CHAPTER XXII.
MUTINY IN THE CAMP.
Hugh John was holding his court under the weeping-elm, and was beingvisited in detail by his army. The Carters had come over, and, after avigorous engagement and pursuit, he had even forgiven Sammy for hislack of hardihood in not resisting to the death at the great battle ofthe Black Sheds.
"But it hurts so confoundedly," argued Sammy; "if it didn't, Ishouldn't mind getting killed a bit!"
"Look at me," said Hugh John; "I'm all over peels and I don'tcomplain."
"Oh! I dare say--it's all very well for you," retorted Sammy, "youlike to fight, and it was you that began the fuss, but I only fightbecause you'd jolly-well-hammer me if I didn't!"
"Course I would," agreed his officer, "don't you know that's whatgenerals are for?"
"Well," concluded Sammy Carter, summing the matter up philosophically,"'tain't my castle anyway."
* * * * *
The review was over. In the safe quiet of the elm-tree shelter GeneralNapoleon might have been seen taking his well-earned repose. He wassurrounded by his entire following--except, of course, the twoGenerals of Division, who were engaged in sweeping out thestable-yard. But these were considered socially supernumerary at anyrate, except (a somewhat important exception) when there was fightingto be done.
"I don't see that we've done so very much to make a brag aboutanyhow," began Sammy Carter.
General Smith dexterously caught him on the ear with a young turnip,which in company with several friends had wandered in of its ownaccord from the nearest field on the home farm.
"I should say _you_ didn't do much!" he sneered pointedly; "you hookedit as hard as you could after the first skirmish. Why, you haven't gota single sore place about you to show for it."
"Yes, I have!" retorted Sammy in high indignation.
"SAMMY CARTER MUTINOUS."]
"Well, let's see it then!" commanded his general in a kindlier tone.
"Can't--ladies present!" said Sammy succinctly, into the retreatingrear-guard of whose division the triumphant enemy had charged with thepike snatched from his sister's hands.
"All _my_ wounds are in front. _I_ fought and died with my face to thefoe!" said Hugh John in his noblest manner.
"And I d'livered Donald!" contributed Toady Lion complacently.
"Oh, _that_ ain't anything," sneered Sammy Carter, who was not in agood humour. His tone roused General Napoleon, who had the strongfamily feelings of all the Buonapartes.
"Shut up, Sammy, or I'll come and kick you. None of us did anythingexcept Toady Lion. You ran away, and I got taken prisoner. Toady Lionis the only man among us!"
"I runned away too--at first," confessed the candid Toady Lion, whofelt that he had so much real credit that he did not need to take agrain more than he deserved. "But I comed back quick--and I d'liveredDonald out of prison, anyway--I did!"
Sammy Carter evidently had a sharp retort ready on the tip of histongue, but he knew well the price he would have to pay for utteringit. Hugh John's eye was upon him, his right hand was closing on abigger turnip--so Sammy forbore. But he kicked his feet morediscontentedly than ever into the turf.
"Well," he said, changing the venue of the argument, "I don't thinkmuch of your old castle anyway. My father could have twice as good acastle if he liked----"
"Oh, 'course he could"--Hugh John's voice was distinctly ironical--"hemight plant it on a peaty soil, and grow it from seed in two years; orperhaps he would like a cutting off ours!"
Mr. Davenant Carter was a distinguished agriculturist and florist.
"Don't you speak against my father!" cried Sammy Carter, glowering atGeneral Napoleon in a way in which privates do not often look at theirCommanders-in-Chief.
"Who's touching your father?" the latter said, a little moresoothingly. "See here, Sammy, you've got your coat on wrong side outto-day. Go home and sleep on it. 'Tisn't my fault if you did run away,and got home before your sister--with a blue place on your back."
Sammy Carter flung out from under the shelter of the elm and went insearch of Prissy, from whom in all his moods he was sure of comfortand understanding. He was a somewhat delicate boy, and generallyspeaking hated quarrelling as much as she did; but he had a clevertongue, which often brought him into trouble, and, like most otherhumorists, he did not at all relish a jest at his own expense.
As he went, he was pursued and stung by the brutally unrefined tauntsof Hugh John.
"Yes, go on to Prissy; I think she has a spare doll. Go and play at'house'! It's all you're good for!"
Thus encouraged by their general, the rest of the company--that is,Cissy and Sir Toady Lion, joined in singing a certain stirring andirritating refrain popular among the youth of Bordershire.
"_Lassie-boy, lassie-boy, fie for shame! Coward's your nature, and Jennie's your name!_"
Sammy Carter stood poised for flight with his eyes blazing with anger.
"You think a lot of your old tumble-down castle; but the town boyshave got it in spite of you; and what's more, they've a flag flying onit with 'Down with Smith!' on it. I saw it. Hooray for the town boys!"
And with this Parthian arrow he disappeared at full speed down theavenue.
For a moment Hugh John was paralysed. He tried to pooh-pooh thematter, but he could not but admit that it might very well be true; sohe instantly despatched Toady Lion for Prissy, who, as we know, wasthe fleetest runner of them all. Upon her reporting for duty, theGeneral sent her to bring back word if the state of affairs was asreported.
It was. A large red flag was flying, with the inscription in whiteupon it, "Down with Smith!" while above the inscription there was whatlooked like a rude attempt at a death's head and crossbones. Hugh Johnknew this ensign in a moment. Once upon a time, in his wild youth, hehad served under it as a pirate on the high seas; but of this he nowuttered no word.
* * * * *
It was in such moments that the true qualities of the born leader cameout in General Napoleon Smith. Instantly he dismissed his attendants,put his finger to his forehead, and sat down to draw a map of thecampaign in the genuine Napoleonic manner.
At last, after quite a while, he rapped upon the table.
"I have it," he cried, "we must find an ally." The problem wassolved.