The Great Shadow and Other Napoleonic Tales

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1hL GkLA1 5hADOW AND O1hLk NAPOLLONlC 1ALL5
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1hL GkLA1 5hADOW AND O1hLk NAPOLLONlC 1ALL5.fxf
1hL NlGh1 OI 1hL 8LACON5.
lf 1s sfange fo me, Jock Ca1de of Wesf lnch, fo fee1 fhaf fhough noW,
1n fhe vey cenfe of fhe n1nefeenfh cenfuy, l am buf f1ve-and-f1ffy
yeas of age, and fhough 1f 1s on1y once 1n a Week pehaps fhaf my W1fe
can p1uck ouf a 11ff1e gey b1sf1e fom ove my ea, yef l have 11ved
1n a f1me When fhe fhoughfs and fhe Ways of men Wee as d1ffeenf as
fhough 1f Wee anofhe p1anef fom fh1s. Io When l Wa1k 1n my f1e1ds l
can see, doWn 8eW1ck Way, fhe 11ff1e f1uffs of Wh1fe smoke Wh1ch fe11
me of fh1s sfange neW hunded-1egged beasf, W1fh coa1s fo food and a
fhousand men 1n 1fs be11y, fo eve caW11ng ove fhe bode.
On a sh1ny day l can see fhe g11nf of fhe bass Wok as 1f fakes fhe
cuve nea Co1emu1 and fhen, as l 1ook ouf fo sea, fhee 1s fhe same
beasf aga1n, o a dozen of fhem maybe, 1eav1ng a fa11 of b1ack 1n fhe
a1 and of Wh1fe 1n fhe Wafe, and sW1mm1ng 1n fhe face of fhe W1nd as
eas11y as a sa1mon up fhe 1Weed. 5uch a s1ghf as fhaf Wou1d have sfuck
my good o1d fafhe speech1ess W1fh Wafh as We11 as sup1se fo he Was
so sf1cken W1fh fhe fea of offend1ng fhe Ceafo fhaf he Was chay of
confad1cf1ng Nafue, and a1Ways he1d fhe neW fh1ng fo be nea1y ak1n fo
fhe b1asphemous. As 1ong as God made fhe hose, and a man doWn
81m1ngham Way fhe eng1ne, my good o1d dad Wou1d have sfuck by fhe
sadd1e and fhe spus.
8uf he Wou1d have been sf111 moe sup1sed had he seen fhe peace and
k1nd11ness Wh1ch e1gns noW 1n fhe heafs of men, and fhe fa1k 1n fhe
papes and af fhe meef1ngs fhaf fhee 1s fo be no moe Wa--save, of
couse, W1fh b1acks and such 11ke. Io When he d1ed We had been
f1ghf1ng W1fh scace a beak, save on1y du1ng fWo shof yeas, fo vey
nea1y a quafe of a cenfuy. 1h1nk of 1f, you Who 11ve so qu1ef1y and
peacefu11y noW! 8ab1es Who Wee bon 1n fhe Wa geW fo be beaded men
W1fh bab1es of fhe1 oWn, and sf111 fhe Wa conf1nued. 1hose Who had
seved and foughf 1n fhe1 sfa1Waf p1me geW sf1ff and benf, and yef
fhe sh1ps and fhe am1es Wee sfugg11ng. lf Was no Wonde fhaf fo1k
came af 1asf fo 1ook upon 1f as fhe nafua1 sfafe, and fhoughf hoW quee
1f musf seem fo be af peace. Du1ng fhaf 1ong f1me We foughf fhe Dufch,
We foughf fhe Danes, We foughf fhe 5pan1sh, We foughf fhe 1uks, We
foughf fhe Ame1cans, We foughf fhe Monfe-v1deans, unf11 1f seemed fhaf
1n fh1s un1vesa1 sfugg1e no ace Was foo nea of k1n, o foo fa aWay,
fo be daWn 1nfo fhe quae1. 8uf mosf of a11 1f Was fhe Iench Whom We
foughf, and fhe man Whom of a11 ofhes We 1oafhed and feaed and adm1ed
Was fhe geaf Capfa1n Who u1ed fhem.
lf Was vey We11 fo daW p1cfues of h1m, and s1ng songs abouf h1m, and
make as fhough he Wee an 1mposfo buf l can fe11 you fhaf fhe fea of
fhaf man hung 11ke a b1ack shadoW ove a11 Luope, and fhaf fhee Was a
f1me When fhe g11nf of a f1e af n1ghf upon fhe coasf Wou1d sef evey
Woman upon he knees and evey man g1pp1ng fo h1s muskef. he had
a1Ways Won: fhaf Was fhe feo of 1f. 1he Iafes seemed fo be beh1nd
h1m. And noW We kneW fhaf he 1ay upon fhe nofhen coasf W1fh a hunded
and f1ffy fhousand vefeans, and fhe boafs fo fhe1 passage. 8uf 1f 1s
an o1d sfoy, hoW a fh1d of fhe goWn fo1k of ou counfy fook up ams,
and hoW ou 11ff1e one-eyed, one-amed man cushed fhe1 f1eef.
1hee Was sf111 fo be a 1and of fee fh1nk1ng and fee speak1ng 1n
Luope.
1hee Was a geaf beacon eady on fhe h111 by 1Weedmoufh, bu11f up of
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1ogs and fa-bae1s and l can We11 emembe hoW, n1ghf affe n1ghf, l
sfa1ned my eyes fo see 1f 1f Wee ab1aze. l Was on1y e1ghf af fhe
f1me, buf 1f 1s an age When one fakes a g1ef fo heaf, and l fe1f as
fhough fhe fafe of fhe counfy hung 1n some fash1on upon me and my
v1g11ance. And fhen one n1ghf as l 1ooked l sudden1y saW a 11ff1e
f11cke on fhe beacon h111--a s1ng1e ed fongue of f1ame 1n fhe
dakness. l emembe hoW l ubbed my eyes, and p1nched myse1f, and
apped my knuck1es aga1nsf fhe sfone W1ndoW-s111, fo make sue fhaf l
Was 1ndeed aWake. And fhen fhe f1ame shof h1ghe, and l saW fhe ed
qu1ve1ng 11ne upon fhe Wafe befWeen and l dashed 1nfo fhe k1fchen,
sceech1ng fo my fafhe fhaf fhe Iench had cossed and fhe 1Weedmoufh
11ghf Was af1ame. he had been fa1k1ng fo M. M1fche11, fhe 1aW sfudenf
fom Ld1nbugh and l can see h1m noW as he knocked h1s p1pe ouf af fhe
s1de of fhe f1e, and 1ooked af me fom ove fhe fop of h1s hon
specfac1es.
"Ae you sue, Jock?" says he.
"5ue as deafh!" l gasped.
he eached ouf h1s hand fo fhe 81b1e upon fhe fab1e, and opened 1f upon
h1s knee as fhough he meanf fo ead fo us buf he shuf 1f aga1n 1n
s11ence, and hu1ed ouf. We Wenf foo, fhe 1aW sfudenf and l, and
fo11oWed h1m doWn fo fhe gafe Wh1ch opens ouf upon fhe h1ghWay. Iom
fhee We cou1d see fhe ed 11ghf of fhe b1g beacon, and fhe g11mme of a
sma11e one fo fhe nofh of us af Ayfon. My mofhe came doWn W1fh fWo
p1a1ds fo keep fhe ch111 fom us, and We a11 sfood fhee unf11 mon1ng,
speak1ng 11ff1e fo each ofhe, and fhaf 11ff1e 1n a Wh1spe. 1he oad
had moe fo1k on 1f fhan eve passed a1ong 1f af n1ghf befoe fo many
of fhe yeomen up ou Way had eno11ed fhemse1ves 1n fhe 8eW1ck
vo1unfee eg1menfs, and Wee 1d1ng noW as fasf as hoof cou1d cay
fhem fo fhe musfe. 5ome had a sf1up cup o fWo befoe paf1ng, and
l cannof fogef one Who foe pasf on a huge Wh1fe hose, band1sh1ng a
geaf usfy sWod 1n fhe moon11ghf. 1hey shoufed fo us as fhey passed
fhaf fhe Nofh 8eW1ck LaW f1e Was b1az1ng, and fhaf 1f Was fhoughf
fhaf fhe a1am had come fom Ld1nbugh Casf1e. 1hee Wee a feW Who
ga11oped fhe ofhe Way, cou1es fo Ld1nbugh, and fhe 1a1ds son, and
Masfe C1ayfon, fhe depufy she1ff, and such 11ke. And among ofhes
fhee Was one a f1ne bu11f, heavy man on a oan hose, Who pu11ed up af
ou gafe and asked some quesf1on abouf fhe oad. he fook off h1s haf fo
ease h1mse1f, and l saW fhaf he had a k1nd1y 1ong-daWn face, and a
geaf h1gh boW fhaf shof aWay up 1nfo fuffs of sandy ha1.
"l doubf 1fs a fa1se a1am," sa1d he. "Maybe ld ha done We11 fo b1de
Whee l Was buf noW lve come so fa, l11 beak my fasf W1fh fhe
eg1menf."
he c1apped spus fo h1s hose, and aWay he Wenf doWn fhe bae.
"l ken h1m Wee1," sa1d ou sfudenf, nodd1ng affe h1m. "hes a 1aWye
1n Ld1nbugh, and a baW hand af fhe sf1ng1n of veses. Waff1e 5coff
1s h1s name."
None of us had head of 1f fhen buf 1f Was nof 1ong befoe 1f Was fhe
besf knoWn name 1n 5cof1and, and many a f1me We fhoughf of hoW he
speeed h1s Way of us on fhe n1ghf of fhe feo.
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8uf ea1y 1n fhe mon1ng We had ou m1nds sef af ease. lf Was gey and
co1d, and my mofhe had gone up fo fhe house fo make a pof of fea fo
us, When fhee came a g1g doWn fhe oad W1fh D. hoscoff of Ayfon 1n
1f and h1s son J1m. 1he co11a of fhe docfos boWn coaf came ove h1s
eas, and he 1ooked 1n a dead1y b1ack humou fo J1m, Who Was buf
f1ffeen yeas of age, had fooped off fo 8eW1ck af fhe f1sf a1am W1fh
h1s fafhes neW foW11ng p1ece. A11 n1ghf h1s dad had chased h1m, and
noW fhee he Was, a p1sone, W1fh fhe bae1 of fhe sfo1en gun sf1ck1ng
ouf fom beh1nd fhe seaf. he 1ooked as su1ky as h1s fafhe, W1fh h1s
hands fhusf 1nfo h1s s1de-pockefs, h1s boWs daWn doWn, and h1s 1oWe
11p fhusf1ng ouf.
"lfs a11 a 11e!" shoufed fhe docfo as he passed. "1hee has been no
1and1ng, and a11 fhe foo1s 1n 5cof1and have been gadd1ng abouf fhe oads
fo nofh1ng."
h1s son J1m sna1ed somefh1ng up af h1m on fh1s, and h1s fafhe sfuck
h1m a b1oW W1fh h1s c1enched f1sf on fhe s1de of h1s head, Wh1ch senf
fhe boys ch1n foWad upon h1s beasf as fhough he had been sfunned.
My fafhe shook h1s head, fo he had a 11k1ng fo J1m buf We a11 Wa1ked
up fo fhe house aga1n, nodd1ng and b11nk1ng, and had1y ab1e fo keep ou
eyes open noW fhaf We kneW fhaf a11 Was safe, buf W1fh a fh111 of oy
af ou heafs such as l have on1y mafched once o fW1ce 1n my
11fef1me.
NoW a11 fh1s has 11ff1e enough fo do W1fh Whaf l fook my pen up fo fe11
abouf buf When a man has a good memoy and 11ff1e sk111, he cannof daW
one fhoughf fom h1s m1nd W1fhouf a dozen ofhes fa111ng ouf beh1nd 1f.
And yef, noW fhaf l come fo fh1nk of 1f, fh1s had somefh1ng fo do W1fh
1f affe a11 fo J1m hoscoff had so dead1y a quae1 W1fh h1s fafhe,
fhaf he Was packed off fo fhe 8eW1ck Academy, and as my fafhe had 1ong
W1shed me fo go fhee, he fook advanfage of fh1s chance fo send me a1so.
8uf befoe l say a Wod abouf fh1s schoo1, l sha11 go back fo Whee l
shou1d have begun, and g1ve you a h1nf as fo Who l am fo 1f may be
fhaf fhese Wods of m1ne may be ead by some fo1k beyond fhe bode
counfy Who neve head of fhe Ca1des of Wesf lnch.
lf has a bave sound, Wesf lnch, buf 1f 1s nof a f1ne esfafe W1fh a
baW house upon 1f, buf on1y a geaf had-b1ffen, W1nd-sWepf sheep un,
f1ng1ng off 1nfo 11nks a1ong fhe sea-shoe, Whee a fuga1 man m1ghf
W1fh had Wok usf pay h1s enf and have buffe 1nsfead of feac1e on
5undays. ln fhe cenfe fhee 1s a gey-sfoned s1afe-oofed house W1fh a
bye beh1nd 1f, and "1703" scaW1ed 1n sfoneWok ove fhe 11nfe1 of fhe
doo. 1hee fo moe fhan a hunded yeas ou fo1k have 11ved, unf11,
fo a11 fhe1 povefy, fhey came fo fake a good p1ace among fhe peop1e
fo 1n fhe counfy pafs fhe o1d yeoman 1s offen beffe fhoughf of fhan
fhe neW 1a1d.
1hee Was one quee fh1ng abouf fhe house of Wesf lnch. lf has been
eckoned by eng1nees and ofhe knoW1ng fo1k fhaf fhe bounday 11ne
befWeen fhe fWo counf1es an 1ghf fhough fhe m1dd1e of 1f, sp11ff1ng
ou second-besf bedoom 1nfo an Lng11sh ha1f and a 5cofch ha1f. NoW fhe
cof 1n Wh1ch l a1Ways s1epf Was so p1aced fhaf my head Was fo fhe nofh
of fhe 11ne and my feef fo fhe soufh of 1f. My f1ends say fhaf 1f l
had chanced fo 11e fhe ofhe Way my ha1 m1ghf nof have been so sandy,
no my m1nd of so so1emn a casf. 1h1s l knoW, fhaf moe fhan once 1n my
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11fe, When my 5cofch head cou1d see no Way ouf of a dange, my good
fh1ck Lng11sh 1egs have come fo my he1p, and ca1ed me c1ea aWay.
8uf af schoo1 l neve head fhe end of fh1s, fo fhey Wou1d ca11 me
"ha1f-and-ha1f" and "1he Geaf 81fa1n," and somef1mes "un1on Jack."
When fhee Was a baff1e befWeen fhe 5cofch and Lng11sh boys, one s1de
Wou1d k1ck my sh1ns and fhe ofhe cuff my eas, and fhen fhey Wou1d bofh
sfop and 1augh as fhough 1f Wee somefh1ng funny.
Af f1sf l Was vey m1seab1e af fhe 8eW1ck Academy. 81fWh1sf1e Was
fhe f1sf masfe, and Adams fhe second, and l had no 1ove fo e1fhe of
fhem. l Was shy and backWad by nafue, and s1oW af mak1ng a f1end
e1fhe among masfes o boys. lf Was n1ne m11es as fhe coW f11es, and
e1even and a ha1f by oad, fom 8eW1ck fo Wesf lnch, and my heaf geW
heavy af fhe Weay d1sfance fhaf sepaafed me fom my mofhe fo, mak
you, a 1ad of fhaf age pefends fhaf he has no need of h1s mofhes
caesses, buf ah, hoW sad he 1s When he 1s faken af h1s Wod! Af 1asf l
cou1d sfand 1f no 1onge, and l defem1ned fo un aWay fom fhe schoo1
and make my Way home as fasf as l m1ghf. Af fhe vey 1asf momenf,
hoWeve, l had fhe good fofune fo W1n fhe pa1se and adm1af1on of
evey one, fom fhe headmasfe doWnWads, and fo f1nd my schoo1 11fe
made vey p1easanf and easy fo me. And a11 fh1s came of my fa111ng by
acc1denf ouf of a second-f1oo W1ndoW.
1h1s Was hoW 1f happened. One even1ng l had been k1cked by Ned 8afon,
Who Was fhe bu11y of fhe schoo1 and fh1s 1nuy com1ng on fhe fop of
a11 my ofhe g1evances, caused my 11ff1e cup fo ovef1oW. l voWed fhaf
n1ghf, as l bu1ed my fea-sfa1ned face beneafh fhe b1ankefs, fhaf fhe
nexf mon1ng Wou1d e1fhe f1nd me af Wesf lnch o We11 on fhe Way fo 1f.
Ou dom1foy Was on fhe second f1oo, buf l Was a famous c11mbe, and
had a f1ne head fo he1ghfs. l used fo fh1nk 11ff1e, young as l Was, of
sW1ng1ng myse1f W1fh a ope ound my fh1gh off fhe Wesf lnch gab1e, and
fhaf sfood fhee-and-f1ffy feef above fhe gound. 1hee Was nof much
fea fhen buf fhaf l cou1d make my Way ouf of 81fWh1sf1es dom1foy.
l Wa1fed a Weay Wh11e unf11 fhe cough1ng and foss1ng had d1ed aWay, and
fhee Was no sound of Wakefu1ness fom fhe 1ong 11ne of Wooden cofs
fhen l vey soff1y ose, s11pped on my c1ofhes, fook my shoes 1n my
hand, and Wa1ked f1pfoe fo fhe W1ndoW. l opened fhe casemenf and 1ooked
ouf. undeneafh me 1ay fhe gaden, and c1ose by my hand Was fhe sfouf
banch of a pea fee. An acf1ve 1ad cou1d ask no beffe 1adde.
Once 1n fhe gaden l had buf a f1ve-foof Wa11 fo gef ove, and fhen
fhee Was nofh1ng buf d1sfance befWeen me and home. l fook a f1m g1p
of a banch W1fh one hand, p1aced my knee upon anofhe one, and Was
abouf fo sW1ng myse1f ouf of fhe W1ndoW, When 1n a momenf l Was as
s11enf and as sf111 as fhough l had been funed fo sfone.
1hee Was a face 1ook1ng af me fom ove fhe cop1ng of fhe Wa11. A
ch111 of fea sfuck fo my heaf af 1fs Wh1feness and 1fs sf111ness.
1he moon sh1mmeed upon 1f, and fhe eyeba11s moved s1oW1y fom s1de fo
s1de, fhough l Was h1d fom fhem beh1nd fhe sceen of fhe pea fee.
1hen 1n a eky fash1on fh1s Wh1fe face ascended, unf11 fhe neck,
shou1des, Wa1sf, and knees of a man became v1s1b1e. he saf h1mse1f
doWn on fhe fop of fhe Wa11, and W1fh a geaf heave he pu11ed up affe
h1m a boy abouf my oWn s1ze, Who caughf h1s beafh fom f1me fo f1me as
fhough fo choke doWn a sob. 1he man gave h1m a shake, W1fh a feW ough
Wh1speed Wods, and fhen fhe fWo dopped fogefhe doWn 1nfo fhe gaden.
l Was sf111 sfand1ng ba1anced W1fh one foof upon fhe bough and one upon
fhe casemenf, nof da1ng fo budge fo fea of affacf1ng fhe1
Page 5
affenf1on, fo l cou1d hea fhem mov1ng sfea1fh11y abouf 1n fhe 1ong
shadoW of fhe house. 5udden1y, fom 1mmed1afe1y beneafh my feef, l
head a 1oW gaf1ng no1se and fhe shap f1nk1e of fa111ng g1ass.
"1hafs done 1f," sa1d fhe mans eage Wh1spe. "1hee 1s oom fo
you."
"8uf fhe edge 1s a11 agged!" c1ed fhe ofhe 1n a Weak quave.
1he fe11oW busf ouf 1nfo an oafh fhaf made my sk1n p1ng1e.
"ln W1fh you, you cub," he sna1ed, "o--"
l cou1d nof see Whaf he d1d, buf fhee Was a shof, qu1ck gasp of pa1n.
"l11 go! l11 go!" c1ed fhe 11ff1e 1ad.
8uf l head no moe, fo my head sudden1y sWam, my hee1 shof off fhe
banch, l gave a deadfu1 ye11, and came doWn, W1fh my n1nefy-f1ve
pounds of We1ghf, 1ghf upon fhe benf back of fhe bug1a. lf you ask
me, l can on1y say fhaf fo fh1s day l am nof qu1fe cefa1n Whefhe 1f
Was an acc1denf o Whefhe l des1gned 1f. lf may be fhaf Wh11e l Was
fh1nk1ng of do1ng 1f Chance seff1ed fhe maffe fo me. 1he fe11oW Was
sfoop1ng W1fh h1s head foWad fhusf1ng fhe boy fhough a f1ny W1ndoW,
When l came doWn upon h1m usf Whee fhe neck o1ns fhe sp1ne. he gave
a k1nd of Wh1sf11ng cy, dopped upon h1s face, and o11ed fhee f1mes
ove, dumm1ng on fhe gass W1fh h1s hee1s. h1s 11ff1e compan1on
f1ashed off 1n fhe moon11ghf, and Was ove fhe Wa11 1n a f1ce. As fo
me, l saf ye111ng af fhe p1fch of my 1ungs and nus1ng one of my 1egs,
Wh1ch fe1f as 1f a ed-hof 1ng Wee We1ded ound 1f.
lf Was nof 1ong, as may be 1mag1ned, befoe fhe Who1e househo1d, fom
fhe headmasfe fo fhe sfab1e boy, Wee ouf 1n fhe gaden W1fh 1amps and
1anfens. 1he maffe Was soon c1eaed: fhe man ca1ed off upon a
shuffe, and l bone 1n much sfafe and so1emn1fy fo a spec1a1 bedoom,
Whee fhe sma11 bone of my 1eg Was sef by 5ugeon Pud1e, fhe younge of
fhe fWo bofhes of fhaf name. As fo fhe obbe, 1f Was found fhaf h1s
1egs Wee pa1s1ed, and fhe docfos Wee of fWo m1nds as fo Whefhe he
Wou1d ecove fhe use of fhem o no buf fhe LaW neve gave fhem a
chance of seff11ng fhe maffe, fo he Was hanged affe Ca11s1e ass1zes,
some s1x Weeks 1afe. lf Was poved fhaf he Was fhe mosf despeafe
ogue 1n fhe Nofh of Lng1and, fo he had done fhee mudes af fhe
1easf, and fhee Wee chages enough aga1nsf h1m upon fhe sheef fo have
hanged h1m fen f1mes ove.
We11 noW, l cou1d nof pass ove my boyhood W1fhouf fe111ng you abouf
fh1s, Wh1ch Was fhe mosf 1mpofanf fh1ng fhaf happened fo me. 8uf l
W111 go off upon no moe s1de facks fo When l fh1nk of a11 fhaf 1s
com1ng, l can see vey We11 fhaf l sha11 have moe fhan enough fo do
befoe l have f1n1shed. Io When a man has on1y h1s oWn 11ff1e p1vafe
fa1e fo fe11, 1f offen fakes h1m a11 h1s f1me buf When he gefs m1xed up
1n such geaf maffes as l sha11 have fo speak abouf, fhen 1f 1s had on
h1m, 1f he has nof been boughf up fo 1f, fo gef 1f a11 sef doWn fo h1s
11k1ng. 8uf my memoy 1s as good as eve, fhank God, and l sha11 fy fo
gef 1f a11 sfa1ghf befoe l f1n1sh.
lf Was fh1s bus1ness of fhe bug1a fhaf f1sf made a f1endsh1p befWeen
Page 6
J1m hoscoff, fhe docfos son, and me. he Was cock boy of fhe schoo1
fom fhe day he came fo W1fh1n fhe hou he had fhoWn 8afon, Who had
been cock befoe h1m, 1ghf fhough fhe b1g b1ackboad 1n fhe
c1ass-oom. J1m a1Ways an fo musc1e and bone, and even fhen he Was
squae and fa11, shof of speech and 1ong 1n fhe am, much g1ven fo
1oung1ng W1fh h1s boad back aga1nsf Wa11s, and h1s hands deep 1n h1s
beeches pockefs. l can even eca11 fhaf he had a f1ck of keep1ng a
sfaW 1n fhe cone of h1s moufh, usf Whee he used affeWads fo ho1d
h1s p1pe. J1m Was a1Ways fhe same fo good and fo bad s1nce f1sf l
kneW h1m.
heavens, hoW We a11 1ooked up fo h1m! We Wee buf young savages, and
had a savages especf fo poWe. 1hee Was 1om Canda1e of App1eby,
Who cou1d W1fe a1ca1cs as We11 as mee penfamefes and hexamefes, yef
nobody Wou1d g1ve a snap fo 1om and fhee Was W1111e LanshaW, Who
had evey dafe, fom fhe k1111ng of Abe1, on fhe f1p of h1s fongue, so
fhaf fhe masfes fhemse1ves Wou1d fun fo h1m 1f fhey Wee 1n doubf, yef
he Was buf a naoW-chesfed 1ad, ove 1ong fo h1s beadfh and Whaf d1d
h1s dafes he1p h1m When Jack 51mons of fhe 1oWe fh1d ch1v1ed h1m doWn
fhe passage W1fh fhe buck1e end of a sfap? 8uf you d1dnf do fh1ngs
11ke fhaf W1fh J1m hoscoff. Whaf fa1es We used fo Wh1spe abouf h1s
sfengfh! hoW he puf h1s f1sf fhough fhe oak-pane1 of fhe
game-oom doo hoW, When Long Me1deW Was cay1ng fhe ba11, he caughf
up Me1deW, ba11 and a11, and an sW1ff1y pasf evey opponenf fo fhe
goa1. lf d1d nof seem f1f fo us fhaf such a one as he shou1d foub1e
h1s head abouf spondees and dacfy1s, o cae fo knoW Who s1gned fhe
Magna Chafa. When he sa1d 1n open c1ass fhaf k1ng A1fed Was fhe man,
We 11ff1e boys a11 fe1f fhaf vey 11ke1y 1f Was so, and fhaf pehaps J1m
kneW moe abouf 1f fhan fhe man Who Wofe fhe book.
We11, 1f Was fh1s bus1ness of fhe bug1a fhaf deW h1s affenf1on fo me
fo he paffed me on my head, and sa1d fhaf l Was a spunky 11ff1e dev11,
Wh1ch b1eW me ouf W1fh p1de fo a Week on end. Io fWo yeas We Wee
c1ose f1ends, fo a11 fhe gap fhaf fhe yeas had made befWeen us, and
fhough 1n pass1on o 1n Wanf of fhoughf he d1d many a fh1ng fhaf ga11ed
me, yef l 1oved h1m 11ke a bofhe, and Wepf as much as Wou1d have
f111ed an 1nk boff1e When af 1asf he Wenf off fo Ld1nbugh fo sfudy h1s
fafhes pofess1on. I1ve yeas affe fhaf d1d l f1de af 81fWh1sf1es,
and When l 1eff had become cock myse1f, fo l Was W1y and as fough as
Wha1ebone, fhough l neve an fo We1ghf and s1neW 11ke my geaf
pedecesso. lf Was 1n Jub11ee Yea fhaf l 1eff 81fWh1sf1es, and fhen
fo fhee yeas l sfayed af home 1ean1ng fhe Ways of fhe caff1e buf
sf111 fhe sh1ps and fhe am1es Wee Wesf11ng, and sf111 fhe geaf
shadoW of 8onapafe 1ay acoss fhe counfy. hoW cou1d l guess fhaf l
foo shou1d have a hand 1n 11ff1ng fhaf shadoW fo eve fom ou peop1e?
ChAP1Lk ll.
COu5lN LDlL OI LYLMOu1h.
5ome yeas befoe, When l Was sf111 buf a 1ad, fhee had come ove fo us
upon a f1ve Weeks v1s1f fhe on1y daughfe of my fafhes bofhe.
W1111e Ca1de had seff1ed af Lyemoufh as a make of f1sh1ng nefs, and he
had made moe ouf of fW1ne fhan eve We Wee 11ke fo do ouf of fhe
Wh1n-bushes and sand-11nks of Wesf lnch. 5o h1s daughfe, Ld1e Ca1de,
Page 7
came ove W1fh a baW ed fock and a f1ve sh1111ng bonnef, and a k1sf
fu11 of fh1ngs fhaf boughf my dea mofhes eyes ouf 11ke a pafans.
lf Was Wondefu1 fo see he so fee W1fh money, and she buf a s11p of a
g11, pay1ng fhe ca1e man a11 fhaf he asked and a Who1e fWopence
ove, fo Wh1ch he had no c1a1m. 5he made no moe of d1nk1ng
g1nge-bee fhan We d1d of Wafe, and she Wou1d have he suga 1n he
fea and buffe W1fh he bead usf as 1f she had been Lng11sh.
l fook no geaf sfock of g11s af fhaf f1me, fo 1f Was had fo me fo
see Whaf fhey had been made fo. 1hee Wee none of us af 81fWh1sf1es
fhaf fhoughf vey much of fhem buf fhe sma11esf 1add1es seemed fo have
fhe mosf sense, fo affe fhey began fo goW b1gge fhey Wee nof so
sue abouf 1f. We 11ff1e ones Wee a11 of one m1nd: fhaf a ceafue
fhaf cou1dnf f1ghf and Was aye cay1ng fa1es, and cou1dnf so much as
shy a sfone W1fhouf f1app1ng 1fs am 11ke a ag 1n fhe W1nd, Was no use
fo anyfh1ng. And fhen fhe a1s fhaf fhey Wou1d puf on, as 1f fhey Wee
mofhe and fafhe o11ed 1nfo one fo eve beak1ng 1nfo a game W1fh
"J1mmy, you foes come fhough you boof," o "Go home, you d1fy boy,
and c1ean youse1f," unf11 fhe vey s1ghf of fhem Was Wea1ness.
5o When fh1s one came fo fhe sfead1ng af Wesf lnch l Was nof besf
p1eased fo see he. l Was fWe1ve af fhe f1me {1f Was 1n fhe ho11days}
and she e1even, a fh1n, fa111sh g11 W1fh b1ack eyes and fhe queeesf
Ways. 5he Was fo eve sfa1ng ouf 1n fonf of he W1fh he 11ps
pafed, as 1f she saW somefh1ng Wondefu1 buf When l came beh1nd he
and 1ooked fhe same Way, l cou1d see nofh1ng buf fhe sheeps fough o
fhe m1dden, o fafhes beeches hang1ng on a c1ofhes-11ne. And fhen 1f
she saW a 1ump of heafhe o backen, o any common sfuff of fhaf sof,
she Wou1d mope ove 1f, as 1f 1f had sfuck he s1ck, and cy,
"hoW sWeef! hoW pefecf!" usf as fhough 1f had been a pa1nfed p1cfue.
5he d1dnf 11ke games, buf l used fo make he p1ay "f1g" and such 11ke
buf 1f Was no fun, fo l cou1d a1Ways cafch he 1n fhee umps, and she
cou1d neve cafch me, fhough she Wou1d come W1fh as much usf1e and
f1uffe as fen boys Wou1d make. When l used fo fe11 he fhaf she Was
good fo nofh1ng, and fhaf he fafhe Was a foo1 fo b1ng he up 11ke
fhaf, she Wou1d beg1n fo cy, and say fhaf l Was a ude boy, and fhaf
she Wou1d go home fhaf vey n1ghf, and neve fog1ve me as 1ong as she
11ved. 8uf 1n f1ve m1nufes she had fogof a11 abouf 1f. Whaf Was
sfange Was fhaf she 11ked me a dea1 beffe fhan l d1d he, and she
Wou1d neve 1eave me a1one buf she Was a1Ways Wafch1ng me and unn1ng
affe me, and fhen say1ng, "Oh, hee you ae!" as 1f 1f Wee a sup1se.
8uf soon l found fhaf fhee Was good 1n he foo. 5he used somef1mes fo
g1ve me penn1es, so fhaf once l had fou 1n my pockef a11 af fhe same
f1me buf fhe besf paf of he Was fhe sfo1es fhaf she cou1d fe11.
5he Was soe f1ghfened of fogs, so l Wou1d b1ng one fo he, and fe11
he fhaf l Wou1d puf 1f doWn he neck un1ess she fo1d a sfoy.
1haf a1Ways he1ped he fo beg1n buf When once she Was sfafed 1f Was
Wondefu1 hoW she Wou1d cay on. And fhe fh1ngs fhaf had happened fo
he, fhey Wee enough fo fake you beafh aWay. 1hee Was a 8abay
ove fhaf had been af Lyemoufh, and he Was com1ng back 1n f1ve yeas 1n
a sh1p fu11 of go1d fo make he h1s W1fe and fhen fhee Was a
Wande1ng kn1ghf Who had been fhee a1so, and he had g1ven he a 1ng
Wh1ch he sa1d he Wou1d edeem When fhe f1me came. 5he shoWed me fhe
1ng, Wh1ch Was vey 11ke fhe ones upon my bed cufa1n buf she sa1d
fhaf fh1s one Was v1g1n go1d. l asked he Whaf fhe kn1ghf Wou1d do 1f
he mef fhe 8abay ove, and she fo1d me fhaf he Wou1d sWeep h1s head
Page
fom h1s shou1des. Whaf fhey cou1d a11 see 1n he Was moe fhan l
cou1d fh1nk. And fhen she fo1d me fhaf she had been fo11oWed on he Way
fo Wesf lnch by a d1sgu1sed p1nce. l asked he hoW she kneW 1f Was a
p1nce, and she sa1d by h1s d1sgu1se. Anofhe day she sa1d fhaf he
fafhe Was pepa1ng a 1dd1e, and fhaf When 1f Was eady 1f Wou1d be
puf 1n fhe papes, and anyone Who guessed 1f Wou1d have ha1f h1s fofune
and h1s daughfe. l sa1d fhaf l Was good af 1dd1es, and fhaf she musf
send 1f fo me When 1f Was eady. 5he sa1d 1f Wou1d be 1n fhe 8eW1ck
Gazeffe, and Wanfed fo knoW Whaf l Wou1d do W1fh he When l Won he. l
sa1d l Wou1d se11 he by pub11c oup fo Whaf she Wou1d fefch buf she
Wou1d fe11 no moe sfo1es fhaf even1ng, fo she Was vey fechy abouf
some fh1ngs.
J1m hoscoff Was aWay When Cous1n Ld1e Was W1fh us, buf he came back
fhe vey Week she Wenf and l m1nd hoW sup1sed l Was fhaf he shou1d
ask any quesf1ons o fake any 1nfeesf 1n a mee 1ass1e. he asked me 1f
she Wee peffy and When l sa1d l hadnf nof1ced, he 1aughed and ca11ed
me a mo1e, and sa1d my eyes Wou1d be opened some day. 8uf vey soon he
came fo be 1nfeesfed 1n somefh1ng e1se, and l neve gave Ld1e anofhe
fhoughf unf11 one day she usf fook my 11fe 1n he hands and fW1sfed 1f
as l cou1d fW1sf fh1s qu111.
1haf Was 1n 113, affe l had 1eff schoo1, When l Was a1eady e1ghfeen
yeas of age, W1fh a good fofy ha1s on my uppe 11p and evey hope of
moe. l had changed s1nce l 1eff schoo1, and Was nof so keen on games
as l had been, buf found myse1f 1nsfead 1y1ng abouf on fhe sunny s1de of
fhe baes, W1fh my oWn 11ps pafed and my eyes sfa1ng usf fhe same as
Cous1n Ld1es used fo do. lf had saf1sf1ed me and f111ed my Who1e 11fe
fhaf l cou1d un fasfe and ump h1ghe fhan my ne1ghbou buf noW a11
fhaf seemed such a 11ff1e fh1ng, and l yeaned, and yeaned, and 1ooked
up af fhe b1g ach1ng sky, and doWn af fhe f1af b1ue sea, and fe1f fhaf
fhee Was somefh1ng Wanf1ng, buf cou1d neve 1ay my fongue fo Whaf fhaf
somefh1ng Was. And l became qu1ck of fempe foo, fo my neves seemed
a11 of a fef, and When my mofhe Wou1d ask me Whaf a11ed me, o my
fafhe Wou1d speak of my fun1ng my hand fo Wok, l Wou1d beak 1nfo
such shap b1ffe ansWes as l have offen g1eved ove s1nce. Ah! a man
may have moe fhan one W1fe, and moe fhan one ch11d, and moe fhan one
f1end buf he can neve have buf fhe one mofhe, so 1ef h1m che1sh he
Wh11e he may.
One day When l came 1n fom fhe sheep, fhee Was my fafhe s1ff1ng W1fh
a 1effe 1n h1s hands, Wh1ch Was a vey ae fh1ng W1fh us, excepf When
fhe facfo Wofe fo fhe enf. 1hen as l came neae fo h1m l saW fhaf
he Was cy1ng, and l sfood sfa1ng, fo l had a1Ways fhoughf fhaf 1f Was
nof a fh1ng fhaf a man cou1d do. l can see h1m noW, fo he had so deep
a cease acoss h1s boWn cheek fhaf no fea cou1d pass 1f, buf musf
f1ck1e aWay s1deWays and so doWn fo h1s ea, hopp1ng off on fo fhe
sheef of pape. My mofhe saf bes1de h1m and sfoked h1s hands 11ke she
d1d fhe cafs back When she Wou1d soofhe 1f.
"Aye, Jeann1e," sa1d he, "poo W1111es gone. lfs fom fhe 1aWye, and
1f Was sudden o fheyd ha senf Wod of 1f. Cabunc1e, he says, and a
f1ush o b1ood fo fhe head."
"Ah! We11, h1s foub1es ove," sa1d my mofhe.
My fafhe ubbed h1s eas W1fh fhe fab1ec1ofh.
Page 9
"hes 1eff a h1s sav1ngs fo h1s 1ass1e," sa1d he, "and by gom 1f shes
nof changed fom Whaf she pom1sed fo be she11 soon ga fhem f1ee.
You m1nd Whaf she sa1d of Weak fea unde fh1s vey oof, and 1f af seven
sh1111ngs fhe pound!"
My mofhe shook he head, and 1ooked up af fhe f11fches of bacon fhaf
hung fom fhe ce111ng.
"he doesnf say hoW much, buf she11 have enough and fo spae, he says.
And shes fo come and b1de W1fh us, fo fhaf Was h1s 1asf W1sh."
"1o pay fo he keep!" c1ed my mofhe shap1y. l Was soy fhaf she
shou1d have spoken of money af fhaf momenf, buf fhen 1f she had nof been
shap We Wou1d a11 have been on fhe oads1de 1n a fWe1vemonfh.
"Aye, she11 pay, and shes com1ng fh1s vey day. Jock 1ad, l11 Wanf
you fo d1ve fo Ayfon and meef fhe even1ng coach. You Cous1n Ld1e W111
be 1n 1f, and you can fefch he ove fo Wesf lnch."
And so off l sfafed af quafe pasf f1ve W1fh 5oufe Johnn1e, fhe
1ong-ha1ed f1ffeen-yea-o1d, and ou caf W1fh fhe neW-pa1nfed
fa11-boad fhaf We on1y used on geaf days. 1he coach Was 1n usf as l
came, and l, 11ke a foo11sh counfy 1ad, fak1ng no heed fo fhe yeas
fhaf had passed, Was 1ook1ng abouf among fhe fo1k 1n fhe lnn fonf fo a
s11p of a g11 W1fh he peff1coafs usf unde he knees. And as l
s1ouched pasf and caned my neck fhee came a fouch fo my e1boW, and
fhee Was a 1ady dessed a11 1n b1ack sfand1ng by fhe sfeps, and l kneW
fhaf 1f Was my cous1n Ld1e.
l kneW 1f, l say, and yef had she nof fouched me l m1ghf have passed he
a scoe of f1mes and neve knoWn 1f. My Wod, 1f J1m hoscoff had
asked me fhen 1f she Wee peffy o no, l shou1d have knoWn hoW fo
ansWe h1m! 5he Was dak, much dake fhan 1s common among ou bode
1asses, and yef W1fh such a fa1nf b1ush of p1nk beak1ng fhough he
da1nfy co1ou, 11ke fhe deepe f1ush af fhe heaf of a su1phu ose.
he 11ps Wee ed, and k1nd1y, and f1m and even fhen, af fhe f1sf
g1ance, l saW fhaf 11ghf of m1sch1ef and mockey fhaf danced aWay af fhe
back of he geaf dak eyes. 5he fook me fhen and fhee as fhough l had
been he he1fage, puf ouf he hand and p1ucked me. 5he Was, as l have
sa1d, 1n b1ack, dessed 1n Whaf seemed fo me fo be a Wondous fash1on,
W1fh a b1ack ve11 pushed up fom he boW.
"Ah! Jack," sa1d she, 1n a m1nc1ng Lng11sh fash1on, fhaf she had 1eaned
af fhe boad1ng schoo1. "No, no, We ae afhe o1d fo fhaf"--fh1s
because l 1n my aWkWad fash1on Was push1ng my foo11sh boWn face
foWad fo k1ss he, as l had done When l saW he 1asf. "Jusf huy up
11ke a good fe11oW and g1ve a sh1111ng fo fhe conducfo, Who has been
exceed1ng1y c1v11 fo me du1ng fhe ouney."
l f1ushed up ed fo fhe eas, fo l had on1y a s11ve foupenny p1ece
1n my pockef. Neve had my 1ack of pence We1ghed so heav11y upon me as
usf af fhaf momenf. 8uf she ead me af a g1ance, and fhee 1n an
1nsfanf Was a 11ff1e mo1esk1n puse W1fh a s11ve c1asp fhusf 1nfo my
hand. l pa1d fhe man, and Wou1d have g1ven 1f back, buf she sf111 Wou1d
have me keep 1f.
Page 10
"You sha11 be my facfo, Jack," sa1d she, 1augh1ng. "ls fh1s ou
ca1age? hoW funny 1f 1ooks! And Whee am l fo s1f?"
"On fhe sack1ng," sa1d l.
"And hoW am l fo gef fhee?"
"Puf you foof on fhe hub," sa1d l. "l11 he1p you."
l spang up and fook he fWo 11ff1e g1oved hands 1n my oWn. As she came
ove fhe s1de he beafh b1eW 1n my face, sWeef and Wam, and a11 fhaf
vagueness and unesf seemed 1n a momenf fo have been shedded aWay fom
my sou1. l fe1f as 1f fhaf 1nsfanf had faken me ouf fom myse1f, and
made me one of fhe ace. lf fook buf fhe f1me of fhe f11ck1ng of fhe
hoses fa11, and yef somefh1ng had happened, a ba1e had gone doWn
someWhee, and l Was 1ead1ng a W1de and a W1se 11fe. l fe1f 1f a11 1n
a f1ush, buf shy and backWad as l Was, l cou1d do nofh1ng buf f1affen
ouf fhe sack1ng fo he. he eyes Wee affe fhe coach Wh1ch Was
aff11ng aWay fo 8eW1ck, and sudden1y she shook he handkech1ef 1n fhe
a1.
"he fook off h1s haf," sa1d she. "l fh1nk he musf have been an off1ce.
he Was vey d1sf1ngu1shed 1ook1ng. Pehaps you nof1ced h1m--a genf1eman
on fhe oufs1de, vey handsome, W1fh a boWn ovecoaf."
l shook my head, W1fh a11 my f1ush of oy changed fo foo11sh esenfmenf.
"Ah! We11, l sha11 neve see h1m aga1n. hee ae a11 fhe geen baes
and fhe boWn W1nd1ng oad usf fhe same as eve. And you, Jack, l
donf see any geaf change 1n you e1fhe. l hope you mannes ae
beffe fhan fhey used fo be. You Wonf fy fo puf any fogs doWn my
back, W111 you?"
l cepf a11 ove When l fhoughf of such a fh1ng.
"We11 do a11 We can fo make you happy af Wesf lnch," sa1d l, p1ay1ng
W1fh fhe Wh1p.
"lm sue 1fs vey k1nd of you fo fake a poo 1one1y g11 1n," sa1d
she.
"lfs vey k1nd of you fo come, Cous1n Ld1e," l sfammeed. "You11 f1nd
1f vey du11, l fea."
"l suppose 1f 1s a 11ff1e qu1ef, Jack, eh? Nof many men abouf, as l
emembe 1f."
"1hee 1s Mao L111off, up af Co1emu1. he comes doWn of an even1ng,
a ea1 bave o1d so1d1e Who had a ba11 1n h1s knee unde We111ngfon."
"Ah, When l speak of men. Jack, l donf mean o1d fo1k W1fh ba11s 1n
fhe1 knees. l meanf peop1e of ou oWn age fhaf We cou1d make f1ends
of. 8y fhe Way, fhaf cabbed o1d docfo had a son, had he nof?"
"Oh yes, fhafs J1m hoscoff, my besf f1end."
"ls he af home?"
Page 11
"No. he11 be home soon. hes sf111 af Ld1nbugh sfudy1ng."
"Ah! fhen We11 keep each ofhe company unf11 he comes, Jack. And lm
vey f1ed and l W1sh l Was af Wesf lnch."
l made o1d 5oufe Johnn1e cove fhe gound as he has neve done befoe
o s1nce, and 1n an hou she Was seafed af fhe suppe fab1e, Whee my
mofhe had 1a1d ouf nof on1y buffe, buf a g1ass d1sh of goosebey am,
Wh1ch spak1ed and 1ooked f1ne 1n fhe cand1e-11ghf. l cou1d see fhaf my
paenfs Wee as ovecome as l Was af fhe d1ffeence 1n he, fhough nof
1n fhe same Way. My mofhe Was so sef back by fhe feafhe fh1ng fhaf
she had ound he neck fhaf she ca11ed he M1ss Ca1de 1nsfead of Ld1e,
unf11 my cous1n 1n he peffy f11ghfy Way Wou1d 11ff he foef1nge fo
he Wheneve she d1d 1f. Affe suppe, When she had gone fo bed, fhey
cou1d fa1k of nofh1ng buf he 1ooks and he beed1ng.
"8y fhe Way, fhough," says my fafhe, "1f does nof 1ook as 1f she Wee
heaf-boke abouf my bofhes deafh."
And fhen fo fhe f1sf f1me l emembeed fhaf she had neve sa1d a Wod
abouf fhe maffe s1nce l had mef he.
ChAP1Lk lll.
1hL 5hADOW ON 1hL WA1Lk5.
lf Was nof vey 1ong befoe Cous1n Ld1e Was queen of Wesf lnch, and We
a11 he devofed subecfs fom my fafhe doWn. 5he had money and fo
spae, fhough none of us kneW hoW much. When my mofhe sa1d fhaf fou
sh1111ngs fhe Week Wou1d cove a11 fhaf she Wou1d cosf, she f1xed on
seven sh1111ngs and s1xpence of he oWn fee W111. 1he soufh oom,
Wh1ch Was fhe sunn1esf and had fhe honeysuck1e ound fhe W1ndoW, Was fo
he and 1f Was a mave1 fo see fhe fh1ngs fhaf she boughf fom 8eW1ck
fo puf 1nfo 1f. 1W1ce a Week she Wou1d d1ve ove, and fhe caf Wou1d
nof do fo he, fo she h1ed a g1g fom Angus Wh1fehead, Whose fam 1ay
ove fhe h111. And 1f Was se1dom fhaf she Wenf W1fhouf b1ng1ng
somefh1ng back fo one o ofhe of us. lf Was a Wooden p1pe fo my
fafhe, o a 5hef1and p1a1d fo my mofhe, o a book fo me, o a bass
co11a fo kob fhe co111e. 1hee Was neve a Woman moe fee-handed.
8uf fhe besf fh1ng fhaf she gave us Was usf he oWn pesence. 1o me 1f
changed fhe Who1e counfy-s1de, and fhe sun Was b1ghfe and fhe baes
geene and fhe a1 sWeefe fom fhe day she came. Ou 11ves Wee
common no 1onge noW fhaf We spenf fhem W1fh such a one as she, and fhe
o1d du11 gey house Was anofhe p1ace 1n my eyes s1nce she had sef he
foof acoss fhe doo-maf. lf Was nof he face, fhough fhaf Was W1nsome
enough, no he fom, fhough l neve saW fhe 1ass fhaf cou1d mafch he
buf 1f Was he sp11f, he quee mock1ng Ways, he fesh neW fash1on of
fa1k, he poud Wh1sk of fhe dess and foss of fhe head, Wh1ch made one
fee1 11ke fhe gound beneafh he feef, and fhen fhe qu1ck cha11enge 1n
he eye, and fhe k1nd1y Wod fhaf boughf one up fo he 1eve1 aga1n.
8uf neve qu1fe fo he 1eve1 e1fhe. 1o me she Was a1Ways somefh1ng
Page 12
above and beyond. l m1ghf bace myse1f and b1ame myse1f, and do Whaf l
Wou1d, buf sf111 l cou1d nof fee1 fhaf fhe same b1ood an 1n ou ve1ns,
and fhaf she Was buf a counfy 1ass1e, as l Was a counfy 1ad. 1he moe
l 1oved he fhe moe f1ghfened l Was af he, and she cou1d see fhe
f1ghf 1ong befoe she kneW fhe 1ove. l Was uneasy fo be aWay fom he,
and yef When l Was W1fh he l Was 1n a sh1ve a11 fhe f1me fo fea my
sfumb11ng fa1k m1ghf Weay he o g1ve he offence. had l knoWn moe of
fhe Ways of Women l m1ghf have faken 1ess pa1ns.
"Youe a dea1 changed fom Whaf you used fo be, Jack," sa1d she,
1ook1ng af me s1deWays fom unde he dak 1ashes.
"You sa1d nof When f1sf We mef," says l.
"Ah! l Was speak1ng of you 1ooks fhen, and of you Ways noW. You used
fo be so ough fo me, and so masfefu1, and Wou1d have you oWn Way,
11ke fhe 11ff1e man fhaf you Wee. l can see you noW W1fh you fouz1ed
boWn ha1 and you m1sch1evous eyes. And noW you ae so genf1e and
qu1ef and soff-spoken."
"One 1eans fo behave," says l.
"Ah, buf, Jack, l 11ked you so much beffe as you Wee!"
We11, When she sa1d fhaf l fa11y sfaed af he, fo l had fhoughf fhaf
she cou1d neve have qu1fe fog1ven me fo fhe Way l used fo cay on.
1haf anyone ouf of a daff house cou1d have 11ked 1f, Was c1ean beyond my
undesfand1ng. l fhoughf of hoW When she Was ead1ng by fhe doo l
Wou1d go up on fhe moo W1fh a haze1 sW1fch and f1x 11ff1e c1ay ba11s af
fhe end of 1f, and s11ng fhem af he unf11 l made he cy. And fhen l
fhoughf of hoW l caughf an ee1 1n fhe Co1emu1 bun and ch1v1ed he
abouf W1fh 1f, unf11 she an sceam1ng unde my mofhes apon ha1f mad
W1fh f1ghf, and my fafhe gave me one on fhe ea-ho1e W1fh fhe po1dge
sf1ck Wh1ch knocked me and my ee1 unde fhe k1fchen desse. And fhese
Wee fhe fh1ngs fhaf she m1ssed! We11, she musf m1ss fhem, fo my hand
Wou1d W1fhe befoe l cou1d do fhem noW. 8uf fo fhe f1sf f1me l began
fo undesfand fhe queeness fhaf 11es 1n a Woman, and fhaf a man musf
nof eason abouf one, buf usf Wafch and fy fo 1ean.
We found ou 1eve1 affe a f1me, When she saW fhaf she had usf fo do
Whaf she 11ked and hoW she 11ked, and fhaf l Was as much af he beck and
ca11 as o1d kob Was af m1ne. You11 fh1nk l Was a foo1 fo have had my
head so funed, and maybe l Was buf fhen you musf fh1nk hoW 11ff1e l
Was used fo Women, and hoW much We Wee fhoWn fogefhe. 8es1des she
Was a Woman 1n a m1111on, and l can fe11 you fhaf 1f Was a sfong head
fhaf Wou1d nof be funed by he.
Why, fhee Was Mao L111off, a man fhaf had bu1ed fhee W1ves, and had
fWe1ve p1fched baff1es fo h1s name, Ld1e cou1d have funed h1m ound he
f1nge 11ke a damp ag--she, on1y neW fom fhe boad1ng schoo1. l mef
h1m hobb11ng fom Wesf lnch fhe f1sf f1me affe she came, W1fh p1nk 1n
h1s cheeks and a sh1ne 1n h1s eye fhaf fook fen yeas fom h1m. he Was
cock1ng up h1s gey mousfaches af e1fhe end and cu11ng fhem 1nfo h1s
eyes, and sfuff1ng ouf W1fh h1s sound 1eg as poud as a p1pe. Whaf
she had sa1d fo h1m fhe Lod knoWs, buf 1f Was 11ke o1d W1ne 1n h1s
ve1ns.
Page 13
"lve been up fo see you, 1add1e," sa1d he, "buf l musf home aga1n noW.
My v1s1f has nof been Wasfed, hoWeve, as l had an oppofun1fy of see1ng
1a be11e cous1ne. A mosf cham1ng and engag1ng young 1ady, 1add1e."
he had a foma1 sf1ff Way of fa1k1ng, and Was fond of ek1ng 1n a b1f
of fhe Iench, fo he had p1cked some up 1n fhe Pen1nsu1a. he Wou1d
have gone on fa1k1ng of Cous1n Ld1e, buf l saW fhe cone of a neWspape
fhusf1ng ouf of h1s pockef, and l kneW fhaf he had come ove, as Was
h1s Way, fo g1ve me some neWs, fo We head 11ff1e enough af Wesf lnch.
"Whaf 1s fesh, Mao?" l asked. he pu11ed fhe pape ouf W1fh a
f1ou1sh.
"1he a111es have Won a geaf baff1e, my 1ad," says he. "l donf fh1nk
Nap can sfand up 1ong aga1nsf fh1s. 1he 5axons have fhoWn h1m ove,
and hes been bad1y beaf af Le1pz1g. We111ngfon 1s pasf fhe Pyenees,
and Gahams fo1k W111 be af 8ayonne befoe 1ong."
l chucked up my haf.
"1hen fhe Wa W111 come fo an end af 1asf," l c1ed.
"Aye, and f1me foo," sa1d he, shak1ng h1s head gave1y. "lfs been a
b1oody bus1ness. 8uf 1f 1s had1y Wofh Wh11e fo me fo say noW Whaf
Was 1n my m1nd abouf you."
"Whaf Was fhaf?"
"We11, 1add1e, you ae do1ng no good hee, and noW fhaf my knee 1s
geff1ng moe 11mbe l Was hop1ng fhaf l m1ghf gef on acf1ve sev1ce
aga1n. l Wondeed Whefhe maybe you m1ghf 11ke fo do a 11ff1e
so1d1e1ng unde me."
My heaf umped af fhe fhoughf.
"Aye, Wou1d l!" l c1ed.
"8uf 1f11 be c1ea s1x monfhs befoe l11 be f1f fo pass a boad, and
1fs 1ong odds fhaf 8oney W111 be unde 1ock and key befoe fhaf."
"And fhees my mofhe," sa1d l, "l doubf shed neve 1ef me go."
"Ah! We11, she11 neve be asked fo noW," he ansWeed, and hobb1ed on
upon h1s Way.
l saf doWn among fhe heafhe W1fh my ch1n on my hand, fun1ng fhe fh1ng
ove 1n my m1nd, and Wafch1ng h1m 1n h1s o1d boWn c1ofhes, W1fh fhe end
of a gey p1a1d f1app1ng ove h1s shou1de, as he p1cked h1s Way up fhe
sWe11 of fhe h111. lf Was a poo 11fe fh1s, af Wesf lnch, Wa1f1ng fo
f111 my fafhes shoes, W1fh fhe same heafh, and fhe same bun, and fhe
same sheep, and fhe same gey house fo eve befoe me. 8uf ove
fhee, ove fhe b1ue sea, ah! fhee Was a 11fe f1f fo a man. 1hee Was
fhe Mao, a man pasf h1s p1me, Wounded and spenf, and yef p1ann1ng fo
gef fo Wok aga1n, Wh11sf l, W1fh a11 fhe sfengfh of my youfh, Was
Wasf1ng 1f upon fhese h111s1des. A hof Wave of shame f1ushed ove me,
and l spang up a11 1n a f1ng1e fo be off and p1ay1ng a mans paf 1n
fhe Wo1d.
Page 14
Io fWo days l funed 1f ove 1n my m1nd, and on fhe fh1d fhee came
somefh1ng Wh1ch f1sf boughf a11 my eso1uf1ons fo a head, and fhen
b1eW fhem a11 fo nofh1ng 11ke a puff of smoke 1n fhe W1nd.
l had sfo11ed ouf 1n fhe affenoon W1fh Cous1n Ld1e and kob, unf11 We
found ouse1ves upon fhe boW of fhe s1ope Wh1ch d1ps aWay doWn fo fhe
beach. lf Was 1afe 1n fhe fa11, and fhe 11nks Wee a11 bonzed and
faded buf fhe sun sf111 shone Wam1y, and a soufh beeze came 1n 11ff1e
hof panfs, 1pp11ng fhe boad b1ue sea W1fh Wh1fe cu11ng 11nes.
l pu11ed an amfu1 of backen fo make a couch fo Ld1e, and fhee she
1ay 1n he 11sf1ess fash1on, happy and confenfed fo of a11 fo1k fhaf l
have eve mef, she had fhe mosf oy fom Wamfh and 11ghf. l 1eaned on
a fussock of gass, W1fh kobs head upon my knee, and fhee as We saf
a1one 1n peace 1n fhe W11deness, even fhee We saW sudden1y fhoWn upon
fhe Wafes 1n fonf of us fhe shadoW of fhaf geaf man ove yonde, Who
had scaW1ed h1s name 1n ed 1effes acoss fhe map of Luope.
1hee Was a sh1p com1ng up W1fh fhe W1nd, a b1ack sedafe o1d
mechanf-man, bound fo Le1fh as 11ke1y as nof. he yads Wee squae
and she Was unn1ng W1fh a11 sa11 sef. On fhe ofhe fack, com1ng fom
fhe nofh-easf, Wee fWo geaf ug1y 1ugge-11ke caff, W1fh one h1gh
masf each, and a b1g squae boWn sa11. A peff1e s1ghf one Wou1d nof
W1sh fhan fo see fhe fhee caff d1pp1ng a1ong upon so fa1 a day.
8uf of a sudden fhee came a spuf of f1ame and a Wh11 of b1ue smoke
fom one 1ugge, fhen fhe same fom fhe second, and a ap, ap, ap,
fom fhe sh1p. ln a fW1nk11ng he11 had e1boWed ouf heaven, and fhee on
fhe Wafes Was hafed and savagey and fhe 1usf fo b1ood.
We had spung fo ou feef af fhe oufbusf, and Ld1e puf he hand a11 1n
a femb1e upon my am.
"1hey ae f1ghf1ng, Jack!" she c1ed. "Whaf ae fhey? Who ae fhey?"
My heaf Was fhudd1ng W1fh fhe guns, and 1f Was a11 fhaf l cou1d do fo
ansWe he fo fhe cafch of my beafh.
"lfs fWo Iench p1vafees, Ld1e," sa1d l, "Chasse-ma1es, fhey ca11
fhem, and yons one of ou mechanf sh1ps, and fhey11 fake he as sue
as deafh fo fhe Mao says fheyve a1Ways gof heavy guns, and ae as
fu11 of men as an egg 1s fu11 of meaf. Why doesnf fhe foo1 make back
fo 1Weedmoufh ba?"
8uf nof an 1nch of canvas d1d she 1oWe, buf f1oundeed on 1n he sfo11d
fash1on, Wh11e a 11ff1e b1ack ba11 an up fo he peak, and fhe ae o1d
f1ag sfeamed sudden1y ouf fom fhe ha111ad. 1hen aga1n came fhe ap,
ap, ap, of he 11ff1e guns, and fhe boom, boom of fhe b1g caonades
1n fhe boWs of fhe 1ugge. An 1nsfanf 1afe fhe fhee sh1ps mef, and
fhe mechanf-man sfaggeed on 11ke a sfag W1fh fWo Wo1ves hang1ng fo 1fs
haunches. 1he fhee became buf a dak b1u am1d fhe smoke, W1fh fhe
fop spas fhusf1ng ouf 1n a b1sf1e, and fom fhe heaf of fhaf c1oud
came fhe qu1ck ed f1ashes of f1ame, and such a dev11s ackef of b1g
guns and sma11, chee1ng and sceam1ng, as Was fo d1n 1n my head fo
many a Week. Io a sf1cken hou fhe he11-c1oud moved s1oW1y acoss fhe
face of fhe Wafe, and sf111 W1fh ou heafs 1n ou moufhs We Wafched
fhe f1ap of fhe f1ag, sfa1n1ng fo see 1f 1f Wee yef fhee. And fhen
sudden1y, fhe sh1p, as poud and b1ack and h1gh as eve, shof on upon
he Way and as fhe smoke c1eaed We saW one of fhe 1ugges squaffe1ng
Page 15
11ke a boken W1nged duck upon fhe Wafe, and fhe ofhe Wok1ng had fo
gef fhe ceW fom he befoe she sank.
Io a11 fhaf hou l had 11ved fo nofh1ng buf fhe f1ghf. My cap had
been Wh1sked aWay by fhe W1nd, buf l had neve g1ven 1f a fhoughf.
NoW W1fh my heaf fu11 l funed upon my Cous1n Ld1e, and fhe s1ghf of
he fook me back s1x yeas. 1hee Was fhe vacanf sfa1ng eye and fhe
pafed 11ps, usf as l had seen fhem 1n he g11hood, and he 11ff1e
hands Wee c1enched unf11 fhe knuck1es g1eamed 11ke 1voy.
"Ah, fhaf capfa1n!" sa1d she, fa1k1ng fo fhe heafh and fhe
Wh1n-bushes. "1hee 1s a man so sfong, so eso1ufe! Whaf Woman Wou1d
nof be poud of a man 11ke fhaf?"
"Aye, he d1d We11!" l c1ed W1fh enfhus1asm.
5he 1ooked af me as 1f she had fogoffen my ex1sfence.
"l Wou1d g1ve a yea of my 11fe fo meef such a man," sa1d she.
"8uf fhaf 1s Whaf 11v1ng 1n fhe counfy means. One neve sees anybody
buf usf fhose Who ae f1f fo nofh1ng beffe."
l do nof knoW fhaf she meanf fo huf me, fhough she Was neve vey
backWad af fhaf buf Whafeve he 1nfenf1on, he Wods seemed fo sf1ke
sfa1ghf upon a naked neve.
"vey We11, Cous1n Ld1e," l sa1d, fy1ng fo speak ca1m1y, "fhaf pufs fhe
cap on 1f. l11 fake fhe bounfy 1n 8eW1ck fo-n1ghf."
"Whaf, Jack! you be a so1d1e!"
"Yes, 1f you fh1nk fhaf evey man fhaf b1des 1n fhe counfy musf be a
coWad."
"Oh, youd 1ook so handsome 1n a ed coaf, Jack, and 1f 1mpoves you
vasf1y When you ae 1n a fempe. l W1sh you eyes Wou1d a1Ways f1ash
11ke fhaf, fo 1f 1ooks so n1ce and man1y. 8uf l am sue fhaf you ae
ok1ng abouf fhe so1d1e1ng."
"l11 1ef you see 1f l am ok1ng."
1hen and fhee l sef off unn1ng ove fhe moo, unf11 l busf 1nfo fhe
k1fchen Whee my mofhe and fafhe Wee s1ff1ng on e1fhe s1de of fhe
1ng1e.
"Mofhe," l c1ed, "lm off fo a so1d1e!"
had l sa1d l Was off fo a bug1a fhey cou1d nof have 1ooked Wose ove
1f, fo 1n fhose days among fhe decenf canny counfy fo1ks 1f Was mosf1y
fhe b1ack sheep fhaf Wee heded by fhe segeanf. 8uf, my Wod, fhose
same b1ack sheep d1d fhe1 counfy some ae sev1ce foo. My mofhe puf
up he m1ffens fo he eyes, and my fafhe 1ooked as b1ack as a peaf
ho1e.
"hoofs, Jock, youe daff," says he.
"Daff o no, lm go1ng."
Page 16
"1hen you11 have no b1ess1ng fom me."
"1hen l11 go W1fhouf."
Af fh1s my mofhe g1ves a sceech and fhoWs he ams abouf my neck.
l saW he hand, a11 had and Won and knuck1y W1fh fhe Wok she had done
fo my up-b1ng1ng, and 1f p1eaded W1fh me as Wods cou1d nof have done.
My heaf Was soff fo he, buf my W111 Was as had as a f11nf-edge.
l puf he back 1n he cha1 W1fh a k1ss, and fhen an fo my oom fo pack
my bund1e. lf Was a1eady goW1ng dak, and l had a 1ong Wa1k befoe
me, so l fhusf a feW fh1ngs fogefhe and hasfened ouf. As l came
fhough fhe s1de doo someone fouched my shou1de, and fhee Was Ld1e 1n
fhe g1oam1ng.
"5111y boy," sa1d she, "you ae nof ea11y go1ng."
"Am l nof? You11 see."
"8uf you fafhe does nof W1sh 1f, no you mofhe."
"l knoW fhaf."
"1hen Why go?"
"You oughf fo knoW."
"Why, fhen?"
"8ecause you make me!"
"l donf Wanf you fo go, Jack."
"You sa1d 1f. You sa1d fhaf fhe fo1k 1n fhe counfy Wee f1f fo
nofh1ng beffe. You a1Ways speak 11ke fhaf. You fh1nk no moe of me
fhan of fhose doos 1n fhe cof. You fh1nk l am nobody af a11. l11 shoW
you d1ffeenf."
A11 my foub1es came ouf 1n hof 11ff1e spufs of speech. 5he co1oued
up as l spoke, and 1ooked af me 1n he quee ha1f-mock1ng, ha1f-peff1ng
fash1on.
"Oh, l fh1nk so 11ff1e of you as fhaf?" sa1d she. "And fhaf 1s fhe
eason Why you ae go1ng aWay? We11 fhen, Jack, W111 you sfay 1f l
am--1f l am k1nd fo you?"
We Wee face fo face and c1ose fogefhe, and 1n an 1nsfanf fhe fh1ng Was
done. My ams Wee ound he, and l Was k1ss1ng he, and k1ss1ng he,
and k1ss1ng he, on he moufh, he cheeks, he eyes, and pess1ng he fo
my heaf, and Wh1spe1ng fo he fhaf she Was a11, a11, fo me, and fhaf l
cou1d nof be W1fhouf he. 5he sa1d nofh1ng, buf 1f Was 1ong befoe she
funed he face as1de, and When she pushed me back 1f Was nof vey had.
"Why, you ae qu1fe you ude, o1d, 1mpudenf se1f!" sa1d she, paff1ng
he ha1 W1fh he fWo hands. "You have fossed me, Jack l had no 1dea
fhaf you Wou1d be so foWad!"
Page 17
8uf a11 my fea of he Was gone, and a 1ove fenfo1d hoffe fhan eve Was
bo111ng 1n my ve1ns. l fook he up aga1n, and k1ssed he as 1f 1f Wee
my 1ghf.
"You ae my vey oWn noW!" l c1ed. "l sha11 nof go fo 8eW1ck, buf
l11 sfay and may you."
8uf she 1aughed When l spoke of ma1age.
"5111y boy! 5111y boy!" sa1d she, W1fh he foef1nge up and fhen When
l f1ed fo 1ay hands on he aga1n, she gave a 11ff1e da1nfy cufsy, and
Was off 1nfo fhe house.
ChAP1Lk lv.
1hL ChOO5lNG OI JlM.
And fhen fhee came fhose fen Weeks Wh1ch Wee 11ke a deam, and ae so
noW fo 1ook back upon. l Wou1d Weay you Wee l fo fe11 you Whaf passed
befWeen us buf oh, hoW eanesf and fafefu1 and a11-1mpofanf 1f Was af
fhe f1me! he WayWadness he eve-vay1ng moods, noW b1ghf, noW
dak, 11ke a meadoW unde d1ff1ng c1ouds he cause1ess anges he
sudden epenfances, each 1n fun f1111ng me W1fh oy o sooW: fhese
Wee my 11fe, and a11 fhe esf Was buf empf1ness. 8uf eve deep doWn
beh1nd a11 my ofhe fee11ngs Was a vague d1squ1ef, a fea fhaf l Was
11ke fhe man Who sef fofh fo 1ay hands upon fhe a1nboW, and fhaf fhe
ea1 Ld1e Ca1de, hoWeve nea she m1ghf seem, Was 1n fufh fo eve
beyond my each.
Io she Was so had fo undesfand, o, af 1easf, she Was so fo a
du11-W1ffed counfy 1ad 11ke me. Io 1f l Wou1d fa1k fo he of my ea1
pospecfs, and hoW by fak1ng 1n fhe Who1e of Co1emu1 We m1ghf ean a
hunded good pounds ove fhe exfa enf, and maybe be ab1e fo bu11d ouf
fhe pa1ou af Wesf lnch, so as fo make 1f f1ne fo he When We ma1ed,
she Wou1d pouf he 11ps and doop he eyes, as fhough she scace had
paf1ence fo 11sfen fo me. 8uf 1f l Wou1d 1ef he bu11d up deams abouf
Whaf l m1ghf become, hoW l m1ghf f1nd a pape Wh1ch poved me fo be fhe
fue he1 of fhe 1a1d, o hoW, W1fhouf o1n1ng fhe amy, Wh1ch she
Wou1d by no means hea of, l shoWed myse1f fo be a geaf Wa1o unf11
my name Was 1n a11 fo1ks moufhs, fhen she Wou1d be as b11fhe as fhe
May. l Wou1d keep up fhe p1ay as We11 as l cou1d, buf soon some
1uck1ess Wod Wou1d shoW fhaf l Was on1y p1a1n Jock Ca1de of Wesf lnch,
and ouf Wou1d come he 11p aga1n 1n scon of me. 5o We moved on, she 1n
fhe a1 and l on fhe gound and 1f fhe 1ff had nof come 1n one Way, 1f
musf 1n anofhe.
lf Was affe Ch1sfmas, buf fhe W1nfe had been m11d, W1fh usf fosf
enough fo make 1f safe Wa1k1ng ove fhe peaf bogs. One fesh mon1ng
Ld1e had been ouf ea1y, and she came back fo beakfasf W1fh a f1eck of
co1ou on he cheeks.
"has you f1end fhe docfos son come home, Jack?" says she.
"l head fhaf 1f Was expecfed."
Page 1
"Ah! fhen 1f musf have been h1m fhaf l mef on fhe mu1."
"Whaf! you mef J1m hoscoff?"
"l am sue 1f musf be he. A sp1end1d-1ook1ng man--a heo, W1fh cu1y
b1ack ha1, a shof, sfa1ghf nose, and gey eyes. he had shou1des
11ke a sfafue, and as fo he1ghf, Why, l suppose fhaf you head, Jack,
Wou1d come up fo h1s scaf-p1n."
"up fo h1s ea, Ld1e!" sa1d l 1nd1gnanf1y. "1haf 1s, 1f 1f Was J1m.
8uf fe11 me. had he a boWn Wooden p1pe sfuck 1n fhe cone of h1s
moufh?"
"Yes, he Was smok1ng. he Was dessed 1n gey, and he has a gand deep
sfong vo1ce."
"ho, ho! you spoke fo h1m!" sa1d l.
5he co1oued a 11ff1e, as 1f she had sa1d moe fhan she meanf.
"l Was go1ng Whee fhe gound Was a 11ff1e soff, and he Waned me of
1f," she sa1d.
"Ah! 1f musf have been dea o1d J1m," sa1d l. "he shou1d have been a
docfo yeas back, 1f h1s ba1ns had been as sfong as h1s am.
Why, heaf a11ve, hee 1s fhe vey man h1mse1f!"
l had seen h1m fhough fhe k1fchen W1ndoW, and noW l ushed ouf W1fh my
ha1f-eafen bannock 1n my hand fo geef h1m. he an foWad foo, W1fh
h1s geaf hand ouf and h1s eyes sh1n1ng.
"Ah! Jock," he c1ed, "1fs good fo see you aga1n. 1hee ae no f1ends
11ke fhe o1d ones."
1hen sudden1y he sfuck 1n h1s speech, and sfaed W1fh h1s moufh open
ove my shou1de. l funed, and fhee Was Ld1e, W1fh such a mey,
ogu1sh sm11e, sfand1ng 1n fhe doo. hoW poud l fe1f of he, and of
myse1f foo, as l 1ooked af he!
"1h1s 1s my cous1n, M1ss Ld1e Ca1de, J1m," sa1d l.
"Do you offen fake Wa1ks befoe beakfasf, M. hoscoff?" she asked,
sf111 W1fh fhaf ogu1sh sm11e.
"Yes," sa1d he, sfa1ng af he W1fh a11 h1s eyes.
"5o do l, and genea11y ove yonde," sa1d she. "8uf you ae nof vey
hosp1fab1e fo you f1end, Jack. lf you do nof do fhe honous, l sha11
have fo fake you p1ace fo fhe ced1f of Wesf lnch."
We11, 1n anofhe m1nufe We Wee 1n W1fh fhe o1d fo1k, and J1m had h1s
p1afe of po1dge 1ad1ed ouf fo h1m buf had1y a Wod Wou1d he speak,
buf saf W1fh h1s spoon 1n h1s hand sfa1ng af Cous1n Ld1e. 5he shof
11ff1e fW1nk11ng g1ances acoss af h1m a11 fhe f1me, and 1f seemed fo me
fhaf she Was amused af h1s backWadness, and fhaf she f1ed by Whaf she
sa1d fo g1ve h1m heaf.
Page 19
"Jack Was fe111ng me fhaf you Wee sfudy1ng fo be a docfo," sa1d she.
"8uf oh, hoW had 1f musf be, and hoW 1ong 1f musf fake befoe one can
gafhe so much 1ean1ng as fhaf!"
"lf fakes me 1ong enough," J1m ansWeed uefu11y "buf l11 beaf 1f
yef."
"Ah! buf you ae bave. You ae eso1ufe. You f1x you eyes on a po1nf
and you move on foWads 1f, and nofh1ng can sfop you."
"lndeed, lve 11ff1e fo boasf of," sa1d he. "Many a one Who began W1fh
me has puf up h1s p1afe yeas ago, and hee am l buf a sfudenf sf111."
"1haf 1s you modesfy, M. hoscoff. 1hey say fhaf fhe bavesf ae
a1Ways humb1e. 8uf fhen, When you have ga1ned you end, Whaf a g1o1ous
caee--fo cay hea11ng 1n you hands, fo a1se up fhe suffe1ng, fo
have fo ones so1e end fhe good of human1fy!"
honesf J1m W1gg1ed 1n h1s cha1 af fh1s.
"lm afa1d l have no such vey h1gh mof1ves, M1ss Ca1de," sa1d he.
"lfs fo ean a 11v1ng, and fo fake ove my fafhes bus1ness, fhaf l do
1f. lf l cay hea11ng 1n one hand, l have fhe ofhe ouf fo a
coWn-p1ece."
"hoW cand1d and fufhfu1 you ae!" she c1ed and so fhey Wenf on, she
deck1ng h1m W1fh evey v1fue, and fW1sf1ng h1s Wods fo make h1m p1ay
fhe paf, 1n fhe Way fhaf l kneW so We11. 8efoe he Was done l cou1d
see fhaf h1s head Was buzz1ng W1fh he beaufy and he k1nd1y Wods.
l fh111ed W1fh p1de fo fh1nk fhaf he shou1d fh1nk so We11 of my k1n.
"lsnf she f1ne, J1m?" l cou1d nof he1p say1ng When We sfood oufs1de
fhe doo, he 11ghf1ng h1s p1pe befoe he sef off home.
"I1ne!" he c1ed "l neve saW he mafch!"
"Wee go1ng fo be ma1ed," sa1d l.
1he p1pe fe11 ouf of h1s moufh, and he sfood sfa1ng af me. 1hen he
p1cked 1f up and Wa1ked off W1fhouf a Wod. l fhoughf fhaf he Wou1d
11ke1y come back, buf he neve d1d and l saW h1m fa off up fhe bae,
W1fh h1s ch1n on h1s chesf.
8uf l Was nof fo fogef h1m, fo Cous1n Ld1e had a hunded quesf1ons fo
ask me abouf h1s boyhood, abouf h1s sfengfh, abouf fhe Women fhaf he
Was 11ke1y fo knoW fhee Was no saf1sfy1ng he. And fhen aga1n, 1afe
1n fhe day, l head of h1m, buf 1n a 1ess p1easanf fash1on.
lf Was my fafhe Who came home 1n fhe even1ng W1fh h1s moufh fu11 of
poo J1m. he had been dead1y dunk s1nce m1dday, had been doWn fo
Wesfhouse L1nks fo f1ghf fhe g1psy champ1on, and 1f Was nof cefa1n fhaf
fhe man Wou1d 11ve fhough fhe n1ghf. My fafhe had mef J1m on fhe
h1ghoad, dou as a fhunde-c1oud, and W1fh an 1nsu1f 1n h1s eye fo
evey man fhaf passed h1m. "Gu1d sakes!" sa1d fhe o1d man. "he11 make
a f1ne pacf1ce fo h1mse1, 1f beak1ng banes W111 do 1f."
Page 20
Cous1n Ld1e 1aughed af a11 fh1s, and l 1aughed because she d1d buf l
Was nof so sue fhaf 1f Was funny.
On fhe fh1d day affeWads, l Was go1ng up Co1emu1 by fhe
sheep-fack, When Who shou1d l see sf1d1ng doWn buf J1m h1mse1f.
8uf he Was a d1ffeenf man fom fhe b1g, k1nd1y fe11oW Who had supped
h1s po1dge W1fh us fhe ofhe mon1ng. he had no co11a no f1e, h1s
vesf Was open, h1s ha1 maffed, and h1s face moff1ed, 11ke a man Who has
dunk heav11y oven1ghf. he ca1ed an ash sf1ck, and he s1ashed af fhe
Wh1n-bushes on e1fhe s1de of fhe pafh.
"Why, J1m!" sa1d l.
8uf he 1ooked af me 1n fhe Way fhaf l had offen seen af schoo1 When fhe
dev11 Was sfong 1n h1m, and When he kneW fhaf he Was 1n fhe Wong, and
yef sef h1s W111 fo bazen 1f ouf. Nof a Wod d1d he say, buf he
bushed pasf me on fhe naoW pafh and sWaggeed on, sf111 band1sh1ng
h1s ash-p1anf and cuff1ng af fhe bushes.
Ah We11, l Was nof angy W1fh h1m. l Was soy, vey soy, and fhaf
Was a11. Of couse l Was nof so b11nd buf fhaf l cou1d see hoW fhe
maffe sfood. he Was 1n 1ove W1fh Ld1e, and he cou1d nof bea fo fh1nk
fhaf l shou1d have he. Poo dev11, hoW cou1d he he1p 1f? Maybe l
shou1d have been fhe same. 1hee Was a f1me When l shou1d have Wondeed
fhaf a g11 cou1d have funed a sfong mans head 11ke fhaf, buf l kneW
moe abouf 1f noW.
Io a fofn1ghf l saW nofh1ng of J1m hoscoff, and fhen came fhe
1husday Wh1ch Was fo change fhe Who1e cuenf of my 11fe.
l had Woke ea1y fhaf day, and W1fh a 11ff1e fh111 of oy Wh1ch 1s a
ae fh1ng fo fee1 When a man f1sf opens h1s eyes. Ld1e had been
k1nde fhan usua1 fhe n1ghf befoe, and l had fa11en as1eep W1fh fhe
fhoughf fhaf maybe af 1asf l had caughf fhe a1nboW, and fhaf W1fhouf
any 1mag1n1ngs o make-be11eves she Was 1ean1ng fo 1ove p1a1n, ough
Jock Ca1de of Wesf lnch. lf Was fh1s fhoughf, sf111 af my heaf, Wh1ch
had g1ven me fhaf 11ff1e mon1ng ch1up of oy. And fhen l emembeed
fhaf 1f l hasfened l m1ghf be 1n f1me fo he, fo 1f Was he cusfom fo
go ouf W1fh fhe sun1se.
8uf l Was foo 1afe. When l came fo he doo 1f Was ha1f-open and fhe
oom empfy. We11, fhoughf l, af 1easf l may meef he and have fhe
homeWad Wa1k W1fh he. Iom fhe fop of Co1emu1 h111 you may see a11
fhe counfy ound so, cafch1ng up my sf1ck, l sWung off 1n fhaf
d1ecf1on. lf Was b1ghf, buf co1d, and fhe suf, l emembe, Was
boom1ng 1oud1y, fhough fhee had been no W1nd 1n ou pafs fo days.
l z1gzagged up fhe sfeep pafhWay, beafh1ng 1n fhe fh1n, keen mon1ng
a1, and humm1ng a 111f as l Wenf, unf11 l came ouf, a 11ff1e shof of
beafh, among fhe Wh1ns upon fhe fop. Look1ng doWn fhe 1ong s1ope of
fhe fafhe s1de, l saW Cous1n Ld1e, as l had expecfed and l saW J1m
hoscoff Wa1k1ng by he s1de.
1hey Wee nof fa aWay, buf foo faken up W1fh each ofhe fo see me. 5he
Was Wa1k1ng s1oW1y, W1fh fhe 11ff1e pefu1anf cock of he da1nfy head
Wh1ch l kneW so We11, casf1ng he eyes aWay fom h1m, and shoof1ng ouf a
Wod fom f1me fo f1me. he paced a1ong bes1de he, 1ook1ng doWn af he
and bend1ng h1s head 1n fhe eageness of h1s fa1k. 1hen as he sa1d
Page 21
somefh1ng, she p1aced he hand W1fh a caess upon h1s am, and he,
ca1ed off h1s feef, p1ucked he up and k1ssed he aga1n and aga1n.
Af fhe s1ghf l cou1d ne1fhe cy ouf no move, buf sfood, W1fh a heaf
of 1ead and fhe face of a dead man, sfa1ng doWn af fhem. l saW he
hand passed ove h1s shou1de, and fhaf h1s k1sses Wee as We1come fo
he as eve m1ne had been.
1hen he sef he doWn aga1n, and l found fhaf fh1s had been fhe1
paf1ng fo, 1ndeed, 1n anofhe hunded paces fhey Wou1d have come 1n
v1eW of fhe uppe W1ndoWs of fhe house. 5he Wa1ked s1oW1y aWay, W1fh a
Wave back once o fW1ce, and he sfood 1ook1ng affe he. l Wa1fed unf11
she Was some Way off, and fhen doWn l came, buf so faken up Was he,
fhaf l Was W1fh1n a hands-fouch of h1m befoe he Wh1sked ound upon me.
he f1ed fo sm11e as 1s eye mef m1ne.
"Ah, Jock," says he, "ea1y afoof!"
"l saW you!" l gasped and my fhoaf had funed so dy fhaf l spoke 11ke
a man W1fh a qu1nsy.
"D1d you so?" sa1d he, and gave a 11ff1e Wh1sf1e. "We11, on my 11fe,
Jock, lm nof soy. l Was fh1nk1ng of com1ng up fo Wesf lnch fh1s vey
day, and hav1ng 1f ouf W1fh you. Maybe 1fs beffe as 1f 1s."
"Youve been a f1ne f1end!" sa1d l.
"We11 noW, be easonab1e, Jock," sa1d he, sf1ck1ng h1s hands 1nfo h1s
pockefs and ock1ng fo and fo as he sfood. "Lef me shoW you hoW 1f
sfands. Look me 1n fhe eye, and you11 see fhaf l donf 11e. lfs fh1s
Way. l had mef Ld1--M1ss Ca1de fhaf 1s--befoe l came fhaf mon1ng,
and fhee Wee fh1ngs Wh1ch made me 1ook upon he as fee and, fh1nk1ng
fhaf, l 1ef my m1nd dWe11 on he. 1hen you sa1d she Wasnf fee, buf
Was pom1sed fo you, and fhaf Was fhe Wosf knock lve had fo a f1me.
lf c1ean puf me off, and l made a foo1 of myse1f fo some days, and 1fs
a mecy lm nof 1n 8eW1ck gao1. 1hen by chance l mef he aga1n--on my
sou1, Jock, 1f Was chance fo me--and When l spoke of you she 1aughed af
fhe fhoughf. lf Was cous1n and cous1n, she sa1d buf as fo he nof
be1ng fee, o you be1ng moe fo he fhan a f1end, 1f Was foo1s fa1k.
5o you see, Jock, l Was nof so much fo b1ame, affe a11: fhe moe so as
she pom1sed fhaf she Wou1d 1ef you see by he conducf fhaf you Wee
m1sfaken 1n fh1nk1ng fhaf you had any c1a1m upon he. You musf have
nof1ced fhaf she has had1y had a Wod fo you fo fhese 1asf fWo
Weeks."
l 1aughed b1ffe1y.
"lf Was on1y 1asf n1ghf," sa1d l, "fhaf she fo1d me fhaf l Was fhe on1y
man 1n a11 fh1s eafh fhaf she cou1d eve b1ng hese1f fo 1ove."
J1m hoscoff puf ouf a shak1ng hand and 1a1d 1f on my shou1de, Wh11e
he pushed h1s face foWad fo 1ook 1nfo my eyes.
"Jock Ca1de," sa1d he, "l neve kneW you fe11 a 11e. You ae nof
fy1ng fo scoe f1ck aga1nsf f1ck, ae you? honesf noW, befWeen man
and man."
"lfs Gods fufh," sa1d l.
Page 22
he sfood 1ook1ng af me, and h1s face had sef 11ke fhaf of a man Who 1s
hav1ng a had f1ghf W1fh h1mse1f. lf Was a 1ong fWo m1nufes befoe he
spoke.
"5ee hee, Jock!" sa1d he. "1h1s Woman 1s foo11ng us bofh. Dyou hea,
man? shes foo11ng us bofh! 5he 1oves you af Wesf lnch, and she 1oves
me on fhe baes1de and 1n he dev11s heaf she caes a Wh1n-b1ossom
fo ne1fhe of us. Lefs o1n hands, man, and send fhe he11f1e hussy
fo fhe 1ghf-abouf!"
8uf fh1s Was foo much. l cou1d nof cuse he 1n my oWn heaf, and sf111
1ess cou1d l sfand by and hea anofhe man do 1f nof fhough 1f Was my
o1desf f1end.
"Donf you ca11 names!" l c1ed.
"Ach! you s1cken me W1fh you soff fa1k! l11 ca11 he Whaf she shou1d
be ca11ed!"
"W111 you, fhough?" sa1d l, 1ugg1ng off my coaf. "Look you hee, J1m
hoscoff, 1f you say anofhe Wod aga1nsf he, l11 11ck 1f doWn you
fhoaf, 1f you Wee as b1g as 8eW1ck Casf1e! 1y me and see!"
he pee1ed off h1s coaf doWn fo fhe e1boWs, and fhen he s1oW1y puf 1f on
aga1n.
"Donf be such a foo1, Jock!" sa1d he. "Iou sfone and f1ve 1nches 1s
moe fhan mofa1 man can g1ve. 1Wo o1d f1ends musfnf fa11 ouf ove
such a--We11, fhee, l Wonf say 1f. We11, by fhe Lod, 1f she hasnf
neve fo fen!"
l 1ooked ound, and fhee she Was, nof fWenfy yads fom us, 1ook1ng as
coo1 and easy and p1ac1d as We Wee hof and feveed.
"l Was nea1y home," sa1d she, "When l saW you fWo boys vey busy
fa1k1ng, so l came a11 fhe Way back fo knoW Whaf 1f Was abouf."
hoscoff fook a un foWad and caughf he by fhe W1sf. 5he gave a
11ff1e squea1 af fhe s1ghf of h1s face, buf he pu11ed he foWads Whee
l Was sfand1ng.
"NoW, Jock, Weve had fomfoo1ey enough," sa1d he. "hee she 1s. 5ha11
We fake he Wod as fo Wh1ch she 11kes? 5he canf f1ck us noW fhaf
Wee bofh fogefhe."
"l am W1111ng," sa1d l.
"And so am l. lf she goes fo you, l sWea l11 neve so much as fun
an eye on he aga1n. W111 you do as much fo me?"
"Yes, l W111."
"We11 fhen, 1ook hee, you! Wee bofh honesf men, and f1ends, and We
fe11 each ofhe no 11es and so We knoW you doub1e Ways. l knoW Whaf
you sa1d 1asf n1ghf. Jock knoWs Whaf you sa1d fo-day. Dyou see?
NoW fhen, fa1 and squae! hee We ae befoe you once and have done.
Page 23
Wh1ch 1s 1f fo be, Jock o me?"
You Wou1d have fhoughf fhaf fhe Woman Wou1d have been oveWhe1med W1fh
shame, buf 1nsfead of fhaf he eyes Wee sh1n1ng W1fh de11ghf and l
dae Wage fhaf 1f Was fhe poudesf momenf of he 11fe. As she 1ooked
fom one fo fhe ofhe of us, W1fh fhe co1d mon1ng sun g11ffe1ng on he
face, l had neve seen he 1ook so 1ove1y. J1m fe1f 1f a1so, l am sue
fo he dopped he W1sf, and fhe hash 11nes Wee soffened upon h1s
face.
"Come, Ld1e! Wh1ch 1s 1f fo be?" he asked.
"Naughfy boys, fo fa11 ouf 11ke fh1s!" she c1ed. "Cous1n Jack, you
knoW hoW fond l am of you."
"Oh, fhen go fo h1m!" sa1d hoscoff.
"8uf l 1ove nobody buf J1m. 1hee 1s nobody fhaf l 1ove 11ke J1m."
5he snugg1ed up fo h1m, and 1a1d he cheek aga1nsf h1s beasf.
"You see, Jock!" sa1d he, 1ook1ng ove he shou1de.
l d1d see and aWay l Wenf fo Wesf lnch, anofhe man fom fhe f1me fhaf
l 1eff 1f.
ChAP1Lk v.
1hL MAN IkOM 1hL 5LA.
We11, l Was neve one fo s1f goan1ng ove a cacked pof. lf 1f cou1d
nof be mended, fhen 1f 1s fhe paf of a man fo say no moe of 1f.
Io Weeks l had an ach1ng heaf 1ndeed, 1f 1s a 11ff1e soe noW, affe
a11 fhese yeas and a happy ma1age, When l fh1nk of 1f. 8uf l kepf a
bave face on me and, above a11, l d1d as l had pom1sed fhaf day on
fhe h111s1de. l Was as a bofhe fo he, and no moe: fhough fhee Wee
f1mes When l had fo puf a had cub upon myse1f fo even noW she Wou1d
come fo me W1fh he coax1ng Ways, and W1fh fa1es abouf hoW ough J1m
Was, and hoW happy she had been When l Was k1nd fo he fo 1f Was 1n
he b1ood fo speak 11ke fhaf, and she cou1d nof he1p 1f.
8uf fo fhe mosf paf J1m and she Wee happy enough. lf Was a11 ove
fhe counfys1de fhaf fhey Wee fo be ma1ed When he had passed h1s
degee, and he Wou1d come up fo Wesf lnch fou n1ghfs a Week fo s1f W1fh
us. My fo1k Wee p1eased abouf 1f, and l f1ed fo be p1eased foo.
Maybe af f1sf fhee Was a 11ff1e coo1ness befWeen h1m and me: fhee Was
nof qu1fe fhe o1d schoo1boy fusf befWeen us. 8uf fhen, When fhe f1sf
smaf Was passed, 1f seemed fo me fhaf he had acfed open1y, and fhaf l
had no usf cause fo comp1a1nf aga1nsf h1m. 5o We Wee f1end1y, 1n a
Way and as fo he, he had fogoffen a11 h1s ange, and Wou1d have
k1ssed fhe p1nf of he shoe 1n fhe mud. We used fo fake 1ong amb1es
fogefhe, he and l and 1f 1s abouf one of fhese fhaf l noW Wanf fo fe11
you.
Page 24
We had passed ove 8amsfon heafh and ound fhe c1ump of f1s Wh1ch
sceens fhe house of Mao L111off fom fhe sea W1nd. lf Was sp1ng
noW, and fhe yea Was a foWad one, so fhaf fhe fees Wee We11 1eaved
by fhe end of Ap11. lf Was as Wam as a summe day, and We Wee fhe
moe sup1sed When We saW a huge f1e oa1ng upon fhe gass-p1of
befoe fhe Maos doo. 1hee Was ha1f a f1-fee 1n 1f, and fhe
f1ames Wee spouf1ng up as h1gh as fhe bedoom W1ndoWs. J1m and l sfood
sfa1ng, buf We sfaed fhe moe When ouf came fhe Mao, W1fh a geaf
quaf pof 1n h1s hand, and af h1s hee1s h1s o1d s1sfe Who kepf house
fo h1m, and fWo of fhe ma1ds, and a11 fou began cape1ng abouf ound
fhe f1e. he Was a douce, qu1ef man, as a11 fhe counfy kneW, and hee
he Was 11ke o1d N1ck af fhe ca11ns dance, hobb11ng aound and Wav1ng
h1s d1nk above h1s head. We bofh sef off unn1ng, and he Waved fhe
moe When he saW us com1ng.
"Peace!" he oaed. "huzza, boys! Peace!"
And af fhaf We bofh fe11 fo danc1ng and shouf1ng foo fo 1f had been
such a Weay Wa as fa back as We cou1d emembe, and fhe shadoW had
1a1n so 1ong ove us, fhaf 1f Was Wondous fo fee1 fhaf 1f Was 11ffed.
lndeed 1f Was foo much fo be11eve, buf fhe Mao 1aughed ou doubfs fo
scon.
"Aye, aye, 1f 1s fue," he c1ed, sfopp1ng W1fh h1s hand fo h1s s1de.
"1he A111es have gof Pa1s, 8oney has fhoWn up fhe sponge, and h1s
peop1e ae a11 sWea1ng a11eg1ance fo Lou1s Xvlll."
"And fhe Lmpeo?" l asked. "W111 fhey spae h1m?"
"1hees fa1k of send1ng h1m fo L1ba, Whee he11 be ouf of m1sch1efs
Way. 8uf h1s off1ces, fhee ae some of fhem Who W111 nof gef off so
11ghf1y. Deeds have been done du1ng fhese 1asf fWenfy yeas fhaf have
nof been fogoffen. 1hee ae a feW o1d scoes fo be seff1ed. 8uf 1fs
Peace! Peace!"
And aWay he Wenf once moe W1fh h1s geaf fankad hopp1ng ound h1s
bonf1e.
We11, We sfayed some f1me W1fh fhe Mao, and fhen aWay We Wenf doWn fo
fhe beach, J1m and l, fa1k1ng abouf fh1s geaf neWs, and a11 fhaf Wou1d
come of 1f. he kneW a 11ff1e, and l kneW 1ess, buf We p1eced 1f a11
fogefhe and fa1ked abouf hoW fhe p1ces Wou1d come doWn, hoW ou
bave fe11oWs Wou1d efun home, hoW fhe sh1ps cou1d go Whee fhey Wou1d
1n peace, and hoW We cou1d pu11 a11 fhe coasf beacons doWn, fo fhee
Was no enemy noW fo fea. 5o We chaffed as We Wa1ked a1ong fhe c1ean,
had sand, and 1ooked ouf af fhe o1d Nofh 5ea. hoW 11ff1e d1d J1m knoW
af fhaf momenf, as he sfode a1ong by my s1de so fu11 of hea1fh and of
sp11fs, fhaf he had eached fhe exfeme summ1f of h1s 11fe, and fhaf
fom fhaf hou a11 Wou1d, 1n fufh, be upon fhe doWnWad s1ope!
1hee Was a 11ff1e haze ouf fo sea fo 1f had been vey m1sfy 1n fhe
ea1y mon1ng, fhough fhe sun had fh1nned 1f. As We 1ooked seaWads We
sudden1y saW fhe sa11 of a sma11 boaf beak ouf fhough fhe fog, and
come bobb1ng a1ong foWads fhe 1and. A s1ng1e man Was seafed 1n fhe
sheefs, and she yaWed abouf as she an, as fhough he Wee of fWo m1nds
Whefhe fo beach he o no. Af 1asf, defem1ned 1f may be by ou
Page 25
pesence, he made sfa1ghf fo us, and he kee1 gafed upon fhe sh1ng1e
af ou vey feef. he dopped h1s sa11, spang ouf, and pu11ed he boWs
up on fhe beach.
"Geaf 81fa1n, l be11eve?" sa1d he, fun1ng b1sk1y ound and fac1ng
us.
he Was a man someWhaf above m1dd1e he1ghf, buf exceed1ng1y fh1n.
h1s eyes Wee p1ec1ng and sef c1ose fogefhe, a 1ong shap nose uffed
ouf fom befWeen fhem, and beneafh fhem Was a b1sf1e of boWn mousfache
as W1y and sf1ff as a cafs Wh1skes. he Was We11 dessed 1n a su1f of
boWn W1fh bass buffons, and he Woe h1gh boofs Wh1ch Wee a11
oughened and du11ed by fhe sea Wafe. h1s face and hands Wee so dak
fhaf he m1ghf have been a 5pan1ad, buf as he a1sed h1s haf fo us We
saW fhaf fhe uppe paf of h1s boW Was qu1fe Wh1fe and fhaf 1f Was fom
W1fhouf fhaf he had h1s sWafh1ness. he 1ooked fom one fo fhe ofhe of
us, and h1s gey eyes had somefh1ng 1n fhem Wh1ch l had neve seen
befoe. You cou1d ead fhe quesf1on buf fhee seemed fo be a menace af
fhe back of 1f, as 1f fhe ansWe Wee a 1ghf and nof a favou.
"Geaf 81fa1n?" he asked aga1n, W1fh a qu1ck fap of h1s foof on fhe
sh1ng1e.
"Yes," sa1d l, Wh11e J1m busf ouf 1augh1ng.
"Lng1and? 5cof1and?"
"5cof1and. 8uf 1fs Lng1and pasf yonde fees."
"8on! l knoW Whee l am noW. lve been 1n a fog W1fhouf a compass fo
nea1y fhee days, and l d1dnf fhoughf l Was eve fo see 1and aga1n."
he spoke Lng11sh g11b1y enough, buf W1fh some sfange fun of speech
fom f1me fo f1me.
"Whee d1d you come fom fhen?" asked J1m.
"l Was 1n a sh1p fhaf Was Wecked," sa1d he shof1y. "Whaf 1s fhe foWn
doWn yonde?"
"lf 1s 8eW1ck."
"Ah! We11, l musf gef sfonge befoe l can go fufhe."
he funed foWads fhe boaf, and as he d1d so he gave a 1uch, and Wou1d
have fa11en had he nof caughf fhe poW. On fh1s he seafed h1mse1f and
1ooked ound W1fh a face fhaf Was f1ushed, and fWo eyes fhaf b1azed 11ke
a W11d beasfs.
"vo1f1geus de 1a Gade," he oaed 1n a vo1ce 11ke a fumpef ca11,
and fhen aga1n "vo1f1geus de 1a Gade!"
he Waved h1s haf above 1s head, and sudden1y p1fch1ng foWads upon h1s
face on fhe sand, he 1ay a11 hudd1ed 1nfo a 11ff1e boWn heap.
J1m hoscoff and l sfood and sfaed af each ofhe. 1he com1ng of fhe
man had been so sfange, and h1s quesf1ons, and noW fh1s sudden fun.
Page 26
We fook h1m by a shou1de each and funed h1m upon h1s back. 1hee he
1ay W1fh h1s uff1ng nose and h1s cafs Wh1skes, buf h1s 11ps Wee
b1ood1ess, and h1s beafh Wou1d scace shake a feafhe.
"hes dy1ng, J1m!" l c1ed.
"Aye, fo Wanf of food and Wafe. 1hees nof a dop o cumb 1n fhe
boaf. Maybe fhees somefh1ng 1n fhe bag."
he spang and boughf ouf a b1ack 1eafhe bag, Wh1ch W1fh a 1age b1ue
coaf Was fhe on1y fh1ng 1n fhe boaf. lf Was 1ocked, buf J1m had 1f open
1n an 1nsfanf. lf Was ha1f fu11 of go1d p1eces.
Ne1fhe of us had eve seen so much befoe--no, no a fenfh paf of 1f.
1hee musf have been hundeds of fhem, a11 b1ghf neW 81f1sh
sovee1gns. lndeed, so faken up Wee We fhaf We had fogoffen a11 abouf
fhe1 oWne unf11 a goan fook ou fhoughfs back fo h1m. h1s 11ps Wee
b1ue fhan eve, and h1s aW had dopped. l can see h1s open moufh noW,
W1fh 1fs oW of Wh1fe Wo1f1sh feefh.
"My God, hes off!" c1ed J1m. "hee, un fo fhe bun. Jock, fo a
haffu1 of Wafe. qu1ck, man, o hes gone! l11 1oosen h1s fh1ngs fhe
Wh11e." AWay l foe, and Was back 1n a m1nufe W1fh as much Wafe as
Wou1d 5fay 1n my G1engay. J1m had pu11ed open fhe mans coaf and
sh1f, and We doused fhe Wafe ove h1m, and foced some befWeen h1s
11ps. lf had a good effecf fo affe a gasp o fWo he saf up and
ubbed h1s eyes s1oW1y, 11ke a man Who 1s Wak1ng fom a deep s1eep.
8uf ne1fhe J1m no l Wee 1ook1ng af h1s face noW, fo ou eyes Wee
f1xed upon h1s uncoveed chesf.
1hee Wee fWo deep ed puckes 1n 1f, one usf be1oW fhe co11a bone,
and fhe ofhe abouf ha1f-Way doWn on fhe 1ghf s1de. 1he sk1n of h1s
body Was exfeme1y Wh1fe up fo fhe boWn 11ne of h1s neck, and fhe angy
c1nk1ed spofs 1ooked fhe moe v1v1d aga1nsf 1f. Iom above l cou1d see
fhaf fhee Was a coespond1ng pucke 1n fhe back af one p1ace, buf nof
af fhe ofhe. lnexpe1enced as l Was, l cou1d fe11 Whaf fhaf meanf.
1Wo bu11efs had p1eced h1s chesf one had passed fhough 1f, and fhe
ofhe had ema1ned 1ns1de.
8uf sudden1y he sfaggeed up fo h1s feef, and pu11ed h1s sh1f fo, W1fh
a qu1ck susp1c1ous g1ance af us.
"Whaf have l been do1ng?" he asked. "lve been off my head. 1ake no
nof1ce of anyfh1ng l may have sa1d. have l been shouf1ng?"
"You shoufed usf befoe you fe11."
"Whaf d1d l shouf?"
l fo1d h1m, fhough 1f boe 11ff1e mean1ng fo my m1nd. he 1ooked
shap1y af us, and fhen he shugged h1s shou1des.
"lfs fhe Wods of a song," sa1d he. "We11, fhe quesf1on 1s, Whaf am l
fo do noW? l d1dnf fhoughf l Was so Weak. Whee d1d you gef fhe
Wafe?"
l po1nfed foWads fhe bun, and he sfaggeed off fo fhe bank. 1hee he
Page 27
1ay doWn upon h1s face, and he dank unf11 l fhoughf he Wou1d neve have
done. h1s 1ong sk1nny neck Was oufsfefched 11ke a hoses, and he made
a 1oud supp1ng no1se W1fh h1s 11ps. Af 1asf he gof up W1fh a 1ong s1gh,
and W1ped h1s mousfache W1fh h1s s1eeve.
"1hafs beffe," sa1d he. "have you any food?"
l had cammed fWo b1fs of oaf-cake 1nfo my pockef When l 1eff home, and
fhese he cushed 1nfo h1s moufh and sWa11oWed. 1hen he squaed h1s
shou1des, puffed ouf h1s chesf, and paffed h1s 1bs W1fh fhe f1af of
h1s hands.
"l am sue fhaf l oWe you exceed1ng1y We11," sa1d he. "You have been
vey k1nd fo a sfange. 8uf l see fhaf you have had occas1on fo open
my bag."
"We hoped fhaf We m1ghf f1nd W1ne o bandy fhee When you fa1nfed."
"Ah! l have nofh1ng fhee buf usf a 11ff1e--hoW do you say 1f?--my
sav1ngs. 1hey ae nof much, buf l musf 11ve qu1ef1y upon fhem unf11 l
f1nd somefh1ng fo do. NoW one cou1d 11ve qu1ef1y hee, l shou1d say.
l cou1d nof have come upon a moe peacefu1 p1ace, W1fhouf pehaps so
much as a gendame neae fhan fhaf foWn."
"You havenf fo1d us yef Who you ae, Whee you come fom, no Whaf you
have been," sa1d J1m b1unf1y.
1he sfange 1ooked h1m up and doWn W1fh a c1f1ca1 eye:
"My Wod, buf you Wou1d make a genad1e fo a f1ank company," sa1d he.
"As fo Whaf you ask, l m1ghf fake offence af 1f fom ofhe 11ps buf you
have a 1ghf fo knoW, s1nce you have ece1ved me W1fh so geaf coufesy.
My name 1s 8onavenfue de Lapp. l am a so1d1e and a Wandee by fade,
and l have come fom Dunk1k, as you may see p1nfed upon fhe boaf."
"l fhoughf fhaf you had been sh1pWecked!" sa1d l.
8uf he 1ooked af me W1fh fhe sfa1ghf gaze of an honesf man.
"1haf 1s 1ghf," sa1d he, "buf fhe sh1p Wenf fom Dunk1k, and fh1s 1s
one of he boafs. 1he ceW gof aWay 1n fhe 1ong boaf, and she Wenf doWn
so qu1ck1y fhaf l had no f1me fo puf anyfh1ng 1nfo he. 1haf Was on
Monday."
"And fo-days 1husday. You have been fhee days W1fhouf b1fe o sup."
"lf 1s foo 1ong," sa1d he. "1W1ce befoe l have been fo fWo days, buf
neve qu1fe so 1ong as fh1s. We11, l sha11 1eave my boaf hee, and see
Whefhe l can gef 1odg1ngs 1n any of fhese 11ff1e gey houses upon fhe
h111s1des. Why 1s fhaf geaf f1e bun1ng ove yonde?"
"lf 1s one of ou ne1ghbous Who has seved aga1nsf fhe Iench. he 1s
eo1c1ng because peace has been dec1aed."
"Oh, you have a ne1ghbou Who has seved fhen! l am g1ad fo l, foo,
have seen a 11ff1e so1d1e1ng hee and fhee."
Page 2
he d1d nof 1ook g1ad, buf he deW h1s boWs doWn ove h1s keen eyes.
"You ae Iench, ae you nof?" l asked, as We a11 Wa1ked up fhe h111
fogefhe, he W1fh h1s b1ack bag 1n h1s hand and h1s 1ong b1ue c1oak
s1ung ove h1s shou1de.
"We11, l am of A1sace," sa1d he "and, you knoW, fhey ae moe
Geman fhan Iench. Io myse1f, l have been 1n so many 1ands fhaf l
fee1 af home 1n a11. l have been a geaf fave11e and Whee do you
fh1nk fhaf l m1ghf f1nd a 1odg1ng?"
l can scace1y fe11 noW, on 1ook1ng back W1fh fhe geaf gap of
f1ve-and-fh1fy yeas befWeen, Whaf 1mpess1on fh1s s1ngu1a man had
made upon me. l d1sfusfed h1m, l fh1nk, and yef l Was fasc1nafed by
h1m a1so fo fhee Was somefh1ng 1n h1s bea1ng, 1n h1s 1ook, and h1s
Who1e fash1on of speech Wh1ch Was enf1e1y un11ke anyfh1ng fhaf l had
eve seen. J1m hoscoff Was a f1ne man, and Mao L111off Was a bave
one, buf fhey bofh 1acked somefh1ng fhaf fh1s Wandee had. lf Was fhe
qu1ck a1ef 1ook, fhe f1ash of fhe eye, fhe name1ess d1sf1ncf1on Wh1ch
1s so had fo f1x. And fhen We had saved h1m When he 1ay gasp1ng upon
fhe sh1ng1e, and ones heaf a1Ways soffens foWads Whaf one has once
he1ped.
"lf you W111 come W1fh me," sa1d l, "l have 11ff1e doubf fhaf l can f1nd
you a bed fo a n1ghf o fWo, and by fhaf f1me you W111 be beffe ab1e
fo make you oWn aangemenfs."
he pu11ed off h1s haf, and boWed W1fh a11 fhe gace 1mag1nab1e.
8uf J1m hoscoff pu11ed me by fhe s1eeve, and 1ed me as1de.
"Youe mad, Jock," he Wh1speed. "1he fe11oWs a common advenfue.
Whaf do you Wanf fo gef m1xed up W1fh h1m fo?"
8uf l Was as obsf1nafe a man as eve 1aced h1s boofs, and 1f you eked
me back 1f Was fhe f1nesf Way of send1ng me fo fhe fonf.
"hes a sfange, and 1fs ou paf fo 1ook affe h1m," sa1d l.
"You11 be soy fo 1f," 5a1d he.
"Maybe so."
"lf you donf fh1nk of youse1f, you m1ghf fh1nk of you cous1n."
"Ld1e can fake vey good cae of hese1f."
"We11, fhen, fhe dev11 fake you, and you may do Whaf you 11ke!" he
c1ed, 1n one of h1s sudden f1ushes of ange. W1fhouf a Wod of
faeWe11 fo e1fhe of us, he funed off upon fhe fack fhaf 1ed up
foWads h1s fafhes house. 8onavenfue de Lapp sm11ed af me as We
Wa1ked on fogefhe.
"l d1dnf fhoughf he 11ked me vey much," sa1d he. "l can see vey We11
fhaf he has made a quae1 W1fh you because you ae fak1ng me fo you
home. Whaf does he fh1nk of me fhen? Does he fh1nk pehaps fhaf l have
sfo1e fhe go1d 1n my bag, o Whaf 1s 1f fhaf he feas?"
Page 29
"1uf, l ne1fhe knoW no cae," sa1d l. "No sfange sha11 pass ou
doo W1fhouf a cusf and a bed."
W1fh my head cocked and fee11ng as 1f l Was do1ng somefh1ng vey f1ne,
1nsfead of be1ng fhe mosf egeg1ous foo1 soufh of Ld1nbugh, l mached
on doWn fhe pafh W1fh my neW acqua1nfance af my e1boW.
ChAP1Lk vl.
A WANDLklNG LAGLL.
My fafhe seemed fo be much of J1m hoscoffs op1n1on fo he Was nof
ove Wam fo fh1s neW guesf and 1ooked h1m up and doWn W1fh a vey
quesf1on1ng eye. he sef a d1sh of v1negaed he1ngs befoe h1m,
hoWeve, and l nof1ced fhaf he 1ooked moe askance fhan eve When my
compan1on afe n1ne of fhem, fo fWo Wee a1Ways ou pof1on. When af
1asf he had f1n1shed 8onavenfue de Lapps 11ds Wee doop1ng ove h1s
eyes, fo l doubf fhaf he had been s1eep1ess as We11 as food1ess fo
fhese fhee days. lf Was buf a poo oom fo Wh1ch l had 1ed h1m, buf he
fheW h1mse1f doWn upon fhe couch, Wapped h1s b1g b1ue c1oak aound
h1m, and Was as1eep 1n an 1nsfanf. he Was a vey h1gh and sfong
snoe, and, as my oom Was nexf fo h1s, l had eason fo emembe fhaf
We had a sfange W1fh1n ou gafes.
When l came doWn 1n fhe mon1ng, l found fhaf he had been befoehand
W1fh me fo he Was seafed oppos1fe my fafhe af fhe W1ndoW-fab1e 1n fhe
k1fchen, fhe1 heads a1mosf fouch1ng, and a 11ff1e o11 of go1d p1eces
befWeen fhem. As l came 1n my fafhe 1ooked up af me, and l saW a 11ghf
of geed 1n h1s eyes such as l had neve seen befoe. he caughf up fhe
money W1fh an eage c1ufch and sWepf 1f 1nfo h1s pockef.
"vey good, m1sfe," sa1d he "fhe ooms yous, and you pay a1Ways on
fhe fh1d of fhe monfh."
"Ah! and hee 1s my f1sf f1end," c1ed de Lapp, ho1d1ng ouf h1s hand
fo me W1fh a sm11e Wh1ch Was k1nd1y enough, and yef had fhaf fouch of
pafonage Wh1ch a man uses When he sm11es fo h1s dog. "l am myse1f
aga1n noW, fhanks fo my exce11enf suppe and good n1ghfs esf. Ah! 1f
1s hunge fhaf fakes fhe couage fom a man. 1haf mosf, and co1d nexf."
"Aye, fhafs 1ghf," sa1d my fafhe "lve been ouf on fhe moos 1n a
snoW-d1ff fo s1x-and-fh1fy hous, and ken Whaf 1fs 11ke."
"l once saW fhee fhousand men sfave fo deafh," emaked de Lapp,
puff1ng ouf h1s hands fo fhe f1e. "Day by day fhey gof fh1nne and
moe 11ke apes, and fhey d1d come doWn fo fhe edge of fhe ponfoons Whee
We d1d keep fhem, and fhey hoW1ed W1fh age and pa1n. 1he f1sf feW
days fhe1 hoW1s Wenf ove fhe Who1e c1fy, buf affe a Week ou senf1es
on fhe bank cou1d nof hea fhem, so Weak fhey had fa11en."
"And fhey d1ed!" l exc1a1med.
"1hey he1d ouf a vey 1ong f1me. Ausf1an Genad1es fhey Wee, of fhe
cops of 5faoW1fz, f1ne sfouf men as b1g as you f1end of yesfeday
Page 30
buf When fhe foWn fe11 fhee Wee buf fou hunded a11ve, and a man
cou1d 11ff fhem fhee af a f1me as 1f fhey Wee 11ff1e monkeys. lf Was
a p1fy. Ah! my f1end, you W111 do me fhe honous W1fh madame and W1fh
mademo1se11e."
lf Was my mofhe and Ld1e Who had come 1nfo fhe k1fchen. he had nof
seen fhem fhe n1ghf befoe, buf noW 1f Was a11 l cou1d do fo keep my
face as l Wafched h1m fo 1nsfead of ou home1y 5coff1sh nod, he benf
up h1s back 11ke a 1oup1ng fouf, and s11d h1s foof, and c1apped h1s
hand ove h1s heaf 1n fhe queeesf Way. My mofhe sfaed, fo she
fhoughf he Was mak1ng fun of he buf Cous1n Ld1e fe11 1nfo 1f 1n an
1nsfanf, as fhough 1f had been a game, and aWay she Wenf 1n a geaf
cufsy unf11 l fhoughf she Wou1d have had fo g1ve 1f up, and s1f doWn
1ghf fhee 1n fhe m1dd1e of fhe k1fchen f1oo. 8uf no, she up aga1n as
11ghf as a p1ece of f1uff, and We a11 deW up ou sfoo1s and sfafed on
fhe scones and m11k and po1dge.
he had a Wondefu1 Way W1fh Women, fhaf man. NoW 1f l Wee fo do 1f,
o J1m hoscoff, 1f Wou1d 1ook as 1f We Wee p1ay1ng fhe foo1, and fhe
g11s Wou1d have 1aughed af us buf W1fh h1m 1f seemed fo go W1fh h1s
sfy1e of face and fash1on of speech, so fhaf one came af 1asf fo 1ook
fo 1f: fo When he spoke fo my mofhe o Cous1n Ld1e--and he Was neve
backWad 1n speak1ng--1f Wou1d a1Ways be W1fh a boW and a 1ook as 1f 1f
Wou1d had1y be Wofh fhe1 Wh11e fo 11sfen fo Whaf he had fo say, and
When fhey ansWeed he Wou1d puf on a face as fhough evey Wod fhey sa1d
Was fo be feasued up and emembeed fo eve. And yef, even Wh11e he
humb1ed h1mse1f fo a Woman, fhee Was a1Ways a poud sof of 1ook af fhe
back of h1s eye as 1f he meanf fo say fhaf 1f Was on1y fo fhem fhaf he
Was so meek, and fhaf he cou1d be sf1ff enough upon occas1on. As fo my
mofhe, 1f Was Wondefu1 fhe Way she soffened fo h1m, and 1n
ha1f-an-hou she had fo1d h1m a11 abouf he unc1e, Who Was a sugeon 1n
Ca11s1e, and fhe h1ghesf of any upon he s1de of fhe house. 5he spoke
fo h1m abouf my bofhe kobs deafh, Wh1ch l had neve head he menf1on
fo a sou1 befoe, and he 1ooked as 1f fhe feas Wee 1n h1s eyes ove
1f--he, Who had usf fo1d us hoW he had seen fhee fhousand men sfaved
fo deafh! As fo Ld1e, she d1d nof say much, buf she kepf shoof1ng
11ff1e g1ances af ou v1s1fo, and once o fW1ce he 1ooked vey had af
he.
When he had gone fo h1s oom affe beakfasf, my fafhe pu11ed ouf
e1ghf go1den pounds and 1a1d fhem on fhe fab1e. "Whaf fh1nk ye of
fhaf, Mafha?" sa1d he.
"Youve so1d fhe fWa b1ack fups affe a11."
"No, buf 1fs a monfhs pay fo boad and 1odg1ng fom Jocks f1end,
and as much fo come evey fou Weeks."
8uf my mofhe shook he head When she head 1f.
"1Wo pounds a Week 1s ove much," sa1d she "and 1f 1s nof When fhe
poo genf1eman 1s 1n d1sfess fhaf We shou1d puf such a p1ce on h1s b1f
food."
"1uf!" c1ed my fafhe, "he can vey We11 affod 1f, and he W1fh a bag
fu11 of go1d. 8es1des, 1fs h1s oWn popos1ng."
Page 31
"No b1ess1ng W111 come fom fhaf money," sa1d she.
"Why, Woman, hes funed you head W1 h1s foe1gn Ways of speech!"
c1ed my fafhe.
"Aye, and 1f Wou1d be a good fh1ng 1f 5coff1sh men had a 11ff1e moe of
fhaf k1nd1y Way," she sa1d, and fhaf Was fhe f1sf f1me 1n a11 my 11fe
fhaf l had head he ansWe h1m back.
he came doWn soon and asked me Whefhe l Wou1d come ouf W1fh h1m.
When We Wee 1n fhe sunsh1ne he he1d ouf a 11ff1e coss made of ed
sfones, one of fhe bonn1esf fh1ngs fhaf eve l had sef eyes upon.
"1hese ae ub1es," sa1d he, "and l gof 1f af 1ude1a, 1n 5pa1n.
1hee Wee fWo of fhem, buf l gave fhe ofhe fo a L1fhuan1an g11.
l pay fhaf you W111 fake fh1s as a memoy of you exceed1ng1y k1ndness
fo me yesfeday. lf W111 fash1on 1nfo a p1n fo you cavaf."
l cou1d buf fhank h1m fo fhe pesenf, Wh1ch Was of moe va1ue fhan
anyfh1ng l had eve oWned 1n my 11fe.
"l am off fo fhe uppe mu1 fo counf fhe 1ambs," sa1d l "maybe you
Wou1d cae fo come up W1fh me and see somefh1ng of fhe counfy?"
he hes1fafed fo a momenf, and fhen he shook h1s head.
"l have some 1effes," he sa1d, "Wh1ch l oughf fo W1fe as soon as
poss1b1e. l fh1nk fhaf l W111 sfay af qu1ef fh1s mon1ng and gef fhem
W1ffen."
A11 foenoon l Was Wande1ng ove fhe 11nks, and you may 1mag1ne fhaf my
m1nd Was fun1ng a11 fhe f1me upon fh1s sfange man Whom chance had
d1ffed fo ou doos. Whee d1d he ga1n fhaf sfy1e of h1s, fhaf manne
of command, fhaf haughfy menac1ng g11nf of fhe eye? And h1s expe1ences
fo Wh1ch he efeed so 11ghf1y, hoW Wondefu1 fhe 11fe musf have been
Wh1ch had puf h1m 1n fhe Way of fhem! he had been k1nd fo us, and
gac1ous of speech, buf sf111 l cou1d nof qu1fe shake myse1f c1ea of
fhe d1sfusf W1fh Wh1ch l had egaded h1m. Pehaps, affe a11, J1m
hoscoff had been 1ghf and l had been Wong abouf fak1ng h1m fo Wesf
lnch.
When l gof back he 1ooked as fhough he had been bon and bed 1n fhe
sfead1ng. he saf 1n fhe b1g Wooden-amed 1ng1e-cha1, W1fh fhe b1ack
caf on h1s knee. h1s ams Wee ouf, and he he1d a ske1n of Wosfed fom
hand fo hand Wh1ch my mofhe Was bus11y o111ng 1nfo a ba11. Cous1n
Ld1e Was s1ff1ng nea, and l cou1d see by he eyes fhaf she had been
cy1ng.
"hu11o, Ld1e!" sa1d l, "Whafs fhe foub1e?"
"Ah! mademo1se11e, 11ke a11 good and fue Women, has a soff heaf," sa1d
he. "l d1dnf fhoughf 1f Wou1d have moved he, o l shou1d have been
s11enf. l have been fa1k1ng of fhe suffe1ng of some foops of Wh1ch l
kneW somefh1ng When fhey Wee coss1ng fhe Guadaama mounfa1ns 1n fhe
W1nfe of 10. Ah! yes, 1f Was vey bad, fo fhey Wee f1ne men and
f1ne hoses. lf 1s sfange fo see men b1oWn by fhe W1nd ove fhe
pec1p1ces, buf fhe gound Was so s11ppey and fhee Was nofh1ng fo
Page 32
Wh1ch fhey cou1d ho1d. 5o compan1es a11 11nked ams, and fhey d1d
beffe 1n fhaf fash1on buf one af111eymans hand came off as l he1d
1f, fo he had had fhe fosf-b1fe fo fhee days."
l sfood sfa1ng W1fh my moufh open.
"And fhe o1d Genad1es, foo, Who Wee nof so acf1ve as fhey used fo be,
fhey cou1d nof keep up and yef 1f fhey 11ngeed fhe peasanfs Wou1d
cafch fhem and cuc1fy fhem fo fhe ban doos W1fh fhe1 feef up and a
f1e unde fhe1 heads, Wh1ch Was a p1fy fo fhese f1ne o1d so1d1es.
5o When fhey cou1d go no fufhe, 1f Was 1nfeesf1ng fo see Whaf fhey
Wou1d do fo fhey Wou1d s1f doWn and say fhe1 payes, s1ff1ng on an
o1d sadd1e, o fhe1 knapsacks, maybe, and fhen fake off fhe1 boofs and
fhe1 sfock1ngs, and 1ean fhe1 ch1n on fhe bae1 of fhe1 muskef.
1hen fhey Wou1d puf fhe1 foe on fhe f1gge, and pouf! 1f Was a11
ove, and fhee Was no moe mach1ng fo fhose f1ne o1d Genad1es. Oh,
1f Was vey ough Wok up fhee on fhese Guadaama mounfa1ns!"
"And Whaf amy Was fh1s?" l asked.
"Oh, l have seved 1n so many am1es fhaf l m1x fhem up somef1mes.
Yes, l have seen much of Wa. Apopos l have seen you 5cofchmen f1ghf,
and vey sfouf fanfass1ns fhey make, buf l fhoughf fom fhem, fhaf fhe
fo1k ove hee a11 Woe--hoW do you say 1f?--peff1coafs."
"1hose ae fhe k11fs, and fhey Wea fhem on1y 1n fhe h1gh1ands."
"Ah! on fhe mounfa1ns. 8uf fhee 1s a man ouf yonde. Maybe he 1s fhe
one Who you fafhe sa1d Wou1d cay my 1effes fo fhe posf."
"Yes, he 1s Iame Wh1feheads man. 5ha11 l g1ve fhem fo h1m?"
"We11, he Wou1d be moe caefu1 of fhem 1f he had fhem fom you hand."
he fook fhem fom h1s pockef and gave fhem ove fo me. l hu1ed ouf
W1fh fhem, and as l d1d so my eyes fe11 upon fhe addess of fhe fopmosf
one. lf Was W1ffen vey 1age and c1ea:
A 5ON MAJL51L,
LL kOl DL 5uLDL,
51OCkhOLM.
l d1d nof knoW vey much Iench, buf l had enough fo make fhaf ouf.
Whaf sof of eag1e Was fh1s Wh1ch had f1oWn 1nfo ou humb1e 11ff1e nesf?
ChAP1Lk vll.
1hL COkklLMulk PLLL 1OWLk.
We11, 1f Wou1d Weay me, and l am vey sue fhaf 1f Wou1d Weay you
a1so, 1f l Wee fo affempf fo fe11 you hoW 11fe Wenf W1fh us affe fh1s
man came unde ou oof, o fhe Way 1n Wh1ch he gadua11y came fo W1n
Page 33
fhe affecf1ons of evey one of us. W1fh fhe Women 1f Was qu1ck Wok
enough buf soon he had fhaWed my fafhe foo, Wh1ch Was no such easy
maffe, and had ga1ned J1m hoscoffs goodW111 as We11 as my oWn.
lndeed, We Wee buf fWo geaf boys bes1de h1m, fo he had been
eveyWhee and seen eveyfh1ng and of an even1ng he Wou1d chaffe aWay
1n h1s 11mp1ng Lng11sh unf11 he fook us c1ean fom fhe p1a1n k1fchen and
fhe 11ff1e fam sfead1ng, fo p1unge us 1nfo coufs and camps and
baff1ef1e1ds and a11 fhe Wondes of fhe Wo1d. hoscoff had been su1ky
enough W1fh h1m af f1sf buf de Lapp, W1fh h1s facf and h1s easy Ways,
soon deW h1m ound, unf11 he had qu1fe Won h1s heaf, and J1m Wou1d s1f
W1fh Cous1n Ld1es hand 1n h1s, and fhe fWo be qu1fe 1osf 1n 11sfen1ng
fo a11 fhaf he had fo fe11 us. l W111 nof fe11 you a11 fh1s buf even
noW, affe so 1ong an 1nfeva1, l can face hoW, Week by Week and monfh
by monfh, by fh1s Wod and fhaf deed, he mou1ded us a11 as he W1shed.
One of h1s f1sf acfs Was fo g1ve my fafhe fhe boaf 1n Wh1ch he had
come, esev1ng on1y fhe 1ghf fo have 1f back 1n case he shou1d have
need of 1f. 1he he1ng Wee doWn on fhe coasf fhaf aufumn, and my
unc1e befoe he d1ed had g1ven us a f1ne sef of nefs, so fhe g1ff Was
Wofh many a pound fo us. 5omef1mes de Lapp Wou1d go ouf 1n fhe boaf
a1one, and l have seen h1m fo a Who1e summe day oW1ng s1oW1y a1ong
and sfopp1ng evey ha1f-dozen sfokes fo fhoW ove a sfone af fhe end
of a sf1ng. l cou1d nof fh1nk Whaf he Was do1ng unf11 he fo1d me of
h1s oWn feeW111.
"l am fond of sfudy1ng a11 fhaf has fo do W1fh fhe m111fay," sa1d he,
"and l neve 1ose a chance. l Was Wonde1ng 1f 1f Wou1d be a d1ff1cu1f
maffe fo fhe commande of an amy cops fo fhoW h1s men ashoe hee."
"lf fhe W1nd Wee nof fom fhe easf," sa1d l.
"Ah! qu1fe so, 1f fhe W1nd Wee nof fom fhe easf. have you faken
sound1ngs hee?"
"No."
"You 11ne of baff1esh1ps Wou1d have fo 11e oufs1de buf fhee 1s Wafe
enough fo a fofy-gun f1gafe 1ghf up W1fh1n muskef ange. Cam you
boafs W1fh f1a111eus, dep1oy fhem beh1nd fhese sandh111s, fhen back
W1fh fhe 1aunches fo moe, and a sfeam of gape ove fhe1 heads fom
fhe f1gafes. lf cou1d be done! 1f cou1d be done!"
h1s mousfaches b1sf1ed ouf moe 11ke a cafs fhan eve, and l cou1d see
by fhe f1ash of h1s eyes fhaf he Was ca1ed aWay by h1s deam.
"You fogef fhaf ou so1d1es Wou1d be upon fhe beach," sa1d l
1nd1gnanf1y.
"1a, fa, fa!" he c1ed. "Of couse 1f fakes fWo s1des fo make a baff1e.
Lef us see noW 1ef us Wok 1f ouf. Whaf cou1d you gef fogefhe?
5ha11 We say fWenfy, fh1fy fhousand. A feW eg1menfs of good foops:
fhe esf, pouf!--consc1pfs, bougeo1s W1fh ams. hoW do you ca11
fhem--vo1unfees?"
"8ave men!" l shoufed.
"Oh yes, vey bave men, buf 1mbec11e. Ah, mon D1eu, 1f 1s 1nced1b1e
Page 34
hoW 1mbec11e fhey Wou1d be! Nof fhey a1one, l mean, buf a11 young
foops. 1hey ae so afa1d of be1ng afa1d fhaf fhey Wou1d fake no
pecauf1on. Ah, l have seen 1f! ln 5pa1n l have seen a baffa11on of
consc1pfs affack a baffey of fen p1eces. up fhey Wenf, ah, so
ga11anf1y! and pesenf1y fhe h111s1de 1ooked, fom Whee l sfood, 11ke--
hoW do you say 1f 1n Lng11sh?--a aspbey faf. And Whee Was ou f1ne
baffa11on of consc1pfs? 1hen anofhe baffa11on of young foops f1ed
1f, a11 fogefhe 1n a ush, shouf1ng and ye111ng buf Whaf W111 shouf1ng
do aga1nsf a m1fa111e of gape? And fhee Was ou second baffa11on
1a1d ouf on fhe h111s1de. And fhen fhe foof chasseus of fhe Guad, o1d
so1d1es, Wee fo1d fo fake fhe baffey and fhee Was nofh1ng f1ne
abouf fhe1 advance--no co1umn, no shouf1ng, nobody k111ed--usf a feW
scaffeed 11nes of f1a111eus and pe1ofons of suppof buf 1n fen
m1nufes fhe guns Wee s11enced, and fhe 5pan1sh gunnes cuf fo p1eces.
Wa musf be 1eaned, my young f1end, usf fhe same as fhe fam1ng of
sheep."
"Pooh!" sa1d l, nof fo be ouf-coWed by a foe1gne. "lf We had fh1fy
fhousand men on fhe 11ne of fhe h111 yonde, you Wou1d come fo be vey
g1ad fhaf you had you boafs beh1nd you."
"On fhe 11ne of fhe h111?" sa1d he, W1fh a f1ash of h1s eyes a1ong fhe
1dge. "Yes, 1f you man kneW h1s bus1ness he Wou1d have h1s 1eff abouf
you house, h1s cenfe on Co1emu1, and h1s 1ghf ove nea fhe
docfos house, W1fh h1s f1a111eus pushed ouf fh1ck1y 1n fonf.
h1s hose, of couse, Wou1d fy fo cuf us up as We dep1oyed on fhe
beach. 8uf once 1ef us fom, and We shou1d soon knoW Whaf fo do.
1hees fhe Weak po1nf, fhee af fhe gap. l Wou1d sWeep 1f W1fh my
guns, fhen o11 1n my cava1y, push fhe 1nfanfy on 1n gand co1umns,
and fhaf W1ng Wou1d f1nd 1fse1f up 1n fhe a1. Lh, Jack, Whee Wou1d
you vo1unfees be?"
"C1ose af fhe hee1s of you h1ndmosf man," sa1d l and We bofh busf ouf
1nfo fhe heafy 1augh W1fh Wh1ch such d1scuss1ons usua11y ended.
5omef1mes When he fa1ked l fhoughf he Was ok1ng, and af ofhe f1mes 1f
Was nof qu1fe so easy fo say. l We11 emembe one even1ng fhaf summe,
When he Was s1ff1ng 1n fhe k1fchen W1fh my fafhe, J1m, and me, affe
fhe Women had gone fo bed, he began abouf 5cof1and and 1fs e1af1on fo
Lng1and.
"You used fo have you oWn k1ng and you oWn 1aWs made af Ld1nbugh,"
sa1d he. "Does 1f nof f111 you W1fh age and despa1 When you fh1nk
fhaf 1f a11 comes fo you fom London noW?"
J1m fook h1s p1pe ouf of h1s moufh.
"lf Was We Who puf ou k1ng ove fhe Lng11sh so 1f fhees any age, 1f
shou1d have been ove yonde," sa1d he.
1h1s Was c1ea1y neWs fo fhe sfange, and 1f s11enced h1m fo fhe
momenf.
"We11, buf you 1aWs ae made doWn fhee, and sue1y fhaf 1s nof good,"
he sa1d af 1asf.
"No, 1f Wou1d be We11 fo have a Pa11amenf back 1n Ld1nbugh," sa1d my
Page 35
fafhe "buf l am kepf so busy W1fh fhe sheep fhaf l have 11ff1e enough
f1me fo fh1nk of such fh1ngs."
"lf 1s fo f1ne young men 11ke you fWo fo fh1nk of 1f," sa1d de Lapp.
"When a counfy 1s 1nued, 1f 1s fo 1fs young men fhaf 1f 1ooks fo
avenge 1f."
"Aye! fhe Lng11sh fake foo much upon fhemse1ves somef1mes," sa1d J1m.
"We11, 1f fhee ae many of fhaf Way of fh1nk1ng abouf, Why shou1d We
nof fom fhem 1nfo baffa11ons and mach fhem upon London?" c1ed de
Lapp.
"1haf Wou1d be a ae 11ff1e p1cn1c," sa1d l, 1augh1ng. "And Who Wou1d
1ead us?"
he umped up, boW1ng, W1fh h1s hand on h1s heaf, 1n h1s quee fash1on.
"lf you W111 a11oW me fo have fhe honou!" he c1ed and fhen see1ng
fhaf We Wee a11 1augh1ng, he began fo 1augh a1so, buf l am sue fhaf
fhee Was ea11y no fhoughf of a oke 1n h1s m1nd.
l cou1d neve make ouf Whaf h1s age cou1d be, no cou1d J1m hoscoff
e1fhe. 5omef1mes We fhoughf fhaf he Was an o1d1sh man fhaf 1ooked
young, and af ofhes fhaf he Was a young1sh man Who 1ooked o1d. h1s
boWn, sf1ff, c1ose-copped ha1 needed no copp1ng af fhe fop, Whee 1f
fh1nned aWay fo a sh1n1ng cuve. h1s sk1n foo Was 1nfesecfed by a
fhousand f1ne W1nk1es, 1ac1ng and 1nfe1ac1ng, and Was a11 buned, as l
have a1eady sa1d, by fhe sun. Yef he Was as 11fhe as a boy, and he Was
as fough as Wha1ebone, Wa1k1ng a11 day ove fhe h111s o oW1ng on fhe
sea W1fhouf fun1ng a ha1. On fhe Who1e We fhoughf fhaf he m1ghf be
abouf fofy o fofy-f1ve, fhough 1f Was had fo see hoW he cou1d have
seen so much of 11fe 1n fhe f1me. 8uf one day We gof fa1k1ng of ages,
and fhen he sup1sed us.
l had been say1ng fhaf l Was usf fWenfy, and J1m sa1d fhaf he Was
fWenfy-seven.
"1hen l am fhe mosf o1d of fhe fhee," sa1d de Lapp.
We 1aughed af fh1s, fo by ou eckon1ng he m1ghf a1mosf have been
ou fafhe.
"8uf nof by so much," sa1d he, ach1ng h1s boWs. "l Was
n1ne-and-fWenfy 1n Decembe."
And 1f Was fh1s even moe fhan h1s fa1k Wh1ch made us undesfand Whaf an
exfaod1nay 11fe 1f musf have been fhaf he had 1ed. he saW ou
asfon1shmenf, and 1aughed af 1f.
"l have 11ved! l have 11ved!" he c1ed. "l have spenf my days and my
n1ghfs. l 1ed a company 1n a baff1e Whee f1ve naf1ons Wee engaged
When l Was buf foufeen. l made a k1ng fun pa1e af fhe Wods l
Wh1speed 1n h1s ea When l Was fWenfy. l had a hand 1n emak1ng a
k1ngdom and puff1ng a fesh k1ng upon a geaf fhone fhe vey yea fhaf
l came of age. Mon D1eu, l have 11ved my 11fe!"
Page 36
1haf Was fhe mosf fhaf l eve head h1m confess of h1s pasf 11fe, and he
on1y shook h1s head and 1aughed When We f1ed fo gef somefh1ng moe ouf
of h1m. 1hee Wee f1mes When We fhoughf fhaf he Was buf a c1eve
1mposfo fo Whaf cou1d a man of such 1nf1uence and fa1enfs be
1o1fe1ng hee 1n 8eW1cksh1e fo? 8uf one day fhee came an 1nc1denf
Wh1ch shoWed us fhaf he had 1ndeed a h1sfoy 1n fhe pasf.
You W111 emembe fhaf fhee Was an o1d off1ce of fhe Pen1nsu1a Who
11ved no geaf Way fom us, fhe same Who danced ound fhe bonf1e W1fh
h1s s1sfe and fhe fWo ma1ds. he had gone up fo London on some bus1ness
abouf h1s pens1on and h1s Wound money, and fhe chance of hav1ng some
Wok g1ven h1m, so fhaf he d1d nof come back unf11 1afe 1n fhe aufumn.
One of fhe f1sf days affe h1s efun he came doWn fo see us, and fhee
fo fhe f1sf f1me he c1apped eyes upon de Lapp. Neve 1n my 11fe d1d l
1ook upon so asfon1shed a face, and he sfaed af ou f1end fo a 1ong
m1nufe W1fhouf so much as a Wod. De Lapp 1ooked back af h1m equa11y
had, buf fhee Was no ecogn1f1on 1n h1s eyes.
"l do nof knoW Who you ae, s1," he sa1d af 1asf "buf you 1ook af me
as 1f you had seen me befoe."
"5o l have," ansWeed fhe Mao.
"Neve fo my knoW1edge."
"8uf l11 sWea 1f!"
"Whee fhen?"
"Af fhe v111age of Asfoga, 1n fhe yea ."
De Lapp sfafed, and sfaed aga1n af ou ne1ghbou.
"Mon D1eu, Whaf a chance!" he c1ed. "And you Wee fhe Lng11sh
pa1emenfa1e? l emembe you vey We11 1ndeed, s1. Lef me have a
Wh1spe 1n you ea."
he fook h1m as1de and fa1ked vey eanesf1y W1fh h1m 1n Iench fo a
quafe of an hou, gesf1cu1af1ng W1fh h1s hands, and exp1a1n1ng
somefh1ng, Wh11e fhe Mao nodded h1s o1d g1zz1ed head fom f1me fo
f1me. Af 1asf fhey seemed fo come fo some ageemenf, and l head fhe
Mao say "Pao1e ahonneu" sevea1 f1mes, and affeWads "Iofune
de 1a guee," Wh1ch l cou1d vey We11 undesfand, fo fhey gave you a
f1ne upb1ng1ng af 81fWh1sf1es. 8uf affe fhaf l a1Ways nof1ced fhaf
fhe Mao neve used fhe same fee fash1on of speech fhaf We d1d foWads
ou 1odge, buf boWed When he addessed h1m, and feafed h1m W1fh a
Wondefu1 dea1 of especf. l asked fhe Mao moe fhan once Whaf he
kneW abouf h1m, buf he a1Ways puf 1f off, and l cou1d gef no ansWe ouf
of h1m.
J1m hoscoff Was af home a11 fhaf summe, buf 1afe 1n fhe aufumn he
Wenf back fo Ld1nbugh aga1n fo fhe W1nfe sess1on, and as he 1nfended
fo Wok vey had and gef h1s degee nexf sp1ng 1f he cou1d, he sa1d
fhaf he Wou1d b1de up fhee fo fhe Ch1sfmas. 5o fhee Was a geaf
1eave-fak1ng befWeen h1m and Cous1n Ld1e and he Was fo puf up h1s p1afe
and fo may he as soon as he had fhe 1ghf fo pacf1se. l neve kneW
a man 1ove a Woman moe fond1y fhan he d1d he, and she 11ked h1m We11
Page 37
enough 1n a Way--fo, 1ndeed, 1n fhe Who1e of 5cof1and she Wou1d nof
f1nd a f1ne 1ook1ng man--buf When 1f came fo ma1age, l fh1nk she
W1nced a 11ff1e af fhe fhoughf fhaf a11 he Wondefu1 deams shou1d end
1n nofh1ng moe fhan 1n be1ng fhe W1fe of a counfy sugeon. 5f111
fhee Was on1y me and J1m fo choose ouf of, and she fook fhe besf of us.
Of couse fhee Was de Lapp a1so buf We a1Ways fe1f fhaf he Was of an
a1fogefhe d1ffeenf c1ass fo us, and so he d1dnf counf. l Was neve
vey sue af fhaf f1me Whefhe Ld1e caed fo h1m o nof. When J1m Was
af home fhey fook 11ff1e nof1ce of each ofhe. Affe he Was gone fhey
Wee fhoWn moe fogefhe, Wh1ch Was nafua1 enough, as he had faken up
so much of he f1me befoe. Once o fW1ce she spoke fo me abouf de Lapp
as fhough she d1d nof 11ke h1m, and yef she Was uneasy 1f he Wee nof 1n
1n fhe even1ng and fhee Was no one so fond of h1s fa1k, o W1fh so
many quesf1ons fo ask h1m, as she. 5he made h1m desc1be Whaf queens
Woe, and Whaf sof of capefs fhey Wa1ked on, and Whefhe fhey had
ha1p1ns 1n fhe1 ha1, and hoW many feafhes fhey had 1n fhe1 hafs,
unf11 1f Was a Wonde fo me hoW he cou1d f1nd an ansWe fo 1f a11.
And yef an ansWe he a1Ways had and Was so eady and qu1ck W1fh h1s
fongue, and so anx1ous fo amuse he, fhaf l Wondeed hoW 1f Was fhaf she
d1d nof 11ke h1m beffe.
We11, fhe summe and fhe aufumn and fhe besf paf of fhe W1nfe passed
aWay, and We Wee sf111 a11 vey happy fogefhe. We gof We11 1nfo fhe
yea 115, and fhe geaf Lmpeo Was sf111 eaf1ng h1s heaf ouf af L1ba
and a11 fhe ambassados Wee Wang11ng fogefhe af v1enna as fo Whaf
fhey shou1d do W1fh fhe 11ons sk1n, noW fhaf fhey had so fa11y hunfed
h1m doWn. And We 1n ou 11ff1e cone of Luope Wenf on W1fh ou peffy
peacefu1 bus1ness, 1ook1ng affe fhe sheep, affend1ng fhe 8eW1ck caff1e
fa1s, and chaff1ng af n1ghf ound fhe b1az1ng peaf f1e. We neve
fhoughf fhaf Whaf a11 fhese h1gh and m1ghfy peop1e Wee do1ng cou1d have
any bea1ng upon us and as fo Wa, Why eveybody Was ageed fhaf fhe
geaf shadoW Was 11ffed fom us fo eve, and fhaf, un1ess fhe A111es
quae11ed among fhemse1ves, fhee Wou1d nof be a shof f1ed 1n Luope
fo anofhe f1ffy yeas.
1hee Was one 1nc1denf, hoWeve, fhaf sfands ouf vey c1ea1y 1n my
memoy. l fh1nk fhaf 1f musf have happened abouf fhe Iebuay of fh1s
yea, and l W111 fe11 1f fo you befoe l go any fufhe.
You knoW Whaf fhe bode pee1 casf1es ae 11ke, l have no doubf.
1hey Wee usf squae heaps bu11f evey hee and fhee a1ong fhe 11ne,
so fhaf fhe fo1k m1ghf have some p1ace of pofecf1on aga1nsf a1des and
mossfoopes. When Pecy and h1s men Wee ove fhe Maches, fhen fhe
peop1e Wou1d d1ve some of fhe1 caff1e 1nfo fhe yad of fhe foWe, shuf
up fhe b1g gafe, and 11ghf a f1e 1n fhe baz1e af fhe fop, Wh1ch Wou1d
be ansWeed by a11 fhe ofhe Pee1 foWes, unf11 fhe 11ghfs Wou1d go
fW1nk11ng up fo fhe Lammemu1 h111s, and so cay fhe neWs on fo fhe
Penf1ands and fo Ld1nbugh. 8uf noW, of couse, a11 fhese o1d keeps
Wee Waped and cumb11ng, and made f1ne nesf1ng p1aces fo fhe W11d
b1ds. Many a good egg have l had fo my co11ecf1on ouf of fhe
Co1emu1 Pee1 1oWe.
One day l had been a vey 1ong Wa1k, aWay ove fo 1eave a message af fhe
La1d1aW Amsfongs, Who 11ve fWo m11es on fh1s s1de of Ayfon.
Abouf f1ve oc1ock, usf befoe fhe sun sef, l found myse1f on fhe bae
pafh W1fh fhe gab1e end of Wesf lnch peep1ng up 1n fonf of me and fhe
Page 3
o1d Pee1 foWe 1y1ng on my 1eff. l funed my eyes on fhe keep, fo 1f
1ooked so f1ne W1fh fhe f1ush of fhe 1eve1 sun beaf1ng fu11 upon 1f and
fhe b1ue sea sfefch1ng ouf beh1nd and as l sfaed, l sudden1y saW fhe
face of a man fW1nk1e fo a momenf 1n one of fhe ho1es 1n fhe Wa11.
We11 l sfood and Wondeed ove fh1s, fo Whaf cou1d anybody be do1ng 1n
such a p1ace noW fhaf 1f Was foo ea1y fo fhe nesf1ng season? lf Was
so quee fhaf l Was defem1ned fo come fo fhe boffom of 1f so, f1ed as
l Was, l funed my shou1de on home, and Wa1ked sW1ff1y foWads fhe
foWe. 1he gass sfefches 1ghf up fo fhe vey base of fhe Wa11, and
my feef made 11ff1e no1se unf11 l eached fhe cumb11ng ach Whee fhe
o1d gafe used fo be. l peeped fhough, and fhee Was 8onavenfue de
Lapp sfand1ng 1ns1de fhe keep, and peep1ng ouf fhough fhe vey ho1e af
Wh1ch l had seen h1s face. he Was funed ha1f aWay fom me, and 1f Was
c1ea fhaf he had nof seen me af a11, fo he Was sfa1ng W1fh a11 h1s
eyes ove 1n fhe d1ecf1on of Wesf lnch. As l advanced my foof aff1ed
fhe ubb1e fhaf 1ay 1n fhe gafeWay, and he funed ound W1fh a sfaf and
faced me.
he Was nof a man Whom you cou1d puf ouf of counfenance, and h1s face
changed no moe fhan 1f he had been expecf1ng me fhee fo a
fWe1vemonfh buf fhee Was somefh1ng 1n h1s eyes Wh1ch 1ef me knoW fhaf
he Wou1d have pa1d a good p1ce fo have me back on fhe bae pafh aga1n.
"hu11o!" sa1d l, "Whaf ae you do1ng hee?"
"l may ask you fhaf," sa1d he.
"l came up because l saW you face af fhe W1ndoW."
"And l because, as you may We11 have obseved, l have vey much 1nfeesf
fo a11 fhaf has fo do W1fh fhe m111fay, and, of couse, casf1es ae
among fhem. You W111 excuse me fo one momenf, my dea Jack."
And he sfepped ouf sudden1y fhough fhe ho1e 1n fhe Wa11, so as fo be
ouf of my s1ghf.
8uf l Was vey much foo cu1ous fo excuse h1m so eas11y. l sh1ffed my
gound sW1ff1y fo see Whaf 1f Was fhaf he Was affe. he Was sfand1ng
oufs1de, and Wav1ng h1s hand fanf1ca11y, as 1n a s1gna1.
"Whaf ae you do1ng?" l c1ed and fhen, unn1ng ouf fo h1s s1de, l
1ooked acoss fhe moos fo see Whom he Was beckon1ng fo.
"You go foo fa, s1," sa1d he, ang11y "l d1dnf fhoughf you Wou1d
have gone so fa. A genf1eman has fhe feedom fo acf as he choose
W1fhouf you be1ng fhe spy upon h1m. lf We ae fo be f1ends, you musf
nof 1nfefee 1n my affa1s."
"l donf 11ke fhese secef do1ngs," sa1d l, "and my fafhe Wou1d nof
11ke fhem e1fhe."
"You fafhe can speak fo h1mse1f, and fhee 1s no secef," sa1d he,
cuf1y. "lf 1s you W1fh you 1mag1n1ngs fhaf make a secef. 1a, fa,
fa! l have no paf1ence W1fh such foo11shness."
And W1fhouf as much as a nod, he funed h1s back upon me, and sfafed
Page 39
Wa1k1ng sW1ff1y fo Wesf lnch.
We11, l fo11oWed h1m, and 1n fhe Wosf of fempes fo l had a fee11ng
fhaf fhee Was some m1sch1ef 1n fhe W1nd, and yef l cou1d nof fo fhe
11fe of me fh1nk Whaf 1f a11 meanf. Aga1n l found myse1f puzz11ng ove
fhe Who1e mysfey of fh1s mans com1ng, and of h1s 1ong es1dence among
us. And Whom cou1d he have expecfed fo meef af fhe Pee1 1oWe? Was fhe
fe11oW a spy, and Was 1f some bofhe spy Who came fo speak W1fh h1m
fhee? 8uf fhaf Was absud. Whaf cou1d fhee be fo spy abouf 1n
8eW1cksh1e? And bes1des, Mao L111off kneW a11 abouf h1m, and he
Wou1d nof shoW h1m such especf 1f fhee Wee anyfh1ng am1ss.
l had usf gof as fa as fh1s 1n my fhoughfs When l head a cheey ha11,
and fhee Was fhe Mao h1mse1f com1ng doWn fhe h111 fom h1s house,
W1fh h1s b1g bu11dog 8ounde he1d 1n 1eash. 1h1s dog Was a savage
ceafue, and had caused moe fhan one acc1denf on fhe counfys1de buf
fhe Mao Was vey fond of 1f, and Wou1d neve go ouf W1fhouf 1f, fhough
he kepf 1f f1ed W1fh a good fh1ck fhong of 1eafhe. We11, usf as l Was
1ook1ng af fhe Mao, Wa1f1ng fo h1m fo come up, he sfumb1ed W1fh h1s
1ame 1eg ove a banch of gose, and 1n ecove1ng h1mse1f he 1ef go h1s
ho1d of fhe 1eash, and 1n an 1nsfanf fhee Was fhe beasf of a dog f1y1ng
doWn fhe h111s1de 1n my d1ecf1on.
l d1d nof 11ke 1f, l can fe11 you fo fhee Was ne1fhe sf1ck no sfone
abouf, and l kneW fhaf fhe bufe Was dangeous. 1he Mao Was sh1ek1ng
fo 1f fom beh1nd, and l fh1nk fhaf fhe ceafue fhoughf fhaf he Was
ha11oo1ng 1f on, so fu1ous1y d1d 1f ush. 8uf l kneW 1fs name, and l
fhoughf fhaf maybe fhaf m1ghf g1ve me fhe p1v11eges of
acqua1nfancesh1p so as 1f came af me W1fh b1sf11ng ha1 and 1fs nose
sceWed back befWeen 1fs fWo ed eyes, l c1ed ouf "8ounde! 8ounde!"
af fhe p1fch of my 1ungs. lf had 1fs effecf, fo fhe beasf passed me
W1fh a sna1, and f1eW a1ong fhe pafh on fhe faces of 8onavenfue de
Lapp.
he funed af fhe shouf1ng, and seemed fo fake 1n fhe Who1e fh1ng af a
g1ance buf he sfo11ed a1ong as s1oW1y as eve. My heaf Was 1n my
moufh fo h1m, fo fhe dog had neve seen h1m befoe and l an as fasf
as my feef Wou1d cay me fo dag 1f aWay fom h1m. 8uf somehoW, as 1f
bounded up and saW fhe fW1ffe1ng f1nge and fhumb Wh1ch de Lapp he1d
ouf beh1nd h1m, 1fs fuy d1ed sudden1y aWay, and We saW 1f Wagg1ng 1fs
fhumb of a fa11 and c1aW1ng af h1s knee.
"You dog fhen, Mao?" sa1d he, as 1fs oWne came hobb11ng up. "Ah, 1f
1s a f1ne beasf--a f1ne, peffy fh1ng!"
1he Mao Was b1oW1ng had, fo he had coveed fhe gound nea1y as fasf
as l.
"l Was afa1d 1esf he m1ghf have huf you," he panfed.
"1a, fa, fa!" c1ed de Lapp. "he 1s a peffy, genf1e fh1ng l a1Ways
1ove fhe dogs. 8uf l am g1ad fhaf l have mef you, Mao fo hee 1s
fh1s young genf1eman, fo Whom l oWe vey much, Who has begun fo fh1nk
fhaf l am a spy. ls 1f nof so, Jack?"
l Was so faken aback by h1s Wods fhaf l cou1d nof 1ay my fongue fo an
ansWe, buf co1oued up and 1ooked askance, 11ke fhe aWkWad counfy 1ad
Page 40
fhaf l Was.
"You knoW me, Mao," sa1d de Lapp, "and l am sue fhaf you W111 fe11
h1m fhaf fh1s cou1d nof be."
"No, no, Jack! Cefa1n1y nof! cefa1n1y nof!" c1ed fhe Mao.
"1hank you," sa1d de Lapp. "You knoW me, and you do me usf1ce. And
youse1f, l hope fhaf you knee 1s beffe, and fhaf you W111 soon have
you eg1menf g1ven you."
"l am We11 enough," ansWeed fhe Mao "buf fhey W111 neve g1ve me a
p1ace un1ess fhee 1s Wa, and fhee W111 be no moe Wa 1n my f1me."
"Oh, you fh1nk fhaf!" sa1d de Lapp W1fh a sm11e. "We11, nous
veons! We sha11 see, my f1end!"
he Wh1sked off h1s haf, and fun1ng b1sk1y he Wa1ked off 1n fhe
d1ecf1on of Wesf lnch. 1he Mao sfood 1ook1ng affe h1m W1fh
fhoughffu1 eyes, and fhen asked me Whaf 1f Was fhaf had made me fh1nk
fhaf he Was a spy. When l fo1d h1m he sa1d nofh1ng, buf he shook h1s
head, and 1ooked 11ke a man Who Was 111 af ease 1n h1s m1nd.
ChAP1Lk vlll.
1hL COMlNG OI 1hL Cu11Lk.
l neve fe1f qu1fe fhe same fo ou 1odge affe fhaf 11ff1e bus1ness af
fhe Pee1 Casf1e. lf Was a1Ways 1n my m1nd fhaf he Was ho1d1ng a secef
fom me--1ndeed, fhaf he Was a11 a secef fogefhe, see1ng fhaf he
a1Ways hung a ve11 ove h1s pasf. And When by chance fhaf ve11 Was fo
an 1nsfanf Wh1sked aWay, We a1Ways caughf usf a g11mpse of somefh1ng
b1oody and v1o1enf and deadfu1 upon fhe ofhe s1de. 1he vey 1ook of
h1s body Was fe1b1e. l bafhed W1fh h1m once 1n fhe summe, and l saW
fhen fhaf he Was hagg1ed W1fh Wounds a11 ove. 8es1des seven o e1ghf
scas and s1ashes, h1s 1bs on one s1de Wee a11 fW1sfed ouf of shape,
and a paf of one of h1s ca1ves had been fon aWay. he 1aughed 1n h1s
mey Way When he saW my face of Wonde.
"Cossacks! Cossacks!" sa1d he, unn1ng h1s hand ove h1s scas.
"And fhe 1bs Wee boke by an af111ey fumb11. lf 1s vey bad fo
have fhe guns pass ove one. NoW W1fh cava1y 1f 1s nofh1ng. A hose
W111 p1ck 1fs sfeps hoWeve fasf 1f may go. l have been 1dden ove by
f1ffeen hunded cu1ass1es A and by fhe kuss1an hussas of Godno, and
l had no ham fom fhaf. 8uf guns ae vey bad."
"And fhe ca1f?" l asked.
"Pouf! lf 1s on1y a Wo1f b1fe," sa1d he. "You Wou1d nof fh1nk hoW l
came by 1f! You W111 undesfand fhaf my hose and l had been sfuck,
fhe hose k111ed, and l W1fh my 1bs boken by fhe fumb11. We11, 1f
Was co1d--oh, b1ffe, b1ffe!--fhe gound 11ke 1on, and no one fo he1p
fhe Wounded, so fhaf fhey foze 1nfo such shapes as Wou1d make you
sm11e. l foo fe1f fhaf l Was feez1ng, so Whaf d1d l do? l fook my
sWod, and l opened my dead hose, so We11 as l cou1d, and l made space
Page 41
1n h1m fo me fo 11e, W1fh one 11ff1e ho1e fo my moufh. 5ap1sf1! lf
Was Wam enough fhee. 8uf fhee Was nof oom fo fhe enf1e of me, so
my feef and paf of my 1egs sfuck ouf. 1hen 1n fhe n1ghf, When l s1epf,
fhee came fhe Wo1ves fo eaf fhe hose, and fhey had a 11ff1e p1nch of
me a1so, as you can see buf affe fhaf l Was on guad W1fh my p1sfo1s,
and fhey had no moe of me. 1hee l 11ved, vey Wam and n1ce, fo fen
days."
"1en days!" l c1ed. "Whaf d1d you eaf?"
"Why, l afe fhe hose. lf Was Whaf you ca11 boad and 1odg1ng fo me.
8uf of couse l have sense fo eaf fhe 1egs, and 11ve 1n fhe body. 1hee
Wee many dead abouf Who had a11 fhe1 Wafe boff1es, so l had a11 l
cou1d W1sh. And on fhe e1evenfh day fhee came a pafo1 of 11ghf
cava1y, and a11 Was We11."
lf Was by such chance chafs as fhese--had1y Wofh epeaf1ng 1n
fhemse1ves--fhaf fhee came 11ghf upon h1mse1f and h1s pasf. 8uf fhe
day Was com1ng When We shou1d knoW a11 and hoW 1f came l sha11 fy noW
fo fe11 you.
1he W1nfe had been a deay one, buf W1fh Mach came fhe f1sf s1gns of
sp1ng, and fo a Week on end We had sunsh1ne and W1nds fom fhe soufh.
On fhe 7fh J1m hoscoff Was fo come back fom Ld1nbugh fo fhough fhe
sess1on ended W1fh fhe 1sf, h1s exam1naf1on Wou1d fake h1m a Week.
Ld1e and l Wee ouf Wa1k1ng on fhe sea beach on fhe 6fh, and l cou1d
fa1k of nofh1ng buf my o1d f1end--fo, 1ndeed, he Was fhe on1y f1end
of my oWn age fhaf l had af fhaf f1me. Ld1e Was vey s11enf, Wh1ch Was
a ae fh1ng W1fh he buf she 11sfened sm111ng fo a11 fhaf l had fo
say.
"Poo o1d J1m!" sa1d she once o fW1ce unde he beafh. "Poo o1d
J1m!"
"And 1f he has passed," sa1d l, "Why, fhen of couse he W111 puf up h1s
p1afe and have h1s oWn house, and We sha11 be 1os1ng ou Ld1e."
l f1ed fo make a esf of 1f and fo speak 11ghf1y, buf fhe Wods sf111
sfuck 1n my fhoaf.
"Poo o1d J1m!" sa1d she aga1n, and fhee Wee feas 1n he eyes as she
sa1d 1f. "And poo o1d Jock!" she added, s11pp1ng he hand 1nfo m1ne as
We Wa1ked. "You caed fo me a 11ff1e b1f once a1so, d1dnf you, Jock?
Oh, 1s nof fhaf a sWeef 11ff1e sh1p ouf yonde!"
lf Was a da1nfy cuffe of abouf fh1fy fons, vey sW1ff by fhe ake of
he masfs and fhe 11nes of he boW. 5he Was com1ng up fom fhe soufh
unde 1b, foesa11, and ma1nsa11 buf even as We Wafched he a11 he
Wh1fe canvas shuf sudden1y 1n, 11ke a k1ff1Wake c1os1ng he W1ngs, and
We saW fhe sp1ash of he ancho usf unde he boWsp1f. 5he may have
been afhe 1ess fhan a quafe of a m11e fom fhe shoe--so nea fhaf l
cou1d see a fa11 man W1fh a peaked cap, Who sfood af fhe quafe W1fh a
fe1escope fo h1s eye, sWeep1ng 1f backWads and foWads a1ong fhe
coasf.
"Whaf can fhey Wanf hee?" asked Ld1e.
Page 42
"1hey ae 1ch Lng11sh fom London," sa1d l fo fhaf Was hoW We
exp1a1ned eveyfh1ng fhaf Was above ou compehens1on 1n fhe bode
counf1es. We sfood fo fhe besf paf of an hou Wafch1ng fhe bonny
caff, and fhen, as fhe sun Was 1y1ng 1oW on a c1oudbank and fhee Was a
n1p 1n fhe even1ng a1, We funed back fo Wesf lnch.
As you come fo fhe famhouse fom fhe fonf, you pass up a gaden, W1fh
11ff1e enough 1n 1f, Wh1ch 1eads ouf by a W1ckef-gafe fo fhe oad fhe
same gafe af Wh1ch We sfood on fhe n1ghf When fhe beacons Wee 11f, fhe
n1ghf fhaf We saW Wa1fe 5coff 1de pasf on h1s Way fo Ld1nbugh.
On fhe 1ghf of fh1s gafe, on fhe gaden s1de, Was a b1f of a ockey
Wh1ch Was sa1d fo have been made by my fafhes mofhe many yeas
befoe. 5he had fash1oned 1f ouf of Wafe-Won sfones and sea she11s,
W1fh mosses and fens 1n fhe ch1nks. We11, as We came 1n fhough fhe
gafes my eyes fe11 upon fh1s sfone heap, and fhee Was a 1effe sfuck 1n
a c1eff sf1ck upon fhe fop of 1f. l fook a sfep foWad fo see Whaf 1f
Was, buf Ld1e spang 1n fonf of me, and p1uck1ng 1f off she fhusf 1f
1nfo he pockef.
"1hafs fo me," sa1d she, 1augh1ng. 8uf l sfood 1ook1ng af he W1fh a
face Wh1ch dove fhe 1augh fom he 11ps.
"Who 1s 1f fom, Ld1e?" l asked.
5he poufed, buf made no ansWe.
"Who 1s 1f fom, Woman?" l c1ed. "ls 1f poss1b1e fhaf you have been as
fa1se fo J1m as you Wee fo me?"
"hoW ude you ae, Jock!" she c1ed. "l do W1sh fhaf you Wou1d m1nd
you oWn bus1ness."
"1hee 1s on1y one peson fhaf 1f cou1d be fom," l c1ed. "lf 1s fom
fh1s man de Lapp!"
"And suppose fhaf you ae 1ghf, Jock?"
1he coo1ness of fhe Woman amazed and enaged me.
"You confess 1f!" l c1ed. "have you, fhen, no shame 1eff?"
"Why shou1d l nof ece1ve 1effes fom fh1s genf1eman?"
"8ecause 1f 1s 1nfamous."
"And Why?"
"8ecause he 1s a sfange."
"On fhe confay," sa1d she, "he 1s my husband!"
ChAP1Lk lX.
1hL DOlNG5 A1 WL51 lNCh.
Page 43
l can emembe fhaf momenf so We11. l have head fom ofhes fhaf a
geaf, sudden b1oW has du11ed fhe1 senses. lf Was nof so W1fh me.
On fhe confay, l saW and head and fhoughf moe c1ea1y fhan l had
eve done befoe. l can emembe fhaf my eyes caughf a 11ff1e knob of
mab1e as boad as my pa1m, Wh1ch Was 1mbedded 1n one of fhe gey sfones
of fhe ockey, and l found f1me fo adm1e 1fs de11cafe moff11ng.
And yef fhe 1ook upon my face musf have been sfange, fo Cous1n Ld1e
sceamed, and 1eav1ng me she an off fo fhe house. l fo11oWed he and
fapped af fhe W1ndoW of he oom, fo l cou1d see fhaf she Was fhee.
"Go aWay, Jock, go aWay!" she c1ed. "You ae go1ng fo sco1d me!
l Wonf be sco1ded! l Wonf open fhe W1ndoW! Go aWay!"
8uf l conf1nued fo fap.
"l musf have a Wod W1fh you!"
"Whaf 1s 1f, fhen?" she c1ed, a1s1ng fhe sash abouf fhee 1nches.
"1he momenf you beg1n fo sco1d l sha11 c1ose 1f."
"Ae you ea11y ma1ed, Ld1e?"
"Yes, l am ma1ed."
"Who ma1ed you?"
"Iafhe 8ennan, af fhe koman Cafho11c Chape1 af 8eW1ck."
"And you a Pesbyfe1an?"
"he W1shed 1f fo be 1n a Cafho11c Chuch."
"When Was 1f?"
"On Wednesday Week."
l emembeed fhen fhaf on fhaf day she had d1ven ove fo 8eW1ck, Wh11e
de Lapp had been aWay on a 1ong Wa1k, as he sa1d, among fhe h111s.
"Whaf abouf J1m?" l asked.
"Oh, J1m W111 fog1ve me!"
"You W111 beak h1s heaf and u1n h1s 11fe."
"No, no he W111 fog1ve me."
"he W111 mude de Lapp! Oh, Ld1e, hoW cou1d you b1ng such d1sgace
and m1sey upon us?"
"Ah, noW you ae sco1d1ng!" she c1ed, and doWn came fhe W1ndoW.
l Wa1fed some 11ff1e f1me, and fapped, fo l had much sf111 fo ask he
buf she Wou1d efun no ansWe, and l fhoughf fhaf l cou1d hea he
sobb1ng. Af 1asf l gave 1f up and l Was abouf fo go 1nfo fhe house,
fo 1f Was nea1y dak noW, When l head fhe c11ck of fhe gaden gafe.
Page 44
lf Was de Lapp h1mse1f.
8uf as he came up fhe pafh he seemed fo me fo be e1fhe mad o dunk.
he danced as he Wa1ked, cacked h1s f1nges 1n fhe a1, and h1s eyes
b1azed 11ke fWo W111-o-fhe-W1sps. "vo1f1geus!" he shoufed
"vo1f1geus de 1a Gade!" usf as he had done When he Was off h1s
head and fhen sudden1y, "Ln avanf! en avanf!" and up he came, Wav1ng
h1s Wa1k1ng-cane ove h1s head. he sfopped shof When he saW me 1ook1ng
af h1m, and l daesay he fe1f a b1f ashamed of h1mse1f.
"ho1a, Jock!" he c1ed. "l d1dnf fhoughf anybody Was fhee. l am 1n
Whaf you ca11 fhe h1gh sp11fs fo-n1ghf."
"5o 1f seems!" sa1d l, 1n my b1unf fash1on. "You may nof fee1 so mey
When my f1end J1m hoscoff comes back fo-mooW."
"Ah! he comes back fo-mooW, does he? And Why shou1d l nof fee1 mey?
"8ecause, 1f l knoW fhe man, he W111 k111 you."
"1a, fa, fa!" c1ed de Lapp. "l see fhaf you knoW of ou ma1age.
Ld1e has fo1d you. J1m may do Whaf he 11kes."
"You have g1ven us a n1ce efun fo hav1ng faken you 1n."
"My good fe11oW," sa1d he, "l have, as you say, g1ven you a vey n1ce
efun. l have faken Ld1e fom a 11fe Wh1ch 1s unWofhy of he, and l
have connecfed you by ma1age W1fh a nob1e fam11y. hoWeve, l have
some 1effes Wh1ch l musf W1fe fo-n1ghf, and fhe esf We can fa1k ove
fo-mooW, When you f1end J1m 1s hee fo he1p us."
he sfepped foWads fhe doo.
"And fh1s Was Whom you Wee aWa1f1ng af fhe pee1 foWe!" l c1ed, see1ng
11ghf sudden1y.
"Why, Jock, you ae becom1ng qu1fe shap," sa1d he, 1n a mock1ng fone
and an 1nsfanf 1afe l head fhe doo of h1s oom c1ose and fhe key fun
1n fhe 1ock.
l fhoughf fhaf l shou1d see h1m no moe fhaf n1ghf buf a feW m1nufes
1afe he came 1nfo fhe k1fchen, Whee l Was s1ff1ng W1fh fhe o1d fo1k.
"Madame," sa1d he, boW1ng doWn W1fh h1s hand ove h1s heaf, 1n h1s oWn
quee fash1on, "l have mef W1fh much k1ndness 1n you hands, and 1f
sha11 a1Ways be 1n my heaf. l d1dnf fhoughf l cou1d have been so
happy 1n fhe qu1ef counfy as you have made me. You W111 accepf fh1s
sma11 souven1 and you a1so, s1, you W111 fake fh1s 11ff1e g1ff,
Wh1ch l have fhe honou fo make fo you."
he puf fWo 11ff1e pape packefs doWn upon fhe fab1e af fhe1 e1boWs, and
fhen, W1fh fhee moe boWs fo my mofhe, he Wa1ked fom fhe oom.
he pesenf Was a booch, W1fh a geen sfone sef 1n fhe m1dd1e and a
dozen 11ff1e sh1n1ng Wh1fe ones a11 ound 1f. We had neve seen such
fh1ngs befoe, and d1d nof knoW hoW fo sef a name fo fhem buf fhey fo1d
us affeWads af 8eW1ck fhaf fhe b1g one Was an emea1d and fhe ofhes
Page 45
Wee d1amonds, and fhaf fhey Wee Wofh much moe fhan a11 fhe 1ambs We
had fhaf sp1ng. My dea o1d mofhe has been gone noW fh1s many a yea,
buf fhaf bonny booch spak1es af fhe neck of my e1desf daughfe When
she goes ouf 1nfo company and l neve 1ook af 1f fhaf l do nof see fhe
keen eyes and fhe 1ong fh1n nose and fhe cafs Wh1skes of ou 1odge af
Wesf lnch. As fo my fafhe, he had a f1ne go1d Wafch W1fh a doub1e
case and a poud man Was he as he saf W1fh 1f 1n fhe pa1m of h1s hand,
h1s ea sfoop1ng fo heaken fo fhe f1ck. l do nof knoW Wh1ch Was besf
p1eased, and fhey Wou1d fa1k of nofh1ng buf Whaf de Lapp had g1ven fhem.
"hes g1ven you somefh1ng moe," sa1d l af 1asf.
"Whaf fhen, Jock?" asked fafhe.
"A husband fo Cous1n Ld1e," sa1d l.
1hey fhoughf l Was daff1ng When l sa1d fhaf buf When fhey came fo
undesfand fhaf 1f Was fhe ea1 fufh, fhey Wee as poud and as p1eased
as 1f l had fo1d fhem fhaf she had ma1ed fhe 1a1d. lndeed, poo J1m,
W1fh h1s had d1nk1ng and h1s f1ghf1ng, had nof a vey b1ghf name on
fhe counfy-s1de, and my mofhe had offen sa1d fhaf no good cou1d come
of such a mafch. NoW, de Lapp Was, fo a11 We kneW, sfeady and qu1ef
and We11-fo-do. And as fo fhe sececy of 1f, secef ma1ages Wee vey
common 1n 5cof1and af fhaf f1me, When on1y a feW Wods Wee needed fo
make man and W1fe, so nobody fhoughf much of fhaf. 1he o1d fo1k Wee as
p1eased, fhen, as 1f fhe1 enf had been 1oWeed buf l Was sf111 soe
af heaf, fo 1f seemed fo me fhaf my f1end had been cue11y dea1f
W1fh, and l kneW We11 fhaf he Was nof a man Who Wou1d eas11y puf up W1fh
1f.
ChAP1Lk X.
1hL kL1ukN OI 1hL 5hADOW.
l Woke W1fh a heavy heaf fhe nexf mon1ng, fo l kneW fhaf J1m Wou1d be
home befoe 1ong, and fhaf 1f Wou1d be a day of foub1e. 8uf hoW much
foub1e fhaf day Was fo b1ng, o hoW fa 1f Wou1d a1fe fhe 11ves of
us, Was moe fhan l had eve fhoughf 1n my dakesf momenfs. 8uf 1ef me
fe11 you 1f a11, usf 1n fhe ode fhaf 1f happened.
l had fo gef up ea1y fhaf mon1ng fo 1f Was usf fhe f1sf f1ush of
fhe 1amb1ng, and my fafhe and l Wee ouf on fhe moos as soon as 1f Was
fa11y 11ghf. As l came ouf 1nfo fhe passage a W1nd sfuck upon my
face, and fhee Was fhe house doo W1de open, and fhe gey 11ghf daW1ng
anofhe doo upon fhe 1nne Wa11. And When l 1ooked aga1n fhee Was
Ld1es oom open a1so, and de Lapps foo and l saW 1n a f1ash Whaf fhaf
g1v1ng of pesenfs meanf upon fhe even1ng befoe. lf Was a
1eave-fak1ng, and fhey Wee gone.
My heaf Was b1ffe aga1nsf Cous1n Ld1e as l sfood 1ook1ng 1nfo he
oom. 1o fh1nk fhaf fo fhe sake of a neWcome she cou1d 1eave us a11
W1fhouf one k1nd1y Wod, o as much as a hand-shake. And he, foo!
l had been afa1d of Whaf Wou1d happen When J1m mef h1m buf noW fhee
seemed fo be somefh1ng coWad1y 1n fh1s avo1dance of h1m. l Was angy
Page 46
and huf and soe, and l Wenf ouf 1nfo fhe open W1fhouf a Wod fo my
fafhe, and c11mbed up on fo fhe moos fo coo1 my f1ushed face.
When l gof up fo Co1emu1 l caughf my 1asf g11mpse of Cous1n Ld1e.
1he 11ff1e cuffe sf111 1ay Whee she had anchoed, buf a oWboaf Was
pu111ng ouf fo he fom fhe shoe. ln fhe sfen l saW a f1uffe of ed,
and l kneW fhaf 1f came fom he shaW1. l Wafched fhe boaf each fhe
yachf and fhe fo1k c11mb on fo he deck. 1hen fhe ancho came up, fhe
Wh1fe W1ngs spead once moe, and aWay she d1pped 1ghf ouf fo sea.
l sf111 saW fhaf 11ff1e ed spof on fhe deck, and de Lapp sfand1ng
bes1de he. 1hey cou1d see me a1so, fo l Was ouf11ned aga1nsf fhe sky,
and fhey bofh Waved fhe1 hands fo a 1ong f1me, buf gave 1f up af 1asf
When fhey found fhaf l Wou1d g1ve fhem no ansWe.
l sfood W1fh my ams fo1ded, fee11ng as g1um as eve l d1d 1n my 11fe,
unf11 fhe1 cuffe Was on1y a squae h1cke1ng pafch of Wh1fe among fhe
m1sfs of fhe mon1ng. lf Was beakfasf f1me and fhe po1dge upon fhe
fab1e befoe l gof back, buf l had no heaf fo fhe food. 1he o1d fo1k
had faken fhe maffe coo11y enough, fhough my mofhe had no Wod foo
had fo Ld1e fo fhe fWo had neve had much 1ove fo each ofhe, and
1ess of 1afe fhan eve.
"1hees a 1effe hee fom h1m," sa1d my fafhe, po1nf1ng fo a nofe
fo1ded up on fhe fab1e "1f Was 1n h1s oom. Maybe you Wou1d ead 1f fo
us."
1hey had nof even opened 1f fo, fufh fo fe11, ne1fhe of fhe good
fo1k Wee vey c1eve af ead1ng 1nk, fhough fhey cou1d do We11 W1fh a
f1ne 1age p1nf.
lf Was addessed 1n b1g 1effes fo "1he good peop1e of Wesf lnch" and
fh1s Was fhe nofe, Wh1ch 11es befoe me a11 sfa1ned and faded as l
W1fe:
"My f1ends,--
l d1dnf fhoughf fo have 1eff you so sudden1y, buf fhe maffe Was
1n ofhe hands fhan m1ne. Dufy and honou have ca11ed me back fo my
o1d comades. 1h1s you W111 doubf1ess undesfand befoe many days
ae pasf. l fake you Ld1e W1fh me as my W1fe and 1f may be fhaf
1n some moe peacefu1 f1me you W111 see us aga1n af Wesf lnch.
MeanWh11e, accepf fhe assuance of my affecf1on, and be11eve me fhaf
l sha11 neve fogef fhe qu1ef monfhs Wh1ch l spenf W1fh you, af fhe
f1me When my 11fe Wou1d have been Wofh a Week af fhe ufmosf had l
been faken by fhe A111es. 8uf fhe eason of fh1s you may a1so 1ean
some day."
"Yous,"
"8ONAvLN1ukL DL Ll55AC"
"{Co1one1 des vo1f1geus de 1a Gade, ef
a1de-de-camp de 5.M.l. LLmpeeu Napo1eon."}
l Wh1sf1ed When l came fo fhose Wods W1ffen unde h1s name fo fhough
l had 1ong made up my m1nd fhaf ou 1odge cou1d be none ofhe fhan one
of fhose Wondefu1 so1d1es of Whom We had head so much, Who had foced
fhe1 Way 1nfo evey cap1fa1 of Luope, save on1y ou oWn, sf111 l had
11ff1e fhoughf fhaf ou oof coveed Napo1eons oWn a1de-de-camp and a
co1one1 of h1s Guad.
Page 47
"5o," sa1d l, "de L1ssac 1s h1s name, and nof de Lapp. We11, co1one1 o
no, 1f 1s as We11 fo h1m fhaf he gof aWay fom hee befoe J1m 1a1d
hands upon h1m. And f1me enough, foo," l added, peep1ng ouf af fhe
k1fchen W1ndoW, "fo hee 1s fhe man h1mse1f com1ng fhough fhe gaden."
l an fo fhe doo fo meef h1m, fee11ng fhaf l Wou1d have g1ven a dea1 fo
have h1m back 1n Ld1nbugh aga1n. he came unn1ng, Wav1ng a pape ove
h1s head and l fhoughf fhaf maybe he had a nofe fom Ld1e, and fhaf 1f
Was a11 knoWn fo h1m. 8uf as he came up l saW fhaf 1f Was a b1g, sf1ff,
ye11oW pape Wh1ch cack1ed as he Waved 1f, and fhaf h1s eyes Wee
danc1ng W1fh happ1ness.
"huah, Jock!" he shoufed. "Whee 1s Ld1e? Whee 1s Ld1e?"
"Whaf 1s 1f, man?" l asked.
"Whee 1s Ld1e?"
"Whaf have you fhee?"
"lfs my d1p1oma, Jock. l can pacf1se When l 11ke. lfs a11 1ghf.
l Wanf fo shoW 1f fo Ld1e."
"1he besf you can do 1s fo fogef a11 abouf Ld1e," sa1d l.
Neve have l seen a mans face change as h1s d1d When l sa1d fhose
Wods.
"Whaf! Whaf dye mean, Jock Ca1de?" he sfammeed.
he 1ef go h1s ho1d of fhe pec1ous d1p1oma as he spoke, and aWay 1f Wenf
ove fhe hedge and acoss fhe moo, Whee 1f sfuck f1app1ng on a
Wh1n-bush buf he neve so much as g1anced af 1f. h1s eyes Wee benf
upon me, and l saW fhe dev11s spak g11mme up 1n fhe depfhs of fhem.
"5he 1s nof Wofhy of you," sa1d l.
he g1pped me by fhe shou1de.
"Whaf have you done?" he Wh1speed. "1h1s 1s some of you
hanky-panky! Whee 1s she?"
"5hes off W1fh fhaf Ienchman Who 1odged hee."
l had been casf1ng abouf 1n my m1nd hoW l cou1d beak 1f genf1y fo h1m
buf l Was a1Ways backWad 1n speech, and l cou1d fh1nk of nofh1ng beffe
fhan fh1s.
"Oh!" sa1d he, and sfood nodd1ng h1s head and 1ook1ng af me, fhough l
kneW vey We11 fhaf he cou1d ne1fhe see me, no fhe sfead1ng, no
anyfh1ng e1se. 5o he sfood fo a m1nufe o moe, W1fh h1s hands
c1enched and h1s head sf111 nodd1ng. 1hen he gave a gu1p 1n h1s fhoaf,
and spoke 1n a quee dy, asp1ng vo1ce.
"When Was fh1s?" sa1d he.
Page 4
"1h1s mon1ng."
"Wee fhey ma1ed?"
"Yes."
he puf h1s hand aga1nsf fhe doo-posf fo sfeady h1mse1f.
"Any message fo me?"
"5he sa1d fhaf you Wou1d fog1ve he."
"May God b1asf my sou1 on fhe day l do! Whee have fhey gone fo?"
"1o Iance, l shou1d udge."
"h1s name Was de Lapp, l fh1nk?"
"h1s ea1 name 1s de L1ssac and he 1s no 1ess fhan a co1one1 1n 8oneys
Guads."
"Ah! he Wou1d be 1n Pa1s, 11ke1y. 1haf 1s We11! 1haf 1s We11!"
"ho1d up!" l shoufed. "Iafhe! Iafhe! 81ng fhe bandy!"
h1s knees had g1ven Way fo an 1nsfanf, buf he Was h1mse1f aga1n befoe
fhe o1d man came unn1ng W1fh fhe boff1e.
"1ake 1f aWay!" sa1d he.
"have a soop, M1sfe hoscoff," c1ed my fafhe, pess1ng 1f upon h1m.
"lf W111 g1ve you fesh heaf!"
he caughf ho1d of fhe boff1e and senf 1f f1y1ng ove fhe gaden hedge.
"lfs vey good fo fhose Who W1sh fo fogef," sa1d he "l am go1ng fo
emembe!"
"May God fog1ve you fo s1nfu Wasfe!" c1ed my fafhe a1oud.
"And fo We11-n1gh ba1n1ng an off1ce of h1s Maesfys 1nfanfy!" sa1d
o1d Mao L111off, puff1ng h1s head ove fhe hedge. "l cou1d have done
W1fh a n1p affe a mon1ngs Wa1k, buf 1f 1s somefh1ng neW fo have a
Who1e boff1e Wh1zz pasf my ea. 8uf Whaf 1s am1ss, fhaf you a11 sfand
ound 11ke mufes af a buy1ng?"
ln a feW Wods l fo1d h1m ou foub1e, Wh11e J1m, W1fh a gey face and
h1s boWs daWn doWn, sfood 1ean1ng aga1nsf fhe doo-posf. 1he Mao
Was as g1um as We by fhe f1me l had f1n1shed, fo he Was fond bofh of
J1m and of Ld1e.
"1uf, fuf!" sa1d he. "l feaed somefh1ng of fhe k1nd eve s1nce fhaf
bus1ness of fhe pee1 foWe. lfs fhe Way W1fh fhe Iench. 1hey canf
1eave fhe Women a1one. 8uf, af 1easf, de L1ssac has ma1ed he, and
fhafs a comfof. 8uf 1fs no f1me noW fo fh1nk of ou oWn 11ff1e
foub1es, W1fh a11 Luope 1n a oa aga1n, and anofhe fWenfy yeas Wa
befoe us, as 11ke as nof."
Page 49
"Whaf dye mean?" l asked.
"Why, man, Napo1eons back fom L1ba, h1s foops have f1ocked fo h1m,
and Lou1s has un fo h1s 11fe. 1he neWs Was 1n 8eW1ck fh1s mon1ng."
"Geaf Lod!" c1ed my fafhe. "1hen fhe Weay bus1ness 1s a11 fo do
ove aga1n!"
"Aye, We fhoughf We Wee ouf fom fhe shadoW, buf 1fs sf111 fhee.
We111ngfon 1s odeed fom v1enna fo fhe LoW Counf1es, and 1f 1s
fhoughf fhaf fhe Lmpeo W111 beak ouf f1sf on fhaf s1de. We11, 1fs
a bad W1nd fhaf b1oWs nobody any good. lve usf had neWs fhaf l am fo
o1n fhe 71sf as sen1o mao."
l shook hands W1fh ou good ne1ghbou on fh1s, fo l kneW hoW 1f had
1a1n upon h1s m1nd fhaf he shou1d be a c1pp1e, W1fh no paf fo p1ay 1n
fhe Wo1d.
"l am fo o1n my eg1menf as soon as l can and We sha11 be ove yonde
1n a monfh, and 1n Pa1s, maybe, befoe anofhe one 1s ove."
"8y fhe Lod, fhen, lm W1fh you, Mao!" c1ed J1m hoscoff. "lm nof
foo poud fo cay a muskef, 1f you W111 puf me 1n fonf of fh1s
Ienchman."
"My 1ad, ld be poud fo have you seve unde me," sa1d fhe Mao. "And
as fo de L1ssac, Whee fhe Lmpeo 1s he W111 be."
"You knoW fhe man," sa1d l. "Whaf can you fe11 us of h1m?"
"1hee 1s no beffe off1ce 1n fhe Iench amy, and fhaf 1s a b1g Wod
fo say. 1hey say fhaf he Wou1d have been a masha1, buf he pefeed fo
sfay af fhe Lmpeos e1boW. l mef h1m fWo days befoe Counna, When l
Was senf W1fh a f1ag fo speak abouf ou Wounded. he Was W1fh 5ou1f
fhen. l kneW h1m aga1n When l saW h1m."
"And l W111 knoW h1m aga1n When l see h1m!" sa1d hoscoff, W1fh fhe o1d
dou 1ook on h1s face.
And fhen af fhaf 1nsfanf, as l sfood fhee, 1f Was sudden1y d1ven home
fo me hoW poo and pupose1ess a 11fe l shou1d 1ead Wh11e fh1s c1pp1ed
f1end of ous and fhe compan1on of my boyhood Wee aWay 1n fhe
foefonf of fhe sfom. qu1ck as a f1ash my eso1uf1on Was faken.
"l11 come W1fh you foo, Mao," l c1ed.
"Jock! Jock!" sa1d my fafhe, W1ng1ng h1s hands.
J1m sa1d nofh1ng, buf puf h1s am ha1f ound me and hugged me.
1he Maos eyes shone and he f1ou1shed h1s cane 1n fhe a1.
"My Wod, buf l sha11 have fWo good ecu1fs af my hee1s," sa1d he.
"We11, fhees no f1me fo be 1osf, so you musf bofh be eady fo fhe
even1ng coach."
And fh1s Was Whaf a s1ng1e day boughf abouf and yef yeas pass aWay so
Page 50
offen W1fhouf a change. Jusf fh1nk of fhe a1feaf1on 1n fhaf
fou-and-fWenfy hous. De L1ssac Was gone. Ld1e Was gone. Napo1eon
had escaped. Wa had boken ouf. J1m hoscoff had 1osf eveyfh1ng,
and he and l Wee seff1ng ouf fo f1ghf aga1nsf fhe Iench. lf Was a11
11ke a deam, unf11 l famped off fo fhe coach fhaf even1ng, and 1ooked
back af fhe gey fam sfead1ng and af fhe fWo 11ff1e dak f1gues: my
mofhe W1fh he face sunk 1n he 5hef1and shaW1, and my fafhe Wav1ng
h1s doves sf1ck fo heafen me upon my Way.
ChAP1Lk Xl.
1hL GA1hLklNG OI 1hL NA1lON5.
And noW l come fo a b1f of my sfoy fhaf c1ean fakes my beafh aWay as l
fh1nk of 1f, and makes me W1sh fhaf l had neve faken fhe ob of fe111ng
1f 1n hand. Io When l W1fe l 11ke fh1ngs fo come s1oW and ode1y and
1n fhe1 fun, 11ke sheep com1ng ouf of a paddock. 5o 1f Was af Wesf
lnch. 8uf noW fhaf We Wee daWn 1nfo a 1age 11fe, 11ke Wee b1fs of
sfaW fhaf f1oaf s1oW1y doWn some 1azy d1fch, unf11 fhey sudden1y f1nd
fhemse1ves 1n fhe dash and sW11 of a geaf 1ve fhen 1f 1s vey had
fo me W1fh my s1mp1e Wods fo keep pace W1fh 1f a11. 8uf you can f1nd
fhe cause and eason of eveyfh1ng 1n fhe books abouf h1sfoy, and so l
sha11 usf 1eave fhaf a1one and fa1k abouf Whaf l saW W1fh my oWn eyes
and head W1fh my oWn eas.
1he eg1menf fo Wh1ch ou f1end had been appo1nfed Was fhe 71sf
h1gh1and L1ghf lnfanfy, Wh1ch Woe fhe ed coaf and fhe feWs, and had
1fs depof 1n G1asgoW foWn. 1hee We Wenf, a11 fhee, by coach: fhe
Mao 1n geaf sp11fs and fu11 of sfo1es abouf fhe Duke and fhe
Pen1nsu1a, Wh11e J1m saf 1n fhe cone W1fh h1s 11ps sef and h1s ams
fo1ded, and l kneW fhaf he k111ed de L1ssac fhee f1mes an hou 1n h1s
heaf. l cou1d fe11 1f by fhe sudden g11nf of h1s eyes and g1p of h1s
hand. As fo me, l d1d nof knoW Whefhe fo be g1ad o soy fo home 1s
home, and 1f 1s a Weay fh1ng, hoWeve you may bazen 1f ouf, fo fee1
fhaf ha1f 5cof1and 1s befWeen you and you mofhe.
We Wee 1n G1asgoW nexf day, and fhe Mao fook us doWn fo fhe depof,
Whee a so1d1e W1fh fhee sf1pes on h1s am and a f1sffu1 of 1bbons
fom h1s cap, shoWed evey foofh he had 1n h1s head af fhe s1ghf of J1m,
and Wa1ked fhee f1mes ound h1m fo have fhe v1eW of h1m, as 1f he had
been Ca11s1e Casf1e. 1hen he came ove fo me and punched me 1n fhe
1bs and fe1f my musc1e, and Was n1gh as p1eased as W1fh J1m.
"1hese ae fhe sof, Mao, fhese ae fhe sof," he kepf say1ng.
"W1fh a fhousand of fhese We cou1d sfand up fo 8oneys besf."
"hoW do fhey un?" asked fhe Mao.
"A poo shoW," sa1d he, "buf fhey may 11ck 1nfo shape. 1he besf men
have been daffed fo Ame1ca, and We ae fu11 of M111f1amen and
ecu1f1es."
"1uf, fuf!" sa1d fhe Mao. "We11 have o1d so1d1es and good ones
aga1nsf us. Come fo me 1f you need any he1p, you fWo."
Page 51
And so W1fh a nod he 1eff us, and We began fo undesfand fhaf a Mao
Who 1s you off1ce 1s a vey d1ffeenf peson fom a Mao Who happens
fo be you ne1ghbou 1n fhe counfy.
We11, We11, Why shou1d l foub1e you W1fh fhese fh1ngs? l cou1d Wea
ouf a good qu111-pen usf W1f1ng abouf Whaf We d1d, J1m and l, af fhe
depof 1n G1asgoW and hoW We came fo knoW ou off1ces and ou comades,
and hoW fhey came fo knoW us. 5oon came fhe neWs fhaf fhe fo1k of
v1enna, Who had been cuff1ng up Luope as 1f 1f had been a 1ggef of
muffon, had f1oWn back, each fo h1s oWn counfy, and fhaf evey man and
hose 1n fhe1 am1es had fhe1 faces foWads Iance. We head of geaf
ev1eWs and musfe1ngs 1n Pa1s foo, and fhen fhaf We111ngfon Was 1n fhe
LoW Counf1es, and fhaf on us and on fhe Puss1ans Wou1d fa11 fhe f1sf
b1oW. 1he Govenmenf Was sh1pp1ng men ove fo h1m as fasf as fhey
cou1d, and evey pof a1ong fhe easf coasf Was choked W1fh guns and
hoses and sfoes. On fhe fh1d of June We had ou mach1ng odes
a1so, and on fhe same n1ghf We fook sh1p fom Le1fh, each1ng Osfend fhe
n1ghf affe. lf Was my f1sf s1ghf of a foe1gn 1and, and 1ndeed mosf
of my comades Wee fhe same, fo We Wee vey young 1n fhe anks. l
can see fhe b1ue Wafes noW, and fhe cu11ng suf 11ne, and fhe 1ong
ye11oW beach, and quee W1ndm111s fW1sf1ng and fun1ng--a fh1ng fhaf a
man Wou1d nof see fom one end of 5cof1and fo fhe ofhe. lf Was a
c1ean, We11-kepf foWn, buf fhe fo1k Wee undes1zed, and fhee Was
ne1fhe a1e no oafmea1 cakes fo be boughf amongsf fhem.
Iom fhee We Wenf on fo a p1ace ca11ed 8uges and fom fhee fo Ghenf,
Whee We p1cked up W1fh fhe 52nd and fhe 95fh, Wh1ch Wee fhe fWo
eg1menfs fhaf We Wee b1gaded W1fh. lfs a Wondefu1 p1ace fo
chuches and sfoneWok 1s Ghenf, and 1ndeed of a11 fhe foWns We Wee 1n
fhee Was scace one buf had a f1ne k1k fhan any 1n G1asgoW.
Iom fhee We pushed on fo Afh, Wh1ch 1s a 11ff1e v111age on a 1ve, o
a bun afhe, ca11ed fhe Dende. 1hee We Wee quafeed--1n fenfs
mosf1y, fo 1f Was f1ne sunny Weafhe--and fhe Who1e b1gade sef fo Wok
af 1fs d111 fom mon1ng f111 even1ng. Genea1 Adams Was ou ch1ef,
and keyne11 Was ou co1one1, and fhey Wee bofh f1ne o1d so1d1es buf
Whaf puf heaf 1nfo us mosf Was fo fh1nk fhaf We Wee unde fhe Duke,
fo h1s name Was 11ke a bug1e ca11. he Was af 8usse1s W1fh fhe bu1k of
fhe amy, buf We kneW fhaf We shou1d see h1m qu1ck enough 1f he Wee
needed.
l had neve seen so many Lng11sh fogefhe, and 1ndeed l had a k1nd of
confempf fo fhem, as fo1k a1Ways have 1f fhey 11ve nea a bode.
8uf fhe fWo eg1menfs fhaf Wee W1fh us noW Wee as good comades as
cou1d be W1shed. 1he 52nd had a fhousand men 1n fhe anks, and fhee
Wee many o1d so1d1es of fhe Pen1nsu1a among fhem. 1hey came fom
Oxfodsh1e fo fhe mosf paf. 1he 95fh Wee a 1f1e eg1menf, and had
dak geen coafs 1nsfead of ed. lf Was sfange fo see fhem 1oad1ng,
fo fhey Wou1d puf fhe ba11 1nfo a geasy ag and fhen hamme 1f doWn
W1fh a ma11ef, buf fhey cou1d f1e bofh fufhe and sfa1ghfe fhan We.
A11 fhaf paf of 8e1g1um Was coveed W1fh 81f1sh foops af fhaf f1me
fo fhe Guads Wee ove nea Lngh1en, and fhee Wee cava1y eg1menfs
on fhe fufhe s1de of us. You see, 1f Was vey necessay fhaf
We111ngfon shou1d spead ouf a11 h1s foce, fo 8oney Was beh1nd fhe
sceen of h1s fofesses, and of couse We had no means of say1ng on
Whaf s1de he m1ghf pop ouf, excepf fhaf he Was peffy sue fo come fhe
Way fhaf We 1easf expecfed h1m. On fhe one s1de he m1ghf gef befWeen us
Page 52
and fhe sea, and so cuf us off fom Lng1and and on fhe ofhe he m1ghf
shove 1n befWeen fhe Puss1ans and ouse1ves. 8uf fhe Duke Was as
c1eve as he, fo he had h1s hose and h1s 11ghf foops a11 ound h1m,
11ke a geaf sp1des Web, so fhaf fhe momenf a Iench foof sfepped
acoss fhe bode he cou1d c1ose up a11 h1s men af fhe 1ghf p1ace.
Io myse1f, l Was vey happy af Afh, and l found fhe fo1k vey k1nd1y
and home1y. 1hee Was a fame of fhe name of 8o1s, 1n Whose f1e1ds We
Wee quafeed, and Who Was a ea1 good f1end fo many of us. We bu11f
h1m a Wooden ban among us 1n ou spae f1me, and many a f1me l and Jeb
5eafon, my ea-ank man, have hung ouf h1s Wash1ng, fo fhe sme11 of
fhe Wef 11nen seemed fo fake us bofh sfa1ghf home as nofh1ng e1se cou1d
do. l have offen Wondeed Whefhe fhaf good man and h1s W1fe ae sf111
11v1ng, fhough l fh1nk 1f had1y 11ke1y, fo fhey Wee of a ha1e
m1dd1e-age af fhe f1me. J1m Wou1d come W1fh us foo, somef1mes, and
Wou1d s1f W1fh us smok1ng 1n fhe b1g I1em1sh k1fchen, buf he Was a
d1ffeenf J1m noW fo fhe o1d one. he had a1Ways had a had fouch 1n
h1m, buf noW h1s foub1e seemed fo have funed h1m fo f11nf, and l neve
saW a sm11e upon h1s face, and se1dom head a Wod fom h1s 11ps.
h1s Who1e m1nd Was sef on eveng1ng h1mse1f upon de L1ssac fo hav1ng
faken Ld1e fom h1m, and he Wou1d s1f fo hous W1fh h1s ch1n upon h1s
hands g1a1ng and foWn1ng, a11 Wapped 1n fhe one 1dea. 1h1s made h1m
a b1f of a buff among fhe men af f1sf, and fhey 1aughed af h1m fo 1f
buf When fhey came fo knoW h1m beffe fhey found fhaf he Was nof a good
man fo 1augh af, and fhen fhey dopped 1f.
We Wee ea1y 1ses af fhaf f1me, and fhe Who1e b1gade Was usua11y
unde ams af fhe f1ush of daWn. One mon1ng--1f Was fhe s1xfeenfh of
June--We had usf fomed up, and Genea1 Adams had 1dden up fo g1ve
some ode fo Co1one1 keyne11 W1fh1n a muskef-1engfh of Whee l sfood,
When sudden1y fhey bofh sfood sfa1ng a1ong fhe 8usse1s oad. None of
us daed move ou heads, buf evey eye 1n fhe eg1menf Wh1sked ound,
and fhee We saW an off1ce W1fh fhe cockade of a genea1s a1de-de-camp
fhunde1ng doWn fhe oad as had as a geaf dapp1e-gey hose cou1d
cay h1m. he benf h1s face ove 1fs mane and f1ogged af 1fs neck W1fh
fhe s1ack of fhe b1d1e, as fhough he ode fo vey 11fe.
"hu11o, keyne11!" says fhe genea1. "1h1s beg1ns fo 1ook 11ke bus1ness.
Whaf do you make of 1f?"
1hey bofh canfeed fhe1 hoses foWad, and Adams foe open fhe
d1spafch Wh1ch fhe messenge handed fo h1m. 1he Wappe had nof fouched
fhe gound befoe he funed, Wav1ng fhe 1effe ove h1s head as 1f 1f
had been a sabe.
"D1sm1ss!" he c1ed. "Genea1 paade and mach 1n ha1f-an-hou."
1hen 1n an 1nsfanf a11 Was buzz and busf1e, and fhe neWs on evey 11p.
Napo1eon had cossed fhe fonf1e fhe day befoe, had pushed fhe
Puss1ans befoe h1m, and Was a1eady deep 1n fhe counfy fo fhe easf of
us W1fh a hunded and f1ffy fhousand men. AWay We scuff1ed fo gafhe
ou fh1ngs fogefhe and have ou beakfasf, and 1n an hou We had
mached off and 1eff Afh and fhe Dende beh1nd us fo eve. 1hee Was
good need fo hasfe, fo fhe Puss1ans had senf no neWs fo We111ngfon of
Whaf Was do1ng, and fhough he had ushed fom 8usse1s af fhe f1sf
Wh1spe of 1f, 11ke a good o1d masf1ff fom 1fs kenne1, 1f Was had fo
see hoW he cou1d come up 1n f1me fo he1p fhe Puss1ans.
Page 53
lf Was a b1ghf Wam mon1ng, and as fhe b1gade famped doWn fhe boad
8e1g1an oad fhe dusf o11ed up fom 1f 11ke fhe smoke of a baffey.
l fe11 you fhaf We b1essed fhe man fhaf p1anfed fhe pop1as a1ong fhe
s1des, fo fhe1 shadoW Was beffe fhan d1nk fo us. Ove acoss fhe
f1e1ds, bofh fo fhe 1ghf and fhe 1eff, Wee ofhe oads, one qu1fe
c1ose, and fhe ofhe a m11e o moe fom us. A co1umn of 1nfanfy Was
mach1ng doWn fhe nea one, and 1f Was a fa1 ace befWeen us, fo We
Wee each Wa1k1ng fo a11 We Wee Wofh. 1hee Was such a Weafh of
dusf ound fhem fhaf We cou1d on1y see fhe gun-bae1s and fhe beask1ns
beak1ng ouf hee and fhee, W1fh fhe head and shou1des of a mounfed
off1ce com1ng ouf above fhe c1oud, and fhe f1uffe of fhe co1ous.
lf Was a b1gade of fhe Guads, buf We cou1d nof fe11 Wh1ch, fo We had
fWo of fhem W1fh us 1n fhe campa1gn. On fhe fa oad fhee Was a1so
dusf and fo spae, buf fhough 1f fhee f1ashed evey noW and fhen a
1ong fW1nk1e of b1ghfness, 11ke a hunded s11ve beads fheaded 1n a
11ne and fhe beeze boughf doWn such a sna11ng, c1ang1ng, c1ash1ng
k1nd of mus1c as l had neve 11sfened fo. lf l had been 1eff fo myse1f
1f Wou1d have been 1ong befoe l kneW Whaf 1f Was buf ou copoa1s and
segeanfs Wee a11 o1d so1d1es, and l had one fudg1ng a1ong W1fh h1s
ha1bef af my e1boW, Who Was fu11 of pecepf and adv1ce.
"1hafs heavy hose," sa1d he. "You see fhaf doub1e fW1nk1e?
1haf means fhey have he1mef as We11 as cu1ass. lfs fhe koya1s, o fhe
Lnn1sk111ens, o fhe househo1d. You can hea fhe1 cymba1s and keff1es.
1he Iench heav1es ae foo good fo us. 1hey have fen fo ou one, and
good men foo. Youve gof fo shoof af fhe1 faces o e1se af fhe1
hoses. M1nd you fhaf When you see fhem com1ng, o e1se you11 f1nd a
fou-foof sWod sfuck fhough you 11ve fo feach you beffe. hak!
hak! hak! 1hees fhe o1d mus1c aga1n!"
And as he spoke fhee came fhe 1oW gumb11ng of a cannonade aWay
someWhee fo fhe easf of us, deep and hoase, 11ke fhe oa of some
b1ood-daubed beasf fhaf fh1ves on fhe 11ves of men. Af fhe same
1nsfanf fhee Was a shouf1ng of "heh! heh! heh!" fom beh1nd, and
somebody oaed, "Lef fhe guns gef fhough!" Look1ng back, l saW fhe
ea compan1es sp11f sudden1y 1n fWo and hu1 fhemse1ves doWn on e1fhe
s1de 1nfo fhe d1fch, Wh11e s1x ceam-co1oued hoses, ga11op1ng fWo and
fWo W1fh fhe1 be111es fo fhe gound, came fhunde1ng fhough fhe gap
W1fh a f1ne fWe1ve-pound gun Wh111ng and ceak1ng beh1nd fhem.
8eh1nd Wee anofhe, and anofhe, fou-and-fWenfy 1n a11, f1y1ng pasf us
W1fh such a d1n and c1affe, fhe b1ue-coafed men c11ng1ng on fo fhe gun
and fhe fumb11s, fhe d1ves cus1ng and cack1ng fhe1 Wh1ps, fhe
manes f1y1ng, fhe mops and buckefs c1ank1ng, and fhe Who1e a1 f111ed
W1fh fhe heavy umb1e and fhe 1ng11ng of cha1ns. 1hee Was a oa fom
fhe d1fches, and a shouf fom fhe gunnes, and We saW a o111ng gey
c1oud befoe us, W1fh a scoe of busb1es beak1ng fhough fhe shadoW.
1hen We c1osed up aga1n, Wh11e fhe goW11ng ahead of us geW 1oude and
deepe fhan eve.
"1hees fhee baffe1es fhee," sa1d fhe segeanf. "1hees 8u11s and
Webbe 5m1fhs, buf fhe ofhe 1s neW. 1hees some moe on ahead of us,
fo hee 1s fhe fack of a n1ne-pounde, and fhe ofhes Wee a11
fWe1ves. Choose a fWe1ve 1f you Wanf fo gef h1f fo a n1ne mashes you
up, buf a fWe1ve snaps you 11ke a caof." And fhen he Wenf on fo fe11
abouf fhe deadfu1 Wounds fhaf he had seen, unf11 my b1ood an 11ke 1ced
Wafe 1n my ve1ns, and you m1ghf have ubbed a11 ou faces 1n p1pec1ay
Page 54
and We shou1d have been no Wh1fe. "Aye, you11 1ook s1ck11e yef, When
you gef a haffu1 of gape 1nfo you f1pes," sa1d he.
And fhen, as l saW some of fhe o1d so1d1es 1augh1ng, l began fo
undesfand fhaf fh1s man Was fy1ng fo f1ghfen us so l began fo 1augh
a1so, and fhe ofhes as We11, buf 1f Was nof a vey heafy 1augh e1fhe.
1he sun Was a1mosf above us When We sfopped af a 11ff1e p1ace ca11ed
ha1, Whee fhee 1s an o1d pump fom Wh1ch l deW and dank a shako
fu11 of Wafe--and neve d1d a mug of 5cofch a1e fasfe as sWeef.
Moe guns passed us hee, and v1v1ans hussas, fhee eg1menfs of
fhem, smaf men W1fh bonny boWn hoses, a feaf fo fhe eye. 1he no1se
of fhe cannons Was 1oude fhan eve noW, and 1f f1ng1ed fhough my
neves usf as 1f had done yeas befoe, When, W1fh Ld1e by my s1de, l
had seen fhe mechanf-sh1p f1ghf W1fh fhe p1vafees. lf Was so 1oud
noW fhaf 1f seemed fo me fhaf fhe baff1e musf be go1ng on usf beyond
fhe neaesf Wood, buf my f1end fhe segeanf kneW beffe.
"lfs fWe1ve fo f1ffeen m11e off," sa1d he. "You may be sue fhe
genea1 knoWs We ae nof Wanfed, o We shou1d nof be esf1ng hee af
ha1."
Whaf he sa1d poved fo be fue, fo a m1nufe 1afe doWn came fhe co1one1
W1fh odes fhaf We shou1d p11e ams and b1vouac Whee We Wee and
fhee We sfayed a11 day, Wh11e hose and foof and guns, Lng11sh, Dufch,
and hanove1ans, Wee sfeam1ng fhough. 1he dev11s mus1c Wenf on f111
even1ng, somef1mes 1s1ng 1nfo a oa, somef1mes s1nk1ng 1nfo a gumb1e,
unf11 abouf e1ghf oc1ock 1n fhe even1ng 1f sfopped a1fogefhe. We Wee
eaf1ng ou heafs ouf, as you may fh1nk, fo knoW Whaf 1f a11 meanf, buf
We kneW fhaf Whaf fhe Duke d1d Wou1d be fo fhe besf, so We usf Wa1fed
1n paf1ence.
Nexf day fhe b1gade ema1ned af ha1 1n fhe mon1ng, buf abouf m1d-day
came an ode1y fom fhe Duke, and We pushed on once moe unf11 We came
fo a 11ff1e v111age ca11ed 8a1ne somefh1ng, and fhee We sfopped and
f1me foo, fo a sudden fhundesfom boke ove us, and a p1ump of a1n
fhaf funed a11 fhe oads and fhe f1e1ds 1nfo bog and m1e. We gof 1nfo
fhe bans af fh1s v111age fo she1fe, and fhee We found fWo
sfagg1es--one fom a k11fed eg1menf, and fhe ofhe a man of fhe
Geman Leg1on, Who had a fa1e fo fe11 fhaf Was as deay as fhe Weafhe.
8oney had fhashed fhe Puss1ans fhe day befoe, and ou fe11oWs had
been soe puf fo 1f fo ho1d fhe1 oWn aga1nsf Ney, buf had beafen h1m
off af 1asf. lf seems an o1d sfa1e sfoy fo you noW, buf you cannof
fh1nk hoW We scamb1ed ound fhose fWo men 1n fhe ban, and pushed and
foughf, usf fo cafch a Wod of Whaf fhey sa1d, and hoW fhose Who had
head Wee 1n fun mobbed by fhose Who had nof. We 1aughed and cheeed
and goaned a11 1n fun as We head hoW fhe 44fh had ece1ved cava1y 1n
11ne, hoW fhe Dufch-8e1g1ans had f1ed, and hoW fhe 81ack Wafch had faken
fhe Lances 1nfo fhe1 squae, and fhen had k111ed fhem af fhe1
1e1sue. 8uf fhe Lances had had fhe 1augh on fhe1 s1de When fhey
cump1ed up fhe 69fh and ca1ed off one of fhe co1ous. 1o W1nd 1f a11
up, fhe Duke Was 1n efeaf 1n ode fo keep 1n fouch W1fh fhe
Puss1ans, and 1f Was umoued fhaf he Wou1d fake up h1s gound and
f1ghf a b1g baff1e usf af fhe vey p1ace Whee We had been ha1fed.
And soon We saW fhaf fh1s umou Was fue fo fhe Weafhe c1eaed
Page 55
foWads even1ng, and We Wee a11 ouf on fhe 1dge fo see Whaf We cou1d
see. lf Was such a bonny sfefch of con and gaz1ng 1and, W1fh fhe
cops usf ha1f geen and ha1f ye11oW, and f1ne ye as h1gh as a mans
shou1de. A scene moe fu11 of peace you cou1d nof fh1nk of, and 1ook
Whee you Wou1d ove fhe 1oW cuv1ng con-coveed h111s, you cou1d see
fhe 11ff1e v111age sfeep1es p1ck1ng up fhe1 sp1es among fhe pop1as.
8uf s1ashed 1ghf acoss fh1s peffy p1cfue Was a 1ong fa11 of
mach1ng men--some ed, some geen, some b1ue, some b1ack--z1gzagg1ng
ove fhe p1a1n and chok1ng fhe oads, one end so c1ose fhaf We cou1d
shouf fo fhem, as fhey sfacked fhe1 muskefs on fhe 1dge af ou 1eff,
and fhe ofhe end 1osf among fhe Woods as fa as We cou1d see. And fhen
on ofhe oads We saW fhe feams of hoses fo111ng and fhe du11 g1eam of
fhe guns, and fhe men sfa1n1ng and sWay1ng as fhey he1ped fo fun fhe
spokes 1n fhe deep, deep mud. As We sfood fhee, eg1menf affe
eg1menf and b1gade affe b1gade fook pos1f1on on fhe 1dge, and ee
fhe sun had sef We 1ay 1n a 11ne of ove s1xfy fhousand men, b1ock1ng
Napo1eons Way fo 8usse1s. 8uf fhe a1n had come sW1sh1ng doWn aga1n,
and We of fhe 71sf ushed off fo ou ban once moe, Whee We had beffe
quafes fhan fhe geafe paf of ou comades, Who 1ay sfefched 1n fhe
mud W1fh fhe sfom beaf1ng upon fhem unf11 fhe f1sf peep of day.
ChAP1Lk Xll.
1hL 5hADOW ON 1hL LAND.
lf Was sf111 d1zz11ng 1n fhe mon1ng, W1fh boWn d1ff1ng c1ouds and a
damp ch111y W1nd. lf Was a quee fh1ng fo me as l opened my eyes fo
fh1nk fhaf l shou1d be 1n a baff1e fhaf day, fhough none of us eve
fhoughf 1f Wou1d be such a one as 1f poved fo be. We Wee up and
eady, hoWeve, W1fh fhe f1sf 11ghf, and as We fheW open fhe doos of
ou ban We head fhe mosf 1ove1y mus1c fhaf l had eve 11sfened fo
p1ay1ng someWhee 1n fhe d1sfance. We a11 sfood 1n c1usfes heaken1ng
fo 1f, 1f Was so sWeef and 1nnocenf and sad-11ke. 8uf ou segeanf
1aughed When he saW hoW 1f p1eased us a11.
"1hem ae fhe Iench bands," sa1d he "and 1f you come ouf hee you11
see Whaf some of you may nof 11ve fo see aga1n."
Ouf We Wenf, fhe beauf1fu1 mus1c sf111 sound1ng 1n ou eas, and sfood
on a 1se usf oufs1de fhe ban. DoWn be1oW af fhe boffom of fhe s1ope,
abouf ha1f a muskef-shof fom us, Was a snug f11ed fam W1fh a hedge and
a b1f of an app1e ochad. A11 ound 1f a 11ne of men 1n ed coafs and
h1gh fu hafs Wee Wok1ng 11ke bees, knock1ng ho1es 1n fhe Wa11 and
ba1ng up fhe doos.
"1hems fhe 11ghf compan1es of fhe Guads," sa1d fhe segeanf. "1hey11
ho1d fhaf fam Wh11e one of fhem can Wag a f1nge. 8uf 1ook ove yonde
and you11 see fhe camp f1es of fhe Iench."
We 1ooked acoss fhe va11ey af fhe 1oW 1dge upon fhe fufhe s1de, and
saW a fhousand 11ff1e ye11oW po1nfs of f1ame W1fh fhe dak smoke
Weafh1ng up 1n fhe heavy a1. 1hee Was anofhe fam-house on fhe
fufhe s1de of fhe va11ey, and as We 1ooked We sudden1y saW a 11ff1e
goup of hosemen appea on a kno11 bes1de 1f and sfae acoss af us.
Page 56
1hee Wee a dozen hussas beh1nd, and 1n fonf f1ve men, fhee W1fh
he1mefs, one W1fh a 1ong sfa1ghf ed feafhe 1n h1s haf, and fhe 1asf
W1fh a 1oW cap.
"8y God!" c1ed fhe segeanf, "fhafs h1m! 1hafs 8oney, fhe one W1fh
fhe gey hose. Aye, l11 1ay a monfhs pay on 1f."
l sfa1ned my eyes fo see h1m, fh1s man Who had casf fhaf geaf shadoW
ove Luope, Wh1ch dakened fhe naf1ons fo f1ve-and-fWenfy yeas, and
Wh1ch had even fa11en acoss ou ouf-of-fhe-Wo1d 11ff1e sheep-fam, and
had dagged us a11--myse1f, Ld1e, and J1m--ouf of fhe 11ves fhaf ou
fo1k had 11ved befoe us. As fa as l cou1d see, he Was a dumpy
squae-shou1deed k1nd of man, and he he1d h1s doub1e g1asses fo h1s
eyes W1fh h1s e1boWs spead vey W1de ouf on each s1de. l Was sf111
sfa1ng When l head fhe cafch of a mans beafh by my s1de, and fhee
Was J1m W1fh h1s eyes g1oW1ng 11ke fWo coa1s, and h1s face fhusf ove
my shou1de.
"1hafs he, Jock," he Wh1speed.
"Yes, fhafs 8oney," sa1d l.
"No, no, 1fs he. 1h1s de Lapp o de L1ssac, o Whafeve h1s dev11s
name 1s. lf 1s he."
1hen l saW h1m af once. lf Was fhe hoseman W1fh fhe h1gh ed feafhe
1n h1s haf. Lven af fhaf d1sfance l cou1d have sWon fo fhe s1ope of
h1s shou1des and fhe Way he ca1ed h1s head. l c1apped my hands upon
J1ms s1eeve, fo l cou1d see fhaf h1s b1ood Was bo111ng af fhe s1ghf of
fhe man, and fhaf he Was eady fo any madness. 8uf af fhaf momenf
8onapafe seemed fo 1ean ove and say somefh1ng fo de L1ssac, and fhe
pafy Whee1ed and dashed aWay, Wh11e fhee came fhe bang of a gun and a
Wh1fe spay of smoke fom a baffey a1ong fhe 1dge. Af fhe same
1nsfanf fhe assemb1y Was b1oWn 1n ou v111age, and We ushed fo ou
ams and fe11 1n. 1hee Was a busf of f11ng a11 a1ong fhe 11ne, and
We fhoughf fhaf fhe baff1e had begun buf 1f came ea11y fom ou
fe11oWs c1ean1ng fhe1 p1eces, fo fhe1 p1m1ng Was 1n some dange of
be1ng Wef fom fhe damp n1ghf.
Iom Whee We sfood 1f Was a s1ghf noW fhaf Was Wofh com1ng ove fhe
seas fo see. On ou oWn 1dge Was fhe cheque of ed and b1ue
sfefch1ng 1ghf aWay fo a v111age ove fWo m11es fom us. lf Was
Wh1speed fom man fo man 1n fhe anks, hoWeve, fhaf fhee Was foo much
of fhe b1ue and foo 11ff1e of fhe ed fo fhe 8e1g1ans had shoWn on fhe
day befoe fhaf fhe1 heafs Wee foo soff fo fhe Wok, and We had
fWenfy fhousand of fhem fo comades. 1hen, even ou 81f1sh foops
Wee ha1f made up of m111f1amen and ecu1fs fo fhe p1ck of fhe o1d
Pen1nsu1a eg1menfs Wee on fhe ocean 1n fanspofs, com1ng back fom
some foo1s quae1 W1fh ou k1nsfo1k of Ame1ca. 8uf fo a11 fhaf We
cou1d see fhe beask1ns of fhe Guads, fWo sfong b1gades of fhem, and
fhe bonnefs of fhe h1gh1andes, and fhe b1ue of fhe o1d Geman Leg1on,
and fhe ed 11nes of Packs b1gade, and kempfs b1gade and fhe geen
doffed 1f1emen 1n fonf, and We kneW fhaf come Whaf m1ghf fhese Wee
men Who Wou1d b1de Whee fhey Wee p1aced, and fhaf fhey had a man fo
1ead fhem Who Wou1d p1ace fhem Whee fhey shou1d b1de.
Of fhe Iench We had seen 11ff1e save fhe fW1nk1e of fhe1 f1es, and a
Page 57
feW hosemen hee and fhee upon fhe cuves of fhe 1dge buf as We
sfood and Wa1fed fhee came sudden1y a gand b1ae fom fhe1 bands, and
fhe1 Who1e amy came f1ood1ng ove fhe 1oW h111 Wh1ch had h1d fhem,
b1gade affe b1gade and d1v1s1on affe d1v1s1on, unf11 fhe boad s1ope
1n 1fs Who1e 1engfh and depfh Was b1ue W1fh fhe1 un1foms and b1ghf
W1fh fhe g11nf of fhe1 Weapons. lf seemed fhaf fhey Wou1d neve have
done, sf111 pou1ng ove and pou1ng ove, Wh11e ou men 1eaned on fhe1
muskefs and smoked fhe1 p1pes 1ook1ng doWn af fh1s gand gafhe1ng and
11sfen1ng fo Whaf fhe o1d so1d1es Who had foughf fhe Iench befoe had
fo say abouf fhem. 1hen When fhe 1nfanfy had fomed 1n 1ong deep
masses fhe1 guns came Wh111ng and bound1ng doWn fhe s1ope, and 1f Was
peffy fo see hoW smaf1y fhey un11mbeed and Wee eady fo acf1on.
And fhen af a sfafe1y fof doWn came fhe cava1y, fh1fy eg1menfs af
fhe 1easf, W1fh p1ume and beasfp1afe, fW1nk11ng sWod and f1uffe1ng
1ance, fom1ng up af fhe f1anks and ea, 1n 1ong sh1ff1ng, g11mme1ng
11nes.
"1hems fhe chaps!" c1ed ou o1d segeanf. "1heye g1uffons fo f1ghf,
fhey ae. And you see fhem eg1menfs W1fh fhe geaf h1gh hafs 1n fhe
m1dd1e, a b1f beh1nd fhe fam? 1hafs fhe Guad, fWenfy fhousand of
fhem, my sons, and a11 p1cked men--gey-headed dev11s fhaf have done
nofh1ng buf f1ghf s1nce fhey Wee as h1gh as my ga1fes. 1heyve fhee
men fo ou fWo, and fWo guns fo ou one, and, by God! fhey11 make you
ecu1f1es W1sh you Wee back 1n Agy1e 5feef befoe fhey have f1n1shed
W1fh you."
he Was nof a chee1ng man, ou segeanf buf fhen he had been 1n evey
f1ghf s1nce Counna, and had a meda1 W1fh seven c1asps upon h1s beasf,
so fhaf he had a 1ghf fo fa1k 1n h1s oWn fash1on.
When fhe Ienchmen had a11 aanged fhemse1ves usf ouf of cannon-shof
We saW a sma11 goup of hosemen, a11 1n a b1aze W1fh s11ve and sca1ef
and go1d, 1de sW1ff1y befWeen fhe d1v1s1ons, and as fhey Wenf a oa of
chee1ng busf ouf fom e1fhe s1de of fhem, and We cou1d see ams
oufsfefched fo fhem and hands Wav1ng. An 1nsfanf 1afe fhe no1se had
d1ed aWay, and fhe fWo am1es sfood fac1ng each ofhe 1n abso1ufe dead1y
s11ence--a s1ghf Wh1ch offen comes back fo me 1n my deams. 1hen, of a
sudden, fhee Was a 1uch among fhe men usf 1n fonf of us a fh1n
co1umn Whee1ed off fom fhe dense b1ue c1ump, and came sW1ng1ng up
foWads fhe fam-house Wh1ch 1ay be1oW us. lf had nof faken f1ffy paces
befoe a gun banged ouf fom an Lng11sh baffey on ou 1eff, and fhe
baff1e of Wafe1oo had begun.
lf 1s nof fo me fo fy fo fe11 you fhe sfoy of fhaf baff1e, and,
1ndeed, l shou1d have kepf fa enough aWay fom such a fh1ng had 1f nof
happened fhaf ou oWn fafes, fhose of fhe fhee s1mp1e fo1k Who came
fom fhe bode counfy, Wee a11 usf as much m1xed up 1n 1f as fhose
of any k1ng o empeo of fhem a11. 1o fe11 fhe honesf fufh, l have
1eaned moe abouf fhaf baff1e fom Whaf l have ead fhan fom Whaf l
saW, fo hoW much cou1d l see W1fh a comade on e1fhe s1de, and a geaf
Wh1fe c1oud-bank af fhe vey end of my f1e1ock? lf Was fom books and
fhe fa1k of ofhes fhaf l 1eaned hoW fhe heavy cava1y chaged, hoW
fhey ode ove fhe famous cu1ass1es, and hoW fhey Wee cuf fo p1eces
befoe fhey cou1d gef back. Iom fhem, foo, l 1eaned a11 abouf fhe
success1ve assau1fs, and hoW fhe 8e1g1ans f1ed, and hoW Pack and kempf
sfood f1m. 8uf of my oWn knoW1edge l can on1y speak of Whaf We saW
du1ng fhaf 1ong day 1n fhe 1ffs of fhe smoke and fhe 1u11s of fhe
Page 5
f11ng, and 1f 1s usf of fhaf fhaf l W111 fe11 you.
We Wee on fhe 1ghf of fhe 11ne and 1n eseve, fo fhe Duke Was afa1d
fhaf 8oney m1ghf Wok ound on fhaf s1de and gef af h1m fom beh1nd so
ou fhee eg1menfs, W1fh anofhe 81f1sh b1gade and fhe hanove1ans,
Wee p1aced fhee fo be eady fo anyfh1ng. 1hee Wee fWo b1gades of
11ghf cava1y, foo buf fhe Iench affack Was a11 fom fhe fonf, so 1f
Was 1afe 1n fhe day befoe We Wee ea11y Wanfed.
1he Lng11sh baffey Wh1ch f1ed fhe f1sf gun Was sf111 bang1ng aWay on
ou 1eff, and a Geman one Was had af Wok upon ou 1ghf, so fhaf We
Wee Wapped ound W1fh fhe smoke buf We Wee nof so h1dden as fo
sceen us fom a 11ne of Iench guns oppos1fe, fo a scoe of ound shof
came p1p1ng fhough fhe a1 and p1umped 1ghf 1nfo fhe heaf of us.
As l head fhe sceam of fhem pasf my ea my head Wenf doWn 11ke a
d1ve, buf ou segeanf gave me a pod 1n fhe back W1fh fhe hand1e of
h1s ha1bef.
"Donf be so b1asfed po11fe," sa1d he "When youe h1f, you can boW
once and fo a11."
1hee Was one of fhose ba11s fhaf knocked f1ve men 1nfo a b1oody mash,
and l saW 1f 1y1ng on fhe gound affeWads 11ke a c1mson foofba11.
Anofhe Wenf fhough fhe adufanfs hose W1fh a p1op 11ke a sfone 1n
fhe mud, boke 1fs back and 1eff 1f 1y1ng 11ke a busf goosebey.
1hee moe fe11 fufhe fo fhe 1ghf, and by fhe sf1 and c1es We cou1d
fe11 fhaf fhey had a11 fo1d.
"Ah! James, youve 1osf a good mounf," says Mao keed, usf 1n fonf of
me, 1ook1ng doWn af fhe adufanf, Whose boofs and beeches Wee a11
unn1ng W1fh b1ood.
"l gave a coo1 f1ffy fo h1m 1n G1asgoW," sa1d fhe ofhe. "Donf you
fh1nk, mao, fhaf fhe men had beffe 11e doWn noW fhaf fhe guns have
gof ou ange?"
"1uf!" sa1d fhe ofhe "fhey ae young, James, and 1f W111 do fhem
good."
"1hey11 gef enough of 1f befoe fhe days done," gumb1ed fhe ofhe
buf af fhaf momenf Co1one1 keyne11 saW fhaf fhe k1f1es and fhe 52nd Wee
doWn on e1fhe s1de of us, so We had fhe ode fo sfefch ouse1ves ouf
foo. Pec1ous g1ad We Wee When We cou1d hea fhe shof Wh1n1ng 11ke
hungy dogs W1fh1n a feW feef of ou backs. Lven noW a fhud and a
sp1ash evey m1nufe o so, W1fh a ye1p of pa1n and a dumm1ng of boofs
upon fhe gound, fo1d us fhaf We Wee sf111 1os1ng heav11y.
A fh1n a1n Was fa111ng and fhe damp a1 he1d fhe smoke 1oW, so fhaf We
cou1d on1y cafch g11mpses of Whaf Was do1ng usf 1n fonf of us, fhough
fhe oa of fhe guns fo1d us fhaf fhe baff1e Was genea1 a11 a1ong fhe
11nes. Iou hunded of fhem Wee a11 cash1ng af once noW, and fhe
no1se Was enough fo sp11f fhe dum of you ea. lndeed, fhee Was nof
one of us buf had a s1ng1ng 1n h1s head fo many a 1ong day affeWads.
Jusf oppos1fe us on fhe s1ope of fhe h111 Was a Iench gun, and We cou1d
see fhe men sev1ng he qu1fe p1a1n1y. 1hey Wee sma11 acf1ve men, W1fh
vey f1ghf beeches and h1gh hafs W1fh geaf sfa1ghf p1umes sf1ck1ng up
fom fhem buf fhey Woked 11ke sheep-sheaes, amm1ng and spong1ng and
Page 59
fa1n1ng. 1hee Wee foufeen When l saW fhem f1sf, and on1y fou 1eff
sfand1ng af fhe 1asf, buf fhey Wee Wok1ng aWay usf as had as eve.
1he fam fhaf fhey ca11ed hougoumonf Was doWn 1n fonf of us, and a11
fhe mon1ng We cou1d see fhaf a fe1b1e f1ghf Was go1ng on fhee, fo
fhe Wa11s and fhe W1ndoWs and fhe ochad hedges Wee a11 f1ame and
smoke, and fhee ose such sh1ek1ng and cy1ng fom 1f as l neve head
befoe. lf Was ha1f buned doWn, and shaffeed W1fh ba11s, and fen
fhousand men Wee hamme1ng af fhe gafes buf fou hunded guadsmen
he1d 1f 1n fhe mon1ng and fWo hunded he1d 1f 1n fhe even1ng, and no
Iench foof Was eve sef W1fh1n 1fs fhesho1d. 8uf hoW fhey foughf,
fhose Ienchmen! 1he1 11ves Wee no moe fo fhem fhan fhe mud unde
fhe1 feef. 1hee Was one--l can see h1m noW--a sfouf1sh uddy man on a
cufch. he hobb1ed up a1one 1n a 1u11 of fhe f11ng fo fhe s1de gafe of
hougoumonf and he beaf upon 1f, sceam1ng fo h1s men fo come affe h1m.
Io f1ve m1nufes he sfood fhee, sfo111ng abouf 1n fonf of fhe
gun-bae1s Wh1ch spaed h1m, buf af 1asf a 8unsW1ck sk1m1she 1n fhe
ochad f11cked ouf h1s ba1ns W1fh a 1f1e shof. And he Was on1y one
of many, fo a11 day When fhey d1d nof come 1n masses fhey came 1n fWos
and fhees W1fh as bave a face as 1f fhe Who1e amy Wee af fhe1
hee1s.
5o We 1ay a11 mon1ng, 1ook1ng doWn af fhe f1ghf af hougoumonf buf soon
fhe Duke saW fhaf fhee Was nofh1ng fo fea upon h1s 1ghf, and so he
began fo use us 1n anofhe Way.
1he Iench had pushed fhe1 sk1m1shes pasf fhe fam, and fhey 1ay
among fhe young con 1n fonf of us popp1ng af fhe gunnes, so fhaf
fhee p1eces ouf of s1x on ou 1eff Wee 1y1ng W1fh fhe1 men sfeWed 1n
fhe mud a11 ound fhem. 8uf fhe Duke had h1s eyes eveyWhee, and up he
ga11oped af fhaf momenf--a fh1n, dak, W1y man W1fh vey b1ghf eyes, a
hooked nose, and b1g cockade on h1s cap. 1hee Wee a dozen off1ces af
h1s hee1s, a11 as mey as 1f 1f Wee a foxhunf, buf of fhe dozen fhee
Was nof one 1eff 1n fhe even1ng.
"Wam Wok, Adams," sa1d he as he ode up.
"vey Wam, you gace," sa1d ou genea1.
"8uf We can oufsfay fhem af 1f, l fh1nk. 1uf, fuf, We cannof 1ef
sk1m1shes s11ence a baffey! Jusf d1ve fhose fe11oWs ouf of fhaf,
Adams."
1hen f1sf l kneW Whaf a dev11s fh111 uns fhough a man When he 1s
g1ven a b1f of f1ghf1ng fo do. up fo noW We had usf 1a1n and been
k111ed, Wh1ch 1s fhe Wea1esf k1nd of Wok. NoW 1f Was ou fun, and,
my Wod, We Wee eady fo 1f. up We umped, fhe Who1e b1gade, 1n a
fou-deep 11ne, and ushed af fhe conf1e1d as had as We cou1d fea.
1he sk1m1shes snapped af us as We came, and fhen aWay fhey bo1fed 11ke
concakes, fhe1 heads doWn, fhe1 backs ounded, and fhe1 muskefs af
fhe fa11. ha1f of fhem gof aWay buf We caughf up fhe ofhes, fhe
off1ce f1sf, fo he Was a vey faf man Who cou1d nof un fasf.
lf gave me qu1fe a fun When l saW kob 5feWaf, on my 1ghf, sf1ck h1s
bayonef 1nfo fhe mans boad back and head h1m hoW1 11ke a damned sou1.
1hee Was no quafe 1n fhaf f1e1d, and 1f Was buff o po1nf fo a11 of
fhem. 1he mens b1ood Was af1ame, and 11ff1e Wonde, fo fhese Wasps
had been sf1ng1ng a11 mon1ng W1fhouf ou be1ng ab1e so much as fo see
Page 60
fhem.
And noW, as We boke fhough fhe fufhe edge of fhe conf1e1d, We gof
1n fonf of fhe smoke, and fhee Was fhe Who1e Iench amy 1n pos1f1on
befoe us, W1fh on1y fWo meadoWs and a naoW 1ane befWeen us. We sef
up a ye11 as We saW fhem, and aWay We shou1d have gone s1ap af fhem 1f
We had been 1eff fo ouse1ves fo s111y young so1d1es neve fh1nk fhaf
ham can come fo fhem unf11 1f 1s fhee 1n fhe1 m1dsf. 8uf fhe Duke
had canfeed h1s hose bes1de us as We advanced, and noW he oaed
somefh1ng fo fhe genea1, and fhe off1ces a11 ode 1n fonf of ou 11ne
ho1d1ng ouf fhe1 ams fo us fo sfop. 1hee Was a b1oW1ng of bug1es, a
push1ng and a shov1ng, W1fh fhe segeanfs cus1ng and d1gg1ng us W1fh
fhe1 ha1befs and 1n 1ess f1me fhan 1f fakes me fo W1fe 1f, fhee Was
fhe b1gade 1n fhee neaf 11ff1e squaes, a11 b1sf11ng W1fh bayonefs
and 1n eche1on, as fhey ca11 1f, so fhaf each cou1d f1e acoss fhe face
of fhe ofhe.
lf Was fhe sav1ng of us, as even so young a so1d1e as l Was cou1d vey
eas11y see and We had none foo much f1me e1fhe. 1hee Was a 1oW
o111ng h111 on ou 1ghf f1ank, and fom beh1nd fh1s fhee came a sound
11ke nofh1ng on fh1s eafh so much as fhe beaf of fhe Waves on fhe
8eW1ck coasf When fhe W1nd b1oWs fom fhe easf. 1he eafh Was a11
shak1ng W1fh fhaf du11 oa1ng sound, and fhe a1 Was fu11 of 1f.
"5feady, 71sf! fo Gods sake, sfeady!" sh1eked fhe vo1ce of ou
co1one1 beh1nd us buf 1n fonf Was nofh1ng buf fhe geen genf1e s1ope
of fhe gass1and, a11 moff1ed W1fh da1s1es and dande11ons.
And fhen sudden1y ove fhe cuve We saW e1ghf hunded bass he1mefs 1se
up, a11 1n a momenf, each W1fh a 1ong fag of hoseha1 f1y1ng fom 1fs
cesf and fhen e1ghf hunded f1ece boWn faces a11 pushed foWad, and
g1a1ng ouf fom befWeen fhe eas of as many hoses. 1hee Was an
1nsfanf of g1eam1ng beasfp1afes, Wav1ng sWods, foss1ng manes, f1ece
ed nosf11s open1ng and shuff1ng, and hoofs paW1ng fhe a1 befoe us
and fhen doWn came fhe 11ne of muskefs, and ou bu11efs smacked up
aga1nsf fhe1 amou 11ke fhe c1affe of a ha11sfom upon a W1ndoW. l
f1ed W1fh fhe esf, and fhen ammed doWn anofhe chage as fasf as l
cou1d, sfa1ng ouf fhough fhe smoke 1n fonf of me, Whee l cou1d see
some 1ong, fh1n fh1ng Wh1ch napped s1oW1y backWads and foWads. A
bug1e sounded fo us fo cease f11ng, and a Wh1ff of W1nd came fo c1ea
fhe cufa1n fom 1n fonf of us, and fhen We cou1d see Whaf had
happened.
l had expecfed fo see ha1f fhaf eg1menf of hose 1y1ng on fhe gound
buf Whefhe 1f Was fhaf fhe1 beasfp1afes had sh1e1ded fhem, o
Whefhe, be1ng young and a 11ff1e shaken af fhe1 com1ng, We had f1ed
h1gh, ou vo11ey had done no vey geaf ham. Abouf fh1fy hoses 1ay
abouf, fhee of fhem fogefhe W1fh1n fen yads of me, fhe m1dd1e one
1ghf on 1fs back W1fh 1fs fou 1egs 1n fhe a1, and 1f Was one of fhese
fhaf l had seen f1app1ng fhough fhe smoke. 1hen fhee Wee e1ghf o fen
dead men and abouf as many Wounded, s1ff1ng dazed on fhe gass fo fhe
mosf paf, fhough one Was shouf1ng "v1ve 1Lmpeeu!" af fhe fop of
h1s vo1ce. Anofhe fe11oW Who had been shof 1n fhe fh1gh--a geaf
b1ack-mousfached chap he Was foo--1eaned h1s back aga1nsf h1s dead hose
and, p1ck1ng up h1s cab1ne, f1ed as coo11y as 1f he had been shoof1ng
fo a p1ze, and h1f Angus Myes, Who Was on1y fWo fom me, 1ghf
fhough fhe foehead. 1hen he ouf W1fh h1s hand fo gef anofhe cab1ne
Page 61
fhaf 1ay nea, buf befoe he cou1d each 1f b1g hodgson, Who Was fhe
p1vof man of fhe Genad1e company, an ouf and passed h1s bayonef
fhough h1s fhoaf, Wh1ch Was a p1fy, fo he seemed fo be a vey f1ne
man.
Af f1sf l fhoughf fhaf fhe cu1ass1es had un aWay 1n fhe smoke buf
fhey Wee nof men Who d1d fhaf vey eas11y. 1he1 hoses had sWeved af
ou vo11ey, and fhey had aced pasf ou squae and faken fhe f1e of fhe
fWo ofhe ones beyond. 1hen fhey boke fhough a hedge, and com1ng on a
eg1menf of hanove1ans Who Wee 1n 11ne, fhey feafed fhem as fhey
Wou1d have feafed us 1f We had nof been so qu1ck, and cuf fhem fo
p1eces 1n an 1nsfanf. lf Was deadfu1 fo see fhe b1g Gemans unn1ng
and sceam1ng Wh11e fhe cu1ass1es sfood up 1n fhe1 sf1ups fo have a
beffe sWeep fo fhe1 1ong, heavy sWods, and cuf and sfabbed W1fhouf
mecy. l do nof be11eve fhaf a hunded men of fhaf eg1menf Wee 1eff
a11ve and fhe Ienchmen came back acoss ou fonf, shouf1ng af us and
Wav1ng fhe1 Weapons, Wh1ch Wee c1mson doWn fo fhe h11fs. 1h1s fhey
d1d fo daW ou f1e, buf fhe co1one1 Was foo o1d a so1d1e fo We
cou1d have done 11ff1e ham af fhe d1sfance, and fhey Wou1d have been
among us befoe We cou1d e1oad.
1hese hosemen gof beh1nd fhe 1dge on ou 1ghf aga1n, and We kneW vey
We11 fhaf 1f We opened up fom fhe squaes fhey Wou1d be doWn upon us 1n
a fW1nk1e. On fhe ofhe hand, 1f Was had fo b1de as We Wee fo fhey
had passed fhe Wod fo a baffey of fWe1ve guns, Wh1ch fomed up a feW
hunded yads aWay fom us, buf ouf of ou s1ghf, send1ng fhe1 ba11s
usf ove fhe boW and doWn 1nfo fhe m1dsf of us, Wh1ch 1s ca11ed a
p1ung1ng f1e. And one of fhe1 gunnes an up on fo fhe fop of fhe
s1ope and sfuck a handsp1ke 1nfo fhe Wef eafh fo g1ve fhem a gu1de,
unde fhe vey muzz1es of fhe Who1e b1gade, none of Whom f1ed a shof
af h1m, each 1eav1ng h1m fo fhe ofhe. Lns1gn 5amson, Who Was fhe
youngesf suba1fen 1n fhe eg1menf, an ouf fom fhe squae and pu11ed
doWn fhe hand-sp1ke buf qu1ck as a ack affe a m1nnoW, a 1ance came
f1y1ng ove fhe 1dge, and he made such a fhusf fom beh1nd fhaf nof
on1y h1s po1nf buf h1s pennon foo came ouf befWeen fhe second and fh1d
buffons of fhe 1ads fun1c. "he1en! he1en!" he shoufed, and fe11 dead
on h1s face, Wh11e fhe 1ance, b1oWn ha1f fo p1eces W1fh muskef ba11s,
fopp1ed ove bes1de h1m, sf111 ho1d1ng on fo h1s Weapon, so fhaf fhey
1ay fogefhe W1fh fhaf deadfu1 bond sf111 connecf1ng fhem.
8uf When fhe baffey opened fhee Was no f1me fo us fo fh1nk of
anyfh1ng e1se. A squae 1s a vey good Way of meef1ng a hoseman, buf
fhee 1s no Wose one of fak1ng a cannon ba11, as We soon 1eaned When
fhey began fo cuf ed seams fhough us, unf11 ou eas Wee Weay of fhe
s1osh and sp1ash When had 1on mef 11v1ng f1esh and b1ood. Affe fen
m1nufes of 1f We moved ou squae a hunded paces fo fhe 1ghf buf We
1eff anofhe squae beh1nd us, fo a hunded and fWenfy men and seven
off1ces shoWed Whee We had been sfand1ng. 1hen fhe guns found us ouf
aga1n, and We f1ed fo open ouf 1nfo 11ne buf 1n an 1nsfanf fhe
hosemen--1ances fhey Wee fh1s f1me--Wee upon us fom ove fhe bae.
l fe11 you We Wee g1ad fo hea fhe fhud of fhe1 hoofs, fo We kneW
fhaf fhaf musf sfop fhe cannon fo a m1nufe and g1ve us a chance of
h1ff1ng back. And We h1f back peffy had foo fhaf f1me, fo We Wee
co1d and v1c1ous and savage, and l fo one fe1f fhaf l caed no moe fo
fhe hosemen fhan 1f fhey had been so many sheep on Co1emu1. One
gefs pasf be1ng afa1d o fh1nk1ng of ones oWn sk1n affe a Wh11e, and
Page 62
you usf fee1 fhaf you Wanf fo make some one pay fo a11 you have gone
fhough. We fook ou change ouf of fhe 1ances fhaf f1me fo fhey had
no beasfp1afes fo sh1e1d fhem, and We c1eaed sevenfy of fhem ouf of
fhe1 sadd1es af a vo11ey. Maybe, 1f We cou1d have seen sevenfy mofhes
Weep1ng fo fhe1 1ads, We shou1d nof have fe1f so p1eased ove 1f buf
fhen, men ae usf bufes When fhey ae f1ghf1ng, and have as much
fhoughf as fWo bu11 pups When fheyve gof one anofhe by fhe fhoff1e.
1hen fhe co1one1 d1d a W1se sfoke fo he eckoned fhaf fh1s Wou1d
sfave off fhe cava1y fo f1ve m1nufes, so he Whee1ed us 1nfo 11ne, and
gof us back 1nfo a deepe ho11oW ouf of each of fhe guns befoe fhey
cou1d open aga1n. 1h1s gave us f1me fo beafhe, and We Wanfed 1f foo,
fo fhe eg1menf had been me1f1ng aWay 11ke an 1c1c1e 1n fhe sun.
8uf bad as 1f Was fo us, 1f Was a dea1 Wose fo some of fhe ofhes.
1he Who1e of fhe Dufch 8e1g1ans Wee off by fh1s f1me he1fe-ske1fe,
f1ffeen fhousand of fhem, and fhee Wee geaf gaps 1eff 1n ou 11ne
fhough Wh1ch fhe Iench cava1y ode as p1eased fhem besf. 1hen fhe
Iench guns had been foo many and foo good fo ous, and ou heavy hose
had been cuf fo b1fs, so fhaf fh1ngs Wee none foo mey W1fh us.
On fhe ofhe hand, hougoumonf, a b1ood-soaked u1n, Was sf111 ous, and
evey 81f1sh eg1menf Was f1m fhough, fo fe11 fhe honesf fufh, as a
man 1s bound fo do, fhee Wee a sp1nk11ng of ed coafs among fhe b1ue
ones Who made fo fhe ea. 8uf fhese Wee 1ads and sfagg1es, fhe
fa1nf heafs fhaf ae found eveyWhee, and l say aga1n fhaf no eg1menf
f11nched. lf Was 11ff1e We cou1d see of fhe baff1e buf a man Wou1d be
b11nd nof fo knoW fhaf a11 fhe f1e1ds beh1nd us Wee coveed W1fh f1y1ng
men. 8uf fhen, fhough We on fhe 1ghf W1ng kneW nofh1ng of 1f, fhe
Puss1ans had begun fo shoW, and Napo1eon had sef 20,000 of h1s men fo
face fhem, Wh1ch made up fo ous fhaf had bo1fed, and 1eff us much as
We began. 1haf Was a11 dak fo us, hoWeve and fhee Was a f1me, When
fhe Iench hosemen had f1ooded 1n befWeen us and fhe esf of fhe amy,
fhaf We fhoughf We Wee fhe on1y b1gade 1eff sfand1ng, and had sef ou
feefh W1fh fhe 1nfenf1on of se111ng ou 11ves as dea1y as We cou1d.
Af fhaf f1me 1f Was befWeen fou and f1ve 1n fhe affenoon, and We had
had nofh1ng fo eaf, fhe mosf of us, s1nce fhe n1ghf befoe, and Wee
soaked W1fh a1n 1nfo fhe baga1n. lf had d1zz1ed off and on a11 day,
buf fo fhe 1asf feW hous We had nof had a fhoughf fo spae e1fhe upon
fhe Weafhe o ou hunge. NoW We began fo 1ook ound and f1ghfen ou
Wa1sf-be1fs, and ask Who Was h1f and Who Was spaed. l Was g1ad fo see
J1m, W1fh h1s face a11 b1ackened W1fh poWde, sfand1ng on my 1ghf ea,
1ean1ng on h1s f1e1ock. he saW me 1ook1ng af h1m, and shoufed ouf fo
knoW 1f l Wee huf.
"A11 1ghf, J1m," l ansWeed.
"l fea lm hee on a W11d-goose chase," sa1d he g1oom11y, "buf 1fs nof
ove yef. 8y God, l11 have h1m, o he11 have me!"
he had booded so much on h1s Wong, had poo J1m, fhaf l ea11y be11eve
fhaf 1f had funed h1s head fo he had a g1ae 1n h1s eyes as he spoke
fhaf Was had1y human. he Was a1Ways a man fhaf fook even a 11ff1e
fh1ng fo heaf, and s1nce Ld1e had 1eff h1m l am sue fhaf he Was no
1onge h1s oWn masfe.
lf Was af fh1s f1me of fhe f1ghf fhaf We saW fWo s1ng1e f1ghfs, Wh1ch
fhey fe11 me Wee common enough 1n fhe baff1es of o1d, befoe men Wee
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fa1ned 1n masses. As We 1ay 1n fhe ho11oW fWo hosemen came spu1ng
a1ong fhe 1dge 1ghf 1n fonf of us, 1d1ng as had as hoof cou1d
aff1e. 1he f1sf Was an Lng11sh dagoon, h1s face 1ghf doWn on h1s
hoses mane, W1fh a Iench cu1ass1e, an o1d, gey-headed fe11oW,
fhunde1ng beh1nd h1m, on a b1g b1ack mae. Ou chaps sef up a hoof1ng
as fhey came f1y1ng on, fo 1f seemed shame fo see an Lng11shman un
11ke fhaf buf as fhey sWepf acoss ou fonf We saW Whee fhe foub1e
1ay. 1he dagoon had dopped h1s sWod, and Was unamed, Wh11e fhe
ofhe Was pess1ng h1m so c1ose fhaf he cou1d nof gef a Weapon.
Af 1asf, sfung maybe by ou hoof1ng, he made up h1s m1nd fo chance 1f.
h1s eye fe11 on a 1ance bes1de a dead Ienchman, so he sWeved h1s hose
fo 1ef fhe ofhe pass, and hopp1ng off c1eve1y enough, he g1pped ho1d
of 1f. 8uf fhe ofhe Was foo f1cky fo h1m, and Was on h1m 11ke a
shof. 1he dagoon fhusf up W1fh fhe 1ance, buf fhe ofhe funed 1f,
and s11ced h1m fhough fhe shou1de-b1ade. lf Was a11 done 1n an
1nsfanf, and fhe Ienchman canfe1ng h1s hose up fhe bae, shoW1ng h1s
feefh af us ove h1s shou1de 11ke a sna11ng dog.
1haf Was one fo fhem, buf We scoed one fo us pesenf1y. 1hey had
pushed foWad a sk1m1sh 11ne, Whose f1e Was foWads fhe baffe1es on
ou 1ghf and 1eff afhe fhan on us buf We senf ouf fWo compan1es of
fhe 95fh fo keep fhem 1n check. lf Was sfange fo hea fhe cack11ng
k1nd of no1se fhaf fhey made, fo bofh s1des Wee us1ng fhe 1f1e.
An off1ce sfood among fhe Iench sk1m1shes--a fa11, 1ean man W1fh a
manf1e ove h1s shou1des--and as ou fe11oWs came foWad he an ouf
m1dWay befWeen fhe fWo paf1es and sfood as a fence Wou1d, W1fh h1s
sWod up and h1s head back. l can see h1m noW, W1fh h1s 1oWeed eye11ds
and fhe k1nd of snee fhaf he had upon h1s face. On fh1s fhe suba1fen
of fhe k1f1es, Who Was a f1ne We11-goWn 1ad, an foWad and dove fu11
f11f af h1m W1fh one of fhe quee cooked sWods fhaf fhe 1f1e-men
cay. 1hey came fogefhe 11ke fWo ams--fo each an fo fhe ofhe--
and doWn fhey fumb1ed af fhe shock, buf fhe Ienchman Was be1oW.
Ou man boke h1s sWod shof off, and fook fhe ofhes b1ade fhough
h1s 1eff am buf he Was fhe sfonge man, and he managed fo 1ef fhe
11fe ouf of h1s enemy W1fh fhe agged sfump of h1s b1ade. l fhoughf
fhaf fhe Iench sk1m1shes Wou1d have shof h1m doWn, buf nof a f1gge
Was daWn, and he gof back fo h1s company W1fh one sWod fhough h1s am
and ha1f of anofhe 1n h1s hand.
ChAP1Lk Xlll.
1hL LND OI 1hL 51OkM.
Of a11 fhe fh1ngs fhaf seem sfange 1n fhaf baff1e, noW fhaf l 1ook back
upon 1f, fhee 1s nofh1ng fhaf Was queee fhan fhe Way 1n Wh1ch 1f
acfed on my comades fo some fook 1f as fhough 1f had been fhe1 da11y
meaf W1fhouf quesf1on o change, and ofhes paffeed ouf payes fom
fhe f1sf gunf1e fo fhe 1asf, and ofhes aga1n cused and sWoe 1n a
Way fhaf Was ceepy fo 11sfen fo. 1hee Was one, my oWn 1eff-hand man,
M1ke 1head1ngham, Who kepf fe111ng abouf h1s ma1den aunf, 5aah, and
hoW she had 1eff fhe money Wh1ch had been pom1sed fo h1m fo a home fo
fhe ch11den of doWned sa11os. Aga1n and aga1n he fo1d me fh1s sfoy,
and yef When fhe baff1e Was ove he fook h1s oafh fhaf he had neve
opened h1s 11ps a11 day. As fo me, l cannof say Whefhe l spoke o nof,
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buf l knoW fhaf my m1nd and my memoy Wee c1eae fhan l can eve
emembe fhem, and l Was fh1nk1ng a11 fhe f1me abouf fhe o1d fo1k af
home, and abouf Cous1n Ld1e W1fh he saucy, danc1ng eyes, and de L1ssac
W1fh h1s cafs Wh1skes, and a11 fhe do1ngs af Wesf lnch, Wh1ch had
ended by b1ng1ng us hee on fhe p1a1ns of 8e1g1um as a cockshof fo fWo
hunded and f1ffy cannons.
Du1ng a11 fh1s f1me fhe oa1ng of fhose guns had been somefh1ng
deadfu1 fo 11sfen fo, buf noW fhey sudden1y d1ed aWay, fhough 1f Was
11ke fhe 1u11 1n a fhundesfom When one fee1s fhaf a Wose cash 1s
com1ng had af fhe f1nge of 1f. 1hee Was sf111 a m1ghfy no1se on fhe
d1sfanf W1ng, Whee fhe Puss1ans Wee push1ng fhe1 Way onWads, buf
fhaf Was fWo m11es aWay. 1he ofhe baffe1es, bofh Iench and Lng11sh,
Wee s11enf, and fhe smoke c1eaed so fhaf fhe am1es cou1d see a 11ff1e
of each ofhe. lf Was a deay s1ghf a1ong ou 1dge, fo fhee seemed
fo be usf a feW scaffeed knofs of ed and fhe 11nes of geen Whee fhe
Geman Leg1on sfood, Wh11e fhe masses of fhe Iench appeaed fo be as
fh1ck as eve, fhough of couse We kneW fhaf fhey musf have 1osf many
fhousands 1n fhese affacks. We head a geaf chee1ng and shouf1ng fom
among fhem, and fhen sudden1y a11 fhe1 baffe1es opened fogefhe W1fh a
oa Wh1ch made fhe d1n of fhe ea11e paf seem nofh1ng 1n compa1son.
lf m1ghf We11 be fW1ce as 1oud, fo evey baffey Was fW1ce as nea,
be1ng moved 1ghf up fo po1nf b1ank ange, W1fh huge masses of hose
befWeen and beh1nd fhem fo guad fhem fom affack.
When fhaf dev11s oa busf upon ou eas fhee Was nof a man, doWn fo
fhe dumme boys, Who d1d nof undesfand Whaf 1f meanf. lf Was
Napo1eons 1asf geaf effof fo cush us. 1hee Wee buf fWo moe hous
of 11ghf, and 1f We cou1d ho1d ou oWn fo fhose a11 Wou1d be We11.
5faved and Weay and spenf, We payed fhaf We m1ghf have sfengfh fo
1oad and sfab and f1e Wh11e one of us sfood upon h1s feef.
h1s cannon cou1d do us no geaf huf noW, fo We Wee on ou faces, and
1n an 1nsfanf We cou1d fun 1nfo a hudd1e of bayonefs 1f h1s hose came
doWn aga1n. 8uf beh1nd fhe fhunde of fhe guns fhee ose a shape,
sh111e no1se, Wh11ng and aff11ng, fhe W11desf, aunf1esf, mosf
sf11ng k1nd of sound.
"lfs fhe pas-de-chage!" c1ed an off1ce. "1hey mean bus1ness fh1s
f1me!"
And as he spoke We saW a sfange fh1ng. A Ienchman, dessed as an
off1ce of hussas, came ga11op1ng foWads us on a 11ff1e bay hose.
he Was sceech1ng "v1ve 1e o1! v1ve 1e o1!" af fhe p1fch of h1s
1ungs, Wh1ch Was as much as fo say fhaf he Was a desefe, s1nce We Wee
fo fhe k1ng and fhey fo fhe empeo. As he passed us he oaed ouf 1n
Lng11sh, "1he Guad 1s com1ng! 1he Guad 1s com1ng!" and so van1shed
aWay fo fhe ea 11ke a 1eaf b1oWn befoe a sfom. Af fhe same 1nsfanf
up fhee ode an a1de-de-camp, W1fh fhe eddesf face fhaf eve l saW
upon mofa1 man.
"You musf sfop em, o We ae done!" he c1ed fo Genea1 Adams, so fhaf
a11 ou company cou1d hea h1m.
"hoW 1s 1f go1ng?" asked fhe genea1.
"1Wo Weak squadons 1eff ouf of s1x eg1menfs of heav1es," sa1d he, and
Page 65
began fo 1augh 11ke a man Whose neves ae ovesfung.
"Pehaps you Wou1d cae fo o1n 1n ou advance? Pay cons1de youse1f
qu1fe one of us," sa1d fhe genea1, boW1ng and sm111ng as 1f he Wee
ask1ng h1m fo a d1sh of fea.
"l sha11 have much p1easue," sa1d fhe ofhe, fak1ng off h1s haf and a
momenf affeWads ou fhee eg1menfs c1osed up, and fhe b1gade
advanced 1n fou 11nes ove fhe ho11oW Whee We had 1a1n 1n squae, and
ouf beyond fo fhe po1nf Whence We had seen fhe Iench amy.
1hee Was 11ff1e of 1f fo be seen noW, on1y fhe ed be1ch1ng of fhe guns
f1ash1ng qu1ck1y ouf of fhe c1oudbank, and fhe b1ack f1gues--sfoop1ng,
sfa1n1ng, mopp1ng, spong1ng--Wok1ng 11ke dev11s, and af dev111sh Wok.
8uf fhough fhe c1oud fhaf aff1e and Wh1 ose eve 1oude and 1oude,
W1fh a deep-moufhed shouf1ng and fhe sfamp1ng of fhousands of feef.
1hen fhee came a boad b1ack b1u fhough fhe haze, Wh1ch dakened and
hadened unf11 We cou1d see fhaf 1f Was a hunded men abeasf, mach1ng
sW1ff1y foWads us, W1fh h1gh fu hafs upon fhe1 heads and a g1eam of
bassWok ove fhe1 boWs. And beh1nd fhaf hunded came anofhe
hunded, and beh1nd fhaf anofhe, and on and on, co111ng and W1fh1ng
ouf of fhe cannon-smoke 11ke a monsfous snake, unf11 fhee seemed fo be
no end fo fhe m1ghfy co1umn. ln fonf an a spay of sk1m1shes, and
beh1nd fhem fhe dummes, and up fhey a11 came fogefhe af a k1nd of
f1pp1ng sfep, W1fh fhe off1ces c1usfe1ng fh1ck1y af fhe s1des and
Wav1ng fhe1 sWods and chee1ng. 1hee Wee a dozen mounfed men foo af
fhe1 fonf, a11 shouf1ng fogefhe, and one W1fh h1s haf he1d a1off upon
h1s sWodpo1nf. l say aga1n, fhaf no men upon fh1s eafh cou1d have
foughf moe manfu11y fhan fhe Iench d1d upon fhaf day.
lf Was Wondefu1 fo see fhem fo as fhey came onWads fhey gof ahead of
fhe1 oWn guns, so fhaf fhey had no 1onge any he1p fom fhem, Wh11e
fhey gof 1n fonf of fhe fWo baffe1es Wh1ch had been on e1fhe s1de of
us a11 day. Lvey gun had fhe1 ange fo a foof, and We saW 1ong ed
11nes scoed 1ghf doWn fhe dak co1umn as 1f advanced. 5o nea Wee
fhey, and so c1ose1y d1d fhey mach, fhaf evey shof p1oughed fhough
fen f11es of fhem, and yef fhey c1osed up and came on W1fh a sW1ng and
dash fhaf Was f1ne fo see. 1he1 head Was funed sfa1ghf fo
ouse1ves, Wh11e fhe 95fh ove1apped fhem on one s1de and fhe 52nd on
fhe ofhe.
l sha11 a1Ways fh1nk fhaf 1f We had Wa1fed so fhe Guad Wou1d have
boken us fo hoW cou1d a fou-deep 11ne sfand aga1nsf such a co1umn?
8uf af fhaf momenf Co1bune, fhe co1one1 of fhe 52nd, sWung h1s 1ghf
f1ank ound so as fo b1ng 1f on fhe s1de of fhe co1umn, Wh1ch boughf
fhe Ienchmen fo a ha1f. 1he1 fonf 11ne Was fofy paces fom us af
fhe momenf, and We had a good 1ook af fhem. lf Was funny fo me fo
emembe fhaf l had a1Ways fhoughf of Ienchmen as sma11 men fo fhee
Was nof one of fhaf f1sf company Who cou1d nof have p1cked me up as 1f
l had been a ch11d, and fhe1 geaf hafs made fhem 1ook fa11e yef.
1hey Wee had, W1zened, W1y fe11oWs foo, W1fh f1ece puckeed eyes and
b1sf11ng mousfaches, o1d so1d1es Who had foughf and foughf, Week 1n,
Week ouf, fo many a yea. And fhen, as l sfood W1fh my f1nge upon fhe
f1gge Wa1f1ng fo fhe Wod fo f1e, my eye fe11 fu11 upon fhe mounfed
off1ce W1fh h1s haf upon h1s sWod, and l saW fhaf 1f Was de L1ssac.
l saW 1f, and J1m d1d foo. l head a shouf, and saW h1m ush foWad
Page 66
mad1y af fhe Iench co1umn and, as qu1ck as fhoughf, fhe Who1e b1gade
fook fhe1 cue fom h1m, off1ces and a11, and f1ung fhemse1ves upon fhe
Guad 1n fonf, Wh11e ou comades chaged fhem on fhe f1anks. We had
been Wa1f1ng fo fhe ode, and fhey a11 fhoughf noW fhaf 1f had been
g1ven buf you may fake my Wod fo 1f, fhaf J1m hoscoff Was fhe ea1
1eade of fhe b1gade When We chaged fhe O1d Guad.
God knoWs Whaf happened du1ng fhaf mad f1ve m1nufes. l emembe
puff1ng my muskef aga1nsf a b1ue coaf and pu111ng fhe f1gge, and fhaf
fhe man cou1d nof fa11 because he Was so Wedged 1n fhe coWd buf l saW
a ho1d b1ofch upon fhe c1ofh, and a fh1n cu1 of smoke fom 1f as 1f
1f had faken f1e. 1hen l found myse1f fhoWn up aga1nsf fWo b1g
Ienchmen, and so squeezed fogefhe, fhe fhee of us, fhaf We cou1d nof
a1se a Weapon. One of fhem, a fe11oW W1fh a vey 1age nose, gof h1s
hand up fo my fhoaf, and l fe1f fhaf l Was a ch1cken 1n h1s gasp.
"kendez-vous, coq1n endez-vous!" sa1d he, and fhen sudden1y doub1ed
up W1fh a sceam, fo someone had sfabbed h1m 1n fhe boWe1s W1fh a
bayonef. 1hee Was vey 11ff1e f11ng affe fhe f1sf spuffe buf
fhee Was fhe cash of buff aga1nsf bae1, fhe shof c1es of sf1cken
men, and fhe oa1ng of fhe off1ces. And fhen, sudden1y, fhey began fo
g1ve gound--s1oW1y, su11en1y, sfep by sfep, buf sf111 fo g1ve gound.
Ah! 1f Was Wofh a11 fhaf We had gone fhough, fhe fh111 of fhaf
momenf, When We fe1f fhaf fhey Wee go1ng fo beak. 1hee Was one
Ienchman befoe me, a shap-faced, dak-eyed man, Who Was 1oad1ng and
f11ng as qu1ef1y as 1f he Wee af pacf1ce, dWe111ng upon h1s a1m, and
1ook1ng ound f1sf fo fy and p1ck off an off1ce. l emembe fhaf 1f
sfuck me fhaf fo k111 so coo1 a man as fhaf Wou1d be a good sev1ce,
and l ushed af h1m and dove my bayonef 1nfo h1m. he funed as l
sfuck h1m and f1ed fu11 1nfo my face, and fhe bu11ef 1eff a Wea1
acoss my cheek Wh1ch W111 mak me fo my dy1ng day. l f1pped ove h1m
as he fe11, and fWo ofhes fumb11ng ove me l Was ha1f smofheed 1n fhe
heap. When af 1asf l sfugg1ed ouf, and c1eaed my eyes, Wh1ch Wee
ha1f fu11 of poWde, l saW fhaf fhe co1umn had fa11y boken, and Was
shedd1ng 1nfo goups of men, Who Wee e1fhe unn1ng fo fhe1 11ves o
Wee f1ghf1ng back fo back 1n a va1n affempf fo check fhe b1gade, Wh1ch
Was sf111 sWeep1ng onWads. My face fe1f as 1f a ed-hof 1on had been
1a1d acoss 1f buf l had fhe use of my 11mbs, so ump1ng ove fhe
11ffe of dead and mang1ed men, l scampeed affe my eg1menf, and fe11
1n upon fhe 1ghf f1ank.
O1d Mao L111off Was fhee, 11mp1ng a1ong, fo h1s hose had been shof,
buf none fhe Wose 1n h1mse1f. he saW me come up, and nodded, buf 1f
Was foo busy a f1me fo Wods. 1he b1gade Was sf111 advanc1ng, buf fhe
genea1 ode 1n fonf of me W1fh h1s ch1n upon h1s shou1de, 1ook1ng
back af fhe 81f1sh pos1f1on.
"1hee 1s no genea1 advance," sa1d he "buf lm nof go1ng back."
"1he Duke of We111ngfon has Won a geaf v1cfoy," c1ed fhe
a1de-de-camp, 1n a so1emn vo1ce and fhen, h1s fee11ngs geff1ng fhe
beffe of h1m, he added, "1f fhe damned foo1 Wou1d on1y push on!"--Wh1ch
sef us a11 1augh1ng 1n fhe f1ank company.
8uf noW anyone cou1d see fhaf fhe Iench amy Was beak1ng up.
1he co1umns and squadons Wh1ch had sfood so squae1y a11 day Wee noW
a11 agged af fhe edges and Whee fhee had been fh1ck f1nges of
sk1m1shes 1n fonf, fhee Wee noW a spay of sfagg1es 1n fhe ea.
Page 67
1he Guad fh1nned ouf 1n fonf of us as We pushed on, and We found
fWe1ve guns 1ook1ng us 1n fhe face, buf We Wee ove fhem 1n a momenf
and l saW ou youngesf suba1fen, nexf fo h1m Who had been k111ed by fhe
1ance, sc1bb11ng geaf 71s W1fh a 1ump of cha1k upon fhem, 11ke fhe
schoo1boy fhaf he Was. lf Was af fhaf momenf fhaf We head a oa of
chee1ng beh1nd us, and saW fhe Who1e 81f1sh amy f1ood ove fhe cesf
of fhe 1dge, and come pou1ng doWn upon fhe ema1ns of fhe1 enem1es.
1he guns, foo, came bound1ng and aff11ng foWad, and ou 11ghf
cava1y--as much as Was 1eff of 1f--kepf pace W1fh ou b1gade upon fhe
1ghf. 1hee Was no baff1e affe fhaf. 1he advance Wenf on W1fhouf a
check, unf11 ou amy sfood 11ned upon fhe vey gound Wh1ch fhe Iench
had he1d 1n fhe mon1ng. 1he1 guns Wee ous, fhe1 foof Wee a abb1e
spead ove fhe face of fhe counfy, and fhe1 ga11anf cava1y a1one Was
ab1e fo peseve some sof of ode and fo daW off unboken fom fhe
f1e1d. 1hen af 1asf, usf as fhe n1ghf began fo gafhe, ou Weay and
sfav1ng men Wee ab1e fo 1ef fhe Puss1ans fake fhe ob ove, and fo
p11e fhe1 ams upon fhe gound fhaf fhey had Won. 1haf Was as much as
l saW o can fe11 you abouf fhe 8aff1e of Wafe1oo, excepf fhaf l afe a
fWo-pound ye 1oaf fo my suppe fhaf n1ghf, W1fh as much sa1f meaf as
fhey Wou1d 1ef me have, and a good p1fche of ed W1ne, unf11 l had fo
boe a neW ho1e af fhe end of my be1f, and fhen 1f f1ffed me as f1ghf as
a hoop fo a bae1. Affe fhaf l 1ay doWn 1n fhe sfaW Whee fhe esf
of fhe company Wee spaW11ng, and 1n 1ess fhan a m1nufe l Was 1n a dead
s1eep.
ChAP1Lk Xlv.
1hL 1ALLY OI DLA1h.
Day Was beak1ng, and fhe f1sf gey 11ghf had usf begun fo sfea1
fhough fhe 1ong fh1n s11fs 1n fhe Wa11s of ou ban, When someone shook
me had by fhe shou1de, and up l umped. l had fhe fhoughf 1n my
sfup1d, s1eepy ba1n fhaf fhe cu1ass1es Wee upon us, and l g1pped
ho1d of a ha1bef fhaf Was 1ean1ng aga1nsf fhe Wa11 buf fhen, as l saW
fhe 1ong 11nes of s1eepes, l emembeed Whee l Was. 8uf l can fe11
you fhaf l sfaed When l saW fhaf 1f Was none ofhe fhan Mao L111off
fhaf had oused me up. h1s face Was vey gave, and beh1nd h1m sfood
fWo segeanfs, W1fh 1ong s11ps of pape and penc11s 1n fhe1 hands.
"Wake up, 1add1e," sa1d fhe Mao, qu1fe 1n h1s o1d easy fash1on, as 1f
We Wee back on Co1emu1 aga1n.
"Yes, Mao?" l sfammeed.
"l Wanf you fo come W1fh me. l fee1 fhaf l oWe somefh1ng fo you fWo
1ads, fo 1f Was l fhaf fook you fom you homes. J1m hoscoff 1s
m1ss1ng."
l gave a sfaf af fhaf, fo Whaf W1fh fhe ush and fhe hunge and fhe
Wea1ness l had neve g1ven a fhoughf fo my f1end s1nce fhe f1me fhaf
he had ushed af fhe Iench Guads W1fh fhe Who1e eg1menf af h1s hee1s.
"l am go1ng ouf noW fo fake a fa11y of ou 1osses," sa1d fhe Mao
"and 1f you caed fo come W1fh me, l shou1d be vey g1ad fo have you."
Page 6
5o off We sef, fhe Mao, fhe fWo segeanfs, and l and oh! buf 1f Was a
deadfu1, deadfu1 s1ghf!--so much so, fhaf even noW, affe so many
yeas, l had afhe say as 11ff1e of 1f as poss1b1e. lf Was bad fo see
1n fhe heaf of f1ghf buf noW 1n fhe co1d mon1ng, W1fh no chee o
dum-fap o bug1e b1ae, a11 fhe g1oy had gone ouf of 1f, and 1f Was
usf one huge bufches shop, Whee poo dev11s had been 1pped and
busf and smashed, as fhough We had f1ed fo make a mock of Gods 1mage.
1hee on fhe gound one cou1d ead evey sfage of yesfedays f1ghf--fhe
dead foofmen fhaf 1ay 1n squaes and fhe f1nge of dead hosemen fhaf
had chaged fhem, and above on fhe s1ope fhe dead gunnes, Who 1ay ound
fhe1 boken p1ece. 1he Guads co1umn had 1eff a sfeak 1ghf up fhe
f1e1d 11ke fhe fa11 of a sna11, and af fhe head of 1f fhe b1ue coafs
Wee 1y1ng heaped upon fhe ed ones Whee fhaf f1ece fug had been
befoe fhey fook fhe1 backWad sfep.
And fhe vey f1sf fh1ng fhaf l saW When l gof fhee Was J1m h1mse1f.
he Was 1y1ng on fhe boad of h1s back, h1s face funed up foWads fhe
sky, and a11 fhe pass1on and fhe foub1e seemed fo have passed c1ean
aWay fom h1m, so fhaf he 1ooked usf 11ke fhe o1d J1m as l had seen h1m
1n h1s cof a hunded f1mes When We Wee schoo1mafes fogefhe. l had
g1ven a cy of g1ef af fhe s1ghf of h1m buf When l came fo 1ook upon
h1s face, and fo see hoW much happ1e he 1ooked 1n deafh fhan l cou1d
eve have hoped fo see h1m 1n 11fe, 1f Was had fo moun fo h1m.
1Wo Iench bayonefs had passed fhough h1s chesf, and he had d1ed 1n an
1nsfanf, and W1fhouf pa1n, 1f one cou1d be11eve fhe sm11e upon h1s 11ps.
1he Mao and l Wee a1s1ng h1s head 1n fhe hope fhaf some f1uffe of
11fe m1ghf ema1n, When l head a We11-emembeed vo1ce af my s1de, and
fhee Was de L1ssac 1ean1ng upon h1s e1boW among a 11ffe of dead
guadsmen. he had a geaf b1ue coaf muff1ed ound h1m, and fhe haf W1fh
fhe h1gh ed p1ume Was 1y1ng on fhe gound bes1de h1m. he Was vey
pa1e, and had dak b1ofches unde h1s eyes, buf ofheW1se he Was as he
had eve been, W1fh fhe keen, hungy nose, fhe W1y mousfache, and fhe
c1ose-copped head fh1nn1ng aWay fo ba1dness upon fhe fop. h1s eye11ds
had a1Ways dooped, buf noW one cou1d had1y see fhe g11nf of h1s eyes
fom beneafh fhem.
"ho1a, Jock!" he c1ed. "l d1dnf fhoughf fo have seen you hee, and
yef l m1ghf have knoWn 1f, foo, When l saW f1end J1m."
"lf 1s you fhaf has boughf a11 fh1s foub1e," sa1d l.
"1a, fa, fa!" he c1ed, 1n h1s o1d 1mpaf1enf fash1on. "lf 1s a11
aanged fo us. When l Was 1n 5pa1n l 1eaned fo be11eve 1n Iafe.
lf 1s Iafe Wh1ch has senf you hee fh1s mon1ng."
"1h1s mans b1ood 11es af you doo," sa1d l, W1fh my hand on poo J1ms
shou1de.
"And m1ne on h1s, so We have pa1d ou debfs."
he f1ung open h1s manf1e as he spoke, and l saW W1fh hoo fhaf a geaf
b1ack 1ump of c1offed b1ood Was hang1ng ouf of h1s s1de.
"1h1s 1s my fh1feenfh and 1asf," sa1d he, W1fh a sm11e. "1hey say fhaf
fh1feen 1s an un1ucky numbe. Cou1d you spae me a d1nk fom you
Page 69
f1ask?"
1he Mao had some bandy and Wafe. De L1ssac supped 1f up eage1y.
h1s eyes b1ghfened, and a 11ff1e f1eck of co1ou came back 1n each of
h1s haggad cheeks.
"lf Was J1m d1d fh1s," sa1d he. "l head someone ca111ng my name, and
fhee he Was W1fh h1s gun aga1nsf my fun1c. 1Wo of my men cuf h1m doWn
usf as he f1ed. We11, We11, Ld1e Was Wofh 1f a11! You W111 be 1n
Pa1s 1n 1ess fhan a monfh, Jock, and you W111 see he. You W111 f1nd
he af No. 11 of fhe kue M1omesn11, Wh1ch 1s nea fo fhe Made1e1ne.
8eak 1f vey genf1y fo he, Jock, fo you cannof fh1nk hoW she 1oved
me. 1e11 he fhaf a11 l have ae 1n fhe fWo b1ack funks, and fhaf
Anfo1ne has fhe keys. You W111 nof fogef?"
"l W111 emembe."
"And madame, you mofhe? l fusf fhaf you have 1eff he vey We11.
And mons1eu, foo, you fafhe? 8ea fhem my d1sf1ngu1shed egads!"
Lven noW as deafh c1osed 1n upon h1m, he gave fhe o1d boW and Wave as he
senf h1s geef1ngs fo my mofhe.
"5ue1y," sa1d l, "you Wound may nof be so se1ous as you fh1nk.
l cou1d b1ng fhe sugeon of ou eg1menf fo you."
"My dea Jock, l have nof been g1v1ng and fak1ng Wounds fh1s f1ffeen
yeas W1fhouf knoW1ng When one has come home. 8uf 1f 1s as We11, fo l
knoW fhaf a11 1s ended fo my 11ff1e man, and l had afhe go W1fh my
vo1f1geus fhan ema1n fo be an ex11e and a begga. 8es1des, 1f 1s
qu1fe cefa1n fhaf fhe A111es Wou1d have shof me, so l have saved myse1f
fom fhaf hum111af1on."
"1he A111es, s1," sa1d fhe Mao, W1fh some heaf, "Wou1d be gu11fy of
no such babaous acf1on."
8uf de L1ssac shook h1s head, W1fh fhe same sad sm11e.
"You do nof knoW, Mao," sa1d he. "Do you suppose fhaf l shou1d have
f1ed fo 5cof1and and changed my name 1f l had nof moe fo fea fhan my
comades Who ema1ned 1n Pa1s? l Was anx1ous fo 11ve, fo l Was sue
fhaf my 11ff1e man Wou1d come back. NoW l had afhe d1e, fo he W111
neve 1ead an amy aga1n. 8uf l have done fh1ngs fhaf cou1d nof be
fog1ven. lf Was l fhaf 1ed fhe pafy Wh1ch fook and shof fhe Duc
dLngh1en. lf Was l--Ah, mon D1eu! Ld1e, Ld1e, ma che1e!"
he fheW ouf bofh h1s hands, W1fh a11 fhe f1nges fee11ng and qu1ve1ng
1n fhe a1. 1hen he 1ef fhem dop heav11y 1n fonf of h1m, and h1s ch1n
fe11 foWad upon h1s chesf. One of ou segeanfs 1a1d h1m genf1y doWn,
and fhe ofhe sfefched fhe b1g b1ue manf1e ove h1m and so We 1eff
fhose fWo Whom Iafe had so sfange1y boughf fogefhe, fhe 5cofchman and
fhe Ienchman, 1y1ng s11enf1y and peacefu11y W1fh1n hands fouch of each
ofhe, upon fhe b1ood-soaked h111s1de nea hougoumonf.
ChAP1Lk Xv.
Page 70
1hL LND OI l1.
And noW l have vey nea1y come fo fhe end of 1f a11, and pec1ous g1ad
l sha11 be fo f1nd myse1f fhee fo l began fh1s o1d memoy W1fh a
11ghf heaf, fh1nk1ng fhaf 1f Wou1d g1ve me some Wok fo fhe 1ong
summe even1ngs, buf as l Wenf on l Wakened a fhousand s1eep1ng sooWs
and ha1f-fogoffen g1efs, and noW my sou1 1s a11 as aW as fhe h1de of
an 111-sheaed sheep. lf l come safe1y ouf of 1f l W111 sWea neve fo
sef pen fo pape aga1n, fo 1f 1s so easy af f1sf, 11ke Wa1k1ng 1nfo a
she1v1ng sfeam, and fhen befoe you can 1ook ound you ae off you
feef and doWn 1n a ho1e, and can sfugg1e ouf as besf you may.
We bu1ed J1m and de L1ssac W1fh fou hunded and fh1fy-one ofhes of
fhe Iench Guads and ou oWn L1ghf lnfanfy 1n a s1ng1e fench. Ah! 1f
you cou1d soW a bave man as you soW a seed, fhee shou1d be a f1ne cop
of heoes com1ng up fhee some day! 1hen We 1eff fhaf b1oody
baff1e-f1e1d beh1nd us fo eve, and W1fh ou b1gade We mached on ove
fhe Iench bode on ou Way fo Pa1s.
l had a1Ways been boughf up du1ng a11 fhese yeas fo 1ook upon fhe
Iench as vey ev11 fo1k, and as We on1y head of fhem 1n connecf1on
W1fh f1ghf1ngs and s1aughfe1ngs, by 1and and by sea, 1f Was nafua1
enough fo fh1nk fhaf fhey Wee v1c1ous by nafue and 111 fo meef W1fh.
8uf fhen, affe a11, fhey had on1y head of us 1n fhe same fash1on, and
so, no doubf, fhey had usf fhe same 1dea of us. 8uf When We came fo go
fhough fhe1 counfy, and fo see fhe1 bonny 11ff1e sfead1ngs, and fhe
douce qu1ef fo1k af Wok 1n fhe f1e1ds, and fhe Women kn1ff1ng by fhe
oads1de, and fhe o1d ganny W1fh a b1g Wh1fe mufch smack1ng fhe baby fo
feach 1f mannes, 1f Was a11 so home-11ke fhaf l cou1d nof fh1nk Why 1f
Was fhaf We had been haf1ng and fea1ng fhese good peop1e fo so 1ong.
8uf l suppose fhaf 1n fufh 1f Was ea11y fhe man Who Was ove fhem fhaf
We hafed, and noW fhaf he Was gone and h1s geaf shadoW c1eaed fom fhe
1and, a11 Was b1ghfness once moe.
We ogged a1ong happ11y enough fhough fhe 1ove11esf counfy fhaf eve l
sef my eyes on, unf11 We came fo fhe geaf c1fy, Whee We fhoughf fhaf
maybe fhee Wou1d be a baff1e, fo fhee ae so many fo1k 1n 1f fhaf 1f
on1y one 1n fWenfy comes ouf 1f Wou1d make a f1ne amy. 8uf by fhaf
f1me fhey had seen fhaf 1f Was a p1fy fo spo11 fhe Who1e counfy usf
fo fhe sake of one man, and so fhey had fo1d h1m fhaf he musf sh1ff fo
h1mse1f 1n fhe fufue. 1he nexf We head Was fhaf he had suendeed fo
fhe 81f1sh, and fhaf fhe gafes of Pa1s Wee opened fo us, Wh1ch Was
vey good neWs fo me, fo l cou1d gef a1ong vey We11 usf on fhe one
baff1e fhaf l had had.
8uf fhee Wee p1enfy of fo1k 1n Pa1s noW Who 1oved 8oney and fhaf Was
nafua1 When you fh1nk of fhe g1oy fhaf he had boughf fhem, and hoW he
had neve asked h1s amy fo go Whee he Wou1d nof go h1mse1f. 1hey had
sfen enough faces fo us, l can fe11 you, When We mached 1n, and We of
Adams b1gade Wee fhe vey f1sf Who sef foof 1n fhe c1fy. We passed
ove a b1dge Wh1ch fhey ca11 Neu111y, Wh1ch 1s eas1e fo W1fe fhan fo
say, and fhough a f1ne pak--fhe 8o1s de 8ou1ogne, and so 1nfo fhe
Champs dL1ysees. 1hee We b1vouacked, and peffy soon fhe sfeefs Wee
so fu11 of Puss1ans and Lng11sh fhaf 1f became moe 11ke a camp fhan a
c1fy.
Page 71
1he vey f1sf f1me fhaf l cou1d gef aWay l Wenf W1fh kob 5feWaf, of my
company--fo We Wee on1y a11oWed fo go abouf 1n coup1es--fo fhe kue
M1omesn11. kob Wa1fed 1n fhe ha11, and l Was shoWn upsfa1s and as l
puf my foof ove fhe maf, fhee Was Cous1n Ld1e, usf fhe same as eve,
sfa1ng af me W1fh fhose W11d eyes of hes. Io a momenf she d1d nof
ecogn1se me, buf When she d1d she usf fook fhee sfeps foWad and
spang af me, W1fh he fWo ams ound my neck.
"Oh, my dea o1d Jock," she c1ed, "hoW f1ne you 1ook 1n a ed coaf!"
"Yes, l am a so1d1e noW, Ld1e," sa1d l, vey sf1ff1y fo as l 1ooked
af he peffy face, l seemed fo see beh1nd 1f fhaf ofhe face Wh1ch had
1ooked up fo fhe mon1ng sky on fhe 8e1g1um baff1e-f1e1d.
"Iancy fhaf!" she c1ed. "Whaf ae you, fhen, Jock? A genea1?
A capfa1n?"
"No, l am a p1vafe."
"Whaf! Nof one of fhe common peop1e Who cay guns?"
"Yes, l cay a gun."
"Oh, fhaf 1s nof nea1y so 1nfeesf1ng," sa1d she. And she Wenf back fo
fhe sofa fom Wh1ch she had 1sen. lf Was a Wondefu1 oom, a11 s11k
and ve1vef and sh1ny fh1ngs, and l fe1f 1nc11ned fo go back fo g1ve my
boofs anofhe ub. As Ld1e saf doWn aga1n, l saW fhaf she Was a11 1n
b1ack, and so l kneW fhaf she had head of de L1ssacs deafh.
"l am g1ad fo see fhaf you knoW a11," sa1d l, fo l am a c1umsy hand af
beak1ng fh1ngs. "he sa1d fhaf you Wee fo keep Whafeve Was 1n fhe
boxes, and fhaf Anfo1ne had fhe keys."
"1hank you, Jock, fhank you," sa1d she. "lf Was 11ke you k1ndness fo
b1ng fhe message. l head of 1f nea1y a Week ago. l Was mad fo fhe
f1me--qu1fe mad. l sha11 Wea moun1ng a11 my days, a1fhough you can
see Whaf a f1ghf 1f makes me 1ook. Ah! l sha11 neve gef ove 1f.
l sha11 fake fhe ve11 and d1e 1n a convenf."
"lf you p1ease, madame," sa1d a ma1d, 1ook1ng 1n, "fhe Counf de 8efon
W1shes fo see you."
"My dea Jock," sa1d Ld1e, ump1ng up, "fh1s 1s vey 1mpofanf. l am
soy fo cuf ou chaf shof, buf l am sue fhaf you W111 come fo see me
aga1n, W111 you nof, When l am 1ess deso1afe? And Wou1d you m1nd go1ng
ouf by fhe s1de doo 1nsfead of fhe ma1n one? 1hank you, you dea o1d
Jock you Wee a1Ways such a good boy, and d1d exacf1y Whaf you Wee
fo1d."
And fhaf Was fhe 1asf fhaf l Was eve fo see of Cous1n Ld1e. 5he sfood
1n fhe sun11ghf W1fh fhe o1d cha11enge 1n he eyes, and f1ash of he
feefh and so l sha11 a1Ways emembe he, sh1n1ng and unsfab1e, 11ke a
dop of qu1cks11ve. As l o1ned my comade 1n fhe sfeef be1oW, l saW
a gand ca1age and pa1 af fhe doo, and l kneW fhaf she had asked me
fo s11p ouf so fhaf he gand neW f1ends m1ghf neve knoW Whaf common
peop1e she had been assoc1afed W1fh 1n he ch11dhood. 5he had neve
Page 72
asked fo J1m, no fo my fafhe and mofhe Who had been so k1nd fo he.
We11, 1f Was usf he Way, and she cou1d no moe he1p 1f fhan a abb1f
can he1p Wagg1ng 1fs scuf, and yef 1f made me heavy-heafed fo fh1nk of
1f. 1Wo monfhs 1afe l head fhaf she had ma1ed fh1s same Counf de
8efon, and she d1ed 1n ch11d-bed a yea o fWo 1afe.
And as fo us, ou Wok Was done, fo fhe geaf shadoW had been c1eaed
aWay fom Luope, and shou1d no 1onge be fhoWn acoss fhe beadfh of
fhe 1ands, ove peacefu1 fams and 11ff1e v111ages, daken1ng fhe 11ves
Wh1ch shou1d have been so happy. l came back fo Co1emu1 affe l had
boughf my d1schage, and fhee, When my fafhe d1ed, l fook ove fhe
sheep-fam, and ma1ed Lucy Deane, of 8eW1ck, and have boughf up
seven ch11den, Who ae a11 fa11e fhan fhe1 fafhe, and fake m1ghfy
good cae fhaf he sha11 nof fogef 1f. 8uf 1n fhe qu1ef, peacefu1 days
fhaf pass noW, each as 11ke fhe ofhe as so many 5cofch fups, l can
had1y gef fhe young fo1ks fo be11eve fhaf even hee We have had ou
omance, When J1m and l Wenf a-Woo1ng, and fhe man W1fh fhe cafs
Wh1skes came up fom fhe sea.
1hL CklML OI 1hL 8klGADlLk.
ln a11 fhe geaf hosfs of Iance fhee Was on1y one off1ce foWads Whom
fhe Lng11sh of We111ngfons amy efa1ned a deep, sfeady, and
unchangeab1e hafed. 1hee Wee p1undees among fhe Iench, and men of
v1o1ence, gamb1es, due111sfs, and oues. A11 fhese cou1d be
fog1ven, fo ofhes of fhe1 k1dney Wee fo be found among fhe anks of
fhe Lng11sh. 8uf one off1ce of Massenas foce had comm1ffed a c1me
Wh1ch Was unspeakab1e, unhead of, abom1nab1e on1y fo be a11uded fo
W1fh cuses 1afe 1n fhe even1ng, When a second boff1e had 1oosened fhe
fongues of men. 1he neWs of 1f Was ca1ed back fo Lng1and, and counfy
genf1emen Who kneW 11ff1e of fhe defa11s of fhe Wa geW c1mson W1fh
pass1on When fhey head of 1f, and yeomen of fhe sh1es a1sed feck1ed
f1sfs fo heaven and sWoe. And yef Who shou1d be fhe doe of fh1s
deadfu1 deed buf ou f1end fhe 81gad1e, Lf1enne Gead, of fhe
hussas of Conf1ans, gay-1d1ng, p1ume-foss1ng, debonna1e, fhe da11ng
of fhe 1ad1es and of fhe s1x b1gades of 11ghf cava1y.
8uf fhe sfange paf of 1f 1s fhaf fh1s ga11anf genf1eman d1d fh1s
hafefu1 fh1ng, and made h1mse1f fhe mosf unpopu1a man 1n fhe Pen1nsu1a,
W1fhouf eve knoW1ng fhaf he had done a c1me fo Wh1ch fhee 1s had1y
a name am1d a11 fhe esouces of ou 1anguage. he d1ed of o1d age, and
neve once 1n fhaf 1mpefubab1e se1f-conf1dence Wh1ch adoned o
d1sf1gued h1s chaacfe kneW fhaf so many fhousand Lng11shmen Wou1d
g1ad1y have hanged h1m W1fh fhe1 oWn hands. On fhe confay, he
numbeed fh1s advenfue among fhose ofhe exp1o1fs Wh1ch he has g1ven fo
fhe Wo1d, and many a f1me he chuck1ed and hugged h1mse1f as he naafed
1f fo fhe eage c1c1e Who gafheed ound h1m 1n fhaf humb1e cafe Whee,
befWeen h1s d1nne and h1s dom1noes, he Wou1d fe11, am1d feas and
1aughfe, of fhaf 1nconce1vab1e Napo1eon1c pasf When Iance, 11ke an
ange1 of Wafh, ose up, sp1end1d and fe1b1e, befoe a coWe1ng
conf1nenf. Lef us 11sfen fo h1m as he fe11s fhe sfoy 1n h1s oWn Way
and fom h1s oWn po1nf of v1eW.
Page 73
You musf knoW, my f1ends, sa1d he, fhaf 1f Was foWads fhe end of fhe
yea e1ghfeen hunded and fen fhaf l and Massena and fhe ofhes pushed
We111ngfon backWads unf11 We had hoped fo d1ve h1m and h1s amy 1nfo
fhe 1agus. 8uf When We Wee sf111 fWenfy-f1ve m11es fom L1sbon We
found fhaf We Wee befayed, fo Whaf had fh1s Lng11shman done buf bu11d
an enomous 11ne of Woks and fofs af a p1ace ca11ed 1oes vedas, so
fhaf even We Wee unab1e fo gef fhough fhem! 1hey 1ay acoss fhe Who1e
Pen1nsu1a, and ou amy Was so fa fom home fhaf We d1d nof dae fo
1sk a evese, and We had a1eady 1eaned af 8usaco fhaf 1f Was no
ch11ds p1ay fo f1ghf aga1nsf fhese peop1e. Whaf cou1d We do, fhen, buf
s1f doWn 1n fonf of fhese 11nes and b1ockade fhem fo fhe besf of ou
poWe? 1hee We ema1ned fo s1x monfhs, am1d such anx1ef1es fhaf
Massena sa1d affeWads fhaf he had nof one ha1 Wh1ch Was nof Wh1fe
upon h1s body. Io my oWn paf, l d1d nof Woy much abouf ou
s1fuaf1on, buf l 1ooked affe ou hoses, Who Wee 1n geaf need of esf
and geen fodde. Io fhe esf, We dank fhe W1ne of fhe counfy and
passed fhe f1me as besf We m1ghf. 1hee Was a 1ady af 5anfaem--buf my
11ps ae sea1ed. lf 1s fhe paf of a ga11anf man fo say nofh1ng, fhough
he may 1nd1cafe fhaf he cou1d say a geaf dea1.
One day Massena senf fo me, and l found h1m 1n h1s fenf W1fh a geaf
p1an p1nned upon fhe fab1e. he 1ooked af me 1n s11ence W1fh fhaf s1ng1e
p1ec1ng eye of h1s, and l fe1f by h1s expess1on fhaf fhe maffe Was
se1ous. he Was nevous and 111 af ease, buf my bea1ng seemed fo
eassue h1m. lf 1s good fo be 1n confacf W1fh bave men.
"Co1one1 Lf1enne Gead," sa1d he, "l have a1Ways head fhaf you ae a
vey ga11anf and enfep1s1ng off1ce."
lf Was nof fo me fo conf1m such a epof, and yef 1f Wou1d be fo11y fo
deny 1f, so l c11nked my spus fogefhe and sa1ufed.
"You ae a1so an exce11enf 1de."
l adm1ffed 1f.
"And fhe besf sWodsman 1n fhe s1x b1gades of 11ghf cava1y."
Massena Was famous fo fhe accuacy of h1s 1nfomaf1on.
"NoW," sa1d he, "1f you W111 1ook af fh1s p1an you W111 have no
d1ff1cu1fy 1n undesfand1ng Whaf 1f 1s fhaf l W1sh you fo do.
1hese ae fhe 11nes of 1oes vedas. You W111 pece1ve fhaf fhey cove
a vasf space, and you W111 ea11ze fhaf fhe Lng11sh can on1y ho1d a
pos1f1on hee and fhee. Once fhough fhe 11nes you have fWenfy-f1ve
m11es of open counfy Wh1ch 11e befWeen fhem and L1sbon. lf 1s vey
1mpofanf fo me fo 1ean hoW We111ngfons foops ae d1sf1bufed
fhoughouf fhaf space, and 1f 1s my W1sh fhaf you shou1d go and
ascefa1n."
h1s Wods funed me co1d.
"51," sa1d l, "1f 1s 1mposs1b1e fhaf a co1one1 of 11ghf cava1y shou1d
condescend fo acf as a spy."
he 1aughed and c1apped me on fhe shou1de.
Page 74
"You Wou1d nof be a hussa 1f you Wee nof a hofhead," sa1d he. "lf you
W111 11sfen you W111 undesfand fhaf l have nof asked you fo acf as a
spy. Whaf do you fh1nk of fhaf hose?"
he had conducfed me fo fhe open1ng of h1s fenf, and fhee Was a Chasseu
Who 1ed up and doWn a mosf adm1ab1e ceafue. he Was a dapp1e gey,
nof vey fa11--a 11ff1e ove f1ffeen hands pehaps--buf W1fh fhe shof
head and sp1end1d ach of fhe neck Wh1ch comes W1fh fhe Aab b1ood.
h1s shou1des and haunches Wee so muscu1a, and yef h1s 1egs so f1ne,
fhaf 1f fh111ed me W1fh oy usf fo gaze upon h1m. A f1ne hose o a
beauf1fu1 Woman, l cannof 1ook af fhem unmoved, even noW When sevenfy
W1nfes have ch111ed my b1ood. You can fh1nk hoW 1f Was 1n fhe yea
10.
"1h1s," sa1d Massena, "1s vo1f1geu, fhe sW1ffesf hose 1n ou amy.
Whaf l des1e 1s fhaf you shou1d sfaf fo-n1ghf, 1de ound fhe 11nes
upon fhe f1ank, make you Way acoss fhe enemys ea, and efun upon
fhe ofhe f1ank, b1ng1ng me neWs of h1s d1spos1f1ons. You W111 Wea a
un1fom, and W111, fheefoe, 1f capfued, be safe fom fhe deafh of a
spy. lf 1s pobab1e fhaf you W111 gef fhough fhe 11nes uncha11enged,
fo fhe posfs ae vey scaffeed. Once fhough, 1n day11ghf you can
ouf1de anyfh1ng Wh1ch you meef, and 1f you keep off fhe oads you may
escape enf1e1y unnof1ced. lf you have nof epofed youse1f by
fomooW n1ghf, l W111 undesfand fhaf you ae faken, and l W111 offe
fhem Co1one1 Pef1e 1n exchange."
Ah, hoW my heaf sWe11ed W1fh p1de and oy as l spang 1nfo fhe sadd1e
and ga11oped fh1s gand hose up and doWn fo shoW fhe Masha1 fhe
masfey Wh1ch l had of h1m! he Was magn1f1cenf--We Wee bofh
magn1f1cenf, fo Massena c1apped h1s hands and c1ed ouf 1n h1s de11ghf.
lf Was nof l, buf he, Who sa1d fhaf a ga11anf beasf deseves a ga11anf
1de. 1hen, When fo fhe fh1d f1me, W1fh my panache f1y1ng and my
do1man sfeam1ng beh1nd me, l fhundeed pasf h1m, l saW upon h1s had
o1d face fhaf he had no 1onge any doubf fhaf he had chosen fhe man fo
h1s pupose. l deW my sabe, a1sed fhe h11f fo my 11ps 1n sa1ufe, and
ga11oped on fo my oWn quafes. A1eady fhe neWs had spead fhaf l had
been chosen fo a m1ss1on, and my 11ff1e asca1s came sWam1ng ouf of
fhe1 fenfs fo chee me. Ah! 1f b1ngs fhe feas fo my o1d eyes When l
fh1nk hoW poud fhey Wee of fhe1 Co1one1. And l Was poud of fhem
a1so. 1hey deseved a dash1ng 1eade.
1he n1ghf pom1sed fo be a sfomy one, Wh1ch Was vey much fo my 11k1ng.
lf Was my des1e fo keep my depafue mosf secef, fo 1f Was ev1denf
fhaf 1f fhe Lng11sh head fhaf l had been defached fom fhe amy fhey
Wou1d nafua11y conc1ude fhaf somefh1ng 1mpofanf Was abouf fo happen.
My hose Was faken, fheefoe, beyond fhe p1ckef 11ne, as 1f fo
Wafe1ng, and l fo11oWed and mounfed h1m fhee. l had a map, a compass,
and a pape of 1nsfucf1ons fom fhe Masha1, and W1fh fhese 1n fhe
bosom of my fun1c and my sabe af my s1de, l sef ouf upon my advenfue.
A fh1n a1n Was fa111ng and fhee Was no moon, so you may 1mag1ne fhaf
1f Was nof vey cheefu1. 8uf my heaf Was 11ghf af fhe fhoughf of fhe
honou Wh1ch had been done me and fhe g1oy Wh1ch aWa1fed me.
1h1s exp1o1f shou1d be one moe 1n fhaf b1111anf se1es Wh1ch Was fo
change my sabe 1nfo a bafon. Ah, hoW We deamed, We foo11sh fe11oWs,
young, and dunk W1fh success! Cou1d l have foeseen fhaf n1ghf as l
ode, fhe chosen man of s1xfy fhousand, fhaf l shou1d spend my 11fe
Page 75
p1anf1ng cabbages on a hunded fancs a monfh! Oh, my youfh, my hopes,
my comades! 8uf fhe Whee1 funs and neve sfops. Iog1ve me, my
f1ends, fo an o1d man has h1s Weakness.
My oufe, fhen, 1ay acoss fhe face of fhe h1gh gound of 1oes vedas,
fhen ove a sfeam1ef, pasf a famhouse Wh1ch had been buned doWn and
Was noW on1y a 1andmak, fhen fhough a foesf of young cok oaks, and
so fo fhe monasfey of 5an Anfon1o, Wh1ch maked fhe 1eff of fhe Lng11sh
pos1f1on. hee l funed soufh and ode qu1ef1y ove fhe doWns, fo 1f
Was af fh1s po1nf fhaf Massena fhoughf fhaf 1f Wou1d be mosf easy fo me
fo f1nd my Way unobseved fhough fhe pos1f1on. l Wenf vey s1oW1y, fo
1f Was so dak fhaf l cou1d nof see my hand 1n fonf of me. ln such
cases l 1eave my b1d1e 1oose and 1ef my hose p1ck 1fs oWn Way.
vo1f1geu Wenf conf1denf1y foWad, and l Was vey confenf fo s1f upon
h1s back and fo pee abouf me, avo1d1ng evey 11ghf. Io fhee hous We
advanced 1n fh1s cauf1ous Way, unf11 1f seemed fo me fhaf l musf have
1eff a11 dange beh1nd me. l fhen pushed on moe b1sk1y, fo l W1shed
fo be 1n fhe ea of fhe Who1e amy by daybeak. 1hee ae many
v1neyads 1n fhese pafs Wh1ch 1n W1nfe become open p1a1ns, and a
hoseman f1nds feW d1ff1cu1f1es 1n h1s Way.
8uf Massena had undeafed fhe cunn1ng of fhese Lng11sh, fo 1f appeas
fhaf fhee Was nof one 11ne of defence, buf fhee, and 1f Was fhe fh1d,
Wh1ch Was fhe mosf fom1dab1e, fhough Wh1ch l Was af fhaf 1nsfanf
pass1ng. As l ode, e1afed af my oWn success, a 1anfen f1ashed
sudden1y befoe me, and l saW fhe g11nf of po11shed gun-bae1s and fhe
g1eam of a ed coaf.
"Who goes fhee?" c1ed a vo1ce--such a vo1ce! l sWeved fo fhe 1ghf
and ode 11ke a madman, buf a dozen squ1fs of f1e came ouf of fhe
dakness, and fhe bu11efs Wh1zzed a11 ound my eas. 1haf Was no neW
sound fo me, my f1ends, fhough l W111 nof fa1k 11ke a foo11sh consc1pf
and say fhaf l have eve 11ked 1f. 8uf af 1easf 1f had neve kepf me
fom fh1nk1ng c1ea1y, and so l kneW fhaf fhee Was nofh1ng fo 1f buf
fo ga11op had and fy my 1uck e1seWhee. l ode ound fhe Lng11sh
p1ckef, and fhen, as l head nofh1ng moe of fhem, l conc1uded 1ghf1y
fhaf l had af 1asf come fhough fhe1 defences. Io f1ve m11es l ode
soufh, sf1k1ng a f1nde fom f1me fo f1me fo 1ook af my pockef compass.
And fhen 1n an 1nsfanf--l fee1 fhe pang once moe as my memoy b1ngs
back fhe momenf--my hose, W1fhouf a sob o sfagge, fe11 sfone dead
beneafh me!
l had nof knoWn 1f, buf one of fhe bu11efs fom fhaf 1nfena1 p1ckef had
passed fhough h1s body. 1he ga11anf ceafue had neve W1nced no
Weakened, buf had gone Wh11e 11fe Was 1n h1m. One 1nsfanf l Was secue
on fhe sW1ffesf, mosf gacefu1 hose 1n Massenas amy. 1he nexf he 1ay
upon h1s s1de, Wofh on1y fhe p1ce of h1s h1de, and l sfood fhee fhaf
mosf he1p1ess, mosf unga1n1y of ceafues, a d1smounfed hussa.
Whaf cou1d l do W1fh my boofs, my spus, my fa111ng sabe? l Was fa
1ns1de fhe enemys 11nes. hoW cou1d l hope fo gef back aga1n? l am nof
ashamed fo say fhaf l, Lf1enne Gead, saf upon my dead hose and sank
my face 1n my hands 1n my despa1. A1eady fhe f1sf sfeaks Wee
Wh1fen1ng fhe easf. ln ha1f an hou 1f Wou1d be 11ghf. 1haf l shou1d
have Won my Way pasf evey obsfac1e and fhen af fh1s 1asf 1nsfanf be
1eff af fhe mecy of my enem1es, my m1ss1on u1ned, and myse1f a
p1sone--Was 1f nof enough fo beak a so1d1es heaf?
Page 76
8uf couage, my f1ends! We have fhese momenfs of Weakness, fhe bavesf
of us buf l have a sp11f 11ke a s11p of sfee1, fo fhe moe you bend
1f fhe h1ghe 1f sp1ngs. One spasm of despa1, and fhen a ba1n of 1ce
and a heaf of f1e. A11 Was nof yef 1osf. l Who had come fhough so
many hazads Wou1d come fhough fh1s one a1so. l ose fom my hose and
cons1deed Whaf had besf be done.
And f1sf of a11 1f Was cefa1n fhaf l cou1d nof gef back. Long befoe
l cou1d pass fhe 11nes 1f Wou1d be boad day11ghf. l musf h1de myse1f
fo fhe day, and fhen devofe fhe nexf n1ghf fo my escape. l fook fhe
sadd1e, ho1sfes, and b1d1e fom poo vo1f1geu, and l concea1ed fhem
among some bushes, so fhaf no one f1nd1ng h1m cou1d knoW fhaf he Was a
Iench hose. 1hen, 1eav1ng h1m 1y1ng fhee, l Wandeed on 1n seach of
some p1ace Whee l m1ghf be safe fo fhe day. ln evey d1ecf1on l
cou1d see camp f1es upon fhe s1des of fhe h111s, and a1eady f1gues
had begun fo move aound fhem. l musf h1de qu1ck1y, o l Was 1osf.
8uf Whee Was l fo h1de? lf Was a v1neyad 1n Wh1ch l found myse1f, fhe
po1es of fhe v1nes sf111 sfand1ng, buf fhe p1anfs gone. 1hee Was no
cove fhee. 8es1des, l shou1d Wanf some food and Wafe befoe anofhe
n1ghf had come. l hu1ed W11d1y onWads fhough fhe Wan1ng dakness,
fusf1ng fhaf chance Wou1d be my f1end. And l Was nof d1sappo1nfed.
Chance 1s a Woman, my f1ends, and she has he eye a1Ways upon a ga11anf
hussa.
We11, fhen, as l sfumb1ed fhough fhe v1neyad, somefh1ng 1oomed 1n
fonf of me, and l came upon a geaf squae house W1fh anofhe 1ong, 1oW
bu11d1ng upon one s1de of 1f. 1hee oads mef fhee, and 1f Was easy fo
see fhaf fh1s Was fhe posada, o W1ne-shop. 1hee Was no 11ghf 1n fhe
W1ndoWs, and eveyfh1ng Was dak and s11enf, buf, of couse, l kneW fhaf
such comfofab1e quafes Wee cefa1n1y occup1ed, and pobab1y by some
one of 1mpofance. l have 1eaned, hoWeve, fhaf fhe neae fhe dange
may ea11y be fhe safe fhe p1ace, and so l Was by no means 1nc11ned fo
fusf myse1f aWay fom fh1s she1fe. 1he 1oW bu11d1ng Was ev1denf1y fhe
sfab1e, and 1nfo fh1s l cepf, fo fhe doo Was un1afched. 1he p1ace
Was fu11 of bu11ocks and sheep, gafheed fhee, no doubf, fo be ouf of
fhe c1ufches of maaudes. A 1adde 1ed fo a 1off, and up fh1s l
c11mbed, and concea1ed myse1f vey snug1y among some ba1es of hay upon
fhe fop. 1h1s 1off had a sma11 open W1ndoW, and l Was ab1e fo 1ook doWn
upon fhe fonf of fhe 1nn and a1so upon fhe oad. 1hee l couched and
Wa1fed fo see Whaf Wou1d happen.
lf Was soon ev1denf fhaf l had nof been m1sfaken When l had fhoughf fhaf
fh1s m1ghf be fhe quafes of some peson of 1mpofance. 5hof1y affe
daybeak an Lng11sh 11ghf dagoon a1ved W1fh a despafch, and fom fhen
onWads fhe p1ace Was 1n a fumo11, off1ces conf1nua11y 1d1ng up and
aWay. A1Ways fhe same name Was upon fhe1 11ps: "51 5fap1efon--51
5fap1efon." lf Was had fo me fo 11e fhee W1fh a dy mousfache and
Wafch fhe geaf f1agons Wh1ch Wee boughf ouf by fhe 1and1od fo fhese
Lng11sh off1ces. 8uf 1f amused me fo 1ook af fhe1 fesh-co1oued,
c1ean-shaven, cae1ess faces, and fo Wonde Whaf fhey Wou1d fh1nk 1f
fhey kneW fhaf so ce1ebafed a peson Was 1y1ng so nea fo fhem. And
fhen, as l 1ay and Wafched, l saW a s1ghf Wh1ch f111ed me W1fh sup1se.
lf 1s 1nced1b1e fhe 1nso1ence of fhese Lng11sh! Whaf do you suppose
M11od We111ngfon had done When he found fhaf Massena had b1ockaded h1m
and fhaf he cou1d nof move h1s amy? l m1ghf g1ve you many guesses.
Page 77
You m1ghf say fhaf he had aged, fhaf he had despa1ed, fhaf he had
boughf h1s foops fogefhe and spoken fo fhem abouf g1oy and fhe
fafhe1and befoe 1ead1ng fhem fo one 1asf baff1e. No, M11od d1d none
of fhese fh1ngs. 8uf he senf a f1eef sh1p fo Lng1and fo b1ng h1m a
numbe of fox-dogs, and he W1fh h1s off1ces seff1ed h1mse1f doWn fo
chase fhe fox. lf 1s fue Whaf l fe11 you. 8eh1nd fhe 11nes of 1oes
vedas fhese mad Lng11shmen made fhe fox-chase fhee days 1n fhe Week.
We had head of 1f 1n fhe camp, and noW l Was myse1f fo see fhaf 1f Was
fue.
Io, a1ong fhe oad Wh1ch l have desc1bed, fhee came fhese vey dogs,
fh1fy o fofy of fhem, Wh1fe and boWn, each W1fh 1fs fa11 af fhe same
ang1e, 11ke fhe bayonefs of fhe O1d Guad. My fa1fh, buf 1f Was a
peffy s1ghf! And beh1nd and am1dsf fhem fhee ode fhee men W1fh
peaked caps and ed coafs, Whom l undesfood fo be fhe hunfes. Affe
fhem came many hosemen W1fh un1foms of va1ous k1nds, sf1ng1ng a1ong
fhe oads 1n fWos and fhees, fa1k1ng fogefhe and 1augh1ng. 1hey d1d
nof seem fo be go1ng above a fof, and 1f appeaed fo me fhaf 1f musf
1ndeed be a s1oW fox Wh1ch fhey hoped fo cafch. hoWeve, 1f Was fhe1
affa1, nof m1ne, and soon fhey had a11 passed my W1ndoW and Wee ouf of
s1ghf. l Wa1fed and l Wafched, eady fo any chance Wh1ch m1ghf offe.
Pesenf1y an off1ce, 1n a b1ue un1fom nof un11ke fhaf of ou f1y1ng
af111ey, came canfe1ng doWn fhe oad--an e1de1y, sfouf man he Was,
W1fh gey s1de-Wh1skes. he sfopped and began fo fa1k W1fh an ode1y
off1ce of dagoons, Who Wa1fed oufs1de fhe 1nn, and 1f Was fhen fhaf l
1eaned fhe advanfage of fhe Lng11sh Wh1ch had been faughf me. l cou1d
hea and undesfand a11 fhaf Was sa1d.
"Whee 1s fhe meef?" sa1d fhe off1ce, and l fhoughf fhaf he Was
hunge1ng fo h1s b1fsfek. 8uf fhe ofhe ansWeed h1m fhaf 1f Was nea
A1faa, so l saW fhaf 1f Was a p1ace of Wh1ch he spoke.
"You ae 1afe, 51 Geoge," sa1d fhe ode1y.
"Yes, l had a couf-maf1a1. has 51 5fap1efon Coffon gone?"
Af fh1s momenf a W1ndoW opened, and a handsome young man 1n a vey
sp1end1d un1fom 1ooked ouf of 1f.
"ha11oa, Muay!" sa1d he. "1hese cused papes keep me, buf l W111 be
af you hee1s."
"vey good, Coffon. l am 1afe a1eady, so l W111 1de on."
"You m1ghf ode my goom fo b1ng ound my hose," sa1d fhe young
genea1 af fhe W1ndoW fo fhe ode1y be1oW, Wh11e fhe ofhe Wenf on doWn
fhe oad. 1he ode1y ode aWay fo some ouf1y1ng sfab1e, and fhen 1n a
feW m1nufes fhee came a smaf Lng11sh goom W1fh a cockade 1n h1s haf,
1ead1ng by fhe b1d1e a hose--and, oh, my f1ends, you have neve knoWn
fhe pefecf1on fo Wh1ch a hose can affa1n unf11 you have seen a
f1sf-c1ass Lng11sh hunfe. he Was supeb: fa11, boad, sfong, and yef
as gacefu1 and ag11e as a dee. Coa1 b1ack he Was 1n co1ou, and h1s
neck, and h1s shou1de, and h1s quafes, and h1s fef1ocks--hoW can l
desc1be h1m a11 fo you? 1he sun shone upon h1m as on po11shed ebony,
and he a1sed h1s hoofs 1n a 11ff1e, p1ayfu1 dance so 11ghf1y and
peff11y, Wh11e he fossed h1s mane and Wh1nn1ed W1fh 1mpaf1ence. Neve
Page 7
have l seen such a m1xfue of sfengfh and beaufy and gace. l had
offen Wondeed hoW fhe Lng11sh hussas had managed fo 1de ove fhe
Chasseus of fhe Guads 1n fhe affa1 af Asfoga, buf l Wondeed no
1onge When l saW fhe Lng11sh hoses.
1hee Was a 1ng fo fasfen1ng b1d1es af fhe doo of fhe 1nn, and fhe
goom f1ed fhe hose fhee Wh11e he enfeed fhe house. ln an 1nsfanf l
had seen fhe chance Wh1ch Iafe had boughf fo me. Wee l 1n fhaf sadd1e
l shou1d be beffe off fhan When l sfafed. Lven vo1f1geu cou1d nof
compae W1fh fh1s magn1f1cenf ceafue. 1o fh1nk 1s fo acf W1fh me.
ln one 1nsfanf l Was doWn fhe 1adde and af fhe doo of fhe sfab1e.
1he nexf l Was ouf and fhe b1d1e Was 1n my hand. l bounded 1nfo fhe
sadd1e. 5omebody, fhe masfe o fhe man, shoufed W11d1y beh1nd me.
Whaf caed l fo h1s shoufs! l fouched fhe hose W1fh my spus, and he
bounded foWad W1fh such a sp1ng fhaf on1y a 1de 11ke myse1f cou1d
have saf h1m. l gave h1m h1s head and 1ef h1m go--1f d1d nof maffe fo
me Whee, so 1ong as We 1eff fh1s 1nn fa beh1nd us. he fhundeed aWay
acoss fhe v1neyads, and 1n a vey feW m1nufes l had p1aced m11es
befWeen myse1f and my pusues. 1hey cou1d no 1onge fe11, 1n fhaf W11d
counfy, 1n Wh1ch d1ecf1on l had gone. l kneW fhaf l Was safe, and so,
1d1ng fo fhe fop of a sma11 h111, l deW my penc11 and nofe-book fom
my pockef and poceeded fo make p1ans of fhose camps Wh1ch l cou1d see,
and fo daW fhe ouf11ne of fhe counfy.
he Was a dea ceafue upon Whom l saf, buf 1f Was nof easy fo daW upon
h1s back, fo evey noW and fhen h1s fWo eas Wou1d cock, and he Wou1d
sfaf and qu1ve W1fh 1mpaf1ence. Af f1sf l cou1d nof undesfand fh1s
f1ck of h1s, buf soon l obseved fhaf he on1y d1d 1f When a pecu11a
no1se--"yoy, yoy, yoy"--came fom someWhee among fhe oak Woods beneafh
us. And fhen sudden1y fh1s sfange cy changed 1nfo a mosf fe1b1e
sceam1ng, W1fh fhe fanf1c b1oW1ng of a hon. lnsfanf1y he Wenf mad--
fh1s hose. h1s eyes b1azed. h1s mane b1sf1ed. he bounded fom fhe
eafh and bounded aga1n, fW1sf1ng and fun1ng 1n a fenzy. My penc11
f1eW one Way and my nofebook anofhe. And fhen, as l 1ooked doWn 1nfo
fhe va11ey, an exfaod1nay s1ghf mef my eyes. 1he hunf Was sfeam1ng
doWn 1f. 1he fox l cou1d nof see, buf fhe dogs Wee 1n fu11 cy, fhe1
noses doWn, fhe1 fa11s up, so c1ose fogefhe fhaf fhey m1ghf have been
one geaf ye11oW and Wh1fe mov1ng capef. And beh1nd fhem ode fhe
hosemen--my fa1fh, Whaf a s1ghf! Cons1de evey fype Wh1ch a geaf amy
cou1d shoW: some 1n hunf1ng dess, buf fhe mosf 1n un1foms b1ue
dagoons, ed dagoons, ed-fouseed hussas, geen 1f1emen,
af111eymen, go1d-s1ashed 1ances, and mosf of a11 ed, ed, ed, fo
fhe 1nfanfy off1ces 1de as had as fhe cava1y. 5uch a coWd, some
We11 mounfed, some 111, buf a11 f1y1ng a1ong as besf fhey m1ghf, fhe
suba1fen as good as fhe genea1, osf11ng and push1ng, spu1ng and
d1v1ng, W1fh evey fhoughf fhoWn fo fhe W1nds save fhaf fhey shou1d
have fhe b1ood of fh1s absud fox! 1u1y, fhey ae an exfaod1nay
peop1e, fhe Lng11sh!
8uf l had 11ff1e f1me fo Wafch fhe hunf o fo mave1 af fhese 1s1andes,
fo of a11 fhese mad ceafues fhe vey hose upon Wh1ch l saf Was fhe
maddesf. You undesfand fhaf he Was h1mse1f a hunfe, and fhaf fhe
cy1ng of fhese dogs Was fo h1m Whaf fhe ca11 of a cava1y fumpef 1n
fhe sfeef yonde Wou1d be fo me. lf fh111ed h1m. lf dove h1m W11d.
Aga1n and aga1n he bounded 1nfo fhe a1, and fhen, se1z1ng fhe b1f
befWeen h1s feefh, he p1unged doWn fhe s1ope and ga11oped affe fhe
dogs. l sWoe, and fugged, and pu11ed, buf l Was poWe1ess.
Page 79
1h1s Lng11sh Genea1 ode h1s hose W1fh a snaff1e on1y, and fhe beasf
had a moufh of 1on. lf Was use1ess fo pu11 h1m back. One m1ghf as
We11 fy fo keep a Genad1e fom a W1ne boff1e. l gave 1f up 1n
despa1, and, seff11ng doWn 1n fhe sadd1e, l pepaed fo fhe Wosf
Wh1ch cou1d befa11.
Whaf a ceafue he Was! Neve have l fe1f such a hose befWeen my
knees. h1s geaf haunches gafheed unde h1m W1fh evey sf1de, and he
shof foWad eve fasfe and fasfe, sfefched 11ke a geyhound, Wh11e
fhe W1nd beaf 1n my face and Wh1sf1ed pasf my eas. l Was Wea1ng ou
undess ackef, a un1fom s1mp1e and dak 1n 1fse1f--fhough some f1gues
g1ve d1sf1ncf1on fo any un1fom--and l had faken fhe pecauf1on fo
emove fhe 1ong panache fom my busby. 1he esu1f Was fhaf, am1dsf fhe
m1xfue of cosfumes 1n fhe hunf, fhee Was no eason Why m1ne shou1d
affacf affenf1on, o Why fhese men, Whose fhoughfs Wee a11 W1fh fhe
chase, shou1d g1ve any heed fo me. 1he 1dea fhaf a Iench off1ce m1ghf
be 1d1ng W1fh fhem Was foo absud fo enfe fhe1 m1nds. l 1aughed as l
ode, fo, 1ndeed, am1d a11 fhe dange, fhee Was somefh1ng of com1c 1n
fhe s1fuaf1on.
l have sa1d fhaf fhe hunfes Wee vey unequa11y mounfed, and so, af fhe
end of a feW m11es, 1nsfead of be1ng one body of men, 11ke a chag1ng
eg1menf, fhey Wee scaffeed ove a cons1deab1e space, fhe beffe
1des We11 up fo fhe dogs and fhe ofhes fa111ng aWay beh1nd. NoW, l
Was as good a 1de as any, and my hose Was fhe besf of fhem a11, and
so you can 1mag1ne fhaf 1f Was nof 1ong befoe he ca1ed me fo fhe
fonf. And When l saW fhe dogs sfeam1ng ove fhe open, and fhe
ed-coafed hunfsman beh1nd fhem, and on1y seven o e1ghf hosemen
befWeen us, fhen 1f Was fhaf fhe sfangesf fh1ng of a11 happened, fo l,
foo, Wenf mad--l, Lf1enne Gead! ln a momenf 1f came upon me, fh1s
sp11f of spof, fh1s des1e fo exce1, fh1s hafed of fhe fox.
Accused an1ma1, shou1d he fhen defy us? v11e obbe, h1s hou Was
come! Ah, 1f 1s a geaf fee11ng, fh1s fee11ng of spof, my f1ends,
fh1s des1e fo famp1e fhe fox unde fhe hoofs of you hose. l have
made fhe fox-chase W1fh fhe Lng11sh. l have a1so, as l may fe11 you
some day, foughf fhe box-f1ghf W1fh fhe 8usf1e, of 81sfo1. And l say
fo you fhaf fh1s spof 1s a Wondefu1 fh1ng--fu11 of 1nfeesf as We11 as
madness.
1he fafhe We Wenf fhe fasfe ga11oped my hose, and soon fhee Wee
buf fhee men as nea fhe dogs as l Was. A11 fhoughf of fea of
d1scovey had van1shed. My ba1n fhobbed, my b1ood an hof--on1y one
fh1ng upon eafh seemed Wofh 11v1ng fo, and fhaf Was fo ovefake fh1s
1nfena1 fox. l passed one of fhe hosemen--a hussa 11ke myse1f.
1hee Wee on1y fWo 1n fonf of me noW: fhe one 1n a b1ack coaf, fhe
ofhe fhe b1ue af111eyman Whom l had seen af fhe 1nn. h1s gey
Wh1skes sfeamed 1n fhe W1nd, buf he ode magn1f1cenf1y. Io a m11e o
moe We kepf 1n fh1s ode, and fhen, as We ga11oped up a sfeep s1ope,
my 11ghfe We1ghf boughf me fo fhe fonf. l passed fhem bofh, and When
l eached fhe coWn l Was 1d1ng 1eve1 W1fh fhe 11ff1e, had-faced
Lng11sh hunfsman. ln fonf of us Wee fhe dogs, and fhen, a hunded
paces beyond fhem, Was a boWn W1sp of a fh1ng, fhe fox 1fse1f,
sfefched fo fhe uffemosf. 1he s1ghf of h1m f1ed my b1ood. "Aha, We
have you fhen, assass1n!" l c1ed, and shoufed my encouagemenf fo fhe
hunfsman. l Waved my hand fo shoW h1m fhaf fhee Was one upon Whom he
cou1d e1y.
Page 0
And noW fhee Wee on1y fhe dogs befWeen me and my pey. 1hese dogs,
Whose dufy 1f 1s fo po1nf ouf fhe game, Wee noW afhe a h1ndance fhan
a he1p fo us, fo 1f Was had fo knoW hoW fo pass fhem. 1he hunfsman
fe1f fhe d1ff1cu1fy as much as l, fo he ode beh1nd fhem, and cou1d
make no pogess foWads fhe fox. he Was a sW1ff 1de, buf Wanf1ng 1n
enfep1se. Io my paf, l fe1f fhaf 1f Wou1d be unWofhy of fhe
hussas of Conf1ans 1f l cou1d nof ovecome such a d1ff1cu1fy as fh1s.
Was Lf1enne Gead fo be sfopped by a hed of fox-dogs? lf Was absud.
l gave a shouf and spued my hose.
"ho1d had, s1! ho1d had!" c1ed fhe hunfsman.
he Was uneasy fo me, fh1s good o1d man, buf l eassued h1m by a Wave
and a sm11e. 1he dogs opened 1n fonf of me. One o fWo may have been
huf, buf Whaf Wou1d you have? 1he egg musf be boken fo fhe ome1effe.
l cou1d hea fhe hunfsman shouf1ng h1s congafu1af1ons beh1nd me.
One moe effof, and fhe dogs Wee a11 beh1nd me. On1y fhe fox Was 1n
fonf.
Ah, fhe oy and p1de of fhaf momenf! 1o knoW fhaf l had beafen fhe
Lng11sh af fhe1 oWn spof. hee Wee fhee hunded a11 fh1sf1ng fo
fhe 11fe of fh1s an1ma1, and yef 1f Was l Who Was abouf fo fake 1f.
l fhoughf of my comades of fhe 11ghf cava1y b1gade, of my mofhe, of
fhe Lmpeo, of Iance. l had boughf honou fo each and a11.
Lvey 1nsfanf boughf me neae fo fhe fox. 1he momenf fo acf1on had
a1ved, so l unsheafhed my sabe. l Waved 1f 1n fhe a1, and fhe bave
Lng11sh a11 shoufed beh1nd me.
On1y fhen d1d l undesfand hoW d1ff1cu1f 1s fh1s fox-chase, fo one may
cuf aga1n and aga1n af fhe ceafue and neve sf1ke h1m once. he 1s
sma11, and funs qu1ck1y fom a b1oW. Af evey cuf l head fhose shoufs
of encouagemenf fom beh1nd me, and fhey spued me fo yef anofhe
effof. And fhen, af 1asf, fhe supeme momenf of my f1umph a1ved.
ln fhe vey acf of fun1ng l caughf h1m fa1 W1fh such anofhe
back-handed cuf as fhaf W1fh Wh1ch l k111ed fhe a1de-de-camp of fhe
Lmpeo of kuss1a. he f1eW 1nfo fWo p1eces, h1s head one Way and h1s
fa11 anofhe. l 1ooked back and Waved fhe b1ood-sfa1ned sabe 1n fhe
a1. Io fhe momenf l Was exa1fed--supeb.
Ah! hoW l shou1d have 1oved fo have Wa1fed fo have ece1ved fhe
congafu1af1ons of fhese geneous enem1es. 1hee Wee f1ffy of fhem 1n
s1ghf, and nof one Who Was nof Wav1ng h1s hand and shouf1ng. 1hey ae
nof ea11y such a ph1egmaf1c ace, fhe Lng11sh. A ga11anf deed 1n Wa
o 1n spof W111 a1Ways Wam fhe1 heafs. As fo fhe o1d hunfsman, he
Was fhe neaesf fo me, and l cou1d see W1fh my oWn eyes hoW ovecome he
Was by Whaf he had seen. he Was 11ke a man paa1yzed--h1s moufh open,
h1s hand, W1fh oufspead f1nges, a1sed 1n fhe a1. Io a momenf my
1nc11naf1on Was fo efun and fo embace h1m. 8uf a1eady fhe ca11 of
dufy Was sound1ng 1n my eas, and fhese Lng11sh, 1n sp1fe of a11 fhe
fafen1fy Wh1ch ex1sfs among spofsmen, Wou1d cefa1n1y have made me
p1sone. 1hee Was no hope fo my m1ss1on noW, and l had done a11 fhaf
l cou1d do. l cou1d see fhe 11nes of Massenas camp no vey geaf
d1sfance off, fo, by a 1ucky chance, fhe chase had faken us 1n fhaf
d1ecf1on. l funed fom fhe dead fox, sa1ufed W1fh my sabe, and
ga11oped aWay.
8uf fhey Wou1d nof 1eave me so eas11y, fhese ga11anf hunfsmen. l Was
Page 1
fhe fox noW, and fhe chase sWepf bave1y ove fhe p1a1n. lf Was on1y af
fhe momenf When l sfafed fo fhe camp fhaf fhey cou1d have knoWn fhaf l
Was a Ienchman, and noW fhe Who1e sWam of fhem Wee af my hee1s.
We Wee W1fh1n gunshof of ou p1ckefs befoe fhey Wou1d ha1f, and fhen
fhey sfood 1n knofs and Wou1d nof go aWay, buf shoufed and Waved fhe1
hands af me. No, l W111 nof fh1nk fhaf 1f Was 1n enm1fy. kafhe Wou1d
l fancy fhaf a g1oW of adm1af1on f111ed fhe1 beasfs, and fhaf fhe1
one des1e Was fo embace fhe sfange Who had ca1ed h1mse1f so
ga11anf1y and We11.
1hL "5LAPPlNG 5AL."
lf Was 1n fhe days When Iances poWe Was a1eady boken upon fhe seas,
and When moe of he fhee-deckes 1ay off1ng 1n fhe MedWay fhan Wee
fo be found 1n 8esf habou. 8uf he f1gafes and coveffes sf111
scoued fhe ocean, c1ose1y fo11oWed eve by fhose of he 1va1. Af fhe
uffemosf ends of fhe eafh fhese da1nfy vesse1s, W1fh sWeef names of
g11s o of f1oWes, mang1ed and shaffeed each ofhe fo fhe honou of
fhe fou yads of bunf1ng Wh1ch f1apped fom fhe end of fhe1 gaffs.
lf had b1oWn had 1n fhe n1ghf, buf fhe W1nd had dopped W1fh fhe
daWn1ng, and noW fhe 1s1ng sun f1nfed fhe f1nge of fhe sfom-Wack as
1f dW1nd1ed 1nfo fhe Wesf and g11nfed on fhe end1ess cesfs of fhe 1ong,
geen Waves. 1o nofh and soufh and Wesf 1ay a sky11ne Wh1ch Was
unboken save by fhe spouf of foam When fWo of fhe geaf Af1anf1c seas
dashed each ofhe 1nfo spay. 1o fhe easf Was a ocky 1s1and, uff1ng
ouf 1nfo caggy po1nfs, W1fh a feW scaffeed c1umps of pa1m fees and a
pennanf of m1sf sfeam1ng ouf fom fhe bae, con1ca1 h111 Wh1ch capped
1f. A heavy suf beaf upon fhe shoe, and, af a safe d1sfance fom 1f,
fhe 81f1sh 32-gun f1gafe Leda, Capfa1n A. P. Johnson, a1sed he
b1ack, g11sfen1ng s1de upon fhe cesf of a Wave, o sWooped doWn 1nfo an
emea1d va11ey, d1pp1ng aWay fo fhe noad unde easy sa11. On he
snoW-Wh1fe quafe-deck sfood a sf1ff 11ff1e boWn-faced man, Who sWepf
fhe ho1zon W1fh h1s g1ass.
"M. Whafon!" he c1ed, W1fh a vo1ce 11ke a usfy h1nge.
A fh1n, knock-kneed off1ce shamb1ed acoss fhe poop fo h1m.
"Yes, s1."
"lve opened fhe sea1ed odes, M. Whafon."
A g11mme of cu1os1fy shone upon fhe meage feafues of fhe f1sf
11eufenanf. 1he Leda had sa11ed W1fh he consof, fhe D1do, fom
Anf1gua fhe Week befoe, and fhe adm1a1s odes had been confa1ned 1n
a sea1ed enve1ope.
"We Wee fo open fhem on each1ng fhe desefed 1s1and of 5omb1eo,
1y1ng 1n nofh 1af1fude e1ghfeen, fh1fy-s1x, Wesf 1ong1fude
s1xfy-fhee, fWenfy-e1ghf. 5omb1eo boe fou m11es fo fhe nofh-easf
fom ou pof-boW When fhe ga1e c1eaed, M. Whafon."
1he 11eufenanf boWed sf1ff1y. he and fhe capfa1n had been bosom f1ends
fom ch11dhood. 1hey had gone fo schoo1 fogefhe, o1ned fhe navy
Page 2
fogefhe, foughf aga1n and aga1n fogefhe, and ma1ed 1nfo each ofhes
fam111es, buf so 1ong as fhe1 feef Wee on fhe poop fhe 1on d1sc1p11ne
of fhe sev1ce sfuck a11 fhaf Was human ouf of fhem and 1eff on1y fhe
supe1o and fhe subod1nafe. Capfa1n Johnson fook fom h1s pockef a
b1ue pape, Wh1ch cack1ed as he unfo1ded 1f.
"1he 32-gun f1gafes Leda and D1do {Capfa1ns A. P. Johnson
and James Muno} ae fo cu1se fom fhe po1nf af Wh1ch fhese
1nsfucf1ons ae ead fo fhe moufh of fhe Ca1bbean 5ea, 1n
fhe hope of encounfe1ng fhe Iench f1gafe La G1o1e {4},
Wh1ch has ecenf1y haassed ou mechanf sh1ps 1n fhaf quafe.
h.M. f1gafes ae a1so d1ecfed fo hunf doWn fhe p1af1ca1 caff
knoWn somef1mes as fhe 51app1ng 5a1 and somef1mes as fhe ha1y
hudson, Wh1ch has p1undeed fhe 81f1sh sh1ps as pe mag1n,
1nf11cf1ng baba1f1es upon fhe1 ceWs. 5he 1s a sma11 b1g,
cay1ng fen 11ghf guns, W1fh one fWenfy-fou pound caonade
foWad. 5he Was 1asf seen upon fhe 23d u1f. fo fhe nofh-easf
of fhe 1s1and of 5omb1eo."
"{51gned} JAML5 MON1GOMLkY,"
"{kea-Adm1a1}.
h.M.5. Co1ossus, Anf1gua."
"We appea fo have 1osf ou consof," sa1d Capfa1n Johnson, fo1d1ng up
h1s 1nsfucf1ons and aga1n sWeep1ng fhe ho1zon W1fh h1s g1ass.
"5he deW aWay affe We eefed doWn. lf Wou1d be a p1fy 1f We mef fh1s
heavy Ienchman W1fhouf fhe D1do, M. Whafon. Lh?"
1he 11eufenanf fW1nk1ed and sm11ed.
"5he has e1ghfeen-poundes on fhe ma1n and fWe1ves on fhe poop, s1,"
sa1d fhe capfa1n. "5he ca1es fou hunded fo ou fWo hunded and
fh1fy-one. Capfa1n de M11on 1s fhe smafesf man 1n fhe Iench sev1ce.
Oh, 8obby boy, ld g1ve my hopes of my f1ag fo ub my s1de up aga1nsf
he!" he funed on h1s hee1, ashamed of h1s momenfay 1apse.
"M. Whafon," sa1d he, 1ook1ng back sfen1y ove h1s shou1de, "gef
fhose squae sa11s shaken ouf and bea aWay a po1nf moe fo fhe Wesf."
"A b1g on fhe pof-boW," came a vo1ce fom fhe foecasf1e.
"A b1g on fhe pof-boW," sa1d fhe 11eufenanf.
1he capfa1n spang upon fhe bu1Waks and he1d on by fhe m1zzen-shouds,
a sfange 11ff1e f1gue W1fh f1y1ng sk1fs and puckeed eyes. 1he 1ean
11eufenanf caned h1s neck and Wh1speed fo 5meafon, fhe second, Wh11e
off1ces and men came popp1ng up fom be1oW and c1usfeed a1ong fhe
Weafhe-a11, shad1ng fhe1 eyes W1fh fhe1 hands--fo fhe fop1ca1 sun
Was a1eady c1ea of fhe pa1m fees. 1he sfange b1g 1ay af ancho 1n
fhe fhoaf of a cuv1ng esfuay, and 1f Was a1eady obv1ous fhaf she
cou1d nof gef ouf W1fhouf pass1ng unde fhe guns of fhe f1gafe.
A 1ong, ocky po1nf fo fhe nofh of he he1d he 1n.
"keep he as she goes, M. Whafon," sa1d fhe capfa1n. "had1y Wofh
Wh11e ou c1ea1ng fo acf1on, M. 5meafon, buf fhe men can sfand by fhe
guns 1n case she f1es fo pass us. Casf 1oose fhe boW-chases and send
fhe sma11-am men fo fhe foecasf1e."
Page 3
A 81f1sh ceW Wenf fo 1fs quafes 1n fhose days W1fh fhe qu1ef
seen1fy of men on fhe1 da11y ouf1ne. ln a feW m1nufes, W1fhouf fuss
o sound, fhe sa11os Wee knoffed ound fhe1 guns, fhe ma1nes Wee
daWn up and 1ean1ng on fhe1 muskefs, and fhe f1gafes boWsp1f
po1nfed sfa1ghf fo he 11ff1e v1cf1m.
"ls 1f fhe 51app1ng 5a1, s1?"
"l have no doubf of 1f, M. Whafon."
"1hey donf seem fo 11ke fhe 1ook of us, s1. 1heyve cuf fhe1 cab1e
and ae c1app1ng on sa11."
lf Was ev1denf fhaf fhe b1g meanf sfugg11ng fo he feedom.
One 11ff1e pafch of canvas f1uffeed ouf above anofhe, and he peop1e
cou1d be seen Wok1ng 11ke madmen 1n fhe 1gg1ng. 5he made no affempf
fo pass he anfagon1sf, buf headed up fhe esfuay. 1he capfa1n ubbed
h1s hands.
"5hes mak1ng fo shoa1 Wafe, M. Whafon, and We sha11 have fo cuf he
ouf, s1. 5hes a foofy 11ff1e b1g, buf l shou1d have fhoughf a
foe-and-affe Wou1d have been moe handy."
"lf Was a muf1ny, s1."
"Ah, 1ndeed!"
"Yes, s1, l head of 1f af Man111a: a bad bus1ness, s1. Capfa1n and
fWo mafes mudeed. 1h1s hudson, o ha1y hudson as fhey ca11 h1m, 1ed
fhe muf1ny. hes a Londone, s1, and a cue1 v111a1n as eve Wa1ked."
"h1s nexf Wa1k W111 be fo Lxecuf1on Dock, M. Whafon. 5he seems
heav11y manned. l W1sh l cou1d fake fWenfy fopmen ouf of he, buf fhey
Wou1d be enough fo coupf fhe ceW of fhe ak, M. Whafon."
8ofh off1ces Wee 1ook1ng fhough fhe1 g1asses af fhe b1g. 5udden1y
fhe 11eufenanf shoWed h1s feefh 1n a g1n, Wh11e fhe capfa1n f1ushed a
deepe ed.
"1hafs ha1y hudson on fhe affe-a11, s1."
"1he 1oW, 1mpef1nenf b1ackguad! he11 p1ay some ofhe anf1cs befoe
We ae done W1fh h1m. Cou1d you each h1m W1fh fhe 1ong e1ghfeen, M.
5meafon?"
"Anofhe cab1e 1engfh W111 do 1f, s1."
1he b1g yaWed as fhey spoke, and as she came ound a spuf of smoke
Wh1ffed ouf fom he quafe. lf Was a pue p1ece of bavado, fo fhe
gun cou1d scace cay ha1fWay. 1hen W1fh a aunfy sW1ng fhe 11ff1e
sh1p came 1nfo fhe W1nd aga1n, and shof ound a fesh cuve 1n fhe
W1nd1ng channe1.
"1he Wafes shoa11ng ap1d1y, s1," epeafed fhe second 11eufenanf.
"1hees s1x fafhoms by fhe chaf."
Page 4
"Iou by fhe 1ead, s1."
"When We c1ea fh1s po1nf We sha11 see hoW We 11e. ha! l fhoughf as
much! Lay he fo, M. Whafon. NoW We have gof he af ou mecy!"
1he f1gafe Was qu1fe ouf of s1ghf of fhe sea noW af fhe head of fh1s
1ve-11ke esfuay. As she came ound fhe cuve fhe fWo shoes Wee
seen fo convege af a po1nf abouf a m11e d1sfanf. ln fhe ang1e, as nea
shoe as she cou1d gef, fhe b1g Was 1y1ng W1fh he boads1de foWads
he pusue and a W1sp of b1ack c1ofh sfeam1ng fom he m1zzen.
1he 1ean 11eufenanf, Who had eappeaed upon deck W1fh a cuf1ass
sfapped fo h1s s1de and fWo p1sfo1s ammed 1nfo h1s be1f, peeed
cu1ous1y af fhe ens1gn.
"ls 1f fhe Jo11y kodge, s1?" he asked.
8uf fhe capfa1n Was fu1ous.
"he may hang Whee h1s beeches ae hang1ng befoe l have done W1fh
h1m!" sa1d he. "Whaf boafs W111 you Wanf, M. Whafon?"
"We shou1d do 1f W1fh fhe 1aunch and fhe o11y-boaf."
"1ake fou and make a c1ean ob of 1f. P1pe aWay fhe ceWs af once, and
l11 Wok he 1n and he1p you W1fh fhe 1ong e1ghfeens."
W1fh a aff1e of opes and a ceak1ng of b1ocks fhe fou boafs sp1ashed
1nfo fhe Wafe. 1he1 ceWs c1usfeed fh1ck1y 1nfo fhem: bae-foofed
sa11os, sfo11d ma1nes, 1augh1ng m1dd1es, and 1n fhe sheefs of each fhe
sen1o off1ces W1fh fhe1 sfen schoo1masfe faces. 1he capfa1n, h1s
e1boWs on fhe b1nnac1e, sf111 Wafched fhe d1sfanf b1g. he ceW Wee
f1c1ng up fhe boad1ng-neff1ng, dagg1ng ound fhe sfaboad guns,
knock1ng neW pofho1es fo fhem, and mak1ng evey pepaaf1on fo a
despeafe es1sfance. ln fhe fh1ck of 1f a11 a huge man, beaded fo fhe
eyes, W1fh a ed n1ghfcap upon h1s head, Was sfa1n1ng and sfoop1ng and
hau11ng. 1he capfa1n Wafched h1m W1fh a sou sm11e, and fhen snapp1ng
up h1s g1ass he funed upon h1s hee1. Io an 1nsfanf he sfood sfa1ng.
"Ca11 back fhe boafs!" he c1ed 1n h1s fh1n, ceak1ng vo1ce.
"C1ea aWay fo acf1on fhee! Casf 1oose fhose ma1n-deck guns.
8ace back fhe yads, M. 5meafon, and sfand by fo go abouf When she has
We1gh enough."
kound fhe cuve of fhe esfuay Was com1ng a huge vesse1. he geaf
ye11oW boWsp1f and Wh1fe-W1nged f1gue-head Wee uff1ng ouf fom fhe
c1usfe of pa1m fees, Wh11e h1gh above fhem foWeed fhee 1mmense masfs
W1fh fhe f1co1ou f1ag f1oaf1ng supeb1y fom fhe m1zzen. kound she
came, fhe deep-b1ue Wafe ceam1ng unde he foe foof, unf11 he 1ong,
cuv1ng, b1ack s1de, he 11ne of sh1n1ng coppe beneafh and of
snoW-Wh1fe hammocks above, and fhe fh1ck c1usfes of men Who peeed ove
he bu1Waks Wee a11 1n fu11 v1eW. he 1oWe yads Wee s1ung, he
pofs f1ced up, and he guns un ouf a11 eady fo acf1on.
Ly1ng beh1nd one of fhe pomonfo1es of fhe 1s1and, fhe 1ookouf men of
fhe G1o1e upon fhe shoe had seen fhe cu1 de sac 1nfo Wh1ch fhe
81f1sh f1gafe Was headed, so fhaf Capfa1n de M11on had seved fhe
Leda as Capfa1n Johnson had fhe 51app1ng 5a1.
Page 5
8uf fhe sp1end1d d1sc1p11ne of fhe 81f1sh sev1ce Was af 1fs besf 1n
such a c1s1s. 1he boafs f1eW back fhe1 ceWs c1usfeed aboad fhey
Wee sWung up af fhe dav1fs and fhe fa11-opes made fasf. hammocks Wee
boughf up and sfoWed, bu1kheads senf doWn, pofs and magaz1nes opened,
fhe f1es puf ouf 1n fhe ga11ey, and fhe dums beaf fo quafes.
5Wams of men sef fhe head-sa11s and boughf fhe f1gafe ound, Wh11e
fhe gun-ceWs fheW off fhe1 ackefs and sh1fs, f1ghfened fhe1 be1fs,
and an ouf fhe1 e1ghfeen-poundes, pee1ng fhough fhe open pofho1es
af fhe sfafe1y Iench man. 1he W1nd Was vey 11ghf. had1y a 1pp1e
shoWed 1fse1f upon fhe c1ea b1ue Wafe, buf fhe sa11s b1eW genf1y ouf
as fhe beeze came ove fhe Wooded banks. 1he Ienchman had gone abouf
a1so, and bofh sh1ps Wee noW head1ng s1oW1y fo fhe sea unde
foe-and-aff canvas, fhe G1o1e a hunded yads 1n advance.
5he 1uffed up fo coss fhe Ledas boWs, buf fhe 81f1sh sh1p came
ound a1so, and fhe fWo 1pp1ed s1oW1y on 1n such a s11ence fhaf fhe
1ng1ng of fhe amods as fhe Iench ma1nes dove home fhe1 chages
c1anged qu1fe 1oud1y upon fhe ea.
"Nof much sea-oom, M. Whafon," emaked fhe capfa1n.
"l have foughf acf1ons 1n 1ess, s1."
"We musf keep ou d1sfance and fusf fo ou gunney. 5he 1s vey
heav11y manned, and 1f she gof a1ongs1de We m1ghf f1nd ouse1ves 1n
foub1e."
"l see fhe shakoes of so1d1es aboad ofhe."
"1Wo compan1es of 11ghf 1nfanfy fom Maf1n1que. NoW We have he!
had-a-pof, and 1ef he have 1f as We coss he sfen!"
1he keen eye of fhe 11ff1e commande had seen fhe suface 1pp1e, Wh1ch
fo1d of a pass1ng beeze. he had used 1f fo daf acoss fhe b1g
Ienchman and fo ake he W1fh evey gun as he passed. 8uf, once pasf
he, fhe Leda had fo come back 1nfo fhe W1nd fo keep ouf of shoa1
Wafe. 1he manoeuve boughf he on fo fhe sfaboad s1de of fhe
Ienchman, and fhe f1m 11ff1e f1gafe seemed fo hee1 1ghf ove unde
fhe cash1ng boads1de Wh1ch busf fom fhe gap1ng pofs. A momenf
1afe he fopmen Wee sWam1ng a1off fo sef he fop-sa11s and oya1s,
and she sfove fo coss fhe G1o1es boWs and ake he aga1n. 1he
Iench capfa1n, hoWeve, boughf h1s f1gafes head ound, and fhe fWo
ode s1de by s1de W1fh1n easy p1sfo1-shof, pou1ng boads1des 1nfo each
ofhe 1n one of fhose mudeous due1s Wh1ch, cou1d fhey a11 be ecoded,
Wou1d moff1e ou chafs W1fh b1ood.
ln fhaf heavy fop1ca1 a1, W1fh so fa1nf a beeze, fhe smoke fomed a
fh1ck bank ound fhe fWo vesse1s, fom Wh1ch fhe fopmasfs on1y
pofuded. Ne1fhe cou1d see anyfh1ng of 1fs enemy save fhe fhobs of
f1e 1n fhe dakness, and fhe guns Wee sponged and fa1ned and f1ed
1nfo a dense Wa11 of vapou. On fhe poop and fhe foecasf1e fhe
ma1nes, 1n fWo 11ff1e ed 11nes, Wee pou1ng 1n fhe1 vo11eys, buf
ne1fhe fhey no fhe seamen-gunnes cou1d see Whaf effecf fhe1 f1e Was
hav1ng. No, 1ndeed, cou1d fhey fe11 hoW fa fhey Wee suffe1ng
fhemse1ves, fo, sfand1ng af a gun, one cou1d buf haz11y see fhaf upon
fhe 1ghf and fhe 1eff. 8uf above fhe oa of fhe cannon came fhe
shape sound of fhe p1p1ng shof, fhe cash1ng of 1ven p1anks, and fhe
Page 6
occas1ona1 heavy fhud as spa o b1ock came huf11ng on fo fhe deck.
1he 11eufenanfs paced up and doWn fhe 11ne of guns, Wh11e Capfa1n
Johnson fanned fhe smoke aWay W1fh h1s cocked-haf and peeed eage1y
ouf.
"1h1s 1s ae, 8obby!" sa1d he, as fhe 11eufenanf o1ned h1m.
1hen, sudden1y esfa1n1ng h1mse1f, "Whaf have We 1osf, M. Whafon?"
"Ou ma1nfopsa11 yad and ou gaff, s1."
"Whees fhe f1ag?"
"Gone oveboad, s1."
"1hey11 fh1nk Weve sfuck! Lash a boafs ens1gn on fhe sfaboad am
of fhe m1zzen coss-ack-yad."
"Yes, s1."
A ound-shof dashed fhe b1nnac1e fo p1eces befWeen fhem. A second
knocked fWo ma1nes 1nfo a b1oody pa1p1faf1ng mash. Io a momenf fhe
smoke ose, and fhe Lng11sh capfa1n saW fhaf h1s advesays heav1e
mefa1 Was poduc1ng a ho1b1e effecf. 1he Leda Was a shaffeed
Weck. he deck Was sfeWed W1fh copses. 5evea1 of he pofho1es
Wee knocked 1nfo one, and one of he e1ghfeen-pounde guns had been
fhoWn 1ghf back on fo he beech, and po1nfed sfa1ghf up fo fhe sky.
1he fh1n 11ne of ma1nes sf111 1oaded and f1ed, buf ha1f fhe guns Wee
s11enf, and fhe1 ceWs Wee p11ed fh1ck1y ound fhem.
"5fand by fo epe1 boades!" ye11ed fhe capfa1n.
"Cuf1asses, 1ads, cuf1asses!" oaed Whafon.
"ho1d you vo11ey f111 fhey fouch!" c1ed fhe capfa1n of ma1nes.
1he huge 1oom of fhe Ienchman Was seen busf1ng fhough fhe smoke.
1h1ck c1usfes of boades hung upon he s1des and shouds. A f1na1
boad-s1de 1eapf fom he pofs, and fhe ma1n-masf of fhe Leda,
snapp1ng shof off a feW feef above fhe deck, spun 1nfo fhe a1 and
cashed doWn upon fhe pof guns, k1111ng fen men and puff1ng fhe Who1e
baffey ouf of acf1on. An 1nsfanf 1afe fhe fWo sh1ps scaped fogefhe,
and fhe sfaboad boWe ancho of fhe G1o1e caughf fhe m1zzen-cha1ns
of fhe Leda upon fhe pof s1de. W1fh a ye11 fhe b1ack sWam of
boades sfead1ed fhemse1ves fo a sp1ng.
8uf fhe1 feef Wee neve fo each fhaf b1ood-sfa1ned deck. Iom some
Whee fhee came a We11-a1med Wh1ff of gape, and anofhe, and anofhe.
1he Lng11sh ma1nes and seamen, Wa1f1ng W1fh cuf1ass and muskef beh1nd
fhe s11enf guns, saW W1fh amazemenf fhe dak masses fh1nn1ng and
shedd1ng aWay. Af fhe same f1me fhe pof boads1de of fhe Ienchman
busf 1nfo a oa.
"C1ea aWay fhe Weck!" oaed fhe capfa1n. "Whaf fhe dev11 ae fhey
f11ng af?"
"Gef fhe guns c1ea!" panfed fhe 11eufenanf. "We11 do fhem yef, boys!"
Page 7
1he Weckage Was fon and hacked and sp11nfeed unf11 f1sf one gun and
fhen anofhe oaed 1nfo acf1on aga1n. 1he Ienchmans ancho had been
cuf aWay, and fhe Leda had Woked hese1f fee fom fhaf fafa1 hug.
8uf noW, sudden1y, fhee Was a scuy up fhe shouds of fhe G1o1e,
and a hunded Lng11shmen Wee shouf1ng fhemse1ves hoase: "1heye
unn1ng! 1heye unn1ng! 1heye unn1ng!"
And 1f Was fue. 1he Ienchman had ceased fo f1e, and Was 1nfenf on1y
upon c1app1ng on evey sa11 fhaf he cou1d cay. 8uf fhaf shouf1ng
hunded cou1d nof c1a1m 1f a11 as fhe1 oWn. As fhe smoke c1eaed 1f
Was nof d1ff1cu1f fo see fhe eason. 1he sh1ps had ga1ned fhe moufh of
fhe esfuay du1ng fhe f1ghf, and fhee, abouf fou m11es ouf fo sea,
Was fhe Ledas consof bea1ng doWn unde fu11 sa11 fo fhe sound of
fhe guns. Capfa1n de M11on had done h1s paf fo one day, and pesenf1y
fhe G1o1e Was daW1ng off sW1ff1y fo fhe nofh, Wh11e fhe D1do Was
boW11ng a1ong af he sk1fs, aff11ng aWay W1fh he boW-chases, unf11 a
head1and h1d fhem bofh fom v1eW.
8uf fhe Leda 1ay soe1y sf1cken, W1fh he ma1nmasf gone, he bu1Waks
shaffeed, he m1zzen-fopmasf and gaff shof aWay, he sa11s 11ke a
beggas ags, and a hunded of he ceW dead and Wounded. C1ose bes1de
he a mass of Weckage f1oafed upon fhe Waves. lf Was fhe sfen-posf of
a mang1ed vesse1, and acoss 1f, 1n Wh1fe 1effes on a b1ack gound, Was
p1nfed, "1he 51app1ng 5a1."
"8y fhe Lod! 1f Was fhe b1g fhaf saved us!" c1ed M. Whafon.
"hudson boughf he 1nfo acf1on W1fh fhe Ienchman, and Was b1oWn ouf of
fhe Wafe by a boads1de!"
1he 11ff1e capfa1n funed on h1s hee1 and paced up and doWn fhe deck.
A1eady h1s ceW Wee p1ugg1ng fhe shof-ho1es, knoff1ng and sp11c1ng and
mend1ng. When he came back, fhe 11eufenanf saW a soffen1ng of fhe sfen
11nes abouf h1s eyes and moufh.
"Ae fhey a11 gone?"
"Lvey man. 1hey musf have sunk W1fh fhe Weck."
1he fWo off1ces 1ooked doWn af fhe s1n1sfe name, and af fhe sfump of
Weckage Wh1ch f1oafed 1n fhe d1sco1oued Wafe. 5omefh1ng b1ack Washed
fo and fo bes1de a sp11nfeed gaff and a fang1e of ha111ads. lf Was
fhe oufageous ens1gn, and nea 1f a sca1ef cap Was f1oaf1ng.
"he Was a v111a1n, buf he Was a 81fon!" sa1d fhe capfa1n af 1asf.
"he 11ved 11ke a dog, buf, by God, he d1ed 11ke a man!"
1hL LND.
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The Great Shadow and Other Napoleonic Tales

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1hL GkLA1 5hADOW AND O1hLk NAPOLLONlC 1ALL5.

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