RICHARD CARVEL

By Winston Churchill

Volume 3. 

XIII. Mr. Allen shows his HandXIV. The Volte CoupeXV. Of which the Rector has the WorstXVI. In which Some Things are made ClearXVII. South RiverXVIII. The Black MollXIX. A Man of Destiny

CHAPTER XIII

MR. ALLEN SHOWS HIS HAND

So Dorothy's beauty had taken London by storm, even as it had conqueredAnnapolis! However, 'twas small consolation to me to hear his Grace ofChartersea called a pig and a profligate while better men danced herattendance in Mayfair. Nor, in spite of what his Lordship had said, wasI quite easy on the score of the duke. It was in truth no small honourto become a duchess. If Mr. Marmaduke had aught to say, there was an endto hope. She would have her coronet. But in that hour of darkness Icounted upon my lady's spirit. 

Dr. Courtenay came to the assembly very late, with a new fashionof pinchbeck buckles on his pumps and a new manner of taking snuff. (I caught Fotheringay practising this by the stairs shortly after. )Always an important man, the doctor's prominence had been increased thatday by the letter he had received. He was too thorough a courtier toprofess any grief over Miss Manners's match, and went about avowing thathe had always predicted a duke for Miss Dorothy. And he drew a deal ofpleasure from the curiosity of those who begged but one look at theletter. Show it, indeed! For no consideration. A private communicationfrom one gentleman to another must be respected. Will Fotheringay sworethe doctor was a sly dog, and had his own reasons for keeping it tohimself. 

The doctor paid his compliment to the captain of the Thunderer, and tohis Lordship; hoped that he would see them at the meet on the morrow, tho' his gout forbade his riding to hounds. He saluted me in the mostfriendly way, for I played billiards with him at the Coffee House now, and he won my money. He had pronounced my phaeton to be as wellappointed as any equipage in town, and had done me the honour todrive out with me on several occasions. It was Betty that broughthim humiliation that evening. 

"What do you think of the soar our Pandora hath taken, Miss Betty?"says he. "From a Maryland manor to a ducal palace. 'Tis a fable, egad!No less!"

"Indeed, I think it is, " retorted Betty. "Mark me, doctor, Dorothy willnot put up an instant with a roue and a brute. "

"A roue!" cries he, "and a brute! What the plague, Miss Tayloe!I vow I do not understand you. "

"Then ask my Lord Comyn, who knows your Duke of Chartersea, " said Betty. 

Dr. Courtenay's expression was worth a pistole. 

"Comyn know him!" he repeated. 

"That he does, " replied Betty, laughing. "His Lordship says Charterseais a pig and a profligate, and I remember not what else. And that Dollywill not look at him. And so little Mr. Marmaduke may go a-hunting foranother title. "

No wonder I had little desire for dancing that night! I wandered out ofthe assembly-room and through the silent corridors of the Stadt House, turning over and over again what I had heard, and picturing Dorothyreigning over the macaronies of St. James's Street. She had said nothingof this in her letter to Betty, and had asked me to write to her. Butnow, with a duke to refuse or accept, could she care to hear from her oldplaymate? I took no thought of the time, until suddenly my consciencetold me I had neglected Patty. 

As I entered the hall I saw her at the far end of it talking to Mr. Allen. This I thought strange, for I knew she disliked him. Lord Comynand Mr. Carroll, the barrister, and Singleton, were standing by, listening. By the time I was halfway across to them the rector turnedaway. I remember thinking afterwards that he changed colour when hesaid: "Your servant, Mr. Richard. " But I thought nothing of it at thetime, and went on to Patty. 

"I have come for a country dance, before we go, Patty, " I said. 

Then something in her mien struck me. Her eyes expressed a pain I hadremarked in them before only when she spoke to me of Tom, and her lipswere closed tightly. She flushed, and paled, and looked from Singletonto Mr. Carroll. They and his Lordship remained silent. 

"I--I cannot, Richard. I am going home, " she said, in a low voice. 

"I will see if the chariot is here, " I answered, surprised, but thinkingof Tom. 

She stopped me. 

"I am going with Mr. Carroll, " she said. 

I hope a Carvel never has to be rebuffed twice, nor to be humbled bycraving an explanation before a company. I was confounded that Pattyshould treat me thus, when I had done nothing to deserve it. As I madefor the door, burning and indignant, I felt as tho' every eye in the roomwas upon me. ' Young Harvey drove me that night. 

"Marlboro' Street, Mr. Richard?" said he. 

"Coffee House, " replied I, that place coming first into my head. 

Young Harvey seldom took liberties; but he looked down from the box. 

"Better home, sir; your pardon, sir. "

"D--n it!" I cried, "drive where I bid you!"

I pulled down the fore-glass, though the night was cold, and began tocast about for the cause of Patty's action. And then it was the rectorcame to my mind. Yes, he had been with her just before I came up, and Imade sure on the instant that my worthy instructor was responsible forthe trouble. I remembered that I had quarrelled with him the morningbefore I had gone to Bentley Manor, and threatened to confess his villanyand my deceit to Mr. Carvel. He had answered me with a sneer and a dare. I knew than Patty put honour and honesty before all else in the world, and that she would not have suffered my friendship for a day had shebelieved me to lack either. But she, who knew me so well, was not likelyto believe anything he might say without giving me the chance to clearmyself. And what could he have told her?

I felt my anger growing big within me, until I grew afraid of what Iwould do if I were tempted. I had a long score and a heavy score againstthis rector of St. Anne's, --a score that had been gathering these years. And I felt that my uncle was somewhere behind him; that the two of themwere plotters against me, even as Harvey had declared; albeit my UncleGrafton was little seen in his company now. And finally, in a sinisterflash of revelation, came the thought that Grafton himself was at theback of this deception of my grandfather, as to my principles. Fool thatI was, it had never occurred to me before. But how was he to gain by it?Did he hope that Mr. Carvel, in a fit of anger, would disinherit me whenhe found I had deceived him? Yes. And so had left the matter inabeyance near these two years, that the shock might be the greater whenit came. I recalled now, with a shudder, that never since the spring ofmy grandfather's illness had my uncle questioned me upon my politics. I was seized with a fit of fury. I suspected that Mr. Allen would beat the Coffee House after the assembly. And I determined to seize thechance at once and have it out with him then and there. 

The inn was ablaze, but as yet deserted; Mr. Claude expectant. He bowedme from my chariot door, and would know what took me from the ball. Ithrew him some short answer, bade Harvey go home, saying that I wouldhave some fellow light me to Marlboro' Street when I thought proper. Andcoming into the long room I flung aside my greatcoat and commanded aflask of Mr. Stephen Bordley's old sherry, some of which Mr. Claude hadobtained at that bachelor's demise. 

The wine was scarce opened before I heard some sort of stir at the front, and two servants in a riding livery of scarlet and white hurried in toseek Mr. Claude. The sight of them sufficed mine host, for he went outas fast as his legs would go, giving the bell a sharp pull as he passedthe door; and presently I heard him complimenting two gentlemen intothe house. The voice of one I knew, --being no other than CaptainClapsaddle's; and him I had not seen for the past six months. I wasjust risen to my feet when they came in at the door beside me. 

"Richard!" cried the captain, and grasped my hand in both his own. I returned his pressure, too much pleased to speak. Then his eye wascaught by my finery. 

"So ho!" says he, shaking his head at me for a sad rogue. "Wine andwomen and fine clothes, and not nineteen, or I mistake me. It was sowith Captain Jack, who blossomed in a week; and few could vie with him, I warrant you, after he made his decision. But bless me!" he went on, drawing back, "the lad looks mature, and a fair two inches broader thanlast spring. But why are you not at the assembly, Richard?"

"I have but now come from there, sir, " I replied, not caring in thepresence of a stranger to enter into reasons. 

At my answer the captain turned from me to the gentleman behind him, whohad been regarding us both as we talked. There are some few men in theworld, I thank God for it, who bear their value on their countenance; whostand unmistakably for qualities which command respect and admiration andlove! We seem to recognize such men, and to wonder where we have seenthem before. In reality we recognize the virtues they represent. So itwas with him I saw in front of me, and by his air and carriage I markedhim then and there as a man born to great things. You all know his face, my dears, and I pray God it may live in the sight of those who come afteryou, for generation upon generation!

"Colonel Washington, " said the captain, "this is Mr. Richard Carvel, theson of Captain Carvel. "

Mr. Washington did not speak at once. He stood regarding me a fullminute, his eye seeming to penetrate the secrets of my life. And I takepride in saying it was an eye I could meet without flinching. 

"Your father was a brave man, sir, " he said soberly, "and it seems youfavour him. I am happy in knowing the son. "

For a moment he stood debating whether he would go to the house of one ofhis many friends in Annapolis, knowing that they would be offended whenthey learned he had stopped at the inn. He often came to town, indeed, but seldom tarried long; and it had never been my fortune to see him. Being arrived unexpectedly, and obliged to be away early on the morrow, he decided to order rooms of Mr. Claude, sat down with me at the table, and commenced supper. They had ridden from Alexandria. I gathered fromtheir conversation that they were on their way to Philadelphia uponsome private business, the nature of which, knowing Captain Daniel'ssentiments and those of Colonel Washington, I went not far to guess. The country was in a stir about the Townshend duties; and there beingsome rumour that all these were to be discharged save only that on tea, anxiety prevailed in our middle colonies that the merchants of New Yorkwould abandon the association formed and begin importation. It was ofsome mission to these merchants that I suspected them. 

As I sat beside Colonel Washington, I found myself growing calmer, andashamed of my lack of self-control. Unconsciously, when we come incontact with the great of character, we mould our minds to theirqualities. His very person seemed to exhale, not sanctity, but virility. I felt that this man could command himself and others. In his presenceself-command came to me, as a virtue gone out of him. 'Twas not hisspeech, I would have you know, that took hold of me. He was by no meansa brilliant talker, and I had the good fortune to see him at his ease, since he and the captain were old friends. As they argued upon thequestions of the day, the colonel did not seek to impress by words, or to fascinate by manner. His opinions were calm and moderate, and appeared to me so just as to admit of no appeal. He scrupled notto use a forceful word when occasion demanded. And yet, now and then, he had a lively way about him with all his dignity. When he had finishedhis supper he bade Mr. Claude bring another bottle of Mr. Bordley'ssherry, having tested mine, and addressed himself to me. 

He would know what my pursuits had been; for my father's sake, what weremy ambitions? He questioned me about Mr. Carvel's plantation, of whichhe had heard, and appeared pleased with the answers I gave as to itsmanagement and methods. Captain Daniel was no less so. Mr. Washingtonhad agriculture at his finger ends, and gave me some advice which he hadfound serviceable at Mount Vernon. 

"'Tis a pity, Richard, " said he, smiling thoughtfully at the captain, "'tis a pity we have no service afield open to our young men. One ofyour spirit and bearing should be of that profession. Captain Jack wasas brave and dashing an officer as I ever laid eyes on. "

I hesitated, the tingling at the compliment. 

"I begin to think I was born for the sea, sir, " I answered, at length. 

"What!" cried the captain; "what news is this, Richard? 'Slife! how hasthis come about?"

My anger subdued by Mr. Washington's presence, a curious mood had takenits place. A foolish mood, I thought it, but one of feeling things tocome. 

"I believe I shall one day take part in a great sea-fight, " I said. And, tho' ashamed to speak of it, I told him of Stanwix's prophecythat I should pace the decks of a man-o'-war. 

"A pox on Stanwix!" said the captain, "an artful old seadog! I neveryet knew one who did not think the sun rises and sets from poop toforecastle, who did not wheedle with all the young blood to get themto follow a bow-legged profession. "

Colonel Washington laughed. 

"Judge not, Clapsaddle, " said he; "here are two of us trying to get thelad for our own bow-legged profession. We are as hot as Methodists toconvert. "

"Small conversion he needed when I was here to watch him, colonel. Andhe rides with any trooper I ever laid eyes on. Why, sir, I myself threwhim on a saddle before he could well-nigh walk, and 'twere a waste ofmaterial to put him in the navy. "

"But what this old man said of a flag not yet seen in heaven or earthinterests me, " said Colonel Washington. "Tell me, " he added with apenetration we both remarked, "tell me, does your Captain Stanwix followthe times? Is he a man to read his prints and pamphlets? In otherwords, is he a man who might predict out of his own heated imagination?"

"Nay, sir, " I answered, "he nods over his tobacco the day long. And Iwill make bold to swear, he has never heard of the Stamp Act. "

"'Tis strange, " said the colonel, musing; "I have heard of this secondsight--have seen it among my own negroes. But I heartily pray that thismay be but the childish fancy of an old mariner. How do you interpretit, sir?" he added, addressing himself to me. 

"If a prophecy, I can interpret it in but one way, " I began, and there Istopped. 

"To be sure, " said Mr. Washington. He studied me awhile as thoughweighing my judgment, and went on: "Needless to say, Richard, that such aservice, if it comes, will not be that of his Majesty. "

"And it were, colonel, I would not embark in it a step, " I cried. 

He laughed. 

"The lad has his father's impulse, " he said to Captain Daniel. "But I thought old Mr. Carvel to be one of the warmest loyalistsin the colonies. "

I bit my lip; for, since that unhappy deception of Mr. Carvel, I had notmeant to be drawn into an avowal of my sentiments. But I had, alas, inherited a hasty tongue. 

"Mr. Washington, " said the captain, "old Mr. Carvel has ever been a goodfriend to me. And, though I could not but perceive which way the lad wastending, I had held it but a poor return for friendship had I sought byword or deed to bring him to my way of thinking. Nor have I eversuffered his views in my presence. "

"My dear sir, I honour you for it, " put in the colonel, warmly. 

"It is naught to my credit, " returned the captain. "I would not, for thesake of my party and beliefs, embitter what remains of my old friend'slife. "

I drew a long breath and drained the full glass before me. 

"Captain Daniel!" I cried, "you must hear me now. I have been waitingyour coming these months. And if Colonel Washington gives me leave, I will speak before him. "

The colonel bade me proceed, avowing that Captain Carvel's son shouldhave his best assistance. 

With that I told them the whole story of Mr. Allen's villany. How I hadbeen sent to him because of my Whig sentiments, and for thrashing a Toryschoolmaster and his flock. This made the gentlemen laugh, tho' CaptainDaniel had heard it before. I went on to explain how Mr. Carvel hadfallen ill, and was like to die; and how Mr. Allen, taking advantage ofhis weakness when he rose from his bed, had gone to him with the lie ofhaving converted me. But when I told of the scene between my grandfatherand me at Carvel Hall, of the tears of joy that the old gentleman shed, and of how he had given me Firefly as a reward, the captain rose from hischair and looked out of the window into the blackness, and swore a greatoath all to himself. And the expression I saw come into the colonel'seyes I shall never forget. 

"And you feared the consequences upon your grandfather's health?" heasked gravely. 

"So help me God!" I answered, "I truly believe that to have undeceivedhim would have proved fatal. "

"And so, for the sake of the sum he receives for teaching you, " cried thecaptain, with another oath, "this scoundrelly clergyman has betrayed youinto a lie. A scheme, by God's life! worthy of a Machiavelli!"

"I have seen too many of his type in our parishes, " said Mr. Washington;"and yet the bishop of London seems powerless. And so used have webecome in these Southern colonies to tippling and gaming parsons, that I warrant his people accept him as nothing out of the common. "

"He is more discreet than the run of them, sir. His parishioners dislikehim, not because of his irregularities, but because he is attempting toobtain All Saints from his Lordship, in addition to St. Anne's. He isthought too greedy. "

He was silent, his brow a little furrowed, and drummed with his fingersupon the table. 

"But this I cannot reconcile, " said he, presently, "that the reward isout of all proportion to the risk. Such a clever rascal must play forhigher stakes. "

I was amazed at his insight. And for the moment was impelled to makea clean breast of my suspicions, --nay, of my convictions of the wholedevil's plot. But I had no proofs. I remembered that to the colonelmy uncle was a gentleman of respectability and of wealth, and a memberof his Excellency's Council. That to accuse him of scheming for myinheritance would gain me nothing in Mr. Washington's esteem. And Icaught myself before I had said aught of Mr. Allen's conduct thatevening. 

"Have you confronted this rector with his perfidy, Richard?" he asked. 

"I have, colonel, at my first opportunity. " And I related how Mr. Allenhad come to the Hall, and what I had said to him, and how he had behaved. And finally told of the picquet we now had during lessons, not caring toshield myself. Both listened intently, until the captain broke out. Mr. Washington's indignation was the stronger for being repressed. 

"I will call him out!" cried Captain Daniel, fingering his sword, as washis wont when angered; "I will call him out despite his gown, or elsehorse him publicly!"

"No, my dear sir, you will do nothing of the kind, " said the colonel. "You would gain nothing by it for the lad, and lose much. Such rascalswalk in water, and are not to be tracked. He cannot be approached savethrough Mr. Lionel Carvel himself, and that channel, for Mr. Carvel'ssake, must be closed. "

"But he must be shown up!" cried the captain. 

"What good will you accomplish?" said Mr. Washington; "Lord Baltimore isnotorious, and will not remove him. Nay, sir, you must find a way to getthe lad from his influence. " And he asked me how was my grandfather'shealth at present. 

I said that he had mended beyond my hopes. 

"And does he seem to rejoice that you are of the King's party?"

"Nay, sir. Concerning politics he seems strangely apathetic, which makesme fear he is not so well as he appears. All his life he has feltstrongly. "

"Then I beg you, Richard, take pains to keep neutral. Nor let anypassing event, however great, move you to speech or action. "

The captain shook his head doubtfully, as tho' questioning the ability ofone of my temper to do this. 

"I do not trust myself, sir, " I answered. 

He rose, declaring it was past his hour for bed, and added some kindthings which I shall cherish in my memory. As he was leaving he laid hishand on my shoulder. 

"One word of advice, my lad, " he said. "If by any chance yourconvictions are to come to your grandfather's ears, let him have themfrom your own lips. " And he bade me good night. 

The captain tarried but a moment longer. 

"I have a notion who is to blame for this, Richard, " he said. "When Icome back from New York, we shall see what we shall see. "

"I fear he is too slippery for a soldier to catch, " I answered. 

He went away to bed, telling me to be prudent, and mind the colonel'scounsel until he returned from the North. 

CHAPTER XIV

THE VOLTE COUPE

I was of a serious mind to take the advice. To prove this I called formy wrap-rascal and cane, and for a fellow with a flambeau to light me. But just then the party arrived from the assembly. I was tempted, andI sat down again in a corner of the room, resolved to keep a check uponmyself, but to stay awhile. 

The rector was the first in, humming a song, and spied me. 

"Ho!" he cried, "will you drink, Richard? Or do I drink with you?"

He was already purple with wine. 

"God save me from you and your kind!" I replied. 

"'Sblood! what a devil's nest of fireworks!" he exclaimed, as he wentoff down the room, still humming, to where the rest were gathered. Andthey were soon between bottle and stopper, and quips a-coursing. Therewas the captain of the Thunderer, Collinson by name, Lord Comyn and twobrother officers, Will Fotheringay, my cousin Philip, openly pleased tobe found in such a company, and some dozen other toadeaters who hadfollowed my Lord a-chair and a-foot from the ball, and would have trackedhim to perdition had he chosen to go; and lastly Tom Swain, leering andhiccoughing at the jokes, in such a beastly state of drunkenness as I hadrarely seen him. His Lordship recognized me and smiled, and was pushinghis chair back, when something Collinson said seemed to restrain him. 

I believe I was the butt of more than one jest for my aloofness, though Icould not hear distinctly for the noise they made. I commanded someFrench cognac, and kept my eye on the rector, and the sight of him wasmaking me dangerous. 

I forgot the advice I had received, and remembered only the months he hadgoaded me. And I was even beginning to speculate how I could best pick aquarrel with him on any issue but politics, when an unexpected incidentdiverted me. Of a sudden the tall, ungainly form of Percy Singletonfilled the doorway, wrapped in a greatcoat. He swept the room at aglance, and then strode rapidly toward the corner where I sat. 

"I had thought to find you here, " he said, and dropped into a chairbeside me. I offered him wine, but he refused. 

"Now, " he went on, "what has Patty done?"

"What have I done that I should be publicly insulted?" I cried. 

"Insulted!" says he, "and did she insult you? She said nothing of that. "

"What brings you here, then?" I demanded. 

"Not to talk, Richard, " he said quietly, "'tis no time tonight. I cameto fetch you home. Patty sent me. "

Patty sent him! Why had Patty sent him? But this I did not ask, for Ifelt the devil within me. 

"We must first finish this bottle, " said I, offhand, "and then I have alittle something to be done which I have set my heart upon. After that Iwill go with you. "

"Richard, Richard, will you never learn prudence? What is it you speakof?"

I drew my sword and laid it upon the table. 

"I mean to spit that eel of a rector, " said I, "or he will bear a slapin the face. And you must see fair play. "

Singleton seized my coat, at the same time grasping the hilt of my swordwith the other hand. But neither my words nor my action had goneunnoticed by the other end of the room. The company there fell silentawhile, and then we heard Captain Collinson talking in even, drawlingtones. 

"'Tis strange, " said he, "what hot sparks a man meets in these colonies. They should be stamped out. His Majesty pampers these d--d Americans, is too lenient by far. Gentlemen, this is how I would indulge them!"He raised a closed fist and brought it down on the board. 

He spoke to Tories, but he forgot that Tories were Americans. In thosedays only the meanest of the King's party would listen to such withoutprotest from an Englishman. But some of the meaner sort were there:Philip and Tom laughed, and Mr. Allen, and my Lord's sycophants. Fotheringay and some others of sense shook their heads one to another, comprehending that Captain Collinson was somewhat gone in wine. For, indeed, he had not strayed far from the sideboard at the assembly. Comyn made a motion to rise. 

"It is already past three bells, sir, and a hunt to-morrow, " he said. 

"From bottle to saddle, and from saddle to bottle, my Lord. We must haveour pleasure ashore, and sleep at sea, " and the captain tipped his flaskwith a leer. He turned his eye uncertainly first on me, then on my Lord. "We are lately from Boston, gentlemen, that charnel-house of treason, and before we leave, my Lord, I must tell them how Mr. Robinson of thecustoms served that dog Otis, in the British Coffee House. God's word, 'twas as good as a play. "

I know not how many got to their feet at that, for the story of thecowardly beating of Mr. Otis by Robinson and the army officers had sweptover the colonies, burning like a flame all true-hearted men, Tory andWhig alike. I wrested my sword from Singleton's hold, and in a trice Ihad reached the captain over chairs and table, tearing myself fromFotheringay on the way. I struck a blow that measured a man on thefloor. Then I drew back, amazed. 

I had hit Lord Comyn instead! The captain stood a yard beyond me. 

The thing had been so deftly done by the rector of St. Anne's--Comynjostled at the proper moment between me and Collinson--that none save meguessed beyond an accident; least of all my Lord Comyn himself. He wasup again directly and his sword drawn, addressing me. 

"Bear witness, my Lord, that I have no desire to fight with you, " said I, with what coolness I could muster. "But there is one here I would givemuch for a chance to run through. "

And I made a step toward Mr. Allen with such a purpose in my face andmovements that he could not mistake. I saw the blood go from his face;yet he was no coward to physical violence. But he (or I?) was saved bythe Satan's luck that followed him, for my Lord stepped in between uswith a bow, his cheek red where I had struck him. 

"It is my quarrel now, Mr. Carvel, " he cried. 

"As you please, my Lord, " said I. 

"It boots not who crosses with him, " Captain Collinson put in. "HisLordship uses the sword better than any here. But it boots not so thathe is opposed by a loyal servant of the King. "

I wheeled on him for this. 

"I would have you know that loyalty does not consist in outrage andmurder, sir, " I answered, "nor in the ridiculing of them. And brutescannot be loyal save through interest. "

He was angered, as I had desired. I had hopes then of shouldering thequarrel on to him, for I had near as soon drawn against my own brother asagainst Comyn. I protest I loved him then as one with whom I had beenreared. 

"Let me deal with this young gamecock, Comyn, " cried the captain, with anoath. "He seems to think his importance sufficient. "

But Comyn would brook no interference. He swore that no man shouldstrike him with impunity, and in this I could not but allow he was right. 

"You shall hear from me, Mr. Carvel, " he said. 

"Nay, " I answered, "and fighting is to be done, sir, let us be throughwith it at once. A large room upstairs is at our disposal; and there isa hunt to-morrow which one of us may like to attend. "

There was a laugh at this, in which his Lordship joined. 

"I would to God, Mr. Carvel, " he said, "that I had no quarrel with you!"

"Amen to that, my Lord, " I replied; "there are others here I would ratherfight. " And I gave a meaning look at Mr. Allen. I was of two minds toannounce the scurvy trick he had played, but saw that I would lose ratherthan gain by the attempt. Up to that time the wretch had not spoken aword; now he pushed himself forward, though well clear of me. 

"I think it my duty as Mr. Carvel's tutor, gentlemen, to protest againstthis matter proceeding, " he said, a sneer creeping into his voice. "Norcan I be present at it. Mr. Carvel is young and, besides, is not himselfwith liquor. And, in the choice of politics, he knows not which leg hestands upon. My Lord and gentlemen, your most humble and devoted. "

He made a bow and, before the retort on my lips could be spoken, left thetavern. My cousin Philip left with him. Tom Swain had fallen asleep inhis chair. 

Captain Collinson and Mr. Furness, of the Thunderer, offered to serve hisLordship, which made me bethink that I, too, would have need of some one. 'Twas then I remembered Singleton, who had passed from my mind. 

He was standing close behind me, and nodded simply when I asked him. AndWill Fotheringay came forward. 

"I will act, Richard, if you allow me, " he said. "I would have you knowI am in no wise hostile to you, my Lord, and I am of the King's party. But I admire Mr. Carvel, and I may say I am not wholly out of sympathywith that which prompted his act. "

It was a noble speech, and changed Will in my eyes; and I thanked himwith warmth. He of all that company had the courage to oppose hisLordship!

Mr. Claude was called in and, as is the custom in such cases, was toldthat some of us would play awhile above. He was asked for his privateroom. The good man had his suspicions, but could not refuse a party ofsuch distinction, and sent a drawer thither with wine and cards. Presently we followed, leaving the pack of toadies in sad disappointmentbelow. 

We gathered about the table and made shift at loo until the fellow hadretired, when the seconds proceeded to clear the room of furniture, andLord Comyn and I stripped off our coats and waistcoats. I had lost myanger, but felt no fear, only a kind of pity that blood should be shedbetween two so united in spirit as we. Yes, my dears, I thought ofDorothy. If I died, she would hear that it was like a man--like aCarvel. But the thought of my old grandfather tightened my heart. Thenthe clock on the inn stairs struck two, and the noise of harsh laughterfloated up to us from below. 

And Comyn, --of what was he thinking? Of some fair home set upon thedowns across the sea, of some heroic English mother who had kept hertears until he was gone? Her image rose in dumb entreaty, invoked by thelad before me. What a picture was he in his spotless shirt with theruffles, his handsome boyish face all that was good and honest!

I had scarce felt his Lordship's wrist than I knew I had to deal with apupil of Angelo. At first his attacks were all simple, without feint ortrickery, as were mine. Collinson cursed and cried out that it wasbuffoonery, and called on my Lord not to let me off so easily; swore thatI fenced like a mercer, that he could have stuck me like a pin-cushiontwenty and twenty times. Often have I seen two animals thrust into a pitwith nothing but good-will between them, and those without force theminto anger and a deadly battle. And so it was, unconsciously, betweenComyn and me. I forgot presently that I was not dealing with CaptainCollinson, and my feelings went into my sword. Comyn began to press me, nor did I give back. And then, before it came over me that we had to dowith life and death, he was upon me with a volte coupe, feinting in highcarte and thrusting in low tierce, his point passing through a fold in myshirt. And I were not alive to write these words had I not leaped out ofhis measure. 

"Bravo, Richard!" cried Fotheringay. 

"Well made, gads life!" from Mr. Furness. 

We engaged again, our faces hot. Now I knew that if I did not carry thematter against him I should be killed out of hand, and Heaven knows I wasnot used to play a passive part. I began to go carefully, but fiercely;tried one attack after another that my grandfather and Captain Daniel hadtaught me, --flanconnades, beats, and lunges. Comyn held me even, and intruth I had much to do to defend myself. Once I thought I had him in thesword-arm, after a circular parry, but he was too quick for me. We weresweating freely by now, and by reason of the buzzing in my ears I couldscarce hear the applause of the seconds. 

What unlucky chance it was I know not that impelled Comyn to essay againthe trick by which he had come so near to spitting me; but try it he did, this time in prime and seconde. I had come by nature to that intuitionwhich a true swordsman must have, gleaned from the eyes of his adversary. Long ago Captain Daniel had taught me the remedy for this coupe. Iparried, circled, and straightened, my body in swift motion and my pointat Comyn's heart, when Heaven brought me recollection in the space of asecond. My sword rang clattering on the floor. 

His Lordship understood, but too late. Despairing his life, he made onewild lunge at me that had never gone home had I held to my hilt. But therattle of the blade had scarce reached my ears when there came a sharppain at my throat, and the room faded before me. I heard the clockstriking the half-hour. 

I was blessed with a sturdy health such as few men enjoy, and came tomyself sooner than had been looked for, with a dash of cold water. Andthe first face I beheld was that of Colonel Washington. I heard himspeaking in a voice that was calm, yet urgent and commanding. 

"I pray you, gentlemen, give back. He is coming to, and must have air. Fetch some linen!"

"Now God be praised!" I heard Captain Daniel cry. 

With that his Lordship began to tear his own shirt into strips, and thecaptain bringing a bowl and napkin, the colonel himself washed the woundand bound it deftly, Singleton and Captain Daniel assisting. When Mr. Washington had finished, he turned to Comyn, who stood, anxious anddishevelled, at my feet. 

"You may be thankful that you missed the artery, my Lord, " he said. 

"With all my heart, Colonel Washington!" cried his Lordship. "I owe mylife to his generosity. "

"What's that, sir?"

Mr. Carvel dropped his sword, rather than run me through. "

"I'll warrant!" Captain Daniel put in; "'Od's heart! The lad has skillto point the eye of a button. I taught him myself. "

Colonel Washington stood up and laid his hand on the captain's arm. 

"He is Jack Carvel over again, " I heard him say, in a low voice. 

I tried to struggle to my feet, to speak, but he restrained me. Andsending for his servants, he ordered them to have his baggage removedfrom the Roebuck, which was the best bed in the house. At this momentthe door opened, and Mr. Swain came in hurriedly. 

"I pray you, gentlemen, " he cried, "and he is fit to be moved, you willlet me take him to Marlboro' Street. I have a chariot at the door. "

CHAPTER XV

OF WHICH THE RECTOR HAS THE WORST

'Twas late when I awoke the next day with something of a dull ache in myneck, and a prodigious stiffness, studying the pleatings of the bedcanopy over my head. And I know not how long I lay idly thus when Iperceived Mrs. Willis moving quietly about, and my grandfather sittingin the armchair by the window, looking into Freshwater Lane. As my eyesfell upon him my memory came surging back, --first of the duel, then ofits cause. And finally, like a leaden weight, the thought of thedeception I had practised upon him, of which he must have learnedere this. Nay, I was sure from the troubled look of his face thathe knew of it. 

"Mr. Carvel, " I said. 

At the sound of my voice he got hastily from his chair and hurried to myside. 

"Richard, " he answered, taking my hand, "Richard!"

I opened my mouth to speak, to confess. But he prevented me, the tearsfilling the wrinkles around his eyes. 

"Nay, lad, nay. We will not talk of it. I know all. "

"Mr. Allen has been here--" I began. 

"And be d--d to him! Be d--d to him for a wolf in sheep's clothing!"shouted my grandfather, his manner shifting so suddenly to anger that Iwas taken back. "So help me God I will never set foot in St. Anne'swhile he is rector. Nor shall he come to this house!"

And he took three or four disorderly turns about the room. 

"Ah!" he continued more quietly, with something of a sigh, "I might haveknown how stubborn your mind should be. That you was never one to blowfrom the north one day and from the south the next. I deny not thatthere be good men and able of your way of thinking: Colonel Washington, for one, whom I admire and honour; and our friend Captain Daniel. Theyhave been here to-day, Richard, and I promise you were good advocates. "

Then I knew that I was forgiven. And I could have thrown myself at Mr. Carvel's feet for happiness. 

"Has Colonel Washington spoken in my favour, sir?"

"That he has. He is upon some urgent business for the North, I believe, which he delayed for your sake. Both he and the captain were in mydressing-room before I was up, ahead of that scurrilous clergyman, whowas for pushing his way to my bed-curtains. Ay, the two of them werehere at nigh dawn this morning, and Mr. Allen close after them. And Iown that Captain Daniel can swear with such a consuming violence as toput any rogue out of countenance. 'Twas all Mr. Washington could do torestrain Clapsaddle from booting his Reverence over the balustrade anddown two runs of the stairs, the captain declaring he would do for everycur's son of the whelps. 'Diomedes, ' says I, waking up, 'what's thisdamnable racket on the landing? Is Mr. Richard home?' For I had somenotion it was you, sir, after an over-night brawl. And I profess I wouldhave caned you soundly. The fellow answered that Captain Clapsaddle'shonour was killing Mr. Allen, and went out; and came back presently tosay that some tall gentleman had the captain by the neck, and that Mr. Allen was picking his way down the ice on the steps outside. With thatI went in to them in my dressing-gown. 

"'What's all this to-do, gentlemen?' said I. 

"'I'd have finished that son of a dog, ' says the captain, 'and ColonelWashington had let me. '

"'What, what!' said I. 'How now? What! Drive a clergyman from myhouse gentlemen?'

"'What's Richard been at now?'

"Mr. Washington asked me to dress, saying that they had something veryparticular to speak about; that they would stay to breakfast with me, tho' they were in haste to be gone to New York. I made my compliments tothe colonel and had them shown to the library fire, and hurried downafter them. Then they told me of this affair last night, and theycleared you, sir. 'Faith, ' cried I, 'and I would have fought, too. Thelad was in the right of it, though I would have him a little less hasty. 'D--n me if I don't wish you had knocked that sea captain's teeth into histhroat, and his brains with them. I like your spirit, sir. A pox onsuch men as he, who disgrace his Majesty's name and set better menagainst him. "

"And they told you nothing else, sir?" I asked, with misgiving. 

"That they did. Mr. Washington repeated the confession you made to them, sir, in a manner that did you credit. He made me compliments on you, --said that you were a man, sir, though a trifle hasty: in the which Iagreed. Yes, d--n me, a trifle hasty like your father. I rejoice thatyou did not kill his Lordship, my son. "

The twilight was beginning; and the old gentleman going back to his chairwas set amusing, gazing out across the bare trees and gables falling grayafter the sunset. 

What amazed me was that he did not seem to be shocked by the revelationnear as much as I had feared. So this matter had brought me happinesswhere I looked for nothing but sorrow. 

"And the gentlemen are gone north, sir?" said I, after a while. 

"Yes, Richard, these four hours. I commanded an early dinner for them, since the colonel was pleased to tarry long enough for a little politicsand to spin a glass. And I profess, was I to live neighbours with such aman, I might come to his way of thinking, despite myself. Though I sayit that shouldn't, some of his Majesty's ministers are d--d rascals. "

I laughed. As I live, I never hoped to hear such words from mygrandfather's lips. 

"He did not seek to convince, like so many of your hotheadedknow-it-alls, " said Mr. Carvel; "he leaves a man to convince himself. Hehas great parts, Richard, and few can stand before him. " He paused. Andthen his smooth-shaven face became creased in a roguish smile which I hadoften seen upon it. "What baggage is this I hear of that you quarrelledover at the assembly? Ah, Sir, I fear you are become but a sad rake!"says he. 

But by great good fortune Dr. Leiden was shown in at this instant. Andthe candles being lighted, he examined my neck, haranguing the while inhis vile English against the practice of duelling. He bade me keep mybed for two days, thereby giving me no great pleasure. 

"As I hope to live, " said Mr. Carvel when the doctor was gone, "one wouldhave thought his Excellency himself had been pinked instead of a whip ofa lad, for the people who have been here. His Lordship and Dr. Courtenaycame before the hunt, and young Mr. Fotheringay, and half a score ofothers. Mr. Swain is but now left to go to Baltimore on some barrister'sbusiness. "

I was burning to learn what the rector had said to Patty, but it wasplain Mr. Carvel knew nothing of this part of the story. He had notmentioned Grafton among the callers. I wondered what course my unclewould now pursue, that his plans to alienate me from my grandfather hadfailed. And I began debating whether or not to lay the whole plot beforeMr. Carvel. Prudence bade me wait, since Grafton had not consorted withthe rector openly, at least--for more than a year. And yet I spoke. 

"Mr. Carvel!"

He stirred in his chair. 

"Yes, my son. "

He had to repeat, and still I held my tongue. Even as I hesitated therecame a knock at the door, and Scipio entered, bearing candles. 

"Massa Grafton, suh, " he said. 

My uncle was close at his heels. He was soberly dressed in dark brownsilk, and his face wore that expression of sorrow and concern he knew howto assume at will. After greeting his father with his usual ceremony, hecame to my bedside and asked gravely how I did. 

"How now, Grafton!" cried Mr. Carvel; "this is no funeral. The lad hasonly a scratch, thank God!"

My uncle looked at me and forced a smile. 

"Indeed I am rejoiced to find you are not worried over this matter, father, " said he. "I am but just back from Kent to learn of it, andlooked to find you in bed. "

"Why, no, sir, I am not worried. I fought a duel in my own day, --over alass, it was. "

This time Grafton's smile was not forced. 

"Over a lass, was it?" he asked, and added in a tone of relief, "and howdo you, nephew?"

Mr. Carvel saved me from replying. 

"'Od's life!" he cried; "no, I did not say this was over a lass. I haveheard the whole matter; how Captain Collinson, who is a disgrace to theservice, brought shame upon his Majesty's supporters, and how Richardfelled the young lord instead. I'll be sworn, and I had been there, Imyself would have run the brute through. "

My uncle did not ask for further particulars, but took a chair, and adish of tea from Scipio. His smug look told me plainer than words thathe thought my grandfather still ignorant of my Whig sentiments. 

"I often wish that this deplorable practice of duelling might belegislated against, " he remarked. "Was there no one at the Coffee Housewith character enough to stop the lads?"

Here was my chance. 

"Mr. Allen was there, " I said. 

"A devil's plague upon him!" shouted my grandfather, beating the floorwith his stick. "And the lying hypocrite ever crosses my path, by gad'slife! I'll tear his gown from his back!"

I watched Grafton narrowly. Such as he never turn pale, but he set downhis tea so hastily as to spill the most of it on the dresser. 

"Why, you astound me, my dear father!" he faltered; "Mr. Allen a lyinghypocrite? What can he have done?"

"Done!" cried my grandfather, sputtering and red as a cherry withindignation. "He is as rotten within as a pricked pear, I tell you, sir!For the sake of retaining the lad in his tuition he came to me and lied, sir, just after I had escaped death, and said that by his influenceRichard had become loyal, and set dependence upon Richard's fear of theshock 'twould give me if he confessed--Richard, who never told me afalsehood in his life! And instead of teaching him, he has gamed withthe lad at the rectory. I dare make oath he has treated your son to alike instruction. 'Slife, sir, and he had his deserts, he would hangfrom a gibbet at the Town Gate. "

I raised up in bed to see the effect of this on my uncle. But howeverthe wind veered, Grafton could steer a course. He got up and beganpacing the room, and his agitation my grandfather took for indignationsuch as his own. 

"The dog!" he cried fiercely. "The villain! Philip shall leave himto-morrow. And to think that it was I who moved you to put Richard tohim!"

His distress seemed so real that Mr. Carvel replied:

"No, Grafton, 'twas not your fault. You were deceived as much as I. Youhave put your own son to him. But if I live another twelve hours I shallwrite his Lordship to remove him. What! You shake your head, sir!"

"It will not do, " said my uncle. "Lord Baltimore has had his reasons forsending such a scoundrel--he knew what he was, you may be sure, father. His Lordship, sir, is the most abandoned rake in London, and thatunmentionable crime of his but lately in the magazines--"

"Yes, yes, " my grandfather interrupted; "I have seen it. But I willpublish him in Annapolis. "

My uncle's answer startled me, so like was it to the argument ColonelWashington himself had used. 

"What would you publish, sir? Mr. Allen will reply that what he didwas for the lad's good, and your own. He may swear that since Richardmentioned politics no more he had taken his conversion for granted. "

My grandfather groaned, and did not speak, and I saw the futility ofattempting to bring Grafton to earth for a while yet. 

My uncle had recovered his confidence. He had hoped, so he said, thatI had become a good loyalist: perchance as I grew older I would see thefolly of those who called themselves Patriots. But my grandfather criedout to him not to bother me then. And when at last he was gone, of myown volition I proposed to promise Mr. Carvel that, while he lived, Iwould take no active part in any troubles that might come. He stopped mewith some vehemence. 

"I pray God there may be no troubles, lad, " he answered; "but you needgive me no promise. I would rather see you in the Whig ranks than atrimmer, for the Carvels have ever been partisans. "

I tried to express my gratitude. But he sighed and wished me good night, bidding me get some rest. 

I had scarce finished my breakfast the next morning when I heard a loudrat-tat-tat upon the street door-surely the footman of some person ofconsequence. And Scipio was in the act of announcing the names when, greatly to his disgust, the visitors themselves rushed into my bedroomand curtailed the ceremony. They were none other than Dr. Courtenay andmy Lord Comyn himself. His Lordship had no sooner seen me than he ran tothe bed, grasped both my hands and asked me how I did, declaring he wouldnot have gone to yesterday's hunt had he been permitted to visit me. 

"Richard, " cried the doctor, "your fame has sprung up like Jonah's gourd. The Gazette is but just distributed. Here's for you! 'Twill set thewags a-going, I'll warrant. "

He drew the newspaper from his pocket and began to read, stopping now andanon to laugh:

"Rumour hath it that a Young Gentleman of Quality of this Town, who ispossessed of more Valour than Discretion, and whose Skill at Fence and inthe Field is beyond his Years, crossed Swords on Wednesday Night with aYoung Nobleman from the Thunderer. The Cause of this Deplorable Quarrel, which had its Origin at the Ball, is purported to have been a Young Ladyof Wit and Beauty. (& we doubt it not; for, alas! the Sex hath Much toanswer for of this Kind. )

"The Gentlemen, with their Seconds, repaired after the Assembly to theCoffee House. 'Tis said upon Authority that H-s L-dsh-p owes his Life tothe Noble Spirit of our Young American, who cast down his Blade ratherthan sheathe it in his Adversary's Body, thereby himself receiving aGrievous, the' happily not Mortal, Wound. Our Young Gentleman is becomethe Hero of the Town, and the Subject of Prodigious Anxiety of all theLadies thereof. "

"There's for you, my lad!" says he; "Mr. Green has done for you bothcleverly. "

"Upon my soul, " I cried, raising up in bed, "he should be put in thegatehouse for his impudence! My Lord, --"

"Don't 'My Lord' me, " says Comyn; "plain 'Jack' will do. "

There was no resisting such a man: and I said as much. And took his handand called him 'Jack, ' the doctor posing before the mirror the while, stroking his rues. "Out upon you both, " says he, "for a brace ofsentimental fools!"

"Richard, " said Comyn, presently, with a roguish glance at the doctor, "there were some reason in our fighting had it been over a favour of MissManners. Eh? Come, doctor, " he cried, "you will break your neck lookingfor the reflection of wrinkles. Come, now, we must have little Finery'sletter. I give you my word Chartersea is as ugly as all three heads ofCerberus, and as foul as a ship's barrel of grease. I tell you MissDorothy would sooner marry you. "

"And she might do worse, my Lord, " the doctor flung back, with a strut. 

"Ay, and better. But I promise you Richard and I are not such fools asto think she will marry his Grace. We must have the little coxcomb'sletter. "

"Well, have it you must, I suppose, " returns the doctor. And with thathe draws it from his pocket, where he has it buttoned in. Then he took apinch of Holland and began. 

The first two pages had to deal with Miss Dorothy's triumph, to which herfather made full justice. Mr. Manners world have the doctor (and all theprovince) to know that peers of the realm, soldiers, and statesmen wereat her feet. Orders were as plentiful in his drawing-room as thecandles. And he had taken a house in Arlington Street, where HorryWalpole lived when not at Strawberry, and their entrance was crowdednight and day with the footmen and chairmen of the grand monde. LordComyn broke in more than once upon the reading, crying, --"Hear, hear!"and, --"My word, Mr. Manners has not perjured himself thus far. He hasnot done her justice by half. " And I smiled at the thought that I hadaspired to such a beauty!

"'Entre noes, mon cher Courtenay, ' Mr. Manners writes, 'entre noes, ourDorothy hath had many offers of great advantage since she hath been here. And but yesterday comes a chariot with a ducal coronet to our door. HisGrace of Chartersea, if you please, to request a private talk with me. And I rode with him straightway to his house in Hanover Square. '"

"'Egad! And would gladly have ridden straightway to Newgate, in a ducalchariot!" cried his Lordship, in a fit of laughter. 

"'I rode to Hanover Square, ' the doctor continued, 'where we discussedthe matter over a bottle. His Grace's generosity was such that I couldnot but cry out at it, for he left me to name any settlement I pleased. He must have Dorothy at any price, said he. And I give you my honour, mon cher Courtenay, that I lost no time in getting back to ArlingtonStreet, and called Dorothy down to tell her. '"

"Now may I be flayed, " said Comyn, "if ever there was such another ass!"

The doctor took more snuff and fell a-laughing. 

"But hark to this, " said he, "here's the cream of it all:

"You will scarce believe me when I say that the baggage was near besideherself with anger at what I had to tell her. 'Marry that misshapenduke!' cries she, 'I would quicker marry Doctor Johnson!' And truly, Ibegin to fear she hath formed an affection for some like, foul-linenedbeggar. That his Grace is misshapen I cannot deny; but I tried reasonupon her. 'Think of the coronet, my dear, and of the ancient name towhich it belongs. ' She only stamps her foot and cries out:

"'Coronet fiddlesticks! And are you not content with the name you bear, sir?" 'Our name is good as any in the three kingdoms, ' said I, withtruth. 'Then you would have me, for the sake of the coronet, joined to awretch who is steeped in debauchery. Yes, debauchery, sir! You mightthen talk, forsooth, to the macaronies of Maryland, of your daughter theDuchess. '"

"There's spirit for you, my lad!" Comyn shouted; "I give you MissDorothy. " And he drained a glass of punch Scipio had brought in, DoctorCourtenay and I joining him with a will. 

"I pray you go on, sir, " I said to the doctor. 

"A pest on your impatience!" replied he; "I begin to think you are inlove with her yourself. "

"To be sure he is, " said Comyn; "he had lost my esteem and he were not. "

The doctor gave me an odd look. I was red enough, indeed. 

"'I could say naught, my dear Courtenay, to induce her to believe that hisGrace's indiscretions arose from the wildness of youth. And I pass overthe injustice she hath unwittingly done me, whose only efforts are forher bettering. The end of it all was that I must needs post back to theduke, who was stamping with impatience up and down, and drinkingBurgundy. I am sure I meant him no offence, but told him in as manywords, that my daughter had refused him. And, will you believe me, sir?He took occasion to insult me (I cannot with propriety repeat hisspeech), and he flung a bottle after me as I passed out the door. Was henot far gone in wine at the time, I assure you I had called him out forit. '"

"And, gentlemen, " said the doctor, when our merriment was somewhat spent, "I'll lay a pipe of the best Madeira, that our little fool never knowsthe figure he has cut with his Grace. "

CHAPTER XVI

IN WHICH SOME THINGS ARE MADE CLEAR

The Thunderer weighed the next day, Saturday, while I was still upon myback, and Comyn sailed with her. Not, however, before I had seen himagain. Our affection was such as comes not often to those who drifttogether to part. And he left me that sword with the jewelled hilt, that hangs above my study fire, which he had bought in Toledo. He toldme that he was heartily sick of the navy; that he had entered only inrespect for a wish of his father's, the late Admiral Lord Comyn, and thatthe Thunderer was to sail for New York, where he looked for a releasefrom his commission, and whence he would return to England. He wouldcarry any messages to Miss Manners that I chose to send. But I couldthink of none, save to beg him to remind her that she was constantly inmy thoughts. He promised me, roguishly enough, that he would havethought of a better than that by the time he sighted Cape Clear. Andwere I ever to come to London he would put me up at Brooks's Club, andwarrant me a better time and more friends than ever had a Caribbee whocame home on a visit. 

My grandfather kept his word in regard to Mr. Allen, and on Sundaycommanded the coach at eight. We drove over bad roads to the church atSouth River. And he afterwards declined the voluntary aid he hithertohad been used to give to St. Anne's. In the meantime, good Mr. Swain hadcalled again, bringing some jelly and cake of Patty's own making; and aletter writ out of the sincerity of her heart, full of tender concern andof penitence. She would never cease to blame herself for the wrong shenow knew she had done me. 

Though still somewhat weak from my wound and confinement, after dinnerthat Sunday I repaired to Gloucester Street. From the window she saw mecoming, and, bare-headed, ran out in the cold to meet me. Her eyesrested first on the linen around my throat, and she seemed all in a fireof anxiety. 

"I had thought you would come to-day, when I heard you had been to SouthRiver, " she said. 

I was struck all of a sudden with her looks. Her face was pale, and Isaw that she had suffered as much again as I. Troubled, I followed herinto the little library. The day was fading fast, and the leaping flamesbehind the andirons threw fantastic shadows across the beams of theceiling. We sat together in the deep window. 

"And you have forgiven me, Richard?" she asked. 

"An hundred times, " I replied. "I deserved all I got, and more. "

"If I had not wronged and insulted you--"

"You did neither, Patty, " I broke in; "I have played a double part forthe first and last time in my life, and I have been justly punished forit. "

"'Twas I sent you to the Coffee House, " she cried, "where you might havebeen killed. How I despise myself for listening to Mr. Allen's tales!"

"Then it was Mr. Allen!" I exclaimed, fetching a long breath. 

"Yes, yes; I will tell you all. "

"No, " said I, alarmed at her agitation; "another time. "

"I must, " she answered more calmly; "it has burned me enough. You recallthat we were at supper together, with Betty Tayloe and Lord Comyn, andhow merry we were, altho' 'twas nothing but 'Dorothy' with you gentlemen. Then you left me. Afterwards, as I was talking with Mr. Singleton, therector came up. I never have liked the man, Richard, but I little knewhis character. He began by twitting me for a Whig, and presently hesaid: 'But we have gained one convert, Miss Swain, who sees the error ofhis ways. Scarce a year since young Richard Carvel promised to be one ofthose with whom his Majesty will have to reckon. And he is now become, '--laughing, --'the King's most loyal and devoted. ' I was beside myself. 'That is no subject for jest, Mr. Allen, ' I cried; I will never believeit of him!' 'Jest!' said he; I give you my word I was never soberer inmy life. ' Then it all came to me of a sudden that you sat no longer bythe hour with my father, as you used, and you denounced the King'smeasures and ministers no more. My father had spoken of it. 'Tell mewhy he has changed?' I asked, faltering with doubt of you, which I neverbefore had felt. 'Indeed, I know not, ' replied the rector, with his mostcynical smile; unless it is because old Mr. Carvel might disinherit aWhig. But I see you doubt my word, Miss Swain. Here is Mr. Carroll, and you may ask him. ' God forgive me, Richard! I stopped Mr. Carroll, who seemed mightily surprised. And he told me yes, that your grandfatherhad said but a few days before, and with joy, that you were now of hisMajesty's party. "

"Alas! I might have foreseen this consequence, " I exclaimed. "Nor do Iblame you, Patty. "

"But my father has explained all, " Patty continued, brightening. "Hisadmiration for you is increased tenfold, Richard. Your grandfather toldhim of the rector's treachery, which he says is sufficient to make himturn Methodist or Lutheran. We went to the curate's service to-day. And--will you hear more, sir? Or do your ears burn? That patriots andloyalists are singing your praises from Town Gate to the dock, andregretting that you did not kill that detestable Captain Collinson--butI have something else, and of more importance, to tell you, Richard, "she continued, lowering her voice. 

"What Mr. Carroll had told me stunned me like a blow, such had been myfaith in you. And when Mr. Allen moved off, I stood talking to PercySingleton and his Lordship without understanding a word of theconversation. I could scarce have been in my right mind. It was notyour going over to the other side that pained me so, for all your peopleare Tories. But I had rather seen you dead than a pretender and ahypocrite, selling yourself for an inheritance. Then you came. My natural impulse should have been to draw you aside and there accuseyou. But this was beyond my strength. And when I saw you go awaywithout a word I knew that I had been unjust. I could have wept beforethem all. Mr. Carroll went for his coach, and was a full half an hourin getting it. But this is what I would tell you in particular, Richard. I have not spoken of it to a soul, and it troubles me above all else:While Maria was getting my cardinal I heard voices on the other side ofthe dressing-room door. The supper-room is next, you know. I listened, and recognized the rector's deep tones: 'He has gone to the CoffeeHouse, ' he was saying; Collinson declares that his Lordship is our man, if we can but contrive it. He is the best foil in the service, and wastaught by--there! I have forgot the name. "

"Angelo!" I cried. 

"Yes, yes, Angelo it was. How did you know?" she demanded, rising inher excitement. 

"Angelo is the great fencing-master of London, " I replied. 

"When I heard that, " she said, "I had no doubt of your innocence. I ranout into the assembly room as I was, in my hood, and tried to find Tom. But he--" She paused, ashamed. 

"Yes, I know, " I said hurriedly; "you could not find him. "

She glanced at me in gratitude. 

"How everybody stared at me! But little I cared! 'Twas that gave riseto Mr. Green's report. I thought of Percy Singleton, and stopped him inthe midst of a dance to bid him run as fast as his legs would carry himto the Coffee House, and to see that no harm befell you. 'I shall holdyou responsible for Richard, ' I whispered. 'You must get him away fromMr. Claude's, or I shall never speak to you again. ' He did not wait toask questions, but went at once, like the good fellow he is. Then I rodehome with Maria. I would not have Mr. Carroll come with me, though hebegged hard. Father was in here, writing his brief. But I was all inpieces, Richard, and so shaken with sobbing that I could tell him no morethan that you had gone to the Coffee House, where they meant to draw youinto a duel. He took me up to my own room, and I heard him going out towake Limbo to harness, and at last heard him driving away in our coach. I hope I may never in my life spend such another hour as I passed then. "

The light in the sky had gone out. I looked up at the girl beforeme as she stood gazing into the flame, her features in strong relief, her lips parted, her hair red-gold, and the rounded outlines of herfigure softened. I wondered why I had never before known her beauty. Perchance it was because, until that night, I had never seen her heart. 

I leaped to my feet and seized her hands. For a second she looked at me, startled. Then she tore them away and ran behind the dipping chair inthe corner. 

"Richard, Richard!" she exclaimed. "Did Dorothy but know!"

"Dorothy is occupied with titles, " I said. 

Patty's lip quivered. And I knew, blundering fool that I was, that I hadhurt her. 

"Oh, you wrong her!" she cried; "believe me when I say that she lovesyou, and you only, Richard. "

"Loves me!" I retorted bitterly, --brutally, I fear. "No. She may haveonce, long ago. But now her head is turned. "

"She loves you now, " answered Patty, earnestly; "and I think ever will, if you but deserve her. "

And with that she went away, leaving me to stare after her in perplexityand consternation. 

CHAPTER XVII

SOUTH RIVER

My grandfather's defection from St. Anne's called forth a deal of commentin Annapolis. His Excellency came to remonstrate, but to no avail, andMr. Carvel denounced the rector in such terms that the Governor was gladto turn the subject. My Uncle Grafton acted with such quickness andforce as would have served to lull the sharpest suspicions. He forbidthe rector his house, attended the curate's service, and took Philipfrom his care. It was decided that both my cousin and I were to go toKing's College after Christmas. Grafton's conduct greatly pleased mygrandfather. "He has behaved very loyally in this matter, Richard. " hesaid to me. "I grow to reproach myself more every day for the injusticeI once did him. He is heaping coals of fire upon my old head. But, faith! I cannot stomach your Aunt Caroline. You do not seem to likeyour uncle, lad. "

I answered that I did not. 

"It was ever the Carvel way not to forget, " he went on. "Nevertheless, Grafton hath your welfare at heart, I think. His affection for you ashis brother's son is great. "

O that I had spoken the words that burned my tongue!

Christmas fell upon Monday of that year, 1769. There was to be a ball atUpper Marlboro on the Friday before, to which many of us were invited. Though the morning came in with a blinding snowstorm from the north, thefirst of that winter, about ten of the clock we set out from Annapolis anexceeding merry party, the ladies in four coaches-and-six, the gentlemenand their servants riding at the wheels. We laughed and joked despitethe storm, and exchanged signals with the fair ones behind the glasses. 

But we had scarce got two miles beyond the town gate when a messengerovertook us with a note for Mr. Carvel, writ upon an odd slip of paper, and with great apparent hurry:

HONOURED SIR, "I have but just come to Annapolis from New York, with Instructions toput into your Hands, & no Others, a Message of the greatest Import. Hearing you are but now set out for Upper Marlboro I beg of you to returnfor half an Hour to the Coffee House. By so doing you will be of serviceto a Friend, and confer a Favour upon y'r most ob'd't Humble Servant, "SILAS RIDGEWAY. "

Our cavalcade had halted while I read, the ladies letting down theglasses and leaning out in their concern lest some trouble had befallenme or my grandfather. I answered them and bade them ride on, vowing thatI would overtake the coaches before they reached the Patuxent. Then Iturned Cynthia's head for town, with Hugo at my heels. 

Patty, leaning from the window of the last coach, called out to me as Ipassed. I waved my hand in return, and did not remember until long afterthe anxiety in her eyes. 

As I rode, and I rode hard, I pondered over the words of this letter. Iknew not this Mr. Ridgeway from the Lord Mayor of London; but I came tothe conclusion before I had reprised the gate that his message was fromCaptain Daniel. And I greatly feared that some evil had befallen my goodfriend. So I came to the Coffee House, and throwing my bridle to Hugo, Iran in. 

I found Mr. Ridgeway neither in the long room nor in the billiard roomnor the bar. Mr. Claude told me that indeed a man had arrived thatmorning from the North, a spare person with a hooked nose and scant hair, in a brown greatcoat with a torn cape. He had gone forth afoot half anhour since. His messenger, a negro lad whose face I knew, was in thestables with Hugo. He had never seen the stranger till he met him thatmorning in State House Circle inquiring for Mr. Carvel, and had beengiven a shilling to gallop after me. Impatient as I was to be gone, Isat me down in the coffee room, thinking every minute the man mustreturn, and strongly apprehensive that Captain Daniel must be in somegrave predicament. That the favour he asked was of such a nature as I, and not my grandfather, could best fulfil. 

At length, about a quarter after noon, my man comes in with Mr. Claudeclose behind him. I liked his looks less than his description, and themoment I clapped eyes on him I knew that Captain Daniel had never chosesuch a messenger. 

"This is Mr. Richard Carvel, " said Mr. Claude. 

The fellow made me a low bow, which I scarcely returned. 

"I am sure, 'sir, " he began in a whining voice, "that I crave yourforbearance for this prodigious, stupid mistake I have made. "

"Mistake!" I exclaimed hotly; "you mean to say, sir, that you havebrought me back for nothing?"

The man's eye shifted, and he made me another bow. 

"I scarce know what to say, Mr. Carvel, " he answered with much humility;"to speak truth, 'twas zeal to my employers, and methought to you, thatcaused you to retrace your steps in this pestiferous storm. I travel, "he proceeded with some importance, "I travel for Messrs. Rinnell andRunn, Barristers of the town of New York, and carry letters to men ofmark all over these middle and southern colonies. And my instructions, sir, were to come to Annapolis with all reasonable speed with thisdouble-sealed enclosure for Mr. Carvel: and to deliver it to him, and himonly, the very moment I arrived. As I came through your town I madeinquiries, and was told by a black fellow in the Circle that Mr. Carvelwas but just left for Upper Marlboro with a cavalcade of fourcoaches-and-six and some dozen gentlemen with their servants. I am suremy mistake was pardonable, Mr. Carvel, " he concluded with a smirk; "thisgentleman was plainly of the first quality, as was he to whom I wasdirected. And as he was about to leave town for I knew not how long, Ihope I was in the right in bidding the black ride after him, for I giveyou my word the business was most pressing for him. I crave yourforgiveness, and the pleasure of drinking your honour's health. "

I barely heard the fellow through, and was turning on my heel in disgust, when it struck me to ask him what Mr. Carvel he sought, for I feared lestmy grandfather had got into some lawsuit. 

"And it please your honour, Mr. Grafton Carvel, " said he; "your uncle, Iunderstand. Unfortunately he has gone to his estate in Kent County, whither I must now follow him. "

I bade Mr. Claude summon my servant, not stopping to question the manfurther, such was my resentment against him. And in ten minutes we wereout of the town again, galloping between the nearly filled tracks of thecoaches, now three hours ahead of us. The storm was increasing, and thewind cutting, but I dug into Cynthia so that poor Hugo was put to it tohold the pace, and, tho' he had a pint of rum in him, was near perishedwith the cold. As my anger cooled somewhat I began to wonder how Mr. Silas Ridgeway, whoever he was, could have been such a simpleton as hisstory made him out. Indeed, he looked more the rogue than the ass; norcould I conceive how reliable barristers could hire such a one. I wishedheartily that I had exhausted him further, and a suspicion crossed mybrain that he might have come to Mr. Allen, who had persuaded him todeliver a letter to Grafton intended for me. Some foreboding beset me, and I was once close to a full mind for going back, and slacked Cynthia'space to a trot. But the thought of the pleasures at Upper Marlboro' andthe hope of overtaking the party at Mr. Dorsey's place, over thePatuxent, where they looked to dine, decided me in pushing on. And thuswe came to South River, with the snow so thick that we could scarce seeten yards in front of us. 

Beyond, the road winds up the hill'around the end of Mr. Wiley'splantation and plunges shortly into the woods, gray and cold indeedto-day. At their skirt a trail branches off which leads to Mr. Whey'swarehouses, on the water's edge a mile or so below. And I marked thatthis path was freshly trodden. I recall a small shock of surprise atthis, for the way was used only in the early autumn to connect with somefields beyond the hill. And then I heard a sharp cry from Hugo andpulled Cynthia short. He was some ten paces behind me. 

"Marse Dick!" he shouted, the whites of his eyes rolled up. "We'se gwineto be robbed, Marse Dick. " And he pointed to the footprints in the snow;"somefin done tole Hugo not come to-day. "

"Nonsense!" I cried; "Mr. Wiley is making his lazy beggars cut woodagainst Christmas. "

When in this temper the poor fellow had more fear of me than of aughtelse, and he closed up to my horse's flank, glancing apprehensively tothe right and left, his teeth rattling. We went at a brisk trot. Weknow not, indeed, how to account for many things in this world, for with. Each beat of Cynthia's feet I found myself repeating the words SouthRiver and Marlboro, and seeking in my mind a connection to something gonebefore. Then, like a sudden gust of wind, comes to me that strange talkbetween Grafton and the rector, overheard by old Harvey in the stables atCarvel Hall. And Cynthia's ears were pointing forward. 

With a quick impulse I loosed the lower frogs of my coat, for my swordwas buckled beneath, and was reaching for one of the brace of pistols inmy saddle-bags. I had but released them when Hugo cried out: "Gawd, Marse Dick, run for yo' life!" and I caught a glimpse of him flying downthe road. As I turned a shot rang out, Cynthia reared high with a roughbrute of a fellow clinging to her bridle. I sent my charge full into hischest, and as he tumbled in the snow I dug my spurs to the rowels. 

What happened then is still a blurred picture in my brain. I know thatCynthia was shot from under me before she had taken her leap, and we fellheavily together. And I was scarcely up again and my sword drawn, whenthe villains were pressing me from all sides. I remember spitting butone, and then I heard a great seafaring oath, the first word out of theirmouths, and I was felled from behind with a mighty blow. 

THE "BLACK MOLL"

CHAPTER XVIII

THE "BLACK MOLL"

I have no intention, my dears, of dwelling upon that part of myadventures which must be as painful to you as to me, the veryrecollection of which, after all these years, suffices to cause the bloodwithin me to run cold. In my youth men whose natures shrank not fromencounter with their enemies lacked not, I warrant you, a checkeredexperience. Those of us who are wound the tightest go the farthest andstrike the hardest. Nor is it difficult for one, the last of whose lifeis being recorded, to review the outspread roll of it, and trace theunerring forces which have drawn for themselves. 

Some, indeed, traverse this world weighing, before they partake, pleasureand business alike. But I am not sure, my children, that they betterthemselves; or that God, in His all-wise judgment, prefers them to suchas are guided by the divine impulse with which He has endowed them. Farbe it from me to advise rashness or imprudence, as such; nor do I believeyou will take me so. But I say unto you: do that which is right, and letGod, not man, be your interpreter. 

My narrative awaits me. 

I came to my wits with an immoderate feeling of faintness and sickness, with no more remembrance of things past than has a man bereft of reason. And for some time I swung between sense and oblivion before anoverpowering stench forced itself upon my nostrils, accompanied by acreaking, straining sound and sweeping motion. I could see nothing forthe pitchy blackness. Then I recalled what had befallen me, and criedaloud to God in my anguish, for I well knew I had been carried aboardship, and was at sea. I had oftentimes heard of the notorious press-gangwhich supplied the need of the King's navy, and my first thought was thatI had fallen in their clutches. But I wondered that they had daredattack a person of my consequence. 

I had no pain. I lay in a bunk that felt gritty and greasy to the touch, and my hair was matted behind by a clot of blood. I had been stripped ofmy clothes, and put into some coarse and rough material, the colour andcondition of which I could not see for want of light. I began to castabout me, to examine the size of the bunk, which I found to be narrow, and plainly at some distance from the deck, for I laid hold upon one ofthe rough beams above me. By its curvature I knew it to be a knee, andthus I came to the caulked sides of the vessel, and for the first timeheard the rattling thud and swish of water on the far side of it. I hadno sooner made this discovery, which drew from me an involuntary groan, when a ship's lanthorn was of a sudden thrust over me, and I perceivedbehind it a head covered with shaggy hair and beard, and beetling brows. Never had I been in such a terrifying presence. 

"Damn my blood and bones, life signals at last! Another three bellsgone, my silks and laces, and we had given you to the sharks. "

The man hung his lanthorn to a hook on the beam, and thrust a case-bottleof rum toward me, at the same time biting off a great quid of tobacco. For all my alarm I saw that his manner was not unkindly, and as I wasconscious of a consuming thirst I seized and tipped it eagerly. 

"'Tis no fine Madeira, my blood, " said he, "such as I fancy your palateis acquainted with. Yet 'tis as fair a Jamaica as ever Griggs put ashorei' the dark. "

"Griggs!" I cried, the whole affair coming to me: Griggs, UpperMarlboro', South River, Grafton and the rector plotting in the stalls, and Mr. Silas Ridgeway the accomplice. 

"Ay, Griggs, " replied he; "ye may well repeat it, the-------, I'll lay apuncheon he'll be hailing you shortly. Guinea Griggs, Gold-Coast Griggs, Smuggler Griggs, Skull-and-Bones Griggs. Damn his soul and eyes, he hathsent to damnation many a ship's company. "

He drained what remained of the bottle, took down the lanthorn, and leftme sufficiently terrified to reflect upon my situation, which I founddesperate enough, my dears. I have no words to describe what I wentthrough in that vile, foul-smelling place. My tears flowed fast when Ithought of my grandfather and of the dear friends I had left behind, andof Dorothy, whom I never hoped to see again. And then, perchance 'twasthe rum put heart into me, I vowed I would face the matter show thiscut-throat of a Griggs a bold front. Had he meant to murder me, I reflected, he had done the business long since. Then I fell asleep. 

I awoke, I know not how soon, to discover the same shaggy countenance, and the lanthorn. 

"Canst walk, Mechlin?" says he. 

"I can try, at least, " I answered. 

He seemed pleased at this. 

"You have courage a-plenty, and, by G--, you will have need of it allwith that of a Griggs!" He gave me his bottle again, and assisted medown, and I found that my legs, save for the rocking of the ship, weresteady enough. I followed him out of the hole in which I had lain on toa deck, which, in the half light, I saw covered with slush and filth. Itwas small, and but dimly illuminated by a hatchway, up the which I pushedafter him, and then another. And so we came to the light of day, whichnear blinded me: so that I was fain to clap my hand to mine eyes, andstood for a space looking about me like a man dazed. The wind, tho'blowing stiff, was mild, and league after league of the green sea dancedand foamed in the morning sunlight, and I perceived that I was on a largeschooner under full sail, the crew of which were littered about atdifferent occupations. Some gaming and some drinking, while on theforecastle two men were settling a dispute at fisticuffs. And they gaveme no more notice, nor as much, than I had been a baboon thrust amongthem. From this indifference to a captive I augured no good. Then myconductor, whom I rightly judged to be the mate of this devil's crew, took me roughly by the shoulder and bade me accompany him to the cabin. 

As we drew near the topgallant poop there sounded in my ears a noise likea tempest, which I soon became aware was a man swearing with a prodigiousvehemence in a fog-horn of a voice. "Sdeath and wounds! Where is thatdog-fish of a Cockle? Damn his entrails, and he is not come soon, I'llmast-head him naked, by the seven holy spritsails!" And much more andworse to the same tune until we passed the door and stood before him, when he let out an oath like the death-cry of a monster. 

He was a short, lean man with a leathery face and long, black ropy hair, and beady black eyes that caught the light like a cat's. His looks, indeed, would have scared a timid person into a fit; but I resolved Iwould die rather than show the fear with which he inspired me. He wasdressed in an old navy uniform with dirty lace. His cabin was bareenough, being scattered about with pistols and muskets and cutlasses, with a ragged pallet in one corner, and he sat behind an oaken tablecovered with greasy charts and spilled liquor and tobacco. 

"So ho, you are risen from the dead, are you, my fine buck?Mr. What-do-they-call-you?" cried the captain, with a word as foul asany he had yet uttered. "By the Lord, you shall pay for running my bosunthrough!"

"And by the Lord, Captain What's-your-name, " I cried back, for the rum Ihad taken had heated me, "you and your fellow-rascals shall pay in bloodfor this villanous injury!"

Griggs got to his feet and seized his hanger, his face like livid marbleseamed with blue. And from force of habit I made motion for my sword, tomake the shameful discovery that I was clothed from head to foot inlinsey-woolsey. 

"G-d---my soul, " he roared, "if I don't slit you like a herring!The devil burn me to a cinder if I don't give your guts to the sharks!"And he made at me in such a fury that I would certainly have been cut topieces had I not grasped a cutlass and parried his blow, Cockle lookingon with his jaw dropped like a peak without haulyards. With a stroke ofmy weapon I disarmed Captain Griggs, his sword flying through the cabinwindow. For I made up my mind I would better die fighting than expire ata hideous torture, which I doubted not he would inflict, and so I took upa posture of defence, with one eye on the mate; despite the kind officesof the latter below I knew not whether he were disposed to befriend mebefore the captain. What was my astonishment, therefore, to beholdGriggs's truculent manner change. 

"Avast, my man-o-war, " he cried; "blood and wounds! I had more than aneye when they brought thee aboard, else I would have killed thee like asucking-pig under the forecastle, as I have given oath to do. By theGhost, you are worth seven of that Roger Spratt whom you sent to hell inhis boots. "

Wherewith Cockle, who for all his terrible appearance stood in a mightyawe of his captain, set up a loud laugh, and vowed that Griggs knew a manwhen he spared me, and was cursed for his pains. 

"So you were contracted to murder me, Captain Griggs?" said I. 

"Ay, " he replied, a devilish gleam coming into his eye, "but I have nowgot you and the money to boot. But harkye, I'll stand by my half of thebargain, by G--. If ever you reach Maryland alive, they may hang me tothe yardarm of a ship-of-the-line. "

And I live long enough, my dears, I hope some day to write for you theaccount of all that befell me on this slaver, Black Moll, for so she wascalled. 'Twould but delay my story now. Suffice it to say that wesailed for a fortnight or so in the West India seas. From someobservations that fell from the mouth of Griggs I gathered that he wassearching for an island which evaded him; and each day added to hisvexation at not finding it. At times he was drunk for forty hours at astretch, when he would shut himself in his cabin and leave his ship tothe care of Cockle, who navigated with the sober portion of the crew. And such a lousy, brawling lot of convicts I had never clapped eyes upon. As for me, I was treated indifferently well, though 'twas in truthpunishment enough to live in that filthy ship, to eat their shins of beefand briny pork and wormy biscuit, to wear rough clothes that chafed myskin. I shared Cockle's cabin, in every way as dirty a place as the denI had left, but with the advantage of air, for which I fervently thankedGod. 

I think the mate had some little friendship for me, though he was toohardened by the life he had led to care a deal what became of me. Heencouraged me secretly to continue to beard Griggs as I had begun, sayingthat it was my sole chance of a whole skin, and vowing that if he had hadthe courage to pursue the same course his own back had not been checkeredlike a grating. He told me stories of the captain's cruelty which I darenot repeat for their very horror, and indeed I lacked not for instancesto substantiate what he said; men with their backs beaten to a pulp, andothers with ears cut off, and mouths slit, and toes missing. So that Ilived in hourly fear lest in some drunken fit Griggs might command me tobe tortured. But, fortunately, he held small converse with me, and whensober busied himself in trying to find the island and in cursing the fateby which it eluded him. 

So I existed, and prayed daily for deliverance. I plied Cockle withquestions as to what they purposed doing with me, but he was wont to turnsulky, and would answer me not a word. But once, when he was deeper inhis cups than common, he let me know that Griggs was to sell me to acertain planter. You may well believe that this did not serve to livenmy spirits. 

At length, one morning, Captain Griggs came out of his cabin and climbedupon the poop, calling all hands aft to the quarterdeck. Whereupon heproceeded to make them a speech that for vileness exceeded aught I haveever heard before or since. He finished by reminding them that this wasthe anniversary of the scuttling of the sloop Jane, which had made themall rich a year before, off the Canaries; the day that he had sent threeand twenty men over the plank to hell. Wherefore he decreed a holiday, as the weather was bright and the trades light, and would serve quadrupleportions of rum to every man jack aboard; and they set up a cheer thatstarted the Mother Careys astern. 

I have no language to depict the bestiality of that day; and if I had Iwould think it sin to write of it. The helm was lashed on the port tack, the haulyards set taut, and all hands down to the lad who was the cook'sscullion proceeded to get drunk. I took the precaution to have a hangerat my side and to slip one of Cockle's pistols within the band of mybreeches. I was in an exquisite' agony of indecision as to what mannerto act and how to defend myself from their drunken brutality, for I wellknew that if I refused to imbibe with them I should probably be murderedfor my abstemiousness; and, if I drank, the stuff was so near to alcoholthat I could not hope to keep my senses. While in this predicament Ireceived a polite invitation to partake in the captain's company, which Idid not see my way clear to refuse, and repaired to the cabinaccordingly. 

There I found Griggs and Cockle seated, and a fair-sized barrel of rumbetween them that the captain had just moved thither. By way of welcomehe shot at me a volley of curses and bade me to fill up, and through fearof offending him I took down my first mug with a fair good grace. Then, in his own particular language, he began the account of the capture ofthe Jane, taking care in the pauses to see that my mug was full. But, asluck would have it, he got no farther than the boarding by the BlackMoll's crew, when he fell to squabbling with Cockle as to who had beenthe first man over the side; and while they were settling this differenceI grasped the opportunity to escape. 

The maudlin scene that met my eyes on deck defies description; some werefighting, others grinning with a hideous laughter, and still othersshouting tavern jokes unspeakable. And suddenly, whilst I was observingthese things from a niche behind the cabin door, I heard the captain cryfrom within, "The ensign, the ensign!" Forgetting his dispute withCockle, he bumped past me and made his way with some trouble to the poop. I climbed the ladder after him, and to my horror beheld him in a drunkenfrenzy drag a black flag with a rudely painted skull and cross-bones fromthe signal-chest, and with uncertain fingers toggle it to the ensignhaulyards and hoist to the peak, where it fluttered grimly in the lightwind like an evil augur on a fair day. At sight of it the wretches ondeck fell to shouting and huzzaing, Griggs standing leering up at it. Then he gravely pulled off his hat and made it a bow, and turned upon me. 

"Salute it, ye lubberly! Ye are no first-rate here, " he thundered. "Salute the flag!"

Unless fear had kept me sober, 'tis past my understanding why I was notas drunk as he. Be that as it may, I was near as quarrelsome, and wouldas soon have worshipped the golden calf as saluted that rag. I flungback some reply, and he lugged out and came at me with a spring like awild beast; and his men below, seeing us fall out, made a rush for thepoop with knives and cutlasses drawn. Betwixt them all I should soonhave been in slivers had not the main shrouds offered themselves handy. And up them I sprung, the captain cutting at my legs as I left thesheer-pole, and I stopped not until I reached the schooner's cross-trees, where I drew my cutlass. They pranced around the mast and showered mewith oaths, for all the world like a lot of howling dogs which had treeda cat. 

I began to feel somewhat easier, and cried aloud that the first of themwho came up after me would go down again in two pieces. Despite mywarning a brace essayed to climb the ratlines, as pitiable an attempt asever I witnessed, and fell to the deck again. 'Twas a miracle that theymissed falling into the sea. And after a while, becoming convinced thatthey could not get at me, and being too far gone to shoot with anyaccuracy, they tumbled off the poop swearing to serve me in a hundredhorrible ways when they caught me, and fell again to drinking andquarrelling amongst themselves. I was indeed in an unenviable plight, by no means sure that I would not be slain out of hand when they becamesufficiently sober to capture me. As I marked the progress of theirdamnable orgy I cast about for some plan to take advantage of theircondition. I observed that a stupor was already beginning to overcome afew of them. Then suddenly an incident happened to drive all else frommy mind. 

Nothing less, my dears, than a white speck of sail gleaming on thesouthern horizon!

For an hour I watched it, now in a shiver of apprehension lest it pass usby, now weeping in an ecstasy of joy over a possible deliverance. But itgrew steadily larger, and when about three miles on our port bow I sawthat the ship was a brigantine. Though she had long been in sight fromour deck, 'twas not until now that she was made out by a man on theforecastle, who set up a cry that brought about him all who could reelthither, Griggs staggering out of his cabin and to the nettings. Thesight sobered him somewhat, for he immediately shouted orders to castloose the guns, himself tearing the breeching from the nine-pounder nexthim and taking out the tompion. About half the crew were in a liquorishstupor from which the trump itself could scarce have aroused them; therest responded with savage oaths, swore that they would boil theirsuppers in the blood of the brigantine's men and give their corpses tothe sea. They fell to work on the port battery in so ludicrous a mannerthat I was fain to laugh despite the gravity of the situation. But whenthey came to rig the powderhoist and a couple of them descended into themagazine with pipes lighted, I was in imminent expectation of being blownas high as a kite. 

So absorbed had I been in these preparations that I neglected to watchthe brigantine, which I discovered to be standing on and off in a veryundecided manner, as though hesitating to attack. My spirits fell againat this, for with all my inexperience I knew her to be a better sailerthan the Black Moll. Her master, as Griggs remarked, "was no d--dslouching lubber, and knew a yardarm from a rattan cane. "

Finally, about six bells of the watch, the stranger wore ship and boredown across our bows, hoisting English colours, at sight of which I couldscarce forbear a cheer. At this instant, Captain Griggs woke to the factthat his helm was still lashed, and bestowing a hearty kick on hisprostrate quartermaster stuck fast to the pitchy seams of the deck, tookthe wheel himself, and easing off before the wind to bring the vesselsbroadside to broadside, commanded that the guns be shooed to the muzzle, an order that was barely executed before the brigantine came within closerange. Aboard her was all order and readiness; the men at her guns fusein hand, an erect and pompous figure of a man, in a cocked hat, on thebreak of her poop. He raised his hand, two puffs of white smoke dartedout, and I heard first the shrieking of shot, the broadside camecrashing round us, one tearing through the mainsail below me, anothermangling two men in the waist of our schooner, and Griggs gave the orderto touch off. But two of his guns answered, one of which had been sogorged with shot that it burst in a hundred pieces and sent the fellowwith the swab to perdition, and such a hell of blood and confusion asresulted is indescribable. I saw Griggs in a wild fit of rage force thehelm down, the schooner flying into the wind. And by this time, thebrigantine having got round and presented her port battery, raked us at abare hundred yards, and I was the first to guess by the tilting forwardof the mast that our hull was hit between wind and water, and was fastsettling by the bow. 

The schooner was sinking like a gallipot. 

That day, with the sea flashing blue and white in the sun, I saw men goto death with a curse upon their lips and a fever in their eyes, withmurder and defiance of God's holy will in their hearts. Overtaken inbestiality, like the judgment of Nineveh, five and twenty disappearedfrom beneath me, and I had scarce the time to throw off my cutlass beforeI, too, was engulfed. So expired the Black Moll.