THE SISTERS.
While I am thus disposed of at Eckernfiörd, it may not be out of
place to relate the adventures of the fair sisters (on their being
decoyed from Nyekiöbing), as I afterwards learned from them, and so
far as I can remember.
In the course of this narrative, many a long forgotten scene and face
have come back to my memory by pursuing a train of thought. At
first, it was my intention to have related only the battles and
sieges wherein our valiant Scots of the old invincible regiment of
Strathnaver distinguished themselves; but I have been compelled to
linger fondly over the past, and thus long buried thoughts and hopes;
the sentiments of my earlier years, have come back to me in all their
strength and freshness. Hence I can relate the faith and pride of
Ernestine, and the love of poor Gabrielle--one man's knavery and
another man's valour--as if the events of those stirring times had
all occurred but yesterday.
On board the dogger which bore the sisters from Falster, were only
Bandolo, his friend Bernhard, the amiable woodman of Korslack (who
has been already introduced to the reader), and three sailors of
Dantzig, to whom the craft belonged.
Bandolo was disguised as a well-fed Lutheran clergyman of Glückstadt,
and Bernhard acted as his servant, and had knots of black riband, on
each of his shoulders. He had brought to Ernestine a feigned
message, that the count her father was dying of wounds in Holstein;
although quite aware that, by the intrigues and jealousy of old
Tilly, he had been summoned to Vienna by the Emperor, who--as it was
currently reported--now viewed him with the utmost coldness. Bandolo
had been despatched by Tilly towards Assens and Falster, to inquire
into the number of the Danish forces, and the probable movements of
their king; but hearing that the count's daughters were at
Nyekiöbing, he immediately conceived the project of conveying them
away; and as he considered that he had now amassed a sufficient sum
to realise the dream of his ambition--a Hanoverian count-ship--he
resolved to retire from public life, to repose upon his laurels, with
the high-born bride whom, Tilly in his cynical and mischievous
spirit, had urged him by all means to procure; for secretly the
generalissimo owed the colonel-general of the cavalry a mortal grudge.
By a profitable speculation, Bandolo had sold the younger sister,
Gabrielle, to Count Merodé for a thousand ducats; and, being highly
pleased with his investment, that gentle commander--who had compelled
a Holstein merchant to furnish the ducats under terror of
musket-shot, and place them in his hands--was impatiently awaiting
her arrival at the strong fortress of Fredricksort, on the gulf of
Kiel in Danische-wald, the capital of which is Eckernfiörd. The
castle was occupied by the soldiers of the count; who, by a despatch
from Vienna, had been desired to constitute himself governor of all
that district, the poor boors of which were nearly driven mad by the
severity with which he exacted tribute.
Bandolo's dogger sailed towards Fehmarn, where he gave such
information to Colonel Butler as enabled that officer to afford us a
warm reception. The scout-master then bore away towards the coast of
Danische-wald; but on both sides of the isle of Fehmarn he
encountered such tremendous gales, that the whole thoughts and
energies of himself and his accomplice were occupied by fears for
their own safety; thus, without the sisters being disturbed by their
attentions or insults, the dogger entered the gulf of Kiel, and
anchored off the Wohlder shore.
Confined to the little cabin during this cold and dreary voyage of
nearly a hundred and fifty miles, and being wholly occupied by
anxiety to reach their father, the sisters had failed to observe the
very remarkable conduct of their guardian, the Lutheran clergyman,
and his valet, who seemed to be on the most familiar terms with each
other; and who, when the wind blew, and the dogger dipped surging
down into the trough of the angry sea, drank schnaps out of the same
horn, and swore a few round oaths as emphatically as a couple of
Merodeurs.
A large black doublet, well bombasted in front, white clerical bands,
and black satin knee breeches, with a white wig and smoothly shaven
chin, so completely metamorphosed Bandolo into a sleek oily
clergyman, with a somewhat comical but leering eye, that his own
mother would not have recognised the bravo she had brought into the
world--that dreaded and avowed bravo, who was usually to be seen
loitering like a bull-dog about the door of Tilly's tent, wearing a
leather doublet, and a belt stuck full of poniards, a long lovelock,
a rapier five feet in length, and a visage bloated by beer and
excesses of every description.
Whatever strange ideas might have floated through his evil brain, or
whatever promptings to mischief, the circumstance of these two
beautiful girls being far out on the open ocean, and completely at
the mercy of him and Bernhard, might have been suggested by his bad
angel, thank Heaven! which sent the stormy wind to furrow up the
deep, and roll the little bark upon its waters like a cork, their
coward hearts were solely occupied by fears for their own
safety--fears which every bottle of schnaps in the locker could not
allay. Thus, without the least suspicion of the trick which had been
played them, or the trap into which they had fallen, the sisters saw,
from a window in the little cabin, the setting sun of the 20th of
April reddening the shores of Holstein, as the dogger ran into the
little gulf of Kiel.
Ernestine was pleased to perceive that Gabrielle had revived a little
during this brief voyage. Either the separation from Ian, a
transference to new scenes, or that all her thoughts were with her
dying father, had produced this salutary effect; and she hoped that
in time, this passion, which she deemed so degrading even to her
impulsive nature, would soon be forgotten like a dream.
Instead of entering the harbour of any of the large towns, the dogger
was anchored off a miserable little village, inhabited by poor
people, who subsisted by dressing the skins of squirrels, which
abound in that neighbourhood.
The first object of Bandolo was to separate the sisters, and, without
creating any alarm, to exchange Gabrielle for the thousand ducats of
Count Merodé, whose garrison of Fredricksort was but a few miles off.
About sunset he presented himself in the cabin, and, with all the
suavity of manner he could muster, requested that "the ladies would
prepare for going shoreward."
During the short voyage they had seen but little of him; for, as I
have already mentioned, the stormy weather had given him ample
occupation elsewhere; and in truth, he was invariably awed into a
state of unpleasant stupidity in their presence, and found himself
almost unable to address them. This wretched man--this spy and
assassin--steeped to the lips in a thousand secret crimes and
dishonourable acts, found his blustering spirit and savage heart
quail before the dignity of perfect innocence, and the angelic purity
which pervaded the presence of Ernestine and Gabrielle.
Arrayed in his white wig, ample black doublet, white bands and Geneva
cloak, like a Lutheran churchman, and wearing a broad velvet hat with
a steeple-crown, an enormous pair of barnacles, and a silver-headed
cane dangling at his dexter wrist, to increase the respectability of
his appearance, Bandolo presented a hand to each of the sisters, and
conducted them into the boat, by which they were rowed ashore.
Bernard of Korslack, dressed in modest dark livery, carried the mails
and saddlebags; but Ernestine remarked that there was one mail, which
the worthy clergyman averred to be full of MS. sermons, but would
scarcely trust out of his hand for a single moment, and which seemed
to be very heavy, and his own peculiar care.
In fact, this mail afterwards proved to be filled with gold, and
ample orders on the Imperial treasury, signed by Wallenstein, by
Tilly, and Count Leslie of Balquhan, high chamberlain of the
Empire--the dear-earned fruits of a long career of espionage and
atrocity; and on the contents of that beloved mail, Bandolo (that
human compound of avarice and cruelty), based all his ambitious hopes
of future rank; for it contained the price of his expected county.
Now, when in the open boat, and when the bright flush of the setting
sun shone along the rippling water, Ernestine for the first time
remarked, with undefined uneasiness, the peculiar aspect of those who
accompanied them. The countenance of the clergyman--he called
himself Doctor, having taken degrees at Leyden--was somewhat livid,
and marked by two or three unseemly scars; but he might have served
as a chaplain in the army, or fought a few college duels. He had
certainly a very remarkable expression of eye; and, whichever way
Ernestine turned, it was fixed upon her in a manner that made her
feel inexpressibly uncomfortable; but the moment her calm, steady,
and inquiring glance met his, the reverend doctor turned abruptly,
and gazed in another direction.
Bernhard, the valet, had a somewhat bloated countenance, and sleepy
red eyes, like those of a sot; with a continual expression of
suppressed merriment about them, as if he would gladly have indulged
himself in a hoarse laugh, but dared not.
Gabrielle did not see these things; her mind was too intently
occupied by the shore they were nearing; by the expectation of
embracing her father; and by heartfelt satisfaction to exchange the
miseries of the dingy little cabin for the comforts and confidence
experienced on terra firma, to observe either the eyes or noses of
those who were conducting her there.
"What is the name of this village, Herr?" asked Ernestine, as the
boat ran alongside a little jetty built of large rough stones.
"I do not know, madam," replied Bandolo, adjusting his barnacles, and
gazing intently at the half-dozen of red-tiled cottages occupied by
the squirrel-curriers; "do you, Bernhard?'
"Nay, not I--how should I? I never was in Danische-wald before."
"Then do you know, how far it is from this to Fredricksort?"
"Where the count awaits you--ten miles--is it not so, Bernhard?"
Bernhard growled an assent.
"Ah, if we should be too late to reach my father!" said Gabrielle,
clasping her hands; "and we have been so many hours in yonder little
vessel."
"What is Fredricksort?" asked Ernestine.
"A castle of vast strength, lady."
"And what troops are with our father there?"
"I do not know, grafine," replied Bandolo; for he knew that to have
mentioned Merodé and his Merodeurs might excite suspicion; "do you
know, Bernhard?"
"Why, Herr Doctor," stammered the pretended valet; "I thought that
you knew very well that the regiment of----"
"Carlstein--oh yes!" interrupted Bandolo just in time, but eyeing his
valet savagely out of the corners of his barnacles; "how could I
forget! yes, lady, the musketeers of Carlstein--none know them better
than I do--occupy the fortress."
"Musketeers!" reiterated Ernestine; "our father's regiment is
_Cavalry_!'
"To be sure--how could I forget--you blundering ass, Bernhard!--'Tis
my valet who makes such mistakes; but here we are. Welcome to
Wohlder, ladies!" said Bandolo, raising his hat, and with it his long
white wig, a mistake by which he nearly discovered his black hair and
face, by which Ernestine might have recognised the terrible familiar
of Count Tilly, who had been pointed out to her on two
occasions--once in Vienna, and once in the Imperial camp.
During this brief conversation, Bandolo had experienced all the
uneasiness already described; and his admiration for the fine person
of Ernestine combated with restraint and fear, which at times kindled
a spark of rage in his heart, and made him almost hate her for
possessing a power that awed him by a glance. Yet Ernestine was
quite unconscious of possessing this power, and knew not that it was
required.
Feeling, she knew not why, a sentiment of disdain for her conductors,
she relapsed into silence, and permitted herself and Gabrielle to be
led to a cottage, the poor occupants of which received them with the
utmost respect. This was increased by the appearance of the leathern
mails, and still more by a piece of gold, which Bandolo placed in the
hand of the goodman of the cottage, requesting him to search the
whole neighbourhood, and hire horses for Fredricksort, whither they
were travelling on the service of the King of Denmark.
The husbonde replied, that "close by there was a farm, the goodman of
which had been cruelly murdered last week by the Merodeurs in
Fredricksort; and whose widow, he believed, would gladly lend the
Herr her spouse's horses for a small consideration, as she and her
children were starving, Count Merodé's men having made every thing
march, from the haystacks in the yard to the eggs in the coop."
"Away then, boor, get these horses, and this shall be the happiest
night of your life."
"What was the peasant saying, reverend sir?" asked the anxious
Ernestine on the departure of the Jutelander, whose language she did
not understand.
"Alas, Lady!" said Bandolo, seating himself with an air of dejection;
"prepare yourself for melancholy intelligence. The poor count--ah
me--well, what a world it is!"
"My father--what of my poor father?" asked both girls together,
rushing to his side with their eyes full of tears.
"He is still lingering at Fredricksort, but life is scarcely expected
for him; and the emperor has sent his own physician, Herr Blyster, to
attend him."
"Oh! the dear, good emperor!" exclaimed Gabrielle, with sorrowful
ardour.
"Herr Blyster!" mused Ernestine; "I did not think that was the name
of the emperor's physician." Neither it was; but the name was the
suggestion of Bandolo's own imagination, which sometimes was not a
very happy one.
"Trust in the Lord, lady--trust in the Lord!" said he, turning up his
eyes.
Gabrielle clung to her sister, and did nothing but weep. Bernhard
stood behind them, making grimaces and grotesque contortions of
visage at his reverend master, who one moment seemed inclined to
laugh, and the next to swear, at a folly which might undo all, and
perhaps prevent their obtaining peacefully the Count of Merodé's
thousand ducats, of which Master Bernhard was to receive a good
share--as Bandolo had promised faithfully; but without the least
intention of giving him a stiver.
Darkness set in; the poor woman of the cottage lighted a solitary
candle, and from her cupboard brought a glass of birch-wine for each
of the ladies, and another of schnaps for the Herr and his valet.
Ernestine was just expressing to Gabrielle her impatience to be
gone--her uneasiness to be in this unknown cottage at night, on an
enemy's coast, with two strangers--for when in the dogger with the
sailors, she did not feel herself so desolate--when the boor returned
with the horses, two of which had side-saddles, and they all mounted
hastily.
After securely buckling his beloved portmanteau to the crupper of his
horse, after paying the peasant, and after carefully examining in the
dark four small pistols and two poniards, which he carried under his
clerical doublet, señor Bandolo whispered to Bernhard the project he
wished to accomplish--the quiet separation of the sisters by a little
piece of finesse, which he was certain they would never suspect or
discover, until too late to retrieve themselves. It was simply this--
He had learned from the boor which couple of the four horses were the
swiftest, and on them he mounted Bernhard and Gabrielle, instructing
the former to spur on to the front, and wheel off by a certain bypath
towards Fredricksort; while he, with the other sister, meant to ride
slowly, and pursue a path quite different towards a certain cottage,
which they both knew of in the wood of Eckernfiörd. There Bernhard
was to meet them, and bring the ducats of Count Merodé--the price of
Gabrielle.
"Now, ladies," said Bandolo, "are you good horsewomen?"
"Ernestine was the best at Vienna," said Gabrielle, whipping up her
Holsteiner, which caracoled under her light weight.
"Gabrielle--Gabrielle!" exclaimed her eldest sister; "take care what
you are about, madcap! You will unhorse yourself and me too. Will
she not, reverend sir?"
"Now, ladies, we have ten miles of clear road before us, and the moon
will soon rise. Let us start by pairs along this bridle road, and
see which couple will first reach Fredricksort."
"Away--I shall be first with our dear father," said Gabrielle,
anxious to keep in front, and giving a lash to her Holsteiner, which
shot away at a headlong pace. Bernhard dashed on by her side, for he
was a good horseman, having been a valet to Merodé at Vienna, where
he had been scourged and dismissed for selling his master's cloaks
and doublets.
Ernestine and Bandolo followed at full gallop; but as the road was
narrow, the bravo contrived to incommode her horse and his own in
such a manner, that their speed was considerably retarded. Bernhard
and Gabrielle bore on at an uninterrupted pace, and, despite all the
entreaties of Ernestine, disappeared into the darkness in front.
This was the very thing Bandolo had hoped to accomplish.
"Do not be alarmed, grafine, they will not reach the fortress ten
minutes before us," said he, quite enchanted by the sudden success of
his scheme.
At last he and Ernestine passed on their right the narrow path which
led towards the gulf of Kiel, and by which he knew that Bernhard and
Gabrielle had struck off to the castle of Fredricksort; and far along
the level way his quick and practised ear detected the tramp of their
horses' hoofs. He passed it, and spurring on, slyly administered now
and then a lash to the horse of Ernestine, urging it along a road
which he knew conducted them straight to the place of rendezvous--the
solitary cottage in the forest of Eckernfiörd.
Ernestine whipped and caressed her horse. Every pace the poor girl
supposed was bringing her nearer and more near to the couch of her
dying father.