Part 73 (2/2)

”If you mean,” said Desborough, ”that that man you saw on the Cape last night was watching for the boat, I don't believe it possible. It was, possibly, some stockman or shepherd, having a look at the weather.”

The Doctor had it on the tip of his tongue to speak, and astound them by disclosing that the lonely watcher was none other than the ruffian Touan, alias George Hawker; but the Major pressed his foot beneath the table, and he was silent.

”Well,” said Desborough, ”and that's about all that's to be said at present, except that the settlers must arm and watch, and if necessary fight.”

”If they will only do that,” said the Colonial Secretary; ”if they will only act boldly in protecting their property and lives, the evil is reduced by one-half; but when Brallagan was out, nothing that I or the Governor could do would induce the majority of them to behave like men.”

”Look here, now,” said Barker, the host, ”I was over the water when Brallagan was out, and when Howe was out too. And what could a lonely squatter do against half-a-dozen of 'em? Answer me that?”

”I don't mean that,” said the Colonial Secretary; ”what I refer to is the cowardly way in which the settlers allowed themselves to be prevented by threats from giving information. I speak the more boldly, Mr. Barker, because you were not one of those who did so.”

Barker was appeased. ”There's five long guns in my hall, and there's five long lads can use 'em,” he said. ”By-the-bye, Captain Desborough, let me congratulate you on the short work you made with that gang to the north, the other day. I am sorry to hear that the princ.i.p.al rascal of the lot, Captain Touan, gave you the slip.”

The Doctor had been pondering, and had made up his mind to a certain course; he bent over the table, and said,--

”I think, on the whole, that it is better to let you all know the worst. That man whom we saw on the cliff last night I met afterwards, alone, down on the sh.o.r.e, and that man is no other than the one you speak of, Captain Touan.”

Any one watching Desborough's face as the Doctor spoke would have seen his eyebrows contract heavily, and a fierce scowl settle on his face.

The name the Doctor mentioned was a very unwelcome one. He had been taunted and laughed at, at Government-house, for having allowed Hawker to outwit him. His hot Irish blood couldn't stand that, and he had vowed to have the fellow somehow. Here he had missed him again, and by so little, too! He renewed his vow to himself, and in an instant the cloud was gone, and the merry Irishman was there again.

”My dear Doctor,” he said, ”I am aware that you never speak at random, or I should ask you, were you sure of the man? Are you not mistaken?”

”Mistaken in HIM,--eh?” said the Doctor. ”No, I was not mistaken.”

”You seem to know too much of a very suspicious character, Doctor!”

said Desborough. ”I shall have to keep my eye on you, I see!”

Meanwhile, at the other end of the table, more agreeable subjects were being talked of. There sat our young coterie, laughing loudly, grouping themselves round some exceedingly minute object, which apparently was between Sam and Alice, and which, on close examination, turned out to be little Tacks, who was evidently making himself agreeable in a way hardly to be expected in one of his tender years. And this is the way he got there:--

When Captain Blockstrop came in, Alice was duly impressed by the appearance of that warrior. But when she saw little Tacks slip in behind him, and sit meekly down by the door; and when she saw how his character was appreciated by the cattle-dogs, one of whom had his head in the lad's lap, while the other was licking his face--when she saw, I say, the little blue and gold apparition, her heart grew pitiful, and, turning to Halbert, she said,--

”Why, good gracious me! You don't mean to tell me that they take such a child as that to sea; do you?”

”Oh dear, yes!” said Halbert, ”and younger, too. Don't you remember the story about Collingwood offering his cake to the first lieutenant? He became, remember, a greater man than Nelson, in all except worldly honour.”

”Would you ask him to come and sit by me, if you please?” said Alice.

So Halbert went and fetched him in, and he sat and had his breakfast between Alice and Sam. They were all delighted with him; such a child, and yet so bold and self-helpful, making himself quietly at home, and answering such questions as were put to him modestly and well. Would that all mids.h.i.+pmen were like him!

But it became time to go on board, and Captain Blockstrop, coming by where Alice sat, said, laughing,--

”I hope you are not giving my officer too much marmalade, Miss Brentwood? He is over-young to be trusted with a jam-pot,--eh, Tacks?”

”Too young to go to sea, I should say,” said Alice.

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