Authors: George W. M. Reynolds,James Malcolm Rymer
There
he lay upon his back, grasping, with the vehemence of an embrace that had in it
much of the ludicrous, a long boot, from which the intruder had cleverly
slipped his leg, leaving it as a poor trophy in the hands of his enemies.
"Why
you've only pulled his boot off," said the doctor; "and now he's gone
for good, for he knows what we're about, and has slipped through your
fingers."
Admiral
Bell sat up and looked at the boot with a rueful countenance.
"Done
again!" he said.
"Yes,
you are done," said the doctor; "why didn't you lay hold of the leg
while you were about it, instead of the boot? Admiral, are these your
tactics?"
"Don't
be a fool," said the admiral; "put out the light and give me the
pistols, or blaze away yourself into the garden; a chance shot may do
something. It's no use running after him; a stern chase is a long chase; but
fire away."
As if
some parties below had heard him give the word, two loud reports from the
garden immediately ensued, and a crash of glass testified to the fact that some
deadly missile had entered the room.
"Murder!"
said the doctor, and he fell flat upon his back. "I don't like this at
all; it's all in your line, admiral, but not in mine."
"All's
right, my lad," said the admiral; "now for it."
He
saw lying in the moonlight the pistols which he and the doctor had brought into
the room, and in another moment he, to use his own words, returned the
broadside of the enemy.
"D—n
it!" he said, "this puts me in mind of old times. Blaze away, you
thieves, while I load; broadside to broadside. It's your turn now; I scorn to
take an advantage. What the devil's that?"
Something
very large and very heavy came bang against the window, sending it all into the
room, and nearly smothering the admiral with the fragments. Another shot was
then fired, and in came something else, which hit the wall on the opposite side
of the room, rebounding from thence on to the doctor, who gave a yell of
despair.
After
that all was still; the enemy seemed to be satisfied that they had silenced the
garrison. And it took the admiral a great deal of kicking and plunging to
rescue himself from some superincumbent mass that was upon him, which seemed to
him to be a considerable sized tree.
"Call
this fair fighting," he shouted—"getting a man's legs and arms
tangled up like a piece of Indian matting in the branches of a tree? Doctor, I
say! hilloa! where are you?"
"I
don't know," said the doctor; "but there's somebody getting into the
balcony—now we shall be murdered in cold blood!"
"Where's
the pistols?"
"Fired
off, of course; you did it yourself."
Bang
came something else into the room, which, from the sound it made, closely
resembled a brick, and after that somebody jumped clean into the centre of the
floor, and then, after rolling and writhing about in a most singular manner,
slowly got up, and with various preliminary hiccups, said,—
"Come
on, you lubbers, many of you as like. I'm the tar for all weathers."
"Why,
d——e," said the admiral, "it's Jack Pringle."
"Yes,
it is," said Jack, who was not sufficiently sober to recognise the
admiral's voice. "I sees as how you've heard of me. Come on, all of
you."
"Why,
Jack, you scoundrel," roared the admiral, "how came you here? Don't
you know me? I'm your admiral, you horse-marine."
"Eh?"
said Jack. "Ay—ay, sir, how came you here?"
"How
came you, you villain?"
"Boarded
the enemy."
"The
enemy who you boarded was us; and hang me if I don't think you haven't been
pouring broadsides into us, while the enemy were scudding before the wind in
another direction."
"Lor!"
said Jack.
"Explain,
you scoundrel, directly—explain."
"Well,
that's only reasonable," said Jack; and giving a heavier lurch than usual,
he sat down with a great bounce upon the floor. "You see it's just this
here,—when I was a coming of course I heard, just as I was a going, that ere as
made me come all in consequence of somebody a going, or for to come, you see,
admiral."
"Doctor,"
cried the admiral, in a great rage, "just help me out of this entanglement
of branches, and I'll rid the world from an encumbrance by smashing that
fellow."
"Smash
yourself!" said Jack. "You know you're drunk."
"My
dear admiral," said Mr. Chillingworth, laying hold of one of his legs, and
pulling it very hard, which brought his face into a lot of brambles,
"we're making a mess of this business."
"Murder!"
shouted the admiral; "you are indeed. Is that what you call pulling me out
of it? You've stuck me fast."
"I'll
manage it," said Jack. "I've seed him in many a scrape, and I've seed
him out. You pull me, doctor, and I'll pull him. Yo hoy!"
Jack
laid hold of the admiral by the scuff of the neck, and the doctor laid hold of
Jack round the waist, the consequence of which was that he was dragged out from
the branches of the tree, which seemed to have been thrown into the room, and
down fell both Jack and the doctor.
At
this instant there was a strange hissing sound heard below the window; then
there was a sudden, loud report, as if a hand-grenade had gone off. A spectral
sort of light gleamed into the room, and a tall, gaunt-looking figure rose
slowly up in the balcony.
"Beware
of the dead!" said a voice. "Let the living contend with the living,
the dead with the dead. Beware!"
The
figure disappeared, as did also the strange, spectral-looking light. A
death-like silence ensued, and the cold moonbeams streamed in upon the floor of
the apartment, as if nothing had occurred to disturb the wrapped repose and
serenity of the scene.
THE WARNING.—THE NEW PLAN OF OPERATION.—THE INSULTING
MESSAGE FROM VARNEY.
So
much of the night had been consumed in these operations, that by the time they
were over, and the three personages who lay upon the floor of what might be
called the haunted chamber of Bannerworth Hall, even had they now been disposed
to seek repose, would have had a short time to do so before the daylight would
have streamed in upon them, and roused them to the bustle of waking existence.
It
may be well believed what a vast amount of surprise came over the three persons
in that chamber at the last little circumstance that had occurred in connection
with the night's proceedings.
There
was nothing which had preceded that, that did not resemble a genuine attack
upon the premises; but about that last mysterious appearance, with its curious
light, there was quite enough to bother the admiral and Jack Pringle to a
considerable effect, whatever might be the effect upon Mr. Chillingworth, whose
profession better enabled him to comprehend, chemically, what would produce
effects that, no doubt, astonished them amazingly.
What
with his intoxication and the violent exercise he had taken, Jack was again
thoroughly prostrate; while the admiral could not have looked more astonished
had the evil one himself appeared in
propria
persona
and given him notice
to quit the premises.
He
was, however, the first to speak, and the words he spoke were addressed to
Jack, to whom he said,—
"Jack,
you lubber, what do you think of all that?"
Jack,
however, was too far gone even to say "Ay, ay, sir;" and Mr.
Chillingworth, slowly getting himself up to his feet, approached the admiral.
"It's
hard to say so much, Admiral Bell," he said, "but it strikes me that
whatever object this Sir Francis Varney, or Varney, the vampyre, has in coming
into Bannerworth Hall, it is, at all events, of sufficient importance to induce
him to go any length, and not to let even a life to stand in the way of its
accomplishment."
"Well,
it seems so," said the admiral; "for I'll be hanged if I can make
head or tail of the fellow."
"If
we value our personal safety, we shall hesitate to continue a perilous
adventure which I think can end only in defeat, if not in death."
"But
we don't value our personal safety," said the admiral. "We've got
into the adventure, and I don't see why we shouldn't carry it out. It may be
growing a little serious; but what of that? For the sake of that young girl,
Flora Bannerworth, as well as for the sake of my nephew, Charles Holland, I
will see the end of this affair, let it be what it may; but mind you, Mr.
Chillingworth, if one man chooses to go upon a desperate service, that's no
reason why he should ask another to do so."
"I
understand you," said Mr. Chillingworth; "but, having commenced the
adventure with you, I am not the man to desert you in it. We have committed a
great mistake."
"A
mistake! how?"
"Why,
we ought to have watched outside the house, instead of within it. There can be
no doubt that if we had lain in wait in the garden, we should have been in a
better position to have accomplished our object."
"Well,
I don't know, doctor, but it seems to me that if Jack Pringle hadn't made such
a fool of himself, we should have managed very well: and I don't know now how
he came to behave in the manner he did."
"Nor
I," said Mr. Chillingworth. "But, at all events, so far as the result
goes, it is quite clear that any further watching, in this house, for the
appearance of Sir Francis Varney, will now be in vain. He has nothing to do now
but to keep quiet until we are tired out—a fact, concerning which he can easily
obtain information—and then he immediately, without trouble, walks into the
premises, to his own satisfaction."
"But
what the deuce can he want upon the premises?"
"That
question, admiral, induces me to think that we have made another mistake. We
ought not to have attempted to surprise Sir Francis Varney in coming into
Bannerworth Hall, but to catch him as he came out."
"Well,
there's something in that," said the admiral. "This is a pretty
night's business, to be sure. However, it can't be helped, it's done, and
there's an end on't. And now, as the morning is near at hand, I certainly must
confess I should like to get some breakfast, although I don't like that we
should all leave the house together"
"Why,"
said Mr. Chillingworth, "as we have now no secret to keep with regard to
our being here, because the principal person we wished to keep it from is aware
of it, I think we cannot do better than send at once for Henry Bannerworth,
tell him of the non-success of the effort we have made in his behalf, and admit
him at once into our consultation of what is next to be done."
"Agreed,
agreed, I think that, without troubling him, we might have captured this
Varney; but that's over now, and, as soon as Jack Pringle chooses to wake up
again, I'll send him to the Bannerworths with a message."
"Ay,
ay, sir," said Jack, suddenly; "all's right."
"Why,
you vagabond," said the admiral, "I do believe you've been
shamming!"
"Shamming
what?"
"Being
drunk, to be sure."
"Lor!
couldn't do it," said Jack; "I'll just tell you how it was. I wakened
up and found myself shut in somewhere; and, as I couldn't get out of the door,
I thought I'd try the window, and there I did get out. Well, perhaps I wasn't
quite the thing, but I sees two people in the garden a looking up at this ere
room; and, to be sure, I thought it was you and the doctor. Well, it warn't no
business of mine to interfere, so I seed one of you climb up the balcony, as I
thought, and then, after which, come down head over heels with such a run, that
I thought you must have broken your neck. Well, after that you fired a couple
of shots in, and then, after that, I made sure it was you, admiral."
"And
what made you make sure of that?"
"Why,
because you scuttled away like an empty tar-barrel in full tide."
"Confound
you, you scoundrel!"
"Well,
then, confound you, if it comes to that. I thought I was doing you good
sarvice, and that the enemy was here, when all the while it turned out as you
was and the enemy wasn't, and the enemy was outside and you wasn't."
"But
who threw such a confounded lot of things into the room?"
"Why,
I did, of course; I had but one pistol, and, when I fired that off, I was
forced to make up a broadside with what I could."
"Was
there ever such a stupid!" said the admiral; "doctor, doctor, you
talked of us making two mistakes; but you forgot a third and worse one still,
and that was the bringing such a lubberly son of a sea-cook into the place as
this fellow."
"You're
another," said Jack; "and you knows it."
"Well,
well," said Mr. Chillingworth, "it's no use continuing it, admiral;
Jack, in his way, did, I dare say, what he considered for the best."
"I
wish he'd do, then, what he considers for the worst, next time."
"Perhaps
I may," said Jack, "and then you will be served out above a bit. What
'ud become of you, I wonder, if it wasn't for me? I'm as good as a mother to
you, you knows that, you old babby."
"Come,
come, admiral," said Mr. Chillingworth: "come down to the
garden-gate; it is now just upon daybreak, and the probability is that we shall
not be long there before we see some of the country people, who will get us
anything we require in the shape of refreshment; and as for Jack, he seems
quite sufficiently recovered now to go to the Bannerworths'."
"Oh!
I can go," said Jack; "as for that, the only thing as puts me out of
the way is the want of something to drink. My constitution won't stand what
they call temperance living, or nothing with the chill off."
"Go
at once," said the admiral, "and tell Mr. Henry Bannerworth that we
are here; but do not tell him before his sister or his mother. If you meet
anybody on the road, send them here with a cargo of victuals. It strikes me
that a good, comfortable breakfast wouldn't be at all amiss, doctor."
"How
rapidly the day dawns," remarked Mr. Chillingworth, as he walked into the
balcony from whence Varney, the vampire, had attempted to make good his
entrance to the Hall.
Just
as he spoke, and before Jack Pringle could get half way over to the garden
gate, there came a tremendous ring at the bell which was suspended over it.
A
view of that gate could not be commanded from the window of the haunted
apartment, so that they could not see who it was that demanded admission.
As
Jack Pringle was going down at any rate, they saw no necessity for personal
interference; and he proved that there was not, by presently returning with a
note which he said had been thrown over the gate by a lad, who then scampered
off with all the speed he could make.
The
note, exteriorly, was well got up, and had all the appearance of great care
having been bestowed upon its folding and sealing.
It
was duly addressed to "Admiral Bell, Bannerworth Hall," and the word
"immediate" was written at one corner.
The
admiral, after looking at it for some time with very great wonder, came at last
to the conclusion that probably to open it would be the shortest way of
arriving at a knowledge of who had sent it, and he accordingly did so.
The
note was as follows:—
"My
dear sir,—Feeling assured that you cannot be surrounded with those means and
appliances for comfort in the Hall, in its now deserted condition, which you
have a right to expect, and so eminently deserve, I flatter myself that I shall
receive an answer in the affirmative, when I request the favour of your company
to breakfast, as well as that of your learned friend. Mr. Chillingworth.
"In
consequence of a little accident which occurred last evening to my own
residence, I am,
ad interim
,
until the county build it up for me again, staying at a house called Walmesley
Lodge, where I shall expect you with all the impatience of one soliciting an
honour, and hoping that it will be conferred upon him.
"I
trust that any little difference of opinion on other subjects will not
interfere to prevent the harmony of our morning's meal together.
"Believe
me to be, my dear sir, with the greatest possible consideration, your very
obedient, humble servant,
"FRANCIS
VARNEY."
The
admiral gasped again, and looked at Mr. Chillingworth, and then at the note,
and then at Mr. Chillingworth again, as if he was perfectly bewildered.
"That's
about the coolest piece of business," said Mr. Chillingworth, "that
ever I heard of."
"Hang
me," said the admiral, "if I sha'n't like the fellow at last. It is
cool, and I like it because it is cool. Where's my hat? where's my stick!"
"What
are you going to do?"
"Accept
his invitation, to be sure, and breakfast with him; and, my learned friend, as
he calls you, I hope you'll come likewise. I'll take the fellow at his word. By
fair means, or by foul, I'll know what he wants here; and why he persecutes
this family, for whom I have an attachment; and what hand he has in the
disappearance of my nephew, Charles Holland; for, as sure as there's a Heaven
above us, he's at the bottom of that affair. Where is this Walmesley
Lodge?"
"Just
in the neighbourhood; but—"
"Come
on, then; come on."
"But,
really, admiral, you don't mean to say you'll breakfast with—with—"
"A
vampyre? Yes, I would, and will, and mean to do so. Here, Jack, you needn't go
to Mr. Bannerworth's yet. Come, my learned friend, let's take Time by the
forelock."