Snarleyyow; or, the Dog Fiend, by the author of " Peter Simple," &c. 1, 68, 138, 189, 253, 315 137 251 278 283 358 358 THE METROPOLITAN. No. LXIII. FOR JULY, 1836. SNARLEYYOW; OR, THE DOG FIEND.* | against the life of King William. AN HISTORICAL NOVEL. BY CAPT. MARRYAT. CHAPTER VIII. The whole of which has been fudged out of the History of England, and will therefore be quite new to the majority of our readers. WERE we in want of materials for this eventful history, we have now a good opportunity for spinning out our volumes; but, so far from this being the case, we hardly know how to find space for what it is now absolutely necessary that the reader should be acquainted with. Our friends may probably recollect, when we remind them of the fact, that there was a certain king, James II., who sat upon our throne, and who was a very good Catholic-that he married his daughter, Mary, to one William of Orange, who, in return for James's kindness in giving him his daughter, took away from him his kingdom, on the plea, that if he was a bad son-in-law, at all events, he was a sound Protestant. They may also recollect, that the exiled king was received most hospitably by the grand monarque, Louis XIV., who gave him palaces, money, and all that he required, and, moreover, gave him a fine army and fleet to go to Ireland and recover his kingdom, bidding him farewell with this equivocal sentence, "That the best thing he, Louis, could wish to him was, never to see his face again." They may further recollect, that King James and King William met at the battle of the Boyne, in which the former was defeated, and then went back to St. Germains and spent the rest of his life in acts of devotion and plotting Now, among other plots real and pretended, there man, of high family, and well connected. Sir George Barclay was by birth a ScotchHe had been an officer in the army of King James, to whom he was strongly attached. Moreover, he was a very bigoted Catholic. Whether he ever received a commission from King James, authorizing him to assassinate King William, has never been proved; but, as King James is well known to have been admitted into the order of the Jesuits, it is not at all unlikely. Certain it is, that the baronet went over to St. Germains, landed again in England, and would have made the attempt, had not the plot been discovered through some of the inferior accomplices; and it is equally sure that he escaped, although many others were hung-and few people knew what had become of him. The fact was, that when Barclay had fled to the sea-side, he was assisted over the water by a band of smugglers, who first concealed him in the cave we have described, which was their retreat. This led to a communication and arrangement with them. Sir George Barclay, who, although foiled in his attempt 66 upon the usurper and betrayer of his wife's father, by exposing and magnifying, indeed, the sums of money which he has lavished upon his courtesan, Mistress Villiers, now, by his heretic and unsanctified breath, raised into the peerage by the title of Countess of Orkney. All these items added together, form a vast sum of discontent, and could we self to assert once more his rights by force of arms, I should not fear for the result." "Had I not been betrayed," observed Sir Robert, musing, "before this the king would have had his own again.” at assassination, never abandoned the cause, | "To my thoughts, good father there needimmediately perceived what advantages might ed not further discontent. Have we not our be derived in keeping up a communication king dethroned, and our holy religion perby means of these outlaws. For some time secuted?" the smugglers were employed in carrying True, my son-true; but still we must despatches to the friends of James in Eng- lose no means by which we may increase land and Scotland; and as the importance of the number of our adherents. Some are the correspondence increased, and it became swayed by one feeling, and some by another. necessary to have personal interviews instead We have contrived to throw no small odium of written communications, Sir Gorge frequently passed over to the cave as a rendezvous, at which he might meet the adherents of the exiled king. In the course of time he saw the prudence of having the entire control of the band, and found little difficulty in being appointed their leader. For the means he obtained from St. Germains, the smuggling was now carried on to a great and persuade his Catholic majesty to rouse him. very profitable extent; and, by the regulations which he enacted, the chance of discovery was diminished. Only one point more was requisite for safety and secrecy, which was, a person to whom he could confide the charge of the cave. Lady Barclay, who was equally warm in the cause, offered her services, and they were accepted; and at the latter end of the year 1696, about one year after the plot had failed, Lady Barclay, with her only child, took up her abode in this isolated domicile: Sir George then first making the arrangement that the men should always remain on the other side of the water, which "The woman, Corbett is of that opinion, would be an additional cause of security. and she is subtle. At all events, it can be For upwards of four years, Lady Barclay tried; for he would be of much utility, and had remained an inmate, attending to the in- there would be no suspicion. The whole struction of her little Lilly, and carrying on had better be left to her management. We all the correspondence, and making all the may employ, and pay, yet not trust him." necessary arrangements with vigor and address, satisfied with serving the good cause, and proving her devoted allegiance to her sovereign. Unfortunate and unwise as were the Stuart family, there must have been some charm about them, for they had instances of attachment and fidelity shown to them, of which no other line of kings could boast. Shortly after the tragical event recorded in the last chapter, the Jesuit came out of the cave and went up to Sir George, who cooly observed, "We have just been sending a traitor to his account, good father." "So may they all perish," replied the priest. “We start this evening?” "Certainly. What news have you from St Germains?" "Much that is important. Discontent prevails throughout the country. The affair of "And thrice blest would have been the arm that had laid the usurper low," rejoined the Jesuit; "but more of this hereafter. Your lady hath had much converse with me. She thinks that the character of the man who commands that cutter, is such as to warrant his services for gold-and wishes to essay him." "That is exactly what Lady Alice has proposed," replied the Jesuit. Here Lilly came out to tell her father that the morning meal was ready, and they all returned to the cave. That evening the boat was launched, and the Jesuit went over with Sir Robert, and landed at Cherbourg, from whence they both proceeded with all expedition to the court of King James. We have entered into this short detail, that the reader may just know the why and the wherefore these parties in the cave were introduced, and now we shall continue our most faithful and veracious history. CHAPTER XIX. black paint. Bishop Watson hath brought much odium on In which Smallbones is sent to look after a pot of the usurper. He himself writhes under the tyrannical commands of the Commons, and is at issue with them." "And in Scotland, father?” "All is there ripe and ready-and an army once landed, would be joined by thousands. The injustice of the usurper in wishing to sacrifice the Scotch Settlement, has worked deep upon the minds of those who advanced their money upon that speculation-in the total, a larger sum than ever yet was raised in Scotland. Our emissaries have fanned the flame up to the highest pitch." We must now return to the cutter, which still remains at anchor off the point in Portsmouth harbor. It is a dark, murky, blowing day, with gusts of rain and thick fog. Mr. Vanslyperken is more than usually displeased, for, as he had to wait for the new boat which he had demanded, he thought this a good opportunity of enlivening the bends of the Yungfrau with a little black paint-not before it was required, most certainly, for she was as rusty in appearance as if she had been built of old iron. But paint fetched | ed his boat to be manned, which was premoney, and as Mr. Vansly perken always sently done. Mr. Vanslyperken would have sold his, it was like parting with so much of given the world to have gone aft, and to have his own property, when he ordered up the looked over the stern, but he dared not; so, paint-pots and brushes. Now the operation pushing the men into the boat, he slipped in, of beautifying the Yungfrau had been com- and was pulled on shore. Without giving menced the day before, and the unexpected any directions to the men he stepped out, change in the weather during the night, had and felt a relief when he found himself on washed off the greater portion of the paint, terra firma. He walked away as fast as he and there was not only all the trouble, but could -he felt that he could not walk fast all the expense, to be incurred again. No enough-he was anxious to arrive at his mowonder that Mr. Vanslyperken was in a bad ther's. The rain fell fast, but he thought humor-not only in a bad humor, but in the not of his umbrella, it remained under his very worst of humors. He had made up his arm, and Mr. Vanslyperken, as if he was mind to go on shore to see his mother, and chased by a fiend, pushed on through the fog was pacing the quarter-deck in his great coat, and rain; he wanted to meet a congenial with his umbrella under his arm, all ready soul, one who would encourage, console him, to be unfurled as soon as he was on shore. ridicule his fears, and applaud the deed He was just about to order his boat to be which he would just then have given the manned: Mr. Vanslyperken looked up at the world to have recalled. weather-the fog was still thick, and the rain Where could he seek one more fitted to the fell. You could not even make out the purpose than his mother? The door of the houses on the point. The wind had gone house where she lodged was common to down considerably. Mr. Vansly perken look-many, and therefore opened with a latch. ed over the gunnel-the damage was even He went in, and up stairs, tried the door of greater than he thought. He looked over his mother's room, and found it fastened the stern, there was the stage still hanging within. He knocked, heard the grumbling where the parties had been standing or sit- of the old woman at her being obliged to rise ting, and what was too bad, there was a pot from her chair: she opened the door, and of paint, with the brush in it, half full of rain- Vansly perken, as soon as he was in, slammed water, which some negligent person had left it to, and, exhausted with his emotions, fell there. Mr. Vanslyperken turned forward to back in a chair. call somebody to take the paint below, but the decks were empty, and it was growing dark. A sudden thought, instigated no doubt by the devil, filled the brain of Mr. Vanslyperken. It was a glorious, golden opportutunity, not to be lost. He walked forward, and went down into his cabin again, where he found Smallbones helping himself to biscuit, for the lad was hungry, as well he might be; but on this occasion Mr. Vanslyperken took no notice. "Smallbones," said he, "one of the men has left his paint-pot on the stage, under the stern, go and bring it in immediately." "Yes, sir," replied Smallbones, surprised at the unusually quiet style of his master's address to him. Smallbones ran up the ladder, went aft, and slid down by the rope which held the plank used as a stage by the painters. Mr. Van a slyperken seized his carving knife, and following softly on deck, went aft. He took a hurried look forward, there was no one on deck. For a moment he hesitated at the crime; he observed the starboard rope shake, for Smallbones was just about to shin up again. The devil prevailed. Mr. Vanslyperken sawed through the rope, heard the splash of the lad in the water, and, frightened at his own guilt, ran down below, and gained his cabin. There he seated himself, trembling like an aspen leaf. It was the first time that he had been a murderer. He was pale as ashes. He fell sick, and he staggered to his cupbord, poured out a tumbler of scheedam, and drank it off at a draught. This recovered him, and he again felt brave. He returned on deck, and order. 66 Hey day! and what's the matter now?" cried the old woman, in Dutch; "one would think that you had been waylaid, robbed, and almost murdered.” "Murdered!" stammered Vanslyperken; "yes-it was murder." "What was murder, my child?" replied the old woman, reseating herself. "Did I say murder, mother?" said Vanslyperken, wiping the blended rain and perspiration from his brow with a cotton handkerchief. "Yes, you did, Cornelius Vanslyperken; not that I believe a craven like you would ever attempt such a thing.” "But I have, mother. I have done the deed," replied Vanslyperken. "You have!" cried his mother; "then at last you have done something, and I shall respect you. Come, come, child, cheer up, and tell me all about it. There is a slight twinge the first time-but the second is nothing. Did you get gold? Heh, my son, plenty of gold?" "Gold! no, no-I got nothing-indeed I lost by it-lost a pot full of black paint-but never mind that. He's gone," replied Vanslyperken, recovering himself fast. "Who is gone?” "The lad, Smallbones." plied the old woman, "and I'll not call you craven again." "I must go back," said Vanslyperken, starting up from his chair. "Go, child, it is late-and dream it over. Vengeance is sweet, even in sleep. I have had mine-and for years have I dwelt on it and shall for years to come. I shall not die yet-no, no." Vanslyperken quitted the house, the weather had cleared up, the breeze was fresh and piercing, and the stars twinkled every now and then, as the wild scud which flew across the heavens admitted them to view. Vanslyperken walked fast-he started at the least sound-he hurried by every one whom he met, as if fearful to be recognised-he felt relieved when he had gained the streets of Portsmouth, and he at last arrived at the point, but there was no cutter's boat, for he had given no orders. He was therefore obliged to hire one to go on board. The old man whom he had engaged shoved into the stream; the tide was running in rapidly. "A cold night, sir," observed the man. "Yes," replied Vanslyperken, mechanically. "And a strong tide, with the wind to back it. He'd have but a poor chance, who fell overboard such a night as this. The strongest swimmer, without help, would be soon in eternity." Vanslyperken shuddered. Where was Smallbones at this moment? and then, the mention of eternity! "Silence, man, silence!" said Vanslyper ken. 66 Hope no offence, Mr. Lieutenant," replied the man, who knew who his fare was. The boat pulled alongside of the Yungfrau, and Vanslyperken paid his unusual fare, and stepped on the deck. He went down below, and had the precaution to summon Smallbones to bring lights aft. The word was passed along the lower deck, and Vanslyperken sat down in the dark, awaiting the report that Smallbones could not be found. Snarleyyow went up to his master, and rubbed his cold nose against his hand, and then, for the first time, it occurred to Vanslyperken, that in his hurry to leave the vessel, he had left the dog to the mercy of his enemies. During the time that Vansly perken waited for the report of the lights, he passed over in his mind the untoward events which had taken place, the loss of the widow's good will, the loss of Corporal Van Spitter, who was adrift in the Zuyder Zee, the loss of five thousand pounds through the dog, and, strange to say, what vexed him more, the loss of the dog's eye; and when he thought of all these things, his heart was elated, and he rejoiced in the death of Smallbones, and no longer felt any compunction. But a light is coming aft, and Vanslyperken is waiting the anticipated report. It is a solitary purser's dip, as they are termed at sea, emitting but feeble rays, and Vanslyperken's eyes are directed to the door of the cabin to see who it is who carries it. To his horror, his dismay, it is brought in by the drowned Smallbones, who, with a cadaverous, and, as he supposes, unearthly face and vacant look, drawls out, "It's a-blowed out twice, sir, with the wind." Vanslyperken started up, with his eyes glaring and fixed. There could be no mistake. It was the apparition of the murdered lad, and he fell back in a state of unconsciousness. "You've a-got it this time," said Smallbones, chuckling as he bent over the body of the lieutenant with his purser's dip, and perceived that he was in a state of insensibility. At Had Mr. Vanslyperken had the courage to look over the stern of the cutter when he reascended on the deck, he would have discovered Smallbones hanging on by the rudder chains; for had the fog not been so thick, Mr. Vanslyperken would have perceived that at the time that he cut smallbones adrift it was slack water, and the cutter was lying across the harbor. Smallbones was not, therefore, carried away by the tide, but being a very fair swimmer, had gained the rudder chains without difficulty; but at the time that Smallbones was climbing up again by the rope, he had perceived the blade of the carving knife working at the rope, and was assured that Vansly perken was attempting his life. When he gained the rudder chains, he held on. first he thought of calling for assistance; but hearing Vanslyperken order his boat to be manned, the lad then resolved to wait a little longer, and allow his master to think that he was drowned. The result was as Smallbones intended. As soon as the lad saw the boat was out of hearing he called out most lustily, and was heard by those on board, and rescued from his cold immersion. He answered no questions which were put to him till he had changed his clothing and recovered himself, and then with great prudence summon. ed a council, composed of Short, Coble, and Jemmy Ducks, to whom he narrated what had taken place. A long consultation succeeded, and at last it was agreed that Smallbones should make his appearance as he did, and future arrangements to be taken according to circumstances. As soon as Smallbones had ascertained the situation of his master, he went forward and reported it to Dick Short, who with Coble came aft in the cabin. Short looked at Vanslyperken. "Conscience," said Short. "And a d- d bad un too,” replied Coble, hitching up his trowsers. "What's to be done, Short?" 66 Nothing," replied Short. "Just my idea," replied Coble; "let him come to if he pleases, or die and be d—d. Who cares?" "Nobody," replied Short. 66 My eyes, but he must have been frightened," said Smallbones, "for he has left the key in the cupboard. I'll see what's in it for once and away." Snarleyyow, when Smallbones opened the cupboard, appeared to have an intuitive idea that he was trespassing, so he walked out growling from under the table; Short salut |