The Buccaneer - A Tale

"Very easily for you, doubtless," retorted Roupall; "you had ever the

way, master, of keeping your neck out of the noose. How much of the coin

did you say?"

Barbara did not hear the reply.

"Why it's only one more. Is he young?"

"Yes."

"I don't like young customers. It's a charity to put the old out of the

way; for, be they ever so well off, they must be sick and weary of the

world. But the young--I don't like it, master."

"Pshaw! it's only saving him in time from that which gives old men

trouble; and life can go but once: besides, I will not stand for the

matter of a few broad-pieces. I care not if I make the sum half as much

more, provided it be done safely."

"Will you give me your note of hand to it?"

"Do you take me for a fool?--or did you ever know me to break my word?"

"I never took ye for the first, Sir Willmott, and, as to the other,

we've had no business between us lately. Half as much more, you said?"

"Half as much more."

"Well, it is but one, and then--ah! ah! ah!--I'll reform and turn

gentleman. No, d--n it, I hate gentlemen, they're so unprincipled; but

you must double--double or quits."

"Jack Roupall, you are an unconscionable scoundrel."

"By the lady-moon, then, there be a pair of us."

Burrell muttered some reply that Barbara did not hear, but again the

grating voice of Roupall ascended.

"Double or quits; Lord, ye needn't be so touchy about a little word of

familiarity--such fellowship makes all men equal."

"Well then, double, if so it must be; only remember, Roupall, there is

some difference between the employer and the employed," was the knight's

answer. And the high-born and the low-born ruffian walked away together;

and the bright beams of the holy moon and the unsullied stars fell upon

them as gently, as if they had been good and faithful ministers of the

Almighty's will.

The two leading features of Barbara Iverk's character were, fidelity and

affection; all her feelings and actions were but various modifications

of these great principles--in every sense of the word, she was

simple-minded. After the men had departed for some time, still she could

hardly bring herself to understand or believe the nature or extent of

the crime they meditated.

It was surely a most singular manifestation of God's providence, she

thought, which placed her there, that she might overhear, and it might

be prevent the great wickedness of those evil men. She descended from

the window with haste, but with caution also, for the stones crumbled

from beneath her feet as she moved along. She had scarcely set her foot

on the grass turf, when the dog was at her side, whining and fawning

with delight at again meeting with her friend and mistress. Barbara

crossed the wild country, and gained the park-wall without encountering

any danger. When there, she paused breathlessly under an oak, and would

have given worlds to see and speak to her friend Robin. Amid the

deepness of night, and among the foliage of the trees, she thought she

discerned the figure of a person creeping beneath the boughs--now in

shadow, and now casting his own shadow upon what had shadowed him. This

appearance terrified her so exceedingly that she did not gain courage to

proceed, until she saw that he turned into a distant path; she then

stole slowly along under the shelter of the wall, and when she came to a

small gate which opened into the park, within view of the mansion, she

pushed through it, and just gained the lawn, when the sound of a

pistol, and a flash through the darkness, terrified her so much, that

she fell, faint and exhausted, on the sward.