The adventures of Captain Blake, or My life

Front matter

LAK

AXWEL

ROUTLEDGE’S

Introduction

“ Zeeon. Why look you so strangeonme. You know me well. Ant. E I never saw you in my life till now.” Comedy of Errors.

I HAD been delicate from infancy—and the enervating effects of an unhealthy climate obliged me to retire upon half-pay, and quit Ceylon for England, to try if native air would restore a shattered constitution. I came to London for medical advice ; and while my physician was anxious that I should continue immediately under his eye, he recommended me, for amusement and exercise, to make frequent excursions around the British capital.

No advice could have been more congenial to “a truant disposition.” I, who had been buffeted about the world from my boyhood, willingly became a roamer after health ; and in the vicinity of the metropolis there were few spots unvisited in the course of my valetudinary wanderings.

Every suburban retirement—every scene of holiday dissipation—every sign-' board which a Cockney treasures in the tablet of his memory, is familiar tome. I have spent weeks upon the river and the road, became resident in steam-boats and stages, witnessed many an adventure, consorted with strange companions, and became extensively acquainted with the whole family of man.

It was a sultry day, and I was sitting in the bay-window of the Pier Hotel at Gravesend, contemplating the unceasing bustle that Father Thames presented. The steamer was to return to town at five, and I rang the bell to order dinner, and thus fill up an interval of two mortal hours. The’gentleman of the napkin appeared, produced his carte, and eulogized the contents of the larder,—for there, as he averred, everything eatable in August would be found. He added, that dinner was just being served at the sable @héte below ; and probably, rather than dine Zout seul, I would prefer uniting myself to the party. Undoubtedly I would. I seized my hat and cane, and following as true a descendant of Hal’s “ Francis,” as ever “served a long lease to the clinking of pewter,” entered the public room and joined the company.

The party amounted to a dozen, of whom a moiety were of the gentler sex. All, with one exception, were denizens of Cockayne and inhabitants of the Modern Babylon. They were all and every, no doubt, “good men and true ;” of excellent reputation upon ’Change, and exemplary in their private relations ; cherishing their wives, and correcting their children, as became citizens of character and credit. The ladies were fat and comely, and one of them positively handsome. She was a fine, joyous, laughter-loving dame, with teeth exquisitely white, and the blackest eyes in Bishopsgate Street. I saw her steal from beneath her pink silk bonnet an

Vi INTRODUCTION.

OP ee eee espiegle glance at the stranger; and then, probably checked by the proximity of ner liege lord, she turned her eyes demurely on the table-cloth.

Mr. Hopkins, when he espoused one so young and pretty as her of the pink bonnet, was certainly a bold man. He might easily have had an older daughter ; and was moreover a short and bilious gentleman, neither in face nor figure designed by Nature for a lady-killer. If it be true that men in this life are sometimes by the agency of their helpmates qualified for a state of beatitude above, I should conclude, from the looks of his lady, that Mr. H. was certain of a place in heaven.

I mentioned that one of the party was a stranger to the rest. He was.a tall, stout, devil-may-care, dark-whiskered fellow: I never heard a more decided brogue —I never met a wilder-looking gentleman. He was fashionably dressed, apparently on excellent terms with himself, and dying to be very intimate with the rest of the company. He placed himself vzs-d-ves to the fair citizen ; and, more than once, I detected a furtive glance stealing underneath the pink bonnet when Mr. Hopkins was otherwise engaged.

Dinner proceeded: the citizens ate gallantly—the stranger rattled) on— graciously the pink dame smiled—and all were occupied according to their respective fancies. Mrs. Hopkins was indubitably “a fine animal ;” but—may the Lord pardon her !—she used a knife with fish, and swilled “bottled stout” like a Life Guardsman.

When people are limited in time, it is marvellous how expeditiously they contrive to get on. I never met a company who drank fairer: sherry disappeared, brandy and blue vuién succeeded; the day was hot—the ladies thirsty: all had come out “on pleasure bent,” and hilarity was the order of the day. Mr. Hopkins’s cheek was losing its lemon tint insensibly, and acquiring the true couleur de roses and I fancied that his wife’s eyes every moment became blacker and brighter. Alas! it was a sun-gleam before a tempest. Suddenly, he bounded from his seat like a racket-ball, and, with a deep imprecation, declared vengeance against my next neighbour, the wild-looking gentleman.

Up rose the company e7 masse. They were all married, and therefore made common cause. There was a deceiver in the room—a Giovanni in the presence— for the stranger, not contented with looking “things unutterable,” had actually attempted to establish a pedal communication with her of the pink bonnet ; and, confound his awkwardness! he pressed the wrong foot.

It was unpardonable in the wild-looking gentleman. I felt for Mr. Hopkins. Had the delinquent trodden.upon my toe, he would have been my destroyer; for I was afflicted with tight shoes and angry corns. .

Never did a company appear more unanimous in denouncing a deceiver. At the audacious attempt the gentlemen were irate ; and at the bungling execution the ladies were indignant—no wonder! If people will press feet, let them tread upon the right ones. ri

All and every assumed a hostile attitude, and assault and battery appeared to be the order.of the day. An irritated drysalter from Tooley Street commenced buttoning his coat—and the whole corps seemed to be combining their efforts for a ceneral onslaught.

Nor was the wild-looking gentleman insensible to coming events. I never saw a person more disinclined to submit quietly to martyrdom ; and, seizing the poker, he bade a bold defiance to his assailants. The thickest skull has but a sorry chance against “cold iron;” and none of the angry citizens, although doubtless men of approved courage, volunteered to lead the assault. I took advantage of the lull, offered my mediation, and the stranger was permitted to explain. The offence —

INTRODUCTION. Vii

—— was perfectly accidental—a cramp caused the mischief—Mr. “Hopkins was appeased, harmony restored, and a fresh supply of liquids promptly ordered and produced.

How long the armistice would continue unbroken, I did not pretend to guess. The steamer’s bell sounded its note of preparation ; Cockneys by the dozen flocked on board ; the paddles revolved: briskly, and I went splashing up to town, leaving the wild-looking gentleman to “complete his destinies.”

Months passed ; autumn was over, and a murky atmosphere with drizzling rain told that it was a London November. I was returning from dinner to my lodgings, when, at the corner of a dark mews, I was hustled by several men, who commenced a simultaneous research into my pockets. Unluckily, I had that evening more cash upon my person than I felt inclined to part with, and accordingly offered a sturdy resistance. But it would have been unavailing, had not a stranger suddenly crossed the street and hurried to the rescue. He was indeed a powerful ally : down went a couple of the Philistines—off ran the’rest, and I escaped spoliation. I turned to thank my deliverer, and in the stout stranger recognized my quondam friend, the wild-looking gentleman !

Nor had I been forgotten: he recognized my voice, tucked me under his arm, and we proceeded to a neighbouring tavern. We supped, and over a midnight glass I recalled to his memory the dinner at Gravesend, and asked him how he had subsequently progressed. He smiled, and informed me he had found favour in the sight of Mr. Hopkins, accompanied that party to town, and had been invited to visit them in Bishopsgate Street. In my opinion Mr. Hopkins was wrong. .

We remained in conversation until a late hour. My friend was leaving London next Gay, but promised to find me out on his return. We separated, he having pre-- sented me with his card, on which was engraven “ Captain John Blake.”

Spring came, and I had heard nothing of my deliverer, when one morning, in The Times, 1 saw his marriage regularly gazetted ; and, joyful intelligence ! it was declared that the lady of his love was passing fair, and rich as an Israelite. After: an elaborate account of the dresses and déetiné, it was further intimated that the. happy pair had returnec to town, and were now resident at Ibbotson’s. And had the wild-looking gentleman actually become a Benedict, and an heiress committed her happiness to his custody? My curiosity was roused—I longed to learn the history of his good fortune from himself ; it would be but civil to offer my congratulations ; and, next day, I drove to Vere Street, and sent up my card.

My friend was out, but the servant informed me that his lady was w7szb/e. I was paraded to the drawing-room, announced as an old acquaintance, and found myself in the presence of the loveliest girl that ever vowed obedience at the altar.

I have during my march through life gazed on many a beauty, but never did I view a sweeter expression of artless loveliness, than the bride’s face presented when she blushingly received my congratulations. In conversation she was easy and intelligent ; and before a quarter of an hour I came to the conclusion, that matrimony may be endured ; and that in the lottery of life the wild-looking gentleman possessed, as they say in Connaught, “ the luck of thousands.”

, Our 7é¢e-d-téte was so agreeable, that time slipped on unnoticed. I heard the door unclose, and observed the bride’s eyes lighten, as she said in a soft voice, “ It is my husband.” I sprang up to welcome my fortunate friend : but in a moment started back in dismay—I had caught a stranger by the hand, and intruded, under false pretences, upon the privacy of a gentleman to whom I was entirely unknown. } I never found myself in a more embarrassing situation, and attempted, of course a blundering apology, while the stranger politely requested me to sit down. It

Vill INTRODUCTION.

was, indeed, a ridiculous mistake. In name and rank there was certainly a strange coincidence ; while, stranger still, in age and personal appearance, the Benedict of Ibbotson’s might pass as twin brother to the admirer of Mrs. Hopkins.

I noticed this singularity.

“‘ And may I ask,” said the stranger, “‘ where you met this duplicate of mine ?”— I told him.

“How might he have been engaged on these occasions.”— On the first, in making love ; on the second, in thrashing pickpockets.”

“TI fancy I know your friend,” said the stranger. ‘‘Would you favour me with the particulars of these adventures ?”

I consented ; and during the recital he laughed immoderately, while the bride appeared to be equally amused.

“Well, sir,” he observed, when my narrative was ended, “your acquaintance is in truth ‘my loving cousin’—one who in name and resemblance is said to be my counterpart, but whom, I suppose either for sake of distinction, or from his superior vivacity, it has pleased his associates to designate as ‘ Jack the Devil.’”

I groaned ;—the identity was proven, and the sodriguet indubitably belonged to my worthy friend, the wild-looking gentleman.

“ Good God !” I exclaimed, “ how stupid and unpardonable must this intrusion of mine appear ! ”—“ Far from it,” said the bridegroom ; “I have heard of you repeatedly from my kinsman ; and Colonel ——’s name is quite familiar to Emily and me. Will you wave ceremony, and break our matrimonial /ée-d-téte ? and after dinner I will give you the last intelligence which has reached me of our excellent countryman, ‘Jack the Devil !’”

Little inducement was requisite to make me accept his invitation ; and from that day, I date the commencement of a friendship that promises only to terminate with life. I have been for months together domesticated with my friends, and, during morning rides and evening potations, collected those details of personal adventure, _ which, #utato nomine, and with slight omissions, the following memoir so faithfully

records.

THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN BLAKE.

CHOAPLER 1 MY BIRTH.

Is the queen delivered ?

Say, ay; and of a boy.

Ay, ay, my liege; And of a lovely boy.”

“ King Henry.

Lady.

SHAKSPEARE.

It was a wild and blustrous night in the month of February, in the year of Grace one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine—The jail-clock struck one. My father’s household had long since retired to their respective dormitories, and a solitary watch-light twinkled in the chamberwindow where. my mother slept. All was quiet as a regular sou’-wester would permit. Doors creaked, windows rattled, while the wind, eddying in hollow gusts through narrow lanes and gateways, came roaring awfully down the chimneys. There were.no- passengers abroad, for the foul weather had cleared the streets effectually of their usual gang of nocturnal wanderers ; and the veriest drunkard appeared to have anticipated the storm, and managed to stagger home before the fury of the gale was at its height. The ancient elms which overhung the road leading from the barracks to the jail, groaned fearfully above the picket, as with great coats buttoned to their noses, they hurried to their guard-room from patrolling—the sentries kept snug within their boxes—and in all Castlebar but one man could have been discovered out of doors, and he, as it will appear, was a dead one.

just then, a figure might have been observed moving hastily across my mother’s chamber. Presently the bell rang; the warning peal was repeated ; a loud and peremptory voice aroused the sleeping servants ; and, without even waiting to bless himself, Mark Haggarty slipped on his red-plush breeches, tumbled over a turf-creel, which the housemaid, for better convenience, had judiciously laid across the passage, and as he gathered himself up, in tones which told how desperately he was alarmed, ejaculated, ‘‘ Blessed Virgin ! is the house coming down?”’

‘The mistress is ill,” exclaimed my father. ‘“ Run for Doctor Donovan. Take the short way across the Mall, and be back again like lightning.”

‘““Why then, by my own soul, I won't,” returned he of the red-plush breeches. ‘‘ A%e crass the Mall, and Kimlin swinging on a tree! Mona mondiaoul,* if I would take a hatful of pound-notes and venture. But I'll cut round the lane and raise the doctor in a jiffy.”

Accordingly, without waiting for his other habiliments, Mark Haggarty bolted out of the door,

* An Irish imprecation.

and started at a killing pace, upholding with his better hand the solitary garment by the waistband.

Meanwhile the whole establishment was in general commotion. Half-a-score of domestics, male and female, in that interesting and unadorned state when beauty is said to be most bewitching, careered over the house, and tilted against each other in the lobbies. The men cursed, and the women crossed themselves ; lights flared, dogs barked, boys kicked them for the same, and the uproar within beat the storm without all to nothing. At this moment Mark Haggarty returned ‘fairly kilt wid runnin’,” to announce the advent of the doctor, so soon as Biddy Boyle, his favourite handmaiden, could manage ‘‘ to shake him into his clothes.”

Let critics say what they please, in the best biographies, digressions will be frequent; and even at this eventful period I must leave my mother to her fate, while I put my readers in possession of certain matters, which I deem necessary to illustrate and connect these memoirs,

Everybody who is aware that this history commences in 1799, will recollect that the rebellion had occurred during the preceding summer, and that although the insurrection had been suppressed, the country was still fearfully disturbed, and especially by ruffians who had been in arms with the disaffected, and who, having been excluded from mercy by their crimes, had still contrived to elude the hand of justice, and exist by terrorism and plunder. At this time martial-law was in full force; Denis Browne reigned in undisputed supremacy ; his sway over the northwestern division of the kingdom of Connaught was absolute, as if he had formed an integral fraction of the Holy Alliance ; and his autocracy over ‘‘the finest peasantry on earth,” not inferior even to that of Mr. Daniel O’Connell, whom God | long preserve! With the persons and properties of his subjects Denis took occasional liberties, | loosing and binding as he pleased—and when example was thought preferable to precept, hanging a delinquent ‘‘ out of the face,” for the general benefit of the body politic. after days, shortsighted politicians have ques-

True it‘is, that in:

tioned the utility of the gallows, and even mooted | the authority of the defunct Denis to employ it '

as he did. But these important questions are not for us to decide, and we shall consign them accordingly to the future historian. :

Three days before the opening of this Story, an occurrence took place which procured for the worthy citizens of Castlebar the unexpected pleasure of witnessing an execution. An outlaw named Kimlin, who had escaped the general slaughter which visited the rebel allies when the

B

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French surrendered at Ballinamuck, had infested the country for the last winter at the head of a numerous and ferocious band. He wasa daring, desperate scoundrel—and, rendered confident by his previous success in evading the many attempts that had been made to arrest him, imprudently ventured within a short distance of the town, and appeared at a bridal dance which was given ina neighbouring village. As areward of one hundred pounds had been offered for his apprehension, it is not surprising that his propinquity to the town was speedily communicated, and a few of the yeomanry, having ascertained the house where he would harbour for the night, marched hastily to the spot, and surrounded and attacked it. Although surprised, Kimlin made a desperate resistance; the leader of the party was shot through the heart, two others severely wounded, and it was not until the house was in flames and the outlaw’s ammunition expended, that he could be overpowered and secured. ‘Tied upon a car, with the dead yeoman placed beside him, Kimlin was conveyed by his captors in triumph to Castlebar. The party proceeded directly. with their prisoner to the court-house, where Denis. Browne was at the moment sitting in judgment upon a broken head incurred at a recent hurling match.

When the important event was communicated. to the autocrat of Mayo, that the felon who had evaded pursuit so long was at last within. his power, the hurlers, plaintiff and defendant, were most unceremoniously ejected from the bar of justice. Kimlin, pinioned and guarded by a yeoman with a naked bayonet at either side, was placed at the foot of the table, directly opposite to the arm-chair where Denis Browne was seated ; the dead body was deposited outside in the lobby ; and one of the captors desired to state briefly the particulars of the morning adventure.

While this ceremony was. proceeding, Kimlin, with a dogged resolution, listened in sullen silence to his accuser. ‘The detail ended, Denis turning upon the undaunted felon a look that would, have quailed the stoutest heart, demanded to know the names and haunts of his companions. But the robber spoke not, and met the eye of his judge with a scowl of deadly hatred.

‘‘ Dost thou hear me, ruffian? Answer at once, and truly, or before the sun is at its height you, shall dangle on yonder tree,” and he pointed to a tall elm, whose bare and jagged boughs were visible from the court-house window.

Kimlin looked up; it was-a look that united fiendish scorn with unflinching desperation.

‘‘Not so fast, Right Honourable,” * said the robber with a sneer; ‘‘you'll bring me to the drum-head, I suppose, at any rate—and, with all your hurry, you'll scarcely strap me up till sunset. As to my comrades, they are who they are; and for their haunts, why, look till. ye find. them, and then you'll not have lost the labour.”

The judge smiled bitterly. ‘‘ Think ye, friend,” he replied, ‘‘that a murderer and armed; rebel, with the blood of the king’s trusty soldiers on his hands, shall cumber the earth till he. undergoes the forms of law intended for better regulated subjects?’” He paused, and taking out his watch, examined the dial attentively, and whispered. to the jailor beside him, who directly left the room ; then, in a voice as cold and. passionless as if he

~* The title by which Denis was universally known.

was ordering his carriage to the door, he thus continued: ‘‘Kimlin, it wants five minutes to eleven ; at twelve you dangle upon yonder elm,” and he pointed with his finger to the tree.

‘‘ Devil may care!” replied the undaunted ruffian ; ‘‘ will you let me have a priest?”

His wish was granted, and a messenger despatched for the confessor. In a few minutes, and by different doors, two functionaries entered the chamber, and placed themselves at either side of the doomed murderer.

The first of these was an old grey-haired man, whose coat of dingy black, and long coarse horseskin boots, announced him to be a travelling friar. He crossed himself while addressing the prisoner, and muttered to him from time to time some Latin formule, interspersed with admonitory observations, inculcating the necessity of speedy repentance, and the making of his peace with God.

The other was a very different personage. He was a tall negro, with a face of amazing ugliness, and frame of gigantic proportions. His dress was of that peculiar and remarkable costume with which the time-beaters in military bands are generally invested. He had large rings in his ears, and. a crooked sabre at his side, while his turban or cap, formed of red and yellow calico, added at least eighteen inches to his height. But, striking as his dress and figure were, on one thing the undivided observation of the spectators was directed—and that was a small coil of rope which he carried in his hand, having one end simply knotted, while the other was provided with an eye, spliced with a neatness. that told the negro had been once a sailor.

‘‘Sambo,” said the judge, with an encouraging nod, ‘‘ we require a cast of your craft this morning; and, like a good and provident workman, you. have not forgotten your tools.”

The negro’s lips divided, and his grin disclosed a set of teeth firm and white as the tusks of a boar-hound,

‘‘Hegh, massa! me always ready; but rope has broke a strand ;”’ and, pointing out the frayed part, he directed a careless look to the convict, who had retired to a corner with the confessor— ‘‘Me want new rope ; him there not tall, but dam heavy.”

“Tt will do, Sambo—it will do,’” said the justice, with a smile. .

“But,” returned the executioner, ‘‘ Massa Browne, me not paid last job. Him jailor there, him dam rogue; him promise a one pound-note, besides the clothes.”’

‘‘Ay, Snowball,” replied, the accused, abil did ye not get every rag that Conolly had on, with everything in. the pockets, and that into the bargain |”

‘‘Hegh, hegh!” and the sable functionary grinned ; ‘‘ great matter that! Him had noting in him pocket but thread and thimble; him clothes not wortha broken drum-stick—all tore, though himself was a: tailor. Besides, this here a dam place. No one will buy dead:man’s clothes forfear him ghost come at night to claim them:’ and Sambo laughed heartily, in which the judge and jailor joined.

While this conversation was carried on at the table, the felon and the churchman were busily employed in the corner of the room. Between religious exercises, the friar was endeavouring to

- —— ee eR wt extract a confession, which Kimlin appeared to make reluctantly, as his replies were given in hasty and querulous tones.

‘« Did I not tell ye I was there already?” was his answer to the priest’s question.

‘Again the friar whispered—‘‘ No,” returned the convict, ‘‘ Conner, that was hung in Foxford, fired the shot that killed him.”

~**Who murdered Peter Donovan?” said the confessor,

“How do I know? I was in Roscommon. the night it happened.”

‘You fired at Mr. O’ Roark,” observed the priest.

‘Well, if I did, I missed him—and more’s the pity.”

‘‘Were you not at Marley’s robbery?” asked the friar.

‘* Arrah !| ye bother one wid questionin’—I was, and I'll tell ye no more !””

‘* Well, attend to me,’ replied the friar; ‘‘are ye sorry for your crimes, and do ye heartily repent?”

“Tl tell ye what I repint most,” said the villain with a ferocious oath; ‘‘and that is, that I hadn’t more cartridges, and, by , | would have shot as many of them blood-hounds,” and he pointed to the yeomen, ‘‘as would have covered that table, and it’s a long one—and, now will ye give me the rites?”

‘Tl give you zhe rofe/” exclaimed the judge, who had overheard the sanguinary declaration— ‘‘away with him at once; and before twelve strikes, let me see him strapped up !”’

Immediately the captors seized the prisoner, and the black drummer resumed the coil, which he had deposited on the table.

‘Massa Browne,” said the sable artist, ‘‘ mind, two poun’ due now; me come back for money when the job done—me have child to cristin— him beauty—black as a crow—colour of him father—him beauty:” and Sambo showed his white tusks as he laughed heartily. At the door the convict paused, turned on the judge a look of undying hatred—‘*‘may my curse light upon you and yours, Denis Browne!” he ejaculated ; then clinching his teeth together, without murmuring another word, he doggedly accompanied his escort.

The look and imprecation were not lost on the person to whom they were addressed. They produced no other effect, however, than eliciting a bitter and sarcastic smile ; and in ten minutes, Denis Browne was. calmly contemplating from his window the agonised struggles of the expiring robber.

It was determined that the body should be suspended for several days, as a wholesome example to the ‘‘mauvais sujets” of the neighbourhood ; and, accordingly, a manifesto to that effect was issued by. the ‘‘ Right Honourable.” Aware that Kimlin’s gang were in the vicinity of the town, and that they would naturally wish to remove their deceased leader, precautionary measures were adopted to protect the corpse against any attempt at abstraction. As the Mall was directly opposite the jail, of course the fatal tree was visible to the sentries round the prison. It was, therefore, intimated to the guard, that Mr. Kimlin was placed under their especial surve7z/- lance, and that to the living criminals beneath their charge they had received the addition of a dead one.

CAPTAIN BLAKE.

io)

Three days passed, and everything went on as usual. Mayo was minus a robber, and Sambo richer by two pound-notes and a suit of clothes. Kimlin ceased to be a lion—the maid-servants were tired of admiring him—and there was not a nurse for miles around, who had not gratified her infant chargé with an exhibition of the departed murderer. To Sambo alone the sight was still an interesting one, and this was from a pardonable vanity. Every evening, at tattoo, while exercising the large drum, as he passed underneath the tree that bore his handy-work, he grinned as he looked up, and remarked to the mulatto who operated on the tambourine beside him, ‘‘ Hegh, Bill, him robber well hung; dam good hemp too, or two strands would never hold so big a villain up:” and his vigorous stick would descend with additional force upon the sheep-skin. Enough for example had now been done ; and it was decided that, on the next day, Kimlin should be committed to his mother earth.

We have already described the evening as stormy. At midnight the gale was awful, and the sentries, as they peered from their boxes, could occasionally observe through the gloom, the body of the dead outlaw oscillating wildly back and forward in every blast of wind. Within the prison, the jail-guard were circled round a

| blazing turf fire; yet it was in truth a cold and dreary watch ; and Sergeant O’Tool feeling an unusual chilliness of the stomach, dispatched Private Rafferty to procure some whisky to correct the same, precisely at the moment when the accoucheur departed from his house, hurrying to the assistance of my mother. ni

Now, Doctor Donovan was well skilled in’ pharmacy and obstetrics—but moreover, he was an adept in freemasonry, and a worthy professor of that ancient and honourable craft. That night he had presided over ‘‘the enlightened few,” and whether obnubilated by the arcana_of the mysterious science, confused by Mark Haggarty’s alarm, or bothered by the storm, he could never himself discover; but certain it is, that totally oblivious of Mr. Kimlin being suspended in the Mall, he took the short cut, which he of the red-plush breeches had so judiciously avoided.

Before the doctor sallied forth, Biddy Chalk,- to the best of her abilities, endeavoured to secure him against the inclemency of the weather. She encased him in a large coat; his face was defended to the very eyes by a shawl; a silk bandana, tied below his» chin, prevented his hat from levanting ; while a horseman’s cloak over all, appeared to set the tempest at defiance.