第26章 THE HEN-HOUSE(1)

I WAS half an hour at least in the society of these distressing bipeds, and alone with my own reflections and necessities.I was in great pain of my flayed hands, and had nothing to treat them with; I was hungry and thirsty, and had nothing to eat or to drink;

I was thoroughly tired, and there was no place for me to sit.To be sure there was the floor, but nothing could be imagined less inviting.

At the sound of approaching footsteps, my good-humour was restored.

The key rattled in the lock, and Master Ronald entered, closed the door behind him, and leaned his back to it.

'I say, you know!' he said, and shook a sullen young head.

'I know it's a liberty,' said I.

'It's infernally awkward: my position is infernally embarrassing,'

said he.

'Well,' said I, 'and what do you think of mine?'

This seemed to pose him entirely, and he remained gazing upon me with a convincing air of youth and innocence.I could have laughed, but I was not so inhumane.

'I am in your hands,' said I, with a little gesture.'You must do with me what you think right.'

'Ah, yes!' he cried: 'if I knew!'

'You see,' said I, 'it would be different if you had received your commission.Properly speaking, you are not yet a combatant; I have ceased to be one; and I think it arguable that we are just in the position of one ordinary gentleman to another, where friendship usually comes before the law.Observe, I only say ARGUABLE.For God's sake, don't think I wish to dictate an opinion.These are the sort of nasty little businesses, inseparable from war, which every gentleman must decide for himself.If I were in your place -

'

'Ay, what would you do, then?' says he.

'Upon my word, I do not know,' said I.'Hesitate, as you are doing, I believe.'

'I will tell you,' he said.'I have a kinsman, and it is what HE

would think, that I am thinking.It is General Graham of Lynedoch - Sir Thomas Graham.I scarcely know him, but I believe I admire him more than I do God.'

'I admire him a good deal myself,' said I, 'and have good reason to.I have fought with him, been beaten, and run away.VENI, VICTUS SUM, EVASI.'

'What!' he cried.'You were at Barossa?'

'There and back, which many could not say,' said I.'It was a pretty affair and a hot one, and the Spaniards behaved abominably, as they usually did in a pitched field; the Marshal Duke of Belluno made a fool of himself, and not for the first time; and your friend Sir Thomas had the best of it, so far as there was any best.He is a brave and ready officer.'

'Now, then, you will understand!' said the boy.'I wish to please Sir Thomas: what would he do?'

'Well, I can tell you a story,' said I, 'a true one too, and about this very combat of Chiclana, or Barossa as you call it.I was in the Eighth of the Line; we lost the eagle of the First Battalion, more betoken, but it cost you dear.Well, we had repulsed more charges than I care to count, when your 87th Regiment came on at a foot's pace, very slow but very steady; in front of them a mounted officer, his hat in his hand, white-haired, and talking very quietly to the battalions.Our Major, Vigo-Roussillon, set spurs to his horse and galloped out to sabre him, but seeing him an old man, very handsome, and as composed as if he were in a coffee-

house, lost heart and galloped back again.Only, you see, they had been very close together for the moment, and looked each other in the eyes.Soon after the Major was wounded, taken prisoner, and carried into Cadiz.One fine day they announced to him the visit of the General, Sir Thomas Graham."Well, sir," said the General, taking him by the hand, "I think we were face to face upon the field." It was the white-haired officer!'

'Ah!' cried the boy, - his eyes were burning.

'Well, and here is the point,' I continued.'Sir Thomas fed the Major from his own table from that day, and served him with six covers.'

'Yes, it is a beautiful - a beautiful story,' said Ronald.'And yet somehow it is not the same - is it?'

'I admit it freely,' said I.

The boy stood awhile brooding.'Well, I take my risk of it,' he cried.'I believe it's treason to my sovereign - I believe there is an infamous punishment for such a crime - and yet I'm hanged if I can give you up'

I was as much moved as he.'I could almost beg you to do otherwise,' I said.'I was a brute to come to you, a brute and a coward.You are a noble enemy; you will make a noble soldier.'

And with rather a happy idea of a compliment for this warlike youth, I stood up straight and gave him the salute.

He was for a moment confused; his face flushed.'Well, well, I

must be getting you something to eat, but it will not be for six,'

he added, with a smile: 'only what we can get smuggled out.There is my aunt in the road, you see,' and he locked me in again with the indignant hens.

I always smile when I recall that young fellow; and yet, if the reader were to smile also, I should feel ashamed.If my son shall be only like him when he comes to that age, it will be a brave day for me and not a bad one for his country.

At the same time I cannot pretend that I was sorry when his sister succeeded in his place.She brought me a few crusts of bread and a jug of milk, which she had handsomely laced with whisky after the Scottish manner.

'I am so sorry,' she said: 'I dared not bring on anything more.We are so small a family, and my aunt keeps such an eye upon the servants.I have put some whisky in the milk - it is more wholesome so - and with eggs you will be able to make something of a meal.How many eggs will you be wanting to that milk? for I must be taking the others to my aunt - that is my excuse for being here.

I should think three or four.Do you know how to beat them? or shall I do it?'