condensed novels-第13部分

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〃And　why？〃　I　queried。

〃She　threw　her　rider　yesterday　and　fell　on　him〃

〃And　killed　him？〃

〃No。　　That's　the　reason　why　I　have　ordered　her　to　be　shot。　　I　keep
no　animals　that　are　not　dangerousI　should　addDEADLY！〃　　He
hissed　the　last　sentence　between　his　teeth；　and　a　gloomy　frown
descended　over　his　calm　brow。

I　affected　to　turn　over　the　tradesman's　bills　that　lay　on　the
table；　for；　like　all　of　the　Heavystone　race；　Guy　seldom　paid　cash；
and　said：

〃You　remind　me　of　the　time　when　Leonidas〃

〃O；　bother　Leonidas　and　your　classical　allusions。　　Come！〃

We　descended　to　dinner。


CHAPTER　III。


〃He　carries　weight；　he　rides　a　race；
'Tis　for　a　thousand　pound。〃


〃There　is　Flora　Billingsgate；　the　greatest　coquette　and　hardest
rider　in　the　country；〃　said　my　companion；　Ralph　Mortmain；　as　we
stood　upon　Dingleby　Common　before　the　meet。

I　looked　up　and　beheld　Guy　Heavystone　bending　haughtily　over　the
saddle；　as　he　addressed　a　beautiful　brunette。　　She　was　indeed　a
splendidly　groomed　and　high…spirited　woman。　　We　were　near　enough　to
overhear　the　following　conversation；　which　any　high…toned　reader
will　recognize　as　the　common　and　natural　expression　of　the　higher
classes。

〃When　Diana　takes　the　field　the　chase　is　not　wholly　confined　to
objects　ferae　naturae；〃　said　Guy；　darting　a　significant　glance　at
his　companion。　　Flora　did　not　shrink　either　from　the　glance　or　the
meaning　implied　in　the　sarcasm。

〃If　I　were　looking　for　an　Endymion；　now〃　she　said　archly；　as　she
playfully　cantered　over　a　few　hounds　and　leaped　a　five…barred　gate。

Guy　whispered　a　few　words；　inaudible　to　the　rest　of　the　party；　and；
curvetting　slightly；　cleverly　cleared　two　of　the　huntsmen　in　a
flying　leap；　galloped　up　the　front　steps　of　the　mansion；　and
dashing　at　full　speed　through　the　hall　leaped　through　the　drawing…
room　window　and　rejoined　me；　languidly；　on　the　lawn。

〃Be　careful　of　Flora　Billingsgate；〃　he　said　to　me；　in　low　stern
tones；　while　his　pitiless　eye　shot　a　baleful　fire。　　〃Gardez　vous！〃

〃Gnothi　seauton；〃　I　replied　calmly；　not　wishing　to　appear　to　be
behind　him　in　perception　or　verbal　felicity。

Guy　started　off　in　high　spirits。　　He　was　well　carried。　　He　and　the
first　whip；　a　ten…stone　man；　were　head　and　head　at　the　last　fence；
while　the　hounds　were　rolling　over　their　fox　a　hundred　yards
farther　in　the　open。

But　an　unexpected　circumstance　occurred。　　Coming　back；　his　chestnut
mare　refused　a　ten…foot　wall。　　She　reared　and　fell　backward。　　Again
he　led　her　up　to　it　lightly；　again　she　refused；　falling　heavily
from　the　coping。　　Guy　started　to　his　feet。　　The　old　pitiless　fire
shone　in　his　eyes；　the　old　stern　look　settled　around　his　mouth。
Seizing　the　mare　by　the　tail　and　mane　he　threw　her　over　the　wall。
She　landed　twenty　feet　on　the　other　side；　erect　and　trembling。
Lightly　leaping　the　same　obstacle　himself；　he　remounted　her。　　She
did　not　refuse　the　wall　the　next　time。


CHAPTER　IV。


〃He　holds　him　by　his　glittering　eye。〃


Guy　was　in　the　North　of　Ireland；　cock…shooting。　　So　Ralph　Mortmain
told　me；　and　also　that　the　match　between　Mary　Brandagee　and　Guy　had
been　broken　off　by　Flora　Billingsgate。　　〃I　don't　like　those
Billingsgates；〃　said　Ralph；　〃they're　a　bad　stock。　　Her　father；
Smithfield　de　Billingsgate；　had　an　unpleasant　way　of　turning　up　the
knave　from　the　bottom　of　the　pack。　　But　nous　verrons；　let　us　go　and
see　Guy。〃

The　next　morning　we　started　for　Fin…ma…Coul's　Crossing。　　When　I
reached　the　shooting…box；　where　Guy　was　entertaining　a　select
company　of　friends；　Flora　Billingsgate　greeted　me　with　a　saucy
smile。

Guy　was　even　squarer　and　sterner　than　ever。　　His　gusts　of　passion
were　more　frequent；　and　it　was　with　difficulty　that　he　could　keep
an　able…bodied　servant　in　his　family。　　His　present　retainers　were
more　or　less　maimed　from　exposure　to　the　fury　of　their　master。
There　was　a　strange　cynicism；　a　cutting　sarcasm　in　his　address；
piercing　through　his　polished　manner。　　I　thought　of　Timon；　etc。；
etc。

One　evening；　we　were　sitting　over　our　Chambertin；　after　a　hard
day's　work；　and　Guy　was　listlessly　turning　over　some　letters；　when
suddenly　he　uttered　a　cry。　　Did　you　ever　hear　the　trumpeting　of　a
wounded　elephant？　　It　was　like　that。

I　looked　at　him　with　consternation。　　He　was　glancing　at　a　letter
which　he　held　at　arm's　length；　and　snorting；　as　it　were；　at　it　as
he　gazed。　　The　lower　part　of　his　face　was　stern；　but　not　as　rigid
as　usual。　　He　was　slowly　grinding　between　his　teeth　the　fragments
of　the　glass　he　had　just　been　drinking　from。　　Suddenly　he　seized
one　of　his　servants；　and；　forcing　the　wretch　upon　his　knees；
exclaimed；　with　the　roar　of　a　tiger：

〃Dog！　why　was　this　kept　from　me？〃

〃Why；　please；　sir；　Miss　Flora　said　as　how　it　was　a　reconciliation
from　Miss　Brandagee；　and　it　was　to　be　kept　from　you　where　you　would
not　be　likely　to　see　it；andand〃

〃Speak；　dog！　and　you〃

〃I　put　it　among　your　bills；　sir！〃

With　a　groan；　like　distant　thunder；　Guy　fell　swooning　to　the　floor。

He　soon　recovered；　for　the　next　moment　a　servant　came　rushing　into
the　room　with　the　information　that　a　number　of　the　ingenuous
peasantry　of　the　neighborhood　were　about　to　indulge　that　evening　in
the　national　pastime　of　burning　a　farm…house　and　shooting　a
landlord。　　Guy　smiled　a　fearful　smile；　without；　however；　altering
his　stern　and　pitiless　expression。

〃Let　them　come；〃　he　said　calmly；　〃I　feel　like　entertaining
company。〃

We　barricaded　the　doors　and　windows；　and　then　chose　our　arms　from
the　armory。　　Guy's　choice　was　a　singular　one：　it　was　a　landing　net
with　a　long　handle；　and　a　sharp　cavalry　sabre。

We　were　not　destined　to　remain　long　in　ignorance　of　its　use。　　A
howl　was　heard　from　without；　and　a　party　of　fifty　or　sixty　armed
men　precipitated　themselves　against　the　door。

Suddenly　the　window　opened。　　With　the　rapidity　of　lightning；　Guy
Heavystone　cast　the　net　over　the　head　of　the　ringleader；　ejaculated
〃Habet！〃　and　with　a　back　stroke　of　his　cavalry　sabre　severed　the
member　from　its　trunk；　and；　drawing　the　net　back　again；　cast　the
gory　head　upon　the　floor；　saying　quietly：

〃One。〃

Again　the　net　was　cast；　the　steel　flashed；　the　net　was　withdrawn；
and　an　ominous　〃Two！〃　accompanied　the　head　as　it　rolled　on　the
floor。

〃Do　you　remember　what　Pliny　says　of　the　gladiator？〃　said　Guy；
calmly　wiping　his　sabre。　　〃How　graphic　is　that　passage　commencing
'Inter　nos；　etc。'〃　　The　sport　continued　until　the　heads　of　twenty
desperadoes　had　been　gathered　in。　　The　rest　seemed　inclined　to
disperse。　　Guy　incautiously　showed　himself　at　the　door；　a　ringing
shot　was　heard；　and　he　staggered　back；　pierced　through　the　heart。
Grasping　the　door…post　in　the　last　unconscious　throes　of　his　mighty
frame；　the　whole　side　of　the　house　yielded　to　that　earthquake
tremor；　and　we　had　barely　time　to　escape　before　the　whole　building
fell　in　ruins。　　I　thought　of　Samson；　the　Giant　Judge；　etc。；　etc。；
but　all　was　over。

Guy　Heavystone　had　died　as　he　had　lived；HARD。



MR。　MIDSHIPMAN　BREEZY。

A　NAVAL　OFFICER。

BY　CAPTAIN　MRRYT；　R。　N。


CHAPTER　I。


My　father　was　a　north…country　surgeon。　　He　had　retired；　a　widower；
from　her　Majesty's　navy　many　years　before；　and　had　a　small　practice
in　his　native　village。　　When　I　was　seven　years　old　he　employed　me
to　carry　medicines　to　his　patients。　　Being　of　a　lively　disposition；
I　sometimes　amused　myself；　during　my　daily　rounds；　by　mixing　the
contents　of　the　different　phials。　　Although　I　had　no　reason　to
doubt　that　the　general　result　of　this　practice　was　beneficial；　yet；
as　the　death　of　a　consumptive　curate　followed　the　addition　of　a
strong　mercurial　lotion　to　his　expectorant；　my　father　concluded　to
withdraw　me　from　the　profession　and　send　me　to　school。

Grubbins；　the　schoolmaster；　was　a　tyrant；　and　it　was　not　long
before　my　impetuous　and　self…willed　nature　rebelled　against　his
authority。　　I　soon　began　to　form　plans　of　revenge。　　In　this　I　was
assisted　by　Tom　Snaffle；a　schoolfellow。　　One　day　Tom　suggested：

〃Suppose　we　blow　him　up。　　I've　got　two　pounds　of　powder！〃

〃No；　that's　too　noisy；〃　I　replied。

Tom　was　silent　for　a　minute；　and　again　spoke：

〃You　remember　how　you　flattened　out　the　curate；　Pills！　　Couldn't
you　give　Grubbins　somethingsomething　to　make　him　leathery　sick
eh？〃

A　flash　of　inspiration　crossed　my　mind。　　I　went　to　the　shop　of　the
village　apothecary。　　He　knew　me；　I　had　often　purchased　vitriol；
which　I　poured　into　Grubbins's　inkstand　to　corrode　his　pens　and
burn　up　his　coat…tail；　on　which　he　was　in　the　habit　of　wiping　them。
I　boldly　asked　for　an　ounce　of　chloroform。　　The　young　apothecary
winked　and　handed　me　the　bottle。

It　was　Grubbins's　custom　to　throw　his　handkerchief　over　his　head；
recline　in　his　chair　and　take　a　short　nap　during　recess。　　Watching
my　opportunity；　as　he　dozed；　I　managed　to　slip　his　handkerchief
from　his　face　and　substitute　my　own；　moistened　with　chloroform。　　In
a　few　minutes　he　was　insensible。　　Tom　and　I　then　quickly　shaved　his
head；　beard；　and　eyebrows；　blackened　his　face　with　a　mixture　of
vitriol　and　burnt　cork；　and　fled。　　There　was　a　row　and　scandal　the
next　day。　　My　father　always　excused　me　by　asserting　that　Grubbins
had　got　drunk；but　somehow　found　it　convenient　to　procure　me　an
appointment　in　her　Majesty's　navy　at　an　early　day。


CHAPTER　II。


An　official　letter；　with　the　Admiralty　seal；　informed　me　that　I　was
expected　to　join　H。　M。　ship　Belcher；　Captain　Boltrope；　at
Portsmouth；　without　delay。　　In　a　few　days　I　presented　myself　to　a
tall；　stern…visaged　man；　who　was　slowly　pacing　the　leeward　side　of
the　quarter…deck。　　As　I　touched　my　hat　he　eyed　me　sternly：

〃So　ho！　　Another　young　suckling。　　The　service　is　going　to　the
devil。　　Nothing　but　babes　in　the　cockpit　and　grannies　in　the　board。
Boatswain's　mate；　pass　the　word　for　Mr。　Cheek！〃

Mr。　Cheek；　the　steward；　appeared　and　touched　his　hat。　　〃Introduce
Mr。　Breezy　to　the　young　gentlemen。　　Stop！　　Where's　Mr。　Swizzle？〃

〃At　the　masthead；　sir。〃

〃Where's　Mr。　Lankey？〃

〃At　the　masthead；　sir。〃

〃Mr。　Briggs？〃

〃Masthead；　too；　sir。〃

〃And　the　rest　of　the　young　gentlemen？〃　roared　the　enraged　officer。

〃All　masthead；　sir。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Captain　Boltrope；　as　he　smiled　grimly；　〃under　the
circumstances；　Mr。　Breezy；