Chapter XXVI
In which Mr Vanslyperken sees a ghost.
Before we acquaint the reader with the movements of Mr Vanslyperken, wemust again revert to the history of the period in which we are writing.The Jacobite faction had assumed a formidable consistency, and everyexertion was being made by them for an invasion of England. They knewthat their friends were numerous, and that many who held office underthe ruling government were attached to their cause, and only requiredsuch a demonstration to fly to arms with their numerous partisans.
Up to the present, all the machinations of the Jacobites had beencarried on with secrecy and dexterity, but now was the time for actionand decision. To aid the cause, it was considered expedient that someone of known fidelity should be sent to Amsterdam, where the projectsof William might be discovered more easily than in England: for, as hecommunicated with the States General, and the States General werecomposed of many, secrets would come out, for that which is known tomany soon becomes no longer a secret.
To effect this, letters of recommendation to one or two of those high inoffice in Holland, and who were supposed to be able to give information,and inclined to be confiding and garrulous, had been procured from thefirm allies of King William, by those who pretended to be so only, forthe agent who was about to be sent over, and this agent was the youngcavalier who had treated Vanslyperken in so uncourteous a manner. He hasalready been mentioned to the reader by the name of Ramsay, and secondin authority among the smugglers. He was a young man of high family, anda brother to Lady Alice, of course trusted by Sir Robert and his secondin command. He had been attainted for non-appearance, and condemned forhigh treason at the same time as had been his brother-in-law, Sir RobertBarclay, and had ever since been with him doing his duty in the boat andin command of the men, when Sir Robert's services or attendance wererequired at St Germains.
No one could be better adapted for the service he was to be employedupon. He was brave, cool, intelligent, and prepossessing. Of course, byhis letters of introduction, he was represented as a firm ally of KingWilliam, and strongly recommended as such. The letters whichVanslyperken had neglected to deliver were of the utmost importance, andthe character of the lieutenant being well known to Ramsay, through themedium of Nancy Corbett and others, he had treated him in the way whichhe considered as most likely to enforce a rigid compliance withtheir wishes.
Ramsay was right; for Vanslyperken was too much of a coward to ventureupon resistance, although he might threaten it. It was the intention ofRamsay, moreover, to take a passage over with him in the _Yungfrau_, ashis arrival in a king's vessel would add still more to the success ofthe enterprise which he had in contemplation.
We will now return to Mr Vanslyperken, whom we left boiling withindignation. He is not in a better humour at this moment. He requires avictim to expend his wrath upon, and that victim he is resolved shall beSmallbones, upon whom his hate is concentrated.
He has sent for the corporal, and next ordered him to bring him a pistoland cartridge, which the corporal has complied with. Vanslyperken hasnot made the corporal a further confidant, but he has his suspicions,and he is on the watch. Vanslyperken is alone, his hand trembling as heloads the pistol which he has taken down from the bulkhead where ithung, but he is nevertheless determined upon the act. He has laid itdown on the table, and goes on deck, waiting till it is dusk for thecompletion of his project. He has now arranged his plan and descends;the pistol is still on the table, and he puts it under the blanket onhis bed, and rings for Smallbones.
"Did you want me, sir?" said Smallbones.
"Yes, I am going on shore to sleep a little way in the country, and Iwant you to carry my clothes; let everything be put up in the blue bag,and hold yourself ready to come with me."
"Yes, sir," replied Smallbones; "am I to come on board again to-night?"
"To be sure you are."
Smallbones put up as desired by his master, whose eyes followed thelad's motions as he moved from one part of the cabin to the other, histhoughts wandering from the recollection of Smallbones having attemptedto drown his dog, to the more pleasing one of revenge.
At dusk, Mr Vanslyperken ordered his boat to be manned, and so soon asSmallbones had gone into it with the bag, he took the pistol from wherehe had hid it, and concealing it under his great-coat, followed the ladinto the boat.
They landed, and Vanslyperken walked fast; it was now dark, and he wasfollowed by Smallbones, who found difficulty in keeping pace with hismaster, so rapid were his strides.
They passed the half-way houses, and went clear of the fortifications,until they had gained five or six miles on the road to London.
Smallbones was tired out with the rapidity of the walk, and now laggedbehind. The master desired him to come on. "I does come on as fast as Ican, sir, but this here walking don't suit at all, with carrying a bagfull of clothes," replied Smallbones.
"Make haste, and keep up with me," cried Vanslyperken, setting off againat a more rapid pace.
They were now past all the buildings, and but occasionally fell in withsome solitary farmhouse, or cottage, on the road side; the night wascloudy, and the scud flew fast; Vanslyperken walked on faster, for inhis state of mind he could feel no bodily fatigue, and the laddropped astern.
At last the lieutenant found a spot which afforded him an opportunity ofexecuting his fell purpose. A square wall, round a homestead for cattle,was built on the side of the footpath. Vanslyperken turned round, andlooked for Smallbones, who was too far behind to be seen in theobscurity. Satisfied by this that the lad could not see his motions,Vanslyperken secreted himself behind the angle of the wall so as toallow Smallbones to pass. He cocked his pistol, and crouched down,waiting for the arrival of his victim.
In a minute or two he heard the panting of the lad, who was quite wearywith his load. Vanslyperken compressed his lips, and held his breath.The lad passed him; Vanslyperken now rose from behind, levelled thepistol at the lad's head, and fired. Smallbones uttered a yell, felldown on his face, and then rolled on his back without life or motion.
Vanslyperken looked at him for one second, then turned back, and fledwith the wings of the wind. Conscience now appeared to pursue him, andhe ran on until he was so exhausted, that he fell; the pistol was stillin his hand, and as he put out his arm mechanically to save himself, thelock of the pistol came in violent contact with his temple.
After a time he rose again, faint and bleeding, and continued his courseat a more moderate pace, but as the wind blew, and whistled among theboughs of the trees, he thought every moment that he beheld the form ofthe murdered lad. He quickened his pace, arrived at last within thefortifications, and putting the pistol in his coat-pocket, he somewhat,recovered himself. He bound his silk handkerchief round his head, andproceeded to the boat, which he had ordered to wait till Smallbones'return. He had then a part to act, and told the men that he had beenassailed by robbers, and ordered them to pull on board immediately. Assoon as he came on board he desired the men to assist him down into hiscabin, and then he sent for Corporal Van Spitter to dress his wounds. Hecommunicated to the corporal, that as he was going out in the country ashe had proposed, he had been attacked by robbers, that he had beenseverely wounded, and had, he thought, killed one of them, as the othersran away; what had become of Smallbones he knew not, but he had heardhim crying out in the hands of the robbers.
The corporal, who had felt certain that the pistol had been intended forSmallbones, hardly knew what to make of the matter; the wound of MrVanslyperken was severe, and it was hardly to be supposed that it hadbeen self-inflicted. The corporal therefore held his tongue, heard allthat Mr Vanslyperken had to say, and was very considerably puzzled.
"It was a fortunate thing that I thought of taking a pistol with me,corporal, I might have been murdered outright."
"Yes, mynheer," replied the corporal, and binding the handkerchief roundVanslyperken's head, he then assisted him into bed. "Mein Gott! I makeno head or tail of de business," said the corporal
, as he walkedforward; "but I must know de truth soon; I not go to bed for two orthree hours, and den I hear others."
It is needless to say that Mr Vanslyperken passed a restless night, notonly from the pain of his wound, but from the torments of conscience;for it is but by degrees that the greatest villain can drive away itsstings, and then it is but for a short time, and when it does forceitself back upon him, it is with redoubled power. His occasionalslumbers were broken by fitful starts, in which he again and again heardthe yell of the poor lad, and saw the corpse rolling at his feet. It wasabout an hour before daylight that Mr Vanslyperken again woke, and foundthat the light had burnt out. He could not remain in the dark, it wastoo dreadful; he raised himself, and pulled the bell over his head. Someone entered. "Bring a light immediately," cried Vanslyperken.
In a minute or two the gleams of a light were seen burning at a distanceby the lieutenant. He watched its progress aft, and its entrance, and hefelt relieved; but he had now a devouring thirst upon him, and his lipswere glued together, and he turned over on his bed to ask the corporal,whom he supposed it was, for water. He fixed his eyes upon the partywith the candle, and by the feeble light of the dip, he beheld the pale,haggard face of Smallbones, who stared at him, but uttered not a word.
"Mercy, O God! mercy!" exclaimed Vanslyperken, falling back, andcovering his face with the bedclothes.
Smallbones did not reply; he blew out the candle, and quitted the cabin.