Redgauntlet [173]
of mind, that notwithstanding what I had heard, I expected to meet Jess at every turning.
It was market-day, and the usual number of rogues and fools were assembled at the Cross. I observed everybody looked strange on me, and I thought some laughed. I fancy I had been making queer faces enough, and perhaps talking to myself, When I saw myself used in this manner, I held out my clenched fists straight before me, stooped my head, and, like a ram when be makes his race, darted off right down the street, scattering groups of weatherbeaten lairds and periwigged burgesses, and bearing down all before me. I heard the cry of "Seize the madman!" echoed, in Celtic sounds, from the City Guard, with "Ceaze ta matman!"--but pursuit and opposition were in vain. I pursued my career; the smell of the sea, I suppose, led me to Leith, where, soon after, I found myself walking very quietly on the shore, admiring the tough round and sound cordage of the vessels, and thinking how a loop, with a man at the end of one of them, would look, by way of tassel.
'I was opposite to the rendezvous, formerly my place of refuge-- in I bolted--found one or two old acquaintances, made half a dozen new ones--drank for two days--was put aboard the tender-- off to Portsmouth--then landed at the Haslar hospital in a fine hissing-hot fever. Never mind--I got better--nothing can kill me--the West Indies were my lot again, for since I did not go where I deserved in the next world, I had something as like such quarters as can be had in this--black devils for inhabitants-- flames and earthquakes, and so forth, for your element. Well, brother, something or other I did or said--I can't tell what--How the devil should I, when I was as drunk as David's sow, you know? But I was punished, my lad--made to kiss the wench that never speaks but when she scolds, and that's the gunner's daughter, comrade. Yes, the minister's son of no matter where--has the cat's scratch on his back! This roused me, and when we were ashore with the boat, I gave three inches of the dirk, after a stout tussle, to the fellow I blamed most, and took the bush for it. There were plenty of wild lads then along shore--and, I don't care who knows--I went on the account, look you--sailed under the black flag and marrow-bones--was a good friend to the sea, and an enemy to all that sailed on it.'
Fairford, though uneasy in his mind at finding himself, a lawyer, so close to a character so lawless, thought it best, nevertheless, to put a good face on the matter, and asked Mr. Ewart, with as much unconcern as he could assume, 'whether he was fortunate as a rover?'
'No, no--d--n it, no,' replied Nanty; 'the devil a crumb of butter was ever churned that would stick upon my bread. There was no order among us--he that was captain to-day, was swabber to-morrow; and as for plunder--they say old Avery, and one or two close hunks, made money; but in my time, all went as it came; and reason good, for if a fellow had saved five dollars, his throat would have been cut in his hammock. And then it was a cruel, bloody work.--Pah,--we'll say no more about it. I broke with them at last, for what they did on board of a bit of a snow--no matter what it was bad enough, since it frightened me--I took French leave, and came in upon the proclamation, so I am free of all that business. And here I sit, the skipper of the JUMPING JENNY--a nutshell of a thing, but goes through the water like a dolphin. If it were not for yon hypocritical scoundrel at Annan, who has the best end of the profit, and takes none of the risk, I should be well enough--as well as I want to be. Here is no lack of my best friend,'--touching his case-bottle;--'but, to tell you a secret, he and I have got so used to each other, I begin to think he is like a professed joker, that makes your sides sore with laughing if you see him but now and then; but if you take up house with him, he can only make your head stupid. But I warrant the old fellow is doing the best he can for me, after all.'
'And what may that be?' said Fairford.
'He
It was market-day, and the usual number of rogues and fools were assembled at the Cross. I observed everybody looked strange on me, and I thought some laughed. I fancy I had been making queer faces enough, and perhaps talking to myself, When I saw myself used in this manner, I held out my clenched fists straight before me, stooped my head, and, like a ram when be makes his race, darted off right down the street, scattering groups of weatherbeaten lairds and periwigged burgesses, and bearing down all before me. I heard the cry of "Seize the madman!" echoed, in Celtic sounds, from the City Guard, with "Ceaze ta matman!"--but pursuit and opposition were in vain. I pursued my career; the smell of the sea, I suppose, led me to Leith, where, soon after, I found myself walking very quietly on the shore, admiring the tough round and sound cordage of the vessels, and thinking how a loop, with a man at the end of one of them, would look, by way of tassel.
'I was opposite to the rendezvous, formerly my place of refuge-- in I bolted--found one or two old acquaintances, made half a dozen new ones--drank for two days--was put aboard the tender-- off to Portsmouth--then landed at the Haslar hospital in a fine hissing-hot fever. Never mind--I got better--nothing can kill me--the West Indies were my lot again, for since I did not go where I deserved in the next world, I had something as like such quarters as can be had in this--black devils for inhabitants-- flames and earthquakes, and so forth, for your element. Well, brother, something or other I did or said--I can't tell what--How the devil should I, when I was as drunk as David's sow, you know? But I was punished, my lad--made to kiss the wench that never speaks but when she scolds, and that's the gunner's daughter, comrade. Yes, the minister's son of no matter where--has the cat's scratch on his back! This roused me, and when we were ashore with the boat, I gave three inches of the dirk, after a stout tussle, to the fellow I blamed most, and took the bush for it. There were plenty of wild lads then along shore--and, I don't care who knows--I went on the account, look you--sailed under the black flag and marrow-bones--was a good friend to the sea, and an enemy to all that sailed on it.'
Fairford, though uneasy in his mind at finding himself, a lawyer, so close to a character so lawless, thought it best, nevertheless, to put a good face on the matter, and asked Mr. Ewart, with as much unconcern as he could assume, 'whether he was fortunate as a rover?'
'No, no--d--n it, no,' replied Nanty; 'the devil a crumb of butter was ever churned that would stick upon my bread. There was no order among us--he that was captain to-day, was swabber to-morrow; and as for plunder--they say old Avery, and one or two close hunks, made money; but in my time, all went as it came; and reason good, for if a fellow had saved five dollars, his throat would have been cut in his hammock. And then it was a cruel, bloody work.--Pah,--we'll say no more about it. I broke with them at last, for what they did on board of a bit of a snow--no matter what it was bad enough, since it frightened me--I took French leave, and came in upon the proclamation, so I am free of all that business. And here I sit, the skipper of the JUMPING JENNY--a nutshell of a thing, but goes through the water like a dolphin. If it were not for yon hypocritical scoundrel at Annan, who has the best end of the profit, and takes none of the risk, I should be well enough--as well as I want to be. Here is no lack of my best friend,'--touching his case-bottle;--'but, to tell you a secret, he and I have got so used to each other, I begin to think he is like a professed joker, that makes your sides sore with laughing if you see him but now and then; but if you take up house with him, he can only make your head stupid. But I warrant the old fellow is doing the best he can for me, after all.'
'And what may that be?' said Fairford.
'He