Clara Vaughan, Volume 3 (of 3)

the tainted stuff around me, and my hands, and arms, and even shoulders were stiff from over exertion. Languidly regarding the brick I had worked so hard for, and commiserating much the plight of my

e windows. I had tried to do so the night before, but they were beyond my reach, and I had no stick, for I durst not touch the poles that propped the unlucky porpoise. Now, I had a good missile, and after two or three vain attempts from the closeness of

en bricks I had removed since daylight--for I could work much faster as the aperture increased--and then I fastened my blanket over the hole. After drinking the milk with some relish--eat I could not in that pestilential den--I returned to my labour, and prepared to attack

ning of headers. I was utterly dismayed; and now my beloved knife, which had stood like a hero-martyr all its grinding indignities, broke off short at the haft, and left me helpless and hop

opped the curtain. This was partly owing to the position of the sun, and partly to the interposition of the brick. Just opposite that window, on a shelf where lay an old Penguin looking very bilious, I spied the corner of a little box, half covered with tow and moth-eaten feathers. Snatching it eagerly, I

enough, Clara, to fall to at that door, before your knife was broken, you might have cut t

ations. No fear of old Cora smelling the smoke, for she spent all the forenoon, as I knew well, in a little chapel she had established quite at the top of the house; and this being the festiv

precious candle, and smeared the tallow in the shallow grooves I had made. This being done, I broke, with as little noise as possible, some other panes of glass, to admit the ai

tick: the third--I was so nervous that I durst not attempt it then; but trembled as I looked at it. I would not even breathe for fear of damping the phosphorus. Perhaps three lives depended on the behaviour of that match. In desperation at last I struck boldly! a broad blue flame leaped upon the air, and in a moment my candle was lighted. In the hollow of my hand I carried it round the room, to

The blue light showed in livid ghastliness all the horrors of the chamber. The naphtha was burnt in a moment, it seemed to go off like gunpowder; from a prudent distance I threw more upon it, and soon I had the delight of seeing a

from smoke. If once I became insensible, or even if I retained my senses but failed to extinguish the fire, nothing more would ever be known or heard of Clara Vaughan; there would be nothing even to hold an inquest upon. I must burn ignobly, in the fat of that dreadful porpoise, and wit

us), the channels prepared to tempt it; and now the black wood was reddened, and a strong heat was given out, and the blazes began to roar; when I cast on the centre suddenly my doubled blan

gouged away with the claw of the holdfast, until I saw that, by a vigorous onset, a large piece might be detached; so I stepped

llest possible compass for a girl rather full in the chest, I squ

have leaped from their sockets; they came out like hat-pegs japanned. Pressed as I was for time, I could not l

they are so impious; but the mildest of them

od that loved you, take it back, and trample on the wicked stomach of her who dared to steal it. You

d lady, as there was now no danger, to recover he

in I must go, or I might as well have stopped in my dungeon. Though the smoke had purified me a little, I still felt co

an, where ever have you been?

water in the house. And as I throw my

off her legs with excitement, one word of what had happened, or what I was going to do; but flung on myself another hat and cloak, then her old bonnet and little green shawl on her, dragged her out of the house, and locked the door behind u

e of expressions; but whenever I glanced toward her, she cast her eyes up, with a scared weird look, as if she was watching a ghost th

fer, where do you su

ance--"I knowed it all the time. Yes, yes. Let me alone for that.

s right, I w

s opinion. And very wise of you too; and what a most every one does

he

hing he ain't offered to do fifteen year next oyster-day. No, no, says

about; why she trembled and shrunk from my hand, why she feared to look at me, and fixed her eyes away so. She believed that I had been burked

on, Miss; and our Charley himsel

there are many respectable men, but it is no place for a lady. The farmer himself knows that, and has never dared to ask me; though his wife and daughter, in ignorance, have. It is half-past twelve exactly; in a quarter of an hou

me. But she feared to take the money, although her ey

re. Mind, if the farmer loses the match through me

husband's name. I hung back, but with a sense of the urgency of my case, which turned my shame into pride. Many eyes were on me already of loungers and outsiders. In two or three minutes

be worth it, and they'd kill both the umpires and the referee too you know. Why it's fall for fall, only think of

urry, I felt deeply interested. How

for the second fall. 'I could ha dooed it,' I hear him say, 'I could ha dooed it aisy, only I wudn't try Abraham, and I wun't nother if can help it now.' None of us knows what he mean, but in he go again, Miss, and three times he throw Sam Richardson clean over his shoulder, and one as fair a back as ever was in saw

tement, actually pulled me in without knowing it. Once there, I

ar of the throat, half-sleeved, and open in front, showed the bole of the pollard neck, the solid brawn of the chest, and the cords of the outstretched arm. Stout fustian breeches, belted at waist, and strapped at knee, cased their vast limbs so exactly, y

each foining to get the best grasp. Where I went, or what happened to me, I never noticed at all, so absorbe

ightly bent, and the palm like a butterfly quivering. Neither dared to move his eyes from the pupils of the other; for though they were not built alike, each knew the strength of his fellow. The Northern Champion was at least three inches taller than the Son of Devon, quite as broad in the shoulders and la

ower; and on a turn of the heel depended at least four hundred pounds, and what was more than four million to him, the fame

the North and their backers saw it, and a loud hurrah pealed forth; deep silence ensued, and every eye was intent. Though giant arms were round him and Titan legs inlocked, never a foot he budged. John Huxtable stood like a buttress. He tried not to throw the other; placed as he was, he durst not; but he made up his mind to stand, and

I could hear him gasp for breath under the fearful pressure. By great address he had won that hold, and made sure of victory from it, it had never failed before; but to use a Devonshire word, the farmer was too "stuggy." Now, the latter watched his time

he ran across the ring full speed. Then he stopped short, remembering his laboured and unpresentable plight, and he would have blushed, if he

y stopped to kiss Sally, and motioned them all away. "If you remember your promise to me, get ready for a journey

Meanwhile up came Sally again, caught hold of my hand, and silently implored for some little notice, i

o come at once, I entreat you;

dearie, dang Jan Uxta

you that the umpires gives it no

In my hurry I had paid no attention to the ominous hissing

ruth, it became majestic with honest indignation. A strong man's wr

chiller's sake--else I'd never stand it, danged if I wud, Mis

he shouted, so that every fold of the canva

sell my back to the Northman. A good honest man he be, and the best cross-buttock as ever I met with; but a set of rogues and cowards that's what you be; and no sport can live with you. As for your danged b

d to me for his honest anger, and for having dra

u two minutes. I'll give him Abraham's staylace this time.

iant, looking rather ashamed, confronted him. No fencing or feinting

wn left shoulder, in such a way that he twirled in the air and came down dead on his spine. Dead indeed he appeared to be, and a dozen surgeons came forward, in the midst of a horrible silence, and some

wants you to have it and you be a better man nor deserves it. And I'll never wrastle no more; Jan Uxtable's time be over. Give us your hond, old chap. We two never mate again, unless you comes down our wai, and us han't got a man to bate e, now I be off the play. There be dacent zider and bakkon to Tossil's Barton Farm. Give us your hond like a man, there be no ill will atween us, for this here little skumdoover." Perhaps he meant skirmish and manoe

t, as I might part willow-sprays, and came at once to me. Whether by his aid, or by the sympathies of the multitude, I am sure I

ust put myself dacent like, avore I can go with you, Miss; and git the money for the sake of them poor c

hurraing, we set off full