Part 33 (1/2)

In a few seconds three doors burst open, and three servant-girls rushed at the band with three sixpences to beseech it to go away.

”Couldn't go under a s.h.i.+llin' a head,” said the clarionet gravely.

A word from Gildart, however, induced him to accept of the bribe and depart.

As they went along the street Gildart walked with the clarionet and held earnest converse with him--apparently of a persuasive nature, for the clarionet frequently shook his head and appeared to remonstrate.

Presently he called on his comrades to stop, and held with them a long palaver, in which the French horn seemed to be an objector, and the trombone an a.s.senter, while the key-bugle didn't seem to care. At last they all came to an agreement.

”Now,” said the middy, taking out his purse, ”that's all fixed; here is five s.h.i.+llings in advance, and twenty s.h.i.+llings will follow when the performance is over. Don't forget the time and place: the village of Cove, the rear of Stephen Gaff's cottage--everybody knows it--and eight o'clock precisely.”

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

MAD HACO STARTLED AT LAST.

That evening Haco Barepoles was seen on the road to Cove, with his coat-skirts, his cravat-ends, and his hair streaming in the breeze.

An hour previously, however, a bra.s.s band was seen walking towards the same place, and, half an hour after that, a young mids.h.i.+pman was observed posting rapidly in the same direction.

It was dark when Gildart entered the village, and all the inhabitants were in their dwellings, so that he reached Gaff's cottage unperceived.

The village was a primitive one. Locks were deemed unnecessary in most of the cottages, probably because there was nothing worth stealing within them. Gildart lifted the latch and entered. A fire, nearly out, with a large piece of coal on it, burned in the grate. The flicker of this was sufficient to illuminate the boudoir faintly.

Having surveyed the apartment, examined the closet, and looked under the bed, he went out, and, going to the back of the cottage, found the band waiting in some anxiety.

”Now, lads, come this way,” said Gildart; ”and there's only one piece of advice I've got to give you: don't stir hand or foot after Haco enters the cottage. He's as big as an elephant, and strong as a lion. If you stir, and he finds you out, he won't spare you.”

”But you promise to come to the rescue, master,” said the French horn in some alarm.

”Ay, that will I; but he'll have two of you floored, another strangled, and the fourth half-skinned before I can get him to stop.”

”I don't half like it,” said the clarionet anxiously.

”Pooh! pooh!” exclaimed the key-bugle, ”we'll be more than a match for him; come on; it's worth riskin' for twenty-five bob.”

”Hear! hear!” cried the trombone.

”Well, then, enter,” said Gildart, pus.h.i.+ng open the door, and holding it while the band filed into the pa.s.sage. He followed them and closed the door.

In a short time Haco Barepoles made his appearance. He also pa.s.sed through the village un.o.bserved, and, entering the cottage, closed the door. Thereafter he proceeded to make himself comfortable. The ”boodwar” was empty--at least of human beings, though there was the Dutch clock with the horrified countenance in the corner, and the new clock near it, and the portraits and the great four-poster, and all the other articles of elegance and luxury with which Mrs Gaff had filled her humble dwelling.

”A queer place,” muttered the mad skipper in a soft voice to himself, as he moved about the room, poked up the fire, and made preparations for spending the night. ”Gaff wouldn't know the old cabin--humph! but it's all done out o' kindness; well, well, there's no accountin' for women, they're paridoxies. Hallo! this here closet didn't use to be bolted, but it's bolted now. Hows'ever here's the loaf and the tea-pot an' the kettle. Now, Mrs Gaff, you're an attentive creetur, nevertheless you've forgot bilin' water, an', moreover, there an't no water in the house. Ah, here's a bucket; that'll do; I'll go to the well an' help myself; it's _well_ that I can do it,” said Haco, chuckling at his own pun with great satisfaction as he went out to the back of the house.

There was a sudden, though not loud, sound of hollow bra.s.s c.h.i.n.king under the four-post bed.

”Now then, _can't_ you keep still?” said the clarionet in a hoa.r.s.e whisper.

”It's cramp in my leg,” growled the trombone. ”I'd have had to come out if he hadn't guv me this chance.”

”_Won't_ you hold your tongues?” whispered Gildart from the closet, the door of which he opened slightly.