John Pearson

“ Jones's cruise was necessarily brought to an end; and the defence of the Serapis against a nominally superior force won for Pearson a very general approval. When able to return to England he was honourably acquitted by a court-martial held on 10 March 1780; he was afterwards presented with the freedom of the towns by Hull, Scarborough, Lancaster, and Appleby, and by the Russia Company and the Royal Exchange Assurance Company with handsome pieces of plate. He was also knighted. Pearson was an honest, brave officer, and no blame was attributable to him for his ill-success ”

“ All's Well that ends Well.
"Are they going to allow you any special privileges, John," asked Robert Pearson, "about this passing meeting? You can do so, next Thursday, if you choose, but what about Ruth? she will not leave the house, she says, until she is married; so there's a nice kettle of fish for you. ”

“ In a short time, coming to a fine open, grassy piece of land, he could not resist the temptation of putting spurs to the animal’s side, and starting off for a gallop. Pearson shouted after him to stop; but Jack found it no easy matter to rein in his steed. On turning his head, he found that the drover was following him; and, though he fancied that he himself was going at full gallop, his companion was quickly alongside him.
“That is very like a young man, but not the act of a wise one!” said Pearson. “You should always keep your horse’s strength for an emergency on a long journey. ”

“ He was not, however, kept very long before Pearson returned, telling him that he had procured a horse on which his saddle was to be placed; and Jack, going out into the stable-yard, found a man leading up and down a fine, strongly-built steed, which, if not possessing all the points of which Pearson’s own horse could boast, was evidently an animal well capable of performing a rapid and long journey at a stretch. ”

“ It was Pearson's duty to clean the cups, and Pearson was in 'sicker' with influenza. Martin had been told to do Pearson's work for the next few days, but he had not realised what Pearson really did and he had forgotten about the cups. Moreover, after watching the match, he had gone off to the tuck-shop to eat ham and chocolate: so Leopard shouted for him in vain, and then, spurning the proffered aid of sycophantic aliens, he furiously washed his own cups and made his own tea. An angry man does not lightly reject an excuse for wrath, and Spots thoroughly enjoyed the nursing of his grievance. ”

“ Is not immortality too dear which costs so many tears and such anguish? Dost thou desire glory at such a price? Art thou not appalled at the responsibility with which this glory will weigh down thy soul? Listen to me, John: live as if thou hadst discovered nothing. Regard thy invention as a seductive but fatal dream, whose execution would be useful and holy, if only man was good. But man is evil. ”

“ Saying this, Pearson shook Jack by the hand, and trotted past him at a quick rate. A wide ditch and hedge divided the road from a large field, along which the way was free and open. A few drovers only were in sight, urging on their cattle. Jack, who had kept his eye on his late companion, was somewhat surprised to see his seemingly sorry jade take a spring which cleared both hedge and ditch, and then to observe him cantering along the field at a rate which would have distanced many horses at a gallop.
“He is a strange person,” thought Jack, “but he seems good-natured and well-intentioned. ”

“ Jack thanked Pearson for the offer. The temptation was strong, and whatever might have been his suspicions of the tall stranger, he determined to accept it.
“You will set off to-morrow morning by daybreak, with eight horses. Each of you will take charge of three and bestride another, and you will be able to dispose of them in London or its neighbourhood for handsome prices. They will make fine chargers, and will very likely be purchased by officers of cavalry. Long Sam knows London well, and will make all the necessary arrangements for their sale.” ”

“ It is hopeless to enter into conversation with one who is determined not to speak. Jack found this to be the case, his companion generally only answering in monosyllables to all the remarks he made.
When, at length, they stopped at nightfall at a farm-house, similar to those which Pearson had selected on their way north, his companion pursued the same system, exchanging only a few words with the people of the house, and scarcely speaking to him all the evening. ”

“ He was evidently a shrewd man, with cunning, piercing eyes, and sharp features, professing to care very little for the good things of life. It appeared that he was to remain at the house where they then were, for Master Pearson wished him good night, and, telling him that he would return anon, invited Jack to accompany him into Cambridge, where he would endeavour to find out the Cat and Whistle, the sign of the hostelry at which Brinsmead and his drovers had put up. ”

“ This vessel kept up a running fight with the Doris till the instant Captain Pearson laid her alongside; nor did she then give up a contest so fraught with temerity, until 9 men, including her captain, were killed, and 14 wounded. Luckily only 1 man was wounded on board the frigate. From this period Captain Pearson cruised, with very great success, against the enemy’s trade, until the month of September following, when he was obliged to come on shore through ill health. He subsequently commanded the Dictator of 64 guns, and Benbow, a third-rate. ”

“ An aged Italian sat behind it, reading a newspaper. He sold us peanuts, and exchanged facetious remarks with Mr. Daddles. As we left the peanut man, we heard a far-off shouting. Down the street came a tall, thin man, ringing a great dinner-bell. He was very lame and made slow progress. Now and then he would halt, and shout something at the top of his voice.
"What's the matter?" Sprague asked a man, who stood in the door of a cigar-shop, "is there a fire?"
The man grinned.
"That's the town-crier," said he.
"Town-crier!" exclaimed Mr. Daddles, "I didn't know there were any of 'em left." ”

“ Pope we knew was librarian of the Sunday School at home, and that if he knew any smugglers he had kept it a secret. Ed Mason had got rid of his pebble, and he now joined us again.
"Are you ready, men?"
"Ay, ay,—heave ahead!"
So we started once more. The streets were black as ink. They were paved with cobblestones, and there did not seem to be any side- walks. The buildings were fishermen's and clammers' huts, boat- houses, and small shops,—all dark and deserted. The fog shut out everything at a short distance. At the top of the hill there was one dim light in the rear of a little shanty. ”

“ In an hour or more we reached the beginning of the causeway, and fifteen minutes later we were in Bailey's Harbor.
"I wouldn't mind something to eat," said Ed Mason.
"Some ham and eggs," I suggested.
"And some of those mince turnovers," remarked Jimmy Toppan, almost breaking into a run.
"And some coffee," said Mr. Daddles.
"Do you suppose there is any of that chowder left?" asked Ed
Mason; "it's always better warmed over."
"The Captain must have had his supper long ago," said I. "And gone to bed, too," put in Mr. Daddles,—"say, do you know, it's pretty late?" ”

“ Eugene Pearson was a young man, it was learned, who had first seen the light in the little town of Geneva, then a straggling little village with none of the pretensions it now presented. His parents were most exemplary people, and his father at one time had been a wealthy grain merchant, but during one of the financial panics that swept over the country, he was unfortunate enough to suffer embarrassments which stripped him of his fortune and left him penniless in his old age to begin again the battle of life. ”

“ The first voice: "Oh, you big—I didn't do nothin' of the sort, teacher!"
[254]
A man, elbowing his way to the front, and relying on the fascinations of his dyed moustache and hat tilted to one side: "Say, jus' gimme this, will yer?"
While Miss Grant is charging the book, he leans over her confidentially:
"Say, don't you or that other young lady belong to the Order of the Golden Bazoo? Don't yer? Say, that's too bad—we're goin' to have a little dance to-morrer night at the Red Men's hall. We'd be glad to have yer come. ”

“ You cannot think ill of a man who gives you peaches like those.
Ed Mason intended to find out about the old elm tree, and he broached the subject fearlessly.
"Cap'n, Sam says that you said they planted a piece of willow where the old elm came up."
"What's that? No; they didn't plant no willow, but all this about the young feller that came callin' on his girl, an' cut a stick to keep off the dogs, an' stuck the stick in the ground in front of her door, an' then went away an' forgot it, an' the tree grew outer that stick,—all that's bosh. Don't yer believe it." ”

“ Heliotrope means a flower that turns around to follow the sun."
"Well," she said, "I thought sunflowers did that."
"So they do," I told her, "but heliotropes are little blue things, as you very well know—or ought to. Now, you go to the telephone, and call up the library, and ask for Miss Fairfax. She is in the reference room now, or ought to be."
There was a pause, while I could hear Jane at the telephone.
"North, double six three, please. No, double six three. Yes. Hello! Hello! Is this the library? Yes, the library. Yes; is Miss Fairfax there? Ask her to [30] come to the 'phone, please. ”

“ Lemme be, I tell yer!"
They led him, still chattering and protesting, right to the boat.
"We don't want you with us,—not a little bit. But you'll have to come, if you don't keep quiet. Then you'll have a beautiful case against us."
"Help! Help!" he squealed.
Mr. Daddles clapped a hand over his mouth, and they lifted him off his feet into the boat. Pete jumped in beside him, and smothered his cries with a pillow. Ed and I pushed off, and climbed in over the bows. In a minute we were alongside the yacht. Mr. Daddles and Sprague jumped on board, and Pete handed Gregory the Gauger up to them. ”

“ Chief.
"And coffee and rolls," added Pete, "what more do you want, you old lemon?"
"No, there are only three rolls. Some of us will have to eat crackers."
"I will eat marline-spikes," said Mr. Daddles, "if you've got any of them on board. I've never seen one,—though I've heard of them a great deal."
"I'll eat crackers," declared Jimmy Toppan.
"So will I," said Sprague, "and glad to get 'em. I might be gnawing a bone in jail, now, instead."
"And there's no milk," said the Chief, "we were going to get some, and some bread, this morning in Bailey's Harbor." ”

“ Jimmy and I both fell asleep, and so, I [92] think, did Ed Mason, though he denied it. Fortunately I found some raspberry turnovers in the pantry, and they helped alleviate our sufferings.
Shortly before breakfast the rain stopped, and the sun came feebly out. We were soon in the street once more, creating a racket that left nothing to be desired. Joe and Charley Carter joined us, and so did Rob Currier and Peter Bailey. Peter had a revolver, and he scorned fire-crackers. The Rev. Mr. Dimmick, who lived across the street, stood on the steps of his dwelling and beamed upon us. ”

“ It was Gregory the Gauger. He walked still nearer. Then he recognized Mr. Daddles and me.
"What's this? What's this?" he snapped, "got out, didger? Thought yer was escapin', didger? Consider yerselves under arrest. I apprehend yer in the name of the Commonwealth. Stay right where yer be. I'll go an' get Eb."
"No, you won't, either," said Mr. Daddles.
He and Sprague darted forward at the same moment. They grabbed the little man, each by an arm, and commenced walking him rapidly toward the boat.
"Here, here! Whatcher doin'? Lemme be! Lemme be! This is assault! ”

“ Eugene Pearson, in their opinion, was above suspicion; he was their ideal of a moral young man, his father was respected everywhere, and the base and unwarranted invasion of their home by my officers was an indignity which they were resolved they would not allow to pass unpunished. As the morning advanced the excitement increased, and several of the boldest of the angry citizens approached William, and in no complimentary terms expressed their contempt, not only for him individually, but for the methods which had been used to ferret out and apprehend men who were innocent of any wrong. ”

“ Jimmy, then I came, and Ed Mason brought up the rear.
"Remember!" whispered our leader, "we are smugglers till we get to the top of the hill. After that,—burglars."
We started up the wharf on tip-toes. This was rather unnecessary, for as we all had on rubber-soled shoes we could walk very quietly even if we went in the usual manner. Besides, it gets tiresome to walk on your tip-toes after a few minutes. But Mr. Daddles kept on that way almost to the end of the journey. ”

“ Peter was exasperated.
"Why, we've got to get them out," he asserted, "or they'll starve to death."
"How'd they get in there?" Ed Mason wished to know.
"What difference does that make? She captured 'em, I s'pose."
I thought I could throw a little light on this dark subject. It was Monday morning, and I had been looking over the fence into the Merrill garden only half an hour before.
"There ain't any distressed damsels there, Peter," I said earnestly; "I saw [258] 'em. One of 'em's Katie Clancy,—an' she lives there all the time, an' the other is Mrs. Muldoon, an' she's hangin' out the wash." ”