Micah Clarke<br />His Statement as made to his three grandchildren Joseph, Gervas and Reuben During by Arthur Conan Doyle (read e books online free txt) ๐
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- Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
Read book online ยซMicah Clarke<br />His Statement as made to his three grandchildren Joseph, Gervas and Reuben During by Arthur Conan Doyle (read e books online free txt) ๐ยป. Author - Arthur Conan Doyle
โI have thought little of your chance from the first,โ he replied frankly. โMonmouth is like a ruined gamester, who is now putting his last piece upon the board. He cannot win much, and he may lose all.โ
โNay, that is a hard saying,โ said I. โA success might set the whole of the Midlands in arms.โ
โEngland is not ripe for it,โ the Major answered, with a shake of his head. โIt is true that it has no fancy either for Papistry or for a Papist King, but we know that it is but a passing evil, since the next in succession, the Prince of Orange, is a Protestant. Why, then, should we risk so many evils to bring that about which time and patience must, perforce, accomplish between them? Besides, the man whom ye support has shown that he is unworthy of confidence. Did he not in his declaration promise to leave the choice of a monarch to the Commons? And yet, in less than a week, he proclaimed himself at Taunton Market Cross! Who could believe one who has so little regard for truth?โ
โTreason, Major, rank treason,โ I answered, laughing. โYet if we could order a leader as one does a coat we might, perchance, have chosen one of a stronger texture. We are in arms not for him, but for the old liberties and rights of Englishmen. Have you seen Sir Gervas?โ
Major Ogilvy, and even Reuben, burst out laughing. โYou will find him in the room above,โ said our prisoner. โNever did a famous toast prepare herself for a court ball as he is preparing for his battle. If the Kingโs troops take him they will assuredly think that they have the Duke. He hath been in here to consult us as to his patches, hosen, and I know not what beside. You had best go up to him.โ
โAdieu, then, Reuben!โ I said, grasping his hand in mine.
โAdieu, Micah! God shield you from harm,โ said he.
โCan I speak to you aside, Major?โ I whispered. โI think,โ I went on, as he followed me into the passage, โthat you will not say that your captivity hath been made very harsh for you. May I ask, therefore, that you will keep an eye upon my friend should we be indeed defeated this night? No doubt if Feversham gains the upper hand there will be bloody work. The hale can look after themselves, but he is helpless, and will need a friend.โ
The Major pressed my hand. โI swear to God,โ he said, โthat no harm shall befall him.โ
โYou have taken a load from my heart,โ I answered; โI know that I leave him in safety. โI can now ride to battle with an easy mind.โ With a friendly smile the soldier returned to the sick-room, whilst I ascended the stair and entered the quarters of Sir Gervas Jerome.
He was standing before a table which was littered all over with pots, brushes, boxes, and a score of the like trifles, which he had either bought or borrowed for the occasion. A large hand-mirror was balanced against the wall, with rush-lights on either side of it. In front of this, with a most solemn and serious expression upon his pale, handsome face, the Baronet was arranging and re-arranging a white berdash cravat. His riding-boots were brightly polished, and the broken seam repaired. His sword-sheath, breastplate, and trappings were clear and bright. He wore his gayest and newest suit, and above all he had donned a most noble and impressive full-bottomed periwig, which drooped down to his shoulders, as white as powder could make it. From his dainty riding-hat to his shining spur there was no speck or stain upon himโa sad set-off to my own state, plastered as I was with a thick crust of the Sedgemoor mud, and disordered from having ridden and worked for two days without rest or repose.
โSplit me, but you have come in good time!โ he exclaimed, as I entered. โI have even now sent down for a flask of canary. Ah, and here it comes!โ as a maid from the inn tripped upstairs with the bottle and glasses. โHere is a gold piece, my pretty dear, the very last that I have in the whole world. It is the only survivor of a goodly family. Pay mine host for the wine, little one, and keep the change for thyself, to buy ribbons for the next holiday. Now, curse me if I can get this cravat to fit unwrinkled!โ
โThere is nought amiss with it,โ I answered. โHow can such trifles occupy you at such a time?โ
โTrifles!โ he cried angrily. โTrifles! Well, there, it boots not to argue with you. Your bucolic mind would never rise to the subtle import which may lie in such mattersโthe rest of mind which it is to have them right, and the plaguey uneasiness when aught is wrong. It comes, doubtless, from training, and it may be that I have it more than others of my class. I feel as a cat who would lick all day to take the least speck from her fur. Is not the patch over the eyebrow happily chosen? Nay, you cannot even offer an opinion; I would as soon ask friend Marot, the knight of the pistol. Fill up your glass!โ
โYour company awaits you by the church,โ I remarked; โI saw them as I passed.โ
โHow looked they?โ he asked. โWere they powdered and clean?โ
โNay, I had little leisure to observe. I saw that they were cutting their matches and arranging their priming.โ
โI would that they had all snaphances,โ he answered, sprinkling himself with scented water; โthe matchlocks are slow and cumbersome. Have you had wine enough?โ
โI will take no more,โ I answered.
โThen mayhap the Major may care to finish it. It is not often I ask help with a bottle, but I would keep my head cool this night. Let us go down and see to our men.โ
It was ten oโclock when we descended into the street. The hubbub of the preachers and the shouting of the people had died away, for the regiments had fallen into their places, and stood silent and stern, with the faint light from the lamps and windows playing over their dark serried ranks. A cool, clear moon shone down upon us from amidst fleecy clouds, which drifted ever and anon across her face. Away in the north tremulous rays of light flickered up into the heavens, coming and going like long, quivering fingers. They were the northern lights, a sight rarely seen in the southland counties. It is little wonder that, coming at such a time, the fanatics should have pointed to them as signals from another world, and should have compared them to that pillar of fire which guided Israel through the dangers of the desert. The footpaths and the windows were crowded with women and children, who broke into shrill cries of fear or of wonder as the strange light waxed and waned.
โIt is half after ten by St. Maryโs clock,โ said Saxon, as we rode up to the regiment. โHave we nothing to give the men?โ
โThere is a hogshead of Zoyland cider in the yard of yonder inn,โ said Sir Gervas. โHere, Dawson, do you take those gold sleeve links and give them to mine host in exchange. Broach the barrel, and let each man have his horn full. Sink me, if they shall fight with nought but cold water in them.โ
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