Springhaven: A Tale of the Great War

by R. D. Blackmore

  CHAPTER LVIII

  IN EARLY MORN

  One Saturday morning in the month of August, an hour and a half beforesunrise, Carne walked down to the big yew-tree, which stood far enoughfrom the brink of the cliff to escape the salt, and yet near enoughto command an extensive sea-view. This was the place where the youngshoemaker, belonging to the race of Shanks, had been scared so sadlythat he lost his sweetheart, some two years and a half ago; and this wasthe tree that had been loved by painters, especially the conscientiousSharples, a pupil of Romney, who studied the nicks and the tricks ofthe bole, and the many fantastic frets of time, with all the lovingcare which ensured the truth of his simple and powerful portraits. ButSharples had long been away in the West; and Carne, having taste forno art except his own, had despatched his dog Orso, the fiercer of thepair, at the only son of a brush who had lately made ready to encampagainst that tree; upon which he decamped, and went over the cliff, witha loss of much personal property.

  The tree looked ghostly in the shady light, and gaunt armstretch ofdeparting darkness, going as if it had not slept its sleep out. Nowwas the time when the day is afraid of coming, and the night unsure ofgoing, and a large reluctance to acknowledge any change keeps everythingwaiting for another thing to move. What is the use of light and shadow,the fuss of the morning, and struggle for the sun? Fair darkness hasfilled all the gaps between them, and why should they be sever'd intosingle life again? For the gladness of daybreak is not come yet, northe pleasure of seeing the way again, the lifting of the darkness leavesheaviness beneath it, and if a rashly early bird flops down upon thegrass, he cannot count his distance, but quivers like a moth.

  "Pest on this abominable early work!" muttered Carne with a yawn, as hegroped his way through the deep gloom of black foliage, and entered thehollow of the ancient trunk; "it is all very well for sailors, but toohard upon a quiet gentleman. Very likely that fellow won't come for twohours. What a cursed uncomfortable maggoty place! But I'll have putthe sleep he has robbed me of." He stretched his long form on the roughbench inside, gathered his cloak around him, and roused the dull echo ofthe honey-combed hollow with long loud snores.

  "Awake, my vigilant commander, and behold me! Happy are the landsmen, towhom the stars bring sleep. I have not slept for three nights, and thefruits are here for you."

  It was the lively voice of Renaud Charron; and the rosy fan of the dawn,unfolded over the sea and the gray rocks, glanced with a flutter ofshade into the deep-ribbed tree. Affecting a lofty indifference, Carne,who had a large sense of his own dignity, rose slowly and came out intothe better light. "Sit down, my dear friend," he said, taking the sealedpacket; "there is bread and meat here, and a bottle of good Macon. Youare nearly always hungry, and you must be starved now."

  Charron perceived that his mouth was offered employment at the expenseof his eyes; but the kernel of the matter was his own already, and hesmiled to himself at the mystery of his chief. "In this matter, I shouldimplore the tree to crush me, if my father were an Englishman," hethought; "but every one to his taste; it is no affair of mine." Just ashe was getting on good terms with his refreshment, Carne came back, andwatched him with a patronising smile.

  "You are the brother of my toil," he said, "and I will tell you asmuch as it is good for you to know. A few hours now will complete ourenterprise. Napoleon is at Boulogne again, and even he can scarcelyrestrain the rush of the spirits he has provoked. The first Division ison board already, with a week's supplies, and a thousand horses, readyto sail when a hand is held up. The hand will be held up at my signal,and that I shall trust you to convey to-night, as soon as I have settledcertain matters. Where is that sullen young Tugwell? What have you donewith him?"

  "Wonderfully clever is your new device, my friend," Charron replied,after a long pull at the bottle. "To vanquish the mind by a mindsuperior is a glory of high reason; but to let it remain in itselfand compel it to perform what is desired by the other, is a stroke ofgenius. And under your pharmacy he must do it--that has been provedalready. The idea was grand, very noble, magnificent. It never wouldhave shown itself to my mind."

  "Probably not. When that has been accomplished, we will hang him for atraitor. But, my dear friend, I have sad news for you, even in this hourof triumph. The lady of your adoration, the Admiral's eldest daughter,Faith, has recovered the man for whom she has waited four years, and shemeans to marry him. The father has given his consent, and her pride isbeyond description. She has long loved a mystery--what woman can helpit? And now she has one for life, a husband eclipsed in his own hair.My Renaud, all rivalry is futile. Your hair, alas, is quite short andscanty. But this man has discovered in Africa a nut which turns a maninto the husk of himself. No wonder that he came out of the sea alldry!"

  "Tush! he is a pig. It is a pig that finds the nuts. I will be thebutcher for that long pig, and the lady will rush into the arms ofconquest. Then will I possess all the Admiral's lands, and pursue thefine chase of the rabbits. And I will give dinners, such dinners, myfaith! Ha! that is excellent said--embrace me--my Faith will sit at theright side of the table, and explain to the English company that suchdinners could proceed from nobody except a French gentleman comminglingall the knowledge of the joint with the loftier conception of the hash,the mince--the what you call? Ah, you have no name for it, becauseyou do not know the proper thing. Then, in the presence of admiringEnglishmen, I will lean back in my chair, the most comfortable chairthat can be found--"

  "Stop. You have got to get into it yet," Carne interrupted, rudely; "andthe way to do that is not to lean back in it. The fault of your systemhas always been that you want to enjoy everything before you get it."

  "And of yours," retorted Charron, beginning to imbibe the pugnacity ofan English landlord, "that when you have got everything, you will enjoywhat? Nothing!"

  "Even a man of your levity hits the nail on the head sometimes," saidCarne, "though the blow cannot be a very heavy one. Nature has notfashioned me for enjoyment, and therefore affords me very little. Butsome little I do expect in the great inversion coming, in the upset ofthe scoundrels who have fattened on my flesh, and stolen my land, tomake country gentlemen--if it were possible--of themselves. It will takea large chimney to burn their title-deeds, for the robbery has lastedfor a century. But I hold the great Emperor's process signed forthat; and if you come to my cookery, you will say that I am capableof enjoyment. Fighting I enjoy not, as hot men do, nor guzzling, norswigging, nor singing of songs; for all of which you have a talent, myfriend. But the triumph of quiet skill I like; and I love to turn thebalance on my enemies. Of these there are plenty, and among them all wholive in that fishy little hole down there."

  Carne pointed contemptuously at Springhaven, that poor little villagein the valley. But the sun had just lifted his impartial face above thelast highland that baulked his contemplation of the home of so many andgreat virtues; and in the brisk moisture of his early salute the villagein the vale looked lovely. For a silvery mist was flushed with rose,like a bridal veil warmed by the blushes of the bride, and the curves ofthe land, like a dewy palm leaf, shone and sank alternate.

  "What a rare blaze they will make!" continued Carne, as the sunlightglanced along the russet thatch, and the blue smoke arose from theearliest chimney. "Every cottage there shall be a bonfire, because ithas cast off allegiance to me. The whole race of Darling will be at mymercy--the pompous old Admiral, who refused to call on me till his idiotof a son persuaded him--that wretched poetaster, who reduced me to theignominy of reading his own rubbish to him--and the haughty young womanthat worships a savage who has treated me with insult. I have them allnow in the hollow of my hand, and a thorough good crumpling is preparedfor them. The first house to burn shall be Zebedee Tugwell's, thatconceited old dolt of a fishing fellow, who gives me a nod of suspicion,instead of pulling off his dirty hat to me. Then we blow up the church,and old Twemlow's house, and the Admiral's, when we have done with it.The fishing-fleet, as they call their wretched tubs, will come home,with the u
sual fuss, to-night, and on Monday it shall be ashes. How likeyou my programme? Is it complete?"

  "Too much, too much complete; too barbarous," answered the kindlyhearted Frenchman. "What harm have all the poor men done to you? Andwhat insanity to provoke enemies of the people all around who wouldbring us things to eat! And worse--if the houses are consumed with fire,where will be the revenue that is designed for me, as the fair son ofthe Admiral? No, no; I will allow none of that. When the landing ismade, you will not be my master. Soult will have charge of the subjectsinferior, and he is not a man of rapine. To him will I address myself infavour of the village. Thus shall I ascend in the favour of my charming,and secure my property."

  "Captain, I am your master yet, and I will have no interference. No moretalk; but obey me to the letter. There is no sign of any rough weather,I suppose? You sailors see things which we do not observe."

  "This summer has not been of fine weather, and the sky is alwayschanging here. But there is not any token of a tempest now. Though thereis a little prospect of rain always."

  "If it rains, all the better, for it obscures the sea. You have fedenough now to last even you till the evening; or if not, you can takesome with you. Remain to the westward, where the cliffs are higher, andlook out especially for British ships of war that may be appearing upChannel. Take this second spy-glass; it is quite strong enough. Butfirst of all tell Perkins to stand off again with the pilot-boat, asif he was looking out for a job, and if he sees even a frigate comingeastward, to run back and let you know by a signal arranged between you.Dan Tugwell, I see, was shipped yesterday on board of Prame No. 801, avery handy vessel, which will lead the van, and five hundred will followin her track on Sunday evening. My excellent uncle will be at the heightof his eloquence just when his favourite Sunday-school boy is bringingan addition to his congregation. But the church shall not be blown upuntil Monday, for fear of premature excitement. By Monday night abouttwo hundred thousand such soldiers as Britain could never produce willbe able to quell any childish excitement such as Great Britain is apt togive way to."

  "But what is for me, this same Saturday night? I like very much to makepolite the people, and to marry the most beautiful and the richest; butnot to kill more than there is to be helped."

  "The breaking of the egg may cut the fingers that have been sucked tilltheir skin is gone. You have plagued me all along with your Englishhankerings, which in your post of trust are traitorous."

  Charron was accustomed to submit to the infinitely stronger will ofCarne. Moreover, his sense of discipline often checked the speed of histemper. But he had never been able to get rid of a secret contempt forhis superior, as a traitor to the race to which he really belonged, atleast in the Frenchman's opinion. And that such a man should charge himwith treachery was more than his honest soul could quite endure, and hisquick face flushed with indignation as he spoke:

  "Your position, my commander, does not excuse such words. You shallanswer for them, when I am discharged from your command; which, I hope,will be the case next week. To be spoken of as a traitor by you is verygrand."

  "Take it as you please," Carne replied, with that cold contemptuoussmile which the other detested. "For the present, however, you will notbe grand, but carry out the orders which I give you. As soon as it isdark, you will return, keep the pilot-boat in readiness for my lastdespatch, with which you will meet the frigate Torche about midnight, asarranged on Thursday. All that and the signals you already understand.Wait for me by this tree, and I may go with you; but that will dependupon circumstances. I will take good care that you shall not be keptstarving; for you may have to wait here three or four hours for me. Butbe sure that you do not go until I come."

  "But what am I to do if I have seen some British ships, or Perkins hasgiven me token of them?"

  "Observe their course, and learn where they are likely to be atnightfall. There will probably be none. All I fear is that they mayintercept the Torche. Farewell, my friend, and let your sense of dutysubdue the small sufferings of temper."