Varney the Vampire 2(30)

 

"I hope you won't suffer from any of these nocturnal visits," said Henry.

 

"I don't much care about them; but old Admiral Bell don't strike his colours to an enemy, however ugly he may look. No, no; it must be a better craft than his own that'll take him; and one who won't run away, but that will grapple yard-arm and yard-arm, you know."

 

"Why, admiral, you must have seen many dangers in your time, and be used to all kinds of disturbances and conflicts. You have had a life of experience."

 

"Yes; and experience has come pretty thick sometimes, I can tell you, when it comes in the shape of Frenchmen's broadsides."

 

"I dare say, then, it must be rather awkward."

 

"Death by the law," said the admiral, "to stop one of them with your head, I assure you. I dare not make the attempt myself, though I have often seen it done."

 

"I dare say; but here are Flora and my mother."

 

As he spoke, Flora and her mother entered the apartment.

 

"Well, admiral, we are all ready; and, though I may feel somewhat sorry at leaving the old Hall, yet it arises from attachment to the place, and not any disinclination to be beyond the reach of these dreadful alarms."

 

"And I, too, shall be by no means sorry," said Flora; "I am sure it is some gratification to know we leave a friend here, rather than some others, who would have had the place, if they could have got it, by any means."

 

"Ah, that's true enough, Miss Flora," said the admiral; "but we'll run the enemy down yet, depend upon it. But once away, you will be free from these terrors; and now, as you have promised, do not let yourselves be seen any where at all."

 

"You have our promises, admiral; and they shall be religiously kept, I can assure you."

 

"Boat, ahoy--ahoy!" shouted Jack.

 

"What boat?" said the admiral, surprised; and then he muttered, "Confound you for a lubber! Didn't I tell you to mind your bearings, you dog-fish you?"

 

"Ay, ay, sir--and so I did."

 

"You did."

 

"Yes, here they are. Squint over the larboard bulk-heads, as they call walls, and then atween the two trees on the starboard side of the course, then straight ahead for a few hundred fathoms, when you come to a funnel as is smoking like the crater of Mount Vesuvius, and then in a line with that on the top of the hill, comes our boat."

 

"Well," said the admiral, "that'll do. Now go open the gates, and keep a bright look out, and if you see anybody near your watch, why douse their glim."

 

"Ay--ay, sir," said Jack, and he disappeared.

 

"Rather a lucid description," said Henry, as he thought of Jack's report to the admiral.

 

"Oh, it's a seaman's report. I know what he means; it's quicker and plainer than the land lingo, to my ears, and Jack can't talk any other, you see."

 

By this time the coach came into the yard, and the whole party descended into the court-yard, where they came to take leave of the old place.

 

"Farewell, admiral."

 

"Good bye," said the admiral. "I hope the place you are going to will be such as please you--I hope it will."

 

"I am sure we shall endeavour to be pleased with it, and I am pretty sure we shall."

 

"Good bye."

 

"Farewell, Admiral Bell," said Henry.

 

"You remember your promises?"

 

"I do. Good bye, Mr. Chillingworth."

 

"Good bye," said Mr. Chillingworth, who came up to bid them farewell; "a pleasant journey, and may you all be the happier for it."

 

"You do not come with us?"

 

"No; I have some business of importance to attend to, else I should have the greatest pleasure in doing so. But good bye; we shall not be long apart, I dare say."

 

"I hope not," said Henry.

 

The door of the carriage was shut by the admiral, who looked round, saying,--

 

"Jack--Jack Pringle, where are you, you dog?"

 

"Here am I," said Jack.

 

"Where have you been to?"

 

"Only been for pigtail," said Jack. "I forgot it, and couldn't set sail without it."

 

"You dog you; didn't I tell you to mind your bearings?"

 

"So I will," said Jack, "fore and aft--fore and aft, admiral."

 

"You had better," said the admiral, who, however, relaxed into a broad grin, which he concealed from Jack Pringle.

 

Jack mounted the coach-box, and away it went, just as it was getting dark. The old admiral had locked up all the rooms in the presence of Henry Bannerworth; and when the coach had gone out of sight, Mr. Chillingworth came back to the Hall, where he joined the admiral.