University of Virginia Library

6. VI.
CAPTAIN LONGKNIFE'S PRIVATE MATTERS.

ON the next morning, Captain Wagner and George
were again in the saddle—but this time they had
determined to take different routes. The young
man wished to explore the wonders of the prairie
toward the South; the Borderer's design was to visit
his friends at the Ordinary which Falconbridge had selected
for a stopping-place.

“I'll go swill some Jamaica with Van Doring,” said the
worthy Captain, “and you, George?——toward the Fort
Mountain?”

“Yes! It seems to draw me, it is so beautiful!”

“Good! how your eyes do sparkle! Youth! youth! what
a fine thing it is: like a fresh horse with a full feed! But
look out for the Injuns.”

“I'm not afraid.”

“I see that plainly, and you've got a proud-looking head
there, George, my son. Don't let 'em scalp you. I assure
you, on my honor, it will ruin your appearance for life.”

And saluting with his hand, the gigantic warrior set forward
on his heavy black charger toward Van Doring's.

The Ordinary was but a few miles from Greenway, and the
partisan, advancing rapidly through the tall grass of the
prairie, and beneath the drooping boughs of the forest, was
not long in reaching his destination.

It was one of those large, oddly-fashioned taverns which
are still found at Virginia cross roads. This one was the

half-way house, so to speak, between the Lowland and the
Frontier. It was constructed of hewn logs, the interstices of
which were filled with rough plaster; in front extended a
long rude porch; before the door was a horse rack and
drinking trough.

As Captain Wagner drew near he perceived standing at
the door a sort of covered wagon, which seemed to have arrived
but a few moments before. He was looking at it carelessly,
when all at once Falconbridge issued from the tavern,
and courteously offered his hand to a buxom dame who was
on the point of getting out of the vehicle.

“La! thank you, sir,” said a simpering and complaisant
voice, which made Captain Wagner suddenly start: but this
start was of so ambiguous a character that it was not plain
whether the soldier's emotion sprang from surprise, pleasure,
or dissatisfaction. But immediately the Captain threw himself
from Injunhater, whose bridle a stable boy received; and
before the lady, with Falconbridge's assistance in front, and
that of a travelling companion behind, could emerge from
the vehicle, the gallant Captain had received into his own
the hand yet unappropriated, and kissed it with chivalric
courtesy and devout respect.

Falconbridge turned his head and saw his companion.

“Good-morrow, Captain,” he said with a smile.

The buxom lady, finding her hand in contact with a
bearded lip, and pressed by palms of martial strength, uttered
a little affected cry and raised her modestly downcast
eyes.

“Captain Wagner!” she said, with an exhibition of great
surprise: “Captain Wagner!”

“At your service a thousand times, madam,” said the
Borderer, “now and ever, or may the devil—hum! How do
I find you here, madam?”

The portly dame descended from her vehicle, smiling on
the Captain and the Stranger, and sending backward a Parthian
glance at every moment to her companion who had

not yet descended. Her eyes were well adapted to this
species of employment, as they were bright and cheerful, and
her whole face was equally good-humored.

She was, or seemed to be, about thirty-five, and was clad
in a fashion rather more gaudy than tasteful.

Her companion was a little dried-up Frenchman, dressed
in a worn-out Court suit of the fashion of the time, and having
on his head a cocked hat. He seemed to be in an agony
of preplexity whether to drop the reins, a band-box and a
shawl which he held in his right hand, or an old black violin
which he carried carefully in his left.

The lady ran forward with quite girlish vivacity to greet
an old fat German, who at the moment emerged from
the Ordinary; and then with a shower of backward glances
more bright than ever, which glances were directed towards
Captain Wagner and his companion, entered the tavern,
closely followed by her shawl-carrying, much perplexed
French body-guard. Having reached the landlord's side,
she clasped the old German so tightly that he found it utterly
impossible to greet Wagner in any other manner than
with the two sonorous words—“Well, Gaptain!”

The Captain stood for a moment looking after her, with
an expression of amazement seldom seen upon his martial
features.

For once in his life he seemed to be taken completely by
surprise; and hesitated before he followed the enemy.

“Who would have dreamed it!” he said, pushing up his
shaggy moustache; “she was Miss—beautiful Miss—Van
Doring before espousing the lamented Butterton down yonder!”

And a sort of chuckle shook the stalwart breast of the
Borderer.

“Well, well! Luck has declared for me!” he muttered.
“I'm losing time.”

“Lose a moment more with me, Captain,” said Falconbridge;

and laying his hand upon the Borderer's shoulder
he added, “What a noble morning!”

The Borderer shook the hand of the young man cordially,
and said:

“Glorious! comrade: really amazing is this splendid
morning—and faith! on my word! I think you suit it!”

“I?—how is that?”

“Why, you are as bright and jolly as the sunshine.”

Falconbridge laughed, stretched himself, and yawned.

“I am fresh enough,” he replied, “and you seem not at all
fatigued.”

“Fatigued! I believe you, comrade. A pretty thing for
an old dog like myself, that has grown to the saddle,—whose
legs are getting crooked, faith! on that account—to talk
about fatigue! But let us dismiss the subject of legs. You
are stopping here?”

“Yes, till I see Lord Fairfax.”

“Well, you'll have a pleasant lady guest.”

“This lady? What is her name?”

The Captain looked cunning, and hesitated before answering
this query.

“Come,” added Falconbridge, “am I not to know who the
lady is—her simple name?”

“I doubt whether it would be politic for me to tell you,
comrade,” said the Captain, shaking his head.

Falconbridge laughed.

“Politic? How so?”

“I would have necessarily to enlarge upon her character,
her loveliness, her advantages, as the miserable cant is—her
desirabilities: her thousand claims to regard, respect and
admiration!”

“Ah?” laughed the young man; “well, why not?”

The Captain shook his head.

“You're a dooms good looking fellow,” he said.

“Oh!”—

“The truth, comrade; and if you add to this the fact that

you seem to have much time on your hands at present—by
which I mean that your business does not seem pressing—
the motive for my caution will be plain.”

“The motive, eh?”

“You might fall in love with this fair widow Butterton—
my pleasant acquaintance down in the town of Belhaven,
which I'm told they are going to dub Alexandria, where I
came from. See, now, I've let the whole thing slip out.”

And Captain Wagner pretended to regard his conduct
with supreme contempt. Falconbridge only laughed and
said:

“I believe you are in love, eh, Captain? Well, I wish you
good luck.”

His companion groaned.

“There's no such thing for me, comrade. I'm defeated,
repulsed, driven off ignominiously!”

“You have paid your addresses to the fair widow and
failed?”

“Something like it. I really believe that you have guessed
the state of things to a hair. I thought from the first, Falconbridge,
that you were a man of discrimination.”

“And this is really so?” laughed the young man, amused
by the Borderer's lugubrious expression; you have really
proposed and been discarded?”

“Precisely, my friend, precisely: you have guessed
rightly. Yes! I was overcome, subjugated, compelled to lay
down my arms: ignominiously, miserably,—I, who have
lived in the midst of battles, who have heard the cohorns
roaring from year's end to year's end—the muskets rattling
here, on the border, everywhere; I who have married twice,
and each time paragons of women! I thought I knew the
sex tolerably well, and I was mistaken. Vain thought for
any man to imagine he has found the key of woman! Open
one lock, another, then another, the next one baffles all your
skill, defies all your cunning—which word I use in its ancient
and commendable sense—laughs at all your exertions, if, indeed,

locks ever laugh. And now I was that benighted individual;
I thought I knew their wards, and springs, and
windings, and turnings: I was mistaken; and here I am a
mortified and humbled man, or if not that, a beaten man at
least, or may the—hum! no swearing!”

“Come, Captain,” replied Falconbridge, who with difficulty
refrained from laughing, so melancholy were the tones of
the soldier's voice, “better luck next time! You have a fine
opportunity to make up your losses.”

“I find I have, indeed.”

“Avail yourself of it.”

“I will,” said the Borderer, with great cheerfulness.

“As to finding a rival in me, you need not have any fears
on that point, Captain,” said Falconbridge, laughing. “I'm
on the wing—I soon pass. In a month I will not only be
gone, but forgotten.”

“Faith! no.”

“No, what?”

“You'll not be forgotten. For I'll remember you, comrade,
as one of the most gallant-looking fellows I ever
knew.”

Falconbridge laughed again and held out his hand.

“You are determined to make me a partisan of yours,
Captain,” he said.

“No, not at all! I like you, my dear comrade, and I can't
conceal my thought. If I'm angry I growl; if I'm pleased
I laugh—I conceal nothing because I can't, faith! No: don't
fear Captain Longknife, who, whatever may be his faults—
and he has a few—is not the man to flatter. If you fear anybody,
let it be the man or the woman who smiles on you, and
holds out a friendly hand, while the other is under his or
her cloak, clutching the knife that will stab you!”

And the Borderer for a moment looked gloomy.

As to Falconbridge, he laughed gaily at this ominous
speech, and playing with his rich swordhilt said carelessly:

“I'm not afraid, and I think two can play at the cutting

game! Nevertheless, thanks, Captain, for the interest you
feel. I am going now to a different sort of combat—to encounter
perhaps a more dangerous enemy.”

And Falconbridge with a laugh looked westward.

“I know you are,” said Wagner, gazing at his companion
wistfully.

“There comes Sir John, as fresh as a dew drop.”

“A fine animal: and you are going, I don't doubt”—

“To see the fair Miss Bertha? Yes, indeed. What a
splendid beauty!”

“Yes, very splendid: remember what I said just now.”

“What did you say?”

“I said beware of smiles; distrust the hand thrust into
your own; take care of the knife!”

And refusing to say another word, the Captain with a sullen
movement of his head went into the house, his forehead
bent thoughtfully toward the ground and overshadowed.

Falconbridge stood looking at him for a moment in silence,
and then laughing silently, nodded his head upward
and downward with the muttered words:

“Yes, yes! a queer genius—a great dreamer! The `smile,'
the `knife'—`take care of them!' Oh yes! he jests with me;
but he's a good comrade and I won't complain. Good morning,
good Sir John! A fair sunshine for us, and I hope you
are refreshed. Ho! comrade!”

And the young man vaulted into the saddle laughing. He
gathered up the reins, threw a coin to the respectful hostler,
and set forward gaily toward the west.

“What an oddity, the Captain!” he added, “with his
knives and warnings! Forward, Sir John! we are expected!”

And he put spur to the fine animal, who set forward more
rapidly than before.