door; an usher marshalled us, standing, round the tables; and a priest read grace. As he began to read, a strange sensation came upon me. I felt impelled to look across to the opposite table, and there . . . yes, by Heaven! there I saw Gasparo. He was looking full at me, but his eyes dropped on meeting mine. I saw him turn lividly white. The recollection of all he had made me suffer, and of the dastardly blow that he had dealt me on the day of our flight, overpowered for the moment even my surprise at seeing him in this place. Oh that I might live to meet him yet, under the free sky, where no priest was praying, and no guards were by! The grace over, we sat down, and fell to. Not even anger had power to blunt the edge of of us were detached and posted ready for work. I was detached about half way up, and I saw Gasparo going higher still. When we were all posted, the superintendents came round and gave us our instructions. At a given signal, every man was to pass out through the loophole or window before which he was placed, and seat himself astride upon a narrow shelf of wood hanging to a strong rope just below. This rope came through the window, was wound round a roller, and secured from within. At the next signal, a lighted torch would be put into his right hand, and he was to grasp the rope firmly with his left. At the third signal, the rope was to be unwound from within by an assistant placed there for the purpose, he was to be allowed to slide rapidly down, over the curve of the dome, and, while thus sliding, was to apply his torch to every lamp he passed in his downward progress. Having received these instructions, we waited, each man at his window, until the first signal should be given. my appetite just then. I ate like a famishing wolf, and so did most of the others. We were allowed no wine, and the doors were locked upon us, that we might not procure any elsewhere. It was a wise regulation, considering the task we had to perform; but it made us none the less noisy. Under certain circumstances, danger It was fast getting dark, and the silver illu. intoxicates like wine; and on this Easter Sun-mination had been lighted since seven. All the day, we eighty sanpietrini, any one of whom great ribs of the dome, as far as I could see; all might have his brains dashed about the leads the cornices and friezes of the façade below; all before supper-time, ate, talked, jested, and the columns and parapets of the great colonnade laughed, with a wild gaiety that had in it some- surrounding the piazza four hundred feet below, thing appalling. were traced out in lines of paper lanterns, the light from which, subdued by the paper, gleamed with a silvery fire which had a magical and wondrous look. Between and among these lanternoni, were placed, at different intervals all over the cathedral on the side facing the piazza, iron cups called padelle, ready filled with tallow and turpentine. To light those on the dome and cupola, was the perilous task of the sanpietrini; when they were all lighted, the golden illumination would be effected. The dinner lasted long, and when no one seemed disposed to eat more, the tables were cleared. Most of the men threw themselves on the floor and benches, and went to sleep; Gasparo among the number. Seeing this, I could refrain no longer. I went over, and stirred him roughly with my foot. Gasparo! You know me?" He looked up, sullenly. "Devil's mass! I thought you were at Toulon." "It is not your fault that I am not at Toulon! Listen to me. If you and I survive | this night, you shall answer to me for your treachery!" He glared at me from under his deep brows, and, without replying, turned over on his face again, as if to sleep. Ecco un maladetto!" (There's an accursed fellow!), said one of the others, with a significant shrug, as I came away. "Do you know anything of him ?" I asked, eagerly. Cospetto! I know nothing of him; but that solitude is said to have made him a Wolf." A few moments of intense suspense elapsed. At every second the evening grew darker, the lanternoni burned brighter, the surging hum of thousands in the piazza and streets below, rose louder to our ears. I felt the quickening breath of the assistant at my shoulder-I could almost hear the beating of my heart. Suddenly, like the passing of an electric current, the first signal flew from lip to lip. I got out, and crossed my legs firmly round the board-with the second signal, I seized the blazing torch-with the third, I felt myself launched, and, lighting every cup as I glided past, saw all the mountainous dome above and below me spring into lines of leaping flame. The clock was now striking I could learn no more, so I also stretched my-eight, and when the last stroke sounded, the whole self upon the floor, as far as possible from my enemy, and fell profoundly asleep, At seven, the guards roused those who still slept, and served each man with a small mug of thin wine. We were then formed into a double file, marched round by the back of the cathedral, and conducted up an inclined plane to the roof below the dome. From this point, a long series of staircases and winding passages carried us up between the double walls of the dome; and, at different stages in the ascent, a certain number cathedral was glowing in outlines of fire. A roar, like the roar of a great ocean, rose up from the multitude below, and seemed to shake the very dome against which I was clinging. I could even see the light upon the gazing faces, the crowd upon the bridge of St. Angelo, and the boats swarming along the Tiber. Having dropped safely to the full length of my rope, and lighted my allotted share of lamps, I was now sitting in secure enjoyment of this amazing scene. All at once, I felt the rope vibrate. I looked up, saw a man clinging by one hand to the iron rod supporting the padelle, and with the other. . . . Merciful Heaven! It was the Piedmontese firing the rope above me with his torch! I had no time for thought-I acted upon instinct. It was done in one fearful moment. I clambered up like a cat, dashed my torch full in the solitary felon's face, and grasped the rope an inch or two above the spot where it was burning! Blinded and baffled, he uttered a terrible cry, and dropped like a stone. Through all the roar of the living ocean below, I could hear the dull crash with which he came down upon the leaded roof-resounding through all the years that have gone by since that night, I hear it now! I had scarcely drawn breath, when I found myself being hauled up. The assistance came not a moment too soon, for I was sick and giddy with horror, and fainted as soon as I was safe in the corridor. The next day I waited on the amministratore, and told him all that had happened. My statement was corroborated by the vacant rope from which Gasparo had descended, and the burnt fragment by which I had been drawn up. The amministratore repeated my story to a prelate high in office; and while none, even of the sanpietrini, suspected that my enemy had come by his death in any unusual manner, the truth was whispered from palace to palace until it reached the Vatican. I received much sympathy, and such pecuniary assistance as enabled me to confront the future without fear. Since that time my fortunes have been various, and I have lived in many countries. IV. PICKING UP WAIFS AT SEA. SOME little time elapsed, after the French gentleman's narrative was over, before any more visitors made their appearance. At last, there sauntered in slowly a light-haired melancholy man; very tall, very stout; miserably dressed in cast-off garments; carrying a carpenter's basket, and looking as if he never expected any such windfall of luck as a chance of using the tools inside it. Surveying Mr. Traveller with watery light-blue eyes, this dismal individual explained (in better language than might have been expected from his personal appearance) that he was in search of work; and that, finding none, he had come in to stare at Mr. Mopes for want of anything better to do. His name was Heavysides; his present address was the Peal of Bells down in the village; if Mr. Traveller had the means of putting a job in his hands, he would be thankful for the same; if not, he would ask leave to sit down and rest himself agreeably by looking at Mr. Mopes. Leave being granted, he sat down, and stared to his heart's content. He was not astonished, as the artist had been; he was not complacently impenetrable to surprise, like the Frenchmanhe was simply curious to know why the Hermit had shut himself up. "When he first skewered that blanket round him, what had he got to complain of?" asked Heavysides. "Whatever his grievance is, I could match it, I think." "Could you?" said Mr. Traveller. "By all means let us hear it." There has never yet been discovered a man with a grievance, who objected to mention it. The carpenter was no exception to this general human rule. He entered on his grievance, without a moment's hesitation, in these words: vour, at starting, if you will compose your SHALL consider it in the light of a personal spirits to hear a pathetic story, and if you will kindly picture me in your own mind as a baby five minutes old. Do I understand you to say that I am too big and too heavy to be pictured in anybody's mind as a baby? Perhaps I may be--but don't mention my weight again, if you please. My weight has been the grand misfortune of my life. It spoilt all my prospects (as you will presently hear) before I was two days old. My story begins thirty-one years ago, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon; and starts with the great mistake of my first appearance in this world, at sea, on board the merchant ship Adventure, Captain Gillop, five hundred tons burden, coppered, and carrying an experienced surgeon. In presenting myself to you (which I am now about to do) at that eventful period of my life, when I was from five to ten minutes old; and in withdrawing myself again from your notice (so as not to trouble you with more than a short story), before the time when I cut my first tooth, I need not hesitate to admit that I speak on hearsay knowledge only. It is knowledge, however, that may be relied on, for all that. My information comes from Captain Gillop, commander of The Adventure (who sent it to me in the form of a letter); from Mr. Jolly, experienced surgeon of The Adventure (who wrote it for me-most unfeelingly, as I think-in the shape of a humorous narrative); and from Mrs. Drabble, stewardess of The Adventure (who told it me by word of mouth). Those three persons were, in various degrees, spectators-I may say, astonished spectators of the events which I have now to relate. The Adventure, at the time I speak of, was bound out from London to Australia. I suppose you know, without my telling you, that thirty years ago was long before the time of the gold-finding and the famous clipper ships. Building in the new colony, and sheep farming far up inland, were the two main employments of those days; and the passengers on board our vessel were consequently builders or sheepfarmers, almost to a man. A ship of five hundred tons, well loaded with cargo, doesn't offer first-rate accommodation to a large number of passengers. Not that the gentlefolks in the cabin had any great reason to complain. There, the passage-money, which was a good round sum, kept them what you call select. One or two berths, in this part of the ship, were even empty and going a begging, in consequence of there being only four cabin passengers. These are their names and descrip tions: not shown much sympathy for my troubles, I won't deny that his disposition was as good as his name. To this day, no amount of bad weather or hard work can upset Mr. Jolly's temper.) the morning of the ninety-first day. It had fallen to a dead calm again; and the ship was rolling about helpless with her head all round the compass, when Mr. Jolly (from whose unfeeling narrative I repeat all conversations, exactly as they passed) came on deck to the Mr. Sims, a middle-aged man, going out on captain, and addressed him in these words: a building speculation. Mr. Purling, a weakly "I've got some news that will rather surprise young gentleman, sent on a long sea-voyage for you," said Mr. Jolly, smiling and rubbing his the benefit of his health. Mr. and Mrs. Small-hands. (Although the experienced surgeon has child, a young married couple with a little independence, which Mr. Smallchild proposed to make a large one by sheep-farming. This gentleman was reported to the captain, as being very good company when on shore. But the sea altered him to a certain extent. When Mr. Smallchild was not sick, he was eating and drinking; and when he was not eating and drinking, he was fast asleep. He was perfectly patient and good-humoured, and wonderfully nimble at running into his cabin when the qualms took him on a sudden-but, as for his being good company, nobody heard him say ten words together all through the voyage. And no wonder. A man can't talk in the qualms; a man can't talk while he is eating and drinking; and a man can't talk when he is asleep. And that was Mr. Smallchild's life. As for Mrs. Smallchild, she kept her cabin from first to last. But you will hear more of her presently. These four cabin passengers, as I have already remarked, were well enough off for their accommodation. But the miserable people in the steerage-a poor place, at the best of times, on board The Adventure-were all huddled together, men and women and children, higgledy-piggledy, like sheep in a pen; except that they hadn't got the same quantity of fine fresh air to blow over them. They were artisans and farm-labourers who couldn't make it out in the old country. I have no information either of their exact numbers or of their names. It doesn't matter: there was only one family among them which need be mentioned particularly-namely, the family of the Heavysides. To wit, Simon Heavysides, intelligent and well educated, a carpenter by trade; Martha Heavysides, his wife; and seven little Heavysides, their unfortunate offspring.-My father and mother and brothers and sisters, did I understand you to say? Don't be in a hurry; I recommend you to wait a little before you make quite sure of that circumstance. Though I myself had not, perhaps strictly speaking-come on board when the vessel left London, my ill-luck, as I firmly believe, had shipped in The Adventure to wait for me-and decided the nature of the voyage accordingly. Never was such a miserable time known. Stormy weather came down on us from all points of the compass, with intervals of light baffling winds, or dead calms. By the time The Adventure had been three months out, Captain Gillop's naturally sweet temper began to get soured. I leave you to say whether it was likely to be much improved by a piece of news which reached him from the region of the cabin, on "If it's news of a fair wind coming," grumbled the captain, "that would surprise me, on board this ship, I can promise you!" "It's not exactly a wind coming," said Mr. Jolly. "It's another cabin passenger." The captain looked round at the empty sea, with the land thousands of miles away, and with not a ship in sight-turned sharply on the experienced surgeon-eyed him hard-changed colour suddenly-and asked what he meant. "I mean, there's a fifth cabin passenger coming on board," persisted Mr. Jolly, grinning from ear to ear-" -"introduced by Mrs. Smallchild —likely to join us, I should say, towards evening-size, nothing to speak of-sex, not known at present-manners and customs, probably squally." "Do you really mean it ?" asked the captain, backing away, and turning paler and paler. Yes; I do," answered Mr. Jolly, nodding hard at him. 66 Then, I'll tell you what," cried Captain Gillop, suddenly flying into a violent passion, "I won't have it! The infernal weather has worried me out of my life and soul alreadyand I won't have it! Put it off, Jolly-tell her there isn't room enough for that sort of thing on board my vessel. What does she mean by taking us all in in this way? Shameful! shameful!" No! no!" remonstrated Mr. Jolly. "Don't look at it in that light. It's her first child, poor thing. How should she know? Give her a little more experience, and I dare say "Where's her husband ?" broke in the captain, with a threatening look. I'll speak my mind to her husband, at any rate." Mr. Jolly consulted his watch before he answered. 66 Half-past eleven," he said. "Let me consider a little. It's Mr. Smallchild's regular time just now for squaring accounts with the sea. He'll have done in a quarter of an hour. In five minutes more, he'll be fast asleep. At one o'clock, he'll eat a hearty lunch, and go to sleep again. At half-past two, he'll square accounts as beforeand so on, till night. You'll make nothing of Mr. Smallchild, captain. Extraordinary man-wastes tissue, and repairs it again perpetually, in the most astonishing manner. If we are another month at sea, I believe we shall bring him into port totally comatose.-Hallo! What do you want ?" TOM TIDDLER'S GROUND. [December 12, 1861.3 23 you wait ashore till it was all over ?" asked the The steward's mate had approached the quar-penter's collar: the mild despair of the man ter deck while the doctor was speaking. Was melted him in spite of himself. it a curious coincidence? This man also was grinning from ear to ear, exactly like Mr. Jolly. "You're wanted in the steerage, sir," said the steward's mate to the doctor. taken bad, name of Heavysides." 66 A woman "Nonsense!" cried Mr. Jolly. "Ha! ha! ha! You don't mean-Eh ?" again. There's no end to it that I can see," "It's no use waiting, sir," remarked Simon. "In our line of life as soon as it's over, it begins "That's it, sir, sure enough," said the stew-meek consideration-"except the grave." ard's mate, in the most positive manner. said the miserable carpenter, after a moment's Jolly, coming up at that moment. we've got to do with on board this vessel-not Who's talking about the grave?" cried Mr. burials. Captain Gillop, this woman, Martha Heavysides, can't be left in your crowded "It's births steerage, in her present condition. She must be moved off into one of the empty berths-and the sooner the better, I can tell you!" Captain Gillop looked all round him, in silent desperation, lost his sea-legs for the first time these twenty years, staggered back till he was brought up all standing by the side of his own vessel, dashed his fist on the bulwark, and found language to express himself in, at the same moment. "This ship is bewitched," said the captain, wildly. "Stop!" he called out, recovering himself a little, as the doctor bustled away to the steerage. "Stop! If it's true, Jolly, send her husband here aft to me. Damme, I'll have it out with one of the husbands!" said the captain, shaking his fist viciously at the empty air. Ten minutes passed; and then, there came staggering towards the captain, tottering this way and that with the rolling of the becalmed vessel, a long, lean, melancholy, light-haired man, with a Roman nose, a watery blue eye, and a complexion profusely spotted with large brown freckles. This was Simon Heavysides, the intelligent carpenter, with the wife and the family of seven small children on board. "Őh! you're the man, are you?" said the cap tain. steerage passenger in one of his "state-rooms" litely-"very sorry that any inadvertence of mine 66 forward!" thundered the captain. The ship lurched heavily; and Simon Heavy-ported by three men. sides staggered away with a run to the opposite side of the deck, as if he preferred going straight overboard into the sea, to answering the captain's question. "You're the man-are you?" repeated the captain, following him, seizing him by the collar, and pinning him up fiercely against the bulwark. "It's your wife-is it? You infernal rascal! what do you mean by turning my ship into a Lying-In Hospital? You have committed an act of mutiny; or, if it isn't mutiny, it's next door to it. I've put a man in irons for less! I've more than half a mind to put you in irons! Hold up, you slippery lubber! What do you mean by bringing passengers I don't bargain for on board my vessel? What have you got say for yourself, before I clap the irons on to you pi Nothing, sir," answered Simon Heavysides, with the meekest connubial resignation in his looks and manners. you mentioned just now, sir," continued Simon, "As for the punishment "I wish to say-having seven children more than I know how to provide for, and an eighth coming to make things worse-I respectfully wish to say, sir, that my mind is in irons already; and I don't know as it will make much difference if you put my body in irons along with it." The captain mechanically let go of the car Jolly-Martha Heavysides appeared horizon- weather changed for the better. For once in a with the little group of male passengers on the quarter-deck, restored to his sweetest temper; and set them his customary example, after dinner, of smoking a cigar. "If this fine weather lasts, gentlemen," he said, " we shall make out very well with our meals up. here; and we shall have our two small extra cabin passengers christened on dry land in a week's time, if their mothers approve of it. How do you feel in your mind, sir, about your good lady?" have taken, to shake up Mr. Smallchild? And I don't doubt but what we ought to have the other husband handy, as a sort of polite attention under the circumstances. Pass the word forward, there, for Simon Heavysides. Mr. Smallchild, sir! rouse up! Here's your good lady-Hang me, gentlemen, if I know exactly how to put it to him." "Yes. Thank you," said Mr. Smallchild, opening his eyes drowsily. "Biscuit and cold bacon, as usual-when I'm ready. I'm not ready yet. Thank you. Good afternoon." Mr. Smallchild closed his eyes again, and became, in the doctor's phrase, "totally comatose.” Before Captain Gillop could hit on any new plan for rousing this imperturbable passenger, Simon Heavysides once more approached the quarter-deck. Mr. Smallchild (to whom the inquiry was addressed) had his points of external personal resemblance to Simon Heavysides. He was neither so tall, nor so lean certainly-but he, too, had a Roman nose, and light hair, and watery blue eyes. With careful reference to his peculiar habits at sea, he had been placed conveniently close to the bulwark, and had been "I spoke a little sharp to you, just now, my raised on a heap of old sails and cushions, so man," said the captain, "being worried in my that he could easily get his head over the ship's mind by what's going on on board this vessel. side when occasion required. The food and But I'll make it up to you, never fear. Here's drink which assisted in "restoring his tissue," your wife in, what they call, an interesting situawhen he was not asleep and not "squaring action. It's only right you should be within casy counts with the sea," lay close to his hand. It hail of her. I look upon you, Heavysides, as a was then a little after three o'clock; and the steerage-passenger in difficulties; and I freely snore with which Mr. Smallchild answered the give you leave to stop here along with us till captain's inquiry showed that he had got round it's all over." again, with the regularity of clockwork, to the period of the day when he recruited himself with sleep. "What an insensible blockhead that man is!" said Mr. Sims, the middle-aged passenger; looking across the deck contemptuously at Mr. Smallchild. "If the sca had the same effect on you that it has on him," retorted the invalid passenger, Mr. Purling, "you would be just as insensible yourself." Mr. Purling (who was a man of sentiment) disagreed with Mr. Sims (who was a man of business), on every conceivable subject, all through the voyage. Before, however, they could continue the dispute about Mr. Smallchild, the doctor surprised them by appearing from the cabin. "Any news from below, Jolly?" asked the captain, anxiously. None whatever," answered the doctor. "I've come to idle the afternoon away up here, along with the rest of you." As events turned out, Mr. Jolly idled away an hour and a half exactly. At the end of that time, Mrs. Drabble the stewardess appeared with a face of mystery, and whispered nervously to the doctor: "Please to step below directly, sir." "Which of them is it ?" asked Mr. Jolly. "Both of them," answered Mrs. Drabble, emphatically. "You are very good, sir," said Simon; "and I am indeed thankful to you and to these gentlemen. But, please to remember, I have seven children already in the steerage-and there's nobody left to mind 'em but me. My wife has got over it uncommonly well, sir, on seven previous occasions-and I don't doubt but what she'll conduct herself in a similar manner on the eighth. It will be a satisfaction to her mind, Captain Gillop and gentlemen, if she knows I'm out of the way, and minding the children. For which reason, I respectfully take my leave." With those words, Simon made his bow, and returned to his family. "Well, gentlemen, these two husbands take it easy enough, at any rate!" said the captain. "One of them is used to it, to be sure; and the other is--' Here a banging of cabin doors below, and a hurrying of footsteps, startled the speaker and his audience into momentary silence and attention. "Ease her with the helm, Williamson!" said Captain Gillop, addressing the man who was steering the vessel. "In my opinion, gentlemen, the less the ship pitches the better, in the turn things are taking now." The afternoon wore on into evening, and evening into night. Mr. Smallchild performed the daily ceremonies of his nautical existence as punctually as usual. He was aroused to a sense of Mrs. Smallchild's situation when he took his biscuit and bacon; lost the sense again when the time came round for "squaring his accounts;" recovered it in the interval which ensued before he went to sleep; lost it 'I suppose, gentlemen," said Captain Gillop, again, as a matter of course, when his eyes addressing Mr. Purling, Mr. Sims, and the first closed once more-and so on through the evenmate, who had just joined the party, "I sup-ing and early night. Simon Heavysides received pose it's only fit and proper, in the turn things messages occasionally (through the captain's The doctor looked grave; the stewardess looked frightened. The two immediately disappeared together. |