The Red Rover: A Tale. James Fenimore Cooper

the other's countenance, as he gravely prepared to follow the boy, who already stood in the hatchway with a light. Advancing a step with the grace and tones of sensitive breeding, he said quickly,--

      "Mr. Wilder, I owe you an apology for my seeming rudeness at parting on the hill. Though I believed you mine, I was not sure of my acquisition. You will readily see how necessary it might be, to one in my situation, to throw off a companion at such a moment."

      Wilder turned, with a countenance from which every shade of displeasure had vanished, and motioned to him to say no more.

      "It was awkward enough, certainly, to find one's self in such a prison; but I feel the justice of what you say. I might have done the very thing myself, if the same presence of mind were at hand to help me."

      "The good man, who grinds in the Newport ruin, must be in a sad way, since all the rats are leaving his mill," cried the Rover gaily, as his companion descended after the boy. Wilder now freely returned his open, cordial laugh, and then, as he descended, the cabin was left to him who, a few minutes before, had been found in its quiet possession.

      Chapter VII.

       Table of Contents

      "The world affords no law to make thee rich;

       Then be not poor, but break it, and take this."

       Apoth. "My poverty, but not my will, consents."

      Romeo and Juliet.

      The Rover arrested his step, as the other disappeared and stood for more than a minute in an attitude of high and self-gratulating triumph. It was quite apparent he was exulting in his success. But, though his intelligent face betrayed the satisfaction of the inward man, it was illumined by no expression of vulgar joy. It was the countenance of one who was suddenly relieved from intense care, rather than that of a man who was greedy of profiting by the services of others. Indeed, it would not have been difficult, for a close and practised observer, to have detected a shade of regret in the lightings of his seductive smile, or in the momentary flashes of his changeful eye. The feeling, however, quickly passed away, and his whole figure and countenance resumed the ordinary easy mien in which he most indulged in his hours of retirement.

      After allowing sufficient time for the boy to conduct Wilder to the necessary cabin, and to put him in possession of the regulations for the police of the ship, the Captain again touched the gong, and once more summoned the former to his presence. The lad had however, to approach the elbow of his master, and to speak thrice, before the other was conscious that he had answered his call.

      "Roderick," said the Rover, after a long pause, "are you there?"

      "I am here," returned a low, and seemingly a mournful voice.

      "Ah! you gave him the regulations?"

      "I did."

      "And he reads?"

      "He reads."

      "It is well. I would speak to the General. Roderick, you must have need of rest; good night; let the General be summoned to a council, and--Good night, Roderick."

      The boy made an assenting reply; but, instead of springing, with his former alacrity, to execute the order he lingered a moment nigh his master's chair. Failing, however, in his wish to catch his eye, he slowly and reluctantly descended the stairs which led into the lower cabins, and was seen no more.

      It is needless to describe the manner in which the General made his second appearance. It differed in no particular from his former entrée, except that, on this occasion, the whole of his person was developed. He appeared a tall, upright form, that was far from being destitute of natural grace and proportions, but which had been so exquisitely drilled into simultaneous movement, that the several members had so far lost the power of volition, as to render it impossible for one to stir, without producing some thing like a correspondent demonstration in all its fellows. This rigid and well-regulated personage, after making a formal military bow to his superior, helped himself to a chair, in which, after some little time lost in preparation, he seated himself in silence. The Rover seemed conscious of his presence; for he acknowledged his salute by a gentle inclination of his own head; though he did not appear to think it necessary to suspend his ruminations the more on that account. At length, however, he turned short upon his companion, and said abruptly,--

      "General, the campaign is not finished."

      "What remains? the field is won, and the enemy is a prisoner."

      "Ay, your part of the adventure is well achieved, but much of mine remains to be done. You saw the youth in the lower cabin?"

      "I did."

      "And how find you his appearance?"

      "Maritime."

      "That is as much as to say, you like him not."

      "I like discipline."

      "I am much mistaken if you do not find him to your taste on the quarter-deck. Let that be as it may, I have still a favour to ask of you!"

      "A favour!--it is getting late."

      "Did I say 'a favour?' there is duty to be yet done."

      "I wait your orders."

      "It is necessary that we use great precaution for, as you know"----

      "I wait your orders," laconically repeated the other.

      The Rover compressed his mouth, and a scornful smile struggled about the nether lip; but it changed into a look half bland, half authoritative, as he continued,--

      "You will find two seamen, in a skiff, alongside the ship; the one is white, and the other is black. These men you will have conducted into the vessel--into one of the forward state-rooms--and you will have them both thoroughly intoxicated."

      "It shall be done," returned he who was called the General, rising, and marching with long strides towards the door of the cabin.

      "Pause a moment," exclaimed the Rover; "what agent will you use?"

      "Nightingale has the strongest head but one in the ship."

      "He is too far gone already. I sent him ashore, to look about for any straggling seamen who might like our service; and I found him in a tavern, with all the fastenings off his tongue, declaiming like a lawyer who had taken a fee from both parties Besides, he had a quarrel with one of these very men, and it is probable they would get to blows in their cups."

      "I will do it myself. My night-cap is waiting for me; and it is only to lace it a little tighter than common."

      The Rover seemed content with this assurance; for he expressed his satisfaction with a familiar nod of the head. The soldier was now about to depart, when he was again interrupted.

      "One thing more, General; there is your captive."--

      "Shall I make him drunk too?"

      "By no means. Let him be conducted hither."

      The General made an ejaculation of assent, and left the cabin. "It were weak," thought the Rover as he resumed his walk up and down the apartment, "to trust too much to an ingenuous face and youthful enthusiasm. I am deceived if the boy has not had reason to think himself disgusted with the world, and ready to embark in any romantic enterprise but, still, to be deceived might be fatal therefore will I be prudent, even to excess of caution. He is tied in an extraordinary manner to these two seamen I would I knew his history. But all that will come in proper time. The men must remain as hostages for his own return, and for his faith. If he prove false, why, they are seamen;--and many men are expended in this wild service of ours! It is well arranged; and no suspicion of any plot on our part will wound the sensitive pride of the boy, if he be, as I would gladly think, a true man."

      Such was, in a great manner, the train of thought in which the Rover indulged, for many minutes, after his military companion had left him. His lips moved; smiles, and dark shades of thought,