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diff --git a/75211-h/75211-h.htm b/75211-h/75211-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..abf41a4 --- /dev/null +++ b/75211-h/75211-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2616 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + Chambers’s Journal, October 23, 1886 | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +.smalltext {font-size: large;} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } +hr.full {width: 95%; margin-left: 2.5%; margin-right: 2.5%;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} /* page numbers */ + + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.allsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: lowercase;} + + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + + +.ph3{ + text-align: center; + font-size: large; + font-weight: bold; +} + +.header {text-align: center; margin-top: 0;} +.header p {text-align: center; text-indent: 0;} +.header .floatl {float: left;} +.header .floatr {float: right;} +.header .floatc {padding-top: .5em;} + +.x-ebookmaker .header {text-align: center; margin-top: 0;} +.x-ebookmaker .header p {text-align: center; text-indent: 0;} +.x-ebookmaker .header .floatl {float: left;} +.x-ebookmaker .header .floatr {float: right;} +.x-ebookmaker .header .floatc {padding-top: .5em;} + + + +/* Poetry */ +/* uncomment the next line for centered poetry */ +.poetry-container {display: flex; justify-content: center;} +.poetry-container {text-align: center;} +.poetry {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} +.poetry .stanza {margin: 1em auto;} +.poetry .verse {text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em;} +.poetry .attrib {text-align: right;} + + +/* Poetry indents */ +.poetry .indent0 {text-indent: -3.0em;} +.poetry .indent2 {text-indent: -2.0em;} +.poetry .indent6 {text-indent: 0.0em;} + + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75211 ***</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_673">{673}</span></p> + +<h1>CHAMBERS’S JOURNAL<br> +OF<br> +POPULAR<br> +LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART.</h1> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak">CONTENTS</h2> +</div> + +<p class="center"> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> + +<a href="#THE_MAORIS_FIGHT_FOR_LIFE">THE MAORIS’ FIGHT FOR LIFE.</a><br> +<a href="#BY_ORDER_OF_THE_LEAGUE">BY ORDER OF THE LEAGUE.</a><br> +<a href="#NAPOLEON_IN_TOR_BAY">NAPOLEON IN TOR BAY.</a><br> +<a href="#GEORGE_HANNAYS_LOVE_AFFAIR">GEORGE HANNAY’S LOVE AFFAIR.</a><br> +<a href="#LONDON_CHARITY_ORGANISATION">LONDON CHARITY ORGANISATION SOCIETY.</a><br> +<a href="#THE_DENSCHMANS_HAD">THE DENSCHMAN’S HAD.</a><br> +<a href="#AN_ELECTRICAL_FURNACE">AN ELECTRICAL FURNACE.</a><br> +<a href="#WHO_KNOWS">WHO KNOWS?</a><br> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + +<hr class="full"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="figcenter" id="header" style="max-width: 37.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/header.jpg" alt="Chambers’s Journal of Popular Literature, Science, +and Art. Fifth Series. Established by William and Robert Chambers, 1832. Conducted by R. Chambers (Secundus)."> +</div> + +<hr class="full"> +<div class="center"> +<div class="header"> +<p class="floatl"><span class="smcap">No. 147.—Vol. III.</span></p> +<p class="floatr"><span class="smcap">Price</span> 1½<em>d.</em></p> +<p class="floatc">SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1886.</p> +</div></div></div> + +<hr class="full"> + + +<div class="chapter"><h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_MAORIS_FIGHT_FOR_LIFE">THE MAORIS’ FIGHT FOR LIFE.</h2> +<p class="ph3">BY A NEW ZEALANDER.</p></div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">An</span> absorbing struggle is going on in New +Zealand at present—a struggle of life and death +to a gallant and interesting people. The Maoris +are apparently making a last stand for existence. +Like all savage peoples, they have hitherto +been ‘melting away’ at the approach of the +whites, until now it is believed they number +barely forty thousand throughout the entire +colony; whereas in 1835, before English colonisation +had commenced in earnest, careful observers +estimated that nearly two hundred thousand +natives ranged the woods and navigated the +rivers and seas of the colony. Captain Cook, +probably less accurately, placed his estimate at +four hundred thousand. Certain it is that from +the time we have first known them, the Maoris, +like the Kanakas of the South Sea Islands and +the Red Indians of North America, have gone +on steadily and even rapidly diminishing in +numbers. Just now there is reason to hope that +this process of extinction has received a check, +and the race seems gathering together all its +energies to make one last struggle for existence. +Will it be successful?</p> + +<p>In the first place, let us glance at the causes +leading to the extinction of the aboriginals of +New Zealand. These have been very ably set +forth in a paper read before the Wellington +Philosophical Society by Dr Newman, President +of the Society. This gentleman is of opinion that +the Maoris were a disappearing race before the +English came to New Zealand. One of the +principal causes is the natural sterility of the +people. While the birth-rate among the European +inhabitants of New Zealand is the highest in the +world, and while the prolificness of animal life +generally in this fertile land is a matter of constant +wonder to the naturalist, a birth in a Maori +family is, as a rule, of less frequent occurrence +than a death; and the absence of children in +the native villages is absolutely startling to those +who have just seen the troops of rosy-cheeked +youngsters that swarm in the European towns. +There are various causes for this unfruitfulness of +the race; but the principal source assigned by +the writer I have quoted is intermarrying, the +Maoris being nearly always married either in +their own or some nearly adjacent tribe. The +rate of mortality, also, is considerably higher +among Maoris than with Europeans, consumption +being responsible for the greatest ravages +in their ranks. The Maoris, who formerly lived +in lofty, well-aired, and well-drained hill-forts, +now dwell on the oozy soil of the valleys, +where the air is stagnant and moisture-laden, +while their <i>whares</i> or huts are close and unventilated—forming, +in fact, hotbeds of lung disease +and rheumatism.</p> + +<p>Dr Ginders, the medical officer at the government +sanatorium at Rotorua, which is situated +in the middle of a large native district, gives, +in a Report recently presented to parliament, a +graphic and at the same time horrifying account +of ‘How the Maoris live.’ Referring to their +sleeping-huts, he says: ‘Being curious to know +something of these hotbeds of disease, I entered +one at seven <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> before the occupants had turned +out. I have no wish to repeat the experience. +This was quite a small family affair, fifteen feet +long by ten feet wide. It contained twenty +individuals of both sexes and all ages, who had +spent the night—say ten hours—in it. The cubic +air-space per head was about such as would be +afforded by a comfortable full-sized coffin. How +they can exist under such circumstances is one +of the mysteries of Maori nature. Fortunately +for them, these sleeping-places are built of +pervious material, through which the outer air +must filter, and all the more rapidly from the +fact of the great difference of temperature between +the external and internal air.’</p> + +<p>After reading this extract, most people will be +inclined to say that it is not necessary to look +any further for the cause of the gradual dying +out of the Maoris. It is some satisfaction to +reflect that the imported diseases and vices are +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_674">{674}</span>playing only a minor part in decimating the race. +Of the diseases introduced by Europeans, typhoid +and measles seem to have been the most destructive, +especially the former. The only imported +vice, according to Dr Newman, that has in the +least degree helped to hasten the disappearance of +the race is drunkenness. The mortality among +children, from the neglect or ignorance of parents +and the insanitary conditions in which they live, +is appalling, and until something can be done to +check it, any hope of preserving the race must of +course be abandoned. The advent of Europeans +has undoubtedly brought with it many causes +likely to operate unfavourably on their dark-skinned +brethren. Some of these have already +been mentioned, drink unquestionably occupying +a bad pre-eminence.</p> + +<p>There is also no doubt among medical men +that a partial adoption of European habits +and customs, accompanied by a retention of +various features in their barbarous mode of +living, is the cause of much sickness and even +mortality. Dr Newman points out one very +characteristic fact: formerly, when the natives +entered their <i>whares</i> with their wet mats on, +they flung them aside; now, when they get +wet in their European clothing, they keep it +on, thus laying the foundation of many diseases. +On the other hand, civilisation has introduced +undoubted benefits. For example, the Maoris +formerly subsisted on fern-root and such hard +fare, and found that difficult to get at times. +Now, they have an abundance of wholesome +food, and can live in comfort on the revenue +derived from their lands, if they do not spend +their money in debauchery. As the result of +the labours of the West Coast Royal Commission, +for instance, every native in the confiscated +territory in the North Island who has any right +to be there, now has an interest in some reserve +or other which will provide him with a settled +homestead and the means of maintenance, and +in many cases a considerable pecuniary income +besides. Naturally, in not a few instances these +material advantages are demoralising to the Maoris, +who, when able to live in independence and +luxury, will not work.</p> + +<p>Many of them, however, especially on the east +coast and in the north, are devoting themselves +industriously to such occupations as sheep-farming, +maize-planting, tobacco-growing, &c. I read, in +the Reports of the native officers, that one tribe +started farming with a flock of four thousand +sheep, and divided the year’s profits, which actually +amounted to seven hundred pounds. Another +party of natives did better still at whale-fishing, +securing spoil from the deep to the extent of +two thousand six hundred pounds.</p> + +<p>Among all the elevating influences brought to +bear upon the Maoris, the means of education +appears to be the most promising; and if they +succeed in avoiding the fate of extinction, to +which so many savage tribes seem doomed when +brought in contact with a higher civilisation, +education will be the chief agent in bringing +about the happy result. With the advance of +education, it may reasonably be hoped that the +Maoris—who are naturally a very receptive people—may +be brought to see the evils of consanguineous +marriages, to adopt more rational sanitary +measures both as regards their children +and themselves. At present, they have very erroneous +and mischievous ideas of disease. When +an epidemic of typhoid fever broke out among +some of them recently, they were utterly regardless +of the danger of infection, and ridiculed +the idea of taking any precautionary measures +to prevent the spread of the disease, saying it +was not fever, but simply a Maori complaint +brought on by <i>makutu</i> or witchcraft. When a +native is attacked by illness, he frequently succumbs +through sheer fright. It may easily be +imagined how these facts increase the mortality +of the race, and what improvement may be +effected in these respects by the advancement of +education.</p> + +<p>It is satisfactory to note that the government +are alive to the importance of the subject. +According to a recent official Return, it appears +that there were sixty-nine native schools in full +working order, and over two thousand Maori children +receiving the elements of a good English +education. The great advantage of these schools, +it has been very well pointed out, is not so +much that the young people learn to speak +the English language, but that they learn to +appreciate our customs, to value time, and to +gain a desire for improvement, both mental and +social, which, doubtless, they will transmit to +their descendants, who will then become fitted +to hold a fair position in the future. The natives +generally appear to be alive to these facts, and +not only send their children to the schools, but +give sites for school-buildings, and show their +interest in the movement in other ways. They +elect their School Committees in the same way +that the Europeans do, and on the whole do +the work very well.</p> + +<p>The Blue Ribbon movement appears to have +taken a singularly firm hold among the race. The +so-called ‘king’ himself donned the badge with +great ceremony at the solicitation of Sir George +Grey, before leaving for England in 1884; and +in every village are to be seen numbers of the +young Maori ‘braves’ wearing the ‘bit of blue’ +as among the most cherished of their decorations.</p> + +<p>The outlook, then, as regards the conflict in +which the race is at present engaged, is so +far satisfactory. The question will, however, +naturally be asked, whether the beneficial effects +of the educative process are permanent, or +whether, after the Maoris leave school, they +relapse into their old habits and customs. The +savage nature, we know, is very apt to reassert +itself. Miss Bird tells us how the Ainos +of Japan educated at Tokiô relapsed into barbarism +on returning to their own people, retaining +nothing but a knowledge of the Japanese +language. Another writer recounts how an +Indian girl, one of the most orderly of the pupils +at a lady’s school, has been known, on feeling +herself aggrieved, to withdraw to her room, let +down her back hair, paint her face, and howl. +Something of the sort, it must be confessed, is +not altogether unknown in New Zealand. I once +went to see a Maori <i>haka</i> or dance, interesting +in its way, but not more edifying than native +dances usually are. To my amazement, I saw +among the performers a young lady whom I +had known as a well-educated Maori girl, living +in good circumstances, possessing excellent taste +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_675">{675}</span>in dress, and who had been in the habit of taking +her place with advantage in European ballrooms. +On this occasion her costume, although not more +<i>décolletée</i> than European evening dress frequently +is, would have created considerable sensation in +an English gathering, consisting as it did simply +of a loose calico gown. A very handsome, well-informed +half-caste, one of the most lady-like +persons I ever met, once confessed to me that +she could never look on at a Maori <i>tangi</i> or +wake without feeling an irresistible inclination +to rush in and tear her hair and howl like the +rest. In fact, she admitted that she had to leave +such scenes, or her emotions might have become +too strong for her self-control. Again, I shall +not soon forget the surprise created, a few years +ago, when one of the most promising young +Maoris in Wellington, who had been brought +up with Europeans from childhood, who was +being educated for a barrister, and who promised +to be one of the ornaments of the profession, +suddenly disappeared, and was next heard of as +having flung off his European clothes and joined +the fanatical followers of a half-demented Maori +prophet known as Te Whiti. No inducements +could prevail on him to return to civilisation, +and he became one of the most devoted and +credulous of the prophet’s adherents.</p> + +<p>These, however, are exceptions, and not the +rule. We have Maori members both of the +Upper and Lower House who are a pattern to +some other legislators in many respects, and +can take their place in any European society. +We have Maori clergymen both Anglican and +Wesleyan who appear to make pastors of the +most exemplary kind. There is as yet no Maori +lawyer in practice, but some native lads are +being trained in solicitors’ offices, and there is +every prospect of their naturally keen wits +enabling them to take a good position in the +profession. So far as I am aware, they are +not ambitious of becoming doctors; and some +malicious people may be cruel enough to suggest +that as regards the longevity of the race +this is rather an advantage than otherwise.</p> + +<p>Some of them are being trained to trades; and +it is suggested by the organising inspector that +every boy, after he has gone through the village +school course, should, if his parents wish it, +be apprenticed to some trade by the government, +so as to insure his obtaining a proper +industrial training. With the Maoris grounded +in a proper knowledge of social and sanitary +laws, with their moral and intellectual instincts +properly guided and cultivated, there seems yet +to be a hope that the prophecy so often made, +that the race must speedily die out, may be +falsified. This is the opinion of a medical man to +whom I have already referred. In his Report to +the native Minister, Dr Ginders, after mentioning +the prevalent diseases among the Maoris, says: +‘In my opinion, the production, and severity, +and the spread of these diseases are determined +by two main factors: first, the influence of the +<i>wharepuni</i> (sleeping-hut), and secondly, the consumption +of putrid food. Compared with these +two gigantic evils, alcohol is nowhere. Were +there no <i>wharepunis</i>, I believe the Maori would +be a successful rival of his European neighbour in +sobriety and industry; but with his blood vitiated +by the foul air of these hotbeds of disease, +he has neither strength nor inclination to work, +and it would be odd, indeed, if he had no craving +for stimulants. I am inclined to credit the +<i>wharepuni</i> with more than half the infant mortality. +Not only is the child injured directly +by this devitalising influence, but indirectly +through the mother, whose milk is diminished +in quantity and impoverished in quality by +the same cause. I believe the growing intelligence +of the rising generation of Maoris has +already checked the rapid decadence of the +race. I believe, too, that these evils will gradually +die out, and we shall find the native population +increasing <i>pari passu</i>.’</p> + +<p>New Zealand at the present time, it will be +seen, has a grand opportunity for assisting in +the achievement of a civilising feat which, if +successful, will go very far to confute those +pessimists who declare that our modern civilisation +is a delusion and a snare, utterly destructive +to the weaker races with whom it is brought +in contact.</p> + + + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"><div class="chapter"><h2 class="nobreak x-ebookmaker-important" id="BY_ORDER_OF_THE_LEAGUE">BY ORDER OF THE LEAGUE.</h2></div> + + +<h3>CHAPTER VIII.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> first act in the drama was about to be +played—the puppets all arranged, all acting for +themselves, never heeding the hand of fate in +it. Hector le Gautier triumphant, but troubled +occasionally by the loss of his device, yet trusting +to his own good fortune and matchless audacity +to pull him through.</p> + +<p>The curious in such matters, the idle folks +who dream and speculate, had food for reflection +in their <i>Times</i> next morning, for on the +front sheet on the second column appeared an +announcement. It was vague; but one man +understood it. It ran:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p><span class="smcap">Moidore.</span>—How reckless of you to throw away +a life on the hazard of a die. They are all +safe but yours. Where is that? In two months +you will have to deliver, and then beware of +the wrath of the Crimson Nine. It is not too +late yet. Under the clock at C. × at nine—any +night. Use the sign, and good will come of +it.—<span class="smcap">Eastern Eagle.</span></p> +</div> + +<p>The <i>Times</i> containing this announcement lay +upon Isodore’s breakfast-table in Ventnor Street, +Fitzroy Square. As it rested upon the table, +the words were readable, and Isodore smiled +when they caught her eye as she entered. She +took up an album from a side-table and turned +over the leaves till she came to the portrait of +a pretty dark girl of about seventeen. At this +she looked long and intently, and then turned +to scrutinise her features in the glass. There +was nothing coquettish about this—no suspicion +of womanly vanity, but rather the air of one +who strives to find some likeness. Apparently +the examination pleased her, for she smiled +again—not a pleasant smile, this time, but one +of certainty, almost cruelty; and a vengeful look +made the eyes hard for a moment.</p> + +<p>She turned to the photograph again, and then +once more back to the mirror, as if to be absolutely +certain of her convictions, that there might +be no mistake.</p> + +<p>While absorbed thus, Valerie le Gautier +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_676">{676}</span>entered the room and looked at Isodore in +astonishment. ‘You have a grand excuse,’ she +said archly, ‘though I did not know that vanity +was one of your failings, Isodore.’</p> + +<p>Isodore blushed never so faintly, not so much +by being taken in the little act, as by the appearance +of the thing. ‘It is not on any account of +mine,’ she said; ‘rather, on yours.—Valerie, look +here carefully and tell me if you know that face.’ +She indicated the portrait in the album; and her +friend looked at it earnestly.</p> + +<p>After a few moments she looked up, shaking +her head doubtfully. ‘No,’ she replied. ‘It is +a strange face entirely to me.’</p> + +<p>‘Then I have altered since that was taken five +years ago.’</p> + +<p>‘Is it possible that innocent, childish-looking +face could have once been you?’ Valerie asked in +unfeigned astonishment.</p> + +<p>‘Indeed, it is. There is nothing like sorrow +and hardship to alter the expression of features, +especially of women. Yes, Valerie, that is what +I was when I met him. You would not have +known me?’</p> + +<p>‘No, indeed. They might be two different +faces.’</p> + +<p>‘So much the better for me—so much the +worse for him,’ Isodore observed without the +slightest tinge of passion in her tones.—‘Read that +paragraph in the <i>Times</i>, and see if you can make +anything of it.’</p> + +<p>‘It is Greek to me,’ Valerie replied, when she +had perused the advertisement with a puzzled air.—‘Has +it any allusion to my—to Hector?’</p> + +<p>‘To your husband? Yes. He will understand +it in a moment, and only be too eager to regain +his insignia. There will be a happy union of +two loving hearts some night in Charing Cross +Station. Little will the spectators know of the +passions running riot there.’ She laughed bitterly +as she said these words, and threw the paper +upon the table again. She was in a strange +mood this morning.</p> + +<p>‘Then I suppose that C. × means Charing +Cross?’ Valerie asked, ‘and you expect Hector +to come there?—I do not quite comprehend your +plan, Isodore. It will be dangerous to have +another in the secret, and I suppose some one +will have to meet him.’</p> + +<p>‘Some one will,’ was the calm reply. ‘And +who, do you think, is the proper one to do +that? Who better than his old friend and once +passionate admirer, Isodore?’</p> + +<p>‘<i>You</i> meet him?’ Valerie cried. ‘How daring! +Suppose he should recognise you, how then? +All your schemes would be thrown to the winds, +and we should be defeated. It is madness!’</p> + +<p>‘You forget I have his badge of membership; +besides, I have a duty to perform beyond my +own feelings in the matter—my duty to the +League. But he will not recognise me after the +lapse of years, and I must get to the bottom +of his traitorous designs.’</p> + +<p>‘You are reckoning upon certainties, Isodore. +Suppose you are wrong—suppose he is, after all, +no traitor, and that your ideas are only fancies. +How then?’</p> + +<p>‘He is a traitor—instinct tells me that. Wait +and see what Lucrece has to say, when she comes. +She is sure to have gleaned some information by +this time.’</p> + +<p>Hot revenge is apt to burn itself out quickly, +from its very fierceness; but such hate as this +never dies. There was a cool deliberation in +Isodore’s words which struck her hearer with +great force; and much as she herself had suffered, +she could not realise a passion such as this. It +is probable that had she met her recalcitrant +husband, a few words would have obtained for +him forgiveness; but she was under the spell +now, and her weaker will was swallowed up +in a strong one.</p> + +<p>‘Do you expect Lucrece this morning?’ Valerie +asked.</p> + +<p>‘I am expecting her every moment,’ Isodore +replied. ‘She promised me to come to-day and +let me have her report.’</p> + +<p>They sat in silence for a few moments, when +Lucrece entered. She was quietly, almost plainly +dressed, and wore an air of extreme meekness.</p> + +<p>‘You look the character,’ Isodore said approvingly. +‘You might have been a menial all your +lifetime.—I am all impatience. Begin!’</p> + +<p>‘In the first place,’ Lucrece began without +further preamble, ‘I like my situation; and as +to my new mistress, to know her is to love her. +You have no idea how gentle and thoughtful she +is. Now, to begin with her. The dear Hector +has a rival, and a powerful one; his name is +Frederick Maxwell, and he is an artist. From +what I can see, they are engaged.—Isodore, this +Maxwell has joined the League, and will be introduced +by Salvarini.’</p> + +<p>‘Frederick Maxwell! Carlo’s old friend! Poor +fool! Le Gautier has tools enough.’</p> + +<p>‘He is a fine handsome Englishman; honour +and honesty stamped in every line of his face; +just the sort of man to be made useful.—But +to continue. Le Gautier is <i>l’ami de la famille</i>. He +has a wonderful influence over Sir Geoffrey, and +has succeeded in fascinating Enid—and she hates +him notwithstanding. Isodore, Le Gautier is at +his old spiritualistic tricks again.’</p> + +<p>‘Ah!—Tell me something of Sir Geoffrey.’</p> + +<p>‘I am coming to that. Last night, my mistress +was out very late, not getting home till past one. +It has been my habit to wait for her in the back +dining-room, and last night I was sitting there +in the dark, dozing. I was awakened by the +entrance of Sir Geoffrey. I could see his face +was ghastly pale, and he kept muttering to himself, +and some words at intervals I caught. “I +wonder if it was jugglery,” I heard him say—“if +it was some trick of Le Gautier’s?—No; it could +not be; and yet, if I am to have any peace, I +must fulfil the compact—I must join this Brotherhood. +And Enid, what will she say, when she +knows? What will Maxwell think of me?—But +perhaps Le Gautier is already married.” I could +not catch any more. What do you think of +it?’</p> + +<p>Isodore was following the speaker so intently, +and so engrossed in her thoughts, that she did +not reply for a moment. ‘You can help us here, +Valerie. Tell us what you think.’</p> + +<p>‘Lucrece is perfectly right,’ Valerie replied. ‘I +have hitherto told you that my husband used +to dabble in such things; nay, more, as a conjurer +he was probably without a rival. He made +a great reputation at Rome before the thing +exploded; and indeed, to a weak mind, some of +the séances were awe-inspiring.’</p> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_677">{677}</span></p> +<p>‘It seems to me,’ Isodore put in reflectively, +‘that Le Gautier has worked upon Sir Geoffrey’s +superstitious fears till he has him bound fast +enough. And you say he is to join the Brotherhood. +Really, I begin to feel an admiration +for the man I am pledged to destroy. It is +clear that he has promised his daughter to Le +Gautier. Is she weak?’</p> + +<p>‘On the contrary, though she is gentle and +tractable, there is much determination of purpose +underlying her gentleness.’</p> + +<p>‘You have done wonders in this short time, +my sister. But do not relax your vigilance +now; let nothing escape you that may be of +use to us.’</p> + +<p>‘I must return,’ Lucrece explained, looking at +her watch, ‘or I shall be missed. I will not +fail to bring you such information as falls in +my way from time to time.’</p> + +<p>After she was gone, the women sat quietly +for a time, each pondering over what they had +heard. The information was not much; but it +sufficed to show them in what way the influence +over the weak baronet had been obtained, +and every detail of Le Gautier’s movement might +be of use. A wild plan formed itself in Isodore’s +busy brain, as she sat thinking there. ‘Why +should it not be?’ she thought.</p> + +<p>‘Do you think it would be possible for any +one to love me?’ she asked.</p> + +<p>Valerie looked into the beautiful face and +smiled. ‘How otherwise?’</p> + +<p>‘Then it shall be so. Valerie, I am going +to make Hector le Gautier love me as he never +loved woman before!’</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER IX.</h3> + +<p>Hector le Gautier, all unconscious of the plot +against his safety and peace of mind, sat over +his breakfast the same morning. He was on +remarkably good terms with himself, for all his +plans were prospering, and for him the present +outlook was a rosy one. His plans were well +laid. He intended to keep his present position +in the League, to go to Warsaw if necessary; +and now that he had Sir Geoffrey in his hands +beyond all hope of extrication, it was easy enough +to send Maxwell upon some dangerous foreign +mission, where, if he escaped with his life, he +would henceforth be an outlaw and a fugitive. +Sir Geoffrey, too, had bound himself to join; +and with this lever, he could work upon Enid’s +fears to perfection.</p> + +<p>He was in no hurry; he was far too consummate +a rogue, too accomplished a schemer, +to ruin the delicate combination by any premature +move, preferring for the present to renew +his forces and calculate his advance, as a chess-player +might when he knows the game is in +his hands. Then should come the crowning act, +by which he should rid himself of the irksome +chains which bound him to the League. All his +plans were prepared for delivering the leaders +into the hands of justice, always with a care to +his own escape. As he turned these things over +in his mind, he whistled a little air gaily, resumed +his breakfast, and opened the broadsheet of the +<i>Times</i> to see the news of the day.</p> + +<p>Fortune seemed to be smiling upon him, he +thought, as he read the mystic announcement +in the second outside column. Here was the +thing which had caused him so much anxious +thought as good as delivered again into his hands. +Some friend, perhaps, had discovered his loss, +and had determined to return it thus. Perhaps—and +here he showed his white teeth in a dazzling +smile—some fair one, who had taken this way +to show her admiration; for Le Gautier was, +like most vain men, a great admirer of the sex, +and fully impressed with the all-conquering +fascination of his manner. He was not the first +clever man who has held such opinions, and +found, when too late, the fatal error of underrating +the power of an injured woman.</p> + +<p>He perfectly understood the advertisement. +It was not the first time that newspapers had +been employed to do work for the League; nor +did he hesitate to avail himself of this golden +opportunity. He had scarcely finished his breakfast +and made up his mind to meet the mysterious +Eastern Eagle, when Salvarini entered. He was +moody and preoccupied, with a sombre frown +upon his face, telling of much inward uneasiness.</p> + +<p>‘I do not like these new arrangements,’ he +commenced abruptly, in answer to Le Gautier’s +florid greeting. ‘There is great danger in them, +and they cannot lead to any good results. I +shall oppose them.’</p> + +<p>‘Pray, explain yourself, my good Luigi; I +am in Cimmerian darkness,’ Le Gautier replied +carelessly. ‘You are so dreadfully in earnest; +absolutely, you view life through the gloomy +spectacles of the League.’</p> + +<p>‘It is folly, madness!’ Salvarini replied passionately. +‘Heaven knows, we have had bloodshed +enough. What do you think the last proposal +is?—Nothing less than the removal of +ministers: dynamite is to be the agent, and a +special mission arranged to Rome. Visci—our +dear old friend Visci—is doomed!’</p> + +<p>‘They must be mad,’ Le Gautier returned +calmly. ‘But tell me, Luigi, what of Visci?’ +he continued, inspired by a sudden thought. +‘I presume you have been holding a Council +this morning. Visci used to be a friend of +yours. How do they propose to get rid of +him?’</p> + +<p>‘The dagger!’ Salvarini answered with great +agitation. ‘Visci was once a friend of mine, +as you say, and yours too, for that. Heaven +save me from the task!’</p> + +<p>‘But why need it be you? We have new +members, new blood as yet untried. Let them +show their mettle now. There is no reason +why we should always be in the van of battle. +But why this sudden determination?’</p> + +<p>‘The old story,’ Salvarini continued bitterly—‘private +grudges brought in; personal ends to be +served where all should be of one accord, all +striving for the good of the cause. I am heartsick +and weary of the whole affair. Is our path +always to be defiled with innocent blood?’</p> + +<p>‘So long as I can keep my hands clean, it is +nothing to me,’ Le Gautier replied with a careless +shrug; ‘not that I hold with the present +system.—But abandon your Cassandra vein, and +be yourself for a moment. See what you think +of that, and congratulate me upon a stroke of +fortune I have not altogether deserved.’</p> + +<p>‘I congratulate you,’ Salvarini grimly replied, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_678">{678}</span>when he had perused the paragraph. ‘You +always contrive to fall upon your feet. Did I +not tell you that night in the Kursaal you +would hear of this again? Of course it is a +woman. No man would have taken such trouble, +especially if he happened to be a Brother,’ he +concluded with significant emphasis.</p> + +<p>Le Gautier drew his fingers airily across his +throat, intending by this little playful action to +allude to his own sudden death. In his petty +vanity, he was not altogether displeased that his +friend should hint at a conquest.</p> + +<p>‘Undoubtedly from a woman,’ he said. ‘Mark +the mystery and romance underlying it all. Some +fair dame of the Order, perhaps, who has seen +me only to become a victim to my numberless +charms.—Luigi, my friend, this little affair promises +amusement.’</p> + +<p>‘I might have known that,’ Salvarini retorted +with some little contempt. ‘I believe you could +be turned aside from the most pressing mission +by a glance from a pair of melting eyes.—Bah! +your thoughts run on such things to the detriment +of the Order.’</p> + +<p>‘In such a charming situation as you mention, +confusion to the Order!—Now, do not look so +melodramatic! Pardieu! do you think a man +should have no amusements? Now, as a penance, +you shall bore me with the order of this morning’s +proceedings.’</p> + +<p>‘A woman will ruin you eventually.’—Le +Gautier smiled; the sententious words read the +wrong way.—‘We had not much transaction this +morning, save what I have told you, and the +initiation of a few members.’</p> + +<p>‘Converts to the noble cause of freedom.—Any +one I know?’</p> + +<p>‘Several. Do I understand it is your intention +to introduce Sir Geoffrey in person?’</p> + +<p>Le Gautier nodded assent; and the friends proceeded +to discuss other matters connected with +their mission. When Salvarini had left, long +and earnestly did Le Gautier sit silently there. +Then he rose, and taking a pack of cards from +a drawer, began to cut and shuffle them rapidly. +He dealt them round six times, bringing the +knave of clubs on the same heap each time. He +put the cards away; an evil smile was on his face.</p> + +<p>‘My right hand has not lost its cunning,’ he +muttered. ‘Frederick Maxwell shall go to Rome, +and—— Well, fate will do the rest.’</p> + +<p>With this humane remark, he put on his hat, +struggled into a pair of very tight-fitting gloves, +and passed out from Hunter Street into the +Euston Road; for it is almost needless to say +that the house beyond Paddington where we +last saw him was not his ordinary lodging, his +abode being a much humbler one, as consisted +with his limited means; for Hector le Gautier, +though moving in good society, and always faultlessly +attired, was not endowed with that wealth +that smooths so many paths in this vale of tears. +Like other men of his class, he contrived to +keep his head above water, though how it was +done was alike a mystery to himself and his +friends.</p> + +<p>It was past two as he turned into Grosvenor +Square and up the broad flight of steps which +led up to the Charteris’ mansion. He had come +here with more purposes than one: in the first +place, to see Enid—this attraction a powerful one; +and secondly, to have a talk upon general matters +with the baronet, and perhaps get an invitation +to luncheon. Sir Geoffrey he found in the +dining-room, just sitting down to his mid-day +meal in solitary state; and in answer to an invitation +to join, asked after Enid, who, he learned, +had gone with Maxwell and a kindly chaperon to +a morning-party at Twickenham. He was, however, +too much a cosmopolitan to allow this to +interfere with his appetite, so, with a few well-chosen +words of regret, he settled himself quietly +to his lunch, discussing in turn the weather, +politics, the last new beauty, anything—waiting +for his host to speak upon the subject nearest his +heart. Sir Geoffrey’s patience being by this time +exhausted, he commenced.</p> + +<p>‘I think I am free, Le Gautier,’ he said at +length.</p> + +<p>The listener affected not to comprehend this +enigmatic remark.</p> + +<p>‘Free from what, Sir Geoffrey?’ he asked +carelessly. ‘Is it gout, or headache, or a marvellous +escape from dining with a notorious bore? +Which of these things are you free from?’</p> + +<p>‘I was thinking of nothing so worldly,’ was +the serious reply. ‘I allude to the marvellous +manifestations recently vouchsafed to me. Since +you so kindly showed me through yourself the +path of duty, I have felt like a different man. +They are gone, I trust for ever. Tell me, do +you think there is any possible chance of their +recurring?’</p> + +<p>‘So long as you fulfil your part of the contract, +certainly not.—But, my dear Sir Geoffrey,’ the +Frenchman continued gaily, ‘let us have no +serious conversation now, I beseech you. Let us +forget for the time we are anything but friends. +I am too light and frivolous to talk seriously. +The last new play, a fresh picture, anything but +the supernatural.’</p> + +<p>Despite this appearance of <i>bonhomie</i>, Le Gautier +had no intention of changing the conversation, +though it was not his cue to introduce the subject +himself; besides, an appearance of good-naturedly +yielding to the other’s news seemed to tell better, +and create a deeper feeling of obligation.</p> + +<p>‘The longer I put the matter off, the more +difficult my task seems to be,’ the baronet continued, +not without hesitation. ‘Certain restrictions +were laid upon me, certain commands given, +which I am bound to carry out. If you had +heard the conversation, my task would be less +difficult; but as you did not, I must do my best +to explain.’</p> + +<p>Le Gautier drummed with his fingers upon the +table, shrugged his shoulders, and sighed gently, +as a man yielding against his will upon the +sacred ground of friendship, tempered with politeness.</p> + +<p>‘If you have anything to say, it is perhaps +better to say it. But if it pains you, if it gives +you the slightest mental agony or discloses family +affairs, then, my dear sir, be dumb;’ and the +speaker glanced out of the window, as if he considered +the matter settled.</p> + +<p>‘But I must tell you. It is impossible I can +fulfil my promises without your assistance. In +the first place, I am commanded to join your +League or Brotherhood; and here, you see, I +cannot get any further without your good advice +and countenance.’</p> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_679">{679}</span></p> +<p>‘You distress me,’ Le Gautier replied mournfully. +‘I wish that matter could have been +settled without such a step being necessary. +Our work, though a noble one, is attended at +times with great hardship and danger. Think, +my dear Sir Geoffrey—think if there is no +middle course by which such an action may be +avoided.’</p> + +<p>The speaker created the impression he was +most anxious to make. To the baronet, full of +his scheme, this advice was unpalatable, the more +that, like most spoilt, weak-minded men, he was +intensely fond of his own way. He grew stubborn. +Le Gautier was perfectly at ease as he +studied the other’s face.</p> + +<p>‘I see no middle course. The injunction was +very strict. I dare not disobey, if I would. I +must become a member of your League, whatever +the danger may be; and if called upon, I must +take my part in the work. Do you not remember +the vision?’——</p> + +<p>‘You forget my state,’ Le Gautier interrupted +softly—‘that during the time I heard nothing, +comprehended nothing going on around me. My +faculties for the time being were torpid.’</p> + +<p>This adroit interruption only served to increase +the baronet’s uneasiness. He writhed in his +chair, unable to continue.</p> + +<p>‘And there is another thing,’ he stammered, +‘which I must tell you, though I scarcely know +how. I daresay you have noticed my daughter?’</p> + +<p>‘Is it possible to see her and not be conscious +of her beauties!’ Le Gautier cried—‘to be in +her presence and not feel the charm of her +society! Ah! Sir Geoffrey,’ he continued blandly, +throwing out a strong hint, ‘he will be a happy +man who wins the treasure of her heart!’</p> + +<p>At this helping of the lame dog over the stile, +Sir Geoffrey looked grateful. ‘Has she ever +impressed you, Le Gautier?’</p> + +<p>‘Alas, yes,’ was the melancholy reply, but with +some feeling too, for, as far as he was concerned, +the passion was genuine. ‘Why should I strive +to conceal my honest love? I may be poor and +unknown, but I am at least a gentleman, and I +offer the greatest compliment man can pay a +woman—an ardent, loving heart.—But I am rambling; +I dream, I rave! That I should aspire +to an alliance with the House of Charteris!’</p> + +<p>The baronet was somewhat moved by this +display of manly emotion, and, moreover, his +pride was tickled. The young man evidently +knew that what he aspired to was a high honour +indeed.</p> + +<p>‘But, Sir Geoffrey,’ he continued brokenly, +‘you will not breathe a word of this to a soul! +In a moment of passion, I have been led to +divulge the master-passion of my life. Promise +me you will forget it from this hour;’ and +saying these words, he stretched out a hand +trembling with suppressed emotion to his host +and friend. A good actor was lost to an admiring +world here.</p> + +<p>‘But bless me!’ Sir Geoffrey exclaimed, taken +aback by this display, and, sooth to say, somewhat +irritated that the necessary explanation must +come from him after all, ‘I <i>want</i> you to marry +the girl.’</p> + +<p>‘Is it possible, or am I dreaming?’ Le Gautier +cried in a delirium of rapture. ‘Do I hear +aright? Oh, say these words again!’</p> + +<p>Le Gautier was slightly overdoing the thing +now, and Sir Geoffrey knew it. ‘I mean what +I say,’ he added coldly. ‘You are the man +for Enid.’</p> + +<p>‘Who is talking about Enid?’ asked a fresh +clear voice at that moment, as the subject of +discourse, accompanied by her escort, glided into +the room. Le Gautier, in love as he was, +thought he had never seen her look so fair as +she did then, her face slightly tinged with colour, +her eyes all aglow with pleasurable excitement. +For a moment the conspirators were abashed, +and it took all the Frenchman’s cool equitable +nerve to solve and explain what appeared to be +a truly awkward question.</p> + +<p>‘When we are not with the rose, we love to +talk of her,’ he replied with one of these bold +glances for which Maxwell longed to kick him +on the spot.—‘I trust you have spent a pleasant +morning?’</p> + +<p>Enid answered as coldly as the dictates of +breeding would allow. The man’s florid compliments +were odious to her, and his presence +oppressive. Le Gautier, accustomed to read men +and faces like open books, did not fail to note +this.</p> + +<p>‘I have important news,’ he whispered to +Maxwell, after he had made his graceful adieux +to Enid and his host. ‘I want to say a few words +to you, if you happen to be walking my way.’</p> + +<p>Maxwell answered with studious politeness. +‘With pleasure,’ he said. ‘If you will allow me, +I will drive you in my cab.’</p> + +<p>Enid’s quick ears caught the whisper, and a +feeling of approaching evil seemed to come over +her—a cloud passed over the sun, and, to her +fancy, for a moment Le Gautier looked like +Mephistopheles tempting Faust. As the two men +passed out, she called Maxwell back. ‘Be careful,’ +she urged. ‘Beware of that man; he will +do you a mischief.’</p> + +<p>Maxwell smiled down in the pretty fearful +face tenderly. ‘All right, little woman,’ he +answered carelessly. ‘I shall take care. He is +not likely to do any harm to me.’</p> + + + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"><div class="chapter"><h2 class="nobreak" id="NAPOLEON_IN_TOR_BAY">NAPOLEON IN TOR BAY.</h2></div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> is all but impossible to realise the scene of +excitement which the calm blue waters of Tor +Bay, crested with the bright sunshine of the +summer of 1815, presented, when the Emperor +Napoleon arrived on board the <i>Bellerophon</i>, soon +to be transferred to the <i>Northumberland</i>, in which +he was conveyed to St Helena. After the +world-earthquake Waterloo, when the allies +entered Paris, and the French army declared for +Louis XVIII., Napoleon made his way to Rochefort, +where he arrived on the 3d of July, and +whence his attempts at escape were frustrated by +the moonlight and the vigilance of the English +cruisers. Two frigates had been placed at his +disposal to facilitate his flight to America, and +arrangements likewise made with a Danish smack +which was to await him out at sea; but to +reach her under the circumstances was deemed +an attempt too hazardous. At last, on the 14th +of July, Count Las Cases and General Allemand +came on board the <i>Bellerophon</i>, then lying in +the Basque Roads, with a proposal to Captain +Maitland that he should receive Napoleon, who +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_680">{680}</span>desired to proceed to England for the purpose +of throwing himself upon the generosity of the +Prince Regent. Captain Maitland clearly explained +that it was out of his power to grant +terms of any sort, and that his instructions only +permitted him to convey Napoleon and his +attendants to England; on which understanding, +the ex-Emperor, with his baggage, embarked the +following morning on board a French brig, +which conveyed them to the <i>Bellerophon</i>, where +he was received with the honours due to a +crowned head. On gaining the quarter-deck, the +Emperor said in French to the captain: ‘I am +come, sir, to claim the protection of your Prince +and of your laws.’ In appearance he is described +as about five and a half feet in height, strongly +made, decidedly stout, with a sallow complexion, +and dark-brown hair, as yet untouched with +gray. He wore a green uniform coat with +epaulets and a red collar, a broad red sash, star +on the left breast, white waistcoat, boots and +pantaloons, and a large cocked hat with the tricoloured +cockade.</p> + +<p>The passage, by reason of adverse winds, was +slow, so that it was the 24th ere the <i>Bellerophon</i> +arrived in Tor Bay, when Captain Maitland +was signalled to stand out three leagues from +shore, and there await further orders from the +Admiralty. It is said that on first beholding +the Devonshire coast, Napoleon could not conceal +his admiration, exclaiming: ‘At length here is +this beautiful country! How much it resembles +Porto Ferrajo, in Elba.’</p> + +<p>No sooner was it known that the disturber of +the peace of Europe, against whom they had so +long and so sternly striven, was actually on +board ship at anchor in Tor Bay, than from +Dartmouth, Paignton, Dawlish, Teignmouth, and +by-and-by from ports more distant still, the +country-folk thronged in boats of every size and +shape, struggling to approach the <i>Bellerophon</i> to +catch a glimpse of the fallen Emperor. So inconvenient +and dangerous was the crowding of +these innumerable craft with their cargoes of +sightseers, that it became necessary to order the +<i>Bellerophon’s</i> boats to row round the ship to +keep them at a respectful distance. No fewer +than a thousand boats daily put off from the +shore; and Napoleon exhibited no little pleasure +and amusement at the interest excited by his +presence. From London and all parts of the +country, people flocked down to Tor Bay during +the time necessarily occupied in determining +Napoleon’s final destination, well pleased if they +succeeded in catching an occasional glimpse of +him as he walked backwards and forwards in +the stern gallery with his hands behind him, or +surveyed through an opera glass the varied +texture of the crowd in the vessels below. As +he paced the quarter-deck in conversation with +one or other of his followers, he would frequently +approach the ship’s side and acknowledge +the salutations of his visitors. Two or +three French ladies, wives of members of the +suite, dressed in the height of the prevailing +fashion, were frequently seated on deck, with +whom, as he paused in his walk and stooped +to look through the ports at the vessels alongside, +Napoleon would now and again exchange +a word. At six o’clock the dinner-bell rang, +when the Emperor with his attendants went +below, the sailors with great good-humour putting +out a board on which was chalked, ‘He’s gone +to dine.’ He usually remained about half an +hour, when another board announced his reappearance +on deck. It was about the 1st of +August when his ultimate destination became +known to him through the newspapers, and he +was shortly afterwards observed at the cabin +window tearing up papers, which he threw into +the sea. Fragments of some of these, being seized +upon as relics, turned out to be translations of +speeches in the last session of parliament, and a +letter addressed to the Empress Maria Louisa +immediately after his abdication.</p> + +<p>But of all the incidents which occurred while +Napoleon was in Tor Bay, the most remarkable +was a farewell visit paid him by a lady of +foreign appearance and surpassing loveliness. +Cloaked and veiled, to escape observation, she +carried with her a bouquet of choicest flowers, +peculiarly arranged in rows, which, when her +boat arrived at a convenient distance from the +<i>Bellerophon</i>, was despatched in charge of her +servant. As the token of unchanged affection +reached the quarter-deck, the lady was observed +to raise her veil, disclosing features of exceeding +beauty. At first, the bouquet seemed to awaken +no memories in Napoleon’s breast, but after a +moment, he hastily approached the ship’s side, +and steadfastly gazing awhile on the fair form +disclosed to view, he waved a last farewell.</p> + +<p>On Wednesday the 2d of August, the <i>Bellerophon</i> +and <i>Tonnant</i> sailed for Plymouth, where +it had been intended that the transfer to the +<i>Northumberland</i> should be carried out. But in +consequence of the loss of life which occurred +from the vast concourse of boats in the Sound, +as well as to avoid a writ of habeas corpus, +under which it was desired to obtain the evidence +of Napoleon in a case at the time pending +in the Queen’s Bench, it was deemed advisable +to return to Tor Bay, where, on Sunday the 6th +of August, the three vessels (the <i>Northumberland</i> +having meantime come round from Portsmouth) +cast anchor. No sooner were the ships brought +up, than Sir Henry Bunbury, accompanied by +Mr Bathurst, proceeded on board the <i>Bellerophon</i>, +and announced to the ex-Emperor the resolution +of the cabinet, that he should be transported to +St Helena, accompanied by four of his friends +and twelve servants. The information was received +without surprise; but in a speech of three-quarters +of an hour’s duration, delivered in a +manner the most impressive, Napoleon protested +against the determination which had been arrived +at.</p> + +<p>The same afternoon, Lord Keith and Sir +George Cockburn proceeded in the admiral’s +yacht to the <i>Bellerophon</i>. Napoleon was on deck +to receive them. After the usual salutations, +Lord Keith addressed himself to Bonaparte, and +acquainted him with his intended transfer to the +<i>Northumberland</i> for passage to St Helena. After +much expostulation, Napoleon finally refused to +go; but upon Lord Keith expressing the hope +that no coercion would be necessary to carry out +the orders of government, he replied: ‘O no, +no! you command, I must obey! Only, recollect, +I do not go of my own free-will.’ He then +formally handed to Lord Keith a written protest +against his transportation to St Helena, in which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_681">{681}</span>it was contended, that having come voluntarily +on board the <i>Bellerophon</i>, he was the guest and +not the prisoner of England. ‘I appeal,’ he +concluded, ‘to history, whether an enemy who +comes deliberately in his misfortunes to seek an +asylum under the protection of English law, can +give a more convincing proof of his esteem and +confidence. But how have the English answered +such confidence and magnanimity; they pretended +to extend a friendly hand to this enemy; +and when he relied on their good faith, they +sacrificed him.’</p> + +<p>It was afterwards arranged that the transfer +should take place the following morning (Monday) +about eleven o’clock. Early next day, Sir +George Cockburn superintended the inspection +of the baggage, consisting of services and toilet +sets of plate, several articles in gold, books, beds, +&c., which were sent on board the <i>Northumberland</i>, +four thousand gold napoleons being sealed +up and detained. The baggage having been +removed, the parting scene commenced, Napoleon +handing to several of his officers a certificate +of fidelity and good service. About eleven +o’clock, the barge of the <i>Tonnant</i> proceeded to +the <i>Bellerophon</i> to receive the fallen Emperor +and those who were to be the partakers of his +exile: General and Madame Bertrand with their +children, Count and Countess Montholon and +child, Count Las Cases, General Gourgaud, nine +men and three women servants. At the last +moment, Napoleon’s surgeon refused to accompany +him, whereupon the surgeon of the <i>Bellerophon</i>, +Mr O’Meara, consented to supply his place. +Shortly afterwards O’Meara was offered a salary +of five hundred pounds per annum, but this he +rejected, with the remark that the pay of his +king was sufficient to satisfy him.</p> + +<p>Before entering the barge which was to +convey him to the <i>Northumberland</i>, Bonaparte +addressed himself to Captain Maitland and the +officers of the <i>Bellerophon</i>, not forgetting to take +off his hat to them again after descending the +ladder into the barge. It was about noon on +the 7th of August when the barge of the <i>Tonnant</i> +approached the starboard side of the <i>Northumberland</i>. +Bertrand was the first to go over the +side, and standing with his hat off, upright as +a sentinel, announced his master. Napoleon +instantly followed, and taking off his hat, +remarked to Sir George Cockburn, who received +him: ‘Monsieur, je suis à vos ordres.’ At +once moving forward on the quarter-deck, he +desired to be introduced to Captain Ross, who +commanded the ship, a ceremony which was +immediately performed, the guard of marines, +drawn up on the port side, receiving the ex-Emperor +with the compliment due to his rank +as a general officer. To Lord Lowther and Mr +Lyttleton, who stood near the admiral, Napoleon +bowed and spoke a few words, remarking also +to an artillery officer who was by, that he himself +had originally served in that arm. The +introduction to the eight lieutenants of the +ship, not one of whom could speak a single +word of French, was sufficiently ridiculous; they +were drawn up in line on one side of the cabin; +and after gazing and smiling for a moment on +Napoleon, who, in his turn, gazed and smiled +at them, they bowed and defiled before him out +of the cabin door. The after-cabin on board +the <i>Northumberland</i> was not, as on the <i>Bellerophon</i>, +the private room wherein Napoleon was not to +be intruded upon by any unbidden guest, but +was shared equally by the admiral and his +friends; a small cabin being besides appropriated +for the sole accommodation of the ex-Emperor, +and elegantly furnished, the toilet being of +silver, and the bed linen of exquisite fineness. +The party were also permitted to supply themselves +from shore with any articles they might +desire wherewith to add to their comfort and +amusement, a permission of which they availed +themselves by purchasing a billiard-table, an +immense supply of playing-cards, chessmen, &c., +besides a number of the best books in the English +language.</p> + +<p>After waiting for the <i>Weymouth</i> storeship +and some other vessels destined to complete the +miniature squadron, the whole finally sailed out +of Tor Bay on Friday the 11th of August; and +Napoleon passed away from the shores of Europe +to end his days in exile on a solitary rock in +the Atlantic.</p> + + + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"><div class="chapter"><h2 class="nobreak" id="GEORGE_HANNAYS_LOVE_AFFAIR">GEORGE HANNAY’S LOVE AFFAIR.</h2></div> + + +<h3>CHAPTER IV.—DISENCHANTMENT.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Fortune</span> seemed to smile on Alfred’s London +enterprise. He called personally on the editors +of several of the society magazines and journals. +‘A Summer Ramble in Kirkcudbright’ was now +in all the glory of print; and when he assured +the editors that he was really the ‘Ariel’ who +penned the sketch, he found them willing, +nay, anxious to look over the manuscripts he +left with them. The letter from the <i>Olympic</i> +accepting the manuscript and inclosing so handsome +an honorarium was of great help to him. +Mr Hannay had a reputation for ‘discovering’ +talent, and his protégés hardly ever failed in +taking some rank in the profession. He got four +or five accepted at fairly remunerative prices. +Then he was proposed at a minor literary club, +and passed the ballot. As a new contributor to +the <i>Olympic</i>, he ranked well there among his +brother scribes, who looked on him as a rising +man, and one whose good opinion was worth +courting. These new friends indeed treated him +with great cordiality, and made him as one of +themselves; some even going the length of +borrowing from him small sums of money.</p> + +<p>Nor was this all. One of the members, the +sub-editor of a Sunday paper, volunteered to +introduce him to London ‘society.’ Behold our +friend, then, at a grand reception at Mrs +Judson’s. This lady was the widow of a +wealthy London pawnbroker (financial agent +she preferred the lost one to be called). Her +sole ambition in life was to secure a following +of literary ‘stars,’ even if they were of +infinitesimal magnitude; and in her circle, ‘Ariel’ +appeared as one of the first. His handsome +figure and genial manners constituted him a +great favourite with the ladies; and his presence +was eagerly sought for at all these little +reunions which compose the ‘fringe’ of London +literary and artistic society. He found this kind +of life both pleasant and profitable; for he was +brought in contact with many editors and proprietors +of third and fourth rate periodicals, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_682">{682}</span>and was able to dispose of half his rejected +manuscripts among them, with fairly satisfactory +pecuniary results to himself.</p> + +<p>His banker now held one or two hundred +pounds to his credit, and he began to look +upon the success of his literary venture as +<i>un fait accompli</i>. There was just one little +thing that annoyed him: his newly found +literary friends were extremely solicitous to +know when his further productions would +appear in the <i>Olympic</i>. This was a poser, for +he had not the least idea himself. He got +out of the difficulty, however, by saying that +the principal editor being on the continent, there +would be nothing definitely arranged until his +return. As will be remembered, Nan’s restrictions +did not prevent him from contributing to +the <i>Olympic</i> in his own name; so, immediately +after his arrival in London, he set to work and +wrote a sketch called ‘Student Life in Brussels.’ +The manuscript was duly sent, and duly +returned in a few days with a printed note +indicating the editor’s regret at being unable +to make use of the paper. This was discouraging; +but then he reflected that taste in +literary things was very fickle; so he wrote a +heavy article on Fair Trade, and sent it on; but +the result was the same.</p> + +<p>About this time, he heard that Mr Hannay +had gone to St Petersburg with a friend +to enjoy the winter festivities of the gay +northern capital. As he was not expected +home for two or three months, Alfred had a +good excuse till then for the non-appearance +of any further work of his in the <i>Olympic</i>. +In the meantime he gave himself up to the +charming gaieties and pleasant little dissipations +of the circle that had made quite a lion of him. +He rather liked the homage these people paid +him; true, they were mentally his inferiors, he +thought; but then they had money, position, +and influence, and might be made useful to +him in the future. He began to think—sometimes +with a feeling bordering on regret—of +his engagement to the innkeeper’s daughter. +How much better he could do now, if he were +free! However, he would be true to his +engagement. Only, Nan must be reasonable, +and wait; at the end of two or three years, +when his name was famous and his position +thoroughly assured, he would marry her. To +do so now would be extremely prejudicial to +his interests, and must not be thought of for +a moment. O no; she must wait patiently +till it suited his convenience; and wouldn’t she +gladly do so? Of course, for wasn’t the girl +madly in love with him?</p> + +<p>And what about Nan? Well, things were +going on in their usual jog-trot course at +Lochenbreck. The winter was their dull season, +and she had plenty of time at her disposal, +which she employed in sewing, reading, practising +her music, and occasionally taking part in the +quiet social gatherings of her country neighbours. +She was, of course, delighted to hear of her lover’s +success in London. ‘Well, after all,’ she thought, +‘he seems to have known best.’ Then she +thought smilingly of the time when he would be +coming to claim the fulfilment of her promise; +and she hoped she could induce him to spend +part of the year at least at Lochenbreck. The +parting with her father was the only drawback +in her fair future; and she hoped this might +be partially at least averted. She sometimes +thought of her old and trusted friend the editor, +and a shadow would come over her countenance +for a moment. It passed quickly away, however, +for she never thought but that he had long since +forgotten her, amid the gaieties of the continent +and his literary pursuits; for though far from +London, he still held the editorial reins and +wrote his usual articles for the <i>Olympic</i>.</p> + +<p>This pleasant, tranquil state of matters lasted +for some weeks. Her lover still corresponded +regularly with her; but his letters began to get +shorter, and were, perhaps, not quite so profuse +and warm in their amatory expressions. Then +after a bit they came more irregularly and +seldomer. Still Nan paid no heed to what +another maiden might have taken as indications +of their lover’s failing allegiance. Hers was a +happy, contented disposition, with no morbid +desire to conjure up possible future evils. She +loved Alfred sincerely, and with all the warmth +and fervour of a girl’s first love. That he had +failings, her strong, keen sense showed her plainly +enough; but then he was only a fallible mortal +like herself and other people. She was not blind +to the vanity he displayed in writing to her +about his social triumphs. If there was anything +that troubled her, it was the frequent +references he made to Mrs Judson. She resented +the control which this woman seemed to have +acquired over her lover’s doings. True, the widow +was almost old enough to be his mother, and had +been very kind to him; but a man should have +a mind of his own, and hold his future in his +own hands; if he did consult with any one, it +should be with her who was soon to be his +wife.</p> + +<p>Things went on in this fashion for some time +longer, and Nan began to feel a vague, chilling +feeling in her heart that all was not as it +should be between Alfred and herself. She was +scarcely prepared, however, for a letter she received +from him one morning after a longer silence than +usual. It was dated from a Sir Hew Crayton’s +shooting-lodge down in Essex. The high-born +though impecunious—and, if the truth must be +told, rather disreputable—baronet had been a +client of the late Mr Judson, and was heavily indebted +to his widow. He was a constant attender +at her house, and it was there Alfred had formed +his acquaintance. Nan smiled when she saw +the ostentatious way he dated the blazoned note-paper +from Crayton Lodge. Before she finished +reading, however, her eyebrows became knit, and +an angry frown settled on her whilom smiling +visage. The letter commenced by saying that as +he felt rather out of sorts with his protracted +course of social enjoyments, he had accepted his +friend Sir Hew Crayton’s kind invitation to spend +a few days’ pheasant-shooting with him down in +Essex. Then he gave a general account of what +he had been doing since he last wrote—the dinner-parties, +balls, routs, conversaziones, and what not +he had been at; the compliments that had been +paid him, and the pleasing prophecies of the +grand future before him which flattering tongues +had whispered in his ears. All this she read +with an amused smile. But near the end she +came to a paragraph which ran as follows: ‘Do +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_683">{683}</span>you know, Nan, I have got a splendid chance of +making my fortune just now? A young lady +with twenty thousand pounds in her own right +has fallen in love with me! I was introduced +to her at an afternoon tea at Mrs Judson’s. +Of course, I made myself agreeable enough, +but I never thought she would have taken +my little civilities so seriously. Yet she did so. +Mrs Judson gave me a plain hint to that +effect, and I then had to tell her about our +engagement, and that such a thing was impossible. +She was surprised, and advised me strongly to +keep the thing secret, as, if it were known, it +would damage my prospects greatly in society, +and even in my profession. She has an excellent +knowledge of the world, Mrs Judson, and has been +very kind to me; her idea is, that we should +not think of getting married for two or three +years yet. By that time I will be in an assured +position, able to marry any one I like, and not +care a pin what the world says.’</p> + +<p>Nan could scarce believe her eyes. Who was +this Mrs Judson who had thrust herself between +them? And did the prospective ‘not caring a +pin what the world said about marrying her,’ +mean that he was afraid and ashamed to marry +her <i>now</i>? The very thought brought the hot +blood tumultuously to her cheeks. Her impulse +was to write breaking off the engagement at once; +however, when the first burst of natural indignation +was past, her practical good sense asserted +itself, and she wrote a short note, requesting +him to hasten down to Lochenbreck, as something +of the most vital importance to them both +had to be at once decided. This she posted, +and awaited her lover’s arrival—with impatience +certainly—but not of a pleasing kind.</p> + +<p>When Alfred got the letter, he was a little +startled. Justly enough, he attributed it to something +he had said in his last epistle to her; and +in going over its contents in his mind, he had +no difficulty in fixing on the paragraph just +quoted as being the cause of offence. ‘Poor Nan!’ +he thought. ‘A case of jealousy, I suppose—the +twenty-thousand-pounds young lady. How ridiculous +of her! Didn’t I say the thing was impossible! +However, I must run down and see her. +A kiss, a caress, and a few soft words, will put +her all right. Really, now, I do like Nan; and +I’ll make things all right for her one of these +days. But she must have patience: she forgets +what a sacrifice I am making, all for her sake. +To marry an innkeeper’s daughter! when, I may +say, I have the pick and choice of the eligibles +of London society, seems like lunacy. Oh, but +I’ll be true to her, all the same! But she +must learn her position; give up any selfish +ideas of an early foolish marriage, and learn to +wait patiently till it suits my convenience and +interest.’</p> + +<p>He arrived at Lochenbreck railway station by +the morning express. The wagonette was there +to meet him, but no Nan. He jumped in; and +whirling through the keen frosty air, cracking +jokes with the driver the while, he arrived in +excellent spirits at the little old-fashioned inn. +To Nan’s great relief, her father had gone to +Castle Douglas market; she hated ‘scenes’ of +any kind and under any circumstances; but she +thought she could bear the one before her better, +if her father was not present and was never to +hear of it afterwards. After having dinned +the praises of his prospective son-in-law in his +ears for months, how could she now turn round +and say she had discovered him to be a vain, +conceited, selfish coxcomb? She had little hope +of this interview putting matters right between +them, and, to be prepared for the worst, had +collected all his letters—all the little nicknacks +he had given her—and parcelled them up ready +to hand to him.</p> + +<p>She submitted gravely and coldly to the customary +salute with which he greeted her, and +led the way to the coffee-room, where breakfast +lay ready for him. In the occasional presence +of the waiting-girl, private conversation was impossible; +so he rattled on in an agreeable manner +about his experiences in London, giving brilliant +sketches of the varied private and public entertainments +in which he had participated. Nan +listened with lady-like composure, putting in an +occasional word; and when the meal was over +they retired to the private parlour. They sat +down opposite to each other, and then Anne +commenced her invective. She pointed out that +he had deliberately chosen literature as a profession, +and having gained a slight success, was now +idling away his time in London, among a set +of people who could do him no good, and who +were, she thought, but of very doubtful reputation.</p> + +<p>‘Wrong there, Nan!’ he interrupted. ‘I admit +I don’t quite move in the inner circle. Still the +people I know seem to have plenty of money, +and are respectable enough; and I find them +useful. I meet with journalists among them, and +have been able to dispose of a good many of +my manuscripts. And you would notice I was +staying for a few days with Sir Hew Crayton. +Now, you know it does a literary man a deal +of good—in public estimation—to be taken notice +of by a baronet.’</p> + +<p>‘I am sorry to hear you talking in that way,’ +she replied sadly, ‘for it shows me your vanity +has got the better of your good sense. Do you +not see it was entirely through your article appearing +in the <i>Olympic</i> that you got your rejected +manuscripts disposed of? As for your baronet, +I don’t think you need boast of him. He stayed +with us for a month, four years ago, and left +without paying his bill. Papa made inquiry +about him, and found he made a swindling living +by lending his name as director to bogus Limited +Companies. Likely he would borrow money from +you?’</p> + +<p>Alfred was forced to admit that he had obliged +him with a loan.</p> + +<p>‘Now, Alfred,’ she continued gravely, ‘I have +decidedly made up my mind that it would be +better for us both that our engagement should +come to an end. If you continue in the life +you are leading, I have no hope for your future; +but even if you were successful, I could never +marry you. Doubtless, you would expect me to +mix with your new friends; that I could never +do—if they are like what you describe them—and +certain unhappiness would be the result. +It is well for us both I have come to know +this in time.’</p> + +<p>This was different sort of talk from what he +had come to hear. It was tears and entreaties +for their immediate union which he had expected. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_684">{684}</span>Still his vanity blinded him to the true import +of her words. She had said she never could +mix with his new friends; well, it was but proper +modesty for her to say that. He would reassure +her on that score, and all would be well yet.</p> + +<p>‘My dear Nan, I think you are talking a little +hastily. No doubt you would feel a little awkward +among the London ladies at first, but that +would soon pass away. And Mrs Judson promised +me to chaperon you a bit, and’——</p> + +<p>‘I wish to hear nothing more, sir, about Mrs +Judson,’ she answered curtly.</p> + +<p>‘Well, Nan, she’s a good friend of yours. I +told her all about our little affair. She said +of course it would be a great sacrifice on my +part; but she applauded my intention of acting +honourably towards you, even although you were +only an innkeeper’s daughter. Of course, it may +be two or three years before I’——</p> + +<p>‘Stop!’ she cried, rising to her feet, her lips +quivering and her cheeks as pale as death—‘stop, +sir! I did not send for you here to insult me. +Surely I have spoken plainly enough; but your +head is so stuffed with selfish vanity, you cannot +comprehend me. Our engagement is at an end. +Here are all your letters and presents! You’ll +return mine when you get to London.—Now, +go!’</p> + +<p>As she said the last words, she drew herself +up to her full height and pointed to the door. +The action was perhaps a little theatrical; but +when he looked at her white set face and flashing +eyes, he saw plainly enough that she was acting +no part. He fancied he had never seen her looking +so handsome before; and he felt a sinking +at his heart at the thought of having by his +foolish letters and talk lost for ever this woman.</p> + +<p>‘You—you—are—angry just now, Nan. Do +take time to’——</p> + +<p>‘Go!’ she repeated firmly, her hand still pointing +to the door. Her face was marble in its +inflexibility; he knew his doom was sealed. +Making a poor show of indifferent self-possession, +he rose and quitted the room.</p> + +<p>When he was fairly gone, Nan broke down +entirely. Shutting herself up in her bedroom, +she made use of the safety-valve provided by +nature for her sex, and had a thoroughly good +cry. Next morning, she was calm and self-possessed, +although her eyes were red and heavy +looking. Her cherished idol had crumbled into +dust; and it became her, she thought, as a +prudent damsel to sweep away the smallest trace +of it from her heart.</p> + + + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"><div class="chapter"><h2 class="nobreak" id="LONDON_CHARITY_ORGANISATION">LONDON CHARITY ORGANISATION +SOCIETY.</h2></div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Society for Organising Charitable Relief and +Repressing Mendicity, or, as it is popularly called, +the Charity Organisation Society, has for its +object the scientific supervision of charity dispensation, +in the deep-rooted conviction that slovenly +and indiscriminate almsgiving is a most pernicious +bane to society, and calculated to foster rather +than diminish indigence. Personal inquiry is +the keynote of the Society’s mode of operation. +Trained, experienced, and apt persons—both +honorary and paid—exhaustively investigate all +cases of indigence brought under the Society’s +notice. In each instance, one important point +is established at the outset of the investigation, +namely, whether the individual concerned must +of necessity—through physical or other disability—habitually +depend for sustenance upon the +resources of others, or whether he or she possesses +the latent means of self-support, which may be +brought into action—under the fostering influence +of personal guidance in moral and material things—after +the temporary condition of poverty has +been met by the judicious application of charity. +Cases of the former description are relegated to +the action of the poor-law—therein lying its +true function; cases of the latter kind are taken +in hand by the Society. But its action is not +that of an individual charitable institution concerned +merely with the distribution of its own +resources. It acts as an intermediary between +those who need charity and those who are anxious +to devote money to charitable purposes. Hence, +in the discharge of its functions, it places itself +in connection both with benevolent individuals +and benevolent bodies, seeking to secure the best +relief for the different cases of destitution which +come under its notice and at the same time to +prevent ‘overlapping’ in charity dispensation. +Where, however, it finds that a case of destitution +cannot effectively be relieved from other sources, +the Society brings its own funds into requisition. +As to its function of ‘repressing mendicity,’ this +it discharges by promoting the detection and +prosecution of impostors.</p> + +<p>And now for a word or two about the mechanism, +if we may so call it, of the Society. The +organisation consists of a federation of forty district +committees—one or more being established +in each of the poor-law divisions of London—and +of a Central Council, at which every committee +is represented. The committees comprise, where +it is possible, ministers of religion, guardians of +the poor, and representatives of the principal +local charities. Their function is to receive, +investigate, and deal, according to the general principles +of the Society, with all cases of alleged +want or distress referred to them; and each +is intended to form a common meeting-place—a +centre of information and charitable work—for +persons in the district desirous of benefiting +the poor. The Central Council supervises besides +endeavouring to strengthen and consolidate the +work of the district committees, taking into consideration, +as well, all questions of principle and +all matters relating to the general action of the +Society. Of course the scene of the Society’s +main operations is the metropolitan poor-law +district; but it is glad to give general assistance, +by sending information to agencies outside that +area. We may add that the example set by the +Society has given birth to many foreign and +provincial organisations of identical aims and +action.</p> + +<p>It may be interesting to glance briefly at the +broad method of investigation pursued by the +inquiry officers—be they paid or honorary—of +the Society. In treating a family, then, +the following facts are in the first place arrived +at: The ages of the parents; the amount of +their earnings at the time of application and +previously; the cause of their leaving their last +employment; the ages of their children; and +whether those children go to school (and if so, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_685">{685}</span>where)—or, if they are employed, what they earn. +The previous addresses, with the references of the +family, are next learned; and it is ascertained +whether they belong to a club or have relatives +who ought to assist them. Then inquiry is made +as to whether the family have any debts hanging +over them; what their rent is; how they are +obtaining a living at the time of application; and, +finally, how they think they can be thoroughly +helped. Subsequently, it is the inquiry officer’s +duty, among other things, to ascertain for himself +the cause of the family’s distress, verifying the +information they have supplied to him; to search +out the best mode of helping; to familiarise himself +with the character of the family, and find on +whom, if its natural head be weak or incompetent, +reliance can be placed to re-establish the family +fortunes; and, lastly, to settle what means of +future thrift and self-support can be fostered +into life.</p> + +<p>Did space permit, we should like to give some +characteristic examples of instances where the +indigent have been raised to a state of independence +by the well-advised action of the Society, +and tell how the workhouse itself has been made +to yield material with which to work so happy a +transformation. Some reference, too, would be +justified to the numerous special questions in +connection with which the Society has seen cause +to take action. But we have said enough perhaps +to effect our immediate purpose and indicate +the nature of the Society and the scope of its +operations. A considerable literature has grown +around the Charity Organisation Society, and +this is accessible to all who visit the central office +of the institution, 15 Buckingham Street, Adelphi, +London, whither all communications to the +Secretary, Mr C. L. Loch, should be addressed.</p> + + + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"><div class="chapter"><h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_DENSCHMANS_HAD">THE DENSCHMAN’S HAD.</h2> +<p class="ph3">A LEGEND OF SHETLAND.</p></div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">From</span> Widwick to Hermaness the cliffs rise +steep and high from a deep ocean, so deep that +a large ship might float alongside of the crags +without danger of scraping her keel. What +would be the fate of such a vessel, if she were +carried by the might of that sea against that +iron wall, I leave you to imagine. The rocks +are broken all along their range by fissures and +caves, inaccessible from the land, and scarcely +approachable from the sea. He is a bold voyager +who brings even a boat to thread the ‘baas’ +and ‘stacks’—submerged rocks and needle-crags—which +guard the way to those haunts of sea-fowl +and seals. One of the caves is named the +Denschman’s Had. I ought to explain that a +‘had’ means the den of a wild beast, his stronghold; +and ‘Denschman’ is ‘Dane.’</p> + +<p>In old days, Shetland (or Hialtland) was +nothing more than a ‘had’ of vikinger, those +pirates of the North who have so often been +confounded with the noble sea-kings of Scandinavia; +but while the islands belonged to Norway, +their inhabitants were under powerful protection, +and suffered little inconvenience from +the uses to which the sea-rovers turned the +sheltered voes and secluded islets. It was only +when Scottish rule came in that the vikinger +of Norway and Denmark turned their weapons +against their brother-Norsemen of the Shetland +Isles. During the times of the Stuarts, Scotland +had enough to do to look after itself, far less +to extend protection to an outlying dependency +that was more plague than profit. Indeed, the +Scottish kings and nobles seem to have regarded +Hialtland as fair game, and robbed and oppressed +the people after as cruel a method as that of +the northern pirates. Between the two, those +islands had a hot time of it; and the islanders, +once a prosperous community, sank into poverty +and hopeless serfdom.</p> + +<p>About the time of Mary Stuart, the isle of +Unst was harassed by a noted viking whose +name and lineage were unknown. He and his +daring crew were believed to be Danes, and +his swift barque—appropriately named the <i>Erne</i>—and +his stalwart person were familiar to +the affrighted eyes of the islanders. When the +Denschman swooped upon the isle, its inhabitants +fled to the hills and rocks, leaving their +homes as spoil for the lawless rover. What +else could they do? The enemy were strong, +reckless, brave, well armed and well disciplined. +The islanders, groaning and disheartened under +the yoke of an alien power, were at the mercy +of might, and could neither resist nor make +treaty; so the Denschman came and went like +the fierce bird of prey whose name his vessel +bore, and no man dared oppose him.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>One midsummer evening, a westerly squall +arose which sent the fishing-boats flying to the +shelter of their voes and vicks. Those storms +rise and fall with tropical rapidity and violence. +Six hours after it was at its height, the wind +had fallen to an ordinary fresh breeze, the sky +was smiling as before, and only the wrathful +surf, rolling white and broken under the influence +of a changing tide, remained to tell of the +tempest. All the boats had returned in safety, +and there should have been rejoicing in Unst; +but instead, men frowned and women trembled, +for the fishers had brought news that the +Denschman was on the coast: his well-known +sail had been seen hovering beyond the holms +of Gloup; he was coming upon the wings of +the westerly wind; he would be on the Westing +Bicht ere long. There was no landing-place +available—with such a heavy sea—on that side +of the island; but the Denschman knew what +he was about, doubtless. He would scud to the +nor’ard, fly round the Flugga skerries and Skau, +would lay-to, and bide his time till dusk drew +down; then he would alight on the eastern +shore, and work his wild will upon the defenceless +isle. Such had been his tactics aforetime. +The people ran to the high lands of Vaalafiel +and Patester to mark the Denschman’s course, +for where he meant to land, <i>there</i> they must +not be.</p> + +<p>Soon the <i>Erne</i> was descried emerging from a +mist of spindrift, and bearing swiftly towards +Unst, heading straight for the isle, and not—as +the folk had supposed—skirting the coast. +Did the vikinger mean to bring their vessel to +harbour among those crags, where the sea was +in such a turmoil? Was the <i>Erne</i> a demon-ship +that could dare everything and perform such a +feat? On he came right before the wind with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_686">{686}</span>a following tide; but when well in the Westing +Bicht, some experienced seamen affirmed that +there must be something wrong aboard, for the +<i>Erne</i> did not rise on the waves with its usual +buoyancy; he seemed to plunge madly forward, +as if in fierce conflict with the ocean he had +ruled so long. By-and-by it was seen that the +vessel laboured more and more, yet carried full +sail, as if on speed depended salvation.</p> + +<p>‘I would not say but he’s sprung a leak, or +the like,’ said an old udaller among the onlookers. +‘Who but a madman would bring a ship +in-shore like yon, if all was taut aboard!’</p> + +<p>‘That is so,’ remarked a seaman. ‘Without +doubt, he’s in straits; and he’s going to try to +beach on the Aire of Widwick. It’s his only +chance, and a poor one.’</p> + +<p>‘Pray the powers he may not make the Aire,’ +replied the old man; ‘and I’m thinking,’ he +added, ‘that the powers will hear us. There +is something fatal amiss with that evil one. +See yon! He’s not obeying his helm; he’s +just driving with wind and tide. He’s in a +mighty strait, praise the Lord!’</p> + +<p>‘If he misses the Aire, he’ll go in <i>shallmillens</i> +[the fragments of eggshell] upon the baas of +Flübersgerdie,’ said a fisherman, with a grim +smile; and all cried out: ‘Pray the powers it +may be so!’</p> + +<p>As if the powers thus invoked were ready to +prove their immediate willingness to answer the +cry of the oppressed, the wind veered more to +the west, and carried the disabled ship against +the holm of Widwick, a small islet which lies +off the creek, and wards from it the full force +of the North Atlantic. If the <i>Erne</i> had stranded +on the holm, some of his crew might have +effected a landing there; but that was not the +end of the viking’s barque; she reeled back from +the holm with a gash in her side that was a +death-wound indeed, and drifted onwards once +more. Now, would she gain the creek? No! +In a few moments the <i>Erne</i> was carried past +the little harbour, where lay the sole chance +of deliverance, and then crashed among the rocks +of Flübersgerdie.</p> + +<p>‘Praise to the powers that are above all!’ cried +the men of Unst, and even gentle-hearted women +rejoiced as the Denschman, barque and crew, disappeared +among the breakers.</p> + +<p>The people returned to their homes, happy in +the thought that the rocks of Fatherland had +proved able protectors, and that Unst was for +ever rid of its most dreaded foe.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Two days and two nights passed. No trace of +the storm was left. A boat put off from Widwick +with the intention of saving such portions of the +<i>Erne</i> as would certainly be drifting among the +skerries near Flübersgerdie. The men could tell +by the state of the tides and the wind exactly +where the wreckage was to be found, and they +made for the spot, never doubting that some spoil +would be there to reward them. As they +approached the submerged reef where the <i>Erne</i> +finished her career, the skipper, alluding to the +dreaded Denschman, said: ‘Well did he deserve +what he met here! Think our isle would give +him foothold!—our isle, that he has harried this +ten year and more! No, no!’</p> + +<p>Scarcely were the words spoken, when one of +the fishermen called out excitedly: ‘Lord be +about us, men, what’s yon?’—and he pointed to +a cave situated in the cliff opposite the reef.</p> + +<p>All gazed, and were struck dumb, for, on a +ledge within the mouth of the helyer (cave) stood +a man—the man! the Denschman, alive, stalwart, +terrible as ever, and brandishing his sword, as if +defying mortal to molest him.</p> + +<p>The boat was instantly backed, and when the +islanders had put what they considered a safe +distance between themselves and their dreaded +foeman, the men consulted together. Should +they make a bold attack? The Denschman was +alone; they were six in number. Surely, they +could overpower him, tired and despairing as he +must be. Yes. But one, or even two of their +number were likely to fall before his sword ere +he could be conquered. Who was patriot enough +‘to lead such dire attack?’ No one of that crew! +Then should they leave him to die of exhaustion, +as he must ere long? There was no way of +escape. The lofty precipice overhung the cave, +precluding any scheme of climbing upwards; on +either side, the <i>aiguille</i> crags rose from a seething +depth of sea; in front, a reef of sunken rocks +covered with fretful surf, dared the bravest +swimmer that ever breasted waves to pass +alive.</p> + +<p>The Denschman had evidently reached his +present refuge by aid of a large plank belonging +to the <i>Erne</i>, which still floated near the cave. +When they had recovered every vestige of the +wreck which floated, he could not escape. It +was beyond the power of man to leave that +cave unaided from without. Help must come +from ropes lowered from the land above, or +boats brought to the cave. And who was there +in Unst would bring rope or boat to aid the +Denschman? None!</p> + +<p>‘Let him die the death!’ said the men whose +homes the viking had devastated. So they +ventured nearer, and removed every floating spar +or plank, then returned to Widwick; and it +was told in the isle that the Denschman had +survived his barque and crew only to meet a more +terrible death. No man pitied him; no man +dreamt of giving him succour. Those were days +when the gentler feelings had little part in +men’s warfare, and no red cross of healing +followed battle ensigns to the field of fight.</p> + +<p>Next day, a number of boats put off, that men +might feast their eyes on the dead or dying +viking; and many saw him. That day, he was +seated on the ledge of rock glowering at them; +but he made no sign of either submission or +defiance. ‘He grows weak,’ they said, and +wondered that even the Denschman’s tough and +giant frame had so long withstood the exposure +and starvation.</p> + +<p>A third time the islanders sought the rocks of +Flübersgerdie and saw the pirate chief as before. +Then they began to fear, and to say that he must +be allied to potent powers of evil; for how, otherwise, +could he have survived there so long? The +interior of the helyer could be seen from a little +distance: no food or clothing had been saved +from the wreck to be secreted there. The +prisoner was always seen sitting on the cold +bare ledge where he had been first discovered, +and the people were satisfied that the cave held +no means of sustenance.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_687">{687}</span></p> +<p>Day by day for a whole fortnight boats were +guided to Flübersgerdie, and men gazed in awe, +but did not venture to molest the Denschman, +who merely returned their stare with haughty +glances, and never deigned to bespeak their compassion. +Dread of the supernatural added its +paralysing effects to the terror which the viking’s +fame had implanted, and there was not a man +found brave enough to attack the Denschman in +his ‘had.’</p> + +<p>Then heaviness fell on the men’s spirits, for +wives and mothers upbraided them as cowards; +their little ones shrieked and hid their faces +when it was told that the bugbear of their dreams +was making his ‘had’ in an Unst helyer; and +at last, driven by shame and a remnant of manly +courage, the islanders determined on attacking +their enemy. They would discover if he were +immortal; they would prove if the powers of evil +were above those of good.</p> + +<p>A fleet of boats was got ready, laden with sharp +stones, which were to be cast at the foe—a safe +mode of onslaught! The islanders armed themselves +with staves and axes. Nets were prepared, +in whose toils the Denschman should fall if he, +by any strange chance, came to close quarters. +The oldest udaller in the isle ordered his best +boat to be launched and consecrated, to lead the +attack. A day was fixed upon. It had been +ascertained on the previous evening that the +Denschman was still in his ‘had,’ alive and strong. +No one doubted by that time that there he would +remain while the island remained, if not ousted +by force and the help of holy powers; or if not +aided by demons to rise and blight the isle.</p> + +<p>‘Pray,’ said the old udaller to his three fair +daughters, who stood to see him embark in the +consecrated boat—‘pray that I bring the Denschman’s +dishonoured corpse back with me.’</p> + +<p>‘We will pray,’ said the golden-haired maidens.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>But what consternation there was on the Aire +of Widwick, a few minutes later, when it was +found that the old man’s boat—the largest and +best in the isle, the skiff that was to have led +the attack—had disappeared! She had not sunk +into the pellucid water, else she had been easily +recovered; she had not floated out to sea, for the +tide was running landwards; yet she had gone +as completely as if she had owned feet to carry +her over earth, or wings to fly through air. To be +sure, the boat had both feet and wings of a kind, +but these were of use on the ocean alone. And +she was gone—oars and sails too! Doubtless, her +flight had been on her native element; but some +man’s hand must have spread her wings or moved +her feet. Then who had stolen the udaller’s boat? +No Hialtlander, be sure! Robbery was never +the vice of those islanders; moreover, such a +theft could have been brought home to a native +easily.</p> + +<p>One fisherman, more acute than his neighbours, +whispered: ‘None but the Denschman has done +this;’ and with common assent, all echoed: ‘The +Denschman has done this.’</p> + +<p>Boats instantly put off and sped to Flübersgerdie, +where confirmation of those suspicions was +not wanting. The Denschman was no longer in +the cave. He had been there, hale and terrible, +on the previous evening; he had vanished that +morning, and left no trace behind. ‘It must +have been the Evil One himself,’ said the folk; +and there was gloom in the isle, trembling, and +much fear, for all expected that ere long the +Denschman would descend upon Unst, and, fired +by revenge, deal worse havoc than even that of +former days.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>But days and weeks went past, and nothing +further was known of the Denschman or the +udaller’s boat, and still the people feared their +ancient foe and looked for his return. None +doubted that he survived. The man who could +live in unabated vigour through a fortnight without +food or fire in a dark ocean cave, who could +find means of leaving his prison, and could spirit +away a large boat—such a one was not likely +to have perished on the sea. Yes, without doubt, +the Denschman would return to Unst; ‘and +heaven help us when he comes!’ said the +islanders.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Then it happened one autumn afternoon that +a stranger vessel was seen, on the Westing Bicht, +making tacks for the isle. The people had always +cause to suspect an unknown sail, and they +watched the stranger’s approach with some fear. +As he drew nearer, it was observed that he closely +resembled the <i>Erne</i> of old, but carried the white +flag of peace. The Norland pirates ever scorned +to conceal their true character, which was never a +treacherous one, but flaunted their ruthless blood-red +colours in the face of day. If a viking hoisted +the white banner, he meant peace; and so well +was this known, and so thoroughly could all men +trust in the good faith of a viking, that the +islanders instantly sent off a boat to the vessel, +though they suspected it was a pirate ship. The +stranger had a boat in tow, and when the islanders +came near, he lay-to and allowed them to come +alongside of his convoy. What was the fishermen’s +astonishment to find that the boat was no +other than that of the Unst udaller!</p> + +<p>Then a stern voice spoke from the ship. +‘Come not nearer,’ it said, in a patois half-Danish, +half-English, which the Hialtlanders +could interpret well enough. ‘Come not nearer; +but undo the tow-line, and take that boat to +its owner. It is freighted with goodly gifts for +the udaller’s three fair daughters, who will know +whence those tokens come.—And know, ye hinds +of Unst, that ye owe your lives and all that +makes life precious to the golden-haired maidens.—Begone!’ +Then the speaker—easily recognised +as the Denschman—made imperious sign to his +mariners, who speedily put the vessel on another +tack, and before many minutes he was running +out to sea again.</p> + +<p>The islanders towed the laden boat ashore, +where a throng was waiting their return. Numerous +questions were asked, numerous conjectures +made. The udaller and his daughters were +summoned and the precious cargo displayed. +Table utensils of silver, personal ornaments of +gold, silken stuffs and snowy linens, rich wines +and fruits, and precious grain, whatever could +please feminine taste, were spread before the +wondering people, while the three sisters stood +mute and blushing, now cowering with strange +shame, anon glancing with curious pride at all +around.</p> + +<p>Presently, their old father addressed them in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_688">{688}</span>grave and troubled tones: ‘Tell us the meaning +of this strange <i>güdic</i> [riddle].’</p> + +<p>At that, the two younger girls fell on their +knees and clasped his hands entreatingly, while +the eldest sister cried: ‘O father, do not be +angered, and I will tell ye all. We heard you +speak of the Denschman in his sore strait with +nobody to pity him. It’s true he had dealt +cruelly by our isle; but—but, O father, it lay +heavy on our hearts that a man—and such a +man, with such a goodly presence and such a +bold spirit—should die like an otter trapped in +a snare; and so, we—we went to the rock in +the dark hour of nicht, and we lowered a <i>keschie</i> +[basket] to him with food and cordials and clothes—everything +to keep in life. And then—when we +knew that our men meant to stone the poor +defenceless captive to death, our souls were +melted with pity; so we took the boat and +helped him to escape. <i>We</i> were not afraid +of the Denschman; and, truth to tell, he +can be kind and gentle like other men. Or +ere he left the isle—all in the mirk hour—he +promised that, because of what we had done, +he would never harry Unst again. No doubt, +it was wrong of us, father; but then, oh, be +mindful that the plight he was in could not +fail to touch lasses’ hearts. And if good instead +of harm come of it—nay, <i>has</i> come of it—ye +need not trouble yourself more, but forgive us, +and trust the Denschman to keep his word. He +will do so. We all know that a viking stands +to his promise, whate’er betide.’</p> + +<p>‘The lass has spoken words of wisdom,’ said +a prudent matron, eyeing the viking’s royal +gifts; and a laughing seaman added: ‘Ay, and +what would come of us poor men if lasses were +not pitiful, and not just altogether wise at +times!’</p> + +<p>So the old udaller forgave his daughters, and—as +legend says—‘after that Unst was often benefited, +and never more harried, by the Denschman,’ +whose ‘had’ is still pointed out to the +inquiring stranger.</p> + + + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"><div class="chapter"><h2 class="nobreak smalltext" id="AN_ELECTRICAL_FURNACE">AN ELECTRICAL FURNACE.</h2></div> + + +<p>Some of the enormous power which runs waste +at the Falls of Niagara is about to be utilised at +last, and, strangely enough, the first work required +of the water will be the smelting of refractory +ores. This new undertaking is to be carried +out by the Cowles Electrical Furnace Company, +the inventors of the process being Messrs Eugene +H. and Alfred H. Cowles. Their experimental +works at Cleveland, Ohio, have been so successful, +that they were awarded the John Scott +premium and the Elliot Cresson medal of the +Franklin Institute. While labouring under various +disadvantages, the Company was yet able +to produce metallic combinations that promise +to be of great importance, such as aluminium +bronze, aluminium silver, aluminium brass, and +silicon bronze in ingots, castings, wire, and rolled +metal. Some of these alloys were manufactured +into different articles in every-day use. They +exhibited screws of aluminium brass; knives +with blades of aluminium silver, and handles of +aluminium bronze; together with a number of +other manufactured articles. Aluminium bronze +is stronger than steel, is not so liable to rust, +and, being elastic and ductile, if it can be produced +at a cheap enough rate, it should have a +great future before it. For instance, cycles made +of it would be lighter, stronger, and more easily +kept clean than those made of steel. This industry +alone should create a large demand. +Silicon bronze, also, from its electric conductivity, +tensile strength, lightness, and non-corrosiveness, +will be a desirable substitute for iron and copper +in telegraphy; while aluminium silver—an alloy +containing the special bronze with nickel—will +be serviceable for cutlery and fancy articles. +Pure aluminium, however, has this great disadvantage, +that it tarnishes readily, and unless +something can be done to remedy the defect, its +usefulness will be considerably restricted. At +the same time, these alloys bid fair to supplant +steel and other metals in the manufacture of +light articles where strength and appearance are +desirable.</p> + +<p>A dynamo larger than any yet constructed is +at present being made for the Company at +Lockport, New York. As already stated, it +will be driven by water, acting on turbines. +The contemplated works will, it is estimated, +yield about three hundred thousand horse-power, +and this only represents a fraction of the power +that is running to waste at Niagara.</p> + + + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"><div class="chapter"><h2 class="nobreak" id="WHO_KNOWS">WHO KNOWS?</h2></div> + + +<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"><div class="verse indent0"><span class="smcap">I grant</span> her fair, ay, passing fair,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">As lovely as a budding rose;</div> +<div class="verse indent0">But is there soul behind that face,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">A beauty ’neath that outward grace?</div> +<div class="verse indent6">Who knows—who knows?</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"><div class="verse indent0">Does light of love beam from those eyes?—</div> +<div class="verse indent2">The love that in her bosom glows?</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Or is the light that lingers there</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Delusive, though it shine so fair?</div> +<div class="verse indent6">Who knows—who knows?</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"><div class="verse indent0">Does that fair form a fairer charm,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">A tender, loving heart inclose?</div> +<div class="verse indent0">A heart whose tendrils, like the vine,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Would round the heart that loved it twine?</div> +<div class="verse indent6">Who knows—who knows?</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"><div class="verse indent0">And should life’s sky be overcast,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">And gathering clouds around thee close,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Should fortune frown and false friends flee,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Would that heart still cling close to thee?</div> +<div class="verse indent6">Who knows—who knows?</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"><div class="verse indent0">Or is she, can she ever be,</div> +<div class="verse indent2">As fickle as the wind that blows,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">And veers as if it were at play,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">Trifling with all who own her sway?</div> +<div class="verse indent6">Who knows—who knows?</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"><div class="verse indent0">But why a prey to doubt remain?</div> +<div class="verse indent2">Why halt ’twixt hope and fear?—propose.</div> +<div class="verse indent0">She may be waiting till you dare,</div> +<div class="verse indent0">To crown with love that beauty rare.</div> +<div class="verse indent6">Who knows—who knows?</div></div> + +<div class="attrib"><span class="smcap">John Napier.</span></div> +</div></div> + +<hr class="full"> + +<p class="center">Printed and Published by <span class="smcap">W. & R. Chambers</span>, 47 Paternoster +Row, <span class="smcap">London</span>, and 339 High Street, <span class="smcap">Edinburgh</span>.</p> + +<hr class="full"> + +<p class="center"><i>All rights reserved.</i></p> + +<hr class="full"> + +<p>[Transcriber’s note—the following changes have been made to this text.</p> + +<p>Page 676: du to de la—“l’ami de la famille”.] +</p> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75211 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/75211-h/images/cover.jpg b/75211-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9c13a6d --- /dev/null +++ b/75211-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/75211-h/images/header.jpg b/75211-h/images/header.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7892f08 --- /dev/null +++ b/75211-h/images/header.jpg |
