The Rival Crusoes | Page 5

these scoundrels!" exclaimed
Voules. "I'll carry your portmanteau, Oswald, and let my own take its
chance. I don't suppose these fellows will dare to steal it, until we can
send somebody to bring it on."
"No, no," answered Lord Reginald; "we must get Jennings to allow two
of the men to come with us, and he can explain to the captain the cause
of the delay."
Jennings, the master's assistant in charge of the boat, naturally
indignant at the way his messmates were treated, consented to this,
although he was infringing orders by so doing. He accordingly directed
two of the crew to take up the portmanteaus and accompany the
midshipmen, who set off at once along the shingly beach. As they
moved on, a peal of laughter, in which Ben indulged himself, saluted
their ears, which contributed not a little to increase Lord Reginald's
anger and indignation.
"I have a notion that I remember the countenance of the youngest of
those two rascals!" he exclaimed. "He is the son of one of our tenants,
and used often, when a mere boy, to be impudent to me. I felt inclined
more than once to thrash him, but he happened to be the stronger of the
two, so I didn't try, but I'll pay him off one of these days. I'll tell my
father how we were treated, and he'll show him that I am not to be
insulted with impunity."
"Certainly not, Oswald. I'll bear witness to the impertinent way in
which he behaved. I only wish that a pressgang may be sent on shore

here some night; I'll take good care that they do not overlook either the
young fellow or that surly old one. They are not very particular in the
service just now as to age, and both may be taken."
"Pray don't let me hear anything more about the matter, or when I reach
home I shall not be in a condition to receive the congratulations of my
family," said Lord Reginald. "I wish that the tide had been in and we
had been able to get up to the village instead of having to trudge over
these abominable shingles."
"Certainly," said Voules; "but the fellows are beneath your notice,
though the incident was sufficient to put one out of temper. If I had
thought Jennings would have consented, I would have proposed
landing the boat's crew and ducking the fellows; it would have brought
them to reason pretty quickly."
"You don't know the character of the men hereabout, or you would not
say so," observed Lord Reginald. "That fellow Hargrave is a desperate
young villain, and they are all smugglers and poachers, who would not
scruple to burn down the hall if they had an opportunity. My father is
determined to put a stop to their poaching and smuggling, but he has
not as yet had much success, I believe. The smugglers, somehow or
other, manage to land their cargoes when the revenue officers are out of
the way, and the poachers dodge our gamekeepers, who vow that
although they hear their shots, they can never catch them."
"It will be good fun some night to try what we can do," observed
Voules. "We should soon get hold of them, and if they are sent to
prison or shipped off to Botany Bay, it will keep the others in awe."
The two seamen who carried the portmanteaus were listening to the
remarks of the young officers spoken in loud tones. Every now and
then they turned to each other, exchanging winks, and smiling
contemptuously, though they looked as grave as judges when Voules
happened to turn round for a moment to ascertain how far they had got
from the boat. On and on they trudged, until at last harder ground was
gained, and they soon reached the village inn, or rather beer-shop, for it
aspired to no higher dignity. Great was their disgust to find that no

conveyance of any sort was to be obtained nearer than Lymington,
some three or four miles off, and it was doubtful whether the single
post-chaise or yellow fly, which belonged to the place, would be
disengaged.
"But Lord Reginald Oswald cannot walk all the way to Elverston Hall,
and we must have a carriage of some sort or other, my good woman,"
exclaimed Voules to the landlady.
"Then I must send out and find my man, who has been carting coals for
old Captain Knockills on the top of the hill there. Our cart ain't exactly
fit for young gentlemen like you, but it's better than nothing, as it will
carry your `portmantles,' and you can get in and ride when you are tired;
so, if you will walk in and sit down in the bar, I'll send the boy