Bottiger

“ The bandits--at least those who survived--were a little ahead of us; the pursuers were closing up again; my companion was doomed.
He knew it too. His face had become ashy grey, his eyes were wild and staring; the Count Beula of the breach and the battlefield had disappeared.
"They will hang me, Botskay," he wailed--"hang me like a common thief on the roadside."
The terror of the hempen noose, about which Batori had chaffed him, had affected his brain--upset his balance, so to speak. I can give no other explanation of his strange behaviour or of what happened immediately afterwards. ”

“ The stars were veiled in vapour; the moon was sailing through masses of flying cloud, and, by its fitful light, Konrad, as he unclosed his heavy eyes, could perceive a boat approaching. It contained two figures, which, as they were between him and the light, appeared in dark and opaque outline.
They were Bothwell and Hepburn of Bolton; both were masked as usual to the mustache, and wore their mantles up to their chins.
"If we are not too late," said the first, as they approached; "perhaps this act of mercy may be an atonement—yea, in somewise a small atonement—ha! heardst thou that cry?" ”

“ In his long coat of Eton blue, with the College arms embroidered upon his sleeve, and glazed top-hat, Bott was a sight which inspired tramps and petty evil-doers of every sort with genuine awe, and the vast majority of such folk took care to give him a wide berth. Bott had done good service as a soldier, having, it was said, fought at Albuera and Waterloo, though according to some his military service had been confined to serving during the American War. In any case, the fine old fellow was a typical Englishman of a robust age. ”

“ Moved by a sight so painful, the English, says Botta, listened to humanity alone, and ceasing their fire, occupied themselves solely with the rescue of their enemies; a proceeding the more generous on their part, as it exposed them to the most imminent hazard. ”

“ Botkin turned to me and continued:
"Perhaps I was too hasty about this 'no answer.' I should've said it otherwise. I think it is of no use to attempt to do anything, that's the idea. If any plan will be successful,--it will not be this," he showed the letter, "though it is appreciated, trust me when I say it! We are confronted with other interests, we happen to be in somebody's game." ”

“ You and Moreas are not particularly friendly, as you must be aware, and there is no saying what might happen if you were thrown so much into each other's society, without any one to see fair play."
"You are thinking of the day when he fired that rifle at me in the mountains, I suppose," Bertram replied. "I suppose you did not think I was aware of it. I was, however, and I knew also that you were behind him. If it hadn't been for that fact, I should have taxed him with his treachery on my return to the camp. But we are wasting time. Is it quite impossible for me to make you change your mind?" ”

“ Botts stood glaring at the negroes like a ferocious wild beast. His ugly visage became absolutely frightful. Lifting up his cane, he suddenly charged on Cæsar, who dropped the trunk he was carrying and fled with precipitation, followed by Scipio and Hannibal. Botts followed the fugitives, bellowing out oaths and brandishing his cane until they reached the hotel, when they darted into the basement-story, and hid themselves in some place of refuge. ”

“ Botkin said, "I still would like to know whom I have the pleasure of speaking to?"
"Syvorotka is my name. I'll stay here in the hotel for a while."
He looked at me without any confidence.
"As you please," he said, "I cannot force you to take the mask off. Good-by."
We shook hands,--and I left the Kornilov's House.
Here I am in the Hotel. Dirty hole--that's it. No linen. A mattress covered with spots. Rotten humor.
Botkin fears that the efforts might compromise those who are around the Mansion. He fears even those who are in exile. He fears everything. But--not for himself. ”

“ The unexpected supplication startled the astonished De Boteler, and a loud threat marked his displeasure at the interruption. Silence was again shouted by the hall keepers.
"Prisoner," resumed De Boteler, assuming a tone of severity, "you are forgiven; but upon this condition, that you renounce your freedom, and become my bondman."
"Become a bondman!" cried the smith, disappointed and mortified at the alternative: "Stephen, I would sooner die."
"Silence, knave!" said the baron; "let the man answer for himself." ”

“ As Gunnar shall. Men have much harm by you.
Hallgerd.
Now have I gashed the golden cloth awry:
'Tis ended—a ruin of clouts—the worth of the gift—
Bridal dish-clouts—nay, a bundle of flame.
I'll burn it to a breath of its old queen's ashes:
Fire, O fire, drink up....
She throws the shreds of the veil on the glowing embers: they waft to ashes with a brief high flare. She goes to Jofrid.
There's one of you
That holds her head in a bird's sideways fashion:
I know that reach o' the chin.... What's under thy hair?—
She fixes Jofrid with her knee, and lifts her hair. ”

“ Rive out his gear, drive off his forfeit beasts.
Second Man.
It shall not be.
Many Men. Never.
Gizur. We'll never do it:
Let no man lift a blade or finger a clout—
Is not this Gunnar, Gunnar, whom we have slain?
Home, home, before the dawn shows all our deed.
The riders go down quickly over the wall-top, and disappear.
Hallgerd.
Now I shall close his nostrils and his eyes,
And thereby take his blood-feud into my hands.
Rannveig.
If you do stir I'll choke you with your hair.
I will not let your murderous mind be near him
When he no more can choose and does not know.
Hallgerd. ”

“ Mr. Bolt is a misconception, a floating microcosm. I really should not bother about Mr. Bolt. He is not nearly so tangible as the butcher, and I have made up my mind never really again to bother about the butcher. Perhaps you will see him for me if he calls about his bill to-morrow.
"It seems so strange to me that business men should not understand that when there is no money bills cannot be paid. Even the minor regions of fact seem closed to them."
Stella agreed to dip into the minor regions of fact with the butcher, but she went on bothering about Mr. Bolt. ”

“ He had vowed, he said, when Holgrave's freedom had been denied him, never to cross the threshold of the hall again; and without being absolved by a priest, he would not break his vow, even at King Edward's bidding. De Boteler, accustomed to implicit obedience, was much provoked at this obstinacy, and, as was natural, his first orders were to use force; but it instantly occurred, that no force could compel the smith to speak, and it would be to little purpose to have the man before him, if he refused to answer his interrogatories. ”

“ In those border days every rider loved his horse as a part of himself. If there was a difference between any rider of the sage and Bostil, it was that, as Bostil had more horses, so he had more love.
If he had any unhappiness, it was because he could not buy Wildfire and Nagger, thoroughbreds belonging to one Lamar, a poor daredevil rider who would not have parted with them for all the gold in the uplands. And Lamar had dared to cast longing eyes at Lucy. ”

“ I think that the count must have pitied me, for he said kindly,--
"What is your name, my young friend? It is needless to ask your nationality."
The question restored my self-respect, and I raised my head proudly.
"George Botskay has little reason to be ashamed of his name," I said.
"A son of the late General Botskay?"
I bowed in reply, and the count addressed a few words to his colleagues, who retired one by one with evident reluctance.
"Now, my lad," exclaimed the fine old soldier, "what is it you wish to say? I am very busy, and cannot spare much time." ”

“ Wilt thou not believe me? Half my estate, but to look upon her!"
It was manifest, even to the unhappy novice himself, that Botello regarded him as a madman. But nevertheless he replied earnestly, "Here is no place for conjurations: there be devils enough about us already. Tarry not here; for this will neither benefit thee, nor her of whom thou speakest. Spring into the ditch,—rush with me to the main; and, then, what thou seekest, thou shalt know. Courage, courage! Dost thou not see yonder star, that creeps up by the dim moon, under the rack, dimmer even than the dim moon? ”

“ Dost thou play the guitar, or the viol-de-gambo?"
"I play neither," replied Konrad, haughtily.
"Then in what dost thou excel? for all these foreign knaves excel us poor Scottish barbarians in some slight of hand."
"I can handle the bow, the arblast, the backsword and dagger, the morglay and ghisarma, with all of which, Sir Archer, I am very much at your service."
"Now, God be with thee!" replied Bolton, frankly clapping him on the shoulder; "thou art a right cock o' the game. ”

“ Monkey is a queer-looking fellow, but he is just as good as they make them," replied Bobtail, as he leaped upon the deck of the Skylark.
The gentlemen were delighted with the yacht, and explored her above and below, while the skipper and his crew were hoisting the mainsail and weighing the anchor. In a few moments Bobtail took his place at the helm; the fresh breeze struck the mainsail as the skipper hauled in the sheet, and the Skylark heeled over, gathered headway, and went off like an arrow shot from a bow. ”

“ Never before had such life possessed the spirits of Botello. He stood on the edge of the causey, shouting loud vivas, as the bold cavaliers rushed among the canoes that blocked up the sluice. The novice, though shocked at such untimely exultation, was not able to avoid it; for he was enfeebled, and Botello held him with a fast and determined gripe.
"Unhand me, conjurer," he cried, "and I will swim the ditch."
"Tarry a little, till the path be made clear: thou wilt be murdered else."
"I shall be murdered, if I remain here; and so wilt thou.—Hah! did that shaft hurt thee?" ”

“ Butteridge would be a terrible person to be on any one's track. Bert thought of the great black moustaches, the triangular nose, the searching bellow and the glare. His afternoon's dream of a marvellous seizure and sale of the great Butteridge secret crumpled up in his mind, dissolved, and vanished. ”

“ Before eleven o'clock he was at the wharf. He had not seen his passengers since they came on board. [Pg 302]
"My father has suffered severely from his mishap," said Colonel Montague, after the boat was made fast.
"I'm sorry for it, sir. I didn't think of such a thing as that warp-line breaking," replied Bobtail.
"Of course it was not your fault. You have done well for us, and I have no fault to find with you. I want some one to go to the hotel, and tell the landlord to send a coach, for my father cannot walk up."
"Monkey will go;" and the Darwinian was on his way in a moment. ”

“ Mrs. Montague hurried Grace into the cabin as soon as the violence of her emotions had in a measure subsided.
"But I haven't seen Captain Bobtail yet," said the daughter.
"You shall see him; but you must take off your wet clothes first," replied her mother.
"Not yet, mother. I must see him this instant. Tell him to come down here."
"I'll go for him," said Emily Walker, as she rushed up the companion-way. ”

“ The moment his grateful friend saw him, he pulled to the rocks where he stood, and they went [Pg 109] on board of the yacht together. Little Bobtail looked her over again, and began to wonder that no one appeared to claim her. He could not help asking if any one would ever appear to claim her. Whoever did so would have to account for the presence of those cases of brandy in her cabin. If the owner had any regard for his reputation, he might choose rather to sacrifice the boat and her cargo, than to subject himself to the penalty of his transgression. ”

“ Bolton, as lieutenant of the archers, stood in the recess of a window at the lower end of the room, accoutred in half armour, and having his helmet lying near him; and Bothwell, clad in black velvet, magnificently embroidered with Venetian gold, his sword and waistbelt, his poniard and bonnet blazing with jewels, as his blue velvet mantle did with spangles, stood in another, clanking his gold spurs, and pointing his well-perfumed and pomatumed mustaches; for, however deep and deadly his projects, he now never omitted an opportunity of appearing to the best advantage in Mary's presence ”

“ I must do exactly what is most useful. Of course I'd rather fight. One likes one's name to go down and all that, and I'd like to please Marian; but the point, both for her and for me, will be the job."
"Ah," said Burton. "Then if you'll just come with me, I'll take you to a fellow who will let you know what we want particularly just now to find out. You're quite right as far as we are concerned; but it's not fair to rush a man into our kind of fight. It's not like any other kind. It's risks without prizes."
"What you get out of a risk," said Julian, with a certain gravity, "is a prize." ”

“ Spindle, spindle, the coiling weft shall dwindle;
Leap on the fire and burn, for all is done....
She casts the spindle upon the fire, and stretches her hands toward it.
[111]
Hallgerd, attacking them with the distaff.
Into the night.... Dissolve....
Biartey, as the three rush toward the door.
Sisters, away:
Leave the woman to her smouldering beauty,
Leave the fire that's kinder than the woman,
Leave the roof-tree ere it falls. It falls.
Gudfinn joins her. Each time Hallgerd flags they turn as they chant, and point at her. ”