anauthoritative tone. "These are my friends. They have rendered me anessential service. The boy saved my life when I was drowning, and theold man pulled us both out of the water, when we could not hold on muchlonger. Where is my papa? And, I say, Chetta, do not go and tell Mrs.Brigadier just yet. I would rather have the matter over with one ofthem first."
I felt rather awe-struck at having to go into the presence of so great aman, for I had pictured him as a tall, ferocious-looking personage, witha huge moustache and a military air and manner. Great was myastonishment when I saw, seated in an arm-chair, cross-legged, with onefoot resting on a foot-stool, a small man with yellow hair, thin cheeks,and habited in a silk dressing-gown and nankeen trousers.
"Why, Richard Alfred Chesterton!" he exclaimed in a sharp, queruloustone, "where have you been all this time? It is as well your mother hadto go out, or she would have been thrown into a state of great alarm;and something else, I suspect, too," he said, in a lower tone.
"Well, papa," answered Richard, when the brigadier had ceased speaking,"you would not address me harshly, if you knew how very nearly you werehaving the misery of losing me altogether. It is a long story, so Iwill not now enter into details. It will be sufficient for you to knowthat I was in a boat, and that out of that boat I fell into thedangerous current of the harbour; and had it not been for the braveryand gallantry of this young lad whom I have brought with me, I shouldhave been at this moment food for the fish in the Solent sea, or a fitsubject for a coroner's inquest, had my body been discovered."
The brigadier opened his grey eyes wider and wider, as the boy continuedspeaking.
"And, papa, we must not forget this old boatman, too, who pulled the boyand me--what's your name? Ay; Jack Junker--out of the water." ThusMaster Dicky ran on.
"Well, my boy, I am thankful to see you safe, and I wish to express mygratitude to the brave lad, Jack Junker, who saved your life, and to theold man who pulled you out of the water. My friends, I must consultMrs. Brigadier Plumb, how I can best show you my gratitude. I always doconsult her on all important matters. Till then I hope you will remainin this house. I am too great an invalid to talk much to you, but myson will do his best to make amends for my deficiencies."
On this Master Richard went up and whispered something in his father'sear.
"Will one or two do?" I heard the brigadier ask.
"No, no, father, do it handsomely. To be sure, he ran no risk, but itwas the way he did it; and I rather think he looks for someremuneration."
On this the brigadier shuffled off his chair, and opening hiswriting-desk, took out a bank note.
"Here, my friend," he said to old Dick, "I should like to pay you forthe loss of time, and the expense you have been put to, for thisyoungster, so accept these few pounds. I hope to show my sense of whatyou have done, more heartily by-and-by."
I saw old Dick's eyes sparkle. He had probably expected a sovereign atthe outside.
"Jack," he whispered to me, as we left the room, "you are in luck; for,if he pays me five pounds for just picking that young shrimp out of thewater, he will certainly do a good deal more for you who saved hislife."
Master Richard soon overtook us, and then insisted on showing us overthe house--into the drawing-room, and dining-room, andbreakfast-parlour, and into several of the bedrooms, then down into theservants' hall. I had never been in such a fine house in my lifebefore. And then he took us out into the garden, and walked us allround, showing us the fruit-trees in blossom, and the beautiful flowers.
"My mamma will be home soon," he observed, "and my two sisters. I wanther to see the brigadier first, because, you see, although it was a veryfine thing in you to pick me out of the water, I had no business totumble into it, or, indeed, to be in a boat at all. The brigadier didnot see that, but she will. She keeps us all precious strict, I cantell you. I have several brothers--the eldest is in the army, and twoare away at school. I have not quite settled what I am going to be. Ishould not object to go into the navy, but then I should like to be madean admiral or a post-captain at once. I have no particular taste forthe army, and as for the law, or several other things, I would as soondig potatoes, or go shrimping; and thus, you see, the navy is the onlyprofession likely to suit me, or I am likely to suit."
Old Dick cocked his eye, as he heard young master's remarks.
"I rather think he must be changed a bit before he is suited to thenavy, however much he may think the navy will suit him; and there I havean idea he will be pretty considerably mistaken," he whispered to me.
The young gentleman had evidently caught the habit of a pompous style ofspeaking from Mrs. Brigadier, as I afterwards discovered. It soundedsomewhat ridiculous, especially from the mouth of so small a chap. Ihad reason to suspect that he now and then, too, made curious mistakes;though of course, not very well able to detect them myself.
At last an open carriage drove up to the door, with a curly-wiggedcoachman on the box, and two dark-skinned servants standing behind,dressed like the one who had opened the door. Inside was a very talllady, sitting bolt upright, with two considerably smaller young ladiesopposite to her. Young master told old Dick and me not to make anynoise, lest she should see us, as we were watching their arrival throughthe shrubbery. She got out with a dignified air, resting on one of theblack servants, and strode into the house. The two young ladiesfollowed demurely in her wake. She was exactly what I should haveexpected the brigadier to be, only she wore petticoats, and a bonnetinstead of a cocked hat. In a short time the servant appeared, andsummoned young master into the house. He quickly appeared, and beckonedus from a window to come in. I did not see the meeting of the motherand son, but I know when I entered she stretched out her arms, and gaveme a kiss on the brow.
"You have rendered me an essential service, young lad," she exclaimed,in a voice well calculated to hail the maintop in a gale at sea, or toshout "Advance!" at the head of a regiment in action. "I wish to showmy gratitude, but how can I do so?"
"And you--" and she looked towards old Dick, who drew back; and I reallyheard him say--
"Oh, don't!"
He thought she was going to salute him as she had me.
"You took them into your boat; you preserved them from catching cold: Iam grateful--very grateful!" and I saw her fumble in the deep recessesof a side-pocket.
"My dear," whispered the brigadier, "I have already bestowed a pecuniaryrecompense."
"You have!" she said turning round sharply, "without consulting me?"
This was said in an intended low voice, but I heard it.
"Well," she said, "money cannot repay you for the service you haveperformed. But you have found your way to this house. Come againto-morrow, and by that time I will have considered how I can best showmy gratitude."
"Thank you, marm!" answered old Dick, evidently very glad to get away."Shall I take Jack with me? he lives over on this side, and I can drophim at his home as I go back to Gosport."
"If you so think fit, my friend," answered Mrs. Brigadier; "and if theboy--by-the-by, what is your name?" she asked.
"Jack Junker," I replied; and I told her that my father was a sergeant.
"Jack Junker? Yes, if you wish to go, Jack," she answered. "I alsothen shall have time to consider how I can best express my gratitude.Farewell?"
She put out her hand, and shook old Dick's; but I thought, as she spoketo me, her manner was considerably colder than it had been at first.Old Dick and I left the room, and the door was closed behind us.
"I doubt her," whispered old Dick to me. "I am glad the old gentleman,however, gave me the five pounds. It was handsome in him. But Jack, myboy, I suspect you will have to rest satisfied with having saved thelife of a fellow-creature; though, as you were the means of my gainingthis, I think I must hand over half to you, as your share."
To this, of course, I would not consent; and somewhat disappointed,perhaps, I accompanied my old friend through the hall, having the honourof being salaamed to most profoundly b
y the dark-skinned domestics. Wewalked slowly, and had not got very far, when I heard footsteps comingbehind us. Turning round, I saw Master Richard running with all hismight.
"Here, Jack?" he said, "the Brigadier gave me this, and told me to handit over to you. My mother was out of the room at the time, so do notsay anything about it to her. She will show you her gratitude in someother way. I do not mean to say it is as much as I should like to haveoffered you; but here, be quick I put it into your pocket, or we may beseen from the house."
"Don't be a fool, Jack!" said old Dick, seeing I hesitated. "It'sjustly yours, boy, and let them settle the matter as they think best."
"Good-bye,
Off to Sea: The Adventures of Jovial Jack Junker on his Road to Fame Page 3
