yiLL OF THU The person charging this material is re- sponsible for its return to the library from which it was withdrawn on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books are reasons for disciplinary action and may result in dismissal from the University. To renew call Telephone Center, 333-8400 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN MAR 1 19!!3 L161—O-1096 COIVILLE OF THE GUARDS. VOL. in. COLYILLE OF THE GUARDS BY JAMES GEANT AUTHOR OF "THE ROMANCE OF WAR," "THE CAMERONIAXS," "THE SCOTTISH CAVALIER," ETC., ETC. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. IIL LONDON: HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS, 13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 1885. All rights reserved. 8^3 V. 3 COLVTLLE OF THE GUARDS. CHAPTER I. THE * FLYING FOAM.' When Ellinor, whom we left some pages back in a very perilous predicament, open- ed ber eyes again it was on an unfamiliar scene—the cabin of a ship —and on several male faces, all of which were also unfa- miliar save one ; and her eyes half closed again, as she was too weak and exhausted to disentangle the confusion of her thoughts and, half imagining she was in a horrible dream, would have striven to sleep but for VOL. Ill, B 2 COLVILLK OF THE GUARDS. the wet and sodden garments that clung to her. ' What has happened ?' she moaned. * Where am I ?' * Safe aboard the " Flying Foam," ' said the voice of the man who had rescued her, the sailing-master of that vessel, Mr. Rufane Ringbolt, whom we shall erelong describe more fully. Her miserable plight and imminent peril had been seen from the deck by that personage, who at once had a boat lowered from his craft, which lay at anchor in the Elbe. He had saved her, and in a spirit of mischief—or not knowing what else to do with her —had brought her on board the yacht of his employer, Mr. Adolphus Dewsnap, whose present companion and bosom-friend was Sir Redmond Sleath, whose first emotions of perplexity and evil on Ringbolt bringing off a lady changed to those of blank astonishment and hio*h THE 'flying foam.' • 3 l^riumpli on recognisinor in the half-drowned girl —Ellinor Wellwood ! Devvsnap rubbed his hands with satis- faction. They had just landed two or three peculiar lady friends at the Bran- denburgerhafen to go back to London by steamer, or remain in gay Hamburg as they listed, and already the Flying Foam seemed a little lonely. ' By Jove, you look more beautiful than ever, Ellinor !' exclaimed Sleath, taking her hands in his, as she reclined helplessly on a sofa. ' My friend, Mr. Dewsnap'—let me introduce him—Miss Ellinor Wellwood. This is a most unexpected joy !' ' I am glad of the accident which gives me the honour of making your acquaint- ance. Miss Ellinor,' responded Mr. Dew- snap, near whom she recognised the grinning visage of Mr. John Gaiters, Sleath's devoted valet. Seeing the helpless and terrified cou- b2 4 COLVILLE OF THE GUAEDS. ditiou she was in, Mr. Ringbolt almost forced her to imbibe a little weak brandy and water from a liqueur-frame that stood on the cabin-table ; and then, as there were no female attendants on board the yacht, with considerable readiness and forethought, brought down from the deck a Yierlander boat-woman, who had come off with veofetables for the steward and cook, to attend upon Ellinor. The Vierlander had some doubts and scruples at first ; but when a few twenty- groschen pieces were slipped into her hand these evaporated, and a smile of acquies- cence spread over her wreath er-beaten but pleasant-looking countenance, for she had soft, dark eyes, a nez retrousse decidedly, and, if rather a large mouth, full red lips, as Mr. Ringbolt could remark appreci- atively. She took Ellinor into an inner cabin, and soon changed her wet garments for THE 'flying foam.' 5 some that the late fair voyagers had left behind them ; and when, in fear and terror, she imjolored to be set on shore, she was told that it was impossible, as a heavy fog had suddenly settled down on the land and river. ' Oh, heaven, what will become of me ? !' Mary ! Mary wailed Ellinor, as she clung, as if for protection, to the hands of the picturesquely-clad Yierlander. ' Hope I haven't brought you a Scotch prize aboard, gentlemen,' said Mr. Ring- bolt, winking knowingly, as he mixed himself a glass of grog. 'A Scotch prize —what the devil is that?' asked Mr. Dewsnap, whose cogno- men among his chums was generally ' Dolly.' ' Well—it means a mistake— worse than no prize—one likely to hamper the captors with heavy legal expenses.' ' A Scotch prize, and no mistake !' ex- 6 COLVILLE OF THE GUARDS. claimed Sleatb, as Ellinor, weak, tottering, and scarcely able to stand or articulate, appeared with her new attendant at the door of the cabin, which was now so darkened b}^ the evening fog that the steward was lighting the lamps. Sleath, approaching, attempted to take her hand. 'Don't, sir— dare to touch me!' she cried, in a weak voice, while starting back. * She knows you, Sleath, by Jove !' ex- claimed Mr. Dolly Dewsnap, becoming interested. ' Rather,' said Sleath, with an ugly wink. 'Are you not glad to see me so unex- pectedly, EUinor ?' ' Glad !' said she, shudderingly. Her old repugnance was now increased tenfold, and mingled with genuine terror. A man with such a bearing and with such an expression as she read in the cold blue eyes of Sleath, would, she knew, have no THE ^PLYING FOAM.' mercy, so she turned to Dewsnap; but there was little to encourage her in his leery and hlase^ though rather rubicund, visage. * Put me on shore, sir, I entreat you/ she said. ' It is impossible—utterly impossible, till the fog lifts,' said he, emphatically. ' I shall die 1' exclaimed Ellinor, in a low, husky voice, as the light seemed to leave her eyes. She put her tremulous hands to her slender throat, for a painful lump seemed to rise there—nay, v/as there—catching her breath, while this meeting again, under all the circumstances, with Sir Eedmond Sieath seemed ' one of those strange and almost incredible things which, however, we meet with every day in that marvellous volume of romance, real life.' She cowered and shrank back before — I 8 COLVILLE OF THE GUARDS. Sleath as if he were some wild animal, Tvhich only excited in liim a spirit of anger and banter, while his friend Dewsnap knew uot what to think of the situation as yet. ' Altona agrees with you/ said the baro- net, jauntily. ' You are handsomer than ever. Womanhood gains instead of loses by maturity. But don't be so devilish stuck up ! And ivliat v/ere you doing in Altona ?' She made no reply, but now glanced imploringly and appealingly to Ringbolt, while Sleath resumed in this fashion ' I did not entrap you this evening— did not run away with you,' said he. sur- veying with admiration the volume of her rich brown hair, which was then brushed out, and floated damp and at full length over her shoulders, and she figured now in a species of costume such as she had never worn before, including a tailor-made THE 'flying foam.' jacket and a round felt hat, part of tlie wardrobe of one of Mr. Dolly Dewsnap's recent fair voyagers, left for conveyance back to London, and now likely to prove exceedingly useful. And Ellinor was almost passive in the hands of those among whom Fate had so suddenly cast her. After her recent narrow escape from a dreadful death, and now her present mis- ery, she was too feeble and too full of fear to summon proper pride and just indig- nation to her aid. ' Fate has given you to me again,' con- tinued Sleath, ' so, why not stoop —yield to the inevitable, and the delight of living for and loving each other ! We shall remain on the Continent now, Ellinor, and never again set foot in that cold- blooded Eno^land.' A comical expression twinkled now in the eyes of Mr. Dewsnap, who was an 10 COLVILLE OF THE GUARDS. •andersized, but flesh}^ and flasbj, person- age, about thirty years of age, and vulgar in style and aspect, though dressed in accurate yachtiug costuroe, with gilt but- tons and glazed boots. He knew not what to think of the situation, we say. Though far from straitlaced—though a thorough- paced scamp, in fact—he was puzzled and doubtful what to think of the past re- lations of his chum Sir Eedmond and this young lady, who, he saw at a glance, was neither fast nor vicious, as most of the baronet's lady friends were ; that she was no dove from St. John's Y7ood, or ' girl of the period ' in any way. While Ring-bolt beckoned Gaiters on deck to obtain some information on the subject from him, Sleath began again, in low and softer voice, while hanging over her. ' We were about to run away together before, and would have done so, but for THE ^FLYING FOAM. 11 the brute your sister's clog. Now, Ellinor, darling, we shall elope ia earnest, and we shall not be the first couple who have done so, and lived happy ever after, like couples in the old story books.' ' Don't be alarmed— don't fear, Miss Ellinor,' said Dewsnap, thinkinof it neces- sary to say something, as she turned her haggard eyes on him, and ignored the presence of Sleath.