My reception at home--Aunt Deb again gives her advice--My father and I
pay another visit to Leighton Hall--Our guard--Interview with Sir
Reginald--A score that was not settled to my satisfaction--My awkward
position--My father receives a threatening letter--Aunt Deb decides on
action--Preparations for my departure--The journey in the coach--Our
fellow-travellers--A false alarm--My aunt's character further comes
out--Our arrival at Liverpool--Our reception--Mr Butterfield--I
explore Liverpool--My first visit to the "Emu"--I gain some
information--I lose my way--Aunt Deb's anxiety on my account--A small
difficulty well got out of--I pay another visit to the "Emu"--My ideas
as to officers and seamanship receive a somewhat rude check--I make
the acquaintance of Gregory Growles--I lose my cutter--"Thief!
Thief!"--I speak to Mr Butterfield as to my going to sea--His
opinions on the subject--He makes me a kind offer--Matters still
unsettled--A reference to Aunt Deb.
My father supported me as we walked home; for, now that the excitement
was over, I felt so exhausted that without his assistance I could not
have got along. Before we had got far, however, we fortunately fell in
with some of the people who had been sent by my father to look for me.
They, taking me in their arms, saved me from the necessity of making
further exertions. As we went on we met several seafaring men, boatmen
and others, who I thought scowled at me as I passed.
The news of the capture of the goods having got abroad, it had been
reported that I had given the information. My mother and sisters
received me affectionately. To my satisfaction I found that Aunt Deb
was out in the village. On her return, having heard some account of my
adventures, looking at me sternly she said--
"Well, Master Richard; and so you have been continuing your foolish
pranks, and throwing us all out of our wits. Depend upon it, nephew,
you'll come to a bad end if you don't manage to act with more discretion
during your future course in life."
I felt too tired just then to reply to Aunt Deb's remarks as I should
have liked to do. I merely said--
"I could not help being carried off by the smugglers; and as I have been
the means of getting a good many of them captured, and also of enabling
the revenue-men to seize their stores, I hope that Sir Reginald will now
feel anxious to reward me by obtaining for me the appointment I have so
long wished for."
"If it suits Sir Reginald's convenience he may do so," said my aunt.
"We shall see; we shall see."
I had to give an account of my adventures to every one in the house, and
I was very thankful when I was able to go to bed, feeling no inclination
to put myself in the way of going through any fresh adventures.
Next morning, after breakfast, I asked my father if he would accompany
me to Leighton Park, that I might make another appeal to Sir Reginald.
"You'll only get a flea in your ear, John," remarked Aunt Deb. "Sir
Reginald will just consider you troublesome. You are much more likely
to succeed if you let him alone."
My father, however, for a wonder, ventured to differ with Aunt Deb, and
agreed to take me to see the baronet. He had become, I found, very
anxious about my safety, being convinced that the smugglers would, if
they had the opportunity, punish me severely for having interfered in
their affairs. This made him more than ever anxious to get me away from
home. Not satisfied that even during the walk to Leighton Park we might
not be attacked, he directed old Thomas, the gardener, to arm himself
with a blunderbuss and a brace of pistols, and to follow, keeping us
always in sight. He didn't think it would become him as a minister of
the gospel to carry fire-arms through his own parish, and he was afraid
to entrust them to me.
"Remember, Thomas, that if you see any smugglers come near, you are to
march up and point your blunderbuss at their heads."
"You may be sure, sir, as I'll do that," answered Thomas. "I have been
a man of peace all my life, but I'm ready to fight in your cause, and I
believe the Lord will forgive me if I kill any one."
"I don't think there is much chance of that," said my father. "Your
appearance with your blunderbuss loaded up to the muzzle will be
sufficient to deter any of the ruffians from attacking us."
We set out together. Thomas gradually dropped behind to the required
distance. As we walked along I looked every now and then over my
shoulder to be sure that he was following, for I had an uncomfortable
feeling that the smugglers would be on the watch for me. We, however,
reached the park without any adventure.
Sir Reginald kept us waiting longer than usual before we were admitted
into his presence.
"Well, Mr Cheveley, we have succeeded at last in giving a blow to the
smugglers which will put a stop to their proceedings for some time to
come at all events. Though the `Saucy Bess' got off, we captured some
of her crew and several of the men assisting them."
"I congratulate you, Sir Reginald," said my father; "and I ventured to
call on you to explain that my son Richard has rendered considerable
service to the cause. It was through him that information of the
intended run the other night was obtained, and he also discovered one of
the smugglers' hiding-places, `Grime's Mill,' and was the means of
enabling the revenue-men to capture a considerable store of their
contraband goods."
Sir Reginald smiled.
"I'm glad to hear this," he observed; "for to say the truth, I have had
strong doubts as to your son's connexion with the smugglers. He is
intimate, I find, with an old sailor, Roger Riddle, who though too
cunning to be caught is known to aid and abet them in their proceedings.
By his means young Mark Riddle, who is both smuggler and poacher, made
his escape from my lock-up room only last week. Had it not been for my
respect for you, I could not have passed the matter over, and I am happy
now to be able to set the services you say he has rendered against his
former conduct. I am the more willing to do this as young Riddle was
taken just as he landed from the `Saucy Bess,' and we shall now get rid
of him, as he will be either committed to prison for two years or sent
off to sea to serve his Majesty for seven years."
I was very sorry when I heard this, but of course did not express my
feelings to Sir Reginald. My father looked rather uncomfortable; he was
a nervous man, and Sir Reginald always awed him. He, however, mustered
courage to proceed.
"I hope, Sir Reginald, that my son's good conduct will induce you to
interest yourself in his favour, and that you will forward his views by
exerting yourself to obtain the appointment he so greatly desires. I am
very anxious to get him away from the neighbourhood, as I am afraid the
smugglers, who are aware that he has been instrumental in the capture of
their friends and goods, will revenge themselves on his head. I dare
not let him leave the house alone, and even coming here I was obliged to
bring an armed attendant for his protection."
"I have told you, Mr Cheveley, that I consider his late conduct is a
set-off against his unpardonable proceeding. I will, however, remember
his wish; and, should an opportunity occur, will forward his views. I
must now wish you good morning, for my time is much occupied with my
magisterial and parliamentary duties, and you must excuse me."
The baronet prepared to bow us out of the room. He shook hands with my
father, who took the hint and backed towards the door, and gave me only
a formal nod, without allowing a smile to irradiate his features.
We found old Thomas waiting at the hall door with his blunderbuss on his
shoulder. My father walked on with hurried steps some distance, not
uttering a word. At last he said--
"To what did Sir Reginald allude when he talked of your connexion with
young Riddle?"
I told him how Mark had been seized and locked up and how I had
unintentionally assisted him to escape.
"I believe what you say, Richard; but you can't be surprised at the
baronet being annoyed, and I'm afraid from his tone that we must not
expect much from him."
We had got about two-thirds of the way home when we saw three men coming
towards us, one of whom I recognised as Burden. I had not yet told my
father that I believed him to be one of the men who had shut me up in
the old mill. He started as he saw me, and then scanned me narrowly, as
if uncertain whether it could really be myself.
Though I knew that old Thomas and his blunderbuss were close behind us,
I felt very uncomfortable, as I could not tell how the men might be
inclined to act. Mustering courage at last, I looked Burden in the
face. My father nodded to him and the other men, as he was accustomed
to do to his parishioners. They hesitated for a moment, and then passed
on. I looked back and saw them watching old Thomas, but they didn't
speak to him, and he trudged sturdily after us without paying them any
attention.
"I wonder what was the matter with Burden?" asked my father, as we got
to some distance.