Part 3 (1/2)
Away went the winch, and once more Jack had an extended horizon to survey. As soon as he was at the top, the men hauled him over the bricks and laid him down upon the ground, for Jack's strength had failed him.
”Dang it, if it bean't that chap who was on my apple-tree,' cried the farmer- ”howsoever, he must not die for stealing a few apples; lift him up, lads, and take him in-he is dead with cold-no wonder.”
The farmer led the way, and the men carried Jack into the house, when the farmer gave him a gla.s.s of brandy; this restored Jack's circulation, and in a short time he was all right again.
After some previous conversation, in which Jack narrated all that had happened, ”What may be your name?” inquired the farmer.
”My name is Easy,” replied Jack.
”What! be you the son of Mr Easy, of Forest Hill?”
”Yes.”
”Dang it, he be my landlord, and a right good landlord too-why didn't you say so when you were up in the apple-tree? You might have picked the whole orchard and welcome.”
”My dear sir,” replied Jack, who had taken a second gla.s.s of brandy, and was quite talkative again, ”let this be a warning to you, and when a man proposes to argue the point, always, in future, listen. Had you waited, I would have proved to you most incontestably that you had no more right to the apples than I had; but you would not listen to argument, and without discussion we can never arrive at truth. You send for your dog, who is ripped up by the bull-the bull breaks his leg in a saw-pit-the bee-hives are overturned, and you lose all your honey-your man John breaks his jaw-your maid Susan spoils all the bread-and why? because you would not allow me to argue the point.”
”Well, Mr Easy, it be all true that all these mishaps have happened because I would not allow you to argue the point, perhaps, although, as I rent the orchard from your father, I cannot imagine how you could prove to me that the apples were not mine; but now, let's take your side of the question, and I don't see how you be much better off: you get up in a tree for a few apples, with plenty of money to buy them if you like-you are kept there by a dog-you are nearly gored by a bull-you are stung by the bees, and you tumble souse into a well, and are nearly killed a dozen times, and all for a few apples not worth twopence.”
”All very true, my good man,” replied Jack; ”but you forget that I, as a philosopher, was defending the rights of man.”
”Well, I never knew before that a lad who stole apples was called a philosopher-we calls it petty larceny in the indictments: and as for your rights of man, I cannot see how they can be defended by doing what's wrong.”
”You do not comprehend the matter, farmer.”
”NO, I don't-and I be too old to learn, Master Easy. All I have to say is this, you are welcome to all the apples in the orchard if you please, and if you prefers, as it seems you do, to steal them, instead of asking for them, which I only can account for by the reason that they say, that 'stolen fruit be sweetest,' I've only to say that I shall give orders that you be not interfered with. My chaise be at the door, Master Easy, and the man will drive you to your father's-make my compliments to him, and say, that I'm very sorry that you tumbled into our well.”
As Jack was much more inclined for bed than argument, he wished the farmer good-night, and allowed himself to be driven home. The pain from the sting of the bees, now that his circulation had fully returned, was so great, that he was not sorry to find Dr Middleton taking his tea with his father and mother. Jack merely said that he had been so unfortunate as to upset a hive, and had been severely stung. He deferred the whole story till another opportunity. Dr Middleton prescribed for Jack, but on taking his hand found that he was in a high fever, which, after the events of the day, was not to be wondered at. Jack was bled, and kept his bed for a week, by which time he was restored; but, during that time, Jack had been thinking very seriously, and had made up his mind.
But we must explain a circ.u.mstance which had occurred, which was probably the cause of Jack's decision. When Jack returned on the evening in question, he found seated with his father and Dr Middleton a Captain Wilson, a sort of cousin to the family, who but occasionally paid them a visit, for he lived at some distance; and having a wife and large family, with nothing but his half-pay for their support, he could not afford to expend even shoe-leather in compliments. The object of this visit on the part of Captain Wilson was to request the aid of Mr Easy He had succeeded in obtaining his appointment to a sloop of war (for he was in the king's service), but was without the means of fitting himself out, without leaving his wife and family penniless. He therefore came to request Mr Easy to lend him a few hundred pounds, until he should be able, by his prize-money, to repay them. Mr Easy was not a man to refuse such a request, and always having plenty of spare cash at his banker's, he drew a cheque for a thousand pounds, which he gave to Captain Wilson, requesting that he would only repay it at his convenience. Captain Wilson wrote an acknowledgment of the debt, promising to pay upon his first prize-money, which receipt, however binding it may be to a man of honour, was, in point of law, about as valuable as if he had agreed to pay as soon 'as the cows came home.” The affair had been just concluded, and Captain Wilson had returned into the parlour with Mr Easy, when Jack returned from his expedition.
Jack greeted Captain Wilson, whom he -had long known; but, as we before observed, he suffered so much pain, that he soon retired with Dr Middleton, and went to bed.
During a week there is room for much reflection, even in a lad of fourteen, although at that age we are not much inclined to think. But Jack was in bed; his eyes were so swollen with the stings of the bees that he could neither read nor otherwise amuse himself; and he preferred his own thoughts to the gabble of Sarah, who attended him; so Jack thought, and the result of his cogitations we shall soon bring forward.
It was on the eighth day that Jack left his bed and came down into the drawing-room. He then detailed to his father the adventures which had taken place, which had obliged him to take to his bed.
”You see, Jack,” replied his father, ”it's just what I told you: the world is so utterly demoralised by what is called social compact, and the phalanx supporting it, by contributing a portion of their unjust possessions for the security of the remainder, is so powerful, that any one who opposes it must expect to pa.s.s the life of a martyr; but martyrs are always required previous to any truth, however sublime, being received, and, like Abraham, whom I have always considered as a great philosopher, I am willing to sacrifice my only son in so n.o.ble a cause.”
”That's all very good on your part, father, but we must argue the point a little. If you are as great a philosopher as Abraham, I am not quite so dutiful a son as Isaac, whose blind obedience, in my opinion, is very contrary to your rights of man: but the fact, in few words, is simply this. In promulgating your philosophy, in the short s.p.a.ce of two days, I have been robbed of the fish I caught, and my rod and line-I have been soused into a fish-pond-I have been frightened out of my wits by a bull-dog-been nearly killed by a bull-been stung to death by bees, and twice tumbled into a well. Now, if all that happens in two days, what must I expect to suffer in a whole year? It appears to be very unwise to attempt making further converts, for people on sh.o.r.e seem determined not to listen to reason or argument. But it has occurred to me, that although the whole earth has been so nefariously divided among the few, that the waters at least are the property of all. No man claims his share of the sea-every one may there plough as he pleases, without being taken up for a trespa.s.ser. Even war makes no difference; every one may go on as he pleases, and if they meet, it is nothing but a neutral ground on which the parties contend. It is, then, only upon the ocean that I am likely to find that equality and rights of man, which we are so anxious to establish on sh.o.r.e; and therefore I have resolved not to go to school again, which I detest, but to go to sea, and propagate our opinions as much as I can.”
”I cannot listen to that, Jack. in the first place, you must return to school; in the next place, you shall not go to sea.”
”Then, father, all I have to say is, that I swear by the rights of man I will not go back to school, and that I will go to sea. Who and what is to prevent me? Was not I born my own master?-has any one a right to dictate to me as if I were not his equal? Have I not as much right to my share of the sea as any other mortal? I stand upon perfect equality,” continued Jack, stamping his right foot on the floor.
What had Mr Easy to offer in reply? He must either, as a philosopher, have sacrificed his hypothesis, or, as a father, have sacrificed his son. Like all philosophers, he preferred what he considered as the less important of the two, he sacrificed his son; but-we will do him justice-he did it with a sigh.
”Jack, you shall, if you wish it, go to sea.”
”That, of course,” replied Jack, with the air of a conqueror; ”but the question is, with whom? Now it has occurred to me, that Captain Wilson has just been appointed to a s.h.i.+p, and I should like to sail with him.”
”I will write to him,” said Mr Easy, mournfully, ”but I should have liked to have felt his head first”; and thus was the matter arranged.
The answer from Captain Wilson was, of course, in the affirmative, and he promised that he would treat Jack as his own son.
Our hero mounted his father's horse, and rode off to Mr Bonnycastle.
”I am going to sea, Mr Bonnycastle.” ”The very best thing for you,” replied Mr Bonnycastle. Our hero met Dr Middleton. ”I am going to sea, Dr Middleton.” ”The very best thing for you,” replied the Doctor. ”I am going to sea, mother,” said John. ”To sea, John, to sea? no, no, dear John, you are not going to sea,” replied Mrs Easy, with horror.
”Yes, I am; father has agreed, and says he will obtain your consent.”
”My consent! Oh, my dear, dear boy!”-and Mrs Easy wept bitterly, as Rachel mourning for her children.
CHAPTER VIII.
In which Mr Easy has his first lesson as to zeal in his Majesty's service.
AS THERE WAS no time to lose, our hero very soon bade adieu to his paternal roof, as the phrase is, and found his way down to Portsmouth. As Jack had plenty of money, and was very much pleased at finding himself his own master, he was in no hurry to join his s.h.i.+p, and five or six companions, not very creditable, whom either Jack had picked up, or had picked up Jack, and who lived upon him, strongly advised him to put it off until the very last moment. As this advice happened to coincide with Jack's opinion, our hero was three weeks at Portsmouth before any one knew of his arrival, but at last Captain Wilson received a letter from Mr Easy, by which he found that Jack had left home at the period we have mentioned, and he desired the first lieutenant to make inquiries, as he was afraid that some accident might have happened to him. As Mr Sawbridge, the first lieutenant, happened to be going on sh.o.r.e on the same evening for the last time previous to the s.h.i.+p's sailing, he looked into the Blue Posts, George, and Fountain Inns, to inquire if there was such a person arrived as Mr Easy. ”O yes,” replied the waiter at the Fountain,-”Mr Easy has been here these three weeks.”
”The devil he has,” roared Mr Sawbridge, with all the indignation of a first lieutenant defrauded three weeks of a mids.h.i.+pman; ”where is he; in the coffee-room?”
”Oh dear no, sir,” replied the waiter, ”Mr Easy has the front apartments on the first floor.”
”Well, then, show me up to the first floor.”
”May I request the pleasure of your name, sir?” said the waiter.
”First lieutenants don't send up their names to mids.h.i.+pmen,” replied Mr Sawbridge; ”he shall soon know who I am.”
At this reply, the waiter walked upstairs, followed by Mr Sawbridge, and threw open the door.
”A gentleman wishes to see you, sir,” said the waiter.
”Desire him to walk in,” said Jack: ”and, waiter, mind that the punch is a little better than it was yesterday; I have asked two more gentlemen to dine here.”
In the meantime, Mr Sawbridge, who was not in his uniform, had entered, and perceived Jack alone, with the dinner table laid out in the best style for eight, a considerable show of plate for even the Fountain Inn, and everything, as well as the apartment itself, according to Mr Sawbridge's opinion, much more fit for a, commander-in-chief than a mids.h.i.+pman of a sloop of war.
Now Mr Sawbridge was a good officer, one who had really worked his way up to the present rank, that is to say, that he had served seven-and-twenty years, and had nothing but his pay. He was a little soured in the service, and certainly had an aversion to the young men of family who were now fast crowding into it-and with some grounds, as he perceived his own chance of promotion decrease in the same ratio as the numbers increased. He considered that in proportion as mids.h.i.+pmen a.s.sumed a cleaner and more gentlemanly appearance, so did they become more useless, and it may therefore be easily imagined that his bile was raised by this parade and display in a lad, who was very shortly to be, and ought three weeks before to have been, shrinking from his frown. Nevertheless, Sawbridge was a good-hearted man, although a little envious of luxury, which he could not pretend to indulge in himself.
”May I beg to ask,” said Jack, who was always remarkably polite and gentlemanly in his address, ”in what manner I may be of service to you?”
”Yes, sir, you may-by joining your s.h.i.+p immediately. And may I beg to ask in return, sir, what is the reason you have stayed on sh.o.r.e three weeks without joining her?”
Hereupon Jack, who did not much admire the peremptory tone of Mr Sawbridge, and who during the answer had taken a seat, crossed his legs, and played with the gold chain to which his watch was secured, after a pause very coolly replied- ”And pray, who are you?”