CHAPTER II

INTRODUCING THE RAVISHER OF THE SAME

Major John D'Arcy was hard at work on his book (that is to say, he had
been, for divers plans and papers littered the table before him) but
just now he leaned far back in his elbow-chair, long legs stretched
out, deep-plunged in balmy slumber; perceiving which the Sergeant
halted suddenly, stood at ease and stared.

The Major's great black peruke dangled from the chair-back, and his
close-cropped head (already something grizzled at the temples) was
bowed upon his broad chest, wherefore, ever and anon, he snored gently.
The Major was forty-one but just now as he sat lost in the oblivion of
sleep he looked thirty; but then again when he strode gravely to and
fro in his old service coat (limping a little by reason of an old
wound) and with black brows wrinkled in sober thought he looked fifty
at the least.

Thus he continued to sleep and the Sergeant to stare until presently,
choking upon a snore, the Major opened his eyes and sat up briskly,
whereupon the Sergeant immediately came to attention.

"Ha, Zeb!" exclaimed the Major in mild wonder, "what is it, Sergeant
Zeb?"

"Your honour 'tis the cherries----"

"Cherries?" yawned the Major, "the cherries are doing very well, thanks
to your unremitting care, Sergeant, and of all fruits commend me to
cherries. Now had it been cherries that led our common mother Eve
into---ha--difficulties, Sergeant, I could have sympathised more deeply
with her lamentable--ha--I say with her very deplorable--ha----"

"Reverse, sir?"

"Reverse?" mused the Major, rubbing his chin. "Aye, reverse will
serve, Zeb, 'twill serve!"

"And three more squads of 'em missing, sir--looted, your honour's
arternoon by means of escalade t'other side party-wall. Said cherries
believed to have been took by parties unknown lately from London, sir,
not sixty minutes since and therefore suspected to be not far off."

"Why, this must be looked to, Zeb!" said the Major, rising. "So,
Sergeant, let us look--forthwith."

"Wig, sir!" suggested the Sergeant, holding it out.

"Aye, to be sure!" nodded the Major, taking and clapping it on somewhat
askew. "Now--Sergeant--forward!"

"Stick, sir!" said the Sergeant, proffering a stout crab-tree staff.

"Aye!" smiled the Major, twirling it in a sinewy hand, "'twill be
useful like as not."

So saying (being ever a man of action) the Major sallied forth carrying
the stick very much as if it had been a small