A. T. Quiller-Couch

“ Such be my Lord of Stamford's orders, whose servant I am, and as captain of this troop I am sent to exact them. As they displease you, his lordship is but twenty-four hours behind: you can abide him and complain. Doubtless he will hear—ten million devils!”
I heard his shout as he caught sight of Delia. I saw his crimson face as he darted out and gripp'd her. I saw, or half saw, the troopers crowding out after him. For a moment I hesitated. Then came my pretty comrade's voice, shrill above the hubbub—
“Jack—they have horses outside! Leave me—I am ta'en—and ride, dear lad—ride!” ”

“ By this, my comrade and I were on the best of terms again; and now drew up to consider if we should enter the town or avoid it to the west, trusting to find a breakfast in some tavern on the way. Because we knew not with certainty the temper of the country, it seem'd best to choose this second course: so we fetch'd around by certain barren meadows, and thought ourselves lucky to hit on a road that, by the size, must be the one we sought, and a tavern with a wide yard before it and a carter's van standing at the entrance, not three gunshots from the town walls. ”

“ There was silence for a moment: and then, within Delia's cask, the sound of muffled laughter.
“Delia,” I urg'd, “I mean it, upon my oath. Wilt marry me, sweetheart?”
“Must get out of this cask first. Oh, Jack, what a dear goose thou art!” And the laughter began again.
I was going to answer, when I heard a loud shouting overhead. 'Twas the sound of someone hailing the ship, and thought I, “the troopers are on us!” ”

“ Luckily, at this moment, Delia had the sense to put a finger to her lip. The man wheel'd round without another word, led us aft over the blocks, cordage, and all manner of loose gear that encumber'd the deck, to a ladder that, toward the stern, led down into darkness. Here he sign'd to us to follow; and, descending first, threw open a door, letting out a faint stream of light in our faces. 'Twas the captain's cabin, lin'd with cupboards and lockers: and the light came from an oil lamp hanging over a narrow deal table. ”

“ We follow'd the road after this very moodily; for Delia, whom I had made sharer of the rebels' secret, agreed that no time was to be lost in reaching Bodmin, that lay a good thirty miles to the southwest. Night fell and the young moon rose, with a brisk breeze at our backs that kept us still walking without any feeling of weariness. Captain Billy had given me at parting a small compass, of new invention, that a man could carry easily in his pocket ”

“ To-morrow we sail for Plymouth Sound: thence for Brittany. Hist! We be all King's men aboard the Godsend, tho' hearing nought I says little. Yet I have my reasoning heresies, holding the Lord's Anointed to be an anointed rogue, but nevertheless to be serv'd: just as aboard the Godsend I be Cap'n Billy an' you plain Jack, be your virtues what they may. An' the conclusion is—damn all mutineers an' rebels! Tho', to be sure, the words be a bit lusty for a young gentlewoman's ears. ”

“ And this Captain Billy well understood: “but” (said he) “I be a collector an' a man o' conscience both, which is uncommon. Doubtless there be good sots that are not good seamen, but from such I turn my face, drink they never so prettily.”
'Twas necessary I should impart some notion of my errand to Captain Billy, tho' I confin'd myself to hints, telling him only 'twas urgent I should be put ashore somewhere on the Cornish coast, for that I carried intelligence which would not keep till we reached Plymouth, a town that, besides, was held by the rebels. ”

“ And there was Billy, leaning over the bulwarks and waving his trumpet for “Good-bye!” Thought I, for I little dream'd to see these good fellows again, “what a witless game is this life! to seek ever in fresh conjunctions what we leave behind in a hand-shake.” 'Twas a cheap reflection, yet it vex'd me that as we turn'd to mount the road Delia should break out singing—
“Hey! ”

“ The next is a black man, as you see: a man of dismal color, and hath other drawbacks natural to such. Can the Æthiop shift his skin? No, but he'll open both eyes. See there—a perfect Christian, in so far as drink can make him. ”