IN WHICH OUR HERO AND GASCOIGNE OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES, AND
DID FEEL WHAT MIGHT BE CALLED MIDSHIPMITE COMPUNCTION.
The _Aurora_ continued three weeks at Palermo, during which the most
active search had been made for the remainder of the galley-slaves, and
some few had been captured, but still Don Silvio, and a considerable
number, were at large; and it was said that they had returned to the
fastnesses in the mountains. Our hero was constantly on shore at Don
Rebiera's house, and, after what had passed, he was now looked upon as
soon to become a member of the family. The difference of religion was
overlooked by Don Rebiera and the relations--by all but the confessor,
Father Thomaso, who now began to agitate and fulminate into the ears of
the Donna Rebiera all the pains and penalties attending heretical
connection, such as excommunication and utter damnation. The effects of
his remonstrances were soon visible, and Jack found that there was
constraint on the part of the old lady, tears on the part of Agnes, and
all father confessors heartily wished at the devil ten times a day on
the part of Don Philip and his brother. At last he wormed the truth out
of Agnes, who told her tale, and wept bitterly.
"Ned, I don't much like the appearance of things," observed Jack; "I
must get rid of that Father Thomaso."
"You'll find that rather difficult," observed Gascoigne; "besides, if
you get rid of him you would have his place filled up with another."
"He has frightened that poor old woman into the dismals, and she has the
pains of purgatory on her already. I shall go and talk to Mesty."
"How can Mesty help you?"
"I don't know, but you can't; so, for want of better advice, I'll try
the Ashantee."
Our hero went to Mesty, and laid the difficult affair open to him.
"I see," said Mesty, showing his filed teeth, "you want him skull."
"No, I don't, Mesty; but I want him out of the way."
"How dat possible, Massa Easy?--ship sail day after to-morrow. Now
'pose I ab time, I soon manage all dat. Stop a little."
"Confound it! but there's no stopping," replied Jack.
"Suppose, Massa Easy, you get leave go on shore--not come off again."
"That will be deserting, Mesty."
"By holy poker, I ab it--you go on shore and break your leg."
"Break my leg!--break my leave, you mean?"
"No, Massa Easy--you break your leg--den captain leave you shore, and
leave me take care of you."
"But why should I break my leg, and how am I to break my leg?"
"Only pretend break leg, Massa Easy. Go talk Massa Don Philip, he
manage all dat.--Suppose man break his leg in seven pieces, it is not
possible to take him board."
"Seven pieces, Mesty! that's rather too many. However, I'll think of
this."
Jack then went back and consulted Gascoigne, who approved of Mesty's
advice, and thought the scheme feasible.
"If we could only pretend that we were thrown out of a caricola, you
break your leg, a compound fracture of course--I break my arm--both left
on shore at sick quarters, with Mesty to take care of us."
"Capital indeed," replied Jack; "I really would not mind it if it really
took place; at all events we'll overturn the caricola."
"But shall we get leave the last day?"
"Yes, it's two days since I have been on shore, for I have not liked to
go to Don Rebiera's since what Agnes told me. Besides, my clothes are
all on shore, and that will be an excuse for a few hours."
Our two midshipmen applied for leave the next morning to be off in the
afternoon. The first lieutenant gave them permission. They hastened to
the hotel, sent for Don Philip, and made him a party to their plan. He
readily promised his assistance, for he had resolved that our hero
should marry his sister, and was fearful of the effect of his absence,
coupled with Friar Thomaso's influence over his mother. He went to the
surgeon of his regiment, who immediately entered into the scheme.
Our two midshipmen got into a caricola, rattled up and down the streets,
and perceiving Captain Wilson at his window flogged the horse into a
gallop: when abreast of the barracks Jack ran the wheel against a bank,
and threw himself and Gascoigne out. Midshipmen are never hurt by these
accidents, but fortunately for the success of the enterprise their faces
were cut and bruised. Don Philip was standing by: he called the men to
pick up our two scamps, carried them into the barracks, and sent for the
surgeons, who undressed them, put Jack's left leg into a multitude of
splints, and did the same to Gascoigne's arm. They were then put to
bed, their contused faces with the blood, left _in statu quo_, while Don
Philip sent an orderly, as from the commandant, to Captain Wilson, to
acquaint him that two of his officers had been thrown out of a caricola,
and were lying dangerously hurt at the barracks.
"Good heavens, it must be Mr Easy and Mr Gascoigne!" said Captain
Wilson, when the intelligence was communicated; "I saw them galloping
down the street like two madmen just now. Coxswain, take the gig on
board and tell the surgeon to come on shore immediately, and bring him
up to me at the barracks."
Captain Wilson then put on his hat, buckled on his sword, and hastened
to ascertain the extent of the injury. Don Philip kept out of the way,
but the captain was ushered into the room by one of the officers, where
he found, in two beds, our two midshipmen stretched out, the surgeon of
the forces and the regimental surgeon in consultation between them,
while attendants were standing by each bed with restoratives. The
medical gentlemen saluted Captain Wilson, and looked very grave, talked
about fractures, contusions, injuries, in the most interminable manner--
hoped that Mr Easy would recover--but had doubts. The other gentleman
might do well with care; that is, as far as his arm was concerned, but
there appeared to be a concussion of the brain. Captain Wilson looked
at the cut and blood-smeared faces of the two young men, and waited with
anxiety the arrival of his own surgeon, who came at last, puffing with
the haste he had made, and received the report of the brothers of the
faculty.
The leg of Mr Easy fractured in two places--had been set--bone
protruding--impossible to move him. Gascoigne, arm, compound fracture--
concussion of the brain not certain. Now, that all this would have been
discovered to be false if the surgeon had been able to examine, is true;
but how could he not credit the surgeon of the forces and the regimental
surgeon, and how could he put the young men to fresh tortures by
removing splints and unsetting limbs? Politeness, if nothing else,
prevented his so doing, for it would have been as much as to say that
either he did not credit their report, or that he doubted their skill.
He looked at our hero and his companion, who kept their eyes closed, and
breathed heavily with their mouths open, put on a grave face as well as
his brothers in the art, and reported to Captain Wilson.
"But when can they be moved, Mr Daly?" inquired the latter; "I cannot
wait; we must sail to-morrow, or the next day at the farthest."
The surgeon, as in duty bound, put the question to the others, who
replied that there would be great risk in removing before the fever,
which might be expected the next day, and which might last ten days; but
that Captain Wilson had better not think of removing them, as they
should have every care and attention where they were and could rejoin
the ship at Malta. Mr Daly, the surgeon, agreed that this would be the
most prudent step, and Captain Wilson then gave his consent.
That being settled, he walked up to the bed of Gascoigne, and spoke to
him; but Gascoigne knew that he was to have a concussion of the brain,
and he made no reply, nor gave any signs of knowing that Captain Wilson
was near him. He then went to our hero, who, at the sound of Captain
Wilson's voice, slowly opened his eyes without moving his head, and
appeared to recognise him.
"Are you in much pain, Easy?" said the captain kindly.