Ah me! what perils do environ
The man that meddles with cold iron;
What plaguey mischiefs and mishaps
To dog him still with after-claps.
HUDIBRAS.
The melancholy loss of lives which we have detailed, occurred upon a
reef of rocks close to Cape ---, on the coast of Galway, and not four
miles from the castle and property held by Mr Rainscourt. The
intelligence had been communicated to McElvina by some of his tenants,
early in the morning of the day on which the survivors had gained the
shore. The western gales, sweeping the Atlantic, and blowing with such
fury on the coast, would not permit any vegetation or culture so near
the beach; but when once past the range of hills which exposed their
rugged sides as barriers to the blast, the land was of good quality, and
thickly tenanted. The people were barbarous to an excess, and, as they
had stated, claimed a traditionary right to whatever property might be
thrown up from the numerous wrecks which took place upon the dangerous
and iron-bound coast. This will account for the tragical events of the
day.
When McElvina was informed of vessels having been stranded, he
immediately went up to the castle to procure the means of assistance,
which were always held there in readiness, and as many of Rainscourt's
people as could be collected. This, however, required some little
delay; and Emily, shocked at the imperfect intelligence which had been
conveyed to her, determined to ride down immediately, in company with
Mrs McElvina, and a young friend who was staying with her during her
father's absence. On their arrival at the sea-range of hills, the
explosion of the shealing, and subsequent conflict between the parties,
met their eyes. Emily's fears, and knowledge of the Irish peasantry,
immediately suggested the cause, and, aware of her influence with the
Rainscourt tenants, she made all the haste that the roads would permit
to arrive at the spot, galloping down the hill, in so bold and dexterous
a style, that her companions neither could nor would have dared to keep
pace with her. How fortunate was her arrival need hardly be observed,
as in all probability the English seamen would eventually have been
sacrificed to the cupidity and resentment of the natives.
"William, do you know me?" whispered Emily, as the tears ran down her
cheeks, and her countenance betrayed the anguish of her mind.
Seymour pressed the small white hand that trembled in his own, and a
faint smile illuminated his features; but the excitement at the
appearance of Emily was too great--the blood again gushed from his
wound, his eyes closed, and his head fell on his shoulder, as he swooned
from the loss of blood.
"Oh, God, preserve him!" cried Emily clasping her hands, and raising her
eyes to Heaven, and then sinking down in mental and fervent prayer.
"My dear McElvina, I am so glad that you have come at last," said Susan,
bursting into tears. "Look at whose side Emily is kneeling--'tis
William Seymour, dying."
"Seymour!" cried McElvina, who had but that moment arrived; but aware of
the importance of prompt assistance, he called for the basket containing
the restoratives, and gently removing Emily, he took her situation by
the side of our wounded hero.
To strip off his clothes, examine the wound, bandage it, so as to
prevent a further loss of blood, and pour down his throat some diluted
wine, was the work of a few minutes. Seymour, who had only fainted,
reopened his eyes, and soon showed the good effects of McElvina's
presence of mind.
"McElvina,--is it not?--Did not I see Emily?"
"Yes, you did, my dear fellow; but keep quiet. I do not think your
wound is dangerous."
"I am better now, McElvina--much better; but I must see Emily."
McElvina thought it advisable to accede to his wish, and returned to his
wife, who was supporting the fainting girl. A glass of water, the
assurance that Seymour would do well, if not too much agitated, and a
promise exacted from her to say but little, was followed by an interview
which had a reviving effect upon both.
Medical practitioners, who dive into the inmost recesses of the human
frame in pursuit of knowledge, and who search through the mineral and
vegetable kingdom for relief, when will you produce a balm so healing, a
specific so powerful, an elixir so instantaneous or restorative, as--
joy?
McElvina was in the meantime occupied in preparations for removing the
wounded, and portioning out food and necessaries to the rest of the
party. When he beheld the sad relics in the shealing, and heard from
the boatswain the tragical events of the day, his indignation was beyond
bounds. Seven Frenchmen, fifteen Englishmen, and eight Irishmen, had
been burnt alive; three Englishmen and five Irishmen had been killed in
the affray; making, independently of many severely wounded, a total of
thirty-eight who had perished on this disastrous morning.
The Irish who had attacked them were all tenants of the property
belonging either to him or Rainscourt--an immediate notice to quit was
given to them on the spot, and the dreadful word, emigration, thundered
in their ears. This brought them on their knees, with such crying and
beseeching, such uncouth and ridiculous gestures, as almost to create a
laugh among the English seamen who were witnesses to the scene.
"Well, if them ain't funny beggars, I'll be blowed," cried one of the
English seamen.
"Just the wae wid 'em," observed Conolly, "all honey or all vinegar--
there's never a good turn they won't do ye now. If it had not been for
the `cratur', there wouldn't have been this blow-up."
But to continue. The bodies of the dead in the shealing were consigned
to the earth as they lay, the four walls composing a mausoleum where
animosity was buried. The corpses of McDermot, and the Irish who had
been killed in the conflict, were removed by their friends, that they
might be waked. By the direction of McElvina the wounded English were
carried up by their former antagonists to the small town at the foot of
the castle, where surgical assistance was to be obtained. Seymour was
placed on a sort of bier that had been constructed for him, Emily and
her companions riding by his side; and the cavalcade wound up the hill,
the rear brought up by Mr Hardsett and the remainder of the English
crew. In two hours all were at their respective destinations; and
Seymour, who had been examined by the surgeon upon his arrival at the
castle, and whose wound had been pronounced by no means dangerous, was
in bed and fast asleep, Susan and Emily watching by his side.
Debriseau, who had recognised his quondam friend McElvina, and perceived
by his appearance, and the respect that was shown to him, that he had
been more fortunate in his career, since they had parted, than he had
himself, from a proud feeling of the moment, did not make himself known.
That McElvina, who had no idea of meeting him in such a quarter, should
not, in the hurry of the scene, distinguish his former associate,
covered as he was with dust and blood, and having the appearance more of
a New Zealand warrior than of any other living being, was not
surprising--and Debriseau joined the English party in the rear of the
cavalcade, and remained with them at the town, while McElvina and the
rest of the cortege continued their route to the castle, with the
wounded Seymour.
As soon as our hero's wound had been dressed, and the favourable opinion
of the surgeon had been pronounced, McElvina rode down to the town, to
make arrangements for the board and lodging of the English seamen. It
was then that he was asked by Mr Hardsett, what was to be done with the
Frenchman who had been saved.
"Where is he?" demanded McElvina.
Debriseau was summoned to the magistrate, and having cleaned himself of
the dust and gore, was immediately recognised.
"Debriseau!" exclaimed McElvina, with astonishment, and a look of
displeasure.
"Even so, Captain McElvina," replied Debriseau haughtily; "you do not
seem very well pleased at meeting an old acquaintance."
"Captain Debriseau, will you do me the favour to step on one side with
me. I will `be honest,' with you," continued McElvina to the
Guernseyman, when they were out of hearing of the boatswain and the
rest; "and confess that, although I wish you well, I was not pleased at
meeting with you here. You addressed me as Captain McElvina--that title
has long been dropped. I did once confide to you the secret of my
former life, and will own, what I little imagined at the time, that I
have in consequence put it into your power to do me serious injury. You
must now listen to me, while I give you a sketch of my memoirs, from the
time that we parted at Cherbourg."
McElvina then entered into a short history of what the reader is
acquainted with.--"Judge, then, Debriseau," pursued he, "if, after what
has passed, I could `_honestly_' say that I was glad to see you--who not
only, by your presence, reminded me of my former irregularities, but had
the means, if you thought proper, of acquainting my friends and
acquaintances with what I wish I could forget myself."
"Captain--I beg your pardon--Mr McElvina," replied Debriseau with
dignity, "I will be as honest as you. I am here without a sou, and
without a shirt, and when I leave this, I know not where to lay my hand
upon either; but rather than betray a confidence reposed in me, rather
than injure one who always was my friend, or, what is still more
unworthy, attempt to work upon your fears to my own advantage, I would
suffer death, nay, more--_Sacristie_--I would sooner turn custom-house
officer. No, no, McElvina--_je suis Francais, moi_--bah, I mean I am a
true Englishman. Never mind what I am--all countries are alike, if a
man's heart is in the right place. I sincerely wish you joy of your
good fortune, and know nobody that in my opinion deserves it more. I
shall go to prison with some resignation, now that I know you have been
so fortunate; and do me not the injustice to imagine that you will ever
be troubled by either seeing or hearing from me."
"I waited for this answer, Debriseau: had you made any other, I would
have run the risk and defied you; nothing would have induced me to have
offered to bribe your silence. But I rejoice in your honest and manly
conduct--`Honesty is the best policy,' Debriseau. I can now offer, and
you can accept, without blushing on either side, that assistance which I
have both the power and will to grant. There is no occasion for your
going to prison. I make the returns as magistrate, and, as you are an
English subject, will be answerable for the omission. We are too far
from the world here to have any questions asked. And now let me know
how I can be of any service to you, for my purse and interest you may
command."
"Well, then, to tell you the truth, I am fit for nothing on shore. I
must have another vessel, if I can get one."
"Not a smuggling vessel, I hope," replied McElvina, gravely.
"I should prefer it certainly. Why, there's no harm in smuggling, if I
recollect your arguments right," replied Debriseau, smiling. "Do you
remember the night that you convinced me?"
"I do, very well," said McElvina; "but I have reconsidered the subject,
and I have one little remark to make, which will upset the whole theory,
which is, that other people acting wrong cannot be urged as an excuse
for our own conduct. If it were, the world would soon be left without
virtue or honesty. You may think me scrupulous; but I am sincere.
Cannot you hit upon something else?"
"Why, I should have no objection to command a fine merchant vessel, if I
could obtain such a thing."
"That you shall," replied McElvina; "and to make sure of it, and render
you more independent, you shall be part owner. Consider it as _une
affaire arrangee_. And now allow me to offer you the means of improving
your personal appearance--I presume the leathern bag is empty?"
"Bah! a long while ago. After I had lost my vessel, I made up to
Mademoiselle Picardon; I thought it would not be a bad speculation--but
she never forgave me kicking that dirty puppy down stairs--little
beast!"
"Ah! you forget some of my remarks," replied McElvina, laughing--"`Love
me, love my dog.' Now oblige me by accepting this; and, Debriseau
(excuse me), there's a capital barber in this street. _Au revoir_."