempt has been made to hinder our march. The enemy +must be demoralised."</p></blockquote> + +<p>"Ah, Braddock and his soldiers had great confidence," said the Major; +"but see here is a great blank of many days." He hurried over the blank +pages and again paused and began to read.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Nov. 30th, 1755. Quite a time has elapsed since writing. The glorious +hopes of our army were shattered in a day by a few hundred savages. I +was wounded and left on the field for dead. When I came to myself I saw +an Indian face bending o'er me. It was Musqueta, a sub-chief under +Shingas, and seeing me able to move and alive he promptly took me +prisoner, and with a few others I was taken to the chief's headquarters, +the Indian town of Kittanning. They told me the whole army was slain. +Incredible fact! I was not able to write on account of my bonds. I +learned their language and they had some idea of adopting me into their +tribe. Indeed, Musqueta had lost a son, and no doubt it was on account +of that that he spared me at the defeat, hoping to adopt me into the +tribe as his own son. The thing was detestable to me, and I refused all +offers of the kind. Then I was forced to run the gauntlet, but it was my +salvation, for, seizing a club and leaping through the weakest part of +their grinning line, I escaped by my running powers. The swiftest foot +of old Cornwall can outstrip the savage."</p></blockquote> + +<p>"He must have been a swift runner," interjected Hugh.</p> + +<p>"He was that, but we must see what happened after his escape. All this I +knew before by my conversation with the Shawnese under Tecumseh when I +was an Indian agent, but nothing more," said the Major, and turning to +the diary he again resumed.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 310]</a></span></p> + +<blockquote><p>"There was a shout and such a yelling when I escaped that it almost +unnerved me, but I distanced my pursuers, and utterly left them in the +course of a mile or so. My escape was toward the north along the banks +of the river, but I had not gone more than a few miles before I +encountered a small detachment of French troops. There was no getting by +them at first, but at length I succeeded, after having first slain the +French captain, their commander, which, since I could not avoid it, I +trust God will forgive me. I accidentally met him in the wood, slew him, +and since I could better make my escape in a French uniform, the whole +region being French, I exchanged clothes. A commission was in his +pocket, in which commission I inserted my own name for greater +security."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The old Major paused and wiped the tears of joy from his eyes and +murmured, "Thank God for that. Ande, my son, our family name may now +stand forth as honourable and upright as any in the British Isles. He +was no traitor. Here is the proof. We will depart for England and lay +this diary before the authorities and get the signatures of Hugh, here, +and the other settlers in testimony." The diary was forgotten for a +moment, but the pilot was intensely interested in what followed.</p> + +<p>"Read on, Tom, and let's see what happened, and how he got to this +region," said he.</p> + +<p>Major Trembath resumed reading.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"I arrived the same day at the mouth of a small stream coming from the +east, where I found a canoe."</p></blockquote> + +<p>"Must have been the mouth of the Lycamahoning," said the pilot.</p> + +<p>"Aye," said the Major, and continued:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 311]</a></span></p><blockquote><p>"Up this stream I journeyed for fully ten miles when the force of the +current became swifter, and I perceived that there were rapids ahead, +and so once more took to the land, carrying the canoe, since it was a +light affair, with me. I was anxious to place as many miles between me +and the Kittanning region as possible. I am now fully forty miles from +the enemy and deem myself safe for the time at least. Knowing their +language, I discovered a secret when among them—the existence of a +silver eldorado, and from remarks I surmise it must be nigh my present +location.</p> + +<p>"Dec. 1st, 1755. I have found the location of the eldorado. I shall +remain a time and investigate.</p> + +<p>"Dec. 25th, 1755. It is Christmas day, but I cannot keep it in the old +style. I have laid in a supply of deer meat for the winter. In the +spring I shall endeavour to find my way east to Standing Stone and be +once more among the loyal people of the crown. Excavated two feet of the +mine. It is either sulphide of lead or silver or both."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The Major ceased reading and ran over in silence a number of short +entries, then paused, and then continued reading:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"August 1st, 1756. I shall work for a day or so yet and then taking some +of the stuff east with me get it assayed. The hunting parties of Indians +are becoming more numerous, and I cannot stay much longer concealed. In +a few days I shall start for Standing Stone."</p></blockquote> + +<p>"The last entry," said the Major, as he closed the diary and replaced it +in the snuff-box. "The subsequent events are as clear to me as if they +were written on paper. The snuff-box, with its contents, was lost in the +old excavation some time before my father left the neighbourhood. Later +he left the section, and on his overland trip encountered Armstrong's +troops, who <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 312]</a></span> shot him by mistake. The honour of our name is cleared."</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Early the following spring a canoe was seen descending the Big +Lycamahoning. Two occupants were in it, Major Thomas Trembath and his +son. They were going to shoot the rapids of the Rough Water, and +descending the river to Pittsburgh depart thence to the sea coast, and, +to use the Major's own expression, "From there, home to Merrie England."</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> + +<p class="center">MISFORTUNES <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 313]</a></span></p> + + +<p>"'Tis a downright shame," said bluff Captain Tom Lanyan, with some +warmth, as he flung his grey hair back from the livid scar along his +forehead, and stumped once or twice up and down the room in indignation.</p> + +<p>"A shame rather to Miss Midget, herself, to refuse the alliance of a +house like ours," snapped Mistress Betty.</p> + +<p>"Now the old squire is in ill health and the estate is entirely within +your power, brother James. I say it's a shame to pester the poor girl to +marry Richard, if she doesn't want to," continued the captain.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Sir James with the slightest trace of a scowl on his +placid features, "she shall not be pestered any longer, although many a +girl would jump at the chance. I have changed my plans."</p> + +<p>"Bless you, brother, you are more generous than I thought," and the +captain's face actually lighted up with a smile, that was like the +sunshine on a beetling, ragged cliff.</p> + +<p>"I have changed my plans," continued Sir James, "I have another plan for +Richard. Of what benefit is it to us to have an alliance with a fallen +family. It would be much better to seek the Godolphin family. There is <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 314]</a></span> +the daughter of Lady Godolphin, who will fall heir to the inheritance +that a prince might envy, and I do not think the earl would oppose my +purpose, for the fortunes of the Lanyans are ascending. With the +Godolphins back of me, securely tied in alliance, I could demand +anything from the government, and obtain it."</p> + +<p>"I shall not marry the daughter of Godolphin," said young Mr. Richard, +and his thin lips, so like his father's, closed in a narrow, determined +line. "I shall marry Mistress Alice Vivian." Sir James's features +flashed with anger. Richard Lanyan continued unawed. "The squire is in +favour of it, and you were yourself some time ago. It remains only for +the girl to be won over."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I was in favour of it, but that was when the Vivians were in good +circumstances. The old squire proposed it, himself, years ago, but times +have altered. There shall be no alliance with the Vivians. Godolphin is +friendly and is relying upon me for support in the House of Commons. For +the last two weeks things have looked most favourable toward an alliance +with the most distinguished and powerful family of Cornwall, and I am +not one to slight the opportunities presented." There was determination +in Sir James's tones.</p> + +<p>"I shall marry Mistress Alice Vivian," said the son.</p> + +<p>"You shall not," with a click of the jaws.</p> + +<p>"I shall," with an answering, determined click. Richard Lanyan turned on +his heel and left the hall.</p> + +<p>"It will be so much better, after all," said Mistress Betty, echoing her +brother's thoughts. "Our family might rival the Godolphins in time. Miss +Midget will <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 315]</a></span> be sorry the day she ever refused. I must set myself to win +Richard over from his infatuation, and I flatter myself I shall succeed. +When did a woman ever fail?" Mistress Betty tilted her heavy eagle nose +at an angle, as much as to say, you'll soon see how a woman's superior +wisdom will manage it.</p> + +<p>The old captain slowly shook his head as if in doubt.</p> + +<p>"You may manage it, and I hope you will, but I would as soon attack a +battery of artillery as try and turn a man away from the girl of his +choice. I hope you will succeed, for the girl doesn't want Richard, and +it is a shame to pester her and the poor old squire. I am glad the thing +is settled, though, in brother James's mind, for you'll let them stay, +brother James?"</p> + +<p>"Squire Vivian must pay the mortgage within a week, when it comes due, +or leave the premises. I already have a tenant for the Manor should he +fail."</p> + +<p>"But—Zounds! That's an outrage!" fumed Captain Tom.</p> + +<p>"Nothing but a common procedure of law," asserted Sir James, coolly.</p> + +<p>"Aye, it all sounds fine enough, and I suppose it must be so," said the +captain, angrily shaking his head, and stumping up and down; "but 'tis +an outrage all the same. The poor old squire will be driven out without +a home."</p> + +<p>"Captain Tom, don't be unreasonable. You know that Squire Vivian will +not be homeless, for James intends to let him have the Primrose Cottage +at a nominal rent," said Mistress Betty, championing Sir James.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 316]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Aye, and the poor widow, Trembath, has already been driven from the +Primrose Cottage, and whether she is in the Union Home, or elsewhere, no +one knows. Is that just, James?"</p> + +<p>"The Trembaths were traitors to the government," said Sir James, wincing +a little under Tom's sharp shaft, "and beside I am not responsible for +her loss of money by investment. I offered to loan her the money, and +took a mortgage. How could I know that the investment would fail?"</p> + +<p>"You advised her," said Captain Tom, bluntly.</p> + +<p>"It was her own doing," said Sir James, sharply, "and besides it has all +turned out favourably to us. We can't all be on top of the heap, Captain +Tom; some must be up and some must be down to make room for those who +get up. It's a law of nature, the survival of the fittest, and through +it all the circumstances of the Lanyans are better now than they have +been for a hundred years." So saying, Sir James turned on his heel and +wended his way into the library, where he was soon absorbed in his +London mail. Captain Tom called for his horse and rode off to Helston, +and Mistress Betty retired to her own private apartments.</p> + +<p>Such were the scenes that happened two years previous to the discovery +of Major Thomas Trembath by his son Ande at the Loop. At Trembath Manor +was a far different scene.</p> + +<p>"Ally, dear, draw the curtains and let me look out once more on the +park," said the querulous voice of the old squire. A tall, young lady, +with a sweet, though <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 317]</a></span> pallid countenance, arose to do his bidding. The +curtains were withdrawn, and the bright afternoon sunshine flooded the +sick man's bed chamber, and cast a halo of brightness o'er his features. +But what a countenance! Time and sickness had wrought great changes. The +old, hale, hearty, rubicund look was replaced by the pale, pained +expression of suffering.</p> + +<p>"Come hither, dear."</p> + +<p>Alice approached the bedside, and the old squire, taking her hand, +looked at her earnestly for a moment.</p> + +<p>"I have fallen into the hands of a cruel master, my child. He who was my +friend is partly responsible for my position. After all I did for him, +working for his election to Parliament some years ago; for you must +understand, dear, that had it not been for old Squire Vivian and some of +his friends, Sir James Lanyan would not now represent our section. And +how has he repaid it?" continued the old man bitterly, and angrily.</p> + +<p>"Father," laying her cool hand on his throbbing temples, "you know the +doctor says you must not excite yourself."</p> + +<p>"Aye, I know. I know, Allie, but I can't help speaking of it. He +inveigled me into schemes of his own making, purposely, I believe now, +to ruin me, and get the estate and the mine into his own hands. A +dastard! A selfish villain! And now he is going to foreclose the +mortgage, and in a week, my poor Allie, your old sick father and +yourself will be without a roof to shelter them. An ungenerous rogue!" +said the old man with another burst of anger.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 318]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Never mind, father, you have me, your Allie, left, and I'll take care +of you," and she smoothed down his scattered locks and laid her cheek +close to his. The action and words seemed to quiet the old squire for a +time, and he kissed the pale cheek of his daughter.</p> + +<p>"You are a good daughter. Has Mr. Richard Lanyan been here to-day?"</p> + +<p>"No, father."</p> + +<p>"Has his man—Bob Sloan—as untrustworthy as the villain, Sir James—has +he been here?"</p> + +<p>"No, father," endeavouring to soothe him.</p> + +<p>"Aye, he is giving me time to think; you know his proposition, child," +said the old man gently. "I shall not live long, and it distresses me to +think of my child homeless when I am gone." He laid his hand, that once +stout, brown hand, now pale and thin, upon the bowed head of the girl, +who was silently weeping. "It may prolong my life if you accept Richard, +and our home will be yours. Long ago, before I knew of the villainy of +Sir James, I purposed in my heart your marriage to Richard. Now, though +I know the father and his trickery, yet I think I know the son, Richard, +and I believe him free from his father's faults. He seems a good young +man and talented, and loves you, child, sincerely, and he may make up in +kindness to you for the injustice done to me. Years ago, in my strength, +I thought it must be so, but now I have learned many things by sickness, +and I would not urge you against your will."</p> + +<p>"Father," said the girl, raising her tear-stained face,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 319]</a></span> "if it will +make you live longer I will not oppose; I will freely and gladly +consent. I will do anything to add to your life. Have you not been both +a kind, loving father and mother to me?"</p> + +<p>"Bless you, my dear Allie," said the squire as he sank back exhausted, +and then, in a whisper, "'Tis better than doctor's medicine. Call +Stephen Blunt—and write an answer to James Lanyan's letter that you +will find in yon desk."</p> + +<p>Alice gave the order and sat herself down at the desk to answer as +briefly as possibly the epistle of Lanyan. It was soon written, and the +next moment Stephen Blunt appeared. He came in looking more bent and +decrepit than usual, for the sickness of his master was weighing heavy +upon him.</p> + +<p>"Stephen," said the squire faintly, "send one of the servants with that +to Lanyan Hall and await a reply."</p> + +<p>The taciturn, old steward took the missive handed him by Alice, bowed +and withdrew. A great load seemed to be removed from the old squire's +mind, and he slept peacefully for three hours. By that time the servant +had returned with the answer. Alice would have rather read it herself +first, but the querulous voice of the squire must not be resisted, and +so she passed it unopened to him. He unfolded it with trembling, eager +hands, and devoured the few lines written there. His countenance grew +paler, and then flushed an angry hue, until the great veins on his brow +stood forth like whipcords.</p> + +<p>"What! What! It can't be so!" he shrieked. He crushed the letter in his +hands with rage and was about <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 320]</a></span> to fling it from him, but the motion and +passion was too much for him, and with a gasp he fell +backward—unconscious. The crushed letter dropped from his relaxed hand +and fell to the floor, where it remained unnoticed for the time.</p> + +<p>"To the doctor, quick!" said Stephen Blunt to the servant that was in +the room. The servant was down and out in a moment. The same horse that +carried him to the Lanyans' was near at hand, and he vaulted into the +saddle, and went tearing down the carriage drive.</p> + +<p>With a shriek of "My father!" Alice fell to the floor in a faint.</p> + +<p>"Carry her to her rooms! He is not dead! I will not believe it until the +doctor comes," said old Stephen Blunt. The servants carried their young +mistress to her apartments, while Stephen, murmuring many things to +himself, bathed the squire's forehead until the physician came. In a few +minutes there was the sound of clattering hoofs on the gravel of the +drive-way, then a rapid step on the stairs, and the physician was in the +sick man's room. A look and a touch sufficed.</p> + +<p>"He is past help. It is as I feared—a sudden stroke of apoplexy +produced by some shock." He picked up the crumpled letter from the +floor, opened it, read it with compressed lips, and placed it in his +pocket.</p> + +<p>The news spread o'er the whole village with the rapidity of wildfire, +and by night every man, woman and child knew and sympathised with the +bereavement at the Manor, for Squire Vivian was generally liked.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 321]</a></span></p> + +<p>The funeral was held in the parish church, and old Parson Trant preached +the sermon. With his eyes wet with the flood of sympathy and sorrow, and +his voice unsteady and quivering, he delivered to the hushed multitudes +an address upon "How are the mighty fallen." He called to their minds +the deeds of the squire and his open, frank, generous life in such a +tender manner that many of the audience wept in sorrow as acute as his +own. There was possibly one of that audience who felt more keenly than +others, and he bowed his head down as if ashamed to meet the gaze of the +people around him. It was Captain Tom Lanyan. His sorrow was increased +with the thought that it was some action of his brother that caused the +squire's death. None of the other Lanyans were present. Sir James had to +leave to attend to some business in Plymouth, and, informing his lawyer +to foreclose the mortgage on the estate and tin mine and secure a tenant +for the Manor, he embarked on the first vessel from Falmouth. Mistress +Betty was ill of same fancied ailment, and Richard was, no one knew +where.</p> + +<p>After the funeral there was much condolence offered to Mistress Alice +Vivian, but no personal help, no one being aware that the Manor and even +the home furniture had passed out of the hands of the Vivian family. But +Alice knew, and with a sickening sense of loneliness and helplessness +she passed out of the gates of the Manor on the evening of the same day +of the funeral. She had packed up her little personal belongings and had +forwarded them that afternoon to Penzance, where she in <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[Pg 322]</a></span>tended following +on the morrow. With a heart full of unuttered grief she wended her way +to the old parish church and churchyard to pay a last visit to her +father's tomb. The sun had long since disappeared beneath the horizon, +and the pale, glimmering moon flooded hill and dale with ghostly, limpid +light, whitening the cornices of the old church tower in the distance, +deepening the shadows 'neath the trees, and bringing into gleaming +prominence the white monuments of the departed. The gates of the +cemetery were passed at length, but there was no fear or terror in her +heart. Why should she fear? The dead could not hurt her, and it was less +lonely here than in the great, empty Manor house. The church door was +not locked, and opening it she passed down the long aisle, the tile work +underneath echoing hollowly to her faint tread. Near the altar was the +tomb of her father. The moonbeams, penetrating the coloured windows, +illuminated it with a soft warm radiance, so clear, that the lettering +could be easily discerned. She contemplated the inscription with +tearful, stony gaze and then read softly to herself:</p> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Richard Vivian, Esq.</span><br /> +Trembath Manor<br /> +"How are the mighty fallen."<br /></p> + + +<p>It was the text of the funeral sermon that was inscribed below. There +was nothing more save the dates of birth and death. Suddenly a keener +sense of her loss and loneliness came upon her, and she bowed herself to +the floor, giving vent to the first outpouring of grief—a grief <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[Pg 323]</a></span> that +she had restrained until then. Sobs and cries, low, yet full of grief, +shook and convulsed her frame.</p> + +<p>"Oh, father! father! do you know how lonely I am? I am your daughter, +your Allie, and you always wanted me near you. I am here near you, +father, and yet I cannot feel your presence, for you are gone and I am +alone." A great sob checked her utterance, and for a long time she +struggled with her grief, murmuring incoherently, and, then arising, she +dried her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he sees still, and pities my grief and solitude. Parson Trant +said that the dead are more alive than the living—'I am the God of +Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; God is not the God of the dead, but of the +living.'" She quoted the Scripture passage softly to herself, and it +seemed to give some comfort. "Yes, he must see and hear." A noise near +the distant tower door startled her. She gazed that way, though not in +fear. Who could be in these sacred precincts at night beside herself? +she asked mentally. The noise was not repeated. It was some owl or bat, +or perhaps it was a slight breeze that had moved the slightly opened +door, she thought, and then turning to the altar she knelt down in +prayer.</p> + +<p>"O God, I have now no father, no friend, no helper but Thee. I am +friendless, homeless, poor and lonely. Be my helper and give me +strength. Be my father, O Thou who art above, and hold me in Thy +protecting arms. Thou art the defence of the widow and the fatherless; +be Thou the defence of the fatherless now and hold me in the hollow of +Thy hand. O God, all Thy waves <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[Pg 324]</a></span> and Thy billows have gone over my soul. +At one blow I lose all. Supported by a father's love, it is taken from +me; reared in comfort, I am reduced to bitter poverty; surrounded by +friends—yet to-day alone and helpless, and yet,—Thou wilt not forsake +me, for Thou dost mark the sparrow's fall. I go a stranger among +strangers in a strange land, yet Thou wilt not forsake me. Oh, be a +light to my feet, a guide to my way, and a stay in my helplessness."</p> + +<p>Some time more she spent at the altar in silent prayer, and then arising +and casting a long lingering look at the silent tomb near her, she +slowly wended her way down the silent and deserted church, and thence on +and out of the cemetery.</p> + +<p>Without she walked rapidly along the highway, when the figure of a man +emerged from the shadow of the cemetery gate and followed and overtook +her.</p> + +<p>"Mistress Alice," he said, laying a detaining hand on her arm. She +started and would have fled, but he restrained her. "You are out late; +let me attend you."</p> + +<p>"I asked not your escort, Mr. Richard Lanyan."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but I choose to give it," said the young man, in a determined tone, +and then added: "Mistress Alice, why will you not listen to reason? You +know that you are friendless and poor and I would help you,—yes, lay +down my life for you. I——"</p> + +<p>"I do not require your aid. Why do you push your attentions upon me when +you know they are unwelcome, and especially at this sad time?" <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[Pg 325]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ah, but Mistress Alice, my love for you——"</p> + +<p>She gave an impatient gesture.</p> + +<p>"Have I not often said that it is vain and useless. I do not wish it, +and your father——"</p> + +<p>"Does not wish it, either," interjected Lanyan with an unpleasant scowl, +"but that matters not; I wish it."</p> + +<p>"But I do not, and I must not encourage you. I cannot give you what I +have bestowed upon another." Her face flushed and then resumed its +pallid expression.</p> + +<p>Mr. Richard Lanyan was silent, but his facial muscles twitched with +emotion, and his dark eyes gleamed with hidden fire.</p> + +<p>"I say that no one shall take you from me. My father nor no one else +shall stand as a bar in the way."</p> + +<p>"I stand in the way, myself. My own heart is the strongest bar."</p> + +<p>"If you will neither listen to reason or affection, there are other +means," he said, threateningly.</p> + +<p>"You are a coward and a miscreant, sir, to use such words to me."</p> + +<p>"There are other means and——"</p> + +<p>The words were scarcely uttered when she was seized from the rear and a +cloak flung o'er her head.</p> + +<p>"The coach, Bob," said Richard.</p> + +<p>"'Tis coming, sir."</p> + +<p>There was the rattle of wheels and a coach stopped near them. The door +was wrenched open and as he placed her within he finished the sentence, +"There are other means, and he, whoever he is, will never get you, +except over the dead body of Richard Lanyan." <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[Pg 326]</a></span></p> + +<p>The deed was done so quickly that the dazed girl had but time to utter a +muffled shriek as the door slammed, and her subsequent cries were +drowned by the rattling wheels and trotting horses.</p> + +<p>Mr. Richard Lanyan, angry with repeated rejections, had made his master +movement.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[Pg 327]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX</h2> + +<p class="center">TOM GLAZE TO THE RESCUE</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Oh, here's to the ale,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The merry King Ale,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It makes one jolly<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Though home comforts fail;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We'll swing and we'll sing,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Merry as a king,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The tankard we love<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For the joy it'll bring."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10">Chorus.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Then swing tankard round<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With ale pale or brown,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We'll clunk and we'll clunk<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till we clunk un all down!<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Down! Down!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"King George, rich and hale,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is naught to King Ale,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He reigns and cares not<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For the poor man's wail,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But jolly King Ale<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Makes sorrow to fail,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Huzza for the tankard<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of rud, brown or pale."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>Loud and boisterous came the roaring voices of half-drunken tipplers +from behind the green doors of an ale-house in the upper part of +Falmouth. At the close of each chorus there was a thumping of tankards +and fists <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[Pg 328]</a></span> upon the tables within that made the midnight hour a perfect +babel of sounds.</p> + +<p>"That's Tom Puckinharn's voice, I could swear to un," said a tall, +well-built man, as he paused on the pavement without. He was talking to +himself and evidently referred to one voice louder than the others, +leading the chorus. A frown swept over his rugged features.</p> + +<p>"Here I be following 'im all the evening from tavern to tavern and just +missin' 'im at every place, and he a-spending his 'ard-earned money in +drink and his poor wife, Susy, at home a-crying her eyes out. If it +wadn't that I had promised Susy to fetch 'im home I'd wash my 'ands and +disown 'im."</p> + +<p>His thoughts were interrupted by the overturning of a table, the +upsetting of chairs, the crash of falling tankards and voices in angry +altercation within.</p> + +<p>The stimulating effect of the ale he had imbibed had increased Tommy's +natural proclivity to wit and repartee in the earlier part of the +evening, and some of his shafts of ridicule had been directed at two +young Scottish Highlanders, soldiers of Castle Pendennis on leave of +absence. The petticoat men, as he had called them, had remembered him, +and in the drinking chorus they took umbrage at the trifling mentioning +of King George's name. There were angry words and then the ringing of +steel.</p> + +<p>The sounds stirred the man without to action. Pushing aside the swinging +doors, a sight met his vision that tinged his spirit with righteous +indignation. Chairs and tables were overturned; tankards were on the +floor,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[Pg 329]</a></span> with their spilt contents trickling away in sundry streams; +Tommy's friends were huddled in fear in one corner, while unfortunate +Tommy, in the grasp of the two half-intoxicated Highlanders, was forced +to his knees. They had jerked him over the table and, with irate mien +and with murder in their bloodshot eyes, had their sword points close to +his breast.</p> + +<p>With a quick bound and a blow the stranger sent the one Highlander +reeling to the floor, and, with a Cornish side-kick on the ankle and a +blow of his other fist, Highlander number two fell with a crash among +the overturned chairs and spilt liquor.</p> + +<p>"Ah! ye call yourselves sodjers and braave men, but thee'rt +bubble-'eaded cowards for two of 'ee with swords to attack one unarmed +man! Ah! ye drunken buccas! see if I don't report 'ee to your governor."</p> + +<p>The two fallen Highlanders were either too inebriated with liquor, or +dazed by the sudden attack, or dismayed by the threat of informing the +governor of Pendennis Castle, to arise at once, and the stranger, +casting a look of supreme contempt on them, grasped Tommy by the collar, +jerked him to his feet and led him from the place. As they were going he +could not but hear the admiring comments of two or three of the +spectators.</p> + +<p>"Ah! Dear!—Dear!—Man alive!—Did 'ee see un? 'Ow he knacked the +sodjers down! 'Tez Tom Glaze, the Carnish champion!"</p> + +<p>"The Carnish champion, the Carnish champion," went from lip to lip. The +green doors fell to behind Glaze and Puckinharn and cut off the murmured +admir <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[Pg 330]</a></span>ation. Glaze hurried his nephew down one street and then into +another before he suffered himself to speak the anger that was within +him. Then giving Tommy a great shake to add to his soberness and +intelligence, he began:</p> + +<p>"I tell 'ee, Tommy, thee'rt a great chuckle-head and will wend up by +being a brocken buddle if 'ee keeps on like this. Here I come to see my +nephew, a respectable pilchard seller, and find un spending his time and +money in taverns. Thee ought to be ashamed of thyself. Do 'ee call +drinking and fighting a good time? Thee wert singing that ale would make +'ee hearty and merry and that sorrow would fail. I tell 'ee that ale +brings trouble, and poverty, and sickness and broken health, and would +'ave caused thy funeral if I 'adn't come in when I did, for they sodjers +had blood in their eyes. And thy wife at home a-crying her eyes out and +without money. I tell 'ee I felt more like giving thee a skevern than I +did the sodjers, a great chuckle-head, as 'ee art."</p> + +<p>"Ah, Uncle Tom, doan't 'ee go on like that," said the crestfallen Tommy. +"My head is almost mazed with the 'eadache; les go down to the kay +[quay] and see if I won't feel better."</p> + +<p>"Hark 'ee, Tom Puckinharn, let this be the last of thy drinking. Will +'ee promise?"</p> + +<p>"Umsh—Yes—I promise."</p> + +<p>"A man is always wuss off when he drinks. His money is gone, 'is time is +gone, and 'is health is gone, and he winds by going into the Union Poor +House. Now here I am,—I, Tom Glaze, champion Cornish <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[Pg 331]</a></span> wrastler and all +round fighter, and I ne'er would be so had I took to drink. There was +Jack Trewlan, champion before me, stout and strong, the champion of a +dozen battles, and I thrawed 'im in ten minutes. I got an under holt and +heaved 'im over my shoulders, and 'e went down like a bullock. Cause +why? Cause 'e took to drink."</p> + +<p>"'Ark!" said Tommy. "Wasn't that a woman's cry?"</p> + +<p>They listened and the cry was repeated.</p> + +<p>"'Urry up," said Glaze, "some woman in distress,—upon a foach if thee +art drunk, 'ee can run a bit."</p> + +<p>Away they went in the direction of the quay from which the shriek came, +Tommy's uncle ahead, while he himself lurched along in the rear, like a +distressed ship in a storm. They arrived at the entrance of the pier, +and saw by the glimmering, flickering light of the lamp, at its head, a +woman struggling in the grasp of a burly man. A coach swept by them at +this moment and passed around the corner and up market street.</p> + +<p>"Bring her along, Bob," cried a voice from a boat at the landing.</p> + +<p>Bully Bob, for it was he, seeing the approach of newcomers, redoubled +his efforts, when he received a blow that staggered him and he released +his grasp. The woman ran screaming to her rescuers and Glaze placed +himself in front of her. Bully Bob, recovering from the sudden assault, +rushed in wrath at his aggressor, crying fiercely, "I'll eat 'ee up!"</p> + +<p>Glaze grasped him with a quick, deft movement, and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[Pg 332]</a></span> with a heave, threw +him over his shoulder into the deep harbour water beyond. There was a +cry of rage, and then a splash, and then the sound of oars in a long, +steady pull, rounding the head of the pier.</p> + +<p>"The fellow in the boat will pick un up, and I think they won't bother +us nor the lady for the present," said Glaze.</p> + +<p>"Why, 'tes Mistress Alice Vivian!" exclaimed Tommy Puckinharn, now +thoroughly sobered. She had fainted under the excitement and he +supported her with his arms. Glaze gazed at the countenance of the +unconscious woman.</p> + +<p>"'Zackly so; so it is," and he paused in some thought, and then, as +though he had reached some conclusion, he relieved Tommy of his burden, +and, followed by his nephew, he strode along to the nearest house, a +small brown cottage, from the lower window of which gleamed a light. A +rap on the door brought an answer, in the shape of a woman's quavering +voice, demanding who was there.</p> + +<p>"It's me, Tom Glaze, Mrs. Trembath." There was a pause within, then some +hurried movement.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Trembath," said Tommy to his uncle, in some surprise. "Is that +Ande's mother? How did she get here, and how did 'ee know she lived +'ere, Uncle Tom?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360"></a></span></p><p>"When she was turned out by the Lanyans, I got 'er this cottage," said +Glaze. Further conversation was interrupted by the rattling of bolts +within, the door was opened, and the gleam of candle light shot over all +concerned.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361"></a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 243px;"> +<img src="images/i_360.jpg" width="243" height="400" alt="" /> +<span class="caption">"The door was opened, and the gleam of candle light shot +over all concerned"</span> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[Pg 333]</a></span></p> +<p>Bearing his unconscious burden, Glaze, followed by his nephew, entered, +and soon related his tale.</p> + +<p>"Poor girl! Poor dear!" said Mrs. Trembath, as she chafed Alice's hands +and then essayed to pour a little reviving cordial down her throat. The +cordial revived her, and she opened her eyes, and then, in as many words +as kind, motherly Mrs. Trembath would allow, she told her story.</p> + +<p>"The young villain!" exclaimed Glaze, indignantly, as he heard of the +doings of Mr. Richard. "I wish it was 'im instead of Bob, that I flung +into the harbour."</p> + +<p>"Poor child!" said Mrs. Trembath, as she drew the girl to herself. "The +ones who afflicted you and defrauded you of your home, did the same to +me. We are in similar circumstances, and you shall stay here until you +feel better."</p> + +<p>But Mistress Alice was far from soon being strong and well again. The +long period of nursing her sick father, his death, the loss of the +Manor, and the harrowing experience of that wild night's ride to +Falmouth, were too much for her worn constitution, and she succumbed to +brain fever. Throughout the long period of her sickness Mrs. Trembath +would have been sorely distressed had it not been for the generosity of +Glaze and Puckinharn. Glaze, as a friend of the old squire, having +received his patronage, thought he was in duty bound to leave a +sovereign now and then in Mrs. Trembath's hands, and his nephew, having +taken the pledge, found he had many spare shillings and sixpences to +spend in so good a cause.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[Pg 334]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX</h2> + +<p class="center">THE MAJOR'S HOME-COMING</p> + + +<p>"Ande, son, we'll push straight on to the village; thy mother, lad, was +always an early riser, and mayhap will have a light in the window," said +the old Major, after they had eaten a light breakfast in the Angel Inn. +Major Trembath and his son, Ande, had arrived three o'clock that morning +at the Falmouth Breakwater. They had hurriedly left the ship and had +taken the early morning stage coach for Helston, arriving there in time +for an early breakfast.</p> + +<p>"Shall we get horses?" asked the son.</p> + +<p>"Horses, lad, what do I want with a horse? Have I not tramped scores of +miles with the rifle over my shoulder, when I was a solitary hunter at +the Loop. My limbs are as strong now as they were a score of years ago, +and I doubt much, after these years of hunting and tramping, whether I +would feel as much at home on horse-back as I would on my own feet. Then +we must remember, lad, that though our name is untarnished and +honourable, we are still poor, and it behooves us to be devotees of +economy. Horses, no; they are not to be thought of."</p> + +<p>Ande acquiesced, and forth in the morning twilight <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[Pg 335]</a></span> they started. What a +happy two-mile walk that was! The Major related tales of his youth +associated with the section through which they wended their way, and the +son related tales as well. The incident of the duck cave and the scared +Greggs was forcibly brought to mind as they passed the cave, and he told +the story much to the hearty amusement of his father.</p> + +<p>The activity of youth seemed to fill the frame of the old Major as he +approached the proximity of the village. His steps seemed to lengthen +and increase in rapidity. Then through the dim twilight the outlines of +the village burst upon their vision, and then the Major strained his +keen eyes to catch the first view of the Primrose Cottage. At length he +saw it.</p> + +<p>"It's there still," he cried joyously, and then added, "But no light. +Thy mother is late in rising, lad."</p> + +<p>They followed the roadway past the village and up the ascent to the +cottage home. The hedges on either side of the little domain were sadly +out of repair, and the Major noticed it.</p> + +<p>"Things gone badly since I was in these parts, but we will soon have +them on a better footing."</p> + +<p>They opened the rickety gate softly, and then stole into the doorway. +Then grasping the rapper, the Major lifted it and rapped hard several +times. Then smilingly, with dancing expectant eyes, they stood back and +awaited. What a joyful greeting, they thought. But there was no answer, +nor even the shadow of a sound that greeted their own echoes.</p> + +<p>"You try, Ande, lad." <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[Pg 336]</a></span></p> + +<p>Ande advanced to the door and rapped, but the same death-like silence +prevailed.</p> + +<p>"Something wrong," said the old Major. "Ah! what's that writing?" His +keen eyes, sharpened by years of woodcraft, had caught the glimpse of a +paper tacked to the upper portion of the door. In the happy anticipation +of coming reunion they had not noticed it before. Ande tore it from its +fastenings and brought it forth more closely to their vision.</p> + +<p>"For rent,—James Lanyan," slowly read Ande.</p> + +<p>"Some cursed doings of the Lanyans," said the old man weakly, and he sat +down on the steps, for in his disappointment his strength began to fail +him. Just at this moment a lad was seen passing, and Ande accosted him.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Trembath? Why—her's gone nigh two years ago. Sir James Lanyan got +the place and sold her out."</p> + +<p>"Where did she go, lad?" asked the Major, faintly. "No one knows that, +sir."</p> + +<p>The old man buried his face in his hands. His spirit, so cheery a short +time before, seemed broken.</p> + +<p>"Are the Vivians still here?" asked Ande, sharply, for there was an +angry passion raging within him.</p> + +<p>"Old squire died a year or so ago. The Lanyans got the Manor, and some +says as how the old squire died of a broken heart, sir."</p> + +<p>"And Mistress Alice?"</p> + +<p>"Her's gone, too; no one knows where; the Lanyans turned 'er out." <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[Pg 337]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The black-hearted villain! Thief! Rogue!" roared Ande, his passion +bursting forth beyond all bounds. The lad fled in affright at the +dreadful words and the black countenance, that was in truth diabolical +with rage. The old Major sought to calm him, but of little avail.</p> + +<p>"For all that the Lanyans have done to me and mine, the dishonourable +scandal on our name, the suffering and humilation it has caused us, and +these last cruel and inhuman deeds, I will be terribly revenged on him +and his!" Ande Trembath raised his hand to heaven and continued his +invective. The hatred of a lifetime seemed to culminate in a torrent of +expressions like these. Then there was silence.</p> + +<p>"We'll go and see Parson Trant at the rectory, father," said Ande, and +the old Major, seemingly with no resolution of his own, was assisted to +his feet, and on they trudged.</p> + +<p>The glimmering twilight had merged into dawn, yet there was a light in +the parson's study window and his head, now thoroughly silvered, could +be seen bending over his manuscript. The short walk seemed to revive the +Major's spirits. They knocked and were admitted.</p> + +<p>The old parson knew neither of them for a moment. Then Ande spoke.</p> + +<p>"What! Parson Trant, and do you not remember me, Ande Trembath?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Ande, my dear lad! This is a surprise! How you have grown! Why, +lad, where have you been all these years? And this is your friend?" With +his <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[Pg 338]</a></span> kindly, fatherly greeting, he shook hands warmly, and then turned +to the other stranger.</p> + +<p>"More than friend," said Ande.</p> + +<p>"And do you not know me?" smilingly said the old Major, as he advanced +with outstretched hands. The rector passed his hand o'er his forehead +once or twice, as he scrutinised the stranger, and then,—</p> + +<p>"What! Impossible! Yes—No—Yes, it must be he. My old friend and +school-fellow, Thomas Trembath! Well, well, well, well!" and the old +parson upset a pile of books in his eagerness to reach the Major. Tears +of delight were in his eyes as he flung open the study door and called, +"Harriet! Harriet!" His wife, a pleasant old lady, soon came in.</p> + +<p>"Harriet, do you know these two gentlemen?" The genial old parson was +smiling, and rubbing his hands in delight. "Ah, I thought you wouldn't. +This is our old friend, Major Thomas Trembath, and this is his son, +Ande."</p> + +<p>"Goodness me!" exclaimed Harriet, as she cordially welcomed them, and +entered into her husband's pleasure.</p> + +<p>"And now come in and have a cup of tea. Breakfast is about ready?" said +the parson aside to his wife, inquiringly, and receiving an affirmative +answer, notwithstanding protests that they had already breakfasted, the +Major and his son were ushered into the little breakfast room, where, +over the tea table, the parson related the facts of Squire Vivian's +sickness, and how both Manor and cottage had passed into the hands of +the Lanyans. He mentioned the fatal letter that had caused <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[Pg 339]</a></span> the squire's +death, and brought it forth, and mentioned both the disappearance of +Mrs. Trembath and Mistress Alice Vivian. If ever Ande swore revenge in +his heart it was during that narrative, in which all the brutal plans of +Sir James Lanyan were revealed in a plain, unvarnished manner. Woe +betide James Lanyan or his, if their paths crossed.</p> + +<p>"I am glad he and his are not of my parish," said the old parson; "but +now tell me of your experience and wandering."</p> + +<p>The Major briefly narrated his wanderings, to which Ande added a short +sketch of his own, with the exception of his good fortunes in the gold +and diamond regions of Brazil.</p> + +<p>"Wonderful!" exclaimed the old parson, and then as a sudden thought +struck him. "But now you must find Mrs. Trembath, and I would suggest +that you would find some news of her, no doubt, at Helston, for this is +the Floraday. Ah! there are the bells of old St. Michael, now, and in a +short time the town will be crowded with people from far and near to +keep the old festival. You will get news of her from some one."</p> + +<p>"That I will," said the old Major, as he arose from the table. "That I +will; and if I fail there, I shall search through every town of +Cornwall."</p> + +<p>The parson insisted upon their going in his own carriage, but the very +thought of news to be obtained in Helston made the old Major impatient +of any delay, and he persisted in going on foot, and so with a friendly +handshake, Major and son left the rectory for Helston.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[Pg 340]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hark'ee, son Ande, injustice shall fall yet and right shall prevail; I +feel it," and the old Major strode on with renewed hopefulness.</p> + +<p>Long before they entered the town it had put on its holiday attire. +Homes were decorated, windows garlanded, doors swung wide open, and the +bells of old St. Michael were booming and pealing in the festival which +the abrasion of centuries could not obliterate. From the upper portion +of the town came the pealing of fifes and rattling of drums and the +drawling voices of old men mingled with the more melodious voices of +boys and girls, singing the ancient Hal Lan Tow chant. Up in front of +the Helston Grammar School stand the authorities of the borough +demanding a holiday in behalf of the pupils, and when it is granted, +according to custom, how the lads and young men pour out of the old +dormitory, with hats tossing in the air! Vehicles, from the humble cart +to the emblazoned coach of the gentleman, keep rolling into town, while +every road and footpath is dotted with foot travellers. The streets +begin to crowd more and more. Citizens in the finest broadcloth rubbed +elbows with the humble fustian of farmers, and ladies in the finest +brocades and silks pass, with kindly greetings, the figures of country +maidens and women in humbler attire. Lads are blowing whistles, and +others are shouting to their fellows. But now the noon hour has come, +and from the head of Coinage Hall street come the rolling of drums, the +signal for the commencement of the annual, festival, street dance. In +front of the forming procession are the two town <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[Pg 341]</a></span> beadles with wands, +fancifully and artistically garlanded with flowers. The wands are the +emblems of their authority. They are the great men of the hour. Behind +them are the drummers, the fifers, and the serpent players, with their +instruments and forms so festooned with flowers and evergreen that it is +almost impossible to see their features. They are in motion. The old +beadles prance in a dignified way in front of the advancing procession, +waving their wands and giving directions in the meantime. The music of +the various instruments are pealing out in one steady strain, punctuated +here and there with the sullen, "boom, boom—boom—boom" of the big +drums, and the "rat a-tat-tat" and occasional roll of the kettle drums. +Now they are dancing, hand in hand in the rear, to the first half of the +melody. Now with a rattle of the lesser drums the second half begins. +The gentleman with the second lady releases her hand and seizes the +first and whirls her out of the procession in a circle and returns. The +action is continued by the second gentleman and so on down the line. +Then again the first refrain is taken up and the procession moves +onward. They are followed by a great crowd of spectators. Now the +beadles have disappeared. They have but entered one of the homes. The +procession of merrymakers follow. The beadles emerge from another door +and on goes the festival parade. Is that customary? Oh, yes. It is one +of the customs of time immemorial, and the party owning any of the homes +thus entered feels highly honoured. Through all the streets wends the +dance and then it is <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[Pg 342]</a></span> brought to a close by a turn on the Bowling Green. +Now follows a dance of the tradespeople in one of the inns of the town, +while the gentry enter the renowned Angel Inn for a purpose similar.</p> + +<p>A porter stands at the door of the hall above the Angel Inn to solicit +sixpences to defray expenses. A dignified, aged man, with hair and beard +neatly trimmed, passes in with the others. He is followed by another, a +younger one, his exact counterpart in height and facial appearance. Both +of them are well tanned by exposure, and their garments seem to be of +foreign make. They are the old Major and his son, Ande Trembath.</p> + +<p>"Bless my soul!" exclaims a rugged old fellow, stumping up with a slight +limp in one limb. He stands in front of Major Trembath and stares at +him; then passes a hand, rough and brown and heavy, through his grey +hair, throwing it back from his brow, revealing a long, livid scar along +the forehead.</p> + +<p>"Bless my soul! You are my old comrade, Tommy Trembath, or my eyesight +fails me. Is it not so?"</p> + +<p>"I am that person," said the Major, smiling, and grasping the extended +hand he shook it warmly. "And how is my Captain Tom Lanyan?"</p> + +<p>"I am right well, and I can't say how glad I am to see my old comrade, +once more, back in England. We all thought you dead. You haven't been on +British soil the last eighteen years. Where have ye been wandering all +this time?"</p> + +<p>The Major related a part of his adventures briefly.</p> + +<p>"The honour of our family is established, Captain <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[Pg 343]</a></span> Tom; my father was no +traitor and the proof of it is in the hands of the government +authorities at this time," concluded the Major.</p> + +<p>"I always knew it; I always knew it," said Captain Tom. "I have always +had my beliefs, and I'm right glad now that they have come true."</p> + +<p>"Aye, I know it," said the Major. "You were always my stoutest friend, +in the camp and out."</p> + +<p>The two old comrades of the Napoleonic wars talked on and on, while Ande +wandered from them, earnestly scanning the features of those he met, but +none did he recognise. The violins, sweeping into the melody of the +Floraday, announced that the dance was on, but he did not engage in it. +He gazed here and there, vainly endeavouring to behold a face he loved. +He was becoming wearied with his search, when, across the hall, he +noticed an aged, veiled lady and near her another, much younger. It was +the young lady that held him spellbound for a moment. His eyes were +riveted upon her countenance that was in profile. There was a shooting +thrill through his whole system and his blood seemed to be mounting in +great billows to his head. He caught a fuller glimpse of her features, +and then his heart gave one mad leap and apparently stood still for a +moment. Could he ever forget that countenance, pale and yet beautiful as +on the eve, in the long ago, when she had called him her knight. With a +half cry he was up and pushing through the crowd, but, before he reached +the other side, he saw them both pass out of the crowded ballroom. With +a few, rapid steps and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[Pg 344]</a></span> bounds he passed down the stairway, almost +knocking over the porter at the door.</p> + +<p>In the street without he missed the familiar figure, then his heart beat +joyfully once more, for he caught a glimpse of her entering the Bowling +Green. The aged, veiled lady was not with her. He hastened down the +crowded street and entered the comparatively deserted Bowling Green. He +swept a rapid glance around, but she had disappeared and his heart sank +once more. Then he saw a flutter of lace amidst the leaves of a retired +garden seat. She was standing when he reached her, but perhaps the +record of his diary is better descriptive of the scene that followed.</p> + +<blockquote><p> +DIARY OF ANDREW TREMBATH, <i>Gent</i>.</p> + +<p><i>May</i> 8th, 1829; <i>Afternoon</i>. +</p> + +<p>I saw my lady in the garden seat arbour, my lady Alice, the love of my +childhood, the ideal of my waking hours, the vision of my wanderings, +and the dream of my slumbers. She whose features were engraven on my +heart by the memory of other years, and around whom clustered the +fondest recollections of youth, was standing gazing at the setting sun +that, as it sank in golden and roseate hues, painting the sea and sky +with the glories of heaven, seemed likewise to retouch, with its +refulgent beams, her curling raven locks and beauteous eyes with +additional splendour. There was a faint flush on her cheeks in the midst +of their pallor, like an early wild-rose nestling by a belated +snowdrift. It seemed to me that she was much taller than formerly. So +tall and majestic indeed was she that I was awed, notwithstanding my +love that had been slumbering for years. I heard her murmur, +meditatively:</p> + +<p>"Ah, if he would only come,—my life, my hope!"</p> + +<p>My heart smote me with despair and an icy coldness seized me; a lump +arose in my throat that seemed to choke my breath <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[Pg 345]</a></span>ing. My hopes seemed +dashed to the ground, my idol shattered and a mass of chaotic ruin. I +tried to withdraw, but had advanced too far, for she saw me and there +was a slight additional flush on her countenance, and gentle recognition +in her eyes. I advanced to the shadow of the arbour and bowed low, +humbled with my previous thought, yet persistent and determined to know +the truth once and for all.</p> + +<p>"Mistress Alice Vivian,—Mistress Alice, I am Andrew Trembath, who has +loved you all these years. You called me your knight once and gave me +reason to hope that you were not indifferent to my feelings for you. But +there was a bar, sinister and heavy, between us,—the stain of treason +against our name. Now all bars have been removed; our name is +honourable; no wealth is a hindrance. You have been my dream throughout +my boyhood days and the star of my wanderings in more mature years, and +I lay my hand and heart at your feet."</p> + +<p>She answered not, and I feared to lift my eyes lest I should read what I +half suspected from that brief, murmured exclamation I had heard, that +there was another. Despair seized me at her continued silence.</p> + +<p>"You were expecting some one?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," she said, meditatively.</p> + +<p>"And you love him,—him?" How bold was that question! I know not now +whether I feared more her rebuke or the proof of my agonizing doubt.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she said gently, and I thought pityingly.</p> + +<p>I arose, staggered, and would have fallen but for the friendly support +of a tree. Better to have perished with brave Dick in the floods of the +Rough Water than to have my love thus wrenched from my heart and my +cherished longing prove a vain delusion. I recollect the substance of my +rambling, half incoherent apology for disturbing her. Oh! How empty +heart, earth, life appeared then! The sun had gone down, and with it the +sun of happiness for me! I turned to go.</p> + +<p>"Ande,—Mr. Trembath."</p> + +<p>There was something commanding in that tone that I could not resist. I +paused and waited for her to continue.</p> + +<p>"Is it not unseemly for old friends to part thus. Here, seat yourself +with me in this arbour." I moodily did so. "I <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[Pg 346]</a></span>cannot say how glad I am +to greet once more a friend of my childhood days. You have been a true +friend to me." What a bitter mockery those words seemed to me. I was +silent and she continued: "You have been a true friend and I cannot +choose but to speak plainly. But tell me of your life and wanderings."</p> + +<p>Little by little I told my story, but I could not refrain from my love +for her, for one was so involved with the other that they could not be +sundered. I told all with the exception of my fortune in the Brazilian +mines. She seemed interested with the interest of a friend. I gazed at +her after my tale was finished, and with the melancholy thought of what +I had aspired to and what I had lost. She smiled, and I thought she was +laughing at my presumption in laying my poor affections at her feet. It +enraged me, and I arose to go.</p> + +<p>"One moment," she said; "I have news for you; your mother is found and +your father is with her, but I have other matters to mention."</p> + +<p>This was the solitary joy that now filled me and life seemed brighter.</p> + +<p>"I was expecting some one this evening."</p> + +<p>"Yes," I said, the clouds again coming over my soul; "yes, I know."</p> + +<p>"No, you do not know; I was expecting some one, and, as you rightly +surmised, I love him."</p> + +<p>"Aye," I murmured, for she seemed cruel, "and you could not love +another?"</p> + +<p>"No, no, I could not love another. You would not desire to see me +unhappy and poor?"</p> + +<p>"No," I said, doggedly, digging with my heel in the turf.</p> + +<p>"Suppose I had the opportunity to marry," she said, mischievously, and +with a merry light scintillating in her eyes, "to marry one who would +give me wealth, happiness, love, and my old home, who took me on a long +ride of twenty miles and told me of these things, would you say, 'No.'"</p> + +<p>"No," I said, sadly, "marry where your heart directs you."</p> + +<p>"But suppose he was Mr. Richard Lanyan?"</p> + +<p>I bounded to my feet as if shot. Oh, what a demoniacal thing is hatred! +Humbled and sad at the loss of her, the thought of one of that accursed +race possessing her seemed like turning my <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[Pg 347]</a></span>blood from freezing coldness +to boiling heat. My countenance must have been frightful; it terrified +her. I could not speak. She trembled and drew away from me and hastily +said, "But suppose I did not love him?" I was dumbfounded, and she +continued, earnestly, while her eyes beamed with a new light.</p> + +<p>"Suppose I did not love him? I was expecting him whom I loved—yes, +loved from girlhood; I mourned him as dead, yet loved him more and more, +and after many years I saw him at a Floraday in the Angel Inn ballroom. +I saw him push through the crowd and I came here expecting him. I love +him and could not love another,—and—and—and—Oh—Ande,—can't you +see?"</p> + +<p>Change darkness into sunlight and my feelings can be expressed. The full +light of all seemed to burst upon my vision and dazed me; then as I saw +more clearly, I recollect her stretching her arms toward me, and my +leaping forward to clasp that wavering form.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Here the incident in the diary closes, and it remained for others to +relate what happened afterward. They sat down again in the arbour and +her head was on his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"And you did love me, after all," said Ande, and the old, happy, boyish +smile illuminated his features.</p> + +<p>"I have always loved you from that moment at the gate of the Primrose +Cottage, so many years ago. Forgive me for the doubt I put you in, but +you looked so doleful at my first words that I could not resist the old +mischievous spirit."</p> + +<p>He leaned down and kissed her lips, and there was a long silence, +unbroken save by the chirping birds and rustling leaves. A short time +afterward thither came the veiled, elderly lady, accompanied by the +Major.</p> + +<p>"Alice, child, art here? I have found him, Major Trembath, my husband." <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[Pg 348]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Mother!" joyfully cried the young man, as he flung himself into her +arms.</p> + +<p>"How tall you are, son Ande," said his mother, after their first +affectionate greeting; "yes, as tall as your father, and"—here she +turned her gaze upon Alice—"you have found a sister along with myself."</p> + +<p>"No, not sister, but my affianced wife," said Ande, proudly.</p> + +<p>"And I can call you daughter in reality," said happy Mrs. Trembath, as +she kissed her affectionately.</p> + +<p>But now the Bowling Green became crowded with people. The ball was over. +Gentlemen and tradespeople mingled in the sight-seeing of the great +event of that memorable day—the wrestling. A space had been cleared and +roped off in the centre of the Bowling Green, and soon forth came the +gladiators, great, tall, muscular fellows, farmers from the country, +miners from the tin mines, and seamen from Penzance and the Lizard +Point. The men from the Lizard were great, giant-like men over six feet +in stature. The spectators watched with intense interest. Jack Trewlan, +anxious once more for honours, was among them, but went down and out of +the lists in the very first contest. The poorest wrestlers were disposed +of first, and then came men of the first class. Among the latter was a +great Lizard Point fellow,—a veritable Goliath in size. Six feet, six +inches he stood in his stocking feet and weighed fully two and twenty +stone. The measurement of his chest was fifty-three inches, of his waist +thirty-nine, of his arms—the right biceps—nineteen inches, the +left—a <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[Pg 349]</a></span> trifle less; his limbs were in proportion to his other +measurements. A wild cheer went up from the Lizard men as he stood forth +in the roped arena. He had easily vanquished all his fellows,—the great +Lizard fellows were as wooden men in his powerful grasp,—and he was +entitled to do battle with the champion.</p> + +<p>There was another cheer, mainly from the tin miners and farmers, as the +champion of Cornwall, Tom Glaze, the victor of nineteen pitched battles, +came forth to do battle for the twentieth time for the position he held. +The champion was not near so tall or heavy as his opponent, but he was +stoutly and toughly built; his muscles were iron-like with constant +practice, and in his many battles he had gained that dexterity, +cautiousness, tack and trickiness, that was characteristic and essential +to a champion.</p> + +<p>"A tough opponent, Tom," said one of the gentlemen.</p> + +<p>"The bigger they are the heavier they fall," said Tom, and yet there was +a little doubt in his mind as he sized up the Goliath before him. A +moment they stood, their white duck wrestling jackets in relief against +the background, and then they closed into action. The young Lizard +fellow was cautious and wary. Tom Glaze seized his favourite hold,—the +celebrated Cornish hug, and back and forth they wavered, but the young +Colossus seemed to have his great limbs, like pillars, firmly rooted in +the ground. Glaze was as agile as a panther, twisting and trying trick +after trick. Once he nearly had him on the hip and a hoarse "Huzza" <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[Pg 350]</a></span> and +"Bravo" went up from many throats,—but it was only a partial success. +The young Lizard fellow now tried to bring into play his great strength, +but every grasp was eluded. Glaze had not been champion so long without +learning many things.</p> + +<p>"At un, Tom, thraw un down!" cried the men of Helston and the miners to +their champion.</p> + +<p>"At un, lad, heave un over thy 'ead!" exclaimed the Lizard and Penzance +men to their partisan.</p> + +<p>"Wait a bit," said a Lizard man, with a knowing wink to a companion, +"wait a bit, till 'e uses 'is strength; our man is only playing with un, +I tell'ee."</p> + +<p>"Ah, dear, dear,—us thought Glaze 'ad un then; but 'e's up again."</p> + +<p>"Bravo! Bravo!" shouted the men of Penzance and the Lizard, and they +fairly danced with delight, as Glaze went partially down.</p> + +<p>"No fall!" bawled the referee.</p> + +<p>"Ah was a fall, sure enough!" shouted an excited Lizard fellow; "I seed +un."</p> + +<p>"Seed un," snorted Tommy Puckinharn, who was near at hand; "thee doesn't +mean to say thee seed un with they great, fishy eyes of thine, do 'ee?"</p> + +<p>"Ah was a fall," persisted the Lizard man.</p> + +<p>"'Twasn't," said Tommy.</p> + +<p>"Ah was."</p> + +<p>"What's the use of saying ah was when ah wasn't," said Tommy, +philosophically.</p> + +<p>"'Ere, 'ere, no fighting," said a town beadle, as he came up to preserve +peace.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[Pg 351]</a></span></p> + +<p>The wrestlers after a brief rest again approached each other. Now in a +crouching position they circle around each other, each waiting for an +opportunity for a good hold. Suddenly they spring forward like tigers. +It was a collar and elbow hold; they tugged, strained, now pushing, now +pulling. Determination is on the features of each. It is apparent that +the young giant is exerting his strength to the utmost. He is slowly +pushing Glaze backward. Glaze gave way slowly and then with a smile and +a twist and a sudden jerk—</p> + +<p>"Huzza! Huzza! Glaze forever!" bellowed the Helston men. The young +Lizard giant had gone, like a crashing oak, to the ground.</p> + +<p>"No fall," bawled the referee. The Lizard gladiator had but fallen to +his knees and was soon up again, and the contest was renewed.</p> + +<p>"Man alive! Did 'ee see un? 'E went down like a kibbel in a shaft," said +one tin miner to another. The one addressed answered not, but kept +shouting to Glaze:</p> + +<p>"The Carnish ankle kick, boy! Kick un in the ankle, and poke un over!"</p> + +<p>"Another case of Corineus and the giant Gog-ma-gog,"<a name="FNanchor_7_8" id="FNanchor_7_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> said Captain Tom +Lanyan to his friend, the Major.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_8" id="Footnote_7_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> Wrestling match of Corineus, the Trojan, and Gog-ma-gog on +Plymouth Hoe—"Polyolbion," Michael Drayton, 1563-1631.</p></div> + +<p>"Aye, possibly," said the Major.</p> + +<p>On went the wrestling match, with the advantage at one moment to Glaze, +at another to the young opponent. Glaze seemed the better in agility and +wrestling tricks, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[Pg 352]</a></span>but his skill in these things were offset by the +giant's strength and wariness. The crowd from a wildly shouting mass +became silent, and were alertly watching every movement of the straining +figures. They were at last becoming aware of what Glaze knew for quite a +time. The champion had met his match. He knew it, for with all of his +skill he was unable to overcome his opponent. But what was still more +manifest was that the young Lizard giant, with all of his strength, +could not conquer the old, wrestling hero.</p> + +<p>The time was up at last, and there were stout huzzas for both as they +shook hands. The decision went to Glaze, not on falls, but on points, as +he showed the greater skill.</p> + +<p>Then Glaze held up his hand for silence and began to speak.</p> + +<p>"I want to congratulate my opponent on his stout defence, and say 'e's +the hardest man I ever met in a wrastling match."</p> + +<p>There was a roar of cheers, and then when silence came, he continued:</p> + +<p>"Men, you knaw the decision is just as to points. My opponent could not +thraw me, as 'ee have seen, and I couldn't thraw 'im. Now, I'm getting +old for the ring, and am about going to quit wrastling. This is my last +battle. I 'ave only waited until I could find the man I couldn't thraw, +and now I've found un, I give to him the championship and all the +honours of the position. What do 'ee say? Is it right?"</p> + +<p>There was silence for a moment, and then, after the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[Pg 353]</a></span> import of Glaze's +generous offer became more fully understood, there was a resounding +cheer that went up again and again. The people knew that, next to Glaze, +there was none more capable or worthy of defending the championship of +Cornwall than the young Lizard giant.</p> + +<p>"Do ye know, lad, who the young Lizard chap was?" asked the Major of +Ande,—but Ande was gone. Both wrestlers had been taken up on the +shoulders of the crowd and carried, with various shoutings, to the Angel +Inn. Ande followed, pushing and shoving his way through the crowd. When +he entered the Inn, he shouted, "Where's the champion?"</p> + +<p>"He's up in his room, changing his clothes," said the landlord.</p> + +<p>Ande pushed his way up the stairs and opened the door of the room +indicated.</p> + +<p>"Dick, Dick, Dick, old fellow!"</p> + +<p>"Ande,—why bless——"</p> + +<p>The two friends were locked in each others arms. Then came a time of +explanation. Dick had passed through the Rough Waters of the +Lycamahonings safely. He who had breasted the breakers of the Lizard +could easily take care of himself in the rapids. He was wounded, to be +sure, and the struggle through the rapids had exhausted him, but he was +picked up in the river and for some time was in the care of the good +settlers of Kittanning; then he had returned.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[Pg 354]</a></span> "You must come back with me to see my father and mother and my intended +wife," said Ande. Ande insisted, and Dick yielded. They passed out +through the inn and down to the Bowling Green. There were Major +Trembath, Mrs. Trembath and Mistress Alice Vivian, to each of whom Dick +was successively introduced.</p> + +<p>"What's wrong, Dick?" asked Ande. Dick was staring with all his eyes at +the Major, and then he burst forth in answer:</p> + +<p>"Why, bless me, Ande, if the Major and old Hunter Tom are not the same, +they are brothers."</p> + +<p>"The same, Dick, lad," said the Major, smilingly, and Dick again grasped +his hand and shook it warmly.</p> + +<p>"I never expected to see you and Ande again, and I can't say how glad I +am that things have turned out as they have," said Dick.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[Pg 355]</a></span></p><p>He explained how he had returned to his people, who had long mourned him +as dead, and how overjoyed they were to see him. He was now a +prosperous, independent farmer of the Lizard, and was also preparing to +enter the shipbuilding trade. "Thanks be," said he, in an undertone to +Ande, "to the mines of Sierro Do Frio."</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI</h2> + +<p class="center">ANDE'S REVENGE</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">——"A grudge, time out of mind begun,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And mutually bequeathed from sire to son."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i25">—<i>Tatian</i>.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>"Lanyan forever! Lanyan forever!"</p> + +<p>"Trembath forever! Trembath forever!"</p> + +<p>The old town of Helston was a roaring, gesticulating mass, and the +shouting of bellowing partisans reverberated up and down Coinage Hall +Street. Crowd met crowd, waving their respective banners, opprobious +names were shouted, fists flung in the air, and a special force of +officers were busy from early morn quieting unruly fellows, some of them +more stirred by the spirits of the Angel Inn than the spirits of +politics. It was the period of the election for the Reform Parliament. +Sir James Lanyan had come forth on the old party platform, and, most +unexpectedly, in opposition to him, came Andrew Trembath. The latter had +made himself eligible by the purchase of the Primrose Cottage, thus +making himself a landholder of forty shillings annual value.</p> + +<p>Towards noon the crowds converged upon the Bowling Green, where upon a +raised platform sat the Mayor, the town functionaries, the candidates, +and their proposers and seconds.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[Pg 356]</a></span></p> + +<p>The figure of Sir James was just as tall as of old; the same eagle nose +and piercing eyes; the same easy, urbane manner and distinguished +appearance. The Conservatives admired him. His wealth, astuteness, +experience, all urged the necessity of his return to the forum of +government. There was an easiness of manner in the very position Sir +James occupied that augured well his own hopes of the coming election. +Why should he not have hopes? The interests of the landed party were all +back of him. The Godolphins and all their followers were in his train. +Reform measures were dangerous in their eyes to the staid health, +political, of the country.</p> + +<p>On the left, Andrew Trembath was not so easy in his mind. Sir James was +an old general, and he knew it; but within Ande's breast was the buoyant +hopes of youth. Here was the first stroke of revenge against an ancient +foe. Could Sir James be beaten in his cherished hopes, and that by an +upstart of a hated family, the more triumph.</p> + +<p>The preliminary proceedings were gone through rapidly. Sir James, with a +good bit of wisdom, had selected as his proposer a retired country +gentleman and as his second a tradesman of Helston, thus drawing from +the sympathy of both classes. The proposer, however, weakened his cause +by his interlarding his speech with many classic quotations, learned no +doubt when he was a lad at Eton, and also by a most unfortunate +mentioning of the stain of treason on the name of the opposing +candidate. Sir James, himself, though <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[Pg 357]</a></span> he sympathised with his proposer, +felt irritated that he should make such a blunder, and a slight frown +passed over his placid features.</p> + +<p>The proposer of Andrew Trembath was none other than the Reverend Mr. +Trewan, headmaster of the Grammar School. In a short, neat speech, and +with a few, withering remarks, he scattered the arguments of the +proposer's speech in favour of Sir James. Then speaking of his +candidate, Andrew Trembath, he referred to his being a scholar of his +own school, his honesty, uprightness, and his grasp upon the problems +that were stirring old England to her very centre, and closed with an +able plea for the seating of ability, though that ability was young. +There were strong cheers and many "hears!" from the crowd on its +conclusion. But none of these preliminary cheers were so hearty as those +which greeted the second, as he arose to greet the audience. And no +wonder, for the seconder of Mr. Trewan's speech was the new champion of +Cornwall, Dick Thomas. Sir James looked a trifle worried, for he saw the +diplomacy in the choice of these. The headmaster of the Grammar School +had weight, and Dick Thomas had the hearts of the commonality. The +speech which he made was homely enough, and demonstrated that he was, as +he said, more a man of action than one of words. But he was Dick Thomas, +and Dick Thomas was a host.</p> + +<p>Sir James arose with a look of relief on his features. He was a man +accustomed to deal with the masses, and wished to offset, as much as +possible, the blunders of his own proposer and the enthusiasm of the +crowd over the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[Pg 358]</a></span> speeches of the opposition. His speech was replete with +smooth phrases, and the whole was conducted to the close with the +arguments of a logician and the subtility of an old parliamentarian. He +demonstrated that he had a clear grasp on the problems of the day, and +the temper of the people toward them, but what he did not know was the +growing popular estimation of himself among the masses. They were +getting to realise that Sir James Lanyan was a "trimmer" and was more +for Sir James Lanyan than anything else. He said in part:</p> + +<p>"For upwards of a dozen years I have served the people of this section +as their representative in the House of Commons, and I trust that, at +this time, the confidence of the electors, that they have manifested so +often heretofore in my experience and labours, will still remain with +me. [Hisses and groans.] These are stirring times and the storms have +swept over, again and again, the ship of state, threatening to founder +her, and reduce the civilisation of the grandest and most enlightened +country under the sun to a melancholy wreck and ruin, battered and +beaten by every sea, and a prey of the pirates of Europe. To a careful +observer, what perils threaten our country? The spirit of the old-time +Luddites has again broken forth in the wrecking of machinery and +ruthless destruction of property, and there is trouble and turmoil on +every side that, unless checked by the firm hand of a Conservative +government, will bring anarchy and ruin. In the midst of all these +movements come our friends of the opposition with their <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[Pg 359]</a></span> so-called, +universal panacea of Reform. Reform! Reform what?</p> + +<p>"Would you reform the introduction of machinery? We cannot do it. If the +people themselves could see the benefits of the oncoming flood of +invention, they would not desire to do it. With the vision of a prophet +I clearly see the time when business shall be enlarged, living become +cheaper, wages higher, all on account of the increased output and +increased commerce brought and caused by the introduction of machinery. +Will this affect Cornwall? To-day, Cornwall has nothing but her farms, +her fisheries and her mines, but with the advent of new machinery will +come the spreading of new factories, until even within the 'Delectable +Duchy' shall roar and sound the noise of spindles, giving employment to +thousands of Cornishmen and their children. The increased wealth of the +country will add to the price to be obtained for fish commodities and +farm products, and there will be an era of prosperity for the hardy +miner, fisherman and farmer such as they have never dreamed of before. +Reform? Shall we reform the election laws and boroughs. The statement is +frequently made that the election laws give unequal representation, and +that there are members of the Commons not placed there by the people, +and it is true; but abolish the present system and you will purloin from +the nation the services of some of her stoutest pillars. If everything +is to depend upon a wider suffrage and the throwing out of what has been +called pocket boroughs, where would our broad-minded statesmen, who +have, tempo <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[Pg 360]</a></span>rarily, not the support of the people, come in? Had it not +been for a pocket borough, Burke, that Cicero of English politics, would +never have entered the halls of legislation. Had it not been for the +pocket borough, our most eminent statesmen, North, Flood, Canning, +Plunket, Brougham, and others, equally indispensable, would not have +gained a foothold in the parliamentarian halls. Sheridan, defeated at +Stafford, found support in Ilchester; Grey, refused by Northumberland, +was returned by Tavistock."</p> + +<p>Here Sir James was interrupted by a rough, country lout, who said +gravely that he had a question to ask of great importance.</p> + +<p>"Well, my man," and Sir James flashed a keen look at him.</p> + +<p>"I would like to ask," said the fellow with a leer, "whether m'lord +could lend me half a sovereign?"</p> + +<p>The absurdity of the thing gave the audience its desired fun, and a roar +of laughter came from the crowd. But Sir James was not the man to be put +down with the word of a buffoon. With a smile of sarcasm, he responded:</p> + +<p>"Yes, my man, I can lend you not only a half a sovereign, but twenty +sovereigns, when the cause of good government, which I represent, has +prevailed, and then you will need no borrowing, but you will have so +many, easily earned by yourself, that you will want to lend instead of +borrow. The very reason that so many are out of half sovereigns to-day +is because of the mob spirit and discontent stirred up by the element of +so-called reform. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[Pg 361]</a></span>I ask whether it was patriotism that stirred +up the agitation for so-called reform? No. It could not have been that, +for the best good of the nation, at the present time, requires peace and +harmony."</p> + +<p>Continuing, Sir James referred to the agitation of France that gave vent +to Napoleon, and was interrupted here and there with various crys of +"Tommy-rot!" and "Gammon!" from his opponents, and equally strong +"Hears!" from the Conservative wing, and closed his speech with a strong +plea for the upholding of the old line party.</p> + +<p>He was not nearly so confident when he finished as when he began. He was +beginning to realise that there was an undercurrent against him, +personally. His agents had brought him word before of this, but he had +placed it all down to the spirit of the reform movement. But now he was +beginning to realise different. Dick Thomas and Ande's agents had not +been idle in the period of the canvass. Sir James' conduct in reference +to the Trembaths, to the Vivians, and his crookedness in politics, was +fully aired among the voters, and those who could not be persuaded to +vote against the old line policies, were moved, by the revelation of the +unscrupulous conduct of Sir James, to abstain from voting at all.</p> + +<p>There was silence when the new candidate, Andrew Trembath, arose to +respond. Shaking back the tangled masses of auburn hair from his +forehead, he opened his speech in clear, ringing tones. His introduction +demonstrated that he had a tolerably clear perception of the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[Pg 362]</a></span> issues of +the day. He spoke feelingly of the popular agitation.</p> + +<p>"These riots, this breaking of machinery, this tumult in many parts of +the kingdom, to what is it due? To the spirit of reform? No. Rather is +it due to the desire of the people for better conditions. The time has +come when the voice of the people shall be heard, and that voice speaks +in no uncertain accents. Too long has the government been in the hands +of demagogues who have little to recommend them for election but +corruption; and now all over this fair land of ours the people have +arisen in their might, and demanded an extended suffrage. It is true, as +Sir James has said, that great and good men have been returned from +these pocket boroughs, but that single advantage can be offset by +innumerable and inevitable disadvantages. These pocket boroughs are +generally nests of corruption, held and dominated by some lord or +landholder. The half a dozen or so good men that were placed in position +by them can be offset by the hundreds of members that are fitter for +Newgate than for the parliamentarian halls."</p> + +<p>"Men like James Lanyan," shouted some one in the crowd.</p> + +<p>An angry hue was on Sir James' countenance for a moment, but neither he +nor Ande noticed the interruption.</p> + +<p>"What right has a green mound in a grassy field or a hayrick to send a +representative, while great and flourishing towns like Manchester and +Sheffield have none?" <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[Pg 363]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hear! Hear! Hear!" shouted many in the crowd.</p> + +<p>Continuing, Ande took up, one by one, the arguments of the opposition, +and tore them shred by shred, until not a vestige remained. Then he +triumphantly drew from his pocket a perfect arsenal of facts, culled +from Sir James' speech of years ago, when, turned down for a time by his +own party, he sought refuge in the ideas of reform. The very facts used +in his conversation with Squire Vivian, Captain Tom Lanyan and the +others, when around the tea table in Lanyan Hall so many years ago, and +which facts he used in a speech on the hustings at that time, were +quoted now, and they were like arrows piercing his very soul. The +Conservative wing were silent with consternation, and Sir James looked +down, uneasily. Then turning to the record of Sir James in the Commons, +he quoted how he had again and again voted against the will of his +constituents. Then after a few, withering flights of oratory, which sent +the Radicals wild with delight and chilled the Conservatives into icy +stillness, he said:</p> + +<p>"And now, members of the Conservative wing, you are going to vote for a +man who has uttered sentiments like these, and acted in this manner. I +need not speak to the members of my own party, I know their +determination for good government, but to you Conservatives. You are +going to vote for a man who has thus betrayed your sacred trust and thus +surrendered your standards to the enemy. What does all his actions and +speaking amount to in your minds? Just this, that though he is an +experienced hand, yet you know not what he stands <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[Pg 364]</a></span> for. Like a +vacillating weather vane, he is apt to be turned one way or the other as +the interests of Sir James Lanyan may direct."</p> + +<p>There was an uproarious "Hear! Hear!" from the Radicals, and the black +looks that the Conservatives turned on Sir James were perceived by even +that worthy himself. He shrugged his shoulders and took on his +indifferent and placid expression. But Andrew Trembath was not through +yet, for he continued bringing up clause after clause of Sir James' +speeches, sweeping the audience fairly off its feet with a torrent of +indignant oratory such as it had never before heard. All the poetry in +his nature, all the passion of years of wrong heaped upon his family, +burst forth then and there. There was no more applause from any in that +assemblage, for they were all so enthralled that they hung upon each +word uttered, riveted their eyes upon each gesture, and remained +motionless like a painted throng. Then turning from indignant invective, +he gazed lovingly over the Bowling Green and swept his vision around +toward the town, and his eyes became misty with emotion.</p> + +<p>"Helston! Dear old Helston!" he exclaimed, and he stretched out his arms +to the town and people, and there was such emotion, tenderness and love +in that tone that the crowd wept though they could not tell why.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395"></a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 240px;"> +<img src="images/i_394.jpg" width="240" height="400" alt="" /> +<span class="caption">"He opened his speech in clear, ringing tones"</span> +</div> + +<p>Sir James' proposer had called him a foreigner in little touch with +English ideals. He proved the contrary. He called vividly to mind the +days spent as a school lad among them, the exciting days of the hurling +match<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394"></a></span> <br /><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">[Pg 365]</a></span>when Breage was defeated, and men nodded their heads and smiled +as they remembered. Then sweeping into the closing address, he said:</p> + +<p>"We need a strong and experienced hand at the helm in these perilous +times, it is true, but far more do we need honesty, virtue, and +manliness. Is youth, though inexperienced, yet with average +intelligence, to be despised and condemned by the very fact of youth? +Ask the rector or parish minister the names of the two most prominent +lights in the expansion of religion, and he will say young Saul and +youthful Timothy. Gray at thirty-four finished the most beautiful elegy +in the English tongue. Milton began his career at a tender age. +Shakespeare was but twenty-seven when his name became an authority on +the drama. Napoleon, in his meteoric career, astonished and convulsed +the world, yet he was a young man. What name more brilliant in English +annals for courage and success than that of the well-beloved Wolfe of +Quebec fame—yet he perished on the field of battle at the age of +thirty.</p> + +<p>"Civil government has also her young heroes. Need I mention the great +name of Burke, who, at the age of twenty-six, won for himself a +reputation for statesman-like judgment and skill that has placed his +name high on the imperishable roll of fame. Need I mention Fox, and that +other character who still lives as a blessing in the minds of +Englishmen—still lives as the greatest diplomatist of the age—still +lives in the agitation for liberty and fair representation that so +pervades the country to-day?" <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">[Pg 366]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Pitt! Pitt! Pitt!" roared the crowd.</p> + +<p>"Aye, you have named him. Ask any bookman for a life of William Pitt, +and he will hand you down a history of England from 1781 to 1806, for +from twenty-one years of age down to the day of his death, his life has +been a history of the empire. Is youth and inexperience to be despised? +No! No!"</p> + +<p>"No! No!" shouted the crowd, taking up the words of the speaker. "Huzza +for Andrew Trembath!" And for the space of a few minutes the crowd let +out its pent-up enthusiasm in wild gesticulating of hands and roaring of +voices.</p> + +<p>The speaker concluded with a peroration that was eloquent and +passionate. Pathetic passages at times hushed that great crowd into +silence, moved it to tears, and then again swayed it to applause, and +when it was finished, and the speaker resumed his seat, there was +silence for a moment—then, like the roaring of great guns in battle +action, the throng, Radical and Conservative, sent up shout after shout, +that reverberated again and again o'er the town of Helston, and caused +the birds in the neighbouring trees to take refuge in flight. Such a +speech had never been delivered from the hustings before. Old men shook +their heads sagely, and muttered to each other that in a short time +another Pitt would astonish England and the world, and that one would be +from Cornwall.</p> + +<p>Suffice it to say, that Andrew Trembath was elected by an overwhelming +vote as M. P. for Helston.</p> + +<p>Old Parson Trant met him the next day near the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">[Pg 367]</a></span> Primrose Cottage, and +congratulated him on his election and bright, future prospects.</p> + +<p>"I had a purpose in view," said Ande. "It was not so much my desire to +enter Parliament as my antagonism to Sir James. I have had my first +revenge, and there are others to follow."</p> + +<p>"Lad, lad," said the old parson, as he sadly shook his head, "I like not +that revengeful spirit, though you have had much provocation. There is a +better way of revenge."</p> + +<p>"What way?"</p> + +<p>"'If thy enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink.'"</p> + +<p>Ande said nothing, and the conversation, after a time, passed to other +themes.</p> + +<p>After his defeat, Sir James Lanyan gave his attention to speculation, +but the ventures turning out unprofitable, he was compelled to sell +Trembath Manor, through his solicitors, to the agents of a wealthy +American traveller. But this was but a drop in the bucket of his +financial reverses, and Lanyan Hall followed suit. The purchaser of +Lanyan Hall was Andrew Trembath, but the fact was unknown to any one but +old Parson Trant, to whom Ande had confided the secret of his wealth. +Subsequently the purchaser was revealed to Sir James, and the revelation +seemed a crushing blow to him, for he sickened and began to sink +rapidly.</p> + +<p>"'Tis my second revenge," said Ande to old Parson Trant, and there was a +grim, determined look on his features. "There are others to follow." <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">[Pg 368]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Lad, lad, you must not go on in this way. Vengeance is of God. +'Vengeance is mine, I will repay.' There is a much better way, and you +can do me, your old pastor, a favour, and render God a service at the +same time." The old parson drew a pathetic picture of Sir James in his +present condition, poor, helplessly sinking into the grave. To follow up +any more of this revenge was hellish. It belied Ande's nature to +continue thus, and if this revenge should continue, he, the parson, +could not love him any more. There was one thing that would prolong Sir +James' life, and that was the bringing back to him of his son, Richard, +who was leading a wild, vicious life somewhere in London. This was the +report of the physician. "He must be brought back to his father, who is +calling for him. Who is better fitted for that mission than yourself, +Master Ande? You are going to attend Parliament in a few weeks. Go a +little before—aye, go at once to London, and take up this mission."</p> + +<p>"I! I!" stammered Ande, in some astonishment and with a little of the +old, angry feeling tingling in his veins. "You know what we have +suffered—you——"</p> + +<p>"But, Ande," interrupted the old rector, as he placed his arm around his +shoulder in the same, affectionate manner as in the olden days, and with +kind, loving tones resumed, "If Christ had felt that way to us, where +would we be?" The old parson preached one of the most appealing sermons, +then and there, that he had ever delivered. Concluding, he said, quoting +the words of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">[Pg 369]</a></span> Scripture: "'Ye have heard that it hath been said an eye +for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; but I say unto ye, resist not evil. +Ye have heard that it hath been said, ye shall love thy neighbour and +hate thine enemy; but I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them +that curse you, do good to them that hate you,—that ye may be the +children of your Father in heaven.' 'Be not overcome of evil, but +overcome evil with good.'"</p> + +<p>"Would it not be hypocritical to show kindness, when you are bitter with +revenge within?"</p> + +<p>"No; by showing kindness, even though you do not feel it within, yet +nevertheless it has a healthy action on the soul. Do a kindness and you +grow kind. We become what we do, my lad. Do it now, not because of your +feelings, but because the Lord commanded it. And by and by you will do +kindness to an enemy because your own heart commands it."</p> + +<p>"I will go in the morning."</p> + +<p>"And God will bless you, my son," said the old rector, as he parted from +him and wended his way home. There, the parson mentioned the matter to +his wife, Harriet, with some doubt as to the issue.</p> + +<p>"I fear me, Harriet, it is like sending a fire-brand to quench a +fire-brand."</p> + +<p>Andrew Trembath was true to his promise, for that week saw him in +London, actively pushing the search. Hearing of a midnight brawl, in +which Richard was engaged, and which was publicly published in the +newspapers, he sought that quarter, but Richard, fearing perhaps the +police, had fled. His father had also heard <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">[Pg 370]</a></span> of the brawl. It was the +last of a series of crushing disgraces on the part of his son that sent +Sir James into the grave. Ande did not give up the search, but +Parliament convening, he was forced to give more time to other affairs.</p> + +<p>It was in the early hours of the morning when one of the night sessions +of Parliament adjourned, and Andrew Trembath, tired of the stupid, +blocking tactics of those opposed to reform, was wending his way home to +his rented quarters in Portman Square. The streets were deserted and he +hastened along absorbed in his thoughts. A figure stole out from the +shadow of some buildings in his rear. There was a quick leap, the +glitter of steel in the air, and then Ande felt a stinging sensation in +his shoulder. Like a flash he turned and had his assailant pinioned in +an iron grip. He struggled to release himself, but to no avail. The +knife dropped with a clang to the pavement and Ande kicked it from him. +The light of a street lamp flashed on the would-be assassin's features.</p> + +<p>"Richard Lanyan! You! You! You, who broke your father's heart,—you, the +Etonian scholar,—you, base as you are, stoop to be the assassin!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, curse you!" gritted the answer from between the clenched teeth of +the writhing assailant.</p> + +<p>"And why?"</p> + +<p>"Because you have been the ruin of father, and not I. You occupy his +place in Parliament. You took away Lanyan Hall. You took away the only +woman I ever loved, and it is—revenge." <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">[Pg 371]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Lanyan, listen to me," sternly, and still keeping his grip. Ande +related in brief epitome the injuries he and his and the Vivians had +received at the hands of Richard and his father, closing with the +question: "Who has been the injured party? Your father's place I occupy +because the people put me there. Your father lost Lanyan Hall because of +his foolish speculations. If I hadn't bought it, some one else would. +His death was mainly brought on by your own sottish conduct."</p> + +<p>The eyes of Lanyan flamed with sullen passion, as he muttered, "I'll not +endure this from you," and again made an effort to escape.</p> + +<p>"Make another effort to escape and I hand you over to the watchman, or +perhaps better still I could kill you where you are. What would the law +and opinion say if I should? They would say it was good riddance of a +rough character and in self-defence, and you see I have the strength to +carry it out."</p> + +<p>Lanyan paled a little, notwithstanding the brave heart he had, for he +realised that he was but feeble in the hands of this man, his captor. He +ceased his struggles and listened sullenly.</p> + +<p>"But I have other plans," said Ande, gently. "I believe the fellow who +won a prize at Eton is capable of better things. I place the best +construction on your past actions. It was the ungovernable love for +Mistress Alice Vivian that caused much of your past action."</p> + +<p>There was no answer.</p> + +<p>"I know that was the cause, and also the cause of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">[Pg 372]</a></span> your whole life being +spent thus, and also of this last attempted deed. And I had been +searching for you for months before your father's death, plunging into +every slum and dive of London. I promised to bring you back to your +father, and thus prolong his days. Your name was the last he called upon +in his delirium. I tried to find you, but failed."</p> + +<p>Ande released his grasp, for it was unnecessary. Lanyan was weeping in +an agony of remorse and wretchedness.</p> + +<p>"But still the hour is not too late now to begin again in right paths, +and rear up your family name to its former, ancestral honour. You can do +it."</p> + +<p>"I cannot," groaned Lanyan, all hatred and vengeance apparently gone +from him. "I cannot; I have no money, and to live honestly in a poor +position——No—No."</p> + +<p>"I will help you. Come now, Lanyan, let us forget the past evils between +our families. Oh, think how good God is to prevent you in the commission +of a great crime, this night, that would blast your name irretrievably. +God is better to us both than we deserve. He bestowed upon us these +minds, these souls, and placed us in a beautiful world, and yet we abuse +His gifts. Think, Lanyan, that you and I have souls to present upright +and pure before the great God, the Father. It is a terrible thing to +think that these passions, if we allow them to rule us here, by God's +judgment, they shall rule us in the future. I confess that my hatred for +you and yours has mastered me heretofore, but Parson Trant <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">[Pg 373]</a></span> preached me +a special sermon privately, when he asked me to seek you, and I have +revolved it over and over again in my mind, and, with God's help, which +I prayed for and received, my hatred is gone. If I had found you before, +I should not have spoken to you in this way. I should have probably +mentioned your father's desire to see you and left. Now it is different. +Let the past be past, and here is my hand."</p> + +<p>Lanyan grasped the hand extended to him and there was a wavering in his +voice as he said:</p> + +<p>"Trembath, you have a much better nature than I have. I must go."</p> + +<p>"No, no," said Ande, detaining him, and he poured forth his plan, then +and there, for the turning over of Lanyan Hall to Richard. This was +conditioned on his reform.</p> + +<p>Richard was to have possession of the ancestral place at a nominal rent, +and when the rent would total the sum Ande had paid for it, the deed of +complete ownership was to pass over to Richard.</p> + +<p>There was silence for a moment.</p> + +<p>"Come," said Ande, as he placed one arm over his shoulder, "don't on +account of past ill feeling refuse this chance of making a man of +yourself and uplifting, once again, your ancient family."</p> + +<p>There was a period of inward conflict in the breast of the man beside +him, and then, in resolute tones, he answered, simply: "I'll try. +Forgive me, Trembath, for to-night's action, and for the injustice done +by our family." <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">[Pg 374]</a></span></p> + +<p>The two men shook hands firmly, and separated, Ande to seek a surgeon to +have his wound dressed. But the wound gave him little pain, and what +pain there was was wonderfully alleviated by the gladness of soul +within. He knew that the best vengeance was forgiveness, as the old +rector had said.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">[Pg 375]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII</h2> + +<p class="center">CHRISTMAS IN THE OLD HALL</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Lo, now is come the Christmas feast<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let every man be jolly,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Each room with yvie leaves is dress'd<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And every post with holly;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now all our neighbours' chimneys smoke<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Christmas blocks are burning,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Their ovens, they with baked meats choke,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And all their spits are turning;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Without the door let sorrow lie,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And if for cold it hap to die,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We'll bury un in a Christmas pie,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And evermore be merry."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i25">—<i>Withers</i>.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>"Ah, this is like Christmas," said the old Major as he wended his way +with his wife and Ande to Trembath Manor on Christmas eve. The Manor was +to be reopened that night and the strange owner, through his secretary, +had sent out invitations to the country around, and among those +receiving invitations were the Major and his wife and son.</p> + +<p>They passed through the gates, the old Major pausing a moment to scan +the Trembath arms and remarking, "I am glad the new owner has not seen +fit to remove our coat-of-arms from the gates."</p> + +<p>"The drive-way is in better shape than it was in the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">[Pg 376]</a></span> days of Squire +Vivian," said Ande, as the gravel crunched under their advancing steps.</p> + +<p>"A careful and neat owner; it will do me good to meet him," said the +Major.</p> + +<p>Forth through the trees ahead gleamed the twinkling lights of many +windows, only obstructed by the passing of forms within and the figures +of many great holly wreaths. The great lantern in front of the double +doors was gleaming brilliantly through its festoons of evergreen, and +from the hall could be heard the sound of ringing festivity and +jollification. The door was opened widely at the sound of the great +knocker, and the butler footman, bowing low, ushered them into the great +hall. Groups of elderly people were engaged at their favourite game, +whist, at different tables, and down the long room were others engaged +in sundry amusements. The panelled walls had been rewaxed and were +glistening with holly and mistletoe. The large picture of Squire +Vivian's father still smiled friendly at the picture of King George II +on the other wall, and in the great open fireplace roared, cracked, +leaped, danced and shouted with all the ecstacy of Christmas jollity the +flames of the great yule log.</p> + +<p>"Where's the new squire?" whispered the old Major to his son. He had +hardly asked the question, before he started back in amazement at a +sight he saw over the great, panelled fireplace. Two great +oil-paintings, heavy in their rich framings, riveted his attention. He +stared at them and then at the crowd of Christmas revellers, who, though +now thoroughly quieted, yet had <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">[Pg 377]</a></span> gleams of suppressed merriment on their +countenances. What could it mean? Those pictures? Where had they +obtained them? Was his mind affected? He knew that he was growing old, +and as he dazedly thought of this, he hurriedly passed his hand through +his whitened hair, a gnarled, brown bough in the midst of a snowdrift. +The folding doors, separating the servants' hall from the apartment they +were in, were thrown open, revealing the merry faces of group after +group of servants. It was a tableau of suppressed excitement, broken at +length by the voice of Parson Trant.</p> + +<p>"My friends, we have gathered here not only for Christmas festivity, but +to do honour to the dead and to the living." Pointing to the picture on +the right, he continued: "Behold the picture of Captain Andrew Trembath. +You are all aware of the terrible injustice done his memory. He was the +most patriotic and loyal of Cornish gentlemen. His long war record amply +testifies the fact. He was wounded at Prestonpans, and at Culloden, and +did worthy service under Braddock in America. After that deplorable +battle, he was captured by the Indians, escaped from them, slew a French +officer, garbed himself in his uniform and for greater security in the +enemy's country inserted his name in the dead officer's commission +papers. He was accidentally shot by the troops of General Armstrong, the +thought of treason penetrated the public mind and the estate of Trembath +was confiscated. Yet, after all these years truth prevails. An old +snuff-box, found in the wilds of America, reveals the secret, and though +dead, Captain <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">[Pg 378]</a></span> Andrew Trembath is once more honoured by the people as a +faithful soldier and loyal subject of the King." Then, turning to the +other picture, he continued:</p> + +<p>"Behold the picture of Major Thomas Trembath, who served the King nobly +in the Peninsular campaign, in the War of the American Colonies and in +the Canadian War. He disappeared, due to an impression conveyed to him +that his family was dead, and for many long years was an exile in the +wilds of America. Then as a hunter he lived by the pursuit of game. To +the place of his abode came his son, Andrew Trembath, and after a time +became known to him, and through the finding of the records of the +snuff-box, already mentioned, he is restored to his former +honours,—friends and country. His life formerly was sad, now we trust +his declining years will be full of sunshine, and I greet and welcome +him as Squire Trembath, the rightful master of Trembath Manor."</p> + +<p>"Welcome to your own, again, comrade," said old Captain Tom Lanyan, as +he heartily shook the squire's hand.</p> + +<p>Others crowded around the old squire, among them Dick Thomas, Tom Glaze, +and numerous of the parish gentry.</p> + +<p>The old squire and his wife were so dazed that they could not speak, and +so they were escorted to the great armchairs in readiness for them near +the great yule log, and one by one the Christmas guests came near and +gave their greetings. When it was all finished, the new squire found his +voice.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">[Pg 379]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am glad, my friends, to be with you here in the hall of my fathers, +but all this seems too wonderful to me to be true; yet I cannot help but +believe what has been told me—but how has all this come about? Has the +government——"</p> + +<p>"There has not been anything wonderful about it but the kindness of +Providence," said Ande Trembath, arising to speak. "Years ago, when a +lad, I resolved to remove the stain of treason from our name. My life +here and at school is familiar to you all. By a strange series of +adventures my classmate, Dick Thomas, and myself found ourselves adrift +on a bit of wreckage in the English channel. We were picked up by a +Brazilian ship and after a weary journey were landed at Rio de Janeiro. +For some time we laboured in the fields of planters, and then betook our +way inland to the ridges of Sierro Do Frio. It was here that we laboured +under a brazen sun for the space of three years. I cannot tell of all +the various vicissitudes that overtook us there. At one time I was down +with fever and, but for the help of Dick, would have succumbed to its +ravages. At another time I repaid the debt by nursing Dick through a +serious illness. Gentlemen, you have all seen him wrestle with Tom +Glaze, but he was not the hardest opponent he met. He had the hardihood +to win championship honours in a struggle with an immense Brazilian +puma, or mountain lion. I do not remember whether Dick sprang at the +lion or the lion at him. All I remember was seeing man and beast in a +hideous mix-up, worse than any wrestling match I had ever seen. <span class="pagenum"><a +name="Page_411" id="Page_411">[Pg 380]</a></span>I ran to our cabin for a gun, but +it was unnecessary, for when I returned, there were Dick and the lion +stretched beside each other. He had choked it to death, but was so +lacerated himself that it was months before he became well. In the midst +of our work we were successful, both in diamonds and gold, and quitted +the regions wealthy men. I deposited my wealth in the banks of New +Orleans, and the charm of the hunting life still being on me, and being +anxious to visit the place of my grandfather's death, we journeyed to +the Kittanning region. The result of that Kittanning trip is now known +to all England. I heard that the Manor was for sale, and secretly, +through agents, purchased it. And now, father and mother, I hand over to +you the title deeds of Trembath Manor and the Wheal Whimble tin mine as +a Christmas present. I wish also to add this check on the Bank of +England for the sum of fifty thousand pounds. A merry Christmas, and may +you have many, happy years in the home of our people."</p> + +<p>"Merry Christmas! 'Tis the merriest Christmas I have had in years," said +the old squire with emotion, as he wiped the tears away, that would +persist in gathering in his eyes.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Elizabeth Trembath said nothing, but her bright shining eyes +revealed her happiness as she gently pulled her son's head down and +kissed him.</p> + +<p>Here the thrumming of a harp was heard and a curtain was drawn from an +alcove near by, revealing Uncle Billy, the droll, with an orchestra at +his back. In the meantime Ande withdrew. The droll and his orchestra <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">[Pg 381]</a></span> +paused not a moment, but plunged, with voices and instruments combined, +into the Hymn of the Lark.</p> + +<p>The song was sung to its very end, and the old squire, as he nodded, +said, "Yes, yes, it's true; evil fails at last and right prevails."</p> + +<p>He had hardly finished speaking when the orchestra burst into strains of +Mendelssohn, and down the great, hall stairway came a procession such as +it had never witnessed before. First came a troop of little girls +bearing flowers and scattering them profusely in the way. Then followed +ladies. "Ah, the bridesmaids," whispered some one, and then followed by +their respective attendants, in regular procession, came Ande Trembath +and his affianced bride, Mistress Alice Vivian. Slowly they proceeded up +the hall and took their respective positions before old Parson Trant. +The orchestra gave one clashing peal of music and then was silent, and +then arose the mellow voice of the rector in the marriage ceremony of +the Church of England. At the words, "Can any man say aught why these +two should not be joined together in holy wedlock," the voice of the +squire was heard.</p> + +<p>"There have been so many things happening on this Christmas eve, that I +hesitate to interrupt the service, but have the laws of England changed +in my absence. I mean that law that states that no marriages are lawful +except those performed in a parish church?"</p> + +<p>"The laws of England are the same," said Parson Trant, "but we have a +special dispensation from the archbishop, dispensing with the banns, and +allowing, in <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413">[Pg 382]</a></span> consideration of the return of Squire Trembath and the +happiness of this occasion, the ceremony to be performed in the Manor of +Trembath."</p> + +<p>"Ah, that is different; my blessing and heartiest well wishes," said the +squire, as he sank back in his armchair.</p> + +<p>After the ceremony all adjourned to the dining hall, where an elaborate +wedding dinner awaited them. During the wedding feast the old squire +told of his many adventures, to which Dick and Ande added some of their +own.</p> + +<p>"It tells like a story-book," said Tom Glaze, in admiration.</p> + +<p>"Or rather like a drama," said bluff Captain Tom Lanyan. "Wouldn't I +have liked to have been in the Shawnee fight," and the tough, old, +Wellington veteran rubbed his hands in delight.</p> + +<p>"I have a bit of news," said Ande, as he drew a letter from his pocket. +"Here is a letter from Hugh Lark in America, just received." He scanned +it rapidly and replaced it, and then turned with a smile to his father +and the company. "He says that he has given up the idea of the silver +mine, that Professor Bill Banks has been elected to Congress, and that +old Burke still thinks Bill is high larndt."</p> + +<p>The voices of carol singers were heard without, and the wedding dinner +being ended, they again returned to the main hall to enjoy the singing. +The "curl" singers were followed by the old play of St. George and the +Turk, performed by village lads. Then, in the closing scenes of the +evening's festivities, Parson Trant pro <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_414" id="Page_414">[Pg 383]</a></span>posed his favourite hymn, and +out on the evening air, echoing even far beyond the walls of Trembath +Manor, the mellow voices of the trained singers, the piping of childish +voices, the worn voices of the older parties, and the music of the +droll's orchestra mingling all together, pealed the strains of Cowper's +hymn:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"God moves in a mysterious way,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His wonders to perform,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He plants his footsteps in the sea<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And rides upon the storm."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="center">THE END <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_415" id="Page_415">[Pg 384]</a></span></p> +<hr class="chap" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_416" id="Page_416"></a></span></p> +<p><br /> +<br /></p> + +<div class="textbox"> +<p class="center">All Lovers <i>of</i> Nature Should Read<br /></p> +<p><br /></p> +<p class="center">"<big><b>Jay Gould Harmon</b></big>"</p> +<p class="center">with</p> +<p class="center"><big><b>Maine Folks</b></big><br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center"><small>BY</small> +<br /> +<b>GEORGE SELWYN KIMBALL</b><br /> +<br /></p> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr> + <td align="left">A Beautiful<br />Picture of<br />Life in <i>the</i><br />Maine Woods<br /><br />Stunning<br />Cover</td> + <td align="center"><img src="images/i_416.jpg" width="35" height="180" alt="" /></td> + <td align="right">Ten<br />Full Page<br />Illustrations<br />Frontispiece<br />in Color<br /><br />Price $1.50</td> +</tr> +</table></div> + +<p><br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center">ANOTHER<br /></p> +<p class="center">"<b>QUINCY ADAMS SAWYER</b>"<br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center">C. M. Clark Publishing Co., Inc., Boston<br /></p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_417" id="Page_417"></a></span></p> + +<div class="textbox"> + +<p class="center"><b><big>Lords of the Soil</big></b><br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center"><b>By LYDIA A. JOCELYN ... <i>and</i> ... NATHAN J. CUFFEE</b><br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center">A Story of Indian Life Among<br /> +the Early English Settlers....<br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center">Since the days of Fennimore Cooper there has been no Indian<br /> +book so true to life, as brilliantly written or as interesting.<br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center"><b>10 Full-Page Pictures with Colored<br /> +Frontispiece by A. B. Shute....</b><br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center"><b>480 pages that one is sure to read without<br /> +stopping</b>.<br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center">Mrs. Jocelyn has championed the Indian cause in her novel,<br /> +showing in vivid colors the gross injustice and rapacity of<br /> +the early white settlers in their treatment of the magnanimous<br /> +and unsuspecting "Lords of the Soil."<br /></p> +<br /> +<p class="center"><b>Price, . . . . $1.50</b><br /></p> +<br /> +<p class="center">Sold by all Booksellers or sent postpaid by the Publishers on receipt of<br /> +price<br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center">C. M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO., Inc.,<br /></p> +<br /> +<p class="center">211 Tremont Street, ... Boston, Mass.<br /></p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_418" id="Page_418"></a></span></p> + +<div class="textbox"> +<p class="center"><b>THE</b><br /></p> +<p class="center"><big><b>Baronet Rag-Picker</b></big><br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center"><i>A ROMANCE OF LOVE AND ADVENTURE</i><br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center"><b>By CHARLES S. COOM</b><br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center">MR. COOM HAS WRITTEN OF CLEVER, LOVABLE PEOPLE<br /> +SUCH AS WE ALL KNOW IN EVERY DAY LIFE<br /> +<br /></p> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr> + <td align="left"></td> + <td>Ten Full-Page<br />Illustrations with<br />Colored Frontispiece</td> + <td align="left"></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left">380 Pages of most<br />interesting reading<br />and a story that will<br />please every one</td> + <td> </td> + <td align="left">Bound in Silk<br />Cloth stamped in<br />many colors making<br />most unique and<br />attractive Cover</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="left"></td> + <td>In Paper, Press-work<br />and Typography<br />it is the climax of<br />Bookmaking</td> + <td align="left"></td> +</tr> +</table></div> + +<p class="center"><b>RETAIL PRICE</b><br /> +<b>$1.50</b><br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center">FOR SALE BY ALL BOOKSELLERS OR SENT POSTPAID<br /></p> +<p class="center">BY THE PUBLISHERS ON RECEIPT OF PRICE<br /> +<br /></p> +<p class="center">C. M. Clark Publishing Co., Inc.<br /></p> +<p class="center">211 Tremont St. Boston, Mass.<br /></p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_419" id="Page_419"></a></span></p> +<p><br /> +<br /></p> +<div class="textbox"> + +<p class="center"><big><b>Hope Hathaway</b></big></p><br /> +<br /> +<p class="center"><i>IS ANOTHER STRONG WESTERN STORY OF MONTANA RANCH</i><br /></p> +<p class="center"><i>LIFE BY THE AUTHOR OF</i> "Marie of the Lower Ranch," <i>AND</i><br /></p> +<p class="center"><i>WITH EACH COPY THE PUBLISHERS ARE GIVING</i><br /></p> +<br /> +<p class="center"><b>FREE</b><br /></p> +<br /> +<p class="center"><big><b>Eight Stirring Pictures</b></big><br /></p> +<br /> +<p class="center"><i>BY</i><br /></p> +<br /> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Charles M. Russell</span><br /></p> +<br /> +<p class="center"><i>The Cowboy Artist</i><br /></p> +<br /> +<p class="center"><i>These pictures are the exact size and true reproductions</i><br /> +<i>of the originals and are all ready for framing</i><br /> +<br /></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 720px;"> +<img src="images/i-419.jpg" width="720" height="269" alt="" /> +</div> +<p><br /></p> +<p class="center"><i>The above pictures are reproductions</i><br /> +<i>of three of</i><br /> +<i>the originals.</i><br /></p> +<br /> +<p class="center">Price of Book and Pictures, $1.50<br /></p> +<br /> +<p class="center">C. M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO., (<i>Inc.</i>)<br /></p> +<br /> +<p class="center"><i>BOSTON, MASS.</i><br /></p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_420" id="Page_420"></a></span></p> + +<p> </p> +<div class="notebox"> +<p class="center"><b>Transcriber's Note. </b> Some punctuation misprints have been corrected.</p> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDE TREMBATH***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 39606-h.txt or 39606-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/9/6/0/39606">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/6/0/39606</a></p> +<p> +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p> +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Ande Trembath + A Tale of Old Cornwall England + + +Author: Matthew Stanley Kemp + + + +Release Date: May 3, 2012 [eBook #39606] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDE TREMBATH*** + + +E-text prepared by Chris Curnow, Sue Fleming, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made +available by Internet Archive (http://archive.org) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 39606-h.htm or 39606-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/39606/39606-h/39606-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/39606/39606-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + http://archive.org/details/andetrembathtale00kempiala + + + + + +ANDE TREMBATH + + + + To My Friend + + THE RIGHT REV. CORTLANDT WHITEHEAD, S.T.D. + _Bishop of Pittsburgh_ + + In memory of pleasant hours spent together + at "Burgtown." + + + +[Illustration: ANDE TREMBATH] + + +ANDE TREMBATH + +A Tale of Old Cornwall England + +by + +MATT. STAN. KEMP + +Author of +"Boss Tom" + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + +C. M. Clark Publishing Co., Inc. +Boston, Mass., U.S.A. +1905 + +Copyright, 1905, by +C. M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO., Inc. +Boston, Mass., U.S.A. + +Entered at +Stationer's Hall, London +Foreign Copyrights Secured + +All Rights Reserved + + + + +Contents + + + _CHAPTERS_ PAGE + + I A Calamity at the Manor 1 + + II The Son of a Traitor 16 + + III The Runaway 26 + + IV The Primrose Cottage and Tom Glaze 31 + + V "The Big Ha' Bible Ance His Father's Pride" 41 + + VI Squire and Parliamentarian 46 + + VII Tea-table Politics 55 + + VIII "Off With His Head" 66 + + IX The Village Stocks 73 + + X Reparation 77 + + XI Defeat of Bully Bob Sloan 87 + + XII Christmas and Christmas Play 98 + + XIII The Cornish Droll-teller 113 + + XIV St. George and Fair Sabra 123 + + XV The Helston Grammar School 135 + + XVI The Hurling Match 146 + + XVII The Smugglers' Battle 160 + + XVIII The Duck Cave Adventure 173 + + XIX Creakle's Revenge 185 + + XX Adrift On the Deep 197 + + XXI Around the Tavern's Flaming Grate 214 + + XXII The Lycamahoning 240 + + XXIII The Raft Pilot's Home 253 + + XXIV The Hunter of the Loop 261 + + XXV Eureka! The Eldorado! 266 + + XXVI The Rising 285 + + XXVII The Secret of the Snuff Box 293 + + XXVIII Misfortunes 313 + + XXIX Tom Glaze to the Rescue 327 + + XXX The Major's Home-Coming 334 + + XXXI Ande's Revenge 355 + + XXXII Christmas In the Old Hall 375 + + + + +Illustrations + + + Frontispiece _Ande Trembath_ + + PAGE + + "There was a vision of a flying, athletic, youthful + form--clinging with the grip of a vice--" 27 + + "It's a compact, said the former" 54 + + "Yes, give three hoots for the red-'eaded Deane and all his + traitor hancestors" 89 + + "I am that Knight, said Ande, warmly" 128 + + "They say you are the son of a traitor" 189 + + "The old hunter straightened up as if shot, and gazed at them" 250 + + "Sweet bird of the wilderness, sweet is thy song" 302 + + "The door was opened, and the gleam of candle light shot + over all concerned" 332 + + "He opened his speech in clear, ringing tones" 364 + + + + +ANDE TREMBATH + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A CALAMITY AT THE MANOR + + +"Never before in the history of the Manor have deeds like these been +perpetrated," said the squire, his genial, rubicund countenance turning +pale with anger. + +"Prithee, prithee, cool thyself; look at the affair calmly and you will +speedily discover the rogue," replied the parson. + +"Cool myself!" replied the squire, in some heat; "it is easy enough to +talk, but this is the third offence in a week. Last Monday the tulip +beds and shrubbery were trampled and ruined; Wednesday, the fish-pond +drained and the best fish secured; and last night, the unknown miscreant +killed poor, faithful Borlase. It is becoming unbearable,"--and the +squire, with angry features and the semblance of a tear in his eye, +knelt down by the body of the English mastiff to convince himself again +that the life of his canine friend was extinct. + +The scene was in a remote corner of the gardens of an old Cornish manor +estate. Some distance away, looming up above the nodding heads of trees, +were the gables and chimney pots of the squire's residence. Near a clump +of shrubbery was the kneeling form of the squire, with flushed face and +unsteady hand, for his soul was trembling with indignation, examining +the head of his slain, four-footed friend. The parson, with dignified +step, was closely scrutinising the ground between the squire and the +road-side hedge. + +"Ah! Here, do you see? Here is where the missile struck him." It was the +squire who spoke, for he had found a long deep gash near the right ear. + +"From what I can see," said the parson, who was a keen observer, "the +rogue was making for the hedge, the most natural deduction, the hedge +being the nighest escape from the dog. Then," he continued, with +homiletical precision as if outlining a pulpit theme, "since the dog +followed him, he must have hurled some missile at him. What more natural +missile than a stone, and what more natural place to secure it than from +the hedge? Now the missile must be around here somewhere. Ah! Here it +is," and Parson Trant picked up a good sized stone from amidst the +shrubbery. "There is blood upon it; proof, number one; now let us +discover its place in the hedge." + +The squire arose and accompanied the parson to the hedge and, after a +minute examination, the stone's former location was discovered. + +"So far, good," ejaculated the parson. "Now what servants would be most +likely around the gardens last evening?" + +"Tut, tut, you would never make a barrister, parson. To suspect any of +my servants! You are well versed in theology, and no one knows better +how to preach a sermon, but in matters of law and trespass we, +magistrates, must take the precedence." + +Now at times Squire Vivian could be as genial and pleasant as the sun on +a June-tide morning. Kind-hearted, generous, frank, bluff, with a rough +veneer of the old-time courtesy was the old squire, and yet with a +choleric spirit underneath all, that would sometimes burst forth into +passionate invective, to the scandal of his friends and to his own +aftertime regret. Add to this a dignified opinion of his position as a +landed magistrate and the squire of Trembath Manor is evident. He had a +goodly amount of hard English sense and in managing his estates and +finances had been tolerably successful, but in sharp penetration of +character and shrewd judgment in other affairs, he was lamentably +deficient. His frank and open nature had not given him much chance to +develop these talents, even had he ever possessed them, and, like many +persons whose positions require talents in which they are lacking, or at +best but meagrely gifted, the squire felt vexed when his little +magisterial keenness was surpassed. + +"Tut, tut, parson, you are losing your judgment if you suspect the +servants. There's old George Sloan, the hostler, and Ned Pengilly, the +gardener, the only two persons likely to be on the grounds at that time, +and they loved old Borlase,--ay,--even better than they love his master. +No, no, parson, you are at fault there." + +Parson Trant smiled, for he knew one of the chief failings in the +squire's character. + +"No, I did not suspect them, but they, being on the grounds, can no +doubt enlighten us and bring to view more evidence. The most learned and +keen-sighted judge, at times, profits by the evidence of common +labourers and country parsons, who are far beneath him in the knowledge +of law and criminal investigation." + +"To be sure, to be sure," said the squire, somewhat mollified, "but here +comes Sloan." + +An old man, whose erect form and sturdy step belied his grey hair and +wrinkled brows, was seen approaching from the direction of the stables. + +"Canst tell us anything more about this outrage, Sloan?" + +The hostler was now close at hand and had removed his cap in deference +to the gentlemen near him. + +"A bad job, beant it, squire, as I was a-telling nephe Bob this marning. +No, sir, I can't say as Hi knaws much. I 'eard Borlase barking +savage-like last night, and I ups and slips quiet-like down from my room +o'er the stables, and run through the paddock just in time to see the +rogue on the other side of the 'edge. It was dark, squire, and I 'aven't +the heye-sight I used to 'ave, and so I couldn't make un out who 'e was. +This marning I looked around and found poor Borlase a-lying there and +brought you word. That's all I knaws, only I 'opes the villain will be +caught and 'anged." + +"And did you see no person around the grounds late in the afternoon, +George?" asked the parson. + +"None, sir, except my nephe Bob, who comes hover to the stables to 'elp +me in my work, now and then, but 'e always leaves afore evening. Now--as +I think of it, Bob was a-telling me 'e 'ad seen Ande Trembath nigh the +Prospidnic road gate, as 'e was going 'ome last night; 'e may 'ave seen +the rogue and could tell you summat." + +Blackness as of a thunder-cloud rolled across the old squire's features, +and a purple stream of blood mounted and flushed his temples. + +"Spawn of the traitor! He shall smart for it!" + +"What a horrible oath! Squire, you are beside yourself," said the +parson, with gentle, chiding reproof. + +"Well, damme, parson, what's a man to do? Here's all these outrages, and +it's perfectly clear to my mind, now, that that traitorous son of----" + +"Tut, tut, fie, squire!" + +"That that traitorous son of a traitor, knowing that I have the +possession of the manor of his ancestors, which the King--God bless +him--took from their family on account of their treason, that boy--don't +interrupt me, Parson Trant--that boy is the culprit, and damme--I'll +have him arrested for malicious mischief and trespass." + +"Not so fast, squire. What evidence do you have except your own +suspicions and the fact that the lad was seen nigh the Prospidnic road +gate? If I know aught of law there's not sufficient evidence." + +"There, there, you talk of law--as if a magistrate didn't know the law." + +"Well, the evidence is lacking," said the parson, gently, though firmly, +for he would not allow the squire to shake his confidence in his best +pupil. "The lad has a good reputation, is a bright scholar in my parish +school, and----" + +"Well, well, we'll get more evidence," interrupted the squire, a little +testily. "George, see that the dog is buried, and--here, hitch up the +black mare for Mistress Alice; she's going out this morning." + +The hostler paused, fingering his cap. + +"I'm feared, squire, Queeny is a little huntrusty; she's been standing +in the stall some time." + +"What!----" + +The presence of the parson restrained the squire from saying more, but +his flushed countenance spoke volumes. George saw it and, touching his +cap, hastened off to obey. + +"Here's a pretty pass things are coming to! Outrages committed daily, +and my own servants in open rebellion, disputing my word." + +"Come now," said the parson, gently, "he meant no harm and no +disrespect, I'm sure. Suppose we go down to the lodge and see Pengilly." + +Squire and parson wended their way across the gardens to the broad +carriage-way and thence down to the main entrance of the manor estate, +the latter talking and the former keeping down his temper as best he +could in silence, until he became of a more quiescent frame of mind. In +truth, the squire was inwardly regretting his outburst of temper, and +the violent language he had used in the presence of his friend, the +parson. + +"Such a thing is possible but not probable. Ande has been the best +scholar in the parish school and a model boy, so the master assures me. +We must not condemn him too hastily and without being heard. His mother +is a noble woman and has inculcated high principles in her training of +the lad." + +There was silence for a moment unbroken save by the crunch, crunch of +the gravel underfoot and the twitter of bird overhead. Then the squire, +sufficiently calmed, spoke. + +"All very true, but envy and malice crop out even in the very best of +characters; especially is it true in those who, having been deprived of +high position, see others occupying that which was formerly theirs. They +are apt to allow their feelings to bias their judgment." + +"And are you sure that you, my old friend, are not doing the same +thing?" said the parson, with a winning smile, referring to the last +remark of the squire. + +Squire Vivian flushed at this rejoinder. + +"Well, we'll give the lad a fair chance; perhaps I was a trifle too +hasty, but you well know, parson, that next to my Alice and you, I was +extremely fond of Borlase, and naturally feel angry at his loss. I +secured him when a puppy from an old friend, one of the Borlases of +Borlase at St. Just. You know, to be sure, Dr. William Borlase, the +scholar and antiquarian?" + +"Aye, I have studied his works with interest." + +"Well, I named the mastiff after him; the intelligence of that dog, +parson, was phenomenal. Ah, here we are at the lodge." + +The drive-way terminated at the entrance gate, a large affair of massive +iron bars, fancifully and artistically wrought at the top into intricate +curves and flourishes. Huge square pillars of Cornish moor-stone +surmounted at the top with the Trembath arms--a Lyonnesse warrior +galloping amidst ocean waves--flanked the gate on either side and gave +it desired support. Why the squire, or his father, had not removed the +arms of his predecessor, replacing them with his own, is hard to tell. +The whole gateway stood out like fret-work upon the background of the +squire's woods beyond the highway, woods and trees of ancient standing, +as scrupulously cared for as the members of the squire's own household. + +Within the gate and close on one side, lovingly environed by beds of +blooming gilli-flowers and marigolds, and almost concealed by enveloping +masses of English ivy that affectionately embraced its walls, was a +small, neat, stone cottage that bore the dignified name of "the Lodge." +A man, still in the prime of life, was labouring assiduously over some +strawberry beds in the rear. + +"Ned, this way, please," shouted the squire, and Ned Pengilly, who acted +in the double capacity of gardener and porter, dropping his hoe, +hastened to comply. There was independence and respect for his master +admirably blended in the demeanour of the gardener, as he stood before +parson and squire. + +"Ned, did you see Ande Trembath nigh the place of late? We want you to +freshen up your memory and tell us when and how often you have seen him +about the place of late." + +"Well, I seed him going through the Manor woods--yesterday; 'e was +whistling a tune, bright and cheery-like, and bid me the time of day as +'e passed the gate. We all likes young Squire Ande, as we calls 'im--no +offence, squire, I 'opes;--we all calls 'im 'young squire' 'cause 'is +grandfather was squire 'ere years ago, afore 'e turned for the +French--which the lad can't 'elp." + +"Which the lad can't help!" fairly thundered the squire, his wrath +getting the better of him once more, no doubt fired at the term of young +squire. "I suppose he couldn't help draining the fish pond? I suppose he +couldn't help trampling the shrubbery? I suppose he couldn't help +killing Borlase last night? Couldn't help----" + +The latter part of this ebullition of passion died away in a hoarse +growl of something like "blood will tell." + +The effect upon the porter of this news of the killing of Borlase was +most striking. + +"Bless m' well, squire! What! Borlase dead--killed! Good hold Borlase! +'ow fond we were of 'im! Dead!" + +There was a curious working of the gardener's features and he hastily +rubbed the sleeve of his rough shirt across his eyes. + +"You must excuse me, squire--to blubber 'ere like a babby--but then you +knaw 'ow I brought un, nigh ten year ago, from St. Just--a puppy 'e was +then, and I loved un--ay--like--like--like a father. 'Ow 'e used to +bark--just like the roar of a lion--ah was--and 'ow sensible 'e was too +when 'e would come nigh me at work on the flower beds; 'e'd wag 'is tail +and look on like a gentleman, as if saying, 'thas all right, my man,' +and yet 'e'd ne'er put foot on a posy or stamp on my work. Dead! But +bless'ee, squire, you can't suspect Ande. Why, I knawed Ande when 'e was +only a hinfant, and I knawed him from then up, and a brighter, better, +honester lad ne'er breathed. Soul of 'onour, 'e ez, sir! Ande! Why 'e +wouldn't 'urt nothing, sir." + +"I agree with you, Ned," said the parson. "Ande has too kind a heart to +hurt any of God's creatures. His character is above suspicion in the +matter." + +"'Zactly so, so 'e ez," affirmed Ned. + +"The principles and character of his father and grandfather were not +above reproach. He's a chip of the old block," growled the squire. + +"But, I am afraid the commonwealth is against you in your judgment of +the lad. You know the old adage, 'a man's innocent until proved guilty,' +squire," rejoined the parson. + +"Aye, but in this case it's the Irish verdict, 'guilty, but not proven.' +Ned, fix up the berry bushes and trim the shrubbery to-day. In the +meantime keep an ear open, and report to me any news you may hear of +last night's outrage." + +The gardener touched his cap and returned to his labour, and squire and +parson, still conversing, sauntered away through the grounds. + +"A man shouldn't allow his feelings to run away with his judgment," said +the latter, warmly championing the cause of his favourite. + +"The days of the Stoics are past. You have a marvellous predilection for +that lad, Parson Trant. Now, I shall just send the steward down to the +village, this evening, and have him up here, not for a trial, but just +for a private examination, and he shall have fair play. But going to +other subjects, old friend,--what think you of young Master Lanyan?" + +"Master Lanyan--um--a bright young man--bright beyond his years, I +think. He will certainly make his mark in life if he keeps to right +principles." + +"Ah, exactly so," said the squire, rubbing his hands in the first +satisfaction he had had for the whole morning. "I wanted to get your +opinion and am glad you think so highly of him." + +His companion shook his head. + +"As to thinking highly of him--I don't know. He has a strong, subtile +mind,--culture,--and a determined will, but he plays cards and----" + +"Pooh! Pooh! Pish! Physician, heal thyself; you know that you and I +engage in a social game at times." + +"But we don't gamble." + +"Only a few wild oats. That is natural to a high-spirited lad. He has +culture, a strong head--a genuine gentleman," stoutly maintained the +squire. + +"Ah, but those things in my estimation are not the true requisites of a +gentleman. I consider the foundation principles of a man's life." + +"Yes, but the English gentry are supposed to be dominated by the highest +principles," said the squire, earnestly. + +"As a class, yes, but in reference to the individual, it is a +supposition without the fact, frequently; and, if your statement holds +good, how about my young friend, Ande Trembath?" + +The squire flushed with angry impatience. + +"Back again to that young villain! Well, parson, that family no longer +belongs to the English gentry class, as you can readily see. Attainder +of property and corruption of blood!" + +It was the parson's time to "Pish! Pish! Pooh! Pooh!" + +"Pshaw! Nothing of the kind. Does a plant cease to be the same when it +is transplanted to another soil, or the king of the jungle cease to be a +lion when surrounded by the bars of a cage?" + +"Yes, to an extent. Environment has a large influence on life; at least +so our parson said in last Sabbath's discourse." The squire laughed +heartily, and thwacked the discomfited parson on the back with his +large, broad hand. + +The parson smiled and resumed. + +"I am beaten with my own stick, yet, notwithstanding that you quoted me +correctly, you are wrong. Environment is not a paramount influence. Man +can conquer. Tertullian and Origen----" + +Afraid of starting his friend on some long-winded discourse on ancient +church worthies, the squire interrupted him. + +"Your idea of a gentleman is----" + +"My idea is that wealth, culture, position, etc., are the emoluments or +adjuncts, and that high, sound, moral principles, a righteous heart and +a noble soul, whether under the blouse of the peasant or under the silk +vest of the prince, are the only badges of gentility." + +"Well, well,--little did I think that my old, conservative friend would +turn out such a radical." + +"Not at all. My firm belief, that these, by training, education, blood, +descent, are embodied more fully in the gentry class of England than in +any other, has made me an extreme conservative. But, about young Master +Lanyan?" + +"Young Richard? Young Richard in a year or so will attain his majority. +What think you of a match between the young Richard and my Alice? You +see," added the squire, as he linked his arm in that of the parson, "I +am getting old and I would like to see my only child well settled in +life before I leave the earth. The Lanyan estates are nigh to ours and +they will fall to Richard after his father's death. What better match +than Richard? My Alice is worthy of being called 'My Lady' and Richard +will be Baronet in time. Now, what think you, old friend?" + +"You asked me two questions; let us consider one at a time. In reference +to young Richard. It is not the playing of cards that I object to; it is +the trait that his gambling reveals. You know of the schemes of his +grandfather, and of his great-grandfather; the rage for speculation, the +South Sea Bubble, and the hundred and one schemes that that family has +engaged in. Blood will tell. Richard's gambling reveals that. He will +either make or break his family. This mad rage for speculation is an +evil thing. Some day either Sir James or Richard will overreach himself +and should--but of that anon. He is determined and has a strong will, +but should his will be thwarted might not the young Richard be like his +grandfather, a man of no principle. I do not wish to misjudge the young +man, but I fear me that he is one who will allow nothing to come between +himself and his ends, and even to stoop to questionable and evil things +to accomplish those ends. God forgive me if I have judged wrongly. Then +he is proud and even supercilious at times, a disdainer of the commons. +Should he be brought to poverty, the lack of principle which I fear is +in him would hasten the degradation of his character. He may be +different than I have said, but whenever I see him I have an undefinable +suspicion of incipient evil within. Now in reference to Alice and this +projected alliance. Alice is a good child and has commendable traits. No +'My Lady' will enhance her worth any more than it is now. Her happiness +is no light consideration. I believe she can be happy with no man except +one of high and noble principles. Then, in event of this alliance being +consummated, there may be danger of Trembath Manor being involved in the +ruin that may come upon Lanyan Hall. Has she been consulted? Would she +offer no objection to this plan of yours?" + +"Objection! No," said the squire, a little testily, for he had been +listening impatiently to this advice of his friend. "Alice is a good +child and will do as I say." + +The parson had his own opinion, but said nothing. + +The great gables and chimney-pots of the "great house," as it was +generally called by the peasantry around about, loomed up in the +distance and suggested to the parson that the hour was getting late. +Taking out his watch---- + +"I declare! I had no thought that the hour was so late, and Harriet +will be waiting for me, too. I must go and we'll talk about the matter +later on." + +The squire tried to prevail upon his friend to stay for lunch, but, +finding that it was unavailing, cordially shook hands and they +separated, the former going on toward the Manor house, the latter +hastening down to the entrance gates. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE SON OF A TRAITOR + + "Blithe bird of the wilderness, sweet is thy song, + Blithe lark of the wildwood, O, all the day long, + A-singing so cheerily in the green tree, + Thy anthem dispels gloom and sorrow from me; + Thou sayest in thy song, 'What can sadness avail? + Injustice shall fall and the good shall prevail.' + + "Yet bird of the wilderness, sad is our lot, + Our home, confiscated, our name, a dark blot; + The Cornish chief, stricken at Prestonpan's fight, + Wounded at Culloden for King and the right, + And captured at Braddock's defeat in the glen, + Was branded at home by a sycophant's pen. + + "Oh, bird of the wildwood, upon the green bough + Thy ancestor sang just as sweetly as thou, + He sang, as thou singest, that evil should fail, + Injustice should fall, and that good should prevail; + But surely the goddess of justice is blind, + When traitor is honoured and patriot maligned. + + "Sing sweetly, O wild bird, upon the green tree, + And let me draw comfort and solace from thee, + Though home's confiscated, dishonoured our name, + And poverty adds a deep sting to our shame, + And father's departed,--yet, evil shall fail,-- + Some day,--right shall triumph and good shall prevail." + + +Clear and sweet arose the melody, and yet with a plaintive element of +sadness in it. The parson paused in his steps to listen. On one side of +the highway stretched the woods of the Manor, their shadow etched darkly +by the slightly slanting sun-rays; on the other side were the fields, +yellow, ripe, all ready for the sickle of the reaper. A wood-lark, the +sweetest of all English birds, arose in the air from the Manor woods +and, still twittering, flew over hedge and field, no doubt seeking its +home and mate. + +A smile of pleasure lit up the saintly old rector's face and then merged +into the thoughtful. He made a pleasing picture leaning on his +silver-headed cane, his long skirted coat slightly open at the neck, +revealing the white stock-cravat in its fluffy folds, his head slightly +inclined as if not willing to lose a single bar of the song. Not until +the song was ended did he venture forward. + +"Most remarkable song and most remarkable sweet tenor voice--yes--a +great deal sweeter than Penjerrick's. I must have that voice for our +parish choir." + +Arriving at the corner of the woods, the silence of the singer was +explained in a single, brief, cursory glance. There, seated on the hedge +that separated the woods from the road, sat the figure of a boy, tall, +sinewy and strong, yet still a boy. His cap had fallen to the ground and +the tangled masses of dark red hair lay deep on his brow. With +melancholy, abstracted air, he was gazing across the fields as if in +meditation. + +"Why, Ande, you are quite a singer," said the parson, in a pleasant +voice. + +The lad, startled from his reverie, leaped down from the hedge, picked +up his cap and coming forward gave his customary salutation, +"Good-morning, Parson Trant." + +The parson returned the salutation and then there was silence for a +moment, during which the rector scrutinised him with his kindly, yet +keen grey eyes. + +The lad's face was both attractive and strong. His slightly aquiline +nose revealed a sensitive nature; his prominent chin and firm lips, a +resolute will; his high, rolling forehead--swept by the tangled waves of +rollicking hair--intellectuality; the hue of his locks and the deep blue +eye, a soul that, though kind and affectionate, could be fired by strong +passions. At least so conjectured the parson, who thought he could read +character in human lineaments. + +But these thoughts did not occupy the latter long. It was the manner of +the lad that disturbed him. With bright, cheery smile he had been +accustomed to greet him heretofore. Now the youth stood before him +almost with the air of a culprit. He shunned the rector's eyes, and +seemed as if wishing to avoid that calm scrutiny. A fleeting thought +possessed the mind of the pastor. Could the youth possibly be guilty of +the misdemeanours committed at the Manor? Was he wrong in his judgment +of his favourite pupil? The truth of the matter was that the youth had +been crying over petty vexations. At least there were tears in his eyes +and, like many of his age, he disliked to be seen thus. + +"Well, Ande," said Parson Trant, breaking the silence, "you have a voice +that ought to be in our parish choir. Now what do you say about coming +in next Sabbath morning? Mr. Penjerrick will give you a little +preliminary training Saturday afternoon." + +"I--I would rather not come, sir, if you could excuse me. I--I don't +sing in church." + +"And why not?" asked the parson, kindly. + +"Because I would be singing the praises of God when--when--I don't feel +like it," responded the lad a little slowly, and with some effort. + +"Why, Ande, you are a Christian lad--true, you have not yet been +confirmed and united to the church--but still, you are a Christian lad. +Are you not?" + +"I don't know, sir," said the lad, and again relapsed into silence. + +"My poor lad," said the good old man, as he put one arm over the boy's +shoulder, affectionately, "there's something wrong with you to-day; you +are not yourself. Come now, confide in me. Tell me about it and let me +give you my advice in the matter. You have not done anything wrong, have +you?" + +Thus questioned by the good old rector, Ande, who loved him for his +worth as a true man and a noble exponent of Christianity, could not help +but respond. Flinging up his head and pushing back the masses of hair +that would persist in falling over his eyes, he said: + +"It is this way, Mr. Trant, I have made up my mind to leave the +country. There is room for me on the sea or in foreign parts. I can't +bear the taunts of some of the lads at the parish school. The master +doesn't know and you don't know how mean some of the boys act. There's +Bob Sloan, Dick Denny and some more of that stripe that are becoming +unbearable." + +"Why, what do they say?" asked the parson, kindly. + +"They call me the ugly Dane or Deane and cast slurs upon my father and +grandfather, saying they were traitors to the government." + +"Ah, in reference to the first name, methinks, my lad, you are old +enough to know that that old story of the Danes seizing the wives of +Englishmen has no historical foundation; in reference to the second +matter, time itself must clear up the truth or falsity of the +accusation. It certainly shows a mean, petty spirit to vilify a son for +the reputed deeds of a father." + +"Aye, there's just the point about my not singing in church. The Bible +says 'the sins of the fathers shall be visited upon the children,' and I +think that's unjust. Here," said the boy with a trace of angry passion +in his tones, "I am taunted, despised, looked down on, not only by the +lads, but by some of the grown people as well. I believe, just as you +say, that it shows a small spirit in lads, men and the Bible, to condemn +a lad for the faults of his father. How can I sing then?" + +The parson was dumfounded and completely silenced for a moment. He was +grieved and dismayed to hear how his last remark was misapplied. + +"And," continued the youth, rather bitterly, "I believe, and know you +believe, that neither father nor grandfather were guilty of any treason, +that there's a mistake somewhere. Yet--yet I have to stand all this. +Squire Vivian looks upon me with an angry look. Sir James Lanyan looks +upon me as if I was a dog. Master Richard called me a traitor's cub, +because I happened to be in his way this morning, and if he hadn't been +on horse-back I would have made him take it back--and--and--I hate them. +I hate them all!" The lad's face was marked with passion, his fists +clenched, and there was an angry tear in his eye that he could not +conceal. "Why does God allow all this? Why--and--and--but I'm not going +to stay here and bear it." + +The parson looked grave and turned the conversation for a moment by +asking the name of the author of the song he had heard. + +"The Song of the Lark, you mean? That was made by my father, and my +mother taught me to sing it when I could first finger the harp. The harp +is the only thing we have now that used to belong to the Manor." There +was a sad ring in the boy's voice that but indicated the feelings +within. + +"Do you believe in the truth of that song?" + +"Yes," responded the lad. + +"Well, why don't you put in application the thought?" and Parson Trant +quoted the words: + + "'What can sadness avail, + Injustice shall fall, and good shall prevail.' + +Now, Ande," continued the parson, "I know the history of your family +almost as well as you. Your grandfather was a faithful subject of the +king. He fought with Gardner at Prestonpans, at Culloden, and also +against the French in the American colonies. He disappeared after +Braddock's defeat and was shot a year afterward by General Armstrong's +troops, by mistake, no doubt. Now consider,--at the time he had on a +tattered French uniform, with a commission as captain in the French army +in his pocket. These things were brought to England and, through the +instrumentality of Sir Richard Lanyan, father of Sir James, the +attention of the authorities was directed toward them and the Manor +confiscated. Under the circumstances was not the king justified in +suspicioning his loyalty? Consider, too, that England and the Hanover +dynasty had been threatened seriously, by the Pretender, with another +invasion of French troops. Culloden was still fresh in men's minds. +Cornwall was noted for her adherence to the Stuarts in the Cromwellian +wars, and even at the time of the young Pretender many noted Cornish +families sympathised with him and the Stuart claims. You know the story +of Burnuhall[1], and how young Prince Charles, the Pretender, spent +several nights there in concealment. Do you wonder at a ready ear being +given to suspicion coming from this quarter? Blame not the king or your +fellows, my lad. The suspicion was natural, although the friends of your +family believe that there was a mistake somewhere. Hope for the best and +bear up cheerfully, my lad. You misapplied my remark some moments ago +about God being unjust and that therefore you could not sing His praise. +My remark applied only to men and not to God. God is above our judgment. +He cannot be measured by our standards. You spoke about playing the +harp. It was hard work to learn, was it not?" + + [1] Burnuhall--A fine old mansion near the English Channel in the + parish of Buryan, Cornwall, England. Sheltered the young Pretender + in 1746. + +"Yes, sir, but mother kept me at it." + +"Well, so God is trying to teach you some things. You heard my sermon +last Sabbath. Can you tell me the text?" + +"Part of the eighteenth verse of the Hundred and Fifth Psalm, 'He was +laid in iron,'" responded the boy. + +"I am glad you remember it. You remember how Joseph was treated, sold +into slavery, maligned, slandered, imprisoned. Yet he had done no wrong. +Now is your case any worse than his? No, not nearly so bad, yet he +didn't refuse to sing God's praise, although he knew God permitted him +to be slandered and to be unjustly imprisoned. Now, what was it for? You +remember the old Hebrew rendering that I quoted as the last thought, +'Barzel baah naphsho,' and its meaning iron entered his soul. You +remember I said his soul was strengthened as with iron, on account of +his suffering and dishonour, and that through that same discipline he +gained the courage, wisdom, resolution and position of a prince, and +became ruler o'er all Egypt. Now, Ande, God may be training you in the +same way. You know Cowper's hymn, no doubt, by heart. + + "God moves in a mysterious way + His wonders to perform; + He plants His footsteps in the sea + And rides upon the storm. + Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, + The clouds ye so much dread + Are full of mercy and will break + In blessings on your head. + Judge not the Lord by feeble sense + But trust Him for His grace, + Behind a frowning Providence + He hides a smiling face!" + +The beautiful hymn was quoted to the very end, and the good old parson, +apparently filled with the glad, stirring thought, had a smile of +exalted hopefulness on his countenance. Ande gazed at him and it seemed +in that smile he read a happy augury of his own future. The parson had +preached a sermon without realising it, but yet he could not fail to see +the effects of his words on the youth at his side. There was a serenity +on the boy's features and a new, hopeful light in the eye as he grasped +the parson's hand with fervour, and said, "I'll not doubt God again, +Parson Trant, and I'll not refuse to sing." + +"And not hate Squire Vivian, Sir James Lanyan, or the young Master +Richard?" asked the parson. + +The parson had overreached himself. The youth's countenance flushed with +anger and the hands were slightly clenched. There was silence. + +"Perhaps it is a little too much to ask that now. That will come. Don't +doubt God. Love Him and you will soon love men. In reference to the +slurs of the lads, pay no attention to them and they will soon cease +their annoyance. In reference to your name and the stain upon it, +resolve to make a new name for yourself and your family by your own +conduct. Can you think of anything more noble than to labour against +unfavourable circumstances, against slander, encumbered by a stained +name,--false though the accusation may be,--fighting against odds, and +yet finally coming forth from the struggle, a victor, having made a new +and honourable name for yourself and family? Can you, my lad?" Parson +Trant gave the lad an affectionate pat upon the back. + +There was silence for a moment. + +"Yes, I can." + +The rector was taken aback, for he had expected a different answer. + +"And what is more noble?" he asked. + +"I think it is better to clean the old name; and I'll do it, if I can." +There was a steady light of purpose in the eye of the youth, as he +replied. + +The parson said nothing for a time and they walked on in silence and +then---- + +"Perhaps you are right, lad. You are very much like your father. Those +were his words and sentiments. I trust you may be more successful, +though." + +Parson Trant, while giving vent to these brief, epigrammatic sentences, +was thinking of another matter,--the depredations on the estate of the +Manor,--and had just decided to broach that unhappy subject. They were +standing near the village stocks and the parson, placing his arm again +in that of Ande, began the subject in an indirect manner. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE RUNAWAY + + "And as the chariot rolled along the plain, + Light from the ground he leaped, and seized the rein; + Thus hung in air, he still retain'd his hold, + The coursers frighted, and their course controlled." + + --_Dryden's Virgil._ + + +"Ande, my lad, if--" + +His remarks were very unceremoniously cut short by a shout from the lad. + +"Look out, Mr. Trant! A runaway!" and before he had finished speaking, +he caught the old parson by the shoulders and gave him a shove to one +side of the road. Now the action of the youth was so quick and with such +vigour, that the parson had no alternative but to go in a very +undignified manner. His shovel-shaped hat went into the hedge, and with +coat-tails flying like the pennants of a man-of-war, the parson was +following, but tripped on some obstacle and plunged very quickly and +involuntarily into a bunch of stinging nettles and thistles by the +road-side. + +Nor was the action too quick, for down the road, galloping and plunging +as if mad, her eyes flashing and nostrils distended with terror, came +the squire's black mare, Queeny. A brief glance had sufficed for the +youth's quick eyes. The bit had broken in the mare's mouth. The +chaise in the rear rocked from side to side in a most frightful manner, +but the plucky driver, Mistress Alice, with resolute will, though pale +with fear, still held the lines, seeking in vain to restrain the +maddened creature. There was a quick thud, thud, thud; the creaking of +wrenched axle; a rolling cloud of dust; and through it all in the rear a +strained face, beautiful, yet fear-stricken, with wide, dark eyes and a +tumbling mass of curly hair as black as the clouds of a moonless night. + +[Illustration: "There was a vision of a flying, athletic, youthful +form--clinging with the grip of a vice--"] + +Then there was a leap and a vision of a flying, athletic, youthful form, +and Ande was clinging with the grip of a vise to the black, flowing +mane. With his right arm up over the animal's neck, supporting himself, +with the other hand he grasped the mare by the nostrils, completely +shutting off all air. Then there was a struggle for the mastery. The +infuriated creature reared, plunged, until there was imminent danger of +the shafts breaking, but the lad was too strong to be thus shaken off. +There was a cry, almost a shriek, like unto a scream of human agony, +from Queeny. On, on, on plunged the creature with its human burden, but +there was a slowness of speed until some hundred yards from the parson's +position, when the runaway was brought to a standstill, although +trembling in every limb with fright. + +The squire's daughter, only too anxious to alight after that mad ride, +stepped from the chaise, and between her petting and speaking to Queeny +and Ande's grip, that he still maintained, the mare was pacified. + +"Now," said the lad, speaking for the first time, "please unbuckle those +backing straps and unhook the traces." + +The girl, though unaccustomed to be ordered in this manner, saw the +necessity of complying, since her rescuer did not dare to leave his +position at the mare's head. + +"Now, let me have the halter in the chaise." + +The girl produced it, and the animal thus secured was led out of the +half-ruined shafts. + +Parson Trant, in the meantime, had disengaged himself from the unwelcome +embrace of the nettles and thistles. Picking up his shovel-shaped hat +and dusting it with his handkerchief, he placed it on his head after +first arranging his scattered locks, and then hurried forward to assist +the squire's daughter. That young lady had, however, finished the work +before his arrival. + +"Well, well, well!" exclaimed the parson, as he came up, puffing with +over-exertion and mopping the perspiration from his brow. "That was a +narrow escape, Mistress Alice--thank God for it--also--this brave young +man. Mistress Alice, this is Master Ande Trembath." + +The parson in the midst of his hurry had neither forgotten his religion +nor his courtesy that seemed inherent in his very nature, but he little +realised the ludicrous figure he presented in that scene. His +neckerchief was all awry; one coat-tail was sadly torn by the violence +of his fall and was now hanging in a most melancholy manner by a few +threads from his coat; his broadcloth trowsers were soiled and covered +with nettle stickers and thistle down; and his hat, in the hurry of +putting it on, was located on one side of his head in a most rakish and +disreputable manner. + +A silvery peal of laughter from the girl, which was joined by a hastily +suppressed chuckle from Ande, caused the rector to notice his condition +and he was much chagrined in consequence. There was a flush on his +countenance that made both of the young parties regret their hasty +merriment. + +"Parson Trant, you must pardon my rudeness in pushing you aside, but if +I hadn't done it we both might have been hurt." + +"To be sure, to be sure--don't mention it, my brave lad. You did a noble +action and probably saved my life as well as that of Mistress Alice," +said the parson kindly, as he patted the lad on the back. + +"And as for me, dear Parson Trant, I must beg pardon for my rudeness in +laughing," said the girl with regret in her tone, and then turning to +Ande she thanked him for his brave conduct. "And now you must both come +up to the Manor for lunch, will you not? O do, please; father will be so +delighted." + +Parson Trant cast a rueful glance at his clothes, saying he was hardly +presentable, and then his face relaxed into a smile that widened into a +good-humoured laugh as he pictured himself seated at the squire's table +in his present condition. As for the lad, the invitation would have been +acceptable, had he not thought of the squire's antipathy toward himself. +He declined also, but accompanied the squire's daughter to the Manor +gates, having first bid the kind-hearted parson adieu. + +"I can't tell why it was that Queeny ran away. She never acted that way +before. I was so frightened. It was very brave of you to stop her." + +The lad was a trifle confused under these glowing tributes to his +heroism and could make but little reply. + +"Trembath--Trembath," continued the girl musingly, "why that's the name +of the former owner of the Manor--that is, before my grandfather. They +said he was killed in America, and you----" + +"He was my grandfather," said the youth with a sensitive flush on his +face. "He was an honourable man." + +The flush on the face of the youth was reflected on the countenance of +the girl, for she realised that she had committed an indiscretion in +referring to the death of his grandfather. + +There was an embarrassed silence for a time and then the girl exclaimed, + +"There's Ned Pengilly!" + +It was indeed the worthy lodge-keeper who appeared at the gates. To him +Ande consigned the animal that he was still leading and, receiving the +thanks again of the girl, he turned and wended his way toward home. +Within a short distance he paused and turned, watching the retreating +forms of the girl and the lodge-keeper leading Queeny. Then, with a +feeling he knew not what, he once more continued his journey. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE PRIMROSE COTTAGE AND TOM GLAZE + + +"Ande, laddie, thou art late to-day. Here it is almost one +o'clock--and--why--what have you been doing? Hast been fighting? Why, +your jacket has a rent of fully five inches and your trowsers look as if +you had been rolling over in the dirt." + +The scene was in the main living room of a little stone cottage. Indeed +the cottage could only boast of having two rooms and an attic--but this +room was the main living room. A primrose vine covered the house front +and several roses that still retained their position, though late in the +season, drooped on their stems over the small, diamond-shaped window +panes, as if anxious to catch a glimpse of the speaker within. A fire of +Cornish furze and sea coal was blazing brightly in a grate in the +chimney. A tea-kettle, suspended from a crane o'er the fire, had been +humming away for quite a time and mingling its tune with the steady +tick-tick-tick of a great-grandfather clock standing in the angle of the +stairs that led up to the attic. A harp, its gilded framework much +tarnished with age, stood in the opposite corner near the dresser, a +striking contrast to the humbleness of its surroundings. A few cheap +prints of country scenes, one a scene of Wellington at the battle of +Waterloo, and a picture in oils of a rugged soldier--an officer +evidently--who had a striking resemblance to Ande, adorned the plain +white-washed walls. + +The room altogether presented a cosy appearance and just now was filled +with the odour of steeping tea, fresh biscuit and a scrowled +pilchard--most welcome indeed to a hungry boy. + +A kind, motherly looking woman, who had not yet passed middle age, was +busy laying a cloth on a small centre table. She had a pleasant, refined +countenance, marred a little with care, a countenance classic with its +profile and grey eyes. Hair, dark, mingled with a few grey streaks, fell +down gracefully o'er the ears from a parting in the centre, lending a +sweet, motherly appearance to the classic features. Though clad in an +ordinary common house dress, a stranger gazing at her for the first time +would say she must have occupied a higher station in life in her earlier +years; and his estimate would be correct. + +Mrs. Thomas Trembath, the mother of Ande, for it was she, was the +daughter of William Borlase, a younger son of a young branch of that +illustrious Cornish family. He had been a rising young barrister of +Bodman town, and would have won fame in his profession had not death +claimed the bright mind. His wife and child managed to live on a +thousand pounds that constituted the bulk of his little fortune. It was +to Bodman that Captain Thomas Trembath came, seven years after the war +with the American colonies terminated. He had never married, partly +because he had been engaged in the American war and had no time to think +of matrimony; partly because one great thought absorbed his attention, +the vindication of his family name; and partly, most potent reason of +all, no doubt, he had found no lady of his rank willing to take upon +herself a name so stained with treason as his own; and, as for marrying +beneath him, he gave it not a thought. He was then approaching middle +age and was thinking most seriously of the problem, when, meeting young +Mistress Elizabeth Borlase, he mentally decided the question. For three +years this soldier, who had the courage to face the American batteries +and the charge of Washington's horse, attended the Borlase home before +he had the courage to settle his doubts. The daughter accepted him, but +when the consent of the widow was asked there was a stormy scene. She +was much outspoken against it, alleging the difference in ages, the +Captain being fully fifteen years older than his affianced bride. The +truth of the matter was that the widow had resolved to secure the +handsome middle-aged Captain as a mate for herself and was mortified to +find it was the daughter and not herself he desired. + +For ten years no children were born of this union. In the year 1805, +however, a male child was born. + +"We will call him Borlase Trembath," said the mother, "for he has the +Borlase mouth; those lips are like his grandfather's. He will be a +speaker and a good singer." + +As if in testimony of his mother's opinion the babe set up a lusty +wail, sometimes crescendo, sometimes staccato, then babbling recitando, +flourishing his fists and kicking his limbs in animal spirit. + +"Oratory enough to oppose a Pitt," said the Captain, with a grimace, and +putting his fingers in his ears. "He will be a parliamentarian some day, +no doubt. See, he is already beginning to gesture." Then, changing his +bantering tone, "He has the nose, the forehead, the blue eyes, the hair +of his grandfather, Squire Andrew Trembath, my father, and why not the +name." + +The wife saw the desire of her husband and acquiesced in the name. "He +shall be called Andrew," she said. + +The Captain, though much pleased with the comforts of home and the +presence of his wife and child, still retained the passion for war and +battlefields. He came of a long line of Cornish soldiers and the war +spirit had become intensified in himself. Was there any truth in the old +legend of the blood of the Danish freebooters mingled in his ancestors? +He knew not and gave it not a thought. War called him, and he joined the +Iron Duke in the Peninsular campaign. When the War of 1812 with America +began, fired with the same old passion to redeem his family name from +the stain of treason, he secured his discharge, with the rank of major, +and was soon on his way to participate in that struggle. Here he +disappeared after the defeat of Proctor, and his wife and son, Ande, +were succoured from dire distress and want, into which this event +plunged them, by the death of the widow Borlase. Her fortune of a +thousand pounds, depleted somewhat, was by regular process of law +conferred upon Mrs. Thomas Trembath. Such was the condition of affairs +at the time our tale opened. + +"Ande, laddie, hast been fighting?" + +"Well, I had a bit of a fight with Bob Sloan--a great hulking bully 'e +is--but the master parted us. He called father and grandfather names and +said I was a coward, and I beant a coward." + +"Laddie, why are you always picking up the insults of the lads, and how +often have I told you about language. 'Beant' isn't good English." + +Now before the parson and other dignitaries Ande was accustomed to use +good language, but before the boys and at times before his mother, he +drifted into a little of the vernacular. + +"Well, I forget sometimes, mother dear, but my torn clothes are due to +another affair and not the fight." + +The lad recited the incidents of the runaway, while engaged in eating +the lunch that had been so long delayed. The mother listened with bright +eyes, attending occasionally to the wants of the table, and when the +tale was fully narrated, she leaned over the back of his chair, kissed +his forehead, and called him her "brave laddie." + +"But, laddie, how rudely you must have treated Parson Trant! Was he not +angry at his fall?" + +"No, mother, parson saw that I did not mean to push him down, but only +tried to get him out of danger, and he laughed afterward, too." + +The lunch was ended and Mrs. Trembath was bustling around, clearing the +table. Ande had a project in view that afternoon. It was a half-holiday +and he had purposed going to the Loe Pool with some of his fellows to +gather shells, and a swim in the lake or in the sea adjoining was a +pleasure to his athletic nature. The Loe Pool had other fascinations for +him also. What wonderful tales were related about it! A little sheet of +water below Helston, kept full by the little River Cober, having no +outlet to the sea except by percolating through the sandbar which Mother +Ocean, inhospitably, threw up between herself and her child; yet was it +not the remnant of the old harbour of Helston. He had heard of it from +the old Droll Tellers, and loved to lie on the sandbar meditating, +dreaming of the things that had happened there centuries before. He knew +the Phoenicians had sailed over that sandbar with their ships and the +Danish freebooters in later times. It was a pleasure highly anticipated. + +"Well, laddie, I suppose you must hurry back soon to school." + +"No, there's no school. The master gave us a half-holiday to-day; that +is the reason I loitered some on the way home." + +"Then thou canst cut the furze in the croft." + +Submissive to his mother, not even mentioning his disappointment, with +furze cutter o'er his shoulder, the youth sallied forth and was soon +busy in the furze croft, a sort of high, rough land in which the furze +grew. The prickly, shrubby plant grew around him in great abundance, +some of them reaching the height of three feet. He paused for a moment +during which he viewed with delight the abundance of its golden flowers, +dappling the whole field with its starlike disks. It was a pity to cut +them down, thought the lad, but then we must have something to burn, and +what is equal to furze in a grate on a cold evening? With this thought +he again wielded the cutter with a will, and the desired amount was soon +bound in bundles, ready to carry to the cottage. + +"Well, young squire, and how dost like the work?" + +The remark emanated from a tall, muscular man, in shirt-sleeves, who, +leaning on the hedge, calmly smoked a "bob" or short Cornish pipe. He +was a little over the medium height but looked short because of the +heavy shoulders and thick, muscular arms and limbs which nature and hard +work had given him. The face was kindly, good-humoured, honest and open. +By his general outline he was neither a hard eater or drinker. There was +a suppleness and ease in this young man of twenty-six that made him +admired by the whole country around, a suppleness demonstrated by the +ease with which he placed one hand on the hedge and leaped lightly over. + +"Pretty well, thank 'ee, Tom Glaze," responded Ande. + +"I 'eard that thou and Bob Sloan 'ad a bit of a scrimmage this marning +and that 'e was a bit too much for 'ee. Is that so?" + +The welcome look died out of the lad's face and he flushed, angrily. + +"There's no truth in that at all," he said, curtly. + +Glaze laughed heartily and then, seeing he had offended his young +friend, sought to soothe his spirit. + +"Come now, no offence, I 'opes. There's no dishonour in your being +licked by Bob, seeing as how 'e is both bigger and older. He 'as beaten +you when 'ee were smaller, 'asn't 'e?" + +"Yes, 'e has, but I would like to know why you are throwing the defeats +at my 'ead, when you say they were no dishonour." + +Tom Glaze laughed again and then seated himself boy-fashion on the turf, +embracing one knee with his great arms. + +"Let me tell 'ee a tale. There was once a great rogue elephant that +lived in the jungles of Africey. He was a very bad 'un, 'e was, I can +tell 'ee. He 'ad great long tusks and a great trunk and everybody was +afeared of 'im because 'e was so large. He was mean, too. The other +elephants banded together and drove 'im from the herd, and in spite 'e +began to abuse all the other animals of the jungle. There was also a +young lion that come that way one day. He 'adn't been long away from 'is +mother's 'ome in the jungle, but he thought 'e was big enough to go +forth to seek 'is fortune in the world. He was a-lying asleep in the +path when Mr. Elephant come by. 'Out of my way,' bellowed the elephant. +Young Lion reared up and says he wasn't going to move a step. With that +Mr. Bad Elephant seized 'im with 'is trunk and flung 'im pretty 'ard +into the bush and walked on. What did Young Lion do? He went straight +'ome to 'is father and told 'im all about it and 'is father was pretty +mad, but 'e didn't say much. He thought a bit and then 'e said: 'My son, +'ee need a few tricks of the lion trade.' And then he began to teach 'im +some of the tricks, 'ow to spring and where to land. The next time Young +Lion met Mr. Bad Elephant, 'e 'ad all the tricks of the trade and 'e +just beat the elephant all around, clawed 'im up so that 'is best +friends wouldn't know 'im. The animals of the jungle all come together +and gave a public feast in honour of Young Lion and they thought 'e was +a public hero." + +Tom Glaze ceased speaking, and smiled again. + +The lad said nothing. + +Now this Tom Glaze had always inspired Ande Trembath with admiration. +Tom had been a tin miner for years, but he also had another calling. +Cornwall was and always will be noted for her wrestlers and boxers, and, +though Glaze was not a champion, he was on the highway to that +distinction. There were only three or four wrestlers in the whole +country that he could not defeat. In addition to this he was an +all-round athlete. Many a time Ande had seen him break the head of his +opponent at the contest of quarter-staff at the county fairs. + +"Now why do I tell 'ee about thy defeats? Why? 'Cause I've sized 'ee up, +many a time, and says I to myself, that with summat of a training thee +could do wonders. All 'ee needs is the tricks and the training." + +"And could I beat Bob?" asked Ande, eagerly. + +"Bob? Aye, and two like 'im, and I would like to see 'ee do it. Now +thee art about through with furze cutting let me give 'ee a lesson or +two." + +Ande sprang nimbly to his feet and Tom having arisen, they set to work. + +What tugging there was in the scrimmages! What dodging! At first it was +slow work, but as the lad learned point after point he speedily put them +into practice. With all his heart, with the remembrance of Bob's insults +strong within him, with the consciousness of his strength yet +undeveloped, and with the burning desire to avenge some of those insults +to his family honour, Trembath was resolved to profit by the instruction +of his teacher. + +"Bravo! Bravo! That was finely done," exclaimed Tom, when the youth, +having learned a new dodge and counter, put the same into practice in a +way that delighted the wrestler. + +"Now, I suppose we 'ad better go 'ome, as thy mother may be looking for +'ee. But, mind 'ee, my lad, doant'ee go a-telling of this. Doant'ee go +a-telling. Why? 'Cause you want to take Bully Bob by surprise. Thee meet +me 'ere every evening, and thee will soon knack Bob off 'is pins." + +The good-humoured wrestler vaulted the hedge and strode lightly and +rapidly away, while Ande shouldered his burden of furze and started +toward the Primrose Cottage. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +"THE BIG HA' BIBLE, ANCE HIS FATHER'S PRIDE."[2] + + [2] Burns' "Cotter's Saturday Night." + + +Burns has beautifully described the cotter's Saturday night, but that +was the cotter of Scotland. Cornwall, too, has that beautiful and +appropriate custom, not only of closing the week but also the day with +the worship of God. + +Supper is over in the Primrose Cottage. The sun is slowly sinking to +rest in the watery bed of the western sea, flecking and streaking the +distant blue into a variegated coverlet for its nightly repose. In a few +hours twilight will come and then night with its darkening mantle. The +main living room of the cottage is gilded by the slanting sunbeams that +glisten through the small, diamond window panes and the open doorway. +The floor of stone has been freshly sanded with white sea sand and raked +and marked in neat figures. Ande Trembath is interested in a new tale +that seems fascinating to him. It is Scott's "Lady of The Lake." Mrs. +Trembath is seated in a comfortable rocking chair, knitting, for Ande +must have warm stockings for the coming cold weather. The hour of +worship peals out from the great clock in the corner of the stairs. +Without a word, the lad places away the tale he has been perusing and +picks up the worn gilded volume of God's word. The mother places her +knitting on the small side table and prepares to listen, while her +laddie opens the book with care at the One Hundred and Fifth Psalm. The +reading of God's providence revealed there seemed to have additional +interest for the lad, and he paused for a moment over the eighteenth +verse and thought over the parson's morning talk. The Scripture ended, +the mother and son kneel in prayer, using not only the prayer of +ordinary evening worship, but that other prayer for the safety of those +astray on sea or land, and as the mother reads reverently the latter +prayer, the thoughts of both are concentrated on the dear one lost +amidst the American wilds eight long years ago. Then followed the Lord's +prayer, repeated in concert, until the part "forgive us our trespasses +as we forgive those who trespass against us," where the lad's voice +faltered, and ceased for a moment, resuming the prayer in concert with +his mother when the phrase was passed. + +The prayers were ended and the harp was brought forth with loving care. +The lad handled it with reverence, for it was his father's, and his +grandfather's, and he knew not how far it had dwelt in the annals of his +family. Then came the strains of Bishop Ken's Evening Hymn, + + "Glory to Thee, my God, this night, + For all the blessings of the light; + Keep me, O keep me, King of kings, + Under Thine own almighty wings." + +The worship was finished and the Word, the prayer book, and the harp +replaced in their usual positions; Ande had returned to his "Lady of +The Lake," the mother to her knitting. There was no sound for a time +save the monotonous click, click of the knitting needles, keeping up a +sort of recitative duet with the tick, tick of the clock. + +"Ande, laddie, why is it that thou dost not repeat the whole of the +Lord's prayer with me? I have noticed the last few times and have +wondered." + +The lad was silent for a moment and his face flushed. + +"I cannot, mother dear," he said simply. + +"Why, laddie?" + +"Because there are some I cannot forgive, it seems. There's Sir James +Lanyan and Richard, his son, Squire Vivian, and Bob Sloan, +and--and--they treat a person mean. When I think of the Lanyans and +Squire Vivian and how they or their people treated ours and took away +the estate, and--and when I think to-day how they treat father's and +grandfather's memory, I cannot feel like forgiving them and I can't say +'forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,' +for that would be asking God not to forgive me." + +As Ande Trembath referred to the Lanyans there was an angry light in his +eyes, which softened into gloom as he spoke of the Lord's prayer. + +"Ande, laddie, we must pray to God to help us to forgive. 'If ye forgive +not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your +trespasses.'" + +The widow was silent. She felt as keenly as her 'laddie' the injustice +done the Trembath family and there was a half-inaudible sigh from her +lips. She had not that bitter, unforgiving spirit, but she knew the +temper and spirit of her laddie. Will time ever remove the sting of an +unjust act? she thought. It was of no use to urge the point now with her +boy. She must think. + +There was a clicking of the garden gate; a step was heard on the stone +garden walk, and a figure appeared at the door. It was that of a man +clad in livery dress--knee-breeches of nankeen, long stockings, and low +shoes with immense silver buckles, and a coat of velveteen. In short, he +was clad very much like a gentleman of the period fifteen years before, +but inasmuch as the majority of the gentry had adopted the new costume +of trowsers, the knee-breeches, low shoes, and long stockings generally +indicated the servant. And such he was--Master Stephen Blunt, Squire +Vivian's steward. Master Blunt doffed his cap and hesitated a moment. +Mrs. Trembath paled a little, for the steward was scarcely ever the +bearer of good news. He was a general factotum of the squire. He rented +farms, collected the dues, was an officer of justice, the terror of +small boys, and, in short, was a kind of constable, sheriff, and prime +minister of the squire's little domain. + +Concerning the rent there was nothing to fear, for the Trembath's had +owned in fee simple as it was called, for many years, the Primrose +cottage and the few fields adjoining. + +Master Blunt was a silent man, not wasting many words. + +"The squire wanted to see Ande a bit," he stated. + +A new thought flashed across the mother's mind. It was her laddie's +bravery in stopping the runaway in the morning. Yes, the squire was +going to reward her laddie and a more favourable understanding was going +to be established between the squire's people and theirs. She +communicated her opinion to her boy in a whisper as she assisted in +getting him ready. There was a smile of happiness on her countenance +which Master Blunt, seated on the garden settle outside, did not +observe. + +Ande Trembath, however, was not so happy to go. Honour heaped upon him +for an act that he considered only an ordinary matter-of-fact affair, +and especially by one whom he considered in the light of an enemy, to be +hated and to be hated in return, was distasteful to him; but he knew the +necessity of going, as one did not dare disobey the squire. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +SQUIRE AND PARLIAMENTARIAN + + +Thud, thud, thud, thud. + +Squire Vivian was riding at a smart pace on the solid roads. He was fond +of horse-back riding, but long ago, having given up riding after the +hounds, he was constrained to solace himself by daily trips over the +turnpike. This was not exercise, however. He must see his old friend, +Sir James Lanyan, about one or two things, and so, after a hasty lunch +and a word of instruction to the steward, he mounted his fast-pacing cob +and was off. His thoughts were not very pleasant as he started forth. He +was thinking of the conversation he had had with Parson Trant just a +short time before. + +"The lad is guilty," he muttered, and then there was silence save for +the rapid hoof strokes. + +"He shall smart for it. The traitor's cub!" + +The squire compressed his lips and the frown on his ruddy features boded +ill to Ande Trembath. Then pleasant thoughts gained the upper hand. He +had reached the confines of his estate and the fields and woods of +Lanyan Hall stretched on either side of the highway. There were round +hillocks nodding like Indian chieftains with their proud headgear, downs +alive with cattle and sheep, farmhouses of stone--as short and thick-set +in appearance as the sturdy farmers that occupied them. Yes, thought +Squire Vivian, with a smile, these shall belong to Alice when she +marries young Richard. My Lady Alice sounds as good as any other name +with a Lady attached to it. The pleasant expression passed and a worried +look came in its place. He was thinking of the Parson's disapprobation +of young Richard. The vale was passed and Lanyan moor, as wild and +uninviting as his thoughts--Lanyan moor, a high rough land of a few +miles in extent, covered with a rank, rough grass, extended on either +side. Under the influence of his surroundings and pressed by his +thoughts, the squire spurred the cob into a gallop and after a few +minutes the gables and tower of Lanyan Hall greeted his vision. It was a +stately mansion, built partly in the Queen Anne style and partly in the +style of previous times, one side being built during the Crusades, of +Cornish moor-stone that lent a heavy warrior-like appearance to the +whole structure. + +The owner, Sir James Lanyan, a son of that Lanyan whose agitation in +certain quarters of the government had produced the confiscation of the +Trembath estates, like his grandfather, had devoted considerable time to +politics and had been twice in Parliament; but failing of re-election he +had turned the strength of his ambitious mind to the rebuilding of his +fortunes, which were sadly shattered by the schemes and speculations of +his grandfather. + +His grandfather, in cooperation with Sunderland, the Premier of that +time, had been unduly interested in the South Sea Bubble; but though +Sunderland cleared his skirts in the gigantic swindle, Sir James, Sr., +was entrapped. His estates were heavily mortgaged and his private +fortune ruined. He died of a broken heart, bequeathing to Sir Richard, +Sr., his son, the ancestral hall and its liabilities. + +Sir Richard, Sr., was a rogue, with very little ability. Casting about +by hook or crook to retrieve his father's reverses, he thought he saw an +opportunity in the reputed treason of Squire Andrew Trembath. His +covetous eye surveyed the rich farms and woods adjoining his own, and +so, with the outward reason of loyalty to King George, and the inward +hope of profit, he turned the keen eyes of government authorities upon +the matter. + +The name of the Stuart and France were still to be dreaded. The first +tendency in that direction must be crushed and an example made. The fiat +went forth, the estates were confiscated, but Sir Richard, Sr., instead +of receiving them or even a money reward, received a flattering letter +from London, a ribbon of honour and a star. With a muttered oath he +flung the bauble from him and ground the letter under his heel. He knew +what all men were to know in time, that neither Newcastle nor Pitt were +as free-handed as Walpole. + +The present Sir James, a son of Sir Richard, Sr., had inherited the +bold, daring, scheming ambition of his grandfather, and was in every way +superior to his father, Richard. At first, a great Parliament man, he +gradually lost power with the electors, or rather they lost interest in +him; then he turned his attention to the task in which both his father +and grandfather had laboured in vain. + +On the day mentioned, the squire rode up the drive-way and with a sigh, +for the gallop had wearied him. He slipped from the saddle, gave the cob +into the hands of a servant, and mounting the veranda, raised the rapper +and sent a peal through the old house that speedily brought to the door +a footman, clad in green livery. By him he was ushered into the main +living room--a large hall, its walls curiously and artistically panelled +in wood. Here he reposed himself in a large armchair by the open +fireplace and awaited, musingly, the coming of Sir James. + +Yes, thought the squire, a fine old place--a fine old place--and my +Allie will be one of the first of Cornwall. Then he mused on. + +There was a sound of a soft tread on the floor behind him, and a smooth, +liquid baritone voice broke the reverie. + +"Well, my old friend, so you have decided to return my call." + +The squire almost leaped to his feet, for, lost in his thoughts, the +voice startled him. + +"Zounds! Sir James, you come in like a spirit." + +Perhaps there were not two men in the whole kingdom of such a contrast +as Sir James and the squire of Trembath Manor. The latter was a perfect +picture of the gentleman of the olden school. His hair, silvery white, +curled in ringlets over his forehead. His face was a sturdy English +one, smooth, round, rubicund and pleasant, and yet with a dignity +peculiarly its own. He was stoutly built and as he stood switching his +Wellington boots with his riding whip, a close student would say, "Here +is a man easily imposed upon, but when that imposture stood revealed +what a hot, indignant enemy he would make!" + +Honesty, frankness, integrity, were stamped all over the old squire's +frame. + +Sir James was just the opposite in many respects. He was tall, dark, and +sallow of countenance. A hooked nose, like the beak of an eagle, +overhung a mouth that was firm and thin-lipped. His eyes, that were the +strangest feature about him, were dark and had an unsteady, shifting +light in them. He was clad in the conventional broadcloth tail-coat and +trowsers of the same material. A man of the world, having felt the pulse +of national life, he was generally cool, calm, and self-possessed. + +With the remark above mentioned, he came forward and his own pale, slim +hand was grasped by the strong, brown one of the squire. + +"Welcome to Lanyan Hall. It is not often we have the pleasure of +entertaining such an old friend of the family; and how are all things at +the Manor? Mistress Alice, is she well?" + +"My Allie is tolerable well, but of her--more anon. It is of other +matters, not so well, in which I want your advice." + +"Ah--and what is wrong? The rents not paid, failure of your tin mine, +or has Midnight Jack been making some depredations on your hen roosts or +sheep-folds?" + +"Well," rejoined the squire, as he once more seated himself beside the +fire, his friend having done likewise, "as to Wheal Whimble tin mine, +things are moving steadily, but the new shaft is costing a heap of +money. The rockmen dull six or seven jumpers before they can make much +of an impression in drilling a hole, and though they receive ten pounds +a foot, yet say they can't make a living. I don't see how I am going to +come out of it. As to rents, they have all been paid but Farmer +Samson's, but quite a few of his sheep were taken with the murrain, and +one must give a man a chance when he's honest." + +"And about Midnight Jack?" + +"As sturdy a knave as ever lived, but he and his gipsy band have left +the neighbourhood some time ago. I suspected him of stealing a sheep and +threatened to have him hanged if he showed nigh the place. He knows well +enough not to fool with me. I don't think we shall ever be annoyed with +him again. There has been, though, some unknown miscreant lurking around +the estate. I do not mind so much when a sheep is stolen, I can +reprimand a man and threaten him as I did Midnight Jack, but when +property is wilfully destroyed and faithful retainers killed--it is too +much," and the squire flushed, angrily. + +"Why, there has been no murder?" said Sir James, startled out of his +ordinary self-possession. + +"Aye, as good as a murder," rejoined the squire, and he related with +flushed countenance and angry voice the incidents of the morning. + +The master of Lanyan Hall interrupted him midway by asking him to the +study, where they could talk at their leisure. They arose and passed +from the main hall to a side apartment fitted up in elaborate style. +There, surrounded by tomes of learning and every mark of ease and +comfort, the squire and his friend were soon discussing the former's +grievances and suspicions. + +"Now, what I want to know is this, what does the law allow a man to do +in such circumstances? You, Sir James, are well versed in law, have been +to Parliament and can advise me. I confess I cannot find anything about +it in the statutes." + +"Well, the only thing you can do, having nothing but suspicion, is to +have a private interview with the lad and worm a confession out of him," +said Sir James, and there was a scarcely perceptible little smile of +amusement that lingered around the lips of Lanyan. + +"I am pleased to find out that I have acted wisely, for that was exactly +my plan," said the squire, flushing with gratified vanity to think that +his views and the learned parliamentarian's coincided. "And now what are +your plans for reelection to Parliament?" + +"Reelection. Plans--none at all, friend Vivian." + +"Why, you are certainly going to stand for the section, are you not?" + +"No, I think not; my interest is not strong enough with the classes. To +tell the truth, squire, I am heartily disgusted with Tory principles, +and were it not for the name I would become a Liberal." + +"What! what!" said the squire aghast; "you jest, Sir James!" + +"Jest! Not at all. It is this way. It matters not what talents a person +may possess, he must stand in with a few of one's brother notables +before election is possible. Our elections are nothing but a humbug. We +have no representative house; the House of Commons does not represent +the nation." + +"Why, Sir James, you did not talk this way formerly, and I am +exceedingly sorry to see one of our most distinguished parliamentarians +so inveterately opposed to the system." + +The master of Lanyan Hall said nothing in reply. Indeed he was inwardly +debating with himself how far he should trust his honest friend with his +own plans and schemes. The fact was that Sir James had lost his +influence with the electors and saw no hope but in an extended +franchise; he was politician enough to see that the times were getting +riper and riper for reform. There was more hope of election for him in +the future than at the present; he must bide his time. Now it was not +any great affection for the people that induced him to take this stand. +His political creed was James Lanyan--how can he become great and +powerful, a creed dominant among politicians of all times. + +"Well, we must talk of that more anon. There is another matter pressing +on my mind," said the squire, and with a little reluctance he began the +topic. "Young Master Richard has been paying some attentions to my +Allie, and it is a matter that we fathers ought to talk about. There is +nothing dearer to my life than my Allie, and I am anxious to see her +settled in life before I leave the earth; but then you, Sir James, and I +ought to have some understanding before matters go any farther. Our +estates lie adjoining. What better thing than that they should be united +after you and I pass away. I thought it better, though, to speak to you, +so that we might have a clear understanding." The old squire fastened +his clear, honest eyes on the master of Lanyan. The latter was silent +and there was a gleam in the shifty light of his eyes as he thought. +Then he spoke. + +"A good thing, no doubt, if there are no objections on your part." + +The master of Lanyan stretched out his hand which was grasped heartily +by the squire. + +"It's a compact," said the former. + +"Aye, a compact," affirmed the latter. + +There was a tap at the door and a servant entered to announce tea in the +hall. Squire and parliamentarian adjourned their informal meeting and +emerged from the study. + +[Illustration: "It's a compact," said the former.] + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +TEA-TABLE AND POLITICS + + +There were three parties assembled around the tea-table, bluff Captain +Thomas Lanyan, a brother of Sir James, a sturdy old widower; Mistress +Betty Lanyan--a spinster and a distant relative of the family, and +Master Richard--a young man in his last year in Eton and the perfect +counterpart of his father, only much younger. + +Mistress Betty was tall and angular, like Sir James, yet with a good +supply of feminine sweetness in her features. The sole drawback to her +countenance was her nose, that was neither a thing of beauty nor grace. +It was of the large hooked variety, so common to the family. Yet so +strange are the freaks of Madam Nature, that the eagle nose of Sir James +was universally commended as giving him the commanding and dignified +appearance of a statesman; while one of the same variety on the +countenance of Mistress Betty was considered exceedingly derogatory and +shrewish. Notwithstanding this detractive feature, Mistress Betty was a +good-hearted soul. She always had, at least in company, that mellow +smile on her face that gave a vivid reality to the stanza, + + "Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, + And waste its fragrance on the desert air." + +The Captain was moulded more like his mother's side of the house. Clear +grey eyes lighted up a countenance that was rugged and weather-beaten, +while the family nose was absent and in its place was the straight, +plain variety characteristic of his mother's family. Over his forehead +was a long, livid scar that ran from the centre of the forehead, +obliquely, to the right ear, a cavalry slash of the battle of Waterloo. +Mistress Betty always persisted in having this covered by the Captain's +waving grey hair, but the Captain would just as persistently throw his +hair up and to one side, revealing the full extent of his old wound. +What Mistress Betty was ashamed of was the Captain's glory. Captain Tom +lived in tolerable contentment on a government pension, and of all the +family, none were upon such intimate terms with the squire as himself. + +"Ah, Captain Tom, what cheer?" said the Squire as he cordially shook the +hand of the veteran. "And Master Richard, you are quite a man and every +inch like your father. And Mistress Betty, I hope I see you well," and +the squire made a profound bow that would shame an old-time knight, at +the same time grasping her small hand delicately with his own. + +The salutations were returned and then, seated around the tea-table that +was placed near the immense bow-window, the master of Lanyan requested +his guest to pronounce the blessing. The squire, who was seated beside +Mistress Betty, perhaps designedly, who knows, for that lady had not +given up the custom of angling, proceeded according to his usual custom. + +"We thank thee----Oh! zounds and the devil!" + +The latter part was like the explosion of a battery of artillery, and +with reason. Mistress Betty's lap-dog, an unsightly brute, deeming +himself insulted by the proximity of the squire, or perhaps jealous of +his mistress' attentions to another--like many a human rejected suitor +filled with vengeful spleen, or perhaps--kept waiting for his +dinner--and seeing a fat limb much larger than the usual chicken leg +near him, he decided to forage for himself. Whatever reason he had +within him, the results were the same, for he fastened his teeth most +vindictively in the squire's nankeen trowsers. Human nature was not +proof against such an assault, and the victim gave vent to the above +startling and most unseemly expression. He leaped up from the table, +slapping and rubbing the affected part to relieve the pain. + +The young Etonian had a grin on his generally calm countenance. Captain +Tom with more zeal than wisdom grasped the poker and shoved it through +the bars of the grate, saying that they had best have the wound +cauterised at once. Sir James was profuse in apologies and Mistress +Betty, much vexed, hurried the snarling brute into the library. + +"This is out--outrageous," faltered the squire, in the midst of his +pain; "such a savage brute, I wonder why you don't have him killed, Sir +James." + +"Cruel man, to abuse poor Caesar so," said Mistress Betty, with a flash +of the eye. + +"Zounds, madam," replied the squire, but he went no further. His +inherent courtesy to ladies, and the appearance of Captain Tom with the +hot poker, caused him to beat a hasty retreat to the table. + +With a smile of anguish he sat down, saying, "It is nothing, madam, +nothing, Captain Tom--I do assure you--no need of cauterising--the pain +has already gone." + +Captain Tom very reluctantly replaced the poker, and soon they were all +seated, chatting merrily, as if nothing had happened. The squire, +occasionally slipping his hand beneath the table and giving the smarting +limb a soothing rub, talked as cheerfully as the rest. + +"And you won't stand for re-election," said the squire to Sir James. + +"Not at present; the times are not yet ripe for reform and we must have +a more extended suffrage before I can stand with success," said Sir +James, helping himself to another lump of sugar and dropping it +carefully into his cup with the air of a sage. + +"Fudge," said Captain Tom, "the country doesn't need extended suffrage. +Why, brother James, if your ideas go into effect the landed estates will +be ruined. We have seen enough of those things over there in France. The +people got extended suffrage and the king and the gentlemen got the +suffering. Bah!" said Captain Tom in some disdain, "the landed estates +must rule, pass out of existence, or give place to a Napoleon," and the +Captain thumped the table emphatically with the sugar tongs. + +"What a sage student of history you are, Captain Tom, and yet there are +some things yet to learn. The revolution in France was not caused by +their obtaining the suffrage, but by the retention of suffrage from them +until they arose in revolt. A fortunate thing is it for the government +that yields to the demands of the people and is not compelled to yield. +When the proper form of government is in vogue, then there will be no +occasion for the people demanding or of the government yielding. +Government should stand halfway between the highest pinnacle and the +broadest base of the populace." + +"Why, Sir James, you surprise me!" ejaculated the squire; "you may as +well turn American with those ideas! Tut--tut!" followed by a +disapproving shake of the head. + +"A vast discrepancy between Americanism and my ideal. Government in +America stands upon a broad base, but is not as truly representative as +our own government will become in a few years." + +"You speak in riddles, Sir James," replied the squire. + +"Well, let me explain. Strictly speaking, there is no real +representative government. Even in America, women, negroes and Indians +are not represented; neither among those that are represented is there +any fair proportion of representation. Jefferson, their great sage, +wrote the most foolish thing imaginable when he said 'all men are +created free and equal.' It is evident that the opposite is the case. +All men are different, different in physical strength, mental power, +culture, attainments. Even in infanthood they are different. Equality +is nowhere on earth, neither in the vegetable nor animal kingdom. It is +a manifest injustice then to alter the plan of the Creator." + +"Aye, aye, now you are coming around to our opinion," said Captain Tom. + +"Not at all. Our present conservative system is wrong and unsafe. +Government is resting on the highest pinnacle of the populace, from +which position it may easily be deposed." + +"Pshaw," said the squire, "I can't understand you; I thought you said +our government was more representative than the American." + +"No. I said it will be in a few years. In America the Church is not +represented, neither are the institutions of learning--although they +ought to have some special representation as well as the States. Now +mark me well. In a few years, a decade at the most, the franchise will +be extended to the humblest shop owner, house owner and tenant, and only +the criminals and the utterly uneducated will have no voice in the +government. Then we will have a more representative government and a +more stable one than our American cousins. More representative, because +colleges, universities, the clergy, and large and small property owners +will have their respective portion of power; more safe because the +roughest and lowest element of society will not have a controlling and +dominating influence. How is it now, however? The landed proprietors and +men of influence pack our House of Commons as they please. Everyone +knows of Old Sarum--that it hasn't a single inhabitant, and yet it +sends a member to the Commons, while Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham +have no voice whatever in the affairs of the nation. We must have an +extended suffrage. The people want it," and Sir James silenced his +batteries. + +"Well, so far as I can see," said Captain Tom, doggedly returning to the +charge "the people are not demanding anything. Our people are +comfortable and happy. Corn has arisen in price and our farmers are +growing rich." + +"Aye," said the squire, "so far as I can see, things are pretty +prosperous. Corn has risen to fifty shillings per quarter." + +"Ah," said Sir James, contemptuously, "what benefit is it for Cousin +Jack in Cornwall to have a full stomach, and Tom in York and Devon to +have an empty one? Fine national prosperity, that. Squire, you are +interested in your own section, Captain Tom reads nothing but war news, +and so both of you are blind to the signs of the times. The memory of +the Blanketeers is still before the public and the pulse of the middle +classes is mounting higher and higher. What signify the riots of last +year and the affair of Peterloo?" + +"A set of rebellious knaves, that need the hand of the Iron Duke to +teach them their manners," replied Captain Tom, who was indignant to be +accused of ignorance on national affairs. "A set of rebellious knaves, +but where do you find gentlemen marching side by side in a cause with +such a rabble." + +"William Cobbet, the journalist," rejoined Sir James. + +"Aye, a ploughman," sniffed Captain Tom, in some disdain. + +"Aye, and more than a ploughman," added young Master Richard. "There's +Sir Francis Burdette, Lord Brougham, the great Canning, Lord John +Russell, Grenville, and Earl Grey--and Canning and Grey were Etonians." +The last part was uttered with a little triumph in the tone. + +"Ah, the young cock is beginning to crow," said Captain Tom, who knew +not what else to reply. + +Sir James looked pleased at this heavy broadside from his son and then +again took up the reform cudgel, saying: "Very true, and even the +younger Pitt over twenty years ago agitated the subject." + +Here the squire thought it time to assist his friend, Captain Tom, and +also show that he was not destitute of knowledge on national affairs. + +"Tut, tut, that is a bad argument; Pitt abandoned his position as +untenable, and----" + +"Aye, he knew he couldn't hold the position and retreated as a sensible +general should," interrupted Tom. + +"Because of the excesses of the French revolution," replied Sir James. + +The spirited debate went on with varying success to either party, +Mistress Betty participating, sometimes on one side, and at times on the +other, always sympathising with the weaker party, as women generally do. +Toward the close, Captain Tom and the squire being hopelessly put to +rout by the combined wisdom of Etonian and parliamentarian, she +faithfully adhered to the former side, until even Captain Tom was forced +to admit that, though a woman was of no service in a battle, yet they +made pretty fair tongue-soldiers. + +"Well," said the squire, as he was preparing to go, "your remarks, Sir +James, have convinced me of one thing, and that is your sincere +disinterestedness in self and your love for old England and her welfare. +You are a statesman, sir, and we shall soon see if we can't place you in +Parliament; aye, Tory or Liberal,--what matter--so long as the man is +honest and capable." + +Now this was exactly what Sir James had expected, and he shook hands +cordially. + +"Hold on, squire, we must have James there as a Tory. I don't believe he +is as much a Liberal at heart as he pretends. Don't surrender the +standard, squire," said Captain Tom. + +A servant was holding in readiness the squire's cob, and assisted him to +mount. Raising his hat, gallantly, to Mistress Betty, and waving an +adieu to the others he paced briskly down the drive and out on the +highway. + +"What a courteous gentleman, and young, though he is a widower," +murmured Mistress Betty. "Did you notice how, out of respect for my +feelings for Caesar, he didn't utter any complaint." + +"Fudge," said Captain Tom, "that was due to his brave spirit in enduring +pain. What a soldier he would make!" + +"Pshaw!" exclaimed young Master Richard, "the old gentleman thought +more of the hot poker than he did of courage or courtesy." + +"It was courtesy," reaffirmed Mistress Betty. + +"It was courage," exclaimed Tom. + +"It was hot poker," reiterated the Etonian again and again, until under +a score of reproaches from Mistress Betty and Captain Tom,--the former +emphasising the courtesy, the latter the courage of the squire,--he +found safety in speedy retreat. + +Sir James said nothing until after Master Richard's exit, and then he +broached the squire's desire of an alliance between the families. + +"It seems we'll get the estates of the Manor in our family after all, +and by a much more honourable method than father tried. That deed always +did make me half ashamed of our name." + +"Captain Tom," said Sir James, with a little of asperity in his voice, +"the plan that exposed a traitor was perfectly honourable." + +"I have always had my doubts whether my old comrade, Major Tommy +Trembath, was a traitor, or his father either. They were both too honest +to be guilty of treason. Why, look at the record of old Captain Ande at +Culloden and Prestonpans. He was a hero. There he stood with Gardner at +Prestonpans, fighting gallantly until stricken down with overwhelming +numbers, and there was Major Tommy in the Peninsular campaigns. Aye, the +more I think of it the more am I inclined to disbelieve the report of +their treason,--but circumstances were against them," and the old +soldier sighed, and with a halting step, due to a wound--a relic of the +Napoleonic wars,--he tramped once or twice up and down the veranda. When +he ceased, the look of sadness was gone and a humorous twinkle was in +his eye. Around his weather-beaten countenance there was the faint trace +of a smile of merriment. + +"However, it is a good plan,--this marriage--and--if Cousin Betty can +catch the squire we'll have a double claim on the Manor." + +"Why, Captain Tom, how absurd!" exclaimed Mistress Betty, blushing +confusedly. + +"A tell-tale blush! I'll have to tell my old friend, the squire, of his +opportunities to capture the stronghold of ages, that has remained +unconquered for----" + +"How absurd!" exclaimed Mistress Betty, in mingled anger and confusion, +as she beat a hasty retreat to her apartments. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +"OFF WITH HIS HEAD."[3] + + [3] "King Richard III." + + +It was still twilight when the squire reached the Manor. Hastily giving +the cob into the hand of Sloan, he hurried into the hall and seated +himself by a large window, where was stationed a large oaken table +littered with a motley array of books and papers. This was the squire's +position when any petty case was brought before him. Whether the books +were kept for show or use no one knew. The only time the squire was +known to look at them was during a trial, and this he did with the air +of a Lord Chief Justice, which air had a very perceptible effect upon +the trembling culprit. + +If the truth were told, the squire had a more intimate knowledge of +fishing, hunting, farm and mine management, the origin of ancient +village plays and customs, than about law. Law always was a perplexing +study to him. But as a compensation for his lack in this respect, he +more than made it up in the learned dignity of his demeanour. + +There were approaching steps heard on the veranda, and then the opening +of a door, and in a moment more Stephen Blunt and Ande Trembath stood +before him. + +The steward took the chair that he was accustomed to occupy, ushered to +such position by a wave of the squire's hand, and sharpened his quill +pen preparatory to writing. Ande, neither invited to sit down nor stand, +remained near at hand. His mother in her fond delight, thinking that he +was to be rewarded for his morning heroism, had determined that he +should be dressed in a manner suitable for the occasion. He presented a +very creditable appearance in his snow-white trowsers, neckerchief, and +neat blue jacket. His feelings were not as pleasant as his garments. +Since he was evidently going to be rewarded for his services in saving +the life of Mistress Alice, he felt exceedingly out of place. He rested +his weight on one foot, fidgeted with the other, and fumbled his cap in +a nervous manner. He grew restless under the steady eye of the master of +Trembath Manor, and his restlessness increased the suspicions in the +mind of the latter. + +"Master Trembath." + +The lad felt relieved that the silence was at length broken. + +"Master Trembath, you were nigh the estate of late?" + +"Yes--s, sir. I frequently go through the Manor woods, sir." + +"Note that down, Master Blunt." + +A bewildered look passed over the lad's face. + +"You were nigh the estate last evening, and will you now tell us what +you were doing in that place at that time?" + +Ande grew more amazed and confused; amazed because he knew not what the +squire was trying to ascertain, confused because he had been there and +even in the gardens, but for a purpose he did not wish to divulge. A +wave of crimson swept over his countenance, rivalling the sanguine hue +of his locks. + +"Take notice of his confusion, Master Blunt," and then in a stern voice +to the lad, "You may as well out with it, we know all the facts of the +affair." + +Ande tried to answer, but his tongue clave to the roof of his mouth. His +heart seemed to sink lower and lower in his chest. + +"Sir, sir,--I--I----" + +"You were in the gardens last evening," thundered the squire, his wrath +getting the better of him. "You were in the gardens, were you not? +Answer on your honour?" + +"I was," falteringly. + +"And for what purpose?" + +"That I cannot tell." + +"And why not?" + +The youth was silent. He had the appearance of a culprit, and felt +wretched and miserable. The squire continued to question and +cross-question, but of no avail, and at length, growing nettled and +peevish, he said, "I will state the case plainly to you, Master +Trembath. You were in the gardens last evening, last Wednesday night and +last Monday night. On Monday night you drained the fish-pond and stole +the best fish; on Wednesday you ruined the shrubbery beds; last evening +you took a stone from the hedge and killed my faithful mastiff, +Borlase. What answer do you make to these accusations? Make a clean +breast of it and it will be better for you, my lad." + +The accusation, thus plainly stated, had a directly opposite effect upon +the crestfallen lad. All his diffidence and confusion fell away from him +like a garment. He flung up his head like a young lion cub, his blue +eyes scintillated, and his red locks shook like the mane of a savage +beast under rising passion. Blunt was alarmed and the squire was awed. + +"What have I to say to these accusations? I say they are lies! They are +false! I was not here on Monday or Wednesday. I never stole your fish or +drained the pond, or trampled the shrubbery, or killed the dog. Who +accuses me? Who, I say?" The lad advanced to the table, boldly, all his +confusion gone, and the wild soldier blood of his ancestors coursing +like molten fire through his veins. "Why am I brought here in the home +of my fathers to be insulted? Have not you, Squire Vivian, and the +Lanyans, done enough evil to our family but that you must charge me with +being a thief, and----" + +"Silence!" thundered the squire, who had been stirred up by the lad's +charge of injustice. Ande stood silent, with heaving breast. The squire +mastered himself before he continued. + +"Your charge against me is not to the point. If you do not know, I will +tell you that this estate was bought from the government by services +rendered, which had no connection with your family. Your family affair, +neither my father nor myself had anything to do with; that is between +the Lanyans and yours." + +Ande Trembath had heard for the first time that the Vivians had had no +hand in the confiscation of the Manor, and there was a revulsion of +feeling within him. The squire nor his family, then, were enemies of +his. He felt, notwithstanding the accusation against him, a better +feeling, and even a little gladness within his heart. Why, he did not +know. + +"I beg your pardon, your honour. I had never heard it put that way." + +"That is neither here nor there," said the squire, sternly, "and has no +connection with the case. You were seen nigh the grounds. You confess to +being on the grounds a short time before last evening's outrage, yet you +say you are innocent of the charge." + +"I am innocent." + +"Well, why were you on the grounds?" + +Again the lad flushed painfully and was silent. + +"Now," said the squire, "since there is no direct evidence, but only +circumstantial, I shall dismiss you with a reprimand, and a caution to +be careful in the future and amend your ways, or Newgate will have you +yet, and"--here the squire pushed his countenance into a large law-book, +as if consulting reference--"and as to punishment, I will let you off +lightly. Master Blunt, call Sloan." + +The steward dropped his writing and left the hall, returning soon with +the stout, old hostler. + +"George, take Master Trembath out and put him in the stocks for one +hour." + +The old hostler opened his mouth slightly in amazement, as if to say +something, but the frown on his master's brow checked him. Without a +word, George Sloan and Stephen Blunt took the dazed lad out of the hall, +down the garden avenue, and out through the gates to the very scene of +his morning exploit, where was situated the village stocks. Resistance +was out of the question, and so he submitted, as if his spirit was +crushed. + +"I am sorry for 'ee, my lad," said old George, "but us has to hobey +horders. To think that the grandson of old squire shud be shut in th' +stocks," and old George shook his head, for he felt the disgrace as +keenly as the lad. + +Stephen Blunt, who was not a native of the section, but had come in with +the squire's father from the East, said nothing. The Trembaths were +nothing to him, having never known them intimately. But old George +Sloan, Ned Pengilly and others native to the soil, who had served with +their fathers under the Trembaths, took great umbrage at the shabby +treatment of the "young squire." + +Ande thought of the misery of the disgrace; he, the best scholar in the +parish school, condemned and punished as a common thief. He thought of +his father and his grandfather. They were of the bravest gentry in +Cornwall. None could show a better record in the annals of the county. +They had taken their part in every prominent movement in the nation. +The last of the line, branded as a thief, and, like a common vagrant, +imprisoned in the stocks! He thought of his mother and her pride in him. +He gave an impatient wrench to free his imprisoned ankles, but the +framework was too heavy to be opened in his position. He thought of the +parson's sermon of the previous Sabbath. Yes, he was like Joseph. The +iron was entering his soul. He gave vent to his pent up feelings in +tears. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE VILLAGE STOCKS + + +"'Allo! What 'as us 'ere?" + +It was a coarse voice, half boy's and half man's. + +Ande looked up and perceived, coming through the gloom, a long-legged, +stout lad, about three years older than himself. He had just emerged +from the Manor woods and was engaged in what he thought a manly +occupation, smoking a short pipe--or Cornish bob. The prisoner did not +recognise him at first, for the twilight had begun to darken into night, +but as the newcomer advanced he saw the most unwelcome sight of his +bitterest school enemy,--Bully Bob Sloan. + +The recognition was almost simultaneous and the newcomer allowed his +freckled face to relax into a grin of delight. + +"'Allo, can't 'ee speak? What has tha done, boy, to git in they wooden +leggins?" + +"The squire did it, Bob, but I 'adn't done anything. Squire said I 'ad +drained the fish-pond, but I didn't. Now, let me out of here, do, Bob." + +This was said in a propitiating tone, for, thought the lad, Bob might +help him. But he had not estimated Bob aright. + +"Um," with a sage air and a shake of the head, "can't go against the +squire's horders; and then I 'alf suspect 'ee'rt guilty, my lad, for I +seed 'ee myself and told squire, or rather caused 'e to hear it, that I +had seed 'ee a-lurking nigh the grounds. Ah, my lad, think what a fall +ah be for 'ee, the best scholard in the school,--a criminal, a-sitting +in the stocks; and by and by 'ee will be hung for more thieving and +willainry. What a karacter! What a disgrace!" and Bob shook his head, in +mock sadness. "And when I tell the master and the lads at school, 'cause +I got to tell them to save they from associating with a thief, 'ow +shocked they will feel. I expect, too, I 'ad better clear out myself, as +my repertation might be a-hinjured a-talking 'ere with a criminal." + +"Don't lad me," said Ande, in some wrath, "you're no more of a man than +I am, and as for reputation, you've none to spare." + +"Softly, softly, little lad; 'ow pretty 'e looks, a-dressed in 'is +Sunday clothes, a-sitting in the stocks, and as I do live, the little +lad 'as been a-crying. Aren't 'ee afeared 'ee'll spoil your pretty new +jacket?" + +Bob advanced a step or two, and placing the pipe again in his mouth at a +dangerous angle, and grinning with Satanic pleasure, shoved his freckled +countenance almost into Ande's face. + +Now the stocks was an instrument of confinement in which the ankles were +held securely, while the arms and hands were free. Bob had evidently +forgotten the latter fact, but was made aware of it by a stinging +left-hander, that sent the pipe flying and Bob likewise into the dust. + +"Now, damme, for a traitor's cub, I'll eat 'ee up," exclaimed Bob in +his wrath, as he arose from the dust, with bloody lip and vengeful eye. +And he doubtlessly would have made some attempt to carry out his dire +vengeance had not the sound of approaching footsteps and a cheery +whistling in the distance been heard. Dreading some encounter with the +Hall people, and with a threat of vengeance at some future time, he made +off for the village. + +The whistling came nearer and nearer. A tall, dark figure emerged from +the gloom, walking with a quick, jaunty step. + +"What ho, my Bob Cuffins, scragged in wooden leggins!" The white +trousers and blue jacket caught his eye. "Well, a gentry cove." Dropping +all dialect, his language became more respectful. + +"And what hast done, lad, to be trussed up like this?" + +Ande looked at the stranger, doubtingly. He was clad in a long rough +coat, the skirts of which were slightly torn. His countenance was dark, +but with a healthy bloom on it. + +"Come, my lad, I look rather unprepossessing and rough, but mayhap I am +better than I appear." + +Ande, reassured, told his story briefly. + +"And you're Squire Trembath's grandson, and you were accused of the +mischief at the Manor?" said the fellow, and then softly whistled to +himself. "I think I had better let you out for two reasons. First, +because you couldn't have done the things said, since one of my partners +did that. I don't mind telling you, as you can't prove your innocence +otherwise, and as long as you don't tell the squire before a day or so, +it won't hurt us. Then, in the second place, I like to pay my debts to +friends. If you ever see your father, tell him that Midnight Jack +returned his favour of over sixteen years ago." + +With a quick movement, the tall gipsy chief leaned down, wrenched open +the clasp of the stocks, and the imprisoned lad was free. He was gone +even before the lad could thank him. + +Burning with indignation at his disgrace, Ande hastened home with flying +feet. His mother had already retired. In anguish of soul, he quietly +stole up the little attic stairs to retire, but not to sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +REPARATION + + +Some days elapsed before Ande went near the village or the Manor. With a +boyish burst of confidence, he related the whole affair to his mother, +who was not only shocked, but highly indignant at the treatment accorded +her "laddie." The lad refused to attend school and lost some of his old +buoyant spirit. In these days, he spent most of his time working around +the home place, meeting frequently Tom Glaze, in the furze croft, and +profiting much by his training. Tom had heard of Ande's shameful +treatment, and had given him much advice, that seemed phenomenal, coming +from such a pugilistic character. + +"See 'ere, my lad, doan't 'ee go a-moping around, looking as ghastly as +a death's head on a mopstick. Thee might as well knaw there's no use +a-fighting sarcumstances that way. The squire will discover his mistake +some day, and will maake all right. When the lads tease 'ee a bit about +the stocks, doan't 'ee take any offence. Doan't 'ee fight o'er little +things." + +"Aye, but the world treats a man pretty hard once when he is down, and +what's a fellow to do?" + +"Why, above all things, doan't 'ee be a great chuckle-head, but have +some judgment," said Tom, at which Ande flushed angrily. "Now doan't +'ee take no offence. What I means is this. Did 'ee ever see a kicking +donkey? Treat un kindly and 'e won't kick. Smile and duck your 'ead to +the world and say, 'What cheer,' or ''Ow do 'ee do,' and the world will +smile and bow or duck back and say, 'Pretty well, thank 'ee,' or 'Brave, +thank 'ee.' Frown, and give the world the cold shoulder, and you gets +the same. They say the Golden Rule is 'Do unto others as 'ee would be +done by,' but the practical rule is 'Others do to 'ee as 'ee do by +they.'" + +"Well, Master Glaze, that doesn't 'old good in my case. Here I did good +to Squire Vivian and received evil in return." + +"Exceptions prove the rule. Anyhow, try my hadvice." + +Ande did try Tom's advice, and was gratified to see that, with the +exception of Bully Bob Sloan, all the village lads improved in their +conduct toward him. The rescue of Mistress Alice was soon noised abroad, +and he was considered almost in the light of a hero by the juvenile +element. + +One evening, as the lad was returning from the furze croft, he noticed a +chaise and pony at his mother's door. It was the chaise of Mistress +Alice, who had, since the affair with Queeny, betaken herself to the +pony and chaise when desiring an airing. His mother had received her +with a certain amount of cold dignity which her feelings would scarcely +allow her to conceal. + +There was a variety of emotions in the lad's breast as he approached. +There was anger at Squire Vivian's indignity to him, a feeling of shame +at the report of his depredations, and an emotion that had lived in his +soul for quite a time, but which he had never fully analysed. From early +childhood he had remembered the squire's daughter. He remembered, with +all a youth's tenacity, how he was led to church by the tall, soldierly +man, his father, and how rapidly he had to move his infantile feet to +keep up with the soldier's tread. In the family pew he would sometimes +turn his head to a nice dark-haired little miss of a few summers' age, +seated in Squire Vivian's pew. Once she had shyly and demurely returned +his look, then quickly turned away, as if displeased. He had asked his +father afterward whether he didn't think the squire's girl a "pretty +little maid," and he remembered the hearty roar of laughter with which +his father responded. Since he had been attending the parish school, he +had not seen her much. Indeed, he had never become acquainted with her +before the affair of the runaway. He had always admired those dark elfin +locks, and in church he had thought if he had one of them how he would +cherish it, and then he had flushed crimson at what he thought almost a +profanation. He had always admired her, but the feeling he had had for +quite a time past could neither be admiration nor friendship. He had not +analysed it. It was this strange sentiment that had led him frequently +into the vicinity of the Manor, before the regrettable affair of the +stocks. His appearance there on the evening of the killing of the +mastiff was an incident of that kind. He had conceived a passion for +flowers, and especially for the flowers of a garden plot, watered and +attended by the hand of Mistress Alice. Could he secure one of those +blossoms? Now, Ande was the perfect soul of honour, but he had had a +hard fight with himself to keep from appropriating what was not his own. +The slightness of the offence, the intensity of his feelings, the +heritage of his ancestors, all urged the harmlessness of the deed. He +might have secured one by request, but he would have died before +exposing his feelings to ridicule. + +Ande stood near the threshold with a tumult of feelings within him, that +made him look more like an awkward, country lout than the grandson of a +squire. + +"Master Trembath, I have come to beg your pardon for the hasty act of +father." + +Ande could not help noticing the slight colouring of her features, +enhanced by the wealth of dark locks overhead. There was a sincerity and +earnestness in her tone that made her a hundred times more attractive +than he had ever seen her before. He mastered himself with a great +effort. + +"The apology comes from the wrong person, Mistress Vivian, and the deed +being done, cannot be undone." + +"It was a cruel injustice," said Mrs. Trembath, with some little warmth +in her tone, "and I wondered how the squire could have done it, seeing +how bravely my laddie acted in the runaway." + +The young girl flushed at the charge of injustice. + +"Indeed, father was not aware of Master Trembath's brave conduct; he was +away all afternoon, and I was not aware of the judgment on Master +Trembath until the following day. I was very much vexed over the whole +affair, and when I told father, he, too, was chagrined, yet he said the +circumstances were so much against Master Trembath that he didn't see +how he could amend matters. I want you to accept these flowers, Master +Trembath, as a token of my high esteem, and I trust that you will +neither consider my father nor myself in any hard light." + +She placed the large bouquet of flowers on the settle and turned to +depart. Mrs. Trembath placed her hand on the dark, raven locks of the +squire's daughter as she stood on the portico step. + +"And may God's blessing attend you, Mistress Vivian, for your kind and +charitable spirit, and may your father be imbued with the same!" + +Ande accompanied her to the pony chaise. His righteous indignation +against the squire was mitigated by this unexpected visit and by the +flowers. He had coveted only a single blossom; here was a gorgeous bunch +from her very hand. + +They made a pretty picture, standing without the gate, in the rays of +the setting sun. The pony stood patiently waiting near the hedge, +occasionally nibbling a choice bit of herbage that seemed to seek safety +from his investigating jaws in the rough rock crevices. + +"I thank you very much; the flowers are very beautiful." + +"And you will not think hard of my father." + +The youth was silent and bit his lip; then avoiding the question, he +answered: + +"It was not the stocks, but the accusation and the condemnation, that +has made all people look down on me." + +"Oh, Master Trembath----" + +"Call me Ande; it's more natural to me; you were going to say----" + +"I was going to ask whether you could not clear yourself from being on +the grounds at that time." + +"No. I was there." + +"After your having saved my life. I shudder to think of it----" + +"You shudder to think of my saving your life," said the youth, a little +stiffly. + +"Oh, no. How you misunderstand me!" + +"You mean you are pleased," said Ande, brightening. + +"Stupid!" said the girl, a little indignant. "Why don't you let me +finish my sentence." + +Ande was abashed at this rebuff. + +"I shuddered at the accident that might have been, and I want to see you +justified. Now if you could tell me why you were there I could inform +father, and he, being the soul of honour, would make all right." + +"No, I cannot tell my reason," said the youth, flushing painfully. + +"And not even tell me, when you know I am so interested in having you +brought out from under this cloud." + +"If you knew you would not tell him either," said the youth, doggedly. + +She gazed at him quickly. Somehow in her young woman soul she seemed to +read his reason. Yes, in a moment, with that keen intuition, developed +earlier in woman than in man, she read through this hesitation, this +confusion. She knew. + +"I can tell who did the deed, though," said the lad, for he thought of +the information of the gipsy chief, and that now he was at perfect +liberty to tell. + +"Who?" asked the girl, eagerly. This youth that had so bravely saved her +life should be justified. + +Ande related the events of his rescue from the stocks and the tale of +the gypsy chief. The girl listened with brightening eye and kindling +cheeks. + +"It must be so, for how could you have gotten forth from the stocks? No +one would have dared to let you out but a person like that. I know how +we all wondered when Stephen Blunt came in and told my father that the +stocks were empty. But why did you not tell this before?" + +"Because Midnight Jack told me it would not hurt them if it wasn't told +for a day or so." + +"I shall see that you are justified. You have been shamefully treated." + +The squire's daughter mounted into the pony chaise, grasped the lines +with her slender, gloved hands, and with a smile was gone. + +"Poor lad! He has been shamefully treated and he shall be justified," +she thought to herself. "How foolish I was not to see before. He loves +me," she said softly. "He is good looking and tall and man-like for his +age." Then there was a pause in her soliloquy, unbroken save by the pony +hoofs. Then she drew her brows down with a slight frown. "Pshaw!" Then +the scowl left her features and she broke into a slight, nervous laugh. +"Absurd!" + +The remainder of the drive was spent in silence, but there was +heightened colour in her cheeks and a soft, pellucid light in her eyes. + +Old Sloan took the pony and chaise at the entrance of the great house, +and Mistress Alice tripped up the steps and into the hall. The old +squire was seated by the hall fire, meditating apparently, for his chin +was resting on his hand and he had his eyes fixed upon the flaming +coals. His daughter bent over his chair, and lightly kissed his +forehead; then drawing a stool near him she seated herself, leaning her +head against him and waiting for him to speak. + +But the old squire did not speak for a time; he placed his big, brown +hand upon his daughter's dark locks, and still gazed into the fire. It +was the daughter that broke the silence. + +"Father, I have news to tell you." + +"Well, Allie?" + +"It was not Master Trembath that killed Borlase, or drained the pond; it +was one of the gipsies." Then she poured forth the whole story of Ande's +escape from the stocks, while the old squire listened, as he gazed into +the fire. When she had finished he gazed at her. + +"I know it, Allie. I had my eyes opened, and even saw the rogue, this +afternoon, at Sir James Lanyan's. Sir James had him up for some offence +and he confessed all, the rogue." + +"And about Master Trembath?" + +"Aye, that's what troubles me. I can't see what I can do to justify him. +True, I can exonerate him, but to make reparation for the injustice of +putting the lad into the stocks--I can't see what I can do. The lad is +better than I thought, if he does have treasonable blood." + +"We must exonerate him by announcing it in the parish school and at the +church. We ought to reward him, too, for stopping the runaway. It ought +not to be said that a Vivian received a favour of such kind, from any +one, without doing something in return." + +"Reparation shall be made!" exclaimed the squire, emphatically. Alice +had touched him in his pride. She had also touched him on the side of +his honesty and uprightness. + +"We will have it announced in the parish school and church, as you say; +the whole parish knew it when he was placed in the stocks, and the whole +parish shall know of it--that he is not guilty--that--that----But we +must do something else. That will be only common justice. We must reward +the lad,--but how?" + +The eyes of Mistress Alice became luminous; she was winning her case. +With deftness she proceeded. + +"He doesn't like to attend school, so Parson Trant says, and I was +thinking how nice it would be to send him to the Helston Grammar School. +Now, father, if you could make the offer?" + +The squire brightened. He had found a way out of his difficulties. He +kissed his daughter and called her a wise, little prime minister. He +hastened away that very evening to the parson's house, and the old +rector was delighted to be the means of Ande's reinstatement in popular +favour. + +After the departure of Mistress Alice from the Primrose Cottage, Ande +had better thoughts of the squire and his people. Somehow or other he +felt lighter of heart, but his mind was strangely confused. During the +evening hymn instead of the sweet strains of Ken's Evening Hymn he was +guilty of fearful, musical blunders. + +As he lay awake under the eaves that night, his imagination still +carried him back to the garden-gate scene. Yes, she stood before him +just as attractive in memory as she did then. In impatience he tried to +banish her face. + +"Fudge," said he "I'll get Glaze to give me a skevern in the chacks that +will knock some sense into my addled head." + +He dreamed that night that he was under the walls of the great house, +near Mistress Alice's window, and that he was playing on the harp of his +fathers. Once he thought he saw her face--then it changed to the +features of the squire--and, wonder to relate, a smile upon his rugged +features--then over the squire's shoulders appeared the sardonic +countenance of Sir James Lanyan. He changed the strains to the Hymn of +the Lark, and Sir James paled and fled. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +DEFEAT OF BULLY BOB SLOAN + + "I am the Valiant Cornishman + Who slew the giant Cormoran." + + --_Cor. Ballad._ + + +"Ande, my lad, I have been thinking about you and your unfortunate +experience, and have been pondering in my mind, for quite a time, what +to do. Your education, already so advanced, must not be slighted. You do +not feel like continuing school here?" + +It was the parson who was speaking. Parson Trant with Ande was seated in +the study room of the rectory, a pretty, half stone, half brick edifice, +nearly concealed from the public road by masses of ivy and foliage. It +was built for the express use of the parson, and, according to his +desires, was as retiring from public notice as a mother bird ensconced +in her nest amidst enveloping leaves. + +"No, Parson Trant, I think not." + +"I thought so; but your education shall not be neglected. Squire Vivian +has come to me and realising how bravely you acted in the runaway, and +how unjustly you were treated, proposed that you should go to the +Helston Grammar School." + +Ande's countenance flushed. The parson perceived it and continued. + +"Now, Ande, lad, the ill feeling between the squire and you ought to +cease. He is good-hearted in the main. He has made ample reparation for +the offence of the stocks and he wishes to show his good will and +thankfulness for the rescue of his daughter. It is a creditable action +of his, and you are not receiving any favour, but a just due. I have +talked to your mother of the matter and she is willing for you to go. I +have written to the head and he will make room for you. You must not +allow any hard feeling on your part to mar the happiness of your mother +and the hopes of your best friends. Besides, it is not courteous to +refuse to meet the overtures of friendship from one whom you have always +esteemed an enemy, especially when that person meets you more than +halfway. Your father would not have scorned to do so, and you desire to +be as much of a gentleman as your father was." + +The youth was won over by the earnest manner and words of his friend, +the parson. There was quite a conversation as to the time of entrance, +the necessary preparations, and the conclusion of it all was that Ande +should go after the Christmas holidays. + +His mind delighted with the prospect of attending the Grammar School, +and with airy dreams of what that existence would be, he left the +rectory and wended his way with light steps down the walk and out on the +public road. The sun seemed to smile brighter upon him, the birds to +warble sweeter, and all nature seemed to be tinged with the bright hues +of his day dreams of the future. There were voices in the distance, +boyish voices, and with laugh and rude joke, a crowd of parish school +lads, bubbling with spirits, surged around a neck of woods. The master +had given them a half-holiday and they were bound to the Giant's Quoit, +a huge rock said to have been used as a plaything by the ancient Cyclops +of Cornwall. + +[Illustration: "Yes, give three hoots for the red-'eaded Deane and all +his traitor hancestors"] + +"'Allo, come along, Ande, will 'ee?" exclaimed Tommy Puckinharn. + +"No, can't go," replied Ande, shaking his head. He must go home and talk +with his mother over the great prospects of attending the Grammar +School. + +"Naw,--'e must ask 'is mawther fust," cried Bully Bob, with a great +coarse laugh. The laugh and the reference to his mother stung Ande, but +he pretended not to notice. + +"'E's getting up too far now in society to 'sociate with we; 'e was +calling on squire some time ago, and squire give 'im the seat of +honour--fact," said Bob with a wink and a grin that seemed to bring +forth additional grins upon the countenances of several of his +satellites. + +Ande stood for a moment, irresolute, then resumed his way. + +"Les give three hoots for the red-'eaded Deane and all his traitor +hancestors." + +The last was too much for the impatient spirit of the lad to brook. +Turning about and with a calm, steady voice, he cast his gauntlet at Bob +in the shape of a few words in the dialect, equivalent to a challenge to +battle the world over. + +"Bob, thee'rt a great, ghastly coward, and thee knaw it." + +A wave of redness swept over Bob's face, completely drowning the +freckles with which it was freely sprinkled. + +"'Ow's that! I 'ave a good mind to scat thee in the chacks for thy +himpudence, m'lad." And then in a tantilising manner, as Ande +approached, he continued, "Thee art a traitor, for thy faather and +grandfaather were traitors. Everybody knaws they were traitors and +cowards hout in blooming hold America." + +The words had hardly emanated from his lips when--smack!--went Ande's +hand on the mouth that had spoken this base libel. A thrill of +expectancy passed over all the crowd, a thrill of amazement, awe, vivid +interest. + +"Damme," said Bob, as he spat his blood and froth from his lips, "I'll +make 'ee think Saint Michael's Cormoran had 'ee when I get done weth +'ee. Wilt fight or must I knack 'ee down?" + +There was no occasion to ask, for Ande, boiling with rage, was coming at +him with a rush, when a deep voice from the side of the hedge cried, +"'Old hard, there a-bit." + +Tom Glaze vaulted the neighbouring hedge and strode forward into their +midst. + +"Now, I observed the quarrel and I suppose you 'ave got to fight un out, +but 'ee must follow the regular Cornish rules. Thee, Ande, get thy +second, and thee, Bob, get thine, wost tha, and I'll be timekeeper and +referee." + +Glaze led the way over the hedge and the crowd of lads followed, +leaping the barrier like a flock of sheep. A circle was formed in true +British style. Bob chose one of his satellites, and Ande chose +Puckinharn to act as second. The crowd looked on with intense interest. +Was not this to be the greatest fight they had ever seen? Who had ever +dared to challenge redoubtable Bob before? And to make it additionally +interesting, Tom Glaze, one of the most expert wrestlers and boxers of +the Duchy, was to be the one in charge. It was of as much moment to them +as the battle of Waterloo to their fathers. + +The coats of the contestants were cast aside and their sleeves were +deftly rolled up by the seconds. + +"One, two, three," counted Glaze, and then the battle began. + +With a roar, Bully Bob rushed as if to break every bone in his +antagonist's body, and truly had the blow fallen the battle would have +been a short one, for in age, height and weight Bob had the advantage. +Now did Ande feel grateful for the training in the furze croft. +Heretofore, it was stand up, take and give, but now, to Bob's intense +amazement and disgust, his blow landed on empty air, and as he swept by, +carried by his momentum, he received a fierce jab in the ribs that added +nothing to his good humour. Observing, after one or two encounters like +this, that he had no ordinary battle to fight, he began to be more +cautious and his usual confident, sneering face assumed a doubtful air, +but he still pressed the conflict. With his sledge-hammer fists he shot +out blows that would have felled a much larger opponent, but they were +either parried or fell on air. With the litheness and agility of a +leopard his opponent was here, there, everywhere, side-stepping and +putting in heavy body blows that made Bob gasp with something more than +astonishment. + +But Ande was growing too confident. Pushing his antagonist in turn, he +sought to reach Bob's freckled countenance, fell short, and, to use his +own expression, "received a skevern on the noase and eyes that made un +see fire." + +A yell went up from Bob's satellites. Bob had drawn first blood, and he +now pressed the dazed Ande, showering on him a number of blows that he +with difficulty avoided. + +The mute silence of the crowd was broken by Bob's success. Whooping, +yelling, they urged Bob on. + +"Give it to the hugly Deane! Knack down the traitor! Hooray! +Braavo-o-o!" + +Only Puckinharn shouted encouragement to his principal. + +"'It un in the ribs, Ande! Thee cussent reach 'is faace. Braavo! Braavo, +now he's gurking."[4] + + [4] Gurking--weakening. + +The latter was said in response to a crashing left jab in the ribs that +made Bob lower his guard spasmodically. "At un, Ande; his faace now is +like that of a roasted herring on a gridiron. Up and at un, lad!" +Puckinharn's shouts were swelled by the voices of one or two others who +had been silent before. + +Bob now sought to end the battle in close quarters, and rights and +lefts were freely exchanged. Ande wheeled and his friends were silent in +dread for a moment, but only for a moment. Bob staggered back with a +heavy elbow jolt in the small ribs, but not before he had given his +opponent a blow that sent him to the ground, dazed. Ande's pivot blow +had left a bad opening. Bob seeing his opponent down, was rushing in to +finish the contest on the ground, apparently, no rules having as yet +been devised against it, when Tom Glaze shoved himself between. + +"Round's hup." + +The boys began to cheer for Bob, thinking that the battle was over and +that Bob was a victor, but that worthy silenced them with a growl. + +"Shut up, will 'ee; 'e edent licked yet." + +His crestfallen adherents were silent. In the meantime some of the crowd +had brought water to bathe and refresh the youthful gladiators. An old +horse trough was used by Bob and a battered field kibbel[5] by Ande. The +first round was manifestly Bob's. He had drawn first blood and had +knocked his antagonist down. His face was untouched, while Ande's was a +bit drawn; but to judge by the many soft rubs that Bob gave his ribs, he +had not come out of the first round unscathed. + + [5] Kibbel--bucket. + +As Ande rested on Puckinharn's knee, that worthy gave him sundry pieces +of advice. + +"Thee must keep on 'itting 'im in the ribs; 'e's taller than 'ee, and +thee cussent reach 'is faace; 'e's sore and weak there now; 'e's +gurking, I tell'ee." + +"Time!" called Tom Glaze, and to the fray again they rushed. + +Bully Bob, flattered by his adherents, had regained his confidence. He +would finish the battle in close quarters, and rushed again and again, +but his wily antagonist was as agile as an eel. Bob paused for breath +and glared. + +"At un, Bob! Eat un up!" + +"I will," said Bob, "as soon as I catch un." + +The fighting continued, Ande playing his old tactics--hitting in the +ribs and getting away. Puckinharn grinned in delight. Round two was up +and honours were equally divided. Bob was filled with wrath. + +"See 'ere," he said to Tom Glaze, "I want to knaw if that is fair, for +'e to go running and dodging around like that? Us aren't playing fox and +hounds. Why doan't 'e stand up and take and give like a man?" + +He was reassured by Glaze, and Glaze's word was law. + +"Thee didn't think it was unfair to crack to Ande when he was down, did +'ee,--thee great bucca," exclaimed Puckinharn. + +A bucca was the highest title of reproach that Puckinharn had in his +vocabulary. + +"Silence," said Glaze; "the rules are that all dodging is allowed." + +"And wrastling, too," said Bob. + +"Aye, and wrastling, too," affirmed Glaze with a peculiar smile. + +And so the rounds went on until the seventh, when + +Bob being unwary, Ande seized his left guard, gave his ankle a queer, +Cornish side kick, and sent in a blow on Bob's jaw that toppled the +redoubtable bully over on his back. + +"Hooray! Braavo!" exclaimed Puckinharn, swinging his cap up in the air +in his delight. + +Bob was up the next instant and began to fight in a cautious, crouching +attitude. His ribs, black and blue, he sought to shield by drawing his +body back and shoving his head and arms forward. There was a better +chance, too, for a wrestle, he thought. The small boys held their +breath. This was the attitude Bob always assumed when meeting hard +opponents. Rumour had credited him with throwing a sailor in this +manner. The bully was at bay and would fight hard. Now, Ande, you have +need of all your skill, so hardly earned in the practice bouts with Tom +Glaze. There was no further chance at Bob's ribs, and his head seemed +perfectly guarded. They circled warily around each other seeking for an +opening. Then, like a flash came Ande's chance, the opportunity that he +would not let slip. "If 'ee ever get that chance and take it, it will +put thy opponent down and hout sure," Glaze had told him time and time +again, in their practice bouts. + +Bob made a slight pass with his left. The next instant his wrist was +grasped in an iron grip. Up over his neck Ande raised Bob's arm, then +bending his back he grasped with his other hand his opponent's right +knee, and putting forth all his strength, Bob went up in the air as if +hoisted with a derrick. + +"A clinch! a clinch!" shouted some, and it was a clinch in which one did +all the clinching. + +Bob struggled manfully, but the grip that had stopped the squire's +runaway mare could not be unloosened. Up, up, up, went Bob, and then +with a heave the form of the bully, like a comet, went over his +opponent's head and over the heads of the close-pressing ring-siders, +his foot kicking off the cap of one of the lads in his involuntary +flight. There was a thud and a cry. The battle was ended. Bully Bob had +a broken collar-bone, and his prestige was forever terminated. + +Trembath was the hero of the hour. Tom Glaze was jubilant and slapped +the victor on the back. + +"Thee did what I telled thee, and I couldn't do un better myself. +Thee'lt be champion of the county yet. Thee make off home now, for thy +mother will be looking for 'ee, and I'll see to the tother chap." + +Ande started homeward. The boys still remained around the fallen bully, +or in little knots by themselves discussed the great battle. Then a +short distance away were seen the approaching figures of the squire and +parson, and the spectators melted away like magic, until only Tom Glaze +remained. + +"Ah, Tom, a bad day's work, inciting the young to fight," said Parson +Trant, shaking his head disapprovingly. + +"Well, lads will fight and sometimes it does them good," said the +squire, who loved the old British game of boxing, and felt like +supporting Glaze, who was a favourite of his. + +"A bad thing, stirring up the worst passions," replied the parson. + +"I doan't knaw about that," sturdily replied Glaze, encouraged by the +squire's words. "This was a thing that 'ad to come off, and seeing as +'ow the little one 'as given the big un a much needed dressing down,--I +think it proper, sir," and Glaze touched his cap. + +"Another case of the valiant Cornishman and the giant Cormoran, eh, +Glaze?" said the squire, laughingly. + +"Aye, sir, 'tez so," said Glaze, as they passed on. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS PLAY + + "Come, bring with a noise, + My merrie, merrie boys, + The Christmas block to the firing; + While my good dame, she, + Bids ye all be free, + And drink to your heart's desiring." + + --_Herrick._ + + +There was bustle and activity in the parish. There was a chill in the +air, the presage of the rapidly approaching Christmas time. House +cleaning and baking occupied the time of the busy housewives. The small +boy's eyes glistened as he watched the huge cakes, loaded with citron, +currants, and coloured as yellow as gold with saffron, emerging from the +oven and consigned, still steaming hot, to some secure place of +retention. Then the bag-puddings--a most indigestible mass--yet sweet +and toothsome, the pastries, pies, and fuggans, passed in regular order +through the hands of the cook. + +There is activity among the male population as well as among the +housewives. Small lads run hither and thither crying shrilly, "Pennorths +of Christmas," and exhibiting evergreen, holly and mistletoe for sale. +The farmers are preparing bands for saluting the apple trees. Youngsters +are planning schemes for watching the oxen kneel. Singers are +practising, night after night, the Christmas carols or "curls." Youths +are preparing for the Christmas play of St. George and the Turk. + +Ande had been to Helston with the donkey and cart to purchase needed +supplies, and in returning along the "Red Revver" road was allowing the +animal to take his own gait. + +"'Allo, Ande, we want 'ee for St. George in the Christmas play," said a +voice from the hedge. It was Puckinharn. + +"How art tha, Tommy! Up with 'ee and 'ave a ride. Who's in the company?" +said Ande, all in one breath. + +"We doant knaw as yet, but thee must be St. George, that's settled," +said Tommy, as he clambered up into the cart. + +"Well, if I'm to be St. George, we had better begin soon. Suppose we +meet in our furze croft and get down to business this afternoon." + +"The very place," assented Tommy. + +The donkey was hurried on, while both lads planned and talked. That +afternoon saw a crowd of the village boys assembled in the rough +highland, "the croft," and after much debate the parts were assigned and +practising begun. + +Christmas eve came at length. The moon shone serenely from between +broken clouds. The air was clear, crisp and cold, and made great coats a +necessity to comfort. The trees had lost their leafy robe, and now +stood shivering or shaking in envy of their evergreen brethren, while +all the green hedges had aged into withered brown. There was a flash of +light from the parish church tower, and then the single pencil of light +was increased by another and another, until every window of the old +structure was ablaze with illumination in honour of the coming birthday +of the Nazarene. Light after light appeared in cottage of peasant and +mansion of gentleman, as if an answer to the summons of the old church +to do honour to Him who is the "light of the world." Then on the night +air came the song of choirs and carol of singers, mingled with the +strains of musical instruments. From cottage and hall sounded the merry +noise of revelry, the hearty laugh and general good cheer. + +Forth through the night, bubbling with good spirit and anticipated +merriment, stalked the St. George Band of Christmas players, adorned in +such a brave manner as even to make the redoubtable British champion, +had he lived to see it, green with envy. What variable garments! What +coats adorned with tinsel, red, and gold, and striped! What shields of +brilliant paper or tin, spears of warlike hickory, and swords--not near +so sharp as the Saracen blade, but still as sharp as wood could be +whittled with a jack-knife; and caps of tall, many-hued tinsel; had the +real St. George worn one of them the terrible, ripping, snorting, +steam-breathing dragon would have bellowed in anguish, and have fallen +down in a dead faint. But they were good enough for the occasion and +their very form was sacred by ancestry. + +House after house was visited and the fun grew fast and furious. At very +few places were they not given a ready entrance and hearty welcome. + +"Now les to the squire's!" exclaimed one, and the proposition was hailed +with delight. The distance was not far, and the time was shortened by +conversation and by a little warlike practice between St. George and his +Mohammendan enemy, the Turk, in which practice the Turk received a +terrific, broad sword slash, that made him pucker up his face like the +picture of the Saracen's head at the village inn. The Turk was not +gifted in the Turkish language, but made up for it by giving vent in +broad Cornish dialect to his feelings. + +"Damme, Ande, ef thee'rt going to cut my nose off my faace and scat my +brains out, I'll be a Turk no longer," and Tommy Puckinharn flung down +his sword in disgust, and stalked on ahead of the company. With one hand +nursing his injured olfactory and the other thrust in his breast, and +meekly followed by his fellows, he looked like Napoleon and army on the +retreat from Moscow. Some one picked up the Turk's weapon and +immediately a discussion arose. No one but a knight must carry a sword +in the company. Sword bearing was the special prerogative of a knight +and "tother chaps must carry spears." The sword bearer then pleaded to +be made a knight, and if Tommy wouldn't be the Turk to install him in +his place. But that was what Tommy didn't want. He had no desire of +being turned out of the second place in the company, even if he did +throw down his weapon, and so he returned and indignantly protested. +When a soldier loses his sword and another finds it, he ought to return +it, was the Turk's argument. + +St. George settled the affair by raising the sword finder to the rank of +a squire. The bravery of the Turk in their late encounter, and his +heroic courage on other occasions, merited that he should have an armour +bearer, a squire, to be his constant attendant. The sword finder was +elated and, somehow or other, the pain in the Turk's nose was healed by +this new dignity that his valour had added to his reputation. There was +no more practice in the warlike arts, for the Manor gates were passed +and the great house was near. + +The numerous chimney pots sent up various curling clouds of smoke that +glistened palely in the moonlight. The diamond-shaped window panes +gleamed and scintillated with the illumination within, except where a +dark shadow of holly wreath obstructed the light. The broad verandas +were festooned with ropes of evergreen. Up the broad steps strode the +players and, after a few mute looks and a little whispered colloquy, the +herald lifted the rapper and sent a peal through the old building that +would have been certainly heard at any other time but Christmas eve. + +Within there was the noise of frolick. The servants were haw-hawing in +the kitchen department over some joke or amusement, and the occasional +thump, thump of feet in measured time indicated a dance, perhaps between +the cook and hostler. The squire's hall was replete with good cheer. +Wreaths of evergreen intertwined with sprigs of holly were hung at +regular spaces on the waxed, panelled walls. At one end was a large +life-sized painting of George the Second. Squire Vivian had a great +reverence for the king that had secured to his family the estate of +Trembath. His father had served King George faithfully in the east, and +there had ever been a strong friendship between the Vivians and the +Hapsburgs. At the other end of the hall hung the picture of the squire's +father and, although in warlike garb, yet had a friendly smile on his +features as if in greeting to His Majesty, the King, on the opposite +wall. In the centre of the side wall was the great open fireplace, the +grate having been removed to make room for the great yule block that was +kindled every Christmas eve with almost religious ceremonies, and near +its warm glow was the form of the squire, seated in his great armchair. +He looked the very impersonation of Father Christmas, minus the beard. +Near him were two or three of his friends from the east, men of his own +age, who seemed to enjoy his conversation and laughed as merrily as +himself. A whist party was in progress on the other side of the +fireplace, while down the long room, here and there, were scattered +various groups engaged in various Christmas games. The hall floor was +not carpeted, for the squire scorned such modern improvements as +innovations and desired nothing better than the old-fashioned waxed +floors. Neither did he see fit to remove any of the emblems of his +father's predecessors, for above the flaming firelog stretched the high +oak mantel, and carved in relief on its shiny surface was the figure of +a Lyonnese warrior galloping amidst devouring ocean waves. + +The squire was just chuckling over a young lady's mishap in getting +under the mistletoe when the herald of the St. George company, tired of +raising the great knocker, pushed open the door and entered the hall. +There was a thump on the floor to demand attention, and then in as +authoritative voice as he could command came the heralding of the brave +gallants without. + + "Room, a--a--room, brave gallants, room! + Within this court, + I do resort + To show some sport + And pastime; + Gentlemen and ladies, in the Christmas time." + +There was silence in the hall for a moment and then the squire spoke out +with a cheery welcome, for he heartily appreciated the amusement. + +"Bring in your gallant crew. Ho, there, children, move to one side and +give them room for fair play." This latter to various groups of +merrymakers in the hall. + +The whist players dropped their cards, the hall occupants withdrew to +either side, and the elderly parties around the squire ceased their +conversation to give full attention to the antics of these new +merrymakers. + +The herald bowed to the squire and company and waved his wand, and in +capered a queer, uncouth figure in mask and flowing wig and whiskers. +The young children burst into peals of laughter at his grotesque +movements, and he had to uphold his authority and gain silence for +himself by thumping the floor vigorously with his tall staff. He had a +right to demand attention, for he was Father Christmas; his round, +cheery face proclaimed it, even without his speech which he proceeded to +make. + + "Here come I, old Father Christmas, + Welcome or welcome not, + I 'ope hold Father Christmas + Will never be forgot; + I bring the cold of winter time, + That kisses red the nose; + I bring the snow, the rain, the frost + That bites and stings the toes; + But, then, I'm welcome anyway + Because I am the seer + That brings the nuts, and cake, and pies + Of happy Yuletide cheer." + +Father Christmas executed a few joyous capers, but was interrupted by +the herald who, with a little fear on his countenance, stated: + +"Father Christmas, thee must stand aside a bit for I think I see an +enemy of thine and of our good Christmas cheer a-coming." + +Father Christmas moved aside with a shake of his hoary locks and +muttered: + + "Ah, 'tez the Saracen, I fear, + I would our bold St. George were near." + +All eyes were fastened on the door through which the valorous Turk, in +his green turban, was entering, his face a little more ferocious by the +wound received from St. George's sword in the contest on the public +road. The Saracen has some difficulty in expressing himself in good +English, but that was to be attributed to his Turkish training. +Flourishing his sword he began: + + "Bally, bully mally can + Hodak 'ee St. George ann, + Baresesh tally man, + Abdul caliph Hassan!" + + "Pray, speak in English, brave Turk, + Let's 'ear what mischiefs in thee lurk." + +The herald had spoken in response to his heathen jargon, and the Saracen +scowled upon him hideously and answered: + + "'Tis plain 'ee cannot understand + The language of the Turkey land + And so I'll tell as plain I can + In the words of the Englishman. + Here come I, a Turkey snipe, + Come from the Turkey land to fight, + And if St. George do meet me here + I'll try 'is courage without fear." + +The Turk stalked around in brave manner, when a new arrival, the +redoubtable St. George, entered. A cheer went up from the younger +element of the squire's visitors, and even the whist players clapped +their hands, for the Turk was no favourite, and did they not love St. +George, the patron saint of England? St. George bows to the spectators, +and by his speech does not appear very modest over his great victories. + + "Here come I, that St. George, + That worthy champion bold, + And with my sword and spear + I won three crowns of gold. + I fought the dragon old + And brought him to the slaughter, + By that I gained fair Sabra, + The king of Egypt's daughter." + +The Turkish knight drew his sword and with a warlike pass at St. George, +hurled his defiance: + + "St. George, I pray, be not too bold, + If thy blood is hot I'll soon make un cold." + +The squire smiles, for there is a strong Cornish accent in the Turk's +tone, notwithstanding his efforts to conceal it. But now St. George also +has drawn his sword and with the threat, + + "Thou, Turkish Knight, I pray, forbear, + I'll make thee dread my sword and spear," + +the contest begins. + +The servants have opened the door leading to the kitchen department and +now stand crowding in the entrance. Little ones that had been taken to +bed by their nurses were brought down to see the fun. Fair play and a +clear field, the squire had said, and so the centre of the great room +was theirs. And how they did fight! Surely no earthly battle was like +it. In no battle was so much blood shed and so many hard blows +delivered, at least so thought the Turk in reference to the latter, for +he was battered from head to foot with side blows and over cuts, jabs, +and slashes, until he ardently wished for the time to come when he must +fall down dead. + +The squire and the others applauded when a good blow was given or one +neatly parried. The Turk at length steadily gave way, to the delight of +the little ones among the spectators. One little maid in her exuberance +of joy danced up and down clapping her hands and saying, "The old Turk +is going to be whipped, and I'm glad." At length, under a shower of +blows, the Turk fell to the ground amid the plaudits of the onlookers. +St. George bends over him to see the extent of his wounds, and the Turk +whispers: + +"Ande, I guess I 'ad better stay killed this time." + +But St. George is inexorable. Standing erect he +speaks: + + "He lives, he breathes, he speaks, + Now in the name of Elicompane + Let the man rise and fight again." + +The Turk arises on one knee and continues the conflict, but not for +long, as he is again stricken down and becomes at once a suppliant. + + "Oh, pardon me, St. George, + Pardon me I crave, + Pardon me this once, + And I will be thy slave." + +Bold St. George had no idea of mercy toward the Turk, and so he spurs +him once more to the conflict. + + "I'll never pardon a Turkish Knight, + Therefore arise and try thy might." + +Again the contest raged, the Turk, seeking to save himself as much as +possible from the onslaughts of St. George, fights with a good bit of +desperate valour, but down he goes again. St. George shakes his head as +if it were all over and then cries: + + "Is there a doctor to be found + To cure a deep and deadly wound?" + +Why he should be so solicitous for the welfare of the Turk as to seek a +doctor can hardly be told, unless for the pleasure of fighting with him +again. The doctor is not long in appearing from the hall entrance. With +three-cornered hat perched above an enormous wig and painted face, there +was a professional air about him. With a leer and a funny grimace at the +crowd he began his doggerel speech. + + "Oh, yes, there is a doctor to be found, + The best old doctor in the town, + On my back I carry my pack, + Of pills both white, and brown, and black." + +St. George stalked toward him and asked, "What can you cure? Can you +cure this man?" + + "Cure? I can cure the palsy, and gout, + If the devil's in him, I'll soon pull 'im out." + +The spectators crowded forward. Could the doctor cure the slain Turk? +Oh, yes. How wisely he goes about his work! He tries one remedy after +another, but of no avail. The Turk had told St. George in their last +encounter that he was going to fight no more. He wasn't going to fight +again, but to sham being dead, and then they would have to bring on the +other players. He was shamming wonderfully well, until even the squire +thought he was possibly badly hurt. The doctor knew different, however, +for he had been posted by St. George, and so he drew from his pocket a +bottle of exceedingly strong smelling salts. He had purloined it from +his mother's bureau. This would make him well, he averred. St. George +had kindness enough to hold the Turk's head down, while the doctor was +administering the dose. Three great strong whiffs entered the Turk's +nostrils, and seemed to enter every part of his head like the stinging +of a million hornets. He would have gotten up then and there and fought +the whole crowd had not St. George held his head, and the doctor thought +he had better have the full dose. + +"Achew! Achew! Achew!" + +St. George let go the Turk's head, and the doctor nimbly stepped aside; +the Turk with all the wrath of his race in his face, grasped his sword +and fought like a demon for a few moments. His being killed three times +seemed to increase his power. Then the natural superiority of Ande in +the use of the sword began to assert itself, and the Turk thought that +the sooner he fell the better, and accordingly did so. The old doctor +slowly advanced and shook his head, as if all his skill was of no avail +to resuscitate the slain Saracen. + + "Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust, + If man can't cure 'im, old Nick must." + +The doctor waved his staff, and in capered the dragon, a sort of hobble +horse made of hoops under distended canvas, and worked by an inside +performer. The great snapping jaws and staring eyes scared the little +ones, but they laughed when they found it was only the slain Turk that +he wanted. The unfortunate Turk, grasped by those rigorous jaws, was +dragged from the hall. + +The entertainment ended with the passing of the Christmas box, into +which each one threw an offering, and as if in thankfulness for the +amount the Christmas band, Turk, and dragon as well, mingled in a +ludicrous dance, after which the whole crew was regaled with hot egg-nogg +and cake. + +In the midst of the conversation and laughter new sounds penetrated the +hall from without. + + "Angels from the realms of glory, + Wing your flight o'er all the earth, + Ye who sang creation's story, + Now proclaim Messiah's birth." + +Some of the hall occupants rushed to the hall windows to see the +singers. There in the pale moonlight were singers from the parish church +and neighbourhood. They were singing, accompanied with the music of +clarionet and serpent players. After the anthem the squire sent the old +steward out to bid the choristers enter. He did so by saying to the +choristers: "The squire wants hall hangels to come in." They entered and +continued singing. + +In the midst of the singing the Turkish knight leaned over to St. George +and muttered: + +"Ande, I'll be a Turkey snipe no more, when thee art St. George." + +"Why?" said Ande, "and for goodness sake why do 'ee call it 'Turkey +snipe'? Did 'ee notice the squire smile? A Turkish knight, you mean." + +"Aye, I forgits the name; but 'ee nearly beat my insides out with thy +old wooden sword, so 'ee did,'" growled Tommy Puckinharn, softly. + +Ande gazed at the Turk's melancholy countenance, and chuckled in +amusement. + +"It was all in the play, Tommy, and if 'ee didn't fight so hard and I +didn't cut and slash as I did, perhaps we wouldn't 'ave the cake and +good stuff that we are eating here now," said Ande, at which reply Tommy +seemed some mollified. + +The "curl-singers" had finished their anthems and were regaled in the +same manner as the Christmas players, and there was a lull in the +amusements, when the great knocker on the hall door sounded the presence +of a new visitor. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE CORNISH DROLL TELLER + + "Seest thou not my harp? + Emblem of my peaceful calling." + + --_Harper Ballad._ + + +A servant opened the hall door and ushered in an old man, slightly bent +under the weight of a harp under its green covering. He was clad in the +ordinary garments of the time, except that he still clung to the long +stockings, knee breeches, and low silver buckled shoes that were now +generally being discarded by the gentry. From the hue of his hair, that +was of an iron-grey and thick and wavy like his beard, and the slight +stoop to his shoulders, he must have been in the neighbourhood of fifty +years of age. There was a trace of humour around the corners of his +mouth, and much fun-light in the gleam of his twinkling eyes that seemed +to belie the tragic nature of his heavy beetling brows. + +"Uncle Billy! Uncle Billy!" shouted some of the younger ones, in glee. + +"'Tis Uncle Billy, the droll teller," said the squire to one of his +eastern friends in a side tone, and then to the new arrival, "Welcome to +the Manor Hall, Uncle Billy, and to our Christmas cheer. Come nigh the +fire and get thy fingers loosened up, for we must have a tune to-night." + +Uncle Billy, the droll, sat himself near the yule log and, while he +warmed up his cold hands, entered into conversation with the squire and +one or two of his elder friends. + +The droll teller of Cornwall was a privileged character in the olden +times. Somewhat embodying the profession of the minstrel and the +story-teller, he was always assured of a ready welcome. For ages the +western part of Saxon England terminated at the River Tamar, and the +people west of that stream, girt with hills and wild moors, had little +communication with the outside world. Hence when the profession of the +minstrel began to decline in the days of Elizabeth, this section gave it +a ready welcome and asylum. The lack of railways and newspapers gave the +droll the profession of a news courier, and at any house he tarried he +was regarded with favour and reverence. How they stood around him in the +evening hours, in cottage or hall, and listened with eager interest to +the news of the great outside world, and how with awe upon their faces +they listened to the tales of Tregeagle, the giant Cormoran of St. +Michael's Mount! Many knew the tales, but none could tell them with the +vivid realism of the droll, and then how the eyes of the youths would +flash at the tales of King Arthur, the greatest king of the Cornish +line. + +Of all droll tellers, Uncle Billy was the most loved and the most +famous. He could enter into the cottages of the common people and be one +of their midst, speaking in their own dialect, or could associate with +the gentry speaking in language as good as their own, and at times +better. He was not only gifted with oratorical and musical power, but +also had a fund of information in legendary lore and was as familiar +with the tales of Rome and Greece as a university scholar. Some even +went so far as to say that he was a scholar of Eton College when he was +a lad, had been disappointed in a love affair and had drifted away from +all who knew him in consequence. At times, after some legend told with +great power, some of his friends among the gentry would remonstrate with +him on his wandering life and offer to assist him into some greater +sphere of usefulness, in better keeping with his education. + +"Sphere of usefulness," Billy would respond. "What profession is more +useful than that of the minstrel, or as people call me, the droll? I +have brought happiness into cottage and hall and wiped the tears from +sorrowing eyes with fun and laughter. I have made the youth's heart burn +with high purpose to emulate the heroic deeds of old, and I have +implanted thoughts of soberness in the giddy headed. What could be more +useful? And could I have a happier occupation were I in the position of +a servant? No, I prefer the old independent life of the droll; and as +for my high education," Billy would always stop here, and with a funny +twinkle in his eyes and dropping into the language of the country clout +say, "I beant much of a scholard." + +"Well, Billy, give us a song," said the squire, seeing that the droll +teller had become sufficiently thawed out to finger the harp. + +"Or a story," said a relative of the squire. + +"Tell us of the oxen kneeling on Christmas night," piped in a young, +shrill, boyish voice. + +"Les have Duffy and The Devil," said one of the "curl" singers. + +"Or the Cornish Tale of King Arthur," said another. + +"Well, well, one at a time. Suppose I sing ye one of the old Christmas +songs first," responded Uncle Billy, and tuning up his harp he swept +with rapid, light fingers the opening bars of "The First Good News That +Mary Had." This was followed by "I See Three Ships Come Sailing In," and +was greeted with great applause at the close. + +The old butler brought in a steaming bowl of egg-nog punch which he +placed on the table near the harper's chair; after refreshing himself +the droll began the tale of Duffy and the Devil, telling it, as was his +custom, partly in verse to the accompaniment of the harp, and partly in +prose. + + +THE TALE OF DUFFY AND THE DEVIL. + + An old bachelor squire of Cornubia's race + Was the master of old Lovell Hall; + He'd a jolly round face, and the fox he would trace + Over moor and through dale in a glorious chase, + But of women he would none at all. + + Cider making was nigh and in Buryan church town + For more hands he was seeking one day; + Words and blows did resound, and with her swing-tail gown, + Old Janey was beating her stepdaughter around, + In her cottage, that was by his way. + +"Hallo, what's the row," said the squire, as he dismounted and entered +the cottage. Being a magistrate, he thought it was his duty to settle +all quarrels, but he had scarcely got within when he was sorry he had +meddled. Old Janey had been using the skirt of her gown to carry out the +grate ashes, and beating Duffy, her stepdaughter, with the gown +afterward; there was such a dust in the air that the squire went into a +fit of coughing. + +"'Tis Duffy," said old Janey. "She can't knit nor spin and does nothing +for her living. She's that lazy, your honour," and Janey, the dust +settling a bit, dropped a curtesy to the squire. + +"'Tedn't so, your honour," said Duffy, as the tears gathered in her blue +eyes. "My knitting and spinning is of the very best." + +Well, the upshot of the matter was that the squire took Duffy home with +him to Lovell Hall, and the hall housekeeper sent her into the attic to +spin. Old Janey was glad to get rid of her stepdaughter, and Duffy was +glad to get away and, though she had told an untruth to the squire, it +didn't bother her much, until she found herself surrounded by the wool +sacks in the upper part of Lovell Hall. There, casting herself down on +the wool sacks, she said: "The devil may spin for the squire, but I +can't and won't." Scarcely had she said this when a voice was heard: + + "A bargain! A bargain!" said the voice loud and clear + Of a neat little man in garb black; + "But remember, my dear, since ye've called me here, + If ye can't guess my name, I'll have 'ee in a year," + And he brought his tail down with a rap. + +"All right," said Duffy undaunted, and tossed up her head in disdain, +and then fell to lolling on the wool sacks and idling and singing away +the whole day. In the evening the little man in black handed to her the +result of his day's spinning and she descended with it into the great +hall below. + +"Zounds! What a liar old Janey was," said the squire, as he viewed the +fine amount of spun yarn, and casting a favouring glance on Duffy he +said she was the finest spinner in Cornwall. + +The next day Duffy took the yarn with her to the attic to knit the +squire's hunting stockings, and the little man, true to his contract, +performed the work for her and soon,---- + + The stockings were finished, and knit strong as leather, + Squire Lovell was filled with delight; + With dogs all together, in all sorts of weather, + His old shanks were sound in furze, brambles or heather, + Whether hunting by day or by night. + +But now came a worrying time for the old squire, for the lads from the +whole country around had heard of Duffy's fine spinning and were not +indifferent to Duffy's charms. The squire feared that she would marry +one of them and then he should lose his fine stockings, and so resolved +to forestall such a dire thing by marrying Duffy himself. They were +married in the old parish church before a great assemblage from far and +near. The old squire's heart was full of glee as he gazed at the young, +disappointed men around him. "Ha! Ha!" thought he, "she soon shall be +mine." But no sooner had he thought this than there was a terrible, +distinct voice echoing the same thoughts. + + "Ha! Ha! She soon shall be mine!" blood curdling and dire, + Echoed a voice; the people were still, + And from window of choir gazed the black man in ire, + Yet knew that the end of his compact was nigh her, + When she must be subject to his will. + +The people in the church heard the voice, but no one knew who had spoken +the words. The rector was indignant that the service should be +interrupted and would have had the party, then and there, up before the +gentlemen at the court if he could have found him. The supposition was +that some jealous suitor had spoken, and the thing was soon forgotten by +everyone but Duffy, or Lady Lovell, as we must now call her. She knew +and was nigh to fainting had not the squire supported her with his +sturdy arm. They were happy in their married life, for the squire loved +his wife and Duffy had always a secret regard for him, but there was a +dread in her mind that the words of the little man in black must soon +come true. The year was nigh up and she had tried all plans to discover +his name, but of little avail. She was nigh in despair when a person +whom she had befriended relieved her of much of her anxiety. That person +was old Betty of the mill, who was commonly supposed to be something of +a witch. + +She carefully inquired of Lady Lovell when the squire went on his next +hunting trip, and having ascertained the time to the very hour, she +obtained from her a jack of the squire's best beer. + +That day the squire went hunting far from home and even at nightfall +returned not to Lovell Hall. As the hours of nightfall came on, the +dogs, one by one, came back all lathered in foam, but no Squire Lovell. +At ten o'clock came the squire and he was visibly excited and seemed +bubbling over with laughter. + +"Duffy," said he, "I have had as great a lark as I have ever had in my +life. I hunted all day over all the moors and downs, Trove, Trevider, +Lemorna and Brene, and didn't catch a thing. The mare was tired out and +so was I, when up jumped as fine a hare as I had ever seen, from a hedge +along the road-side. She was away and so were the dogs instantly, and I +followed. What a chase! This way and that way she doubled, and at length +entered the mouth of Fugoe's dark cave." + + In went the dogs and in follow'd I, water dripping, + Mud flying, dogs yelping in full cry, + Owls wheeling, bats flapping, the place was nigh sick'ning + And black as the night, but the pace was now quickening, + When a singular sight caught my eye. + + We had gone nigh a mile when the dogs turn'd to flight, + For Alack! On the farthermost shore + Of a lake was a light of a fire. What a sight! + There was old Nick a-dancing with all his might + With witches; there was more than a score. + +"And there was old Bet of the mill a-thumping and a-beating her crowd, +giving music for the dance, and, as I live, by her side was my best jack +of beer, and each time old Nick would come around he would take a +drink. The old witches sang as they danced, + + "Here's to the devil, + With wooden pick and shovel, + Digging tin by the bushel + With his tail cocked up." + + The wild dance and frolic grew fast and furious, + Brighter blaz'd the fire-flames, blue and hot, + Then Nick in full chorus, with witches, uproarious, + Shouted and sang like the spirit of Boreas, + "My name is Terrytop, Terrytop." + +"Aye, and he kept shouting it as if he had lost his head with the +drinking of too much of my beer. Then he jumped among the old witches, +and such a sight!" + + He kicked the old witches and Bet the old dame, + 'Till I laughed out aloud at the lark, + Then he whirl'd and he came, in a reel, through the flame, + "Go it, old Nick," said I, "you are worthy your name," + And then--in a moment--'twas dark. + + And away galloped I, with the mare at full speed; + With a din, the whole crowd followed fast; + With old Nick in the lead, over moor and o'er mead, + But I distanc'd them soon, for the mare knew my need, + And now here I am, Duffy, at last. + +"Why doesn't 'ee laugh, Duffy?" said the squire. Duffy, who had turned +pale at the mentioning of the little man's name, now regained her good +spirits and laughed merrily and long, for she knew she was safe. The +squire stretched out his limbs in weariness, for he had hunted far and +wide and felt the need of sleep, so he soon retired. But not so Duffy, +for she knew that in an hour or so the little man in black would come to +claim his prize. First she said the Creed, and then she prayed, for she +had resolved to become an exemplary woman could she escape the +consequences of the rash vow she had made a year before. Then in the +midst of her devotions there was heard the wild neighing of a horse +without, and then the door, though shut with bolt and bar, opened, and +in stepped the little man in black, bowing low, and yet with a cunning +leer in his eyes. + +"I 'ave come for 'ee, Duffy," said he, "unless"--and he paused,--"unless +ye can guess my name." + +"Terrytop!" said Duffy, with a confident look on her features. + +"Correct, m'lady," said Terrytop with a sigh of regret, and then with a +sweep of his tail he was gone. + + * * * * * + +The droll ceased his tale and was greeted by a round of applause, for it +was not only the story, but the manner of the harper, at one time frank, +ruddy and jovial like Squire Lovell, at another time with a cunning leer +like the man in black, at another time disdainful or tearful, fearful or +glad, according to the mood of Duffy, that drew forth the appreciation +of his auditors. He calmly sipped a bowl of punch, while the auditors +entered into conversation, though expecting more tales when the harper +had rested himself. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +ST. GEORGE AND FAIR SABRA + + Blest as Immortal Zeus is he, + The youth who fondly sits by thee, + And gazes at the witchery trace + Of gladsome laughter in thy face, + The music of thy voice to hear, + The incense of thy presence near. + + +During the recital of the droll's tale where was Ande? Generally, he was +interested in the tales of Uncle Billy, the droll, but this night he had +eyes and ears only for the squire's daughter. + +The latter was in her element. She was young, but the death of her +mother had long made her the mistress of the great house. The presence +of the guests inspired her to do her utmost as hostess, and she was not +unequal to the task. The earlier part of the evening saw her flitting +about, a fairy figure in lace and ribbons. During the entertainment of +the droll she was at leisure, and sat on one side at a little distance, +entirely engrossed in the narrative. Here it was that Ande found her. + +"And is St. George welcomed by fair Sabra, the King of Egypt's +daughter?" he said, as he sat himself near her. + +In those weeks intervening between the squire's reparation and the +Christmas period, Ande had been a frequent visitor at the Manor. The +squire could not easily forget his prejudice against the name stained +with treason, but he was generous enough to smother it in the light of +the youth's brave conduct in the runaway, and wished also to make some +amends for the injustice of placing him in the stocks. + +So the lad was found frequently in the neighbourhood of the Manor. The +Manor walks were familiar to him. He had often assisted Mistress Alice +in her garden work in her own favourite plot, and a warm and strong +attachment had grown up between them. The old squire occasionally nodded +to him and smiled, but beyond that there was little friendly +conversation between them. + +But to the squire's daughter how useful he became. Was there any work +that would soil her dainty fingers? Ande must perform it. Was there any +task that seemed too hard for her? Ande was in requisition. Once she had +hurt her finger over a rose bush. It was Ande who heard the faint +exclamation of pain and who flew instantly to her side, and how tenderly +and with what a vague thrill, as if he himself were hurt, did he proceed +to extract the jagged thorn. It was his own handkerchief that bound up +the wound, and with what gallantry he had requested her to keep it as a +remembrance of him. He knew not that that piece of linen was stored up +among Mistress Alice's special treasures. She knew that her womanly +intuition at the gate of the Primrose Cottage was true. This youth did +love her, and it was not displeasing to her; but she knew something +else. She was gradually knowing her own feelings, that she cherished a +deeper sentiment than friendship for this brave youth who had saved her +life. The thought of this sentiment would send the crimson waves o'er +her countenance when she dwelt upon it, for a moment, in her own pretty +rooms. She would not have him suspect such a thing--not for the world. +She knew her father's hatred for treason, his strong loyal sentiments. +No, she dare not think of it too often. Her father had revealed his +plans for her future--the marriage with young Richard Lanyan. But she +had neither acquiesced nor refused. Master Lanyan was a welcome visitor +to the Manor, and she treated him well as her father's guest. + +Lanyan and Ande had met once in her presence at the Manor. There was a +gleam of hatred in each eye. This was the son of the hated family that +had deprived the Trembaths of their rightful possessions, and now Ande +could perceive the marked favour with which he was greeted by the old +squire, and had a dim consciousness of the squire's hopes. It was as +much as Mistress Alice could do to so conduct herself as to offend +neither. Lanyan, after the first quick, sharp glance at Trembath, paid +little heed to him. Calmly and tranquilly he ignored him and devoted his +attention to Mistress Alice, taking the conversation into such +scholarly, Etonian themes that Ande, finding himself out of his depths, +was constrained to silence and soon moved homeward with bitter feelings +within him. + +He had not come near the Manor for a week after that, and somehow or +other Mistress Alice had a foreboding that something was wrong. Did it +pain her? She would not acknowledge that it did, even to herself. But +how graciously she treated him when he did return. So had affairs been +before the Christmastide, and on account of it there was not that +strangeness between them that existed at the first. + +With the remark above mentioned, the Knight, St. George, seated himself +near Alice. She smiled pleasantly and responded: + +"I am afraid fair Sabra and the King of Egypt are too far remote from +our locality and times to be mixed up with us. I must congratulate you, +Ande, for your able impersonation of St. George. By the way, who is that +Turk that so murders the king's English?" + +"Thomas Puckinharn, one of the village lads. He is a good fighter, but a +blow or two harder than usual saps his courage. I had hard ado to make +him fight at all," and he related their practice upon the village road +and the strategy of allowing Tommy a squire as a balm to heal his +wounded feelings. She laughed at his droll manner of reciting it, and +her laugh seemed to be music to his soul and to quicken the beating of +his heart within. + +"Why," she was saying, "did you beat the Turk so savagely? I must +confess I never saw a real battle, but I imagined I saw one all the time +you were fighting. You beat down his guard and struck him over the head +and shoulders, until I trembled. I believe you would make an excellent +knight, had you lived in their times," and she shook her elfin locks in +approbation of his fighting prowess. + +"Well, I thought I was fighting for fair Sabra, and the reality of it +seemed to put greater strength into my arms. A knight always fights more +bravely in the presence of his lady." + +"It must be nice to have such a brave knight. And who is the lady?" + +"One surpassing fair and worthy of the crown of Egypt. One whom I have +served, as a knight always serves his lady." + +"I suppose you mean me," said the maiden, with a flush, and yet with +some gaiety in her tones. "Well, be it so. You shall be my knight and +defender and shall wear a pledge of your valour as a remembrance," and +she plucked a hothouse blossom from the knot at her breast and presented +it to him. "Fight bravely in life, and you will be a true knight." + +"That I will," said Ande, as he received the flower, "and I shall +remember this Christmas eve, throughout my life, as one of its best +days. I shall even remove the stain of treason from our name. Treason +that is so hateful to me!" + +"I trust you may," said the girl, earnestly. "It has been a hard burden +to bear. And with the ideas of our times, it is hard to advance under it +to positions of honour and trust. But I believe you will succeed." + +"You do not believe, then, in the current report, held true even by your +father, of the truth of the accusation that has always clung to our +name from my grandfather's times?" + +"Knowing you as I do, no. If your father and your grandfather were at +all like you, they could not have done what current report states. No. I +do not believe it." + +"I am glad that you do not believe it. It gives me courage to succeed." +There was a light in the eyes of St. George, a gleam of genuine +pleasure. + +"The removal of that stain, which you have often told me of, will +remove, perhaps, many barriers of which you are ignorant. My knight must +do it." + +"I am that knight," said Ande, warmly. + +"The knight that I should admire would be one that will not despair at a +few difficulties." + +"I am that knight," eagerly. + +"He must be truthful and scorn a lie." + +"I do, from the bottom of my heart." + +"He must be a worker, and brave and courageous." + +"My principles exactly." + +"He must not be satisfied to be an ordinary knight. He must be a +leader." + +"My ambition," emphatically. + +"He must be an exceptional man, noble, upright, a defender of the weak, +and--and--and--must be my knight, and no one else's." Her eyes were +shining darkly with a happy gleam, and there was a glow on her cheeks +that made her a thousand times more attractive to the enthralled soul +before her. Her countenance was close to his. Ah! The magic of its +influence! + +[Illustration: "I am that knight," said Ande, warmly] + +His heart was beating so tumultuously he feared all heard it. He knew +then and there the reason of his interest in her. Those vague feelings, +which he had not taken the trouble to analyse, burst suddenly upon him +like a revelation. He loved, yes, he knew it. Heretofore he had gone on +blindly, driven by the subtile promptings within. Now he understood his +own heart. There was a pang as he thought of the stain on his name, and +then a joyous bound of his heart as he thought she believed in him, in +his ability to eradicate the blot. She had called him her knight. He +would be so. But then the thought of Master Lanyan emerged from the +depths of the past, the squire's favour, and that scene when he was so +contemptuously ignored by the haughty, young Etonian in the gardens. He +had thought then that his hatred for him was due to the injustice to his +family; now he knew. Her features, so close to his own, were the most +prominent thing in the world to him then. What cared he for the twanging +harp of Uncle Billy, the droll. He was ordinarily interested in the +tales of Billy, but not now. That last sentence of hers of being her +knight and a knight of no one else, sent a thrill through him. He longed +to kiss her, then to throw himself at her feet and pour out the +adoration of his soul. But he knew his situation and he simply said, "I +am your knight, and no one else's." + +Then the thought of Lanyan again came to his mind, "And since I am your +knight and belong to no other, it is but fair to ask you to have no +other knight," half doubtingly. + +"Queens and ladies of old always had many knights to do them service," +in mischievous, jesting tones. + +Ande's heart died within him and the light left his features. + +"And you intend to have many knights?" + +"Perhaps." + +"At least not Master Lanyan," fiercely, in an undertone. + +"My knight must not be a dictator." + +"But I must know," persistently. + +"You are impertinent," with some dignity. + +"He and his are the enemies of my house," doggedly. + +"And the friends of ours," quickly. + +"But he is an enemy of your knight." + +"I will not be catechised." There was the gleam of a tear of vexation in +her eyes and a quiver in her voice, that sent the militant spirit in the +breast of Ande headlong in defeat. She turned her face from him in an +effort to hide her feelings. An agony of remorse swept o'er his soul. + +"I have hurt you," he said, timidly. + +No answer. + +"What have I done. I am a brute and a coward. I am not worthy to be +called your knight," exclaimed Ande, in remorseful self-reproach. + +No answer. + +"Look at me, please. Speak to me," pleadingly. "You will not. I am the +worst coward living--to hurt the feelings of the best of women," in +doleful misery. + +"You are hateful and unjust." An answer at length from the hidden face +that made his countenance blanch and pierced even within, but he +answered humbly: + +"I am. I have been hateful and unjust to you." + +"No. Hateful and unjust to yourself." The face again came into view and, +could he believe it,--yes,--the tear was gone and the fun-light was +twinkling in merriment. + +"How?" in bewildered discomfiture. + +"When you called yourself a coward and the worst of ones, you were +unjust to yourself and hateful to yourself." + +"I suppose you are right," humbly. + +"Don't look so doleful; you may be noticed. I would have my knight +cheerful and happy." + +"And you are not angry?" + +"No," and she shook her elfish curls and smiled. + +"And you will have no other knight but me?" + +"You must not be presumptuous," seriously. + +"Mistress Alice, it is not presumptuous for me to speak to you on a +subject that is dear to me," said with great earnestness, his eyes +devouring her face. "And specially so here in the hall of my ancestors. +Do you see the coat-of-arms o'er the mantelpiece, engraved in the oak?" + +The girl was relieved by what she thought a change in the conversation. +She brightened into new interest. + +"Yes, and I wondered ever since a child what was the meaning of the +horse with his rider surrounded by the waves of the sea. Oh, do tell me, +please!" + +"That is the coat-of-arms of our family. The earliest records speak of +them as occupying the Lyonnesse country, which is now under the sea +beyond Land's End. Sir Trembath, the head of the family, was overtaken +by the flood, that happened about in the eighth century, and just had to +gallop and swim his horse to the hills for refuge. He was the only one +who escaped the inroads of the ocean. All the lands of his barony, +together with others, and a hundred and forty parish churches, are now +covered by the deep. My ancestry is as noble as any, and it is not +presumption for me to speak to you on a subject that is very important +to me. As my ancestry was then, so am I now. Mistress Alice, the last +heir of the Trembaths needs a star of hope to guide him." He was +speaking rapidly, although only loud enough for her to hear. The wild +tempest of feeling was at length breaking forth. + +"Listen," said the girl, demurely, "Uncle Billy is speaking now of the +Lyonesse and Arthur." + +The unruly tongue was silenced. Ande, though he listened, heard not. His +eyes were on the squire's daughter, but seeing that she kept her gaze +riveted on the harper, he grew moody and silent. + +Whether she listened or not to the song of the droll is a question. +Certainly there was nothing in the narrative of the droll, just then, to +cause her cheek to glow with a damask hue. + +The harper's song and tale was ended, and since the hour was late there +was bustle and confusion to be gone. + +"I have been unjust in dictating to you," said Ande, humbly. + +"And I can have whatever knights I please?" archly. + +"You are the best judge. But I would rather not," said he, with slightly +woeful look. + +"Then you choose to let me be my own judge?" + +"To be sure." + +"Then you are my knight. Master Lanyan is not and cannot be my knight. I +choose so freely. Be upright, noble, and good." + +Is it any wonder that the Knight of St. George departed with light +footsteps. He was but a lad merging into manhood. Love was strong within +him and flourished in keeping with the vigour of his youth. He knew not +that she cared for him. Sometimes he thought so. He even dared to hope +so when the doubts did not becloud his vision. It was something, though, +to be her chosen knight. He knew by her last words that he was a closer +friend at least than Lanyan. The thought lightened his spirits. + +The Christmas players were the first on the way to the village. There +was a chatter among them, some extolling the squire's generosity, +others--the ability of the droll. Ande was silent. He was busy with his +thoughts. + +"Ah! The squire's maid gave 'ee as hard a drubbing as thee gave me. +Edent it so?" said Tom Puckinharn, and he gave Ande a nudge in the side, +as he whispered this in his ear. + +"Ah! Get along, Tom, do!" replied Ande. + +Tom was the only one who noticed the _tete-a-tete_ of St. George and +Sabra. Being a loyal friend of Ande, he prudently kept his own counsel. +The remoteness of their situation, the voice and sound of the harp, the +intense interest of the guests in the harper's entertainment, precluded +any from hearing the conversation of that period. + +Ande's dreams that night were very much confused. Now he was with King +Arthur at Lyonnese; now against the dragon or the Turk; then on +horse-back riding through the roaring waves of ocean, bearing in front of +him the form of the fair Sabra, who appeared wonderfully like the +squire's daughter. Then casting his eyes behind, he caught a view of the +dragon, beating and lashing the waves into foam, in his rage, and +somehow the dragon's head was that of Master Lanyan. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE HELSTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL + + +Three weeks elapsed and Master Ande Trembath had entered upon a new +life. He was enrolled upon the list of the scholars of Helston Grammar +School. + +For four centuries the school had been the centre of education for the +west of Cornwall. Gentlemen can point to it with pride this day, as they +could then, as the birthplace of their early efforts and the inspiration +of their ambitions. At the time of Ande's entrance it had emerged from +the obscurity of the past into the foremost school of Cornwall. This +result was due much to the energetic labours and talents of the head +master, Rev. Mr. Trewan, M. A., a scholar of Oxford. Stern, yet kind and +affectionate to the youths under his charge, he was universally beloved +by his pupils. In his dealings with his pupils of whatever age, he was +of the same opinion as Quintilian that "a child too disingenuous to be +corrected by reproof, like a slave, will only be hardened by continuous +blows." + +Though the scholars loved and revered the head, yet the under-master, a +certain Mr. Sherwood, received little or no affection from them. He was +sharp-featured as a weasel, sarcastic in speech, a scholarly egotist, +with the garment of dignity and a predilection to the use of euphonious +words. + +The new scholar, entering in the midst of the year, found himself sadly +handicapped. In age and size, he should have been enrolled among the +fifth form. His withdrawal from the parish school after the lamentable +affair of the stocks placed him in no higher position than near the head +of the fourth. + +The head of the sixth, a certain William Jordan, a great scholar--almost +a demigod--in the estimation of the lesser forms, and one of the school +monitors, took Ande in charge after his examination, and courteously +showed him around the school. The schoolroom with its row of desks and +forms, the cloakroom, the dining hall, the library, the dormitory, all +were successively inspected. + +"This will be your sleeping apartment," said Jordan, as he opened a +green baize door on the second floor. Within were several beds and other +bedroom furniture. A few windows that opened toward the playground gave +abundance of light. + +The new scholar soon became accustomed with his new surroundings and set +in to study with a zeal that surprised masters and pupils. He won the +hearts of his fellows of the fourth by setting out a feast for them that +first night in the fourth form dormitory. Mrs. Trembath had not +forgotten a hamper of good things, among them several bottles of mild +herby beer. These she had sent in with his luggage. The feast was spread +on one of the beds, and his fellows, after it was terminated, promptly +voted him a trump and proclaimed him, then and there, "King of the +Fourth Form." + +The king accepted his title by giving an entertainment that night in a +noiseless manner. With the aid of a little phosphorus he caused many +uncouth and laughable figures to appear upon the wall, to the great +wonder of the smaller fourth form boys. + +Before he had been in the fourth a month he had made such progress that +Master Sherwood entertained seriously the thought of his promotion, and +indeed, did promote him at the opening of spring. There was great sorrow +among the fourth when the news became known, as he had been of great +assistance to them in difficult points in the various lessons. A fifth +form scholar was not so accessible as one in their own form. + +The fifth were not near so desirable a set of fellows as those he had +left. There was a difference between being king of the fourth, both in +learning and strength, and occupying the lowest position in the fifth +form. There were two in the form that were prominent, but in a different +degree. One, a certain Albert Tenny, the head of the form, who made +particularly bright recitations; the other, Richard Thomas, the one who +was stationed next to him, the son of a well-to-do farmer of the Lizard +Point. Thomas was heavy set, elephantine in size and strength, and on +account of the latter and a dulness in study was named by the boys King +Dullhead, although they never mentioned the latter in his presence, or +dire would be his vengeance. + +There was not much of a contest between Dick, as he was called, and +Ande, to see which should be the head of the tail end of the form. The +very first lesson Ande went above Dick. + +"I see," said Mr. Sherwood, with a sarcastic smile on his sharp +features; "I see, Master Thomas, you are resolved to maintain your old +position." + +There was a slight laugh on the part of the rest of the form. Dick +squirmed under the sarcasm and half audible laughter of his fellows, and +looked down in dogged silence, growling something under his breath. +Sarcasm and taunts had made him sullen and revengeful, and the laughter +at his mistakes had made him more stupid and awkward. He would sit at +his desk in an idle manner with his large flat feet sprawling over the +floor in different directions. Ambition had left his features, if, +indeed, he ever had any. How he ever made the fifth was a wonder. He had +tried year after year, but never succeeded in raising himself above the +foot of the fifth. + +The crisis between Dick, Tenny, and Ande came about in this way. The +form had started in on the study of Virgil, and thought it exceedingly +hard after the simple, narrative discourse of Caesar's Commentaries. +Master Sherwood was not sparing in his assigning of lessons, and had +assigned a few lines in addition to the regular, allotted portion. There +was much secret dissatisfaction, and especially from Dullhead Dick. The +thing had occurred once before and they had universally decided not to +read more than the generally allotted portion. Ande had been the soul of +honour on that occasion, had refused to read, and the Master had passed +him over lightly as he was a new fifth form lad. To his surprise several +of the fifth arose when called upon and recited the extra portion. Now, +disgusted with the whole fifth, he refused to assemble with them to +consider their grievances. The secret conclave was called and the +decision made, but they stupidly said nothing to their absent member. + +The eventful recitation came, and the close of the allotted portion read +by Ande himself. Then he paused. + +"Proceed," said Sherwood. + +"If you do," growled Dick, who was next in line, "you'll take a licking +after school." + +The whispered threat exasperated the reader, and he proceeded resolutely +on. Dick gave him a sly kick under the bench in his rage. + + "Aeolus, haec contra; Tuos, O regina, quid optes + Explorare labor; mihi jussa capessere fas est.'" + +"Stop there," said the master. "You may begin, Richard Thomas." + +"We haven't got any farther," blurted out Dick. + +"Ah! I thought I assigned to the eightieth line." + +"We only take thirty-five lines," persisted Dick. + +"Master Thomas, will you recite?" sternly asked the master. + +Dick made no movement, but sat in dogged and sullen silence. + +"Very well," said Mr. Sherwood, "you may write out the next thirty lines +and commit them to memory." + +"I'll pay you back," growled Dick to Ande, as he gave him a fierce +nudge. + +"Tenny, you may scan and translate." + +Tenny, the head, did not dare disobey, although he had promised with the +others not to read the extra portion, and even had not studied it. He, +however, trusting in his natural ability, thought he could weather +through. He began, but stumbled lamentably until Mr. Sherwood, incensed, +gave his lines to the next, who made as bad a failure of them; and so it +continued until Ande was again reached. Mr. Sherwood compressed his +lips. + +"Well, Trembath, we'll try you again." + +Ande arose and scanned and translated in a truly commendable manner. + +"Master Trembath, you have done credit to those lines," said Mr. +Sherwood, well pleased. "You have saved the credit of the form; you may +take your place at the head of the fifth." + +The lads above were furious with jealousy, and burly Dick vowed threats +of vengeance for his thirty lines. + +The meeting was not long in appearing. Ande was on the Bowling Green +that same evening, when Dick and a crowd of the fifth met him. The +stupid and the bright had clasped hands against him; the bright ones out +of jealousy, the dull ones out of revenge. + +"Here's the red 'eaded Deane," said Dick, insultingly. + +"I would just as soon be a descendant of the red-headed Danes, as an +offspring of the Lizard[6] barbarians, who, if history is correct, +didn't know enough to walk upright, but travelled on all fours like a +donkey," said Ande, coolly surveying the crowd. + + [6] Lizard Barbarians.--An old legend of the Lizard Point states + that its inhabitants were so ignorant in olden times that they + walked on hands and knees until some shipwrecked sailors taught them + the art of standing. + +Dick was in a fury of rage. The legend had been frequently poked at him +and it always reached a sore part. + +"Wilt fight," he roared, "and I'll show 'ee a donkey's heels." Dick, +before the masters, tried the best English he could use, for he had +tasted the scorn of Sherwood often, but in a rage, and before the lads, +the dialect was good enough for him. Now, I suppose he meant that he +would make Ande feel the weight of his shoes, but that worthy responded +in sarcastic vein. + +"No need to fight for that, for I see them already," and he gazed +contemplatively at Dick's large feet. + +Even the duller ones could not refrain from a grin of delight, but they +were determined to have Ande whipped, and so arrangements having been +made, they wandered out some distance from the Bowling Green to secure a +place. The news had been carried to the fourth form, and the whole form +came as his supporters. Now, the fifth were certain of Dick's victory, +for in size, age, and strength he seemed superior to Ande. The fourth +were exceedingly anxious, while Ande himself had no doubts of the +outcome. Dullhead, though heavier and larger than the redoubtable Bully +Bob Sloan, had nothing but brute strength, and even Bully Bob would have +made short work of him. + +"Art ready?" said Dick, and an affirmative answer being given, "then +come on," and with a bellow, Dick lowered his great head and charged +like an enraged bull. His antagonist caught his head in a vice-like +chancery grip, and hitting him a playful tap, released him with a spin +that sent him some distance back. Dullhead shook his head, as if he +wondered what had happened, and then again charged. This time Ande +side-stepped, and tapping Dick with his right, and crooking his foot, +sent him head over heels. + +"Dost see the donkey's heels, lads?" + +The fourth roared, and shouted their applause. + +Then was Dick's blood at fever heat. He must get the desired underhold +for a wrestle, of which he knew some tactics, and so again came the +charge, which was met with no love-taps this time. A straight, hard, +left-hander caught Dick full upon the nose, and then, crash, another +upon the eye. Dick, dazed, still came on, for he was the soul of +courage. This kind of fighting was new to him, however. To be hit again +and again, without being able to get a grip on his foe, was maddening. +Meantime, Ande's hands were playing a lively tattoo upon Dick's eyes, +ears, and nose. At last, fairly unable to stand the punishment, Dick +broke for his corner, but it was not in retreat; it was but to gain the +impetus for a new rush, by which he sought to gain the desired grip for +a throw. On he came, like a whirlwind, and then, no one knew how it +happened, but there was a quick flash of an extended arm, and burly Dick +went down as if he was shot, and laid motionless. + +Some of the fifth rushed forward to assist Dick, but were withheld by +the voice of his antagonist, who wished to know if any of the fifth +desired to take up Dick's cause. + +Not a one responded, and then he did a thing for which he was always +admired, and rightly so. He had not forgotten his knighthood. He came +forward and was the leader in bringing Dick to consciousness. Some, at +his word, brought water from the river Cober and tenderly he chafed +Dick's hands and forehead, until the unconscious fellow was fully +restored. + +"Much hurt?" said Ande. + +"Hah--hah!" gasped Dick, as he opened his eyes, and caught his breath in +gasps. "Not much--all right, soon." + +Then followed more chafing and Dick was at length slowly assisted to his +feet. + +"No offence," said Ande, as he held out his hand, "you know I had to +fight." + +Dick took the outstretched hand, a little sheepishly, and shook it +gingerly. + +"No offence. Better luck next time." + +"Come, now. Is there going to be a next time? I don't want to +permanently cripple my hands by hitting such an ironsides as you are," +laughingly. + +Dick rubbed his great head tenderly, felt of his battered features, and +then, with a slight smile: "No, I guess we've satisfied the code of +honour." + +Together, fourth and fifth, wended their way amicably back to the school +grounds. Ande continued to hold his position as head of the fifth, and +won the regard of all by championing the cause of the school against all +outsiders. In the latter he was ably assisted by Dick, who, strange to +say, became his most devoted and attached friend. Dick was a magnificent +fellow physically, and there was a good bit of fine principle about him, +but his strength, dulness, and awkwardness had made him heretofore a +bully. Under the warm glow of Ande's friendship, new life and hope was +implanted within him; he applied himself with diligence to his studies, +and under his chum's fostering care, made progress. The two were now +partners in the same study. + +One night, when they were preparing the coming day's lessons, Dick +looked up from his book. + +"Ande, remember the fight we had?" + +"Yes." + +"Did you 'ave anything in your hand when you struck me that last time?" + +"No. Why?" + +"'Cause, I thought it was a club," and Dick grinned. + +"I hated to hit so hard. But it seemed none of my former blows were +having much effect. It was like hitting an elephant." + +There was silence in the study room for the space of half an hour, and +then Dick asked his companion to review him o'er his lesson. Ande did +so, and was agreeably surprised; it was the best lesson that Dick had +ever prepared. + +"I'm much obliged," said Dick. "This hearing of a lesson helps +wonderfully." + +"Dick," said Ande, "a red-headed Dane is a pretty-fair sort of a fellow, +after all. I say, he has some redeemable virtues." + +"Yes, and I 'ave discovered something else." + +"What's that?" + +"A donkey has a head as well as a pair of heels," whereupon they both +laughed heartily. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE HURLING MATCH + + "Toms, Wills and Jans + Take off all's on the sands." + + --_St. Ives' Hurlers._ + + "Gware wheag, yeo gware teag." + Fair play is good play. + + --_Ancient Cornish Hurler's Motto._ + + +"Gware wheag, yeo gware teag," roared Dick, as he seized Ande by the +shoulders and engaged in a playful wrestle, in which, however, he was +worsted, for the latter, though taken by surprise, soon had Dick down on +the sward of the Bowling Green. + +"Now," said he, "is it fair play for a wrestle, or is there something +else in the wind? What's up?" + +"Can't guess, old fellow?" + +"No, unless it's hurling, my elephantine infant. There is nothing that +stirs your blood like that. Is it hurling?" + +"Aye, you've got it," and tumbling up from the sod, Dick shook his huge +frame and adjusted his neckerchief that had become slightly awry in the +brief wrestling match. + +"Who's challenged the school?" asked Ande, with a little trace of +excitement. + +"The louts of Breage parish. Their captain, a husky chap, brought in a +challenge. Squire Vivian, Sir James Lanyan, and other gentlemen put up a +prize of ten pounds and a fine hurling ball to the victors. The hurling +ball has a silver plate on it, with the old motto engraved on it, and +the school decided to accept the challenge. The gentlemen are anxious +for the school to wipe out an old score against Breage that happened +years ago in a match against that parish. They are going to elect a +captain of the school team and so I hurried off to find the Dane." + +"Well, here I am, my husky Ajax," and Ande, seizing Dick's arm, hurried +with him up to the Grammar School. + +At the school there was bustle and excitement. The schoolroom was +crowded with sixth and fifth form boys, and the interest of the lesser +forms was noticed in the babbling of many tongues. Jordan, the monitor, +the sage of the sixth, presided, and rapped for order, and the mass of +lads crowded to their respective places. In calm, even tones, he speaks. + +"We know why we are here. The captain of the Breage hurlers has just +left us with our acceptance of the challenge to a hurling match. For the +glory and honour of the school, and to wipe out an old score against us, +we are going to play them, though they have forty stout fellows, and we +are a little deficient in number. We are going to make up in training +and zeal what we lack in number, and we are going to win the prize. But +a great deal depends upon the captain we elect to lead us. He must be +skilful, active, resourceful. In the election we must not be influenced +by favouritism, but by worth. The sixth has heretofore always had the +captain, but in this match I would recommend that the fifth be eligible +also. If there is no objection, we will proceed to elect a captain from +the sixth and fifth." + +There were a few murmurs of disapproval from the sixth, but no open +objections, so the election proceeded. Jordan was wise in his bringing +in the fifth as eligible to the captaincy, for in that form were the +best hurlers, the strongest, the most daring. + +In the first ballot there was a scattering of votes, but the chief +candidates were Ande and Dick, the latter on account of his experience +and strength, the former on account of his activity, mental and +physical. + +Once more the ballots were taken and Ande won. There was a cheer, in +which Dick heartily joined, for he had been urging the lads from the +beginning to choose his friend. + +And now began the enlisting of the team. To even up the deficiency in +numbers, several of the town's expert hurlers were admitted. + +The next evening, on the Bowling Green, began the practice and training. +There was wrestling, running, tumbling, jumping, and kindred exercises +to improve the agility and endurance of the crew. Three times a week +there was a long run to Porthleven, and even to Breage and back, to +improve the wind of the team, and get them more thoroughly acquainted +with the ground. Dick and a few others needed constant practice to +improve their quickness and activity. + +The eventful day came at length, in the beautiful month of April, and +forth from Helston sallied the hurling crew, followed by a hurrahing +company of spectators. Halfway between the parishes the Breage men were +lined up, with the gentlemen on one side to start the ball. Ande and the +Breage captain consulted with the gentlemen about the rules. + +"The object is to carry the ball, as soon as it is touched off, to your +respective towns and hurl the same in through the open parish church +doors," said Squire Vivian. + +"Aye, us knaws that," said the Breage man, "but how about rules? +Wrastling, passing, hurling, all to be allowed in the old style, or be +there any changes?" + +"All to be done in the old style unless you wish, both of you, to make +modifications," said another of the gentlemen. + +No modifications being advanced the captains returned to their stations +and began to arrange their men. Then Ande anxiously consults with Dick +and the other leaders of his side. He is once more outlining his +signals. He has a small boatswain's whistle. One blast signifies close +up on the ball; two sharp blasts means scatter out in the rear; three +blasts, in quick succession, call the attention of the dogs to expected +action on their part. Jordan nods his head gravely, as he listens to the +captain, Dick shakes himself like a great mastiff, as if he would rather +be engaged in active play than listen to rules. The gentlemen are sizing +up the players and putting bets on either side, according to their +fancy. + +The heavy players, with Dick in the centre, are well up in front. There +are some twenty of these, and they will make their weight and prowess +felt ere the game is over. Back of them stands the captain, and back +still beyond him, some ten players of lighter build, upon whose +quickness and agility depend much. But who are those some two hundred +yards farther back on the road to Helston? They are lighter players from +the fourth and third forms, hard as pine knots, trained to perfection in +fleetness of foot, and able to dodge and race like hares. They are the +captain's latest addition to the efficiency of his team. They are to +serve in the capacity of "dogs," as Ande calls them. They are to watch +their chances; not to engage in the scrimmages where weight will tell, +but to grasp the ball when opportunity comes, and speed with it to their +own goal. Notice them playfully wrestling with each other, filling in +the time until the game opens. + +The Breage men are not thus trained or lined up. They depend more upon +individual action and weight of their numbers than tactics. But now +there is a movement up in front. The players are all in position. + +"Are you ready?" shouts a gentleman, preparatory to casting off the +ball. He is standing to one side, in front of the other gentlemen and +spectators, and is holding the new hurling ball in his hand. + +An affirmative answer is given from both captains, and up goes the ball +in the air, midway between the two contesting parties. The next instant +there is a charge of both heavy brigades for its possession as it +descends. An outstretched hand catches it, and then there is a furious +heap of wriggling arms and legs, and then who is it that is speeding +away towards Breage, with a shout of triumph on his lips? It is the +Breage captain. He is fully determined to race at that speed the two +miles intervening between him and his own parish church, and he is going +to hurl the ball, now in his possession, in through the Breage church +door, and thus win the game. But not so fast. Two miles is quite a +stretch, and there is some one on his track. Out from behind the mass of +prone players leaps a form, like a horse and rider from the clouds of +battle smoke. In one bound he has cleared the heap of wriggling bodies +on the ground, and then, with the speed of a greyhound, he is after the +Breage man. Will he overtake him? Oh, yes. If he can't, no one else can. +Dick and his sub-lieutenants rest from their exertions. They are +confident that the ball will be back ere long. A cheer goes up from the +heavy brigade of the Helston players. + +"He has him!" + +"He has downed him!" + +"He has the ball!" + +It was true. The school captain had leaped on the back of the runner, +and with a cute, wrestling trick brought him to the ground. The ball +flew out of his hand and was possessed the next instant by the Helston +captain, who was now returning with full speed. But now a new obstacle +presents itself in the shape of the great mass of Breage players. Will +he charge through them, elude them? No, there are too many for that. +There are two shrill blasts on the boatswain's whistle, and along the +Helston road, in the rear of their heavy brigade, scatter out the school +men. They understand the signal and are ready to catch the ball. Then, +just as the Breage men are upon him, out goes the hand, and with the +full force of his muscular right arm, the ball is hurled full a hundred +and fifty yards, over their heads, on the way to Helston. + +A member of the light brigade caught it and was racing the next moment +with might and main toward the town. There is a whoop and hallo among +the dogs, as with their best efforts they strive to keep ahead of the +runner, to be ready for an emergency throw, should he be overtaken. And +now, in the rear, great Dick and his warriors of the heavy brigade get +in their work, and work it is. It is no easy task for twenty or thirty +fellows to stop and hinder the forty husky Breage men that are resolved +to overtake the runner. Dick is in his element. He has profited by +Captain Ande's training. In a twinkling he has thrown a half a dozen +players to the ground, and is preparing to actively hinder others. The +Breage men are swearing under their breath. But "Old Ironsides," as the +boys dubbed Dick after his memorable encounter with Ande, could not +handle all, and some there were that escaped around the wings and were +speeding after the Helston player. It is Ande, the captain, who sees the +danger. + +There is a sharp blast on the whistle, the signal for the heavy brigade +to close up on the ball. The light brigade are no match in a scrimmage +against the great Breage men. They must have the assistance of the +heavy brigade, and away go the heavy first line men, Dick lumbering +along in a clumsy gallop, yet with considerable speed. + +Three sharp blasts on the captain's whistle, and the dogs prepare with +alertness, for action. And it is time, for a Breage man has seized the +Helston runner. He promptly hurls on the ball. It is caught by one of +the dogs in front, who sets off with it at full speed, accompanied by +his fellows. These young striplings have not raced over moors and downs +in the game of fox and hounds for nothing. See how he runs, dodging the +great Breage men, who are now almost upon him. Ah, he is caught at last, +but the ball is in the hands of another dog, passed to him rapidly in +the time of danger. But now the light brigade are also among the dogs, +and the heavy brigade is following up fast in the rear. The Breage men +have been split into two factions, fifteen of them in front, among the +light brigade, the others still in the rear of the heavy brigade men of +the school team. + +The second dog is caught, but he has time to hurl the ball to a light +brigade runner near him, who as promptly hurls it on to the light +runners ahead. One of the dogs seizes it and instantly diverges from the +road to the fields. He realises that he has a much better chance among +the hedges and fields than on the highroad with the big runners of +Breage. Over the hedge go the runners of Breage. A little farther on the +Helston light brigade men also leap the hedge and seek to hinder their +progress. The heavy brigade follow suit. And now follows a battle +royal. Helston and Breage men are close on the ball, and the Breage men +are battling hard, for the town of Helston is but a scant quarter of a +mile distant. + +A crowd of sightseers line the road and hedges, for is not this for the +glory of Helston and her grammar school? Labourers, with their shovels +on their shoulders, farmers, with their produce, all are anxiously +watching. They have come to see the ball brought in. They know it will +be victory for the school, now it is so near. + +Bravos, hurrahs, sound on all sides. The dogs and light brigade men are +jubilant with expectation. The brook, or river Cober, is in sight. Could +the runner make the bridge, or even dash through the flood, victory +seemed sure. But no, there is a swift Breage man on his track, and bids +fair to overtake him. He has him, and he hurls the ball toward town. + +It was an unlucky throw, for splash!--it is in the river. Nothing +daunted, a light brigade man has leaped in after it, and then a Breage +man on top of him, and then others, until the little stream is choked +with wrestling bodies, heaving, gasping, and the air is full of spray. + +"'E 'as it! Bravo!" shouted the enthusiastic Helston spectators. + +"Now, clear the way for un!" shouted a town beadle, as he made the +people stand back to give the runner a clear track to their own town. + +To their dismay and open-mouthed chagrin, it was the Breage captain that +leaped out of the stream, ball in hand, and charging like a bull +through the light brigade men, he scatters them right and left like +chaff before the wind. With a whoop and hallo, the heavy brigade strive +to block him, but he makes a detour, leaps another hedge, and is +speeding through another field. What matter brambles or thorns, the game +must be saved for Breage. + +"Ah! dear! dear! us thought 'e was our man, but it 'twas t'other side," +said some Helston labourers, as they gazed after the rapidly receding +players. + +"Ah wadn't fair, so ah wadn't," said others, disconsolately. + +"Us may as well go back to market; the day is lost for Helston," said +several farmers, as they turned from the scene. + +"Man alive! Did 'ee see 'ow 'e runned. Ah runned like a white-head." + +With many similar expressions, the crowd of spectators melted away. + +But follow the runner of Breage. By leaping successive hedges he has +distanced the pursuers, but he is some degree out of his course, and +makes obliquely for the highway. The Helston players perceive his +purpose, and gain the highway first. Here they can make faster progress. +By the time the Breage captain vaults the hedge with a few of his +fellows, the van of the Helston crew, their captain in the lead, is but +a hundred yards in the rear. And now comes a race with fair footing. The +heavy brigade is closing up fast, and the light and dogs running rapidly +in the rear. He is overtaken at last, but the ball is hurled onward to +Breage. A Breage runner seizes it and speeds rapidly onward. It was now +Breage's chance, and they were doing their best. Ande blew his whistle +valiantly for his men to close up on the ball. And close up they did, +running with a will. The course again diverged from the highway and +approached near the coast. He is downed at last without chance to hurl +the ball. Quickly on top of him pile the other runners in the lead. + +"Off of me; I've lost the ball!" + +It was the Breage man underneath who had shouted, and the five or six +players on top of him slowly arose, gazed at each other, then for the +hurling ball, but it had disappeared as if by magic. + +The players arrived one by one, panting hard with their exertion, but +the ball was not found. A new ball was forthcoming for the emergency, +tossed off by a ploughman, and the fierce contest renewed. All the +remainder of the afternoon the battle went on, victory favouring, +smiling, on one side, then on the other. The players showed the effect +of their hard usage. The dogs were torn and bleeding with brambles and +thorns, and of the hue of earth from their constant contact with it. The +larger players were also battered and soiled, but they only played the +harder. Sunset was approaching and gilded the western heavens with hues +of scarlet. The ball was once more stopped within a quarter-mile of +Helston. The brook, or river Cober, had been passed. The heavy brigade, +the light brigade, and even the dogs, were mingled in one great heap +with Breage men. Who had the ball was a mystery. A Breage runner had it +when he went down. It was Dick who downed him. The Breage men were +desperate, the school men determined. Tenny, Creakle, Jordan, and others +resolved that the ball should not leave them thus close to victory. + +But suddenly the great mound was heaved and tossed like the earth +undulated by an earthquake. + +"Pin 'im down! Hold un!" roared the Breage captain. "E's their man, and +'e's got the ball!" + +The dogs and lighter men nimbly stepped aside to make way and assist +their own runner. The Breage players made a last futile effort to hold +the runner down. + +"'Old un! 'Old un! damme, can none hold un!" shouted the Breage captain, +in wrath at the apparent weakness of his men. + +Frantically the Breage men piled on the heap, but of no avail, for there +crept at that moment from the mound a great hulking form with the ball. +He was on his feet the next instant and speeding away toward town, +cheered on by the dogs and light brigade and spectators. + +The Breage captain, with an oath of rage, hurling to right and left, +like feathers, his own and the school men that impeded him, leaped upon +the brawny runner's shoulders and sought to bring him to earth; but +though hampered, the Helston runner strode on. + +Now, like the phalanx of an army, the school men spread out, and with +blocking tactics, withheld those that would follow. On went the runner, +unimpeded, save by the human burden on his shoulders, the Breage +captain, who in vain sought to drag him down. The ascent to old St. +Michael's was reached at last, and up went the runner, striding on. It +was harder progress now, but the open church door was near. Another few +yards and the game was won. He is there at last. The runner's arm shoots +out. The Breage captain strives in vain to catch and deter the aim, but +the ball is gone, flung with unerring hand straight through the open +tower door. The victory was won. Helston school had wiped out the score +against Breage. + +What cheers and what bravos resounded on all sides! The bells of old St. +Michael's pealed out in concert with the acclamations of the people. The +Breage crew were humiliated, especially the captain, but on every other +countenance there was the gladness of victory won. + +A feast was held in the school that night on a part of the prize money. +Jordan was master of ceremonies. Around him clustered the warriors of +the day, their garments, wet and soiled, now changed to clean and dry. +With his arm extended for silence, he exclaimed: + +"Who saved the day and brought in the ball with the Breage captain on +his back? Who saved the game?" + +"Dick Thomas!" was the roaring answer. + +"Here's a huzza for Old Ironsides!" shouted another. + +The cheer was given and the toast followed, and then they sang, "For +He's a Jolly Good Fellow." + +"A speech, Dick," shouted some one. + +Dick arose and there was more cheering. "Well, I don't know whether old +Dick Dullhead can make a speech." + +Here there were protests of "No Dullhead any more, but Old Ironsides." + +"Well, I want to drink a toast and I want you all to drink the same. +Here's to the fellow that made Dick Dullhead a name and fellow of the +past, and made me Dick Ironsides instead. Here's to the one that trained +all of us so faithfully and well that each one of us had the swiftness, +strength, and endurance to win the game. Here's to the fellow that so +trained me that I was able to carry both ball and Breage captain to the +goal. Here's to our valiant captain, Ande Trembath." + +There was a storm of cheers as they responded; but where was Ande? + +Though he had been missed since the regular ball had disappeared, yet +every one had supposed him among the crowd somewhere. Now calls for the +captain were on all sides, but he was not present. + +The majority, believing that he was out, but would be in shortly, kept +up the feasting, singing, and speaking. + +Dick, after an inquiry here and there, went out and disappeared in the +night. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +PRUSSIA COVE. THE SMUGGLERS' BATTLE + + "Seventy years since, a native of Breage called 'Carter,' + but better known, from a most remarkable personal resemblance + to Frederick the Great, as the 'King of Prussia,' monopolised + most of the smuggling trade of the west. He chose as the seat + of his business a rocky cove two miles east of Marazion, which + continues to bear the name of Prussia Cove."--_Robert Hunt, + F. R. S._ + + +Where was the captain of the Helston hurlers? + +The last time he was seen was on the cliff when the prize hurling ball +disappeared. He had disengaged himself from the tumbling contestants +when the ball escaped from the hand of the prostrate player, and saw it +roll swiftly into a neighbouring ravine that led downward, like a +funnel, to the sands below. Like a meteor he was after it and was out of +view before any of his fellows noticed his absence. Down the narrow +pathway he plunged with reckless steps, intent only on possessing the +ball and had just grasped it, when crash! a part of the footpath gave +way and down, down, down, he slipped, faster and faster. He saw the +ground and pebbles fly past him upward as if endued with the power of +aerial flight. He grasped futilely at the flying shrubs and boulders and +then came the sickening sense of flying out into space over the cliff +edge. + +Then there was a shock, a sharp pain and,--all was a blank. + +When he returned to consciousness, he was on a cot with a rough, kindly +face bending over him. + +"Drink, m'lad, it'll do 'ee good. Clunk un all down." + +He felt something at his lips and mechanically swallowed it. The liquor, +or whatever it was, revived him in a short time and he sat up. + +"Where am I? Am I hurt?" + +He slowly placed his hand to his head and felt a bandage around it. + +"Ah, I remember now. I fell in the hurling game, but I still have the +ball." Ande gazed around and found himself in what appeared an ordinary +fisherman's cabin, rough and uncouth, but still comfortable. Fishing +tackle hung here and there and there was an odd, fishy smell. A few +cheap prints hung on the wall and there was a window through which a +glimpse of the sea was visible. + +"Why, bless 'ee, young sir, I thought 'ee would never come round, so Ah +did; Ah was holding my breath to see whether 'ee was mazed by the fall +or 'ad come round, and I'm glad 'tez the latter. But, bless 'ee, what a +fall! Damme, it was worse than a blow of a cutlass." + +It was the voice of the attendant who had been bending over him; he was +to all appearances a simple fisherman, clad in rough fisherman's +clothes, and with a shaggy crop of hair that needed much the barber's +art. + +"And what place is this?" + +"This es Prussia Cove." + +A revelation dawned upon the mind of the captain of the Helston hurlers. +He had often heard of Prussia Cove and its famous smuggling hero, +Captain Carter, who, on account of his great resemblance to Frederick +the Great, was named the "King of Prussia." Many a keg of brandy and +bale of silk and lace found its way into the neighbourhood of Helston +through him. Many a landlord and poor peasant profited by this illicit +trade. But smuggling was not esteemed a crime by the people. The +government, by imposing duties on imports, was viewed partly in the +light of a tyrant and justly to be opposed and hoodwinked. The people +loved the smuggler better than the king. Even rectors of the church +considered smuggling an honourable occupation and the smuggler a brave +citizen seeking a livelihood. The government itself was not bitterly +opposed to it, at least such was its position until after the Napoleonic +wars, for by smuggling a hardy race of seamen was bred that laid, +primarily, England's prestige on the sea. + +The lad, like many others, felt a kindly interest in them and looked for +their welfare. + +"And you are the King of Prussia?" + +"Not 'zackly," said the man with a smile; "I'm just 'is prime minister +on land." + +"The watchman?" + +"Aye, and I saw 'ee a-tumbling down the cliff just now and brought 'ee +in. I thought 'ee was done for, sure." + +"And the King?" + +"Is out on the King's highway taking a walk." + +"By which you mean that he is out on the sea, and is expected home +to-night?" + +"'Zackly so." + +"I'm much obliged for your kind care; and now I feel able to stand I'll +have to be travelling after the boys, for it's getting dusk." + +"I think 'ee had better stay, at least until the King comes, for 'ow do +I know but what 'ee favours the coastguard." + +There was an anxious and cunning look in the watchman's eye. + +"Well, just as you say; I'll stay." + +The adventure of coming in contact with the watchman and the idea of +meeting the celebrated King of Prussia harmonised with the lad's daring +spirit and he was not loathe to remain. + +"That's right, better so, and 'ee'll see a fine sight," nodded the +watchman, relieved of much of his fears. "And now I suppose 'ee'rt +hungry, leastways I be, and we'll 'ave a bit of scrowled pilchards and +say biscuit." + +The watchman set about the little cabin preparing the evening meal for +himself and guest and became quite communicative. Exploits of the King +of Prussia, his smuggling trips, his hairbreadth escapes, his great +courage, all formed the burden of his tales. Ande listened and felt more +and more the desire to meet this hero of the smuggling trade. The supper +was ready and together watchman and hurling captain fell to with a +will, the latter eating with the gusto that the hard day's game +naturally brought. + +In the meantime the night settled in dark and stormy. For some time +there had been dark, leaden clouds pendant upon the western horizon and +a low, weird murmuring, increasing to a sullen, muffled growl as of many +beasts, mad with hunger in a jungle fastness. With the increasing wind +the leaden mass burdening the horizon rolled steadily inward, a roof of +tumbling blackness, now still, then rolling on, and fretted here and +there with jagged gleams of lightning. There was a crashing roll of +thunder like the peal of many guns. + +"Hark!" said the watchman, raising his fork in midair; "just as I +thought, a storm a-coming; so much the better for the King. A storm +brings a clear coast, and yet I wish the captain was ashore, for there's +going to be uncommon 'igh wind." + +More thunder and more violent wind, and the waves along the shore, that +generally rollicked and played with boulders and companion cliffs, began +to rear their foam crowned heads and bellow back in harmony with the +thunder tones above, beating the defiant rocks with a scourge of green +watery thongs. The sea-gulls were silenced by the increasing roar and +sought safety in the crannies of the cliffs. And now the full force of +the storm was on, and even in the retired cove was its power felt, for +the small window panes began to rattle and vibrate as if moved by a +spirit of unrest. + +"'Ark!" said the watchman, as he pushed back his chair and arose +hurriedly. There was a sound of a solitary gun at sea, heard in the lull +of the wind, and then through the window was seen the shooting course of +a rocket, comet-like, athwart the stormy sky. + +"Ah! The King is coming in, and 'ard pressed too. Damme, the government +dogs are after 'im. Now there was a time when a man could earn a decent +living without 'aving 'is lugger sent to Davy Jones' locker, but +now--damme--there's another gun! Les out and give 'im a light! Bear a +hand there with that lantern." + +The watchman jerked an oilskin on his back and a sou'wester on his head, +and casting a hasty glance at the cabin, turned and bolted through the +door, closely followed by his companion. + +Without the storm was not much felt in the sequestered cove, although +there were occasional blasts of wind that penetrated the harbour +entrance, terrific in force, and seemed to fairly take their breath on +their exit. Above, streaks of twilight were still visible, and flying, +scudding fragments of clouds driven on the blast. Then came sleet and +hail that stung the face like needles. The lad staggered a moment almost +blinded by the withering, hail-burdened wind. + +"Avast a bit, lad," roared the watchman, and running back and securing +an oilskin and sou'wester, "'ere, stow tha cargo in that," handing the +oilskin, "and clap that on your main-top," handing the great sou'wester. +Lights were stationed on both points of the narrow entrance and they +returned to the beach where they awaited. There was a fascination in the +great waves and breakers, hurling themselves from the gloom like vast +mountains of green darkness toward the cove's entrance, where they would +shiver themselves to pieces with a deep roar, augmented by its +reverberating throughout the hollow length of the harbour. + +Then as they watched, a higher wave than usual seemed to approach the +entrance--nearer and nearer, larger and larger, until it seemed to fill +the narrow cove's mouth from cliff to cliff, and threatened engulfment +of cove and all in one watery grave. The wind ceased for a moment. The +feeling Ande had was inexpressible. + +"See!" he roared to the smuggler watchman, "see, it'll sweep the whole +cove!" He was turning to bound up the cliff, when the watchman seized +him. + +"Avast, lad, 'tez only the lugger." + +True, it was the lugger, that with shortened, bellying sails, rushed in +like a thing of life, and so great was her momentum that there was +danger of her beaching. The skipper was a skilful hand, and not new at +his business, which he demonstrated by the quickness of his orders. A +cry of command, and in a twinkling all sails were neatly folded and +closely reefed. Another command, and gently the smuggler vessel drew in +to the landing. + +A scene of apparent confused activity instantly ensued. Kegs of brandy, +bales of silk, and rich fabrics were hurled recklessly out on the sands, +and numbers of hardy frames, springing from the very earth, bore them +away in the darkness. There was a hollow boom beyond the entrance, and a +solid shot sped in through the cove-mouth, swept across the sand, and +buried itself in the cliff beyond. There were oaths, loud and deep, from +the husky, straining figures at work in the lugger and on shore, but +they paused not. Ande's attention was concentrated upon one who seemed +the chief, standing on the landing, giving orders, and, as he turned, he +was startled by the intense resemblance of the countenance to a picture +he had seen once of Frederick of Prussia. He was of ordinary height, a +little inclined to stoutness, and had fair hair, and blue eyes that +flashed under the light of the flaming torches; his regular, delicate +features had great power of expression. With an oath, he saw Ande, and +grasped him by the shoulder with a grip of steel. + +"Who art thou, lad?" + +The explanation of his supper companion, the watchman, was forthcoming, +and with a word of apology the captain turned to other and more pressing +affairs. + +Again came the booming sound at sea,--this time closer--and another shot +sped through the entrance. The revenue cutter was nearing the +cove-mouth, but the smugglers were prepared for a grim resistance. Pikes +and cutlasses were gleaming on all sides. + +"Zounds!" muttered Captain Carter, "they'll be upon us in another +moment, and that before we 'ave time to store the cargo. Up aloft, +there, Jack, on the headland, and see if you can't beat off the dogs. +Open on them with solid ball," he roared, after the watchman, who was +already climbing the ascent. Ande, totally forgetting his injuries in +the excitement, sped up after him. + +Up, up, up, following the flickering light of the watchman's lantern, he +went. And now the wind became more violent, the higher the ascent, until +near the top he was scarcely able to stand. + +"Larboard, port your helm, there!" shouted the voice of Jack, and he was +seized by that worthy and dragged into a less exposed place. "No man +could stand in a gale like this any further up," shouted Jack in his +ear. Another step or two, and a sequestered place was reached, where +were stationed two pieces of ancient ordnance, and Jack and Ande were +speedily loading, and none too soon, for down below, the cutter's lights +were seen a short distance from the entrance. + +There was a flash and then a roar, and the ball was on its mission. + +"Too high. Better luck next time. But I swear that I thought that 'ould +'a' gone amidships. I do think old Nick must a-turned un aside, I do." + +"It's had some effect, for they are beating off," answered Ande. + +"That's to get a shot at we. They're luffing. But we'll tap them first, +I say. 'Ere, let's give 'em another." + +Again was the flash and roar from the cliff, and Jack fairly chuckled, +as one of the lanterns was snuffed out. + +"Took a part of 'er taffrail that time." + +But now the cutter was ready for action, and boom went one of her guns, +and the next moment a ball struck the cliff below them, splintering the +rock into fragments. Then again the cliff guns spoke, answered once more +by the cutter's, and soon the action became general. The roar of the +cliff guns and the revenue cutter's mingled with the howling blast, and +made the night hideous with noise. Though so far above the sea, yet the +spray of crashing breakers frequently swept over them as they worked the +cliff guns, and it and the occasional flying sleet, at times, so +dampened the powder that the guns had to be recharged. + +Ande was in his element. Here was a real battle, and he paused not to +think that he was firing upon a government boat. The wild soldier blood +of his ancestors was coursing through his veins like molten fire. He had +cast aside the sou'wester hat, as obstructing his vision, and truly he +looked a martial figure with his bandaged head and flowing locks swept +by the blast. + +In the midst of the detonating roar, a figure bounded from the gloom +behind them. Jack, with a sulphurous oath, swung his cutlass on high, +thinking that some revenue men had landed and were charging, but Ande +grasped the blade before it could descend. Although he cut his own hand +badly in the act, yet he saved the stranger's life. + +"Dick!" + +"Ande!" + +It was Dick, who, searching in the locality for his friend, was +attracted by the noise of battle. He asked no questions, but stolidly +set to work to assist in charging and firing the guns. At length the +cutter's guns were fairly silenced; she had been beaten off and her +lights were seen fainter and fainter in her hasty retreat out to sea. + +"Now, stand by, men; one more shot to let them remember Captain Carter +and Prussia Cove." + +It was the gunner, Jack, who spoke, as he finished aiming the last +piece. There was another flash, and away bounded the iron messenger. A +moment and one of the lights of the distant cutter was quenched, as if +the bay had engulfed it. + +"As I'm a sinner, ef that didn't go straight through their cabin +winders. And now, les down below and see 'ow fares the captain and the +cargo." + +They descended and found the King of Prussia in excellent humour. The +whole cargo had been safely landed and concealed in numerous secret +places, and even the lugger had mysteriously disappeared. + +"And let's shake hands with our new comrades of the night," said the +captain, as he grasped the hands of Ande and Dick. "You 'ave shown us +your good will to-night, and ye had better now turn in and get a bit of +rest afore morning, when, if ye are so minded, you can take the way back +to Helston. But, mind 'ee, my lads, no word of to-night's affair." + +Both accepted the generous invitation of Captain Carter, and weary with +the double exertion of a hurling game and the smugglers' battle, they +soon lost themselves in the land of dreams. + +On the morrow they were awakened by voices in angry altercation without. +The cutter had returned, but slightly damaged, and had landed a force in +the cove capable of sweeping all opposition. But there was no +opposition, nothing incriminating being found. Even the very guns on +the cliff had disappeared, and the marks of numerous feet on the shore +were partly obliterated by the tide. The lads, cautiously peering out +from the small window, saw the King of Prussia angrily expostulating +with the captain of the cutter. Prussia was clad in an ordinary +fisherman's garb, and seemed what he professed to be by those garments. + +"Damme," he was saying, "'tez a downright shame that my family and I, +peaceful folks, have to 'ave our slumbers disturbed by the banging of +your practice guns all night. Why doan't 'ee practice out at sea?" + +The captain of the cutter was nonplussed, apologised slightly, and +reembarked with his crew. Carter came into the cabin with a merry +twinkle in his eye. The lads were convulsed with laughter. + +"And now," said the captain, "I suppose it is time for 'ee to be going," +and he pressed into their hands a small package, which later +investigation proved to be a jar of currant wine. On the highway, Ande +told Dick of his accident and his possession of the first hurling ball. + +When they arrived at the Grammar School, they were notified to appear +before the head. Mr. Trewan was seated at his desk, and looked at the +two culprits very gravely, for to be absent all night was a serious +offence. Then the grave look gave place to one of anxious concern, as +Ande's bandaged head and hand caught his vision. Explanations were made, +the fall over the cliff, the period of unconsciousness, and Dick's +search the greater part of the night for his friend. The battle of the +smugglers was not touched, as they deemed that treachery to their +smuggler friends. + +Mr. Trewan seemed touched by the accident, and the devotion of Dick, and +let them both off without even a reprimand. + +That night there was another festive scene, but in the fifth form +dormitory instead of in the dining hall, and in it the currant wine +formed a prominent part. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE DUCK CAVE ADVENTURE + + +"Ande, cocoa is pretty dry with such stuff." + +Dick's great head arose from the hamper package which he was examining, +and he flourished in one hand a roasted chicken. The hamper was one he +had received that very day from home. They had ordered it brought into +their study room, and, miracle to relate, it was done without the +knowledge of monitors or small boys. + +"What do you propose?" said Ande, as he, too, began investigation. Dick +scratched his head dubiously and then his face brightened. + +"Eggs." + +"Old Ironsides is gone daft. Where does your majesty expect to get eggs, +and if ye do get them, what are we going to do with them? Do ye think we +are going to be egg-sucking weasels?" + +Dick grinned, and, as he tried to set a dramatic attitude, flourished +his arm, "We'll set forth the vessels of silver and gold----" + +"Avast, there, my lad," said Ande, imitating the tones of smuggler Jack. + +"And 'ave a-blooming----" + +"Cough it out, my elephantine infant." + +"Belshassar's feast. I have an idea." + +"Whisper it not in Gath, publish it not in Ascalon. An idea," chuckling, +"from an egg-regious Lizard philosopher." + +"Egg-nogg," continued Dick, grinning. + +"The very thing," said Ande, assuming a more sober tone, "but where?" + +"We must first get outside of town," said Dick, soberly. + +"No stealing?" + +"No stealing." + +"'Pon honour?" + +"'Pon honour." + +Forth they started, cautiously slipping downstairs and out into the +street, where both darted away at a rapid pace. On the highroad that led +to the little town of Prospidnic, the foremost paused, and puffing like +an engine the latter caught up to him. + +"Ande, remember the Truro champion footrace?" + +Ande nodded. + +"Well, I believe 'ee could beat the champion; you went so fast I nigh +lost sight of you." + +"Now, what's your plan?" + +Dick paused a moment to gain his breath, and then spoke. + +"Do ye remember the cave near the Red River? Well, the ducks from all +around gather there. It's public property, being on the free downs. Eggs +used to be there in plenty, but some snivelling squire's steward put a +door on it and now tries to bag the industry." + +"Art sure the squire didn't buy the section?" + +"Well, if he 'as, the ducks that gather there are not his, and 'e 'asn't +a mortgage on the eggs of futurity infinitum. The squire's steward is +the robber of public rights and human freedom, and----" + +"Public eggs," said Ande. "Down with the tyrant,--_sic semper +tyrannis_--and up with the eggs." + +Onward they pressed at a dog-trot. It was evening and getting dusk when +they reached the neighbourhood. + +"You go in, Dick, and I'll mount watchman." + +The door was the contrivance of a genius, for, while it was designed to +hold out boys and men, yet a small aperture beneath favored the entrance +of ducks and other smaller creatures. The cave was in the side of a hill +near the Red River stream, and opened on the roadway. + +"I'll go in as soon as I get un open," says Dick, as he wrenched at the +latch. By dint of tugging and pulling, the hasp was loosened, and in +went Dick, crawling on his hands and knees, the height of the tunnel not +permitting him to walk upright. + +"Hast found any?" + +"No, steward must 'ave been here. 'Tis a most beastly place and nigh +turns one's stomach," muttered Dick from the interior. + +There was the sound of a horse's tread in the distance, and the sound of +whistling approaching. Fearing that the open door would excite +suspicion, Ande gently closed it, and the hasp being a spring affair, +fell into place. Then, stealing cautiously behind a neighbouring hedge, +he awaited the passing of the traveller. + +Dick, having made certain and wealthy discoveries in the egg line, his +bag full and certain pockets bulged to their utmost, was, in the +meantime, cautiously returning to the exit, where, before he knew it, he +had bumped with the force of a battering ram against the closed door. It +would not yield to any of his efforts, and then, thinking Ande was +joking him, he cried out in impatient voice, "Lemme out, Ande, do, I got +eggs a-plenty." Receiving no answer, he began butting afresh, and roared +louder. + +Now the horseman had approached and heard the infernal roaring and +racket that seemed to come from the very bowels of the earth. He was a +simple, unsophisticated countryman, with an appetite for ale and a +passion for thievery that was well known to the community. Greggs, as he +was surnamed, was not noted for his personal courage, and the loneliness +of the place, even in daylight, the gloom of the overshadowing trees, +and the dusk of twilight, was not calculated to make or add any more +heroism to his nature. Within his breast, as within all countrymen of +the time, and even still, in many districts, there had constantly been +drilled the old beliefs in witches, fairies, giants, goblins, and a host +of other superstitions with which Cornwall has been replete for ages. It +was no wonder, then, that when he came within the border of the shadow, +etched darkly by the trees, he whistled louder, and finally burst into +singing a hymn tune, to let all wandering spirits realise that he was a +godly fellow, kicking his steed all the while to hasten its ambling +pace. + +"Got eggs--lemme out--Ande--lemme out!" + +The horse stood stock still, refusing to budge an inch forward, and +trembling in great terror. In vain the fearful man began to belabour and +kick his leathery sides; the animal would not go forward, but began to +uneasily sidle around and around. The butting and bellowing of Dick +still continued, with little intermission. Greggs ceased singing, the +great drops of perspiration stood out in beads on his face, and with +another frantic effort he kicked his horse's sides in an agony of fear. +Then, as the butting was renewed with greater force, a cry came from +Greggs's lips: + +"Oh, Mr. Devil, 'ave mercy 'pon me!" + +Dick was indefatigable in his butting and bellowing, but even his +patience began to give way and he began to swear in a mild way. + +"Damme, Ande, come take eggs!" + +Each word was punctuated by a savage butt from Dick's great head on the +door. + +"Oh, no, Mr. Devil,--not that--Greggs done no 'arm," mistaking Dick's +cry for the devil's warning "Damnation to Greggs." + +Again came the stifled underground roar, coming forth with a muffled: +"Take--(crash)--eggs--(crash)--damme--(crash)"--and a word beginning +with h. + +"Mercy, Mr. Devil, doan't 'ee take Greggs there. Ah, why did I leave the +hangel tavern!" + +"Damnation!" + +"No, no, Mr. Devil." + +"A beastly trick," roared Dick, still butting away. + +"Aye, kind sir, I'm guilty of many beastly tricks." + +"Ande, you deceiving cad." + +"Yes, I confess I 'ave deceived dad." + +"Here I am--beating m'head." + +"Aye, I beat un on the 'ead, too," moaned Greggs. + +"Like a thieving robber." + +"Yes, Mr. Devil, I robbed un, but 'ave mercy. I promise to take un all +back," groaned Greggs, in terror, still kicking his steed, that shied +around and around. + +"Come, take the bag, you wretched cad." + +"Aye, I promise; I'll take the bag back to dad." + +"It's full," roared Dick. + +"No, no, it was honly 'alf full." + +"Zounds!" swore Dick. + +"Pounds! No 'e wadn't; they were mostly shillings." + +"Let me out!" + +"No! Doan't 'ee come out. I promise, Mr. Devil--Oh!----" + +The last remark of Greggs gave place to a shriek of agonised fear. The +door, under repeated blows of Dick, gave way, and out he rolled with his +bag of eggs, looking in the darkness like a hideous monster come up from +the deep. The horse, in mad terror, wheeled and galloped back to town; +Greggs, praying and howling like a madman, hugging his horse's neck, let +fall his basket in the way. Ande was rolling in the grass beyond the +hedge, choking with laughter. + +Dick was a picture of wrath, as he stood sputtering by the road-side. His +clothes were foul, the natural result of crawling into a duck cave, and +he was apparently sick at the stomach. + +"What's wrong, Dick?" + +"A beastly trick,--phew--ah, egg--phew--ah, in +mouth,--phew--ah--addled--broke." + +Ande roared and roared with shrieking laughter. Dick had filled the bag +and his pockets, and finding one extra one, had placed it in his mouth +for safe keeping, just before the latch gave way. + +"Well," said Ande, "they aren't all broke, and the most must be good." + +Dick, at first was very much incensed, but Ande, while he helped to +clean him up at the Red River, explained how he had closed the door to +avert suspicion. Dick was mollified when the description of Greggs's +terrors was related, and laughed a faint laugh that partly brought back +his good humour. + +It appeared that Greggs had ill-treated his poor old father, and had +robbed him of some of his savings. Taking warning from the supposed +admonition of his Satanic majesty, he afterward treated his father with +the greatest consideration, refunding the shillings he had stolen. +Nothing, however, could induce him to pass that way again, and the story +getting wind and becoming much exaggerated, few would trust themselves +in that locality after dusk. + +"Whew! Look here, Dick." Ande picked up the basket and drew from it a +small bottle of rye. + +"The very thing we need," gasped Dick, "the egg-nog shall become +punch." + +"I don't know, Dick. You see, if we take it, it'll be stealing. The +school rules are against it, and no matter how sparingly and temperately +a fellow uses it no allowance is made." + +"Well, if we give it back to Greggs, it'll do 'im more harm than it will +us; then, we can send Greggs the cost of it, so it won't be stealing, +and as to school rules, why, we are breaking school rules now by being +away," said Dick, reassuringly. + +"'Twon't do, Dick; the breaking of one law doesn't justify the breaking +of another. We'll let it behind." + +"Very well," said Dick, but at the same moment, concealed by the dusk of +the evening, he slipped the flask into his pocket. + +"You'll 'ave to 'cave' about getting the eggs in," said Ande, as they +trotted along home, back to Helston. + +"That's what's worrying me," said Dick. + +"I have it," said Ande, and the plan seemed so feasible that he resumed +his old bantering tone. "Dick, old lad, congratulate your friend on +being a man of infinite resources. I have a plan, my Ajax of egg-hunting +renown and Lucifer reputation." + +"Huh," growled Dick, "we're getting near town." + +"A rope--the hamper rope," said Ande; "that beast, Creakle, will be on +guard within, or Tenny. I go in empty-handed,--see--you stay out below +the study window, in the dark angle; I let down the rope,--presto--up +come the eggs. You come in empty-handed,--see?" and Ande gave Dick a +nudge. + +Dick brightened up perceptibly. + +"But 'ow to get you in with that pungent, ducky aroma, without exciting +the blatant curiosity of Creakle, or the sharp smellers of +Sherwood--um--das ist die frage. Whew! What a beastly odour." + +Dick looked worried and down-hearted. + +"But cheer up, Dick, you can't help it, and we'll get you in some how, +never fear. The plan is sure to work." + +The plan did work like a charm, and soon they were in the comfortable +study, Dick clothed in clean garments, and the steaming egg-nogg and +eatables before them. The evening's adventure, the terror of Greggs, the +chicken, and other viands, made the evening pass pleasantly by. During +the close of the feast, Tenny rapped, but was not let in. + +"Now Creakle will be next," said Ande, "and we can't keep a monitor out. +Away with the things!" + +The things were hurriedly placed away, the Virgils opened, and with +lexicons in hand, they seemed busily and studiously engaged when steps +were heard advancing quickly along the corridor. The door was swung +open, it being unbarred, and in stalked Sherwood and Creakle. The latter +had a cunning twinkle in his eye; the former with grave, severe +countenance. + +"Gentlemen," began Sherwood, in stern voice, but he went no further. +Ande looked up with a mild, reproving eye. + +"I believe no student is to be disturbed in the evening study hour, +except upon probable cause of misdemeanour; I believe that is an +unwritten law." + +"Quite right, gentlemen, excuse me," and Master Sherwood backed out, +followed by Creakle. Humiliation is a poor word to express the feelings +of the under-master. Creakle could be heard expostulating with him in +the corridor. + +"I saw them both, on the run out of town, and saw them enter on their +return, and there was a smell of ducks, sir, on Mr. Thomas's clothes." + +"Nonsense," said Master Sherwood, "how should it not be manifest to me +also?" Sherwood had not thought of the possibility of Thomas changing +his clothes. + +Creakle still protested. + +"Absurd! Why, sir, do you know you are accusing the head of the fifth?" +said Master Sherwood, exasperated. "Do you know your misplaced zeal has +involved me in censure that was just, and a rebuke from fifth form boys +that was, to say the least, humiliating? You, sir, should have known +better. There must have been an upheaval of latent stupidity within you +to thus bring disgrace upon both master and school. Sir, how will the +public esteem our reputation when they are informed that master and +monitor are banded together to disturb the study hours, and falsely +accuse honourable students." + +"I thought," began Creakle, humbly. + +"You thought, sir; what right had you to think? You must know before +recklessly accusing honourable students and bringing disgrace, not on me +alone, but on the head." + +Master Sherwood, in high dudgeon, went to his study, and Creakle, +crestfallen, retired to the form room, where he had charge over the +smaller form study hours. + +"Now," said Dick, "that spying cad must be brought down to give him some +sparks of honour." + +"What's the plan?" + +Dick, for the first time, refused to divulge to his chum his course, but +divesting himself of his shoes cautiously slipped down to the cloakroom +below. + +That night, as Creakle was donning his gown, which he always left in the +cloakroom, there arose a fearful uproar in the corridor above. Hastening +upstairs with full speed, he tripped over an invisible something and +fell with a crash to the floor. Instantly doors opened, lights appeared, +and a confused sound of many voices, and in the midst of all, along +stalked Master Sherwood. + +"What is the meaning of this, Creakle?" he asked of that worthy, who was +still on the floor, dazed with his fall. + +"I fell, sir." + +"You did, and pray why?" with biting sarcasm. + +Just then he smelt the fumes of rye on the garb of the miserable +Creakle, and his face grew dark with severity. + +"You have been drinking, sir?" + +"I have not," stammered the monitor. + +"Don't give me the lie, sir; you are reeking with the fumes of an +ale-house. Ugh! you putrescent miscreant! This is a case for the head. +You will appear before him to-morrow. Such a disgrace! In what light +will the public view this scandalous demoralisation? Outrageous, +sir! This is the second offence to-night. I thought you were +inebriated,--intoxicated--in short, what the vulgar tongue calls drunk, +when you brought me a silly, drivelling tale of a misdemeanour of two +honourable students, and now you make it evident by staggering around, +sprawling, and destroying the peace and sobriety of the school!" + +"I--I--I am not drunk." + +"I call you all to witness the state of filthy inebriety of this +fellow," said Sherwood, with cold dignity. + +"What do you say, sir?" said the tutor to Dick. + +"He smells horrid, sir," said that worthy. + +"Ah! You are all witnesses," said Sherwood, and then, turning to the +dejected Creakle, "in with you to your study, and relieve honourable men +from the abhorrent, filthy odours that assail decent olfactory organs." + +Mr. Sherwood retired in dignified silence, and Creakle slunk into his +study. + +"Dick, what is the moral?" said Ande, after they had reentered their +study. + +"The revenge of diabolical Ajax?" + +"No, the moral is this: the man who takes delight in spying on others +and revelling in their disgrace, even though he be a monitor, shall be +beaten with his own stick." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +CREAKLE'S REVENGE + + +"It's true; I heard it myself when I was over that way this last week," +said Creakle, nodding his head affirmatively. + +"Who was it told you?" said Tenny. + +"A fellow called Sloan, a big, honest sort of a fellow in the employ of +the Lanyans. He's a sort of an understrapper to young Master Richard, +who will be graduated soon from Eton College." + +"What did he say?" + +"That Trembath's father was a traitor to the government; that he turned +traitor in the late war with America, leastways he has not shown his +face hereabouts since the war. Some think he is dead, and others think +he was a traitor, and daren't show his face in England, but is living in +exile somewhere in America. Sloan--I think his first name is Bob--told +me himself that Richard and his father, Sir James, both believe that he +was a traitor." + +"No proofs but their thoughts," said Tenny, doubtfully. + +"Well, it is the current belief of the whole neighbourhood, and then, +there is strong proof of his grandfather being a traitor. There is no +doubt about that at all. Bob told me that it was through the patriotism +of Richard's grandfather that the matter was called to the attention of +Newcastle, and Trembath Manor was confiscated." + +"How? What was the treason?" + +"Well, he was a soldier in the war of England against France, in the +colonies. He was in Braddock's defeat, and after that battle he turned +for the French. He was with them for upwards of a year or so, and no one +knows what harm he did during that time. They say he consorted with the +French of Quebec, was a spy in their employ, and was afterwards raised +to some rank as an officer." + +"A traitor to his own land and his own people!" exclaimed Tenny. + +"Yes, and that isn't all. They say he became as bloody a savage as the +Indians. I suppose he received a good reward from the French. Some say +he was an aide of Montcalm." + +"And how was he found out?" + +"He was shot in the van of a fight between Armstrong's troops and the +French. They found his body and recognised it by letters from England. +He had on a French officer's uniform and a commission in the French army +in his pocket. They brought him home, and Sir Richard Lanyan brought the +facts to the knowledge of the government, and the Trembath home was +confiscated, and they were driven out. It served them right, I say." + +"That it did," asserted Tenny. + +"And here's one of the family, this Ande, that's lording it over us. I +believe it was he that soaked my gown in that beastly rye and got me in +such a scrape with the head." + +Tenny smiled, for he had no love for Creakle, except as a tool. + +"It was no laughing matter, I can tell you. The head nearly fired me," +said Creakle, a little sullenly. + +"Come, come, no offence. I have as much reason to dislike Trembath as +you have. Didn't he sneak into being head of the fifth through meanness, +getting up and reciting, when all the rest of the fellows had agreed to +refuse to recite. He has been there ever since, but he never would have +got there if he hadn't turned traitor to his form, like his father and +grandfather to the government. Blood will tell." + +"And, I say, we ought to let the fellows know, and pull him down a peg +or two. Let him know his place among the sons of honourable Englishmen. +He ought to be sent to Coventry, I say." + +"Come over here and we'll talk it over with one or two of the fellows," +said Tenny. + +A little coterie of fellows of the fifth form were soon assembled around +Tenny and Creakle, on the Bowling Green, and their nodding heads and +colloquy portended mischief to the head of the fifth. Tenny had never +forgotten the way in which he was shouldered out of the headship of the +fifth form, and Creakle was burning with more hate since his late +disgrace, which he blamed on Ande. Now, had it depended upon Creakle +alone, nothing would have come of the disclosure of the stain upon +Ande's name, but when Tenny took up the matter it was eagerly listened +to. The latter portrayed in indignant tones the treachery of Ande's +family to the government. Should they consort with him, after this +knowledge? It was all well enough, as long as they did not know the +family disgrace. But, now they knew, they ought to show their abhorrence +of such conduct. + +He ought to be expelled from the school, but they couldn't do that, but +they could, at least, debar him from fellowship and keep him from the +leadership in the form that he had always maintained. The son and +grandson of a traitor shall not lead us in our sports. He was a traitor +at heart, like his people before him, for had he not gained the headship +of the form through an act of treason to his fellows, and his remarks of +the injustice of the king also bore testimony. Such was the line of +Tenny's sophistry, in which Creakle was a second. + +One or two of the form demurred, with the remark that it was hard for a +son to be villified on account of the errors of his fathers. + +"I'll prove the contrary from the Bible," said Tenny. "Aren't the Jews +to-day despised, and righteously, for their treason to their king, and +doesn't the Bible say that the sins of the fathers shall be visited upon +the children?" + +The demurrers were overborne by Tenny's reasoning. Dick, being so close +a friend of Ande, was not taken into the conference, but he was not so +slow in taking in the cold demeanour of the students to Ande, and even +to him self, in a milder degree. Henceforth there were no games in +which Ande participated. If he sought entrance to a game, the game was +instantly adjourned, and he found himself left more and more to himself. +He, as well as Dick, was at a loss to know the reason of the altered +manner of treatment. The revelation came to Dick. + +[Illustration: "They say you are the son of a traitor"] + +He was going to enter a game of hurling on the Bowling Green, when +Creakle objected. + +"Why?" said Dick, in amazement. + +"Because you are the friend of the son of a traitor. His father and his +grandfather were traitors to the government, and he's a traitor +himself," sneered Creakle. + +"Who?" + +"The Dane," said Creakle, with another sneer. "All the fellows have +refused to have anything to do with him. He's been sent to Coventry. +He's a traitor's son, and the blot of treason hangs to his name." + +"It's a lie," said Dick, hotly; "he's not a traitor's son," and with a +back-handed slap of his hand, he sent Creakle reeling. + +"It's true," said Tenny, as he edged in among the other lads. "All the +lads of his home place will tell you the same thing, and you'll be +treated the same way as we are treating him, if you don't cut him." + +Dick, scarcely believing his ears, hurried off to his friend, Ande, +bursting into the study with a bound. + +"Do ye know why the fellows have cut you and me?" + +"No." + +"Why, they say you are the son of a traitor. That your father and +grandfather were traitors to the government. Creakle said so, and I give +him a back-handed slap that sent him some feet. It was Creakle who told +me." + +"The contemptible dog!" exclaimed Ande, with a flash of the eye. "It's +not true, though the circumstances look the other way. They were both +honourable men." + +"You needn't tell me," said Dick. "I believe if your father and +grandfather were like you, there couldn't be a bit of treason in them. I +told Creakle it was a lie, and then Tenny spoke up and said that it was +true, and that if I didn't cut you the same as the rest of them are +doing, they would cut me. They have sent us to Coventry." + +"Dick, you 'ave been a good friend to me, and you did right in treating +Creakle as you did, for I should have done the same. The old blot that +drove me from my native village will drive me from here as well. It is +the curse that has been on our family since my grandfather's death, but +you have no hand in this. You had better cut me, or they will make your +life here as unbearable as mine. I'll move into a study of my own. It is +for your own interest that I am looking." + +"Stuff! Let them send me to Coventry if they will. I don't believe there +is any truth in the rumour, and we don't part like that. Didn't you save +my life in the smugglers' battle, and I'm going to stick to you through +all this Coventry business. Put it there," and Dick stretched his great +hand across the study table and grasped the hand of Ande and shook it +warmly. There was a grateful look in the latter's eyes. + +"You have done too many things for me, to turn in with a rabble like +that. You have changed old Dullhead into a brighter man, and made him +Old Ironsides, and we'll let them know that Old Ironsides is going to +stick to you. Why, Ande, you and I could clean out the whole crew in a +personal fight on the Bowling Green, and--zounds! I'd like to do it." + +"And they would gain their desires. We'd be expelled." + +"Never thought of that." + +"It's what would happen, though." + +There was silence in the study for the space of half an hour, during +which they laboured on the coming lessons. Then, it was Dick, who broke +the silence. + +"How did it happen that the idea of treason got out. I don't believe it, +but I'm a bit curious." + +"It's a long story, but I'll tell you some day, Dick, and let you see +some documents that I have still in my possession. There's the gong." + +A deep sound of a gong, indicating the dinner hour in the dining-room +below, broke the silence, and they hurried forth to its summons. + +After the discovery of Dick, and the encounter with Creakle, neither he +nor Ande sought the games of the others. If they needed recreation, they +took it in long walks along the sea-coast or in the country. The enmity +of Creakle and Tenny was shown in many petty ways. They were not content +with sending to Coventry alone. Once, on their return, they found a +placard on their study door with the sentence of, "The Home of Treason," +written on it, but this did not stir the wrath of Ande as much as a +later placard, a rude sketch of a soldier with red hair, hands bound, +eyes blindfolded, and before him a file of soldiers with weapons +presented, ready to fire, and near at hand a grave and a coffin. With a +burst of passion, he tore it down and ground it under his heel. + + * * * * * + +"And how is my knight progressing in the tournament of the schools?" + +It was in the gardens of Trembath Manor, and it was Mistress Alice who +was speaking. She was clad in light spring garb that wonderfully set off +her trim figure and brought out into greater prominence the wavy +darkness of her hair, and depth of her eyes, that seemed deeper and +brighter under the mellow sunlight without. She was standing near one of +her favourite rose-beds, and near her was the tall form of Ande +Trembath, the few months at school adding new dignity and age to his +features. He was glad to be there, near her, and to be called "her +knight," as she had called him on the last Christmas eve. He was home on +a short vacation, and it seemed wonderfully pleasant to be with her in +the gardens of old Trembath, especially after the dreary atmosphere of +the school, rendered more dreary and wretched by the uncharitable spirit +of his fellows of the fifth; to watch the dark eyes kindling and +rekindling at some jest, and then the sober shadow at the recital of +the escapage of the smugglers. He told her all, the merry adventure at +the duck cave, the hurling game, and then the sending to Coventry. Yes, +this was going to be his last year at the school. The curse of treason +had followed him, and even his friend, Dick, was involved in the petty +spirit of malice of the students. He was discouraged, and she knew it. +His face betokened it as he related the sending to Coventry. + +"Do you know that my knight has forgotten some of his pledges made last +Christmas eve?" she said, and her eyes flashed once more, back from the +sombreness brought into them by the Coventry recital. + +"How?" + +"I said that the knight that I should admire would not despair at a few +difficulties, and my knight said that he would not." + +"Neither am I," doubtfully. + +"Your very tone indicates the contrary." + +"You think it best to remain and stand all taunts and malice?" + +"Assuredly; and will not that be the very best way to prepare yourself +for the future battles. Is it brave to run away from a foe?" + +There was a flush on the face of the youth. + +"I see you are right. I shall stay and fight it out, and they will see +who grows tired of the Coventry business first. You give me the same +advice as Parson Trant. He said stand firm, and stick to the school." + +"Parson Trant is generally right." + +"And so are you." + +"Of course, in this case, I am right, but at times, I suppose, I am +wrong." + +"For instance?" + +"Well, my father has broached a plan that lies close to his heart. You +know the Lanyan estate lies close to ours, and he is anxious for me to +be settled in life soon." + +A cold, icy hand seemed to clutch his heart and hold it in a vice-like +grip. The blood forsook his features, for a moment, as he listened. + +"And he?" interrogatively. + +"And he was thinking how well the two would go together, and that Lady +Alice would not sound so bad. Then it would place our family among the +highest in the county. I thought at first that it was all foolishness, +but I suppose he is right and I am wrong." + +"No, no, no, you are right. You must not sacrifice yourself to a whim." + +"No, I am wrong," pensively. + +"You are right. It must not be," and then at the remembrance of Master +Richard and Sir James, he flushed an angry hue and clenched his fists +tightly. + +"Must not be?" archly. + +"Aye, it shall not be." + +"Why?" + +"Because I say it shall not be." + +"Indeed, since when have I had a new master, or a master at all, for +that matter?" + +There was a rebellious tone in her voice, and a quick, tumultuous +beating of her heart. To be told she should not do this or that was +something new to her, the mistress of the Manor, and yet, his tone, his +manner of speaking, that masterful way of asserting himself--she liked +him better for it. + +"I say it shall not be," doggedly. + +"And why?" + +"Because--because--because--I am your knight," he said, desperately, +"and I cannot see any harm come to you, and your happiness wrecked by +marrying such. If you only knew the Lanyans as I know them." + +"Perhaps my happiness would not be wrecked." + +"Ah, but it shall not be. It must not be." + +"You have given me no reason why it should not. Should not a child obey +her father?" + +Her eyes were glowing mischievously. + +"Alice, Alice, if you will not listen to reason, it is because I say so, +and I--I--I--love you. Oh! Alice, I have wanted to tell you so long--but +the stain of treason--but give me at least hope that if the stain be +removed--and it shall--that I shall not love you in vain." + +The hue of Mistress Alice's cheeks rivalled her own roses. She fought +down the exultant, happy feeling within, and strove to be her former +self; yes, even strove to be angry, but what woman is angry when told +that she is loved. + +"There is father. Calm yourself, or he will notice you." + +Coming over the green terrace was the stout frame of old Squire Vivian, +most unwelcome sight at this hour, at least to Ande. His question was +doomed to remain unanswered. The squire greeted him in his bluff, +cheery manner, asked him of the school and his progress. The excellent +reports he had received from Master Trewan had inclined him a little +more favourably to his _protege_. Taking advantage of the presence of +her father, Mistress Alice slipped away and hid herself in the privacy +of her own rooms. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +EXAMINATIONS--ADRIFT ON THE DEEP + + +Examinations were coming on apace. The end of the half was near. Prizes +had been established by gentlemen of the neighbourhood, and the diligent +ones were striving for them with assiduous application to study. The +sports of the students had little attraction for Ande now. Even had he +not been sent to Coventry, he would have avoided them for the extra +chance it gave him for work. He was determined to win the prize for +general scholarship in the fifth. There were others working for the same +goal, among them, Tenny, the former head. Tenny's ambition was of a +double nature. Not only must he win the general prize, but also the +silver medal for the best essay. The days sped rapidly by, and soon came +the day of examination. The essays had been handed in to a special +committee, some time previous, under various nom-de-plumes. + +Most of the examinations were oral, and occupied some time. Generally, +the master would put the questions, but at times one of the visiting +gentlemen would throw in a question bearing on the special subject under +consideration. + +The contest of general scholarship in the fifth was manifestly between +two students,--the old and the new head, and even after it was over, +none could prophesy how the judges would decide. The decision came, +after a brief pause and consultation. + +The Reverend Mr. Trewan arose, and after clearing his throat several +times began by complimenting the students. + +"I am pleased to find the excellent form in which most of our scholars +have passed this examination. The marks are far above the average of the +half. I am glad to state that the whole form will enter the sixth at the +next half without a single exception." + +There was a little cheer from the mass of students. + +"In reference to the prize for the general scholarship, there are two +between which there has been a close contest. For quite a time one was +in the forerank and the other close behind. Then the marks were even. +Then the second forged ahead. Master Tenny," and the head paused to +clear his throat, while Tenny flushed with gratification, "your marks +have been admirable; they were far ahead of your average during the +year. For quite a time you were ahead, then even with another, Master +Trembath, then Master Trembath gained first place. The prize goes to +him, however, who has the highest average of the whole examination, and +I, therefore, declare Master Trembath the winner by four points; and the +committee has given Master Tenny the highest honourable mention." + +The master paused and extended twenty pounds to Ande, the prize for +general scholarship. Dick was the first to congratulate him, and was +followed by one or two others, notwithstanding the decree of Coventry. +Tenny maintained his silence in bitter chagrin. He had hopes of the +essay prize, however, the chairman of which committee now arose to +report. + +"We find," he said, after a little preliminary speech, "that six of the +essays were most laudable, but out of them two were selected for their +excellence--one on account of the beauty of the language, the other on +account of its vivid realism and striking, rhetorical figures. The one +written by Hector is admirable in wording and has many fine points, but +lacks the realism and subject matter and thought of the other. We have +decided that the silver medal goes to him who has adopted the certainly +inappropriate and inapplicable nom-de-plume of Asinus Cornubiensus." + +There was a pause, and the students at length, realising the meaning of +the Latin nom-de-plume, which was the "Ass, or Donkey of Cornwall," +burst into a roar of laughter. + +"Certainly," resumed the gentleman, "this Asinus Cornubiensus has +demonstrated a grasp of thought, power of language, and vivid +description that belies his humble name, and renders him worthy of the +prize. Stand up, Asinus Cornubiensus, and receive the silver medal." + +Dick stood up, much confused, and received the prize. There was a cheer. +Even Ande was astonished, and greeted his old friend with more respect. +It is needless to say that Hector was Tenny, who was bubbling over with +rage and mortification, to think that he was not only beaten in the +general prize but also in the essay, and in the latter case by one whom +he had always considered a stupid dunce, the worst scholar in the form. + +The rest of the day was dedicated to the examinations of the sixth and +the distribution of prizes in that form. Our two prize winners of the +fifth wended their way out from the school and hied away from the town +to one of their accustomed haunts, near the coast, high up on the +cliffs. Here, throwing themselves down on the long grass, they watched, +for the time, the active sea-birds and the flitting sails far out on the +channel. At length, turning from the contemplation of these, Ande +addressed his friend. + +"Dick, what led you to choose such a queer nom-de-plume?" and he smiled. + +"Well, I was always considered a dull'ead and never thinking I'd get the +medal, I put down the name in a little disgust, thinking it to be the +most appropriate one." + +"What was the subject?" + +"You can't guess?" + +"No." + +"Well, it was on that hurling game between Breage and our fellows, and I +just played the game over again in imagination when I was writing." + +"That accounts for its realism, no doubt." + +"Did 'ee notice Tenny after the general prize was given?" + +"No." + +"His face was as wisht[7] as a herring." + + [7] Wisht--sickly. + +"No doubt. I noticed him after the silver medal was given and he was +green around the eyes." + +"Serves him right," said Dick, "for sending us to Coventry on account of +that tale of Creakle about your father and grandfather." + +There was silence for a moment, unbroken save by the breaking of the +waves on the beach beneath. + +"Dick, you asked me once out of curiosity concerning that tale and I am +now going to tell you and get your ideas. You have a better head than we +gave you credit for." + +"Fudge, Ande, your head would make two of mine, but fire away. I've been +anxious for a long time to know." + +Ande related the history of his family and the treasonable stain, while +his companion listened attentively, and sympathetically. The tale was +related to the finish. + +"And the papers?" + +"They were all confiscated except two, that are now in my possession." + +"And your father?" + +"He left a letter. You see the last letter that my mother received +before father's disappearance contained one sealed, directed to me, +which should be given to me when I came to mature years. It was given me +when I came first to the Grammar School. Here it is," said Ande, as he +pulled out of his inside pocket a long envelope that had been sealed +with red wax. + +"I have long since made myself familiar with its contents, but I am now +going to read it to you," and opening it he read the following: + + "FORT MALDEN, Canada, Sept. 10th, 1813." + + "MY DEAR SON ANDREW.--This letter is enclosed and sent in one to + your mother, and is to be given to you when you are old enough to + understand its contents. Whether I shall accomplish that for which I + started to this blood-stained region or not yet remains to be seen. + If not, and I should fall either in battle or a captive, you must + faithfully carry out my request. Proctor has let hell loose upon the + Americans and it has come back upon our own heads. I have no taste + for this fighting side by side with savage Indians, and certainly + Proctor is abusing his authority and position. He ruthlessly permits + the savages to perform the most fiendish things imaginable, and has + no respect for his word to a fallen foe. + + "All Michigan was taken by his predecessor, General Brock, but he + was unfortunately killed and now this unscrupulous man is over us. + It makes me blush at the name Englishmen must bear through him, and + disgusts me with the present service. At the battle of Frenchtown, + last January, the American general, Winchester, and his men were + captured. They surrendered on Proctor's word that their lives and + property should be safe, but Proctor returned to Malden and left the + wounded and prisoners to be scalped and burned alive by the + blood-thirsty devils, our red allies, who even dragged some through + the streets of Detroit for sale. Detroit people remonstrated with + Proctor, but he only shrugged his shoulders. + + "The same proceedings were repeated after the attack on Harrison at + Fort Meigs. The battle was as good as a victory for us. Our men were + on both sides of the river Maumee. Our left was repulsed with a + small loss, but our right was victorious, taking prisoners nearly + six hundred men. Then the same savage atrocities began. Even + Tecumseh, the great chief, was more merciful than our general. With + an appalling yell he rescued an American prisoner from two of his + followers and then insulted Proctor to his face. + + "'Why do you allow such things when I am not here?' he said. + + "'Your Indians can't be controlled,' said Proctor. + + "'Go, put on petticoats; you are not fit to command men,' said + Tecumseh, and with that he stalked proudly away. But those who heard + it agreed with the bold chief. He's a good soldier, but no general, + and his cruelty and indifference to his word of honour has made the + soldiers sick of such service. On account of this, and Admiral + Barclay's defeat to-day, Michigan is lost to us and even Canada may + be taken away from the home government. The splendid opportunities + that Brock placed in our hands are of no value on account of + incapable Proctor and pusillanimous Barclay. The naval battle was + won before it was fought. Barclay had six vessels and Perry nine, + but what of that? Englishmen have conquered before against odds. But + there was Barclay, keeping under the guns of Malden, casting down + the spirits of his men with the thought of certain defeat, while the + American ships were out in the open inviting him to the attack. The + sailors and gunners begged him to attack, and even wept in + humiliation at his cowardice. Tecumseh, with several thousand + Indians, were on an island waiting to witness the encounter. + Tecumseh rowed over and sought Proctor. + + "'You said you were master of the waters. Why don't you go out and + fight? The Americans are daring you to come out and fight.' + + "The result of that battle is known, or will be known soon. Oh, for + men like Nelson, and Marlborough, and Wellington! + + "But to the point of my request. My father has a dishonourable stain + on his name, though unworthy of it, I believe. I have travelled + among the Shawnese, our allies, who were father's foes at Braddock's + defeat. I was sent by Brock as an agent to the Ohio, and witnessed + their dances and the Prophet's agitation a year ago. Ah, they were + blood-curdling scenes. While there I talked with an old Shawnee + about King Shingas and Captain Jacobs, father's captors. He said he + was a sub-chief under Shingas and was in the ambush at the defeat, + and from what I could glean from his description, father was among + the batch of prisoners consigned to his charge. He knew not what I + had in mind at first. He was so old that his hair had turned white + or grey, an unusual thing among the Indians. He spoke to me of the + greatness of Shingas and the suffering of the prisoners until I felt + like shooting him on the spot, the hoary old sinner. All were not + burned, for after running the gauntlet one escaped, snatching a club + from an Indian in his flight. The Shawnee called him the Long Red + Wolf, at least such is the meaning of the Shawnee name in English. + From the red hair, length of limb, and swiftness of foot, it must + have been my father, who was accounted the swiftest foot in old + Cornwall when young. + + "Now hark ye, son Andrew, among the papers of your grandfather, + found on his person, was one overlooked by the King's officers. It + was a rude map of the Kittanning region and the rough vale of the + Lycamahoning. I send a copy with the same directions in Shawnese and + English. The vale leads down from the Allegheny Mountains, and the + river empties into the Ohio some distance above the old Indian town + of Kittanning, as you can readily see from the accompanying sketch. + I have learned from long association with the Indians that this + region is rich in silver and lead, possibly gold. At least there are + legends to that effect. The ability of the natives to obtain lead + for their weapons and their silver ornaments testify to an eldorado + somewhere in the region. Now father was much interested in mining + and metals, as what Cornishman is not. I asked the old warrior of + Shingas concerning the Indian legend of this eldorado and quoted the + old directions in Shawnese, for I speak their language: 'On one side + a plain, on the other a steep that a smart Indian can climb.' He + gazed at my red hair and became silently suspicious. A bullet that + passed through my hat on my way back to Malden told me my knowledge + had made me a mark of vengeance. + + "This is all I know. Connect this Indian eldorado with the map found + on father's body; explain how the French commission as captain was + filled in with his own name, and how he happened to be in French + uniform, and the problem is solved. If these could be explained I + believe our family could raise its head once more among the loyal + families of the delectable duchy,--Cornwall. I'll find this Indian + eldorado and your grandfather's exoneration at the same time. They + are both connected, I believe. If I fail you must take up the + cause." + + "Your affectionate father, + "THOMAS TREMBATH, + "_Major---- 6th Royal Infantry._ + + "FORT MALDEN, Canada." + +"That's what we were studying about the other day," said Dick, as Ande +ceased reading. "De 'ee remember, Ande, about Proctor and Tecumseh?" + +"Aye," said Ande, musingly. + +"Are you going to take up the search?" + +"Some time,--when, I don't know. What do you advise?" + +"I should say after you get through with the sixth," said Dick promptly; +"but, Ande, you haven't told me of Sir James Lanyan and Master Richard +and----" + +Ande gave a gesture of impatience and his countenance clouded over with +anger. + +"Dick," he said passionately, "parson says it's wrong, but I hate that +family and I can never forgive them the wrong they did me and mine. When +the time comes I will be terribly revenged upon them for the cruel +slander and injustice that they, for the sake of capital, brought upon +us." + +Dick was silenced; he had never seen the pleasant face of his friend +become so angry. A look like that of a demon had passed over his +features at the very mentioning of Lanyan's name. + +"Hist!" said Ande, and his countenance resumed its old expression. + +Both youths listened, in their sequestered position. + +"Remember, Penner, to 'ave the men 'ere within a half an 'our. See that +each is well armed with pistols and cutlass. The cutter 'as been +notified and is a-beating down the coast, and the paths be all guarded. +This time we'll catch the hold Prussian fox or my name beant Penhall." + +Gazing out cautiously, the youths saw, on the beach below, two men in +seaman's garb. + +"That's Captain Penhall of the coastguard, and his lieutenant, and they +mean to surprise the King of Prussia Cove. We must give our old friend +warning, Dick, lad." + +"Les up and away." + +"Hold on. Didn't 'ee hear the paths are all guarded." + +"That's so," said Dick rubbing his head, doubtfully. + +"Come, I have a plan at last," said Ande after a moment's thought, and +he led the way cautiously at first and then rapidly inland. For a mile +or more they kept up a smart pace, Dick following with some difficulty. + +After a wide detour inland, they rapidly approached Prussia Cove. His +plan was nothing less than to enter the cove by the perilous path from +which he had fallen in the hurling game between Breage and the school. +It was now twilight, and darkness was rapidly setting in. + +"Halt!" said a quick, sharp voice ahead. + +"On," whispered Ande, "there's only two of them. I'll take the right, +and you take the left." + +Dick grappled with his man and there was a moment of struggle. But the +sudden impetus of Dick's rush decided the battle, for the coastguard +tripped and, aided by his antagonist's bulk, fell. Ande was more +fortunate, not suffering the other to lay hands on him. With a blow of +his fist and a quick Cornish side kick he toppled him over. + +"On!" shouted Ande and down the narrow pathway they rushed at breakneck +speed. There was now no concealment. Shots flew after the two and Ande +felt a sharp, quick pain in the left arm, but he gave it no attention. +In a moment or two they emerged on the sands below, and their arrival +was none too soon. The smugglers had already secreted half the cargo. + +"The coastguard! They're coming!" shouted Ande as he rushed among the +crowd. + +Down the path was heard the approach of charging feet. From other paths +the same ominous sounds were heard, all converging on the cove, and soon +the head of the cove was dotted with black figures of guardsmen. + +Now did Captain Carter show his courage. His men grasped desperately +their pikes and cutlasses, and not even awaiting the attack of the +guard, charged at the command of their king. Then followed a sanguinary +battle. Shots, oaths, dull resounding blows, and groans made the silent +cove a veritable pandemonium. In the midst of it a sail was seen +gradually nearing the harbour entrance. The quick eye of Carter saw it. +Flourishing his cutlass on high he roared: + +"To the lugger, men, the hawk's at the entrance!" + +The two youths, not knowing where to go, clambered on board, followed +speedily by the captain and his men. The struggle continued to the very +lugger's bulwarks, for the attacking guard were more numerous than their +foes and felt loathe to leave them go. The appearance of the revenue +cutter near the entrance also gave them renewed courage. They strove to +follow after the captain and his men. A select guard of the smugglers +was speedily appointed by the captain to repel boarders, and these did +their work well, wielding boathooks and cutlasses with telling effect. +In the meantime sweeps were gotten ready by the others and the lugger +was under headway, slowly leaving the frenzied guardsmen of the +government on shore. + +A gun sounded from the entrance and a ball tore through the limp +mainsail. + +"Between two fires," muttered the captain with a smothered oath, and it +was true, for the revenue cutter had stationed herself midway in the +narrow entrance. + +"Pull, my hearties, pull," shouted the captain, "we'll run 'er down, for +we be heavier!" + +The lusty fellows at the sweeps did pull, and with a will. The cutter's +captain, seeing the intention of the smugglers, tried to frustrate it, +and partly succeeded, but--crash!--the next instant the lugger's heavy +prow ran athwart the cutter's bow. + +"She's done for," gleefully said the smuggler captain, as the next +moment the lugger glided into the bay. But Carter was mistaken, for the +cutter though badly damaged, was not disabled. The blow was above the +water-line and pursuit was kept up out into the channel. There was a +light breeze blowing, the sails were set, and the sweeps were taken in. +The cutter was steadily gaining. + +"Can she catch us?" asked Ande of the smuggler captain. + +"No," said the captain, pleasantly, "I think not. We are obliged to 'ee, +lads, for your timely warning." + +Ande wondered at his good humour and at his denial that there was any +danger of being overtaken, when it was plain that the cutter was +gaining. Evidently the captain had some plan, he thought; and he had. + +"Port your helm!" shouted the skipper, and then at another command, more +sheets were spread to the wind as if by magic, and away went the lugger +staggering under a cloud of canvas, like a winged bird of the sea. + +"Jack," said the captain to our old acquaintance of the cliff battle, +"Jack, do 'ee think 'ee could wing that chap?" + +"I'll try," said Jack, and away he rushed to the stern where a long +brass cannon called "Long Tom" was stationed. The gunner sighted for an +instant, then changed the sights and sighted again; then as if +satisfied, he quickly applied the lighted linstock. There was a flash +and a roar and the ball sped on its mission. + +"A good shot, Master Jack, you've brought down 'er mainmast," said the +skipper, who was examining the effects with a night glass. + +He had hardly spoken when there was a puff of smoke from the cutter, +then crash! the sound of rending plank, and a ball passed straight +through the lugger at the water line. The next instant there was another +puff of smoke and another ball crashed through close to the second. The +cutter was avenged. + +Captain Carter, with a pale set face, hastened below to ascertain the +injuries, but returned in a moment. The lugger was rapidly filling and +settling. + +"Jack and I will give them a shot to pay for that while the rest of ye +get ready the long boat," said the captain, sternly. But it was a fatal +delay, for scarcely had Long Tom been sighted e'er in a mad swirl of +waters the lugger plunged to her watery grave--down, down, down, +dragging, in her deadly, downgoing eddy, captain and crew. Ande had the +sound of many waters in his ears, and kicked desperately to free himself +of its deadly influence. Then, after an interminable time, to his joy he +felt himself going upward, upward and upward. His lungs felt like +bursting under the terrible strain. Could he hold out until he reached +the surface? He made another desperate downward kick and joy,--his head +shot above the surface--but--nothing visible but the dark, tossing +waters and the pale stars o'erhead. Stay! There was a dark mass but a +yard or so away and a form. He drifted nearer. He shouted and a hand +grasped him and drew him up on a floating piece of deck timber. + +"Dick." + +"Ande." + +Two simultaneous shouts, but that was all, as these two friends of +school day life floated together on the loosened spar. + +Then after a time: + +"Didst see the captain or any of the crew?" + +"All drowned, no doubt," said Dick. + +Then there was more silence. Dick was a famous swimmer, but clung to the +spar reserving his strength for the future; Ande was less expert in the +swimming art and his wound and exposure was gradually weakening his +grasp. It was now past midnight. + +"Dick, do'ee think the cutter will pick us up?" + +"Hardly; you see, she can't do much with her mainmast gone, and then the +tide is ebbing." + +Hours passed and the sickening sense of weakness became stronger and +stronger, and that weary, pallid expression, the presage of +unconsciousness, swept o'er Ande's countenance and remained there. It +was Dick who realised it first, and he flung his own great arms o'er +those of Ande, binding him to the spar with his own strength. + +"Hold on. Don't give in." + +"Dick, I was shot in the arm coming down the cliff, and I think that's +what's making me weak." + +"Weather it out until daylight and we shall be picked up. Some one is +bound to see us." + +"Dick, do 'ee think we did right in warning the smugglers?" asked Ande, +weakly. + +"Aye," said Dick, stoutly; "they were honest men trying to earn a +living." + +"Because,--you see--you'll get through all right, but I--I'm getting +weaker every minute, and I can't hold out much longer--and a fellow +thinks of these things when he hasn't long to live." + +"Nonsense, we'll both pull through all right. Pluck up courage." Then as +he noticed a piece of rope attached to the spar, "I do believe I'm still +a dull'ead. Here we 'ave been floating in danger of falling off through +weakness every moment and there is the means of our salvation." + +He plucked out a knife from his pocket and severed the rope at the end +from the spar and passing it around Ande and himself securely lashed +themselves to the float. + +"There, if we can't hold out much longer, we'll at least be on top of +the water as long as this spar floats." + +There was silence for another half an hour and then Ande said wearily. + +"Dick, if you get back to land--and I don't,--you--remember me to mother +and tell her I--died a Christian." + +"Aye, aye, old fellow, but cheer up!" But the tears in his own eyes +indicated that he needed his own advice. + +"We must trust in God, Dick." + +"Aye," said the other, as he reached over and shook hands earnestly. + +"And Dick, remember me to her." + +"Aye," said Dick once more. He knew for quite a time Ande's interest in +the squire's daughter, and that "her" could mean no one else. + +On they drifted, now on a swelling surge, then in a dark valley of +water. Dawning light appeared in the east, but no land was visible. + +"Cheer up," said Dick, "day is coming," but there was no answer. Grim +unconsciousness had come at last. Dick, for another hour, battled with +the terrible faintness, then the sea seemed to fade from his vision +and--the sun arose beaming brilliantly on the world of tossing waters. +Nothing was visible but the circling gulls and a stick of timber, and +two unconscious, half-drowned lads. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +AROUND THE TAVERN'S FLAMING GRATE + + Around the tavern's flaming grate, + The rafting done and the hour late, + The raftsmen sit and laugh and sing, + Or 'bove the conversation's din, + Keep time with feet to violin, + On which the lively strains are played, + Of Devil's Dream or White Cockade. + + +"Right--Right--t!--Halt! Left--Left! Halt!" + +Loud and clear rang out the voice of the raft pilot, so loud and +prolonged that even the roar of rushing waters and the wild lashing of +wind among the tree laden banks were not able to overcome the stentorian +commands. + +It was a rough night in the wilds of western Pennsylvania. The rain had +descended steadily for three days, and now the Lycamahoning had arisen +from its ordinary rippling tranquillity into a boisterous, turbulent +onrushing tide. Raftsmen had been constantly busy throughout the winter, +felling the gigantic pines and firs, squaring them with their great +broad axes, and then with the aid of hickory saplings and pins and bows +of the same tough material, lashing them securely one against the other, +rafting them in for the cruise down the river to the Ohio. The first +flood had come, and so violent was its nature that many a hardy raftsman +had added additional bulyokes and hawsers to his rafts, fearing the loss +of his winter's labour. The night had set in stormy and dark. The clouds +that had covered the face of the heavens for the greater part of the +week had grown in intensity, and had been belching down their floods +with renewed violence. The wind had arisen, softly at first, and then +augmenting into a small tornado, charging through the acres of treetops +that added additional sombreness to the murky night, until beaten to +madness with the invisible storm weapons and stung with the drenching +rain, tree fought with tree, lashing themselves with their wooden arms +into an agony of conflict. + +"Who in the name of common sense can be running timber on a night like +this? He is either a madman or an imbecile," so thought rather than said +a horseman who had paused on the road to listen to the shouts. He placed +his hand up over his brows, shielding his view from the drenching rain, +and stared, from his elevation, out over the roaring stream. There was a +flash of lightning, illuminating the yellow foam-flecked flood and out +in the centre a raft, long and heavy, yet tossed like a feather on the +rolling flood waves. There were two figures at the great rear oar, one +of whom was the pilot, one figure in the centre with a coil of rope in +his grasp, and at the front oar-running backward and forward, leaping on +the great oar handle to jerk its cumbersome blade from the stream, +running it back to the opposite side, plunging it in the flood once +more, and with handle overhead pushing with might and main,--were six +figures, seeming in the distance like the dancing forms of a puppet +show, whose various motions were controlled by the dark form of the +pilot in the rear. The flash of lightning passed away in a roll of +thunder, and all was wrapped in darkness again. + +"Left! Left!" + +"Halt!" + +"Left! Left!" + +The raft was rounding a curve in the stream. + +"Left! Left! Push! Push, with a will. More backbone to it, boys! Once +more and a glass of toddy at Burke's for each man! Left! Left! Now then! +Heave to it! With all your might! Halt! Don't let it pull you off! Hold +on to her!" bawled the raft pilot. + +"Again! Left! Left!" + +"Halt!" + +"Now then, Tom! Jump for it!" + +"Run out the rope!" + +"Snub! Snub!" + +"There, ease up, Tom! Take the next tree!" + +"All right," bawled a voice from the shore. + +And slowly the great raft, a hundred and twenty feet long and forty +wide, swung in from the flood after two trials had been made to break +the speed. Closer and closer to the bank, away from the force of the +current, until alongside she was safely secured with a double hawser, a +prisoner under the guardianship and control of two massive oaks. The +immense oars were swung clear of the water and their handles lashed to +the centre-pieces. Up over the creek bank, stumbling through thick +underbrush and over fallen trees, came the hardy crew and at length +gained the turnpike. The weather in the meantime had grown colder and +the rain changed to falling snow. The wind had fallen in its violence. +Onward stumbled the crew, then at length up a slight elevation, through +a covered bridge, and the lights, twinkling through many small windows, +flashed before their eyes. It was the town of Burgtown, famed for its +two rows of log houses, each having an upper story, and doubly famed for +its renowned hotel of sawn timber and its hospitable but talkative host; +famed also for the scholarship and mystery surrounding its founder. +Scholarship and mystery! Yes, scholarship, for no one could withstand +the logic of the Reverend Mr. Burg, and his tall, dark form, his deep +eyes with their unfathomable look, was enough to awe even the stoutest. +Mysteriousness? Yes, mysteriousness, for he had come in the night and +had gone in the night. He was like Melchizedek in one respect, no one +knew his father or his mother, no one knew his birthplace, and no one +knew his end. There was a story rife among some of the town people that +he had been guilty of some unministerial conduct in the neighbourhood of +Standing Stone, thought it best for him to put the Alleghenies between +himself and his old location, and had accordingly travelled with more +speed than elegance to the Lycamahoning, where with the aid of a +ploughline he had plotted and laid out the town. He was gone before the +settlers that poured in became fully acquainted with him. Two years had +elapsed since then and people remembered little of him with the +exception of Peter Burke, the tavern keeper, and it seemed that Burke's +knowledge increased with the years, and Burg became in the annals of his +mind a demigod, a sort of modern Romulus, whose figure and deeds became +larger and mightier as they reached into the dimness of the past. + +The raft pilot, followed by his men, entered the door of Burke's place. +The roaring fire of logs in the great stone chimney was most welcome to +them after their night of toil. They made a picturesque group as they +stood stamping the mud and snow from their long-legged logging shoes and +brushing the great, soft flakes from caps and homespun wamuses. The +majority of the eight were stout, ordinary-looking young men, with +something of the air of the woods in their manner and appearance. The +pilot was an exception. He was of medium height and stoutly built, with +an intelligent face, lighted up with keen, sharp, grey eyes, that +flashed in merriment in repartee, and that were even cunning and +penetrating at times. He was the American product of the "canny" +Scotchman, a Scotch American. + +Along one side of the public room ran the rude bar counter with a few +homely bottles and jugs, and near them, his rounded form a living +advertisement for his wares, one eye smiling a welcome, the other, which +was squint and cross-eyed, gazing unwinkingly, blankly, out of the +window as if trying to penetrate the darkness, was the form of the +tavern keeper. + +"Supper for eight?" asked the tavern keeper. + +"Aye, ye ken that," answered the raft pilot. + +Peter Burke, with a rolling motion, tumbled off to a rear door which he +swung wide. + +"Supper for eight rafters," he bawled. + +"Arright," squeaked a distant, feminine voice. + +"Hallo, Hugh," said a deep voice from a corner near the flaming +fireplace. + +"Hallo yerself," said the pilot. + +"What led you to pilot on a night like this, when the creek is getting +higher and higher. I thought a raftsman ought to know that the proper +time to raft is when the flood is falling, not rising." + +"Not always," said the pilot, and then added, "Is that you, Bill?" + +"Yes, it's I, sure enough." + +"Well, you're school-master and I'm raft pilot; every man to his own +calling, and I suppose every man ought to know best what to do in his +own calling; yet you'd criticise me for running timber on a rising +flood." + +"There are little things in all trades that most everyone ought to know. +I was riding to the Burg when I heard your shouts on the raft and I +wondered what ill-witted fellow was running on a rising flood on a night +like this." + +"Don't think it science, eh?" a little nettled to be called ill-witted. + +"No. Every one ought to know that when the stream is rising it is higher +in the centre than it is on the sides and when falling higher on the +sides than in the centre. Hence by due process of ratiocination,"--the +school-master paused to give the large, scholarly word due +emphasis--"you must run on a falling flood." + +"That's what 'tiz to be a scholard," muttered the tavern keeper, +admiringly. + +"Aye, science and scholard," snorted Hugh Lark, the pilot; "and I +suppose if you had a raft on a sand bar, you'd wait for a falling flood +and jack it off with a hoisting jack, eh?" + +There was a roar of laughter from the crowd of raftsmen, and Hugh +smiled, his good humour once more restored. + +"Oh, in that case it's different, but that's a single exception," said +Professor Bill, in some humiliation. + +"No single exception. Suppose ye had a raft tied up above the island or +down under the hill, would ye run on a rising or wait for a falling +flood?" + +"I would most assuredly wait for a falling flood, and--" + +The school-master was interrupted by a chuckle from Hugh, and broad grins +from his assembled men. + +"I've no doubt that ye would, but you'd find your raft a-scattered all +the way twixt here and Pittsburgh. Why, mon, there's ne'er a hawser made +that can hold a raft in those positions in a rising flood. 'There are +more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your +philosophy.'" + +Professor Bill Banks, or Professor Bill, as he was commonly known, was +silenced. The last remark and the quotation from Shakespeare had put him +to rout. He flushed and kept his eyes on the fire. The raftsmen were +delighted. There was nothing they enjoyed so much as a tiff between Bill +and their pilot. Professor Bill was the most learned man of the +neighbourhood. Since the exodus of the Reverend Burg he had held the +pre-eminence. He was the leader, and there was none to dispute with him +with any fair show of success except Hugh, the pilot. Hugh had +invariably come off second; here he had achieved first honours. Hugh was +well read in a number of subjects, but his knowledge was only such as he +could find by perusing history, in which indeed he was a fair scholar, +and the topics of the day. + +"Was stuck, Hugh?" asked the tavern keeper, with some new measure of +respect. + +"Aye, yesterday the creek was full of floating timber and we stuck on a +sand bar. There were no rafts behind to shove us off and we had to wait +for a greater flood. We wouldn't have stuck if Tom, there, hadn't lost +his head." + +Tom, a great hulking fellow, looked a trifle sheepish. + +"You see," continued Hugh Lark, "I was up at the crosscut and in making +the bend, I was just gitting the raft pinted when he was afraid we'd +strike and tear up. He bellowed like a bull, 'We'll strike, we'll tear +up, some un run out a rope and tie up.'" + +"It war pretty nigh striking, though," muttered Tom, in some apology. + +"Nonsense! Why, there were fully fifteen feet of water on either side. +How could we strike or even run out and tie up when we had nothing to +run on but water? The rain had stopped for an hour or two and we were +getting on fine. The flood was a-carrying us on with a good speed. The +banks were slipping by as if they were running the other way. The front +men were dipping occasionally, but they hung on to the oar. Then come +the bend. I could see it a hundred yards before we come to it, the water +a-swirling and a-twisting like a yallow ribbon and then disappearing +from sight behind the trees. 'Left, men, left,' I shouted. Then Tom lost +his head. He let go the oar, and the oar being too much for the other +chaps, and being afeared of being yanked into the flood they let go too, +and the next minute came the thud of grounding. I saw that it was +a-coming and braced myself, hanging on to the oar. But the fellows in +front, how they tumbled! They were around Tom in the centre, +a-galleyhooting and shouting. I never had such a crew of numbskulls. +When the grounding came they tumbled over each other like nine-pins." + +Supper was announced and the hungry raftsmen wended their way to the +eating department, a plain long room, ceiled with pine, and adorned with +sundry prints of "Babes in The Wood," and "Red Riding Hood." The table +was a heavy wooden affair, evidently the result of home labour; the +provisions with which it was plentifully laden were of the class found +in every woodsman's home, viz., pork, beans, corn bread, burr-wheat +bread, and home-made syrup. + +A split log, the level side up, the rounded side down, into which were +inserted several hickory legs, served in lieu of chairs, and seated upon +this, the hungry raftsmen fell to with a will. + +Meantime the public room was occupied by the tavern keeper and Professor +Bill Banks. Professor Bill was apparently thirty years of age. He had a +high forehead, blue eyes, a mass of dark hair overhanging his ears, and +a prominent Roman nose. The nose seemed to give great strength to his +features, as also did his chin. He was clad in the customary tail coat, +tight pantaloons with straps, neckerchief, and over all towered his tall +"nail keg" silk hat. Professor Bill was attired for a special occasion. +He was going to visit, ostensibly, the father of a certain rustic +damsel, and had stepped in for his mail. The talk with the pilot nettled +him, for in an argument he liked to show his superiority, as he was the +recognised great man of letters in the place. The talk was not the only +thing that disturbed and ruffled his feelings. His horse had +inadvertently stepped into a washout on the road, and had fallen so lame +that it was utterly impossible for him to proceed. + +"Hear of Big Paddy's accident?" asked the tavern keeper, wishing to +promote a better feeling. + +"No," curtly said Bill. + +"Ha! Ha! He!" cackled the tavern keeper, "it war amusin'." + +"Come, cease those asinine cachinations and explain," said Bill, with +some irritation. + +"Yer a great scholard, Bill," said the tavern keeper, in some admiration +at this flow of erudite language, "but when ye'd speak highly of me, I'd +wish ye could use plainer words. Well, big Paddy and his uns are +a-building a new church in the burgh, and they were all a-drinking of +rye to make the work go lively. Big Paddy would always do the heaviest +work. At last there war the heavy corner stone to lift off the wagon, +and none could roll her down. Paddy were nigh full when the stone come. +Ha! Ha! He!" and the tavern keeper went off into another cackle of +laughter, his cross-eye blinking with tears of merriment, and his +protuberant stomach laughing in sympathy. "Ha! Ha! He!" and he went off +into another cackle that threatened to strangle him. + +"If it's your whiskey that made him ridiculous, I do not wonder, for its +the most catholicon panacea for the diminution of intelligence and +propagating of blatant puerility and asinine imbecility extant. Witness +yourself for an example." Bill was becoming sarcastic. + +"So 'tiz, so 'tiz," said the tavern keeper, highly pleased. "I say, +Professor, what a high larnt person ye are; now--do ye,--do ye think ye +could write that daoun?" + +"Why?" + +"I could git it printed on a sign and it 'ould look grand-like. I'd be +much 'bleeged to ye, Bill," said Burke, earnestly. + +Professor Bill smiled good humouredly, and asked, "Well, about Paddy?" + +"Oh, he looked at 'em all a-tugging at the stone, for it war a whopper, +and then he ups and says, 'Let be, now, let the auld man have a chance,' +and with that he grabbed a-hold of it. He pulled it off, but it war too +much for him, and it come down kerflop on his foot. There war an uproar +and the big paddies and little ones come a-running up and screaming and +shouting: 'And are ye hurted now, Daddy? And--and--and are ye hoorted +now, Pappy? And are ye hoorted now, grand-daddy?' Big Paddy war mad. +'Tare and hounds,' said he, 'trow a stun like that on a man's fut and +ask if he war hoorted, ye spalpeens.'" + +The tavern keeper went off into another cackle of laughter, and the +school-master feebly joined in. + +The rafting crew now returned from the supper-room and gathered around +the flaming open fireplace. Rafting stories followed each other in rapid +succession, Hugh Lark seeming to have the greatest fund. Clay and +corncob pipes were brought out from various pockets and soon wreaths of +smoke began to dim the atmosphere. + +"Hear of old Jim Handy's trip?" asked one after Hugh had told a rather +exciting story. + +"No," said Hugh. + +"Let's hear it," said the others. + +"Jim had ne'er been on the water and thought it would be a nice thing +for him to go on a trial trip. He had allers said that the land war good +enough fer him, and that he would ne'er trust himself to nawthing but +solid land. Some of the boys up on the Big Lycamahoning, that were +cutting timber fer him, up and began talking of the funny times they had +down at the mouth, the dancing and the parties. And then they begun to +talk of the ride down, just as easy as riding a good hoss. The old man +had a powerful set of rafts to run, and he saw one after another go +down the stream and the fellows cherry and 'parently enjying the ride. +They got him so worked up over the ride, and the good times they had, +that he decided to go, too, on the last raft. They told him that all he +would have to do would be to stand in the centre and perhaps they could +make a chair fer him to set on. The old man war tickled with the idea. +On the river they told him they could put up a regular shanty on the +raft and it would be like travelling in a coach, and then he would have +a chance to see Pittsburgh. The old man had never seen Pittsburgh and it +war the capping argument. Then some fool fellow told him of the dams and +the going under the water five or six feet when the raft would plunge +over the shoots. The fellows told him that they could fix that all +right. They would make a high wooden horse fer him to sit on when they +would take the shoots. That fixed him. Last week the raft war ready to +make the trip. They had a slanting pole fixed in the centre, and a seat +up at the top where the old man could sit in the dry when the raft would +plunge under. It went all right till they come to the big dam. Then as +they war making fer the shoot and were fairly in it, all the fellows at +the front oar dropped it and run up the pole after the old man. The old +man hollered to them that they would break it down, but they didn't +keer. Up they went, and just as they were plunging under, the pole +broke, and down tumbled the old man with all the others. The raft war +oak and sunk dead, like lead. It went to the very bottom and then rose +again. The old man hung on and so did the others, but he was mad, +a-cussing and swearing and spitting water like a water dog. It war a +sight to see." + +The fellow burst into a laugh that was echoed by the others. + +"If he had been a-riding that sixty-foot stick that you rode, Hugh, he +would been scared worse, eh," said one of the rafters. + +"Tell us the story, Hugh," said others. + +"It were not much," said Hugh. "A sixty-foot stringer war torn off by +one of the rocks in the Rough Water. I thought we ought not to lose it, +and so gave the rear oar into the hands of my assistant and jumped for +it. I landed clear in the centre of the stick as it slipped behind me. +The raft was going faster than the stick. How do ye account for that, +Bill?" asked Hugh, pausing in his narrative. + +"Very easy," said Bill. "The timber stick did not give so much surface +for the force of the current as the raft. Hence the raft went the faster +of the two. But the stick?" inquired Bill, who was also interested. + +"Well, I landed as I said in the centre of the stick, then slipped down +on my hands and knees, and began to guide it. Sometimes it would roll +and I would have to roll with her to keep on top. Then I had to watch +lest I should get jammed against the rocks. I jumped off several times +to avoid being squeezed, and swum back again. Once I got atween the +stick and the rocks and she was a-coming for me. I dived under it, come +up on the other side, and that's what saved me from certain death. I +couldn't catch up to the raft and so I rode the stick all the way to the +river, where the raft was awaiting for me. That was all there was to it. +It was an exciting time, though." + +There were murmurs of admiration from the assembled raftsmen and then +more tales followed. Rafts torn up in the rough water, raftsmen drowned +though expert swimmers, deeds of rescue, and things of a similar nature +followed in rapid succession. The home distilled liquor was used +sparingly, and finally the fiddle was brought forth and music enlivened +the public room. White Cockade, Devil's Dream and others followed, the +raftsmen keeping time with their heavy boots and sometimes by dancing. +One of the younger raftsmen executed a woodman's fling in a creditable +manner, encouraged by the handclapping of the others and the occasional +shouting in tune with the melody "Heigh ho--de-do, de-do, de-do, de-do!" + +In the midst of the revel the door was opened and two strangers entered. +They had evidently been riding far, for their garments showed the trace +of hard travel. The one who appeared to be the spokesman was tall, well +proportioned, with a tangled mass of auburn hair, more tangled by the +pelting storm without, and a beard trimmed in the Vandyke style and of +the same hue as his hair. The other was a giant in size, standing fully +six feet six inches, and broad in proportion. He had the dark hair and +features of the Celt. + +The tavern keeper was all hospitality. Room was made for them around the +flaming fire log and their clothes, damp with the storm, were soon +drying. There was a lull in the conversation of the raftsmen, the fiddle +had been consigned to its place o'er the chimney piece. + +"Can we get supper?" asked the one with the red beard. + +The tavern keeper nodded and added, "Certain, and a good one at that," +and going to the rear door he bawled to the cook, "Supper fer two +gents." + +"Arright," squeaked the distant, feminine voice. + +"Our horses must be fed and stabled also," said the same gentleman. The +tavern keeper gave the necessary directions to a tow-headed boy, who +disappeared into the outer darkness. + +"And 'ere," thundered the larger of the two strangers, as he opened the +door after the boy, "see that you rub the horses down well and give them +a good bed, and a warm mash." + +The giant returned to the fire and stood before its pleasing blaze. + +"You uns kin sign yer names when ye git warm." It was the tavern keeper +that spoke, and the travellers, taking the hint, moved over to the +soiled record book and added their names to the few already inscribed +there. Peter Burke, tavern keeper, scrutinised the names carefully with +his good eye, while the other seemed to be studying the appearance of +the strangers. One of the raftsmen leaned over to Hugh and whispered in +his ear that to be cross-eyed was a wonderful talent for the tavern +keeper; he could read the names on his book and size up the people at +one and the same time. + +"You uns travelling fer?" asked one of the raftsmen. + +"No, sir," laconically responded the red-headed one. + +"Come from Kittanning?" said another. + +"Yes, sir." + +"How's election news down there, and what's opinion on John Quincy +Adams?" + +"Adams seems to be very popular, and Jackson has a good following." + +"Adams will carry the day, no doubt," said the pilot. + +"He'll not can do that," muttered some one in dissent. Whereupon there +followed a small debate on the merits of the two candidates for +Presidential position. + +"Up here 'lectioneering?" inquired a third, turning to the strangers +again. + +"I calculate you are from the west, stranger," said Hugh Lark. + +"You've struck it partly," laughingly said the red-headed stranger, and +then apparently tired of answering questions, added, "We're here from +Louisiana and are here prospecting." + +Curiosity, instead of being appeased, was instantly aroused. A sharp +look flashed into Hugh's eye as he scrutinised them. + +"Wall," said the tavern keeper, "I allers said thar war something in +these hills. What ye think 'tiz, stranger, gold?" + +"No, we're prospecting for character." + +"Karakter," said the tavern keeper, musingly, "I ne'er hearn tell of +that metal afore." + +"Don't think there's much about here?" asked the red-headed stranger, +with just the shadow of a smile. + +"Not as I knows of," and the tavern keeper rubbed his head in doubt. + +Professor Bill snorted in disgust. + +"Look here, stranger, we have more character, good sterling character, +in this section than our dotard friend informed you of." + +Peter Burke, tavern keeper, looked pleased at this compliment. To be +called a friend of Professor Bill's and a friend, too, with that "high +larndt word ahead of it!" If Professor Bill was a drinking man he would +have set up a glass to Bill then and there free. + +"Character, sir!" continued Bill. "We sent forth the most stalwart +characters during the Revolution, though not from this immediate +neighbourhood, yet from Western Pennsylvania--Captain Brady, the Indian +fighter, and scores of others. Hugh Lark, there, can tell you of his +father, Captain Ande Lark, the sharpshooter, who performed prodigies of +valour in many a hard fought field." + +"Aye," said Hugh, "'tiz all true." + +"And didn't they hold the Britishers down at Concord and Lexington, +Yorktown and Stony Point?" continued Bill. + +"Aye, all ken they did that," said Hugh. + +"And what was it for?" said Bill, getting oratorical. "The tyrant +oppressed us; taxed us without representation; quartered soldiers on us +in times of peace, and seized the patriots' powder and ball. Then, sir, +the American eagle screamed in wrath and the noble characters, +Washington, Putnam, Morgan, Green, Brady, Lark, and hundreds of others +went forth to war, to battle valiantly for the cause of freedom and shed +their blood for the rights of man. Even in the humbler walks of life +sterling character was demonstrated. The ploughboy, the woodsman, the +tradesman, the farmer, all left their habitations, and with their old +flint-locks over their shoulders sped to the defence of their nation's +life and honour. This country was won by the stout courage of the +colonial fathers, and their stout-hearted sons to-day have within their +breasts the same doughty heroism that dominated the republic in that +day. Yes, but a few years ago, the War of 1812 made lucid that fact. +Lundy's Lane, Fort Meigs, Thames River,--who has forgotten them? +Character! The country is full of it, sir." + +"So 'tiz, so 'tiz," interjected the tavern keeper; "Professor Bill's +high larndt and orter know." + +"And," said Bill, "should the tocsin of war sound once more, the temple +of Janus be closed, and strife with bloody claws sweep like a dragon +over the land, should even all Europe band together against us, send +their fleets to harass our waters, their hirelings to devast our land, +they would find how patriots could contend for the heritage of their +ancestors, how they could battle against the iron heel of oppression, +and victory again would ultimately crown the American arms. All, because +of her brave characters." + +"Thas so; Bill's a scholard and orter know," said the tavern keeper, +nodding sagely. + +"Patrick Henry was not the only one who said 'give me liberty or give me +death.' The spirit of heroism is in the hearts of the American citizens. +They breathe it in the very air. Mountains, trees, birds, and even the +very beasts of the wild, proclaim alike the freeman's land. None can +wrest it from us while there is a God and while Americans are true to +themselves." + +Professor Bill sat down amidst a round of applause from the admiring +raftsmen, while the tavern keeper rubbed his hands in the keenest of +pleasure. + +"Bill," said one of the raftsmen, "ye'll hev to git that speech down fer +the Fourth o' Jerly. That's the best speech we uns heard since the +Senator talked in Indiana." + +"So 'tiz," said the tavern keeper. "Bill's a scholard. I say, Bill, +could yer write that daoun?" + +"What's that?" inquired Bill. + +"Why, about the eagle a-hollering like mad fer liberty and so on. Ye +see, we uns are gitting a new brand of stuff with an eagle on it and it +would look grand like to hev them words on, too." + +"Aye, perhaps," said Bill with a smile, "but I wonder how they teach +those events over in England. They must ignore them. Say, stranger, how +do they teach in Louisiana those salient points of our national +history?" + +"What a scholard!" murmured the tavern keeper as he passed a drink to a +newcomer. + +"Concerning the salient points of American history," responded the +red-bearded stranger, "they teach about the same as in this section, I +surmise,--that is, local events are dwelt upon unduly and there is a +tendency to glorify the victories and mitigate the defeats. The school +children, there, know more about Jackson and the Battle of New Orleans +than about Ross or Fort Meigs. In England the same thing obtains. Local +events are prominent and the glorious things are magnified, while the +dark, unhappy events are passed lightly over." + +"Yes, so I thought. Now in this country, though, there is a tendency to +do those things, yet national and international questions are fairly +represented," said Bill. + +The stranger shook his head in dissent. + +"The very same thing is as prevalent in America as in England. The +bright things are haloed and the dark obscured. The schoolboy gets but +one side of the question at issue. History ought to be taught for the +sake of truth and not for the sake of generating patriotism. Take the +American Revolution. Children, here, are taught that England was a +hateful tyrant, taxing us unreasonably, simply for the pleasure of +showing the strong hand, and wantonly aggressive in destroying the +patriots' powder and ball. Yorktown, Stony Point, and Saratoga are dwelt +on. What American does not know those battles by heart and how feebly +impressed on the American mind are the occupations of Boston, New York, +Philadelphia, the Battle of Brandy-wine, the Long Island defeats, and +the disasters in the South? Now a fair way would be to emphasise both +sides of the war, the battles, and the causes. Causes are given in many +American histories of the war, but they are American causes; the English +are not mentioned. Would it not be foolish to war without a cause?" + +"Well, what causes did Britain have for the war and her oppression?" +said Bill, sharply. + +"Many," said the red-bearded stranger, sharply. "Taxation, for instance, +is not wrong in itself. The government of a country is supported by +taxes. Britain sent quite a few armies to this country in the time of +the French and Indian war to protect the colonies. Could the colonies, +notwithstanding the bravery of her few colonial troops, have withstood +the armies of France, Montcalm and the others, without aid? Hence the +armies of Braddock, Amherst, Wolf and others. The home government was +burdened with a debt that had been greatly for the protection and +augmentation of the American colonies. Indeed, had that war not been; +had Wolf not taken Quebec, the glorious United States would be only a +narrow strip of country along the Atlantic seaboard. Even this part and +other parts west of the Alleghenies would be French soil, and you would +all be French citizens." + +"The stranger must be a scholard, too," muttered the tavern keeper. + +"And," continued the stranger warming up, "England, therefore, incurred +a great debt and insured to America the territory to the Mississippi and +even beyond partly. What benefit was this to the English citizen? Had +he a right to pay it all? Ought not America a right to bear a part of +the burden?" + +"True," said Bill, thoughtfully, "but how about non-representation? Was +it right to tax us without our consent?" + +"Easily explained," resumed the stranger. "England herself did not have +representation. Many parts, great cities, Manchester, Sheffield, and +others had none. The House of Commons did not represent England. Was +representation to be given to the colonies when it was denied to England +herself?" + +"Very true," said Bill, uneasily, "but what about oppressive taxes?" + +"Not much oppression. Americans admitted themselves that it was not the +weight of the taxes, which were small, but the principle of the thing. +The chief taxes were stamp and tea taxes and taxes of a similar nature. +The burden was laid on the rich, mostly. The labouring man had little +occasion for stamped paper. In reference to tea, tea was a luxury and +not a necessity at that time. Is there much oppression in that? And +about the seizing of powder and ball of the patriots, that's nothing +more than the United States would do should the State of Pennsylvania +gather up powder and ball to be used against the national government." + +"Well, why did the American nation arise en masse in revolt, if they +were not overly oppressed," persisted Bill. + +"The American people did not arise en masse," responded the stranger. +"There were thousands of citizens, wealthy and influential, on the +King's side, until toward the middle of the war. Would it have been so +easy for the British to take Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and +Charleston, if they were wholly in favour of Washington and the war? No. +They would have burned their cities like the Russians did Moscow. Both +sides ought to be taught in the study of history and a better grasp of +truth would result. About non-representation, that was wrong and the +Americans were partly justified in struggling against it. The English +people are struggling for the same thing, to-day. They have no real +representation, but will get it soon. It is much better, however, to win +representation and liberty by peaceful means than by war." + +There was silence for a moment, and then Professor Bill responded. + +"Those are new ideas to me, and you have opened up a new channel of +thought; but at least you will admit that our histories are +substantially correct and fair in reference to the late war, the War of +1812. What right had England to prey upon our commerce and impress our +seamen even though they were formerly Englishmen?" + +"The preying upon commerce was piracy upon the part of England----" + +"Good and well said," affirmed Professor Bill. + +"The impressment of American seamen--Americans must handle the subject +carefully or----" + +"Or what?" + +"They'll be trampling on their own laws and government. England claimed +once an Englishman always an Englishman, naturalisation notwithstanding. +American law, that is based on English to a great extent, is somewhat +the same. A citizen of the United States cannot throw off his allegiance +and unite with another nation without the consent of the United States. +Witness the case of Murray and the _Charming Betsey_ in 1804, before the +Supreme Court. In the case of Isaac Williams before the Circuit Court of +the United States for the District of Connecticut, in 1797, it was +decided that no member could dissolve the compact of citizenship except +by consent of the United States, and there had been no consent on the +part of the United States. These cases were of Americans who attempted +to become citizens of the newly formed republics of South America. And +yet we say England was wrong in taking American citizens, who had been +formerly Englishmen, and had become naturalised Americans contrary to +England's will. There is an apparent inconsistency in the matter, +visible even to the dullest mind." + +Professor Bill was silent and apparently in deep thought. + +"You have travelled some," said Hugh Lark. + +"Yes," said the red-bearded stranger. "My friend here and myself, during +the last eight years have been travellers. We have been in Brazil and +other American countries. That is why I remember the cases of the +_Charming Betsey_ and Williams. The decision of the United States in +those cases still rankles in the hearts of the people of the southern +continent." + +The raftsmen and school-master were eager for tales of adventure and +strange countries, when the supper bell rang, and the two gentlemen +disappeared into the long dining-room. After supper they retired, being +thoroughly tired with the travel of the day. + +"Who air those fellows?" asked one of the raftsmen. + +The question was voiced by all in the public room. + +The tavern keeper, obsequiously handed the record book to Bill, who read +out for the benefit of all the following: + +"Andrew Trembath, Esq., New Orleans." + +"Richard Thomas, New Orleans." + +"The one must be a lawyer," said Professor Bill, with a good bit of +respect in his tones. + +"Did you notice the silent one? What a giant in size he is? He'd make an +oar fly, I'll wager, eh, Hugh?" said one of the raftsmen. + +"Aye," said Hugh, meditatively. + +"The one fellow is a Cornishman," said Bill. + +"Whas that, Bill?" said the tavern keeper. + +"A native of the southwest of England, a section noted for its minerals +and seamen." + +"How do ye ken that, Bill?" asked Hugh Lark. + +"Because," said Bill, + + "By Tre, Tri, and Pen, + Ye may know the Cornishmen." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE LYCAMAHONING + + +The sun arose o'er the eastern hills of Lycamahoning, a great disc of +flame, fretted with the great solemn pines and oaks of the hilltops, and +driving before it the opaline radiance of early twilight. Pine needles +lost the sombre hue of night and glistened and gleamed with a richer +emerald where the ever-shifting sunbeams touched and gloried them with +light. Trees of oak and pine, a hundred and fifty feet in height, +enveloped with interlacing branches hill and lowland, except where, +oasis-like, the fields and cabin of some squatter dappled the general +surface of woodland. A few clouds still remained on the western horizon, +dark and threatening, but the day was propitious for fine weather. + +Ande and Dick, for the strangers were none other, were aroused by the +first, glancing rays of the sun that penetrated the curtains of their +little window. Flinging aside the curtain drapery, they gazed forth +delighted on the scene. Within a few yards of the house wall rolled the +roaring, yellow flood of the Lycamahoning, a mighty torrent, sweeping +beyond its natural bounds. Tree trunk and brush and what not tossed +hither and thither by its rollicking mood, yet bore ever onward. It was +an ambitious stream, for the banks could not hold it. The turnpike, +beyond the bridge, was hidden three feet from sight, and tearing through +the underbrush on either side of the public way was an ever-widening +torrent. The town was on higher ground than the turnpike beyond and so +escaped the damage of the flood. + +"What a grand country, Dick, old chap," said Ande, surveying the scene +with interest. "This is better than hot Louisiana or even the +Mississippi prairies." + +"Humph!" yawned Dick; "but not better than Brazil." Then as he ceased +stretching his great arms over his head; "Just think of it, Ande, if we +had not been picked up by that outward bound Brazilian ship, we would +not be independent now. Ah! diamonds and gold! That's the country, lad." + +"Softly, softly, Dick," said Ande in a lower tone, "we're not going to +advertise our circumstances. A month or so here, then home to Merrie +England." + +"And right glad will I be," said Dick; "but let's down and see what this +settlement in the backwoods is like." + +Ande followed by Dick went cautiously down the steep stairway, that +seemed squeezed between the great chimney and the farther wall and led +out at the bottom into the public room. There was no one in the public +room when they entered, and so they wended their way across to the door +and thence out into the street, if street it could be called. The hotel +of Peter Burke was at the head of the main and only street of Burgtown, +and one walking straight from the front door of the hotel would pass +down an avenue, prolific in stumps, midway between two rows of log +houses. Back of the tavern and but a few yards from it rolled and roared +the Lycamahoning, and but a few yards from the north end was the covered +bridge. It thus stood with the homes stretching from it in parallel +lines, like a captain at the head of his soldiers. Several citizens were +abroad already with their axes and were busily felling a forest giant +that, isolated and ostracised with a few others, waved its branches in +the air above the middle of the main thoroughfare of Burgtown. Several +raftsmen with Hugh Lark at their head were standing at the end of the +broad porch gazing over toward the bridge and the rushing yellow flood, +shaking their heads dubiously at it, well knowing that there would be no +rafting either that day or the next. The flood was too high. + +There was the sound of cracking and rending of wood from the +thoroughfare, a swishing and snapping of branches, a cry of warning, +then one of terror, and with a resounding blow the mighty, woodland +giant sprawled its full length on the ground. With an exclamation Hugh +Lark leaped into the roadway followed by the other raftsmen and Ande and +Dick. They were soon on the scene. There pinned to the earth under the +heavy tree trunk, unconscious, his brow streaked with blood, was a man, +evidently the chief chopper. + +Women from the neighbouring homes were wringing their hands in dismay, +and then from a distant cabin came a woman's scream, a cry full of +anguish, and then a flying form burst the crowd and flung herself down +near the head of the unconscious chopper. With tender hands she mopped +the blood from his forehead and kissed his pale brow again and again, +calling by every endearing name to the unconscious one to answer her. +Hugh Lark wiped the moisture from his eyes, as did many others. Then +with the instinct of the leader of men: + +"Run, Jack, and get the rope and tackle and block from the raft. Jim, go +get the heaviest crowbar from the tavern, and the rest of you men get +crowbars. Peter Burke, get to thy tavern as fast as your legs will carry +you and bring a flask of brandy." + +"Can nothing be done until the coming of the block and tackle," ventured +Ande. "Is it too heavy for a couple of fellows to lift by main +strength?" + +The raft pilot shook his head. "Three men could not lift the butt of +that tree, and more than three couldn't try, without doing more injury +to Tom underneath. I only hope he won't die before the rope comes." + +Dick had not said a word, but he now hauled off his coat, and placing +his big arms around the butt end of the fallen tree began to exert his +strength. + +"The man is mad," muttered Hugh Lark to one or two bystanders, while +they all looked and wondered. + +The blood mounted to his face and forehead, crimsoning his features like +the sunrise of a rainy day, and then the veins stood out like whipcord +upon his brow and arms, but the tree moved not. There was a straining of +the eyes of Old Ironsides until they threatened to burst from their +sockets, a rigidity of the limbs that though motionless yet indicated +that the giant was putting forth every atom of his strength. The +spectators scarcely breathed. Then, even before the people were aware of +it, the tree began to move, silently, slowly, almost imperceptibly, inch +by inch, up from the fallen, injured chopper. There was a suppressed +murmur from the crowd, then Hugh with a bound was beside the injured +man, and with the assistance of Ande quickly and deftly hauled him from +his perilous position. There was a shout from the tavern. The rope and +tackle was coming, but there was no need of them. Then Peter Burke, his +cross eye glaring at the bystanders, and his other fastened upon Hugh +and the succoured one, pushed his rotund, sebaceous body through the +crowd, and with one fat, trembling hand extended to Hugh the brandy. A +swallow of the fiery liquor and the fellow opened his eyes. + +"Hurt much, Tom?" asked Hugh and the chopper's wife in almost one +breath. + +"Not much. Pretty well shuk up. Yes--pretty well shuk up." + +They assisted the fellow to his feet, and then to his cabin home, still +muttering in his dazed fashion: "Pretty well shuk up! Yes--pretty well +shuk up." + +Hugh was relieved. It was evident that whatever injuries he had +received, the shock was more than them all, and with rest he would +evidently pull through it. + +The clang of a breakfast bell sounded on the morning air, and the +rafters and travellers trooped to the tavern. + +The fame of Dick and his companion speedily spread through the +neighbourhood. Dick, according to rough estimates, had lifted a weight +of two hundred stone. Hugh Lark was the most affable of all. Tom, the +injured chopper, had been a lifelong friend, and this aid to a friend in +distress he could not forget. + +"Ye'll come down and see my raft," said he after breakfast. "You have +never seen a raft and it'll be interesting to see how it's put together, +and how we manage it with the great oars; and then I have something to +tell you that will be, no doubt, interesting." + +Together Hugh and our travellers wended their way around the tavern end, +and down the edge of the stream. They rounded a bend in the stream and +there, riding in the comparatively quiet water of the eddy, was the raft +of the night before. With a bound Hugh was on it, followed by the +others. + +"Ye'll notice the way it's put together. First we square the timber +sticks after they are cut to proper lengths, then tumble them into the +water side by side, and bore these holes with the augur three inches +apart. Then we get the stoutest ash or hickory poles, green and strong, +and lay across the top of them midway between the holes, and bind them +to the timber with well seasoned hickory bows and wooden pins. Ah! I see +you are trying the oar." This last to Ande, who swung with his weight +the great oar blade from its fastenings, and shoved it to and fro. "It's +not easy work in a strong flood, and especially in the Rough Water." + +"The Rough Water?" + +"Aye! That's a section of the stream in the Big Lycamahoning some +fifteen miles from here, where in a course of ten miles the water rushes +with the speed of a race horse. It's most dangerous because of the rocks +and requires a steady head and a ready hand to pilot through. Yet I have +done it many a time and had no accidents. I suppose, with the exception +of old Pegleg, I'm the only pilot that can say as much," and then seeing +the look of inquiry on the faces of his auditors he continued: "Pegleg +is a one-legged pilot who feels as much at home on the bobbing raft as +he does on the land. But," and Hugh looked at his auditors kindly, "I +didn't fetch ye here for the sake alone of showing the raft. I wanted to +get you away from the prying eyes and ears of old Peter Burke and the +rest. Last night I felt little like saying much about certain knowledge +that I have, but men who have favoured our village by saving the life of +one of its citizens, and one of my best friends at that, deserve +something in return. If you are prospectors, come to my place to-morrow +evening and mayhap I can give ye the information that would be of value +to you. But not a word to any others, and especially to old Peter." + +"We'll be on hand, never fear," said Ande. + +There was a crashing in the underbrush of the shore, and two or three of +the raftsmen leaped on the raft. + +"When do ye think we can safely start, Hugh?" asked one. + +"In two days, not before. The flood will take that time to go down to a +good rafting stage. In the meantime, boys, we'll go home; but day after +to-morrow we start out for down stream." + +All returned to the tavern where, after some conversation, the raftsmen +betook themselves to their homes and Ande and Dick having mounted their +horses, well rested with the night, pushed down stream, toward the west, +on a rude, half-cleared mountain trail. The road wound itself in a +sinuous line over hills and through deeply wooded glens, but always the +roar of the stream was in their ears. + +"What boundless forests these are," said Ande, as they rested their +horses on the summit of a steep declivity and gazed o'er the rolling +mass of treetops. "No wonder Professor Bill was so oratorical. This is +the famous country through which Armstrong marched his troops in 1756 +against Shingas and Jacobs, the Shawnese chiefs of Kittanning, and near +this section, no doubt farther south, poor grandfather lost his life. It +was a fatal mistake." + +"Perhaps we shall find something in this section that will tell us of +your grandfather." + +"If we do, it will be in connection with the Indian eldorado, spoken of +by my father." + +They had pushed on rapidly and were now nearing the mouth of the Little +Lycamahoning. The gleam of a great expanse of water between the trees +ahead indicated their approach. + +"That must be the Big Lycamahoning of which Lark spoke." + +"Hist!" said Dick, "there are some wild geese on the big creek. Hear +them gabble. There must be fully a score. It's fortunate we have our +guns with us." + +They were now fairly in the outer shadow of the trees that o'erhung the +trail, and the stream, swollen by the flood to three times its natural +size, stretched before them three hundred yards in width. + +"You take the right of the group, and I'll take the left," whispered +Ande. + +Simultaneously with the crack of their own guns another sounded from the +midst of the willows that fringed the shore. There was a confused +"Hank--Hank!" from the frightened birds as they rose in flight. A second +later, a light canoe darted swiftly from the willows, and an aged +hunter, its only occupant, gathered up the five or six birds that were +slain, placed them in his canoe, and rapidly paddled up stream. All +happened so quickly that the canoe with its aged occupant shot around a +bend in the stream and disappeared from sight before Ande or his friend +could say a word. + +"Cool robbery! let's after him," said Ande, and suiting his action to +the word, he pushed his horse into the stream and swum to the other +side, followed by Dick. The trail was struck again on the other side and +up the stream they went at as fast a gait as the many stumps and fallen +trees would allow. Several times they crossed the stream by swimming +their horses. Two miles up stream the creek valley widened and the +stream, winding around the base of a hill, formed a loop or peninsula of +some fifteen acres or so in extent. Here, in a small, grassy clearing, a +rude cabin of unhewn logs greeted their vision. It was a one-storied +affair pierced with loopholes, and had a small window in the end facing +the stream. The roof of heavy hand-made clapboards, weighted down with +poles, was green with age as also were the mossy logs of its walls. The +door, a heavy affair of split timber, was ajar and near it on a wooden +settle was the figure of the hunter, a man of some seventy years. The +hair of his head and beard were snowy white, but his active frame belied +his years. He was clad in leathern breeches, heavily fringed along the +outer seams, and moccasins of the same tough material. A loose, woollen +wamus, the product of the settlements, served in lieu of shirt and coat. +His coonskin cap was beside him on the bench and he was busily engaged +in plucking the captured birds. The sound of trotting horses aroused him +from his work and he cast a keen, scrutinising, blue eye on the +approaching invaders of his little domain. + +"I say, sir, we'd like to know why you appropriated our birds," said +Ande. + +"Aye?" inquired the hunter. + +Ande repeated the question. + +"I shot these birds." + +"Well, we shot some too and you seized them all." + +"Ye did shoot some?" + +"Yes, we did; we were on the road at the fording and fired at them." + +The old man gazed at them earnestly, and evidently believing their tale, +said: + +"I thought that more were killed with my shot than customary, and if ye +fired at the same time that I did, that explains my not hearing the +report of your guns. Ye are welcome to some of them." + +"Oh, no," said Ande, somewhat mollified by the hunter's generosity and +explanation. "We thought you were robbing us, but it was clearly a +mistake." + +"Will ye sit down; it's nigh dinner time and, if ye can eat with a lone +old man, you're most welcome. Ye can pasture your horses in that bit of +clearing." + +The invitation was accepted. The horses were tethered out where they +could nibble the grass, and they returned. + +"Come from afar?" interrogated the old hunter. + +"From Louisiana," said Ande. + +"Here hunting?" + +"No, prospecting." + +The old hunter straightened up as if shot, and gazed at them as if he +would pierce them through with those keen, blue orbs of his. + +"What for?" suspiciously. + +"Metal, either silver or gold," explained Ande, whose suspicions were +also aroused. + +"Do ye think ye will find it?" + +"Yes, somewhere." + +"Where?" + +"Along this stream." + +"And do ye have any aid to help ye in your search?" + +"We have little but our own knowledge." + +"And your home is in Louisiana?" + +"No, we came from there." + +[Illustration: "The old hunter straightened up as if shot, and gazed at +them"] + +The old man arose with the birds which he had finished plucking and +cleaning, and was silent for a time while he placed them in a home-made +oven for cooking. Returning to the settle he took up the conversation. + +"Ye'll find naught here but woods and hills and coal." + +"Have you been here long?" asked Ande, in turn becoming the inquirer. + +"Nigh sixteen years." + +"How does it happen that you, a hunter, should frequent this section, +which is rapidly becoming civilised?" + +"Well, the country is becoming more peopled the last year or so, but +there is still tolerable hunting. There's black bear in plenty, and +there's deer, beaver, coon, and wild birds, and then I have other +reasons. This is nigh the place where my father was slain." + +"Your father was a hunter, too, then?" + +"Aye, aye, he hunted some. He hunted some," went on the old hunter, more +to himself than his auditors. + +"And did Indians kill him?" asked Dick, becoming interested. + +"He was captured by Indians and----" The old man shook his head and +then: "Dinner is nigh ready and ye are no doubt as hungry as I am +myself." The trapper led the way into the little cabin. Everything +within was comfortable as the life of the woods could make them. A rough +oak table stood near the opened window, a pile of bear and deerskins in +one corner near the fireplace indicated the place where the aged hunter +took his rest at night, several rifles hung affectionately on the +branches of deer antlers o'er the fireplace, and along the wall ran a +slab bench cut from a split log, the rounded side down, into which was +inserted the legs. The dinner of roast goose was soon placed on the +table and the hungry men sat down and did full justice to the fare. The +old hunter fell into a stage of taciturnity from which he could not be +aroused. Toward the close of the meal the host again became talkative +and pressed his guests, if they stayed long in the neighbourhood, to +call as often as they liked. + +"It's a bit lonely for an old man, and I like company at times," said +he, as they were preparing to leave. They promised to come. + +The horses were soon untethered and mounting they rode back to Burgtown. + +"Dick," said Ande in the privacy of their own room, "I believe that old +fellow could tell us something about father, possibly about grandfather. +I believe he knows at least something about the eldorado." + +"He looked most suspicious when you mentioned that we were prospectors." + +"His father was a hunter before him, and surely the one or the other +must have met him. We'll see as time goes by. We'll call upon him again +and try to worm some knowledge out of him. To-morrow we'll get +something, I believe, from Hugh Lark, that will bring us close to the +mark at least, I'm a-thinking." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE RAFT PILOT'S HOME + + "Here easy quiet, a secure retreat, + A harmless life that knows not how to cheat, + With home-bred plenty--the owner bless, + And rural pleasures crown his happiness; + Unvexed with quarrels, undisturb'd with noise, + The country king his peaceful realm enjoys." + + --_Dryden_. + + +There was the steady tramp, tramp of horses' feet o'er the woodland +trail and, by the moon's shimmering gleam that sifted down through the +shadowy forest screen o'erhead, two horsemen could be perceived picking +cautiously their way in the darkness of the shadow. In clear places, +where the moonlight beamed unhindered, they pressed forward into a brisk +trot and then again slowing down to a steady tramp as they plunged once +more into some shadow. The road was uncertain, filled with pitfalls, +stumps of fallen forest giants, and other hindrances that necessitated +careful procedure. It was Ande and Dick on their way to the home of Hugh +Lark, raft-pilot, and squatter on a ridge of hills, the watershed +between the Great and Little Lycamahonings that poured their floods into +the Allegheny River. The hoot of a night owl sounded dismally in the +neighbouring forest and then, as if his call was the waving of an +orchestra leader's baton, forth burst in full chorus hundreds of other +birds of night, the most with the weird song "Whip-poor-will, +whip-poor-will." + +The effect was grewsome and Ande shivered slightly. + +"Dick," said he, "I had a dream last night that troubled me much." + +Dick was all attention. + +"It seemed in my dream that I had found somewhere a pearl of great price +and I cherished it as I did my own soul. In the upper Big Lycamahoning +district I found a large, silver ingot. In seeking to grasp the ingot I +lost the pearl, and I was filled with sorrow, and then the ingot turned +into a diamond of the first water and I was glad. I awoke then, and the +sun was beaming brightly in through the tavern window on my face." + +Ande ceased speaking. Dick was silent for he was thinking, and, though a +good, sincere Methodist, was slightly superstitious. + +"God knows, Ande, what it all means, but it seems to me that ee'll lose +summat and gain summat better." + +Dick had spoken partly in the old Cornish dialect, which they frequently +spoke when by themselves. + +"Aye, I guess that's the interpretation," said Ande, thoughtfully. The +way was pursued in silence for some time, unbroken save by the tramp of +horses' feet and the whirring wings of some bird whose solitude was +disturbed. + +A mile or so was passed over and then through the trees ahead was the +gleam of a light, and after a time they rode into Hugh Lark's clearing. +The log house, two stories in height, loomed up darkly in the dusk of +evening. The moonlight touched up its clap-board roof and the edges of +its huge stone chimney, lighting them fantastically, and through the +greased paper-paned window came the glow of a fire within, evidently +from the great fireplace. There was the baying of a hound, and then the +quick bark of a shepherd dog in concert, and then the door opened and +the frame of Hugh was outlined against the inner light. + +"Get back, you dogs! Back to your kennel, Shep, and you, Jack, over to +the barn with you!" he bellowed, and the dogs, that looked most +aggressive, slunk off at the word of their master. The horses were soon +fastened to the rail fence and the horsemen approached the house to be +greeted on the threshold with the outstretched hand of Hugh. + +"Come in, mon, come in. It's a cauld nicht, as they ca' it in auld +Scotland," and he grasped each man's hand welcomingly and drew them +within and up to the great fireplace, for though spring had come, yet +the nights were cold. Hugh had greeted them as a Scotchman can. Though a +tolerably educated man, yet he loved to drop now and then back into his +mother tongue. The pilot's wife, a comely dame but little younger than +himself, sat near the light of the fireplace busily spinning. His two +chubby children had been put to bed in the room o'erhead and the scene +within was that of quiet, home comfort. Bunches of dried herbs and a few +hams and flitches of dried bacon and deer meat depended from the rafters +of the ceiling. A few common prints adorned the rude white-washed walls +and o'er the mantle piece, supported by deer antlers, was an old-time +flint-lock rifle of great weight and heavy bore. The pilot introduced +his wife, who, having made the customary courtesy, resumed her spinning, +the whir, whir of the wheel mingling with the cracking of the fire-logs. + +Hugh drew forward two home-made chairs for his visitors, and Ande sat +down, but Dick was interested in the great rifle o'er the mantle piece. +Hugh noticed his concentrated look on the old rifle. + +"Aye, ye are looking at a highly prized relic in that rifle. Test the +weight of it, sir; notice the large bore capable of carrying a ball the +size of a schoolboy's marble." + +Dick took down the gun and examined it. + +"That rifle could tell many a tale, Mr. Dick, if it could speak. It was +my father's, Captain Ande Lark's gun. Ye ken that captains of +sharp-shooters in the days of Washington carried guns. A gun was more +use to them then than all of the swords made. Father fired the last shot +out of it in 1794, when he was mortally wounded by Indians on the +Kiskiminatas. It was this way," said Hugh, seeing the look of interest +on the faces of his visitors. "After the Revolution, the nation was +heavily indebted, and not even the efforts of Robert Morris could save +the nation from financial ruin had not many patriots, among whom was my +father, withheld their claims for service. Some speculating jobber +offered to trade father a thousand acres of land, where Braddock met his +defeat, for the commission papers and his claims. Father accepted, and +loading up his goods on a flat boat he floated down the river +Kiskiminatas. He was attacked by lurking savages along the river side +and, although he succeeded in bringing down several of them by bullets +from 'Old Thump,'"--and the pilot waved his hand expressively toward the +old rifle,--"yet he received a wound himself from which he afterward +died." + +Hugh Lark was silent and his usually pleasant face was sober and sad. +There was a long pause, unbroken save by the puffs and clouds of +ascending tobacco smoke. + +"Light the lamp, Mary," he at length said. + +Mrs. Lark arose from her work and took from a receptacle in the wall a +species of lamp much used by the woodsmen. It consisted of a turnip, +split, and hollowed out within. A stick, around which was wrapped a +strip of oiled linen, was inserted upright in the centre, and the vessel +having been filled with deer grease was ready for use. The visitors +gazed at this primitive vessel, that at best gave forth but a dismal +light and a far more disagreeable odour. + +"Candles are too much of a luxury for us at present, so we still use the +old turnip lamp. But to get down to business. I wanted to speak to you +of prospecting." + +Hugh poked the fire logs a little, and Mrs. Lark arose and brought in a +pitcher of home-made cider and some drinking vessels, and then retired. + +"Ye must ken that the Indians kenned more of this country than we do, +having lived here longer," said Hugh, as he raked a brand from the fire +and lit his pipe; and then without pausing for an answer he continued: +"I have read much for a backwoodsman and know of how the spirit of +jealousy has ruled nations as well as people. The same spirit of +jealousy that led the Asiatics to conceal from Europeans their arts and +sciences is within the Indian breast. The Phoenecians, so I have read, +hid so truly their art of making their beautiful colour called +Phoenecian purple that to-day we know nothing of it. The pyramids +to-day are monuments of the lost sciences of the ancients. There is much +wealth in the hills of the country, known to the Indian alone. Father +thought the same as I did and was convinced of it by a wound he received +in an Indian expedition with the famous Sam Brady. His wound was probed +and the bullet ye see tied to the old lock by a cord was the one taken +out of the wound." Both examined the silver bullet that was attached to +the lock of "Old Thump." + +"He found the mine. Then you know its location, Mr. Lark?" + +"Perhaps we had best have an understanding first, before I say much +more. If ye are agreed to give me a fair share with yourselves we will +go ahead." + +"We are perfectly agreed, and more. If you give my friend, Dick, a +share, I desire nothing." + +Hugh looked mystified at Ande and said partly in the Scotch dialect, +"And ye're not after the siller yoursel'?" + +Ande seeing that he must explain, related the tale of his grandfather's +dishonour, and Hugh, with various nods and puffs, listened. + +"Aye, I see, I see," said Hugh; "and ye think the unearthing of this +Indian mine will bring to light your family honour. Ye said the other +night that ye were prospecting for character, and we thought it was a +joke on the tavern keeper," and Hugh's features relaxed into a smile. +"But now for my tale. Indians appear here, from the Shawnee tribes in +the west, every few years. They remain for a time and then disappear. +Some say they come for hunting, some for to visit the graves of their +tribe, but I always had my own opinions. Some years ago there was a +great flood and we raftsmen went down to get the rafts in safer +positions. I was busy piloting when I thought I saw something out on the +waters. It was not a rock nor a piece of driftwood, and after I had +almost wearied my eyes I saw it was the head of a man. I gave the oar to +Tom, the fellow ye saved from the tree the other day, Mr. Dick, and +flung out a rope. It fell nigh the fellow and we dragged him in, and if +it wasn't a half-breed Indian, a Canadian, so he afterward told me. He +was far from his tribe and people and had hurt himself in some scrimmage +or other with a wild animal. After we got the raft safe in good +quarters, we took him up to our place here and nursed him for many a day +until he was ready to leave, and then he showed what stuff he was made +off. He wanted to reward me for my kindness. By his directions I got +some paper and a pen and drew off a rude map of the Big Lycamahoning +region. After it was made he put his brown finger on a certain section +and said, 'If white man know what under there they shoe their oxen with +silver.' Here's the map," and Hugh took from an inner pocket of his +woollen wamus a rude roll of paper which he spread out for their view +near the old turnip lamp. Ande took out his father's map and compared it +with the other. + +"Ye have a map, too," said Hugh. + +"The one sent me years ago by my father." + +The two maps coincided in all the essential features. + +"And now we know the place and the only thing that remains for us is to +set the date of going on our search. The first night of the full moon +would be best suited to our purpose. And there must be another let into +the secret, for we can't get along handily without the use of the only +canoe on the Big Creek, and that's Hunter Tom of the Loop," said Hugh. + +"Who's Hunter Tom?" asked Dick. + +"He's a queer old character, and has been in the neighbourhood of the +Big Creek for the--well--as long as any of us around here, and for a +great time longer. He's a hunter and has a cabin over in a little +clearing alongside of the Big Creek." + +"The very man we ate dinner with the other day," said Ande, and turning +to Hugh he related the circumstances of their adventure. + +"The very same man, and a better guide and hunter none ever saw," +replied Hugh, emphatically. Good-nights were now spoken, and, mounting, +the young men rode back to Burgtown. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE HUNTER OF THE LOOP + + +Several times had Ande and Dick visited the old hunter's cabin in the +Loop, and there was a growing friendship between the old trapper and the +young men. They told him quite a little of their travels, but never +mentioned the mines of Brazil. Once the hunter mentioned that he had +been a soldier under Brock and had been a hunter ever since. New hope +sprang up within the breast of Ande. If this old hunter had been in the +service of Brock and had travelled the American wilds for such a time he +must surely have met his father. At length the question found utterance. + +"You were in the service of Brock. Did you ever meet one of my name +either in the army or afterwards. My father was in his service and +possibly you may have met him." + +"One of your name,--thy father? No, no, Mr. Ande, I know naught. None of +that name has ever met me." + +Ande, having received this reply, had not the temerity to push his +inquiry further. He admired the old hunter for his kind disposition, and +especially because he had seen service under Brock. He had frequently +tried to get him to relate tales of battles and adventures, but the old +man was of a taciturn nature, a quality born in him by his years of +woodcraft. But his taciturnity did not hinder their intimacy or his +friendship. He had given them rare treats in canoeing; night after night +they had dropped down with the stream to the shelter of willows, and +secure from observation had quietly awaited the coming of the deer to +slake their thirst at the margin of the stream. On one occasion he had +taken them with him through the Rough Water, shooting the rapids with +consummate skill, and pointing out to them the marks of interest, such +as Pilot Rock or Shawnee Rock, Driftwood, the Sluice and others. + +It was the evening just before the full moon when they made their last +trip, still-hunting for deer. They had dropped down with the current, +and had just secluded their craft beneath the willows when harsh, +guttural, sometimes musical voices were heard on shore, at some +distance. The old hunter placed a warning hand on the shoulder of Ande, +and with the whisper of "Hist!" they listened. Bidding the young men be +silent, and on no account to move from their position, the old trapper +slipped up o'er the bank and in an instant was gone from sight. The same +voices continued for the space of many minutes without interruption, and +then, as cautiously as he had withdrawn, the hunter returned. With +finger on his lip to indicate silence he cautiously dipped the paddle, +and they moved silently up stream, skirting the willows in their +journey. When beyond hearing distance he spoke in audible tones. + +"The Shawnese are in the land. They must have come up from the Ohio." + +"But they are peaceful, no doubt?" + +"Aye, they are peaceful; but I always mistrust them. The cruelties they +heaped upon my father and the cruelties that I have witnessed at their +hands have always made them hateful to me." + +"How do you know that they are Shawnese?" asked Dick. + +"How do I know, lad? I have had more dealings with the Indians and the +Shawnese than any one around this section. I remember the time I met +Tecumseh and his brother, the Prophet, in the Ohio region years ago, and +their language is as familiar to me as my own. The silver mine that the +pilot was a-telling ye of was even then current among them, but more as +a legend than as an active fact." + +"The silver mine?" + +"Aye, the silver mine. Haven't I searched for it, and found it not. I +searched for it until I was weary, and then I gave it up. Of what value +is silver or gold to me now. My friends are all dead, and I, myself, +have not so many years to live that I should delve after the curse of +earth. Two years after I left the old Dart I swore, on the receipt of +news of the death of my dear ones, never to return, unless,----" The old +hunter was silent. + +"Unless?" + +"Not unless I accomplish my purpose here. I came not here as a hunter, +lad, alone;--there were other purposes, vain probably now." There was +an element of sadness in the hunter's tone. "And yet I should like to +see the old home once more. It is very dear to me." + + "'Ah, happy hills! Ah, pleasing shade! + Ah, fields beloved in vain! + Where once my careless childhood strayed + A stranger yet to pain! + I feel the gales that from ye blow, + A momentary bliss bestow, + As waving fresh, their gladsome wing + My weary soul they seem to soothe, + And redolent of joy and youth + To breathe a second spring.'" + +"Why, Hunter Tom, that's Gray's Ode to Eton College," said Ande with +increased respect. + +"Aye, sirs, ye are a bit surprised to hear an old backwoodsman and +hunter quote that, but I have a right to it, for I was an Etonian, +myself, in younger days." + +The keel of the light canoe grated on the rocky shingle of the Loop +shore. Hunter Tom had insisted on going straight to his cabin on his +discovery of the Shawnese. The young men waited until early dawn and +then started for Burgtown. On the way they met Hugh Lark astride of his +gray mare. + +"Hallo! hitting the trail as usual! Well, we'll have a different trail +to-night. We meet at Hunter Tom's place at eight o'clock and set out +from there. See ye to-night," and Hugh was off up the trail. + +"Hunter Tom is a queer character," said Ande to Dick, as they continued +their way. "He's a combination of the old hunter and the scholarly +civilian. It's a wonder we never heard of his scholarly attainments +before." + +"From what I have heard, he doesn't mix up with the people around here. +What a marvellous woodsman he is, and how silently he approached the +Shawnese camp!" + +The log houses of Burgtown hove in sight, and they dropped all +conversation as they rode up through the double row of log homes and +alighted at the tavern of Peter Burke. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +EUREKA! THE ELDORADO! + + "So the boat's brawny crew the current stem + And, slow advancing, struggle with the stream; + But if they slack their hands or cease to strive, + Then down the flood with headlong haste they drive." + + --_Dryden_. + + +It was still early dawn when Hugh Lark reached the hunter's cabin. +Hunter Tom was cleaning his rifle and before the door was a pot of lead +melting o'er a slow fire. A bullet mould was lying near by ready for +use. + +"Halloo, Tom!" said Hugh, as he dismounted. + +"Good-morning," said the old hunter, a little curtly and yet with some +dignity, for he liked not the unceremonious manner of Hugh, though Hugh +was the only intimate acquaintance he had resident in the neighbourhood. + +"Going hunting?" + +"No," said the old hunter, a little more friendly. "I was down the creek +and saw some Shawnese." + +"Why, ye don't expect a brush with them in these days of peace?" + +"I tell ye," said the old man, testily, "those were the enemies of my +father and, peace or no peace, I trust them not unless I have Brown +Bess ready and a quantity of powder and ball nigh at hand," and he +continued his polishing and oiling. + +"Well, we have some work and we would like to have ye along, if ye can +go." The old man made room for him on the rude bench, and looked at him +inquiringly. Hugh related the purposed expedition. + +"And ye think there is a silver mine, and ye want me to help find it, +and if I do I go fair shares?" + +"Aye," and Hugh nodded. "Ye see there are two young chaps, travellers, +prospectors; they say they know ye----" + +"Aye! ye mean the English travellers, Mr. Ande and Mr. Dick." + +"Well, ye see they are prospectors and know the real stuff when they see +it." + +"So they told me," said the old man, nodding. + +"Well, we want ye to go along and use your big canoe. I calculate +between your intimate knowledge of the section and their prospecting +science and my divining rod that we can get at the bottom of this. +To-night will be full moon and we would like to start from your place +for up stream about eight o'clock." + +"Aye," said the old hunter, but he looked a bit dubious when Hugh +mentioned the divining rod. Hugh was a firm believer in the accuracy of +the rod that he had constructed. It was witch-hazel, curiously carved +and with a bit of silver at the end of it. The principle, according to +Hugh's statement, was like attracted like. + +"Well, I'll go," said the old man, after some thought. "I warn ye, +though, to take your guns with ye, for the Shawnese are here." + +"Oh, they'll give us no trouble, but we'll take our guns. There may be a +chance of shooting a deer or so," said Hugh as he departed. The old man +shook his head, forebodingly, as Hugh's form disappeared down the trail. +On his way back to Burgtown the pilot met the Shawnese, a full fifteen +in number, great, strong, athletic fellows, but beyond a brief, cursory +"Howdy!" and a glance they passed on. + + * * * * * + +At about seven o'clock that evening Hugh Lark rode up to the tavern of +Burgtown. Burke, the tavern keeper, met him at the entrance. + +"Going rafting, Hugh?" + +"No. Air the two strangers here?" + +"Been rafting?" + +"No. Air Mr. Ande and Mr. Dick here?" + +"But ye surely have more rafts to run, Hugh?" + +"Ye ken well enou' that I'm not a-going rafting. How could I go rafting +a-horse-back. But perhaps ye think that I can get the gray mare to pull +an oar, and I've no doubt that she could do that, for she has a heap +more sense than some men I know that are not very far from me," said +Hugh, exasperated. + +"Yes, the mare has great sense," replied Peter, gazing at the animal +with a bland eye. "I kalkilate you uns air going to find that mine, +Hugh?" + +"We are going a-hunting," said the nettled Hugh. + +At this moment Ande and Dick came forth upon the long porch, and Hugh's +anger was mollified. + +"Are ye ready?" + +"Yes," said Ande, and the next moment two horses were led around to the +front by the stable lad and they vaulted into their saddles and prepared +to leave. + +"I say, Mr. Ande,"--the tavern keeper had the habit of calling them by +their first names, perhaps from Hugh's custom--"I say, air you uns +a-going hunting fer thet mine?" + +Ande gazed at the curious tavern keeper gravely and then responded: + +"The primary intention of our nocturnal expedition is to reconnoitre the +situation of the argentiferous fissures indigenous to this locality, the +elucidation of which will be beneficial to us and of salient value to +the community at large." + +"Oh, I thought you uns were a-going to find the mine," said Burke, +apologetically, and as they rode off he said, to himself, "Wot +langwidge! wot a scholard! He beats Bill, but,--dang it, if I believe +they're going fishing, though. They hain't no hooks or rods and who ever +hearn tell of a man going fishing with a gun." + +So saying, he went within. + +The sun had gone down and twilight was creeping on, enveloping the earth +with its soft hazy light, as the three rode over the lower bridge and +o'er the trail to the forks of the creek. The moon was not up, but it +was twilight still when they forded the Big Creek and turned up the +trail to Hunter Tom's cabin. A short distance, and a glimmering light +penetrated the trees and underbrush ahead. + +"Some one on the trail," said Dick. + +"No," responded the pilot, "'tis a light from Hunter Tom's cabin. The +old man must be getting ready to start." + +The light was dimmed by a brighter effulgence beyond. A rim of silver +shoved itself above the neighbouring hills, and then a semi-circular +disc, gradually growing in brightness and flooding hill and ravine with +mellow light. Giant boulders and tree trunks were silhouetted against +its rising disc, and on a tree branch just athwart the centre was, +grotesque and huge, the figure of the lone bird of night--an owl. + +"Plenty of light to-night," said Hugh. + +"But not more than we need; the search will require all the light we can +get," said Ande. + +They arrived at Hunter Tom's cabin and dismounted. The horses were +hobbled and turned out to graze in the clearing. Tom, hearing the noise, +opened the door, and cheerfully welcomed them within. The hunter was +clothed in his customary fringed buckskin and home-made moccasins, but in +his belt, in addition to the usual hunting knife, was a small Indian +tomahawk. + +"Why, Tom, one would think ye were on the warpath," said the pilot, +jokingly. + +"Aye, and a warpath it may prove," soberly, and then seeing the look of +the pilot concentrated on the tomahawk in his belt: "This tomahawk I +secured in the Indian country of the Ohio in 1812. It is an effective +weapon." + +"But surely you don't expect a fight," said Dick. + +The old man shook his hoary locks mysteriously and muttered, "The +Shawnese." + +By the light of the turnip lamp the pilot brought forth his map and +spread it out on the rough wooden table. The hunter scanned it +approvingly, and then: + +"Where did ye get it, Hugh?" + +The pilot related his experience with the Canadian Indian, and the +hunter nodded his head as the pilot repeated the Indian legend and +directions. + +"I know the place so well that ye have no need of a map." + +"Ye ken the place without a map?" said Hugh. + +"Aye! haven't I searched for it full eighteen years ago, and ten years +ago, before there was a settler in the region; I hunted until I was +weary. If ye find no more success than I found, ye will have your labour +for your pains. But we can try. The place where we will land is there." +The hunter placed his knotty finger on a portion of the map. All crowded +around the table. + +The old hunter's finger was placed on the map at the mouth of a small +stream. A moment passed in silent contemplation. + +"And now we must be off if we would do much to-night." The old hunter's +words aroused all to action. A couple of pickaxes, a shovel and a +crowbar, that were in readiness, were shouldered by the pilot, and Dick, +at the hunter's suggestion, took up an old tin lantern, pierced with +holes and having a candle within, to be used in an emergency. The hunter +carefully extinguished the turnip lamp and drawing the door shut behind +him led the way to the canoe. The tools were placed in the stern and +then the pilot, followed in regular sequence by the hunter, Dick and +Ande, took their stations, and soon under the steady sweep of four stout +paddles the canoe, though heavily laden, glided up stream. + +The evening was still, save for the cry of some wild bird of night and +the plash of some wavelet breaking on the shelving shore. Trees and +shrubbery, underbrush of the shores, glided by slowly, and were +swallowed up in the obscurity of the regions passed. Here and there with +a skilful sweep of the paddle the pilot changed the course of the canoe +to escape contact with some rock or sunken log. Now and then the hunter +would give a sign of silence, and the paddles in their incessant sweep +would be stilled into inactivity, while the canoe would drift for a +moment until the hand of the pilot in the bow grasped some over-swinging +tree branch and stayed her downward course. A moment of silence, in +which the hunter strained his ears, would ensue, and then with a shake +of the head he would give the sign to proceed. Once he insisted much to +the protests of the pilot of going ashore. They drew in to the heavily +wooded bank and he disappeared with no change on his immovable +countenance. The pilot grumbled to himself at this unnecessary caution. +The old man was in his dotage or had become filled with childish fear, +thought he, and so he informed the others when the hunter was absent. + +Who was going to hurt them? Not the settlers, for they were all safe +abed by this time. Not that wandering band of Shawnese. It would be too +perilous for them in these days of peace and in a section already +vacated by their fathers to make room for the settlers. After the first +hour the work of paddling became less arduous, the force of the current +had abated, and they shot into a long stretch of slightly moving water. + +"Still Water," said the pilot. "It'll be easy from now on until we reach +some distance above." + +"Aye," murmured the hunter; "but it'll not be still for long." + +"No sign of rain; the sky up there is so closely studded with stars that +there's not room for a cloud. There'll be no rain, or I'm no pilot. +Haven't I piloted here for years, and before I came to this region I run +as many rafts down the Susquehanna as any raftsman in the State." + +The hunter raised his hand as if deprecating the sound of the pilot's +voice, and then said in low tones: + +"I have lived in the cabin at the Loop for nigh ten years, and have +tramped these regions before my cabin was built, and I can read the +stream as well as a scholar reads his book. In three hours what we call +the 'Still Water' will be running like a mill race." + +The pilot smiled a smile of superior wisdom. + +"Look," said the hunter, as he dipped his palm in the water and drew up +a little for the pilot's inspection. "The stream is turbid and +discoloured, the first sign of the coming flood. There has been great +rain at the headwaters. I can see it in the water; I can smell it in +the air." + +The pilot's smile left his features and he scanned the bosom of the +Still Water and then: + +"There's some truth in that." + +"Aye," said the hunter, "and if we would get to the place we must paddle +as strongly as possible. There's the swifter water beyond." + +All bent to the paddles again with renewed efforts and the Still Water +was soon passed, and the heavier paddling in the swifter water of the +upper stream followed. Now they were in the shadow of some towering hill +or under the dark tree boughs--that interlaced and formed a dark canopy +overhead; now again the canoe shot out into a flood of pale moonlight. +The latter the hunter disapproved and the pilot, grumbling, changed the +course at times, avoiding the moonlight sections of the stream for the +shadowy regions along the shores. At length the hills receded from the +stream on the right and gave place to a gently rising plain, burdened +with oaks and wild grasses, while the hills to the left seemed to be +higher and more precipitous than those down stream. + +"The place is nigh here," said the hunter. + +They rested on their paddles for a moment in the shadow of a great +boulder that stayed the downward drift of the canoe. Ande and the pilot +instinctively felt for their maps and tried to refresh their memory in +reference to the directions, but the dim light almost made it useless. +Hunter Tom, in the meantime, was scanning the stream and shores and +seemed to be ill at ease. + +"The mouth of the little run is but a dozen rods up stream. Ye can put +away the maps, lads, for I know the place." At the words of Hunter Tom +both Ande and the pilot dropped their maps in the canoe, and all bending +to the paddles while the hunter with his keen sight directed their +movements, they moved on. Then came the babbling, rippling sound of a +little run as it leaped, gurgling with delight, into the stream, like a +child into the arms of its mother. The craft was turned to shore and +soon grated on the pebbly beach. They stepped ashore and stretched their +cramped limbs, while Hunter Tom tied the canoe to a swaying pine, and +then pursuing his directions, they followed up the run. Ten yards up the +run a divided oak was located. + +"Now," said the Hunter, as he gazed around uneasily, "fifty yards due +north." + +Dick, having a pocket compass, now took the lead, following a course due +north, and in the rear was the pilot balancing his divining rod, while +Ande as closely as possible measured the distance. Hunter Tom, taking +little interest in the affair, seemed to concentrate his attention on +the trees, underbrush and regions around about. + +"'Tis here, as near as I can calculate it, that the fifty yards end," +said Ande. + +"And the divining rod says the same, and it tells truth," said Hugh, the +pilot, with a little triumph in his tones. + +"My calculations, heretofore, located the spot a bit beyond," said the +hunter, with the first interest he had betrayed since they landed. "Ye +may be right." + +Dick and the pilot grasped the pickaxes and set to work with vigour, +while Ande used the shovel and occasionally removed with his hands some +large boulder that impeded their work. The hunter seemed to constitute +himself watchman and was incessantly on guard. The work went on for an +hour, and considerable debris was removed when Dick's pickaxe slipped +from his hands and disappeared from sight. With an exclamation he leaned +forward and found that it had disappeared in an old excavation a few +feet in depth. The excavation was widened and the pilot, leaping in, +began to work with increased vigour. Hunter Tom now became as deeply +interested as the others. It was at a spot that he had not investigated +before. That old excavation must mean something, he thought. + +There was the sound of a metallic click as the pilot's implement struck +something hard. With an exclamation of "I've found it," he reached down +and grasped something which he handed up to Ande for investigation. It +was a small tobacco or snuff-box of ancient make. + +"Time enough to look at that when we find the ore," said Ande, as he +placed it in his inside pocket. The work was again resumed. The labour +of excavation now became harder and Dick with his great strength took +the pilot's place. At length a peculiar, grey, metallic substance +rewarded their labour. A handful of small cubes and octahedral pebbles +were passed up for inspection. + +The tin lantern was lighted and around about clustered the pilot, Dick, +and the hunter, while Ande held the handful close to the flame. + +"The grey, metallic lustre looks like silver glance. It may be the +blossom of sulphide of silver or sulphide of lead. We ought to have +daylight for a better examination," said Ande; "now----" + +Crack! Crack! Crack! + +Crack! Crack! Crack! + +There was the whistling of bullets in the trees around them, and +spiteful thuds as leaden missiles flattened themselves against the +rocks. The lantern fell with a crash to the ground, perforated with a +dozen bullets. The candle sputtered and went out. + +"Quick!" shouted Hunter Tom. "'Tis the Shawnese. Aye, I feared it." + +The pilot grasped his rifle and the prospectors theirs. + +"This way! To the canoe!" roared Tom, and slipping from tree to tree, +they reached the landing in breathless haste. Then came a yell that +echoed through the hills, a yell--hellish and replete with rage. +Trusting in their numbers, scorning concealment and fearing their +victims would escape, the Shawnese charged after them. At the landing +there was a sanguine scene, and now it was that old Tom showed the +experience and skill he had gained in the Ohio region. Stationing +himself behind a tree the old hoary-headed hunter fired, loaded, and +fired again and again, and each time by the yell the bullet had found a +mark. But the Shawnese were now close at hand and a hand to hand +conflict ensued that was savage in the extreme. Hunter Tom seemed to be +possessed with the fury of a madman. The presence of the foes that had +tortured his father seemed to fill him with a wrath that was demoniacal. +With clubbed rifle he beat back the foremost and sent him to the ground, +lifeless, then with a swift turn he flung the useless weapon into the +canoe, and with knife and tomahawk gave blows right and left. Swifter +than a weaver's shuttle the bright weapons flashed in the pale +moonlight. Nor was the hunter alone active in the fray, for Dick--great +Dick, made more effective use of the butt of his gun than the muzzle by +using it as a farmer would his flail. Ande and the pilot, for a time, +had fired from a natural breast-works of boulders along the shore, but +the proximity of the enemy was so close that they, too, were compelled +to resort to the butts of their guns. At one time the pilot was down, +but the dusky face over him went down a moment later under a crashing +sweep of Ande's gun. The desperate valour of these few men was beginning +to tell upon the spirits of their foes. One-third of their number were +upon the ground, dead or helpless. There was a shout and a few +unintelligible words among them, and then, as if in concert, they began +to retreat slowly, followed by the impetuosity of Dick and Ande. Tom +thanked his good fortune then for his understanding of the Shawnese +tongue; he understood their plan to draw them from the shore and to give +chance for two or three skulking forms to gain the rear. + +"To the canoe! Back for your lives!" he shouted, and simultaneously +rushed for the shore. Dick and Ande were either too confused by the +yells around them or hard pressed in the conflict to give heed. Not so +the crafty pilot. With instinct he seemed to understand the import of +the retreat, and rushed headlong into the water after the canoe. The +rope by which it was attached had stretched itself to its full length +and the canoe had edged out by the force of the rising current. He had +almost reached it when a shot rang out from the shore, and the pilot, +flinging up his arms, plunged into the muddy tide. Hunter Tom who was +next to him, tried ineffectually to grasp his falling form, but the next +moment the swirling waters bore him away. There was no time for regret. +The canoe was hauled in and Tom in its bow, with knife ready to sever +the rope, looked shoreward for his friends. + +Ah! What a scene! A sight that, though it filled the old hunter with +alarm, yet thrilled him with admiration. Ande, apparently deeply +wounded, was on the ground and Dick--did he ever appear so heroic? +Standing head and shoulders above the tall savages, he seemed like a +pine surrounded by scrub oaks. Nor was the giant Cornishman idle for, +like a child's toy, the heavy rifle whirled and whistled around his head +and shoulders. Death lurked in its sweeping circle. Nor was strategy of +any avail. One sought to run in under his guard, while another was +receiving the attack, but the attacking party went down under a terrific +swing, while the stooping, swiftly moving strategist received, the next +moment, a jolt from the end of the gun barrel that was as disastrous as +the blow of the butt. Four had already fallen under those sweeping +blows. Old Tom paused not for an instant. While some occupied Dick's +attention in front, one or two were edging toward the rear, and should +they accomplish their purpose the end was certain. With a cry of "Have +at them," the hunter leaped from the canoe, beat off the skulking forms +in the rear, and then reaching down he grasped the unconscious Ande, +like a father would a child, and hurriedly placed him in the canoe. + +"Back, Dick, lad!" he shouted as he pushed out a little from the shore. + +Dick heard the call, and with another sweep of his weapon cleared a +broader circle, but the rifle unused to the unnatural strain, broke at +the lock. Flinging the shattered piece in the face of an advancing enemy +he leaped to the shore. Two Shawnese, one a powerful built fellow, +strove to intercept him, but there were other defences. + +Crack! A shot rang out from the canoe. It was the trapper's gun that +spoke, and one fell under that unerring aim. Crash! went Dick's great +fist on the countenance of the other, and the dazed Shawnese sat down in +a heap. Hunter Tom could have laughed then and there at the repulse of +the latter, but there was not much time for sentiments of any kind. Dick +had leaped into the stream after the canoe and was pushing toward it +through the swift current. There were a few yells of disappointment on +shore, and then a perfect fusillade of bullets hissed spitefully on the +waters and crashed through the underbrush on the farther shore and +then--like the falling of a forest giant that had felt the biting +steel in its vitals, Dick fell. He struggled for a moment to reach the +hunter's outstretched hand and then sank, and the swift current, now a +roaring turbulent, gyrating mass, swelled to foaming madness by the rain +at the headwaters, whirled his great body under the bellying bow of the +canoe--and he was gone from sight. + +With a quick sweep of the knife Hunter Tom cut the rope, and the canoe, +freed, bounded away on the surface of the flood like a thing of life. +Carefully pillowing Ande's head on his rolled up wamus in the rear, he +lay down in the bow and with one hand over the gunwale, holding the +paddle, he sought to guide the swiftly floating craft, while with his +head slightly raised he kept a keen lookout for the bodies of Dick and +the pilot. The Shawnese kept up a running fire on shore for the distance +of a half a mile, when the fire slackened, and evidently the swiftness +of the current and the gloom cast by the heavy foliage overhead had +caused pursuit to be abandoned. The Still Water was reached and the aged +hunter perceived with grim satisfaction that his prediction had come +true. What was some hours before a still, softly flowing body was now a +rollicking, turbulent mass that glowed with a yellow, dunnish hue in the +moonlight. Onwards bounded the canoe, the hunter guiding it with +unerring hand, now avoiding a towering rock, now bending with the full +power of his muscles to guide the craft around a sharp bend in the +stream. Fear of pursuit having long been left behind, he had arose to a +sitting posture, and was lending to the onward force of the current the +might of his own arms. No vessel ever scudded before a gale faster than +the canoe on that eventful night. Once the sole, lone canoeist thought +he saw the body of Dick floating before him on the surface of the tide +and he redoubled his efforts to overtake him. The object was reached, +but proved but a piece of driftwood, darkly dappling the yellow flood. +With the first feeling of relief that he had experienced that night he +saw the winding course of the Loop before him. Once more the paddle was +brought into vigorous requisition, and then with a sigh of relief he +turned the prow toward shore and the keel grated on the shelving beach. +Tenderly he lifted Ande from the stern and laid him on the sward, then +turning to the canoe he lifted it bodily from the water and, taking it a +few yards inland, hid it securely in the underbrush. Then returning to +his unconscious companion he carried him to his cabin home. Knowing that +he dared not leave his wounded friend, and yet wishing to arouse the +citizens of Burgtown, he went without, unhobbled the horses, and with a +smart blow sent each galloping home to town. This done he returned to +the cabin, barricaded the house, both window and door, loaded his rifle, +and feeling secure, turned to resuscitate the wounded man. With a +woodsman's skill he laboured through the long hours of the night until +the dawn appeared, examining, with muttered commentations. + +"Ah, a wound in the arm. It could not have been the last. A brave young +man and fought like an old Indian fighter. Aye, another wound in the +leg; 'tis only a flesh wound and will heal soon or old Tom doesn't know +his art. And here's a slash of a knife in the breast. Ah! 'twas a cruel +stroke, that. But none of them are strong enough to lay such a man out. +He has the strength of a young lion and Tom will bring him through. But +what's this?" In handling the unconscious man's head the hair had fallen +aside and revealed the stroke of a tomahawk or knife. "Zounds! A ghastly +wound that. It must have stunned him." With water taken from an earthen +basin in the corner of the cabin he bathed the wounds, poured in some +healing lotion and bound them up with a rude skill. Then, having poured +a little brandy down his throat, he began to chafe his hands and wrists +until, with the glimmering light of dawn, the light of consciousness +returned. + +"Where am I?" + +"Safe here in my cabin, lad." + +"And Dick and the pilot?" + +"They are gone, my lad, the Lord knows where," answered the old hunter, +and with his eyes glistening with tears he related the closing scenes of +the fight, and how Dick and the pilot were shot and swallowed up in the +flood. + +"Poor Dick--I have lost in him the pearl, and my dream is fulfilled." + +He sank back in weariness and closed his eyes. Suddenly the wounded man +started to a sitting position and whispered with excited face: + +"The Shawnese. Don't you hear them, Tom, Hunter Tom? They are stealing +through the woods and around the house. I hear them. Give me a gun, and +we'll defend the cabin." + +The effort was too much, and he sank back again on the couch of +deerskins in a semi-conscious condition. + +Tom, too, had heard something, but it was not the tread of Indians. The +next moment there was a shout without and the clatter of approaching +horses' feet. 'Twas the settlers. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE RISING + + "All parts resound with tumults, plaints and fears; + And grisly death in sundry shapes appears." + + --_Dryden_. + + +There was great excitement in Burgtown. The old tavern keeper had found +three horses without his door, standing there jaded, tired, in the early +dawn. He recognised them as the animals of the pilot and the two +prospectors. Around the tavern's long porch were assembled Professor +Bill Banks, the town citizens, and several outside squatters, a motley +assemblage, listening to old Burke's recital. The tavern keeper was +filled with importance, for once he was the centre of attraction and +seemed like a Fourth of July orator, so breathless did all seem to hang +upon his words. His round body was swelled to greater proportions as he +proceeded, in a roundabout way, to narrate what he knew of the affair. + +"It war this way. The pilot, Hugh Lark, he kem a-riding up about dark +last night and asked fer the strangers, whether they was to home in the +tavern. He seemed powerful anxious to have them right away. 'Going +rafting, Hugh?' sez I, social-like. 'No,' sez he; 'air Mr. Ande and Mr. +Dick in?' 'Been rafting?' sez I. Then he fired up, mad-like, and talked +about the grey mare of hisn being able to pull a oar as good as any +raftsman. I had my doubts of that, though the mare has a heap of sense. +But I thought he war joking, and I guess he war. About that time I up +and asked whether he war a-going a-hunting for the mine. You see the +strangers air pros--whatever it is--I mean they war miners, and we uns +had the idee that they were a-searching for something of that kind. He +up and sez, short-like, that he warn't and that they war just going +hunting. 'Bout this time Mr. Ande and Mr. Dick come out, and their +hosses were brought around, and they jumped on, and then I thought I +would ask Mr. Ande, being as he war allers social-like. 'Air ye going to +find thet mine, Mr. Ande?' sez I. Then he up, and in high larndt +langwidge, told we uns about their going after some kind of fishes, but +I ne'er hearn tell of a man going fishin' without hooks and with a gun +and----" + +"Come, cut it short," said Professor Bill, impatiently. "At what hour +did they go?" + +"'Bout seven o'clock last night, and----" + +"And when did the horses return?" + +"Well, if I do hev to say it----" + +"Come," said Bill, with the authority of a leader, "when did they +return?" + +"Well--I kalkilate 'bout five o'clock in the morning, leastways they +were here when we uns got up." + +"And which way did they go?" + +"Well, ye see, Mr. Ande, who is a great scholard and high larndt, +he----" + +"Egregious dolt! Vociferous driveller!" exclaimed Bill, in exasperation, +"can't you say which way they went." + +"Gosh, what langwidge!" murmured the tavern keeper in excessive +admiration of Bill's explosion, but seeing that Bill was getting angry +he answered quickly: "As I live, Bill, I think they went down creek to +old Hunter Tom's, seein' as Hugh war fond of Tom. Leastways they went +that way and----" + +Old Burke's words were drowned in the commands of Bill. + +"Every man get his horse and gun and we'll start in five minutes. Others +can follow. We go to Hunter Tom's place. Perhaps some accident has +happened. Fetch me some brandy, Burke; if they are hurt they may need +it." + +Rapidly the men collected, and under the able generalship of Professor +Bill Banks forth they sallied. The tavern keeper watched them gallop +down the town road and thunder over the lower bridge, and when they had +disappeared among the trees of the farther shore he entered the tavern. + +"Wot a scholard Bill is," he murmured as he endeavoured to write down +his learned words. "Egg--egg--" he murmured, and then he slowly allowed +his tongue to follow the twisting, uncertain movements of his quill pen. +"It's no use," he said, as he flung down the quill; "Bill will hev to +write her down fer me. Wot a scholard! He'll be a Congressman yit." + +Bill and his men in a short time reached the hunter's cabin in the +Loop. Tom, hearing the shout of familiar voices, flung open the door, +and in a few, brief words narrated the adventures of the night. They had +been up the creek, he said, and had been attacked by Shawnese. About the +object of their night expedition he was silent. + +The news of the presence of Indians in the neighbourhood was new to all +but two of the party, who had seen them as the pilot had seen them on +the former day. Bill, with the skill of a general, divided his forces. +Two he told to remain with Ande in the cabin; some were sent down the +river in search of the pilot and Dick; the remainder and greater number, +with the hunter in their midst, were to take the trail up stream to +avenge themselves on the remaining Shawnese. According to the hunter's +account but half a dozen at the most remained. Tom was in little hopes +of finding them, as by this time they had made good their escape; but +Professor Bill was inflexible, and forth up the creek trail they +started. Part of the expedition went in Tom's canoe and the rest, +leaving their horses in Tom's clearing, started forth on foot. The place +of the battle was reached after an hour or so, but little was to be +learned. At the landing, with the exception of trampled ground and a few +pools of blood, nothing could be seen. The bodies of the slain Shawnese +were either buried or consigned to the flood. The neighbourhood was +thoroughly searched, the woods and hills beaten by the scattering +settlers, but Shawnese, living and dead, and even Dick's broken rifle, +had disappeared. Expecting the rising of the settlers they had decamped +in haste. Disappointed in their quest they returned to the Loop. + +There they waited the return of the party down stream while they +listened to Hunter Tom's cursory narrative of the battle and the chief +events. He told how they were surprised, but not for what purpose they +had journeyed to that locality; how the pilot fought and slew a couple +of the foe and afterward, rushing into the flood to reach the canoe, was +shot down by an Indian bullet; how Dick, "the giant," as he was +sometimes called by the settlers, towered a head and shoulders o'er the +enemy. + +"I'll wager he knocked them down like nine-pins," said Professor Bill +Banks. + +"Aye," said the hunter, "he did that; he handled his rifle like a +farmer's flail, and every time he struck he threshed their top-knots +out. Then, when I caught up the lad in yonder and took him back to the +canoe, he cleared a wider circle for himself and leaped like a kangaroo +toward shore." + +"And they didn't dare stop him?" asked one. + +"Not they? They couldn't. Aye, there were two fellows, one a stout one, +good-sized, that did hedge in to cut him off, but one was shot down and +the other----" The old man allowed his weather-beaten face to relax into +a grim smile of humour as the scene arose before him in mind. + +"And the other?" + +"Well, the other come too nigh to Mr. Dick's big fist, and he went down +in a heap with the most astonishing look on his countenance that I ever +saw on the face of any one. It makes me smile now when I think of it. +Then Mr. Dick came leaping and pushing through the water. I had pushed +out a little from shore and had my knife ready to cut the rope as soon +as he could reach the canoe, when a hailstorm of bullets skipped across +the water and Dick plunged under and I saw him no more. The rest of the +tale you know." + +The narrative was finished, but it was noticed by several that the old +hunter spoke very little of his own achievements in that battle. And yet +they knew that he had not been idle. + +"And did Mr. Ande do much fighting?" asked Professor Bill. + +"Fighting? Aye, he fought like an old Indian fighter. In all my +experience with Indians, I have come across none who put up a braver +battle than the young lion cub in yonder; aye, and fighting wounded at +that, for he carries a wound in the chest that would have killed an +ordinary man, and a wound in the leg, and another in the arm that would +have made many a stout heart give in, but he fought on until he received +that blow on the head that rendered him unconscious. Brave--very brave." + +"And how about yourself, Tom?" asked one of the settlers. + +"Oh, I killed a few," said the old hunter, simply. + +There was a shout from down the creek trail, and the sound of horses' +hoofs, and proceeding as rapidly as possible over the uncertain trail +the band from down stream entered the clearing. + +"What news?" asked Professor Bill, rising from his recumbent position. + +"We found the pilot and he's living, but pretty badly hurt. He was +pulled on a raft by the Pegleg pilot, and they put him off at a tavern +further down stream." + +A cheer went up from all the assembled settlers, and the wildwood rang +with their voices again and again, and then when silence had come there +were various comments. + +"I thought the pilot was too tough to be put out by a single bullet," +said one. + +"I knew that ye couldn't drown an old water dog like him," said another. + +"Did they get a doctor," said Professor Bill. + +"Yaas," drawled one of the returned expedition, "they got a doctor and +he fixed him up, but he can't be moved yet for some time, but he'll pull +through, he said. We didn't have much time fer to talk with Hugh, for we +uns wanted to see about the tother fellow and the Shawnese. We went all +the way to the mouth of the creek, and there we learned thet five +Indians were seen crossing the river in a canoe some hours before. Now, +I remembers it, some of the fellows at the mouth said they seemed in a +powerful hurry, and passed over the river in the early dawn, and were +making their way toward Michigan." + +"And Mr. Dick?" asked the Professor. + +"Nawthing was seen of him at all. He must be drowned by this time." + +There was a little conference between Professor Bill and the hunter +about moving Ande to Burgtown, but the old man strenuously opposed it, +and Bill acquiesced in his plan of leaving him at the Loop until he +should recover. The setting sun saw all of the expedition trotting +homeward to Burgtown, where the events of the day were gone over again +and again for the benefit of Peter Burke, tavern keeper. In the mind of +that worthy they were tabulated and placed on the same shelf in his +memory as the records of Reverend Burg. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +THE SECRET OF THE SNUFF-BOX + + +It was in the late fall and the forests and wildwood had adorned +themselves with their autumnal dress. Hills, mountains and ravines were +gorgeous with mantles of scarlet, of brown, and of gold, while amidst it +all several hardy ranges of pine seemed to resist the onward sweep of +the frost, and triumphant in their vernal-hued robes, seemed to fling +their plumy tops this way and that in contempt of their conquered +brethren who wore the livery of the frost tyrant. Here and there several +forest giants, weaker than their brethren, were completely denuded of +their garments and stood mournfully shivering, trembling, sighing, in +the faint afternoon breezes. The rocks and boulders of the Loop, once +covered with green creepers, now were bare and desolate, except where a +creeper, its leaves smitten to blood red hue, sought to lend its warmth +to its cold, rocky, affianced one. The cabin of Hunter Tom seemed to +stand out more clearly in relief against the general background of +leaves and hills. The door was ajar and the window partly open, but it +had no occupant. In a little glade near the cabin, and on a pile of bear +and deerskins, was the form of Ande Trembath, apparently in a gentle +slumber. Near him, seated on a rude, wooden bench, wedged in between the +bases of two chestnuts, were the forms of Hunter Tom and the pilot, Hugh +Lark. Hugh had recovered from the severe injuries of the Shawnese battle +and had returned to his home and his pursuit of rafting. The old hunter, +his hoary hair falling like a veil o'er his ears and shoulders, was +engaged in cleaning "Brown Bess," as he called his trusty rifle, but he +was not so intent upon this as he was in listening to the conversation +of the pilot. It was their first meeting after the notable events of the +previous spring, and Hugh was relating his experience. + +"I don't remember much of the things that happened after the first few +moments that I was shot. I was intent on bringing the canoe closer to +land, and was just reaching out for it when I heard a shot and then felt +a sting alongside of the head, and then I remember falling and hearing +the waters buzzing around my ears like ten thousand bees. Then I kenned +naething for, it seemed to me, quite a time. Then there was a time of +dim consciousness, and I knew I was floating on at a pretty good speed, +but it seemed I didn't care where I went, until at last I came to my +full senses by a heavy blow that I got on the arm. I had been dashed by +the flood against one of the rocks below the Still Water. Then I +realised where I was, and tried to make for land, but the strength of +the flood, or my own weakness, made all my efforts useless. I swept past +the cabin there and soon approached the place where the Little +Lycamahoning empties into the Big, and there I made a strong effort to +get ashore, and did succeed in getting away from the violence of the +current, but in the meantime I was swept onward past Pilot Rock and I +began to hear the roar of the rapids of the Rough Water. I knew I could +never get through that stretch of water alive, and had given myself up +for lost, when old Pegleg with his raft hove in sight. There ne'er was a +more welcome sight. I shouted to them and they heard me, and, as I swept +by, they flung me a rope that I managed to grasp, and they hauled me on +board. I was so done out that I couldn't speak until they put me off at +the tavern, some miles down." + +"It was a marvellous escape, and ye ought to thank God for it," said the +hunter. + +"Aye, I have many a time." + +"I'm afraid we have seen the last of Mr. Dick." + +"If he wasn't killed outright he must have been battered to pieces in +the Rough Water, for I don't think there is a man living that could go +through the Rough Water without some support. I have taken a stick of +timber through, but riding a stick of timber and going through with +nothing but your own arms is a different case. I have seen sticks of +timber that have drifted through and been gathered in at the mouth of +the creek, and the way they have been gouged and splintered in contact +with the rocks was a caution. No man could be beaten around that way and +live." + +There was a pause of some length, during which Hunter Tom forgot his +cleansing of the rifle, and there was a moisture in his eye, a faint +indication of the sadness that he had within him, and all the while the +mellow autumnal sunshine poured down and around them through the crimson +foliage o'erhead, and the birds of the neighbouring woods seemed to sing +merrily as if jesting, laughing, at the solemn import of the pilot's +words. It was the pilot who broke the silence. + +"Is Mr. Ande nigh well?" with a nod at the slumbering form on the +bearskins. + +"Still weak, although his wounds have healed. I believe he came off the +worst of any of us in the battle. But he's getting stronger. He was much +worried about Mr. Dick and the maps being lost." + +"Maps lost?" + +"Aye. He said that both maps were placed in the bottom of the canoe +before we landed. They may have been dropped out when I hauled the canoe +ashore and hid it among the underbrush when I returned. The doctor +thinks, though, he will be able to be moved soon, and then we shall have +a search for them." Tom mentioned the doctor with a tinge of sarcasm as +if in contempt of doctors and their medicine. "The lad was getting on +well enough under my care, but Professor Bill insisted on calling in the +doctor, and so I handed over the case to him, though the lad would have +done just as well, if not better, under my own care." + +"Do ye think ye can find the mine again?" + +"Aye, perhaps, and yet 'twill be a hard thing. I looked o'er the ground +when the searching party was with me. The oak and the stream can be +found easy enough, but the place of excavation I looked for in vain. +The whole hill is covered with loose stones and debris and should we +find it, I doubt whether it will prove much more than a small vein of +sulphide of lead. I might possibly find it again, for my memory is good, +but I have sickened of the whole affair. What use is it to me?" There +was a tinge of bitterness in the old man's tones. + +"Ye were interested in it, though, years ago, for ye told us so." + +"Aye, that was when I was younger than I am now. But my friends and +family are all dead, and I am an old man. The rifle gives me all that I +need; the spring that gushes forth from under the big rock gives all my +drink; I am content to be as I am until God calls me hence; and then I +shall go where there is no injustice and where traitorous friends shall +be rewarded according to their due and all wrong righted; I am content." + +The old man had finished cleaning his rifle; he entered the cabin and +returned with a battered violin. Placing it tenderly 'neath his chin, he +proceeded gently to draw the old bow across the strings, gently as if he +was loathe to awaken the slumbering form on the bearskins near at hand. +But the first, faint tones, quivering and like a child's cry, awakened +the sleeper. He turned his eyes to Hugh and smiled a welcome and then +extended his hand. + +"Ah, Hugh, old fellow, glad to see you back and well. I heard that you +had returned," shaking Hugh's hand as he knelt down beside him, "and +wondered why you didn't come over and see your fellow soldier. Poor +Dick is gone, though, and the maps are lost." + +"And Hunter Tom says it's useless to try and find the mine," said Hugh, +regretfully. + +"It may be useless, but we can try. You know that it's not for the +silver alone that I'm looking, Hugh." + +"Aye, I ken well enou' that." + +"Tom, could you play us something. You didn't know, Hugh, that Hunter +Tom is a player. He can make the violin talk, and he has often made me +cheerful when I felt sad." + +Hunter Tom readjusted the violin, and forth upon the afternoon air, +silencing the birds for a time and rivalling them in sweetness, pealed +the tones of the old violin. It was a martial strain at first that +seemed to swell and soar like some triumphant march of some hero +returning from the wars. The stream back of the cabin seemed to roar in +harmony with the melody, like the thrilling chords of some giant bass +viol. The blood mounted to Ande's cheeks as he listened, and his eyes +brightened. The pilot gazed at the figure of the old hunter with awe and +reverence. If the melody was warlike and stirring the figure of the old +man was more so; yes, it was imposing, like some old Viking, who had +dared the deep and conquered it; the hunter's figure straightened, his +eye flashed, and his hoary locks and beard, stirred by the breeze, +appeared to roll away from his head and features like the dashing waters +of some cataract from its rocky crest. On and on went the melody, +soaring and wildly triumphant with its strong major chords. Then, +almost imperceptibly, there was the change to the minor key, and then a +number of changes from one to the other, and the effect was like hearing +the distant murmur of crashing pieces of artillery. At times there would +be a wild shriek from the upper chords and then the same repetition of +booming artillery fire. The old man seemed to be giving a musical +history of one of his own battles. Then, all of a sudden, all was in the +minor key, soft and sorrowful. There was a wailing hopelessness in the +tones. The old man's form ceased to tower at his full height, his head +sank lower and more lovingly upon the violin, and the strains were like +the requiem of a lost soul. The pallor returned to Ande's cheeks and +Hugh bowed his head in his hands. The leaves o'erhead rustled in +whispering sympathy, and here and there one would fall--a crimson tear +from the eye of a giant. + +The melody ceased. + +"Tom, I didn't ken that ye could play like that. It made me feel that I +was fighting the Shawnese again, and that I was knocking them right and +left, and then it seemed to me that I was in the Rough Waters, hearing +the noise of the rapids, and guiding a raft around the rocks, and then +it seemed to me as if the raft was a-dashed to pieces and I was flung +solitary and alone on the shore without a friend and without a baubee in +my pocket to buy a night's lodging. It near made me greet. Hunter Tom, +ye are a wonderful man." + +There were tears in the pilot's eyes. + +"I tell you, Hunter Tom, you should be on the stage. Play like that +before an audience in New Orleans, New York, or London and your fortune +is made. Whose melody was it?" said Ande. + +"The melody is my own. Ne'er a note of it was e'er on paper; I composed +it here in the wilderness and it's a history of my own life and my +family. The end of the piece represents me now, a solitary dweller in +the wilderness, an exile from home, with no friends but the great God +above." The old man bowed his head in weariness, and then sat down on +the wooden bench 'neath the trees. + +"Ye have other tunes?" asked Hugh. + +"Hunter Tom, you never told me that you were a composer and ne'er played +that for me before. You have other melodies of your own; play them for +us," said Ande. + +"Aye, I have other tunes, and many of my own, but I'm not going to make +ye sad with an old man's woes. I'll play ye 'Chevy Chase' and 'I See +Three Ships Come Sailing In,' to make your hearts glad, and then I'll +give ye some more of my own composition." The familiar airs, one after +the other, in sequence, airs so delightful to the English ear, came +forth from the violin under the magical touch of the old man, and all +the while the pilot listened as if he was entranced, and Ande,--it +seemed as if the green fields and coasts of England arose before him. +Again he saw the Manor and the Manor woods, the Bowling Green of old +Helston, and the gleaming, shimmering waters of the Lowe, and the +rolling blue of the channel beyond. All passed before him again as if +in a dream, and then there were faces that passed before his mind, Tom +Puckinharn, Pengilly, and Tom Glaze, and the face of his mother, and +back beyond all, a dark-eyed, youthful face, with dark curling locks +deep on a broad brow, a countenance, merry, and with something of the +joyousness of spring flowers in the gently flushing cheeks. There was an +intense longing in his eyes as he allowed his imagination to roam at +will. Ah, it was eight long years since he had seen her, and heard those +words: "You are my knight." Would she remember him still? Was she +married? + +The thought gave him pain, and he drove it from him and thought of other +themes. The Primrose Cottage arose clearly to his mind. Ah, he must get +well soon and return to those haunts of boyhood, and to the dear ones of +years ago. But what was that that the old hunter was playing? It could +not be "Chevy Chase." The opening bars were swept off the strings with a +master's hand. Soft at first and then with louder, more resonant tones. +The old man was standing again, his head partly elevated, a look of +hopefulness on his weather-beaten countenance. The pilot was drinking +in, with eager ears, the melody, and sat motionless. The opening bars +were finished, and the old hunter's voice rang out clear and with a +wonderful pathos in the tones. He had sung before in other melodies, but +never with such feeling as now. Ande rose on one elbow and stared +excitedly at the old man. That song! Where had he learned it! + + "Blithe bird of the wilderness, sweet is thy song, + Blithe lark of the wildwood, O, all the day long, + A-singing so cheerily in the green tree, + Thy anthem dispels gloom and sorrow from me; + Thou sayest in thy song, 'What can sadness avail? + Injustice shall fall and the good shall prevail.'" + +Old Hunter Tom seemed wrapped up in the melody and utterly oblivious to +all things around him. With a low plaintive interlude, he continued: + + "Yet bird of the wilderness, sad is our lot, + Our home confiscated, our name a sad blot; + The Cornish chief stricken at Prestonpan's fight, + Wounded at Culloden for King and the right, + And captured at Braddock's defeat in the glen + Was----" + +There was an outcry from one of the auditors, that interrupted the +melody. + +"Hunter Tom! Hunter Tom! Where did you get that song? Where?" + +The old man had paused with the bow in midair, and with a vexed look at +being interrupted, and then, seeing the flushed countenance and gleaming +eyes of his patient, thought the heat was too much for him, and that his +head was affected. + +"The heat of the sun has affected his head, Hugh. Come let us get him in +the shade." + +"No! No! Where did you get that melody?" excitedly. + +"I told ye that I was going to sing ye some of my own songs. It's my own +song, lad," soothingly, "and now, Hugh----" + +[Illustration: "Sweet bird of the wilderness, sweet is thy song"] + +"Oh! God be thanked! My father! My father!" striving to arise to his +feet. + +"The poor lad is raving, Hugh," and yet with some pallor in his bronzed +features. + +"I am not raving! You are my father and I am your son!" + +The violin crashed to the ground and was splintered on a projecting +rock. + +"No, no, you are raving, lad. I have no son. They are all dead, these +many years." + +"Mr. Ande," said the pilot, striving in vain to calm him. "Mr. +Trembath----" + +"What!" exclaimed the old man in agitated tones. "Is thy name Trembath? +Thy father's name, lad?" + +"Major Thomas Trembath." + +"Of where?" + +The old man asked the question with trembling, faltering lips, eager, +yet fearful of mistake. + +"Of Cornwall, and Major under----" + +"My son--my son!" The cry that went up rent the air and startled even +the birds o'erhead. Old Tom was down on his knees, his arms encircling +his patient, and with streaming eyes uplifted to the heavens, he +murmured fervently, "God, great God, I thank thee! Thou art very good." +And then to his new-found son: "But they told me that mother and you +were dead. The black sealed letter! Who sent it? It reached me after +Proctor and Tecumseh's defeat at the----Ah! I see it all. Another +scheme of Lanyan's! A curse upon their race! But no, I must be merciful +since God has been merciful to me in restoring to me, in my old age, a +son. Thy mother, lad?" + +"Is well when I left home and there will be many happy days for her when +we return! and as for me, I'm not dead, although the Indians did near +finish me." + +"And ye were all these years searching for me?" + +"No; mother and I thought you were dead, and yet, at times, we would +have hope of you still being alive. I was searching mainly for the +honour of grandfather and to remove the stain from our name." + +"A true son of your race," said the old man warmly and with pride. "Ye +are just the same as I was at your age. I might have known ye for my +son, and yet the letter of your death and your mother's death took all +thought on that subject from my mind." + +The pilot with a sense of delicacy, and wondering to himself, had +withdrawn from the scene at the start, but was now returning. He saw +them seated side by side on the bearskin, and seating himself near them +listened with interest to the tales of both father and son. + +Before beginning his narrative of his eventful life he turned to the +pilot. + +"Hugh, this is my son, Andrew Trembath, who with his mother I had long +thought dead, and I must introduce myself also, for the Loop and the +settlers of Lycamahoning will see me not much longer. Now I know that my +wife is living I shall return to the place of my birth. I have long been +known by the name of Hunter Tom, and unknown by any other. I am Thomas +Trembath, once Major of the 6th Royal Infantry of England, and have +been a soldier in three wars, the War of the Colonies against England, +the Peninsular War under the great Wellington, and the War of 1812 under +Brock and Proctor. The tale of my whole life would be useless, but it is +but fair to my son to narrate the last one, and the history of my hunter +life here. Ye must know that there was a stain of treason against our +house." + +Hugh nodded his head. + +"I mentioned that to him the first night I spent at his home," +interjected Ande. + +"Well," continued the Major, "it was mainly for the purpose of removing +the stain that I came to this region from Spain. I would have much +preferred to fight under the Iron Duke and against the French than +against the Americans, but the thought of once more being in the region +where my father was shot, and possibly gleaning something of value that +would remove the stain of treason, spurred me on. Our regiment was on +board the _Royal George_ and landed at Quebec, and from thence to the +interior it was a weary march, only part of the time alleviated by canoe +trips. At first we were under that worthy imitator of Wellington, Brock, +and had he lived I have no doubt but what the war would have terminated +differently; but he was slain, and Proctor, a stain on British +generalship, was placed in his stead. My life was spent part of the time +with my regiment and then, for some months, I was an agent of the +government among the Indians of the Ohio. It was my purpose to glean +from them, of my own account, news of my father. Possibly some aged +chiefs would still remember the capture of my father, and would know +something of his being found in French uniform with a French commission +as captain in his pocket. Should he be guiltless of any treason against +England these savages, being so closely allied with the French of that +time, would no doubt know of it. Since they were our allies then and +friendly, an affidavit from them might be of some service. An Indian's +word is as good as another in a court of law. I overcame the natural +repugnance that I had to them, and ingratiated myself with them. An old +chief gave me much knowledge of my father's capture, but concerning the +rest nothing was to be learned. Then I thought of the second plan. My +father had a great knowledge of mining and metals, and, while he was +resident with the Indians of the Kittanning region, learned the secret +of a mine somewhere in the neighbourhood of the Lycamahoning. I resolved +to discover the whereabouts of the mine and possibly solve my father's +honour at the same time. I learned much as to its location, but nearly +lost my life by my incautious repetition of the Indian legend, for on +the way back to Malden I was slightly wounded by an Indian. From that +time on we were busy fighting, and due to the conduct of our own +generals we lost Michigan and a part of Canada. It was after the fatal +battle of the Thames that I received the letter from home that filled my +heart with sorrow and made me an exile. It was a cruel letter, stating +that my wife and boy were dead. England had no more charms for me. I +plunged off into the wilderness of New York and Pennsylvania, and after +a few years worked my way into this region. I hunted for many years +before I resolved to make it my home. The mine I searched for again and +again, but met no success, and I finally gave it up in despair. Then I +built the cabin here, and the rest of the tale is known to you both as +well as myself. Though I have not discovered the honour of my father, +yet I shall return to my old home and take up my former life." + +The Major finished his tale. + +"Ye have had a wonderful life, Tom," said the pilot, "and I'll be right +sorry to see you leave, but I have no doubt that Mr. Ande has a tale to +tell?" He gazed questioningly at Ande Trembath. + +Ande, thus summoned, related the story of his life. The Helston Grammar +School, the smugglers, and that long night with Dick on the waves of the +channel, the rescue by an outward bound Brazilian ship, their adventures +in Brazil, and their sojourn in Minos Geraes in the Sierra Do Frio +district, were all successively dwelt on, but he mentioned not the +wealth he had accumulated there. + +"Mr. Ande," said the pilot, after he had finished, "do ye ken aught of +the metal box I handed up from the old excavation that night?" + +"The metal box? Why, it must be still in the pocket of my coat, that I +have not worn since that eventful time." + +The Major entered the cabin and soon returned with the garment. The box +was still there, from the bulging appearance of the exterior. + +"Father, take it out and examine it." + +The old Major did so. + +"Truly, an ancient specimen," said he, and then he started, for there on +the one side was the engraved figure of a warrior galloping amidst ocean +waves. He turned it over, and on the silver lid, in slightly worn +characters, was the following: + +CAPTAIN ANDREW TREMBATH + +"'Tis the snuff-box of my father!" exclaimed the Major, trembling with +excitement. "At last the secret of his latter life may be explained. God +be thanked if it can!" + +The box was opened and, crowding around it, they examined the contents. +A few papers, yellow with age, met their vision. The first was +extracted, opened, and spread out. + +"A letter from thy grandmother to thy grandfather, son Ande," said the +Major, and he read it with an agitated voice. The next, a small book, +was taken out, and the Major turning to the fly leaf read, "The Diary of +Captain Ande Trembath." The first part was a record of sundry things at +home in the palmy days when Captain Ande Trembath was Squire of Trembath +Manor, and the Major hurried over it, for he was interested in what was +beyond. Toward the middle of the diary he paused, and began to read. + + "8th July, 1755. We are not more than twenty miles from Du Quesne, + and in a day or so we will see the flag of our country planted on + that fortress. So far no attempt has been made to hinder our march. + The enemy must be demoralised." + +"Ah, Braddock and his soldiers had great confidence," said the Major; +"but see here is a great blank of many days." He hurried over the blank +pages and again paused and began to read. + + "Nov. 30th, 1755. Quite a time has elapsed since writing. The + glorious hopes of our army were shattered in a day by a few hundred + savages. I was wounded and left on the field for dead. When I came + to myself I saw an Indian face bending o'er me. It was Musqueta, a + sub-chief under Shingas, and seeing me able to move and alive he + promptly took me prisoner, and with a few others I was taken to the + chief's headquarters, the Indian town of Kittanning. They told me + the whole army was slain. Incredible fact! I was not able to write + on account of my bonds. I learned their language and they had some + idea of adopting me into their tribe. Indeed, Musqueta had lost a + son, and no doubt it was on account of that that he spared me at the + defeat, hoping to adopt me into the tribe as his own son. The thing + was detestable to me, and I refused all offers of the kind. Then I + was forced to run the gauntlet, but it was my salvation, for, + seizing a club and leaping through the weakest part of their + grinning line, I escaped by my running powers. The swiftest foot of + old Cornwall can outstrip the savage." + +"He must have been a swift runner," interjected Hugh. + +"He was that, but we must see what happened after his escape. All this I +knew before by my conversation with the Shawnese under Tecumseh when I +was an Indian agent, but nothing more," said the Major, and turning to +the diary he again resumed. + + "There was a shout and such a yelling when I escaped that it almost + unnerved me, but I distanced my pursuers, and utterly left them in + the course of a mile or so. My escape was toward the north along the + banks of the river, but I had not gone more than a few miles before + I encountered a small detachment of French troops. There was no + getting by them at first, but at length I succeeded, after having + first slain the French captain, their commander, which, since I + could not avoid it, I trust God will forgive me. I accidentally met + him in the wood, slew him, and since I could better make my escape + in a French uniform, the whole region being French, I exchanged + clothes. A commission was in his pocket, in which commission I + inserted my own name for greater security." + +The old Major paused and wiped the tears of joy from his eyes and +murmured, "Thank God for that. Ande, my son, our family name may now +stand forth as honourable and upright as any in the British Isles. He +was no traitor. Here is the proof. We will depart for England and lay +this diary before the authorities and get the signatures of Hugh, here, +and the other settlers in testimony." The diary was forgotten for a +moment, but the pilot was intensely interested in what followed. + +"Read on, Tom, and let's see what happened, and how he got to this +region," said he. + +Major Trembath resumed reading. + + "I arrived the same day at the mouth of a small stream coming from + the east, where I found a canoe." + +"Must have been the mouth of the Lycamahoning," said the pilot. + +"Aye," said the Major, and continued: + + "Up this stream I journeyed for fully ten miles when the force of + the current became swifter, and I perceived that there were rapids + ahead, and so once more took to the land, carrying the canoe, since + it was a light affair, with me. I was anxious to place as many miles + between me and the Kittanning region as possible. I am now fully + forty miles from the enemy and deem myself safe for the time at + least. Knowing their language, I discovered a secret when among + them--the existence of a silver eldorado, and from remarks I surmise + it must be nigh my present location. + + "Dec. 1st, 1755. I have found the location of the eldorado. I shall + remain a time and investigate. + + "Dec. 25th, 1755. It is Christmas day, but I cannot keep it in the + old style. I have laid in a supply of deer meat for the winter. In + the spring I shall endeavour to find my way east to Standing Stone + and be once more among the loyal people of the crown. Excavated two + feet of the mine. It is either sulphide of lead or silver or both." + +The Major ceased reading and ran over in silence a number of short +entries, then paused, and then continued reading: + + "August 1st, 1756. I shall work for a day or so yet and then taking + some of the stuff east with me get it assayed. The hunting parties + of Indians are becoming more numerous, and I cannot stay much longer + concealed. In a few days I shall start for Standing Stone." + +"The last entry," said the Major, as he closed the diary and replaced it +in the snuff-box. "The subsequent events are as clear to me as if they +were written on paper. The snuff-box, with its contents, was lost in the +old excavation some time before my father left the neighbourhood. Later +he left the section, and on his overland trip encountered Armstrong's +troops, who shot him by mistake. The honour of our name is cleared." + + * * * * * + +Early the following spring a canoe was seen descending the Big +Lycamahoning. Two occupants were in it, Major Thomas Trembath and his +son. They were going to shoot the rapids of the Rough Water, and +descending the river to Pittsburgh depart thence to the sea coast, and, +to use the Major's own expression, "From there, home to Merrie England." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +MISFORTUNES + + +"'Tis a downright shame," said bluff Captain Tom Lanyan, with some +warmth, as he flung his grey hair back from the livid scar along his +forehead, and stumped once or twice up and down the room in indignation. + +"A shame rather to Miss Midget, herself, to refuse the alliance of a +house like ours," snapped Mistress Betty. + +"Now the old squire is in ill health and the estate is entirely within +your power, brother James. I say it's a shame to pester the poor girl to +marry Richard, if she doesn't want to," continued the captain. + +"Very well," said Sir James with the slightest trace of a scowl on his +placid features, "she shall not be pestered any longer, although many a +girl would jump at the chance. I have changed my plans." + +"Bless you, brother, you are more generous than I thought," and the +captain's face actually lighted up with a smile, that was like the +sunshine on a beetling, ragged cliff. + +"I have changed my plans," continued Sir James, "I have another plan for +Richard. Of what benefit is it to us to have an alliance with a fallen +family. It would be much better to seek the Godolphin family. There is +the daughter of Lady Godolphin, who will fall heir to the inheritance +that a prince might envy, and I do not think the earl would oppose my +purpose, for the fortunes of the Lanyans are ascending. With the +Godolphins back of me, securely tied in alliance, I could demand +anything from the government, and obtain it." + +"I shall not marry the daughter of Godolphin," said young Mr. Richard, +and his thin lips, so like his father's, closed in a narrow, determined +line. "I shall marry Mistress Alice Vivian." Sir James's features +flashed with anger. Richard Lanyan continued unawed. "The squire is in +favour of it, and you were yourself some time ago. It remains only for +the girl to be won over." + +"Yes, I was in favour of it, but that was when the Vivians were in good +circumstances. The old squire proposed it, himself, years ago, but times +have altered. There shall be no alliance with the Vivians. Godolphin is +friendly and is relying upon me for support in the House of Commons. For +the last two weeks things have looked most favourable toward an alliance +with the most distinguished and powerful family of Cornwall, and I am +not one to slight the opportunities presented." There was determination +in Sir James's tones. + +"I shall marry Mistress Alice Vivian," said the son. + +"You shall not," with a click of the jaws. + +"I shall," with an answering, determined click. Richard Lanyan turned on +his heel and left the hall. + +"It will be so much better, after all," said Mistress Betty, echoing her +brother's thoughts. "Our family might rival the Godolphins in time. Miss +Midget will be sorry the day she ever refused. I must set myself to win +Richard over from his infatuation, and I flatter myself I shall succeed. +When did a woman ever fail?" Mistress Betty tilted her heavy eagle nose +at an angle, as much as to say, you'll soon see how a woman's superior +wisdom will manage it. + +The old captain slowly shook his head as if in doubt. + +"You may manage it, and I hope you will, but I would as soon attack a +battery of artillery as try and turn a man away from the girl of his +choice. I hope you will succeed, for the girl doesn't want Richard, and +it is a shame to pester her and the poor old squire. I am glad the thing +is settled, though, in brother James's mind, for you'll let them stay, +brother James?" + +"Squire Vivian must pay the mortgage within a week, when it comes due, +or leave the premises. I already have a tenant for the Manor should he +fail." + +"But--Zounds! That's an outrage!" fumed Captain Tom. + +"Nothing but a common procedure of law," asserted Sir James, coolly. + +"Aye, it all sounds fine enough, and I suppose it must be so," said the +captain, angrily shaking his head, and stumping up and down; "but 'tis +an outrage all the same. The poor old squire will be driven out without +a home." + +"Captain Tom, don't be unreasonable. You know that Squire Vivian will +not be homeless, for James intends to let him have the Primrose Cottage +at a nominal rent," said Mistress Betty, championing Sir James. + +"Aye, and the poor widow, Trembath, has already been driven from the +Primrose Cottage, and whether she is in the Union Home, or elsewhere, no +one knows. Is that just, James?" + +"The Trembaths were traitors to the government," said Sir James, wincing +a little under Tom's sharp shaft, "and beside I am not responsible for +her loss of money by investment. I offered to loan her the money, and +took a mortgage. How could I know that the investment would fail?" + +"You advised her," said Captain Tom, bluntly. + +"It was her own doing," said Sir James, sharply, "and besides it has all +turned out favourably to us. We can't all be on top of the heap, Captain +Tom; some must be up and some must be down to make room for those who +get up. It's a law of nature, the survival of the fittest, and through +it all the circumstances of the Lanyans are better now than they have +been for a hundred years." So saying, Sir James turned on his heel and +wended his way into the library, where he was soon absorbed in his +London mail. Captain Tom called for his horse and rode off to Helston, +and Mistress Betty retired to her own private apartments. + +Such were the scenes that happened two years previous to the discovery +of Major Thomas Trembath by his son Ande at the Loop. At Trembath Manor +was a far different scene. + +"Ally, dear, draw the curtains and let me look out once more on the +park," said the querulous voice of the old squire. A tall, young lady, +with a sweet, though pallid countenance, arose to do his bidding. The +curtains were withdrawn, and the bright afternoon sunshine flooded the +sick man's bed chamber, and cast a halo of brightness o'er his features. +But what a countenance! Time and sickness had wrought great changes. The +old, hale, hearty, rubicund look was replaced by the pale, pained +expression of suffering. + +"Come hither, dear." + +Alice approached the bedside, and the old squire, taking her hand, +looked at her earnestly for a moment. + +"I have fallen into the hands of a cruel master, my child. He who was my +friend is partly responsible for my position. After all I did for him, +working for his election to Parliament some years ago; for you must +understand, dear, that had it not been for old Squire Vivian and some of +his friends, Sir James Lanyan would not now represent our section. And +how has he repaid it?" continued the old man bitterly, and angrily. + +"Father," laying her cool hand on his throbbing temples, "you know the +doctor says you must not excite yourself." + +"Aye, I know. I know, Allie, but I can't help speaking of it. He +inveigled me into schemes of his own making, purposely, I believe now, +to ruin me, and get the estate and the mine into his own hands. A +dastard! A selfish villain! And now he is going to foreclose the +mortgage, and in a week, my poor Allie, your old sick father and +yourself will be without a roof to shelter them. An ungenerous rogue!" +said the old man with another burst of anger. + +"Never mind, father, you have me, your Allie, left, and I'll take care +of you," and she smoothed down his scattered locks and laid her cheek +close to his. The action and words seemed to quiet the old squire for a +time, and he kissed the pale cheek of his daughter. + +"You are a good daughter. Has Mr. Richard Lanyan been here to-day?" + +"No, father." + +"Has his man--Bob Sloan--as untrustworthy as the villain, Sir James--has +he been here?" + +"No, father," endeavouring to soothe him. + +"Aye, he is giving me time to think; you know his proposition, child," +said the old man gently. "I shall not live long, and it distresses me to +think of my child homeless when I am gone." He laid his hand, that once +stout, brown hand, now pale and thin, upon the bowed head of the girl, +who was silently weeping. "It may prolong my life if you accept Richard, +and our home will be yours. Long ago, before I knew of the villainy of +Sir James, I purposed in my heart your marriage to Richard. Now, though +I know the father and his trickery, yet I think I know the son, Richard, +and I believe him free from his father's faults. He seems a good young +man and talented, and loves you, child, sincerely, and he may make up in +kindness to you for the injustice done to me. Years ago, in my strength, +I thought it must be so, but now I have learned many things by sickness, +and I would not urge you against your will." + +"Father," said the girl, raising her tear-stained face, "if it will +make you live longer I will not oppose; I will freely and gladly +consent. I will do anything to add to your life. Have you not been both +a kind, loving father and mother to me?" + +"Bless you, my dear Allie," said the squire as he sank back exhausted, +and then, in a whisper, "'Tis better than doctor's medicine. Call +Stephen Blunt--and write an answer to James Lanyan's letter that you +will find in yon desk." + +Alice gave the order and sat herself down at the desk to answer as +briefly as possibly the epistle of Lanyan. It was soon written, and the +next moment Stephen Blunt appeared. He came in looking more bent and +decrepit than usual, for the sickness of his master was weighing heavy +upon him. + +"Stephen," said the squire faintly, "send one of the servants with that +to Lanyan Hall and await a reply." + +The taciturn, old steward took the missive handed him by Alice, bowed +and withdrew. A great load seemed to be removed from the old squire's +mind, and he slept peacefully for three hours. By that time the servant +had returned with the answer. Alice would have rather read it herself +first, but the querulous voice of the squire must not be resisted, and +so she passed it unopened to him. He unfolded it with trembling, eager +hands, and devoured the few lines written there. His countenance grew +paler, and then flushed an angry hue, until the great veins on his brow +stood forth like whipcords. + +"What! What! It can't be so!" he shrieked. He crushed the letter in +his hands with rage and was about to fling it from him, but the +motion and passion was too much for him, and with a gasp he fell +backward--unconscious. The crushed letter dropped from his relaxed +hand and fell to the floor, where it remained unnoticed for the time. + +"To the doctor, quick!" said Stephen Blunt to the servant that was in +the room. The servant was down and out in a moment. The same horse that +carried him to the Lanyans' was near at hand, and he vaulted into the +saddle, and went tearing down the carriage drive. + +With a shriek of "My father!" Alice fell to the floor in a faint. + +"Carry her to her rooms! He is not dead! I will not believe it until the +doctor comes," said old Stephen Blunt. The servants carried their young +mistress to her apartments, while Stephen, murmuring many things to +himself, bathed the squire's forehead until the physician came. In a few +minutes there was the sound of clattering hoofs on the gravel of the +drive-way, then a rapid step on the stairs, and the physician was in the +sick man's room. A look and a touch sufficed. + +"He is past help. It is as I feared--a sudden stroke of apoplexy +produced by some shock." He picked up the crumpled letter from the +floor, opened it, read it with compressed lips, and placed it in his +pocket. + +The news spread o'er the whole village with the rapidity of wildfire, +and by night every man, woman and child knew and sympathised with the +bereavement at the Manor, for Squire Vivian was generally liked. + +The funeral was held in the parish church, and old Parson Trant preached +the sermon. With his eyes wet with the flood of sympathy and sorrow, and +his voice unsteady and quivering, he delivered to the hushed multitudes +an address upon "How are the mighty fallen." He called to their minds +the deeds of the squire and his open, frank, generous life in such a +tender manner that many of the audience wept in sorrow as acute as his +own. There was possibly one of that audience who felt more keenly than +others, and he bowed his head down as if ashamed to meet the gaze of the +people around him. It was Captain Tom Lanyan. His sorrow was increased +with the thought that it was some action of his brother that caused the +squire's death. None of the other Lanyans were present. Sir James had to +leave to attend to some business in Plymouth, and, informing his lawyer +to foreclose the mortgage on the estate and tin mine and secure a tenant +for the Manor, he embarked on the first vessel from Falmouth. Mistress +Betty was ill of same fancied ailment, and Richard was, no one knew +where. + +After the funeral there was much condolence offered to Mistress Alice +Vivian, but no personal help, no one being aware that the Manor and even +the home furniture had passed out of the hands of the Vivian family. But +Alice knew, and with a sickening sense of loneliness and helplessness +she passed out of the gates of the Manor on the evening of the same day +of the funeral. She had packed up her little personal belongings and had +forwarded them that afternoon to Penzance, where she intended following +on the morrow. With a heart full of unuttered grief she wended her way +to the old parish church and churchyard to pay a last visit to her +father's tomb. The sun had long since disappeared beneath the horizon, +and the pale, glimmering moon flooded hill and dale with ghostly, limpid +light, whitening the cornices of the old church tower in the distance, +deepening the shadows 'neath the trees, and bringing into gleaming +prominence the white monuments of the departed. The gates of the +cemetery were passed at length, but there was no fear or terror in her +heart. Why should she fear? The dead could not hurt her, and it was less +lonely here than in the great, empty Manor house. The church door was +not locked, and opening it she passed down the long aisle, the tile work +underneath echoing hollowly to her faint tread. Near the altar was the +tomb of her father. The moonbeams, penetrating the coloured windows, +illuminated it with a soft warm radiance, so clear, that the lettering +could be easily discerned. She contemplated the inscription with +tearful, stony gaze and then read softly to herself: + + RICHARD VIVIAN, ESQ. + Trembath Manor + "How are the mighty fallen." + +It was the text of the funeral sermon that was inscribed below. There +was nothing more save the dates of birth and death. Suddenly a keener +sense of her loss and loneliness came upon her, and she bowed herself to +the floor, giving vent to the first outpouring of grief--a grief that +she had restrained until then. Sobs and cries, low, yet full of grief, +shook and convulsed her frame. + +"Oh, father! father! do you know how lonely I am? I am your daughter, +your Allie, and you always wanted me near you. I am here near you, +father, and yet I cannot feel your presence, for you are gone and I am +alone." A great sob checked her utterance, and for a long time she +struggled with her grief, murmuring incoherently, and, then arising, she +dried her eyes. + +"Perhaps he sees still, and pities my grief and solitude. Parson Trant +said that the dead are more alive than the living--'I am the God of +Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; God is not the God of the dead, but of the +living.'" She quoted the Scripture passage softly to herself, and it +seemed to give some comfort. "Yes, he must see and hear." A noise near +the distant tower door startled her. She gazed that way, though not in +fear. Who could be in these sacred precincts at night beside herself? +she asked mentally. The noise was not repeated. It was some owl or bat, +or perhaps it was a slight breeze that had moved the slightly opened +door, she thought, and then turning to the altar she knelt down in +prayer. + +"O God, I have now no father, no friend, no helper but Thee. I am +friendless, homeless, poor and lonely. Be my helper and give me +strength. Be my father, O Thou who art above, and hold me in Thy +protecting arms. Thou art the defence of the widow and the fatherless; +be Thou the defence of the fatherless now and hold me in the hollow of +Thy hand. O God, all Thy waves and Thy billows have gone over my soul. +At one blow I lose all. Supported by a father's love, it is taken from +me; reared in comfort, I am reduced to bitter poverty; surrounded by +friends--yet to-day alone and helpless, and yet,--Thou wilt not forsake +me, for Thou dost mark the sparrow's fall. I go a stranger among +strangers in a strange land, yet Thou wilt not forsake me. Oh, be a +light to my feet, a guide to my way, and a stay in my helplessness." + +Some time more she spent at the altar in silent prayer, and then arising +and casting a long lingering look at the silent tomb near her, she +slowly wended her way down the silent and deserted church, and thence on +and out of the cemetery. + +Without she walked rapidly along the highway, when the figure of a man +emerged from the shadow of the cemetery gate and followed and overtook +her. + +"Mistress Alice," he said, laying a detaining hand on her arm. She +started and would have fled, but he restrained her. "You are out late; +let me attend you." + +"I asked not your escort, Mr. Richard Lanyan." + +"Ah, but I choose to give it," said the young man, in a determined tone, +and then added: "Mistress Alice, why will you not listen to reason? You +know that you are friendless and poor and I would help you,--yes, lay +down my life for you. I----" + +"I do not require your aid. Why do you push your attentions upon me when +you know they are unwelcome, and especially at this sad time?" + +"Ah, but Mistress Alice, my love for you----" + +She gave an impatient gesture. + +"Have I not often said that it is vain and useless. I do not wish it, +and your father----" + +"Does not wish it, either," interjected Lanyan with an unpleasant scowl, +"but that matters not; I wish it." + +"But I do not, and I must not encourage you. I cannot give you what I +have bestowed upon another." Her face flushed and then resumed its +pallid expression. + +Mr. Richard Lanyan was silent, but his facial muscles twitched with +emotion, and his dark eyes gleamed with hidden fire. + +"I say that no one shall take you from me. My father nor no one else +shall stand as a bar in the way." + +"I stand in the way, myself. My own heart is the strongest bar." + +"If you will neither listen to reason or affection, there are other +means," he said, threateningly. + +"You are a coward and a miscreant, sir, to use such words to me." + +"There are other means and----" + +The words were scarcely uttered when she was seized from the rear and a +cloak flung o'er her head. + +"The coach, Bob," said Richard. + +"'Tis coming, sir." + +There was the rattle of wheels and a coach stopped near them. The door +was wrenched open and as he placed her within he finished the sentence, +"There are other means, and he, whoever he is, will never get you, +except over the dead body of Richard Lanyan." + +The deed was done so quickly that the dazed girl had but time to utter a +muffled shriek as the door slammed, and her subsequent cries were +drowned by the rattling wheels and trotting horses. + +Mr. Richard Lanyan, angry with repeated rejections, had made his master +movement. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +TOM GLAZE TO THE RESCUE + + "Oh, here's to the ale, + The merry King Ale, + It makes one jolly + Though home comforts fail; + We'll swing and we'll sing, + Merry as a king, + The tankard we love + For the joy it'll bring." + + Chorus. + + "Then swing tankard round + With ale pale or brown, + We'll clunk and we'll clunk + Till we clunk un all down! + Down! Down! + + "King George, rich and hale, + Is naught to King Ale, + He reigns and cares not + For the poor man's wail, + But jolly King Ale + Makes sorrow to fail, + Huzza for the tankard + Of rud, brown or pale." + + +Loud and boisterous came the roaring voices of half-drunken tipplers +from behind the green doors of an ale-house in the upper part of +Falmouth. At the close of each chorus there was a thumping of tankards +and fists upon the tables within that made the midnight hour a perfect +babel of sounds. + +"That's Tom Puckinharn's voice, I could swear to un," said a tall, +well-built man, as he paused on the pavement without. He was talking to +himself and evidently referred to one voice louder than the others, +leading the chorus. A frown swept over his rugged features. + +"Here I be following 'im all the evening from tavern to tavern and just +missin' 'im at every place, and he a-spending his 'ard-earned money in +drink and his poor wife, Susy, at home a-crying her eyes out. If it +wadn't that I had promised Susy to fetch 'im home I'd wash my 'ands and +disown 'im." + +His thoughts were interrupted by the overturning of a table, the +upsetting of chairs, the crash of falling tankards and voices in angry +altercation within. + +The stimulating effect of the ale he had imbibed had increased Tommy's +natural proclivity to wit and repartee in the earlier part of the +evening, and some of his shafts of ridicule had been directed at two +young Scottish Highlanders, soldiers of Castle Pendennis on leave of +absence. The petticoat men, as he had called them, had remembered him, +and in the drinking chorus they took umbrage at the trifling mentioning +of King George's name. There were angry words and then the ringing of +steel. + +The sounds stirred the man without to action. Pushing aside the swinging +doors, a sight met his vision that tinged his spirit with righteous +indignation. Chairs and tables were overturned; tankards were on the +floor, with their spilt contents trickling away in sundry streams; +Tommy's friends were huddled in fear in one corner, while unfortunate +Tommy, in the grasp of the two half-intoxicated Highlanders, was forced +to his knees. They had jerked him over the table and, with irate mien +and with murder in their bloodshot eyes, had their sword points close to +his breast. + +With a quick bound and a blow the stranger sent the one Highlander +reeling to the floor, and, with a Cornish side-kick on the ankle and a +blow of his other fist, Highlander number two fell with a crash among +the overturned chairs and spilt liquor. + +"Ah! ye call yourselves sodjers and braave men, but thee'rt +bubble-'eaded cowards for two of 'ee with swords to attack one unarmed +man! Ah! ye drunken buccas! see if I don't report 'ee to your governor." + +The two fallen Highlanders were either too inebriated with liquor, or +dazed by the sudden attack, or dismayed by the threat of informing the +governor of Pendennis Castle, to arise at once, and the stranger, +casting a look of supreme contempt on them, grasped Tommy by the collar, +jerked him to his feet and led him from the place. As they were going he +could not but hear the admiring comments of two or three of the +spectators. + +"Ah! Dear!--Dear!--Man alive!--Did 'ee see un? 'Ow he knacked the +sodjers down! 'Tez Tom Glaze, the Carnish champion!" + +"The Carnish champion, the Carnish champion," went from lip to lip. The +green doors fell to behind Glaze and Puckinharn and cut off the murmured +admiration. Glaze hurried his nephew down one street and then into +another before he suffered himself to speak the anger that was within +him. Then giving Tommy a great shake to add to his soberness and +intelligence, he began: + +"I tell 'ee, Tommy, thee'rt a great chuckle-head and will wend up by +being a brocken buddle if 'ee keeps on like this. Here I come to see my +nephew, a respectable pilchard seller, and find un spending his time and +money in taverns. Thee ought to be ashamed of thyself. Do 'ee call +drinking and fighting a good time? Thee wert singing that ale would make +'ee hearty and merry and that sorrow would fail. I tell 'ee that ale +brings trouble, and poverty, and sickness and broken health, and would +'ave caused thy funeral if I 'adn't come in when I did, for they sodjers +had blood in their eyes. And thy wife at home a-crying her eyes out and +without money. I tell 'ee I felt more like giving thee a skevern than I +did the sodjers, a great chuckle-head, as 'ee art." + +"Ah, Uncle Tom, doan't 'ee go on like that," said the crestfallen Tommy. +"My head is almost mazed with the 'eadache; les go down to the kay +[quay] and see if I won't feel better." + +"Hark 'ee, Tom Puckinharn, let this be the last of thy drinking. Will +'ee promise?" + +"Umsh--Yes--I promise." + +"A man is always wuss off when he drinks. His money is gone, 'is time is +gone, and 'is health is gone, and he winds by going into the Union Poor +House. Now here I am,--I, Tom Glaze, champion Cornish wrastler and all +round fighter, and I ne'er would be so had I took to drink. There was +Jack Trewlan, champion before me, stout and strong, the champion of a +dozen battles, and I thrawed 'im in ten minutes. I got an under holt and +heaved 'im over my shoulders, and 'e went down like a bullock. Cause +why? Cause 'e took to drink." + +"'Ark!" said Tommy. "Wasn't that a woman's cry?" + +They listened and the cry was repeated. + +"'Urry up," said Glaze, "some woman in distress,--upon a foach if thee +art drunk, 'ee can run a bit." + +Away they went in the direction of the quay from which the shriek came, +Tommy's uncle ahead, while he himself lurched along in the rear, like a +distressed ship in a storm. They arrived at the entrance of the pier, +and saw by the glimmering, flickering light of the lamp, at its head, a +woman struggling in the grasp of a burly man. A coach swept by them at +this moment and passed around the corner and up market street. + +"Bring her along, Bob," cried a voice from a boat at the landing. + +Bully Bob, for it was he, seeing the approach of newcomers, redoubled +his efforts, when he received a blow that staggered him and he released +his grasp. The woman ran screaming to her rescuers and Glaze placed +himself in front of her. Bully Bob, recovering from the sudden assault, +rushed in wrath at his aggressor, crying fiercely, "I'll eat 'ee up!" + +Glaze grasped him with a quick, deft movement, and with a heave, threw +him over his shoulder into the deep harbour water beyond. There was a +cry of rage, and then a splash, and then the sound of oars in a long, +steady pull, rounding the head of the pier. + +"The fellow in the boat will pick un up, and I think they won't bother +us nor the lady for the present," said Glaze. + +"Why, 'tes Mistress Alice Vivian!" exclaimed Tommy Puckinharn, now +thoroughly sobered. She had fainted under the excitement and he +supported her with his arms. Glaze gazed at the countenance of the +unconscious woman. + +"'Zackly so; so it is," and he paused in some thought, and then, as +though he had reached some conclusion, he relieved Tommy of his burden, +and, followed by his nephew, he strode along to the nearest house, a +small brown cottage, from the lower window of which gleamed a light. A +rap on the door brought an answer, in the shape of a woman's quavering +voice, demanding who was there. + +"It's me, Tom Glaze, Mrs. Trembath." There was a pause within, then some +hurried movement. + +"Mrs. Trembath," said Tommy to his uncle, in some surprise. "Is that +Ande's mother? How did she get here, and how did 'ee know she lived +'ere, Uncle Tom?" + +"When she was turned out by the Lanyans, I got 'er this cottage," said +Glaze. Further conversation was interrupted by the rattling of bolts +within, the door was opened, and the gleam of candle light shot over all +concerned. + +[Illustration: "The door was opened, and the gleam of candle light shot +over all concerned"] + +Bearing his unconscious burden, Glaze, followed by his nephew, entered, +and soon related his tale. + +"Poor girl! Poor dear!" said Mrs. Trembath, as she chafed Alice's hands +and then essayed to pour a little reviving cordial down her throat. The +cordial revived her, and she opened her eyes, and then, in as many words +as kind, motherly Mrs. Trembath would allow, she told her story. + +"The young villain!" exclaimed Glaze, indignantly, as he heard of the +doings of Mr. Richard. "I wish it was 'im instead of Bob, that I flung +into the harbour." + +"Poor child!" said Mrs. Trembath, as she drew the girl to herself. "The +ones who afflicted you and defrauded you of your home, did the same to +me. We are in similar circumstances, and you shall stay here until you +feel better." + +But Mistress Alice was far from soon being strong and well again. The +long period of nursing her sick father, his death, the loss of the +Manor, and the harrowing experience of that wild night's ride to +Falmouth, were too much for her worn constitution, and she succumbed to +brain fever. Throughout the long period of her sickness Mrs. Trembath +would have been sorely distressed had it not been for the generosity of +Glaze and Puckinharn. Glaze, as a friend of the old squire, having +received his patronage, thought he was in duty bound to leave a +sovereign now and then in Mrs. Trembath's hands, and his nephew, having +taken the pledge, found he had many spare shillings and sixpences to +spend in so good a cause. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +THE MAJOR'S HOME-COMING + + +"Ande, son, we'll push straight on to the village; thy mother, lad, was +always an early riser, and mayhap will have a light in the window," said +the old Major, after they had eaten a light breakfast in the Angel Inn. +Major Trembath and his son, Ande, had arrived three o'clock that morning +at the Falmouth Breakwater. They had hurriedly left the ship and had +taken the early morning stage coach for Helston, arriving there in time +for an early breakfast. + +"Shall we get horses?" asked the son. + +"Horses, lad, what do I want with a horse? Have I not tramped scores of +miles with the rifle over my shoulder, when I was a solitary hunter at +the Loop. My limbs are as strong now as they were a score of years ago, +and I doubt much, after these years of hunting and tramping, whether I +would feel as much at home on horse-back as I would on my own feet. Then +we must remember, lad, that though our name is untarnished and +honourable, we are still poor, and it behooves us to be devotees of +economy. Horses, no; they are not to be thought of." + +Ande acquiesced, and forth in the morning twilight they started. What a +happy two-mile walk that was! The Major related tales of his youth +associated with the section through which they wended their way, and the +son related tales as well. The incident of the duck cave and the scared +Greggs was forcibly brought to mind as they passed the cave, and he told +the story much to the hearty amusement of his father. + +The activity of youth seemed to fill the frame of the old Major as he +approached the proximity of the village. His steps seemed to lengthen +and increase in rapidity. Then through the dim twilight the outlines of +the village burst upon their vision, and then the Major strained his +keen eyes to catch the first view of the Primrose Cottage. At length he +saw it. + +"It's there still," he cried joyously, and then added, "But no light. +Thy mother is late in rising, lad." + +They followed the roadway past the village and up the ascent to the +cottage home. The hedges on either side of the little domain were sadly +out of repair, and the Major noticed it. + +"Things gone badly since I was in these parts, but we will soon have +them on a better footing." + +They opened the rickety gate softly, and then stole into the doorway. +Then grasping the rapper, the Major lifted it and rapped hard several +times. Then smilingly, with dancing expectant eyes, they stood back and +awaited. What a joyful greeting, they thought. But there was no answer, +nor even the shadow of a sound that greeted their own echoes. + +"You try, Ande, lad." + +Ande advanced to the door and rapped, but the same death-like silence +prevailed. + +"Something wrong," said the old Major. "Ah! what's that writing?" His +keen eyes, sharpened by years of woodcraft, had caught the glimpse of a +paper tacked to the upper portion of the door. In the happy anticipation +of coming reunion they had not noticed it before. Ande tore it from its +fastenings and brought it forth more closely to their vision. + +"For rent,--James Lanyan," slowly read Ande. + +"Some cursed doings of the Lanyans," said the old man weakly, and he sat +down on the steps, for in his disappointment his strength began to fail +him. Just at this moment a lad was seen passing, and Ande accosted him. + +"Mrs. Trembath? Why--her's gone nigh two years ago. Sir James Lanyan got +the place and sold her out." + +"Where did she go, lad?" asked the Major, faintly. "No one knows that, +sir." + +The old man buried his face in his hands. His spirit, so cheery a short +time before, seemed broken. + +"Are the Vivians still here?" asked Ande, sharply, for there was an +angry passion raging within him. + +"Old squire died a year or so ago. The Lanyans got the Manor, and some +says as how the old squire died of a broken heart, sir." + +"And Mistress Alice?" + +"Her's gone, too; no one knows where; the Lanyans turned 'er out." + +"The black-hearted villain! Thief! Rogue!" roared Ande, his passion +bursting forth beyond all bounds. The lad fled in affright at the +dreadful words and the black countenance, that was in truth diabolical +with rage. The old Major sought to calm him, but of little avail. + +"For all that the Lanyans have done to me and mine, the dishonourable +scandal on our name, the suffering and humilation it has caused us, and +these last cruel and inhuman deeds, I will be terribly revenged on him +and his!" Ande Trembath raised his hand to heaven and continued his +invective. The hatred of a lifetime seemed to culminate in a torrent of +expressions like these. Then there was silence. + +"We'll go and see Parson Trant at the rectory, father," said Ande, and +the old Major, seemingly with no resolution of his own, was assisted to +his feet, and on they trudged. + +The glimmering twilight had merged into dawn, yet there was a light in +the parson's study window and his head, now thoroughly silvered, could +be seen bending over his manuscript. The short walk seemed to revive the +Major's spirits. They knocked and were admitted. + +The old parson knew neither of them for a moment. Then Ande spoke. + +"What! Parson Trant, and do you not remember me, Ande Trembath?" + +"Why, Ande, my dear lad! This is a surprise! How you have grown! Why, +lad, where have you been all these years? And this is your friend?" With +his kindly, fatherly greeting, he shook hands warmly, and then turned +to the other stranger. + +"More than friend," said Ande. + +"And do you not know me?" smilingly said the old Major, as he advanced +with outstretched hands. The rector passed his hand o'er his forehead +once or twice, as he scrutinised the stranger, and then,-- + +"What! Impossible! Yes--No--Yes, it must be he. My old friend and +school-fellow, Thomas Trembath! Well, well, well, well!" and the old +parson upset a pile of books in his eagerness to reach the Major. Tears +of delight were in his eyes as he flung open the study door and called, +"Harriet! Harriet!" His wife, a pleasant old lady, soon came in. + +"Harriet, do you know these two gentlemen?" The genial old parson was +smiling, and rubbing his hands in delight. "Ah, I thought you wouldn't. +This is our old friend, Major Thomas Trembath, and this is his son, +Ande." + +"Goodness me!" exclaimed Harriet, as she cordially welcomed them, and +entered into her husband's pleasure. + +"And now come in and have a cup of tea. Breakfast is about ready?" said +the parson aside to his wife, inquiringly, and receiving an affirmative +answer, notwithstanding protests that they had already breakfasted, the +Major and his son were ushered into the little breakfast room, where, +over the tea table, the parson related the facts of Squire Vivian's +sickness, and how both Manor and cottage had passed into the hands of +the Lanyans. He mentioned the fatal letter that had caused the squire's +death, and brought it forth, and mentioned both the disappearance of +Mrs. Trembath and Mistress Alice Vivian. If ever Ande swore revenge in +his heart it was during that narrative, in which all the brutal plans of +Sir James Lanyan were revealed in a plain, unvarnished manner. Woe +betide James Lanyan or his, if their paths crossed. + +"I am glad he and his are not of my parish," said the old parson; "but +now tell me of your experience and wandering." + +The Major briefly narrated his wanderings, to which Ande added a short +sketch of his own, with the exception of his good fortunes in the gold +and diamond regions of Brazil. + +"Wonderful!" exclaimed the old parson, and then as a sudden thought +struck him. "But now you must find Mrs. Trembath, and I would suggest +that you would find some news of her, no doubt, at Helston, for this is +the Floraday. Ah! there are the bells of old St. Michael, now, and in a +short time the town will be crowded with people from far and near to +keep the old festival. You will get news of her from some one." + +"That I will," said the old Major, as he arose from the table. "That I +will; and if I fail there, I shall search through every town of +Cornwall." + +The parson insisted upon their going in his own carriage, but the very +thought of news to be obtained in Helston made the old Major impatient +of any delay, and he persisted in going on foot, and so with a friendly +handshake, Major and son left the rectory for Helston. + +"Hark'ee, son Ande, injustice shall fall yet and right shall prevail; I +feel it," and the old Major strode on with renewed hopefulness. + +Long before they entered the town it had put on its holiday attire. +Homes were decorated, windows garlanded, doors swung wide open, and the +bells of old St. Michael were booming and pealing in the festival which +the abrasion of centuries could not obliterate. From the upper portion +of the town came the pealing of fifes and rattling of drums and the +drawling voices of old men mingled with the more melodious voices of +boys and girls, singing the ancient Hal Lan Tow chant. Up in front of +the Helston Grammar School stand the authorities of the borough +demanding a holiday in behalf of the pupils, and when it is granted, +according to custom, how the lads and young men pour out of the old +dormitory, with hats tossing in the air! Vehicles, from the humble cart +to the emblazoned coach of the gentleman, keep rolling into town, while +every road and footpath is dotted with foot travellers. The streets +begin to crowd more and more. Citizens in the finest broadcloth rubbed +elbows with the humble fustian of farmers, and ladies in the finest +brocades and silks pass, with kindly greetings, the figures of country +maidens and women in humbler attire. Lads are blowing whistles, and +others are shouting to their fellows. But now the noon hour has come, +and from the head of Coinage Hall street come the rolling of drums, the +signal for the commencement of the annual, festival, street dance. In +front of the forming procession are the two town beadles with wands, +fancifully and artistically garlanded with flowers. The wands are the +emblems of their authority. They are the great men of the hour. Behind +them are the drummers, the fifers, and the serpent players, with their +instruments and forms so festooned with flowers and evergreen that it is +almost impossible to see their features. They are in motion. The old +beadles prance in a dignified way in front of the advancing procession, +waving their wands and giving directions in the meantime. The music of +the various instruments are pealing out in one steady strain, punctuated +here and there with the sullen, "boom, boom--boom--boom" of the big +drums, and the "rat a-tat-tat" and occasional roll of the kettle drums. +Now they are dancing, hand in hand in the rear, to the first half of the +melody. Now with a rattle of the lesser drums the second half begins. +The gentleman with the second lady releases her hand and seizes the +first and whirls her out of the procession in a circle and returns. The +action is continued by the second gentleman and so on down the line. +Then again the first refrain is taken up and the procession moves +onward. They are followed by a great crowd of spectators. Now the +beadles have disappeared. They have but entered one of the homes. The +procession of merrymakers follow. The beadles emerge from another door +and on goes the festival parade. Is that customary? Oh, yes. It is one +of the customs of time immemorial, and the party owning any of the homes +thus entered feels highly honoured. Through all the streets wends the +dance and then it is brought to a close by a turn on the Bowling Green. +Now follows a dance of the tradespeople in one of the inns of the town, +while the gentry enter the renowned Angel Inn for a purpose similar. + +A porter stands at the door of the hall above the Angel Inn to solicit +sixpences to defray expenses. A dignified, aged man, with hair and beard +neatly trimmed, passes in with the others. He is followed by another, a +younger one, his exact counterpart in height and facial appearance. Both +of them are well tanned by exposure, and their garments seem to be of +foreign make. They are the old Major and his son, Ande Trembath. + +"Bless my soul!" exclaims a rugged old fellow, stumping up with a slight +limp in one limb. He stands in front of Major Trembath and stares at +him; then passes a hand, rough and brown and heavy, through his grey +hair, throwing it back from his brow, revealing a long, livid scar along +the forehead. + +"Bless my soul! You are my old comrade, Tommy Trembath, or my eyesight +fails me. Is it not so?" + +"I am that person," said the Major, smiling, and grasping the extended +hand he shook it warmly. "And how is my Captain Tom Lanyan?" + +"I am right well, and I can't say how glad I am to see my old comrade, +once more, back in England. We all thought you dead. You haven't been on +British soil the last eighteen years. Where have ye been wandering all +this time?" + +The Major related a part of his adventures briefly. + +"The honour of our family is established, Captain Tom; my father was no +traitor and the proof of it is in the hands of the government +authorities at this time," concluded the Major. + +"I always knew it; I always knew it," said Captain Tom. "I have always +had my beliefs, and I'm right glad now that they have come true." + +"Aye, I know it," said the Major. "You were always my stoutest friend, +in the camp and out." + +The two old comrades of the Napoleonic wars talked on and on, while Ande +wandered from them, earnestly scanning the features of those he met, but +none did he recognise. The violins, sweeping into the melody of the +Floraday, announced that the dance was on, but he did not engage in it. +He gazed here and there, vainly endeavouring to behold a face he loved. +He was becoming wearied with his search, when, across the hall, he +noticed an aged, veiled lady and near her another, much younger. It was +the young lady that held him spellbound for a moment. His eyes were +riveted upon her countenance that was in profile. There was a shooting +thrill through his whole system and his blood seemed to be mounting in +great billows to his head. He caught a fuller glimpse of her features, +and then his heart gave one mad leap and apparently stood still for a +moment. Could he ever forget that countenance, pale and yet beautiful as +on the eve, in the long ago, when she had called him her knight. With a +half cry he was up and pushing through the crowd, but, before he reached +the other side, he saw them both pass out of the crowded ballroom. With +a few, rapid steps and bounds he passed down the stairway, almost +knocking over the porter at the door. + +In the street without he missed the familiar figure, then his heart beat +joyfully once more, for he caught a glimpse of her entering the Bowling +Green. The aged, veiled lady was not with her. He hastened down the +crowded street and entered the comparatively deserted Bowling Green. He +swept a rapid glance around, but she had disappeared and his heart sank +once more. Then he saw a flutter of lace amidst the leaves of a retired +garden seat. She was standing when he reached her, but perhaps the +record of his diary is better descriptive of the scene that followed. + +DIARY OF ANDREW TREMBATH, _Gent_. + +_May_ 8th, 1829; _Afternoon_. + +I saw my lady in the garden seat arbour, my lady Alice, the love of my +childhood, the ideal of my waking hours, the vision of my wanderings, +and the dream of my slumbers. She whose features were engraven on my +heart by the memory of other years, and around whom clustered the +fondest recollections of youth, was standing gazing at the setting sun +that, as it sank in golden and roseate hues, painting the sea and sky +with the glories of heaven, seemed likewise to retouch, with its +refulgent beams, her curling raven locks and beauteous eyes with +additional splendour. There was a faint flush on her cheeks in the midst +of their pallor, like an early wild-rose nestling by a belated +snowdrift. It seemed to me that she was much taller than formerly. So +tall and majestic indeed was she that I was awed, notwithstanding my +love that had been slumbering for years. I heard her murmur, +meditatively: + +"Ah, if he would only come,--my life, my hope!" + +My heart smote me with despair and an icy coldness seized me; a lump +arose in my throat that seemed to choke my breathing. My hopes seemed +dashed to the ground, my idol shattered and a mass of chaotic ruin. I +tried to withdraw, but had advanced too far, for she saw me and there +was a slight additional flush on her countenance, and gentle recognition +in her eyes. I advanced to the shadow of the arbour and bowed low, +humbled with my previous thought, yet persistent and determined to know +the truth once and for all. + +"Mistress Alice Vivian,--Mistress Alice, I am Andrew Trembath, who has +loved you all these years. You called me your knight once and gave me +reason to hope that you were not indifferent to my feelings for you. But +there was a bar, sinister and heavy, between us,--the stain of treason +against our name. Now all bars have been removed; our name is +honourable; no wealth is a hindrance. You have been my dream throughout +my boyhood days and the star of my wanderings in more mature years, and +I lay my hand and heart at your feet." + +She answered not, and I feared to lift my eyes lest I should read what I +half suspected from that brief, murmured exclamation I had heard, that +there was another. Despair seized me at her continued silence. + +"You were expecting some one?" + +"Yes," she said, meditatively. + +"And you love him,--him?" How bold was that question! I know not now +whether I feared more her rebuke or the proof of my agonizing doubt. + +"Yes," she said gently, and I thought pityingly. + +I arose, staggered, and would have fallen but for the friendly support +of a tree. Better to have perished with brave Dick in the floods of the +Rough Water than to have my love thus wrenched from my heart and my +cherished longing prove a vain delusion. I recollect the substance of my +rambling, half incoherent apology for disturbing her. Oh! How empty +heart, earth, life appeared then! The sun had gone down, and with it the +sun of happiness for me! I turned to go. + +"Ande,--Mr. Trembath." + +There was something commanding in that tone that I could not resist. I +paused and waited for her to continue. + +"Is it not unseemly for old friends to part thus. Here, seat yourself +with me in this arbour." I moodily did so. "I cannot say how glad I am +to greet once more a friend of my childhood days. You have been a true +friend to me." What a bitter mockery those words seemed to me. I was +silent and she continued: "You have been a true friend and I cannot +choose but to speak plainly. But tell me of your life and wanderings." + +Little by little I told my story, but I could not refrain from my love +for her, for one was so involved with the other that they could not be +sundered. I told all with the exception of my fortune in the Brazilian +mines. She seemed interested with the interest of a friend. I gazed at +her after my tale was finished, and with the melancholy thought of what +I had aspired to and what I had lost. She smiled, and I thought she was +laughing at my presumption in laying my poor affections at her feet. It +enraged me, and I arose to go. + +"One moment," she said; "I have news for you; your mother is found and +your father is with her, but I have other matters to mention." + +This was the solitary joy that now filled me and life seemed brighter. + +"I was expecting some one this evening." + +"Yes," I said, the clouds again coming over my soul; "yes, I know." + +"No, you do not know; I was expecting some one, and, as you rightly +surmised, I love him." + +"Aye," I murmured, for she seemed cruel, "and you could not love +another?" + +"No, no, I could not love another. You would not desire to see me +unhappy and poor?" + +"No," I said, doggedly, digging with my heel in the turf. + +"Suppose I had the opportunity to marry," she said, mischievously, and +with a merry light scintillating in her eyes, "to marry one who would +give me wealth, happiness, love, and my old home, who took me on a long +ride of twenty miles and told me of these things, would you say, 'No.'" + +"No," I said, sadly, "marry where your heart directs you." + +"But suppose he was Mr. Richard Lanyan?" + +I bounded to my feet as if shot. Oh, what a demoniacal thing is hatred! +Humbled and sad at the loss of her, the thought of one of that accursed +race possessing her seemed like turning my blood from freezing coldness +to boiling heat. My countenance must have been frightful; it terrified +her. I could not speak. She trembled and drew away from me and hastily +said, "But suppose I did not love him?" I was dumbfounded, and she +continued, earnestly, while her eyes beamed with a new light. + +"Suppose I did not love him? I was expecting him whom I loved--yes, +loved from girlhood; I mourned him as dead, yet loved him more and more, +and after many years I saw him at a Floraday in the Angel Inn ballroom. +I saw him push through the crowd and I came here expecting him. I love +him and could not love another,--and--and--and--Oh--Ande,--can't you +see?" + +Change darkness into sunlight and my feelings can be expressed. The full +light of all seemed to burst upon my vision and dazed me; then as I saw +more clearly, I recollect her stretching her arms toward me, and my +leaping forward to clasp that wavering form. + +Here the incident in the diary closes, and it remained for others to +relate what happened afterward. They sat down again in the arbour and +her head was on his shoulder. + +"And you did love me, after all," said Ande, and the old, happy, boyish +smile illuminated his features. + +"I have always loved you from that moment at the gate of the Primrose +Cottage, so many years ago. Forgive me for the doubt I put you in, but +you looked so doleful at my first words that I could not resist the old +mischievous spirit." + +He leaned down and kissed her lips, and there was a long silence, +unbroken save by the chirping birds and rustling leaves. A short time +afterward thither came the veiled, elderly lady, accompanied by the +Major. + +"Alice, child, art here? I have found him, Major Trembath, my husband." + +"Mother!" joyfully cried the young man, as he flung himself into her +arms. + +"How tall you are, son Ande," said his mother, after their first +affectionate greeting; "yes, as tall as your father, and"--here she +turned her gaze upon Alice--"you have found a sister along with myself." + +"No, not sister, but my affianced wife," said Ande, proudly. + +"And I can call you daughter in reality," said happy Mrs. Trembath, as +she kissed her affectionately. + +But now the Bowling Green became crowded with people. The ball was over. +Gentlemen and tradespeople mingled in the sight-seeing of the great +event of that memorable day--the wrestling. A space had been cleared and +roped off in the centre of the Bowling Green, and soon forth came the +gladiators, great, tall, muscular fellows, farmers from the country, +miners from the tin mines, and seamen from Penzance and the Lizard +Point. The men from the Lizard were great, giant-like men over six feet +in stature. The spectators watched with intense interest. Jack Trewlan, +anxious once more for honours, was among them, but went down and out of +the lists in the very first contest. The poorest wrestlers were disposed +of first, and then came men of the first class. Among the latter was a +great Lizard Point fellow,--a veritable Goliath in size. Six feet, six +inches he stood in his stocking feet and weighed fully two and twenty +stone. The measurement of his chest was fifty-three inches, of his waist +thirty-nine, of his arms--the right biceps--nineteen inches, the +left--a trifle less; his limbs were in proportion to his other +measurements. A wild cheer went up from the Lizard men as he stood forth +in the roped arena. He had easily vanquished all his fellows,--the great +Lizard fellows were as wooden men in his powerful grasp,--and he was +entitled to do battle with the champion. + +There was another cheer, mainly from the tin miners and farmers, as the +champion of Cornwall, Tom Glaze, the victor of nineteen pitched battles, +came forth to do battle for the twentieth time for the position he held. +The champion was not near so tall or heavy as his opponent, but he was +stoutly and toughly built; his muscles were iron-like with constant +practice, and in his many battles he had gained that dexterity, +cautiousness, tack and trickiness, that was characteristic and essential +to a champion. + +"A tough opponent, Tom," said one of the gentlemen. + +"The bigger they are the heavier they fall," said Tom, and yet there was +a little doubt in his mind as he sized up the Goliath before him. A +moment they stood, their white duck wrestling jackets in relief against +the background, and then they closed into action. The young Lizard +fellow was cautious and wary. Tom Glaze seized his favourite hold,--the +celebrated Cornish hug, and back and forth they wavered, but the young +Colossus seemed to have his great limbs, like pillars, firmly rooted in +the ground. Glaze was as agile as a panther, twisting and trying trick +after trick. Once he nearly had him on the hip and a hoarse "Huzza" and +"Bravo" went up from many throats,--but it was only a partial success. +The young Lizard fellow now tried to bring into play his great strength, +but every grasp was eluded. Glaze had not been champion so long without +learning many things. + +"At un, Tom, thraw un down!" cried the men of Helston and the miners to +their champion. + +"At un, lad, heave un over thy 'ead!" exclaimed the Lizard and Penzance +men to their partisan. + +"Wait a bit," said a Lizard man, with a knowing wink to a companion, +"wait a bit, till 'e uses 'is strength; our man is only playing with un, +I tell'ee." + +"Ah, dear, dear,--us thought Glaze 'ad un then; but 'e's up again." + +"Bravo! Bravo!" shouted the men of Penzance and the Lizard, and they +fairly danced with delight, as Glaze went partially down. + +"No fall!" bawled the referee. + +"Ah was a fall, sure enough!" shouted an excited Lizard fellow; "I seed +un." + +"Seed un," snorted Tommy Puckinharn, who was near at hand; "thee doesn't +mean to say thee seed un with they great, fishy eyes of thine, do 'ee?" + +"Ah was a fall," persisted the Lizard man. + +"'Twasn't," said Tommy. + +"Ah was." + +"What's the use of saying ah was when ah wasn't," said Tommy, +philosophically. + +"'Ere, 'ere, no fighting," said a town beadle, as he came up to preserve +peace. + +The wrestlers after a brief rest again approached each other. Now in a +crouching position they circle around each other, each waiting for an +opportunity for a good hold. Suddenly they spring forward like tigers. +It was a collar and elbow hold; they tugged, strained, now pushing, now +pulling. Determination is on the features of each. It is apparent that +the young giant is exerting his strength to the utmost. He is slowly +pushing Glaze backward. Glaze gave way slowly and then with a smile and +a twist and a sudden jerk-- + +"Huzza! Huzza! Glaze forever!" bellowed the Helston men. The young +Lizard giant had gone, like a crashing oak, to the ground. + +"No fall," bawled the referee. The Lizard gladiator had but fallen to +his knees and was soon up again, and the contest was renewed. + +"Man alive! Did 'ee see un? 'E went down like a kibbel in a shaft," said +one tin miner to another. The one addressed answered not, but kept +shouting to Glaze: + +"The Carnish ankle kick, boy! Kick un in the ankle, and poke un over!" + +"Another case of Corineus and the giant Gog-ma-gog,"[8] said Captain Tom +Lanyan to his friend, the Major. + + [8] Wrestling match of Corineus, the Trojan, and Gog-ma-gog on + Plymouth Hoe--"Polyolbion," Michael Drayton, 1563-1631. + +"Aye, possibly," said the Major. + +On went the wrestling match, with the advantage at one moment to Glaze, +at another to the young opponent. Glaze seemed the better in agility and +wrestling tricks, but his skill in these things were offset by the +giant's strength and wariness. The crowd from a wildly shouting mass +became silent, and were alertly watching every movement of the straining +figures. They were at last becoming aware of what Glaze knew for quite a +time. The champion had met his match. He knew it, for with all of his +skill he was unable to overcome his opponent. But what was still more +manifest was that the young Lizard giant, with all of his strength, +could not conquer the old, wrestling hero. + +The time was up at last, and there were stout huzzas for both as they +shook hands. The decision went to Glaze, not on falls, but on points, as +he showed the greater skill. + +Then Glaze held up his hand for silence and began to speak. + +"I want to congratulate my opponent on his stout defence, and say 'e's +the hardest man I ever met in a wrastling match." + +There was a roar of cheers, and then when silence came, he continued: + +"Men, you knaw the decision is just as to points. My opponent could not +thraw me, as 'ee have seen, and I couldn't thraw 'im. Now, I'm getting +old for the ring, and am about going to quit wrastling. This is my last +battle. I 'ave only waited until I could find the man I couldn't thraw, +and now I've found un, I give to him the championship and all the +honours of the position. What do 'ee say? Is it right?" + +There was silence for a moment, and then, after the import of Glaze's +generous offer became more fully understood, there was a resounding +cheer that went up again and again. The people knew that, next to Glaze, +there was none more capable or worthy of defending the championship of +Cornwall than the young Lizard giant. + +"Do ye know, lad, who the young Lizard chap was?" asked the Major of +Ande,--but Ande was gone. Both wrestlers had been taken up on the +shoulders of the crowd and carried, with various shoutings, to the Angel +Inn. Ande followed, pushing and shoving his way through the crowd. When +he entered the Inn, he shouted, "Where's the champion?" + +"He's up in his room, changing his clothes," said the landlord. + +Ande pushed his way up the stairs and opened the door of the room +indicated. + +"Dick, Dick, Dick, old fellow!" + +"Ande,--why bless----" + +The two friends were locked in each others arms. Then came a time of +explanation. Dick had passed through the Rough Waters of the +Lycamahonings safely. He who had breasted the breakers of the Lizard +could easily take care of himself in the rapids. He was wounded, to be +sure, and the struggle through the rapids had exhausted him, but he was +picked up in the river and for some time was in the care of the good +settlers of Kittanning; then he had returned. + +"You must come back with me to see my father and mother and my intended +wife," said Ande. Ande insisted, and Dick yielded. They passed out +through the inn and down to the Bowling Green. There were Major +Trembath, Mrs. Trembath and Mistress Alice Vivian, to each of whom Dick +was successively introduced. + +"What's wrong, Dick?" asked Ande. Dick was staring with all his eyes at +the Major, and then he burst forth in answer: + +"Why, bless me, Ande, if the Major and old Hunter Tom are not the same, +they are brothers." + +"The same, Dick, lad," said the Major, smilingly, and Dick again grasped +his hand and shook it warmly. + +"I never expected to see you and Ande again, and I can't say how glad I +am that things have turned out as they have," said Dick. + +He explained how he had returned to his people, who had long mourned him +as dead, and how overjoyed they were to see him. He was now a +prosperous, independent farmer of the Lizard, and was also preparing to +enter the shipbuilding trade. "Thanks be," said he, in an undertone to +Ande, "to the mines of Sierro Do Frio." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +ANDE'S REVENGE + + ----"A grudge, time out of mind begun, + And mutually bequeathed from sire to son." + + --_Tatian_. + + +"Lanyan forever! Lanyan forever!" + +"Trembath forever! Trembath forever!" + +The old town of Helston was a roaring, gesticulating mass, and the +shouting of bellowing partisans reverberated up and down Coinage Hall +Street. Crowd met crowd, waving their respective banners, opprobious +names were shouted, fists flung in the air, and a special force of +officers were busy from early morn quieting unruly fellows, some of them +more stirred by the spirits of the Angel Inn than the spirits of +politics. It was the period of the election for the Reform Parliament. +Sir James Lanyan had come forth on the old party platform, and, most +unexpectedly, in opposition to him, came Andrew Trembath. The latter had +made himself eligible by the purchase of the Primrose Cottage, thus +making himself a landholder of forty shillings annual value. + +Towards noon the crowds converged upon the Bowling Green, where upon a +raised platform sat the Mayor, the town functionaries, the candidates, +and their proposers and seconds. + +The figure of Sir James was just as tall as of old; the same eagle nose +and piercing eyes; the same easy, urbane manner and distinguished +appearance. The Conservatives admired him. His wealth, astuteness, +experience, all urged the necessity of his return to the forum of +government. There was an easiness of manner in the very position Sir +James occupied that augured well his own hopes of the coming election. +Why should he not have hopes? The interests of the landed party were all +back of him. The Godolphins and all their followers were in his train. +Reform measures were dangerous in their eyes to the staid health, +political, of the country. + +On the left, Andrew Trembath was not so easy in his mind. Sir James was +an old general, and he knew it; but within Ande's breast was the buoyant +hopes of youth. Here was the first stroke of revenge against an ancient +foe. Could Sir James be beaten in his cherished hopes, and that by an +upstart of a hated family, the more triumph. + +The preliminary proceedings were gone through rapidly. Sir James, with a +good bit of wisdom, had selected as his proposer a retired country +gentleman and as his second a tradesman of Helston, thus drawing from +the sympathy of both classes. The proposer, however, weakened his cause +by his interlarding his speech with many classic quotations, learned no +doubt when he was a lad at Eton, and also by a most unfortunate +mentioning of the stain of treason on the name of the opposing +candidate. Sir James, himself, though he sympathised with his proposer, +felt irritated that he should make such a blunder, and a slight frown +passed over his placid features. + +The proposer of Andrew Trembath was none other than the Reverend Mr. +Trewan, headmaster of the Grammar School. In a short, neat speech, and +with a few, withering remarks, he scattered the arguments of the +proposer's speech in favour of Sir James. Then speaking of his +candidate, Andrew Trembath, he referred to his being a scholar of his +own school, his honesty, uprightness, and his grasp upon the problems +that were stirring old England to her very centre, and closed with an +able plea for the seating of ability, though that ability was young. +There were strong cheers and many "hears!" from the crowd on its +conclusion. But none of these preliminary cheers were so hearty as those +which greeted the second, as he arose to greet the audience. And no +wonder, for the seconder of Mr. Trewan's speech was the new champion of +Cornwall, Dick Thomas. Sir James looked a trifle worried, for he saw the +diplomacy in the choice of these. The headmaster of the Grammar School +had weight, and Dick Thomas had the hearts of the commonality. The +speech which he made was homely enough, and demonstrated that he was, as +he said, more a man of action than one of words. But he was Dick Thomas, +and Dick Thomas was a host. + +Sir James arose with a look of relief on his features. He was a man +accustomed to deal with the masses, and wished to offset, as much as +possible, the blunders of his own proposer and the enthusiasm of the +crowd over the speeches of the opposition. His speech was replete with +smooth phrases, and the whole was conducted to the close with the +arguments of a logician and the subtility of an old parliamentarian. He +demonstrated that he had a clear grasp on the problems of the day, and +the temper of the people toward them, but what he did not know was the +growing popular estimation of himself among the masses. They were +getting to realise that Sir James Lanyan was a "trimmer" and was more +for Sir James Lanyan than anything else. He said in part: + +"For upwards of a dozen years I have served the people of this section +as their representative in the House of Commons, and I trust that, at +this time, the confidence of the electors, that they have manifested so +often heretofore in my experience and labours, will still remain with +me. [Hisses and groans.] These are stirring times and the storms have +swept over, again and again, the ship of state, threatening to founder +her, and reduce the civilisation of the grandest and most enlightened +country under the sun to a melancholy wreck and ruin, battered and +beaten by every sea, and a prey of the pirates of Europe. To a careful +observer, what perils threaten our country? The spirit of the old-time +Luddites has again broken forth in the wrecking of machinery and +ruthless destruction of property, and there is trouble and turmoil on +every side that, unless checked by the firm hand of a Conservative +government, will bring anarchy and ruin. In the midst of all these +movements come our friends of the opposition with their so-called, +universal panacea of Reform. Reform! Reform what? + +"Would you reform the introduction of machinery? We cannot do it. If the +people themselves could see the benefits of the oncoming flood of +invention, they would not desire to do it. With the vision of a prophet +I clearly see the time when business shall be enlarged, living become +cheaper, wages higher, all on account of the increased output and +increased commerce brought and caused by the introduction of machinery. +Will this affect Cornwall? To-day, Cornwall has nothing but her farms, +her fisheries and her mines, but with the advent of new machinery will +come the spreading of new factories, until even within the 'Delectable +Duchy' shall roar and sound the noise of spindles, giving employment to +thousands of Cornishmen and their children. The increased wealth of the +country will add to the price to be obtained for fish commodities and +farm products, and there will be an era of prosperity for the hardy +miner, fisherman and farmer such as they have never dreamed of before. +Reform? Shall we reform the election laws and boroughs. The statement is +frequently made that the election laws give unequal representation, and +that there are members of the Commons not placed there by the people, +and it is true; but abolish the present system and you will purloin from +the nation the services of some of her stoutest pillars. If everything +is to depend upon a wider suffrage and the throwing out of what has been +called pocket boroughs, where would our broad-minded statesmen, who +have, temporarily, not the support of the people, come in? Had it not +been for a pocket borough, Burke, that Cicero of English politics, would +never have entered the halls of legislation. Had it not been for the +pocket borough, our most eminent statesmen, North, Flood, Canning, +Plunket, Brougham, and others, equally indispensable, would not have +gained a foothold in the parliamentarian halls. Sheridan, defeated at +Stafford, found support in Ilchester; Grey, refused by Northumberland, +was returned by Tavistock." + +Here Sir James was interrupted by a rough, country lout, who said +gravely that he had a question to ask of great importance. + +"Well, my man," and Sir James flashed a keen look at him. + +"I would like to ask," said the fellow with a leer, "whether m'lord +could lend me half a sovereign?" + +The absurdity of the thing gave the audience its desired fun, and a roar +of laughter came from the crowd. But Sir James was not the man to be put +down with the word of a buffoon. With a smile of sarcasm, he responded: + +"Yes, my man, I can lend you not only a half a sovereign, but twenty +sovereigns, when the cause of good government, which I represent, has +prevailed, and then you will need no borrowing, but you will have so +many, easily earned by yourself, that you will want to lend instead of +borrow. The very reason that so many are out of half sovereigns to-day +is because of the mob spirit and discontent stirred up by the element of +so-called reform. I ask whether it was patriotism that stirred up the +agitation for so-called reform? No. It could not have been that, for the +best good of the nation, at the present time, requires peace and +harmony." + +Continuing, Sir James referred to the agitation of France that gave vent +to Napoleon, and was interrupted here and there with various crys of +"Tommy-rot!" and "Gammon!" from his opponents, and equally strong +"Hears!" from the Conservative wing, and closed his speech with a strong +plea for the upholding of the old line party. + +He was not nearly so confident when he finished as when he began. He was +beginning to realise that there was an undercurrent against him, +personally. His agents had brought him word before of this, but he had +placed it all down to the spirit of the reform movement. But now he was +beginning to realise different. Dick Thomas and Ande's agents had not +been idle in the period of the canvass. Sir James' conduct in reference +to the Trembaths, to the Vivians, and his crookedness in politics, was +fully aired among the voters, and those who could not be persuaded to +vote against the old line policies, were moved, by the revelation of the +unscrupulous conduct of Sir James, to abstain from voting at all. + +There was silence when the new candidate, Andrew Trembath, arose to +respond. Shaking back the tangled masses of auburn hair from his +forehead, he opened his speech in clear, ringing tones. His introduction +demonstrated that he had a tolerably clear perception of the issues of +the day. He spoke feelingly of the popular agitation. + +"These riots, this breaking of machinery, this tumult in many parts of +the kingdom, to what is it due? To the spirit of reform? No. Rather is +it due to the desire of the people for better conditions. The time has +come when the voice of the people shall be heard, and that voice speaks +in no uncertain accents. Too long has the government been in the hands +of demagogues who have little to recommend them for election but +corruption; and now all over this fair land of ours the people have +arisen in their might, and demanded an extended suffrage. It is true, as +Sir James has said, that great and good men have been returned from +these pocket boroughs, but that single advantage can be offset by +innumerable and inevitable disadvantages. These pocket boroughs are +generally nests of corruption, held and dominated by some lord or +landholder. The half a dozen or so good men that were placed in position +by them can be offset by the hundreds of members that are fitter for +Newgate than for the parliamentarian halls." + +"Men like James Lanyan," shouted some one in the crowd. + +An angry hue was on Sir James' countenance for a moment, but neither he +nor Ande noticed the interruption. + +"What right has a green mound in a grassy field or a hayrick to send a +representative, while great and flourishing towns like Manchester and +Sheffield have none?" + +"Hear! Hear! Hear!" shouted many in the crowd. + +Continuing, Ande took up, one by one, the arguments of the opposition, +and tore them shred by shred, until not a vestige remained. Then he +triumphantly drew from his pocket a perfect arsenal of facts, culled +from Sir James' speech of years ago, when, turned down for a time by his +own party, he sought refuge in the ideas of reform. The very facts used +in his conversation with Squire Vivian, Captain Tom Lanyan and the +others, when around the tea table in Lanyan Hall so many years ago, and +which facts he used in a speech on the hustings at that time, were +quoted now, and they were like arrows piercing his very soul. The +Conservative wing were silent with consternation, and Sir James looked +down, uneasily. Then turning to the record of Sir James in the Commons, +he quoted how he had again and again voted against the will of his +constituents. Then after a few, withering flights of oratory, which sent +the Radicals wild with delight and chilled the Conservatives into icy +stillness, he said: + +"And now, members of the Conservative wing, you are going to vote for a +man who has uttered sentiments like these, and acted in this manner. I +need not speak to the members of my own party, I know their +determination for good government, but to you Conservatives. You are +going to vote for a man who has thus betrayed your sacred trust and thus +surrendered your standards to the enemy. What does all his actions and +speaking amount to in your minds? Just this, that though he is an +experienced hand, yet you know not what he stands for. Like a +vacillating weather vane, he is apt to be turned one way or the other as +the interests of Sir James Lanyan may direct." + +There was an uproarious "Hear! Hear!" from the Radicals, and the black +looks that the Conservatives turned on Sir James were perceived by even +that worthy himself. He shrugged his shoulders and took on his +indifferent and placid expression. But Andrew Trembath was not through +yet, for he continued bringing up clause after clause of Sir James' +speeches, sweeping the audience fairly off its feet with a torrent of +indignant oratory such as it had never before heard. All the poetry in +his nature, all the passion of years of wrong heaped upon his family, +burst forth then and there. There was no more applause from any in that +assemblage, for they were all so enthralled that they hung upon each +word uttered, riveted their eyes upon each gesture, and remained +motionless like a painted throng. Then turning from indignant invective, +he gazed lovingly over the Bowling Green and swept his vision around +toward the town, and his eyes became misty with emotion. + +"Helston! Dear old Helston!" he exclaimed, and he stretched out his arms +to the town and people, and there was such emotion, tenderness and love +in that tone that the crowd wept though they could not tell why. + +[Illustration: "He opened his speech in clear, ringing tones"] + +Sir James' proposer had called him a foreigner in little touch with +English ideals. He proved the contrary. He called vividly to mind the +days spent as a school lad among them, the exciting days of the hurling +match when Breage was defeated, and men nodded their heads and smiled +as they remembered. Then sweeping into the closing address, he said: + +"We need a strong and experienced hand at the helm in these perilous +times, it is true, but far more do we need honesty, virtue, and +manliness. Is youth, though inexperienced, yet with average +intelligence, to be despised and condemned by the very fact of youth? +Ask the rector or parish minister the names of the two most prominent +lights in the expansion of religion, and he will say young Saul and +youthful Timothy. Gray at thirty-four finished the most beautiful elegy +in the English tongue. Milton began his career at a tender age. +Shakespeare was but twenty-seven when his name became an authority on +the drama. Napoleon, in his meteoric career, astonished and convulsed +the world, yet he was a young man. What name more brilliant in English +annals for courage and success than that of the well-beloved Wolfe of +Quebec fame--yet he perished on the field of battle at the age of +thirty. + +"Civil government has also her young heroes. Need I mention the great +name of Burke, who, at the age of twenty-six, won for himself a +reputation for statesman-like judgment and skill that has placed his +name high on the imperishable roll of fame. Need I mention Fox, and that +other character who still lives as a blessing in the minds of +Englishmen--still lives as the greatest diplomatist of the age--still +lives in the agitation for liberty and fair representation that so +pervades the country to-day?" + +"Pitt! Pitt! Pitt!" roared the crowd. + +"Aye, you have named him. Ask any bookman for a life of William Pitt, +and he will hand you down a history of England from 1781 to 1806, for +from twenty-one years of age down to the day of his death, his life has +been a history of the empire. Is youth and inexperience to be despised? +No! No!" + +"No! No!" shouted the crowd, taking up the words of the speaker. "Huzza +for Andrew Trembath!" And for the space of a few minutes the crowd let +out its pent-up enthusiasm in wild gesticulating of hands and roaring of +voices. + +The speaker concluded with a peroration that was eloquent and +passionate. Pathetic passages at times hushed that great crowd into +silence, moved it to tears, and then again swayed it to applause, and +when it was finished, and the speaker resumed his seat, there was +silence for a moment--then, like the roaring of great guns in battle +action, the throng, Radical and Conservative, sent up shout after shout, +that reverberated again and again o'er the town of Helston, and caused +the birds in the neighbouring trees to take refuge in flight. Such a +speech had never been delivered from the hustings before. Old men shook +their heads sagely, and muttered to each other that in a short time +another Pitt would astonish England and the world, and that one would be +from Cornwall. + +Suffice it to say, that Andrew Trembath was elected by an overwhelming +vote as M. P. for Helston. + +Old Parson Trant met him the next day near the Primrose Cottage, and +congratulated him on his election and bright, future prospects. + +"I had a purpose in view," said Ande. "It was not so much my desire to +enter Parliament as my antagonism to Sir James. I have had my first +revenge, and there are others to follow." + +"Lad, lad," said the old parson, as he sadly shook his head, "I like not +that revengeful spirit, though you have had much provocation. There is a +better way of revenge." + +"What way?" + +"'If thy enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink.'" + +Ande said nothing, and the conversation, after a time, passed to other +themes. + +After his defeat, Sir James Lanyan gave his attention to speculation, +but the ventures turning out unprofitable, he was compelled to sell +Trembath Manor, through his solicitors, to the agents of a wealthy +American traveller. But this was but a drop in the bucket of his +financial reverses, and Lanyan Hall followed suit. The purchaser of +Lanyan Hall was Andrew Trembath, but the fact was unknown to any one but +old Parson Trant, to whom Ande had confided the secret of his wealth. +Subsequently the purchaser was revealed to Sir James, and the revelation +seemed a crushing blow to him, for he sickened and began to sink +rapidly. + +"'Tis my second revenge," said Ande to old Parson Trant, and there was a +grim, determined look on his features. "There are others to follow." + +"Lad, lad, you must not go on in this way. Vengeance is of God. +'Vengeance is mine, I will repay.' There is a much better way, and you +can do me, your old pastor, a favour, and render God a service at the +same time." The old parson drew a pathetic picture of Sir James in his +present condition, poor, helplessly sinking into the grave. To follow up +any more of this revenge was hellish. It belied Ande's nature to +continue thus, and if this revenge should continue, he, the parson, +could not love him any more. There was one thing that would prolong Sir +James' life, and that was the bringing back to him of his son, Richard, +who was leading a wild, vicious life somewhere in London. This was the +report of the physician. "He must be brought back to his father, who is +calling for him. Who is better fitted for that mission than yourself, +Master Ande? You are going to attend Parliament in a few weeks. Go a +little before--aye, go at once to London, and take up this mission." + +"I! I!" stammered Ande, in some astonishment and with a little of the +old, angry feeling tingling in his veins. "You know what we have +suffered--you----" + +"But, Ande," interrupted the old rector, as he placed his arm around his +shoulder in the same, affectionate manner as in the olden days, and with +kind, loving tones resumed, "If Christ had felt that way to us, where +would we be?" The old parson preached one of the most appealing sermons, +then and there, that he had ever delivered. Concluding, he said, quoting +the words of Scripture: "'Ye have heard that it hath been said an eye +for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; but I say unto ye, resist not evil. +Ye have heard that it hath been said, ye shall love thy neighbour and +hate thine enemy; but I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them +that curse you, do good to them that hate you,--that ye may be the +children of your Father in heaven.' 'Be not overcome of evil, but +overcome evil with good.'" + +"Would it not be hypocritical to show kindness, when you are bitter with +revenge within?" + +"No; by showing kindness, even though you do not feel it within, yet +nevertheless it has a healthy action on the soul. Do a kindness and you +grow kind. We become what we do, my lad. Do it now, not because of your +feelings, but because the Lord commanded it. And by and by you will do +kindness to an enemy because your own heart commands it." + +"I will go in the morning." + +"And God will bless you, my son," said the old rector, as he parted from +him and wended his way home. There, the parson mentioned the matter to +his wife, Harriet, with some doubt as to the issue. + +"I fear me, Harriet, it is like sending a fire-brand to quench a +fire-brand." + +Andrew Trembath was true to his promise, for that week saw him in +London, actively pushing the search. Hearing of a midnight brawl, in +which Richard was engaged, and which was publicly published in the +newspapers, he sought that quarter, but Richard, fearing perhaps the +police, had fled. His father had also heard of the brawl. It was the +last of a series of crushing disgraces on the part of his son that sent +Sir James into the grave. Ande did not give up the search, but +Parliament convening, he was forced to give more time to other affairs. + +It was in the early hours of the morning when one of the night sessions +of Parliament adjourned, and Andrew Trembath, tired of the stupid, +blocking tactics of those opposed to reform, was wending his way home to +his rented quarters in Portman Square. The streets were deserted and he +hastened along absorbed in his thoughts. A figure stole out from the +shadow of some buildings in his rear. There was a quick leap, the +glitter of steel in the air, and then Ande felt a stinging sensation in +his shoulder. Like a flash he turned and had his assailant pinioned in +an iron grip. He struggled to release himself, but to no avail. The +knife dropped with a clang to the pavement and Ande kicked it from him. +The light of a street lamp flashed on the would-be assassin's features. + +"Richard Lanyan! You! You! You, who broke your father's heart,--you, the +Etonian scholar,--you, base as you are, stoop to be the assassin!" + +"Yes, curse you!" gritted the answer from between the clenched teeth of +the writhing assailant. + +"And why?" + +"Because you have been the ruin of father, and not I. You occupy his +place in Parliament. You took away Lanyan Hall. You took away the only +woman I ever loved, and it is--revenge." + +"Lanyan, listen to me," sternly, and still keeping his grip. Ande +related in brief epitome the injuries he and his and the Vivians had +received at the hands of Richard and his father, closing with the +question: "Who has been the injured party? Your father's place I occupy +because the people put me there. Your father lost Lanyan Hall because of +his foolish speculations. If I hadn't bought it, some one else would. +His death was mainly brought on by your own sottish conduct." + +The eyes of Lanyan flamed with sullen passion, as he muttered, "I'll not +endure this from you," and again made an effort to escape. + +"Make another effort to escape and I hand you over to the watchman, or +perhaps better still I could kill you where you are. What would the law +and opinion say if I should? They would say it was good riddance of a +rough character and in self-defence, and you see I have the strength to +carry it out." + +Lanyan paled a little, notwithstanding the brave heart he had, for he +realised that he was but feeble in the hands of this man, his captor. He +ceased his struggles and listened sullenly. + +"But I have other plans," said Ande, gently. "I believe the fellow who +won a prize at Eton is capable of better things. I place the best +construction on your past actions. It was the ungovernable love for +Mistress Alice Vivian that caused much of your past action." + +There was no answer. + +"I know that was the cause, and also the cause of your whole life being +spent thus, and also of this last attempted deed. And I had been +searching for you for months before your father's death, plunging into +every slum and dive of London. I promised to bring you back to your +father, and thus prolong his days. Your name was the last he called upon +in his delirium. I tried to find you, but failed." + +Ande released his grasp, for it was unnecessary. Lanyan was weeping in +an agony of remorse and wretchedness. + +"But still the hour is not too late now to begin again in right paths, +and rear up your family name to its former, ancestral honour. You can do +it." + +"I cannot," groaned Lanyan, all hatred and vengeance apparently gone +from him. "I cannot; I have no money, and to live honestly in a poor +position----No--No." + +"I will help you. Come now, Lanyan, let us forget the past evils between +our families. Oh, think how good God is to prevent you in the commission +of a great crime, this night, that would blast your name irretrievably. +God is better to us both than we deserve. He bestowed upon us these +minds, these souls, and placed us in a beautiful world, and yet we abuse +His gifts. Think, Lanyan, that you and I have souls to present upright +and pure before the great God, the Father. It is a terrible thing to +think that these passions, if we allow them to rule us here, by God's +judgment, they shall rule us in the future. I confess that my hatred for +you and yours has mastered me heretofore, but Parson Trant preached me +a special sermon privately, when he asked me to seek you, and I have +revolved it over and over again in my mind, and, with God's help, which +I prayed for and received, my hatred is gone. If I had found you before, +I should not have spoken to you in this way. I should have probably +mentioned your father's desire to see you and left. Now it is different. +Let the past be past, and here is my hand." + +Lanyan grasped the hand extended to him and there was a wavering in his +voice as he said: + +"Trembath, you have a much better nature than I have. I must go." + +"No, no," said Ande, detaining him, and he poured forth his plan, then +and there, for the turning over of Lanyan Hall to Richard. This was +conditioned on his reform. + +Richard was to have possession of the ancestral place at a nominal rent, +and when the rent would total the sum Ande had paid for it, the deed of +complete ownership was to pass over to Richard. + +There was silence for a moment. + +"Come," said Ande, as he placed one arm over his shoulder, "don't on +account of past ill feeling refuse this chance of making a man of +yourself and uplifting, once again, your ancient family." + +There was a period of inward conflict in the breast of the man beside +him, and then, in resolute tones, he answered, simply: "I'll try. +Forgive me, Trembath, for to-night's action, and for the injustice done +by our family." + +The two men shook hands firmly, and separated, Ande to seek a surgeon to +have his wound dressed. But the wound gave him little pain, and what +pain there was was wonderfully alleviated by the gladness of soul +within. He knew that the best vengeance was forgiveness, as the old +rector had said. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +CHRISTMAS IN THE OLD HALL + + "Lo, now is come the Christmas feast + Let every man be jolly, + Each room with yvie leaves is dress'd + And every post with holly; + Now all our neighbours' chimneys smoke + And Christmas blocks are burning, + Their ovens, they with baked meats choke, + And all their spits are turning; + Without the door let sorrow lie, + And if for cold it hap to die, + We'll bury un in a Christmas pie, + And evermore be merry." + + --_Withers_. + + +"Ah, this is like Christmas," said the old Major as he wended his way +with his wife and Ande to Trembath Manor on Christmas eve. The Manor was +to be reopened that night and the strange owner, through his secretary, +had sent out invitations to the country around, and among those +receiving invitations were the Major and his wife and son. + +They passed through the gates, the old Major pausing a moment to scan +the Trembath arms and remarking, "I am glad the new owner has not seen +fit to remove our coat-of-arms from the gates." + +"The drive-way is in better shape than it was in the days of Squire +Vivian," said Ande, as the gravel crunched under their advancing steps. + +"A careful and neat owner; it will do me good to meet him," said the +Major. + +Forth through the trees ahead gleamed the twinkling lights of many +windows, only obstructed by the passing of forms within and the figures +of many great holly wreaths. The great lantern in front of the double +doors was gleaming brilliantly through its festoons of evergreen, and +from the hall could be heard the sound of ringing festivity and +jollification. The door was opened widely at the sound of the great +knocker, and the butler footman, bowing low, ushered them into the great +hall. Groups of elderly people were engaged at their favourite game, +whist, at different tables, and down the long room were others engaged +in sundry amusements. The panelled walls had been rewaxed and were +glistening with holly and mistletoe. The large picture of Squire +Vivian's father still smiled friendly at the picture of King George II +on the other wall, and in the great open fireplace roared, cracked, +leaped, danced and shouted with all the ecstacy of Christmas jollity the +flames of the great yule log. + +"Where's the new squire?" whispered the old Major to his son. He had +hardly asked the question, before he started back in amazement at a +sight he saw over the great, panelled fireplace. Two great +oil-paintings, heavy in their rich framings, riveted his attention. He +stared at them and then at the crowd of Christmas revellers, who, though +now thoroughly quieted, yet had gleams of suppressed merriment on their +countenances. What could it mean? Those pictures? Where had they +obtained them? Was his mind affected? He knew that he was growing old, +and as he dazedly thought of this, he hurriedly passed his hand through +his whitened hair, a gnarled, brown bough in the midst of a snowdrift. +The folding doors, separating the servants' hall from the apartment they +were in, were thrown open, revealing the merry faces of group after +group of servants. It was a tableau of suppressed excitement, broken at +length by the voice of Parson Trant. + +"My friends, we have gathered here not only for Christmas festivity, but +to do honour to the dead and to the living." Pointing to the picture on +the right, he continued: "Behold the picture of Captain Andrew Trembath. +You are all aware of the terrible injustice done his memory. He was the +most patriotic and loyal of Cornish gentlemen. His long war record amply +testifies the fact. He was wounded at Prestonpans, and at Culloden, and +did worthy service under Braddock in America. After that deplorable +battle, he was captured by the Indians, escaped from them, slew a French +officer, garbed himself in his uniform and for greater security in the +enemy's country inserted his name in the dead officer's commission +papers. He was accidentally shot by the troops of General Armstrong, the +thought of treason penetrated the public mind and the estate of Trembath +was confiscated. Yet, after all these years truth prevails. An old +snuff-box, found in the wilds of America, reveals the secret, and though +dead, Captain Andrew Trembath is once more honoured by the people as a +faithful soldier and loyal subject of the King." Then, turning to the +other picture, he continued: + +"Behold the picture of Major Thomas Trembath, who served the King nobly +in the Peninsular campaign, in the War of the American Colonies and in +the Canadian War. He disappeared, due to an impression conveyed to him +that his family was dead, and for many long years was an exile in the +wilds of America. Then as a hunter he lived by the pursuit of game. To +the place of his abode came his son, Andrew Trembath, and after a time +became known to him, and through the finding of the records of the +snuff-box, already mentioned, he is restored to his former +honours,--friends and country. His life formerly was sad, now we trust +his declining years will be full of sunshine, and I greet and welcome +him as Squire Trembath, the rightful master of Trembath Manor." + +"Welcome to your own, again, comrade," said old Captain Tom Lanyan, as +he heartily shook the squire's hand. + +Others crowded around the old squire, among them Dick Thomas, Tom Glaze, +and numerous of the parish gentry. + +The old squire and his wife were so dazed that they could not speak, and +so they were escorted to the great armchairs in readiness for them near +the great yule log, and one by one the Christmas guests came near and +gave their greetings. When it was all finished, the new squire found his +voice. + +"I am glad, my friends, to be with you here in the hall of my fathers, +but all this seems too wonderful to me to be true; yet I cannot help but +believe what has been told me--but how has all this come about? Has the +government----" + +"There has not been anything wonderful about it but the kindness of +Providence," said Ande Trembath, arising to speak. "Years ago, when a +lad, I resolved to remove the stain of treason from our name. My life +here and at school is familiar to you all. By a strange series of +adventures my classmate, Dick Thomas, and myself found ourselves adrift +on a bit of wreckage in the English channel. We were picked up by a +Brazilian ship and after a weary journey were landed at Rio de Janeiro. +For some time we laboured in the fields of planters, and then betook our +way inland to the ridges of Sierro Do Frio. It was here that we laboured +under a brazen sun for the space of three years. I cannot tell of all +the various vicissitudes that overtook us there. At one time I was down +with fever and, but for the help of Dick, would have succumbed to its +ravages. At another time I repaid the debt by nursing Dick through a +serious illness. Gentlemen, you have all seen him wrestle with Tom +Glaze, but he was not the hardest opponent he met. He had the hardihood +to win championship honours in a struggle with an immense Brazilian +puma, or mountain lion. I do not remember whether Dick sprang at the +lion or the lion at him. All I remember was seeing man and beast in a +hideous mix-up, worse than any wrestling match I had ever seen. I ran +to our cabin for a gun, but it was unnecessary, for when I returned, +there were Dick and the lion stretched beside each other. He had choked +it to death, but was so lacerated himself that it was months before he +became well. In the midst of our work we were successful, both in +diamonds and gold, and quitted the regions wealthy men. I deposited my +wealth in the banks of New Orleans, and the charm of the hunting life +still being on me, and being anxious to visit the place of my +grandfather's death, we journeyed to the Kittanning region. The result +of that Kittanning trip is now known to all England. I heard that the +Manor was for sale, and secretly, through agents, purchased it. And now, +father and mother, I hand over to you the title deeds of Trembath Manor +and the Wheal Whimble tin mine as a Christmas present. I wish also to +add this check on the Bank of England for the sum of fifty thousand +pounds. A merry Christmas, and may you have many, happy years in the +home of our people." + +"Merry Christmas! 'Tis the merriest Christmas I have had in years," said +the old squire with emotion, as he wiped the tears away, that would +persist in gathering in his eyes. + +Mrs. Elizabeth Trembath said nothing, but her bright shining eyes +revealed her happiness as she gently pulled her son's head down and +kissed him. + +Here the thrumming of a harp was heard and a curtain was drawn from an +alcove near by, revealing Uncle Billy, the droll, with an orchestra at +his back. In the meantime Ande withdrew. The droll and his orchestra +paused not a moment, but plunged, with voices and instruments combined, +into the Hymn of the Lark. + +The song was sung to its very end, and the old squire, as he nodded, +said, "Yes, yes, it's true; evil fails at last and right prevails." + +He had hardly finished speaking when the orchestra burst into strains of +Mendelssohn, and down the great, hall stairway came a procession such as +it had never witnessed before. First came a troop of little girls +bearing flowers and scattering them profusely in the way. Then followed +ladies. "Ah, the bridesmaids," whispered some one, and then followed by +their respective attendants, in regular procession, came Ande Trembath +and his affianced bride, Mistress Alice Vivian. Slowly they proceeded up +the hall and took their respective positions before old Parson Trant. +The orchestra gave one clashing peal of music and then was silent, and +then arose the mellow voice of the rector in the marriage ceremony of +the Church of England. At the words, "Can any man say aught why these +two should not be joined together in holy wedlock," the voice of the +squire was heard. + +"There have been so many things happening on this Christmas eve, that I +hesitate to interrupt the service, but have the laws of England changed +in my absence. I mean that law that states that no marriages are lawful +except those performed in a parish church?" + +"The laws of England are the same," said Parson Trant, "but we have a +special dispensation from the archbishop, dispensing with the banns, and +allowing, in consideration of the return of Squire Trembath and the +happiness of this occasion, the ceremony to be performed in the Manor of +Trembath." + +"Ah, that is different; my blessing and heartiest well wishes," said the +squire, as he sank back in his armchair. + +After the ceremony all adjourned to the dining hall, where an elaborate +wedding dinner awaited them. During the wedding feast the old squire +told of his many adventures, to which Dick and Ande added some of their +own. + +"It tells like a story-book," said Tom Glaze, in admiration. + +"Or rather like a drama," said bluff Captain Tom Lanyan. "Wouldn't I +have liked to have been in the Shawnee fight," and the tough, old, +Wellington veteran rubbed his hands in delight. + +"I have a bit of news," said Ande, as he drew a letter from his pocket. +"Here is a letter from Hugh Lark in America, just received." He scanned +it rapidly and replaced it, and then turned with a smile to his father +and the company. "He says that he has given up the idea of the silver +mine, that Professor Bill Banks has been elected to Congress, and that +old Burke still thinks Bill is high larndt." + +The voices of carol singers were heard without, and the wedding dinner +being ended, they again returned to the main hall to enjoy the singing. +The "curl" singers were followed by the old play of St. George and the +Turk, performed by village lads. Then, in the closing scenes of the +evening's festivities, Parson Trant proposed his favourite hymn, and +out on the evening air, echoing even far beyond the walls of Trembath +Manor, the mellow voices of the trained singers, the piping of childish +voices, the worn voices of the older parties, and the music of the +droll's orchestra mingling all together, pealed the strains of Cowper's +hymn: + + "God moves in a mysterious way, + His wonders to perform, + He plants his footsteps in the sea + And rides upon the storm." + + +THE END + + + + + All Lovers _of_ Nature Should Read + + "Jay Gould Harmon" + + with + + Maine Folks + + BY + + GEORGE SELWYN KIMBALL + + Ten + A Beautiful Full Page + Picture _of_ Illustrations + Life in _the_ [Illustration] with + Maine Woods Frontispiece + in Color + Stunning + Cover Price $1.50 + + + + ANOTHER + "QUINCY ADAMS SAWYER" + + C. M. Clark Publishing Co., Inc., Boston + + + + + Lords of the Soil + + By LYDIA A. JOCELYN ... _and_ ... NATHAN J. CUFFEE + + A Story of Indian Life Among + the Early English Settlers.... + + Since the days of Fennimore Cooper there has been no Indian book so + true to life, as brilliantly written or as interesting. + + 10 Full-Page Pictures with Colored + Frontispiece by A. B. Shute.... + + 480 pages that one is sure to read without + stopping. + + Mrs. Jocelyn has championed the Indian cause in her novel, showing + in vivid colors the gross injustice and rapacity of the early white + settlers in their treatment of the magnanimous and unsuspecting + "Lords of the Soil." + + Price, . . . . $1.50 + + Sold by all Booksellers or sent postpaid by the Publishers on + receipt of price + + C. M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO., Inc., + + 211 Tremont Street, ... Boston, Mass. + + + + + THE + Baronet Rag-Picker + + _A ROMANCE OF LOVE AND ADVENTURE_ + + By CHARLES S. COOM + + MR. COOM HAS WRITTEN OF CLEVER, LOVABLE PEOPLE + SUCH AS WE ALL KNOW IN EVERY DAY LIFE + + Ten Full-Page + Illustrations with + Colored Frontispiece + + 380 Pages of most Bound in Silk + interesting reading Cloth stamped in + and a story that will many colors making + please every one most unique and + attractive Cover + + In Paper, Press-work + and Typography + it is the climax of + Bookmaking + + RETAIL PRICE + + $1.50 + + FOR SALE BY ALL BOOKSELLERS OR SENT POSTPAID + BY THE PUBLISHERS ON RECEIPT OF PRICE + + C. M. Clark Publishing Co., Inc. + 211 Tremont St. Boston, Mass. + + + + + Hope Hathaway + + _IS ANOTHER STRONG WESTERN STORY OF MONTANA RANCH LIFE BY THE AUTHOR + OF_ "Marie of the Lower Ranch," _AND WITH EACH COPY THE PUBLISHERS + ARE GIVING_ + + FREE + + Eight Stirring Pictures + + _BY_ + + CHARLES M. RUSSELL + + _The Cowboy Artist_ + + _These pictures are the exact size and true reproductions of the + originals and are all ready for framing_ + + [Illustration] + + _The above pictures are reproductions of three of the originals._ + + Price of Book and Pictures, $1.50 + + C. M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO., (_Inc._) + + _BOSTON, MASS._ + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +Some printing errors in punctuation have been corrected. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDE TREMBATH*** + + +******* This file should be named 39606.txt or 39606.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/9/6/0/39606 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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