faction, or the man who hath injured you | pose yourself to-night, and, I promise you, shan't stay in our regiment.'

'I wish,' said Jones, it was possible to decide this matter to-night: now you have mentioned it to me, I shall not be able to rest.'

'Oh, never think of it,' returned the other: 'a few days will make no difference. The wounds of honour are not like those in your body: they suffer nothing by the delay of cure. It will be altogether as well for you to receive satisfaction a week hence as now.'

'But suppose,' says Jones, I should grow worse, and die of the consequences of my present wound.'

you shall have an opportunity of doing yourself justice.' Here he gave Jones a hearty buss, shook him by the hand, and took his leave.

But though the lieutenant's reasoning was very satisfactory to himself, it was not entirely so to his friend. Jones, therefore, having resolved this matter much in his thoughts, at last came to a resolution, which the reader will find in the next chapter.

CHAPTER XIV.

most dreadful chapter indeed: and which few readers ought to venture upon in an evening, especially when alone.

JONES Swallowed a large mess of chicken, or rather cock-broth, with a very good appetite, as indeed he would have done the cock it was made of, with a pound of bacon into the bargain; and now, finding in himself no deficiency of either health or spirit, he resolved to get up and seek his enemy.

Then your honour,' answered the lieu-A tenant, will require no reparation at all. I myself will do justice to your character, and testify to the world your intention to have acted properly, if you had recovered.' 'Still,' replied Jones, 'I am concerned at the delay. I am almost afraid to mention it to you who are a soldier; but, though I have been a very wild young fellow, still, in my most serious moments, and at the bottom, I am really a Christian.' 'So am I too, I assure you,' said the officer; and so zealous a one, that I was pleased with you at dinner for taking up the cause of your religion; and I am a little offended with you now, young gentleman, that you should express a fear of declaring your faith before any one.'

But first he sent for the sergeant, who was his first acquaintance among these military gentlemen. Unluckily, that worthy officer having, in a literal sense, taken his fill of liquor, had been some time retired to his bolster, where he was snoring so loud, that it was not easy to convey a noise in at his ears capable of drowning that which issued from his nostrils.

'But how terrible must it be,' cries Jones, 'to any one, who is really a Christian, to cherish malice in his breast, in opposi- However, as Jones persisted in his detion to the command of him who hath ex-sire of seeing him, a vociferous drawer at pressly forbid it? How can I bear to do this on a sick-bed? Or how shall I make up my account, with such an article as this in my bosom against me?'

length found means to disturb his slumbers, and to acquaint him with the message. Of which the sergeant was no sooner made sensible, than he arose from his bed, and "Why, I believe there is such a com- having his clothes already on, immediately mand,' cries the lieutenant; but a man attended. Jones did not think fit to acof honour can't keep it. And you must quaint the sergeant with his design; though be a man of honour, if you will be in the he might have done it with great safety, army. I remember I once put the case to for the halberdier was himself a man of our chaplain, over a bowl of punch, and honour, and had killed his man. He would, he confessed there was much difficulty in therefore, have faithfully kept this secret, it; but he said, he hoped there might be or indeed any other which no reward was a latitude granted to the soldiers in this one published for discovering. But as Jones instance; and to be sure it is our duty to knew not those virtues in so short an achope so; for who would bear to live with-quaintance, his caution was perhaps pruout his honour? No, no, my dear boy, be dent and commendable enough. a good Christian as long as you live; but He began, therefore, by acquainting the be a man of honour too, and never put up sergeant, that, as he was now entered into with an affront; not all the books, nor all the the army, he was ashamed of being withparsons in the world, shall ever persuade me out what was perhaps the most necessary to that. I love my religion very well, but implement of a soldier, namely, a sword; I love my honour more. There must be adding, that he should be infinitely obliged some mistake in the wording of the text, to him, if he could procure one. For or in the translation, or in the understand- which,' says he, 'I will give you any reaing it, or somewhere or other. But how-sonable price: nor do I insist upon its beever that be, a man must run the risk, for ing silver-hilted; only a good blade, and he must preserve his honour. So com-such as may become a soldier's thigh.'

The sergeant, who well knew what had happened, and had heard that Jones was in a very dangerous condition, immediately concluded, from such a message, at such a time of night, and from a man in such a situation, that he was light-headed. Now, as he had his wit, (to use that word in its common signification,) always ready, he bethought himself of making his advantage of this humour in the sick man. 'Sir,' says he, 'I believe I can fit you. I have a most excellent piece of stuff by me. It is not indeed silver-hilted, which, as you say, doth not become a soldier; but the handle is decent enough, and the blade one of the best in Europe. It is a blade that-a blade that-In short, I will fetch it to you this instant, and you shall see it and handle it. I am glad to see your honour so well, with all my heart.'

Being instantly returned with the sword, he delivered it to Jones, who took it and drew it; and then told the sergeant it would do very well, and bid him name his price.

The sergeant now began to harangue in praise of his goods. He said, (nay he swore very heartily,) that the blade was taken from a French officer, of very high rank, at the battle of Dettingen. I took it myself,' says he, from his side, after I had knocked him o' the head. The hilt was a golden one. That I sold to one of our fine gentlemen; for there are some of them, an't please your honour, who value the hilt of a sword more than the blade.'

Here the other stopped him, and begged him to name a price. The sergeant, who thought Jones absolutely out of his senses, and very near his end, was afraid, lest he should injure his family by asking too little. However, after a moment's hesitation, he contented himself with naming twenty guineas, and swore he would not sell it for less to his own brother.

officer's displeasure, by going without one myself. And truly, putting all this together, I don't think twenty shillings was so much out of the way.'

"Twenty shillings!' cries Jones; 'why you just now asked me twenty guineas.'How!' cries the sergeant; 'sure your honour must have mistaken me; or else I mistook myself-and indeed I am but half awake. Twenty guineas, indeed! no wonder your honour flew into such a passion. I say twenty guineas too. No, no, I mean twenty shillings, I assure you. And when your honour comes to consider every thing, I hope you will not think that so extravagant a price. It is indeed true, you may buy a weapon which looks as well for less money. But-'

Here Jones interrupted him, saying, 'I will be so far from making any words with you, that I will give you a shilling more than you demand.' He then gave him a guinea, bid him return to his bed, and wished him a good march; adding, he hoped to overtake them before the division reached Worcester.

The sergeant very civilly took his leave, fully satisfied with his merchandise, and not a little pleased with his dexterous recovery from that false step into which his opinion of the sick man's light-headedness had betrayed him.

As soon as the sergeant was departed, Jones rose from his bed, and dressed himself entirely, putting on even his coat, which, as its colour was white, showed very visibly the streams of blood which had flowed down it; and now, having grasped his new-purchased sword in his hand, he was going to issue forth, when the thought of what he was about to undertake laid suddenly hold of him, and he began to reflect that in a few minutes he might possibly deprive a human being of life, or might lose his own. 'Very well,' Twenty guineas!' says Jones, in the said he; and in what cause do I venture utmost surprise: 'sure you think I am mad, my life? Why, in that of my honour. And or that I never saw a sword in my life. who is this human being? A rascal, who Twenty guineas, indeed! I did not ima-hath injured and insulted me without progine you would endeavour to impose upon me. Here, take the sword-No, now I think on't, I will keep it myself, and show it your officer in the morning, acquainting him, at the same time, what a price you

asked me for it.'

vocation. But is not revenge forbidden by Heaven? Yes, but it is enjoined by the world. Well, but shall I obey the world in opposition to the express commands of Heaven? Shall I incur the divine displeasure rather than be called-ha coward-scoundrel?—I'll think no more; I am resolved, and must fight him.'

The sergeant, as we have said, had always his wits (in sensu prædicto) about him, and now plainly saw that Jones was The clock had now struck twelve, and not in the condition he had apprehended every one in the house were in their beds, him to be; he now, therefore, counterfeited except the sentinel who stood to guard as great surprise as the other had shown, Northerton, when Jones softly opening his and said, 'I am certain, sir, I have not door, issued forth in pursuit of his enemy, asked you so much out of the way. Be- of whose place of confinement he had sides, you are to consider, it is the only received a perfect description from the sword I have, and I must run the risk of my drawer. It is not easy to conceive a much

now blew out his candle, and gently stole back again to his chamber, and to his bed; whither he would not have been able to have gotten undiscovered, had any other person been on the same staircase, save

more tremendous figure than he now exhibited. He had on, as we have said, a light-coloured coat, covered with streams of blood. His face, which missed that very blood, as well as twenty ounces more drawn from him by the surgeon, was pal-only one gentleman, who was confined to lid. Round his head was a quantity of bandage, not unlike a turban. In the right hand he carried a sword, and in the left a candle. So that the bloody Banquo was not worthy to be compared to him. In fact, I believe a more dreadful apparition was never raised in a church-yard, nor in the imagination of any good people met in a winter evening over a Christmas fire in Somersetshire.

When the sentinel first saw our hero approach, his hair began gently to lift up his grenadier cap; and in the same instant his knees fell to blows with each other. Presently his whole body was seized with worse than an ague fit. He then fired his piece, and fell flat on his face.

Whether fear or courage was the occasion of his firing, or whether he took aim at the object of his terror, I cannot say. If he did, however, he had the good fortune to miss his man.

his bed by the gouts for before he could reach the door to his chamber, the hall where the sentinel had been posted was half full of people, some in their shirts, and others not half dressed, all very earnestly inquiring of each other what was the matter.

The soldier was now found lying in the same place and posture in which we just now left him. Several immediately applied themselves to raise him, and some concluded him dead: but they presently saw their mistake; for he not only struggled with those who laid their hands on him, but fell a roaring like a bull. In reality, he imagined so many spirits or devils were handling him; for his imagination being possessed with the horror of an apparition, converted every object he saw or felt into nothing but ghosts and spectres.

At length he was overpowered by numbers, and got upon his legs; when candles Jones seeing the fellow fall, guessed the being brought, and seeing two or three of cause of his fright, at which he could not his comrades present, he came a little to forbear smiling, not in the least reflecting himself: but when they asked him what on the danger from which he had just was the matter? he answered, 'I am a escaped. He then passed by the fellow, dead man, that's all; I am a dead man, I who still continued in the posture in which can't recover it, I have seen him.'- What he fell, and entered the room where North- hast thou seen, Jack?' says one of the solerton, as he had heard, was confined.-diers. Why, I have seen the young voHere, in a solitary situation, he found-an lunteer that was killed yesterday." He empty quart pot, standing on the table, on which some beer being spilt, it looked as if the room had lately been inhabited; but at present it was entirely vacant.

Jones then apprehended it might lead to some other apartment; but, upon searching all round it, he could perceive no other door than that at which he entered, and where the sentinel had been posted. He then proceeded to call Northerton several times by his name; but no one answered: nor did this serve to any other purpose than to confirm the sentinel in his terrors, who was now convinced that the volunteer was dead of his wounds, and that his ghost was come in search of the murderer. He now lay in all the agonies of horror; and I wish, with all my heart, some of those actors, who are hereafter to represent a man frighted out of his wits, had seen him, that they might be taught to copy nature, instead of performing several antic tricks and gestures, for the entertainment and applause of the galleries.

Perceiving the bird was flown, at least despairing to find him, and rightly apprehending that the report of the firelock would alarm the whole house, our hero

then imprecated the most heavy curses on himself, if he had not seen the volunteer, all over blood, vomiting fire out of his mouth and nostrils, pass by him into the chamber where Ensign Northerton was, and then seizing the ensign by the throat, fly away with him in a clap of thunder.

This relation met with a gracious reception from the audience. All the women present believed it firmly, and prayed Heaven to defend them from murder. Amongst the men, too, many had faith in the story; but others turned it into derision and ridicule; and a sergeant, who was present, answered very coolly: Young man, you will hear more of this, for going to sleep and dreaming on your post.

The soldier replied, 'You may punish me if you please; but I was as broad awake as I am now; and the devil carry me away, as he hath the ensign, if I did not see the dead man, as I tell you, with eyes as big and as firey as two large flambeaux.'

The commander of the forces, and the commander of the house, were now both arrived; for the former being awake at

pany; for the captain having quarrelled The bell still ringing violently, their miswith his lieutenant, had entrusted the pay-tress fell into a passion, and swore, if the ment of his company to his ensign. This drawer did not go up immediately, she money, however, he thought proper to de- would turn him away that very morning. posit in my landlady's hand, possibly by If you do, madam,' says he, 'I can't help way of bail or security that he would here- it. I won't do another servant's business." after appear and answer to the charge She then applied herself to the maid, and against him; but, whatever were the con- endeavoured to prevail by gentle means; ditions, certain it is, that she had the mo- but all in vain: Betty was an inflexible as ney, and the ensign his liberty. Joe. Both insisted it was not their business, and they would not do it.

The reader may perhaps expect, from the compassionate temper of this good wo- The lieutenant then fell a laughing, and man, that when she saw the poor sentinel said, 'Come, I will put an end to this contaken prisoner for a fact of which she knew tention;' and then turning to the servants, him innocent, she should immediately have commended them for their resolution in interposed in his behalf; but whether it not giving up the point; but added, he was that she had already exhausted all her was sure, if one would consent to go, the compassion in the above-mentioned in other would. To which proposal they stance, or that the features of this fellow, both agreed in an instant, and accordingly though not very different from those of the went up very lovingly and close together. ensign, could not raise it, I will not deter- When they were gone, the lieutenant apmine; but far from being an advocate for peased the wrath of the landlady, by satisthe present prisoner, she urged his guilt toying her why they were both so unwilling his officer, declaring, with uplifted eyes to go alone. and hands, that she would not have any concern in the escape of a murderer for all the world.

Every thing was now once more quiet, and most of the company returned again to their beds; but the landlady, either from the natural activity of her disposition, or from her fear for her plate, having no propensity to sleep, prevailed with the officers, as they were to march within little more than an hour, to spend that time with her over a bowl of punch.

Jones had lain awake all this while, and had heard a great part of the hurry and bustle that had passed, of which he had now some curiosity to know the particulars. He therefore applied to his bell, which he rung at least twenty times without any effect: for my landlady was in such high mirth with her company, that no clapper could be heard there but her own; and the drawer and chambermaid, who were sitting together in the kitchen, (for neither durst he sit up, nor she lie in bed alone,) the more they heard the bell ring, the more they were frightened, and as it were, nailed down to their places.

At last, at a lucky interval of chat, the sound reached the ears of our good landlady, who presently sent forth her summons, which both her servants instantly obeyed. 'Joe,' says the mistress, don't you hear the gentleman's bell ring? Why don't you go up? It is not my business,' answered the drawer, to wait upon the chambers, it is Betty Chambermaid's.'-'If you come to that,' answered the maid, it is not my business to wait upon gentle

men.

I have done it, indeed, sometimes; but the devil fetch me if ever I do again, since you make your preambles about it.'

They returned soon after, and acquainted their mistress, that the sick gentleman was so far from being dead, that he spoke as heartily as if he was well; and that he gave his service to the captain, and should be very glad of the favour of seeing him before he marched.

The good lieutenant immediately complied with his desires, and sitting down by his bed-side, acquainted him with the scene which had happened below, concluding with his intentions to make an example of the sentinel.

Upon this Jones related to him the whole truth, and earnestly begged him not to punish the poor soldier, who, I am confident,' says he, is as innocent of the ensign's escape, as he is of forging any lie, or of endeavouring to impose on you.'

The lieutenant hesitated a few moments, and then answered: Why, as you have cleared the fellow of one part of the charge, so it will be impossible to prove the other; because he was the only sentinel. But I have a good mind to punish the rascal for being a coward. Yet who knows what effect the terror of such an apprehension may have? And, to say the truth, he hath always behaved well against an enemy. Come, it is a good thing to see any sign of religion in these fellows; so I promise you he shall be set at liberty when we march. But hark, the general beats. My dear boy, give me another buss. Don't discompose nor hurry yourself; but remember the christian doctrine of patience, and, I warrant, you will soon be able to do yourself justice, and to take an honourable revenge on the fellow who hath injured you. The lieutenant then departed, and Jones endeavoured to compose himself to rest.