Tom Burke Of "Ours" Volume I Part 10

Here Darby took from the lining of his hat a bunch of orange ribbon, whose faded glories showed it had done long and active service in the cause of loyalty.

I confess Darby's influence over me did not gain any accession of power by this honest avowal of his political expediency; and the bold a.s.sertion of a nation's wrongs, by which at first he won over my enthusiasm, seemed sadly at variance with this truckling policy. He was quicksighted enough to perceive what was pa.s.sing in my mind, and at once remarked,--

"'Tis a hard part we're obliged to play, Master Tom; but one comfort we have,--it 's only a short time we 'll need it. You know the song? "Here he broke into the popular tune of the day:--

"'And the French will come again, Says the Shan van vaugh; And they 'll bring ten thousand men.

Says the Shan van vaugh; And with powder and with ball, For our rights we 'll loudly call: Don't you think they 'll hear us then!

Says the Shan van vaugh.'

Ye must larn that air, Master Tom. And see, now, the yeos is as fond of it as the boys; only remember to put their own words to it,--and devil a harm in that same when one 's not in earnest. See, now, I believe it 's a natural pleasure for an Irishman to be humbugging somebody; and faix, when there 's n.o.body by he 'd rather be taking a rise out of himself than doing nothing. It 's the way that 's in us, G.o.d help us! Sure it 's that same makes us sich favorites with the ladies, and gives us a kind of native janius for coortin':

"''T is the look of his eye, And a way he can sigh, Makes Paddy a darlin' wherever he goes; With a sugary brogue.

Ye 'd hear the rogue Cheat the girls before their nose.'

And why not? Don't they like to be chated, when they 're sure to win after all,--to win a warm heart and a stout arm to fight for them?"

This species of logic I give as a specimen of Mister M'Keown's power of, if not explaining away a difficulty, at least getting out of all reach of it,--an attribute almost as Irish as the cause it was 'employed to defend.

As we journeyed along, Darby maintained a strict reserve as to the event which had required his presence in Athlone; nor did he allude to the mayor but pa.s.singly, observing that he did n't know how it happened that a Dublin magistrate should have come up to these parts,--"though, to be sure, he 's a great friend of the Right Honorable."

"And who is he?" asked I.

"The Right Honorable! Don't you know, then? Why, I did n't think there was a child in the county could n't tell that. Sure, it 's Denis Browne himself."

The name seemed at once to suggest a whole flood of recollections; and Darby expatiated for hours long on the terrible power of a man by whose hands life and death were distributed, without any aid from judge or jury,--thus opening to me another chapter of the lawless tyranny to which he was directing my attention, and by which he already saw my mind was greatly influenced.

About an hour after daybreak we arrived at a small cabin; which served as a lockhouse on the ca.n.a.l side. It needed not the cold, murky sky, nor the ceaseless pattering of the rain, to make this place look more comfortless and miserable than anything I had ever beheld. Around, for miles in extent, the country was one unbroken flat, without any trace of wood, or even a single thorn hedge, to relieve the eye. Low, marshy meadows, where the rank flaggers and reedy gra.s.s grew tall and luxuriant, with here and there some stray patches of tillage, were girt round by vast plains of bog, cut up into every variety of trench and pit. The cabin itself, though slated and built of stone, was in bad repair; the roof broken in many places, and the window mended with pieces of board, and even straw. As we came close. Darby remarked that there was no smoke from the chimney, and that the door was fastened on the outside.

"That looks bad," said he, as he stopped short about a dozen paces from the hovel, and looked steadily at it; "they've taken him too!"

"Who is it, Darby?" said I; "what did he do?"

M'Keown paid no attention to my question, but unfastening the hasp, which attached the door without any padlock, entered. The fire was yet alive on the hearth, and a small stool drawn close to it showed where some one had been sitting. There was nothing unusual in the appearance of the cabin; the same humble furniture and cooking utensils lying about as were seen in any other. Darby, however, scrutinized everything most carefully, looking everywhere and into everything; till at last, reaching his hand above the door, he pulled out from the straw of the thatch a small piece of dirty and crumpled paper, which he opened with the greatest care and attention, and then flattening it out with his hand, began to read it over to himself, his eye flashing and his cheek growing redder as he pored over it. At last he broke silence with,--

"'T is myself never doubted ye, Tim, my boy. Look at that, Master Tom.

But sure, you wouldn't understand it, after all. The yeos took him up last night. 'T is something about cutting the ca.n.a.l and attacking the boat that 's again' him; and he left that there--that bit of paper--to give the boys courage that he wouldn't betray them' That 's the way the cause will prosper,--if we 'll only stick by one another. For many a time, when they take a man up, they spread it about that he's turned informer against the rest; and then the others gets careless, and don't mind whether they're taken or not."

Darby replaced the piece of paper carefully; and then, listening for a moment, exclaimed,--"I hear the boat coming; let's wait for it outside."

While he employed himself in getting his pipes into readiness, I could not help ruminating on the strength of loyalty to one another the poor people observed amid every temptation and every seduction; how, in the midst of such misery as theirs, neither threats nor bribery seemed to influence them, was a strong testimony in favor of their truth, and, to such a reasoner as I was, a no less cogent argument for the goodness of the cause that elicited such virtues.

As the boat came alongside, I remarked that the deck was without a pa.s.senger. Heaps of trunks and luggage littered it the entire way; but the severity of the weather had driven every one under cover, except the steersman and the captain, who, both of them wrapped up in thick coats of frieze, seemed like huge bears standing on their hindquarters.

"How are you, Darby?" shouted the skipper. "Call out that lazy rascal to open the lock."

"I don't think he's at home, sir," said Darby, as innocently as though he knew nothing of the reason for his absence.

"Not at home! The scoundrel, where can he be, then? Come, youngster,"

cried he, addressing me, "take the key there, and open the lock."

Until this moment, I forgot the character which my dress and appearance a.s.signed to me. But a look from the piper recalled me at once to recollection; and taking up the iron key, I proceeded, under Darby's instructions, to do what I was desired, while Darby and the captain amused themselves by wondering what had become of Tim, and speculated on the immediate consequences his absence would bring down on him.

"Are you going with us, Darby?" said the captain.

"Faix, I don't know, sir," said he, as if hesitating. "Ar there was any gentleman that liked the pipes--"

"Yes, yes; come along, man," rejoined the skipper. "Is the boy with you?

Very well; come in, youngster."

We were soon under way again; and Darby, having arranged his instrument to his satisfaction, commenced a very spirited voluntary to announce his arrival. In an instant the cabin door opened, and a red-faced, coa.r.s.e-looking fellow, in uniform, called out,--

"Halloo, there! is that a piper?"

"Yes, sir," said Darby, without turning his face round; while, at the same time, he put a question in Irish to the skipper, who answered it with a single word.

"I say, piper, come down here!" cried the yeoman, for such he was,--"come down here, and let 's have a tune!"

"I 'm coming, sir!" cried Darby, standing up; and holding out his hand to me, he called out,--"Tom, alannah, lead me down stairs."

I looked up in his face, and to my amazement perceived that he had turned up the white of his eyes to represent blindness, and was groping with his hand like one deprived of sight. As any hesitation on my part might have betrayed him at once, I took his hand, and led him along, step by step, to the cabin door.

I had barely time to perceive that all the pa.s.sengers were habited in uniform, when one of them called out,--"We don't want the young fellow; let him go back. Piper, sit down here."

The motion for my exclusion was pa.s.sed without a negative; and I closed the door, and sat down by myself among the trunks on deck.

For the remainder of the day I saw nothing of Darby,--the shouts of laughter and clapping of hands below stairs occasionally informing me how successful were his efforts to amuse his company; while I had abundant time to think over my own plans, and make some resolutions for the future.

CHAPTER VII. KEVIN STREET.

How this long, melancholy day wore on I cannot say. To me it was as gloomy in revery as in its own dismal aspect; the very sounds of mirth that issued from the cabin beneath grated harshly on my ear; and the merry strains of Darby's pipes and the clear notes of his rich voice seemed like treachery from one who so lately had spoken in terms of heart-breathing emotion of his countrymen and their wrongs. While, therefore, my estimation for my companion suffered, my sorrow for the cause that demanded such sacrifices deepened at every moment, and I panted with eagerness for the moment when I might take my place among the bold defenders of my country, and openly dare our oppressors to the battle. All that M'Keown had told me of English tyranny and oppression was connected in my mind with the dreadful scene I had so lately been a witness to, and for the cause of which I looked no further than an act of simple hospitality. From this I wandered on to the thought of those brave allies who had deserted their career of Continental glory to share our almost hopeless fortunes here; and how I burned to know them, and learn from them something of a soldier's ardor.

Night had fallen when the fitful flashing of lamps between the tall elms that lined the banks announced our approach to the capital. There is something dreadfully depressing in the aspect of a large city, to the poor, unfriended youth, who without house or home is starting upon his life's journey. The stir, the movement, the onward tide of population, intent on pleasure or business, are things in which he has no part. The appearance of wealth humiliates, while the sight of poverty affrights him; and, while every one is animated by some purpose, he alone seems like a waif thrown on the sh.o.r.es of life, unclaimed, unlocked for. Thus did I feel among that busy crowd who now pressed to the deck, gathering together their luggage, and preparing for departure. Some home awaited each of these,--some hearth, some happy faces to greet their coming. But I had none of these. This was a sorrowful thought; and as I brooded over it, my head sank upon my knees, and I saw nothing of what was going forward about me.

"Tom," whispered a low voice in my ear,--"Master Tom, don't delay, my dear; let us slip out here. The soldiers want me to go with them to their billets, and I have promised; but I don't mean to do it."

I looked up. It was Darby, b.u.t.toned up in his coat, his pipes unfastened for the convenience of carriage.

"Slip out after me at the lock here; it 's so dark we 'll never be seen."

Keeping my eye on him, I elbowed my way through the crowded deck, and sprang out just as the boat began her forward movement.

"Here we are, all safe!" said Darby, patting me on the shoulder. "And now that I 've time to ask you, did you get your dinner, my child?"

"Oh yes; the captain brought me something to eat."

"Come, that's right, anyhow. Glory be to G.o.d! I ate heartily of some bacon and greens; though the blackguards--bad luck to them for the same!--made me eat an orange lily whole, afraid the _greens_, as they said, might injure me."