That evening Haco Barepoles was seen on the road to Cove1, with his coat-skirts, his cravat-ends, and his hair streaming in the breeze.
An hour previously2, however, a brass3 band was seen walking towards the same place, and, half an hour after that, a young midshipman was observed posting rapidly in the same direction.
It was dark when Gildart entered the village, and all the inhabitants were in their dwellings5, so that he reached Gaff’s cottage unperceived.
The village was a primitive6 one. Locks were deemed unnecessary in most of the cottages, probably because there was nothing worth stealing within them. Gildart lifted the latch7 and entered. A fire, nearly out, with a large piece of coal on it, burned in the grate. The flicker8 of this was sufficient to illuminate9 the boudoir faintly.
Having surveyed the apartment, examined the closet, and looked under the bed, he went out, and, going to the back of the cottage, found the band waiting in some anxiety.
“Now, lads, come this way,” said Gildart; “and there’s only one piece of advice I’ve got to give you: don’t stir hand or foot after Haco enters the cottage. He’s as big as an elephant, and strong as a lion. If you stir, and he finds you out, he won’t spare you.”
“But you promise to come to the rescue, master,” said the French horn in some alarm.
“Ay, that will I; but he’ll have two of you floored, another strangled, and the fourth half-skinned before I can get him to stop.”
“I don’t half like it,” said the clarionet anxiously.
“Pooh! pooh!” exclaimed the key-bugle, “we’ll be more than a match for him; come on; it’s worth riskin’ for twenty-five bob.”
“Hear! hear!” cried the trombone.
“Well, then, enter,” said Gildart, pushing open the door, and holding it while the band filed into the passage. He followed them and closed the door.
In a short time Haco Barepoles made his appearance. He also passed through the village unobserved, and, entering the cottage, closed the door. Thereafter he proceeded to make himself comfortable. The “boodwar” was empty—at least of human beings, though there was the Dutch clock with the horrified10 countenance11 in the corner, and the new clock near it, and the portraits and the great four-poster, and all the other articles of elegance12 and luxury with which Mrs Gaff had filled her humble13 dwelling4.
“A queer place,” muttered the mad skipper in a soft voice to himself, as he moved about the room, poked14 up the fire, and made preparations for spending the night. “Gaff wouldn’t know the old cabin—humph! but it’s all done out o’ kindness; well, well, there’s no accountin’ for women, they’re paridoxies. Hallo! this here closet didn’t use to be bolted, but it’s bolted now. Hows’ever here’s the loaf and the tea-pot an’ the kettle. Now, Mrs Gaff, you’re an attentive15 creetur, nevertheless you’ve forgot bilin’ water, an’, moreover, there an’t no water in the house. Ah, here’s a bucket; that’ll do; I’ll go to the well an’ help myself; it’s well that I can do it,” said Haco, chuckling16 at his own pun with great satisfaction as he went out to the back of the house.
There was a sudden, though not loud, sound of hollow brass chinking under the four-post bed.
“Now then, can’t you keep still?” said the clarionet in a hoarse17 whisper.
“It’s cramp18 in my leg,” growled19 the trombone. “I’d have had to come out if he hadn’t guv me this chance.”
“Won’t you hold your tongues?” whispered Gildart from the closet, the door of which he opened slightly.
He shut it with a sudden clap, and there was another clanking of brass as Haco’s footsteps were heard outside, but dead silence reigned20 within the hut when the skipper re-entered, and set down on the floor a large bucket full of water.
“Now then for tea,” said Haco, rubbing his hands, as he set about the preparation of that meal. Being acquainted with the ways and localities of the cottage, he speedily had the board spread, and the tea smoking thereon, while the fire flared21 cheerfully on the walls, casting fine effects of light and shade on the pictures, and sprinkling the prominences22 of the clocks, bed, and furniture with ruddy gleams.
Having devoured23 his meal with an appetite and gusto worthy24 of his size, Haco filled his much-loved German pipe, and, selecting the strongest chair in the room, sat cautiously down on it beside the fire to enjoy a smoke.
Meanwhile the brass band endured agonies unutterable. The trombone afterwards vowed25 that he “wouldn’t for fifty sovs” again go through what he had suffered during the hour that the mad skipper sat by that fire enjoying his evening pipe!
At last the pipe was smoked out, and Haco began to divest26 himself of his upper garments. Being an active man, he was soon undressed and in bed, where he lay for a long time perfectly27 still. Presently he gave vent28 to a deep sigh, and turned on his back, in which position he lay quite still for at least five minutes. At last he gave a soft puff29 with his lips, and followed it up with a mild snort from his nose.
This was immediately followed by a light single tap at the closet door.
Instantly the first bar of the Banging-Smash Polka burst from beneath the bed with such startling suddenness and energy that Gildart was himself rendered almost breathless. Haco awoke with a yell so dreadful that the brass band stopped for a single instant, but it burst forth30 again with a degree of fury that almost rent the trombone in twain!
The appalled31 skipper uttered another yell, and sprang up into the air. The four-poster could not stand the test. Haco went crashing through the bottom of the bed, flattened32 the French horn, and almost killed the trombone, while the broken ends of the planking of the bed pinned them to the floor. Escape was impossible.
Haco perceived the joke, and instantly recovered his self-possession. Springing from the bed, he seized the bucket of water which he had recently drawn33, and dashed its contents on the struggling band. Thereafter he hauled the trombone out of the débris by the neck, flattened his instrument on his head, and twisted it round his neck. The key-bugle, who had struggled to his feet, fell before a well-aimed backhander, and the French horn was about to perish, when Gildart succeeded in restraining and pacifying34 the giant by stoutly35 asserting that he had won his bet, and insisted on having payment on the spot!
Haco burst into a loud laugh, flung the key-bugle from his grasp, and pulled on his nether36 garments.
“I confess that you’ve won it, lad, so now I’ll have another pipe.”
He proceeded to fill the German pipe, and stirred up the fire while the band made good its retreat. Gildart paid the clarionet the stipulated37 sum of twenty shillings outside the door, after which he returned and seated himself beside the mad skipper.
Haco’s laugh had changed into a good-humoured smile as he gazed into the fire and puffed38 volumes of smoke from his lips.
“It was a risky39 thing to do, lad,” he observed, as Gildart sat down; “it’s well for that feller wi’ the long trumpet40 that the brass was so thin and his head so hard, for my blood was up, bein’ taken by surprise, you see, an’ I didn’t measure my blows. Hows’ever, ‘it’s all well that ends well,’ as I once heard a play-actor say.”
“But it’s not ended yet,” said Gildart with decision.
“How so, lad?”
“You’ve got to pay up your bet.”
Haco’s brow became a little clouded. The bet had been taken more than half in joke, for he was not given to betting in earnest; but he was too proud to admit this on finding that Gildart took it in earnest.
“You’ll not want it for a short while, I daresay?” he asked.
“Captain Barepoles—”
“Skipper, lad, I don’t like to be cap’ned.”
“Well, Skipper Barepoles,” said the middy with much solemnity, “I always pay my debts of honour on the spot, and I expect gentlemen who bet with me to do the same.”
Haco grinned. “But I an’t a gentleman,” said he, “an’ I don’t set up for one.”
“Still, as a man of honour you must feel bound—”
“No, lad, not as a man of honour,” interrupted the skipper, “but as a British seaman41 I’ll hold the debt due; only, not bein’ in the habit o’ carrying the Bank of England in my weskit-pocket, you see, I must ask you to wait till to-morrow mornin’.”
Haco said this with a slightly disappointed look, for he thought the middy rather sharp, and had formed a better opinion of him than his conduct on this occasion seemed to bear out.
“Now, skipper, I’ll tell you what it is. I am not fond of betting, and this bet of mine was taken in jest; in fact my usual bet is ten thousand pounds, sometimes a million! Nevertheless, you have admitted the debt as due, and although I do not mean to claim payment in the usual way, I don’t intend to forego my rights altogether. I’ll only ask you to do me a favour.”
“What may it be, lad?”
“Will you grant it?”
“Well, that depends—”
“No, it doesn’t; say Yes, or I’ll claim the ten pounds.”
“Well, yes, if it’s right and proper for me to do it. Now, what d’ye want?”
“Humph! Well then,” said Gildart, “I want you to let your daughter Susan get spliced42 to Dan Horsey.”
Haco frowned, and said, “Unpossible.”
“Come now, don’t be hard on them, skipper; Dan is a good fellow and a first-rate groom43.”
“He’s an Irish blackguard,” said Haco, “and not worth a pinch of his namesake.”
“You’re quite mistaken,” said Gildart, who went on to speak so highly of the groom, that Haco, if not made to change his opinion, was so much impressed as to agree at least to take the whole subject once again into consideration.
“Another thing I wish you to do, skipper, which is to give me a passage in your sloop44 to Athenbury. You spoke45 of running round there for repairs soon, and I would rather go by sea than by that snorting railway. Will you do it?”
“With pleasure, lad.”
“Thank’ee; now I’ll bid you good-night. You may depend upon it that you won’t be disturbed again by a band,” said Gildart, laughing.
“I know that,” replied Haco with a grin; “it’s my opinion they’ve had enough of me for one night. But won’t ye stop an’ share the four-poster, lad? It’s big enough, an’ we’ll soon repair the damage to its bottom-timbers. There’s a knuckle46 o’ ham too, an’ a flask47 o’ claret. I brought it with me, ’cause I never drink nothin’ stronger than claret—vang ordinair they calls it in France. What say you; you’ll stop?”
“No, thank’ee, skipper, much obliged, but I’ve business on hand elsewhere. Good-night, old boy.”
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1
cove
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| n.小海湾，小峡谷 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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3
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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6
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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7
latch
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| n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁 | |
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8
flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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9
illuminate
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| vt.照亮，照明；用灯光装饰；说明，阐释 | |
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10
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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12
elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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14
poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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15
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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16
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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17
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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18
cramp
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| n.痉挛；[pl.](腹)绞痛；vt.限制，束缚 | |
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19
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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21
Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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22
prominences
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| n.织物中凸起的部分；声望( prominence的名词复数 )；突出；重要；要事 | |
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23
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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25
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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26
divest
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| v.脱去，剥除 | |
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27
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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28
vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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29
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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31
appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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32
flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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pacifying
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| 使（某人）安静( pacify的现在分词 )； 息怒； 抚慰； 在（有战争的地区、国家等）实现和平 | |
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stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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nether
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| adj.下部的，下面的；n.阴间；下层社会 | |
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stipulated
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| vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的 | |
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38
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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39
risky
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| adj.有风险的，冒险的 | |
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40
trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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42
spliced
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| adj.（针织品）加固的n.叠接v.绞接( splice的过去式和过去分词 )；捻接（两段绳子）；胶接；粘接（胶片、磁带等） | |
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43
groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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44
sloop
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| n.单桅帆船 | |
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45
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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46
knuckle
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| n.指节；vi.开始努力工作；屈服，认输 | |
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flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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