Joseph Wilmot, or, The Memoirs of a Man-Servant — page 261: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Oa ce ere a Se 248 JOSEPH WILMOT ; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF A MAN-SERVANT. and so forth, was upon the table; and he was already half-way through his first jorum. I at once began to narrate some marvellous tale which I invented as I went on; and though he kept telling me that I myself did not drink, yet he made the best use of the time, and appeared resolved to drink for himself and for me likewise. But as the interval was short for the accomplish- ment of my purpose—not more than two hours— I was compelled to have recourse to stratagem. Stopping suddenly short in my narrative, I vowed that I heard the noise of some one entering the stables below. Sandie went down to see; and during his absence I poured a quantity of spirit into his half-finished glass,—this being his third. He came up, saying it was all right; and I con- tinued the tale. As he sipped his toddy, his eyes watered, and he remarked that it was very strong: but what with tasting and tasting, he drank so deep down as to render it not worth while to put in more water for the small quantity that re- mained. During his temporary absence, I had thrown away the contents of my own glass; and I now officiously insisted on taking my turn to brew a couple more. I took very good care to make the groom’s of exceeding potency; and somehow or anotucr he liked my brewing so well, and drank his class so quickly, that in ten minutes he was ready for another. . Thus we went on until past twelve o’clock,—by which time my friend Sandie was so intoxicated as to be scarcely able to retain his seat. I had then no difficulty in persuading him to get to bed; and my proffered assistance in the process of disapparelling him, was accepted with much hiccoughbing thankful- ness. It was done:—and scarcely had the man’s head touched the bolster, when he fell into a sound sleep. ! It was now twenty minutes past twelve; and I had only ten clear minutes to accomplish the rest. Taking the lantern, I descended into the stable ; and with all possible despatch, saddled and bridled three horses. Then, with a knife which I had about me, I cut up each of the three horse-cloths into four pieces; and by the help of some twine, enveloped the animals’ feet in the muffling frag- ments of the cloths. This process was a longer one than I had anticipated ; and when I stole up into Sandie’s chamber once more, to assure my- self that he still slept, I perceived by his watch— which he had left upon the table—that it was a quarter to one. However, the delay arose from no fault of mine; and as the groom slept so soundly that methought a cannon fired off close by his ear, would scarcely awaken him,—TI lost not @ moment in accomplishing the remainder of my work. — I led forth the horses; but despite of the muf- fling stockings which I had invented for them, they made a sufficient noise to alarm me consider- ably,—not so much with the idea that Sandie himself would awake, as that the sounds would be heard by those whose bed-rooms overlooked the stable-yard. And then, too, I had the misfortune to let a gate bang with considerable violence, as I conducted the animals out of that yard. A win- dow was intantaneously thrown open at the back of the house; and the well-known voice of Cameron demanded if any one was about the pre- mises. I remained perfectly motionless, holding the three horses in such a way as to keep them quiet also: but I trembled with suspense—for the least trampling on the part of the animals would inevitably have made Cameron raise an immediate alarm. J ortunately however, it was too dark for him to distinguish what was going on; and the horses remained perfectly still. The window was closed; and I lost no time in conducting the steeds towards the meandering carriage-road. The castle clock now proclaimed one in the morning. I was therefore exactly half-an-hour behind my time. Again however I must observe that it was not my fault: but I began to be sadly afraid that Emmeline and Grace would think that I had failed from some unexpected obstacle, and perhaps be either flying on foot, or else retracing their way back to the castle by the shortest cut. These apprehensions were however speedily set at rest, as two female figures, habited in riding- dresses, suddenly emerged from the surrounding darkness. “‘ Heaven be thanked, you have come, Joseph !” said the sweet but now tremulous voice of Emme- line. “A thousand, thousand thanks for your ge- nerous zeal !” I said a few hasty words to account for my delay—and also to assure the young lady and Grace that there was little to fear on Cameron’s account; for they had heard his voice crying forth from the window. I made all possible haste to take off the wrappers from the horses’ feet: but scarcely was this accomplished, when the sounds of footsteps reached our ears—and the next moment a man emerged from the surrounding obscurity. “Ah! thieves! robbers!” he ejaculated forth, the instant he caught a glimpse of the horses and of human forms: and he was turning’ to fly pre- cipitately and raise an alarm, when I sprang upon him and hurled him to the ground. * Silence, Cameron!” I said, having recognised his voice. “Not a word—or it will be all the worse for you!” My knee was upon his chest—my hand upon his mouth; and he was no doubt more than half stunned by the violence with which he had been thrown down—for his struggles were feeble and easily overcome. Already were Emmeline and Grace giving way to low and bitter laments,— when I called to them, if they valued their safety, to get upon their horses and leave the rest to me. My words inspired them with instantaneous for- titude—or at least startled them imto a sense of the necessity of exercising all their self-possession : my directions were obeyed in a few moments ;— and then I said to Cameron, who was now be- ginning to struggle more desperately with me, “ By heaven! it will be a life and death affair if you offer the least resistance to my proceedings! I have a dagger here:’—and I thrust my hand into my breast, as if to grasp the deadly weapon. “You would not murder me, Joseph?” he said, in a voice of terror: for his continuous struggle had for the instant rid his mouth of my left hand, which was placed upon it. “Will you be quiet, then ?? I asked: and with- out waiting for a reply, I sprang to my feet— leapt upon the steed that was in readiness for myself—and ejaculated, “ Away !” The horses bounded along the road: Cameron rent the air with his cries of “Help! help! they E® NOOKS (CO) a A