LETTER XII.CharlestoWilliam.
I am writing now by Edward’s bedside; he has received a very dangerous, but I hope not a mortal wound, though his fever is very high. Young Atkins, who was his antagonist, set off for France an hour after the duel. From every account I can gather, he was the aggressor; a trifling joke at the mess, after dinner, so exasperated this furious man, that he loaded Edward with the most opprobrious epithets. Edward was obliged to take notice of them, or quit the army with dishonour. Such are the false notions that prevail, that a man of real courage must risk his life when a drunkard or a fool insults him; that life which is only due to his country, issported away in consequence of a drunken frolic. I am glad, my friend, I am not in the army, I should not like to appear a coward, or enter into a broil to obtain the name that every boaster, who neither fears God, nor loves his friends, purchases with the blood of a fellow-creature. I hope, however, I shall never be in such a situation.
Edward is now asleep; it would be cruel to remind him that he was ever too fond of a jest; how often have I seen him give extreme pain by laughing at some peculiarity, or catching up some strange expression to play on, and hurt the feelings of the person who uttered it, whose visible distress never silenced his laugh.
I will give you some account of my journey, when he is again disposed to sleep; now I must go and take some refreshment, as I feel myself very much exhausted.
I will now give you the promised account. I sat off the moment after I had finished my letter; the day was uncommonly hot, and the heavy sandy road very unpleasant, as we could not ride so quick as we wished to do. My heart, which seemed ready to fly to Edward, was very anxious and impatient; but what could impatience avail, it only served to make the time appear longer. This anxiety, and the hot beams of the sun, gave me a severe head-ach, and I was glad, after riding three or four hours, to meet with a comfortable inn. I was obliged to rest a short time my head was so very bad, but my earnest desire to go forward soon roused me, and prevented me thinking of being overtaken by the night, for the sun was setting apace. We were assured the roads were very safe, and a genteel looking man informed me, that he had frequently travelled the same way himselfwhen there was no moon, without any apprehension of danger; he then added, that as we seemed to be in a hurry, he would advise us to take a short cut through a wood, by which means we should gain two miles.
We followed the advice of the stranger, but when we were in the by-road, it appeared so gloomy, that I was sorry we entered it; not a single man did we meet during the space of half an hour; at last we heard, at a distance behind us, some persons on horseback in a full gallop. I stopped, not thinking of any danger; on the contrary, having been a little afraid of the dreary solitude which then surrounded us, I was glad to hear human voices; it was to me, at that moment, almost as if I had seen a friend; but how egregiously was I deceived. We were quickly overtaken by four stout men, who fiercely demanded my money. It was to no purposeto parley with them, and I was obliged to give up my watch, purse, and even my great coat. Happy may I think myself that I escaped with my life, for I was so imprudent as to speak to one of them, whom, to my great astonishment, I discovered to be the very well-dressed man who directed us to take this road; I did feel very angry, and would have given the world to have punished him for his perfidy.
Behold me, then, without a coat; my honest fellow-traveller offered to lend me his, which they did not think worth taking from him, but he seemed less able to bear the cold of the night than myself, so I would not accept of his offer. We then spurred our horses and rode on, and tried to laugh at our adventure, in which, indeed, we did not make a very noble figure; though it would have been fool hardy to have attempted to resist four strong men, somethinglike fighting a windmill, or storming the moon. Why then do I feel a little hurt at having been robbed? To say the truth, that fellow’s treachery vexed me more than the loss of my money: but I have gained something by my experience; I will never talk of my own affairs when I am travelling, or too soon make an acquaintance on the road. Farewell.
CHARLES.
CHARLES.
CHARLES.
CHARLES.