The Second Macabre MEGAPACK®. Эдит Несбит

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СКАЧАТЬ is impossible to describe the confusion produced by this unexpected occurrence; the company dispersed, physicians were called in, who declared her attack to be convulsion of the most dangerous character; and in truth more than a month elapsed, during which she languished between life and death. In the meanwhile, John Drummond had been compelled by business to make a short voyage; but immediately on his return he received a letter from Eliza, in which she declared that she could not marry him, since by so doing, she would only cause unhappiness to both, but declined giving any reason for change of purpose; and when her lover wrote, pleading an interview, she declined any personal meeting, even while she assured him of her continued friendship and esteem.

      Shortly after this time, John entered his brother’s chamber, while both were on a sojourn at Plymouth. With a melancholy countenance he handed William an open letter, exclaiming, “Read this, she loves you! I am convinced of it. Ah! had you acted more openly, all would have been different.”

      “I assure you I never had an idea of marrying her,” rejoined William, “since how could I have supported her with my lieutenant’s pay? and I am sure her rich uncle would never have consented to so poor a match.”

      “But you must marry her!” said John in a mournful tone, “I will try and persuade Barlow to allow you the same income which he promised me.”

      “Never! I will neither be supported by the merchant, or deprive my brother of his betrothed.”’

      “But she is mine no longer, dear William: sue at once for Eliza’s hand, and thus make false the old saying, that twins born in the parsonage will always cause unhappiness to each other.”

      “How can you be so superstitious? An unlucky chain of circumstances alone has caused this misunderstanding, which might as easily have existed between mere acquaintances. If I had said Eliza interested me, and that I intended courting her as soon as I was able to support a wife, you would never have thought of choosing her, but as I could not hope for any success, I did not refer to my own feelings. You see it is all mere accident.”

      “Be it as you wish, but I am convinced that one of us will bring misfortune on the other, and as we love one another, let us adopt the safe resolution of never meeting again if possible.”

      “Gracious Heavens! what a dreadful thought! Ah! I see that you hate me for being the unhappy cause of your separation from Eliza.”

      “Be composed, dear William, such is not the case. but only that something tells me that an unhappy fate hangs over us. You misunderstand me when you imagine that I propose to resign all future intercourse. No! I shall constantly think of you with anxious affection, and we will correspond together. Accident favors my views;—in a few days I sail for Boston, where the wealthy owner of a ship has made me a very liberal offer, if I will accept its command for two years.”

      “Think, brother, of what you are about to do; for the sake of a mere old woman’s story you will forsake old England to go the United States, where even now the Hydra of rebellion is raising its head. As a good seaman, you must see into what a conflict your business may lead you as a British subject.”

      “Nothing won without danger;” exclaimed John, “If I had not ventured something, I should not have amassed the little fortune which I now possess. You must allow that I would not have advanced as quickly had I entered the navy.”

      “I own it; and never envied you, though receiving such small pittance myself. Nay,” he added, after a pause, in which he seemed trying how best to soften his expression, “I have often been anxious on your account.”

      “You mean as regards the Custom House laws?”

      “Yes! you must acknowledge that you run a risk in disregarding them as you do.”

      “Risk! What seaman cares for that? I never think of it.”

      “I know it! Your active spirit, your fearless disposition, may I add? your loose notions in regard to the laws, constantly lead you into danger. I entreat you, John! do not go to America.”

      “Nay! but I must,” replied his brother, with a deep sigh. “A destiny hangs over the lot of man, and he can no more draw himself out of its influence, than can the moth which hovers above the candle. Look not so sorrowful, William, it is best that we should separate.”

      In spite of all his brother’s entreaties and remonstrances, John remained firm in his first resolution, and when a few days after, he bid William farewell, he entreated him to preserve for him the same affection; advised him to explain his feelings to Eliza, since he himself had totally resigned the idea of marrying, and requested him, in the event of his death, to open his will, which he would find in the hands of notary Reynolds of Liverpool.

      It was about this time that the well known stamp act was passed in the British parliament, greatly embittering the Americans against the mother country; a feeling which was further increased when a duty on tea roused them to such excess of feeling that boarding a vessel which just then arrived from the East Indies, they threw the whole of its cargo overboard, which act so provoked the government as to cause them to close the port of Boston, and declare null the charter of Massachusetts. This was the commencement of the war.

      The brief limits of our story will not allow us to linger longer on this subject, than merely to call the attention of our readers to the cluster of large and small islands lying in the neighborhood of New York, and of which Long Island is the principal. This was the most important point for the warlike preparations, and the Generalissimo of the English army being aware of it, determined to make it the first place he would attack with his force of twenty thousand men. As Washington only commanded an army of sixteen thousand, he was obliged to act principally on the defensive; though knowing as he did, that Long Island formed the key to New York, he not only fortified it with 9,000 men under General Sullivan, but also equipped a number of small cutters, which hovered about the narrow channels among the Islands, ready at any favorable moment to make for sea, should the appearance of any British vessels offer them booty. Many American owners of vessels fitted out cutters at their own cost, placing them under experienced Captains, and it may be readily supposed that the number increased daily, since patriotism and self-interest were thus made to go hand in hand. One of these privateers, a vessel carrying ten or twelve guns, had in particular been very successful in its excursions against the foe, and was commanded by a young man of handsome exterior and good education, who had only lately been entrusted with the “Gray Shark,” as the privateer was called.

      The English fleet had been for several days lying at the mouth of the Hudson, when Admiral Lord Howe called together all the Captains under his command, to make arrangements for an intended attack. Most of them were men of mature age, and to them he freely talked over his various plans; at length turning to a young officer, who was no other than William Drummond, and who had listened with considerable interest to the consultation, he said, “I regret, sir, that I shall have to employ you in a less agreeable though no less honorable business than the one on which our friends here are about to enter; but the peculiar swiftness of your ship renders it better suited than any other to the undertaking. I have just learned that the privateer called the Gray Shark, which has distinguished itself by its daring acts, lies about forty miles eastward of this. I wish you immediately to sail in search of her; should you encounter her and she refuses to surrender, sink her at once, for it is necessary to make an example of her. The wind is favorable, and you may sail today.”

      Eager to obey the orders of his superior, William Drumnmond was ready in a quarter of an hour, and before night drew on, he was on the high sea, although the favorable breeze had gradually lessened. The following morning proved so foggy, that it was impossible to discover the foe, and Drummond therefore lessened sail, fearful that the privateer СКАЧАТЬ