English
InmakingthisstatementIhavepurposelycoucheditinbaldandsimplelanguage,forfearIshouldbeaccusedofcolouringmynarrativeforthesakeofeffect.
If,however,Ihavetoldmystorywithanyapproachtorealism,thereaderwillunderstandmewhenIsaythatbythistimethesuccessionofdramaticincidentswhichhadoccurredhadarrestedmyattentionandexcitedmyimaginationtotheexclusionofallminortopics.
HowcouldIplodthroughthedullroutineofanagent’swork,orinterestmyselfinthethatchofthistenant’sbothyorthesailsofthatone’sboat,whenmymindwastakenupbythechainofeventswhichIhavedescribed,andwasstillbusyseekinganexplanationforthem.
GowhereIwouldoverthecountryside,Icouldseethesquare,whitetowershootingoutfromamongthetrees,andbeneaththattowerthisill-fatedfamilywerewatchingandwaiting,waitingandwatching—andforwhat?
Thatwasstillthequestionwhichstoodlikeanimpassablebarrierattheendofeverytrainofthought.
Regardedmerelyasanabstractproblem,thismysteryoftheHeatherstonefamilyhadaluridfascinationaboutit,butwhenthewomanwhomIlovedathousandfoldbetterthanIdidmyselfprovedtobesodeeplyinterestedinthesolution,Ifeltthatitwasimpossibletoturnmythoughtstoanythingelseuntilithadbeenfinallyclearedup.
Mygoodfatherhadreceivedaletterfromthelaird,datedfromNaples,whichtoldusthathehadderivedmuchbenefitfromthechange,andthathehadnointentionofreturningtoScotlandforsometime.
Thiswassatisfactorytoallofus,formyfatherhadfoundBranksomesuchanexcellentplaceforstudythatitwouldhavebeenasoretrialtohimtoreturntothenoiseandtumultofacity.
Astomydearsisterandmyself,therewere,asIhaveshown,strongerreasonsstilltomakeuslovetheWigtownshiremoors.
Inspiteofmyinterviewwiththegeneral—orperhapsImightsayonaccountofit—ItookoccasionatleasttwiceadaytowalktowardsCloomberandsatisfymyselfthatallwaswellthere.
Hehadbegunbyresentingmyintrusion,buthehadendedbytakingmeintoasortofhalf-confidence,andevenbyaskingmyassistance,soIfeltthatIstooduponadifferentfootingwithhimthanIhaddoneformerly,andthathewaslesslikelytobeannoyedbymypresence.
Indeed,Imethimpacingroundtheenclosureafewdaysafterwards,andhismannertowardsmewascivil,thoughhemadenoallusiontoourformerconversation.
Heappearedtobestillinanextremestateofnervousness,startingfromtimetotime,andgazingfurtivelyabouthim,withlittlefrightened,dartingglancestotherightandtheleft.
IhopedthathisdaughterwasrightinnamingthefifthofOctoberastheturningpointofhiscomplaint,foritwasevidenttomeasIlookedathisgleamingeyesandquiveringhands,thatamancouldnotlivelonginsuchastateofnervoustension.
Ifoundonexaminationthathehadhadthelooserailssecurelyfastenedsoastoblockupourformertrysting-place,andthoughIprowledroundthewholelonglineoffencing,Iwasunabletofindanyotherplacewhereanentrancecouldbeeffected.
HereandtherebetweenthefewchinksleftinthebarrierIcouldcatchglimpsesoftheHall,andonceIsawarough-looking,middle-agedmanstandingatawindowonthelowerfloor,whomIsupposedtobeIsraelStakes,thecoachman.
Therewasnosign,however,ofGabrielorofMordaunt,andtheirabsencealarmedme.
Iwasconvincedthat,unlesstheywereundersomerestraint,theywouldhavemanagedtocommunicatewithmysisterormyself.
Myfearsbecamemoreandmoreacuteasdayfolloweddaywithoutourseeingorhearinganythingofthem.
Onemorning—itwastheseconddayofOctober—IwaswalkingtowardstheHall,hopingthatImightbefortunateenoughtolearnsomenewsofmydarling,whenIobservedamanpercheduponastoneatthesideoftheroad.
AsIcamenearertohimIcouldseethathewasastranger,andfromhisdustyclothesanddilapidatedappearanceheseemedtohavecomefromadistance.
Hehadagreathunchofbreadonhiskneeandaclasp-knifeinhishand,buthehadapparentlyjustfinishedhisbreakfast,forhebrushedthecrumbsoffhislapandrosetohisfeetwhenheperceivedme.
Noticingthegreatheightofthefellowandthathestillheldhisweapon,Ikeptwelltotheothersideoftheroad,forIknewthatdestitutionmakesmendesperateandthatthechainthatglitteredonmywaistcoatmightbetoogreatatemptationtohimuponthislonelyhighway.
IwasconfirmedinmyfearswhenIsawhimstepoutintothecentreoftheroadandbarmyprogress.
“Well,mylad,”Isaid,affectinganeasewhichIbynomeansfelt,“whatcanIdoforyouthismorning?”
Thefellow’sfacewasthecolourofmahoganywithexposuretotheweather,andhehadadeepscarfromthecornerofhismouthtohisear,whichbynomeansimprovedhisappearance.
Hishairwasgrizzled,buthisfigurewasstalwart,andhisfurcapwascockedononesidesoastogivehimarakish,semi-militaryappearance.
AltogetherhegavemetheimpressionofbeingoneofthemostdangeroustypesoftrampthatIhadeverfalleninwith.
Insteadofreplyingtomyquestion,heeyedmeforsometimeinsilencewithsullen,yellow-shoteyes,andthenclosedhisknifewithaloudsnick.
“You’renotabeak,”hesaid,“tooyoungforthat,Iguess.
TheyhadmeinchokeyatPaisleyandtheyhadmeinchokeyatWigtown,butbythelivingthunderifanotherofthemlaysahandonmeI’llmakehimrememberCorporalRufusSmith!
It’sadarnedfinecountrythis,wheretheywon’tgiveamanwork,andthenlayhimbytheheelsforhavingnovisiblemeansofsubsistence.”
“Iamsorrytoseeanoldsoldiersoreduced,”saidI.“Whatcorpsdidyouservein?”
“HBattery,RoyalHorseArtillery.BadcesstotheServiceandeveryoneinit!
HereIamnighsixtyyearsofage,withabeggarlypensionofthirty-eightpoundten—notenoughtokeepmeinbeerandbaccy.”
“Ishouldhavethoughtthirty-eightpoundtenayearwouldhavebeenanicehelptoyouinyouroldage,”Iremarked.
“Wouldyou,though?”heansweredwithasneer,pushinghisweather-beatenfaceforwarduntilitwaswithinafootofmyown.
“Howmuchd’yethinkthatslashwithatulwarisworth?
Andmyfootwithallthebonesrattlingaboutlikeabagfulofdicewherethetrailofthegunwentacrossit.What’sthatworth,eh?
Andaliverlikeasponge,andaguewheneverthewindcomesroundtotheeast—what’sthemarketvalueofthat?
Wouldyoutakethelotforadirtyfortypoundayear—wouldyounow?”
“Wearepoorfolkinthispartofthecountry,”Ianswered.“Youwouldpassforarichmandownhere.”
“Theyarefoolfolkandtheyhavefooltastes,”saidhe,drawingablackpipefromhispocketandstuffingitwithtobacco.
“Iknowwhatgoodlivingis,and,bycripes!
WhileIhaveashillinginmypocketIliketospenditasashillingshouldbespent.
I’vefoughtformycountryandmycountryhasdonedarnedlittleforme.I’llgototheRooshians,sohelpme!
IcouldshowthemhowtocrosstheHimalayassothatitwouldpuzzleeitherAfghansorBritishtostop‘em.
What’sthatsecretworthinSt.Petersburg,eh,mister?”
“Iamashamedtohearanoldsoldierspeakso,eveninjest,”saidIsternly.
“Jest,indeed!”Hecried,withagreat,roaringoath.
“I’dhavedoneityearsagoiftheRooshianshadbeengametotakeitup.
Skobeloffwasthebestofthebunch,buthe’sbeensnuffedout.However,that’sneitherherenorthere.
WhatIwanttoaskyouiswhetheryou’veeverheardanythinginthisquarterofamancalledHeatherstone,thesamewhousedtobecolonelofthe41stBengalis?
TheytoldmeatWigtownthathelivedsomewheredownthisway.”
“Helivesinthatlargehouseoveryonder,”saidI,pointingtoCloomberTower.“You’llfindtheavenuegatealittlewaydowntheroad,butthegeneralisn’toverfondofvisitors.”
ThelastpartofmyspeechwaslostuponCorporalRufusSmith;fortheinstantthatIpointedoutthegatehesetoffhoppingdowntheroad.
HismodeofprogressionwasthemostsingularIhaveeverseen,forHewouldonlyputhisrightfoottothegroundonceineveryhalf-dozenstrides,whileheworkedsohardandattainedsuchamomentumwiththeotherlimbthathegotoverthegroundatanastonishingspeed.
IwassosurprisedthatIstoodintheroadwaygazingafterthishulkingfigureuntilthethoughtsuddenlystruckmethatsomeseriousresultmightcomefromameetingbetweenamanofsuchbluntspeechandthecholeric,hot-headedgeneral.
Ithereforefollowedhimashehoppedalonglikesomegreat,clumsybird,andovertookhimattheavenuegate,wherehestoodgraspingtheironworkandpeeringthroughatthedarkcarriage-drivebeyond.
“He’saslyoldjackal,”hesaid,lookingroundatmeandnoddinghisheadinthedirectionoftheHall.“He’sadeepolddog.Andthat’shisbungalow,isit,amongthetrees?”
“Thatishishouse,”Ianswered;“butIshouldadviseyoutokeepamoreciviltongueinyourheadifyouintendtospeakwiththegeneral.Heisnotamantostandanynonsense.”
“Rightyouare.Hewasalwaysahardnuttocrack.Butisn’tthishimcomingdowntheavenue?”
Ilookedthroughthegateandsawthatitwasindeedthegeneral,who,havingeitherseenusorbeenattractedbyourvoices,washurryingdowntowardsus.
Asheadvancedhewouldstopfromtimetotimeandpeeratusthroughthedarkshadowthrownbythetrees,asifhewereirresolutewhethertocomeonorno.
portraitofSirArthurConanDoyle
“He’sreconnoitering!”whisperedmycompanionwithahoarsechuckle.
“He’safraid—andIknowwhathe’safraidof.
Hewon’tbecaughtinatrapifhecanhelpit,theold‘un.
He’saboutasflyastheymake‘em,youbet!”
Thensuddenlystandingonhistip-toesandwavinghishandthroughthebarsofthegate,heshoutedatthetopofhisvoice:
“Comeon,mygallantcommandant!Comeon!Thecoast’sclear,andnoenemyinsight.”
Thisfamiliaraddresshadtheeffectofreassuringthegeneral,forhecamerightforus,thoughIcouldtellbyhisheightenedcolourthathistemperwasatboilingpoint.
“What,youhere,Mr.West?”hesaid,ashiseyefelluponme.“Whatisityouwant,andwhyhaveyoubroughtthisfellowwithyou?”
“Ihavenotbroughthimwithme,sir,”Ianswered,feelingratherdisgustedatbeingmaderesponsibleforthepresenceofthedisreputable-lookingvagabondbesideme.
“Ifoundhimontheroadhere,andhedesiredtobedirectedtoyou,soIshowedhimtheway.Iknownothingofhimmyself.”
“Whatdoyouwantwithme,then?”thegeneralaskedsternly,turningtomycompanion.
“Ifyouplease,sir,”saidtheex-corporal,speakinginawhiningvoice,andtouchinghismoleskincapwithahumilitywhichcontrastedstrangelywiththepreviousroughindependenceofhisbearing,“I’manoldgunnerintheQueen’sservice,sir,andknowingyournamebyhearingitinIndiaIthoughtthatmaybeyouwouldtakemeasyourgroomorgardener,orgivemeanyotherplaceashappenedtobevacant.”
“IamsorrythatIcannotdoanythingforyou,myman,”theoldsoldieransweredimpressively.
“Thenyou’llgivemealittlejusttohelpmeonmyway,sir,”saidhecringingmendicant.
“Youwon’tseeanoldcomradegotothebadforthesakeofafewrupees?
IwaswithSale’sbrigadeinthePasses,sir,andIwasatthesecondtakingofCabul.”
GeneralHeatherstonelookedkeenlyatthesupplicant,butwassilenttohisappeal.
“IwasinGhuzneewithyouwhenthewallswereallshookdownbyanearthquake,andwhenwefoundfortythousandAfghanswithingunshotofus.
Youaskmeaboutit,andyou’llseewhetherI’mlyingornot.
Wewentthroughallthiswhenwewereyoung,andnowthatweareoldyouaretoliveinafinebungalow,andIamtostarvebytheroadside.Itdon’tseemtometobefair.”
“Youareanimpertinentscoundrel,”saidthegeneral.“Ifyouhadbeenagoodsoldieryouwouldneverneedtoaskforhelp.Ishallnotgiveyouafarthing.”
“Onewordmore,sir,”criedthetramp,fortheotherwasturningaway,“I’vebeenintheTaradaPass.”
Theoldsoldiersprangroundasifthewordshadbeenapistol-shot.
“What—whatd’yemean?”hestammered.“I’vebeenintheTaradaPass,sir,andIknewamantherecalledGhoolabShah.”
Theselastwerehissedoutinanundertone,andamaliciousgrinoverspreadthefaceofthespeaker.
Theireffectuponthegeneralwasextraordinary.
Hefairlystaggeredbackfromthegateway,andhisyellowcountenanceblanchedtoalivid,mottledgrey.
Foramomenthewastooovercometospeak.Atlasthegaspedout:
“GhoolabShah’WhoareyouwhoknowGhoolabShah?”
“Takeanotherlook,”saidthetramp,“yoursightisnotaskeenasitwasfortyyearsago.”
Thegeneraltookalong,earnestlookattheunkemptwandererinfrontofhim,andashegazedIsawthelightofrecognitionspringupinhiseyes.
“Godblessmysoul!”hecried.“Why,it’sCorporalRufusSmith.”
“You’vecomeonitatlast,”saidtheother,chucklingtohimself.
“Iwaswonderinghowlongitwouldbebeforeyouknewme.
And,firstofall,justunlockthisgate,willyou?It’shardtotalkthroughagrating.
It’stoomuchliketenminuteswithavisitorinthecells.”
Thegeneral,whosefacestillboreevidencesofhisagitation,undidtheboltswithnervous,tremblingfingers.
TherecognitionofCorporalRufusSmithhad,Ifancied,beenarelieftohim,andyetheplainlyshowedbyhismannerthatheregardedhispresenceasbynomeansanunmixedblessing.
“Why,Corporal,”hesaid,asthegateswungopen,“Ihaveoftenwonderedwhetheryouweredeadoralive,butIneverexpectedtoseeyouagain.Howhaveyoubeenalltheselongyears?”
“HowhaveIbeen?”thecorporalansweredgruffly.
“Why,Ihavebeendrunkforthemostpart.
WhenIdrawmymoneyIlayitoutinliquor,andaslongasthatlastsIgetsomepeaceinlife.
WhenI’mcleanedoutIgoupontramp,partlyinthehopeofpickingupthepriceofadram,andpartlyinordertolookforyou.”
“You’llexcuseustalkingabouttheseprivatematters,West,”thegeneralsaid,lookingroundatme,forIwasbeginningtomoveaway.“Don’tleaveus.
Youknowsomethingofthismatteralready,andmayfindyourselfentirelyintheswimwithussomeofthesedays.”
CorporalRufusSmithlookedroundatmeinblankastonishment.
“Intheswimwithus?”hesaid.“Howeverdidhegetthere?”
“Voluntarily,voluntarily,”thegeneralexplained,hurriedlysinkinghisvoice.“Heisaneighbourofmine,andhehasvolunteeredhishelpincaseIshouldeverneedit.”
Thisexplanationseemed,ifanything,toincreasethebigstranger’ssurprise.
“Well,ifthatdon’tlickcock-fighting!”heexclaimed,contemplatingmewithadmiration.“Ineverheardtellofsuchathing.”
“Andnowyouhavefoundme,CorporalSmith,”saidthetenantofCloomber,“whatisitthatyouwantofme?”
“Why,everything.Iwantarooftocoverme,andclothestowear,andfoodtoeat,and,aboveall,brandytodrink.”
“Well,I’lltakeyouinanddowhatIcanforyou,”saidthegeneralslowly.
“Butlookhere,Smith,wemusthavediscipline.
I’mthegeneralandyouarethecorporal;Iamthemasterandyouaretheman.
Now,don’tletmehavetoremindyouofthatagain.”
Thetrampdrewhimselfuptohisfullheightandraisedhisrighthandwiththepalmforwardinamilitarysalute.
“IcantakeyouonasgardenerandgetridofthefellowIhavegot.Astobrandy,youshallhaveanallowanceandnomore.WearenotdeepdrinkersattheHall.”
“Don’tyoutakeopium,orbrandy,ornothingyourself,sir?”askedCorporalRufusSmith.
“Nothing,”thegeneralsaidfirmly.
“Well,allIcansayis,thatyou’vegotmorenerveandpluckthanIshalleverhave.
Idon’twondernowatyourwinningthatCrossintheMutiny.
IfIwastogoonlisteningnightafternighttothemthingswithoutevertakingadropofsomethingtocheermyheart—why,itwoulddrivemesilly.”
GeneralHeatherstoneputhishandup,asthoughafraidthathiscompanionmightsaytoomuch.
“Imustthankyou,Mr.West,”hesaid,“forhavingshownthismanmydoor.
Iwouldnotwillinglyallowanoldcomrade,howeverhumble,togotothebad,andifIdidnotacknowledgehisclaimmorereadilyitwassimplybecauseIhadmydoubtsastowhetherhewasreallywhatherepresentedhimselftobe.
JustwalkuptotheHall,Corporal,andIshallfollowyouinaminute.”
“Poorfellow!”hecontinued,ashewatchedthenewcomerhobblinguptheavenueintheungainlymannerwhichIhavedescribed.
“Hegotagunoverhisfoot,anditcrushedthebones,buttheobstinatefoolwouldnotletthedoctorstakeitoff.
IrememberhimnowasasmartyoungsoldierinAfghanistan.
HeandIwereassociatedinsomequeeradventures,whichImaytellyouofsomeday,andInaturallyfeelsympathytowardshim,andwouldbefriendhim.
DidhetellyouanythingaboutmebeforeIcame?”
“Notaword,”Ireplied.
“Oh,”saidthegeneralcarelessly,butwithanevidentexpressionofrelief,“Ithoughtperhapshemighthavesaidsomethingofoldtimes.
Well,Imustgoandlookafterhim,ortheservantswillbefrightened,forheisn’tabeautytolookat.Good-bye!”
Withawaveofthehandtheoldmanturnedawayfrommeandhurriedupthedriveafterthisunexpectedadditiontohishousehold,whileIstrolledonroundthehigh,blackpaling,peeringthrougheverychinkbetweentheplanks,butwithoutseeingatraceeitherofMordauntorofhissister.
IhavenowbroughtthisstatementdowntothecomingofCorporalRufusSmith,whichwillprovetobethebeginningoftheend.
IhavesetdownsoberlyandinordertheeventswhichbroughtustoWigtownshire,thearrivaloftheHeatherstonesatCloomber,themanystrangeincidentswhichexcitedfirstourcuriosityandfinallyourintenseinterestinthatfamily,andIhavebrieflytoucheduponthecircumstanceswhichbroughtmysisterandmyselfintoacloserandmorepersonalrelationshipwiththem.
IthinkthattherecannotbeabettermomentthanthistohandthenarrativeovertothosewhohadmeansofknowingsomethingofwhatwasgoingoninsideCloomberduringthemonthsthatIwasobservingitfromwithout.
IsraelStakes,thecoachman,provedtobeunabletoreadorwrite,butMr.MathewClark,thePresbyterianMinisterofStoneykirk,hascopieddownhisdeposition,dulyattestedbythecrosssetoppositetohisname.
Thegoodclergymanhas,Ifancy,putsomeslightpolishuponthenarrator’sstory,whichIratherregret,asitmighthavebeenmoreinteresting,iflessintelligible,whenreportedverbatim.
Itstillpreserves,however,considerabletracesofIsrael’sindividuality,andmayberegardedasanexactrecordofwhathesawanddidwhileinGeneralHeatherstone’sservice.
Share this article to
FINISH