Salute to Adventurers

untries, and I had to be off post-haste to Auchencairn to see to the ordering of our little estate. We were destined to be bitter poor, what with dues and regalities incident on the

a letter came from him offering me a hand in his business, my mother was instant for my going. I was little loath myself, for I saw nothing now to draw me to the profession of the law, which had been my first notion. "Hame's hame," runs the proverb, "as the devil sai

black-haired girl; indeed, I think I hated her; but I could not get her face out of my head or her voice out of my ears. She had mocked me, treated me as if I was no more than a foolish servant, and my vanity was raw. I longed to beat down her pride, to make her creep humbly to me, Andrew Gar

but my arms were too short for my stature, and-from an accident in my nursing days-of indifferent strength. All this stood on the debit side of my account. On the credit side I set down that I had unshaken good health and an uncommon power of endurance, especially in the legs. There was no runner in the Upper Ward of Lanark who was my match, and I had travelled the hills so cons

weapon, the sword. Here, alas! I was doomed to a bitter disappointment. My father had given me a lesson now and then, but never enough to test me, and when I came into the hands of a Glasgow master my unfitness was soon manifest. Neither with broadsword nor small sword could I acqui

good eye, and a steady hand; one of these I possessed to the full, and the others were not beyond my attainment. There lived an armourer in the Gallowgate, one Weir, with whom I began to spend my leisure. There was an alley by the Molendinar Burn, close to the archery butts, whe

for though your gentleman may cock on a horse and wave his Andrew Ferrara, this will bring him off it. Brains

brass-bound, for I did not care to waste money on ornament. The barrel was shorter than the usual, and of the best Spanish metal, and the pan and the lock were set after my own device. Nor was that all, for I became an epicure in the matter of bullets, and made my own with the care of a goldsmith. I would weigh out the powder charges as nicely as an apothecary weighs his drugs, for I had discovered that with the pistol the weight of bullet and charge meant much for good marksmanship. From

heavy burthen, so it was the custom to unload in the neighbourhood of Greenock and bring the goods upstream in barges to the quay at the Broomielaw. There my uncle, in company with other merchants, had his warehouse, but his counting-house was up in the town, near by the College, and I spent my time equally between the two places. I became furiously interested in the work, for it has ever been my happy fortune to be intent on whatever I might be doing at the moment. I think I served my uncle well, for I had much of the merchant's aptitude, a

d my education by much reading of books and a frequent attendance at college lectures. Such leisure as I had I spent by the river-side talking with the ship captains and getting news of far lands. In this way I learned something of the handling of a ship, and especially how to sail a sloop alone in rough weather, I have ventured, myself the only crew, far down the river to the beginning of the sealocks, and more than once escaped drowning by a miracle. Of a Saturday I would sometimes ride out to Auchencairn to

whom I was the natural protector. But his opposition died down when I won my mother to my side, and when I promised that I would duly return. I pointed out that Glasgow and Virginia were not so far apart. Planters from the colony would dwell with us for a season, and their sons often come to Glasgow for their schooling. You could see the proud fellows walking the streets in brave clothes, and marching into the kirk on Sabbath with a couple of servants carrying cushions and Bibles. In the better class of tavern one could always meet with a Virginian or two compounding their curious drinks, and swearing their outlandish oaths. Most of them had gone afield from Scotland, and it was a fine incentive to us young men to see how mightily they had prospered. My uncle yielded, and it was arranged that I should sail with the first convoy of the New Year. From the moment of the decision I walked the earth in a delirium of expectation. That February, I remember, was blue and mild, with soft airs blowing up the river. Down by the Broomielaw I found a new ra

d, after the Highland fashion, had in their belts heavy pistols of the old kind which folk called "dags." They were cumbrous, ill-made things, gaudily ornamented with silver and Damascus work, fit ornaments for a savage Highland chief, but little good for serious business, unless a man were only a pace or two from his opponent. One of them, who had drunk less than the others, came up

about the loading, and would not be content till he had drawn the charge two-three times.

r's-breadth of his." Sure enough, when they looke

little about it. So I told the company that I would trim the hat by slicing a bit from the other side. This I achieved, though by little, for my shot removed only half as much clo

it fluttering to the ground a pace or two farther on. It lay there, dimly seen through a low branch of the cherry tree, with the cockade on the side nearest m

. Barshalloch very handsomely complimented me, and sent for the mutchkin. His words made me warm tow

at it, and examined i

e ten golden guineas and the best filly that e

offer of Strathendrick

wrong. A man should cherish his weapon l

emarked him during the contest, a long, lean man with a bright, humorous blue eye and a fiery red head. He was maybe ten years older than me, and though he

ll you?" I said,

tty shooting in my day, but none like yours, young one. What

ess, and pushed by him to Parlane's back-door. But my brusqueness gave no offence to this odd being. He only laughed and cri

way to my lodgings. These were in the Saltmarket, close on the river front, and to reach them I went by the short road through the Friar's Vennel. It wa

omy aspect under the dim February moon, when a man came towards me and turned into one of the closes. He swung along with a free, careless gait that marked him as no townsman, and ere

ry wi' the

y wi' the d

kissed the fi

a preach for

us echoed from

pped across the patches of moonlight, and eagerly scanned the empty vennel. They

e match of the afternoon had given me a fine notion of my prowess, though. Had I reflected, my pistol was in its case at home, and I had no wea

p the stone steps, wondering what I should find at the next turning. The place was black as night, the steps were uneven, and

ently with a great rumble a heavy man came rolling past me, butting with his head at the stair-side. He came to anchor on a landing below me, and fi

to his side, and he moaned as he slithered past

stumbling from wall to wall like a drunk man. I saw his face clearly, and if ever morta

He had his sword drawn, and was whistling softly through his teeth, w

s a fourth. God's help, it

it but to see the thing through. When he saw that I was unarmed he

gentleman up these l

hree men following you. It looked b

t's-your-name. But ye needna have fashed yoursel

olling down like a

. He's a clumsy stot, an

with his hand on

with a skean-dhu on a dark night, but there

who reeled like a

e flock, and I had to pink him. At another time and in a better place I

in much confusion, for this l

long been a sort of bicker between us, and they

, are you," I said, "that

very day when I speired the same question. But I am frank by nature, a

and got out from a press a bottle and glasses. He pr

l me by different names. I have passed for a Dutch skipper, and a Maryland planter, and a French trader, and, in spite of my colour, I have been a Spanish don in the Main. At Tortuga you will hear one name, and another at

is dare-devil which captured my fancy. I saw in him the stuff of which adventurers are made, and though I was a sober merchant, I was also youn

rust in a dark room in the Candleriggs? Believe me, Mr. Garvald,

ling within a month for Virgin

ce," he said, "that we

ck in the Western Seas,

r, and I never bide lon

James Town, and they k

the Accoma

h of it was concerned with divers ways of outwitting the law. By and by he was determined to convoy me to my lodgings, fo

ant, and I would gladly help you, for you had the goodwill to help me. If ye need aid you will go to Mercer's Tavern at James Town down on the water front, and you will ask news of Ninian Campbell. The man will say that he never he

committed the gibberish to memory I coul

kissed the f

a preach for