Part 25 (1/2)

Benjamin Hardy burst into a roar of laughter. Robert had never known any one else to laugh so deeply and with such obvious spontaneity and enjoyment. His lips curled up at each end, his eyes rolled back and then fairly danced with mirth, and his cheeks shook. It was contagious. Not only did Master Benjamin laugh, but the others had to laugh, not excluding Master Jonathan, who emitted a dry cackle as became one of his habit and appearance.

”Do you know, Dave, old friend,” said Hardy, ”that our good Jonathan is really the most wicked of us all? I go upon the sea on these cruises, which you call smuggling, and what not, and of which he speaks censoriously, but if they do not show a large enough profit on his books he rates me most severely, and charges me with a lack of enterprise. And now he would fain go to the play to see that we observe the proper decorum there. My lads, you couldn't keep the sour-visaged old hypocrite from it.”

Master Jonathan permitted himself a vinegary smile, but made no other reply, and, a Dutch serving girl announcing that supper was ready, Master Hardy led them into the dining-room, where a generous repast was spread. But the room itself continued and accentuated the likeness of a s.h.i.+p. The windows were great portholes, and two large swinging lamps furnished the light. Pictures of naval worthies and of sea actions lined the walls. Two or three of the battle scenes were quite spirited, and Robert regarded them with interest.

”Have you fought in any of those encounters, Mr. Hardy?” he asked.

Willet laid a reproving hand upon his shoulder.

”'Twas a natural question of yours, Robert,” he said, ”but 'tis the fas.h.i.+on here and 'tis courtesy, too, never to ask Benjamin about his past life. Then he has no embarra.s.sing questions to answer.”

Robert reddened and Hardy broke again into that deep, spontaneous laughter which, in time, compelled all the others to laugh too and with genuine enjoyment.

”Don't believe all that David tells you, Robert, my brave macaroni,”

he said. ”I may not answer your questions, but faith they'll never prove embarra.s.sing. Bear in mind, lad, that our trade being restricted by the mother country and English subjects in this land not having the same freedom as English subjects in England, we must resort to secrecy and stratagem to obtain what our fellow subjects on the other side of the ocean may obtain openly. And when you grow older, Master Robert, you will find that it's ever so in the world. Those to whom force bars the way will resort to wiles and stratagems to achieve their ends. The fox has the cunning that the bear lacks, because he hasn't the bear's strength. Lads, you two will sit together on this side of the table, Jonathan, you take the side next to the portholes, and David, you and I will preside at the ends. Benjamin, David and Jonathan, it has quite a Biblical sound, and at least the friends.h.i.+p among the three of us, despite the sourness of Master Pillsbury, with which I bear as best I can, is equal to that of David and Jonathan. Now, lads, fall on and see which of you can keep pace with me, for I am a mighty trencherman.”

”Meanwhile tell us what is pa.s.sing here,” said Willet.

In the course of the supper Hardy talked freely of events in New York, where a great division of councils still prevailed. s.h.i.+rley, the warlike and energetic governor of Ma.s.sachusetts, had urged De Lancy, the governor of New York, to join in an expedition against the French in Canada, but there had been no agreement. Later, a number of the royal governors expected to meet at Williamsburg in Virginia with Dinwiddie, the governor of that province.

”At present there are plans for four enterprises, every one of an aspiring nature,” he said. ”One expedition is to reduce Nova Scotia entirely, another, under Governor s.h.i.+rley of Ma.s.sachusetts, is to attack the French at Fort Niagara, Sir William Johnson with militia and Mohawks is to head a third against Crown Point. The fourth, which I take to be the most important, is to be led by General Braddock against Fort Duquesne, its object being the recovery of the Ohio country. I cannot vouch for it, but such plans, I hear, will be presented at the conference of the governors at Williamsburg.”

”As we mean to go to Williamsburg ourselves,” said Willet, ”we'll see what fortune General Braddock may have. But now, for the sake of the good lads, we'll speak of lighter subjects. Where is the play of Richard III to be given, Benjamin?”

”Mr. Hallam has obtained a great room in a house that is the property of Rip Van Dam in Na.s.sau Street. He has fitted it up in the fas.h.i.+on of a stage, and his plays are always attended by a great concourse of ladies and gentlemen. Boston and Philadelphia say New York is light and frivolous, but I suspect that something of jealousy lies at the core of the charge. We of New Amsterdam--again the name leaps to my lips--have a certain freedom in our outlook upon life, a freedom which I think produces strength and not weakness. Manners are not morals, but I grow heavy and it does not become a seafaring man to be didactic. What is it, Piet?”

The door of the dining-room opened, admitting a serving man who produced a letter.

”It comes by the Boston post,” he said, handing it to Master Hardy.

”Then it must have an importance which will not admit delay in the reading,” said Master Hardy. ”Your pardon, friends, while I peruse it.”

He read it carefully, read it again with the same care, and then his resonant laughter boomed forth with such volume and in such continuity that he was compelled to take a huge red handkerchief and wipe the tears from his eyes.

”What is it, Benjamin, that amuses you so vastly?” asked Willet.

”A brave epistle from one of my captains, James Dunbar, a valiant man and a great mariner. In command of the schooner, _Good Hope_, he was sailing from the Barbados with a cargo of rum and sugar for Boston, which furnishes a most excellent market for both, when he was overhauled by the French privateer, _Rocroi_.”

”What do you find to laugh at in the loss of a good s.h.i.+p and a fine cargo?”

”Did I say they were lost? Nay, David, I said nothing of the kind. You don't know Dunbar, and you don't know the _Good Hope_, which carries a bra.s.s twelve-pounder and fifteen men as valiant as Dunbar himself. He returned the attack of the _Rocroi_ with such amazing skill and fierceness that he was able to board her and take her, with only three of his men wounded and they not badly. Moreover, they found on board the privateer a large store of gold, which becomes our prize of war. And Dunbar and his men shall have a fair share of it, too. How surprised the Frenchies must have been when Dunbar and his sailors swarmed aboard.”

”'Tis almost our only victory,” said Willet, ”and I'm right glad, Benjamin, it has fallen to the lot of one of your s.h.i.+ps to win it.”

The long supper which was in truth a dinner was finished at last. Hardy made good his boast, proving that he was a mighty trencherman. Pillsbury pressed him closest, and the others, although they did well, lingered at some distance in the rear. Afterward they walked in the town, observing its varied life, and at a late hour returned to Hardy's house which he called a mansion.

Robert and Tayoga were a.s.signed to a room on the second floor, and young Lennox again noted the numerous evidences of opulence. The furniture was mostly of carved mahogany, and every room contained articles of value from distant lands.

”Tayoga,” said Robert, ”what do you think of it all?”