CHAPTER EIGHTH.
So stands the Thracian herdsman with his spear Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear; And hears him in the rustling wood, and sees His course at distance by the bending trees, And thinks--Here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight, or I. Palamon and Arcite.
I took the route towards the college, as recommended by Mr. Jarvie, lesswith the intention of seeking for any object of interest or amusement,than to arrange my own ideas, and meditate on my future conduct. Iwandered from one quadrangle of old-fashioned buildings to another, andfrom thence to the College-yards, or walking ground, where, pleased withthe solitude of the place, most of the students being engaged in theirclasses, I took several turns, pondering on the waywardness of my owndestiny.
I could not doubt, from the circumstances attending my first meeting withthis person Campbell, that he was engaged in some strangely desperatecourses; and the reluctance with which Mr. Jarvie alluded to his personor pursuits, as well as all the scene of the preceding night, tended toconfirm these suspicions. Yet to this man Diana Vernon had not, it wouldseem, hesitated to address herself in my behalf; and the conduct of themagistrate himself towards him showed an odd mixture of kindness, andeven respect, with pity and censure. Something there must be uncommon inCampbell's situation and character; and what was still moreextraordinary, it seemed that his fate was doomed to have influence over,and connection with, my own. I resolved to bring Mr. Jarvie to closequarters on the first proper opportunity, and learn as much as waspossible on the subject of this mysterious person, in order that I mightjudge whether it was possible for me, without prejudice to my reputation,to hold that degree of farther correspondence with him to which he seemedto invite.
While I was musing on these subjects, my attention was attracted by threepersons who appeared at the upper end of the walk through which I wassauntering, seemingly engaged in very earnest conversation. Thatintuitive impression which announces to us the approach of whomsoever welove or hate with intense vehemence, long before a more indifferent eyecan recognise their persons, flashed upon my mind the sure convictionthat the midmost of these three men was Rashleigh Osbaldistone. Toaddress him was my first impulse;--my second was, to watch him until hewas alone, or at least to reconnoitre his companions before confrontinghim. The party was still at such distance, and engaged in such deepdiscourse, that I had time to step unobserved to the other side of asmall hedge, which imperfectly screened the alley in which I was walking.It was at this period the fashion of the young and gay to wear, in theirmorning walks, a scarlet cloak, often laced and embroidered, above theirother dress, and it was the trick of the time for gallants occasionallyto dispose it so as to muffle a part of the face. The imitating thisfashion, with the degree of shelter which I received from the hedge,enabled me to meet my cousin, unobserved by him or the others, exceptperhaps as a passing stranger. I was not a little startled at recognisingin his companions that very Morris on whose account I had been summonedbefore Justice Inglewood, and Mr. MacVittie the merchant, from whosestarched and severe aspect I had recoiled on the preceding day.
A more ominous conjunction to my own affairs, and those of my father,could scarce have been formed. I remembered Morris's false accusationagainst me, which he might be as easily induced to renew as he had beenintimidated to withdraw; I recollected the inauspicious influence ofMacVittie over my father's affairs, testified by the imprisonment ofOwen;--and I now saw both these men combined with one, whose talent formischief I deemed little inferior to those of the great author of allill, and my abhorrence of whom almost amounted to dread.
When they had passed me for some paces, I turned and followed themunobserved. At the end of the walk they separated, Morris and MacVittieleaving the gardens, and Rashleigh returning alone through the walks. Iwas now determined to confront him, and demand reparation for theinjuries he had done my father, though in what form redress was likely tobe rendered remained to be known. This, however, I trusted to chance; andflinging back the cloak in which I was muffled, I passed through a gap ofthe low hedge, and presented myself before Rashleigh, as, in a deepreverie, he paced down the avenue.
Rashleigh was no man to be surprised or thrown off his guard by suddenoccurrences. Yet he did not find me thus close to him, wearingundoubtedly in my face the marks of that indignation which was glowing inmy bosom, without visibly starting at an apparition so sudden andmenacing.
"You are well met, sir," was my commencement; "I was about to take a longand doubtful journey in quest of you."
"You know little of him you sought then," replied Rashleigh, with hisusual undaunted composure. "I am easily found by my friends--still moreeasily by my foes;--your manner compels me to ask in which class I mustrank Mr. Francis Osbaldistone?"
"In that of your foes, sir," I answered--"in that of your mortal foes,unless you instantly do justice to your benefactor, my father, byaccounting for his property."
"And to whom, Mr. Osbaldistone," answered Rashleigh, "am I, a member ofyour father's commercial establishment, to be compelled to give anyaccount of my proceedings in those concerns, which are in every respectidentified with my own?--Surely not to a young gentleman whose exquisitetaste for literature would render such discussions disgusting andunintelligible."
"Your sneer, sir, is no answer; I will not part with you until I havefull satisfaction concerning the fraud you meditate--you shall go with mebefore a magistrate."
"Be it so," said Rashleigh, and made a step or two as if to accompany me;then pausing, proceeded--"Were I inclined to do so as you would have me,you should soon feel which of us had most reason to dread the presence ofa magistrate. But I have no wish to accelerate your fate. Go, young man!amuse yourself in your world of poetical imaginations, and leave thebusiness of life to those who understand and can conduct it."
His intention, I believe, was to provoke me, and he succeeded. "Mr.Osbaldistone," I said, "this tone of calm insolence shall not avail you.You ought to be aware that the name we both bear never submitted toinsult, and shall not in my person be exposed to it."
"You remind me," said Rashleigh, with one of his blackest looks, "that itwas dishonoured in my person!--and you remind me also by whom! Do youthink I have forgotten the evening at Osbaldistone Hall when you cheaplyand with impunity played the bully at my expense? For that insult--neverto be washed out but by blood!--for the various times you have crossed mypath, and always to my prejudice--for the persevering folly with whichyou seek to traverse schemes, the importance of which you neither knownor are capable of estimating,--for all these, sir, you owe me a longaccount, for which there shall come an early day of reckoning."
"Let it come when it will," I replied, "I shall be willing and ready tomeet it. Yet you seem to have forgotten the heaviest article--that I hadthe pleasure to aid Miss Vernon's good sense and virtuous feeling inextricating her from your infamous toils."
I think his dark eyes flashed actual fire at this home-taunt, and yet hisvoice retained the same calm expressive tone with which he had hithertoconducted the conversation.
"I had other views with respect to you, young man," was his answer: "lesshazardous for you, and more suitable to my present character and formereducation. But I see you will draw on yourself the personal chastisementyour boyish insolence so well merits. Follow me to a more remote spot,where we are less likely to be interrupted."
I followed him accordingly, keeping a strict eye on his motions, for Ibelieved him capable of the very worst actions. We reached an open spotin a sort of wilderness, laid out in the Dutch taste, with clippedhedges, and one or two statues. I was on my guard, and it was well withme that I was so; for Rashleigh's sword was out and at my breast ere Icould throw down my cloak, or get my weapon unsheathed, so that I onlysaved my life by springing a pace or two backwards. He had some advantagein the difference of our weapons; for his sword, as I recollect, waslonger than
mine, and had one of those bayonet or three-cornered bladeswhich are now generally worn; whereas mine was what we then called aSaxon blade--narrow, flat, and two-edged, and scarcely so manageable asthat of my enemy. In other respects we were pretty equally matched: forwhat advantage I might possess in superior address and agility, was fullycounterbalanced by Rashleigh's great strength and coolness. He fought,indeed, more like a fiend than a man--with concentrated spite and desireof blood, only allayed by that cool consideration which made his worstactions appear yet worse from the air of deliberate premeditation whichseemed to accompany them. His obvious malignity of purpose never for amoment threw him off his guard, and he exhausted every feint andstratagem proper to the science of defence; while, at the same time, hemeditated the most desperate catastrophe to our rencounter.
On my part, the combat was at first sustained with more moderation. Mypassions, though hasty, were not malevolent; and the walk of two or threeminutes' space gave me time to reflect that Rashleigh was my father'snephew, the son of an uncle, who after his fashion had been kind to me,and that his falling by my hand could not but occasion much familydistress. My first resolution, therefore, was to attempt to disarm myantagonist--a manoeuvre in which, confiding in my superiority of skilland practice, I anticipated little difficulty. I found, however, I hadmet my match; and one or two foils which I received, and from theconsequences of which I narrowly escaped, obliged me to observe morecaution in my mode of fighting. By degrees I became exasperated at therancour with which Rashleigh sought my life, and returned his passes withan inveteracy resembling in some degree his own; so that the combat hadall the appearance of being destined to have a tragic issue. That issuehad nearly taken place at my expense. My foot slipped in a full loungewhich I made at my adversary, and I could not so far recover myself ascompletely to parry the thrust with which my pass was repaid. Yet it tookbut partial effect, running through my waistcoat, grazing my ribs, andpassing through my coat behind. The hilt of Rashleigh's sword, so greatwas the vigour of his thrust, struck against my breast with such force asto give me great pain, and confirm me in the momentary belief that I wasmortally wounded. Eager for revenge, I grappled with my enemy, seizingwith my left hand the hilt of his sword, and shortening my own with thepurpose of running him through the body. Our death-grapple wasinterrupted by a man who forcibly threw himself between us, and pushingus separate from each other, exclaimed, in a loud and commanding voice,"What! the sons of those fathers who sucked the same breast shedding eachothers bluid as it were strangers'!--By the hand of my father, I willcleave to the brisket the first man that mints another stroke!"
I looked up in astonishment. The speaker was no other than Campbell. Hehad a basket-hilted broadsword drawn in his hand, which he made towhistle around his head as he spoke, as if for the purpose of enforcinghis mediation. Rashleigh and I stared in silence at this unexpectedintruder, who proceeded to exhort us alternately:--"Do you, MaisterFrancis, opine that ye will re-establish your father's credit by cuttingyour kinsman's thrapple, or getting your ain sneckit instead thereof inthe College-yards of Glasgow?--Or do you, Mr Rashleigh, think men willtrust their lives and fortunes wi' ane, that, when in point of trust andin point of confidence wi' a great political interest, gangs aboutbrawling like a drunken gillie?--Nay, never look gash or grim at me,man--if ye're angry, ye ken how to turn the buckle o' your belt behindyou."
"You presume on my present situation," replied Rashleigh, "or you wouldhave hardly dared to interfere where my honour is concerned."
Rob Roy Parting the Duelists--100]
"Hout! tout! tout!--Presume? And what for should it be presuming?--Ye maybe the richer man, Mr. Osbaldistone, as is maist likely; and ye may bethe mair learned man, whilk I dispute not: but I reckon ye are neither aprettier man nor a better gentleman than mysell--and it will be news tome when I hear ye are as gude. And _dare_ too? Muckle daring there'sabout it--I trow, here I stand, that hae slashed as het a haggis as onyo' the twa o' ye, and thought nae muckle o' my morning's wark when it wasdune. If my foot were on the heather as it's on the causeway, or thispickle gravel, that's little better, I hae been waur mistrysted than if Iwere set to gie ye baith your ser'ing o't."
Rashleigh had by this time recovered his temper completely. "My kinsman,"he said, "will acknowledge he forced this quarrel on me. It was none ofmy seeking. I am glad we are interrupted before I chastised hisforwardness more severely."
"Are ye hurt, lad?" inquired Campbell of me, with some appearance ofinterest.
"A very slight scratch," I answered, "which my kind cousin would not longhave boasted of had not you come between us."
"In troth, and that's true, Maister Rashleigh," said Campbell; "for thecauld iron and your best bluid were like to hae become acquaint when Imastered Mr. Frank's right hand. But never look like a sow playing upon atrump for the luve of that, man--come and walk wi' me. I hae news to tellye, and ye'll cool and come to yourself, like MacGibbon's crowdy, when heset it out at the window-bole."
"Pardon me, sir," said I. "Your intentions have seemed friendly to me onmore occasions than one; but I must not, and will not, quit sight of thisperson until he yields up to me those means of doing justice to myfather's engagements, of which he has treacherously possessed himself."
"Ye're daft, man," replied Campbell; "it will serve ye naething to followus e'enow; ye hae just enow o' ae man--wad ye bring twa on your head, andmight bide quiet?"
"Twenty," I replied, "if it be necessary."
I laid my hand on Rashleigh's collar, who made no resistance, but said,with a sort of scornful smile, "You hear him, MacGregor! he rushes on hisfate--will it be my fault if he falls into it?--The warrants are by thistime ready, and all is prepared."
The Scotchman was obviously embarrassed. He looked around, and before,and behind him, and then said--"The ne'er a bit will I yield my consentto his being ill-guided for standing up for the father that got him--andI gie God's malison and mine to a' sort o' magistrates, justices,bailies., sheriffs, sheriff-officers, constables, and sic-like blackcattle, that hae been the plagues o' puir auld Scotland this hunderyear.--it was a merry warld when every man held his ain gear wi' his aingrip, and when the country side wasna fashed wi' warrants and poindingsand apprizings, and a' that cheatry craft. And ance mair I say it, myconscience winna see this puir thoughtless lad ill-guided, and especiallywi' that sort o' trade. I wad rather ye fell till't again, and fought itout like douce honest men."
"Your conscience, MacGregor!" said Rashleigh; "you forget how long youand I have known each other."
"Yes, my conscience," reiterated Campbell, or MacGregor, or whatever washis name; "I hae such a thing about me, Maister Osbaldistone; and thereinit may weel chance that I hae the better o' you. As to our knowledge ofeach other,--if ye ken what I am, ye ken what usage it was made me what Iam; and, whatever you may think, I would not change states with theproudest of the oppressors that hae driven me to tak the heather-bush fora beild. What _you_ are, Maister Rashleigh, and what excuse ye hae forbeing _what_ you are, is between your ain heart and the lang day.--Andnow, Maister Francis, let go his collar; for he says truly, that ye arein mair danger from a magistrate than he is, and were your cause asstraight as an arrow, he wad find a way to put you wrang--So let go hiscraig, as I was saying."
He seconded his words with an effort so sudden and unexpected, that hefreed Rashleigh from my hold, and securing me, notwithstanding mystruggles, in his own Herculean gripe, he called out--"Take the bent, Mr.Rashleigh--Make ae pair o' legs worth twa pair o' hands; ye hae dune thatbefore now."
"You may thank this gentleman, kinsman," said Rashleigh, "if I leave anypart of my debt to you unpaid; and if I quit you now, it is only in thehope we shall soon meet again without the possibility of interruption."
He took up his sword, wiped it, sheathed it, and was lost among thebushes.
The Scotchman, partly by force, partly by remonstrance, prevented myfollowing him; indeed I began to be of opinion my doing so would be tolittle purpose.
> "As I live by bread," said Campbell, when, after one or two struggles inwhich he used much forbearance towards me, he perceived me inclined tostand quiet, "I never saw sae daft a callant! I wad hae gien the best manin the country the breadth o' his back gin he had gien me sic a kempingas ye hae dune. What wad ye do?--Wad ye follow the wolf to his den? Itell ye, man, he has the auld trap set for ye--He has got thecollector-creature Morris to bring up a' the auld story again,and ye maun look for nae help frae me here, as ye got at JusticeInglewood's;--it isna good for my health to come in the gate o' thewhigamore bailie bodies. Now gang your ways hame, like a gudebairn--jouk and let the jaw gae by--Keep out o' sight o' Rashleigh, andMorris, and that MacVittie animal--Mind the Clachan of Aberfoil, as Isaid before, and by the word of a gentleman, I wunna see ye wranged. Butkeep a calm sough till we meet again--I maun gae and get Rashleigh outo' the town afore waur comes o't, for the neb o' him's never out o'mischief--Mind the Clachan of Aberfoil."
He turned upon his heel, and left me to meditate on the singular eventswhich had befallen me. My first care was to adjust my dress and reassumemy cloak, disposing it so as to conceal the blood which flowed down myright side. I had scarcely accomplished this, when, the classes of thecollege being dismissed, the gardens began to be filled with parties ofthe students. I therefore left them as soon as possible; and in my waytowards Mr. Jarvie's, whose dinner hour was now approaching, I stopped ata small unpretending shop, the sign of which intimated the indweller tobe Christopher Neilson, surgeon and apothecary. I requested of a littleboy who was pounding some stuff in a mortar, that he would procure me anaudience of this learned pharmacopolist. He opened the door of the backshop, where I found a lively elderly man, who shook his headincredulously at some idle account I gave him of having been woundedaccidentally by the button breaking off my antagonist's foil while I wasengaged in a fencing match. When he had applied some lint and somewhatelse he thought proper to the trifling wound I had received, heobserved--"There never was button on the foil that made this hurt. Ah!young blood! young blood!--But we surgeons are a secret generation--Ifit werena for hot blood and ill blood, what wad become of the twalearned faculties?"
With which moral reflection he dismissed me; and I experienced verylittle pain or inconvenience afterwards from the scratch I had received.