Authors: George W. M. Reynolds,James Malcolm Rymer
"Hilloa,
hilloa, hil—loa! Jack a-hoy! a-hoy!" shouted the admiral, as a sudden
recollection of his challenge came across his memory; "Jack Pringle a-hoy?
d—n you, where are you?—you're never at hand when you are wanted. Oh, you
lubber,—a-hoy!"
"A-hoy!"
shouted a voice, as the door opened, and Jack thrust his head in; "what
cheer, messmate? what ship is this?"
"Oh,
you lubberly—"
The
door was shut in a minute, and Jack Pringle disappeared.
"Hilloa,
Jack Pringle, you don't mean to say you'll desert your colours, do you, you
dumb dog?"
"Who
says I'll desert the ship as she's sea-worthy!"
"Then
why do you go away?"
"Because
I won't be called lubberly. I'm as good a man as ever swabbed a deck, and don't
care who says to the contrary. I'll stick to the ship as long as she's
seaworthy," said Jack.
"Well,
come here, and just listen to the log, and be d——d to you."
"What's
the orders now, admiral?" said Jack, "though, as we are paid
off—"
"There,
take that, will you?" said Admiral Bell, as he flung a pillow at Jack,
being the only thing in the shape of a missile within reach.
Jack
ducked, and the pillow produced a clatter in the washhand-stand among the
crockery, as Jack said,—
"There's
a mutiny in the ship, and hark how the cargo clatters; will you have it back
again?"
"Come,
will you? I've been dreaming, Jack."
"Dreaming!
what's that?"
"Thinking
of something when you are asleep, you swab."
"Ha,
ha, ha!" laughed Jack; "never did such a thing in my life—ha, ha, ha!
what's the matter now?"
"I'll
tell you what's the matter. Jack Pringle, you are becoming mutinous, and I
won't have it; if you don't hold your jaw and draw in your slacks, I'll have
another second."
"Another
second! what's in the wind, now?" said Jack. "Is this the
dream?"
"If
ever I dream when I'm alongside a strange craft, then it is a dream; but old
Admiral Bell ain't the man to sleep when there's any work to be done."
"That's
uncommon true," said Jack, turning a quid.
"Well,
then, I'm going to fight."
"Fight!"
exclaimed Jack. "Avast, there, I don't see where's the enemy—none o' that
gammon; Jack Pringle can fight, too, and will lay alongside his admiral, but he
don't see the enemy anywhere."
"You
don't understand these things, so I'll tell you. I have had a bit of talk with
Sir Francis Varney, and I am going to fight him."
"What
the
wamphigher
?"
remarked Jack, parenthetically.
"Yes."
"Well,
then," resumed Jack, "then we shall see another blaze, at least afore
we die; but he's an odd fish—one of Davy Jones's sort."
"I
don't care about that; he may be anything he likes; but Admiral Bell ain't
a-going to have his nephew burned and eaten, and sucked like I don't know what,
by a vampyre, or by any other confounded land-shark."
"In
course," said Jack, "we ain't a-going to put up with nothing of that
sort, and if so be as how he has put him out of the way, why it's our duty to
send him after him, and square the board."
"That's
the thing, Jack; now you know you must go to Sir Francis Varney and tell him
you come from me."
"I
don't care if I goes on my own account," said Jack.
"That
won't do; I've challenged him and I must fight him."
"In
course you will," returned Jack, "and, if he blows you away, why I'll
take your place, and have a blaze myself."
The
admiral gave a look at Jack of great admiration, and then said,—
"You
are a d——d good seaman, Jack, but he's a knight, and might say no to that, but
do you go to him, and tell him that you come from me to settle the when and the
where this duel is to be fought."
"Single
fight?" said Jack.
"Yes;
consent to any thing that is fair," said the admiral, "but let it be
as soon as you can. Now, do you understand what I have said?"
"Yes,
to be sure; I ain't lived all these years without knowing your lingo."
"Then
go at once; and don't let the honour of Admiral Bell and old England suffer,
Jack. I'm his man, you know, at any price."
"Never
fear," said Jack; "you shall fight him, at any rate. I'll go and see
he don't back out, the warmint."
"Then
go along, Jack; and mind don't you go blazing away like a fire ship, and
letting everybody know what's going on, or it'll be stopped."
"I'll
not spoil sport," said Jack, as he left the room, to go at once to Sir
Francis Varney, charged with the conducting of the important cartel of the
admiral. Jack made the best of his way with becoming gravity and expedition
until he reached the gate of the admiral's enemy.
Jack
rang loudly at the gate; there seemed, if one might judge by his countenance, a
something on his mind, that Jack was almost another man. The gate was opened by
the servant, who inquired what he wanted there.
"The
wamphigher."
"Who?"
"The
wamphigher."
The
servant frowned, and was about to say something uncivil to Jack, who winked at
him very hard, and then said,—
"Oh,
may be you don't know him, or won't know him by that name: I wants to see Sir
Francis Varney."
"He's
at home," said the servant; "who are you?"
"Show
me up, then. I'm Jack Pringle, and I'm come from Admiral Bell; I'm the
Admiral's friend, you see, so none of your black looks."
The
servant seemed amazed, as well as rather daunted, at Jack's address; he showed
him, however, into the hall, where Mr. Chillingworth had just that moment
arrived, and was waiting for an interview with Varney.
MARCHDALE'S OFFER.—THE CONSULTATION AT BANNERWORTH HALL.—THE
MORNING OF THE DUEL.
Mr.
Chillingworth was much annoyed to see Jack Pringle in the hall, and Jack was
somewhat surprised at seeing Mr. Chillingworth there at that time in the
rooming; they had but little time to indulge in their mutual astonishment, for
a servant came to announce that Sir Francis Varney would see them both.
Without
saying anything to the servant or each other, they ascended the staircase, and
were shown into the apartment where Sir Francis Varney received them.
"Gentlemen,"
said Sir Francis, in his usual bland tone, "you are welcome."
"Sir
Francis," said Mr. Chillingworth, "I have come upon matters of some
importance; may I crave a separate audience?"
"And
I too," said Jack Pringle; "I come as the friend of Admiral Bell, I
want a private audience; but, stay, I don't care a rope's end who knows who I
am, or what I come about; say you are ready to name time and place, and I'm as
dumb as a figure-head; that is saying something, at all events; and now I'm
done."
"Why,
gentlemen," said Sir Francis, with a quiet smile, "as you have both
come upon the same errand, and as there may arise a controversy upon the point
of precedence, you had better be both present, as I must arrange this matter
myself upon due inquiry."
"I
do not exactly understand this," said Mr. Chillingworth; "do you, Mr.
Pringle? perhaps you can enlighten me?"
"It,"
said Jack, "as how you came here upon the same errand as I, and I as you,
why we both come about fighting Sir Francis Varney."
"Yes,"
said Sir Francis; "what Mr. Pringle says, is, I believe correct to a
letter. I have a challenge from both your principals, and am ready to give you
both the satisfaction you desire, provided the first encounter will permit me
the honour of joining in the second. You, Mr. Pringle, are aware of the chances
of war?"
"I
should say so," said Jack, with a wink and a nod of a familiar character.
"I've seen a few of them."
"Will
you proceed to make the necessary agreement between you both, gentlemen? My
affection for the one equals fully the good will I bear the other, and I cannot
give a preference in so delicate a matter; proceed gentlemen."
Mr.
Chillingworth looked at Jack, and Jack Pringle looked at Mr. Chillingworth, and
then the former said,—
"Well,
the admiral means fighting, and I am come to settle the necessaries; pray let
me know what are your terms, Mr. What-d'ye-call'em."
"I
am agreeable to anything that is at all reasonable—pistols, I presume?"
"Sir
Francis Varney," said Mr. Chillingworth, "I cannot consent to carry
on this office, unless you can appoint a friend who will settle these matters
with us—myself, at least."
"And
I too," said Jack Pringle; "we don't want to bear down an enemy.
Admiral Bell ain't the man to do that, and if he were, I'm not the man to back
him in doing what isn't fair or right; but he won't do it."
"But,
gentlemen, this must not be; Mr. Henry Bannerworth must not be disappointed,
and Admiral Bell must not be disappointed. Moreover, I have accepted the two
cartels, and I am ready and willing to fight;—one at a time, I presume?"
"Sir
Francis, after what you have said, I must take upon myself, on the part of Mr.
Henry Bannerworth, to decline meeting you, if you cannot name a friend with
whom I can arrange this affair."
"Ah!"
said Jack Pringle, "that's right enough. I recollect very well when Jack
Mizeu fought Tom Foremast, they had their seconds. Admiral Bell can't do
anything in the dark. No, no, d——e! all must be above board."
"Gentlemen,"
said Sir Francis Varney, "you see the dilemma I am in. Your principals
have both challenged me. I am ready to fight any one, or both of them, as the
case may be. Distinctly understand that; because it is a notion of theirs that
I will not do so, or that I shrink from them; but I am a stranger in this
neighbourhood, and have no one whom I could call upon to relinquish so much, as
they run the risk of doing by attending me to the field."
"Then
your acquaintances are no friends, d——e!" said Jack Pringle, spitting
through his teeth into the bars of a beautifully polished grate. "I'd
stick to anybody—the devil himself, leave alone a vampyre—if so be as how I had
been his friends and drunk grog from the same can. They are a set of
lubbers."
"I
have not been here long enough to form any such friendships, Mr. Chillingworth;
but can confidently rely upon your honour and that of your principal, and will
freely and fairly meet him."
"But,
Sir Francis, you forget the fact, in transacting, myself for Mr. Bannerworth,
and this person or Admiral Bell, we do match, and have our own characters at
stake; nay more, our lives and fortunes. These may be small; but they are
everything to us. Allow me to say, on my own behalf, that I will not permit my
principal to meet you unless you can name a second, as is usual with gentlemen
on such occasions."
"I
regret, while I declare to you my entire willingness to meet you, that I cannot
comply through utter inability to do so, with your request. Let this go forth
to the world as I have stated it, and let it be an answer to any aspersions
that may be uttered as to my unwillingness to fight."
There
was a pause of some moments. Mr. Chillingworth was resolved that, come of it
what would, he would not permit Henry to fight, unless Sir Francis Varney
himself should appoint a friend, and then they could meet upon equal terms.
Jack
Pringle whistled, and spit, and chewed and turned his quid—hitched up his
trousers, and looked wistfully from one to the other, as he said,—
"So
then it's likely to be no fight at all, Sir Francis what's-o'-name?"
"It
seems like it, Mr. Pringle," replied Varney, with a meaning smile;
"unless you can be more complaisant towards myself, and kind towards the
admiral."
"Why,
not exactly that," said Jack; "it's a pity to stop a good play in the
beginning, just because some little thing is wrong in the tackling."
"Perhaps
your skill and genius may enable us to find some medium course that we may
pursue with pleasure and profit. What say you, Mr. Pringle?"
"All
I know about genius, as you call it is the Flying Dutchman, or some such odd
out of the way fish. But, as I said, I am not one to spoil sport, nor more is
the admiral. Oh, no, we is all true men and good."
"I
believe it," said Varney, bowing politely.
"You
needn't keep your figure-head on the move; I can see you just as well.
Howsoever, as I was saying, I don't like to spoil sport, and sooner than both
parties should be disappointed, my principal shall become your second, Sir
Francis."
"What,
Admiral Bell?" exclaimed Varney, lifting his eyebrows with surprise.
"What,
Charles Holland's uncle!" exclaimed Mr. Chillingworth, in accents of
amazement.
"And
why not?" said Jack, with great gravity. "I will pledge my word—Jack
Pringle's word—that Admiral Bell shall be second to Sir Francis Varney, during
his scrimmage with Mr. Henry Bannerworth. That will let the matter go on; there
can be no back-out then, eh?" continued Jack Pringle, with a knowing nod
at Chillingworth as he spoke.
"That
will, I hope, remove your scruples, Mr. Chillingworth," said Varney, with
a courteous smile.
"But
will Admiral Bell do this?"
"His
second says so, and has, I daresay, influence enough with him to induce that
person to act in conformity with his promise."
"In
course he will. Do you think he would be the man to hang back? Oh, no; he would
be the last to leave Jack Pringle in the lurch—no. Depend upon it, Sir Francis,
he'll be as sure to do what I say, as I have said it."
"After
that assurance, I cannot doubt it," said Sir Francis Varney; "this
act of kindness will, indeed, lay me under a deep and lasting obligation to
Admiral Bell, which I fear I shall never be able to pay."
"You
need not trouble yourself about that," said Jack Pringle; "the admiral
will credit all, and you can pay off old scores when his turn comes in the
field."
"I
will not forget," said Varney; "he deserves every consideration; but
now, Mr. Chillingworth, I presume that we may come to some understanding
respecting this meeting, which you were so kind as to do me the honour of
seeking."
"I
cannot object to its taking place. I shall be most happy to meet your second in
the field, and will arrange with him."
"I
imagine that, under the circumstances, that it will be barely necessary to go
to that length of ceremony. Future interviews can be arranged later; name the
time and place, and after that we can settle all the rest on the ground."
"Yes,"
said Jack; "it will be time enough, surely, to see the admiral when we are
upon the ground. I'll warrant the old buffer is a true brick as ever was:
there's no flinching about him."
"I
am satisfied," said Varney.
"And
I also," said Chillingworth; "but, understand, Sir Francis, any
default for seconds makes the meeting a blank."
"I
will not doubt Mr. Pringle's honour so much as to believe it possible."
"I'm
d——d," said Jack, "if you ain't a trump-card, and no mistake; it's a
great pity as you is a wamphigher."
"The
time, Mr. Chillingworth?"
"To-morrow,
at seven o'clock," replied that gentleman.
"The
place, sir?"
"The
best place that I can think of is a level meadow half-way between here and
Bannerworth Hall; but that is your privilege, Sir Francis Varney."
"I
waive it, and am much obliged to you for the choice of the spot; it seems of
the best character imaginable. I will be punctual."
"I
think we have nothing further to arrange now," said Mr. Chillingworth.
"You will meet with Admiral Bell."
"Certainly.
I believe there is nothing more to be done; this affair is very satisfactorily
arranged, and much better than I anticipated."
"Good
morning, Sir Francis," said Mr. Chillingworth. "Good morning."
"Adieu,"
said Sir Francis, with a courteous salutation. "Good day, Mr. Pringle, and
commend me to the admiral, whose services will be of infinite value to
me."
"Don't
mention it," said Jack; "the admiral's the man as'd lend any body a
helping hand in case of distress like the present; and I'll pledge my word—Jack
Pringle's too, as that he'll do what's right, and give up his turn to Mr. Henry
Bannerworth; cause you see he can have his turn arterwards, you know—it's only
waiting awhile."
"That's
all," said Sir Francis.
Jack
Pringle made a sea bow and took his leave, as he followed Mr. Chillingworth,
and they both left the house together, to return to Bannerworth Hall.
"Well,"
said Mr. Chillingworth, "I am glad that Sir Francis Varney has got over
the difficulty of having no seconds; for it would not be proper or safe to meet
a man without a friend for him."
"It
ain't the right thing," said Jack hitching up his trousers; "but I
was afeard as how he would back out, and that would be just the wrong thing for
the admiral; he'd go raving mad."
They
had got but very few paces from Sir Francis Varney's house, when they were
joined by Marchdale.
"Ah,"
he said, as he came up, "I see you have been to Sir Francis Varney's, if I
may judge from the direction whence you're coming, and your proximity."
"Yes,
we have," said Mr. Chillingworth. "I thought you had left these
parts?"
"I
had intended to do so," replied Marchdale; "but second thoughts are
sometimes best, you know."
"Certainly."
"I
have so much friendship for the family at the hall, that notwithstanding I am
compelled to be absent from the mansion itself, yet I cannot quit the
neighbourhood while there are circumstances of such a character hanging about
them. I will remain, and see if there be not something arising, in which I may
be useful to them in some matter."
"It
is very disinterested of you; you will remain here for some time, I
suppose?"
"Yes,
undoubtedly; unless, as I do not anticipate, I should see any occasion to quit
my present quarters."
"I
tell you what it is," said Jack Pringle; "if you had been here
half-an-hour earlier you could have seconded the wamphigher."
"Seconded!"
"Yes,
we're here to challenge."
"A
double challenge?"
"Yes;
but in confiding this matter to you, Mr. Marchdale, you will make no use of it
to the exploding of this affair. By so doing you will seriously damage the
honour of Mr. Henry Bannerworth."
"I
will not, you may rely upon it; but Mr. Chillingworth, do I not see you in the
character of a second?"