Chapter Twenty Four.

Chapter Twenty Four.In which Mr Vanslyperken has Nothing but Trouble from the Beginning to the End.So soon as the cutter had sailed, Moggy hastened to the pretended widow to report the answer of her husband. Nancy considered that there was much sound judgment in what Jemmy had said, and immediately repaired to the house of the Jew, Lazarus, to whom she communicated her wishes. At that time there were many people high in office who secretly favoured King James, and the links of communication between such humble individuals as we are treating of, with those in power, although distant, were perfect.In a few days, an order came down for the discharge of James Salisbury from the cutter Yungfrau, and the letter the same day was put into the hands of the delighted Moggy.Mr Vanslyperken made his short passage to the Zuyder Zee, and anchored as usual; and when he had anchored, he proceeded to go on shore. Previously, however, to his stepping into the boat, the ship’s company came aft, with Jemmy at their head, to know whether they might have leave on shore, as they were not very well pleased at their liberty having been stopped at Portsmouth.Mr Vanslyperken very politely told them that he would see them all at the devil first, and then stepped into his boat; he at once proceeded to the house of the Jesuit, and this time, much to his satisfaction, without having been perceived, as he thought, by the widow Vandersloosh and Babette, who did not appear at the door. Having delivered his despatches, and received his customary fee, Mr Vanslyperken mentioned the difficulty of his coming to the house, as he was watched by some people opposite, and inquired if he could have the letters sent under cover to himself by some trusty hand, mentioning the ill-will of the parties in question. To this the Jesuit consented, and Vanslyperken took his leave; but on leaving the house he was again annoyed by the broad form of the widow, with Babette, as usual, at her shoulder, with their eyes fixed upon him. Without attempting a recognition, for Vanslyperken cared little for the opinion of the Frau Vandersloosh, now that he was accepted by the fair widow of Portsmouth, Mr Vanslyperken walked quietly away.“Ah, very well, Mr Vanslyperken, very well,” exclaimed the Frau Vandersloosh, as he pursued his way at a rapid rate; “very well, Mr Vanslyperken—we shall see—three times have you entered those doors, and with a fifty guineas in your pocket, I’ll be bound, every time that you have walked out of them. Treason is paid high, but the traitor sometimes hangs higher still. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall see—we are evidence, Mr Vanslyperken, and I’ll not be married before I see you well hanged, Mr Vanslyperken. Deary me, Babette,” exclaimed the widow, altering her tone, “I wonder how the corporal is: poor dear man, to be ruled by such a traitorous atomy as he.”“Perhaps he will come ashore, madam,” replied Babette.“No no he will never let him; but, as you say, perhaps he may. Put half-a-dozen bottles of the best beer to the stove—not too near, Babette—he is fond of my beer, and it does one’s heart good to see him drink it, Babette. And, Babette, I’ll just go up and put on something a little tidier. I think he will come—I know he will if he can.”We must leave the widow to decorate her person, and follow Vanslyperken down to the boat, and on board. On his arrival, he went down into the cabin to lock up his money. When Corporal Van Spitter went to the cabin-door, the corporal heard the clanking of the pieces as Vanslyperken counted them, and his bile was raised at the idea of Vanslyperken possessing that which should have been his own. The corporal waited a little, and then knocked. Vanslyperken put away the rest of his money, shut the drawer, and told him to come in.The corporal saluted, and made a request to be allowed to go on shore for an hour or two.“Go on shore! you go on shore, corporal? why you never asked to go on shore before,” replied the suspicious Vanslyperken.“If you please, sir,” replied the corporal, “I wish to pay de people who gave me de board and de lodging ven I vas last on shore.”“Ah, very true, I forgot that corporal. Well, then, you may go on shore; but do not stop long, for the people are much inclined to mutiny, and I cannot do without you.”The corporal quitted the cabin, and was put on shore by two of the men in the small boat. He hastened up to the widow’s house, and was received with open arms. Seated on the squab sofa, with a bottle of beer on the table, and five others all ready at the stove, the widow’s smiles beaming on him, who could be more happy than the Corporal Van Spitter? The blinds were up at the windows, the front door fast to prevent intrusion, and then the widow and he entered into a long colloquy, interrupted occasionally by little amorous dallyings, which reminded you of the wooings of a male and female elephant.We shall give the substance of the conversation. The widow expressed her indignation against Vanslyperken, and her resolution not to be married until he was hanged. The corporal immediately became an interested party, and vowed that he would assist all in his power. He narrated all that had passed since he had left the widow’s, and the supernatural appearance of the dog after he had thrown it overboard. He then pointed out that it was necessary that Vanslyperken should not only be blinded as to the state of matters between them, but that, to entrap him still more, the widow should, if possible, make friends with him. To this the widow unwillingly consented; but as the corporal pointed out that that was the only chance of her occasionally seeing him, and that by his pretending to be in love with Babette, Vanslyperken might be deceived completely, she did consent; the more so, that the greater would be his disappointment at the end, the more complete would be her vengeance. Their plans being arranged, it was then debated whether it would not be better to send some message on board to Vanslyperken, and it was agreed that it should be taken by the corporal. At last all was arranged, the six bottles of beer were finished, and the corporal having been permitted to imprint as many hearty smacks upon the widow’s thick and juicy lips, he returned on board.“Come on board, Mynheer Vanslyperken,” said the corporal, entering the cabin.“Very well, corporal; did you do all you wanted? for we sail again at daylight.”“Yes, Mynheer, and I see somebody I never see before.”“Who was that, corporal?” replied Vanslyperken, for he had been feasting upon the recollections of the fair Portsmouth widow, and was in a very good humour.“One fine Frau, Mynheer Vanslyperken—very fine Frau. Babette came up to me in the street.”“Oh, Babette; well, what did she say?”Hereupon the corporal, as agreed with the widow, entered into a long explanation, stating his Babette had told him that her mistress was very much surprised that Mr Vanslyperken had passed close to the door, and had never come in to call upon her; that her mistress had been quite satisfied with Mr Vanslyperken’s letter, and would wish to see him again; and that he the corporal, had told Babette the dog had been destroyed by him, Mr Vanslyperken, and he hoped he had done right in saying so.“No,” replied Vanslyperken, “you have done wrong, and if you go on shore again, you may just give this answer, that Mr Vanslyperken don’t care a damn for the old woman; that she may carry her carcase to some other market, for Mr Vanslyperken would not touch her with a pair of tongs. Will you recollect that, corporal?”“Yes,” replied the corporal, grinding his teeth at this insult to his betrothed, “yes, Mynheer, I will recollect that. Mein Gott! I shall not forget it.”“Kill my dog, heh!” continued Vanslyperken, talking to himself aloud. “Yes, yes, Frau Vandersloosh, you shall fret to some purpose. I’ll worry down your fat for you. Yes, yes, Madam Vandersloosh, you shall bite your nails to the quick yet. Nothing would please you but Snarleyyow dead at your porch. My dog, indeed!—you may go now, corporal.”“Mein Gott! but ve vill see as well as you, Mynheer Vanslyperken,” muttered the corporal, as he walked forward.After dark, a man came alongside in a small boat, and desired to see Mr Vanslyperken. As soon as he was in the cabin and the door shut, he laid some letters on the table, and with out saying a word went on deck and on shore again. At daybreak the cutter weighed, and ran with a fair wind to Portsmouth.With what a bounding heart did Mr Vanslyperken step into the boat attired in his best! He hardly could prevail upon himself to report his arrival to the admiral, so impatient was he to throw himself at the fair widow’s feet, and claim her promise upon his return. He did so, however, and then proceeded to the house in Castle Street.His heart beat rapidly as he knocked at the door, and he awaited the opening with impatience. At last it was opened, but not by the widow’s servant. “Is Mrs Malcolm at home?” inquired Vanslyperken.“Malcolm, sir!” replied the woman; “do you mean the lady who was living here, and left yesterday?”“Left yesterday!” exclaimed Vanslyperken, hardly able to stand on his feet.“Yes, only yesterday afternoon. Went away with a gentleman.”“A gentleman!” exclaimed Vanslyperken, all amazement.“Yes, sir; pray, sir, be you the officer of the king’s cutter?”“I am!” exclaimed Vanslyperken, leaning against the doorjamb for support.“Then, sir, here be a letter for you.” So saving, the woman pulled up her dirty apron, then her gown, and at last arrived at a queer fustian pocket, out of which she produced a missive, which had been jumbled in company with a bit of wax, a ball of blue worsted, some halfpence, a copper thimble, and a lump of Turkey rhubarb, from all of which companions it had received a variety of hues and colours. Vanslyperken seized the letter as soon as it was produced, and passing by the woman, went into the dining-parlour, where, with feelings of anxiety, he sat down, brushed the perspiration from his forehead, and read as follows:—“My dear, dear, ever dear, Mr Vanslyperken:—“Pity me pity me, O pity me! Alas! how soon is the cup of bliss dashed from the lips of us poor mortals. I can hardly write, hardly hold my pen, or hold my head up. I cannot bear that, from my hand, you should be informed of the utter blight of all our hopes which blossomed so fully. Alas! alas! but it must be. O my head, my poor, poor head—how it swims! I was sitting at the fireside, thinking when you would return, and trying to find out if the wind was fair, when I heard a knock at the door. It was so like yours, that my heart beat, and I ran to the window, but I could not see who it was, so I sat down again. Imagine my surprise, my horror, my vexation, my distress, my agony, when who should come in but my supposed dead husband! I thought I should have died when I saw him. I dropped as it was, down into a swoon, and when I came to my senses, there he was hanging over me; thinking, poor fool, that I had swooned for joy, and kissing me—pah! yes, kissing me. O dear! O dear! My dear Mr Vanslyperken, I thought of you, and what your feelings would be, when you know all this; but there he was alive, and in good health, and now I have nothing more to do but to lie down and die.“It appears that in my ravings I called upon you over and over again, and discovered the real state of my poor bleeding heart, and he was very angry: he packed up everything, and he insisted upon my leaving Portsmouth. Alas! I shall be buried in the north, and never see you again. But why should I, my dear Mr Vanslyperken? what good will come of it? I am a virtuous woman, and will be so: but, O dear! I can write no more.“Farewell, then, farewell! Farewell for ever! Dear Mr Vanslyperken, think no more of your disconsolate, unhappy, heart-broken, miserable:—“Ann Malcolm.“PS. For my sake you will adhere to the good cause; I know you will, my dearest.”Mr Vanslyperken perused this heart-rending epistle, and fell back on his chair almost suffocated. The woman, who had stood in the passage while he read the letter, came to his assistance, and pouring some water into his mouth, and throwing a portion of it over his face, partially revived him. Vanslyperken’s head fell on the table upon his hands, and for some minutes remained in that position. He then rose, folded the letter, put it in his pocket, and staggered out of the house without saying a word.O Nancy Corbett! Nancy Corbett! this was all your doing. You had gained your point in winning over the poor man to commit treason—you had waited till he was so entangled that he could not escape, or in future refuse to obey the orders of the Jacobite party—you had seduced him, Nancy Corbett—you had intoxicated him—in short, Nancy, you had ruined him, and then you threw him over by this insidious and perfidious letter.Vanslyperken walked away, he hardly knew whither—his mind was a chaos. It did so happen, that he took the direction of his mother’s house, and, as he gradually recovered himself, he hastened there to give vent to his feelings. The old woman seldom or ever went out; if she did, it was in the dusk, to purchase, in one half-hour, enough to support existence for a fortnight.She was at home with her door locked, as usual, when he demanded admittance.“Come in, child, come in,” said the old beldame, as with palsied hands she undid the fastenings. “I dreamt of you, last night, Cornelius, and when I dream of others it bodes them no good.”Vanslyperken sat down on a chest, without giving any answer. He put his hand up to his forehead, and groaned in the bitterness of his spirit.“Ah! ah!” said his mother. “I have put my hand up in that way in my time. Yes, yes—when my brain burned—when I had done the deed. What have you done, my child? Pour out your feelings into your mother’s bosom. Tell me all—tell me why—and tell me, did you get any money?”“I have lost everything,” replied Vanslyperken, in a melancholy tone.“Lost everything! then you must begin over again, and take from others till you have recovered all. That’s the way—I’ll have more yet, before I die. I shall not die yet—no, no.”Vanslyperken remained silent for some time. He then, as usual, imparted to his mother all that had occurred.“Well, well, my child; but there is the other one. Gold is gold, one wife is as good—to neglect—as another. My child, never marry a woman for love—she will make a fool of you. You have had a lucky escape—I see you have, Cornelius. But where is the gold you said you took for turning traitor—where is it?”“I shall bring it on shore to-morrow, mother.”“Do, child, do. They may had you out—they may hang you—but they shall never wrest the gold from me. It will be safe—quite safe, with me, as long as I live. I shall not die yet—no, no.”Vanslyperken rose to depart; he was anxious to be aboard.“Go, child, go. I have hopes of you—you have murdered, have you not?”“No, no,” replied Vanslyperken, “he lives yet.”“Then try again. At all events, you have wished to murder, and you have sold your country for gold. Cornelius Vanslyperken, by the hatred I bear the whole world, I feel that I almost love you now:— I see you are my own child. Now go, and mind to-morrow you bring the gold.”Vanslyperken quitted the house, and walked down to go on board again; the loss of the fair widow, all his hopes dashed at once to the ground, his having neglected the widow Vandersloosh, and sent her an insulting message, had only the effect of raising his bile. He vowed vengeance against everybody and everything, especially against Smallbones, whom he was determined he would sacrifice: murder now was no longer horrible to his ideas; on the contrary, there was a pleasure in meditating upon it, and the loss of the expected fortune of the fair Mrs Malcolm only made him more eager to obtain gold, and he contemplated treason as the means of so doing without any feelings of compunction.On his arrival on board, he found an order from the Admiralty to discharge James Salisbury. This added to his choler and his meditations of revenge. Jemmy Ducks had not been forgotten; and he determined not to make known the order until he had punished him for his mutinous expressions; but Moggy had come on board during his absence, and delivered to her husband the letter from the Admiralty notifying his discharge. Vanslyperken sent for Corporal Van Spitter to consult, but the corporal informed him that Jemmy Ducks knew of his discharge. Vanslyperken’s anger was now without bounds. He hastened on deck, and ordered the hands to be turned up for punishment, but Corporal Van Spitter hastened to give warning to Jemmy, who did not pipe the hands when ordered.“Where is that scoundrel, James Salisbury?” cried Vanslyperken.“Here is James Salisbury,” replied Jemmy, coming aft.“Turn the hands up for punishment, sir.”“I don’t belong to the vessel,” replied Jemmy, going forward.“Corporal Van Spitter—where is Corporal Van Spitter?”“Here, sir,” said the corporal, coming up the hatchway in a pretended bustle.“Bring that man, Salisbury, aft.”“Yes, sir,” replied the corporal, going forward with assumed eagerness.But all the ship’s company had resolved that this act of injustice should not be done. Salisbury was no longer in the service; and although they knew the corporal to be on their side they surrounded Jemmy on the forecastle, and the corporal came aft, declaring that he could not get near the prisoner. As he made this report a loud female voice was heard alongside.“So, you’d flog my Jemmy, would you, you varmint? But you won’t though; he’s not in the service, and you sha’n’t touch him; but I’ll tell you what, keep yourself on board, Mr Leeftenant, for if I cotches you on shore, I’ll make you sing in a way you don’t think on. Yes, flog my Jemmy, my dear, darling duck of a Jemmy—stop a minute—I’m coming aboard.”Suiting the action to the word, for the sailors had beckoned to Moggy to come on board, she boldly pulled alongside, and skipping over, she went up direct to Mr Vanslyperken. “I’ll just trouble you for my husband, an no mistake,” cried Moggy.“Corporal Van Spitter, turn that woman out of the ship.”“Turn me, a lawful married woman, who comes arter my own husband with the orders of your masters, Mr Leeftenant!—I’d like to see the man. I axes you for my Jemmy, and I’ll trouble you just to hand him here—if not, look out for squalls, that’s all. I demand my husband in the king’s name, so just hand him over,” continued Moggy, putting her nose so close to that of Mr Vanslyperken that they nearly touched, and then, after a few seconds’ pause, for Vanslyperken could not speak for rage, she added, “Well, you’re a nice leeftenant, I don’t think.”“Send for your marines, Corporal Van Spitter.”“I have, Mynheer Vanslyperken,” replied the corporal, standing erect and saluting; “and if you please, sir, they have joined the ship’s company. You and I, Mynheer, are left to ourselves.”“I’ll just trouble you for my little duck of a husband,” repeated Moggy. Vanslyperken was at a nonplus. The crew were in a state of mutiny, the marines had joined them—what could he do? To appeal to the higher authorities would be committing himself, for he knew that he could not flog a man who no longer belonged to the vessel.“I wants my husband,” repeated Moggy, putting her arms a-kimbo.Mr Vanslyperken made no reply. The corporal waited for orders, and Moggy waited for her husband.Just at this moment, Snarleyyow, who had followed his master on deck, had climbed up the main ladder, and was looking over the gunwale on the side where the boat lay in which Moggy came on board. Perceiving this, with the quickness of thought she ran at the dog and pushed him over the side into the boat, in which he fell with a heavy bound; she then descended the side, ordered the man to shove off, and kept at a short distance from the cutter with the dog in her possession.“Now, now,” cried Moggy, slapping her elbow, “hav’n’t I got the dog, and won’t I cut him up into sassingers, and eat him in the bargain, if you won’t give me my dear, darling Jemmy, and all his papers, in the bargain?”“Man the boat,” cried Vanslyperken. But no one would obey the order.“Look here,” cried Moggy, flourishing a knife which she had borrowed from the man in the boat. “This is for the cur; and unless you let my Jemmy go, ay, and directly too—”“Mercy, woman!” exclaimed Vanslyperken. “Do not harm the poor dog, and your husband shall go on shore.”“With his papers all ready to receive his pay?” inquired Moggy.“Yes, with his papers and everything, if you’ll not harm the poor beast.”“Be quick about them, for my fingers are itching, I can tell you,” replied Moggy. “Recollect, I will have my Jemmy, and cut the dog’s throat in the bargain, if you don’t look sharp.”“Directly, good woman, directly,” cried Vanslyperken: “be patient.”“Good woman! no more a good woman than yourself,” replied Moggy.Vanslyperken desired the corporal to see Jemmy Ducks in the boat, and went down into the cabin to sign his pay order. He then returned, for he was dreadfully alarmed lest Moggy should put her threats into execution.Jemmy’s chest and hammocks were in the boat. He shook hands with his shipmates, and receiving the papers and his discharge from Corporal Van Spitter, and exchanging an intelligent glance with him, he went down the side. The boat pulled round the stern to take in Moggy, who then ordered the waterman to put the dog on board again.“My word’s as good as my bond,” observed Moggy, as she stepped into the other boat, “and so there’s your cur again, Mr Leeftenant; but mark my words: I owe you one, and I’ll pay you with interest before I have done with you.”Jemmy then raised his pipe to his lips, and sounded its loudest note: the men gave him three cheers, and Mr Vanslyperken, in a paroxysm of fury, ran down into his cabin.

So soon as the cutter had sailed, Moggy hastened to the pretended widow to report the answer of her husband. Nancy considered that there was much sound judgment in what Jemmy had said, and immediately repaired to the house of the Jew, Lazarus, to whom she communicated her wishes. At that time there were many people high in office who secretly favoured King James, and the links of communication between such humble individuals as we are treating of, with those in power, although distant, were perfect.

In a few days, an order came down for the discharge of James Salisbury from the cutter Yungfrau, and the letter the same day was put into the hands of the delighted Moggy.

Mr Vanslyperken made his short passage to the Zuyder Zee, and anchored as usual; and when he had anchored, he proceeded to go on shore. Previously, however, to his stepping into the boat, the ship’s company came aft, with Jemmy at their head, to know whether they might have leave on shore, as they were not very well pleased at their liberty having been stopped at Portsmouth.

Mr Vanslyperken very politely told them that he would see them all at the devil first, and then stepped into his boat; he at once proceeded to the house of the Jesuit, and this time, much to his satisfaction, without having been perceived, as he thought, by the widow Vandersloosh and Babette, who did not appear at the door. Having delivered his despatches, and received his customary fee, Mr Vanslyperken mentioned the difficulty of his coming to the house, as he was watched by some people opposite, and inquired if he could have the letters sent under cover to himself by some trusty hand, mentioning the ill-will of the parties in question. To this the Jesuit consented, and Vanslyperken took his leave; but on leaving the house he was again annoyed by the broad form of the widow, with Babette, as usual, at her shoulder, with their eyes fixed upon him. Without attempting a recognition, for Vanslyperken cared little for the opinion of the Frau Vandersloosh, now that he was accepted by the fair widow of Portsmouth, Mr Vanslyperken walked quietly away.

“Ah, very well, Mr Vanslyperken, very well,” exclaimed the Frau Vandersloosh, as he pursued his way at a rapid rate; “very well, Mr Vanslyperken—we shall see—three times have you entered those doors, and with a fifty guineas in your pocket, I’ll be bound, every time that you have walked out of them. Treason is paid high, but the traitor sometimes hangs higher still. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall see—we are evidence, Mr Vanslyperken, and I’ll not be married before I see you well hanged, Mr Vanslyperken. Deary me, Babette,” exclaimed the widow, altering her tone, “I wonder how the corporal is: poor dear man, to be ruled by such a traitorous atomy as he.”

“Perhaps he will come ashore, madam,” replied Babette.

“No no he will never let him; but, as you say, perhaps he may. Put half-a-dozen bottles of the best beer to the stove—not too near, Babette—he is fond of my beer, and it does one’s heart good to see him drink it, Babette. And, Babette, I’ll just go up and put on something a little tidier. I think he will come—I know he will if he can.”

We must leave the widow to decorate her person, and follow Vanslyperken down to the boat, and on board. On his arrival, he went down into the cabin to lock up his money. When Corporal Van Spitter went to the cabin-door, the corporal heard the clanking of the pieces as Vanslyperken counted them, and his bile was raised at the idea of Vanslyperken possessing that which should have been his own. The corporal waited a little, and then knocked. Vanslyperken put away the rest of his money, shut the drawer, and told him to come in.

The corporal saluted, and made a request to be allowed to go on shore for an hour or two.

“Go on shore! you go on shore, corporal? why you never asked to go on shore before,” replied the suspicious Vanslyperken.

“If you please, sir,” replied the corporal, “I wish to pay de people who gave me de board and de lodging ven I vas last on shore.”

“Ah, very true, I forgot that corporal. Well, then, you may go on shore; but do not stop long, for the people are much inclined to mutiny, and I cannot do without you.”

The corporal quitted the cabin, and was put on shore by two of the men in the small boat. He hastened up to the widow’s house, and was received with open arms. Seated on the squab sofa, with a bottle of beer on the table, and five others all ready at the stove, the widow’s smiles beaming on him, who could be more happy than the Corporal Van Spitter? The blinds were up at the windows, the front door fast to prevent intrusion, and then the widow and he entered into a long colloquy, interrupted occasionally by little amorous dallyings, which reminded you of the wooings of a male and female elephant.

We shall give the substance of the conversation. The widow expressed her indignation against Vanslyperken, and her resolution not to be married until he was hanged. The corporal immediately became an interested party, and vowed that he would assist all in his power. He narrated all that had passed since he had left the widow’s, and the supernatural appearance of the dog after he had thrown it overboard. He then pointed out that it was necessary that Vanslyperken should not only be blinded as to the state of matters between them, but that, to entrap him still more, the widow should, if possible, make friends with him. To this the widow unwillingly consented; but as the corporal pointed out that that was the only chance of her occasionally seeing him, and that by his pretending to be in love with Babette, Vanslyperken might be deceived completely, she did consent; the more so, that the greater would be his disappointment at the end, the more complete would be her vengeance. Their plans being arranged, it was then debated whether it would not be better to send some message on board to Vanslyperken, and it was agreed that it should be taken by the corporal. At last all was arranged, the six bottles of beer were finished, and the corporal having been permitted to imprint as many hearty smacks upon the widow’s thick and juicy lips, he returned on board.

“Come on board, Mynheer Vanslyperken,” said the corporal, entering the cabin.

“Very well, corporal; did you do all you wanted? for we sail again at daylight.”

“Yes, Mynheer, and I see somebody I never see before.”

“Who was that, corporal?” replied Vanslyperken, for he had been feasting upon the recollections of the fair Portsmouth widow, and was in a very good humour.

“One fine Frau, Mynheer Vanslyperken—very fine Frau. Babette came up to me in the street.”

“Oh, Babette; well, what did she say?”

Hereupon the corporal, as agreed with the widow, entered into a long explanation, stating his Babette had told him that her mistress was very much surprised that Mr Vanslyperken had passed close to the door, and had never come in to call upon her; that her mistress had been quite satisfied with Mr Vanslyperken’s letter, and would wish to see him again; and that he the corporal, had told Babette the dog had been destroyed by him, Mr Vanslyperken, and he hoped he had done right in saying so.

“No,” replied Vanslyperken, “you have done wrong, and if you go on shore again, you may just give this answer, that Mr Vanslyperken don’t care a damn for the old woman; that she may carry her carcase to some other market, for Mr Vanslyperken would not touch her with a pair of tongs. Will you recollect that, corporal?”

“Yes,” replied the corporal, grinding his teeth at this insult to his betrothed, “yes, Mynheer, I will recollect that. Mein Gott! I shall not forget it.”

“Kill my dog, heh!” continued Vanslyperken, talking to himself aloud. “Yes, yes, Frau Vandersloosh, you shall fret to some purpose. I’ll worry down your fat for you. Yes, yes, Madam Vandersloosh, you shall bite your nails to the quick yet. Nothing would please you but Snarleyyow dead at your porch. My dog, indeed!—you may go now, corporal.”

“Mein Gott! but ve vill see as well as you, Mynheer Vanslyperken,” muttered the corporal, as he walked forward.

After dark, a man came alongside in a small boat, and desired to see Mr Vanslyperken. As soon as he was in the cabin and the door shut, he laid some letters on the table, and with out saying a word went on deck and on shore again. At daybreak the cutter weighed, and ran with a fair wind to Portsmouth.

With what a bounding heart did Mr Vanslyperken step into the boat attired in his best! He hardly could prevail upon himself to report his arrival to the admiral, so impatient was he to throw himself at the fair widow’s feet, and claim her promise upon his return. He did so, however, and then proceeded to the house in Castle Street.

His heart beat rapidly as he knocked at the door, and he awaited the opening with impatience. At last it was opened, but not by the widow’s servant. “Is Mrs Malcolm at home?” inquired Vanslyperken.

“Malcolm, sir!” replied the woman; “do you mean the lady who was living here, and left yesterday?”

“Left yesterday!” exclaimed Vanslyperken, hardly able to stand on his feet.

“Yes, only yesterday afternoon. Went away with a gentleman.”

“A gentleman!” exclaimed Vanslyperken, all amazement.

“Yes, sir; pray, sir, be you the officer of the king’s cutter?”

“I am!” exclaimed Vanslyperken, leaning against the doorjamb for support.

“Then, sir, here be a letter for you.” So saving, the woman pulled up her dirty apron, then her gown, and at last arrived at a queer fustian pocket, out of which she produced a missive, which had been jumbled in company with a bit of wax, a ball of blue worsted, some halfpence, a copper thimble, and a lump of Turkey rhubarb, from all of which companions it had received a variety of hues and colours. Vanslyperken seized the letter as soon as it was produced, and passing by the woman, went into the dining-parlour, where, with feelings of anxiety, he sat down, brushed the perspiration from his forehead, and read as follows:—

“My dear, dear, ever dear, Mr Vanslyperken:—“Pity me pity me, O pity me! Alas! how soon is the cup of bliss dashed from the lips of us poor mortals. I can hardly write, hardly hold my pen, or hold my head up. I cannot bear that, from my hand, you should be informed of the utter blight of all our hopes which blossomed so fully. Alas! alas! but it must be. O my head, my poor, poor head—how it swims! I was sitting at the fireside, thinking when you would return, and trying to find out if the wind was fair, when I heard a knock at the door. It was so like yours, that my heart beat, and I ran to the window, but I could not see who it was, so I sat down again. Imagine my surprise, my horror, my vexation, my distress, my agony, when who should come in but my supposed dead husband! I thought I should have died when I saw him. I dropped as it was, down into a swoon, and when I came to my senses, there he was hanging over me; thinking, poor fool, that I had swooned for joy, and kissing me—pah! yes, kissing me. O dear! O dear! My dear Mr Vanslyperken, I thought of you, and what your feelings would be, when you know all this; but there he was alive, and in good health, and now I have nothing more to do but to lie down and die.“It appears that in my ravings I called upon you over and over again, and discovered the real state of my poor bleeding heart, and he was very angry: he packed up everything, and he insisted upon my leaving Portsmouth. Alas! I shall be buried in the north, and never see you again. But why should I, my dear Mr Vanslyperken? what good will come of it? I am a virtuous woman, and will be so: but, O dear! I can write no more.“Farewell, then, farewell! Farewell for ever! Dear Mr Vanslyperken, think no more of your disconsolate, unhappy, heart-broken, miserable:—“Ann Malcolm.“PS. For my sake you will adhere to the good cause; I know you will, my dearest.”

“My dear, dear, ever dear, Mr Vanslyperken:—

“Pity me pity me, O pity me! Alas! how soon is the cup of bliss dashed from the lips of us poor mortals. I can hardly write, hardly hold my pen, or hold my head up. I cannot bear that, from my hand, you should be informed of the utter blight of all our hopes which blossomed so fully. Alas! alas! but it must be. O my head, my poor, poor head—how it swims! I was sitting at the fireside, thinking when you would return, and trying to find out if the wind was fair, when I heard a knock at the door. It was so like yours, that my heart beat, and I ran to the window, but I could not see who it was, so I sat down again. Imagine my surprise, my horror, my vexation, my distress, my agony, when who should come in but my supposed dead husband! I thought I should have died when I saw him. I dropped as it was, down into a swoon, and when I came to my senses, there he was hanging over me; thinking, poor fool, that I had swooned for joy, and kissing me—pah! yes, kissing me. O dear! O dear! My dear Mr Vanslyperken, I thought of you, and what your feelings would be, when you know all this; but there he was alive, and in good health, and now I have nothing more to do but to lie down and die.

“It appears that in my ravings I called upon you over and over again, and discovered the real state of my poor bleeding heart, and he was very angry: he packed up everything, and he insisted upon my leaving Portsmouth. Alas! I shall be buried in the north, and never see you again. But why should I, my dear Mr Vanslyperken? what good will come of it? I am a virtuous woman, and will be so: but, O dear! I can write no more.

“Farewell, then, farewell! Farewell for ever! Dear Mr Vanslyperken, think no more of your disconsolate, unhappy, heart-broken, miserable:—

“Ann Malcolm.

“PS. For my sake you will adhere to the good cause; I know you will, my dearest.”

Mr Vanslyperken perused this heart-rending epistle, and fell back on his chair almost suffocated. The woman, who had stood in the passage while he read the letter, came to his assistance, and pouring some water into his mouth, and throwing a portion of it over his face, partially revived him. Vanslyperken’s head fell on the table upon his hands, and for some minutes remained in that position. He then rose, folded the letter, put it in his pocket, and staggered out of the house without saying a word.

O Nancy Corbett! Nancy Corbett! this was all your doing. You had gained your point in winning over the poor man to commit treason—you had waited till he was so entangled that he could not escape, or in future refuse to obey the orders of the Jacobite party—you had seduced him, Nancy Corbett—you had intoxicated him—in short, Nancy, you had ruined him, and then you threw him over by this insidious and perfidious letter.

Vanslyperken walked away, he hardly knew whither—his mind was a chaos. It did so happen, that he took the direction of his mother’s house, and, as he gradually recovered himself, he hastened there to give vent to his feelings. The old woman seldom or ever went out; if she did, it was in the dusk, to purchase, in one half-hour, enough to support existence for a fortnight.

She was at home with her door locked, as usual, when he demanded admittance.

“Come in, child, come in,” said the old beldame, as with palsied hands she undid the fastenings. “I dreamt of you, last night, Cornelius, and when I dream of others it bodes them no good.”

Vanslyperken sat down on a chest, without giving any answer. He put his hand up to his forehead, and groaned in the bitterness of his spirit.

“Ah! ah!” said his mother. “I have put my hand up in that way in my time. Yes, yes—when my brain burned—when I had done the deed. What have you done, my child? Pour out your feelings into your mother’s bosom. Tell me all—tell me why—and tell me, did you get any money?”

“I have lost everything,” replied Vanslyperken, in a melancholy tone.

“Lost everything! then you must begin over again, and take from others till you have recovered all. That’s the way—I’ll have more yet, before I die. I shall not die yet—no, no.”

Vanslyperken remained silent for some time. He then, as usual, imparted to his mother all that had occurred.

“Well, well, my child; but there is the other one. Gold is gold, one wife is as good—to neglect—as another. My child, never marry a woman for love—she will make a fool of you. You have had a lucky escape—I see you have, Cornelius. But where is the gold you said you took for turning traitor—where is it?”

“I shall bring it on shore to-morrow, mother.”

“Do, child, do. They may had you out—they may hang you—but they shall never wrest the gold from me. It will be safe—quite safe, with me, as long as I live. I shall not die yet—no, no.”

Vanslyperken rose to depart; he was anxious to be aboard.

“Go, child, go. I have hopes of you—you have murdered, have you not?”

“No, no,” replied Vanslyperken, “he lives yet.”

“Then try again. At all events, you have wished to murder, and you have sold your country for gold. Cornelius Vanslyperken, by the hatred I bear the whole world, I feel that I almost love you now:— I see you are my own child. Now go, and mind to-morrow you bring the gold.”

Vanslyperken quitted the house, and walked down to go on board again; the loss of the fair widow, all his hopes dashed at once to the ground, his having neglected the widow Vandersloosh, and sent her an insulting message, had only the effect of raising his bile. He vowed vengeance against everybody and everything, especially against Smallbones, whom he was determined he would sacrifice: murder now was no longer horrible to his ideas; on the contrary, there was a pleasure in meditating upon it, and the loss of the expected fortune of the fair Mrs Malcolm only made him more eager to obtain gold, and he contemplated treason as the means of so doing without any feelings of compunction.

On his arrival on board, he found an order from the Admiralty to discharge James Salisbury. This added to his choler and his meditations of revenge. Jemmy Ducks had not been forgotten; and he determined not to make known the order until he had punished him for his mutinous expressions; but Moggy had come on board during his absence, and delivered to her husband the letter from the Admiralty notifying his discharge. Vanslyperken sent for Corporal Van Spitter to consult, but the corporal informed him that Jemmy Ducks knew of his discharge. Vanslyperken’s anger was now without bounds. He hastened on deck, and ordered the hands to be turned up for punishment, but Corporal Van Spitter hastened to give warning to Jemmy, who did not pipe the hands when ordered.

“Where is that scoundrel, James Salisbury?” cried Vanslyperken.

“Here is James Salisbury,” replied Jemmy, coming aft.

“Turn the hands up for punishment, sir.”

“I don’t belong to the vessel,” replied Jemmy, going forward.

“Corporal Van Spitter—where is Corporal Van Spitter?”

“Here, sir,” said the corporal, coming up the hatchway in a pretended bustle.

“Bring that man, Salisbury, aft.”

“Yes, sir,” replied the corporal, going forward with assumed eagerness.

But all the ship’s company had resolved that this act of injustice should not be done. Salisbury was no longer in the service; and although they knew the corporal to be on their side they surrounded Jemmy on the forecastle, and the corporal came aft, declaring that he could not get near the prisoner. As he made this report a loud female voice was heard alongside.

“So, you’d flog my Jemmy, would you, you varmint? But you won’t though; he’s not in the service, and you sha’n’t touch him; but I’ll tell you what, keep yourself on board, Mr Leeftenant, for if I cotches you on shore, I’ll make you sing in a way you don’t think on. Yes, flog my Jemmy, my dear, darling duck of a Jemmy—stop a minute—I’m coming aboard.”

Suiting the action to the word, for the sailors had beckoned to Moggy to come on board, she boldly pulled alongside, and skipping over, she went up direct to Mr Vanslyperken. “I’ll just trouble you for my husband, an no mistake,” cried Moggy.

“Corporal Van Spitter, turn that woman out of the ship.”

“Turn me, a lawful married woman, who comes arter my own husband with the orders of your masters, Mr Leeftenant!—I’d like to see the man. I axes you for my Jemmy, and I’ll trouble you just to hand him here—if not, look out for squalls, that’s all. I demand my husband in the king’s name, so just hand him over,” continued Moggy, putting her nose so close to that of Mr Vanslyperken that they nearly touched, and then, after a few seconds’ pause, for Vanslyperken could not speak for rage, she added, “Well, you’re a nice leeftenant, I don’t think.”

“Send for your marines, Corporal Van Spitter.”

“I have, Mynheer Vanslyperken,” replied the corporal, standing erect and saluting; “and if you please, sir, they have joined the ship’s company. You and I, Mynheer, are left to ourselves.”

“I’ll just trouble you for my little duck of a husband,” repeated Moggy. Vanslyperken was at a nonplus. The crew were in a state of mutiny, the marines had joined them—what could he do? To appeal to the higher authorities would be committing himself, for he knew that he could not flog a man who no longer belonged to the vessel.

“I wants my husband,” repeated Moggy, putting her arms a-kimbo.

Mr Vanslyperken made no reply. The corporal waited for orders, and Moggy waited for her husband.

Just at this moment, Snarleyyow, who had followed his master on deck, had climbed up the main ladder, and was looking over the gunwale on the side where the boat lay in which Moggy came on board. Perceiving this, with the quickness of thought she ran at the dog and pushed him over the side into the boat, in which he fell with a heavy bound; she then descended the side, ordered the man to shove off, and kept at a short distance from the cutter with the dog in her possession.

“Now, now,” cried Moggy, slapping her elbow, “hav’n’t I got the dog, and won’t I cut him up into sassingers, and eat him in the bargain, if you won’t give me my dear, darling Jemmy, and all his papers, in the bargain?”

“Man the boat,” cried Vanslyperken. But no one would obey the order.

“Look here,” cried Moggy, flourishing a knife which she had borrowed from the man in the boat. “This is for the cur; and unless you let my Jemmy go, ay, and directly too—”

“Mercy, woman!” exclaimed Vanslyperken. “Do not harm the poor dog, and your husband shall go on shore.”

“With his papers all ready to receive his pay?” inquired Moggy.

“Yes, with his papers and everything, if you’ll not harm the poor beast.”

“Be quick about them, for my fingers are itching, I can tell you,” replied Moggy. “Recollect, I will have my Jemmy, and cut the dog’s throat in the bargain, if you don’t look sharp.”

“Directly, good woman, directly,” cried Vanslyperken: “be patient.”

“Good woman! no more a good woman than yourself,” replied Moggy.

Vanslyperken desired the corporal to see Jemmy Ducks in the boat, and went down into the cabin to sign his pay order. He then returned, for he was dreadfully alarmed lest Moggy should put her threats into execution.

Jemmy’s chest and hammocks were in the boat. He shook hands with his shipmates, and receiving the papers and his discharge from Corporal Van Spitter, and exchanging an intelligent glance with him, he went down the side. The boat pulled round the stern to take in Moggy, who then ordered the waterman to put the dog on board again.

“My word’s as good as my bond,” observed Moggy, as she stepped into the other boat, “and so there’s your cur again, Mr Leeftenant; but mark my words: I owe you one, and I’ll pay you with interest before I have done with you.”

Jemmy then raised his pipe to his lips, and sounded its loudest note: the men gave him three cheers, and Mr Vanslyperken, in a paroxysm of fury, ran down into his cabin.

Chapter Twenty Five.In which Mr Vanslyperken proves that he has a Great Aversion to Cold Steel.Mr Vanslyperken had been so much upset by the events of the day, that he had quite forgotten to deliver the letters entrusted to him to the care of the Jew Lazarus; weighty indeed must have been the events which could have prevented him from going to receive money.He threw himself on his bed with combined feelings of rage and mortification, and slept a feverish sleep in his clothes.His dreams were terrifying, and he awoke in the morning unrefreshed. The mutiny and defection of the ship’s company, he ascribed entirely to the machinations of Smallbones, whom he now hated with a feeling so intense, that he felt he could have ordered him in the open day. Such were the first impulses that his mind resorted to upon his waking, and after some little demur, he sent for Corporal Van Spitter, to consult with him. The corporal made his appearance, all humility and respect, and was again sounded as to what could be done with Smallbones, Vanslyperken hinting very clearly what his wishes tended to.Corporal Van Spitter, who had made up his mind how to act after their previous conference, hummed and hawed, and appeared unwilling to enter upon the subject, until he was pushed by his commandant, when the corporal observed there was something very strange about the lad, and hinted at his being sent in the cutter on purpose to annoy his superior.“That on that night upon which he had stated that he had seen the devil three times, once it was sitting on the head-clew of Smallbones’s hammock, and at another time that he was evidently in converse with the lad, and that there were strange stories among the ship’s company, who considered that both Smallbones and the dog were supernatural agents.”“My dog—Snarleyyow—a—what do you mean, corporal?”The corporal then told Mr Vanslyperken that he had discovered that several attempts had been made to drown the dog, but without success; and that among the rest, he had been thrown by Smallbones into the canal, tied up in a bread-bag, and had miraculously made his appearance again.“The villain!” exclaimed Vanslyperken. “That then was the paving-stone. Now I’ve found it out, I’ll cut his very soul out of his body.”But the corporal protested against open measures, as, although it was known by his own confession to be the case, it could not be proved, as none of the men would tell.“Besides, he did not think that any further attempts would be made, as Smallbones had been heard to laugh and say, ‘that water would never hurt him or the dog,’ which observation of the lad’s had first made the ship’s company suspect.”“Very true,” exclaimed Vanslyperken; “he floated out to the Nab buoy and back again, when I—” Here Mr Vanslyperken stopped short, and he felt a dread of supernatural powers in the lad, when he thought of what had passed and what he now heard.“So they think my dog—”“De tyfel,” replied the corporal.Vanslyperken was not very sorry for this, as it would be the dog’s protection; but at the same time he was not at all easy about Smallbones; for Mr Vanslyperken, as we have observed before, was both superstitions and cowardly.“Water won’t hurt him, did you say, corporal?”“Yes, mynheer.”“Then I’ll try what a pistol will do, by heavens!” replied Vanslyperken. “He threw my dog into the canal, and I’ll be revenged, if revenge is to be had. That will do, corporal, you may go now,” continued Vanslyperken, who actually foamed with rage.The corporal left the cabin, and it having occurred to Vanslyperken that he had not delivered the letters, he dressed himself to go on shore.After having once more read through the letter of the fair widow, which, at the same time that it crushed all his hopes, from its kind tenor poured some balm into his wounded heart, he sighed, folded it up, put it away, and went on deck.“Pipe the gig away,” said Mr Vanslyperken.“No pipe,” replied Short.This reminded Mr Vanslyperken that Jemmy Ducks had left the ship, and vexed him again. He ordered the word to be passed to the boat’s crew, and when it was manned he went on shore. As soon as he arrived at the house of Lazarus, he knocked, but it was some time before he was admitted; and the chain was still kept on the door, which was opened two inches to allow a scrutiny previous to entrance.“Ah! it vash you, vash it, good sar? you may come in,” said the Jew.Vanslyperken walked into the parlour, where he found seated a young man of very handsome exterior, dressed according to the fashion of the cavaliers of the time. His hat, with a plume of black feathers, lay upon the table. This personage continued in his careless and easy position without rising when Vanslyperken entered, neither did he ask him to sit down.“You are the officer of the cutter?” inquired the young man, with an air of authority not very pleasing to the lieutenant.“Yes,” replied Vanslyperken, looking hard and indignantly in return.“And you arrived yesterday morning? Pray, sir, why were not those letters delivered at once?”“Because I had no time,” replied Vanslyperken, sulkily.“No time, sir! what do you mean by that? Your time is ours, sir. You are paid for it; for one shilling that you receive from the rascally Government you condescend to serve and to betray, you receive from us pounds. Let not this happen again, my (dear) sir, or you may repent it.”Vanslyperken was not in the best of humours, and he angrily replied, “Then you may get others to do your work, for this is the last I’ll do; pay me for them, and let me go.”“The last you’ll do! you’ll do as much as we please, and as long as we please. You are doubly in our power, scoundrel! You betray the Government you serve, but you shall not betray us. If you had a thousand lives, you are a dead man the very moment you flinch from or neglect our work. Do your work faithfully, and you will be rewarded; but either you must do our work or die. You have but to choose.”“Indeed!” replied Vanslyperken.“Yes, indeed! And to prove that I am in earnest, I shall punish you for your neglect, by not paying you this time. You may leave the letters and go. But mind that you give us timely notice when you are ordered back to the Hague, for we shall want you.”Vanslyperken, indignant at this language, obeyed his first impulse, which was to snatch up the letters and attempt to leave the room.“No pay, no letters!” exclaimed he, opening the door.“Fool!” cried the young man with a bitter sneer, not stirring from his seat.Vanslyperken opened the door, and to his amazement there were three swords pointed to his heart. He started back.“Will you leave the letters now?” observed the young man. Vanslyperken threw them down on the table with every sign of perturbation, and remained silent and pale.“And now perfectly understand me, sir,” said the young cavalier. “We make a great distinction between those who have joined the good cause, or rather, who have continued steadfast to their king from feelings of honour and loyalty, and those who are to be bought and sold. We honour the first, we despise the latter. Their services we require, and, therefore, we employ them. A traitor to the sovereign from whom he receives his pay is not likely to be trusted by us. I know your character, that is sufficient. Now, although the Government make no difference between one party or the other, with the exception that some may be honoured with the axe instead of the gibbet, you will observe what we do; and as our lives are already forfeited by attainder, we make no scruple of putting out of the way any one whom we may even suspect of betraying us. Nay, more; we can furnish the Government with sufficient proofs against you without any risk to ourselves, for we have many partisans who are still in office. Weigh now well all you have heard, and be assured, that although we despise you, and use you only as our tool, we will have faithful and diligent service; if not, your life is forfeited.”Vanslyperken heard all this with amazement and confusion: he immediately perceived that he was in a snare, from which escape was impossible. His coward heart sank within him, and he promised implicit obedience.“Nevertheless, before you go you will sign your adherence to King James and his successors,” observed the young cavalier. “Lazarus, bring in writing-materials.” The Jew, who was at the door, complied with the order.The cavalier took the pen and wrote down a certain form, in which Vanslyperken dedicated his life and means, as he valued his salvation, to the service of the exiled monarch.“Read that, and sign it, sir,” said the cavalier, passing it over to Vanslyperken.The lieutenant hesitated. “Your life depends upon it,” continued the young man coolly; “do as you please.”Vanslyperken turned round; the swords were still pointed, and the eyes of those which held them were fixed upon the cavalier, awaiting his orders. Vanslyperken perceived that there was no escape. With a trembling hand he affixed his signature.“’Tis well:— now observe, that at the first suspicion, or want of zeal, even, on your part, this will be forwarded through the proper channel, and even if you should escape the Government, you will not escape us: our name is Legion. You may go, sir;—do your work well, and you shall be well rewarded.”Vanslyperken hastened away, passing the swords, the points of which were now lowered for his passage. Perhaps he never till then felt how contemptible was a traitor. Indignant, mortified, and confused, still trembling with fear, and, at the same time, burning with rage, he hastened to his mother’s house, for he had brought on shore with him the money which he had received at Amsterdam.“What! more vexation, child?” said the old woman, looking Vanslyperken in the face as he entered.“Yes,” retorted Vanslyperken, folding his arms as he sat down.It was some time before he would communicate to his mother all that happened. At last the truth, which even he felt ashamed of, was drawn out of him.“Now may all the curses that ever befell a man fall on his head!” exclaimed Vanslyperken as he finished. “I would give soul and body to be revenged on him.”“That’s my own child—that is what I have done, Cornelius, but I shall not die yet awhile. I like to hear you say that; but it must not be yet. Let them plot and plot, and when they think that all is ripe, and all is ready, and all will succeed—then—then is the time to revenge yourself—not yet—but for that revenge, death on the gallows would be sweet.”Vanslyperken shuddered:— he did not feel how death could in any way be sweet;—for some time he was wrapt up in his own thoughts.“Have you brought the gold at last?” inquired the old woman.“I have,” replied Vanslyperken, who raised himself and produced it. “I ought to have had more—but I’ll be revenged.”“Yes, yes, but get more gold first. Never kill the goose that lays the golden egg, my child,” replied the old woman as she turned the key.So many sudden and mortifying occurrences had taken place in forty-eight hours that Vanslyperken’s brain was in a whirl. He felt goaded to do something, but he did not know what. Perhaps it would have been suicide had he not been a coward. He left his mother without speaking another word, and walked down to the boat, revolving first one and then another incident in his mind. At last, his ideas appeared to concentrate themselves into one point, which was a firm and raging animosity against Smallbones; and with the darkest intentions he hastened on board and went down into his cabin.What was the result of these feelings will be seen in the ensuing chapter.

Mr Vanslyperken had been so much upset by the events of the day, that he had quite forgotten to deliver the letters entrusted to him to the care of the Jew Lazarus; weighty indeed must have been the events which could have prevented him from going to receive money.

He threw himself on his bed with combined feelings of rage and mortification, and slept a feverish sleep in his clothes.

His dreams were terrifying, and he awoke in the morning unrefreshed. The mutiny and defection of the ship’s company, he ascribed entirely to the machinations of Smallbones, whom he now hated with a feeling so intense, that he felt he could have ordered him in the open day. Such were the first impulses that his mind resorted to upon his waking, and after some little demur, he sent for Corporal Van Spitter, to consult with him. The corporal made his appearance, all humility and respect, and was again sounded as to what could be done with Smallbones, Vanslyperken hinting very clearly what his wishes tended to.

Corporal Van Spitter, who had made up his mind how to act after their previous conference, hummed and hawed, and appeared unwilling to enter upon the subject, until he was pushed by his commandant, when the corporal observed there was something very strange about the lad, and hinted at his being sent in the cutter on purpose to annoy his superior.

“That on that night upon which he had stated that he had seen the devil three times, once it was sitting on the head-clew of Smallbones’s hammock, and at another time that he was evidently in converse with the lad, and that there were strange stories among the ship’s company, who considered that both Smallbones and the dog were supernatural agents.”

“My dog—Snarleyyow—a—what do you mean, corporal?”

The corporal then told Mr Vanslyperken that he had discovered that several attempts had been made to drown the dog, but without success; and that among the rest, he had been thrown by Smallbones into the canal, tied up in a bread-bag, and had miraculously made his appearance again.

“The villain!” exclaimed Vanslyperken. “That then was the paving-stone. Now I’ve found it out, I’ll cut his very soul out of his body.”

But the corporal protested against open measures, as, although it was known by his own confession to be the case, it could not be proved, as none of the men would tell.

“Besides, he did not think that any further attempts would be made, as Smallbones had been heard to laugh and say, ‘that water would never hurt him or the dog,’ which observation of the lad’s had first made the ship’s company suspect.”

“Very true,” exclaimed Vanslyperken; “he floated out to the Nab buoy and back again, when I—” Here Mr Vanslyperken stopped short, and he felt a dread of supernatural powers in the lad, when he thought of what had passed and what he now heard.

“So they think my dog—”

“De tyfel,” replied the corporal.

Vanslyperken was not very sorry for this, as it would be the dog’s protection; but at the same time he was not at all easy about Smallbones; for Mr Vanslyperken, as we have observed before, was both superstitions and cowardly.

“Water won’t hurt him, did you say, corporal?”

“Yes, mynheer.”

“Then I’ll try what a pistol will do, by heavens!” replied Vanslyperken. “He threw my dog into the canal, and I’ll be revenged, if revenge is to be had. That will do, corporal, you may go now,” continued Vanslyperken, who actually foamed with rage.

The corporal left the cabin, and it having occurred to Vanslyperken that he had not delivered the letters, he dressed himself to go on shore.

After having once more read through the letter of the fair widow, which, at the same time that it crushed all his hopes, from its kind tenor poured some balm into his wounded heart, he sighed, folded it up, put it away, and went on deck.

“Pipe the gig away,” said Mr Vanslyperken.

“No pipe,” replied Short.

This reminded Mr Vanslyperken that Jemmy Ducks had left the ship, and vexed him again. He ordered the word to be passed to the boat’s crew, and when it was manned he went on shore. As soon as he arrived at the house of Lazarus, he knocked, but it was some time before he was admitted; and the chain was still kept on the door, which was opened two inches to allow a scrutiny previous to entrance.

“Ah! it vash you, vash it, good sar? you may come in,” said the Jew.

Vanslyperken walked into the parlour, where he found seated a young man of very handsome exterior, dressed according to the fashion of the cavaliers of the time. His hat, with a plume of black feathers, lay upon the table. This personage continued in his careless and easy position without rising when Vanslyperken entered, neither did he ask him to sit down.

“You are the officer of the cutter?” inquired the young man, with an air of authority not very pleasing to the lieutenant.

“Yes,” replied Vanslyperken, looking hard and indignantly in return.

“And you arrived yesterday morning? Pray, sir, why were not those letters delivered at once?”

“Because I had no time,” replied Vanslyperken, sulkily.

“No time, sir! what do you mean by that? Your time is ours, sir. You are paid for it; for one shilling that you receive from the rascally Government you condescend to serve and to betray, you receive from us pounds. Let not this happen again, my (dear) sir, or you may repent it.”

Vanslyperken was not in the best of humours, and he angrily replied, “Then you may get others to do your work, for this is the last I’ll do; pay me for them, and let me go.”

“The last you’ll do! you’ll do as much as we please, and as long as we please. You are doubly in our power, scoundrel! You betray the Government you serve, but you shall not betray us. If you had a thousand lives, you are a dead man the very moment you flinch from or neglect our work. Do your work faithfully, and you will be rewarded; but either you must do our work or die. You have but to choose.”

“Indeed!” replied Vanslyperken.

“Yes, indeed! And to prove that I am in earnest, I shall punish you for your neglect, by not paying you this time. You may leave the letters and go. But mind that you give us timely notice when you are ordered back to the Hague, for we shall want you.”

Vanslyperken, indignant at this language, obeyed his first impulse, which was to snatch up the letters and attempt to leave the room.

“No pay, no letters!” exclaimed he, opening the door.

“Fool!” cried the young man with a bitter sneer, not stirring from his seat.

Vanslyperken opened the door, and to his amazement there were three swords pointed to his heart. He started back.

“Will you leave the letters now?” observed the young man. Vanslyperken threw them down on the table with every sign of perturbation, and remained silent and pale.

“And now perfectly understand me, sir,” said the young cavalier. “We make a great distinction between those who have joined the good cause, or rather, who have continued steadfast to their king from feelings of honour and loyalty, and those who are to be bought and sold. We honour the first, we despise the latter. Their services we require, and, therefore, we employ them. A traitor to the sovereign from whom he receives his pay is not likely to be trusted by us. I know your character, that is sufficient. Now, although the Government make no difference between one party or the other, with the exception that some may be honoured with the axe instead of the gibbet, you will observe what we do; and as our lives are already forfeited by attainder, we make no scruple of putting out of the way any one whom we may even suspect of betraying us. Nay, more; we can furnish the Government with sufficient proofs against you without any risk to ourselves, for we have many partisans who are still in office. Weigh now well all you have heard, and be assured, that although we despise you, and use you only as our tool, we will have faithful and diligent service; if not, your life is forfeited.”

Vanslyperken heard all this with amazement and confusion: he immediately perceived that he was in a snare, from which escape was impossible. His coward heart sank within him, and he promised implicit obedience.

“Nevertheless, before you go you will sign your adherence to King James and his successors,” observed the young cavalier. “Lazarus, bring in writing-materials.” The Jew, who was at the door, complied with the order.

The cavalier took the pen and wrote down a certain form, in which Vanslyperken dedicated his life and means, as he valued his salvation, to the service of the exiled monarch.

“Read that, and sign it, sir,” said the cavalier, passing it over to Vanslyperken.

The lieutenant hesitated. “Your life depends upon it,” continued the young man coolly; “do as you please.”

Vanslyperken turned round; the swords were still pointed, and the eyes of those which held them were fixed upon the cavalier, awaiting his orders. Vanslyperken perceived that there was no escape. With a trembling hand he affixed his signature.

“’Tis well:— now observe, that at the first suspicion, or want of zeal, even, on your part, this will be forwarded through the proper channel, and even if you should escape the Government, you will not escape us: our name is Legion. You may go, sir;—do your work well, and you shall be well rewarded.”

Vanslyperken hastened away, passing the swords, the points of which were now lowered for his passage. Perhaps he never till then felt how contemptible was a traitor. Indignant, mortified, and confused, still trembling with fear, and, at the same time, burning with rage, he hastened to his mother’s house, for he had brought on shore with him the money which he had received at Amsterdam.

“What! more vexation, child?” said the old woman, looking Vanslyperken in the face as he entered.

“Yes,” retorted Vanslyperken, folding his arms as he sat down.

It was some time before he would communicate to his mother all that happened. At last the truth, which even he felt ashamed of, was drawn out of him.

“Now may all the curses that ever befell a man fall on his head!” exclaimed Vanslyperken as he finished. “I would give soul and body to be revenged on him.”

“That’s my own child—that is what I have done, Cornelius, but I shall not die yet awhile. I like to hear you say that; but it must not be yet. Let them plot and plot, and when they think that all is ripe, and all is ready, and all will succeed—then—then is the time to revenge yourself—not yet—but for that revenge, death on the gallows would be sweet.”

Vanslyperken shuddered:— he did not feel how death could in any way be sweet;—for some time he was wrapt up in his own thoughts.

“Have you brought the gold at last?” inquired the old woman.

“I have,” replied Vanslyperken, who raised himself and produced it. “I ought to have had more—but I’ll be revenged.”

“Yes, yes, but get more gold first. Never kill the goose that lays the golden egg, my child,” replied the old woman as she turned the key.

So many sudden and mortifying occurrences had taken place in forty-eight hours that Vanslyperken’s brain was in a whirl. He felt goaded to do something, but he did not know what. Perhaps it would have been suicide had he not been a coward. He left his mother without speaking another word, and walked down to the boat, revolving first one and then another incident in his mind. At last, his ideas appeared to concentrate themselves into one point, which was a firm and raging animosity against Smallbones; and with the darkest intentions he hastened on board and went down into his cabin.

What was the result of these feelings will be seen in the ensuing chapter.

Chapter Twenty Six.In which Mr Vanslyperken sees a Ghost.Before we acquaint the reader with the movements of Mr Vanslyperken, we must again revert to the history of the period in which we are writing. The Jacobite faction had assumed a formidable consistency, and every exertion was being made by them for an invasion of England. They knew that their friends were numerous, and that many who held office under the ruling Government were attached to their cause, and only required such a demonstration to fly to arms with their numerous partisans.Up to the present, all the machinations of the Jacobites had been carried on with secrecy and dexterity, but now was the time for action and decision. To aid the cause, it was considered expedient that some one of known fidelity should be sent to Amsterdam, where the projects of William might be discovered more easily than in England: for, as he communicated with the States General, and the States General were composed of many, secrets would come out, for that which is known to many soon becomes no longer a secret.To effect this, letters of recommendation to one or two of those high in office in Holland, and who were supposed to be able to give information, and inclined to be confiding, and garrulous, had been procured from the firm allies of King William, by those who pretended to be so only, for the agent who was about to be seat over, and this agent was the young cavalier who had treated Vanslyperken in so uncourteous a manner. He has already been mentioned to the reader by the name of Ramsay, and second in authority among the smugglers. He was a young man of high family, and a brother to Lady Alice, of course trusted by Sir Robert, and his second in command. He had been attainted for non-appearance, and condemned for high treason at the same time as had been his brother-in-law, Sir Robert Barclay, and had ever since been with him doing his duty in the boat and in command of the men, when Sir Robert’s services or attendance were required at St. Germains.No one could be better adapted for the service he was to be employed upon. He was brave, cool, intelligent, and prepossessing. Of course, by his letters of introduction, he was represented as a firm ally of King William, and strongly recommended as such. The letters which Vanslyperken had neglected to deliver were of the utmost importance, and the character of the lieutenant being well known to Ramsay, through the medium of Nancy Corbett and others, he had treated him in the way which he considered as most likely to enforce a rigid compliance with their wishes.Ramsay was right; for Vanslyperken was too much of a coward to venture upon resistance, although he might threaten it. It was the intention of Ramsay, moreover, to take a passage over with him in the Yungfrau, as his arrival in a king’s vessel would add still more to the success of the enterprise which he had in contemplation.We will now return to Mr Vanslyperken, whom we left boiling with indignation. He is not in a better humour at this moment. He requires a victim to expend his wrath upon, and that victim he is resolved shall be Smallbones, upon whom his hate is concentrated.He has sent for the corporal, and next ordered him to bring him a pistol and cartridge, which the corporal has complied with. Vanslyperken has not made the corporal a further confidant, but he has his suspicions, and he is on the watch. Vanslyperken is alone, his hand trembling, as he loads the pistol which he has taken down from the bulkhead where it hung, but he is, nevertheless, determined upon the act. He has laid it down on the table, and goes on deck, waiting till it is dusk for the completion of his project. He has now arranged his plan, and descends; the pistol is still on the table, and he puts it under the blanket on his bed, and rings for Smallbones.“Did you want me, sir?” said Smallbones.“Yes, I am going on shore to sleep a little way in the country, and I want you to carry my clothes; let everything he put up in the blue bag, and hold, yourself ready to come with me.”“Yes, sir,” replied Smallbones; “am I to come on board again to-night?”“To be sure you are.”Smallbones put up as desired by his master, whose eyes followed the lad’s motions as he moved from one part of the cabin to the other, his thoughts wandering from the recollection of Smallbones having attempted to drown his dog, to the more pleasing one of revenge.At dusk, Mr Vanslyperken ordered his boat to be manned, and so soon as Smallbones had gone into it with the bag, he took the pistol from where he had hid it, and concealing it under his great-coat, followed the lad into the boat.They landed, and Vanslyperken walked fast: it was now dark, and he was followed by Smallbones, who found difficulty in keeping pace with his master, so rapid were his strides.They passed the half-way houses, and went clear of the fortifications, until they had gained five or six miles on the road to London.Smallbones was tired out with the rapidity of the walk, and now lagged behind. The master desired him to come on. “I does come on as fast as I can, sir, but this here walking don’t suit at all, with carrying a bag full of clothes,” replied Smallbones.“Make haste, and keep up with me,” cried Vanslyperken, setting off again at a more rapid pace.They were now past all the buildings, and but occasionally fell in with some solitary farm-house, or cottage, on the roadside: the night was cloudy, and the scud flew fast; Vanslyperken walked on faster, for in his state of mind he could feel no bodily fatigue, and the lad dropped astern.At last the lieutenant found a spot which afforded him an opportunity of executing his fell purpose. A square wall, round a homestead for cattle, was built on the side of the footpath. Vanslyperken turned round, and looked for Smallbones, who was too far behind to be seen in the obscurity. Satisfied by this that the lad could not see his motions, Vanslyperken secreted himself behind the angle of the wall so as to allow Smallbones to pass. He cocked his pistol, and crouched down, waiting for the arrival of his victim.In a minute or two he heard the panting of the lad, who was quite weary with his load. Vanslyperken compressed his lips, and held his breath. The lad passed him; Vanslyperken now rose from behind, levelled the pistol at the lad’s head, and fired. Smallbones uttered a yell, fell down on his face, and then rolled on his back without life or motion.Vanslyperken looked at him for one second, then turned back, and fled with the wings of the wind. Conscience now appeared to pursue him, and he ran on until he was so exhausted, that he fell: the pistol was still in his hand; and as he put out his arm mechanically to save himself, the lock of the pistol came in violent contact with his temple.After a time he rose again, feint and bleeding, and continued his course at a more moderate pace; but as the wind blew, and whistled among the boughs of the trees, he thought every moment that he beheld the form of the murdered lad. He quickened his pace, arrived at last within the fortifications, and putting the pistol in his coat-pocket, he somewhat recovered himself. He bound his silk handkerchief round his head, and proceeded to the boat, which he had ordered to wait till Smallbones’ return. He had then a part to act, and told the men that he had been assailed by robbers, and ordered them to pull on board immediately. As soon as he came on board he desired the men to assist him down into his cabin, and then he sent for Corporal Van Spitter to dress his wounds. He communicated to the corporal, that as he was going out in the country as he had proposed, he had been attacked by robbers, that he had been severely wounded, and had, he thought, killed one of them, as the others ran away; what had become of Smallbones he knew not, but he had heard him crying out in the hands of the robbers.The corporal, who had felt certain that the pistol had been intended for Smallbones, hardly knew what to make of the matter; the wound of Mr Vanslyperken was severe, and it was hardly to be supposed that it had been self-inflicted. The corporal therefore held his tongue, heard all that Mr Vanslyperken had to say, and was very considerably puzzled.“It was a fortunate thing that I thought of taking a pistol with me, corporal; I might have been murdered outright.”“Yes, mynheer,” replied the corporal; and binding the handkerchief round Vanslyperken’s head, he then assisted him into bed. “Mein Gott! I make no head or tail of do business,” said the corporal; as he walked forward “but I must know do truth soon; I not go to bed for two or three hours, and den I hear others.”It is needless to say that Mr Vanslyperken passed a restless night, not only from the pain of his wound, but from the torments of conscience; for it is but by degrees that the greatest villain can drive away its stings, and then it is but for a short time, and when it does force itself back upon him, it is with redoubled power. His occasional slumbers were broken by fitful starts, in which he again and again heard the yell of the poor lad, and saw the corpse rolling at his feet. It was about an hour before daylight that Mr Vanslyperken again woke, and found that the light had burnt out. He could not remain in the dark, it was too dreadful; he raised himself, and pulled the bell over his head. Some one entered. “Bring a light immediately,” cried Vanslyperken.In a minute or two the gleams of a light were seen burning at a distance by the lieutenant. He watched its progress aft, and its entrance, and he felt relieved; but he had now a devouring thirst upon him, and his lips were glued together, and he turned over on his bed to ask the corporal, whom he supposed it was, for water. He fixed his eyes upon the party with the candle, and by the feeble light of the dip, he beheld the pale, haggard face of Smallbones, who stared at him, but uttered not a word.“Mercy, O God! mercy!” exclaimed Vanslyperken, falling back, and covering his face with the bedclothes.Smallbones did not reply; he blew out the candle, and quitted the cabin.

Before we acquaint the reader with the movements of Mr Vanslyperken, we must again revert to the history of the period in which we are writing. The Jacobite faction had assumed a formidable consistency, and every exertion was being made by them for an invasion of England. They knew that their friends were numerous, and that many who held office under the ruling Government were attached to their cause, and only required such a demonstration to fly to arms with their numerous partisans.

Up to the present, all the machinations of the Jacobites had been carried on with secrecy and dexterity, but now was the time for action and decision. To aid the cause, it was considered expedient that some one of known fidelity should be sent to Amsterdam, where the projects of William might be discovered more easily than in England: for, as he communicated with the States General, and the States General were composed of many, secrets would come out, for that which is known to many soon becomes no longer a secret.

To effect this, letters of recommendation to one or two of those high in office in Holland, and who were supposed to be able to give information, and inclined to be confiding, and garrulous, had been procured from the firm allies of King William, by those who pretended to be so only, for the agent who was about to be seat over, and this agent was the young cavalier who had treated Vanslyperken in so uncourteous a manner. He has already been mentioned to the reader by the name of Ramsay, and second in authority among the smugglers. He was a young man of high family, and a brother to Lady Alice, of course trusted by Sir Robert, and his second in command. He had been attainted for non-appearance, and condemned for high treason at the same time as had been his brother-in-law, Sir Robert Barclay, and had ever since been with him doing his duty in the boat and in command of the men, when Sir Robert’s services or attendance were required at St. Germains.

No one could be better adapted for the service he was to be employed upon. He was brave, cool, intelligent, and prepossessing. Of course, by his letters of introduction, he was represented as a firm ally of King William, and strongly recommended as such. The letters which Vanslyperken had neglected to deliver were of the utmost importance, and the character of the lieutenant being well known to Ramsay, through the medium of Nancy Corbett and others, he had treated him in the way which he considered as most likely to enforce a rigid compliance with their wishes.

Ramsay was right; for Vanslyperken was too much of a coward to venture upon resistance, although he might threaten it. It was the intention of Ramsay, moreover, to take a passage over with him in the Yungfrau, as his arrival in a king’s vessel would add still more to the success of the enterprise which he had in contemplation.

We will now return to Mr Vanslyperken, whom we left boiling with indignation. He is not in a better humour at this moment. He requires a victim to expend his wrath upon, and that victim he is resolved shall be Smallbones, upon whom his hate is concentrated.

He has sent for the corporal, and next ordered him to bring him a pistol and cartridge, which the corporal has complied with. Vanslyperken has not made the corporal a further confidant, but he has his suspicions, and he is on the watch. Vanslyperken is alone, his hand trembling, as he loads the pistol which he has taken down from the bulkhead where it hung, but he is, nevertheless, determined upon the act. He has laid it down on the table, and goes on deck, waiting till it is dusk for the completion of his project. He has now arranged his plan, and descends; the pistol is still on the table, and he puts it under the blanket on his bed, and rings for Smallbones.

“Did you want me, sir?” said Smallbones.

“Yes, I am going on shore to sleep a little way in the country, and I want you to carry my clothes; let everything he put up in the blue bag, and hold, yourself ready to come with me.”

“Yes, sir,” replied Smallbones; “am I to come on board again to-night?”

“To be sure you are.”

Smallbones put up as desired by his master, whose eyes followed the lad’s motions as he moved from one part of the cabin to the other, his thoughts wandering from the recollection of Smallbones having attempted to drown his dog, to the more pleasing one of revenge.

At dusk, Mr Vanslyperken ordered his boat to be manned, and so soon as Smallbones had gone into it with the bag, he took the pistol from where he had hid it, and concealing it under his great-coat, followed the lad into the boat.

They landed, and Vanslyperken walked fast: it was now dark, and he was followed by Smallbones, who found difficulty in keeping pace with his master, so rapid were his strides.

They passed the half-way houses, and went clear of the fortifications, until they had gained five or six miles on the road to London.

Smallbones was tired out with the rapidity of the walk, and now lagged behind. The master desired him to come on. “I does come on as fast as I can, sir, but this here walking don’t suit at all, with carrying a bag full of clothes,” replied Smallbones.

“Make haste, and keep up with me,” cried Vanslyperken, setting off again at a more rapid pace.

They were now past all the buildings, and but occasionally fell in with some solitary farm-house, or cottage, on the roadside: the night was cloudy, and the scud flew fast; Vanslyperken walked on faster, for in his state of mind he could feel no bodily fatigue, and the lad dropped astern.

At last the lieutenant found a spot which afforded him an opportunity of executing his fell purpose. A square wall, round a homestead for cattle, was built on the side of the footpath. Vanslyperken turned round, and looked for Smallbones, who was too far behind to be seen in the obscurity. Satisfied by this that the lad could not see his motions, Vanslyperken secreted himself behind the angle of the wall so as to allow Smallbones to pass. He cocked his pistol, and crouched down, waiting for the arrival of his victim.

In a minute or two he heard the panting of the lad, who was quite weary with his load. Vanslyperken compressed his lips, and held his breath. The lad passed him; Vanslyperken now rose from behind, levelled the pistol at the lad’s head, and fired. Smallbones uttered a yell, fell down on his face, and then rolled on his back without life or motion.

Vanslyperken looked at him for one second, then turned back, and fled with the wings of the wind. Conscience now appeared to pursue him, and he ran on until he was so exhausted, that he fell: the pistol was still in his hand; and as he put out his arm mechanically to save himself, the lock of the pistol came in violent contact with his temple.

After a time he rose again, feint and bleeding, and continued his course at a more moderate pace; but as the wind blew, and whistled among the boughs of the trees, he thought every moment that he beheld the form of the murdered lad. He quickened his pace, arrived at last within the fortifications, and putting the pistol in his coat-pocket, he somewhat recovered himself. He bound his silk handkerchief round his head, and proceeded to the boat, which he had ordered to wait till Smallbones’ return. He had then a part to act, and told the men that he had been assailed by robbers, and ordered them to pull on board immediately. As soon as he came on board he desired the men to assist him down into his cabin, and then he sent for Corporal Van Spitter to dress his wounds. He communicated to the corporal, that as he was going out in the country as he had proposed, he had been attacked by robbers, that he had been severely wounded, and had, he thought, killed one of them, as the others ran away; what had become of Smallbones he knew not, but he had heard him crying out in the hands of the robbers.

The corporal, who had felt certain that the pistol had been intended for Smallbones, hardly knew what to make of the matter; the wound of Mr Vanslyperken was severe, and it was hardly to be supposed that it had been self-inflicted. The corporal therefore held his tongue, heard all that Mr Vanslyperken had to say, and was very considerably puzzled.

“It was a fortunate thing that I thought of taking a pistol with me, corporal; I might have been murdered outright.”

“Yes, mynheer,” replied the corporal; and binding the handkerchief round Vanslyperken’s head, he then assisted him into bed. “Mein Gott! I make no head or tail of do business,” said the corporal; as he walked forward “but I must know do truth soon; I not go to bed for two or three hours, and den I hear others.”

It is needless to say that Mr Vanslyperken passed a restless night, not only from the pain of his wound, but from the torments of conscience; for it is but by degrees that the greatest villain can drive away its stings, and then it is but for a short time, and when it does force itself back upon him, it is with redoubled power. His occasional slumbers were broken by fitful starts, in which he again and again heard the yell of the poor lad, and saw the corpse rolling at his feet. It was about an hour before daylight that Mr Vanslyperken again woke, and found that the light had burnt out. He could not remain in the dark, it was too dreadful; he raised himself, and pulled the bell over his head. Some one entered. “Bring a light immediately,” cried Vanslyperken.

In a minute or two the gleams of a light were seen burning at a distance by the lieutenant. He watched its progress aft, and its entrance, and he felt relieved; but he had now a devouring thirst upon him, and his lips were glued together, and he turned over on his bed to ask the corporal, whom he supposed it was, for water. He fixed his eyes upon the party with the candle, and by the feeble light of the dip, he beheld the pale, haggard face of Smallbones, who stared at him, but uttered not a word.

“Mercy, O God! mercy!” exclaimed Vanslyperken, falling back, and covering his face with the bedclothes.

Smallbones did not reply; he blew out the candle, and quitted the cabin.

Chapter Twenty Seven.In which Mr Vanslyperken is taught a Secret.We are anxious to proceed with our narrative, but we must first explain the unexpected appearance of Smallbones. When Corporal Van Spitter was requested by Vanslyperken to bring a pistol and cartridge, the corporal, who had not forgotten the hints thrown out by Vanslyperken during their last consultation, immediately imagined that it was for Smallbones’ benefit. And he was strengthened in his opinion, when he learnt that Smallbones was to go on shore with his master after it was dusk. Now Corporal Van Spitter had no notion of the poor lad’s brains being blown out; and when Mr Vanslyperken went on deck and left the pistol, he went into the cabin, searched for it, and drew the bullet, which Vanslyperken, of course, was not aware of. It then occurred to the corporal, that if the pistol were aimed at Smallbones, and he was uninjured, it would greatly add to the idea, already half entertained by the superstitious lieutenant, of there hem something supernatural about Smallbones, if he were loft to suppose that he had been killed, and had reappeared. He therefore, communicated his suspicions to the lad, told him what he had done, and advised him, if the pistol were fired to pretend to be killed, and, when left by his master, to come on board quietly in the night. Smallbones, who perceived the drift of all this, promised to act accordingly, and in the last chapter it will be observed how he contrived to deceive his master. As soon as the lieutenant was out of hearing, Smallbones rose, and leaving the bag where it lay, hastened back to Portsmouth, and came on board about two hours before Vanslyperken rang his bell. He narrated what had passed, but, of course, could not exactly swear that it was Vanslyperken who fired the pistol, as it was fired from behind, but even if he could have so sworn, at that time he would have obtained but little redress.It was considered much more advisable that Smallbones should pretend to believe that he had been attacked by robbers, and that the ball had missed him, after he had frightened his master by his unexpected appearance, for Vanslyperken would still be of opinion that the lad possessed a charmed life.The state of Mr Vanslyperken during the remainder of that night was pitiable, but we must leave the reader to suppose rather than attempt to describe it.In the morning the corporal came in, and after asking after his superior’s health, informed him that Smallbones had come on board; that the lad said that the robbers had fired a pistol at him, and then knocked him down with the butt end of it, and that he had escaped, but with the loss of the bag.This was a great relief to the mind of Mr Vanslyperken, who had imagined that he had been visited by the ghost of Smallbones daring the night: he expressed himself glad at his return, and a wish to be left alone, upon which the corporal retired. As soon as Vanslyperken found out that Smallbones was still alive, his desire to kill him returned; although, when he supposed him dead, he would, to escape from his own feelings, have resuscitated him. One chief idea now whirled in his brain, which was, that the lad must have a charmed life; he had floated out to the Nab buoy and back again, and now he had had a pistol-bullet passed through his scull without injury. He felt too much fear to attempt anything against him for the future, but his desire to do so was stronger than ever.Excitement and vexation brought on a slow fever, and Mr Vanslyperken lay for three or four days in bed; at the end of which period he received a message from the admiral, directing him to come or send on shore (for his state had been made known) for his despatches, and to sail as soon as possible.Upon receiving the message, Mr Vanslyperken recollected his engagement at the house of the Jew Lazarus, and weak as he was, felt too much afraid of the results, should he fail, not to get out of bed and go on shore. It was with difficulty he could walk so far. When he arrived he found Ramsay ready to receive him.“To sail as soon as possible:— ’tis well, sir. Have you your despatches?”“I sent to the admiral’s for them,” replied Vanslyperken.“Well then, be all ready to start at midnight. I shall come on board about a quarter of an hour before; you may go, sir.”Vanslyperken quailed under the keen eye and stern look of Ramsay, and obeyed the uncourteous order in silence; still he thought of revenge as he walked back to the boat and re-embarked in the cutter.“What’s this, Short?” observed Coble: “here is a new freak; we start at midnight, I hear.”“Yes,” replied Short.“Something quite new, any how:— don’t understand it, do you?”“No,” replied Dick.“Well, now Jemmy’s gone, I don’t care how soon I follow, Dick.”“Nor I,” replied Short.“I’ve a notion there’s some mystery in all this. For,” continued Coble, “the admiral would never have ordered us out till to-morrow morning, if he did not make us sail this evening. It’s not a man-of-war fashion, is it Dick?”“No,” replied Short.“Well, we shall see,” replied Coble. “I shall turn in now. You’ve heard all about Smallbones, heh! Dick?”Short nodded his head.“Well, we shall see: but I’ll back the boy ’gainst master and dog too, in the long run. Damn his Dutch carcase—he seems to make but small count of English subjects, heh!”Short leant over the gunwale and whistled.Coble, finding it impossible to extract one monosyllable more from him, walked forward, and went down below.A little before twelve o’clock a boat came alongside, and Ramsay stepped out of it into the cutter. Vanslyperken had been walking the deck to receive him, and immediately showed him down into the cabin, where he left him to go on deck and get the cutter under way. There was a small stove in the cabin, for the weather was still cold: they were advanced into the month of March. Ramsay threw off his coat, laid two pair of loaded pistols on the table, locked the door of the cabin, and then proceeded to warm himself, while Vanslyperken was employed on deck.In an hour the cutter was outside and clear of all danger, and Vanslyperken had to knock to gain admittance into his own cabin. Ramsay opened the door, and Vanslyperken, who thought he must say something, observed gloomily—“We are all clear, sir.”“Very good,” replied Ramsay; “and now, sir, I believe that you have despatches on board?”“Yes,” replied Vanslyperken.“You will oblige me by letting me look at them.”“My despatches!” said Vanslyperken, with surprise.“Yes, sir, your despatches; immediately, if you please—no trifling.”“You forget, sir,” replied Vanslyperken angrily, “that I am not any longer in your power, but on board of my own vessel.”“You appear not to know, sir, that you are in my power even on board of your own vessel,” replied Ramsay, starting up, and laying his hand over the pistols, which he drew towards him, and replaced in his belt. “If you trust to your ship’s company you are mistaken, as you will soon discover. I demand the despatches.”“But, sir, you will ruin me and ruin yourself,” replied Vanslyperken, alarmed.“Fear not,” replied Ramsay; “for my own sake, and that of the good cause, I shall not hurt you. No one will know that the despatches have been ever examined and—”“And what?” replied Vanslyperken, gloomily.“For the passage, and this service, you will receive one hundred guineas.”Vanslyperken no longer hesitated: he opened the drawer in which he had deposited the letters, and produced them.“Now lock the door,” said Ramsay, taking his seat.He then examined the seals, pulled some out of his pocket, and compared them; sorted the letters according to the seals, and laid one corresponding at the heading of each file, for there were three different Government seals upon the despatches. He then took a long Dutch earthen pipe which was hanging above, broke off the bowl, and put one end of the stem into the fire. When it was of a red heat he took it out, and applying his lips to the cool end, and the hot one close to the sealing-wax, he blew through it, and the heated blast soon dissolved the wax, and the despatches were opened one after another without the slightest difficulty or injury to the paper. He then commenced reading, taking memorandums on his tablets as he proceeded.When he had finished, he again heated the pipe, melted the wax, which had become cold and hard again, and resealed all the letters with his counterfeit seals.During this occupation, which lasted upwards of an hour, Vanslyperken looked on with surprise, leaning against the bulkhead of the cabin.“There, sir, are your despatches,” said Ramsay, rising from his chair: “you may now put them away; and, as you may observe, you are not compromised.”“No, indeed,” replied Vanslyperken, who was struck with the ingenuity of the method; “but you have given me an idea.”“I will tell you what that is,” replied Ramsay. “You are thinking, if I left you these false seals, you could give me the contents of the despatches, provided you were well paid. Is it not so?”“It was,” replied Vanslyperken, who had immediately been struck with such a new source of wealth; for he eared little what he did—all he cared for was discovery.“Had you not proposed it yourself, I intended that you should have done it, sir,” replied Ramsay; “and that you should also be paid for it. I will arrange all that before I leave the vessel. But now I shall retire to my bed. Have you one ready.”“I have none but what you see,” replied Vanslyperken. “It is my own, but at your service.”“I shall accept it,” replied Ramsay, putting his pistols under his pillow, after having thrown himself on the outside of the bedclothes, pulling his roquelaure over him. “And now you will oblige me by turning that cur out of the cabin, for his smell is anything but pleasant.”Vanslyperken had no idea of his passenger so coolly taking possession of his bed, but to turn out Snarleyyow as well as himself appeared an unwarrantable liberty. But he felt that he had but to submit, for Ramsay was despotic, and he was afraid of him.After much resistance, Snarleyyow was kicked out by his master, who then went on deck not in the very best of humours at finding he had so completely sold himself to those who might betray and hang him the very next day. “At all events,” thought Vanslyperken, “I’m well paid for it.”It was now daylight, and the cutter was running with a favourable breeze; the hands were turned up, and Corporal Van Spitter came on deck. Vanslyperken, who had been running over in his mind all the events which had latterly taken place, he considered that, as he had lost the Portsmouth widow, he might as well pursue his suit with the widow Vandersloosh, especially as she had sent such a conciliating message by the corporal; and perceiving the corporal on deck, he beckoned to him to approach. Vanslyperken then observed, that he was angry the other day, and that the corporal need not give that message to the Frau Vandersloosh, as he intended to call upon her himself upon his arrival. Van Spitter, who did not know anything about the Portsmouth widow, and could not imagine why the angry message had been given, of course assented, although he was fully determined, that the widow should be informed of the insult. The question was now, how to be able to go on shore himself; and to compass that without suspicion he remarked that the maid. Babette was a very fine maid and he should like to see her again.This little piece of confidence was not thrown away. Vanslyperken was too anxious to secure the corporal, and he replied, that the corporal should go ashore and see her, if he pleased; upon which Corporal Van Spitter made his best military salute, turned round on his heel, and walked away laughing in his sleeve at having so easily gulled his superior.On the third morning the cutter had arrived at her destined port. During the passage Ramsay had taken possession of the cabin, ordering everything as he pleased, much to the surprise of the crew. Mr Vanslyperken spoke of him as a king’s messenger; but still Smallbones, who took care to hear what was going on, reported the abject submission shown to Ramsay by the lieutenant, and this was the occasion of great marvel; moreover, they doubted his being a king’s messenger, for, as Smallbones very shrewdly observed, “Why, if he was a king’s messenger, did he not come with the despatches?” However, they could only surmise, and no more. But the dog being turned out of the cabin in compliance with Ramsay’s wish was the most important point of all. They could have got over all the rest, but that was quite incomprehensible; and they all agreed with Coble, when he observed, hitching up his trousers “Depend upon it, there’s a screw loose somewhere.”As soon as the cutter was at anchor, Ramsay ordered his portmanteau into the boat, and Vanslyperken having accompanied him on shore, they separated, Ramsay informing Vanslyperken that he would wish to see him the next day, and giving him his address.Vanslyperken delivered his despatches, and then hastened to the widow Vandersloosh, who received him with a well assumed appearance of mingled pleasure and reserve.Vanslyperken led her to the sofa, poured forth a multitudinous compound composed of regret, devotion, and apologies, which at last appeared to have melted the heart of the widow, who once more gave him her hand to salute.Vanslyperken was all rapture at so unexpected a reconciliation: the name of the cur was not mentioned; and Vanslyperken thought to himself, “This will do—let me only once get you, my Frau, and I’ll teach you to wish my dog dead at your porch.”On the other hand the widow thought, “And so this atomy really believes that I would look upon him! Well, well, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall see how it ends. Your cur under my bed, indeed, so sure do you never—. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken.”There is a great deal of humbug in this world, that is certain.

We are anxious to proceed with our narrative, but we must first explain the unexpected appearance of Smallbones. When Corporal Van Spitter was requested by Vanslyperken to bring a pistol and cartridge, the corporal, who had not forgotten the hints thrown out by Vanslyperken during their last consultation, immediately imagined that it was for Smallbones’ benefit. And he was strengthened in his opinion, when he learnt that Smallbones was to go on shore with his master after it was dusk. Now Corporal Van Spitter had no notion of the poor lad’s brains being blown out; and when Mr Vanslyperken went on deck and left the pistol, he went into the cabin, searched for it, and drew the bullet, which Vanslyperken, of course, was not aware of. It then occurred to the corporal, that if the pistol were aimed at Smallbones, and he was uninjured, it would greatly add to the idea, already half entertained by the superstitious lieutenant, of there hem something supernatural about Smallbones, if he were loft to suppose that he had been killed, and had reappeared. He therefore, communicated his suspicions to the lad, told him what he had done, and advised him, if the pistol were fired to pretend to be killed, and, when left by his master, to come on board quietly in the night. Smallbones, who perceived the drift of all this, promised to act accordingly, and in the last chapter it will be observed how he contrived to deceive his master. As soon as the lieutenant was out of hearing, Smallbones rose, and leaving the bag where it lay, hastened back to Portsmouth, and came on board about two hours before Vanslyperken rang his bell. He narrated what had passed, but, of course, could not exactly swear that it was Vanslyperken who fired the pistol, as it was fired from behind, but even if he could have so sworn, at that time he would have obtained but little redress.

It was considered much more advisable that Smallbones should pretend to believe that he had been attacked by robbers, and that the ball had missed him, after he had frightened his master by his unexpected appearance, for Vanslyperken would still be of opinion that the lad possessed a charmed life.

The state of Mr Vanslyperken during the remainder of that night was pitiable, but we must leave the reader to suppose rather than attempt to describe it.

In the morning the corporal came in, and after asking after his superior’s health, informed him that Smallbones had come on board; that the lad said that the robbers had fired a pistol at him, and then knocked him down with the butt end of it, and that he had escaped, but with the loss of the bag.

This was a great relief to the mind of Mr Vanslyperken, who had imagined that he had been visited by the ghost of Smallbones daring the night: he expressed himself glad at his return, and a wish to be left alone, upon which the corporal retired. As soon as Vanslyperken found out that Smallbones was still alive, his desire to kill him returned; although, when he supposed him dead, he would, to escape from his own feelings, have resuscitated him. One chief idea now whirled in his brain, which was, that the lad must have a charmed life; he had floated out to the Nab buoy and back again, and now he had had a pistol-bullet passed through his scull without injury. He felt too much fear to attempt anything against him for the future, but his desire to do so was stronger than ever.

Excitement and vexation brought on a slow fever, and Mr Vanslyperken lay for three or four days in bed; at the end of which period he received a message from the admiral, directing him to come or send on shore (for his state had been made known) for his despatches, and to sail as soon as possible.

Upon receiving the message, Mr Vanslyperken recollected his engagement at the house of the Jew Lazarus, and weak as he was, felt too much afraid of the results, should he fail, not to get out of bed and go on shore. It was with difficulty he could walk so far. When he arrived he found Ramsay ready to receive him.

“To sail as soon as possible:— ’tis well, sir. Have you your despatches?”

“I sent to the admiral’s for them,” replied Vanslyperken.

“Well then, be all ready to start at midnight. I shall come on board about a quarter of an hour before; you may go, sir.”

Vanslyperken quailed under the keen eye and stern look of Ramsay, and obeyed the uncourteous order in silence; still he thought of revenge as he walked back to the boat and re-embarked in the cutter.

“What’s this, Short?” observed Coble: “here is a new freak; we start at midnight, I hear.”

“Yes,” replied Short.

“Something quite new, any how:— don’t understand it, do you?”

“No,” replied Dick.

“Well, now Jemmy’s gone, I don’t care how soon I follow, Dick.”

“Nor I,” replied Short.

“I’ve a notion there’s some mystery in all this. For,” continued Coble, “the admiral would never have ordered us out till to-morrow morning, if he did not make us sail this evening. It’s not a man-of-war fashion, is it Dick?”

“No,” replied Short.

“Well, we shall see,” replied Coble. “I shall turn in now. You’ve heard all about Smallbones, heh! Dick?”

Short nodded his head.

“Well, we shall see: but I’ll back the boy ’gainst master and dog too, in the long run. Damn his Dutch carcase—he seems to make but small count of English subjects, heh!”

Short leant over the gunwale and whistled.

Coble, finding it impossible to extract one monosyllable more from him, walked forward, and went down below.

A little before twelve o’clock a boat came alongside, and Ramsay stepped out of it into the cutter. Vanslyperken had been walking the deck to receive him, and immediately showed him down into the cabin, where he left him to go on deck and get the cutter under way. There was a small stove in the cabin, for the weather was still cold: they were advanced into the month of March. Ramsay threw off his coat, laid two pair of loaded pistols on the table, locked the door of the cabin, and then proceeded to warm himself, while Vanslyperken was employed on deck.

In an hour the cutter was outside and clear of all danger, and Vanslyperken had to knock to gain admittance into his own cabin. Ramsay opened the door, and Vanslyperken, who thought he must say something, observed gloomily—

“We are all clear, sir.”

“Very good,” replied Ramsay; “and now, sir, I believe that you have despatches on board?”

“Yes,” replied Vanslyperken.

“You will oblige me by letting me look at them.”

“My despatches!” said Vanslyperken, with surprise.

“Yes, sir, your despatches; immediately, if you please—no trifling.”

“You forget, sir,” replied Vanslyperken angrily, “that I am not any longer in your power, but on board of my own vessel.”

“You appear not to know, sir, that you are in my power even on board of your own vessel,” replied Ramsay, starting up, and laying his hand over the pistols, which he drew towards him, and replaced in his belt. “If you trust to your ship’s company you are mistaken, as you will soon discover. I demand the despatches.”

“But, sir, you will ruin me and ruin yourself,” replied Vanslyperken, alarmed.

“Fear not,” replied Ramsay; “for my own sake, and that of the good cause, I shall not hurt you. No one will know that the despatches have been ever examined and—”

“And what?” replied Vanslyperken, gloomily.

“For the passage, and this service, you will receive one hundred guineas.”

Vanslyperken no longer hesitated: he opened the drawer in which he had deposited the letters, and produced them.

“Now lock the door,” said Ramsay, taking his seat.

He then examined the seals, pulled some out of his pocket, and compared them; sorted the letters according to the seals, and laid one corresponding at the heading of each file, for there were three different Government seals upon the despatches. He then took a long Dutch earthen pipe which was hanging above, broke off the bowl, and put one end of the stem into the fire. When it was of a red heat he took it out, and applying his lips to the cool end, and the hot one close to the sealing-wax, he blew through it, and the heated blast soon dissolved the wax, and the despatches were opened one after another without the slightest difficulty or injury to the paper. He then commenced reading, taking memorandums on his tablets as he proceeded.

When he had finished, he again heated the pipe, melted the wax, which had become cold and hard again, and resealed all the letters with his counterfeit seals.

During this occupation, which lasted upwards of an hour, Vanslyperken looked on with surprise, leaning against the bulkhead of the cabin.

“There, sir, are your despatches,” said Ramsay, rising from his chair: “you may now put them away; and, as you may observe, you are not compromised.”

“No, indeed,” replied Vanslyperken, who was struck with the ingenuity of the method; “but you have given me an idea.”

“I will tell you what that is,” replied Ramsay. “You are thinking, if I left you these false seals, you could give me the contents of the despatches, provided you were well paid. Is it not so?”

“It was,” replied Vanslyperken, who had immediately been struck with such a new source of wealth; for he eared little what he did—all he cared for was discovery.

“Had you not proposed it yourself, I intended that you should have done it, sir,” replied Ramsay; “and that you should also be paid for it. I will arrange all that before I leave the vessel. But now I shall retire to my bed. Have you one ready.”

“I have none but what you see,” replied Vanslyperken. “It is my own, but at your service.”

“I shall accept it,” replied Ramsay, putting his pistols under his pillow, after having thrown himself on the outside of the bedclothes, pulling his roquelaure over him. “And now you will oblige me by turning that cur out of the cabin, for his smell is anything but pleasant.”

Vanslyperken had no idea of his passenger so coolly taking possession of his bed, but to turn out Snarleyyow as well as himself appeared an unwarrantable liberty. But he felt that he had but to submit, for Ramsay was despotic, and he was afraid of him.

After much resistance, Snarleyyow was kicked out by his master, who then went on deck not in the very best of humours at finding he had so completely sold himself to those who might betray and hang him the very next day. “At all events,” thought Vanslyperken, “I’m well paid for it.”

It was now daylight, and the cutter was running with a favourable breeze; the hands were turned up, and Corporal Van Spitter came on deck. Vanslyperken, who had been running over in his mind all the events which had latterly taken place, he considered that, as he had lost the Portsmouth widow, he might as well pursue his suit with the widow Vandersloosh, especially as she had sent such a conciliating message by the corporal; and perceiving the corporal on deck, he beckoned to him to approach. Vanslyperken then observed, that he was angry the other day, and that the corporal need not give that message to the Frau Vandersloosh, as he intended to call upon her himself upon his arrival. Van Spitter, who did not know anything about the Portsmouth widow, and could not imagine why the angry message had been given, of course assented, although he was fully determined, that the widow should be informed of the insult. The question was now, how to be able to go on shore himself; and to compass that without suspicion he remarked that the maid. Babette was a very fine maid and he should like to see her again.

This little piece of confidence was not thrown away. Vanslyperken was too anxious to secure the corporal, and he replied, that the corporal should go ashore and see her, if he pleased; upon which Corporal Van Spitter made his best military salute, turned round on his heel, and walked away laughing in his sleeve at having so easily gulled his superior.

On the third morning the cutter had arrived at her destined port. During the passage Ramsay had taken possession of the cabin, ordering everything as he pleased, much to the surprise of the crew. Mr Vanslyperken spoke of him as a king’s messenger; but still Smallbones, who took care to hear what was going on, reported the abject submission shown to Ramsay by the lieutenant, and this was the occasion of great marvel; moreover, they doubted his being a king’s messenger, for, as Smallbones very shrewdly observed, “Why, if he was a king’s messenger, did he not come with the despatches?” However, they could only surmise, and no more. But the dog being turned out of the cabin in compliance with Ramsay’s wish was the most important point of all. They could have got over all the rest, but that was quite incomprehensible; and they all agreed with Coble, when he observed, hitching up his trousers “Depend upon it, there’s a screw loose somewhere.”

As soon as the cutter was at anchor, Ramsay ordered his portmanteau into the boat, and Vanslyperken having accompanied him on shore, they separated, Ramsay informing Vanslyperken that he would wish to see him the next day, and giving him his address.

Vanslyperken delivered his despatches, and then hastened to the widow Vandersloosh, who received him with a well assumed appearance of mingled pleasure and reserve.

Vanslyperken led her to the sofa, poured forth a multitudinous compound composed of regret, devotion, and apologies, which at last appeared to have melted the heart of the widow, who once more gave him her hand to salute.

Vanslyperken was all rapture at so unexpected a reconciliation: the name of the cur was not mentioned; and Vanslyperken thought to himself, “This will do—let me only once get you, my Frau, and I’ll teach you to wish my dog dead at your porch.”

On the other hand the widow thought, “And so this atomy really believes that I would look upon him! Well, well, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall see how it ends. Your cur under my bed, indeed, so sure do you never—. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken.”

There is a great deal of humbug in this world, that is certain.

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