In the Days of Poor Richard

  2

  That evening Solomon arrived with Preston. Solomon gave a whistle ofrelief as he entered their lodgings on Bloomsbury Square and droppedinto a chair.

  "Wal, sir! We been flyin' eround as brisk as a bee," he remarked. "Ifeel as if I had spraint one leg and spavined t'other. The sun wasover the fore yard when we got back, and since then, we went to see thewild animals, a hip'pottermas, an' lions, an' tigers, an' snakes, an' abird with a neck as long as a hoe handle, an' a head like a tommyhawk.I wouldn't wonder if he could peck some, an' they say he can fetch akick that would knock a hoss down. Gosh! I kind o' felt fer my gun!Gol darn his pictur'! Think o' bein' kicked by a bird an' havin' to bepicked up an' carried off to be mended. We took a long, crooked trailhum an' walked all the way. It's kind o' hard footin'."

  Solomon spoke with the animation of a boy. At last he had foundsomething in London which had pleased and excited him.

  "Did you have a good time at Sir Jeffrey's?" the young man asked.

  "Better'n a barn raisin'! Say, hones', I never seen nothin' likeit--'twere so blandiferous! At fust I were a leetle bit like a mantied to a tree--felt so helpless an' unsart'in. Didn't know what weregoin' to happen. Then ol' Jeff come an' ontied me, as ye might say,an' I 'gun to feel right. 'Course Preston tol' me not to beskeered--that the doin's would be friendly, an' they was. Gol darn mypictur'! I'll bet a pint o' powder an' a fish hook thar ain't no nicerwomern in this world than ol' Jeff's wife--not one. I give her myjack-knife. She ast me fer it. 'Twere a good knife, but I were gladto give it to her. Gosh! I dunno what she wants to do with it. Mebbeshe likes to whittle. They's some does. I kind o' like it myself. Iwarned her to be keerful not to cut herself 'cause 'twere sharper'n thetooth o' a weasel. The vittles was tasty--no common ven'son er moosemeat, but the best roast beef, an' mutton, an' ham an' jest 'noughSanta Cruz rum to keep the timber floatin'! They snickered when I tol''em I'd take my tea bar' foot. I set 'mongst a lot o' young folks,mostly gals, full o' laugh an' ginger, an' as purty to look at as aflock o' red birds, an' I sot thar tellin' stories 'bout the Injunwars, an' bear, an' moose, an' painters till the moon were down an' aclock hollered one. Then I let each o' them gals snip off a grab o' myhair. I dunno what they wanted to do with it, but they 'pear to be asfond o' takin' hair as Injuns. Mebbe 'twas fer good luck. I wouldn'twonder if my head looks like it was shingled. Ayes! I had an almightygood time.

  "These 'ere British is good folks as fur as I've been able to look 'emover. It's the gov'ment that's down on us an' the gov'ment ain't thepeople--you hear to me. They's lots o' good, friendly folks here, butI'm ready to go hum. They's a ship leaves Dover Thursday 'fore sunrisean' my name is put down."

  Jack told them in detail of the unfortunate event of the morning.

  Solomon whistled while his face began to get ready for a shot.

  "Neevarious!" he exclaimed. "Here's suthin' that'll have to be 'tendedto 'fore I take the water."

  "Clarke is full of hartshorn and vinegar," said Preston. "He was likethat in America. He could make more trouble in ten minutes than aregiment could mend in a year. He is what you would call 'a meancuss.' But for him and Lord Cornwallis, I should be back in theservice. They blame me for the present posture of affairs in America."

  "Jack, I'm glad that young pup ain't me," said Solomon. "Thar neverwas a man better cocalated to please a friend er hurt an enemy. If hewas to say pistols I guess that ol' sling o' yours would bu'st outlaughin' an' I ain't no idee he could stan' a minnit in front o' yourhanger."

  "It's bad business, and especially for you," said Preston. "Dueling isnot so much in favor here as in France. Of course there are duels, butthe best people in England are set against the practise. You would besure to get the worst of it. The old General is a favorite of theKing. He is booked for knighthood. If you were to kill his son in thepresent state of feeling here, your neck would be in danger. If youwere to injure him you would have to make a lucky escape, or go toprison. It is not a pleasant outlook for one who is engaged to anEnglish girl. He has a great advantage over you."

  "True, but it gives me a better chance to vindicate the courage of anAmerican. I shall fight. I would rather die than lie down to such aninsult. There has been too much of that kind of talk here. It can notgo on in my hearing without being trumped. If I were capable of takingsuch an insult, I could never again face the girl I love. There mustbe an apology as public as the insult or a fight. I don't want to killany man, but I must show them that their cap doesn't fit me."

  Jack and Solomon sat up late. The young man had tried to see Margaretthat evening, but the door boy at Sir Benjamin's had informed him thatthe family was not at home. He rightly suspected that the boy had donethis under orders from the Baronet. He wrote a long letter to the girlapprising her of late developments in the relations of the ministry andDoctor Franklin, regarding which the latter desired no secrecy, and ofhis own unhappy situation.

  "If I could bear such an insult in silence," he added, "I should beunworthy of the fairest and dearest girl on earth. With such anestimate of you, I must keep myself in good countenance. Whateverhappens, be sure that I am loving you with all my heart, and longingfor the time when I can make you my wife."

  This letter he put into his pocket with the purpose of asking Prestonto deliver it if circumstances should drive him out of England or intoprison.

  Captain Preston went with Solomon Binkus next day to the address on thecard of Lieutenant Clarke. It was the house of the General, who waswaiting with his son in the reception room. They walked together tothe Almack Club. The General was self-contained. It would seem thathis bad opinion of Yankees was not quite so comprehensive as it hadbeen. The whole proceeding went forward with the utmost politeness.

  "General, Mr. Binkus and John Irons, Jr., are my friends," said CaptainPreston.

  "Indeed!" the General answered.

  "Yes, and they are friends of England. They saved my neck in America.I have assured young Irons that your words, if they were correctlyreported to me, were spoken in haste, and that they do not express yourreal opinion."

  "And what, sir, were the words reported to you?" the General asked.

  Preston repeated them.

  "That is my opinion."

  "It is mine also," young Clarke declared.

  Solomon's face changed quickly. He took deliberate aim at the enemyand drawled:

  "Can't be yer opinion is wuth more than the lives o' these youngfellers that's goin' to fight."

  "Gentlemen, you will save time by dropping all thought of apologies,"said the General.

  "Then it only remains for you to choose your weapons and agree with usas to time and place," said Preston.

  "I choose pistols," said the young Britisher. "The time and place maysuit your convenience, so it be soon and not too far away,"

  "Let us say the cow wallow on Shooter's Hill, near the oaks, at sunriseto-morrow," Preston proposed.

  "I agree," the Lieutenant answered.

  "Whatever comes of it, let us have secrecy and all possible protectionfrom each side to the other when the affair is ended," said Preston.

  "I agree to that also," was the answer of young Clarke.

  When they were leaving, Solomon said to Preston:

  "That 'ere Gin'ral is as big as Goliar."