by J. M. Barrie
CHAPTER XXVI
TOMMY REPENTS, AND IS NONE THE WORSE FOR IT
Mr. McLean wrote a few reassuring words to Miss Ailie, and having toldGavinia to give the note to her walked quietly out of the house; he wascoming back after he had visited Miss Kitty's grave. Gavinia, however,did not knew this, and having delivered the note she returned dolefullyto the kitchen to say to Tommy, "His letter maun have been as thraun ashimsel', for as soon as she read it, down she plumped on her kneesagain."
But Tommy was not in the kitchen; he was on the garden-wall watchingMiss Ailie's persecutor.
"Would it no be easier to watch him frae the gate?" suggested Gavinia,who had not the true detective instinct.
Tommy disregarded her womanlike question; a great change had come overhim since she went upstairs; his bead now wobbled on his shoulders likea little balloon that wanted to cut its connection with earth and soar.
"What makes you look so queer?" cried the startled maid. "I thought youwas converted."
"So I am," he shouted, "I'm more converted than ever, and yet I can doit just the same! Gavinia, I've found a wy!"
He was hurrying off on Mr. McLean's trail, but turned to say, "Gavinia,do you ken wha that man is?"
"Ower weel I ken," she answered, "it's Mr. McLean."
"McLean!" he echoed scornfully, "ay, I've heard that's one of the nameshe goes by, but hearken, and I'll tell you wha he really is. That's thescoundrel Stroke!"
No wonder Gavinia was flabbergasted. "Wha are you then?" she cried.
"I'm the Champion of Dames," he replied loftily, and before she hadrecovered from this he was stalking Mr. McLean in the cemetery.
Miss Kitty sleeps in a beautiful hollow called the Basin, but the stoneput up to her memory hardly marks the spot now, for with a score ofothers it was blown on its face by the wind that uprooted so many treesin the Den, and as it fell it lies. From the Basin to the rough roadthat clings like a belt to the round cemetery dyke is little more than ajump, and shortly after Miss Kitty's grave had been pointed out to him.Mr. McLean was seen standing there hat in hand by a man on the road.This man was Dr. McQueen hobbling home from the Forest Muir; he did nothobble as a rule, but hobble everyone must on that misshapen brae,except Murdoch Gelatley, who, being short in one leg elsewhere, is herethe only straight man. McQueen's sharp eyes, however, picked out notonly the stranger but Tommy crouching behind Haggart's stone, and himdid the doctor's famous crook staff catch in the neck and whisk acrossthe dyke.
"What man is that you're watching, you mysterious loon?" McQueendemanded, curiously; but of course Tommy would not divulge so big asecret. Now the one weakness of this large-hearted old bachelor (perhapsit is a professional virtue) was a devouring inquisitiveness, and hewould be troubled until he discovered who was the stranger standing insuch obvious emotion by the side of an old grave. "Well, you must comeback with me to the surgery, for I want you to run an errand for me," hesaid testily, hoping to pump the boy by the way, but Tommy dived beneathhis stick and escaped. This rasped the doctor's temper, which wasunfortunate for Grizel, whom he caught presently peeping in at hissurgery window. A dozen times of late she had wondered whether sheshould ask him to visit her mamma, and though the Painted Lady hadscreamed in terror at the proposal, being afraid of doctors, Grizelwould have ventured ere now, had it not been for her mistaken convictionthat he was a hard man, who would only flout her. It had once come toher ears that he had said a woman like her mamma could demoralize awhole town, with other harsh remarks, doubtless exaggerated in therepetition, and so he was the last man she dared think of going to forhelp, when he should have been the first. Nevertheless she had come now,and a soft word from him, such as he gave most readily to all who werein distress, would have drawn her pitiful tale from her, but he was in agrumpy mood, and had heard none of the rumors about her mother's beingill, which indeed were only common among the Monypenny children, and hisfirst words checked her confidences. "What are you hanging about my openwindow for?" he cried sharply.
"Did you think I wanted to steal anything?" replied the indignant child.
"I won't say but what I had some such thait."
She turned to leave him, but he hooked her with his staff. "As you'rehere," he said, "will you go an errand for me?"
"No," she told him promptly; "I don't like you."
"There's no love lost between us," he replied, "for I think you're thedourest lassie I ever clapped eyes on, but there's no other litlinhandy, so you must do as you are bid, and take this bottle toBallingall's."
"Is it a medicine bottle?" she asked, with sudden interest.
"Yes, it's medicine. Do you know Ballingall's house in the West townend?"
"Ballingall who has the little school?"
"The same, but I doubt he'll keep school no longer."
"Is he dying?"
"I'm afraid there's no doubt of it. Will you go?"
"I should love to go," she cried.
"Love!" he echoed, looking at her with displeasure. "You can't love togo, so talk no more nonsense, but go, and I'll give you a bawbee."
"I don't want a bawbee," she said. "Do you think they will let me go into see Ballingall?"
The doctor frowned. "What makes you want to see a dying man?" hedemanded.
"I should just love to see him!" she exclaimed, and she addeddeterminedly, "I won't give up the bottle until they let me in."
He thought her an unpleasant, morbid girl, but "that is no affair ofmine," he said shrugging his shoulders, and he gave her the bottle todeliver. Before taking it to Ballingall's, however, she committed alittle crime. She bought an empty bottle at the 'Sosh, and poured intoit some of the contents of the medicine bottle, which she then filled upwith water. She dared try no other way now of getting medicine for hermother, and was too ignorant to know that there are different drugs fordifferent ailments.
Grizel not only contrived to get in to see Ballingan but stayed by hisside for several hours, and when she came out it was night-time. On herway home she saw a light moving in the Den, where she had expected toplay no more, and she could not prevent her legs from running joyouslytoward it. So when Corp, rising out of the darkness, deftly cut herthroat, she was not so angry as she should have been.
"I'm so glad we are to play again, after all, Corp," she said; but hereplied grandly, "Thou little kennest wha you're speaking to, my gentlejade."
He gave a curious hitch to his breeches, but it only puzzled her. "Iwear gallowses no more," he explained, lifting his waistcoat to showthat his braces now encircled him as a belt, but even then she did notunderstand. "Know, then," said Corp, sternly, "I am Ben the Boatswain."
"And am I not the Lady Griselda any more?" she asked.
"I'm no sure," he confessed; "but if you are, there's a price on yourhead."
"What is Tommy?"
"I dinna ken yet, but Gavinia says he telled her he's Champion of Damns.I kenna what Elspeth'll say to that."
Grizel was starting for the Lair, but he caught her by the skirt.
"Is he not at the Lair?" she inquired.
"We knowest it not," he answered gravely. "We're looking for't," headded with some awe; "we've been looking for't this three year." Then,in a louder voice, "If you can guide us to it, my pretty trifle, you'llbe richly rewarded."
"But where is he? Don't you know?"
"Fine I knowest, but it wouldna be mous to tell you, for I kenna whetheryou be friend or foe. What's that you're carrying?"
"It is a--a medicine bottle."
"Gie me a sook!"
"No."
"Just one," begged Corp, "and I'll tell you where he is."
He got his way, and smacked his lips unctuously.
"Now, where is Tommy?"
"Put your face close to mine," said Corp, and then he whisperedhoarsely, "He's in a spleet new Lair, writing out bills wi' a' hismight, offering five hunder crowns reward for Stroke's head, dead oralive!"
* * * * *
The new haunt
was a deserted house, that stood, very damp, near a littlewaterfall to the east of the Den. Bits of it well planted in the marshadhere doggedly together to this day, but even then the roof was off andthe chimney lay in a heap on the ground, like blankets that have slippedoff a bed.
This was the good ship Ailie, lying at anchor, man-of-war, thirty guns,a cart-wheel to steer it by, T. Sandys, commander.
On the following Saturday, Ben the Boatswain piped all hands, and Mr.Sandys delivered a speech, of the bluff, straightforward kind thatsailors love. Here, unfortunately, it must be condensed. He remindedthem that three years had passed since their gracious queen (cheers)sent them into these seas to hunt down the Pretender (hisses). Theirship had been christened the Ailie, because its object was to avenge theinsults offered by the Pretender to a lady of that name for whomeveryone of them would willingly die. Like all his race the Pretender,or Stroke, as he called himself, was a torment to single women; he hadnot only stolen all this lady's wealth, but now he wanted to make herwalk the plank, a way of getting rid of enemies the mere mention ofwhich set the blood of all honest men boiling (cheers). As yet they hadnot succeeded in finding Stroke's Lair, though they knew it to be in oneof the adjoining islands, but they had suffered many privations, twicetheir gallant vessel had been burned to the water's edge, once she hadbeen sunk, once blown into the air, but had that dismayed them?
Here the Boatswain sent round a whisper, and they all cried loyally,"Ay, ay, sir."
He had now news for them that would warm their hearts like grog. He hadnot discovered the Lair, but he had seen Stroke, he had spoken to him!Disguised as a boy he had tracked the Jacobite and found him skulking inthe house of the unhappy Ailie. After blustering for a little Stroke hadgone on his knees and offered not only to cease persecuting this ladybut to return to France. Mr. Sandys had kicked him into a standingposture and then left him. But this clemency had been ill repaid. Strokehad not returned to France. He was staying at the Quharity Arms, aThrums inn, where he called himself McLean. It had gone through the townlike wildfire that he had written to someone in Redlintie to send him onanother suit of clothes and four dickies. No one suspected his realcharacter, but all noted that he went to the unhappy Ailie's housedaily, and there was a town about it. Ailie was but a woman, and womencould not defend themselves "(Boatswain, put Grizel in irons if sheopens her mouth)," and so the poor thing had been forced to speak tohim, and even to go walks with him. Her life was in danger, and beforenow Mr. Sandys would have taken him prisoner, but the queen had saidthese words, "Noble Sandys, destroy the Lair," and the best way todiscover this horrid spot was to follow Stroke night and day until hewent to it. Then they would burn it to the ground, put him on board theAilie, up with the jib-boom sail, and away to the Tower of London.
At the words "Tower of London," Ben cried "Tumble up there!" which wasthe signal for three such ringing cheers as only British tars arecapable of. Three? To be exact only two and a half, for the thirdstopped in the middle, as if the lid had suddenly been put on.
What so startled them was the unexpected appearance in their midst ofthe very man Tommy had been talking of. Taking a stroll through the Den,Mr. McLean had been drawn toward the ruin by the first cheers, and hadarrived in time to learn who and what he really was.
"Stroke!" gasped one small voice.
The presumptuous man folded his arms. "So, Sandys," he said, in hollowtones, "we meet again!"
Even Grizel got behind Tommy, and perhaps it was this that gave himspunk to say tremulously, "Wh-what are you doing her?"
"I have come," replied the ruddy Pretender, "to defy you, ay, proudSandys, to challenge thee to the deed thou pratest of. I go from here tomy Lair. Follow me, if thou darest!"
He brought his hand down with a bang upon the barrel, laugheddisdainfully, and springing over the vessel's side was at once lost inthe darkness. Instead of following, all stood transfixed, gazing at thebarrel, on which lay five shillings.
"He put them there when he slammed it!"
"Losh behears! there's a shilling to ilka ane o' us."
"I winna touch the siller," said Sandys, moodily.
"What?" cried Gavinia.
"I tell you it's a bribe."
"Do you hear him?" screamed Gavinia. "He says we're no to lay handson't! Corp, where's your tongue?"
But even in that trying moment Corp's trust in Tommy shone outbeautiful and strong. "Dinna be feared, Gavinia," he whispered, "he'llfind a wy."
"Lights out and follow Stroke!" was the order, and the crew at oncescattered in pursuit, Mr. Sandys remaining behind a moment to--to putsomething in his pocket.
Mr. McLean gave them a long chase, walking demurely when lovers were insight, but at other times doubling, jumping, even standing on eminencesand crowing insultingly, like a cock, and not until he had only breathleft to chuckle did the stout man vanish from the Den. Elspeth, now acabin-boy, was so shaken by the realism of the night's adventures thatGavinia (able seaman) took her home, and when Mr. Sandys and hisBoatswain met at the Cuttle Well neither could tell where Grizel was.
"She had no business to munt without my leave," Tommy said sulkily.
"No, she hadna. Is she the Lady Griselda yet?"
"Not her, she's the Commander's wife."
Ben shook his head, for this, he felt, was the one thing Tommy could notdo. "Well, then," growled Tommy, "if she winna be that, she'll have toserve before the mast, for I tell you plain I'll have no single women onboard."
"And what am I, forby Ben the Boatswain?"
"Nothing. Honest men has just one name."
"What! I'm just one single man?" Corp was a little crestfallen. "It's acome down," he said, with a sigh, "mind, I dinna grumble, but it's acome down."
"And you dinna have 'Methinks' now either," Tommy announced pitilessly.
Corp had dreaded this. "I'll be gey an' lonely without it," he said,with some dignity, "and it was the usefulest swear I kent o'.'Methinks!' I used to roar at Mason Malcolm's collie, and the critturcame in ahint in a swite o' fear. Losh, Tommy, is that you blooding?"
There was indeed an ugly gash on Tommy's hand. "You've been hacking atyoursel' again," said the distressed Corp, who knew that in hisenthusiasm Tommy had more than once drawn blood from himself. "When youtake it a' so real as that," he said, uncomfortably "I near think weshould give it up."
Tommy stamped his foot. "Take tent o' yoursel'!" he cried threateningly."When I was tracking Stroke I fell in with one of his men, and we had atussle. He pinked me in the hand, but 'tis only a scratch, bah! He wascarrying treasure, and I took it from him."
Ben whistled. "Five shillings?" he asked, slapping his knee.
"How did you know?" demanded Tommy, frowning, and then they tried tostare each other down.
"I thought I saw you pouching it," Corp ventured to say.
"Boatswain!"
"I mean," explained Corp hurriedly, "I mean that I kent you would find awy. Didest thou kill the Jacobite rebel?"
"He lies but a few paces off," replied Tommy, "and already the vulturesare picking his bones."
"So perish all Victoria's enemies," said Ben the Boatswain, loyally, buta sudden fear made him add, with a complete change of voice, "You dinnachance to ken his name?"
"Ay, I had marked him before," answered Tommy, "he was called Corp ofCorp."
Ben the Boatswain rose, sat down, rose again, "Tommy," he said, wipinghis brow with his sleeve, "come awa' hame!"
