THE QUEEN'S CUP
by
G. A. Henty.
Chapter 1.
A large party were assembled in the drawing room of Greendale, Sir John Greendale's picturesque old mansion house. It was early in September. The men had returned from shooting, and the guests were gathered in the drawing room; in the pleasant half hour of dusk when the lamps have not yet been lighted, though it is already too dark to read. The conversation was general, and from the latest news from India had drifted into the subject of the Italian belief in the Mal Occhio.
"Do you believe in it, Captain Mallett?" asked Bertha, Sir John's only child, a girl of sixteen; who was nestled in an easy chair next to that in which the man she addressed was sitting.
"I don't know, Bertha."
He had known her from childhood, and she had not yet reached an age when the formal "Miss Greendale" was incumbent upon her acquaintances.
"I do not believe in the Italian superstition to anything like the extent they carry it. I don't think I should believe it at all if it were not that one man has always been unlucky to me."
"How unlucky, Captain Mallett?"
"Well, I don't know that unlucky is the proper word, but he has always stood between me and success; at least, he always did, for it is some years since our paths have crossed."
"Tell me about it."
"Well, I have no objection, but there is not a great deal to tell.
"I was at school with--I won't mention his name. We were about the same age. He was a bully. I interfered with him, we had a fight, and I scored my first and only success over him. It was a very tough fight--by far the toughest I ever had. I was stronger than he, but he was the more active. I fancied that it would not be very difficult to thrash him, but found that I had made a great mistake. It was a long fight, and it was only because I was in better condition that I won at last.
"Well, you know when boys fight at school, in most cases they become better friends afterwards; but it was not so here. He refused to shake hands with me, and muttered something about its being his turn next time. Till then he had not been considered a first-rate hand at anything; he was one of those fellows who saunter through school, get up just enough lessons to rub along comfortably, never take any prominent part in games, but have a little set of their own, and hold themselves aloof from school in general.
"Once or twice when we had played cricket he had done so excellently that it was a grievance that he would not play regularly, and there was a sort of general idea that if he chose he could do most things well. After that fight he changed altogether. He took to cricket in downright earnest, and was soon acknowledged to be the best bat and best bowler in the school. Before that it had been regarded as certain that when the captain left I should be elected, but when the time came he got a majority of votes. I should not have minded that, for I recognised that he was a better player than I, but I fancied that he had not done it fairly, for many fellows whom I regarded as certain to support me turned round at the last moment.
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: The Queen's Cup by G. A. Henty
- 2: For my line was chiefly sculling
- 3: Two of them fellows employed at the boathouse
- 4: Captain Mallett had six months previously succeeded
- 5: And Frank Mallett was among them
- 6: Especially if we start as far west as Plymouth
- 7: I expected George Lechmere over here
- 8: George Lechmere had been at one time engaged to Martha
- 9: Bennett has always been a good friend to me
- 10: I do not think goodbyes are ever comfortable
- 11: Frank's portmanteau was already in the dog cart
- 12: He said that evening to Captain Mallett
- 13: And the force of mutineers so large
- 14: Was collecting a force at Cawnpore
- 15: I suppose we shall go to the Alumbagh first
- 16: Sir Colin established his headquarters at the Dilkoosha
- 17: Captain Mallett sat down on the parapet
- 18: How much did you really have from Morrison in cash
- 19: The movement being directed against the Secunderbagh
- 20: While engaged in forcing its way into the Secunderbagh
- 21: My Dear Mallett We were all delighted to get your letter
- 22: Mallett had gone into his tent to open his letters in quiet
- 23: And has shown much gallantry under fire
- 24: Captain Mallett asked the guide
- 25: From every house the mutineers rushed
- 26: Pursued by the furious soldiers and the Punjaubies
- 27: The Punjaubies had lost but five killed and thirteen wounded
- 28: On the 12th the Imambarra was breached and stormed
- 29: When I ran against Armstrong in the Kaiser Bagh
- 30: We were among the first at the Kaiser Bagh
- 31: Mallett went over to the bedside
- 32: I suppose she is at Calcutta still waiting
- 33: He remembered all about George Lechmere now
- 34: Mallett had an interview with George Lechmere
- 35: Is a punishment that you have yourself accepted
- 36: You have had opportunities enough
- 37: Two years' soldiering had greatly altered George Lechmere
- 38: That is George Lechmere behind
- 39: Has Miss Greendale grown up pretty
- 40: After breakfast I will walk over to the farm with you
- 41: The Squire said yesterday that he would come over sometime
- 42: I was suspected unjustly myself
- 43: It is only natural that a Lechmere should serve a Mallett
- 44: But I heard of one that had been ordered by Lord Haverstock
- 45: Captain Mallett had been three weeks in town
- 46: For today I am altogether free
- 47: Be hypercritical and point out that
- 48: Everyone enters into it heartily
- 49: Bertha Greendale is an old chum of mine
- 50: I hope Lady Greendale is not in any way a marrying woman
- 51: Two minutes later Mallett took his place in the gig
- 52: And is the burgee of the Royal Thames
- 53: I admit that Lady Greendale is a very charming woman
- 54: Frank Mallett has asked me to be his wife
- 55: Lady Greendale did not echo the sentiment
- 56: For I should certainly have lost my heart to Major Mallett
- 57: Matthews thought that the chances were in his favour
- 58: And I hope that whomever Miss Greendale may marry
- 59: Miss Greendale has known me since she was a child
- 60: I will tell Lady Greendale about this
- 61: If I hear that Miss Greendale has accepted Carthew
- 62: Lady Greendale asked as he rose
- 63: Bertha could hardly believe her ears
- 64: Just at the time that Major Mallett did
- 65: To tell the story to Lady Greendale
- 66: Lord Haverley and his daughter
- 67: Lady Greendale made some excuse to leave the room
- 68: Bertha stood silent for a minute or two
- 69: The Osprey glided on with accelerated speed
- 70: Still Carthew maintained his good temper
- 71: And Carthew shouted Is there anything that I can do for you
- 72: And when we get in unshackle the other bit of the bar
- 73: Except take it ashore and hand it to the Sailing Committee
- 74: Presently he sat down by the side of Lady Greendale
- 75: Bertha is bent upon taking possession of you tomorrow
- 76: It seemed to him that she might not after all accept Carthew
- 77: Carthew walked into the garden
- 78: Carthew did not speak a word until she anchored off the pier
- 79: Then Conkling suddenly broke the silence
- 80: And will sail at once for Ostend
- 81: He had been almost convinced that Carthew
- 82: Lady Greendale did indeed look worn and worried
- 83: Lady Greendale could say nothing further
- 84: The story that George Lechmere came and told me two days ago
- 85: The poor fellow was bitterly sorry for it
- 86: Frank and I are going to be married
- 87: Lady Greendale sat for a moment
- 88: And brought Lady Greendale and Bertha off
- 89: And only Lady Greendale and Bertha remained on board
- 90: I have a note for Miss Greendale
- 91: Bertha sat cold and still without speaking
- 92: Lady Greendale said in an agitated voice
- 93: It was highly improbable indeed
- 94: That Miss Greendale must have been taken on board a yacht
- 95: I have seen so much of Miss Greendale
- 96: But we shall know more when Rawlins comes off
- 97: Maddison was attending Lady Greendale
- 98: Lechmere had the gig at once lowered
- 99: Asking if such a craft had passed
- 100: And the Lizard reports seeing her this morning
- 101: I will wait for the answer from Madeira
- 102: Lechmere saw to getting the arms
- 103: Are we bound for the Mediterranean
- 104: And stow them round the saloon skylight
- 105: After giving the helmsman instructions
- 106: And a man began to work the bellows of a great foghorn
- 107: That is Finisterre over the quarter
- 108: From Tangier he crossed to Gibraltar
- 109: As long as the Osprey was under weigh
- 110: Four days later the Osprey anchored off Funchal
- 111: A triangular mizzen was then hoisted
- 112: Will you see to getting in the davits out of the sockets
- 113: Purvis will be there with them
- 114: Lashing himself to the runner to windward
- 115: And the foresail was hoisted a few feet
- 116: They must certainly have had a pilot on board
- 117: And dropped anchor in the port of San Juan de Porto Rico
- 118: And the boatmen were talking about her
- 119: But the boatmen will be able to tell me
- 120: Say goodbye to wife and piccaninnies
- 121: Bery bad down at what English call Leeward Islands
- 122: Dominique went ashore with Pedro
- 123: If we were to paint the gig black
- 124: One at the crosstrees and one at the topmast head
- 125: Dominique closely questioned the negroes
- 126: Some twenty miles beyond Jaquemel
- 127: Or that under the Bec de Marsouin
- 128: From time to time Frank went up to the crosstrees
- 129: The Osprey ran down fast towards her
- 130: As the boom went off nearly square
- 131: Purvis shall command the dinghy
- 132: And George Lechmere felt Frank give a sudden start
- 133: Had not George Lechmere persuaded him to go below
- 134: Purvis has gone down for a sleep
- 135: No doubt that scoundrel is going to land with Miss Greendale
- 136: His power over Miss Greendale would be just as great
- 137: And Lechmere has been doing the same
- 138: Bery strong crew on board dat yacht
- 139: Dominique rowed back to the yacht
- 140: You should discover that Miss Greendale is really on board
- 141: If black man offered two dollars he bery glad
- 142: Inadvisable to take the dinghy also
- 143: And heard Dominique in conversation
- 144: One of the boatmen would always be left until he came up
- 145: Dominique motioned to the two boatmen to do the same
- 146: Leads straight to Obi man's place
- 147: Carry off Miss Greendale and her maid
- 148: Me crawl up among de trees and see eberyting
- 149: Lechmere will take the command
- 150: Carthew shouting to the blacks to take to their arms
- 151: Led by George Lechmere and Dominique
- 152: Carthew thinks she is chasing us
- 153: Don't do that until you get on board the Osprey
- 154: But Dominique and his black boatmen still pursued hotly
- 155: Bertha asked again as soon as she had got her breath
- 156: Telling me that the brigantine had touched there
- 157: Dominique answered all questions
- 158: For I have brought off Miss Greendale
- 159: The brigantine could be seen plainly
- 160: Frank had brought with him a heavy belaying pin
- 161: The brigantine is well on fire
- 162: Then he moved away to George Lechmere
- 163: The Obi man has worked them up to a state of frenzy
- 164: That the Osprey had the cannon from the brigantine on board
- 165: If Carthew has sent for a steamer
- 166: Miss Greendale has been a great deal braver than I have
- 167: Carthew requested that we would dress and come up at once
- 168: You must see yourself the hopelessness
- 169: It may be best to sail to Bermuda
- 170: Then she was to join Bertha at Greendale
- 171: And that Greendale would be virtually lost to the county
- 172: George Lechmere would be just the man for the work
- 173: Between Frank and Lady Greendale
- 174: And as they drove off to Greendale tenants of both estates
- 175: We aft will hold on to the boat
- 176: Frank threw his arm round Bertha
- 177: In the forecastle of the Osprey