Peter the Whaler | Page 4

to join him on the
following morning on a shooting expedition on the property of a
nobleman, some part of which was seen from the hill where we had
posted ourselves.
Doolan could make himself very entertaining by narrating a variety of
wild adventures in which he or his companions had been engaged, or, I
may say, in some of which he pretended to have been engaged; for I
since have had reason to believe that he drew considerably more on his
imagination than on truth for the subjects of his tales, for the purpose of
raising himself in my estimation, thereby hoping to gain a greater
influence over me.
I have often since met such characters, who are very boastful and bold

in the company of lads younger than themselves, or of persons whom
they think will believe them, but cautious and silent in the presence of
those whom they have sufficient discernment to perceive at once take
them at their true value. Observe one of those fellows the instant an
educated gentleman appears in the circle of which he is the
attraction,--how his eye will quail and his voice sink, and he will
endeavour to sneak away before his true character is exposed. I need
scarcely advise my readers not to be misled by such pretenders.
The property on which we had resolved to poach was owned by Lord
Fetherston. We knew that he maintained but few keepers, and that those
were not very vigilant. He also, we believed, was away from the
country, so that we had no fears of being detected.
I said that my father had few enemies. For some reason or other,
however, Lord Fetherston was one. I did not know why; and this fact
Doolan, who was well aware of it, took care to bring forward in
justification of the attack we purposed to make on his property. I
should have known that it was no justification whatever; but when
people want reasons for committing a bad act, they are obliged to make
very bad ones serve their purpose.
Pat Doolan was my senior by three years. He was the son of a man who
was nominally a small farmer, but in reality a smuggler, and the owner
of an illicit distillery; indeed I do not know what other lawless
avocations he carried on.
Very inferior, therefore, as he was in position in life, though Pat
Doolan was well supplied with money, he considered it of consequence
to be intimate with me, and to gain an ascendency over my mind,
which he might turn to account some time or other. He kept me sitting
on the heather, and listening to his good stories, and laughing at them,
for upwards of two hours, till he felt sure that my good resolutions
would not come back. During this time he produced some bread and
meat and whisky, of which latter he made me drink no small quantity,
and he then accompanied me towards my home, in sight of which he
left me, with a promise to meet him on the same spot at daybreak on
the following morning.

Even that very evening, as I sat with a book in my hand pretending to
read, in the same room the family occupied, and listened to the cheerful
voices of my light-hearted innocent sisters, I began to repent of my
engagement to Doolan; but the fear of his laughing at me, and talking
again about my sisters' petticoats, made me resolve to adhere to it.
CHAPTER TWO.
That night was far from a happy one, for I knew all the time that I was
doing what was very wrong. I waited till I thought that my father and
all the household were asleep; and then, with the sensations I should
think a thief experiences when about to commit a robbery, I crept along
the dark passage towards his dressing-room. I trembled very much, for
I was afraid that something would awake him, and that he would
discover what I was about. I was aware that he would learn what I had
done, the first thing in the morning; but then I should be far off,
enjoying my sport, and I thought not of the consequences. I felt my
way along the passage, for it was quite dark. I heard a noise--I trembled
more and more--I expected every instant to be discovered, and I should
have retreated to my room, but that the thought of Pat Doolan's laughter
and sneers urged me on. I held my breath while I stopped to listen.
There was again a dead silence, and I once more advanced. Presently
something brushed against me. I was almost driven to cry out through
terror, though I believe it was only the cat, whom I had disturbed from