Humphrey Bold | Page 9

the Indies, and many a sea
captain is a deal better off than Matthew Mark. And I'm set on trying it,
lad, the more so as, by long and short, I dursn't stay in Shrewsbury no
longer. So you'll be so good as go and see the old mother tomorrow,
and tell her I be gone to sea, and I'll send her home silks, and satins,
and diamonds, too, maybe, and I'll come home some day rich as creases,
as I heard parson say once."
"I hope you will, Joe. Will you write to me and tell me how you are
getting on?"
"Bless your life, I can do no more than make my mark. But maybe I'll
light on some scholard who'll write down out of my mouth, and I'll
make him limn a barrel on the paper, and then you'll know for sure 'tis
me."
This conversation had proceeded in whispers, but Joe's whisper was
sonorous, and I was in some fear lest Mistress Pennyquick, whose
room was hard by, should hear the rumble and take alarm. Yet I could
not refrain from keeping him while I told of the matter so near my
heart--the offer of Captain Galsworthy to take me as a pupil. Joe
listened very sympathetically.
"'Tis an ill wind blows no one good," he said. "That there barrel makes
a sailor of me; maybe 'tis to make a sojer of you."
"And what of Cyrus Vetch?" I could not help saying.
"Ah! Cyrus Vetch!" muttered Joe, looking troubled. "I be afeared 'twill

make him a downright enemy to you, lad. But you'll grow, and captain
will learn you how to ply your fists, and when it comes to a fight, mind
of my fighting name, and punch hard."
Then, having promised to see his mother and do what I could to
console her, I wrung his hand and wished him well, and he climbed out
again by the window, and in the starlight I watched him carry the
ladder across the yard; and then with a final wave of the hand he
vanished into the night.
Chapter 3
: I Meet The Mohocks.
At breakfast I said nothing of Joe's midnight visit, reckoning that it
would not be long before the news of his flight got abroad. It was
indeed the subject of a great buzz of talk among my schoolfellows, who
flocked about me as I walked down Castle Street, demanding to hear
the full story from my own lips. I could tell them nothing that they did
not know, save only my leave-taking with Joe Punchard, which, of
course, I had resolved to keep very close. I learned from them that
Cyrus was abed, and like to stay there, said Mr. Pinhorn, for a week or
more. His father was in a desperate rage, and had sent horsemen along
all the roads in pursuit of the runaway, and I had some fear that my
good friend would be caught and brought back to receive his
punishment.
However, nothing had been heard of him by the time school was over,
so that I had great hopes that he had got himself clean away. I went to
see his mother as I had promised, and said what I could to comfort her;
but the good woman was mightily upset, and declared in a passion of
weeping that she was sure she would never see her Joe again.
That evening at supper my father was even more quiet than his wont.
Mistress Pennyquick told me afterwards that he had been to see his
sister Lady Cludde and her husband at Cludde Court, and given them a
piece of his mind. What passed between them I know not, but I do
know that my father never set foot in Cludde Court again, nor did his

sister come any more to the farm, even when her brother lay a-dying.
His visit had this good effect, however, that I suffered no more bullying
at the hands of Dick Cludde or Cyrus Vetch. Dick eyed me with a
malignant scowl whenever he met me, and as for Cyrus, who did not
come back to school for a good ten days, he looked over my head as
though I did not exist, which gave me no discomfort, you may be sure.
At the end of that year they were both taken from school, Cludde going
to Cambridge, and Vetch to assist his father, who was a grain merchant
in a substantial way, as all Shrewsbury supposed.
It would be a tedious matter were I to tell all the little happenings of the
next few years. Whether it was due to my constant exercise under
Captain Galsworthy's tuition, I know not, but certainly, from that very
summer, I grew at an amazing rate,