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diff --git a/old/68888-0.txt b/old/68888-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index ef718a2..0000000 --- a/old/68888-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9539 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of How Jack Mackenzie won his epaulettes, -by Gordon Stables - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: How Jack Mackenzie won his epaulettes - -Author: Gordon Stables - -Release Date: September 1, 2022 [eBook #68888] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Al Haines - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOW JACK MACKENZIE WON HIS -EPAULETTES *** - - - - - - - -[Transcriber's note: WARNING: some words and language in this book -may be offensive to modern readers.] - - - - - -[Illustration: Cover art] - - - -[Frontispiece: He dashed the stone into the dying embers.] - - - - HOW JACK MACKENZIE - WON HIS EPAULETTES - - - By - GORDON STABLES, M.D., C.M. - - - - THOMAS NELSON AND SONS - LONDON, EDINBURGH, DUBLIN - AND NEW YORK - 1906 - - - - -PREFACE. - -There is a glamour and romance about war that appeals to the heart of -every young man worthy of the name in these islands. This is as it -should be. We are a nation of sailors, it is true, but many a -blood-red field can bear witness that we are soldiers also, when we -have the right man to lead us. - -A weapon, however, that is left too long in its scabbard is apt to -rust therein. This was the state in which we found the British sword -when the fiery cross was sent round in 1853. We had not been at war -for forty years before this, and even many of our generals had -forgotten all about the art. Hence the terrible muddle and -mismanagement witnessed in the Crimea. Our poor fellows were -positively sent off as empty-handed as if going to a grand parade or -soldiers' picnic, and indeed but for individual courage, and good -luck, the invasion would have ended in national disaster and -disgrace, for us as well as for our brave allies the French. - -I have no desire to dispel the romance that surrounds as with a halo -the noble and necessary art of war. But I think every young fellow -should know that to be a real soldier it is necessary for him to be -not only a fighting man and a brave man in the field, but a perfect -camp's-man also; and he can never learn to be so in barracks, but on -the tented field, in times of peace. - -It is for this reason that the sailor, if I may be allowed to say a -word in favour of the service to which I belong, makes the best -soldier. Captain Peel's brigade proved this in the trenches. - -In the second book of this story, the youthful reader will find -fighting and bloodshed enough, and horrors too. But the tale is all -true, sadly, terribly true. Hear what Sir Evelyn Wood says: "It may -be asked, Why recall these dismal stories? Because ...... to the -present generation our hideous sacrifice of soldiers in the Crimea is -but little more known than the sufferings of our troops at Walcheren -and in the Peninsula. I believe in the advantage of telling those -who elect parliamentary representatives what has happened and what -may happen again, unless a high standard of administrative efficiency -is maintained. This cannot be attained unless the necessary -departments are practised in their duties during peace." - -* * * * * * - -"Peace hath her victories, no less renowned than war." - - -In my first book, then, I have endeavoured to give a sketch of the -sailor's life in the piping times of peace, and most of the sketches -and little adventures and yarns are drawn from the life. Dr. Reikie, -who is constantly in the pursuit of science under difficulties, was a -real character. So were Sturdy, Gribble, Fitzgerald, Captain -Gillespie, and the marine Paddy O'Bayne. - - - - -_CONTENTS._ - - -Book First. - -_IN PIPING TIMES OF PEACE._ - - -_I. Wee Johnnie Greybreeks_ - -_II. Life in Summer Loaning_ - -_III. Mrs. Malony's Wedding-ring_ - -_IV. "I'll be a Sailor or a Soldier"_ - -_V. "Hullo, Johnnie Greybreeks! I'm your Uncle"_ - -_VI. "The Old Lady had a Woman's Heart after all"_ - -_VII. "Hard a-Port!"_ - -_VIII. Jack's Sea-daddy_ - -_IX. In the good old "_Gurnet_"_ - -_X. Paddy's Adventure--Fred Harris proves himself a Hero_ - -_XI. A Tragedy--Auld Reikie pursues Science under Difficulties_ - -_XII. Tom Finch and the Shark--Shooting in the Dismal Swamp--Death -and Promotion_ - -_XIII. Paddy's Hybrid--"A quare, quare Baste, Sorr"--Tricky -Niggers--Black Man as Cook--War declared_ - - - -Book Second. - -_FOR HONOUR AND GLORY._ - -_I. "Blow, Good Wind, and waft us East"_ - -_II. A Ghastly Adventure--The Embarkation--A Stormy Landing_ - -_III. A field of Heroes--"On, Lads, On!"--Brave Codrington--Panic and -Terror_ - -_IV. The Kilted Warriors of the North--The Terrible Struggle for -Kourgané Hill--The Impetuous 93rd--Victory!_ - -_V. A Walk across the Battle-field--Ghastly Sights--Brave Surgeon -Thompson of the 44th--Jack's Strange Adventure_ - -_VI. The First Great Bombardment--Ships versus Forts--Poor Boy -Harris--"Tell 'em I died like a Thousand o' Bricks"_ - -_VII. The Victorious Charge of the Heavy Brigade--The Scotch Wife and -the Turks--The Light Brigade and their Awful Charge_ - -_VIII. The Truth from a Russian--Parable of the Stoat and the Wild -Cat--Day-dawn of the Memorable Fifth_ - -_IX. The Battle of Inkermann--The Soldiers' Own_ - -_X. The Awful Gale--In Camp before Sebastopol--Letters from Home_ - -_XI. The Horrors of Scutari_ - -_XII. Pelissier to the Front--Death of Lord Raglan_ - -_XIII. The Russian Bear at Bay--The Last Act of the Tragic War_ - -_XIV. "Remember, we shall all meet again some Christmas Eve on High"_ - - - - -LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. - - -_He dashed the stone into the dying embers_ . . . _Frontispiece_ - -_He threw up his arms, and fell flat on his face_ . . . _Vignette_ -[missing from source book] - -_He crept nearer and nearer to the window_ - -"_This is Jack_" - -_He felt a weight on his back_ - -_He has seized the colours, and his wild slogan can be heard high -above the roar_ - -_She laid about her right and left_ - -"_Maggie!_"--"_Jack!_" - - - - -HOW JACK MACKENZIE WON HIS EPAULETTES. - - - -Book First. - -_IN PIPING TIMES OF PEACE._ - - -CHAPTER I. - -WEE JOHNNIE GREYBREEKS. - -It was what is called a real old-fashioned Yuletide. The snow had -been falling, falling, falling all day long; it had begun at grey -daylight in the morning, in little pellets like millet seed, which -lay white and unmelted on the frozen pavements. But as the hours -went by, these were changed for flakes as big and broad as -butterflies' wings, that fell fast and "eident" all the day; and that -night the more aristocratic thoroughfares of Glasgow were as silent -as a city of the dead. - -Not that they were deserted by any means, for passengers flitted -about in garments draped with snow, and snow-laden cabs drove past, -but not a sound could be heard from hoof of horse or foot of man. - -It was not cold, however. There was no high wind to powder the -flakes or grind them into ice-dust, or raise wreaths along the -pathways; and so pure was the air, that but to breathe it for a -little while was to purify every drop of blood in one's body from -heart to head and heels, to heighten the vital flame, and to make one -feel as happy and contented as one should ever be about a Christmas -time. - -From the windows of many a beautiful villa in this picture of a -winter's night there shone, directly out upon the snow-clad lawns and -ghost-like bushes, the ruddy light of cosily-furnished rooms, where -rosy children romped and played, while around the fire sat their -elders, "doucely" talking about the days of "auld lang syne." - -One room in a villa of larger size and more pretentious architecture -than its fellows looked particularly bright and cheerful. It was -tastefully furnished, and here and there in corners stood tall lamps -with coloured shades, while in the centre was placed a lordly -Christmas tree. No wonder that the ring of prettily-attired children -around gazed with admiration on this masterpiece of decoration. It -was indeed very beautiful, its green and spreading branches laden -with light and the sunshine of a hundred toys. - -But listen! the music of a piano and harp strikes up, and now the -children, big and little, join hands and go daftly dancing round the -tree. Till one wee toddler tumbles; then the ring is broken, and -half a dozen at least are piled on top of her. The very house seems -to shake now with the sound of mirth and laughter, the shrill treble -of the youngsters receiving a deep and hearty bass in the voices of -two jolly-looking elderly gentlemen, who are standing on the hearth -with their backs to the fire. - -But once again the ring is formed, once again the music that had been -partially interrupted is heard, and once again the children dance -jubilantly round, madder and wilder now than ever, singing,-- - - "Here we go round and round and round, - Here we go round the Christmas tree." - - -The elderly gentlemen who stood with their backs to the fire were -spectators of all this fun, frolic, and jollity. But they were not -the only ones. - -For past the broad and open gate, as he had been creeping through the -snow--oh so slowly and wearily--a tiny boy, attracted by the sound of -the gladsome voices, had paused to listen. Listening or looking is -such a cheap pleasure that even the very poorest can indulge in it. -The snowflakes had for a time ceased falling, and from behind a mass -of clouds the moon was struggling. But the red rays from the window -more than rivalled its splendour, and very inviting indeed did they -appear to the little wanderer. He first looked in through the gate, -then he crept in through it. Nearer and nearer to the window, closer -and closer to the joy within, till the lamplight shone directly on -his white, pinched face, and glittered in his dark and wondering -eyes, as he stood there keeping hold of a snowy branch with one hand, -as if afraid of falling. - -To listen and to look on while the rich enjoy themselves--oh yes, -these are the privileges of the very poor! But somehow on the -present occasion little Jack Mackenzie was doing more than simply -listening and looking. Quite unintentionally, remember. He was -associating himself with all the games and pleasure inside the room. -He was no longer a thinly-clothed, bare-footed laddie, shivering in -the winter's snow; he was one of that prettily-dressed crowd of -beautiful children playing around the Christmas tree. Fairies he -called them in his own mind; for he had once been treated to a -gallery seat at a pantomime, and this was just like that, only ever -so much more beautiful and natural. No wonder he felt interested and -entranced, or that several times his lips parted to give utterance to -the exclamation "Oh!" though he always restrained himself in time. - -Was it any wonder this poor, half-starved boy was delighted with the -scene before him? It was, he thought, as different from what he was -used to behold in that part of the city he called his home, as the -heaven his mother often spoke about must be from earth--that heaven -to which his father had gone, long, long, long ago, so long ago that -he couldn't remember him, and always thought of him only as a saint -Up Yonder somewhere, where he himself would go one day if he was good. - -So completely are Jack Mackenzie's senses enthralled, that he does -not hear the sound of a manly voice singing adown the broad terrace, -but coming nearer and nearer every moment,-- - - "'Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, - Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home. - A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there, - Which seek through the world is ne'er met with elsewhere. - Home, home, etc. - - "An exile from home, splendour dazzles in vain: - O give me my lowly thatched cottage again!" - - -No, Jack doesn't hear the song. Nor does he see the singer, until he -is suddenly caught by one shoulder and wheeled right round to -confront a well-dressed and handsome man with a huge brown beard, on -which melted snow-flakes sparkle like diamonds. - -"Hullo! hullo! so I've caught you, have I?" The new-comer had bent -down, and was gazing straight into Jack's face. - -"Caught me, sir!" replied the boy, with fearless innocence; "did--did -you want to catch me, sir?" - -"Want to catch you, you young rascal! Come, give an account of -yourself. What are you? A burglar's boy, eh?" - -Jack looked a little puzzled. He put his hand up as if to feel that -his cap was on. It was only a little old glengarry, with a hole -where the top used to be, and through which a lock of the lad's hair -always straggled. - -"No, sir, I'm nothing yet. Was you looking for somebody to be a -burglar's boy, sir? I would be it if it was nice. I want to work -for mother and Siss, you know. But what do burglars do, sir? Mind, -I'm not afraid of work, and I might get shoes and stockings then." - -As he spoke, he held up one red and swollen foot. Not that he was -courting sympathy. Oh no; only standing in the snow had made his -feet cold. - -"O you poor wee ragamuffin, are you really so destitute as all that, -and on Christmas eve too? Come now, tell me your name and what you -were after, and if it is all right I'll give you a penny and let you -go." - -"My name is Jack Mackenzie, sir; but mebbe, sir, you would know me -better as little Johnnie Greybreeks, because that's what the boys all -call me." - -The big man laughed. - -"Me know you! Well, that's good. But what were you doing?" - -"Oh," cried the lad ecstatically, "I was looking in there at the -fairies. O sir, isn't it grand and beautiful? If you stand here you -can have a see too. They won't notice us." - -"Ha, ha! Well, but suppose I don't want to have a 'see,' as you call -it; suppose I live here?" - -Johnnie didn't answer immediately. He heaved a big, double sort of a -sigh, and on his eyelashes something appeared that glittered in the -light like the melted snow-flakes on the stranger's brown beard. - -"I wish my mother and Siss lived in there." - -There was a ring of genuine sadness and pathos in the boy's voice -that went straight to that tall man's heart, and he would not have -trusted himself to speak just then for a good deal. He felt certain -in his own mind that this poor, ragged lad was speaking the truth. -Then he pictured to himself the contrast between the very poor and -the rich in such a city as this. How could he help doing so, when he -glanced from the white and weary face before him to the happy -children at their innocent gambols within? - -"It is a contrast," he murmured to himself, "that Heaven permits for -some good purpose, though it is all dark, dark to my limited mental -vision." - -But, happy thought! he could do something even to-night to soothe the -sorrows and sufferings of this one wee waif before him. It was -Christmas eve too. - -"Tell me, boy," he said first, "how comes it that you can talk such -good English?" - -"Because I'm talking to a gentleman." - -"But can't you speak broad Scotch?" - -"Bonnie yon, to the wee callants on the street. But mother makes -us--Siss and me--speak English at home." - -"And what does your father do?" - -[Illustration: He crept nearer and nearer to the window.] - -"Oh, father's gone to heaven, you know, sir. He's going to stop -there always." - -"Does your mother--er--wash or char or anything?" - -"Oh no, sir; mother's a real lady." - -Mr. Tom Morgan--for that was his name--smiled. - -"Now show me your hands. Why, they are quite clean! There, give me -one, and now march along with me." - -Jack drew back hesitatingly. - -"I hope, sir," he said, with tears in his voice, "I haven't done any -harm?" - -"No, no, lad; I'm going to give you supper and send you off. Come." - -Somehow, lines from Thorn's beautiful poem "The Mitherless Bairn" -were borne to Mr. Morgan's mind, as he led the boy round through the -garden to the back door of the villa. - -Jack was not mitherless, but in other respects he resembled the -subject of the sad song. - - "Oh speak him not harshly--he trembles the while-- - He bends to your bidding and blesses your smile: - In their dark hour o' anguish the heartless shall learn - That God deals the blow for the mitherless bairn." - -* * * * * - -When little Johnnie Greybreeks had left his mother's room that -evening, he had been on business bent. Business of a very important -description, I can assure you, reader. Important to Johnnie, at all -events. A few weeks before this, when wandering in the western -outskirts of the town, which at the time our story commences--namely, -away back in 1849--were beautifully wooded and with very few houses -indeed to be seen, he had come upon the ruined walls of a mansion -that had been destroyed by fire. It was open to the road, and -probably people as poor as Johnnie had been here before, for every -rag and piece of wood had been carried away. But to the boy's -delight he had come across an ash heap, over which a large elder tree -drooped, half hiding it, and here were at least two dozen -medicine-bottles, many smashed but many whole. What a find if they -could only be his! Next day he had wandered that way again, and was -glad to find a man there who was about to clear the heap. The man -laughed when Johnnie volunteered his assistance, but for sake of -company, he said, permitted the boy to help him. The job was -finished in a couple of hours, and Johnnie had the bottles as his -wages. - -He took as many as he could down to the burn and washed them, then -came back for more, and by-and-by they were all nice and clean and -hidden away where he was sure no one could find them but himself. -Then a good-natured chemist in the street where the boy lived had -promised him ninepence for the lot. Ninepence! what a fortune! He -had never seen so much money before. When he got it, he tied it up -in a handkerchief--it was all in pennies and half-pennies--and -resolved not to tell his mother till Christmas eve, when he would go -quietly out and purchase something nice for next day's dinner. - -And it was with the view of making these purchases that Johnnie had -come out to-night. He had come too early though, for in the shops he -was to favour with his custom, things were never at their very -cheapest till nearly closing-time. So he had treated himself to a -walk in the west end. - -Then the snow began to fall, and we know the rest. - -Mr. Tom Morgan had his reasons for taking Johnnie in by the back door -and through the kitchen. He really wanted to know if the boy was in -the slightest degree presentable. - -He was better pleased with his appearance than he had expected to be. -Johnnie's nether garments of hodden grey were patched at the knees -and tattered and short at the ankles; his jacket was torn, too, and -out at the elbows; but the lad was clean, even to his shirt, which -left neck and red chest exposed to the weather. - -Johnnie's features were regular and far from unpleasant, but his dark -eyes were very large and sad. - -"You'll do, lad, you'll do. Come along; it is Christmas eve, and -mother is kind anyhow." - - - - -CHAPTER II - -LIFE IN SUMMER LOANING. - -"O children," cried old Mrs. Morgan during a lull in the frolicsome -riot, "here comes your uncle Tom. I can hear his voice in the hall. -Now we'll have a song and a dance!" - -She rose and walked towards the drawing-room door, and the bairns -crowded after, with joyful, expectant faces. - -But when the door was opened, and they found Uncle Tom standing there -holding little ragged Johnnie by the hand, astonishment and wonder -seemed to deprive everybody of speech. Miss Scraggs, an elderly -spinster, nearly fainted. - -"What on earth--" began one elderly gentleman. - -"As I live---" exclaimed the other. - -Neither got any further, but both burst into a hearty fit of laughing. - -Mrs. Morgan, Tom's mother, found voice first. - -"Tom," she cried, "who or what have you gotten there?" - -"Well, mother, I couldn't say--at least, not exactly. He is a sort -of mitherless bairn--well, not exactly that either, because he has a -mother, but no father. And you see how poor the child is. Look at -his naked feet, mother and children all, and we so happy and jolly -and everything. And this Christmas eve, too, mother. I thought we -might--that is, I might--do some little thing for him--a supper, or -anything like that--and then send him home." - -"My own good-hearted Tom!" said the old lady, smiling. "And did you -pick him up in the street?" - -"No, not exactly in the street, mother. Fact is, he was in the -grounds, and looking in at the window." - -"In the grounds, Tom! Oh, do you think he was after the spoons, or-- - -"No, no, dear mother," interrupted the stalwart son. "He was peeping -in at the dancing and the Christmas tree. He said the children were -just like fairies." - -"Droll boy. What is his name? Jack?--When did you see fairies?" - -"When I was a god, big lady." - -"When you were what?" - -"He means," said Mr. Tom Morgan, "when he had a seat in the gallery -of the theatre at a pantomime, I suppose." - -"Oh yes.--Are you a good boy?" - -"No, ma'am; very wicked. For 'there is none that doeth good and -sinneth not, no, not one.'" - -The elderly men-people behind laughed loudly and heartily. - -"What do you think of that, Dawson?" said one, nudging the other in -the ribs. - -"Good, good!--Capital, Mrs. Morgan!" - -But Miss Scraggs said, "Dreadful!" - -"What are you going to be when you grow up to manhood?" continued -Mrs. Morgan. - -"I'm not quite sure, big lady. I think I'd like to be a bu'glar." - -It is no wonder that Miss Scraggs screamed, or that "big lady" lifted -up her hands. - -"Oh, take the dreadful creature away!" cried Miss Scraggs; "he may -kill us all before morning." - -But when Tom Morgan laughingly explained that poor little Jack knew -not what he was saying, and had no idea what a burglar was, he was -restored to favour. - -"Well, Tom," said the elder Mr. Morgan, who was Tom's father, "take -your little sans-culotte away and give him a feed. I'll warrant he -won't say 'no' to that on a Christmas eve." - -"And some dood tlothes too," lisped a wee maiden of six--"some dood -tlothes, Uncle Tom." - -Then Jack made a bow such as he had seen actors outside caravans in -the Green make. He took off the remains of his glengarry solemnly -with his right hand, put his left hand to his heart, and bent his -body low. - -"I say, Morgan," cried Dawson, as Tom led Jack off, "that isn't any -ordinary boy. Blame me if I don't think there are the makings of a -little gentleman about him. What think you?" - -"Well, Dawson, you never can tell what a boy of that age may turn to -or be. He might turn out a burning and a shining light in church or -state, he might become a leader of armies, or he might give--Jack -Ketch a job." - -* * * * * - -Young Tom Morgan--for he was not above four-and-twenty, although his -beard was so big and strong--was the younger of two sons who both -lived with their parents, the house being very large. The elder son, -Grant Morgan, was married, and occupied the northern wing with his -wife and three children. The wee lass who had proposed that Jack or -Johnnie should have "dood tlothes" was the youngest; then there was a -boy of eight and one of eleven. - -When Tom returned to the servants' hall, he succeeded in interesting -every one there, even the somewhat supercilious butler, in Johnnie -Greybreeks; and between the lot of them they succeeded in working -quite a transformation in the boy. In fact, they took great fun in -doing it. - -"Ulric's clothes will just fit him, cook," said Tom. - -"Yes, sir; but--" - -"Oh, bother the 'but'! this is Christmas eve, cook. There, now; you -take him into your own room and see to his hair and his poor little -feet. I'll be back in a minute." - -Half an hour after this nobody would have taken Johnnie for the same -boy, but for his pale face and sad, dark, wondering eyes. - -"I'm not going to go away with all these grand things on, am I, sir?" -he asked. - -"Oh yes, you are." - -"I can go to church now!" cried Jack jubilantly. "I tried one time -before; but they thought I'd come after the coppers, and chased me -away. O sir, mother and Sissie will be pleased; you've made such a -happy boy of me!" - -Johnnie began bundling up his old clothes in his red handkerchief as -he spoke; and when he departed, about an hour after this, he took -that bundle with him, and another too, containing more provisions and -nice things than would do for several days' dinner. - -"Now, Johnnie Greybreeks--" began Tom Morgan. - -"Oh, if you please, sir," said Johnnie, "that is only my _sobriquet_." - -"Well, Jack, then," laughed Tom, "I'm going to take you to have a -look at the Christmas tree, and it is just possible you may have -something off it for your Siss--eh?" - -Jack's heart was too full to speak, and there were tears in his eyes. - -Everybody said that Miss Scraggs was cocking her cap at young Tom -Morgan, though everybody took care to add that she was old enough to -be his grand--well, his aunt at least. Tom could not stand her. Not -that he hated her--he was too good-hearted to hate anybody--but he -just gave her a wide berth, as we say at sea. - -But when he returned to the drawing-room with the intention of -placing his little _protégé_ in a corner to look at the fun for a few -minutes, Tom had his revenge, for he had not felt pleased at the way -Miss Scraggs talked to or at the poor ragged boy. - -The spinster lady happened to be standing near to the door when Tom -entered. She did not see Jack just at once, but as soon as she did -she smiled most condescendingly on him. - -"How do you do, my little friend? I know your face, but can't -recollect where I've had the pleasure of seeing you before.--Oh, -goodness gracious!" she cried immediately after; "it's the horrid -little burglar boy!" - -It was rude of Mr. Dawson and Tom Morgan to laugh so loudly, but they -could not help it. As for poor Jack, he crimsoned to the very roots -of his hair. I think there is always some good about a boy who can -blush. However, Jack never forgot Miss Scraggs. But he thought no -more about it for the present, because wee Violet Morgan tripped up -to speak to him. There was no pride about Violet. - -"So," she said, "you's dot you dood tlothes on. You is so pletty now -I tould almost tiss you." - -"Violet!" screamed Miss Scraggs; "come here this instant." - -But Violet had a will of her own; besides, it was Christmas eve, and -she had a right to do whatever she pleased. - -"I won't tome there this instant," she said, stamping her tiny foot; -"this is Tlismas eve, and 'ittle dirls can do as they pleases, Miss -Staggs." - -But all eyes were now drawn towards Violet and Jack, and there was -momentary silence. - -"I say, Morgan," cried Dawson, loud enough for every one to hear, -"did ever you, in all your life, see such a remarkable resemblance?" - -"'Pon honour, Dawson, I never did!" - -"Why, Violet and that little fellow might be sister and brother!" - -Same contour, same hair, same eyes, same everything. - -"Hush! hush!" said Mr. Morgan the elder; "remember the boy's station -in life." - -Jack drew back into his corner a little abashed. Half an hour -afterwards, when Tom went round that way, the child stole his hand -softly into the brown-bearded big man's. - -"Take me away now," he beseeched; "I'm tired." - -The fun was then getting fast and furious; but Tom and the boy -slipped out as quietly as they had come, and in a few minutes more -Johnnie Greybreeks found himself once more out in the snow. As he -passed through the gate, he paused to look back. - -"Heigh-ho!" he sighed; "I've been in fairy-land. What a story I -should have to tell mother and Siss! only, long before I get home I -shall wake and find it is all a dream." - -Then away he went, feathering through the snow, and keeping a good -hold on his bundle, but nevertheless expecting every minute to awake -and find himself in his own bed. - -* * * * * - -It is needless to say that Jack didn't awake, and that his adventure -wasn't a dream; and it is quite impossible to describe the -astonishment of his mother and sister when he told all his wonderful -story. - -That Christmas dinner, next day, was the best and most delightful -ever Jack or his little sister Maggie could remember partaking of -since they had come to reside at No. 73 Summer Loaning. - -Summer Loaning, indeed! what a cruel misnomer! Well, to be sure, -there might have been a time away back in the past when this street -was a kind of loaning, or even a lover's lane leading right away out -into the cool country. Green hedges might have grown where now stood -houses gaunt and grey and grim; hedges of wild hawthorn, trailed over -in summer-time with dog-roses pink and red; hedges in which birds in -early spring may have sung--the sweet wee linnet, the spotted mavis, -the mellow blackbird, or madly-lilting chaffinch. Trees, too, may -have waved their branches over Summer Loaning--the rustling ash and -the oak and chestnut, and the spreading rowan to which the poet sings -and says,-- - - "Thy leaves were aye the first o' spring, - Thy flowers the simmer's pride; - There wasna sic a bonnie tree - In a' the country-side." - -Yes, this may have been the case long, long ago; but now, alas! the -change. - -Summer Loaning went straggling up a hill, or brae, for fully half a -mile, and one glance at the street would have convinced you that, -although not a slum by any means, it was the abode of the -hard-working poor. People lived here on landings and flats, many -families occupying but two rooms, many having to content themselves -with only one. The common stairways, generally of stone, went -winding up and up from closes--called in England courts--often five -or even six stories high. If the landlord of these tenements -happened to be a good sort of a fellow, then the staircases might be -lighted in winter by tiny jets of gas no bigger than farthing -rush-lights; but as often as not they were shrouded in darkness and -gloom, and the dwellers in these stone castles had to "glamp" their -way up, as it is called, by feeling along the damp, cold walls. - -There was poverty enough, though, in Summer Loaning when sickness -came, or when the want of work induced it; for trouble haunts the -abodes of the hungry and needful. Many a little coffin, in times -like these, was manoeuvred down those steep stone stairs, and borne -quietly away to the cemetery or Necropolis, which was not a great -distance off. Usually a few neighbours went along, and then a kind -of funeral procession would be formed. But often, when the coffin -was very tiny indeed, the father himself would trudge along with it -under his arm, accompanied, perhaps, by his sad-eyed wife; both -dressed in black clothes that, more than likely, had been borrowed -from kindly neighbours for the occasion. Yes, I said kindly -neighbours; for the poor to the poor are ever kind. - -This was the sort of neighbourhood in which Jack Mackenzie had -hitherto spent most of his young days. And hard indeed his life had -been, pinched for food, ragged in clothes, and often cold as well as -hungry. Jack had never been to school in his life; but his mother, -though in poverty now, had seen far better days, and right well she -knew the advantage of a good education in enabling either boy or man -to do battle with the world, and so she spent half her time in -teaching her two children. It was stitch, stitch, stitch with her -now all day long just to get ends to meet. From her poor, thin face -you might have said she was not long for this world, and that while -sewing at a shirt she was making her shroud. But even while at work, -Jack and his sister would be busy at their books, or with their -slates. - -They lived in one room, and every article in it betokened poverty, -although all was cleanly. The ferns and flowers in the window above -the "jaw-box," where water was drawn and toilets performed, threw a -little of nature into this poor apartment, and a solitary canary made -it even cheerful, for he sang as joyously as if his cage had been of -gilded wire and all his surroundings the best in the city. Neither -of the children was unhappy, and they dearly loved their mother. -They never grumbled, either, at their scanty fare--and, O dear -reader, it was scanty enough at times. A little oatmeal porridge -washed down with a halfpennyworth of blue skimmed milk was all their -breakfast; and their supper, too, was much the same. - -But Jack was a brave provider, and a capital hand at marketing. No -one knew better than he how to make a bargain, or how far six or -seven pence would go in the purchase of meal, coals, herrings, and a -little tea and sugar for mother. In fact, the whole outdoor -management of the family devolved upon little Johnnie Greybreeks, as -everybody on the great staircase called him. And very proud indeed -he was to be looked upon as purser or paymaster. Often his sister -went out with him on his foraging expeditions; but although she was -some years older than Johnnie, she had not the boy's knowledge of the -world and of mankind. It seems almost ridiculous to talk of a boy of -eight years of age knowing anything about the world; but poverty -sharpens the wits, I do assure you. - -It is said that poverty is a hard taskmaster. Well, perhaps,--and -doubtless it is a very exacting one; but, nevertheless, some of the -greatest geniuses, generals, statesmen, and thinkers have been -brought up in just such schools as Johnnie's, and have been all the -better for it. So poor boys must never let down their hearts, but -just work, work, work; read, read, read; and think, think, think. -Remember the story of Dick Whittington. It is only a kind of fairy -romance, you may tell me. Ah! but there is a deal of truth in it; -and some very poor lads have become presidents even of the great -American republic, and a president is a cut above Lord Mayor of -London. So, hurrah! who cares for poverty? Don't forget those -spirited lines of Robbie Burns, the great Scottish poet. Yes, -Scottish poet, but the British people's poet as well, and the poet of -the people of every country where true freedom reigns. - - "Is there for honest poverty - That hides his head, and a' that? - The coward slave, we pass him by, - We dare be poor for a' that! - * * * * - "What tho' on hamely fare we dine, - Wear hodden grey, and a' that; - Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine, - A man's a man for a' that! - For a' that, and a' that; - Their tinsel show, and a' that; - The honest man, though e'er so poor, - Is king o' men for a' that!" - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -MRS. MALONY'S WEDDING-RING. - -Poor Mrs. Mackenzie's story had been a very sad one. And it was one -that is, alas! too common. It does not take long to tell. - -She had been well educated and delicately reared in the lap of wealth -and luxury. She was an old man's only child, and her father -considered there was nothing on earth too good for her. When the -girl was about sixteen, her father was in the heyday of success in -life. A speculator he was, and lived in a beautiful house on the -Borders, and on the banks of the winding Tweed. He was very much -looked up to, as wealthy men generally are, simply because they are -wealthy. But to have seen Mr. Noble's house and grounds, his retinue -of servants and his carriages and horses, would have caused you to -think, as everybody else thought, "Here is a man that can never be -moved." - -At this time, or soon after, he had a winter establishment in -Edinburgh, and used to give as good parties as any lord in the city; -and Euphemia--his daughter, and she had no mother--used to be the -presiding goddess. She was very beautiful; she is beautiful even as -we know her now, though poverty and want have hollowed her cheeks, -and given a lustre to her dark eyes that her good neighbours on the -stair say is hardly "canny." - -Euphemia, when only seventeen, had several suitors for her hand, and -might have made what is called a very good match. But there was one -she cared for above them all. He was a dashing young officer of a -Highland regiment at that time stationed in the Castle. - -The two became engaged. - -Lieutenant Mackenzie was of very good family, and would one day be -wealthy; only just at that time he had nothing but his pay, his -prospects, and the allowance his mother made him. He couldn't afford -to marry for some time. What did that matter? they were both young, -and could wait. - -So away went the gallant 93rd to India, and with it went Lieutenant -Donald Mackenzie, with hope and love to buoy up his heart. - -He had not been away a year before a crisis came, and then a -crash--oh, such a terrible crash! I suppose Mr. Noble had got too -daring, or too something or other, in his speculations. I really do -not know all the outs and ins of the matter, but I do know that his -house and all his property, down even to Euphemia's pet canaries, -were sold, and that after this poor Mr. Noble--poor now indeed--had -barely enough to pay the passage-money for himself and daughter to -America, where, with the help of some friends or distant relatives, -he intended to start afresh. Just think of it--an old man of seventy -starting life afresh! - -Well, the end seemed to have come, indeed, when Euphie's father died. -She was a brave Scotch lassie, however, and would not give in; so she -wrote to India to Donald--her Donald now no longer--releasing him -from his engagement, then she hired herself out as a governess. - -Donald's regiment fought in Afghanistan and the borders of India, and -he was wounded. He lost his left arm, brave fellow, and was sent -home to be invalided, and retired. - -A whole year passed away, and Donald lived at his mother's Highland -home--Drumglen--an estate that had been left entirely to her, to will -or to do with it as she pleased. Donald was the only son, and a very -great favourite. She, the mother, too, was exceedingly jealous of -his attentions to any fair maiden that she did not approve of. In -fact, she had her eye upon a lady who would make a capital wife for -her son. A little older, it is true. What did that matter, the -mother told herself; she would be all the more fitted to advise and -guide her son through life. Rather dark and stately, too, she was, -not to say forbidding. But she owned broad Highland acres, and -moorlands, forests, and glens. The absence of beauty, Donald's -mother thought, would be an advantage rather than otherwise, for -Donald could not well be jealous of a wife ugly enough to stop the -church clock. - -But, woe is me! Donald still languished and prayed for Euphemia -Noble. And one day in Glasgow, lo, he met her! She was only a -governess to some very young children. What of that? All Donald's -love returned in double force, and he determined to marry her. - -It is the old story: the girl consented at last. Then Donald tried -to win his mother over. But that stern Highland dowager was -inexorable. If he married this wretched governess--doubtless some -designing minx and hussy--he should never again darken the doors of -Drumglen. - -Donald looked at her in sadness and sorrow, and though one sleeve was -empty, a very gallant and soldierly man he was. But there was no -relenting in his tall, stern, and dignified mother. - -"Good-bye." - -That was all Donald either said or sighed. He just turned on his -heel and walked away as he was--and never once looked back. - -The mother gazed after him through the window, till the trees hid him -from her view; then she shut herself up in her rooms for days, and no -one, not even her maid, knew all that proud woman suffered during -this time. - -After her marriage with her one-armed soldier, Euphemia and he lived -in a tiny cottage down the Clyde. They were so poor that it was -difficult indeed to get ends to meet, even in a semi-genteel kind of -way. But they were rich in each other's love. And so they struggled -on and on for years. - -Alas that I should have to tell it! Lieutenant Mackenzie in an evil -hour was induced to enter the betting ring. From that hour his -downfall may have been dated. It is too sad a story to tell. -Instead of the pretty little cottage on the banks of the romantic -Clyde, his wife and he were soon occupying rooms in a somewhat -squalid quarter of great Glasgow. - -How it happened I do not know, but one evening Donald was missing, -and he did not return all the next day; but in the gloom of the -gloaming a strange man called on Mrs. Mackenzie, and when she saw him -she burst at once into an agony of grief that cannot easily be -described. - -It ended in her leaving her two children to the charge of a neighbour -and going away in a cab with the stranger--to a mortuary. - -Yes, that was he--that was Donald, pale and draggled and dead; her -Donald, with his poor, empty sleeve pinned across his breast! - -Oh the pity of it! oh the anguish! But there, the curtain drops on -that act, and I am glad it does. Let me just add that ill-health -after this reduced Mrs. Mackenzie more and more, till we find her -living in this one room, her boy and girl alone to cheer her, and -give her some little excuse for hanging on to life. - -But compared with many of the large houses in many parts of Glasgow, -No. 73 Summer Loaning was very quiet. - -Yes, it was quiet, except perhaps on a Saturday night, when, it must -be conceded, one or two working-men did come up the long stone stair -singing to themselves. Although a lady by birth and education, Mrs. -Mackenzie, in her one room, did not keep all her neighbours at bay. -They called her the "shuestress," which is a kind of Scotch for -dressmaker. They knew she had seen far better days, and that she was -poorer now than any of them, because she was unable to do much work. -As the song says,-- - - "The poor make no new friends, - But ah! they love the better far - The few the Father sends." - - -Now, it might be thought by some that, for sake of her children, Mrs. -Mackenzie ought to have written to her late husband's mother or rich -relations, and asked for help. - -Asked for help? No, a thousand times no; that would have been -begging! Mrs. Mackenzie was far too proud to do that. Sooner would -she die. But her pride did not forbid her from courting the -companionship of the neighbours on the stair. If they were, like -herself, poor, or not so poor, they were honest. And really -neighbours like these need to be friendly. If you are in the grip of -grim poverty, and sick and ill, you will find few more attentive to -you, and few whose attentions you will more readily suffer, than -those of neighbours who are just as poor as you. - -Well-meaning ladies sometimes called upon the Mackenzies with bundles -of tracts and Pharisaical advice, and out of politeness Mrs. -Mackenzie suffered them. When, however, about a year and two months -after little Jack's adventure at the Morgans', his poor mother fell -sick, and was confined for weeks to bed, it wasn't to her rich -visitors in sealskin sacks and gloves of kid she had to look for -comfort and help. - -Luckily, in expectation of just such an illness as this, Mrs. -Mackenzie had saved a little money. But there lived on the stair -immediately below a Mrs. Malony, whose husband was a blacksmith, who -sometimes, sad to say, took a dram. He wasn't by any means a bad -fellow, however, and often took Johnnie Greybreeks off with him for a -whole day to the smithy to see the sparks fly, and always shared his -dinner with Johnnie. The blacksmith had no family, and his wife used -sometimes to go out charing, so her hands were hard and rough. But -her heart wasn't. - -Mrs. Malony would often come up to borrow a flat-iron or a "brander," -or even a red herring for her man's supper, when hard up. On the -other hand, if she happened to make a good bargain down town on a -Saturday night, she would never forget to bring "the shuestress" some -portion of it--a piece of fish, a few potatoes, a couple of sausages, -or a bundle of greens. Often, too, in the long, dreary winter -forenights, Mrs. Malony would spend hours in her neighbour's room. -She would at times bring her husband also, when he was washed and -tidied up; and he did nothing but sit in a corner and smoke and -smile. But Johnnie and his sister would "hurkle" down by the fire, -nursing the cat between them while they listened to Mrs. Malony's -wonderful tales of Ireland and the down-trodden Irish. Evenings like -these passed pleasantly enough away. - -The children had a younger neighbour, though, a pale-faced, -roll-shouldered boy who lived in the garret with his old mother, and -used to play the fiddle on the street to support her. Very sweetly -he did play, too, though his airs were very sad. - -Little Peter, as he was called, used to come downstairs frequently to -tea, and bring his fiddle. Well, the tea was almost an imaginary -entertainment. It was a delightful sort of a make-belief. To be -sure, there was bread and a scraping of butter, and thin, thin tea, -with but little milk and less sugar; but then there were -oyster-shells and round "chuckie-stanes" to take the place of cakes -and currant-buns and all kinds of nice things. And with Maggie -presiding in such a dignified and lady-like way, it was quite easy -for Little Peter to imagine that an oyster-shell was a slice of -delicious tea-cake, or a "chuckie-stane" a pasty. - -Then there were really more laughing and fun at these make-believe -tea-parties than if everything had been edible. - -But that fiddle of Little Peter's was real. There was no mistake -about the musical part of the entertainment. But when poor Mrs. -Mackenzie fell ill, the sealskin-sack people came but seldom. It -might be something catching, you know. The young minister was kind, -however, though somewhat too solemn for a sick-room. - -It would have been a sad and dreary time, then, for the little family -but for their kindly neighbours. Poor Mrs. Malony, with her rough, -red hand and her plain face, became a sort of a saint. She allowed -Malony to take his "pick" of dinner out of doors, and made him always -take Johnnie Greybreeks with him, and keep him all day--there were no -Board schools in those days, you know. Malony had also to make his -own cup of coffee when he returned at night, buying a polony and a -roll on the way to eat with it. But Malony had his pipe, and took -things very easy. How gentle Mrs. Malony was with the poor invalid; -how softly she spread the bed and softened the hard, small pillows! -Ah, it was indeed a treat to have her there. She was very -plain-spoken, however. Here, for example, was a specimen of the kind -of verbal comfort she used to give Mrs. Mackenzie:-- - -"An' sure, Mrs. Mackenzee, ye needn't be throublin' yourself aboot -dyin' at all. For whin ye're dead and in the soilent grave, it's -meself and Malony will be lookin' after the childer. Indade I'll -bring thim up as me own, and it's the beautiful blacksmith that -Johnnie will make; so niver be grievin', but die whin ye plaze wid an -aisy mind, an' sure it's the angels will be waitin' for ye evermore." - -Was it any wonder that as she listened to consolation like this, and -her mind reverted to her father's beautiful home, or to her life with -Donald in the wee cottage by the banks of the bonnie Clyde, tears -stole down her pale cheeks? But then she would say to herself, "Oh, -how ungrateful I am!" and so she would seize and press Mrs. Malony's -kindly hand, and cry,-- - -"O dear Mrs. Malony, how good you are to me! I'm sure I don't -deserve it." - -"Is it good ye're sayin', Mrs. Mackenzee? Sure I need all me -goodness. An' after all, isn't it the same you'd be doin' for me if -I was sick and ill? There now, don't cry. Indade it's just as wake -[weak] as a baby ye are." - -* * * * * - -The young doctor was very attentive, but one evening he left the -bedside looking more thoughtful than usual. Mrs. Mackenzie seemed to -be dozing, so after keeping his fingers on her pale wrist for a time, -he had let the hand drop gently on the coverlet. He looked at Mrs. -Malony as he passed out, and she followed him to the landing. - -"I don't think," he said, "we can keep her." - -"Och and och!" cried Mrs. Malony, with her rough apron to her eyes. -"Och and och, dhoctor dear, is it come to this?--so soon and sudden." - -"I fear," he said, "she cannot last long." - -"And is there no physic ye can think av at all, at all, that--" - -"Oh, hang physic!" cried the doctor. "It isn't physic she wants, -Mrs. Malony, but good wine and beef-tea." - -"An' would the tay and the wine take her from the bhrink av the -grave, dhoctor dear?" - -"It would give her a chance. Don't leave her, Mrs. Malony; don't -leave her! I fear I can do little more." - -Mrs. Malony went back to the quiet room. Her patient seemed -sleeping, and so she moved about like a mouse, lest she should -disturb her. - -The spring sun was shining in through the window and falling on a -bunch of early flowers that Little Peter had brought the invalid, -because he knew she loved them. It fell also on the canary's cage. -Even Dick had given up singing lately, as if he knew there was -sadness and grief in the air. - -Mrs. Malony drew the blind a little way down, then left the room. -She stole downstairs on tiptoe. Maggie was there, keeping house. - -"Go up," said Mrs. Malony, "as quate as a weasel, and sit by your -mother till I come back." - -Poor Maggie had been crying, but she now did as she was told. - -Mrs. Malony went straight to her cupboard, now her clothes-cupboard, -and very soon made up a bundle. - -"Och and och," she said to herself, "they won't go far at all, at -all." - -They were the woman's Sunday clothes for all that, and she meant to -take them to the poor man's banker at the sign of the three golden -balls. - -Then her eyes fell upon her stubby left hand. - -"Set you up wid a gold ring indade, Mrs. Malony," she said, "when a -brass one would do for a toime! Ill-luck? I won't belave it." - -A tear fell on the ring nevertheless, for it brought back memories of -happy days of the half-forgotten past. No wonder then she sighed as -she screwed it off. - -"You've been crying, Mrs. Malony," said the burly pawnbroker as she -laid the ring on the counter. - -Then the tears sprang afresh to her eyes, and she told him all the -story. - -"Put that ring back on your finger again this moment, Mrs. Malony," -said the man. "I'm going to let you have just double on the dresses. -Oh yes, they're worth it. I won't lose by it. Now off you go and -buy the wine." - -"Lord love you, Mr. Grant," said the poor woman as she picked up the -money. "An' I belave it's yourself that's saved a loife this blissid -day." - -* * * * * - -When Mrs. Malony returned, she found Maggie silently weeping by her -mother's bed. Then a great fear got possession of her heart. Had -her sacrifice been all in vain? Was the invalid gone? She hastily -deposited her purchases on the little table and approached the bed. - -Mrs. Mackenzie looked very still and beautiful. She might have been -made of wax, or her features chiselled from purest marble. - -Mrs. Malony touched her hand that still lay on the coverlet. It was -cold. She bent over her, and could hear no breathing. - -Was as this indeed death? - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -"I'LL BE A SAILOR OR A SOLDIER." - -As she bent over the bed in grief and sorrow, Mrs. Malony was -rewarded and startled at the same time. For the poor patient heaved -a sigh, and slowly opened her eyes. - -Then a faint smile stole over her lips. - -"I had such a happy dream!" she whispered. - -"Hush, dear; don't spake another word." - -It wasn't the first, nor the second patient either, that Mrs. Malony -had nursed, so she had all her wits about her. - -She knew that at this very moment Mrs. Mackenzie's life was hanging -by the merest thread, and there was no time to lose. - -She quickly squeezed some of the juice of the meat into a saucer, and -mixing it with a little wine, put it tea-spoonful after tea-spoonful -into her patient's mouth. - -Mrs. Mackenzie slept after this, a real not a dreamful sleep, and -towards evening she awoke refreshed. A cupful of warm beef-tea was -ready, and she smiled her thanks as she sipped it. - -All that night Mrs. Malony sat up and nursed her, and when next day -the doctor came, he was more than satisfied. - -"She will do now," he told Mrs. Malony on the landing--"do for a -time. If she could only be got down the Clyde to a cottage hospital -I know of--Well, I'll do what I can." - -"Do, sorr; and may heaven be your portion evermore!" - -* * * * * - -"I'll tell you how I think it can be managed," said Dr. Gregory, a -few days after this. "There is a cottage hospital, or rather a home -for poor convalescents, down the water. It is partly supported by -voluntary contributions, but the patients have to pay a little -themselves." - -"But," interrupted Mrs. Malony, "the crayture here is as poor as a -church-mouse, sorr, and not able to pay. Och, and och!" - -"Wait a minute, Mrs. Malony. I have noticed how deft and handy -little Maggie here is. She seems really cut out for a nurse. Now, -at the home they want just such a wee lass, and she would have food -and keep, and wages enough to maintain her mother at the -hospital.--Would you like to go, dear?" - -"Oh," cried Maggie, "I would be so delighted." - -"All right then; I'll see about it at once." - -And the doctor did see about it. For a fortnight, however, if not -more, Mrs. Mackenzie was not strong enough to be moved. But during -all this time she was slowly improving. This was perhaps as much -from the fact that she now had hope as from the extra nourishment she -received. - -Little Johnnie Greybreeks, however, much to his sorrow, was to remain -in Glasgow, and live for a time with the Malonies. - -Johnnie kept up very bravely, though. He wouldn't have shed a tear -before his mother or sister, not even when the day of parting came, -for anything. But when in his little bed at night--ah! then I must -confess the lad did give way to grief. We must remember he was -little more than a child after all. - -"I'm going to learn to be a big man," he told his mother proudly on -the last evening, "and Mr. Malony says I'll soon be able to shoe a -horse. And, O mother," he added, rather sadly, "shoeing horses is a -fine thing, but I would rather be a Highland soldier and wear a -feather bonnet, like what father wears in his picture." - -"Dear boy," replied his mother, "we must all try to do our duty in -the line of life God has appointed us to." - -* * * * * - -Mrs. Malony had a friend who was skipper of a small sailing schooner. -Old Skipper Ross used to pride himself in the beauty and sailing -qualities of his little craft, and had rebaptized her _Queen of the -Clyde_. - -When this honest, red-faced seaman heard the story of poor Mrs. -Mackenzie, he took his pipe from his mouth, and his face puckered -with smiles under the blue Kilmarnock night-cap he always wore. - -"Dear Mrs. Malony," he said, "instead of the puir lady gaun doon the -Clyde in a smoke-jack steam-boat, I'll tak her mysel'. Splinter my -jib-boom if I dinna." - -This was very good of the skipper, and Mrs. Malony gladly accepted -the offer. - -Malony himself got a day off. They were all to go down the Clyde -together, and make a kind of pleasure-trip of it. They would even -take Little Peter with them, to give them music during the voyage. - -Well, it wasn't very often that a cab was seen to draw up at 73 -Summer Loaning, so when the jarvey stopped and turned his horse at -the "close mou',"* young and old flocked out and lined the pavement. -When the poor wan invalid was got inside, many a rough voice wished -her God-speed, and they even raised a cheer as the cab drove off and -away. - - -* Mouth of the court. - - -It was a lovely spring morning when the _Queen of the Clyde_ caught -the light breeze, and began manoeuvring down the river, Skipper Ross -himself holding the tiller. The old man declared he could steer his -ship through a hundred herring-boats and never run foul of anything. - -Mrs. Mackenzie and party had seats on the deck. And everything was -as clean and tidy, too, as the duke's yacht itself, not a rope's end -or belaying-pin out of place, and the paint-work as bright as a -gipsy's caravan. - -The invalid heaved a sigh of relief when at long last the great noisy -ship-building yards were left behind, with the awful din of their -ringing hammers, and the bonnie river began to open out before them -broad and wide, with the sunshine glittering on its bosom, and the -greenery of trees and far-off hills bounding the horizon. - -Mrs. Mackenzie was thinking sadly of her dear departed husband, who -was buried at the lovely town of Helensburgh, and Maggie and Jack -were seated on deck at her feet. Then Peter drew out his fiddle. - -"Ah! man, ay," cried the skipper. "Play up, lad, do. Sweeter to me -is the soond o' the fiddle and its lang-drawn melody than the cry o' -the sea-birds, sailin' tack and half-tack roond ma wee bit shippie. -Play, laddie, play!" - -So down the Clyde they dropped, floating as easily as cormorant on -the wave, past villages, past towns, and wilds and woodlands green, -and it was quite near eventide when the _Queen_ at last got alongside -the pier. - -They had indeed enjoyed the voyage. And Jack had spread the banquet -on the white planks of the deck, and everybody enjoyed that also. - -Just after it was done and cleared away, Skipper Ross drew out a -black bottle from a handy locker. - -"Ye'll tak a wee skyte, Malony; winna ye?" - -But Malony shook his head. - -"I've sworn off," he said. "Indade, it's the truth that I'm tellin' -ye. For this wee lad here has now to look on Patrick Malony as his -father. But thank ye all the same." - -* * * * * - -The parting was over, and Mrs. Mackenzie was alone in a delightful -little ward with her daughter Maggie. They had brought the canary, -and he began to sing the very next morning. And no wonder; for -everything around was sweet and white and clean, and honeysuckle -waved its dark-green foliage around the window, while afar off were -the grand old purple hills, with many a glen and wood between. - -The cottage home was near to the sea too, for flocks of gulls and -rooks together could be seen out in the fields yonder. - -"You feel better to-day, mother?" - -"Yes, dearie; I feel I shall get well now. But, child, I dread to -think of the future." - -"Ah! that is only because you are ill, you know. God provides for -the rooks and gulls yonder, mother, and he won't forget us surely." - -Maggie spoke cheerfully and sincerely. She was not one of your -old-old-fashioned children, nor was she given to preaching either. -The girl was tall and ladylike, though very young, and pretty -besides; but she had a thoughtful and serious look in her eyes, that -showed she had not been reared in the stern school of poverty and -adversity in vain. - -Maggie's faith was very simple. Her little Bible had for many a day -been her friend and companion. She went to it for consolation and -guidance at all times and under all circumstances, opening it at -random, and believing that the very first verse her eyes fell upon -was an answer to the thoughts that filled her mind. - -There really is much to be said for this simplicity of faith, often -present not only in the very young but in their elders. Science as -yet is but groping in the dark, although it seems inspired, and may -be. But here, in this Book, we have all we appear to want for our -happiness laid down in a way that goes straight to the heart. It was -concerning such simple wee folks as Maggie, surely, that our Saviour -spoke when he said, "Suffer little children to come unto me: for of -such is the kingdom of heaven." - -* * * * * - -When little Johnnie Greybreeks returned to Glasgow, he found life for -a time very dull indeed, though the kind-hearted Mrs. Malony and her -husband did all they could to cheer him up. But he used to lie in -his bed at night, awake and thinking, till long past twelve. What -should he be? That was the question that puzzled him to answer. - -To tell the truth, Johnnie, as for the time being we may continue to -call him, was just a trifle ambitious. At all events, working in the -blacksmith's shop was very monotonous, although he did all he could, -and really earned his food. He didn't like it though, and told -himself so every night of his life, he considering himself dreadfully -ungrateful to the good people with whom he lived for doing so. - -Whenever Johnnie had an hour or so to spare, Little Peter and he used -to go wandering away down by the Broomielaw to look at the ships. -Our young hero was better clad now; for since good Tom Morgan had -given him that Sunday's suit, his former Sunday's clothes became his -week-day wear, and he looked by no means a gutter-snipe or -tatterdemalion. - -Little Peter was as fond of ships as Johnnie, and as he always took -his fiddle with him, the Jackie-tars used to invite him on board -sometimes, to play to them while they danced or sang. - -"O Johnnie," said Peter one day, as they were going back towards -Summer Loaning, "if I wasna a miserable little hunchback, I'd be a -sailor mysel'." - -Johnnie felt sorry for Peter, so to comfort him he made answer,-- - -"Well, Peter, if I could play the fiddle as well as you, I wouldn't -care what my back was like. Anyhow, I've made up my mind either to -be a sailor or a soldier. I'd like to wear a feather bonnet.--Hark!" -he continued. "Peter, here come the Highlanders. Can't you hear -them?" - -"Ay, fine can I hear them. The skirl o' the bagpipes maks my bluid -run dancin' through ilka vein in my body, and if I had a sword and -was big enough, I could fight to music like that." - -A few minutes after, the Highlanders came marching and swinging -along, their glittering bayonets flashing in the evening sunshine -high above their nodding plumes. Even Peter pulled himself an inch -taller as the two lads marched side by side with the regiment all the -way to the barracks. - -Then they came sadly away. - -"Which is it now?" said Peter. - -"Oh, a soldier; but I'll have to wait till I grow." - -"Unless you learn the drum, Johnnie Greybreeks, Then you could go at -once." - -But Johnnie only shook his head. - -"No, no, Peter," he said; "I must be a real fighting soldier, just as -poor father was." - -Little did Johnnie know that at that very time there was a tidal wave -advancing towards him that might lead on to fortune. Or on to death, -who could tell? So true is it what Shakespeare says,-- - - "There is a divinity that shapes our ends, - Rough-hew them how we will." - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -"HULLO, JOHNNIE GREYBREEKS! I'M YOUR UNCLE." - -"Hullo, Johnnie Greybreeks! Why, my little man, I've been looking -for you for the last six months." - -It was Tom Morgan himself the two friends had run up against at the -corner of Jamaica Street--big Tom Morgan, brown waving beard and all. - -"Why did you never come and see me?" - -"Please, sir, mother wouldn't let me. You see, sir, you were very -good to me that Christmas eve, and mother said if I went back it -would look just like--begging, you know, sir." - -"Fiddlesticks, Johnnie Greybreeks! But talking about fiddlesticks, -who _is_ your little friend here carrying the fiddle?" - -Johnnie told him. - -"Now, come along, both of you," said Tom. "I know an eating-house -near here where they have such capital beef." - -And a splendid feed Tom ordered them; and it seemed to do the honest -fellow's heart good to see them eat. - -"Now," said Tom, "will you play me a tune, Peter? and then I'll be -off, for time is precious." - -Peter gladly did as suggested; but I am sure that big Tom Morgan -merely asked him to play that he might have an excuse for giving the -poor lad that half-crown. - -"Now, Peter, you can run home; but I want to take Johnnie Greybreeks -with me for an hour or so. Good-bye, Peter. See you again.--Come -on, Johnnie." - -* * * * * - -In about a quarter of an hour's time Tom Morgan reached a tall, -handsome building in a quiet street; and upstairs the two went -together, and entered a room without knocking. It was a -well-furnished office, and at a table, littered with papers and -bundles of documents tied up with red tape, sat a white-haired, -elderly gentleman, with a very pleasant face of his own. - -When he looked up with a smile, Johnnie could see it was Mr. Dawson, -whom he had met on that Christmas eve at the house of the Morgans. - -"Come along, Tom, and take a seat. Ha! so you've found little -Johnnie Greybreeks at last, have you?--How do you do, my little -man?--I say, Tom, how is business?" - -"Fairly good." - -"Well, lad, let me tell you this: it will soon be better, or it will -get a send back that will astonish us all." - -"I don't know what you mean, Mr. Dawson. There must always be ships -on the sea, and it is father's business to float them." - -"True, true, Tom; but being a lawyer, you know, I perhaps can see -farther off than you. Now, believe me, Tom Morgan, when I tell you -we are drifting into war with Russia, and our country isn't prepared -for it." - -Tom Morgan laughed. - -"We've got the money and the ships, the sailors and the soldiers. -Why, Mr. Dawson, let war come, and we'll flog the Russians on shore, -and whip them off the seas." - -"Well, I'm not so sure; but then I'm getting old, you know. But -you'll see. The Russian privateers and legalized pirates will cover -the ocean, and British commerce won't have a show." - -"Did you see that noble Highland regiment march past, Mr. Dawson? -Man, that's the stuff!--Did you see them, Johnnie?" - -"O yes, sir; me and Peter marched all the way with them. O sir, I -want to be a soldier or a sailor, and help to whip the Russians. -Dear father was a soldier, you know," he added sadly. - -Mr. Dawson and Tom Morgan exchanged glances. - -"Tell us more about your father, Johnnie." - -"Oh, I don't know much. I hardly remember father; but poor mother -has his picture, and, O sir, he looks so noble, with his kilt and his -sword and his feather bonnet. He only had one arm, you know, -and--and he was drowned in the Clyde." - -"Now tell us about your mother and sister. Where are they, and what -do they do?" - -Then Johnnie told all the sad story of sickness, of struggle, and of -poverty that the reader already knows. More than once the tears -stole into his eyes as he spoke, and very patiently indeed did the -two gentlemen listen to all he said. - -"Tom," said Mr. Dawson, when Johnnie had finished, "I think we're on -the right lay." - -"I think so too; indeed, I'm sure of it." - -"How pleased the old lady will be:' - -"If there is any 'please' in her." - -"Well, she has some strange ways with her; but I think that she -really means well." - -"She is extremely orthodox, Mr. Dawson." - -"True; and conservative to a degree." - -All this was Greek to little Johnnie Greybreeks, who sat there on a -high stool waggling his legs, and looking from one to the other, -uncertain whether he ought to smile or not. Ever feel in that -position, reader? I have. - -"Weren't you struck with the remarkable resemblance between Johnnie -here and your brother's wee lassie, on the night you brought the boy -home?" - -"That, indeed, I was," said Tom Morgan; "and so was every one else, -especially my father. So, you see," continued Tom, figuring the -sentence out on his fingers, "if my oldest brother married Johnnie's -father's eldest and only sister-- - -"That sounds rather Irish, Tom," interrupted Mr. Dawson; "but go on, -my boy. Johnnie's father's eldest and only sister--" - -"Well, I never was good at counting kin, as it is called, but my -brother Fred did marry Johnnie's father's sister--all the world knows -that: so little Tottie--Violet, you know--is Johnnie's cousin--no -wonder she is like him; and my brother Fred's wife would be Johnnie's -aunt; and--and--why, Dawson, I myself am Johnnie's uncle.--Hullo, -Johnnie Greybreeks! I'm your uncle. I'm your uncle Tom; shake -hands, old man." - -At this moment Johnnie really could not have affirmed whether his -head or his heels were uppermost, or whether this big, jolly -gentleman with the big brown beard wasn't having a joke at his -expense. However, he shook hands almost mechanically. - -"Hush!" cried Tom; "there are little footsteps on the stairs, and the -sound of childish laughter. I believe it is Violet and her -governess. Talk of angels, and they appear." - -Next moment in rushed Violet, screaming with delight. She kissed -Uncle Tom somewhere about the beard. - -"Oh," she cried, "doverness has been so dood, and buyed me such a lot -of pletty fings." - -Then she noticed Johnnie. - -She stuck one finger in her mouth thoughtfully, but recovering her -self-possession almost immediately, she advanced and held out her wee -chubby hand. - -"I fink," she said, "you is Dohnnie Dleybleeks? How d'ye do, little -boy? You and me has met before." - -Johnnie jumped off the stool and shook hands as politely as a -nobleman would have done. - -"Aren't they like now!" said Tom. - -"Miss Gibb," he continued, addressing the governess, "we--that is, -Mr. Dawson chiefly--have made a wonderful discovery. This boy you -see before you, and who is called Jack Mackenzie, is my niece--no, I -mean nephew--by the brother's side, as it were, and consequently -first cousin-german to--I say, Mr. Dawson, bother it all, I'm getting -a bit mixed again." - -Miss Gibb laughed. - -"So you's my fist tousin, 'ittle boy, is you?--Miss Dibb, tiss my -fist tousin for me; I can't be boddled tissing 'ittle boys." - -Miss Gibb dutifully did as she was told; at which condescension -Johnnie was more puzzled than ever. He would have given three of his -best marbles at that moment to any one who could have told him where -he was in particular, and what day of the week it was. - -But the interview was soon brought to an end; and when Johnnie went -back to his home in Summer Loaning, a very droll story indeed he had -to tell Mrs. Malony. - -"Och, sure," she cried, "I always tould Malony that poor dear Mrs. -Mackenzie wasn't the same as us at all, at all; that she was a lady -under a cloud, sure enough. And troth and I'm roight. And it's a -foine gintleman you'll be, Johnnie, some day entoirely." - -* * * * * - -Old Mrs. Mackenzie of Drumglen in Perthshire was certainly all that -Tom and Mr. Dawson had said. She was nothing if not orthodox and -conservative to a degree. - -She belonged to a very old and aristocratic family in the north of -Inverness-shire. The family, however, had the misfortune to be -somewhat poor, and ill-natured people did say that when Miss Stuart -married Mr. Mackenzie, a Jamaica merchant, it was more from love of -money and what it could bring than from love of Mac himself. But, of -course, ill-natured people will say anything, and charity is a flower -that is not half so well cultivated as it ought to be. - -Never mind. Miss Stuart was at the time of her wedding stately, -tall, and handsome, and--a stanch Jacobite. Mr. Mackenzie, on the -other hand, was on the weather-side of forty, and though wiry enough, -he was about the same colour as a cake of gingerbread. That is what -Jamaica and the West Indies had done for him. - -He took his bride out with him at first to the beautiful islands of -the West. She admitted they were very beautiful, but she didn't like -life there, and she went in a constant state of fear and horror of -the creepie-creepies. The flowers were gorgeous, but often from the -very centre of a lovely bouquet brought by her black maid a centiped -as long as a penholder would wriggle. In the centre of huge bunches -of luscious fruit little wicked snakes would be asleep, and even as -she stood admiring the fruit, one would protrude a tiny triangle of a -head and venomously hiss in her face. Oh, it wasn't nice. - -Fire-flies were pretty flitting about among the bushes at night, like -stars that had lost their way; but she found creatures indoors even -in her bedroom that were not fire-flies, and whose perfume was not -like that of attar of roses. She even found things in the soup that -the _chef_ couldn't account for, and cockroaches' legs are not the -thing in a cup of coffee. - -So she told Mackenzie, gently but firmly, that she was going home; -that she would not give one glimpse of the purple heather for all the -beauty and wealth of the Indian Isles. - -Mac was very fond of his aristocratic bride. If she had asked him to -live in Kamschatka or build her a mansion in lonely Spitzbergen, he -would have done so. Therefore, like a dutiful husband, he came home. - -He brought with him a black servant-man, or boy who eventually became -a man, just to remind him of those sunny isles in the beautiful West; -and soon after his return he bought the mansion-house and broad lands -of bonnie Drumglen. - -Not long after Johnnie's father was born, Mr. Mackenzie died one -wild, stormy winter's morning. After being so long in the tropics, I -suppose, the climate of the Scottish Highlands hardly suited him. He -was found asleep in his library chair, with his hands folded, his -toes on the fender, and a red bandana laid as usual over the bald -patch on his crown. - -His black servant shook him--once, twice, thrice. It was the laird's -last sleep, and shaking was unavailing. - -So Snowball went and reported the circumstance to his mistress. - -"Pore massa done gone dead, I fink, milady. I shakee he, one, two, -tree time, but he not sware at me. I fink, milady, he nebber wake no -mo' in dis world." - -* * * * * - -It was somewhat strange that Mrs. Mackenzie never seemed to take to -her daughter, who was about five years older than Donald her -boy--Johnnie's father. Her whole life and love seemed bound up in -her son. - -Under the plea of giving her the best education it was possible to -obtain, the girl was sent to a school in Edinburgh. There she lived -and grew up, only coming home at holiday-time. - -It was at Edinburgh, too, that Flora met Fred Morgan, the son of the -wealthy ship-broker. Flora, of course, asked her mother's consent to -marry Fred--meaning to marry him, anyhow, for the Mackenzies had -always been a self-willed race. - -The letter bearing the mother's reply came in due course. - -"Oh, certainly, my dear." - -That was the gist of it when shorn of its studied and stately -verbiage. - -At the same time that Sambo, _alias_ Snowball, posted this letter, he -dropped one into the box for Mr. Dawson, the family solicitor. - -Mr. Dawson went through at once to Drumglen. He arrived early in the -afternoon. - -But "milady" was as politely reticent as a Mohawk Indian. She said -nothing about business that day. - -He dined in state--with Snowball behind his high-backed chair, -arrayed in a crimson waistcoat and immaculate coat and neckerchief. - -Next morning Mrs. Mackenzie accorded her solicitor an interview -within the gloomy precincts of the library. The lady came to the -point at once, and with as much force and precision as Malony made -use of when beating a red-hot horse-shoe. - -"My daughter is going to be married, Mr. Dawson," she said. - -Dawson bowed and smiled. - -But Mrs. Mackenzie brought him up with a round turn. - -"No palaver, Mr. Dawson, please," she jerked out. "My daughter is -going to be married. She did me the courtesy of asking my leave--a -mere matter of friendly formality, of course. She is going to marry -a Morgan. The Morgans are Welsh. I don't like the Welsh; they are -mere business people. I don't like that. I believe a daughter of -mine might have married a lord. _N'importe_; it is no fault of mine. -But, Mr. Dawson, these Morgans are said to be wealthy Welsh. Well, -my estate is my own, is it not?" - -"To have and to hold, my dear lady; to do absolutely what you please -with." - -"Well, Mr. Dawson, I can leave all to my dear boy if he continues to -love and obey his mother as he does now; but I come of a very -independent family, and, if I choose, I can leave my riches to build -an hospital, or, what is even more needed, a new ship of war. Now, -sir, make out a cheque for £5,000 to my daughter, and I will sign it. -Write also a letter, couched in friendly but not too friendly terms, -to accompany this cheque. I want my daughter, or rather the Morgans, -to understand that there is a gulf fixed between the mansion-house of -Drumglen and their shop in Glasgow." - -And Mr. Dawson had obeyed her orders to the very letter. - -He had, however, always since then managed to keep on the very best -terms with the Morgans, as well as with Mrs. Mackenzie herself. - -* * * * * - -Long, long years, as we know, had gone by since that day when Mrs. -Mackenzie turned her soldier son out to face the wide world and -poverty, and the stern old dame had somewhat softened as she grew -older. - -Perhaps if Donald had gone to Drumglen and begged her forgiveness, -she would have relented and received him into favour once more. But -the same proud blood ran in the veins of both mother and son. - -Mr. Dawson went very often to Drumglen, and sometimes spent weeks -fishing or shooting on the estate. He enjoyed this, although the -house itself and the company were hardly free and easy enough to suit -the jolly solicitor. - -Dawson was summoned rather hastily once. This was after the body of -poor Lieutenant Donald Mackenzie, her son, had been found in the -river. - -The solicitor found her looking older than ever he had seen her. She -seemed broken, not as to physique, but mentally. - -She talked a deal about her younger days and her married life, and -Dawson guessed rightly that she was working the subject round to her -late son. - -"O Mr. Dawson," she said at last, "I don't mind confessing to you -that I have been just a little too hasty, and that if poor Donald -were alive again I--I might consider the whole subject. But there, -Mr. Dawson, my regrets are vain; and now I wish you to make my will, -for I feel I must soon follow my husband to the grave." - -"Why, Mrs. Mackenzie, you are not at all old yet, However," he added, -"it is as well we should all be prepared." - -"Yes, and that was just what good Mr. M'Thump, our minister, said in -the pulpit yesterday. His text was, 'For ye know not the day nor the -hour.' A good man and a learned is Mr. M'Thump, and he'll dine with -you to-night, Mr. Dawson." - -I fear the solicitor did not look overmuch pleased at the -information. However, he proceeded to take pencil notes of the -lady's will, and that very evening he drew it up. - -It was brief in the extreme. She left all she possessed to build a -new ship of war, to assist in protecting the freedom of her beloved -country.* - - -* It would be a good thing if wealthy millionaires who have no family -would follow the old lady's example. Britain stands sadly in need of -more ships of war.--AUTHOR. - - -* * * * * - -Years flew by. The old dame appeared to have renewed her age, as she -certainly had her sternness and aristocratic composure. She never -mentioned her son now; but Dawson took good care to tell her all -about the discovery of little Johnnie Greybreeks, and how strangely -he had turned up at the Christmas party. He told the story so -feelingly that more than once during the recital he fancied he saw a -tear in the stately lady's eyes. - -Half a year after this Dawson was once more summoned to Drumglen. - -"I had a strange dream last night," she told him. "I thought I saw -Donald my boy. He held his little son by the hand, and looked at me, -oh, so pleadingly. Heigh-ho! I suppose I am old and soft and silly; -but, Mr. Dawson, I am not sure I should not like to see that boy Jack -you spoke about--just for once, if you can find him." - -"I will do my best, madam," said Dawson. - -Dawson, however, was not much of a detective, else he might have -found Johnnie before that day on which Tom Morgan met him -accidentally near the bridge. - -And now we shall see what this accidental meeting led to as far as -Johnnie was concerned. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -"THE OLD LADY HAD A WOMAN'S HEART AFTER ALL." - -"_Veni, vidi, vici_" (I came, I saw, I conquered). - -So said Cæsar of old, by way of describing the ease with which he -gained a victory against his enemies. - -"_Veni, vidi, vici,_" Johnnie Greybreeks might have said, after his -first interview with that stately and aristocratic dame his -grandmother. - -But wait a minute, reader. I fear I must call our little hero -Johnnie Greybreeks no longer--at least not while he is under the -lordly roof-tree of Drumglen. He must be Jack. - -Well, it was Dawson himself who brought Johnnie--no, I mean Jack--to -the mansion-house, and led him into the presence of his grandma. - -Johnnie--that is Jack; you see I can't get into the swing of it all -at once--was very neatly dressed in Highland tweeds, and brave he -looked. The old lady sat erect in her high-backed chair. She could -not but notice the striking resemblance between the boy and her -Donald of the olden days; yet she had meant to receive him most -soberly and stately. - -"This is Jack," said Dawson, leading the boy, who was looking shy, -forward. - -The grandam drew herself up. She looked at Jack once. She looked at -him twice. Then she opened wide her arms; and as Jack flew like a -bird to her embrace, she pressed him to her heart and fairly burst -into tears. - -Even Dawson was affected, and wisely withdrew. - -Old Mrs. Mackenzie had a woman's heart then, after all. - -* * * * * - -What a long, delightful letter that was Jack wrote to his mother and -sister next day! It did both their hearts good. - -Mrs. Mackenzie, junior, was glad, for her boy's sake, that he had -found a friend that would advance him in life. For her own part, she -would have died at the foot of a pine tree rather than accept a -favour from the proud owner of Drumglen, albeit she was her late -husband's mother. - -Ah! pride, and especially Scotch pride, is a bitter feeling, and -often even a cruel. Pride has been called the devil's darling sin, -and by Pope - - "The never-failing vice of fools." - -Says Goldsmith,-- - - "Pride in their port, defiance in their eye, - I see the lords of humankind pass by." - - -Well, I do believe that with Grandam Mackenzie the stream of life now -began to run backwards for a time. She had invited Jack to stay but -for a week or two; but the sweet summer-time was coming on, and the -boy required no second invitation to make Drumglen his home for a -time. The words "for a time" are Mrs. Mackenzie's own, and perhaps -she hardly knew the full meaning of them herself. - -Jack wasn't going to forget old friends, however, and he wrote to -Mrs. Malony, and to Little Peter also, and promised to write again. - -I think that young Jack had not been at Drumglen for even a week -before the rigidity of the mansion began to thaw. - -Jack was jolly, but never with a jollity approaching to vulgarity. -Indeed, in company and at table, thanks to his mother's tuition, the -boy behaved himself like a little lord. But he often said droll -things that made everybody laugh, and caused even the orthodox Mr. -M'Thump to smile. - -As a rule, the ladies and gentlemen who assembled at a dinner-party -here were as stiff and straight in the back, physically and morally, -as the chairs in which they sat. - -When the ladies retired, however, the men folks did unbend, and some -of them drew Jack out; and Jack--he did not require a very great deal -of encouragement--gave his ideas about life and things in general in -such a comically philosophical way, that old-fashioned lairds thumped -the table and laughed aloud. - -There was just one subject, however, on which Jack was wisely -silent--namely, his sad life of poverty and distress in stony-hearted -Glasgow. - -Some things are better left unsaid, some stories better left untold. -And Jack knew this instinctively as it were, and held his peace--for -his grandma's sake. - -Moreover he kept his own counsel concerning the whereabouts of his -mother and sister, even when so eminent and dignified an individual -as the Rev. Mr. M'Thump endeavoured to draw him out. - -[Illustration: "This is Jack."] - -In this, again, Jack pleased his grandma very much. Drumglen -mansion-house was in itself a somewhat antiquated and dreary abode, -although situated in the midst of the most beautiful Highland -scenery--hill and dale, river, loch, scaur, and wild wood. - -The weeping birch trees were nowhere of sweeter, softer green in -early spring than on the banks and braes around here; and among their -branches the mavis and blackbirds trilled their songs with a joy that -seemed half hysterical, while from far aloft, skimming the clouds, -the laverock showered his notes of love. Nowhere did the primroses -grow bigger, cooler, sweeter, than by the banks of the bickering burn -that went singing over the stones on its way to the loch, forming -many a clear pool wherein the minnows darted hither and thither, and -where the crimson-ticked trout loved to bask in the sunshine. Then -in autumn the hills around were purpled and encrimsoned with heather -and heath high up their sides, till their rugged heads were lost in -the clouds. - -But the garden walls of Drumglen were high and strong, and the gates -of ponderous iron. It seemed as if they had been built to stand a -siege in the stormy days of old. - -Inside these walls the garden itself was wide and wild, and away -aloft, in the black and gloomy foliage of the pine trees, the hoody -crow had his nest, and eke that bird of ill-omen the magpie. - -The walls of the house itself were very thick and the windows small. -Not a sound did your footsteps make as you glided about the rooms. -So silent did you move on the thick, soft carpets, that you could -scarce help thinking at times that you were your own ghost. - -The furniture of this gloomy house seemed a thousand years old at -least. The stairs were of oak; and when Jack first beheld his -grandmother's bed, he gazed at it with a feeling of awe. It was a -huge, dark, and curtained edifice, with drapery of the snowiest -white. To have slept under such a weight as that would have made a -stranger dream he was about to be smothered alive. - -The old dame's servants had always been chosen for their solemnity, -one would have said, and their reverential stateliness. They had -never been heard to laugh till Jack went to reside at the mansion. - -But now things were a little bit altered. For the boy moved about -the house like a ray of sunshine, and you could no more have kept him -from laughing, or singing the fag-ends of old Scotch songs, than you -could have prevented a lark from trilling his love-lilts in May. - -I may tell you that Jack knew well enough that his grandam wished him -to keep his place if ever he entered the servants' hall. So he did; -and yet his presence there never failed to bring sunshine, light, and -music, and oftentimes now the dark oak ceilings re-echoed the mirth -of servants who had ever before been as sad and solemn as church -beadles or funeral mutes. - -With all her orthodox conservativeness, however, Mrs. Mackenzie -seemed to know that boys like Jack cannot live without amusement, and -so at no time was she averse to the visits of youngsters of his own -age. She even gave entertainments, and invited to them the children -of neighbouring lairds, so that on the whole Jack's life was not so -solemn an affair as it might otherwise have been. - -In the evenings when alone together, the old lady used to make him -draw his low stool up close beside her knee and talk to her. She -would even encourage him to tell her about life in what might well be -called the lower regions of the great city of Glasgow. - -The disinterested kindness of Mrs. Malony and poor Little Peter, the -hunch-backed fiddler boy, visibly affected Jack's grandmother. - -"I did not think," she said, "that the poor could be so kind to each -other as that. I will send Mrs. Malony, and Peter too, a -Christmas-box when the time comes round. And so they were going to -make a blacksmith of my brave boy, were they?" - -"Yes, grandma; but I love work." - -"How terrible!" - -Jack bent down to smooth an old grimalkin that snoozed upon the rug. - -"Malony wasn't so very terrible, though," he said; "and I suppose, -grandma, if nobody was a smithy-John, nobody's horses would have any -shoes to wear." - -"True, my dear, quite true. As the potter makes his wares, some to -honour and some to dishonour, so are we too made, and we should do -our duty in the station of life which God has appointed us to fill." - -Jack didn't reply. He was gazing into the bright fire of peats and -coal that blazed so cheerfully on the low hearth, and wondering what -station in life it would be his to fill. - -"Jack," she said, after a pause, "did it ever occur to you that you -would like to be something?" - -Jack looked up at her now with glowing, happy face. - -"Oh yes, indeed, grandma!" - -"And what have you thought of?--the church?" - -"Oh no, grandma." - -"But think of the honour and glory of serving Him even in this world, -and the richness of the reward hereafter. Think of our minister, the -Rev. Titus M'Thump. He has ere now been honoured by dining even with -royalty." - -"I daresay I'm not good enough," said Jack simply. - -"Well, child, the law affords facilities for rising to eminence in -the world. Mr. Dawson, my own solicitor, is both a great and a good -man. But," she added, as Jack did not reply, "how would you like to -be a leech?" - -Jack looked up astonished, with eyes about as big as billiard-balls. -He had seen Malony apply a leech once to his sister's neck when she -was ill of quinsy, and did not know that "leech" was the old name for -physician. - -"A leech, grandma! a nasty, black, creepie-crawlie, blood-sucking -leech! Oh no, grandma. You are making fun, aren't you?" - -"Well," said the old dame gravely, "you are quite right. I don't -care for the profession myself. Your strictures on the leech are -probably somewhat severe, however. I had one to dine with me a few -months back, and really he seemed fairly intelligent." - -"Dine with a leech!" thought Jack; "why, grandmother must be going -out of her mind." - -"Well, Jack, what would you like to be?" - -"I would like, grandma, to be a Highland soldier, and wear a feather -bonnet." - -Grandma smiled sadly, and for a time gazed silently at the fire. - -"No, Jack, no. I would not like you to be a soldier. Anything else?" - -"Oh yes," replied the boy, eagerly enough. "You see, grandma, Mr. -Dawson says there is going to be a big, big war with Russia." - -"Perhaps so, dear, perhaps." - -"Well, sailors fight as well as soldiers, and dress all in blue and -gold, for I've seen some. They don't have feather bonnets, -though--only just cocked hats and long swords. Well, I would like to -be a sailor like that; and I'm sure when I grow bigger I could cut -off an enemy's head beautifully." - -"O boy, boy, how horrible! Well, I'll think about it; and if your -mother will let you stay with me for a time, I will get you a good -and clever tutor." - -Jack did not answer, but he took his grandma's soft hand in both his, -and leaned his cheek upon it in a gently caressing way. - -"Strange," thought old Mrs. Mackenzie; "that is the way poor Donald -used to caress my hand when he was quite a boy. Surely the Lord has -given me this child's love to cheer my old age, and to prove that he -has forgiven me." - -* * * * * - -Dawson and Mrs. Mackenzie the elder had a consultation soon after -this. The subject to be considered was this: How best could she do -something for her daughter-in-law that would not wound her pride? - -"I felt sure," said the solicitor, with straightforwardness, "that -you would put this question to me, and I have thought it well out. -The doctor has told me that she is now almost well, but that if she -returns to her life of poverty and hard work in Glasgow, she will -soon find her last home in the mools." - -"Well, Mr. Dawson?" - -"Well, my dear madam, the cottage hospital down the Clyde is turning -a great success; if you could add two beds to it--" - -"Nothing would please me better. I will build a small additional -wing to it, with a little cottage and garden near for the matron." - -"Oh, thanks. You quite anticipate what I was going to say." - -"Yes--that my daughter-in-law could be appointed manageress, with -Jack's sister as nurse." - -"That is it." - -"Well, it is as good as accomplished. Only let it be between -ourselves. No one is to know who the donor is." - -"Agreed." - -"It is to be our little secret, Mr. Dawson; and, after all, I think -one may just as well do good with one's money while alive as after -death." - -"It certainly is more satisfactory. How about the man-o'-war ship, -then?" - -"Ah! that is another subject I hope to discuss with you one day. -Perhaps--but--well, the matter needs further consideration, so for -the present we shall dismiss it." - -* * * * * - -Jack stayed all the summer at Drumglen; but when the autumn came -round, his grandmother, one evening as they sat by the fire, opened -the conversation by saying,-- - -"My dear boy, your tutor, Mr. Newington, tells me you have been -working very hard, and made capital progress in your studies; so I am -going to send you home for six whole weeks to your mother and sister, -at the Cottage Hospital. I hear there has been a new wing built to -it, and a little house and garden for the matron, and that your -mother has been appointed to that position. Well, dear boy, write -and tell them you are coming; and I'll give you an envelope with -something in it, so that you can pay your way, and be quite the -little gentleman." - -Jack took her hand in the old caressing way; but he did even more--he -drew her arm right round his neck and nestled more closely up to her -knee. - -"Dear grandma," he said, "you are so good to me." - -Mrs. Malony was busy making her husband's supper one evening about a -week after this, when the door opened, and in bounced Jack. - -"Och, sure," she cried, "and is it me own dear bhoy, Johnnie -Greybreeks? Indade and indade it was only this blissed morning I was -talking to Phatrick about ye. An' how well you are looking, alanna! -troth it's the foine young gintleman ye are already entoirely. See -there, the very cat knows ye; and won't Peter be plazed!" - -And so she rattled on. By-and-by the husband himself came in, -smiling all over his black and smutty face, and right heartily -Johnnie shook his hard and brooky fist. - -After supper Peter came down, and brought the fiddle too. That was -one of the happiest nights ever Johnnie remembered spending. - -Next day he went to see Mr. Dawson and the Morgans, but only for a -hurried visit. Then the steamer _Iona_ took him down stream, and at -sunset he was seated beside his mother's cottage fire, with the -dearest ones on earth beside him--one on each side. - -How cosy and home-like everything looked around him! even the canary -and the cat seemed as if they had been specially ordained for the -cheerful room. There were flowers, too, everywhere, inside and out; -but Maggie Mackenzie was the sweetest flower of all--so even her -brother Jack thought. - -She was dressed primly, it is true, as became her position as a -nurse, but that did not detract in the slightest degree from her -lady-like appearance. - -Jack's mother, too, was looking well. - -"Strange how things come about, dear boy," she said. "You see the -Lord heard our prayers, and has raised us up friends. For ever -blessed be his name!" - -As she spoke she wiped away a tear with her white apron. It was a -tear of joy and gratitude, however. - -For this evening Jack's mother felt that her heart was full to -overflowing. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -"HARD A-PORT!" - -"Eep--peep--peep--eep--eep--ee!" - -It was the bos'n's pipe sounding loud and shrill high over the -howling of a nor'-wester and the song of the storm-stirred waves. - -"Eep--peep--eep--ee!" - -First forward, then further aft amidships. - -"All hands shorten sail!" - -"Tumble up, my lads--tumble up; it's going to blow a buster." - -And hardly had the last notes of the pipe ceased as quickly as if -they had been cut off clear and sharp by the wind, than the men came -rattling up the ladders to duty. - -There was every need for haste too, for the storm had suddenly -increased to almost the force of a tornado. The sun was sinking red -and angrily away in the west-sou'-west, his last rays luridly -lighting up the foam and spume of each breaking billow, and casting -rusty rays even on the spray that was now dashing inboard high as the -top of the funnel itself. There was no steam up, however, nor were -there even banked fires, albeit the ship was not very far off land. - -The _Gurnet_--for that was her name--was a screw gunboat of the very -largest build then on the list, with six good Armstrongs on her deck, -besides a monster pivot-gun forward. - -She was a model. I don't say that because, many a long year after -the date of my story, I myself sailed in her. But a model of beauty -the _Gurnet_ was, as good as ever sailor would care to look upon. -Low in the water, with none too much freeboard, perhaps; rakish as to -masts; bows like a clipper, without any merchant-service flimsiness -about them though; and jib-boom like part of a picture. Solid and -strong was she though, and as black all over as the wing of a rook, -except where, just on the edges, her ports were picked out with -vermilion. - -"All hands shorten sail!" - -Yes; and it is indeed time, with the wind howthering like that, -tearing at the sails with angry jerks, and trying the strength of the -sturdy ship from stem to stern, from bowsprit to rattling -rudder-chains. - -And she on a lee-shore! - -Yes: the _Gurnet_ had crossed the Bay of Biscay on the wings of a -beautiful wind a trifle abaft the beam. She had passed the Gulf of -Corunna, and was now just off Cape Finisterre, or Land's End as we -would call it; but nobody, two hours ago, could have believed that -the wind would pop round a point or two and come on to blow like this. - -"Where in a' the warld are you goin' to, laddie?" - -It was the doctor who spoke--Dr. Reikie, assistant-surgeon in -charge--and as he sang out these words he caught young Midshipman -Mackenzie by the lower part of his uniform, as he was struggling up -the companion-ladder. - -The clutch that he made at him was a very unceremonious one indeed, -but a most effectual, for he hauled the middie right back and down -into the steerage. - -"Where were you off to, eh? Are you going daft?" - -"Why, sir, it's all hands on deck, isn't it?" said Jack Mackenzie, -for it was he. "Mustn't I keep my watch, and help to reef topsails?" - -Dr. Reikie laughed loud enough to be heard high above the trampling -of feet and shouting of orders on deck. - -"Ha! ha! ha! Well, I declare, that's about the best thing I've heard -for many a day. Man," he added, leading Jack straight off into the -cosy little ward-room, "what use d'ye think a vision of a thing like -you would be on deck? No more use, man, than a cat in front of a -carriage and four. Sit down on the locker there, or, what is better -still, lie down, and thank your stars you've gotten a countryman o' -your ain to look after you." - -"Well," said Jack, mournfully, "I suppose I must do as I'm told." - -"I'll take care you do, youngster. You may disobey anybody else in -the mess, but if you dinna do as I tell you, man, I'll lay you across -the table and lunner the riggin' o' you. But there," he added, more -kindly, "I'm only in fun, or half in fun, you know. Only, dinna -forget I'm senior in this mess, and sit at the head o' the table. If -I hadn't hauled you down the companion, you'd have been washed -half-way to Finisterre afore now." - -"Thank you very much, sir." - -"Well, mind you're a kind of in the sick-list, and never a watch do -you keep--except that bonnie gowd one in your pocket that your granny -gave you--till I give you leave." - -"Thank you, sir," said Jack again. "But what is supposed to be the -matter with me?" - -"A touch of sea-sickness--your gills are as white as a -haddock's.--Inexperience, and the want o' sea-legs.--Hark! listen! -We've carried away something." - -This was indeed true; although reefed, the maintopsail had gone. - -I could not say how many ribbons it was rent into, but the noise -those ribbons made was indescribable. It was like the rattling of -platoon-firing when a regiment of soldiers is being drilled. - -"I told the skipper the glass was going down like tea and scandal, -and he only laughed at me. If a man refuses to obey the dictates of -science, well, he deserves to lose his ship--that's all I've got to -say." - -"You don't think we're going to be shipwrecked, do you, sir?" - -"Laddie, how can I tell? If the wind changes, and we don't get up -steam in time, our ribs may be dang in on the rocks before mornin'. -But don't be afraid. I daresay it will all come right. I'm going on -deck to see how her neb is pointing. Keep quiet, and think about -your mammy." - -And away the doctor went, steadying himself by bulkheads or anything -he could lay hold on. - -It was now getting very dusk indeed, but so quickly had the men aloft -done their duty, that the ship was already snug, and all hands had -come below. The captain, Commander Gillespie, was himself on the -quarter-deck. He was comparatively a young man, probably not thirty, -or about three years the surgeon's senior. He was a smart enough -officer, but he had good friends in England in high quarters, and -this had got him a separate command; so he walked his own planks, -lord of all he saw. - -The surgeon and he were already very friendly, only the captain did -not put much faith in the weather prognostications advanced by the -worthy Scotch medico. - -"I told you what was coming, sir," said Dr. Reikie. - -"Um--yes--well, I think you did mention something about the glass. -But we're all right." - -"Just shave Finisterre, won't we, sir?" - -"Just shave it! why, we can walk ten miles to windward of it." - -"Well, the _Gurnet_ is a beauty anyhow, I will admit that; but still, -sir--" - -"Look here, doctor: come down below and dine with me--eh?--and we'll -have a jolly good talk, and leave service alone; shan't we?" - -This was a very pretty way of telling the doctor to mind his own -business; and he wisely took the hint, and went off down below to put -on his mess-jacket. - -The good fellow, however, was not altogether easy in his mind. He -did not like the look of the glass, nor--as he told the lieutenant, -whom he met as he passed through the ward-room to reach his -cabin--the look of things in general. The clouds this evening were -racing across the sky, although it was now almost too dark to see -them; the wind was unsteady, though very high; and there was a -jerkiness in the motion of the brave little ship that Dr. Reikie did -not half like. - -Lieutenant Sturdy was putting on an oilskin coat and a sou'-wester. -He was a rough-looking sea-dog at the best, but arrayed in this -style, his round, red, clean-shaven face smiling rather grimly as the -doctor spoke to him, he looked more like a North Sea pilot than the -first officer of a British man-of-war. - -Sturdy was a year or two older than the captain, but he had no great -friends at head-quarters, nor anywhere else for the matter of that. -He came of a good, honest Newcastle family. His father owned quite a -small fleet of coal-steamers that plied between that great city of -the north and London or elsewhere. In fact, these coal-ships coasted -everywhere, going high up as far as Aberdeen, and south even to -Plymouth itself. - -There was a larger steamer in which, being fond of the sea, Mr. -Sturdy, senior, had himself coasted for years. His wife was a tiny, -delicate bit of a body, and feared to venture much upon the ocean; -but Lieutenant Ben Sturdy here had sailed with his father from the -time when he was hardly as tall as the binnacle. It was a rough kind -of a school to learn in, but it made him a sailor, and even in the -royal navy an officer is none the worse of being a sailor. What do -you think, reader? - -Well, Sturdy had entered the service before he was fourteen, and had -not been a deal on shore in England since, because he had no interest -to get him nice ships that had only a three years' commission. -Sturdy's ships had mostly been rotten old tubs that were kept on a -station may be for five years and then recommissioned, two or three -of the officers being left out in them, perhaps. So you see the -service is not all a bed of roses, but it is the best service in the -world for all that. An old sailor like myself may be excused for -thinking so, at all events. - -Sturdy was a good-natured fellow anyhow, although sea-beaten and -rough. His daily life and intercourse with his messmates proved that. - -"That's right," said the doctor, patronizingly; "you're dressing up -to fight the weather, I see." - -"Dressing up to fight fiddlesticks, Reikie. It's going to be a bit -of a blow, that's all, and I want to be snug. See!--Hullo, little -man!" he added, patting Jack on the head; "a bit squeamish, eh? No? -All right; keep below for a few days." - -Mr. Gribble, the assistant-paymaster, was entering the ward-room -dressed in a uniform pilot-jacket, with his cap well reefed, and his -hands fathoms deep in his trousers pockets. - -He stuck himself right in the doorway, spreading his elbows to steady -himself. - -"Hullo!" he said, screwing his mouth and eyebrows about as if his -face were india-rubber--"hullo! Who are you? Hey?" - -"Gangway, Mr. Cheek," answered Sturdy, "unless you want me to give -you a fair wind down the hatchway there. You'd look nice riding -stride legs on the shaft." - -"Why, my blessed eyes, if it ain't you yourself, Lieutenant Benjamin -Sturdy! Blow me sky-high if I didn't think it was old Neptune come -on board. I say, young man," he continued, "do you know that a -yellow oilskin and sou'-wester ain't uniform? I'll be obliged to -take notice of it. Sea-boots and all!" - -Sturdy lifted a huge brown fist and made pretence he was going to cut -Gribble clean through the steerage. - -Gribble dodged. "Don't hit a little chap," he cried. "I'll let you -off this time." - -"I say, Sturdy," cried the doctor. - -"Yes." - -"I'd get up steam if I were you." - -"Humph!" grunted Sturdy from the depths of his capacious chest; then -he went stumping up the ladder singing to himself,-- - - "Here a sheer hulk lies poor Tom Bowling, - The darling of our crew; - No more he'll hear the billows howling, - For death hath broached him to." - - -It did everybody good to hear Ben Sturdy singing; but on the -quarter-deck, except at night, this jolly officer could be as polite -as in a drawing-room. - -"O Mr. Sturdy," said Captain Gillespie, who was still on deck; "here -you are." - -"Yes, sir. Been bending my foul-weather gear, you see." - -"Quite right. Well, I think the old _Gurnet_ is safe." - -"As safe as can be, sir." - -"Looks beastly thick to windward, though. Think we should get up -steam?" - -"As you please, sir." - -"I was asking you." - -"Well, I wouldn't. We'll keep her up a point or two; she'll weather -anything." - -"There!" - -It was a bright flash of lightning that illuminated everything on -deck, till brass-work stood out like burnished gold. - -This was followed by a peal of thunder that appeared to roll the ship -up and crush her from stem to stern as one would an empty match-box. - -"That'll do good." - -"Eh?" - -"It'll bring rain, and rain will lay the wind and sea. Hail will -anyhow, and there it comes." - -And there it did come too. It was early spring; but for as long as -he had been to sea, Sturdy had never before seen such hail as this. -In a few minutes' time the decks were covered inches deep. The -_Gurnet_ might have been a ship in the Greenland seas. The -lightning, too, was incessant, and hail or snow never looks more -beautiful than when lit up in this way. - -The thunder rolled on almost incessantly, but the wind now seemed -less in force, and the sea for the time being was as smooth as if -covered with oil. - -The man at the wheel cowered beneath the terrible storm, while the -hands forward were fain to seek the protection of the -weather-bulwarks. - -"I'll go below now," said the captain when the sky cleared once more -and the thunder went muttering away to leeward. "Come down, Mr. -Sturdy, when your watch is over, and have a glass of port." - -"I'll be with you, sir." - -At eight o'clock he was as good as his word. Dinner was over, but -there were biscuits and dessert. - -"Come along, Mr. Sturdy. The doctor and I have been having long -arguments on scientific subjects. Sit down." - -"Ahem!" said the surgeon. "But, Captain Gillespie, 'argument' is the -wrong word. I was expatiating." - -"Expawsheeatin'," mimicked Sturdy, as he helped himself to the -biscuit. "You wouldn't listen to argument, eh, from such as us? You -are learned. You must just expawsheeate. Says you,-- - - "'I am Sir Oracle, - And, when I ope my lips, let no dog bark!' - ---Well, sir, what was Dr. Reikie teaching you?" - -"Oh," said the captain, laughing, "just as you came down we were away -somewhere in the star depths--beyond the nebulæ, I think." - -Sturdy had poured himself out a glass of rum in a tumbler--a sort of -bos'n's nip, four fingers high. This was a chance for the doctor to -have a shot at the lieutenant. - -"I say, Sturdy," he said, "talking about _nebulæ_, if you drink all -that rum you'll have a nebulous noddle in the mornin'." - -"Yes," continued the captain, "we were off and away into the vastness -of the star depths. We had got far beyond Sirius, and never gone -once on shore. The doctor was telling me that light travels at the -rate of 186,000 miles a second! I say, Mr. Sturdy, how many knots is -that an hour?" - -"Computations like that, sir," said Reikie, trying another shot, "it -would be in vain for Sturdy to attempt in his present condition. -Wait, sir, till he has another nip." - -Sturdy was silent. - -Sturdy was hungry. The biscuits disappeared before him as if by -magic. Then he attacked the nuts, and presently settled quietly down -to the raisins. - -Captain Gillespie's cabin was right abaft the wardroom, with a -separate staircase to it, and a steward's pantry at the foot thereof. -It was very tastefully furnished--at his own expense of course--and -at one end stood a small but good piano, and hanging near it a -fiddle. The captain was very fond of music, and so was the surgeon; -and the fiddle belonged to the latter. - -"Do play, sir," said Sturdy now, "to drown the raging of the -storm.--Come, Auld Reikie," he continued, "screw up your Cremona." - -"If you'll sing 'Tom Bowling.'" - -"Oh, I'll sing anything." - -"By the way, sir," said Sturdy, after he had finished that glorious -song, which has never yet been beaten, "would you mind me asking poor -little Mackenzie in for half-an-hour? I am taking a great liberty, -but--" - -"Not at all, my good fellow.--Mr. Reikie, will you run for him? -you're the younger." - -"_Mr. Dr._ Reikie will be delighted, sir." - -This was a shot at the captain himself. Reikie really was a doctor -of medicine, and he was just young enough and Scotch enough to resent -being deprived of his title. - -Jack was a little shy at first, but he soon brightened up, and his -pleasant and innocent chatter enlivened the little company. Jack -even sung a song. - -"Well," said the captain at last, "this is only our second night at -sea, though I have known you two gentlemen before. Well, we've spent -a very pleasant evening, and if I can have my wish it won't be the -last by a long way. We are going on particular service, and are -likely to be shipmates for a long time. Why, Midshipman Jack here -will be a man before he gets back to his mother." - -Jack really fancied he had been a man for over three weeks--ever -since, in fact, he had set foot on the _Gurnet_ in Plymouth Sound. - -"Well, gentlemen, I like to begin a cruise on commission as we hope -to end it--every one doing his duty, every one pleasant, and loving -his neighbour as himself. So, good-night. See you all in the -morning." - -* * * * * - -But the wind grew wilder and wilder, and at seven bells in the first -watch it was found necessary to get up steam. - -The night was very clear now. A half or three-quarter moon had -arisen, and every star shone like a diamond. - -Hark to that shout! - -It is three bells in the morning watch, and the senior midshipman's -watch too. - -Shoal water ahead. - -"Hard a-port!" - -Not a man fore or aft that did not hear that shout, not a man fore or -aft that did not spring at once from cot or hammock. - -And yet there was neither panic, fear, nor confusion; and if every -one did hasten on deck even before the bos'n's pipe commenced to -sound, it was only because he knew he would be needed, and because he -wanted to know as speedily as possible the extent of the danger, and -the chance, if any, of safety. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -JACK'S SEA-DADDY. - -Midshipman Jack was among the first on deck. All he could see was -the star-lit, wind-tossed waves that, at each dip of the good ship's -prow, rose like mountains right ahead, or, as she leaned to leeward, -seemed ready to engulf her. - -But away on the port bow he could now and then catch a glimpse of -huge black boulders, over which spume was dashing white and high. -These boulders were the rocks on which the good _Gurnet_ might soon -be dashed, and go to pieces. - -In each lull of the gale, even already, the boom of the breaking -waves could be heard--a sound that had been to many and many a sailor -ere now the last he had ever heard on earth. - -Jack began to say his prayers, and to think of those at home. One -and all of his friends and relations seemed to rise up before his -mind's eye at this moment, and seemed to speak to him, to beckon to -him, to pray for him. - -Poor Jack! his brain was all in a whirl, but suddenly he remembered -that he was guilty of a breach of faith. He had no business on deck. -The surgeon had given him orders to remain below. He must hasten -down, therefore, though it did seem dreadful to be drowned in the -dark--drowned like a rat in a drain. The companionship of even those -brightly-shining stars would have made death appear less terrible. -But--yes, he must go below. The first duty of sailor or soldier is -obedience. - -He found his way at last into the ward-room, in which the lamp was -still burning, and threw himself down on the sofa. - -He could pray; ah! there was comfort in that. After he had said his -prayers--no, but prayed his prayers; for there is a deal of -difference between saying a prayer and praying it: in the one it -comes welling up from the heart itself, in the other it is but -lip-worship--after he had prayed, he began to repeat a psalm to -himself, one that he had learned at his mother's knee:-- - - "God is our refuge and our strength, - In straits a present aid; - Therefore, although the earth remove, - We will not be afraid: - Though hills amidst the seas be cast; - Though waters roaring make." - -It was just at this line that the young sailor boy's thoughts were -wafted away and away to hills and glens and streams and woods, all -basking in the sweet light of the summer sun. - -Jack was asleep and dreaming. - -* * * * * - -But a terrible time of anxiety was being passed by those on deck. - -The captain and Sturdy himself were both on the little three-plank -bridge, hanging on to the rope-rail as if to a life-line. - -Again and again Sturdy had shouted down the tube, "Get up steam as -fast as possible!" Yet down there he knew the engineer and stokers -were fighting like furies in the fierce heat of the engine-room. -Well they knew how precious every minute, nay, every second, was. -Bacon and even bladders of lard were put into the fire, but -apparently without any result, although the flames roared high, and -there was even danger of firing the padding betwixt boilers and -bunkers. - -Nearer and nearer loom the black rocks. Can they weather them? All -that brave ship can do the _Gurnet_ is doing. She is sailing as -close to the wind as gull or frigate-bird. All that brave men can -think of to save her has been done. - -Again and again they imagine that they have passed the worst; again -and again whale-back rocks rise ominously further ahead. - -The captain, and even Sturdy, are now in despair, and the last -command is given,-- - -"Stand by to man and lower boats!" - -In such a case this would be the sailor's last resort. In such a sea -it would be all but hopeless. - -Sturdy draws closer to the captain, and pointing with one arm ahead, -shouts in his ear, "We can't weather it. Our only chance is to keep -her away and try to sail between the rocks into the open water -beyond." - -The captain is about to assent, when a dark figure is seen struggling -up through the companion-hatch. He is waving his hands aloft and -shouting. But the wind cuts the words short off; they cannot be -heard. He rushes now to the bridge-ladder and clutches the rope and -shouts again. - -Sturdy bends towards him. He catches the words. - -"Saved!" he cries, creeping back towards the captain. - -Saved? I doubt it. The ship's fore-part even now touches ground, -and the waves leap madly over her. - -But the screw is revolving at last, and slowly the good ship begins -to forge ahead. It is a fight now, and a hard one, betwixt wind and -steam, and for a time no one can tell which will be victor. - -But, hurrah, science has conquered! The useless sails are taken in, -and in less than half an hour the _Gurnet_ is clear, and away from -the terrible reef. - -* * * * * - -There was nothing talked about at breakfast next morning except the -danger the ship had come through. But what signifies danger to -sailors, especially when it is past? The wind and sea had now gone -down, the fires were banked, and all sail was being made for -Gibraltar, that impregnable fortress whose splendid story may never -all be told, and the possession of which is begrudged to us by almost -every civilized nation on the globe. - -Britain means to hold it nevertheless, as long at least as she rides -mistress of the seas; as long as there floats over us, in sea-fight -or in tempest, - - "The flag that braved a thousand years - The battle and the breeze." - - -By the time the _Gurnet_ reached the Rock, Jack was permitted to keep -his watch. He was attached to Sturdy's, luckily for him. Under this -brave fellow he would learn seamanship, a science that I am sorry to -say naval officers of our day do not know too much about. - -But Jack's hopes of spending a day on shore on the historical Rock -were doomed to disappointment. For the _Gurnet_ had not a clean bill -of health. One or two cases of cholera had taken place, it was said, -at Plymouth before she sailed. She had therefore come from an -infected port, and no one would be allowed to set foot on shore. The -utmost indulgence permitted was to post their letters. A boat came -alongside for these. They were handed over the side and taken with a -pair of tongs, being soon after fumigated with tobacco smoke and the -fumes of burning brimstone. - -Fruit, however, was handed up, and many other dainties from shore. -The money received was immediately plunged into a vase containing -some acid disinfectant. Well, all this was provoking enough, -especially as there was not a sick man on board. - -From the place where they lay waiting for important documents, etc., -they could see the soldiers on the Rock and the promenaders near to -the shore, and at morn and eventide the sound of music stole sweetly -over the waters from military bands in garrison or barracks. - -Early though the season was, everything in and around Gibraltar -looked semi-tropical, and Jack Mackenzie would have given a good -deal, he thought, to be allowed to land. The sky was blue, and the -sea and scenery far and near lay quivering in the glorious sunshine -all day long. - -When Jack turned out to keep the middle watch for the first time, -although rather sleepy when aroused, he speedily pulled himself -together, dressed, and went on deck. The stars were shining, but no -moon, and afar off was the town with its twinkling lights, rising -higher and higher up the hill. Lower down, closer to the water's -edge, the lights were more abundant; for sailing ships and steamers -lay there, and not far away a man-o'-war or two. - -But the lights in the town grew fewer and fewer, and the silence -greater, till, after a time, little was to be heard except the -sentries calling, bells solemnly tolling the hour, and now and then a -wild, unearthly yell which Jack could not account for. - -He was leaning over the bulwarks, gazing towards the great looming -Rock, when a hand was placed on his shoulder, and he looked quickly -up to find it was Sturdy's. - -"Am I doing right?" said Jack. "You see, I'm not up to keeping watch -yet. Should I keep constantly tramping up and down?" - -Sturdy laughed. - -"You'd soon have Auld Reikie using language if you did. It is while -lying at anchor like this that sailors sleep most lightly, and Reikie -is nothing if not a sailor. Perhaps if you did much of the tramping -business, he'd come up the hatch and shy a boot at you." - -"Shy his boot at me! Would he, sir?" - -"Well, I didn't say _his_ boot, but _a_ boot. I daresay Auld Reikie -would just as soon shy somebody else's, because when one does this -sort of thing the boot nearly always flies overboard.--But come and -sit down here on the skylight. In keeping your watch, you know, the -main thing is to keep your weather eye lifting, and to note what goes -on high and low, fore and aft. See?" - -"Yes." - -"Well, now, let us yarn. Tell me about your brothers and sisters, -mother and aunts, and--oh, but of course you are far too young to -have a sweetheart." - -"Nearly fourteen," said Jack proudly. "Yes, I have a -sweetheart--just one." - -"Well, one at a time is all I ever have--in the same port, I mean. -And what is your young lady's name?" - -"She is the first young lady ever I spoke to in all my life. She is -my cousin, eight years old, and her name is Tottie Morgan. Tottie -isn't her baptismal name, you know, only her brothers and sisters -call her that. Her mother calls her Violet." - -"And are you going to marry her?" - -"Oh yes, I suppose so." - -"He, he! Well, it's a long time to look forward to." - -"Tottie's oldest brother is a perfect man; Llewellyn is his name. He -is sixteen, and going to be a soldier, and wear a feather bonnet." - -"Fine fun that'll be. Well, Jack, they say we'll soon have war. -Then you will meet your cousin Llewellyn, if he isn't killed in the -first off-go. Young fellows often are, because they are so foolishly -rash. Soon may it come." - -"What, sir?" - -"Why, the war. I want my promotion; and if we had plenty of -fighting, in two or three years' time, Jack, you too would win your -epaulettes, and exchange your toothpick for a cheese-knife." - -"I'm afraid, sir, I didn't hear you aright; did I, sir?" - -"Exchange your dirk, I mean, for a long sword; that is, if we didn't -have to expend a hammock on you--bury you at sea, that is." - -"Oh yes, I see, sir. Then I couldn't marry Tottie, could I, sir?" - -"No; you'd get out of that engagement." - -"Well, sir, I thought once I would like to be a soldier, and wear a -feather bonnet like father did; but grandma said 'No!' so I had to be -a sailor. But I feel sure I shall like the sea." - -"Don't talk, Jack. Why, you haven't been a dog-watch* in the -service." - - -* The two shortest watches on board ship, from 4 to 6, and 6 to 8 -p.m., are so called. They are thus arranged that the same men should -not come on deck always at the same hours. - - -"No, sir, I didn't know there was a dog on board." - -"Ha, ha, ha! Well, we have an old sea-dog in the shape of a bos'n, -and we have a cat too, a beauty, but I don't like to see her taken -out." - -"Don't you like cats, sir?" - -"Not cats with nine tails. But heave round, Jack." - -"Heave what round, sir?" - -"O Jack, you'll be the death of me. I mean heave round with your -yarn. Tell me all about your people while I light my pipe. Never -you learn to smoke, Jack," he continued, lighting a match, and -holding it to the bowl of his meerschaum. Puff, puff, puff. "It is -one of the worst habits out"--puff--"it weakens the -heart"--puff--"weakens the nerves"--puff, puff--"and I don't know -what all it doesn't do, but Dr. Reikie could tell you"--puff, puff. -"Heave round, lad!" - -Jack kept Lieutenant Sturdy interested for hours. Somehow the boy -felt that he had found in this straightforward English sailor a true -friend, and so he never hesitated to tell him all the events of his -young life--all his trials and sufferings, and even his aspirations. - -And Sturdy listened attentively, sometimes patting the boy's hand -with true sympathy. - -"Well, well, well," said the lieutenant at last. "I thought I had -roughed it in my young days, but your story has the weather-gauge of -mine, Jack--the weather-gauge of mine. - -"Ah! well, dear lad, I hope the worst is past. You've just got to do -your duty now, keep your weather eye aloft, obey orders, and trust in -God. Your life afloat won't be all beer and skittles, I assure you. -But a sailor's life isn't a bad one after all. I love it, Jack, oh -yes, dearly. You've got to rough it now and then, but then you are -here, there, and everywhere, over all the world. You see so much and -you learn so much, so that in many ways sailors are far wiser than -landsmen. - -"Well, as long as you and I are shipmates, Jack, just look upon me as -your sea-daddy. Come to me if you have any difficulty, and I'll show -you how to steer out of it; and what you want to know about the ship -I'll tell you." - -"Thank you, sir. You are so good I shall always look upon you as my -sea-father." - -"Right; and if you want a sea-uncle--and that is handy too at -times--why, there's the bos'n. He is a roughish old swab like -myself, but his heart is as soft as a girl's. He'll put you up to -the ropes, and show you how to splice and reef and steer. Never -despise knowledge, no matter where it comes from; and if you keep -your place without being uppish, if you are brave and bright, depend -upon it, the men will love you and respect you. But I say, Jack, -weren't you a bit afraid the other night when it was blowing big -guns?" - -"Well, you see, sir, at first when all hands were called to shorten -sail, I thought I should go upstairs and help." - -"Ha, ha, ha!" - -"I was just going up, sir, when Dr. Reikie caught me by--by a part of -my dress, sir, and pulled me down. He made me a prisoner. But I did -escape when I thought we were all going to be drowned." - -"Yes?" - -"Well, then, I went downstairs again and--" - -"Yes, you went below and--" - -"Well, sir, I fear I was very wicked; for I began to say my prayers, -and fell asleep in the middle of them." - -"Why, Jack, it's eight bells--four o'clock.--Forward there! Eight -bells! Call the watch!" - -Ring-ding, ring-ding, ring-ding, ring-ding. - -Jack went quickly down below, and began to undress. He felt tired -and sleepy now, and could almost have gone to bed with his boots on. - -His chest--it was not a large one--stood outside the dispensary door. -There Jack knelt to pray. - -Then he quickly caught hold of a ring in a beam, and swung himself -into his hammock. He could do so now without tumbling out again at -the other side. - -I think his head had hardly touched the pillow when he was fast -asleep--a happy, dreamless, sailor's slumber. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -IN THE GOOD OLD "GURNET." - -Before Jack Mackenzie came to sea, he had received, as far as any boy -could, a thoroughly theoretical education. His grandmother had seen -to that. Much she would have liked to have the boy constantly with -her, but she knew that this would not be to his advantage; for when -the very best has been said about the system of what I may call -fireside education under a tutor, it must be confessed that there is -no emulation about it. So Jack had been sent to one of the best -schools in Glasgow, and had private tutors as well, one of them being -an old naval commander, who saw nothing derogatory in coaching a few -young fellows who were to serve afloat. For six months every year -Jack had been in Glasgow; the rest of the time he spent at Drumglen -and his mother's pretty cottage. - -While in Glasgow, as was only to be expected, he had spent many a -pleasant day and evening at the villa of his uncle and cousins the -Morgans. On Sunday he never failed to put in an appearance dressed -and ready for church. But the Sabbath evenings he had used to spend -as often as not with Mrs. Malony and Little Peter. - -During his intercourse with his cousins, independent of his falling -in love, as he termed it, with the tiny but old-fashioned Tottie, he -had cemented a close and enduring friendship with the elder boy, -Llewellyn. - -Ah, reader! friendships like these are very sweet. Wherever in all -the wide world we roam, we never, never forget them. - -Llewellyn at sixteen was very tall and handsome, and in every way, -one would say, cut out for a soldier. If his father was Welsh, his -mother was a true Scot; he was therefore Celtic to the core. It is -no wonder, then, that he should prefer a cadetship in a Highland -regiment to that in any other. The 93rd is most assuredly one of the -grandest and gallantest of our Scottish regiments, and has maintained -its high renown on many a blood-stained field. - -Just one thing I must say in favour of Jack's conservative old -grandma. Although then she neither loved the Welsh nor liked -business people, she did not now go the whole length of ostracizing -her daughter and her family. I suppose old age has a softening -effect upon the heart, for she even went so far as to invite her -daughter and children now and then to Drumglen. The latter went -frequently to see the old lady, but her daughter very seldom, for the -simplest and best of reasons--namely, that her husband had not been -included. - -However, Llewellyn became a special favourite with this stern old -dame, and so did Baby Morgan--that is, Jack's wee sweetheart, Tottie -or Violet. What glorious days the two boys had spent together on the -loch, by the riverside, in the forests--dark even in daylight--or -wandering over the purple hills! Never, never would they forget -these dear days while in camp or field, in the trenches, or far away -on the lone blue sea. - -There had been tears of genuine grief coursing down Jack's cheeks -when he bade Llewellyn farewell at last; and though older, it must be -confessed that the young cadet was glad in a measure when the parting -was over, for there was a big lump in his throat that he had tried in -vain to swallow. - -Little Tottie, now nearly nine years of age, was not, truth compels -me to say, so very much affected at bidding her lover good-bye as -Jack, who had a large spice of romance in him, would have liked. She -did not cry--not she. Her last words, as the train was starting and -Jack was leaning over the window, might have been said to smack of -selfishness and gore. - -"Mind, Johnnie," she cried, "to bring me home somefing very nice, and -don't fo'get to kill lots and lots of dead sailors." - -* * * * * - -There was no naval instructor on board the _Gurnet_, of course; but -Jack determined to study, nevertheless, theoretically as well as -practically. Well, he found himself among good friends, always -willing to help him out of a hole. There were the doctor and second -master down below, and there was Lieutenant Sturdy, his sea-dad, on -deck, and the rough but kindly bos'n forward. - -Mr. Fitzgerald, the senior midshipman, was a tall, lanky young -fellow, the younger son of a lord, and though no doubt clever enough -after a fashion, he did not see the fun, he said, of studying -anything in particular. "Zeal for the service!" he told Sturdy once; -"I haven't got any. There is no extra screw for that; and if my -brother dies, I shall go on shore and keep my hunters." - -Mr. Gribble, the assistant-paymaster, was the tease of the mess. He -could sing a rattling good comic song, however, and spin good -yarns--all true, he said, because he himself had made them up. So he -was rather a favourite in the little mess. - -On the whole, the members of the ward-room mess were fairly well met, -and lived as jolly a life as the same number of young fellows could -live anywhere. - -From Gibraltar they went cruising away down the Mediterranean, for -the _Gurnet_ carried important dispatches for Malta. They were not -put in quarantine here. They just escaped that, having been detained -at sea by contrary winds. Yes, they might have steamed; but Captain -Gillespie's orders had been to save coals if possible, and never to -light fires if there was wind enough to carry the ship along. - -At Malta, then, much to his delight, Jack got on shore. The doctor, -who was assistant-surgeon in charge, and could do very much as he -liked, took Jack with him. - -What long letters our little hero had to write about this strange -town, with its streets of stairs, its quaintly-dressed inhabitants, -its bumboat men and women, its churches, with bells that -jangle-jangled on for ever and ever; its bazaars and fortifications -and ships, and its hill, or rather brae, on which a wood was said to -exist. Dr. Reikie went to this wood on a butterfly expedition, and -in search of fossils. Well, the wood itself seemed a fossil, a most -forlorn and dilapidated belt of trees indeed. But the doctor and -Jack came back laden with specimens, white with dust, and with faces -that seemed to have been rubbed with a wet brick. - -The only thing worth seeing about Malta, said Lord Tomfoozle, as the -doctor called Fitzgerald, the senior mid, was the opera. So he did -not miss that for a single night of the ten days the _Gurnet_ lay in -Malta. I fear that in one respect Fitzgerald rather gave himself -away, as the Yankees express it; for he assured everybody before -coming to Malta that he could speak Italian. Well, when he aired -this language for the first time at a good hotel kept by a native of -sunny Italia, the landlord shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. - -"De Rooshian langwidge," he said, "I not can; but de Engleese mooch -plenty, sare." - -Dr. Reikie, who was there, guffawed. It was very rude. Fitzgerald -turned red in the face, then he called the doctor a bear, and left -the hotel. - -But the doctor, or doctor's mate as some old tars on board would call -him, was too good a fellow to take offence at being called a bear by -young Tomfoozle; so at dinner that day he was extra civil to him, and -asked him twice if he would have some more pudding. Dr. Reikie knew -the mid's weakness, and what would soften his heart; so presently my -lord smiled. - -"I accept your apology, doctor," he said. - -"Apology, Tomfoozle? I didn't make one." - -"Oh yes, you did. You asked me twice to have pudding. Pudding and -apology are--er--" - -"Synonymous?" - -"That's the word. I called you a bear to-day, doctor, but I meant a -brick." - -"Oh, he meant a brick, did he?" chimed in the A.P.* - - -* A.P. is the abbreviation for assistant-paymaster. - - -"Mr. Sturdy, please take note; Lord Tomfoozle meant a brick." - -"Shut up, you A.P.," cried the mid, "or rather you APE. I'm talking -to a gentleman.--Yes, doctor, I did mean a brick; so there!" - -"I say, doctor, you look out," said the mischievous quill-driver. -"Old Tomfoozle expects you to put him on the sick-list next--" - -"Next what?" said the mid. - -"Next gale of wind." - -"Avast heaving now, you youngsters," put in Sturdy.--"That's the -worst of having babies in the mess, doctor." - -"I didn't heave anything," said Fitzgerald; "but if the biscuits had -been handy, Mr. A.P., without the E, would have had to duck his -somewhat empty head." - -* * * * * - -I cannot say that Jack Mackenzie was over-well pleased with the city -of the Templars. It was foreign enough and romantic enough, and -military enough also, but it lacked greenness and vegetation. True, -the orange-trees bloomed bonnie in many of the gardens, and flowers -too, rich and rare, but on the whole it was a parched and sunburnt -town. The sea all around, however, was very blue and beautiful, and -perhaps no one was sorry when the _Gurnet_ was once more off and away -on the bosom of the broad Levant, and bound for Alexandria. - -The ship was now all that a little ship of war should be. Sturdy -took a pride in her. And he would have her clean alow and aloft, -outside and in; and the men seeing this, did all they could to please -their good lieutenant. The principal warrant or non-commissioned -officers on board the _Gurnet_ were the bos'n, who was so good a -friend to Jack, the quartermaster, and sergeant of marines. There -were ten at least of these redcoats on board; and although they were -very plainly dressed indeed on week-days--just sloped about anyhow, -as the bos'n phrased it--still, drawn up on the ivory-white deck on a -Sunday morning in line with the blue-jackets, all with rifles and -white bayonets ready for inspection, the effect was very pretty. - -On the Sabbath morning, as Dr. Reikie solemnly called this holy day, -divisions of course formed quite an event. The officers were all in -frock-coats and swords, except Jack, who was lashed to his dirk. The -best and biggest flag floated gaily aloft, and if a breeze was -blowing, the _Gurnet_, with every white sail bellying out before it, -looked indeed a thing of life and beauty. Down below on deck there -wasn't a rope's end out of place; the hammocks were neatly arranged -above the bulwarks, and the brass-work shone like the inside of a -good gold watch. - -Solemnly along the line of sailors and marines marched the captain, -followed by Sturdy, followed in his turn by Dr. Reikie, and there was -nothing that escaped the eagle eyes of any of the three. The men's -very faces and ears came in for inspection, and even the cut and -length of their hair, the hang of their knives, the lay of their -lanyards; and if a bluejacket's collar was badly and carelessly -spread, or if it were too broad or too narrow, the quartermaster's -attention was drawn thereto. - -To appear with a dirty face on a Sunday morning was indeed a crime. -The captain would call attention to it, perhaps as follows: "Is that -man's face clean and wholesome, Dr. Reikie?" - -"It's waur* than a brookie's, sir; and look, his lugs[dagger] are -like midden creels."[double dagger] - - -* "Waur," worse. - -[dagger] "Lugs," ears. - -[double dagger] "Midden creels," baskets used in the Highlands of -Scotland for carrying manure to the fields. - - -There were times, you see, when the English language would hardly -meet the demands of the case, and then the honest doctor permitted -himself to drift into his dearly-beloved native dialect. - -"Bring that man before me to-morrow forenoon, quartermaster." - -That man would next day be planked accordingly, and perhaps his grog -stopped for a week, or, if the ship were in harbour, his leave -stopped. - -A milder punishment for milder offences was three-water grog. In -this case the men to be punished were drawn up amidships, each with a -basin in his hand; and into this was poured his grog, very much -diluted indeed. Then came the command, "Caps off. Queen!" - -"Queen!" each man would repeat, and thus toasting Her Gracious -Majesty, toss off his three-water grog. - -I have already said there was no naval instructor on board, neither -was there a parson. Now, the duty of reading prayers in such cases -devolves, I think, on the captain himself, but on board the saucy -_Gurnet_ it was turned over to the first lieutenant. He had a deep, -strong voice, which he could make singularly impressive when reading -the lessons. - -It was rather more than impressive on one particular occasion, -shortly after the ship sailed from Malta. It was a very lovely day -indeed, and church service was, as usual, held on the upper deck -abaft the mainmast. - -Sturdy stood by the capstan reading, and more than one officer had -been noticing the antics of Fred Harris, a young blue-jacket, a -first-class boy, who was doing all he could to make his comrades -laugh. His conduct had evidently given Lieutenant Sturdy the -fidgets; for, much to everybody's surprise, the service did not -conclude that morning with the simple "Amen," but Amen with a pennant -to it, as a sailor would say. It ran thus, all in one breath, mind -you: "Amen!--Harris, confound you, sir, I've been watching you all -the time. You'll have the cat for your shocking irreverence, as sure -as my name's Sturdy.--Pipe down!" - -Well, it was time to pipe down after this. - -_N.B._--The above anecdote is perfectly true, but any reader who -doesn't like the tone of it is welcome to skip it. - -* * * * * - -If the reader will take a glance at the map, he will notice that -Sicily is a large island lying to the south and west of the extreme -end of Italy, which good-naturedly curls round as if to meet it and -bid it welcome. Sicily is principally celebrated, Mr. Sturdy told -Jack one night in the middle watch, for good fruit, bad garlic, fried -fish, brigands, and a burning mountain. - -"That would be Mount Etna," said Jack. - -"Yes, old Jack; that's her name. There is a navy yarn told about -that mountain which I'm not sure I should tell you, although I was -told it myself by a priest." - -"Oh yes, tell me." - -"Well, it's a warning to all contractors anyhow, who sometimes supply -very bad biscuits to England's fighting navy. Once upon a time, -then, when the gallant _Roarer_, a shoudy-boudy old seventy-four, and -terribly badly found in the matter of hard tack--her biscuits being -half dust, half weevils--was cruising around here, the officer of the -watch, one dark night in the middle watch, called all hands to -witness a terrible but somewhat ridiculous sight. - -"The ship was sailing close past Sicily, and not far from Etna, which -had been in eruption for some weeks; only they appeared to be burning -up the slack and the cinders in the crater just then, because there -was plenty of light but not much smoke. - -"Well, all hands came tumbling up, thinking perhaps a Frenchman was -bearing down upon them, and that they wouldn't have any more sleep -till they sent her to Davy Jones's locker. - -"But it wasn't that. - -"The captain himself stood on the poop, with his battered old -telescope to his eye, and turned towards the mountain top. - -"The eyes of all the crew were now bent in the same direction. No -wonder that they stared in astonishment, rubbed their eyes, and -stared again. For there, on the very brink of the crater, stood two -tall figures, wrestling, as it were, for the mastery. One was -speedily made out to be Mr. Pipeclay, a baker of Portsmouth, who -supplied biscuits to the royal navy--biscuits that had been once or -twice on a voyage round the world in the merchant service.* The -other figure was soon discovered by the captain to be none other than -Auld Nickie Ben himself. - - -* I know for a fact that, not longer ago than the sixties, old -ship-biscuits that had been several cruises in whalers and sealers to -the Arctic regions, and condemned, were bought up and sold to the -navy. Poor Jack! - - -[Illustration: Mountain] - -"'Yes,' shouted the captain, 'it is Nick himself. I can distinctly -make out the cloven hoof.--Bravo, Nick, that's got him!' - -"Then he took the glass from his eye and shouted to the commander,-- - -"'Heave her to, Mr. Deadlight; we must see the end of this.' - -"The ship was hove to very quickly indeed, and the crew lined the -bulwarks and hung like bees to the rigging, and meanwhile the -terrible struggle on the mountain top went on. - -"Now, Britons are proverbially lovers of fair-play, and in this case -they extended their patronage to the baker and Nick without favour. - -"The baker was evidently trying to pull away from the crater, while -the object of the other combatant was to get his antagonist down the -awful pit. - -"On board the ship there was wild shouting or cheering, as one or -other seemed to gain an advantage, with loud cries of 'Pull, baker, -pull,' or 'Pull, Nick, pull,' as the case might be. - -"But at last, terrible to relate, the baker was floored and flung in; -Auld Nickie Ben, with an eldritch scream, dived after him, the last -portion of him seen being his hoof. - -"A clap of thunder followed, and soon after that it came on to blow -such a fearful gale that for four-and-twenty hours the good ship -_Roarer_ was scudding under bare poles, and it is just a wonder that -she survived to tell the tale." - - - - -CHAPTER X. - - PADDY'S ADVENTURE--FRED HARRIS PROVES - HIMSELF A HERO. - -Though far wilder scenes and adventures must soon engage our -attention, I shall linger just a little longer in the blue Levant -before we sail away south and round the world. Alexandria, then, -where Jack was permitted to land and enjoy himself pretty much as he -pleased, he liked, probably on this very account. Our hero was -certainly not allowed an unlimited amount of pocket-money, but he had -enough; besides, you know, it was impossible to spend any at sea, for -no card-playing for money was permitted on board the _Gurnet_. - -An Egyptian offered to be his guide, and Jack accepted his services. -A lithe and saucy-looking tatterdemalion he was, from his greasy -skull-cap to his bare brown toes. He took Jack everywhere, and -showed him all the sights. At Pompey's Pillar he met a crowd of -blue-jackets not belonging to his own ship. They had flown a kite -over the pillar and drawn a rope up, and several sailors went hand -over hand up to the top. They danced on the top, and they drank on -the top. It made Jack's head giddy to look at them, for he could not -help noticing that some of them were not perfectly sober. - -Presently he was horrified to see one young sailor lose his balance -and topple over. What followed illustrated the presence of mind of a -British tar in a way that I think has never been beaten. He was -standing near Jack when the man fell. - -"Haul taut above!" he shouted. - -Then in the twinkling of an eye he loosened the rope below. It is no -exaggeration to say that in less than two seconds he had full command -of the line, and in two seconds more he had coiled a bight of it -round the falling sailor. - -"Now lower away from aloft!" he shouted. - -The man had been caught by body and legs when about half-way down, -and was now lowered easily to the ground. - -He was partially insensible, but otherwise intact. - -"That's the way we catches Cape pigeons," said the man who had so -cleverly saved his shipmate's life. - -Jack begged him to explain. - -"Why, young sir," he said, "it's simple enough. Near the Cape, you -know, and up the 'Bique, the birds come sailing round astern of the -ship to pick up the crumbs. Well, we just tie a line to a chunk o' -wood and pitches it overboard. When a bird flies near it, we loosens -the line like, and a turn of the wrist entangles him; then on board -he comes straight off the reel." - -In a hotel in one of the beautiful squares Jack dined that day in -solitary grandeur. - -When he went on board again, he told his adventures to his messmates. - -"I say, little 'un," said Gribble, the assistant-paymaster, "you're -getting on. I thought I was a bit of a liar myself, but-- Steward, -another cup o' tea." - -"Well," said Jack, in a disheartened kind of way, "I don't see the -value of truthfulness if one isn't to be believed." - -"Bravo, Jack!" cried Dr. Reikie. "I believe you. What you have told -us is doubtless true. The clever feat is scientifically possible; -but, alas! to talk science to Gribble there is like throwing pearls -before--" - -"Before what, Mister Learned Scot?" - -"Before-- Steward, another cup of tea." - -The advantages of temperance are nowadays well recognized by the men -themselves in the royal navy; but in those times it was nothing -unusual to find the men come off in the liberty-boat "fechtin' fou," -as Dr. Reikie called it--that is, to put it plain, "fighting drunk." -Sometimes they had to be put in irons on account of their violence. -This was not perhaps so much owing to the amount they disposed of as -to the vile nature of the stuff they drank. - -When Midshipman Jack was one day sent on shore with a boat's crew and -some letters at Alexandria, he felt himself a very important officer -indeed. He had orders also to make a call and wait for a reply, but -to be off again within two hours. He got down to his boat in plenty -of time, singing to himself. He sang another song, though, when he -found only one man at the boat. - -He lowered his brows, and demanded to know where the others were. - -"Only gone up to drink the Queen's health, God bless her!" said Paddy -O'Rayne. - -"But I gave them strict orders not to leave the boat." - -"Bhoys will be bhoys, yer honor. But if you'll stand by her head -here, sorr, troth I'll bring them all in a minute." - -Away went Paddy. - -In an hour's time, and when Jack was almost in tears, down came two -men--they were singing. Then came Paddy--he was reeling. Then two -more--one with a black eye. Jack would wait no longer, but shoved -off. - -Three times did the stroke oar catch a crab; the third time he -couldn't get up, and Paddy took his place. - -In order to get alongside safely and gracefully, he made a kind of -admiral's sweep, much to the amusement of Dr. Reikie and Lieutenant -Sturdy, who were both on the quarter-deck. - -"In bow!" - -"Way enough! Oars!" - -The bow stood up, boat-hook in hand. - -He tried to do so very gracefully--too gracefully in fact; for in -reaching out to catch on, he lost his balance. He was fished out -after a time; and so Jack and his merry men got up the side. - -Our young hero made his report very sadly; but Sturdy only laughed. - -"I merely sent you," he said, "to give you experience. Sailors are -just like babies, you know, and want a lot of watching to keep them -out of mischief." - -"That's true," said Reikie. "Why, I remember once when in the old -gunboat _Rattler_, on the coast of Africa, having ten men down with -sickness all in one day. I thought we were struck with cholera till -I made inquiry, and found it was 'pine-apple ailment.' They had all -been on shore at Zanzibar, and pine-apples were cheap. Well, Sturdy, -would you believe, one man told me that '_sure, he'd only eaten -nine!_'" - -* * * * * - -In two months' time the _Gurnet_ was at anchor at Constantinople. -This was Jack's first visit to the capital of the Turk, but it wasn't -to be his last by any means. - -Just one little story here concerning Paddy O'Rayne. - -Paddy was a sailor-soldier, you must know; in other words, he was a -red marine. He belonged to the R.M.L.I., or Royal Marine Light -Infantry. They are called infantry, not to distinguish them from -cavalry--for there are no horse marines--but from the R.M.A., or -Royal Marine Artillery. These red marines are really splendid -fellows, and, as a rule, men of grand physique. It is said that they -take up as much room on parade as the "gallant Forty-twa," though my -own opinion is that the Highlanders could give them yards and beat -them. Never mind, Paddy was a capital specimen; and he "did for the -doctor"--that is, he was the worthy surgeon's servant, and sometimes -even assisted in the sick-bay. - -As regards drinking, Dr. Reikie had always considered him fairly -temperate, and had never missed a drop out of his own bottle of rum, -which was taken up for him once a week. - -"I never saw you the worse of drink yet," said the doctor to him one -day, by way of compliment. - -"Indade! thin, sorr," said Paddy, "the raison is just this: I niver -dhrink more than one glass at a time. Sure, sorr, me mouth wouldn't -hould a dhrop more." - -But, alas! during this visit to Constantinople proof was forthcoming -that even Paddy was not invariably infallible. - -Paddy was granted a day's leave then to go on shore and see the -"unspakeable Turk." He was as natty as a new pin when he passed over -the side to take his place in the liberty-boat. - -But when that same boat came off with the liberty-men at night, -behold Paddy was not there. Nor did he appear next day, nor till the -middle of the next, when he came on board. His appearance as he came -in over the side was, to say the least, sufficient to make him the -cynosure of all eyes. He had nothing on at all except a pair of old -blue drawers and a brass cavalry helmet. His face was fearfully -disfigured. But heedless of the peals of laughter that greeted him -from all hands, he marched boldly aft to where Dr. Reikie stood on -the quarter-deck, saluted, and reported himself. - -"It's me, sorr," he said, "and sorra a one else." - -"Well, Paddy, I wouldn't have known you. Get down at once to the -sick-bay, and I'll see you there." - -There were three parallel scars on Paddy's face--brow, nose, and -chin--thus [3 bars]. The excuse he pleaded, when asked how he -managed to injure himself, was as droll as Paddy himself. - -"You, see, sorr, it was like this. I was aslape on the floor as -innocent as an unborn lamb, sorr, and when I awoke I found the stove -had thrown itself down and the bars had burnt me face." - -But he spoke as if the stove had been lying on his face for quite a -long time. - -Dr. Reikie forgave him. - -The officers of the _Gurnet_ managed to enjoy themselves very much at -Constantinople, and were everywhere well received. There were other -ships here too, and so the fun was pretty general. - -After leaving the Turkish capital, the _Gurnet_ returned to -Alexandria and Malta and Gibraltar. - -The reason was that there was then no Suez Canal, else the saucy -craft would have steamed right away through into the Indian Ocean. - -Round the Cape she must go therefore, but nobody minded this. The -Cape of Good Hope is rather a pleasant station than otherwise; and, -besides, time is of no object with a ship just newly commissioned, -for throe or four years being a very long time to look forward to, no -one thinks of looking. - -The ship touched at Madeira, then stood straight away south--with not -much easterly in it--for Ascension and St. Helena. - -After many days' sailing they sighted the beautiful Canary Islands, -and then the Cape de Verd Islands, getting pretty close to one which -I think was St. Antonio. But they did not land, for the breeze was a -spanking trade, and carried them on and on all day and all night, as -if their ship had been a fairy ship and the sea around a fairy sea. - -There was certainly not much in the shape of adventure, however, and -not a deal to be seen; although Dr. Reikie, ever busy in the pursuit -of science, found much in that deep-blue sparkling ocean to interest -him: for he trailed little open gauze nets overboard, and the -animalcules that he caught thus and spread out on black card-board -with the aid of needles were extremely beautiful to behold. It -needed good eyes to see some of the worthy medico's specimens, -however. Here, for instance, were tiny transparent fishes, -seemingly, all perfect and complete, yet so small they could have -swum easily through the eye of a bodkin; little star-fish too, and -the drollest and daftest looking shrimps you could imagine, and these -were no bigger than the head of an old-fashioned pin. Under a large -magnifying-glass, however, you could see even the hearts of these -little fishes beating. - -"Oh, isn't it wonderful!" Dr. Reikie would say; "and to think that -God made them all, and every tiny blood-vessel in their bits of -bodies." - -One night about five bells in the first watch there was a cry of, -"Man overboard." - -This was quickly followed by the bos'n's pipe--"Away, lifeboat's -crew." - -But who was it? Everybody looked about on deck or below to see if -they missed a messmate. - -Rattle-rattle, rumble-tumble, how those good fellows fly on deck! -Hardly a minute elapses ere the boat reaches the water on a level -keel and with a dull plash. Then there are the swish of the oars, -and the clunk-clunk in the rowlocks, as she speeds away astern. - -The life-buoy has been lit and let go, and is burning brightly enough -far away astern yonder, and as speedily as possible the ship is hove -to. - -For that life-buoy the men are now steadily pulling as if their own -lives depended on the strength of their brawny arms, while the -sub-lieutenant himself as coxswain stands tiller in hand in the stern -sheets. - -What a long pull it seems to be! But they reach the beacon light at -last. - -No soul is clinging there! - -But a huge shark appears for a moment in the bright starlight, swims -half-way round the buoy, and disappears with an ugly plash. - -"Ah, lads," says the officer, "that tiger of the seas has had his -supper. We can do no more. Stand by to ship the buoy." - -This was got inboard and steadied forward in the bows, and after -pulling around slowly for a short time, the lifeboat was headed once -more for the now distant ship. - -"Pull easy, men--pull easy." - -The poor fellows were terribly pumped. - -"Hark!" cried the first-class boy Harris. "Did you hear that cry, -sir?" - -It was the same lad who had been planked by Sturdy for skylarking in -church: a bold and fearless young fellow he was. - -"Hark, sir, there it is again!" - -"Lie on your oars, men.--You must have 'cute ears, boy. I heard -nothing." - -There wasn't a sound now except the "jabble" or lapping of the water -as the boat moved slowly up and down. The night was delightfully -clear; the stars so bright and near it seemed as though they were not -many oars' lengths overhead. The Southern Cross was particularly -brilliant. No clouds in the sky except a few rock-and-tower-shaped -ones low down on the western horizon, behind which the tropical -lightning played intermittently. - -But never a sound. - -"Hark again!" cried Harris. - -Yes; every one heard it now--far down to leeward. - -"It is but the cry of a bird," said the officer. - -"It's only a Mother Carey's chicken," said the stroke. - -"Round with her, lads," cried Sub-Lieutenant Wilson. "Give way port. -Off she dances. We'll soon see." - -The beacon light was out, but a lantern was hung up, and away went -the lifeboat. Though I say life-boat, reader, remember she was but -an ordinary whaler. - -After pulling for some time, they could hear the cries ahead -distinctly enough. - -They answered with a vigorous shout, and redoubled their efforts, for -the cries were unmistakably those of a drowning man. - -They ceased entirely after a time. - -The good crew were in despair. They listened and listened in vain, -and were just putting about, when Harris dropped his oar, to the -astonishment of everybody, and sprang overboard like a flash. - -In the side of a dark curling wave he had seen a white face. Next -minute he was ploughing along back towards the boat with one hand, -while with the other he supported the form of the drowned or drowning -man. - -It was the doctor himself. While hauling in his net as he sat in the -dinghy that hung from the davits astern, he had somehow slued it and -gone head foremost into the sea. - -For a long time he gave no signs of life. But his wet clothing was -speedily taken off, and he was laid on the men's coats. After fully -half an hour of rubbing and rolling, he gave a sigh and opened his -eyes. A little flask of brandy was held to his lips, a portion of -which he managed to swallow. He speedily revived now, and by the -time they got him on board he was able to tell his story. He did not -swim to the life-buoy, he said, because it was watched by a demon -shark that would undoubtedly have taken him down. - -Next day he was able to resume his duties; but that boy Fred Harris -was the hero of the ship for many a week after this strange adventure. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - - A TRAGEDY--AULD REIKIE PURSUES SCIENCE - UNDER DIFFICULTIES. - -For nine months, if not longer, the _Gurnet_ cruised around the Cape, -and along the east coast of Africa, as high up as the tropics, and as -low down as Algoa Bay. She took a run round once as far as Simon's -Bay. - -Jack Mackenzie felt himself now to be a boy no longer. He had grown -taller, broader, and, I may add, browner. - -Who could have foretold that the little ragged guttersnipe boy whom -big Tom Morgan found on that snowy Christmas eve, and took pity upon, -would have developed into so manly a young officer, walking the -quarter-deck of one of Her Majesty's cruisers, and feeling fit almost -to keep a watch all by himself. - -We next find the _Gurnet_ at anchor in Bombay roadstead or harbour. -She looked small, indeed, beside some of the great East Indiamen -lying here, and almost hidden in the forest of masts everywhere -around her. - -At this time the walls of Bombay were still standing, and a ditch ran -round a great portion of it. The British town was therefore far more -gloomy than it is now, and the native town perhaps a deal dirtier, if -that were possible. Nevertheless, Jack used to enjoy a run on shore -with his friend the doctor, for there was much to be seen and much to -study from a natural history point of view. So they never came off -without specimens of some kind. - -"If I had a year to myself," said Dr. Reikie, "I would spend it in -studying anthropology and zoology in the old and new towns of Bombay." - -Well, as regards these, one might go further and fare worse. - -But every creature and human being, except restless Europeans, seemed -calm and contented here. The doctor and Jack, after a time, got into -a habit of just wandering about in the glorious sunshine and looking -at things, or they would hire a buggy and make the buggy-wallah drive -slowly about. A palkee or palanquin was another method of -progression the two sometimes adopted. They made the bearers walk -abreast, so that they could converse from their respective windows, -or ports, as Dr. Reikie called them. - -A palanquin is really a kind of sedan chair, borne along on a long -bamboo pole by half-naked natives; only, instead of sitting you lie -at full length. My own experience of palkees leads me to say that in -such a mode of travelling one enjoys the _dolce far niente_ to -perfection, and people and things flit past you as if they were part -and parcel of a beautiful dream, or the transformation scene in a -pantomime. The natives are picturesque in the extreme--turbanned -Arabs; swarthy Parsees; fat Hindus; native servants of every -description; lazy blue-dressed native policemen; British soldiers in -scarlet coats; British blue-jackets; solemn-looking little cows with -humps and gilded horns; rings of workmen squatting on the foot-path -smoking opium; droll-looking birds called adjutants, that, assisted -by the bluebottle flies, do all the scavenging; and, last but not -least, rows of pretty maidens, dressed in rolls of silk of various -colours; with here and there bevies of beautiful children. The whole -forms a picture that never passes from the mind away. - -The _Gurnet_ next went to Ceylon. - -While on her voyage thither some stock-taking was done, and, to -Captain Gillespie's astonishment, the rum was short. - -Who could the thief be? No one could get into the spirit-room -without the assistant-paymaster's orders or Lieutenant Sturdy's. It -was extremely puzzling. A watch was kept on the door, nevertheless; -but nothing was found out. Still the rum disappeared--more, that is, -than was taken out honestly. A small cask was taken up every day at -twelve. The bung was started, and the spirit drawn off with a -siphon. Then the cask was returned. - -It was a case for a detective. - -And that detective was forthcoming in the person of Auld Reikie, as -his messmates frequently called the honest doctor. - -"I have it, Sturdy, I have it," he cried one forenoon, rushing into -the ward-room. "Man, there is nothing in a' the warld to beat the -glorious licht o' science." - -"Well, heave round," said Sturdy, lighting a cigar; "show your -glorious 'licht,' as you call it." - -"I'll do that, man. Listen, Sturdy; listen, my Lord Tomfoozle, for -I'll mak the truth apparent to even your feckless noddle." - -"Thank you, Reikie," drawled Fitzgerald. - -"Every day, then, the siphon is carried away _full_. You've only to -put your thumb on it and the thing's done. Watch the morn, Sturdy, -and you'll put your thumb on the culprits." - -And Auld Reikie was right. - -But the trick was so simple and yet so clever that the culprits were -allowed to escape with only a nominal punishment. - -* * * * * - -The bos'n was such a good fellow that no one could have believed he -had an enemy on board. He was, however, a strict-service man, and -nobody at sea can do his duty strictly without making at least one -foe. - -It was Christmas time then, and the _Gurnet_ was still lying at -Bombay. Extra liberty had been granted to the men, which they did -not abuse more than usual; and as for the officers, many of them -spent nights on shore at entertainments got up in their behalf by -rich European merchants. - -Jack himself was unusually happy on the Christmas eve, because only -the day before he had received a whole bundle of letters from -home--from his grandma, his mother, his sister, big Uncle Tom -himself, and his little cousin Violet, or Tottie as he liked to call -her. He had received a long, delightful letter also from Llewellyn. -His regiment, or a part of it, was then at Fort George. - -Probably the memory of a long-gone-by Christmas eve tended to make -Jack all the brighter and happier on this particular night, but -certainly he had never felt brighter or more joyful. - -The moon was shining brightly on the water as Dr. Reikie and he came -alongside and got quietly on board, for it was now - - "The wee short oor ayont the twal." - - -They turned in almost immediately, but not before Jack had knelt -beside his chest and prayed for all the dear ones so far away. - -It must have been well on towards six bells in the same watch when -the bos'n in his cabin was startled by hearing his curtain drawn back. - -There was a feeble light outside, and he could just make out the -figure of a tall man in the doorway. - -"Who is it? What do you want?" - -"It's me, sir; it's Jack Bisset, the man you reported to the -commander. You were quite right, and though we haven't been friends -since, I couldn't sleep to-night of all nights--for it is Christmas -morning--till I came to shake hands and make it up." - -"All right, Bisset. Let us be friends. I bear no ill-will." - -He held out his right hand as he spoke. - -This the sailor grasped tightly with his left, then aimed a murderous -blow at the poor bos'n's skull, with an iron bar or huge file. - -The bos'n fell back; and thinking he had done his murderous work, -Bisset dropped the piece of iron and rushed up the ladder. He flew -past the sentry, and reaching the forecastle, leaped at once into the -sea. - -Once again the shout of "Man overboard!" rang fore and aft, and every -one was aroused. - -But the would-be murderer was seen but for a moment in the moonlight. -He threw up his arms as if making one last appeal to Heaven, then -sank like a stone. - -The bos'n was not killed. The man's blow had missed the skull, but -cut the ear almost off. - -So ended that tragedy. - -* * * * * - -At Bombay one of Dr. Reikie's friends had made him a present of a -photographic apparatus. This was a somewhat recent invention in -those days, and Auld Reikie was delighted beyond measure. - -There would be no end to the scenes he might now depict. I believe -the possession of that lens and camera kept him awake for several -nights before he reached Ceylon. - -There he refused all offers of sport. Elephant-hunting, anyhow, was -brutally cruel, he said, and he would find plenty of enjoyment with -his camera. - -The worthy surgeon, on the ship's arrival at Trincomalee, formed a -resolve to astonish his messmates. He would give them a pleasant -surprise. He had already taken portraits on glass of the captain -himself, of Sturdy, a group of men, the ship's cat, and the mongoose. -He should now do something extra and special. Well, pleasant -surprises are always welcome, more particularly to officers on -foreign stations. So Dr. Reikie betook himself to the woods or bush. -There would be plenty of scope here for an effective picture--a -lovely bit of scenery, a treescape, with the sea and ships beyond, -perhaps. The pictures would aid the advance of science, and prove -even to Gribble, the assistant-paymaster, that mankind with the sword -of knowledge was moving onwards, ever onwards, conquering and to -conquer the world, ay, and the universe itself. Mind, he had told -his messmates a thousand times over, was not matter in motion, as -some shallow-minded philosophers would try to make out. The soul was -as high above the merely material as Sirius was beyond the earth. -The mind made use of matter only as a carpenter made use of a tool. - -He went on shore, carrying his camera himself. He would not permit -even Jack Mackenzie to accompany him to-day. For to-day his pictures -would probably be little more than mere experiments. Even science -must advance by gradual steps and slow. When he became a little more -expert in the use of the camera, he--well, there is no saying what he -might not do. - -He found at last the spot that suited him--a charming bit of scenery: -trees, rhododendrons just bursting into bloom, early though it was, -great masses of dark foliage, the bend of a stream, a rustic bridge, -and a distant mountain peak. He felt triumphant already. How -tenderly he handled his apparatus, how gingerly he set it up, and how -carefully he placed his head and shoulders under the black cloth! -Yes, there was the picture, upside down of course, but in colouring -complete--the most lovely miniature that ever his eyes had beheld. -And yonder--oh! - -The "oh" was an expression of pain. Something had struck him from -behind. He tore off the black cloth and looked round, rubbing -himself as he did so. There was a huge nut lying near him; but who -could have thrown it? There was no one in sight, and no nut-tree -from which it could have fallen. It was strange, but he refused to -be discouraged, So he once more enveloped his head in the dark cloth, -when whiz! bump! another and another. It was serious; he must be -already black and blue. - -What could it mean? The place was very lonesome. Not a sound was to -be heard except the ripple of the stream and the piping of a bird in -a bush near by. He was just a trifle superstitious, and he began to -think the wood must be haunted. He dismissed the idea at once, -however, as unworthy to be harboured by any scientific thinker. - -To prove to himself that he was not afraid, he once more hid himself, -and began to make sure of his focus. He had got it as nearly perfect -as possible, when suddenly the black cloth was seized from behind and -rolled about his head. He felt a weight on his back, a cold and tiny -hand on the nape of his neck, and in the struggle to free himself the -tripod got mixed up with his legs, and down he rolled, camera and all. - -[Illustration: He felt a weight on his back.] - -He was white in the face with fear--yes, there is no other word for -it--when he at length succeeded in disentangling himself and getting -up. The matter was serious. There were more things in heaven and -earth and the woods of Ceylon than he had dreamt of in his -philosophy. He determined to retire, and that right speedily too. -So he bundled his things up hurriedly. He would never come here -alone again, he told himself. - -But the cap of the camera could nowhere be found. Dr. Reikie was a -man of method and regularity, and he made sure he had laid it down -just there. Well, it must have been spirited away. - -He was bending down to pick up a strap, when crack! upon his bare -head came the missing cap. His astonishment now knew no bounds; but -on looking up, behold an old, very old man with a long white beard -bearing down towards him, staff in hand, through a neighbouring glade. - -Was this, then, the evil spirit of the place that had wrought all the -mischief? Was this-- - -"Good-morning, sir. Glad to see you on my domains." - -"Thank you; but really, sir--" - -"Perhaps you would like to come up to my bungalow and drink a glass -of sherbet. It is quite close. I am a sailor, like yourself, and a -naturalist. I have quite a menagerie up here, and was just coming to -look for two mischievous rascals of baboons that have escaped." - -"Baboons!" said the doctor, rubbing himself once more; "did you say -baboons, sir?" - -"Ah! there come the rascals." - -Next moment two splendid specimens of the agile gibbon (_Hylobates -agilis_) came bounding from a tree with screams of delight. - -"Oo--ah--ee!" they cried. - -They stood nearly four feet high, and their faces were a study of -blended fun and mischief. Such droll-looking apes Dr. Reikie had -never seen before. - -He told the stranger all about his adventure, and as they walked -towards the naturalist's bungalow they had a hearty laugh over it. - -Mr. Starley, as he was called, had a wonderful collection of curios -and pets, and at his house Dr. Reikie and Jack also became constant -visitors all the time the ship lay here. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - TOM FINCH AND THE SHARK--SHOOTING IN THE - DISMAL SWAMP--DEATH AND PROMOTION. - -It took the _Gurnet_ a year and a half more to complete even -two-thirds of her circuit, and this was in reality a voyage round the -world of a far more complete nature than any offered by ocean racers -nowadays, that do little more than touch at a port, hurry the -passengers through the sights, and go off again. There is a vast -deal of difference, as every man-o'-war sailor could tell you, -between "doing" the world and "seeing" the world. Perhaps the best -way to see the world would be to have a yacht of one's own, and to -forget there is any such word as "time" in the dictionary. But, -alas! few of us are born with silver spoons in our mouths, so we must -be content to stay at home and read. - -But the _Gurnet_ sailed for the Chinese seas from Ceylon, then -visited Java, and next straight away for Australia and New Zealand. -After this she steered east and by south straight for stormy Cape -Horn, rounding which, amid terrible dangers owing to a gale that -drove her--after an accident to her machinery--among the icebergs, -she bore up along the coast of South America till past Pernambuco, -when the course was changed to north-north-west; and so we find her -at long last safe at anchor at Port Royal, Jamaica. - -Except for the breakdown in the machinery off the Horn, the _Gurnet_ -had not met with a single mishap since she had left the China seas. -All had gone well. All hands--thanks perhaps to Dr. Reikie's care -and attention, and to the first lieutenant's regard for cleanliness -and hygiene--were happy and healthy. - -* * * * * - -It was now the commencement of what may well be called an unhappy -year for Britain--1854--in which we entered upon the war in the -Crimea; a war which proved, if anything ever did, that Britain's sons -can hold their own, can fight and suffer and die by the sword or by -sickness, no matter how badly affairs may be managed by those who sit -at ease at home and pull the strings that move great fleets and -armies. - -But war had not yet been declared; and although it seemed to be known -at headquarters here, in garrison and on board ship, that it was -looming in the near distance, no one considered that it would be -otherwise than simply an affair of a few months, a mere military -parade and picnic, a little outing for our troops, with just enough -fighting for them and our blue-jackets to give it zest and flavour. - -How greatly every one was mistaken events will show. - -Things still went on on board the old _Gurnet_, as she was now -endearingly called, much in the same way as before. Dr. Reikie, -though never relaxing his duties on board, nor neglecting a single -patient, however humble, found plenty of time to continue the pursuit -of science, often, it must be confessed, under the greatest and -drollest difficulties. - -The camera, however, he had given up. He had found it unsuitable for -his purposes, and so it lay in the obscurity of a locker beneath his -cot. But just think for a moment, reader, what a power this -instrument has become in our day, what an aid to science and art, in -war as well as peace, and even to the advancement of that greatest of -all sciences, though only in its infancy, astronomy! For by its -assistance myriads of stars beyond the ken of the most powerful -telescopes have been revealed. - -Well, as the _Gurnet_ must lie here for a few months, her officers -settled down to take things pretty easy, each according to his own -taste or bent. - -There were excursions to be made by land and by sea--these would suit -the doctor at all events; there were parties and balls afloat and -ashore--Jack and the junior officers, including Gribble the A.P., -would go in for these; and there were whist parties and dinners, at -which both the captain and his first lieutenant were sure to be -present. - -Jack's great ambition was to catch a shark. He expected to see them -basking in the sunshine or green transparent sunlit water all around -the ship. - -"In the olden times," he asked Sturdy, who had been here before, -"didn't there used to be a very large shark borne on the hooks of the -flag-ship and fed with a ration of pork every day, to prevent the men -from swimming on shore?" - -"Yes," said Sturdy, laughing; "though it wasn't in my day. But at -the little village of Twyford in England, in the almshouse, there -used to live, and I think lives till this day, an old sailor who, -being desirous to go a-boozing, as it is called, swam on shore -alongside the shark nearly all the way." - -"What! and the shark didn't swallow him?" - -"No; I reckon he didn't, Jack, else he would hardly be alive to tell -the story every Christmas evening." - -"Well, sir, how did he manage?" - -"Oh, simply enough. He chose a clear moonlight night, when you could -have seen down to the very bottom of the harbour. The sentry was in -the know, though not in the swim. In fact, Tom Finch promised to -smuggle him off a drop of grog if he turned his back and kept looking -astern while the daring sailor dropped quietly over the bows. - -"Tom Finch was a splendid swimmer, and he had not burdened himself -with a superfluity of garments; but he had three necessaries of life, -as he called them: item--a pretty-well-lined purse; item--a big -canvas bag containing pieces of pork for the government shark; and -item--a big, sharp dagger, with which, he told his messmates, he -would rip that tiger of the seas open from stem to stern if he didn't -play fair." - -"But," said Jack, "weren't there other sharks about as well as the -tame one?" - -"He wasn't tame, Jack, by any means; but he was king of the water, -and when he sailed round, all the others kept at a respectful -distance. So Tom Finch could have had no better convoy. - -"Well, Tom struck out. But he soon found that this swim of his was -going to be no child's play. The distance hadn't looked very -insurmountable from the fo'c's'le-head, nor was it; but Tom hadn't -considered the tidal current. - -"He had swum probably fifty yards, when, as silently as a ghost, -there slid up to his very side a great shark. Tom could just see it -with the tail of his eye. Indeed, he says its cold, smooth nose -touched the back of his hand. At the same moment he made the -horrible discovery that this was not the shark. - -"Thinking it was all up with him, he was just about to draw his -knife, when dashing through the water came the ship's shark himself. -There was no mistaking him. He made straight for the first comer. - -"'That's Tom Finch,' he seemed to say. 'He's my man and my meat, if -he's anybody's.' - -"There was no fight between the two sharks, but there must have been -a long race, for it was some time before the huge monster returned. - -"Now, Jack," continued Sturdy, "I must tell you the rest of the story -as old Tom Finch himself related it to the ancient dames in the -almshouse not four years ago. I must premise, however, that the poor -people are allowed a drop of beer at Christmas, and Tom Finch had -drunk his own and had a sup from everybody else's mug. - -"'"An' did the shark come back, Tom?" said old Sally. - -"'Ah! that he did, Sally, and I was main glad to see him too. There -was pork enough in my bag for him, but not for a score, you know. - -"'"Good-evening," says Mr. Shark, quite polite like. "It is Tom -Finch, isn't it?" - -"'"That's me," says I. "I hopes I sees you. How's the wife and all -the little 'uns?" - -"'You see, ladies, I wanted to keep him talking as long as I could, -to make the pork last. - -"'"They're all nicely," he says. "But now, Tom, I must do my duty. -I mustn't take the Queen's bounty for nothing. I've got to make a -meal of you!" - -"'"Duty's duty," I replies, swimming as hard as I knew how to; "and a -very toothsome meal I'll make. But, my dear friend, how would a nice -bit of pork do to begin with?" - -"'"On with you then," says he, "if you've got it." - -"'"Lie round on your side then, Mr. Shark, and open your pretty -little mouth." - -"'Round he lies as docile as a cat, and opens a mouth as big as the -almshouse door there. I could have slit him down the stomach then -and there; but Tom Finch never did a mean thing--thank you, ladies, I -will taste again--so I just pitched him a piece of pork, and he -caught it like a dog would a morsel of biscuit. - -"'Then he winked to me. - -"'"More!" he cries, - -"'I flung the other piece as far as I could fling it. - -"'"Don't do that again, Tom," he says, "else I'll have to begin at -the other end of the banquet." - -"'My heart began to quake a little now, and the shore seemed a longer -way off than ever. I tell you what, ladies, I was getting a bit -funky. But there was nothing for it but heave another bit o' pork. - -"'"Are you quite ready?" I cries. - -"'"Quite ready, Tom." - -"'"You're sure?" - -"'The shark lashed the water with his tail, and I knew he was losing -his temper; so I sung out, "Play!" and threw the pork. - -"'"More! more! more!" - -"'La! ladies, I began to sweat with fear. The pork wouldn't hold out -much longer, and then I knew as well what would happen, Sally, as I -know what's in your pewter pot--thanks. So I threw and threw, and -was soon down to the last morsel. - -"'"I'm going to give you bag and all this time, Mr. Shark," says I; -"you'll find the bag toothsome and tasty." - -"'"Heave away," he cries; and I whips off the bag and takes out my -knife at the same time. The struggle would soon begin. But as good -luck would have it, I now found myself not far off the steps. - -"'A light glimmered, and a black sentry appeared. - -"'I threw the bag to my friend the shark. - -"'"Who goes dere free times?" shouted the sentry. Bang went the -musket immediately. The bullet tore up the water; but as the sentry -had fired at me, of course he didn't touch me.* - - -* The black sentries on duty at night in or near the dockyards at -Jamaica had orders to challenge "Who goes there?" three times, and to -fire in the event of not receiving an answer. Their plan, however, -was to shout, "Who goes dere free times?" and immediately fire. - - -"'"Good-bye, Tom," says the shark; "I'm off. Good luck to you till -we meet again!" - -"'"And may all the bad weather go with you, you ugly beast," says I. -"But I'm safe now, and hurrah for a jolly time of it!" - -"'I landed further down, and--that's all the story. Well, here's -your good health again, ladies.'" - -* * * * * - -But Jack saw plenty of sharks after a time, and more than one was -captured. It is about as poor sport, however, and as cruel as -shooting alligators in the swamps. - -* * * * * - -I have now to describe a rather melancholy event which occurred here -at Jamaica on board the _Gurnet_, which no one deplored more than -Jack Mackenzie, although it led indirectly to his promotion. - -We must go back a few weeks in our narrative, however, to describe -how it happened, or rather to give you, as Dr. Reikie would have -said, the primary cause of the sad affair. - -The _Gurnet_, then, had called at Grey Town, Central America, and had -been detained there for about a fortnight; so to pass the time a -picnic and big pigeon-shoot were determined upon. - -On the swampy island on which the party landed--the party consisting -of the A.P. Gribble, the sub-lieutenant, Dr. Reikie, and Jack -himself, with a boat's crew, and plenty of prog and grog--there were -any number of pigeons on the trees, and almost an equal number of -alligators in the swamps. As sly as sin these horrid brutes -looked--they seemed to watch every movement of the sportsmen; and -slow in movement though they appeared to be at the edge of the water, -had any one fallen in they would have darted on him from every point -of the compass with lightning speed, and torn him limb from limb more -quickly than could be described. - -The gunning went on all the forenoon, and by mid-day a very big bag -had been made. The exercise, too, had made the sportsmen hungry; so -what more natural than that they should light a fire and have a good -dinner? Pork and roasted pigeons go well together, and neither -biscuits, butter, nor the salt had been forgotten. The birds were -spitted on ramrods and done to a turn, and all hands admitted it was -the best meal they had eaten since they had left old England. - -Then all sat round the camp fire smoking and yarning just as sailors -will. - -But suddenly the sky began to grow dark; the wind began to moan, and -drive the smoke and fire about. A brilliant flash of lightning -followed, and a startling peal of thunder. Then big drops of rain -commenced to fall, and in a minute more a tropical shower burst over -them in all its fury. Dr. Reikie was fain to confess that this -shower beat all the showers ever he had known, including even a -Scotch mist. There was no shelter, and in a few minutes' time every -one was drenched to the skin. - -Almost as speedily as they had banked up did the clouds go drifting -away seaward, and once again the sun blazed out with redoubled fury. - -Now, to permit one's clothes to dry on one's back in cases of this -kind is not the best of policy. But what were they to do? Well, -there was only one alternative, and that was adopted. They speedily -built up a huge fire therefore, though being wet the wood took some -time to ignite; then they stripped to the skin, retaining only a kind -of kilt or cummerbund depending from the waist, and while the clothes -were drying they all ran off to the woods and spent the time in -playing at being savages. - -The result of this shooting expedition in the dismal swamp was, that -in a few days all who had taken part in it were down with ague. - -The doctor himself and Jack soon threw off their attack, but on the -arrival of the ship at Port Royal, both the A.P. and sub-lieutenant -had to be sent to hospital. - -Gribble got better from the day he entered, but it was soon apparent -to every one that the sub-lieutenant would not get over it, and one -forenoon Dr. Reikie returned on board with the melancholy -intelligence that the poor fellow was no more. - -This cast a gloom over the ship--for all liked the brave young -fellow--that it took some time to dispel. - -Sorrow, however, is a plant that thrives but badly in a climate like -that of Jamaica, and I think the same may be said for other tropical -climates--notably, perhaps, that of India. For six weeks I myself -lay ill in Bombay of rheumatic fever, but during all that time I -never had a single fit of depression or lowness of spirits. - -Things then soon resumed their usual level on board the _Gurnet_. -Gribble came back from hospital; Mr. Fitzgerald, _alias_ Lord -Tomfoozle, was appointed acting sub-lieutenant; and Jack Mackenzie -became senior, because sole midshipman, of the ship. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - - PADDY'S HYBRID--"A QUARE, QUARE BASTE, SORR"--TRICKY - NIGGERS--BLACK MAN AS COOK--WAR DECLARED. - -I think there is no more grateful man than your honest blue-jacket or -marine if he receives a favour; and Paddy O'Rayne never forgot Dr. -Reikie's kindness to him after that accident of his at -Constantinople, when he went on shore to visit the "unspakeable Turk." - -"He might have planked me for it," he told his messmates more than a -dozen times, "and got my grog and my leave stopped for months, sure. -But my jewel av a master didn't; and troth it's meself that lives in -the hope of seeing him in the clutches of the lion or tiger, or -drowning in the deep say before my very eyes, just that I may have -the pleasure of saving his loife entoirely." - -This might have been, and doubtless was intended as a good wish; -still it was a somewhat strange one. Only Paddy meant it. - -And the honest fellow, too, was constantly trying to do little things -to please his master. - -Knowing the fondness that the doctor had for getting hold of all -kinds of natural history curios, never a time did Paddy go on shore -without bringing him something. But most of these were of little -use, and speedily found their way overboard. - -One day, for example, Paddy came off from shore in great glee. He -and a messmate had been spending the day in the woods. - -"You'll niver guess, sorr, what I've brought you to-day. Sure, I'd -have caught it alive if I could; but he wouldn't stop, so I shot it, -and I've got it here in my cap right enough." - -"And what is it, Paddy?" - -"It's what they calls a hybrute [hybrid], sorr, and it's neither fish -nor flesh nor good red herring. It's got the body of a snake, and -two legs like a lizard. Och, sure, sorr, it's a quare, quare baste -indade." - -"Well, turn it out, Paddy, and don't excite my curiosity any more." - -Paddy did as he was told, and carefully opened his cap on top of the -skylight, and out dropped what certainly looked like a "very quare -baste indeed." It was getting dusk, so this added to the uncanny -appearance of the creature. - -Sturdy, Jack, and even Captain Gillespie crowded round. - -"Ugh!" said the latter; "I wouldn't touch it for the world." - -Dr. Reikie was delighted. - -"Paddy," he said, "you're a jewel." - -"Me mother says the same, sorr." - -"Gentlemen," said the doctor, "I have all along been a believer in -hybrids. Granted, they may be accidental, even unnatural. -Nevertheless, here you have a specimen before you--a hybrid between -the snake and the lizard. You see the long body; you see the legs -near the creature's shoulder--two legs only. Dissection may probably -reveal two rudimentary limbs farther aft. This specimen, gentlemen, -shall grace the museum at Edinburgh, and I--" - -Here he picked the creature up by the tail, when, lo and behold, out -tumbled a frog from the mouth of a snake. The latter had swallowed -the frog, all but the hind quarters. Everybody roared with laughter, -and the doctor's face grew a fathom long, more or less. The frog was -alive, and rubbing one of its eyes; the snake was dead: but the -doctor was never allowed to forget his hybrid. - -* * * * * - -Having in a former book described the scenery, the tree-scapes, and -mountains and glens in Jamaica, and the beautiful ocean -around--beautiful even in the grandeur of its storms--I have no -desire to repeat, but I must say that Jack Mackenzie lost no -opportunity of going on shore with Dr. Reikie. A day with him in the -woods and wilds, if it were merely bird, beetle, or butterfly -hunting, was a picnic never to be forgotten; and our young hero -learned something every time, and was soon convinced that natural -history is the most pleasant of all earthly studies. Nor did a day -spent on shore ever pass without some little adventure or other worth -remembering. Many of these were rather comical than otherwise. - -During their escapades inland the two friends saw a good deal of -black men's life. Dr. Reikie found some of these fellows handy in -carrying specimens; they also acted as guides when the two explorers -went far inland. As regards the ethics of these men, I think they -were what the doctor called them--"honest with good looking after." - -They were fond of "a dram," too, and would drink the white Jamaica -rum fresh and hot from the stills. It used to make their eyes start -almost out of their sockets. They liked it for that very reason. -But Dr. Reikie had on board a dram, which he gave them when they -helped him off with his curios, that they liked even better than -this--namely, what is called "Cape smoke," about the strongest and -vilest spirit there is. The surgeon found it handy for keeping small -specimens in. - -"Ah, dat is good, massa," a nigger would say as soon as he had -recovered his breath after swallowing half a tumblerful neat--"dat is -good; it makes me say 'Huh!'" - -Fond of a good joke some of those niggers were, too. They seemed to -know that man-o'-war sailors will eat almost anything. - -One day when the cotton was in "pod" some niggers enticed a party of -blue-jackets into a plantation. - -"Dere is some bery good pea to eat heah, gentlemans," they said. - -The jackie-tars did not require a second invitation, but began -tearing the "pods" open. When, however, they got the fluff among -their teeth, and the niggers began to laugh, they soon desisted, and -the darkies had to fly. - -Was it love of fun or love for cash, I wonder, that was to account -for the following? The John Crow or Turkey buzzard (_Vultur aura_) -is, like all his race, one of the most filthy and disgusting of -birds. But one day, as an Irish merchant skipper was about to sail, -a nigger boarded him. - -"I sellee you cheap," he said, "some bery good turkey." - -The head of this horrid buzzard, I should tell you, is very like that -of the turkey, and the nigger had plucked the bodies. - -After attempting to beat the man down in his price for a minute or -two, the skipper bought these "turkeys," and the nigger came on shore -chuckling to himself. - -What the end of the story was I cannot say, but I should have liked -to see that skipper's face when the buzzards were cooked and served -up. - -* * * * * - -In his pursuit of science--as usual under difficulties--Dr. Reikie -and his young friend Jack went once upon a cruise among some small -tropical islands. They took with them a nigger who assured them he -was an excellent cook. - -They took the man on his own recommendation. On the first day this -black cook presented them with an excellent fry of sea-gull and pork. -I suppose the nigger must have skinned the gulls, for if not so -treated they are apt to taste somewhat peculiar. - -On the second day they returned to the beach, where they had pitched -their little camp, hungrier than on the previous evening. The doctor -had been successful in making a capital bag, and securing many -specimens that he believed, when placed in Edinburgh Museum, would -hand down his name to posterity. They were looking forward, -therefore, to a good feed. - -Sambo met them. He was grinning good-naturedly from ear to ear. - -"Ah, massa," he cried, "you hab one bery good dinnah to-day." - -So it was served. You will believe me it was a failure when I inform -you that Sambo had made a kind of Irish stew of sea-gulls, pork, -fish, and roots all boiled up together! - -* * * * * - -Just one other example of negro cookery and negro innocence. - -In the grounds of Jamaica hospital there were some fine tamarind -trees, in which the very smallest known species of humming-bird used -to build its nest and rear its tiny young. I do not say it was not -cruel of Dr. Reikie to shoot these birds, but he wanted some -specimens very much. But the smallest shot blew the birds to the -back of the north wind apparently, and the doctor was in despair. - -Paddy O'Rayne stood by him. Paddy was scratching his poll in a -considering kind of way. - -"Have you got an idea, Paddy?" said the doctor. - -"Indade and I have, sorr. If ye want to kill the burds, sorr, widout -injuring them at all, troth it's a pinch of gunpowder and a thrifle -of sago you must be after using." - -Paddy was right for once. But now came a new difficulty. How should -he preserve the lovely creatures? They were far too tiny to skin. -He got over this by simply wrapping them in brown paper, and drying -or desiccating them on the hob of the hospital kitchen. - -Well, one day he gave three nicely-shot and beautiful specimens to -the nigger cook to do for him. What were his surprise and disgust to -have them brought to him by the black fellow on a plate! - -"Him done now, massa," he said. - -Yes, indeed, they were done, for he had removed the paper and cooked -them, feathers and all. - -* * * * * - -There is a species of dove or pigeon out in Jamaica that the niggers -themselves consider rather delicate eating, or at all events are very -fond of. It (_Zenaida amabilis_) suffers much from the biting of -mosquitoes. Well, the niggers know this, and so they make a fire -under a tree and heap green wood thereon to make a smoke. This -drives the insects off; and well the doves know it does, for they -soon come and settle on the tree, preferring the smoke to the -mosquito bites. But, alas! they are out of the frying-pan into the -fire, as they speedily fall victims to the guns of the niggers. - -* * * * * - -But cases of cholera were getting rife, and so the _Gurnet_ was -ordered to sea at last. She now bore up for the lone Bermudas, a -group of islands that lie many degrees to the north and east of the -West Indies. - -The Bermudas are said to be the loveliest islands on this earth. -They are certainly very beautiful; but, strange to say, one always -seems to think every group of tropical islands he comes to, while -sailing here and there across the ocean, more lovely and fairy-like -than the last. The words of the poet rise to my mind, however, as I -think of Bermuda:-- - - "Where the remote Bermudas ride - In the ocean's bosom unespied, - From a small boat that rowed along, - The listening winds received this song,-- - 'What should we do but sing His praise - That led us through the watery maze - Unto an isle so long unknown, - And yet far kinder than our own?'" - - -There are more than a hundred islands here, great and small; but at -the time of the visit thereto of the _Gurnet_, probably not more than -a dozen were inhabited. - -Steam was up in the ship when she first sighted lights, about four -bells in the middle watch; and owing to the number of rocks and -shoals about, it was deemed advisable to keep well off until morning. - -Dr. Reikie and Jack were both on deck early, and the scene that met -their view seemed like one of enchantment. Some of those verdant -isles seemed to be floating in the clouds. But dark rocks were seen -here and there like the backs of monster whales, and over these the -sea-green water broke and moaned and boomed in long lines of -snow-white surf. Farther off to the right and left the ocean was -basking in the sunlight, a deep and cerulean blue, with here and -there a patch of opal or green where the coral or weedy bottom showed -through. - -"Man," said Dr. Reikie, "isn't it fine?" - -"Oh, it is charming!" cried Jack, with enthusiasm. - -"And," added the doctor, "if we only stay here for a month, let alone -two, as Captain Gillespie expects, the Edinburgh Museum will hardly -be able to docket all my specimens." - -"But see, on the flag-staff on the fort yonder they are making -signals," said Jack Mackenzie. - -"Ay, Jack; but no' to us. They're speaking to that wee vision of a -gunboat far away yonder. I guess they'll talk to us presently." - -* * * * * - -For once in a way Dr. Reikie was disappointed, and the Edinburgh -Museum must have been a very great loser indeed. For when Captain -Gillespie returned from the flag-ship, the news he brought was very -exciting indeed, not to say startling. - -War had been declared against Russia, and the very gunboat they had -seen had orders for the _Gurnet_--which her commander (a lieutenant -he was) had not expected to meet here--to proceed eastwards with all -speed, and wait further orders at Gibraltar. - - - -END OF BOOK FIRST. - - - - -Book Second. - -_FOR HONOUR AND GLORY._ - - - -CHAPTER I. - -"BLOW, GOOD WIND, AND WAFT US EAST." - -War, war, war! Yes; war was the cry, from Land's End to John o' -Groat's. In England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, war, war, war! In -the drawing-rooms of the wealthy, in the humblest cottar's hut far -away on Highland hillsides, you heard that song; it was sung by -prince and peer and peasant, in theatre and concert and gutter. And -even in churches, bishops, in their sleeves of lawn, prayed to Heaven -to bless our arms, and for the "God of battle" to fight on our behalf. - -Oh, Britain was valiant, Britain was brave in those days, just as she -would be were war to be declared to-morrow against any nation, no -matter which. - -And we were in the right, too. So everybody believed, so everybody -said. - -Turkey, for this once at all events, was a poor, down-trodden -country; Russia the cowardly, Russia the aggressive and grasping, had -her heel upon her neck. - -"Holy Russia!" Yes, there were many who made use of those two little -words, and spoke them with a sneer. Holy, indeed! Was she not the -vilest, the most ignorant and tyrannical nation on earth--a nation of -slaves and serfs domineered over by an emperor who, if he could find -no one else to trample under foot, would make war upon his own -people, would throw them into prison if they but dared to call their -heads their own; who tore the newly-married wife from the arms of her -husband, lacerated her tender flesh with the knout, and sent her in -chains to die amidst the snows of Siberia? - -Holy Russia, indeed! Nay, but Russia the despot. Every portion of -her bygone history was raked up to help to fill the bill against -her--so far, that is, as Britons knew anything about it; all that -poets told us about poor Poland for instance, and sang to us about -Warsaw's last champion; all about Ivan the Terrible, and goodness -knows what else. And Russia was the same now--just as cruel, just as -dark-hearted, as blood-thirsty, and tyrannical as ever. Down with -her! Back with her to her own Siberian wilds! Crush her, annihilate -her! - -Yes, certainly; and after we had done all this we should return -thanks to Him who had given us the victory--feast and _fête_ our -brave soldiers and sailors, or what remained of them--make a kind of -a Christmas-time of it, even though it should be midsummer, and eat -and drink until we should be ill. Hurrah for war! - -But was Russia wholly to blame for the sad Crimean War? And was -Russia really so bad as she was called? Did we not rather jump to -the conclusion that this great kingdom was all vile and evil, just -because we knew nothing at all about it? When I say "we," I of -course refer to the ordinary British public. - -Nowadays, be it remembered, dear reader, what with school boards, -county councils, extra newspapers, and so on and so forth, the public -is becoming more enlightened; and if we were going to war now, the -people would probably ask their leaders, political and otherwise, -what the quarrel was about, and why they were ordered to peel off -their spare clothes and go for the enemy pell-mell. And their -leaders would feel it incumbent upon them to supply the desired -information--that is to say, if they themselves knew anything about -it. But in old Crimean times the people were more easily pleased, -and took everything for granted that was told them. They were led by -the nose, not by the intellect. If you had asked any body of British -workmen in those days why the country was going to war, their answer -would have been, "'Cause we are. The Russians want whopping--the -papers all say so--and we're going to whop them." - -Then if you had said, "But what have they done? what have they done?" -the workmen would have repeated, "Why, what is it they haven't done? -What is it they ain't always a-doing of? Just read the Parleymintary -reports for yourself. Is it likely we would go to war if we didn't -oughter to? Anyhow we're goin' to fight. Fetch 'em out. Hurray!" - -I am told--though personally I was but a boy then--that the ignorance -displayed in what is called society, or the "upper circles," was -about on a par with that of the British workman concerning the causes -that led to the war, and that even some so-called statesmen were -densely ignorant on this subject. They had to read up quite a deal -before they dare submit themselves to a "heckling" at dinner-parties -or over the walnuts and the wine. - -Over the walnuts and wine, indeed, some of those great statesmen were -less nervous, and could speak more freely, knowing from their own -experience that very little of what was said would be remembered next -day. - -And now--although I should be very sorry indeed to hamper this story -of mine by talking politics--it will do you, reader, no harm to know -that at this time the Russian peasant or artisan in town or country -was--and probably is even yet--an ignorant, good-natured, frequently -drink-besotted, credulous, hard-working "sumph," with a good deal of -poetry and romance in his nature, nevertheless, and not a little real -piety. He lived, perhaps, very much the same sort of life as our own -peasantry did before the days of education dawned and the press began -to guide and sway public opinion. Next to things heavenly, this -people considered it their duty to obey the behests of their emperor -and those in authority above them. When I add that ignorance caused -them to have just the same erroneous impressions of us as we had of -them, I think I have said enough to bring the quality of the Russian -peasant before your mind's eye. It was from his ranks that the -soldiery were drawn; only after they joined their regiments they were -led to believe that Britain was a nation of savages, and that the -true faith was not in it; rather, indeed, would its people trample on -the most holy things, murder priests at their altars, and desecrate -and burn temples and shrines. The Russian soldier, if he thought at -all, looked upon his country as a kind of Holy Land, and he himself -as a soldier of the Faith and of the Cross. - -Well, my own opinion is that the next best thing to fighting an enemy -is to respect him, and I am quite sure that if we--the Russians and -the British--had known more of each other in those old days, we would -have loved each other a little more, even while cutting each other's -throats. This reads a little paradoxical, does it not? But if my -theory is carried a little further, how then? Why, we should have no -bloody wars at all. For the more nations know each other, the more -they sympathize with each other; sympathy makes us charitable, even -to our neighbours' shortcomings; sympathy begets love, and love makes -us sheathe the sword: so war becomes impossible. It is love of this -kind that is to lead the millennium in; but knowledge has got to go -before--we must not forget that. - -* * * * * - -"I say, sir," said Jack Mackenzie to Mr. Sturdy one night, as they -sat together on the skylight, while the good ship _Gurnet_ was -speeding onwards and eastwards over the Atlantic, with every stitch -of canvas drawing that she could bear, and stun'-sails alow and -aloft,--"I say, sir, what is our immediate cause of quarrel with -Russia?" - -"A very pretty question, Jack; a parson couldn't have put it in -better English. But really, lad, a parson might be a fitter man to -answer it than a rough sailor like me. Seems to me, however, and -from what I learned on board the _Limpet_, that Russia thinks it is -high time to reform Turkey." - -"To reform her with the sword?" - -"Ay, ay, lad--the old fashion. To improve the greatest portion of -her off the face of the earth, and to sweep all the Turks who won't -turn Christian back into the land of heathendom--that is, clean out -of Europe into Asia." - -"Seems very mindful of Russia, doesn't it, sir? And if successful, -does she expect no reward?" - -"Reward? why, yes; and a proud reward too. She, and she alone, is to -rule where Turkey now rules; to have complete possession of the -Bosphorus and the Dardanelles--take a look at your map, lad, when you -go below--and thus have the freedom of the Mediterranean, and a -sea-board on the warmer and sunnier southern climes. No wonder that -such a prospect dazzles the Czar, and even his people. - -"And no more fitting time, he believes, could be than the present, -Jack. Russia, you see, is trying her hand at the construction of a -new map of Europe. It would be a very handy map for the Czar, but a -very expensive one for other Powers. If we--the British, for -instance--desired to hold our own, to keep Malta, Alexandria, or to -open up a near route to our possessions in India, we should have then -to maintain a fleet in the Mediterranean at least three times as -large as it now is. But France, to say nothing of Prussia and Italy, -has also interests to protect. It would suit neither to see Russia -acquiring a splendid new capital--namely, Constantinople--and -therefore holding the key of the Mediterranean." - -"Ahem!" said Jack. "Of course I don't know enough to argue on either -side. But, sir, doesn't it seem a little rough on Russia to be -locked up in the icy north, and to have no outlet to the southern -seas?" - -"She might have, lad--she might have, if she could be trusted. But -she won't play fair. She wants to eat all the pie, and give nobody -else a plum. As for Austria, if Russia gets hold on Turkey, she gets -command of the Danube at the same time, and would in time, no doubt, -turn that country, _nolens volens_, into a province of her own." - -"The Russians must be very ambitious and aspiring." - -"Yes; and now the Czar, having, as he thinks, made a friend of the -youthful or boyish Emperor of Austria, believes the time has come for -a _coup de main_. Well, Jack, if one man desires to pick a quarrel -with another, and to hit him across the bows, some excuse very soon -presents itself. And so war between these two countries--Turkey and -Russia--has been hinged upon some dispute concerning the holy places -of Palestine." - -"Holy Russia!" said Jack. - -"Holy Russia may be right enough, Jack, as far as the innocent people -are concerned; but I believe the Emperor Nicholas to be a sly, -underhand dog. The dispute was of a very simple nature, lad. There -are in Palestine a Greek Church and a Latin Church. Russia is -champion of the Greek, France favours the Latin Church, and the -question came to be which of these should hold the key of the Church -of Bethlehem; and the Turks, in trying to please both Powers, so -offended Holy Russia that she sent south two great army corps to the -Danubian Principalities, and at the same time dispatched Prince -Menschikoff as an envoy to Constantinople to intimidate, if not to -coerce, the Sultan." - -"And what did the Sultan do? bastinado the Prince?" - -"That might certainly have precipitated matters. But the Turks are -an indolent, easy-minded kind of a people, who fight well, but only -when forced; so they caved in, as we call it." - -"Acceded to Russia's demands?" - -"That's better English. But listen, lad. The Czar, seeing now that -he couldn't get ends to meet in one way, tried another. There are a -very large number of Christians in Turkey, and over these the Emperor -of all the Russias next demanded a complete protectorate! - -"It was the delusion, Jack, therefore, that we did not see through -his ultimate designs, and that the British lion was harnessed to the -plough-stilts, and never likely to lift an angry paw, which led the -Czar to be so threatening towards Turkey as to cause that country to -declare war against Russia, which she did on the twenty-third of -October 1853. The next thing that happened was that, with the view -of protecting their interests, France and Britain sent their combined -fleets off to the Bosphorus. - -"'If,' thought the Czar to himself, 'we can get Britain to keep -quiet, we may snap our fingers at the other Powers, and crush Turkey -up like an empty egg-shell. And John Bull is far too busy attending -to trade and making money to bother about the Ottoman Empire. If -John Bull does, why, I can suggest his having Egypt and Candia.' - -"The despatch of the fleets to the Bosphorus was not a declaration of -war, but a kind of a display of physique under the title of moral -suasion, just as when two men peel to fight, Jack. - -"Meanwhile, you see the people of our isle have been watching the -manoeuvres of the big bully. To begin with, they didn't like the -insolent arrogance of Menschikoff in Constantinople; but when news -came that the Russians, with six line-o'-battle ships, had attacked a -squadron of light Turkish vessels at anchor in the harbour of Sinope -in the Black Sea, and utterly destroyed them and their crews--a -holocaust, my boy, of between 4,000 and 5,000 men--then Britain cried -'Shame!"' - -"It was time," said Jack. - -"Yes; and we now brought our moral suasion to bear even on the boy -Kaiser of Austria. Russia must evacuate the Danubian Principalities. -This demand was made by united Britain and France in February of this -year, Jack (1854). At this time it was supposed that the war would -be one on the Danube. But the Kaiser moved 50,000 men up to the -frontier, which the Czar had seized--showing plainly that she means -to join the scrimmage if need be. - -"Well, Jack, of course we can't tell what is doing now out there, but -very likely they are all at it hammer and tongs, for in March the -French and British declared war." - -"Terrible, isn't it, sir?" - -"Well, yes, in a manner of speaking," said bold Sturdy; "only, you -see, war means promotion for you and me. As far as I am concerned, -lad, promotion has been a jolly long time of coming, and I'm not -going to say a word against the war now that I see my captaincy -heaving in sight above the horizon, Meanwhile, Jack--blow, good wind, -and waft us east; for whatever happens, I should, I must confess, -like to see a little of the fighting and a bit of the fun." - -* * * * * - -Lieutenant Sturdy was in all respects a true sailor, and a warrior at -that. It is, indeed, a blessing for our country that our navy--which -is still the best in the world, though far inferior, indeed, to what -it ought to be--is manned by thousands of hearts as brave as his. - -Fear the British sailor does not know--even death has few terrors for -him; because Jack is really a thinking man, and he counts his -chances, and he knows, too, that he has only once to die. - -Where, then, can he die better than with cutlass or rifle in hand, -fighting for his dearly-beloved country, either afloat or ashore? - -Meanwhile the _Gurnet_ speeds on, and so do events in the East. - -In order to understand the first plan of campaign that the Russians -had laid down for themselves, quite relying upon the acquiescence of -Austria, I pray you to take a glance at the skeleton map of the Black -Sea and its surroundings. - -When I was a youngster myself I did not like maps, and remembering -this, I have placed neither town, river, bay, nor cape that is -unnecessary in this present map of mine, specially made for you, -reader. - -[Illustration: Map of Black Sea and surroundings] - -Well, you will easily find out Sinope, where the Russians massacred -the Turkish sailors. I want you to remember that their fleet had -sallied forth from Sebastopol for this purpose. Now, note the river -Danube. It was by this route that the Russians had meant to make -their advance against Turkey. Further south you will observe -Silistria and Shumla, and south still the Balkan Mountains. It was -through the passes of these that the Russians were to extend their -march, and so on to Constantinople. - -Our army and that of the French were therefore at first landed at -Varna, and went into camp between that place and Shumla. It was -believed at this time that the Russians would fight us here by land. - -But after having laid siege to Silistria, which the Turks bravely -defended, and being hard pressed by Austria, who seemed now -determined to join the allied armies and declare war, the Czar -withdrew his forces and recrossed the frontier. - -The truth is that Russia had counted all along upon the friendship, -or at least the neutrality, of Austria. As soon as the Russians had -left the Principalities, the territory was occupied by the Austrians. -They certainly had the most interest in the threatened invasion and -conquest of Turkey by the Czar, and it is believed that even at this -late date the whole business might have been settled without war, and -that Russia could have been compelled, from the pressure put upon -her, to indemnify Turkey for the injuries done her. - -But Britain had not the slightest intention of so inglorious an -ending to the great "weapon-show" she had commenced. Were our -splendid troops, eager and burning for fight, to return to their own -country and homes, with, figuratively speaking, their fingers in -their mouths, and without having once drawn a trigger? Perish the -thought! - -The Russian Bear must be crushed and humbled, his fleet in the Black -Sea must be destroyed, and Sebastopol, Russia's strongest fortress in -this sea, laid in ashes. - -War! war! war! - -When I come to think of it now, reader, I don't altogether blame the -people of Great Britain for desiring to humble the overbearing -Emperor Nicholas. Even the _Queen_ herself saw that he was in the -wrong, and talked of the ambition and selfishness of one man and his -immediate subordinates as being the cause of our having to draw the -sword. On the other hand, I do not think that any one who has read -the history of this great war could help pitying the Czar's subjects. -The poet Cowper says,-- - - "War's a game which, were their subjects wise, - Kings would not play at." - - -But the sufferings of our own poor soldiers and sailors, all brought -on by mismanagement, strike closer home to our hearts. We can pity -these still more, while we cannot but be angry with those who were to -account for all their misery, and for all the trials they so bravely -bore. - -We gained experience in the Crimea, however, and one might almost say -that this is cheap at any price. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - A GHASTLY ADVENTURE--THE EMBARKATION--A - STORMY LANDING. - -As soon as it was known in Britain that the Russians had retreated -from the Danube, and that their forces would in all likelihood be -poured into the Crimea to reinforce that great stronghold, every -scrap of news from the seat of war was welcomed with the greatest -enthusiasm. Every one, too, seemed to be listening breathlessly and -in silence for the first shot to be fired. It was a silence, all -made sure, that would soon be broken by the pæans of victory. Our -soldiers near Varna were not idle. True, they were waiting for -embarkation, and what a wearisome wait it was! It would have been -irksome in the extreme had our troops not been kept busy collecting -wood and manufacturing gabions and bastions for the siege-works -before Sebastopol. - -Even already, then, it will be noted that a siege was in -contemplation. Nobody, however, had any idea it would be a long one. -The allied fleets had complete possession of the Black Sea. In a -manner of speaking, Sebastopol was already besieged or blockaded. -Our object was, or rather ought to have been, to isolate the Crimea -from Russia. (_Vide_ map.) Seeing that the neck of land that joins -it to the mainland is of no great width, this ought to have presented -but few difficulties. We should thus have effectually prevented -enforcements from pouring into Sebastopol. - -But difficulties arose long before the allies were ready for -embarkation that no one had dreamt of. While the French troops were -still on their voyage from Marseilles, some cases of that terrible -disease the cholera had broken out among the troops. The doctors -made as light of it as they could, assuring those in command that, as -soon as the army had landed and commenced active service, the plague -would be stayed. - -This was very far indeed from being the case. The cholera grew even -more virulent after the men got under canvas. Here was an enemy, -then, that seemed to fight on the side of "Holy Russia," and that, -too, with terrible effect; for before the embarkation for the Crimea, -the French army had about 10,000 dead or hors de combat, while nearly -a thousand of our own brave soldiers had succumbed. The fleet, too, -was attacked, and steamed away to sea in the hopes of safety. In -vain. It was a terrible time on board some of our vessels; for the -virulence of the plague seemed to know neither bounds nor limits, and -the healthy part of the crews was engaged all day ministering to the -sick, laying out the dead, or committing their bodies to the deep. - -It was about this time that one beautiful morning--the sunshine -glittering on the sea and casting a glamour over the greenery of hill -and dale and woodland--our old friend the _Gurnet_ steamed into the -Bay of Balchik, some distance north of Varna. Embarkation was here -busily going on, amidst a scene of such confusion and bustle as no -one on board the _Gurnet_ had ever before witnessed. The bay was -covered with ships of every size and description--an immense forest -of masts bearing flags of all kinds and colours, conspicuous among -which were the British, French, and Turkish ensigns. In and out -among the shipping plied the boats, with which the bay was so filled -that scarcely could the water be seen. The noise and din were -indescribable. - -Well, if the embarkation of our troops was not conducted in so -orderly a manner as one could wish to see, that of the French and -Turks was confusion worse confounded. - -Early that morning, before the _Gurnet_ got in, and ere yet the grey -clouds of the dawning day had changed to purple and gold, Jack -Mackenzie, whose watch it was, had gone to the first lieutenant's -cabin to make a report. - -"Three men, sir," he said, "are swimming about a quarter of a mile -off our weather-bow." - -"What do they look like?" asked Sturdy. - -"I can't quite make out, sir. Perhaps they are the survivors from -some boat that has been capsized." - -"Very well, Jack; lower the first whaler." - -"Can I go myself, sir?" - -"Certainly. The quartermaster is on deck?" - -"Yes." - -The _Gurnet_ was hove to, and in a short time, rowed by its brawny -crew, and steered by Jack himself, the whaler was bounding over the -waves towards the men. Yes, men they had been; but now, horrible to -relate, they were but hideous, grinning corpses. Buried they had -been--that is, buried at sea, and hastily, too, with shot to sink -them; but this had not been sufficient. It was a ghastly sight. The -men lay on their oars for a time looking horrified. Silent, too, for -a time, till one old sailor spoke out. - -"Them's cholera corpses, sir. Hadn't we better put back?" - -Jack had really been wondering whether it was not his duty to take -them in tow, so that they might be properly buried. A cold shudder -ran through him, however, when he learned the truth; and so the boat -was put about and rowed swiftly back to the ship. - -"I thought as much," said Sturdy, when Jack went below again to -report. "Ah, lad! if the cholera has broken out among our troops and -seamen, we'll be held in check by an enemy far more terrible than the -Russians." - -That evening Dr. Reikie and Jack went on shore to pay a visit to the -camp of the Highlanders under the brave Sir Colin Campbell, who, -years after this, became the hero of India during the awful mutiny. -Everywhere they were met by troops on the march towards the -hastily-constructed piers that our engineers had made to assist the -embarkation. Slowly and sadly these troops marched; so weak and -sickly did they appear, that scarce could they carry their knapsacks. -It was but little wonder. The whole air had the odour of a -charnel-house. - -They found their way to the Highlanders' camp at last; and rushing -out from his tent-door, the first to bid Jack welcome was his cousin -Llewellyn. He had just come off duty, and had not had time to divest -himself of his accoutrements. - -"Duty," he said, smiling a little sadly; "why, Jack, it's all duty -just at present. It is duty all day long and most of the night, and -I'm never out of my war-paint. But perhaps our brave fellows have -suffered as little as any from the scourge, though we have buried -quite a number. At first, Jack, we used to play them to the grave -with the 'Dead March,' you know. But la! lad, there is no music -now.--Dr. Reikie, I have heard so much about you from Cousin Jack's -letters that I appear to have known you all my life. But, bless me, -boys, come under canvas. I and Lieutenant Murray are quartered here. -Snug enough? Oh yes; we don't complain about anything but the delay -in getting off. We want to fight. Oh, I feel sure when we get into -grips with the Russians the cholera will be scared away." - -"I hope so," said Reikie; "but I very much doubt it." - -"Ah! well, don't frighten us, anyhow," said Llewellyn. - -That bold young Highlander certainly did not look as if anything -would frighten him. How handsome and strong he was, and how brave he -seemed! I'm not at all sure that Jack did not envy him his superior -stature--for he bordered on six feet. Perhaps Jack was boy enough -yet to covet that feather bonnet, for he was barely seventeen. - -But Llewellyn threw off his Highland bonnet, and ordered his servant -to bustle about and get coffee ready. - -It is no wonder that the conversation turned upon home. But at this -stage of the happy meeting it hardly could be called a conversation; -for Llewellyn had so much to say that in telling the news his tongue -could scarcely rattle on fast enough. But the gist of what he said -can, after all, be given in a few words:-- - -"Three years and over, Jack, since you were home. Never mind, lad; -we've only got to smash the Russians, to raze to earth the -battlements of Sebastopol, to annihilate the defenders, to hurl back -the Bear to his icy den in the north, and, having covered ourselves -with honour and glory, to return, as the good ships' parsons tell us, -'in safety to enjoy the blessings of the land with the fruits of our -labours.'" - -"Loot, eh?" said Dr. Reikie, quietly smiling; "and we have to thrash -the Russians first?" - -"Oh yes; that is part of the programme of this grand picnic." - -"And mother and sister?" said Jack. - -"Both happy and beautiful. And what think you, Jack? I went down to -say good-bye, of course, before my regiment left, and Uncle Tom, who -has all sorts of kindly messages to you, went with me, and your -sister told me that she is coming out, if the war lasts over the -autumn, to help to nurse the sick and wounded! A whole lot of ladies -are coming, only I don't expect there will be any sick or wounded -left to nurse by the time they think of coming out. Well, then, -north I went to bonnie Drumglen, where my sister Tottie is at -present, you know." - -"My little sweetheart?" - -"Yes: the old lady won't want her, and indeed we are all so happy to -be friends again. As she gets older, Jack, she gets more forgiving -and less severely aristocratic. Oh, she has a heart after all. She -had tears in her eyes, Jack, when she bade me good-bye, loading me -with tender messages to her own dear boy, as she still calls you." - -"God bless her!" - -"Yes, Jack, and Uncle Tom and I went to see the Malonies. Poor Peter -is just the same, only he no longer plays on the street, for, through -uncle's influence, he has adopted teaching music as a profession. -The Malonies haven't altered a bit, and your old cat is still first -favourite at the fireside. And Mrs. Malony told me tell you she -prayed for you every morning and night of her life, and made Malony -himself do the same under penalty of feeling the weight of the -potato-masher in case of forgetting." - -It was late that night before the doctor and Jack got back to the -_Gurnet_; but nevertheless they found everything on board in an -uproar, preparations being made to receive for passage a contingent -of one of the regiments. - -Storm and tempest delayed the sailing of the great armada for some -time after it was quite ready. But at last it got to sea; and when -once fairly away from the bay, and bearing up for the unknown land, -then as Jack and Sturdy stood side by side on the quarter-deck, the -brave lieutenant confessed that never in all his experience had he -beheld so grand a spectacle. - -The whole peninsula of the Crimea is hardly twice the size of -Aberdeenshire or Yorks; and broadening out from the Isthmus of -Perekop in the north, its whole length to Balaklava in the south -(_vide_ map) is not more than 120 miles as the crow flies. The -entire population of the Crimean peninsula at the time of the -invasion is said to have numbered about 220,000. But looking at a -map, although it gives one a good idea of the lie of the land and -water, is not very instructive as far as the features of the country -are concerned; so, just in a sentence or two, let me tell you what -these are like. The northern and the middle portions, then, are a -kind of barren prairie land or steppes, and but sparsely inhabited by -Tartars, who dwell in tumble-down little villages, and tend their -flocks and herds. Not so peacefully, however, as do our Highland -shepherds. Those Tartars may be simple in their ways, but they are -wild and uncouth in nature. But proceeding southward from Perekop, -we come to a far more beautiful or bountiful land. Mountains shelter -it from the storms of the north, and here are hills and glens and -wide smiling valleys with woods of pine and oak, under the shelter of -which, and on the sunny braes, grow olive trees, the pomegranate, and -even sub-tropical fruits, while green grass waves plentiful in spring -and summer, and wild flowers are everywhere. - -The southern end of this peninsula is hilly and cliffy. It is -indented on the west by the great harbour of Sebastopol, and on the -south by that of Balaklava. The capital is Simferopol, lying away to -the north and east of the virtual capital, Sebastopol. - -It was on the north and west of the peninsula that the allied armies -landed and commenced their memorable march upon the great Russian -stronghold. In the map you will note the streams or rivers they had -to cross. The first is the Bulganak, and is but a "drumlie" rivulet -or burn. The hills that range here with valleys between are from 400 -to 500 feet high. - -Well, the Bulganak flows west, so does the Alma seven miles further -on, and also the Katcha and Belbek, the latter being nearest to -Sebastopol. But the Tchernaya, I wish you to observe, runs north and -west, and falls into the head of the harbour of the great stronghold. - -There is but one other point I wish to draw your attention to, and -that is what is called the Upland between Sebastopol and Balaklava. -The extreme western point is called Cape Kherson. - -The distance from Varna to Sebastopol is about 300 miles, and had -this city been made, in every sense of the word, a base of supplies, -much of the suffering during the terrible winter of 1854-55 would -have been spared our ill-starred soldiers. - -The coast had been well reconnoitred by H.M.S. _Caradoc_ and -_Agamemnon_, on board of which were not only Lord Raglan himself, the -one-armed hero and commander of the British forces, but General -Canrobert and Sir John Burgoyne. - -At last the beach to the north of Bulganak was selected as a -landing-place, owing to its position; being defended inland by two -small lakes, so that the enemy, had they wished to attack, could only -have done so by the narrow strip of beach betwixt these lakes and the -sea. - -The French and Turks were first got on shore on the fourteenth day of -September; and they landed unopposed by the enemy, but not by the -elements, for a heavy swell tumbled roaring in upon the beach, and -the surf and breakers were so high that boats and rafts were dashed -to pieces. - -Had a terrible gale from the west come on, this allied fleet might -have suffered as disastrous a fate as the Spanish Armada of olden -times. - -On the 15th the British landed. - -How small in comparison with the forces and huge armies of the -present day was the whole combined force! The Turks numbered but -7,000--they had sixty-eight guns, but no cavalry; the French were -infantry, 28,000 in all; and we ourselves had but 26,000, added to -which was that brave and splendid Light Brigade of cavalry 1,000 -strong. Ah! we shall hear of them again. - -The knapsacks of our brave fellows were left on board, for many were -so low and ill that they could not have carried them. Nothing, -indeed, was carried that could be dispensed with--not even tents, bar -those for the sick and for the head officers. Blankets to cover them -they had, and in these were wrapped up only the bare necessaries of -life. - -Nor was there any available transport landed save a few horses. The -army, however, soon captured country carts from the Tartars to the -number of about 400, and they drove in all the live stock that they -could find. - -But on the whole, instead of being prepared for a long and exhausting -war, our soldiers stood on the beach hardly equipped for a review or -picnic. - -Providence probably fought on our side, else the Russians, who had a -free hand and a very large force of cavalry, might have terribly -harassed us and rendered our victories impossible. The whole army of -the allies was, be it remembered, a "movable column." It had no base -behind it to which it could send back its sick or wounded. These -must be carried onwards day after day, or left to the tender mercies -of a foe that, under the circumstances, one cannot marvel at being -implacable. Moreover, a movable line of battle must hurry on to -death or victory; for if it be harassed by the enemy's cavalry, and -by guerilla bands of the peasantry, and people whose country is -invaded, the limited supplies are soon exhausted, and there is -nothing to fall back upon. - -The march of the allied armies, then, onwards to Sebastopol, a -distance of about twenty-five miles, was indeed a daring and -adventuresome one. But the many hopes of the invading army lay in at -once inflicting upon the Russians a defeat that should stagger and -paralyze their whole force. - -On the afternoon of the nineteenth of September, our forces in battle -array reached the first of the streams, the Bulganak, and here, for -sake of water, they bivouacked for the night. - -It might have been said that the whole force slept upon their arms; -for on the hills, at no great distance beyond them, the Russians were -espied, apparently about 10,000 strong in all, and well supplied with -horses and artillery. - -But the night passed quietly by. The hour of battle had not yet -arrived. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - A FIELD OF HEROES--"ON, LADS, ON!"--BRAVE - CODRINGTON--PANIC AND TERROR. - -It was nearly ten o'clock next day when the allies again moved -forward. - -Every heart beat high as the order was given to advance, for it was -known all along the line that the day of battle had dawned. Yes, -every heart beat high; but long ere eventide many of those brave -fellows would be lying still and stark on the bare hillsides. - -The enemy had indeed withdrawn from the ridges in front; but no one -doubted that he lay further on awaiting the attack, and on ground -that had been carefully selected. - -On and on and on they marched, tired enough already, many faint and -obliged to fall out. - -In the regiment of brave Highlanders, the 93rd, in which Llewellyn -Morgan held his commission, every man seemed burning for the fray. -The certainty of battle had raised their spirits, and even those -among them that but the day before had felt weak and sickly, now -marched on with heads erect. Llewellyn was certain in his own mind -that, were it not for the fact that they had to keep in alignment -with the vast army which stretched from their right away towards the -sea, the Highlanders would soon have been far in advance. - -It was not, however, until nearly noon that the sound of great guns -came booming towards them from the west. - -"What do you make of it, Grant?" said Llewellyn to a lieutenant who -marched by his side. - -"Oh," said Grant, "those are the guns of the allied fleet. They have -found the enemy on the heights beyond the river Alma, and have opened -fire. How do you feel, Morgan?" he added. - -Llewellyn smiled. "Well," replied the brave young fellow, "I cannot -say that I feel afraid; but I suppose what I do feel is something -very like it. I am burning with anxiety, and now and then my heart -goes pit-a-pat." - -Grant laughed. "You are very candid," he said; "and your feelings -are just mine. Confound those French fellows! why don't they come -on?" - -"Well, a short while ago they had to halt for us. Come, Grant, time -about is fair play." - -"Yes, halt the beggars did to make their coffee. But now when we get -to the top of this grassy slope we shall see the river Alma, and see -the enemy also." - -And this was so. - -I wish, reader, we could remain with bold young Llewellyn and his -friend Grant throughout all the fearful battle of Alma. But we must -take a glance at the whole field. - -The plain on which the allies made their last halt swept smooth and -green down to the winding river side. (_Vide_ plan.) - -If a small boat at sea were sailing north from the direction of -Sebastopol, she would find on her right a high wall of rugged rocks. -Well, on coming to and entering the river, these cliffs are still -continued up the south side of the stream for a mile and a half. -After this the wall of rocks ends in a range of hills or heights, -subsides into these, as it were, and the braes are now climbable even -to Englishmen, and far more so, of course, to the Scottish -mountaineers. - -Now for the villages on the northern bank of the stream. The first -is Alma Tamak, higher up is Bourliouk, and higher up still the little -village of Tarkhanlar. As to the roads leading up through the cliffs -or up the hills, the first is near to the mouth of the stream, which -is here fordable, and the path goes up the cliff. At Alma Tamak -there is, when you get over the river, a road up a kind of glen in -the wall of rocks, and along this guns may be taken with difficulty. -Further up still, and near to a farm, is a third road; then a better -and wider one not far from Bourliouk, which takes the traveller right -away up to Telegraph Hill. - -[Illustration: Map of Heights of Alma] - -Having ascended the wall of rocks through the gaps, or climbed the -braelands, our troops would find themselves on a rugged tableland -which stretched south and away as far as the next -river--Katcha--which, with Belbek, lay between them and the goal of -their expectations, Sebastopol. - -The disposition of the forces is plainly laid down in the plan -herewith presented, so I need not describe it in the text. As to the -fleets, the Turkish squadron was farthest south, then came the -French, and next the British. - -It will be noticed that the whole front of battle fell to the share -of the British, the French having undertaken to reach the heights -between the enemy and the sea, and so turn the Russian left flank. -But the main portion of the enemy's forces was massed to the east of -the road from Eupatoria to Sebastopol. Observe, please, their -batteries, their cavalry stretching along from Kourgané Hill, and -note the position of the Vladimir Regiment. When you have done so, -we are ready for the great fight. - -Lord Raglan himself, in company with brave St. Arnaud, reconnoitred -the enemy's position during the last halt, and after that, towards -one o'clock, the signal for battle was given. We must follow the -French, for they had the honour of commencing this bloody affray. - -General Bosquet's division, then, which had been hugging the -sea-shore, was divided into two brigades. One of these was ordered -to leave their knapsacks behind--alas! many a poor fellow never saw -knapsack more--and, fording the stream, ascend the first path I have -mentioned. This brigade was followed by the Turks. The other -brigade ascended opposite Alma Tamak, and the artillery were taken up -this road also. Farther inland, General Canrobert's division got on -by the road opposite the farm, and, next to Canrobert's, Prince -Napoleon's division. - -But note this early: that the seaside brigade of Bosquet's and the -Turks never got near enough to the enemy to fire a shot. So that -disposes of them. Indeed, if you imagine the field of Alma to be a -chess-board, you can suppose this brigade and the Turks as useless. - -Canrobert's guns had to follow Bosquet's left brigade a mile to the -west of him, and he himself was a mile to the west of Telegraph Hill. - -[Illustration: He has seized the colours, and his wild slogan can be -heard high above the roar.] - -Well, now, many of my readers will at once ask the question: Why -didn't the Russian general destroy, block up, or defend these roads? -Perhaps he forbore to defend them because he would have placed -himself within reach of the ships' guns; but a little engineering -skill might have rendered them entirely impassable, to artillery at -all events. - -While the French were ascending to the right then, even as it was, -the guns of their fleet were throwing their shot and shell far on to -the plateau beyond them. - -And now the British began to move onwards to take up the ground they -were to occupy. There were, therefore, confronting our British -soldiers at least 21,000 men, with eighty-four guns on -hastily-constructed batteries. - -I should be sorry to ask the reader to burden his memory -unnecessarily; but as the Second Division and Light Division took -such a prominent part in the battle, it is well to remember of what -regiments they were made up. - -The Second Division, then, which was on the right, with the Light on -the left, was composed of the 30th, 55th, and 95th regiments, under -Pennefather; and the 41st, 47th, and 49th, under Adams. It was -commanded by Sir De Lacy Evans, who was a true hero and a good -soldier. He had fought in the Peninsula, in America, and at Waterloo. - -The Light Division (Sir George Brown's) had also six regiments--the -7th, 23rd, and 33rd, under brave Codrington; and the 19th, 77th, and -88th, under Buller. - -Between the villages of Bourliouk and Tarkhanlar were many enclosed -gardens, their stone walls running towards the river. Many of these -were all a-tangle with vines. Right opposite, on the other side of -the river, was the famous Kourgané Hill, and its batteries some -distance back. - -Our skirmishers, going on at the double, first encountered the -Russian fire from the village of Bourliouk and those vineyards; but -the enemy was driven from there after setting fire to the little -town, the flames and smoke of which added much to the terrible -character of the scene. Our Light and Second Divisions began to -deploy as the shot and shell from the Kourgané battery tore through -their ranks and burst over them. There was here another delay, -owing, I believe, to our right being too close to and hampered by the -French. - -This delay, it is said, was not accidental but part of the plan, and -our divisions were waiting to let the French artillery get up by the -road I have already mentioned. For Canrobert's infantry and Prince -Napoleon's division could not advance without the support of its guns. - -Soon, however, and before the proper time, a staff officer rode from -the French commander asking Lord Raglan to push on. - -Then, indeed, the tug of war began in deadly earnest; for the order -to advance was given, and on dashed our troops. - -About the same time Lord Raglan, singularly enough, with a few of his -staff, rode round the right of the village, crossed the Alma, and -stationed himself on a height well within the enemy's lines, from -which, while he could observe what was going on, he could scarcely be -expected to issue orders. Moreover, he was in a position of danger. -This certainly proved him a brave man, but was not quite in -accordance with the tactics of the best generals. - -But come, reader, you and I shall, for a time, join Brown's command -on the left, for it is the first to advance; and like Llewellyn -yonder with his Highlanders, we are burning to fight. He, however, -has not the chance afforded him yet. We have, so hurrah! - -Here we are at the first low wall, which we leap nimbly, and find -ourselves among the tanglement of bushes and vines. We must cut and -fight our way through these till we reach the river. Did ever you -pause on the banks of a stream and wonder whether it was fordable or -not, or whether it would be unadvisable to wet your feet! Whiz! -That was a round shot, that flew close over us; and shells are now -tearing up the vineyard behind us, and shattering the stone walls. -The bullets from above are pattering on the water, and men are -falling here and there. So we hesitate not, but dash into the -stream. The swords of our brave young officers are pointing onwards. -Yonder is the hill. Up we must charge! - -Now over the stream, we find a little shelter, for a few moments -only, under the opposite bank. Some of us, weak from illness, are -already pumped. All are glad to have this breathing spell. We look -back across the stream. Yonder is the blazing village, flames -leaping in tongues high in air through the clouds of smoke and sparks -that roll slowly to leeward. Evans's men, their belts and -accoutrements glittering here and there in the sunshine, are half -hidden by the smoke, but soon they too reach the stream and commence -to ford. - -"On, lads, on!" - -It is the bold voice of Sir George Brown, who, on horseback, is the -first to clamber up the bank. We draw a deep breath, and nerve -ourselves to follow. Nay, but it needs but little power of will to -get up nerve. Are we not Englishmen? - -So we answer our general with a blood-rousing cheer. - -We are up! The fight is raging now all around us. Last night, as we -lay under the stars wrapped in our humble blankets, we wondered if in -the heat of battle we should experience aught of fear. Fear? no, no, -here is none of it. We hardly know just at present what is going on. -We hear no orders. The din of battle--the shouts of rage or agony, -the clash of arms, and the roar of artillery--deafens us. The air is -filled with smoke and flame. At times we are in touch with our -companies, and charging two deep against the four-deep masses of the -grey-clad foe in front of us; but as often as not do we find -ourselves in no line at all, only fighting in daring groups. We in -the Light Division, though at present we know it not, are supported -by the 95th, one of Codrington's regiments. - -This is awful work! Not three hundred yards ahead and above, the -shot from the Russians' greatest battery is tearing through our -ranks. Again and again we stumble, sometimes on the blood-slippery -glacis, sometimes over a fallen friend. Yet on we dash towards the -fiery mouths of those roaring guns. Away to our right the 7th -Regiment is hurling all its force against the left wing of the Kazan -Regiment. That was indeed a terrible tulzie! - -Hurrah! It is a wilder shout than ever. Just for a moment we see -the impetuous Codrington urging his regiment even to greater speed. -It was their war-cry we heard, and it steels our every nerve. - -But see, the guns above us give no longer voice. Have we won? We -know not. The guns, however, are rapidly being withdrawn. And we -know afterwards that a greater mistake could not have been made by -our surly foe. Yet every gun is valuable, and I suppose they knew we -would take them anyhow. - -But bravery is not everything in battle. The guns, it is true, hurl -no more their deadly missiles, to decimate our ranks, but there are -now rushing on to meet our four regiments the brave Vladimir -Regiment, supported by a field battery, and another great regiment, -with the right wing of the Kazan. - -Can we stand it? Our men are falling on every side--officers, sword -in hand, sergeants, rank and file, piled here and there, or crawling -in agony and writhing in anguish and pain. - -How hot the fire! how wild the din! We are being annihilated. Where -are our supports, and why do they not make haste to help us? We know -not. We do not know that the Guards are even then hurrying up to our -support. Yet Codrington seems to have done about all a brave man -could do. - -He is outnumbered--beaten and flying. Ah! there was no fear before, -but now as we are hurled down the hills, something more than fear, -and akin to the nightmare terror that seizes a runaway horse, fills -our breast, and it is _sauve qui peut_. - -A few minutes more and our supports would have been on the field of -battle. - -There come the Guards. They have advanced in good order. They have -forded the stream, and are bravely rushing on up the hill thus:-- - - _Left Battalion._ | _Centre Battalion._ | _Right Battalion._ - THE COLDSTREAMS. | SCOTS FUSILIERS. | GRENADIERS. - - -Now, what happens? Alas! our broken and retreating ranks sweep down -on that centre battalion, and carry it right before us to the banks -of the stream. - -Are we beaten? Is the battle lost? These questions we may put to -ourselves, even to each other, but we cannot answer. - -Personally--that is, as far as our four regiments are concerned, to -say nothing of the Scots Fusiliers that were hurled back by us--we -are defeated. There is no other name for it. - -Our losses, though we are ignorant of this at present, are fifty -commissioned officers, about the same number of sergeants, not -including twelve officers of the daring 7th. In rank and file -altogether over one thousand men lie dead or wounded. - -But see, although the Scots Fusiliers are swept down by our pell-mell -retreat, the Coldstreams and Grenadiers continue their advance in -splendid lines and quite unbroken. - -Ah! there is something in bravery and daring that at times leads on -to victory against odds too fearful for the mere tactician to -contemplate. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - THE KILTED WARRIORS OF THE NORTH--THE TERRIBLE - STRUGGLE FOR KOURGANÉ HILL--THE IMPETUOUS - 93RD--VICTORY! - -At this stage of the battle all our available forces were being -hurried into action. - -The three regiments that had remained with Evans were terribly cut up -in attempting to hurl back the Russian infantry, supported by -batteries that disputed possession of the post-road. - -The 41st and 49th were advancing towards the eminence on which Lord -Raglan and his staff were situated; while the Third Division, under -General England, with six regiments and two field batteries, was -crossing the Alma to their support. - -But we must leave General Codrington doing his best to rally his -regiments and form another division to advance, while we seek -adventure farther to the left. Not, however, till I tell you one -incident of this heroic fight. As I have already said, then, the -centre battalion of the Guards--namely, the Scots Fusiliers--was -hurled back with Codrington's beaten men, and with, alas! a loss to -the Scots of Lord Clinton and three sergeants killed, ten officers -and thirteen sergeants wounded, and 154 rank and file lying dead or -wounded on the brae side. This left a gap between the Grenadiers and -the Coldstreams. Well, having got together some of his brigade, -Codrington sent forward to ask Colonel Hood of the Grenadiers if he -should place his newly-formed men between the two battalions to fill -up this gap. - -One cannot help feeling for Codrington, for the answer from Hood was -a snappish one. "No; certainly not," he said. - -Colonel Hood, with his now-open left bravely advancing to the attack, -was in reality disobeying the last order he had received. This was -that he should conform to any movement on his left. - -"Mercy!" he exclaimed, when the centre battalion was swept down the -hill, "the movement on my left is defeat and retreat. Am I to -conform to _that_? I'll be hanged if I do. On, men. Forward!" - -"Thank Heaven!" he afterwards said, "I disobeyed orders." - -So might our sailor-hero Nelson have said, for he disobeyed orders, -and put the glass to his blind eye. - -Let Hood continue to advance with his Grenadiers; and the cool, -courageous, precise Coldstreams go onwards too. Both have deadly -work before them. - -But here we are among the Highlanders; and is it not true what Scott -says?-- - - "Ne'er in battle-field throbbed heart more brave - Than that which beats beneath the Scottish plaid." - -And now they were going into action--to do or to die. Yes, to do or -to die. They have never been in battle before--that is, in a real -fight like this. But it never occurred to them that they might or -could be beaten. They were nearly all young soldiers those kilted -warriors of the north--of the 42nd or Black Watch, the 93rd or -Sutherland Highlanders, and the 79th or Camerons. Most of them spoke -their native Doric, broad and harsh, yet kindly even in the ear of an -Englishman, or the Gaelic; and many of them had left the -plough-stilts or the flail, to flail the Russians in another fashion, -with that bravest of soldier-Scots, Sir Colin Campbell, at their head. - -These men were strong and tough as the heather on their native hills, -lithesome too, swinging in step, and with no end of courage, go, and -stay. - -No wonder that Campbell was proud of his Highlanders on this day of -all days; and it was a leader like him they needed, and nothing else, -to take them straight forward into the cauldron of fire and death. - -But not only was Campbell proud of them, but the whole army also, -just as they were of the Guards. - -It will be observed, too, that theirs was the most select situation -in the battle--that is, as a brave soldier would select it. For what -more likely than that the Russians should mass on their own right, -and with cavalry, infantry, and artillery attempt, when opportunity -offered, to turn the left of our whole formation. - -"Now, lads," cries Campbell, waving his sword, "up and at them." - -And on we dash towards the hills. We, you and I, reader, are -attached to the 93rd. Our three regiments find it not easy to get -through the rough ground and over the river. - -We are across now, though. Our formation is figured below. It is in -_échelon_, the 42nd leading. - - ------------ - Black Watch. - -------------- - Sutherland Highlanders. - ------------ - Camerons. - - -We pass the 88th, who are in square, as if expecting a charge of -cavalry; also the 77th, in line. Both are falling back. - -Sir Colin cannot restrain his indignation at what he looks upon as -arrant cowardice. His Scotch blood leaps in all his veins, and he -shouts something like a command to the 88th to form line and advance. - -"Go on, Scotties," cries some one in the square. "You can do the -work." - -Sir Colin and his regiments do rush on. - -The hero of the day soon has the 42nd in alignment with, and in -advance of, the Guards. Our regiment and the Camerons, still in -echelon, are rapidly hurrying up. - -The left of the Coldstreams have their staff officers near to where -the grenadier company of the 42nd now are, with Sir Colin at their -head. - -Down below the hill the discomfited regiments that Codrington is -getting into order again are firing at random, up hill, on the -redoubt. - -It is the most critical part of the battle. In fact, since the -Highlanders and Guards began to climb the heights we may call it a -new battle. - -Something tells us that we will not be beaten this time, but that we -may leave our bodies on the field. See, yonder is brave and stalwart -young Llewellyn. The ensign-bearer has fallen, but he has seized the -colours; and his wild slogan can be heard high above the roar of -battle as he urges us on. How gallant he looks! No wonder we follow. - -But it is just at this moment that Sir Colin hears the voice of some -staff officer of the Coldstreams advising the retreat of that fine -regiment. The odds, he thought, were far too great. - -"The brigade of the Guards," he cried, "will be cut to pieces. They -should retire and recover their formation." - -Then comes Sir Colin's answer, uttered in the wildness of angry -passion, and sounding far and near over the field. "Better, sir," he -shouts, "that every soldier in Her Majesty's Guards should lie dead -upon the field, than that they should for a single moment turn their -backs upon the foe!" - -There is an answering cheer. - -That brave voice seems to turn the whole tide of battle. - -Then Sir Colin speaks to H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge. "I counsel -your Grace," he said, "to go straight on with the Guards. I will -move up with the 42nd and turn the redoubt." - -And up we go. - -From the bridge over the Alma, for about a mile and a half, there now -stretched all along that thin red line of mostly two deep that so -astonished the Russians and eventually led to victory. - -Where all fought so well it is almost unfair to say which was the -bravest part of the line. But the Russians fought like furies, too; -markedly the Vladimir and Kazan columns, with which our Guards had -most to do in this second struggle for Kourgané Hill and victory. -But you and I, reader, are with the Highlanders, and we want no -braver companions. - -See, Sir Colin rides forward quickly and alone to reconnoitre. -Terrible seems the odds against him. He is upon a ridge abreast of -the now empty redoubt, from which the enemy had fled. Bullets whiz -and ping around him. Twice is his horse struck, but falls not. He -quickly takes in the situation, and is in a position to lead his -troops to the best advantage up that formidable hill. - -It is to the Black Watch that Sir Colin shouts, "We'll have nane but -Highland bonnets here." We of the 93rd are more impetuous. Wildly -so. Hark how our slogans ring over the field! We feel nothing but a -burning desire to be breast to breast with the foe. - -And yet the odds is terrible. - -With three battalions Sir Colin is to meet and fight no less than -twelve. Our battalions, however, are in line; those of the enemy are -massed together in five columns. We are Highlanders; they are -Russians. No, no; we do not despise our enemies, they are men of -solid, ay and stolid courage, but-- - -The 42nd he allowed to attack two columns by itself, unaided; in the -hollow, too, betwixt him and the hill, he himself being at its head. - -It is a critical moment now, for a column of Russians of great -strength comes marching on, evidently with the intention to attack -the 42nd's flank. Then just as he is preparing to receive it with a -front of five companies, the 93rd come wildly charging to the crest. -This is a regiment of regiments in the Crimea, filled with -dare-devils from regiments left at home, who desire to see war and -fighting at its best or worst. It is under the fire of the advancing -column. Hardly is it dressed up, hardly in formation; and hence the -danger. It may hurl itself on this steady, strong column, and -literally be dashed to pieces like a ship that strikes a rock. Sir -Colin is quick to see the peril, and gallops on towards us. His -voice can check an assault as surely as it can lead one, so perfect -is the trust his Highlanders put in him; and so the regiment soon -recovers its disordered formation, and once more moves on. - -Colin's horse is again shot now, and gently slides down beneath -him--dead. Poor horse! But once more our hero is mounted. - -Onwards and onwards we advance, vomiting forth fire and smoke. Our -great stature, our determined visages, our kilts and waving plumes, -we learn afterwards from the wounded Russians, struck a strange -terror to their inmost hearts. The two regiments effect this; but -when still another--the 79th--comes bounding onwards, the columns of -the enemy give way, and all along the hillsides rise our cheers of -victory, mingled with the wailing of the defeated foe. The Ouglitz -battalions are still to be defeated. But once more the Highland -brigade--one and all of us--being re-formed, pours in its volleys, -and the Ouglitz column is forced to flee. - -* * * * * - -Our victory was most complete, though our losses had everywhere been -very great--that is, on the side of the British; the French suffered -nothing in comparison with what we did. - -Brave Sir Colin was everything to his men and officers. Indeed they -fought as if the great master's eye was ever on them, and it is true -that few acts of heroism escaped his notice. - -Llewellyn's heart was filled therefore with a pride that positively -brought tears to his eyes, when his chief complimented him on his -valour. - -"But," added Sir Colin with a kindly smile, as he placed his hand on -the young soldier's shoulder, "one must always in battle be calm as -well as brave, and at one time to-day I really thought my gallant -boys of the 93rd had lost their heads." - -* * * * * - -Victory! Yes, a glorious victory! When the news came to England, -and to Scotland, Ireland, and Wales--for did we not all take our -share in this memorable battle?--people went positively daft with -joy. Yet I fear there was a good deal of braggadocio mixed up with -the general rejoicing. - -The bells were set a-ringing; there were more balls and parties over -it than if it had been Christmas, and thanksgiving was heard in every -pulpit throughout the land. - -But those who had sons, brothers, husbands, or fathers at the far-off -war, went in anxious suspense for the account of the killed and -wounded. And sorrow came at last, and there was weeping and wailing -in many a family. - -Well, the glory that Alma brought us was "real real," as a Yankee -would say. I do not know exactly what the weight of glory is, nor am -I acquainted with its exact value per square inch. Anyhow in this -case the French praised us, and we patted and praised the French, -while even the Russians allowed they had been fairly beaten--by force -of numbers. - -Had the Russians, however, defended the roads and passes, or -obliterated them; had they used their cavalry and reserves, and not -pulled away their guns, it is evident that our victory would have -been a far more costly one to us, even if it had not ended in -disaster. - -At the time that Codrington's beaten regiments swept their -supports--the Fusiliers--down the hill, it was touch and go. - -Had not Colin Campbell with his brigade of heroes come in the nick of -time, defeat, it seems to me, would have been ours. - -If the Russians made mistakes, so did we. For there was an utter -absence of concerted action, no unity of purpose, nor were the -regiments in action supported as they should have been. - -Ah! we shall hug the glory of Alma to our hearts all our lives -nevertheless; for our gallant fellows--English, Irish, and Welsh, as -well as Scots--were, in a manner of speaking, Johnnie Raws (I say it -in no disrespectful way)--good soldiers, and clever in peace and on -parade. But we had not been to war for forty years before, so I -think we did very well, considering everything. - -And to tell you the truth, reader mine, whenever I go along the -Strand, or enter a club room, or pass the door of a great book -emporium, or even clothier's shop, and see a straight, sturdy, -grey-haired commissionnaire with a silver medal and a clasp or two on -his breast bearing the sacred names of Alma, Inkermann, Balaklava, I -feel very much inclined to lift my hat to him. Don't you? - - - - -CHAPTER V. - - A WALK ACROSS THE BATTLE-FIELD--GHASTLY - SIGHTS--BRAVE SURGEON THOMPSON OF THE - 44TH--JACK'S STRANGE ADVENTURE. - -So much for the glory of war; how about its ghastliness? - -Ah! well, the glory, I suppose, is abiding; the ghastliness is soon -hidden in the grave. - -But oh, reader mine, is it not dreadful to read that on the very -night that followed the battle men were sickening and dying with -cholera in numbers as great as before? - -It is no wonder, methinks, that as I write that sentence, tears that -I fain would repress make dim the lines before me. Because I know -something of the horror that cholera brings in its train, and the -agony, despair, and suffering--a suffering so great that many times -and oft the surgeon breathes a prayer of thankfulness to Heaven when -his patient's eyes are closed in death. And, horrible to relate, -even after death cramps and spasms sometimes come on, so that the -ignorant would believe that the subject had once more come to life. - -We naval and army surgeons are called non-combatant officers. Heaven -help us! we have as many dangers, in ship or field, to encounter, as -the men who, sword in hand, march at the head of their companies; and -when the field is won our work is only beginning. And they, the -so-called combatants, get nearly all the glory. - -After the battle of Alma, fain would some of the generals have had -their troops come down and bivouac beside the river, for sake of the -water. But that plucky old soldier Raglan must have them sleep on -the heights, in the field they had covered with glory--and dead. - -The men were for the most part tired to excess, war-worn, and -thirsty, yet seeming to want sleep more even than water, which they -felt too far gone to drag uphill. - -Llewellyn and Grant had escaped without injury, and together, in the -cool of the evening, they strolled down to the river's bank. As far -as the stripping of the wounded (which takes place after European -battles by the ghastly hordes that hover in the rear intent on -plunder) was concerned, it was conspicuous only by its absence. But -here was a sight that caused the blood of those two young men almost -to curdle with horror. - -There were many men lying, or even sitting, dead, in the very -position they had assumed just before the messenger of death came -singing towards them. Many were lying on their backs, with arms -upstretched as if appealing to Heaven for help or mercy. Llewellyn -and his friend were standing near a corpse which lay in this -position, with the musket across the chest, when their own surgeon -came up. - -"No," said the latter, with a sad kind of smile; "that man passed -away painlessly, and at once. His arms are but outstretched as if -still holding his gun." - -Here was a headless trunk. Blood and brains had been spattered over -the clothes and faces of other men who also had been killed. Here a -dead body, with both legs torn off and flung to a distance. Here -another, with one arm lying by its side, broken perhaps; the other, -but a shattered and bloody stump, held aloft. Both eyes were open, -and the face had a scared and awful look. - -But for one dead man that Llewellyn saw there were at least a dozen -wounded, and those for the most part lay sick and uncomplaining, as -still almost as the dead. Or they would simply try to raise -themselves on their arms and plead for a little water; sometimes the -words would be but a whisper. Even as they did so it was no uncommon -thing to note a spasm of agony come over the face, and a jerk to one -side, then hands that drooped and eyes half shut, and gradually the -placidity of death. - -There were some wounded men dying even as the doctor bent over them. - -Llewellyn tried to raise one poor fellow, whose whole shoulder had -been torn away by part of a shell, and who seemed struggling to sit. - -"Can I do anything for you?" said the young officer. - -"Yes: tell her to come, and bring baby. I want to see baby. Where -is the light?" - -Ah! indeed, where was the light? His head drooped like a wounded -bird's, the spirit fled, and Llewellyn laid him gently back. - -Some of the faces of the wounded were so disfigured, so shot away I -might call it, that they were fearful to behold. Some, they said, -had scarcely mouths to eat or drink with, the lower jaws being -carried clean away. Faces these were to live in one's dreams for -ever and aye. - -But enough of this picture--enough of the ghastliness of war. - -The allied armies, who, some say, might have marched directly into -Sebastopol on the day after their great victory, did not resume their -advance until the 23rd. - -The wounded of the enemy had at first been in great distress, and -when our army went on, Dr. Thompson, assistant-surgeon of the 44th, -volunteered to stay behind and look after them. And his servant, -M'Grath, stayed also. - -Thus was this brave fellow left behind in an enemy's country with 500 -wounded Russians. An act like this surely speaks for itself, and -tells of the true heroism and kind-heartedness which combined seem to -belong specially to the medical staff of our army. The doctor and -his servant, I may add, had neither tent nor accommodation of any -kind. - -The story of the doctor's heroism ends briefly thus: - -The wounded were dying on his hands day after day, and he and M'Grath -struggled hard to bury them; but when, on the 26th, Captain -Lushington of the _Albion_ and his blue-jackets arrived, they had to -remove about forty dead before they could reach the living. These -latter were nearly all carried on board ship, when a force of the -enemy appeared, and they were obliged to abandon their task. The -Russian wounded were sent under flag of truce to Odessa. - -* * * * * - -There was much disappointment shown among the officers of Llewellyn's -regiment when it was found that they were not to follow up the -victory on the day after it, and march right to attack the northern -forts. - -Perhaps no one was more disappointed than Sir Colin Campbell, though -he did not show it. - -Neither Grant nor Llewellyn Morgan, however, took any pains to -conceal their chagrin. - -"May we ask what it means, sir?" Llewellyn took the liberty of -saying. "Does Lord Raglan--" - -"Hush, my young friend, hush!" said Sir Colin. "Lord Raglan is bold -enough to have gone on even last night, but Marshal St. Arnaud thinks -the armies are too tired." - -"Too tired!" cried Grant. "Confound the fellow, let him speak for -his own troops. They may be tired, tired looking on--it was all they -did; but we fought, and will fight again." - -"Yes, true; and if I were commander-in-chief, St. Arnaud should not -rule me. I'd leave him to rest. But, my dear fellows, we must obey; -obedience is a duty--when expedient." - -The last words were spoken _sotto voce_, and more to himself than to -the junior officers. - -But Grant and Llewellyn smiled. They smiled heartily. - -All along the route to the river Belbek, the arms and accoutrements, -the dead and the struggling wounded, showed how complete the rout of -the Russians had been, and how great their haste to escape. - -At the mouth of the Belbek river the Scots Greys and another regiment -were disembarked, and soon after the march was resumed. - -Meanwhile, Menschikoff, who was an able tactician, sunk seven ships -of war across the harbour mouth of Sebastopol, thus preventing our -vessels from getting in, while those of his ships safely inside could -pour a deadly fire upon the northern forts should they be attacked. - -It is said by some that Lord Raglan consulted his chief engineer, Sir -John Burgoyne, as to the feasibility of such an attack. This is -denied by others. - -However, a grand flank march was now determined upon, and a -reconnaissance in some force was sent onwards to M'Kenzie's Farm, the -army following on. The march was continued now to Traktir Bridge on -the Balaklava road. - -On the banks of the river our troops bivouacked for the night, and -soon after, from the light in the sky, it was evident the French had -occupied the M'Kenzie heights that we had just left. - -Menschikoff, strangely enough, had passed our army without knowing -it, within five miles or less of M'Kenzie's Farm. In fact, many of -his last waggons, containing baggage, were captured. Still he did -not know we were making that historical flank march. He was on his -way to the upper part of the river Belbek, with the intention of -keeping open the communications with Southern Russia, and receiving -reinforcements. Cathcart's division, I wish you to note, had been -left to cover the rear of our march, and to send the sick and wounded -on to the mouth of the Katcha, where they would be embarked on the -French and British ships. - -Now the object of this flank march was to seize Balaklava town, and -it was desirable that our ships should co-operate there with us. - -And it is just here that I wish to tell you about Jack Mackenzie's -adventure--that is, his first real adventure on Crimean soil. - -The _Gurnet_ was a handy little craft, and consequently had all kinds -of work to do. - -Bold Dr. Reikie was as busy as busy could be, and though he had to -take many a cargo of sick to the large ships or transports, luckily -enough the cholera had not yet broken out on board of this gunboat. - -Both he and Jack were ashore at the mouth of the Katcha when Admiral -Lyons wished to open up communication with Lord Raglan, now on the -Tchernaya. Who would volunteer to take a message? Many would; but -our brave hero Jack was recommended by Captain Gillespie, who was -loud in the young fellow's praises. - -"You feel confident you will succeed?" - -"No doubt of it, sir," said Jack boldly. "I'm young, sir, and -active. I'm also an excellent hockey-player, and not too tall." - -The admiral laughed. - -"As to hockey," he said, "I don't know if that be any recommendation. -Well, I will trust you, and you must bring an answer as soon as -possible without killing yourself." - -"Good-bye, doctor," said Jack, when he was ready for the march. "I'm -so glad. I'll see Cousin Llewellyn too, if he is not among the -slain." - -"Good-bye, old man. _Bon voyage_. You're a lucky dog. Don't come -back with your head under your arm, and your promotion is certain." - -Jack determined to make a record. He took no arms with him save a -revolver and his dirk. To support his strength, the provision he -made was simple in the extreme--namely, a couple of ship biscuits and -a bottle of water. The biscuits were so full of weevils that he -wouldn't want for fresh meat anyhow. - -He started in the afternoon, and in less than two hours he had -reached the Belbek. He had crossed hill and dell and grassy slope -very much as the crow flies; but having reached the river, he went -onwards up the banks. He must strike the trail of the allied armies, -for if he lost the road it would be indeed a poor record he should -make. - -After striking the trail of the army, he crossed the river by a ford. -The river looked rather deep, but if the worst came to the worst he -could swim. The water did look deep though, so he did what many a -Scotsman has done before him: he partially undressed and waded -through bravely. After getting inside his clothes again, he sat down -to rest, and to munch a biscuit. The sun was getting very low, -however, so he soon got up and hurried on again. He had six miles to -go before he could reach M'Kenzie's Farm, and nearly the same -distance before he came to the British camp on the Tchernaya. But -what was that to a young fellow like him, and a hockey-player to -boot? The path he followed now was very rough. He hugged the waggon -tracks. - -The country was a wooded or at least a bush-covered one, but all -silent and deserted. When night fell it found him still struggling -on, and he knew by the stars that the road was now taking him more -inland. When he came near a hill at last, he left the trench, and -climbed it to have a look around. What a scene! Far away beneath -him glinted the lights of Sebastopol harbour, doubled and tripled as -they sparkled on the water; and still farther off was the darkness of -the star-lit sea itself. But yonder in the south-east a moon was -struggling with a bank of clouds, low down on what appeared to be a -woody horizon. - -Jack was preparing to descend and resume his journey, when not far in -his rear he heard voices. He had barely time to get into hiding -under a friendly bush, when four men, evidently Russian soldiers, -passed almost close by him. Jack afterwards learned that, like -himself, these men had come from the Belbek, but from the upper -regions thereof. In fact they were emissaries from Menschikoff, on -their way to Sebastopol to obtain news as to the whereabouts of the -invaders. - -Jack was glad enough when they had passed. But, lo, they had not -gone twenty yards away when they threw themselves on the ground to -rest. Then they proceeded leisurely to light a fire. - -As this burned up, Jack crept further back under the shadow of the -bush--a species of dwarf yew--lest his face or figure might be seen. -He was so close to them that he could hear every word they said. As, -however, they spoke in the Russian language, this was not of much -advantage to Jack. - -Probably I myself am no born linguist, though I can manage to bless -myself in two or three tongues; but the Russian, whenever I attempted -it, always seemed to loosen all my teeth. - -The greybacks had laid down their arms, and proceeded to make -themselves very comfortable indeed. They had their toes towards the -fire and pipes between their teeth--the stalks of the pipes at all -events. Now and then they laid aside their pipes to stuff their maws -with coarse bread. Then they made many applications to black -bottles, and seemed to get jollier every minute. - -When these fellows laughed, they opened great black cavernous mouths, -and threw their legs straight out in front of them, as if afraid of -the cramp. No wonder that the very night-birds screamed and flew -flapping away from the neighbouring trees at the sounds. - -More and more bottle! more merriment! - -Jack greatly feared they were going to make a night of it, but did -not dare to stir. - -Further applications of the bottle; then one fellow volunteered a -song. - -Neither words nor music appealed to Jack, who was hoping the man -would choke. The melody--save the mark!--was like the rattling of a -lot of pebbles in a frying-pan. The words were a kind of Irish stew -or pan-hagglety of German, Chinese, Turkish, and Sanscrit, with a -little Gaelic and broad Scotch thrown in to give it smoothness. - -But now from a wallet the soldier who seemed in command drew forth -some papers. He looked at and counted them, then put them carefully -away again. They appeared to Jack to be plans, and he at once formed -the daring resolve of possessing himself of them by hook or by crook. - -Jack hoped it would be by hook. - -The sergeant placed the wallet on the moss behind him, and very handy -for Jack. - -Then the sergeant had another drink. The man next him said something -while he drank; upon which, without for a moment taking the bottle -from his lips, the officer let out from the shoulder with his left, -and the soldier rolled back on the moss. The others guffawed, and -the boisterous merriment continued. - -Jack was getting uneasy, for time was important, and it was now well -on in the night. - -As he was moving round a little to ease his position, his hand rested -on a stone of considerable size. This might come in handy, he -thought, so he rolled it towards him. - -The men, after another drink or two, turned quiet. They seemed to -doze. But they had drawn their rifles quite close up to their knees -in readiness. - -Presently they appeared to be talking Russian through their noses. -Jack allowed them to snore for fully ten minutes. Then he slowly -arose. - -The fire had burned rather low. The stars away in the west burned -very brightly, but the moon cast no shadow. Clutching the big stone, -and making sure his dirk and revolver were handy, Jack stalked out -into the open, listening like a thief at every step. - -He could have brained the sergeant with the stone he carried, but he -had no wish to do that. - -Nearer and nearer! - -He was just about to pick up the wallet, when one man awoke with a -growl like that of a wolf. - -There was no more time for ceremony. - -Jack imitated the Highland slogan, and with all his might he dashed -the stone into the dying embers. Dust and fire flew in all -directions. - -Jack flew also. - -It was time. - -But he had that wallet safe enough. - -For a moment the men's energies seemed paralyzed. Speedily they -recovered, however, and took up the running, firing after Jack at -random. - -The country had become more open, and when our hero looked about -presently, there was but one man in pursuit. The others had been -shaken off. - -Luckily for Jack, who, hockey-player though he was, felt almost -pumped out, the moon gave a little more light just then. He stopped. -On came the man with a hoop of rejoicing; but Jack's revolver rang -out twice, sharp and clear on the night air, and the pursuer rejoiced -no more. He threw up his arms, and fell fiat on his face. - -Jack grasped revolver and wallet still more firmly and ran on. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - THE FIRST GREAT BOMBARDMENT--SHIPS _VERSUS_ - FORTS--POOR BOY HARRIS--"TELL 'EM I DIED LIKE A - THOUSAND O' BRICKS." - -The bold young hockey-player ran on and on; first as hard as he could -fly, then only in a swinging sort of trot that he felt he could keep -up long enough. Once or twice he lost himself, but soon got on the -track again. He was guided now as much by a glare in the sky--which -he knew must be the French camp--as by the rough tracks through the -bush. - -And long before he came near the camp he was hailed by the outpost -sentry. Jack answered in very questionable French but in a very -short time he was telling the story of his adventures to Marshal -Canrobert himself. - -Yes, this general was now in command of the French forces, and poor -St. Arnaud was dying. He had turned faint some days before, and -fallen off his horse. The moment they saw him the doctors had given -him up for lost. He was plague-stricken. - -Early next morning Jack was in the British camp, and had delivered -his message and handed over the wallet. This contained important -letters from Menschikoff himself, but whether they were of any -utility or not I cannot say, only Lord Raglan complimented Jack very -highly indeed, and even found time in a letter he sent back to -Admiral Lyons to recommend our young hero for promotion. - -Lord Raglan offered Jack an escort back, but this was politely but -pluckily declined. - -"One man, my lord"--the reader will note that Jack talked of himself -as a man--"one man can move along more quickly and make less noise -than half a dozen." - -His lordship laughed in his good-natured, fatherly way, and gave in. - -After this, Jack saw and shook hands with Sir Colin Campbell. - -"Man, you're a birkie,"* said Sir Colin. "I like you. Don't be -rash, though. Study war, if study it you must, as an exact science. -Not that 'go' and 'movement' don't count, for they do. Before the -battle you must be a lynx; during the fight you may be a bull. -Good-morning. Good-luck to you, lad. We may meet again." - - -* "Birkie," a brave young fellow. - - -"Well, I declare!" cried stalwart young Llewellyn, who had his left -hand in a sling. "Why, you turn up at the oddest times and in the -drollest ways. By this and by that, Jack, I am glad to see you. But -how haggard and hungry you look! Come and have breakfast. Grant -will be glad to see you. My arm? Oh, nothing, only a chip of a -Russian shell tore my coat." - -"And tore the flesh?" - -"Only a little. Come on. And what made you take this adventure in -hand?" - -"Why, Llew I took it in hand just to please mother and sister, and -the old lady, and--" - -Jack blushed. - -"Ah, you old rascal, I do believe you'll end by marrying Tottie.* -But I am told she will soon not be Tottie but Tott-o. She is growing -tall and very pretty." - - -* The termination _ie_ in Scotch means "small;" it is also -"endearing." The termination _o_ means "great" or "large:" thus we -say, man, mannie, man-o. - - -"She always was. Well, I'm so pleased we've met again." - -"Yes; where next, I wonder?" - -"Oh, at Balaklava. We're going to help you to batter the place down." - -"Batter it down we must not. That must be our seaport, Jack -Mackenzie." - -* * * * * - -Jack reached the admiral's ship in safety, but not without a further -adventure. This was only part of the last, however. For sitting -against a tree, and looking very faint and weak, was the very Russian -he had shot. - -Jack shared his water with him, and bound up his wound, which was -through the right biceps. Then he left beside him a portion of the -food he had brought for himself, and hoping his friends would -speedily find him, went trotting off once more. - -* * * * * - -The question whether or not Sebastopol could have been carried by -assault during the last days of September is one we need not pause to -consider now, but Cathcart was in favour of it, and even the clever -Russian, Colonel Todleben, one of the historians of the war, admits -that the assault might have been successful. - -It was on the Upland to the south of Sebastopol that most of the -fighting and suffering would now take place, or around it. - -[Illustration: Map of Balaklava town and harbour] - -The town and harbour of Balaklava itself had soon fallen into our -possession, and the allies were encamped on the plateau above it -(_vide_ plan), formerly called the Chersonese, and now, as I have -said, "the Upland." - -An attack on the north side of Sebastopol, you will perceive, was -never seriously contemplated, though Todleben had made every -preparation to repel it. - -Early in the morning of the second of October, the women, children, -and non-combatants left Sebastopol, with as much of their goods and -chattels as they could conveniently carry. A dreary journey away -north lay before them, but it was imperative. War knows no sentiment -where her interests are concerned. Bellona is indeed a stern -mistress. But thus relieved, the great and wise engineer, Todleben, -found himself quite unshackled in the defence. The mere drones had -left the great hive, and so he bent all his energies to strengthening -the works and forts. - -Balaklava itself was but a very insignificant place indeed, but it -would gain importance henceforward, and be the base of our supplies. - -The "town" of Balaklava and its old ports had very quickly been -silenced by a few shots from one of our ships; and when our army -appeared on the heights, we found that communication with the fleets -was already open. - -But having taken it, we were graciously permitted by the French to -retain it, and with it the right side of the allied line. I believe -that in those days the French could see as far through a milestone as -most people. Anyhow, with Balaklava and the right we chose much -sorrow, and an amount of suffering to our troops that not even the -pen of Kinglake has overdrawn. - -* * * * * - -A glance or two at the plan (p. 294) will give the reader as good an -idea of Sebastopol's outer and inner harbour as pages of text can. - -The following brief sentences, however, from the pen of General Sir -Edward Hamley, K.C.B.,* may be read with interest:--"The roadstead of -Sebastopol is a creek about four miles long from the point where it -breaks, nearly at right angles, the coast-line to its extremity where -the Tchernaya flows into it. It maintains a great depth throughout, -even close to the shore. On the points that mark the entrance stood -two forts--that on the north named Constantine; on the south, -Alexander. - - -* This gentleman's succinct and clever book, "The War in the Crimea." -Lecky and Co., publishers. - - -"After entering the roadstead ...... and about a mile from the -entrance, the inner or man-o'-war harbour ran for a mile and a half -into the southern shore. On the two points that mark this inlet -stood two other forts, Nicholas and Paul. On the west shore of this -inner creek stood the city of Sebastopol. - -"The plateau or plain where the allied armies stood--the Upland--was -marked off from the Tchernaya by a wall of cliff, which, following up -that stream southward for about a mile from its mouth, turns round -south-west and defines the valley of Balaklava, passing about a mile -north of that place, and joining the sea-cliffs." - -The Malakoff, the Redan, and Mamelon are all seen on the plan. - -The French had the left of the Upland, and made the inlets near Cape -Kherson, called Kazatch and Kamiesch Bays, their base; and the latter -was speedily filled with their shipping, which landed their tents and -stores on a temporary raft. There was around this bay quite a town -of tents. Moreover, the French made a well-paved road from it all -along the rear of their division, facing Sebastopol. It will be -seen, therefore, that our Gallic allies knew how to make themselves -snug. - -The Upland is divided from south to north by the great ravine, -separating the French and English at first, but afterwards taken -possession of by the French siege-corps. - -The plan shows where the cliffs sweep round to the north of -Balaklava, and these the French fortified. - -Crossing the great ravine, you would have found first the Third and -Fourth English Divisions, then the Light Division, with, on its -right, the Careenage Creek; and on the other side of this ravine the -Second Division, looking towards the Inkermann heights, and in its -rear the First Division, about a hundred yards back, and also resting -its right on the rocky edge of the Upland. - -One vulnerable point in the British line was the valley of Balaklava. -A reference to the plan will show the Woronzoff Road, which goes to -the left up the cliff and thence to Sebastopol. Another branch of -this road goes on to M'Kenzie heights, and away north and west -towards Southern Russia. This road ought to have been strongly -fortified from Balaklava to the Upland. As it was, the Russians -could get to Balaklava out of reach of the guns on the edge of the -Upland, and we must descend to the valley to repel them. - -On the north-east of Balaklava were the heights of Kamara, and a row -of heights crossed the valley from here to the Upland. On these some -works were made carrying twelve-pounder guns and manned by Turks. -Below these heights, and between them and Balaklava harbour, the 93rd -Highlanders were posted. Marines--over a thousand, with guns brought -from the ships--were placed to the right of the harbour on the -heights, while cavalry were also stationed below the cliffs of the -Upland, and not far from the Highlanders. - -* * * * * - -The siege of Sebastopol was now begun in earnest, under the -supervision of Burgoyne. The French, taking advantage of a stormy -night, threw up their first trench on Mount Rodolph. This was 1,100 -yards in length. Then on the next two nights we opened our first on -Green Hill and Mount Woronzoff. Although the Russians by their -cannonade succeeded in doing considerable mischief to our trenches by -day, at night they were repaired and pushed on. On the 16th these -were ready and mounted for siege. - -* * * * * - -It was agreed that a simultaneous attack should be made by land and -sea, although the strength of the great stone forts did not appear -very promising for our wooden ships. The proposal emanated from Lord -Raglan, and Admiral Dundas gave a kind of unwilling consent to it. - -The fifteenth of October was a big and a busy day with the fleets, -for a great naval conference assembled, and boats were flying from -ship to ship, busily enough, with officers in cocked hats, and in -their "war-paint," as Dr. Reikie called it. - -Sturdy and his friend Jack Mackenzie watched the scene with great -interest from the deck of the saucy _Gurnet_. - -"What do you think of it, sir?" said Jack. - -"Think of it! think of what?" - -"Why, our chance of success against the forts?" - -"Humph!" said Sturdy. "What would you think of a man who tried to -break a cocoa-nut by shying rotten pears at it?" - -"Why, I'd think him a fool." - -"Well, our admiral is--ahem!" - -I am not going to say whether it was Dundas or Lyons that Sturdy -referred to, though I think I know. Anyhow this honest sailor had a -habit of saying just exactly what he thought. - -"Ah, well," said Jack, somewhat dolefully, "I suppose there won't be -much chance of my winning my epaulettes during the bombardment." - -"Humph!" again grunted Sturdy. "I don't know about epaulettes; but -if a Russian shell or a bigger shot than usual catches us between -wind and water, it'll be a halo you'll soon be wearing, instead of -epaulettes, lad." - -The first great cannonade, then, between our land forces and -Sebastopol began on the seventeenth of October, as early as half-past -six. The bombardment, the great fight betwixt trench and fort, was -fearful, and lasted for four hours--a perfect _feu d'enfer_. - -We--the British--silenced Malakoff Tower and damaged other Russian -works. But the French were far less successful; for about ten -o'clock the magazine of Mount Rodolph was exploded by a Russian -shell, killing and wounding nearly a hundred men, and by half-past -ten the batteries of the French were completely silenced. - -Our guns, however, kept on: we not only silenced the batteries round -the Malakoff, but by three o'clock we had partly destroyed the -parapets of the famous Redan, blowing up a magazine, with a loss to -the Russians, as we afterwards discovered, of over a hundred men. We -had avenged the poor French therefore. - -[Illustration: She laid about her right and left.] - -The calamity, however, which they had fallen under prevented the -intended assault on the Flagstaff Bastion, which they were to have -made side by side with us. Compared with the French, our losses in -this bombardment were but slight--under fifty in all--while in killed -and wounded the Russians lost over a thousand. - -* * * * * - -But alas for Jack Mackenzie's hopes of glory either in the shape of -epaulettes or a halo--by the way, though, I do not think that he was -particularly anxious about the halo; he said he didn't want to be -caught out in his first innings--for neither our own bold ships nor -those of the French effected anything worth speaking of, although in -all they had brought 1,100 guns into action. The Russians lost but -140 men, the French over 200, and our fleet 320. - -"I told you," said Sturdy to Jack, when the _Gurnet_, with the rest -of the ships, had been withdrawn--"I told you we would be beaten. A -beastly waste of gunpowder, I call it, and honest fellows' lives." - -How very busy the Russians had been that night may be inferred from -the fact that the dawn of the eighteenth day of October saw their -breaches repaired, more guns mounted, and all the effects of the -terrible bombardment entirely effaced. - -On the twenty-third of October, the _Gurnet_ being round at -Balaklava, Dr. Reikie received from the trenches, among other -wounded, our old friend the boy Harris. He had belonged to Peel's -naval brigade, and very gallantly he had fought. Before the fighting -had commenced, some weeks indeed, he had been one of the very -merriest among our blue-jackets who helped to tow the guns up to the -heights. - -He had been cut down by a piece of shell which completely carried -away his right arm. He had begged very hard to be sent on board the -_Gurnet_, and although the surgeon who attended him believed from the -first the case was hopeless, he had yielded to his request. He was -placed under the awning in a hammock amidships. - -"Ah!" he said, "I can die a kind o' easy now. Bother my wig, though, -I should have liked to have seen the last of it. Ain't there any -hope, doctor, sir?" - -Dr. Reikie shook his head. - -"I'll sit up with you," he said, "and---see." - -"Ah yes, I understand." - -He lay still for a few minutes. Then he asked for his ditty-box--a -small box possessed by every young sailor in which to keep his -trinkets and valuables. - -"Doctor, sir," he said, "you'll send this little box to my mother and -father, won't you? Here is the old couple. I'll keep this as long -as I last. Tell them that I died like a thousand o' bricks." - -That was his last joke. He fell quietly to sleep with the little -case containing his parents' portrait on his breast. - -He never woke again. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - - THE VICTORIOUS CHARGE OF THE HEAVY BRIGADE--THE - SCOTCH WIFE AND THE TURKS--THE LIGHT BRIGADE, - AND THEIR AWFUL CHARGE. - -Meanwhile, where was Menschikoff? - -That question may well begin a fresh chapter. He had gone north, as -I have said, to keep the communications open, and he did so most -effectually. Not only did he get 12,000 troops around him that had -not yet been in action, but soon received reinforcements from Russia, -in addition to these, till his army swelled to 22,000, besides 3,500 -horsemen and 78 guns. - -He thought it was time to return now and see what we were about. - -He was careful not to show his great resources. This might have -frightened us into action sooner than was desirable. - -Spies were very busy; nor was there much difficulty in such -espionage, and it was soon found out that, bar the somewhat weak -works manned by Turks on the range of heights I have already -mentioned as stretching from Kamara Hills to the Upland across the -valley of Balaklava, there was nothing much to fear between them and -our camp. The 93rd were certainly something, but they could easily -crush them by sheer force of numbers; and as for the Turks and -marines round the harbour of Balaklava, well, they were too far away -to take into account. - -The height nearest to Kamara was called Canrobert's Hill. That was -speedily taken, and so was the next one to it. The Turks with their -twelve-pounders had done all they could, and artillery had also been -hurried up to help them, supported by the Scots Greys. - -These had soon, however, to retreat for want of ammunition. - -The Turks were beaten back, and fled, after a stubborn resistance, -towards Balaklava. - -At first Lord Raglan--it was early on the morning of the twenty-fifth -of October--was not fully apprised of the real nature of the -onslaught. I do not think the allies expected that the Russians -would assume the offensive. But now the Fourth and First British -Divisions were speedily turned out, and with them two brigades of the -French. - -And then a mistake was made on our part; for instead of the First -Division being taken down to the plain by the Woronzoff Road, where -they could have hurled the Russians back, they were marched along the -Upland edge to the more southerly road leading down to Kadikoi. - -In the valley next the Tchernaya was the Light Cavalry Brigade, -commanded by Lord Cardigan, and on the other side of the ridge and -captured heights was the Heavy Brigade. This, which had lately -joined our forces, was commanded by General Scarlett. It was made up -of the 4th and 5th Dragoon Guards, with the Scots Greys, Royals, and -Inniskillings. - -The Light Brigade was, at the time of the terrible attack made by the -Russians on the Heavy, remaining on the defensive on the other side -of the captured ridge; and the whole was commanded by Lord Lucan. - -Lord Raglan on the heights, among his marching divisions, saw the -advance of the Russian army _en masse_ on the Heavy Brigade. As they -came on they threw out a line on each flank with artillery to play on -our troops on the Upland. Their shot, however, fell short. - -The Heavy Brigade were at first, in a measure, taken by surprise, -and, moreover, embarrassed somewhat by their own lines, and so were a -little time in getting clear. - -Meanwhile, some Turkish guns on the edge of the Upland began to play -on the Russian cavalry, which soon galloped off. - -But clear now, the Heavy Brigade charged in earnest. - -And such a charge! - -It was a scene that Lord Raglan could not have forgotten till his -dying day. Here was in reality the very romance of war itself. -Nothing was wanting in effect or colour--our prancing horses, the -splendid uniforms of the troopers, the lightning glitter of sabres, -and the thunder of the charging feet. On and on they dash; and now -foe meets foe, and every horseman becomes the single centre of crowds -of the enemy. But, apart from this front and terrible pell-mell -charge, behold the 4th Dragoons--held back for a time--gallop -thundering up now and attack the enemy's flank. - -What Russian force can stand it? What can the enemy do but turn and -fly? And in less time than it takes me to tell it, they have swept -back over the slope whence they had come, leaving the ground flecked -with their bleeding dead and wounded. - -* * * * * - -In the next tableau of this eventful battle Llewellyn's regiment took -part; for during the charge of the Heavy Brigade, some squadrons of -the Russian cavalry made straight for the entrance to the harbour. - -They reckoned without their host for once in a way. That host was -Sir Colin himself, with the 93rd Highlanders, who were lying down -concealed behind a slope. - -"Ah! it is one thing," said Grant, "for these grey-backs to send a -parcel of slatternly old Turks down from their heights harbour-way -here; let them come down this way themselves." - -"Look, then," cried Llewellyn; "here they come!" - -Nearer and nearer thundered the Russian horse. Then at the word of -command up sprang the wild Highlanders and showed their tartans and -plumes on the hillock. - -Next moment the whole regiment would have charged, and probably been -cut up. But the shout from their leader quelled them at once. - -"Ninety-third! Ninety-third!" cried Sir Colin; "hang all such -eagerness! Stand fast! Fire!" - -There was a rattling volley. The Russian squadron was checked, but -attempted now to outflank Sir Colin. - -But that hero quickly placed his grenadiers round, and again the -squadron paused, and finally fled. - -It takes greater bravery and pluck to wait inactive on hillside or in -wood for the advance of a foe than it does to repel a charge. If -ever soldiers are really frightened, it is while waiting thus. But -in the 93rd Regiment there was none of this excessive nervousness. -In their broad Doric they laughed and chaffed, as they used to at -night when safe in camp. And when the Turks came flying harbourwards -in despair, and a few of them rushed into the camp of the -Highlanders, a scene took place that caused every officer and man in -this gallant regiment to laugh aloud. For, thinking that these men -were about to pillage the camp, out from one of the tents, -porridge-stick in hand, rushed a tall and powerful Highlander's wife. - -She laid about her right and left. Like Roderick Dhu, she - - "Showered her blows like wintry rain." - -Whack, whack, whack rang the blows; and the woman's tongue was by no -means idle the while. Whack, whack. "De'il rot ye, for a lot o' -rievin' rascals. You'll no come here to steal while oor gudemen's -awa." - -"Kokona! kokona!"* cried the Turks. "Mercy, mercy!" - - -* Lady, lady. - - -"Bravo, Betty!" shouted a soldier. "Let them tak that, as they can -tak no snuff." - -The 93rd were indeed glorious soldiers, but just a trifle wild and -impetuous. - -* * * * * - -But a charge more terrible than that of the good Scot's wife was soon -to be made. This was the world-famous charge of the 600--the charge -of the Light Brigade. - -This brigade, it will be remembered, consisted of the 4th and 13th -Light Dragoons, the 17th Lancers, and 8th and 11th Hussars, and was -commanded by Lord Cardigan. I have already told you where it was -stationed. - -The terrible charge, through two flanking fires, to capture guns at -the other end of the valley, was the result of a mistake. - -For a full and detailed account of it--and it reads like a romance of -the olden time--I must refer the reader to the great Crimean -historian Kinglake. - -The mistake seems to have been made by Lord Raglan, who thought the -enemy were in full retreat, and that they were about to carry away -the guns from the heights they had first captured. - -Twice he sent orders in writing to Lord Lucan to advance the cavalry -rapidly to the front, and prevent the enemy from carrying away these -guns. - -Captain Nolan took this order to Lord Lucan. Lord Lucan, as the -enemy was not retreating, naturally asked Nolan, "What guns?" - -Nolan answered, almost disrespectfully and tauntingly, "There, my -lord, is the enemy," pointing towards the valley; "there are your -guns." - -Lord Lucan rode off to Cardigan. - -"You are to charge right down the valley with your brigade. The -Heavies will follow in support." - -He looked at Lucan. His very look seemed to imply that there must be -some mistake. - -"This means death--annihilation," he thought; "but it is Lord -Raglan's orders. A soldier's first duty is obedience." - -"The brigade will advance!" shouted Cardigan, and in a loud voice. - -And right down that valley of death they charged upon the twelve guns -in front. A splinter from the very first shell killed Captain Nolan, -who was waving his sword and riding obliquely across the front of -this mad attack. Why he was there or what he meant may never be -guessed. Back through the ranks of the 13th flew his startled horse, -bearing the body of his master--lifeless. - -In a very short time Cardigan and his brave brigade were in the thick -of it--death on every side, death in front, shattering shells, -roaring shot overhead, and saddles emptied every second; horses and -riders falling together, horses galloping riderless into the still -more awful fire that poured upon them when they neared the twelve -guns. The valley was strewed with the dead and the wounded--the -latter, whether horses or men, sometimes rising, but to fall dead -next moment. - -The Russians themselves must have thought them mad. - -Yet that brave brigade knew no fear, no faltering; straight into the -ranks of the foe rode they, and smoke and fire for a time swallowed -them up. The Russian gunners were cut down where they stood, or -driven from their guns, and our men even charged the enemy's cavalry. - -They had done their duty! - -They had obeyed orders as they had been understood. But alas, and -yet alas! when the brigade returned the whole numbered but 195! - - -The Russians were certainly beaten at Balaklava, and no clasp -glitters with greater honour on the Crimean medal that adorns the -breasts of our sturdy veterans; but we lost ground by it. - -It might have been well for us had we chosen as our base the bay of -Kamiesch, in conjunction with the French. - -But a greater battle than all was soon to follow Balaklava. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - - THE TRUTH FROM A RUSSIAN--PARABLE OF THE - STOAT AND THE WILD CAT--DAY-DAWN OF THE - MEMORABLE FIFTH. - - "Remember, remember - The fifth of November-- - Gunpowder, treason, and shot." - -Cut out the word "treason" from the last line, and the old-fashioned -Guy Fawkes doggerel does very well as a heading for this chapter. - -Guy Fawkes had intended to blow up the Houses of Parliament, I -believe--that is if my memory serves me aright. Well, reader, boys -like you and me don't take much note of politics, do we? For my own -part, I think golf is far better, or that grandest athletic game in -the world, curling. But politics--faugh! it is cold work, and -insincere besides. Didn't Carlyle say something about a House (give -it a capital letter, printer, for goodness' sake)--about a House -wherein six hundred jackasses bray? So that, as jackasses are -plentiful enough--the human sort, I mean--everywhere, the loss of six -hundred in a House could very soon be got over. But how about the -six hundred hero-hearts that took part in the memorable charge of the -Light Brigade at Balaklava, so few of whom came back to tell the tale? - -Give me the hero, I say, and you may do what you please with your -politicians and your members of Parliament, hundreds of whom have no -more heart and brains than the snow-man which my bairnies are at this -moment setting up on the lawn out yonder, and are of just as little -use. - -This is a digression, is it? Call me to order, then; but I shall -digress if I choose, and after a wild fight like Balaklava, and with -another still more awful battle hanging over my head, it is no wonder -that I should want a very brief breathing-spell. Well, where can men -breathe better, I should like to know, than on the ocean wave? So -let us get afloat again, if only for a day. - -Look at her there, on this bright morning in late October, bobbing -and courtesying to every dark-blue wave that goes singing past her -dark sides--our own bonnie _Gurnet_ once again. There is a spanking -breeze blowing; the wake astern of her is hardly any length at all, -for the rippling, racing seas soon obliterate every bubble. There is -life, there is health in this jolly breeze; it braces one up, pulis -one together, till there isn't a loose tendon or nerve anywhere about -one's whole system. - -Six bells in the morning watch, but Midshipman Mackenzie is on deck -already, and walking the quarter-deck with Sturdy. Rapidly fore and -aft they tread, sometimes beating their gloved hands to instil a -little extra glow into them, sometimes stowing them away in the -outside pockets of their uniform reefing jackets. The ship has been -cruising off Odessa, but is now making all sail south for the port of -Balaklava. - -"What is that out yonder on our weather-bow?" says Jack. - -"A sail, and a Russian, too," replies Sturdy, after a squint through -his glass. "Wonder what the dickens she wants in our Black Sea. -Come, we'll luff, and see what her game is. Can we carry a bit more -canvas?" - -"Yes, sir, lots, if you ask me." - -"Then I think I'll crack on." - -At eight o'clock the sail sighted became a chase. She had put about, -and was going full before the wind. As fleet as an ocean greyhound -was she, so the good _Gurnet_ had to get up steam, for the wind began -to fail. - -An hour after breakfast the _Gurnet_ was near enough to fire a shot -over her, then another, but with no effect. - -"Give her one now," cried Captain Gillespie--"straight." - -"Ay, ay, sir," replied the gunner.--"Now, lass," he said, patting the -breach of the great pivot-gun--"now, lass, it's you and me." - -The gunner wasn't particular about his grammar. - -Brr-rr-rang! Hurr-rsh! The great shot tore clean through the -Russian's mizzentop, and brought rigging, mast, and sail down, and -these hung about her like a broken wing on a badly-shot wild duck. -She hove to now smartly enough. - -Sturdy and Dr. Reikie boarded her with an armed boat. It was humane -to let "Auld Reikie" go in the boat, for there might be blood about -or broken bones. - -"Bravo, sweetheart!" said the gunner to his pet as the boat went -speeding away. - -Sturdy was in a temper. The skipper of the barque came up bowing and -scraping, as ungainly-looking a heap of old clothes, Sturdy thought, -as ever loafed along a ship's deck. Our brave first lieutenant -hadn't enough Russian to bless himself with, so he stuck to plain -English--very plain English, for he exploded thus,-- - -"Why the Harry didn't you haul your rotten old foreyard aback before? -Think we want to expend good shot and shell over a lubber like you?" - -The Russian skipper had a mouth like a haddock, and now he seemed to -smile all the way down to his short and "gurkie" neck. He made a -rush aft a little, and pulled out a black bottle and a cracked -tumbler. He half filled it, laughed, and nodded towards the -_Gurnet_, and drank it off. Then he half filled it again, and held -it towards Sturdy. - -"Ha! ha!" he said joyously, "she is a very goot schnapp." - -Even Sturdy smiled now; but he bluntly refused the "very goot -schnapp," and went straight to business. - -"What is your beastly ship's name?" - -"Ah yes. Goot!" Here the skipper proceeded to pour the liquor back -cautiously into the bottle; but spilling a drop or two to begin with, -he evidently thought it would be a saving to swallow it. "Huh!" he -cried, with water in his eyes. - -"Your ship's name, sir!" roared Sturdy, stamping his foot, and laying -a hand upon his sword. "Name and cargo?" - -"Yes, yes. Goot. Ha! ha! My sheep's name is _Skrrovotchstriarrky_. -Loaded I am with cloves." - -"Cloves!--What do you think the fellow means, doctor?" - -"Clothes, I believe," said Reikie. - -"Clothes? Certainly, it must be that." - -Sturdy felt pleased now. Part of the cargo was had on deck. The -doctor was right. Truly a glorious cargo--stockings, gloves, -blankets, jackets, boots! All had been made, apparently, to fit -Greenland bears Never mind, they were warm. - -So a prize crew was put on board under command of Sub-Lieutenant -Fitzgerald, _alias_ Lord Tomfoozle. Then all sail was set, and away -south went the _Gurnet_ with her prize. - -But a stranger had come on board from the barque--namely, a Russian -gentleman and his daughter, a rather pretty young lady, to whom, with -her maid, Captain Gillespie at once gave up his cabin. - -This Russian gentleman himself was singularly communicative and -remarkably free and candid. He spoke about the war, and in very good -English; and what is more, he spoke the truth. - -He told the officers about Balaklava first. They had not heard of it -before. - -"It was a well-fought field," he said, "but hardly a battle. No; -Alma was a battle. I was there; I was on Telegraph Hill. Ah! how -well your fellows fought. But your French--bah! they are only fit to -sell tape and ribbons. Soldiers! no, no, not now, and never will be -again. But you and your allies made the grand mistake in not seizing -Sebastopol when you could have done so." - -"It isn't too late yet, _mon ami_," laughed the captain. "We're -going to take Sebastopol, and we shan't leave one stone standing on -top of another." - -"My friend, do not think it cruel of me to speak the truth. The -fruits of your Alma which your Highlanders won, your Raglan permitted -to escape. Your bombardment was a waste of good gunpowder. The part -your ships took in it made us laugh." - -"He laughs best," said Sturdy, "who laughs last." - -"True; and it will be the Russians. Listen. You are going to -Balaklava. Before you reach that port a battle will be fought that -shall decide the war--fought, and won by us. Ah, you may smile, but -it is true. Already is the proud Eagle of Russia sweeping down from -the north. There are armies on the way that will crush you if you -were twice as strong and great. You fight as fights the stoat when -the wild cat has seized her--a long, red, and vicious line; but -strength triumphs at last--the stoat dies. Where will you be when -our armies reach the Chersonese (the Upland)? The weight and -strength of our thousands will cause even proud Britain to rock and -reel, till, backward hurled across the plains, vainly supported by -lazy Turk and gassy French, our artillery and wild horsemen will -sweep you out of existence. With nothing to fall back upon except -the bleak sea-shores, your defeat will mean annihilation, for you -will die sword in hand, we doubt not. The few of you who are taken -prisoners will return to your defeated and degraded nation sadder and -wiser men. Your fate will be a lesson to the world, and it is but -the fate that God in his justice hangs over all pirates and -adventurers." - -Sturdy laughed again. - -"Your parable of the stoat and the wild cat," he said, "is not inapt. -But don't forget, my friend, that we have Russia now by the neck just -as the stoat had the cat. The stoat holds on; so shall we. It is -life or death, for verily this is a war to the dagger's hilt." - -* * * * * - -There was a good deal of blunt and honest truth in what that Russian -prisoner said; and even while he spoke, the hordes of the enemy were -coming down on us from the north, and it would soon be decided -whether they or we should gain a battle, the loss of which would be -for them defeat, but for us disaster and degradation as a nation. - -There was much anxiety, nevertheless, on board the _Gurnet_; for, -laugh as Sturdy might at the bold, almost bragging Russ, neither he -nor any one else could deny that the danger to our arms was now very -extreme. - -"What will they say in England," said Captain Gillespie to Sturdy a -day or two after the Russian had told them of the reinforcements -pouring into the Crimea from the north--"what will they say in -England if we are beaten?" - -"Ah, what indeed, sir? But though the crisis is coming, we'll get -over it. It really seems to me, however, that we should smash -Menschikoff and his general Liprandi before the other army arrives." - -Let us now return, to the field, reader. - -If we take the Russian Todleben as our best authority--and he was no -mean one; very fair, I think, though he does blab out truths that are -not over palatable to burly John Bull--the forces to be marshalled -against us at Mount Inkermann were most formidable. - -Listen. The allies, including seamen and marines, were barely -65,000; and Menschikoff had an army of 115,000 to confront us with, -not counting seamen. - -Of the Russians who were actually engaged in the great fight, General -Soimonoff commanded 20,000 inside Sebastopol, and General Pauloff had -16,000 on the hills above and beyond Tchernaya. These would combine, -and independent of fifty guns in bastions or batteries, they would -have eighty or more field-guns. - -Then there was the great force of Liprandi, that we had hurled back -from the valley of Balaklava, which lay on the Fedioukine heights, -from the hills they had captured from the Turks to the Tchernaya -valley. - -The Russians, therefore, had a terrible army, and if praying could -have done it, they would have conquered us. - -We prayed as much and probably as sincerely as they did, though not -with the same show and ceremony. God is the judge of what is right, -however, and He who heareth in secret can openly reward. - -A glance at the plan we have given will give the reader a rough -notion of the lie of the land on which the memorable battle of -Inkermann was fought. - -[Illustration: Plan of Inkermann area] - -Kinglake devotes a whole volume to a description of the fight. It is -unlikely any one will read so much about it. The world moves far too -fast, and the coming of every fresh event obscures the memory of -those that went before. - -Menschikoff's general orders were like the mist that at one time of -the morning enveloped the land--somewhat hazy. There was this much -to be said for them, however--each general was free to interpret them -as he pleased. Whether this was to the advantage of the cause is not -so plain. - -Anyhow, Soimonoff and Pauloff were to lead the main attacks, and -Gortschakoff and Sebastopol were to help and support. - -But this wasn't quite all; for Menschikoff had not left the -former-named generals quite so free a hand as what I have said may -lead you to suppose. These two officers were ordered to _unite_, or -effect a junction as it is termed; and having done so, General -Dannenberg was to command the two. - -* * * * * - -Just three days before the battle, to his inexpressible joy, Jack -Mackenzie was sent on shore with an escort of marines, including the -sergeant, Paddy O'Rayne, and the doctor himself, from Balaklava, -where the _Gurnet_ had arrived. Jack had to march straight to -head-quarters with a letter from Captain Gillespie reporting the news -he had heard of the excessive business of the Russians up north, and -of the speed they were making to send along reinforcements before the -bad weather came on. - -If the services of the marines and the two officers were needed, they -were to remain. - -Jack had therefore an opportunity of once more seeing the gallant -93rd, who were, as usual, spoiling for a fight, and also taking a -hurried luncheon in his cousin's tent. - -Balaklava had been temporarily fortified by Sir Colin, in his own -slap-dash but soldierly fashion. - -"I hope," said Jack to Dr. Reikie, "that we won't be sent back." - -"I'm sure _I_ won't be, man," said the doctor. "I fear, Jack, that -surgeons will be more needed than even middies." - -"Never mind, old man," said Jack, laughing; "we middies may sometimes -make work for doctors to do." - -But neither Jack nor the surgeon and marines were sent back--in -truth, some of the red-jackets, poor fellows, never went back--so -that honest Dr. Reikie, surgeon and naturalist, and his bold friend -Jack, burning for honour, glory, and epaulettes, were present at the -battle. - -Now let me remind you that General Soimonoff was inside Sebastopol -with his army, and that his orders were to issue therefrom near the -mouth of the Careenage glen or ravine (_vide_ plan), and effect a -junction with Pauloff, who was to march his army from the heights -beyond Tchernaya, across the causeway and the bridge over the river, -and so meet and unite with the former. In fact, Menschikoff seemed -to have known very little at all about the chasm or ravine with its -inaccessible sides, and gave his orders as if it hadn't existed. - -As for our forces, we had the Second Division, 3,000 men, lying ready -to meet the wild cat. On the Victoria ridge was Codrington's -Brigade, and with it marines--Dr. Reikie and Jack with his men both -got stationed here; near to them was the Naval Battery, with its one -gun--the others had been withdrawn where they could be used in the -siege-batteries. - -Codrington's forces and the marines numbered only 1,500, or rather -less. - -About 1,000 yards to the rear of our Second Division were the sturdy -Guards, 1,400 or nearly. - -Buller's Brigade stood on a slope adjoining Codrington's, and the -Third and Fourth Divisions were on the heights behind our -siege-batteries; while two miles in the rear of the Second Division, -Bosquet's French troops were placed around the south and east sides -of the Upland. - -Before day-dawn of this memorable fifth of November, Soimonoff, -disregarding altogether the orders to join Pauloff, left Sebastopol, -crossed the Careenage Ravine, and climbing the northern heights of -Mount Inkermann, drew himself up in battle array. - -Then the fight might have been said to commence. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -THE BATTLE OF INKERMANN--THE SOLDIERS OWN. - -"What a morning!" said Dr. Reikie to Jack about six o'clock on the -5th. "I can't help thinking we'd just be as snug, and a wee bit -snugger, on board the old _Gurnet_. We can hardly see our -neighbour's nose with the dark and the fog." - -"Yes," said Jack, "as snug and snugger; but think of the honour and -glory." - -"Oh, bother your honour and glory, let us have breakfast." - -"What have you got in that jar, doctor--something to eat? Looks like -a jelly-jar." - -"And a jelly-jar it is, Jack, but you wouldn't care to eat what's -inside. It's some rare specimens of the Coleoptera,* Jack. I -spotted them ayont the hill last night, so I just rubbed the inside -of this jar with butter, and stuck it in a bush. I've now been to -fetch it, and it's about half full. I'll show them to you at -breakfast." - - -* The Beetle tribe. - - -"Oh no, thanks; not then." - -"Beauties they are, I assure you, and prettily bronzed; and some in -uniform, you might say--in navy-blue with gold and white facings." - -"Indeed!" - -"Ay, indeed; and this, it seems to me, is a provision of nature to -enliven the ghastly duty they perform." - -"Ghastly duty, doctor?" - -"Ay, ay, just. They bury the dead!" - - -By this time Jack was nearly ready, and it was almost daylight. - -"Why, Dr. Reikie, you're wounded!" - -The worthy surgeon's left arm was bound round with a blood-stained -handkerchief. - -"Oh, that's nothing. When I was stooping down and 'mooling' round -the bush, a sentry hailed me. I didn't know he was crying to me, and -took no heed, till bang went his rifle, and ower I went on my hinder -en'. I wouldn't have cared for the skin wound, Jack; but, man, the -dashed bullet has torn the sleeve of my best coat! But come on; the -specimens are cheap at any price, and in Edinburgh Museum--Listen! -wasn't that a big gun?" - -Yes, a big gun it was; and Soimonoff was at it hammer and tongs. - -"Come on, Jack, come on," cried Reikie; "it's quarters, I suppose. -And take my advice, just ram a biscuit in your pocket; you may come -over a hungry hillock before darkening; but--there it goes again. -Why, old General Soonenough, or whatever his stupid name is, must be -jumbled in his judgment to begin fighting before decent folk have -their breakfast.--Ah! here you come with my sword, Paddy. Look, lad, -look; this is a jelly-jar. Are you listening?" - -"Troth am I, sorr. A jaily-jar, ye said." - -"Yes; and it contains beautiful beetles all alive." - -"All alive, sorr." - -"Burial beetles, so you must keep them safe, and not break the paper; -for if they swarm out in your pocket, Paddy, why, they'll bury you -alive." - -"All right, sorr; I'll take 'em, and if one of my mates is killed, -I'll give 'em to him. Sure, sorr, it won't matter much if a dead man -is buried aloive. But the grace o' God be about us, sorr, on this -raw, misty morning." - -Soimonoff--or Soonenough, as Dr. Reikie called him--with 300 -skirmishers in front, came on in a line of 6,000 men, supported by -3,000. These covered his batteries of twenty guns brought from the -great fortress, and they were soon posted on Shell Hill and adjoining -buttresses. It was these large batteries that opened fire about -seven in the morning, their guns reverberating from hill to hill. -The general's lighter guns and 9,000 men came on behind his first -advance, which now began to descend from the higher ground. - -You will note, if you glance at the plan, that a road goes on past -the camp of the Second Division to Quarry Ravine, which is nearly met -at its head by a portion or gully of Careenage Ravine. This -naturally narrows the plateau above. Here our pickets had built a -wall of loose stones between two copses, and called it the Barrier. -Our pickets numbered about 500, and were driven in; but Pennefather, -who commanded instead of Evans (sick), advanced to their support, -leaving the crest (plan) supported only by a dozen guns and a body of -infantry. - -The fire of the Russian guns reached this crest, tore through the -camp in its rear, and killed men and horses there. - -On the narrow plateau, then, Soimonoff could not advance with so -broad a line, else he would have attacked us all along our position. -His troops were more or less massed therefore, and did not seem to us -so numerous. - -One of his battalions attacked a wing of the 49th, and were driven -back in beautiful style, pell-mell, almost to the slopes of Shell -Hill. - -Then the Russian general himself came on with 9,000 men, leading in -person, and a column of sailors advanced at the same time up the -Careenage Ravine itself, where of course the fog lay thickest. Had -we been Russians attacked in this terrible position, I don't hesitate -to say we would have fled at once. - -But Pennefather's force now amounted to 3,000 men and eighteen -field-guns. - -Let us take a look at the Russian sailors who are coming up the -ravine. Their object was to get to the plateau in our rear, and -Heaven only knows how things would have gone if they had succeeded, -for the masses of the enemy had already driven back the 88th near the -crest. - -But Buller himself arrived opportunely, and with a company of the -Guards and the 77th attacked this ravine column so vigorously that it -was driven back and seen no more. - -The battle now raged hot and terrible, the 47th and 77th charging in -beautiful style, and finally driving two Russian battalions -helter-skelter off the field. Other three battalions close by were -disheartened, and they too joined the rout. - -General Soimonoff was killed, so his name will bother us no more. -General Buller also had his horse killed under him, and he himself -was wounded, and therefore placed _hors de combat_. - -The other six battalions charged our centre, and the battle continued -for a time to rage along both sides of the road leading to Quarry -Ravine. They caught it hot also, and soon their ranks, sadly -thinned, were swept off the ground. - -But where was the other general with the more pronounceable name, -Pauloff? He was all too quickly to the fore. The broken and flying -battalions of the slain General Soimonoff had joined Pauloff's first -eight battalions at the head of the Quarry Ravine, and had formed in -front of our right, their own right being across the road there, and -their left on what was called the Sand-bag Battery. This was a -battery that had been thrown up by General Evans in opposition to one -that the Russians had constructed after the twenty-sixth of October. -It had a parapet and two embrasures of sand-bags. But after having -unshipped the enemy's guns, ours had been taken away. Well, this -"Sand-bag Battery" was to-day the centre of terrible conflict, and -was taken and retaken about half a dozen times in all. - -As Pauloff's regiment on the right advanced towards the Barrier, one -of the grandest and hottest charges of the day was made by the 30th. -They were but 200 in all, but leaped the Barrier and dashed into the -advancing foe, and although we had officers and men cut down--too -many, alas!--the Russian regiment was hurled back towards Shell Hill -and down the Quarry glen. - -Then the other regiments were attacked with vim and vigour; the end -of this part of the battle being the utter rout of Pauloff's army of -15,000 by little more than 3,000 dashing Englishmen. - -Pauloff might easily have been excused for believing after this that -our gallant fellows had large supports behind them. - -A new battle, however, may be said to have begun at half-past seven -o'clock, when General Dannenberg himself arrived. Pauloff's army was -soon swelled again to 19,000. - -Ours had been reinforced by the Guards, by men from the First -Division batteries, and by Cathcart with 2,000 men from the siege -works. But those troops of ours that had so bravely defended the -Barrier had to fall back, overpowered by force of numbers. The -Russians, however, were soon dislodged by the 63rd, the 21st, and -Rifles. Ten thousand of Pauloff's troops now attacked our centre, -Dannenberg himself assuming full command. - -Dannenberg's first attack was on Adams, against whose poor brave 700 -no less than 4,000 troops were hurled. The fight was desperate, the -enemy now rushing on like demons. It raged about the slopes of the -Fore Ridge and Sand-bag Battery. The Guards rushed now from the -crest to the support of Adams, and again and again were the Russians -hurled backwards with fearful slaughter; our fellows, however, not -pursuing, but standing on the defensive, till back rushed the foe, -only to meet further repulse and greater slaughter. - -But when Cathcart came up, things assumed a different aspect; for -this brave man, though possessed now of only 400 men--the rest being -lent, so to speak, here and there over the field wherever -needed--descended the slope to the right, and took the offensive. At -first his attack was successful, and the enemy fled in confusion. -But, alas! it ended in disaster; for a body of Russians had broken -through our front, and descended on him from the very height he had -quitted. His brave little corps was scattered, and only returned -fighting in groups against fearful odds, and strewing the ground with -their dead and wounded. - -Alas! Cathcart himself was among the slain. - -This part of the battle ended in a series of independent fights, -which broke our line of continuity, and enabled the Russians for a -time to occupy the Fore Ridge. A French regiment came now to the -rescue, outflanked the enemy, and drove them back. - -But another terrible attack was soon made by the persistent foe. - -Once more their great guns, about a hundred in all, ploughed the -crest with shot and shell; once more our centre was attacked by the -columns that rushed up from the Quarry Ravine. And this fight was -the most desperate of all. - -For a time the Russians were so far successful that they not only -took and occupied the crest, but drove our troops back from the head -of Careenage Ravine, capturing and spiking some of our guns. - -The main column of the Russians meanwhile came on after, and passing -our troops at the Barrier, hurried on to support their front lines. -But these had been driven back by the French, and so the main body -had to encounter victors. - -Bloody and terrible was the stand the foe made, however, and fearful -were the losses they encountered. They reeled, they struggled, and -finally fell back. - -For a time after this the fight raged all about the head of the -Quarry Ravine and Sand-bag Battery, and once the French themselves -were all but beaten, and lost ground. They were reinforced in time, -however, and soon after this the battle was in a measure decided. We -got bigger guns to bear now upon Shell Hill, and a great artillery -fight took place. This and a daring attack by our infantry caused -Dannenberg to retreat at last. And neither our troops nor those of -the French were in a position to follow up his retreat. - -So ended this bloody battle: Dannenberg sullenly retiring; the allies -too weak, too exhausted to follow up their victory by a final and -triumphant charge. - -They say that so utterly worn out were our brave fellows, and the -French as well, that no wild spirit of exultation followed victory; -and when the gloaming of that sad day fell upon the field of battle, -there was little to break the silence--now that the enemy had fled -back to the great fortress--save the mournful moaning of the wounded. - -The carnage on this field was fearful, especially all about the Fore -Ridge and between that and the cliffs, where we are told the dead lay -in swathes. So numerous were they that it was difficult to walk, far -less to ride, through these lines without stumbling over the bodies -of the slain. - -The Russians lost altogether 256 officers and 12,000 men in killed -and wounded. We lost in killed 597 officers and men, and had nearly -2,000 wounded. - -* * * * * - -The battle of Inkermann may well be called the soldiers' own battle, -for never before, perhaps, since the days of old was there so much -hand-to-hand fighting, and so much display of courage and -determination both in officers and in men, individually, in small -groups, and shoulder to shoulder in line. - -I wish I had space in which to speak and tell you of the many deeds -of valour done this day single-handed. I shall--because I -must--resist the temptation to do so, merely adding that nowhere in -the open field, either in regiments or single-handed, did the -Russians prove themselves any match for the British, and God grant -they never may. - -* * * * * - -Long after nightfall our doctors were busy indeed. Our own wounded -must first be seen to, and then those of the enemy--for the British -are ever merciful. Neither Jack nor Dr. Reikie nor Paddy O'Rayne was -wounded; and although the worthy Scotch surgeon's arm was stiff and -painful, hardly did he close an eye that night, so much had he to do. -Jack and O'Rayne both helped him, but sank at last with exhaustion, -so Reikie plodded on in his good work until day began to dawn. -Nature would be resisted no longer, and the poor fellow fell asleep -on the battle-field itself. He did not wake for hours. - -O'Rayne and Jack had both been searching for him. - -"An' sure here you are at last, sorr. Troth, I thought it was dade -entoirely you were." - -"I'm all right," said Dr. Reikie, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. - -"And it's as plazed as the pigs we both are, sorr, for that same. -Sure we belaved some wounded Russian had kilt you." - -Dr. Reikie got up now and gave himself a bit of a shake as a collie -dog might have done. That was all his toilet. - -"Paddy," he cried, "I forgot to ask you what about the specimens." - -"I kaipt them for you, sorr, as safe as the apple av me eye. And -here they are, sorr, if they're any use to you to bury the dead." - - - - -CHAPTER X. - - THE AWFUL GALE--IN CAMP BEFORE SEBASTOPOL--LETTERS - FROM HOME. - -Few, if any, of our Crimean heroes are likely to forget the terrible -gale of hurricane force that came raging from the south on the -fourteenth day of November. - -Jack Mackenzie and Dr. Reikie were still stationed on shore, where -they were to remain till the close of the war. - -The _Gurnet_ had been to Varna on special duty--luckily for her--and -just one day at sea on her return voyage, when early in the morning -it came on to blow. It was Sturdy's watch at the time, and even at -six bells it was dark--dark, and dirty as well; and several times -when the lieutenant looked at his watch by the glimmer of the -binnacle lamp, he thought it must surely have stopped. It was cold -too, bitterly cold; and though it had fallen calm about the middle -watch, it now began to blow again, while a weight seemed to lie on -the cloud-laden air that oppressed every one on board. The glass, -too, boded no good; and not knowing what might happen, the lieutenant -thought it his duty, even before calling Mr. Fitzgerald and his -watch, to close-reef top-sails and set a storm-jib. - -Hardly had he done so before the hurricane came down on the ship, -with a force that for a time seemed to threaten her with destruction. - -Sturdy himself could not remember ever being afloat in a more -terrible storm. And the strength of it had come on with the -suddenness of a white squall in the Indian Ocean. For a short time -he tried to keep the course, but speedily found that the best thing -he could do was to lie to. The _Gurnet_, however, was a strong -little craft, and so long as there was plenty of sea-room neither -Captain Gillespie nor his lieutenant feared anything. - -Considering everything, the vessel was not driven so far out of her -course after all, nor had steam been got up until the violence of the -cyclone--for cyclone it was--had passed away. - -Just two days after this the _Gurnet_ was at anchor near Balaklava -harbour, and her officers then found that the destruction caused by -the storm was fearful to contemplate. - -The _Gurnet_ could scarcely have made her way into the harbour -itself, had it been desirable to do so, owing to the quantities of -wreckage that floated about and filled it. Even when Sturdy landed -on duty, the boat had a difficulty in getting through. It was -pitiful to see those boxes of stores, but above all the trusses of -hay--irretrievably damaged by the salt water--floating in the sea. -Sturdy got news of the storm here in Balaklava before he went on to -the front. Of ships or vessels of one sort and another no less than -twenty-one had been wrecked, and ten more damaged. The saddest thing -of all was the total destruction of the fine steamer _Prince_, which -was laden with a splendid cargo of everything that could be of use to -our poor troops in enabling them to stand the rigours of the winter -as they lay before Sebastopol. Stores of ammunition too were lost. - -So much for the destruction of life and valuables along the shore. -But when our good lieutenant at last found himself on the Upland and -near our camps, he opened his eyes in astonishment. Here were misery -and wretchedness past description. I said "near our camps," but near -to the places where our camps had been would be more in accordance -with facts. - -The wind and the rain together had weighted and blown down the tents -in every direction; scattered them wholesale, indeed, in every -direction. Neither food, fire, nor shelter therefore remained for -the men. Poor fellows who had been working in the trenches returned -tired and weary, to lie down, hungry and cold, literally in the mud -and slush. - -Snow, too, had fallen, to make matters worse, and ground that had -been hard and solid before was now little better than a mire. - -The first to meet Sturdy after his return from the general's quarters -was Dr. Reikie, and with him was his servant Paddy O'Rayne. - -"Why," cried the doctor in his broadest Doric, "wha wad hae thocht o' -seein' you here, Sturdy man? A sicht o' you is guid for sair een -[sore eyes]." - -"I know you are tired, poor Auld Reikie," said Sturdy as they shook -hands. - -"What way that, man?" - -"Because when you're tired you always talk broad Scotch; secondly, -because you don't seem to have shaved for a week; and thirdly, -because you're as dirty as any old tramp." - -"Ah! goodness help us, Sturdy," replied the doctor, "it is tramp, -tramp all day and all night here. I haven't had my shoes off since -the hurricane, nor poor Paddy here either; and as for Jack, he's -working in the trenches now with the naval brigade at the big guns. -And when he comes back, after he has a mouthful of food, he just sets -to and helps me. Man, it's a comfort to have friends around you in a -time like this. Look, see, I've got the hospital tents a kind of -rigged again. But, dear Sturdy, I declare that if I were to tell you -one-half of what my poor sick and wounded have suffered these last -two or three days, it would bring tears to your eyes, rough old -sea-dog though you are." - -"Terrible!" - -"Ay is it, Sturdy. Myself and the other doctors were getting a nice -lot of things stored away for the patients. But, man, the tents were -blown down, and the food and stores and lint and bandages all -destroyed. When we got the tents off the creatures, we found dozens -dead in bed; and from the rest, with their poor wounded limbs and -necks and heads, the very blankets were torn by the strength of the -gale. Sturdy, my friend, it's the truth I tell you: only those of -the wounded that are deid and awa' [dead and gone] are to be envied. -I won't ask you to come to the hospital, the sichts are far ower -sickenin'. Talk o' the glory o' war! Man, it's yonder under those -drippin' tents you could see all its ghastliness." - -"And is cholera still raging?" - -Reikie pointed to a wretched apology for a tent at some distance from -the rest. - -"Look for yoursel', Sturdy." - -Two and two in single file, each pair with a ghastly burden between -them, fully eighteen men were marching away from the camp. - -"It's burial-time, that's all," said Reikie, then abruptly changed -the subject. "Do you see those men yonder scattering themselves over -the Upland?" - -"Yes; and they don't seem unhappy. Where are they off to?" - -"They are going to dig roots for fuel, then light their fires if they -can. They are running to keep themselves warm; they are laughing and -chaffing to keep up each other's hearts. Ah! there are no soldiers -like the British." - -"Poor beggars!" said Sturdy, "Why, we were never so badly off as that -even at sea, Reikie." - -"Well, how we are to get through the dismal winter the good Lord only -knows, my friend." - -* * * * * - -Things grew ten times worse in the British camps before very long. - -I have no desire to draw a harrowing picture of the sufferings of our -soldiers and sailors, but the reader should know a little of what war -is at its worst. Though most of the poor men that languished in pain -and misery through the next two or three months before Sebastopol are -dead and gone, one feels pity even now when thinking of their -wretchedness, and one feels burning with anger also to think that the -greater part of all they underwent might have been prevented by -ordinary care and good management on the part of those who held the -reins of authority at home. - -Sturdy paid another visit to the front in December. Again he met -Reikie, but this time in Balaklava, and with him were Jack Mackenzie, -and a few marines to carry back stores. Both the surgeon and Jack -had burdens to bear. - -"Well," said Jack, "how do we look this time?" - -"You look old and worn, Jack, I assure you. I'm sorry for you. How -about your honour and glory, lad?" - -[Illustration: "Maggie!"--"Jack!"] - -Jack shook his head somewhat sadly, then burst into a merry laugh. - -"O Mr. Sturdy, that is all to come. At present, I must admit, we are -just pretty miserable, you know." - -"Well, your cheeks look pretty hollow, anyhow." - -"The best proof that I can give you," said Jack, "that we are not -living in clover is, that the doctor here has ceased to look for -specimens in his idle moments." - -"Idle moments!" laughed the surgeon. "A lot of those we have. O -Jack, Jack, I believe you would have your joke if we were taking you -to the grave to bury you.--Been down for stores," he continued, in -reply to a question of Sturdy's. "Yes, Sturdy, I've had to fight, -too, for all I've got. But, man, the suffering of my poor fellows is -so dreadful that--hang me if I wouldn't steal for them." - -It wasn't often that honest Reikie made use of a questionable word; -and as the tears stood in his eyes as he spoke, I think we must -forgive him. - -"I've been giving it to the fellows here all round," he added, "right -and left, but I don't think it did much good." - -Jack laughed heartily. - -"No, Mr. Sturdy, it did no good, because it was all in broad Scotch." - -"I'd no time to speak English. But, dear Sturdy, I could save -hundreds, and the other doctors more, if we had only medical comforts -and stores. Man, it would draw tears from a nether millstone to hear -the poor fellows beggin' for a little soup or sago. Jack can tell -you of the sufferings his men undergo in the trenches. My place is -with the sick." - -"And mine too," said Paddy O'Rayne. "And it's meself that belaves -that my master here is killing himself for the want av slape, sorr, -and I wish you'd spake to him. Faith, it would be the sorrowful day -for us all if he was kilt entoirely. As for staling, sorr," he -added, "I've tried it meself, so the surgeon shouldn't soil his -sleeves." - -"Yes," laughed Reikie, "I must say that Paddy does find a bit on the -sly sometimes." - -"Thrue for you, doctor, sorr; but it isn't always stolen it is. -There was the other day, you know, when just across the lines that -pony was shot with a bit of a shell: who had a better roight than our -patients to it? But sure the loife was barely out av the baste when -he was surrounded wid Frenchies, and if I hadn't learned to twirl a -good shillalah in ould Oirland, it's sorra a hind leg av that pony -I'd have had at all. 'Git off wid ye,' I cried, 'ye durty frog-atin' -spalpeens!' They didn't understand a word I said; but troth they -felt the whacks all the same. Well, sorr, as I was staggerin' back -wid my beautiful hind leg av pony, who should I meet but a squad o' -blue-jackets. 'Hullo, Paddy!' says one, 'down wid your leg; it's -share and share alike.' But bless you, sorr, when I tould them the -mate wasn't for myself at all, and that I'd just been after staling -the leg av a horse to make a drop av beef-tea for the sick, sure they -left in a body, and wouldn't have touched a morsel to save their -lives; and it's nothing but the blessed truth I'm telling you, sorr." - -"Talking about horses, Sturdy," said Reikie, "man, their sufferings -are terrible! I don't think there are five hundred alive in the camp -now, and these are only kept together by their skins. They used to -have to come all the way down here for forage; but now if there was -forage for them they couldn't carry it. We've had frost and snow on -the Upland, and after every extra cold night, Sturdy, we have extra -bodies to bury next day, both men and horses." - -"And it's never a burial the horses get ayther," said Paddy, "and -never a much the men, poor, dear sowls." - -"But here come our fellows with the scanty stores," said -Reikie.--"Now, Jack, we're ready for the march." - -On their way up they were met by Llewellyn and a party of Highlanders -returning from the army head-quarters, where they had been with -biscuit. - -Llewellyn halted his men, and gave the doctor and his party a hearty -welcome. - -It would have been difficult to say which looked in the sorrier -plight, Jack's marines or Llewellyn's Highlanders. Both had high -cheek-bones now, telling of want of sleep and scanty fare; but many -had cheeks that were touched with a hectic flush, eyes all too -bright, and the ringing cough that spoke of fever within. Death had -already marked them for his victims. But Death had been so busy of -late that he hardly knew where to turn. - -The Highlanders' legs were red and bleeding round and above the -knees. When a kilt gets wet, the greater part of the moisture sinks -to the lower part; and when this is frozen, it always cuts. Their -shoes or boots were holed, their stockings too, and some had bare cut -feet bound round with rags. - -But during the short time that the two parties halted, the privates -became very friendly, and food was freely "swapped" for morsels of -tobacco. - -"So you see," said Llewellyn, "my Highlanders are pack-horses now. -We carry siege material as well as biscuit and food; for, Mr. Sturdy, -we are going to have another go at the Russians before long. The -Redan and Barrack Battery are both to be taken in fine style." - -"Well, I wish you luck, Llewellyn." - -"It is fighting we want," said the young soldier. "Bother it all, -our fellows might as well have stayed at home and ploughed the -fields, as come here to play at being pack-horses and shore porters." - -"Good-bye till we meet." - -"Good-bye, good-bye." - -Jack and his party were some distance off, when Llewellyn ran after -them. - -"Jack, old cousin," he said, "a mail-boat has just come in; I've seen -the signal. Now for letters from home." - -I think the news with which Jack's cousin had hurried after them -lightened every heart in that little party, and so they struggled on, -talking gaily enough till they reached the Upland. Sturdy insisted -on carrying his share of the medical stores; and indeed he was the -hardiest and strongest man of the lot. - -The road to-day, Dr. Reikie told the lieutenant, was even less cut up -and sticky than usual. "Sometimes, man," he said, "the mud is so -deep and tenacious that it sucks the very boots off the poor -soldiers' feet--a perfect quagmire." - -On their way to the front, Sturdy, hardy sailor though he was, was -sickened at the horrible sights he saw on each side of the road. -There were men lying there whom it was impossible for the time to -assist, struck down with cholera or dysentery on their way back with -their bundles from Balaklava. - -There were horses dying, horses dead, skeletons of bullocks, some -wholly exposed, some half buried, and here and there skeletons even -of men, protruding from their all too shallow graves; and although -the winter air to-day was crisp and keen, and snow lay on the -hillocks that had not been trodden, the stench that filled the air -was at times almost unbearable. - -Pitiable sight, too, were the Turks whom they met, and who salaamed -as they passed, albeit they were carrying their dead on stretchers, -or even on their backs, to be buried in one common grave down near to -Balaklava. - -* * * * * - -Sturdy, at his own request, was permitted to spend a few days in camp -and in the trenches, so he soon found out something of the terrible -life our poor fellows had to endure there. - -Badly fed, clothed in rags, with at night scarcely a blanket to cover -them from the rain or melting snow, that poured in through the -tattered tents; hardly any fuel; no means of cooking their scanty -rations; on night duty or day duty, on the march, or under fire in -the drains called trenches,--was it any wonder that even those who -were not killed or wounded were dying day by day, like braxied sheep, -as Dr. Reikie put it? - -I am glad, indeed, to drop the curtain over this part of my story, -for horrors like these are but little to my taste. - -The scene changed as far as our principal heroes were concerned, when -one evening Reikie met Sturdy. - -He had a letter in his hand. - -"We are off," he said. - -"Who are off, and off what?" - -"Why, your ship is ordered to Scutari, with a cargo of sick for -hospital there. I am going in charge of them. _You_ are ordered to -join the _Gurnet_ at once, and I myself have ordered Jack to come -with us." - -"Jack isn't sick?" - -"No; but Jack has been working too hard, and he isn't well, so I've -recommended the change." - -The transport of the sick and wounded to Balaklava was in itself a -sad and terrible picture. - -I do not know whether it would not have been even more humane to -permit them to die in the mud of the hospital tents. - -Sturdy shuddered as he looked at those poor mummies of men, that were -gently lifted in their blankets and placed on horseback--the poor -horses themselves staggering under the weight. - -There was little complaining heard from the pallid sufferers: many -seemed even dying as they were hoisted to the backs of the steeds. - -Some moaned, others showed by their faces that they were suffering -agonies of pain; and although their messmates were as gentle with -them as if they had been sick infants, every now and then one could -hear such expressions as--"Gently, Jack, gently!" "Mind my leg, -Bill!" "Yes; now I'm easier, thanks, thanks!" - -These last words were indeed spoken by a poor soldier of the 77th, -whose head drooped back the very next moment--the man was dead. - -The march to Balaklava of Dr. Reikie's detachment of sick was far -more sad than any funeral procession ever seen. - -The movements of the horses, gingerly though the poor wise brutes -tried to step, as if sensible of the weary load they had to bear, -caused the wounded to moan and groan; but many lay with closed eyes -as if dead, while others, horrible to relate, were attacked by fits -of wild delirium on the march, and had to be held down by force. - -Then the horses often slipped, and more than one fell. - -As gently as possible the men were lifted off on their arrival at -Balaklava, and conveyed on board the _Gurnet_. - -Here Reikie made them all as comfortable as circumstances would -permit. - -But do not think, reader, that their sufferings were ameliorated when -the _Gurnet_, after considerable delay, got off to sea. No, it was -increased tenfold; for these sick were packed on the decks side by -side, with hardly room for the attendants to step between. - -Alas! the attendance they got was but little, though every one, from -the doctor downwards, tried to do what they could for them. - -To their other miseries were added all the horrors of sea-sickness; -for a storm had come on, and although the vessel was under steam, she -made all too little headway. She shipped seas at times, or the spray -dashing inboard cold and white soaked the wretched patients to the -skin. - -Next day, however, the sea went down, and the sun shone out; but many -were dead, and with scant ceremony and short service were lowered -over the side, to float or sink, for there was no shot that could be -spared to carry them to the bottom. - -Scutari at last! - -The word passed from mouth to mouth along the decks, and the poor -fellows who heard it smiled in hopefulness. Now they would have -rest, they believed; now they would be safe, and soon get well. Then -ships would bear them back once more to their own far-off homes in -well-beloved England. - -But for Jack that name Scutari had a charm it could possess for none -of the others. - -Those letters from home had brought good news to many, but to no one -more than to Jack Mackenzie. For his sister, whom he had not seen -for so many long years, was coming out to Scutari as a nurse. His -mother, too, was well, and so were his cousins and Uncle Tom. - -There was also a precious little missive from Violet--that is Tottie. -Well, I should not like to call it a love-letter. What do little -girls of twelve know about such a thing as love, except for ice-cream -and chocolate drops? This letter was not even grammatical, the -spelling was somewhat original, and the caligraphy just anyhow. But -Jack--well, I won't tell you. - -Then there was that letter from Drumglen, so orthodox, so prim, that, -as he read it, the old grandam herself seemed to be sitting there -before our hero in her high-backed chair. But the letter was -affectionate enough for all that; so on the whole Jack was happy. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -THE HORRORS OF SCUTARI. - -When Maggie Mackenzie, then barely twenty years of age, volunteered -to go out to Scutari to nurse the sick and the wounded, in company -with many other ladies, some young and others not quite so young, -little did she think or know of all she would see, suffer, and -endure. But she was a brave Scotch lassie, and, as she phrased it -herself, "having once taken hold of the plough, she had no intention -of looking back." - -All the ladies who had gone out, however, were not so determined. -Many had left their homes for the very romance of the thing, others -from mere sentiment or to gain notoriety; but the few had gone to do -all the good they could, and--all honour to them--did it. - -It is quite unnecessary to say a single word about the soldiers' -guardian angel, Miss Nightingale. It was under her immediate -generalship that Maggie and the others were placed when they first -reached Scutari. Every Board School boy has heard the name of this -hospital. It had originally been a large barrack, but was given up -by the Turks for a hospital. At first, and long after Maggie went -there, it was in a condition the very reverse of sanitary, and the -scenes and suffering within its walls are past all chance of -description. - -Gradually, however, as the winter wore on, Miss Nightingale's sway -was less controlled, and great improvements were made in every way; -especially, perhaps, in the cookery for the sick. - -Maggie Mackenzie was well established in her quarters--and, indeed, -they were very humble, and contained not a vestige of furniture that -was indispensable. Nevertheless, the room, which she shared with -another young lady, was in a tower; therefore it had one -advantage--namely, fresh air. The view from the two windows, when -these amateur nurses had a moment to spare to look at it, was very -beautiful indeed, looking up the Bosphorus and towards romantic -Constantinople--romantic only at a distance. The room was even -reasonably quiet, except at early morning, when the strange sound of -the muezzins' call for prayer fell upon the ear; but this had no -disturbing effect, rather quite the reverse. - -In coming out to Scutari, Maggie had roughed it--rather, she roughed -it in landing; and here the troubles of herself and the other sisters -only seemed to begin, and they were chiefly of a domestic character. -Women folks like to be tidy and clean in their dresses and -apartments, so very much shocked indeed they were to find that -insects of various kinds, some unmentionable, were everywhere, and -that rats and mice were so tame that they not only persisted in -sharing the ladies' rooms, but looked upon the ladies as intruders. - -Nevertheless Maggie soon schooled herself to look upon all these -troubles as part and parcel of her present not enviable existence. -"Never mind," she told herself over and over again; "I am doing some -good." - -Then she would sigh as she thought of the awful tide of human misery -and wretchedness that rolled in and out of this great hospital every -day under her eyes, and which she could do so little to stem. - -The tide that rolled in was that which brought the sick and the -wounded from the seat of war; that which rolled out was more solemn -than sad, for it carried on its bosom the dead that were borne away -to their long homes in this foreign land. - -Just think of it, reader: nearly one hundred of our poor fellows -breathed their last in this huge and comfortless hospital daily; and -day after day, we are told, the sick were carried in faster than the -dead were carried out! - -* * * * * - -"Maggie!" - -"Jack!" - -Yes, Jack had come; and I do think it was not altogether tears of joy -that his sister was now shedding. In fact, that fit of weeping did -Maggie a deal of good. She had had much need of it before now, but -never any excuse to indulge in so sweet an extravagance. - -"Come into our drawing-room, Jack," she said at last; "and you also, -Dr. Reikie. We are no strangers, you know, doctor; I have heard so -much about you." - -"Drawing-room!" thought Jack. "Why, sister must be better off than I -had imagined. I wonder if she has a Turkey carpet and a piano." - -They went upstairs. A big deal door opened into a portion of the -corridor partitioned off, and used as a kind of _omniorum_ -storehouse. A curtain was now pulled back, and lo! Jack and Reikie -found themselves in Maggie's drawing-room. - -A rickety old table, surely on its last legs, bales and boxes and -barrels, did duty as seats and furniture; but there was a sofa, and -to this Maggie pointed, and Jack and Reikie sat down, and felt as if -they had come to anchor on a bagful of broken saucepans. - -But there was a delightful window to this room, looking away over the -dark-blue Sea of Marmora. - -"This is Sister Mary," said Maggie, introducing a tall, dark lady, -who was sitting in a corner busily mending a pair of soldier's -stockings. - -Mary bowed and smiled, and would have left the room had Maggie -permitted her, which she would not. - -Then what a long, delightful talk they all had about home and old -times! And what a number of questions had to be asked and answered, -only those who have been in a somewhat similar position could believe -or understand. - -Dr. Reikie got up at last. - -"No, Jack," he said; "don't you leave for a short time. I'm going on -duty, and to have a look round the wards. I'll call for you shortly. -What I shall see, Jack, would not interest although it might horrify -you." - -Jack Mackenzie gladly stayed behind with his sister, who was at that -time off duty. - -"Wards" Dr. Reikie had called the chambers where lay the sick and -wounded. This was for courtesy's sake, perhaps, for they really were -long halls or corridors. The doctor had seen many a hospital, he had -done duty at Malta and in Haslar at home, but never had he seen -anything approaching to the horrors he now witnessed in those abodes -of misery, pain, gloom, despair, and death. - -Those poor soldiers lay in two long rows almost side by side, the -feet of one row to the feet of the other, with a passage for doctor -and nurse between. - -Cap in hand, and accompanied by an army surgeon, he walked silently -along corridor after corridor. - -Oh the horror and the sorrow of it! Oh the agony and the anguish -displayed on nearly every second face, when it could be seen! for -some were so swathed in bandages and plasters that nothing was -visible save the mouth and the sunken eyes. Here and there were -patients who groaned--at times some of these started in shrieking -terror and delirium; but, for the most part, they lay still and -silent, and grateful for the slightest comfort or sympathizing word. - -Many of them had been stricken down with dysentery; others were -plague-stricken, with pinched, blue, contracted features, and cold, -thin hands, like claws of birds--moribund; and others, again, were -dead and stiff. - -If anything could add to the horror of this terrible scene, it was -the sickening odour that permeated every nook and corner of the -hospital. Dr. Reikie, although he stopped here and there to inquire -kindly how some of his own patients felt, and to give them a few -words of hope and consolation, was himself glad when he stood once -more in the open air; his heart was sore and sad to think that many -of the poor fellows, now so low and sick unto death, had been among -the bravest of the brave in action and the merriest of the merry -around the camp-fire. - -* * * * * - -For nearly a fortnight the _Gurnet_ lay here; and although it was -meant to be a kind of health-holiday for both Jack and himself, -neither was idle. - -Yet every day the two friends found time to visit the hospital; and -when at last the time of final departure came round, poor Maggie -treated herself once more to a hearty cry as she bade her brother -adieu. - -Neither he nor honest Reikie went away empty-handed; for Maggie and -Sister Mary had managed to knit three pairs of warm stockings for -them, although to do so they had to work even at the bedsides of the -patients. - -I have said nothing at all about one other part of this great -barrack-hospital into which it had been Dr. Reikie's privilege to -have a peep. This was the ward or wards set apart for the wives of -soldiers who had been permitted to come to the Black Sea with their -husbands. The wretchedness, suffering, and misery of these poor -women could never be graphically told. They are dead and gone long -ago, so what need is there to resuscitate even the memory of the -agonies they endured? - -* * * * * - -The _Gurnet_ was less crowded on her return voyage to Balaklava, for -few, indeed, of the men or officers sent to Scutari ever went back. -If they did not die, they were invalided home. - -The ship was detained for some time by contrary winds, Captain -Gillespie being desirous of saving his precious coals; for the winter -was severe enough on the Upland, and fuel so scarce that well did -coals merit the name of black diamonds. - -But though the sea was rough and the breezes keen and cold, every -hour on the ocean seemed to strengthen both Jack and Dr. Reikie; and -when they once more landed at Balaklava, they felt men again in every -sense of the word. - -In hardship and in suffering, then, did the weary winter of 1854-55 -drag on. But meanwhile, both by the besieged and the besiegers, the -great game of war was being steadily and steadfastly played; and our -poor men, now reduced in numbers by cold, by famine, wounds, and -pestilence, to little over 11,000, were never out of danger from -bullet-shot and shell. - -The war was even carried on underground, and mines were met by -counter-mines; by sorties of the enemy too, which, however, were -repulsed with great slaughter. The Russians, moreover, succeeded in -pushing out their works beyond their trenches, and the allied armies -extended their lines, till they almost met. - -The war, indeed, seemed to wax more determined and bitter as the time -flew by. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - PELISSIER TO THE FRONT--DEATH OF LORD RAGLAN. - -"The king is dead! Long live the king!" - -Yes, the proud and ambitious Emperor Nicholas breathed his last on -the second of March 1855, and Alexander the Second reigned in his -stead. I do not mean to judge the dead emperor harshly, as many have -done. _De mortuis nil nisi bonum_ is an excellent motto; but, -independent of this, I cannot but believe that in endeavouring _vi et -armis_ to cut his way to the sunny Mediterranean, Nicholas was -following the traditional policy of his forbears, and that he -believed he was doing the best he could for his country. - -The emperor probably died half heart-broken: the victories not only -of our troops and those of the French in the Crimea, but of the -Turks, who in February drove the Russians from the gates of -Eupatoria, had told upon his health; even the winter, with its -hardships, its diseases, its death, had not annihilated our armies, -and hope itself seemed to desert the heart of the great Czar. -Heigh-ho! death is no respecter of persons; but even in the last -moments of his life, Nicholas found strength to send a message to his -troops. He was passing away into life eternal, but even from on high -he would bend down to bless his warriors for their unequalled -constancy and valour! - -If any one expected that the war would now cease, he was much -mistaken; for Alexander was as determined as his father had been. - -But a few months more and summer would be in its prime and glory, the -roads would no longer be sealed against the influx of troops, and the -allied armies would be crushed out of existence and driven into the -sea by sheer force of numbers, Sebastopol relieved, and victory won. - -Well, this would certainly have been for us a national disaster of -the gravest kind, and for the French also; but would it have put an -end to the war? Would we, because the Crimea was lost, have stood -quietly by and seen the northern Bear establish himself at -Constantinople, complacently licking his paws as he saw his ships of -war pass majestically to or from the Mediterranean? Undoubtedly not. -The relief of Sebastopol by the Russians, and our destruction on the -Upland, would have been but the commencement of a greater war that -might have raged for years, despite the fact that it would have -anastomosed with the terrible rebellion in India. - -Gortschakoff was now general over the Russian army in the Crimea -instead of Menschikoff. That was the second change. - -Many changes were taking place at home that affected the carrying on -of the war considerably--splits in the cabinet, the resignation of a -cabinet, councils of war, and indignation meetings. - -New men came to the front in the French army, and new theories were -advanced. - -The Emperor of the French himself, who probably had a hankering after -military glory, had a theory. Everybody had a theory; though, as -Jack told his friend Dr. Reikie, speaking perhaps from his early -experience in Malony's shop, theory never bent a red-hot horse-shoe. -There is no good standing and looking at it till it begins to get -cold; the plan is to go at it hammer and tongs. - -General Neil was, against Canrobert's wishes, appointed engineer -_vice_ General Bizot, killed in the cannonade. - -Canrobert, indeed, was far from very resolute, and therefore might do -more harm than good. Good he might have done had he taken the bull -by the horns, and resolved on a grand assault after the terrible -bombardment. This assault was to have taken place on the 28th of -April; but on the 25th, orders had been given to the French admiral -to get ready all his ships at once to embark the army of reserves at -Constantinople. So this news determined Canrobert not to make the -attack. He thought it safer and wiser to wait for these -reinforcements, and Lord Raglan had to give an unwilling assent. - -An expedition had been despatched to attack Kertch, for through this -place the Russians were receiving all their supplies. It had sailed -on May 3; but Canrobert recalled the French portion of it by a fast -steamer, on receiving a telegram from the Emperor of the French to -the effect that an expedition must be made at once against the -Russian army. In the middle of May, the emperor's plans in detail -were laid before Canrobert by an officer direct from France. He, -Canrobert, was to command the field army, General Pelissier to take -sole charge of the siege-works with a force of Turks and French, and -the British to take to the field. - -To this plan there were insuperable objections, though it might have -looked very pretty on paper to the eyes of the French emperor, who, -by the way, was never a Buonaparte. - -So it fell through. Canrobert resigned, and General Pelissier was -made commander-in-chief of the French army. - -* * * * * - -Pelissier was a bold and a daring man, and a most persistent. He had -his own ideas about carrying on war, and didn't care even for -offending his emperor. I suppose he thought that after all there was -nothing so successful as success. - -Pelissier determined to do two things--to capture an important new -outwork of Todleben's, and to send an expedition to Kertch to crush -the Russians there, and stop Gortschakoff's supplies. He was -successful in both. - -The Kertch expedition was a very pretty little affair. - -Jack Mackenzie and Dr. Reikie, whose services for the time being -could be spared from the trenches, both found themselves once more on -board the _Gurnet_. - -On the map you will notice the position of Kertch on the straits of -that name. These straits, you will note, are narrow, and connect the -Black Sea with the Sea of Azof. Into this latter the Don pours its -floods, and bears on its bosom the products of immense villages if -not towns that line its banks. The largest town is Taganrog, near -the entrance of the Don to this inland ocean. - -The Straits of Kertch were well lined with batteries, and General -Wrangel, who commanded them, had it in his power to make a splendid -demonstration against our forces. But if he was Wrangel by name, he -certainly was not wrangle by nature; and so he not only cut and run, -but destroyed his batteries and burned his ships of war. - -If there was a disappointed man on board the saucy _Gurnet_, it was -Jack Mackenzie. He had looked forward to seeing and participating in -a real sea-fight of the good old-fashioned sort. - -Small though the _Gurnet_ was, it could have run alongside a Russian -man-o'-war and boarded; then, once on deck, the tulzie would have -been terrible. It could only have ended, Jack believed, in our -killing or wounding about half the defending crew, and chasing the -others below. He even fancied himself hauling down the enemy's flag, -and hoisting in its place the brave old Union Jack, while cheers of -victory rang from stem to stern. - -But, alas! there was to be no such thing. It was not to be in this -way that Jack should win honour and glory and those epaulettes--or -the halo. - -No doubt Sturdy was disappointed also. However, the whole business -was a walk-over. A very sad one, however, for the Russ. For the -whole of the stores intended for Gortschakoff, as well as the vessels -supplying them, were captured and destroyed. It was only the smaller -vessels that could get through the straits, but they did execution -enough. Even at Taganrog they destroyed the stores and depots on the -beach, and they also bombarded and took the fortress of Arabat. - -The larger ships outside the straits made for the coast of Circassia, -and without a struggle destroyed the fortified places at Anapa and -Soujouk-kale. - -By the end of June all the work was done: the chief support of the -Russian army was cut, and thus Sebastopol was invested more easily -and with far less loss of life than could have been done by any -amount of trenching. - -* * * * * - -The stage was now being rapidly cleared for the last and final act in -this drama of war. Already Canrobert had driven the enemy from -Tchorgoum, and utterly demolished their camp. - -It is somewhat galling to learn from Todleben that the Flagstaff -Bastion and other works in front of the town had several times been -so reduced by our fire that had they been assaulted our success or -that of the French would have been certain, and that Sebastopol must -then have fallen. - -Pelissier, and with him Raglan, persisted in his one and main object, -and that was the capture of the Mamelon, the White Works, and the -Quarries, and these fortifications must be carried by storm. The -emperor himself stormed in another fashion. He stormed by telegraph. -Pelissier tore the telegrams up and let them blow, while he coolly -acted according to his own judgment and that of Lord Raglan. - -On the sixth of June a cannonade of tremendous proportions was turned -upon the Russian works, and carried on till darkness, doing terrible -damage. It was resumed on the 7th. About six the same evening the -French and Turks carried the Mamelon by storm; and after desperate -fighting, which lasted, on and off, throughout the night, the British -Light Division and Second Division captured and held the Quarries. - -The enemy was thus once more driven back to the rear of his former -lines. - -How fierce the fighting had been may be judged from the fact that the -French had lost 5,440 men, the British 693, and the Russians over -5,000. - -* * * * * - -On the 18th, Pelissier and our own forces made a terrible assault -upon the Malakoff and Redan. It is not, dear reader, because we were -defeated in this attempt (which, had not the French general been so -headstrong, would never have been undertaken) that I do not here give -any detailed account of the fighting and the slaughter--for one -should never be ashamed to own one's faults and defeats--but because -the facts are all too well known to the veriest school-boy. - -I may add, however, that after these failures I should not have cared -to stand in Pelissier's shoes, seeing that he was acting entirely -contrary to his emperor's plans. - -But Pelissier persisted--he could not very well withdraw now--and so -the siege went on, but more methodically and prudently. - -Pelissier was a kind-hearted man in the main, as well as a resolute, -daring, and determined. The soft or gentle side of his character is -well seen at the death-bed of poor Lord Raglan. The general's health -had no doubt been weakened by chagrin and grief at the reverses he -had met with. In such a condition as this one is more apt to fall a -victim to disease, and Raglan was attacked by cholera, and quietly -passed away on the twenty-eighth of June. And Pelissier, we are -told, stood by the bedside for upwards of an hour crying like a child. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - - THE RUSSIAN BEAR AT BAY--THE LAST ACT OF THE - TRAGIC WAR. - -Nearer and nearer to the great fortress crept now the works of the -allied armies. The grip of death was tightening on the brave -defenders of Sebastopol. - -Brave? ah yes; give them their due. Their sufferings at this time -were greater even than our own, and under our fire at least two -hundred of them fell every day. - -Around and in the ruined heaps of their batteries the unburied dead -still lay in heaps, and sickness, too, was rife. - -But now the great and final tug of war must shortly come. - -Could nothing be done even yet by their field forces? This is the -question the enemy asked himself. - -A council of war was held on the ninth of August, and at this it was -determined to attack our allies on the upper part of the river -Tchernaya. - -This was to be the last stand of the Bear at bay--in the open, that -is. - -The French had 18,000 men and 48 guns on the heights of Fedioukine; -the Italians or Sardinians--our new allies--were near Tchorgoum, with -9,000 men and 36 guns; in the valley to the rear were the Turks, with -a reserve of 10,000. - -The Russians, under Gortschakoff, held the M'Kenzie heights, and on -the night of the fifteenth of August they were reinforced by -regiments from the Belbek. - -The Russian army was divided into two. One wing, of 13,000 infantry, -2,000 horse, and 62 guns, was under command of General Read, and was -on the right. It moved on to attack the French. General Liprandi -had the left wing, divided into two columns, one of which followed -Read; the other, commanded by Belgrade, was ordered to descend in -another direction, and halt on the road to Tchorgoum. - -Next day, at sunrise, the battle was commenced by the driving in of -the Sardinian outposts. Things opened fairly well for Gortschakoff. -But the goddess Fortuna had surely deserted the Russian cause; for -General Read, mistaking an order, suddenly advanced upon the French -without their position having been cannonaded. - -Both his divisions were driven back with great slaughter, and -although the battle raged long after this, as soon as Gortschakoff -saw that the French reserves, as well as the Turks, were being -hurried up for action, he knew that all hope was past, and so -retreated. - -The losses on the French and Sardinian sides amounted to nearly 2,000 -killed and wounded; but those of the Russians showed how terrible had -been the slaughter entailed by General Read's mistake. Three general -officers and 36 others were killed, 160 officers were wounded, and of -the rank and file over 6,000 were killed or wounded. Would -Gortschakoff, now that he saw his game was almost lost, give up -Sebastopol? - -At first he was greatly disheartened by the result of the battle, and -evidently intended to do so; but he changed his mind, after a visit -to the interior of the fortress itself. - -This visit of Russia's great general to Sebastopol would have been -called by sailors an inspection. - -The only marvel is that, after the ghastly sights he witnessed -therein, he did not, if only out of pity for the poor, brave -defenders, give up the place at once. - -The city proper had been demolished, houses were in ruins, public -buildings destroyed, whole streets reduced to chaos. Dismounted guns -could not be replaced even at night, owing to the fire of our mortar -batteries; the embrasures could not be repaired; nor could the -parapets that, cracked and broken, lay in the ditches, be rebuilt. -But, worst of all, the poor wounded men that had fallen by day had to -lie amidst heaps of slain till night permitted their being removed. -It is needless to say that the hospitals were crowded with sick and -wounded; for the death-rate at that time, from shot and shell and -sickness, must have been from 700 to 800 every day. - -And in spite of all this, Gortschakoff determined to re-garrison with -half his army from M'Kenzie heights, and defend the works to the very -last extremity, as "the only honourable course that remained to him." - -The last words are the tactician's own. And yet he knew that in--at -the outside--six weeks' time he must succumb, and yield up -Sebastopol. So these tactics were surely unwise; nor was -Gortschakoff's resolve in accordance with true honour. - -I need say nothing about the saving of life that the capitulation of -Sebastopol, just after the battle of Tchernaya, would have effected -to the allies. The Russian general could not have been expected to -think of these, except to wish them utterly annihilated. But what I -do say--and I believe that my young readers will agree with me--is -that, in abandoning the great fortress at this time, Gortschakoff -could have sheathed a sword of honour; while, by continuing the -contest, the sword which he finally sheathed was one incrusted with -murder. - -* * * * * - -The bombardment was now continued, and erelong the Malakoff tower and -the works adjoining were silenced. - -Our trenches were difficult to work, and their advancement towards -the Redan was soon put an end to by the rocks. As the French soil -was soft, they had worked up to within about forty yards of the -Malakoff. Further they could not get. - -It was now agreed at a council of war that the time had come for the -final and grand assault. That chosen by Pelissier for the advance of -the French was exactly at noon, at which hour he knew the relief of -the works he had to take was always carried out--one garrison being -first marched out, and then the other or fresh one marched in. At -noon, therefore, the Malakoff would have fewer defenders. - -A glance, at the map or plan will show you the work the French had -before them, which was certainly no child's play. One division was -told off to attack the Malakoff, a second the Curtain, and a third -the Little Redan. These would be supported by brigades. - -The Central Bastion was to be attacked by no less than four divisions -well supported. These were to break through the rear of the bastion -or works near it, and capture the Flagstaff Bastion. - -Everything being arranged, the cannonade was once more resumed on the -fifth of September. - -It continued on the 6th and 7th, the mortars roaring on all night. -It was, indeed, a circle of fire--a _feu d'enfer_. - -Todleben tells us that a mortar set fire to a line-of-battle ship on -the night of the 7th, which burned till nearly morning, and that the -blue and ghastly light from which--for the ship contained a large -cargo of spirits--shone along the ramparts, making on the minds of -the brave defenders a most painful impression. - -Our own special work was the capture of the Redan, and it was, -considering our isolated position and want of cover, almost a forlorn -hope, being undertaken chiefly, we are told, as a mere distraction of -the enemy in favour of the French. - -General Codrington himself was deputed to make the attack with his -Light Division, and with the Second Division, commanded by -Markham--the whole numbering about 3,000 men. Other parts of the -same division, and also the Third and Fourth Divisions, were held in -reserve in the third parallel. - -* * * * * - -Hardly had it gone twelve o'clock on the eighth of September when -Bosquet's first line made a wild dash for the Malakoff. Pelissier -had certainly chosen his time right well, for not a shot was fired -upon Bosquet's men, so completely taken by surprise were the -Russians. The Zouaves were first in the attack, and right quickly -did they rush the ditch and mount the escarp; those within were -speedily put to sword or bayonet, and this end of the great fort was -thus taken completely. - -But they were not to have such easy work after all, for each traverse -or cross-work, running for 380 yards behind the tower, had to be -fought for separately and taken singly. - -The Russians had been living in caves and holes dug beneath the -batteries, and they quickly came to the defence of the fort. The -struggle was terrible and bloody in the extreme. Often when the -Zouaves had taken a traverse they were hurled back; only, however, to -rest for a minute, and again to dash in. - -Meanwhile MacMahon's forces had stormed the place from the eastern -face, and broken in at the rear of the traverses. Attacked thus, -both in front and rear, soon the whole was in possession of our -French allies. - -But again and again Russian reserves were hurried up to retake this -fort. But all in vain; and so, seeing the hopelessness of the -attempt, Gortschakoff finally caused his troops to retire. - -This fearful tulzie had lasted for four hours, and deeply and dearly -had the brave Frenchmen paid for their victory, over 3,000 having -been killed and wounded. - -The brigades sent against the Little Redan and the Curtain were not -so successful; for though they stormed and took the first lines of -these works, they found other lines of defence stretching behind, and -these were so strongly defended by the Russian field batteries and by -the ships, that the French were decimated, and obliged at last to -withdraw to their trenches, which by this time were crowded with -their wounded. So ended the chief French attacks. - -* * * * * - -But how about our own attack upon the Redan? The question must be -faced. It is asked; let it be answered. We were _beaten_. -Certainly we may put the blame on the mismanagement of the attack, -and on the forces and difficulties against us. And we can point to -the bravery of our soldiers and sailors in crossing the open space, -amidst a _feu d'enfer_ of grape shot, round shot, case, and musketry. -We even got into the work; but the reserves did not come to time, and -so we retreated--I fear not in the best of order--suffering as much -in the retreat as in the advance. - -Had not the French spiked the guns in the Malakoff which commanded -the Redan, but turned them against that fort, things might have ended -in a different way. - -As soon as possible after regaining their trenches, the British, -beaten out of the Redan, recommenced their fire against that fort. -The capture of it was postponed till next day, when, English -regiments having failed to dispose of it, Sir Colin Campbell and his -brave and indomitable Highlanders were to have had a chance. Being -myself a Scot and a Celt, may I be forgiven, even by those of my -readers who dwell south of the Tweed, for believing that the kilties -would have been a little more successful? - -The left wing of the French, I should inform the reader, failed in -all their attacks on the flanking works of the Central Bastion, and -were finally ordered by General Pelissier to desist in their -fruitless efforts. - -Meanwhile, even before sunset, Gortschakoff was withdrawing his -forces across a bridge that had purposely been built, and by means of -boats to the north and therefore safe side of the great harbour. He -had begun to retreat early in the afternoon, and before next day the -whole army was across, and with them as many of the wounded as could -be borne. - -But what a night of terror and suffering that must have been to 2,000 -desperately-wounded men, who were left behind in a huge hospital all -helpless and alone! For throughout the darkness of night explosion -after explosion of the magazines took place--thirty-five in all were -blown up by the enemy--and the city took fire in every place where -there was anything to burn, adding to the scene a terror that is -indescribable. The last explosion was the loudest and most dreadful -of all, and with it the very earth shook all around. It was the -blowing up of the bridge. - -Our losses were very great, those of the French treble, while -altogether the Russians lost over 13,000 men. - -But about those 2,000 wounded men? Ah! one's heart bleeds to think -of their sad story. The doctors must, in many cases, have rushed in -panic from the poor wretches without completing their operations; for -when, forty-eight hours after the great day of battle, the Russian -vessel _Vladimir_, under a flag of truce, came over to beg for the -rest of their wounded, only 500 of them were found alive--many whose -limbs were but half amputated being found lying face down in their -own blood on the floor, where they had died in agony unutterable. - -All the ships of war that had not been sunk were burned by the -Russians themselves, and as their blackened and fiery hulls sunk -hissing beneath the water, the curtain may have been said to drop on -the last scene of this tragic and terrible war. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - - "REMEMBER, WE SHALL ALL MEET AGAIN SOME - CHRISTMAS EVE ON HIGH." - -Captain Gillespie of H.M.S. _Gurnet_ was a somewhat shy man. Some -sailors are. But all sailors are gallant; therefore when at Scutari, -on her way home _viâ_ Malta and Gibraltar, the _Gurnet_ lay for a few -days, and the worthy commander heard from Jack one evening that his -sister and Sister Mary were waiting passage home, he looked over to -Sturdy, who, with our young hero, was dining with him that night. - -"I say, Sturdy, you know," he said, "though I think petticoats are -very much out of place on board a man-o'-war, still--" - -"I know what you're going to say, sir, and I quite agree with you. I -myself, Captain Gillespie, both on shore and afloat, always port my -helm if I see a lady; but still--" - -"Yes, as I said, Sturdy, _still_--" - -Nothing more definite was said about the matter. Nevertheless, when -at last the _Gurnet_ steamed down the Bosphorus, she had on board not -only Jack's sister and Sister Mary, but Cousin Llewellyn also. The -ladies had Captain Gillespie's cabin, and Jack gave up his little -place to his cousin. Poor Llewellyn had been severely wounded in a -brave attempt at saving the life of his friend Grant. This promising -young officer, however, was shot through the heart in Llewellyn's -arms; it was the same bullet, the surgeon said, that killed the one -and wounded the other. There is a sad story connected with the life -of young Grant and with his death.* - - -* True, but the name of this young hero I have altered.--AUTHOR. - - -When the war was declared, his father had forced him against his will -to become a soldier, even rating him as deficient in courage because -he hung back. - -"As you think I lack courage," he had replied, "I'll go; but mind I -have no hankering after a soldier's life." - -Poor fellow! a score of times he had proved how brave he was, and it -was while leading a charge against fearful odds that he fell, only -wounded at first, but slain by another bullet as Llewellyn was trying -to drag him into shelter. - -The saddest thing about it is this. A letter he had some time before -received from his parents was pierced by the bullet and stained with -the hero's life-blood. This was sent home to the father. Surely a -sad memento. - -* * * * * - -Away down the beautiful Mediterranean sailed the _Gurnet_ on the -wings of a spanking breeze. The weather was everything that could be -desired, and every stitch of canvas that could be carried was set. -After the first few days, even Sturdy got used to the desecrating -innovation of chairs upon the quarter-deck. But it had seemed odd -and dreadful at first. Yet, than Sister Mary and Maggie Mackenzie, -no more interesting or pretty persons had surely ever sat on the deck -of a man-o'-war. - -Dr. Reikie devoted himself specially to Maggie, and a score of times -a day Paddy O'Rayne was sent to see if she wanted anything. - -Paddy O'Rayne, the doctor's red marine, was the same old Paddy. - -All the time he had been out, although constantly in danger in the -trenches and attending to the sick and wounded, he had, to use his -own expression, "never been sick nor sorry, sorr." I must tell you, -however, that he was slightly disappointed because he hadn't had an -opportunity of saving Dr. Reikie's life. - -"Troth sure," he told our old friend the bos'n, "it was the bad luck -was in it entoirely. It's niver out av danger the dhoctor was, but -niver a chance did I have to show me gratitude. If a cannon-ball had -only taken his leg off, I'd have nursed him like a baby; but no such -luck for poor Paddy O'Rayne." - -I daresay Paddy O'Rayne could see as far through a mile-stone as a -mason, so he was not long in discovering that Dr. Reikie had lost his -heart to bonnie Maggie, as this Scottish surgeon called her--I mean -as he called her when talking to his pillow. But having made what he -considered a very interesting discovery, Paddy O'Rayne thought he -could see his way to do the doctor a good turn, and pave the road, as -it were, for the advancement of his suit. So frequently, when he -found Maggie reading by herself, either leaning over the bulwarks or -in her chair, he would advance respectfully and salute military -fashion. Then he would address her in a form of which the following -is merely a specimen:-- - -"If ye plaze, miss, the dhoctor sends me to inquire if there's -anything in the wide worrld you stand in nade av. Nothing at all, at -all, miss? Sure and you'd better think again. There's nothing my -master wouldn't do to plaze you. A dhrop o' wine and a biscuit, -miss, a pill or a plaster, or a taste o' quinine in a tay-cup? Well, -well, miss, but sure you're not to be shy, and it's swate my master -is on you altogether. Well, I'm going, miss; but he'd shave his head -if ye tould him to, and it's the blissed truth I'm telling ye." - -* * * * * - -One day while standing aft near the binnacle, Sister Mary let fall -her book, a volume of Burns. Sturdy, who was walking near with his -telescope, man-o'-war fashion, under his left arm, stooped to pick it -up. As she smiled her thanks, Sturdy "took two observations," as he -phrased it. First he noticed how red her lips were, and secondly -that she had a very white wee hand. - -Next day--all by chance, I suppose--he found himself walking on the -weather side of Sister Mary. The day after, Dr. Reikie saw him -deliberately place her chair on the sunny side of the mizzen, and put -a camp-stool beside it for himself. Sailors, you may say, are very -daring. Yes, granted, but then Sturdy had begun to see the beauties -of Burns, and there were many words and expressions in it that were a -stumbling-block to him; what more natural, then, than that he should -ask this Scotch lassie to help him to their meaning? And so day -after day--but there, I won't go any further. - -* * * * * - -While Sturdy was studying Burns, honest Dr. Reikie took every -opportunity of showing Miss Mackenzie his specimens. For during all -the time he was in the Crimea, hardly a day passed that this born -naturalist did not add to his collection. And now he and she dragged -the sea together with little gauze nets, and she showed herself most -deft in arranging microscopic creatures on cards. - -A.P. Gribble, down in their own mess, poked lots of fun at Auld -Reikie, and now and then Lord Tomfoozle had a shot at the doctor also -in the way of chaff; but Reikie told them both he didn't care a -boddle preen* what they said. - - -* A shawl or plaid pin. - - -Tomfoozle--Fitzgerald, you know--was in fine form. I'm afraid he was -somewhat worldly; for about six months ago he had heard of his -brother's death, and was now determined to leave the service and keep -hunters. - -I'm greatly afraid, also, that Robert Burns, the ploughman-poet, and -the study of natural history and arranging of specimens, had much to -account for; because before the _Gurnet_ had reached the stormy Bay -of Biscay, Sturdy was engaged to Sister Mary, and Auld Reikie was -brother-in-law-to-be to our hero, Jack Mackenzie. - -Out of respect, perhaps, to the ladies on board, the Bay of Biscay -was not on this particular occasion by any means stormy. It was -smiling and sweet-tempered, just as if the deep sea-bottom of it were -not bedded with men's bones. - -* * * * * - -"I say, Dawson," said Tom Morgan one day, "I hear that the _Gurnet_ -has passed Gibraltar, and may be expected in Plymouth Sound in a -week. Suppose we take a run down and meet Jack?" - -Hale and hearty old Dawson smiled. - -"I'm with you, lad," he said. "It will do us both good. But first -and foremost I must write to the old lady and tell her we are going. -She will be delighted, I'm sure." - -And thus, reader, it happened that when Jack Mackenzie and his friend -Reikie were passing the door of the Mount Edgecombe Hotel--let us -call it--just a day after the _Gurnet_ had arrived, who should be -standing smoking a cigar at the door thereof but big, brown-bearded -Tom Morgan. - -The greetings were joyous and mutual. - -"But why, Jack lad, I should never have known you. Big and strong, -and as brown as the back of Little Peter's fiddle. Won't your mother -be proud!" - -"By the way," said Jack, a minute or two after, "how is my old friend -Little Peter?" - -"Oh, beautiful. He is teaching classes, and doing well. Won't he be -glad to see you!" - -"And the Malonies?" - -"Never better; in fact, never so well. For Malony has been a changed -man since he took the pledge. They have a nice little house now in -the suburbs, and Peter lives with them as a lodger." - -That very evening there was a large dinner-party given at the Mount -Edgecombe, both Reikie and Jack being guests. I need hardly say that -Maggie and Sister Mary were there also, and that everybody was -happier than everybody else. Paddy O'Rayne himself waited behind the -doctor's chair, and paid particular attention to the ladies. - -But just a fortnight after this, a much larger and a much merrier -party was held at Tom's father's house. - -It was Christmas time once more--Christmas eve, in fact. There never -had been so large a party of friends and relations at Morgan's -mansion before. And--will it be believed?--old Mrs. Mackenzie of -Drumglen was there herself, and, you may be sure, occupied a place of -honour. - -The grandam had indeed softened as she had grown older, and was -nearing the end of her journey here below. "In my Father's house are -many mansions," said our Saviour. May it not be that, figuratively -speaking, as we draw closer that house on high, a glimmering ray of -light falls from the windows thereof, to cheer and soften the hearts -of weary pilgrims heavenward bent? - -Mrs. Mackenzie after dinner had the biggest chair in the cosiest -corner by the drawing-room fire. - -"Come and sit by me, dear," she said to Jack's mother. "Take the -stool there, and give me your hand in my lap. You are still young -and beautiful. Ah! I wish I had known you long, long ago. And you -dearly loved my boy?" - -There were tears in Jack's mother's eyes and a lump in her throat, so -she could not answer. - -"Ah, machree, what you must have suffered! But look," added the old -lady, by way of changing the subject--"look at our young sailor, your -boy. See, he is making love in a quiet way to little Tottie." - -This was true. But Violet was very shy. - -"What nonsense!" she was saying, with a bonnie blush. "I used to -write you when a baby. I hope you burned all my silly letters." - -"Oh, religiously," said Jack, laughing,--"in the fire of my heart." - -They were standing by the window, the very window that looked out -upon the lawn where, years and years ago, he, Jack, a barefooted, -ragged lad, had stood in the snow looking in at the fairies, as he -had called them, dancing round the Christmas tree. The snow was -falling there now; the lawn was white, and the bushes draped like -statues. - -Jack sighed. "What a change," he thought, "a few years has made!" - -* * * * * - -Yes, dear reader mine, time works changes on us all. In a few years' -time you--but there! I will neither preach nor moralize. - -Only let me draw up the curtain once more before its final fall on -this my "ower true" story. - -It is years after. Where now are all our heroes and heroines? Well, -they are scattered somewhat, and some are dead and gone. Let me -speak of the dead before the living. - -Just one year, then, after that happy reunion at Morgan's house, the -old grandam breathed her last in her tall four-post bed at Drumglen, -and in the presence of the Morgans and her son Donald's wife. Her -last words were these,--"Remember, we shall all meet again some -Christmas eve on high." - -Jack and Llewellyn had both taken part in the Indian Mutiny. Poor -Llewellyn was killed at Lucknow, and died a hero's death. - -Jack for his services to his country won not only his epaulettes, but -the Victoria Cross. He was severely wounded, however, and had to -retire from the service on his laurels. - -Dr. Reikie is now a practising physician in Glasgow, and Paddy -O'Rayne is his servant. He married Maggie, and so, it is needless to -say, he is a frequent visitor at Drumglen, where Jack and his -wife--_née_ Violet Morgan--are avowedly the best Highland laird and -lady in all the wide Highlands. - -Poor Gribble was drowned at sea. - -Fitzgerald still keeps his hunters, and has grown very stout. I saw -him only yesterday. "Sixteen stone and over." he said, laughing. -"It takes a good horse to carry me." - -Fitzgerald is over fifty, but he says he'll hunt for thirty years to -come yet. - -As for Sturdy, he married Sister Mary; or, to use his own English, he -got spliced. When Captain Gillespie heard of it, he sighed. - -"Heigh-ho!" he said. "Another good man gone wrong. When an officer -gets married, what I say is this: he is of no further use in the -service." - -But as for Sturdy, he stuck to the service, and erelong became a -post-captain. - -Jack did not forget the friends of his boyhood. He found for Malony -a comfortable shop of his own in the neighbouring village to -Drumglen, and Mrs. Malony renewed her age. - -As for Little Peter, well, he is as prosperous as any teacher of -music in great Glasgow; but twice a year he spends a whole month at -the mansion-house of bonnie Drumglen. - -And so my story ends, and the curtain falls. - - - -THE END. - - - - - - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOW JACK MACKENZIE WON HIS -EPAULETTES *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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