The Project Gutenberg EBook of No Defense, Complete, by Gilbert Parker

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net

Title: No Defense, Complete

Author: Gilbert Parker

Last Updated: March 14, 2009
Release Date: October 18, 2006 [EBook #6295]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NO DEFENSE, COMPLETE ***

Produced by David Widger

NO DEFENSE

By Gilbert Parker

CONTENTS

BOOK I.
I. THE TWO MEET
II. THE COMING OF A MESSENGER
III. THE QUARREL
IV. THE DUEL
V. THE KILLING OF ERRIS BOYNE
VI. DYCK IN PRISON
VII. MOTHER AND DAUGHTER
VIII. DYCK'S FATHER VISITS HIM
IX. A LETTER FROM SHEILA

BOOK II
X. DYCK CALHOUN ENTERS THE WORLD AGAIN
XI. WHITHER NOW?
XII. THE HOUR BEFORE THE MUTINY
XIII. TO THE WEST INDIES
XIV. IN THE NICK OF TIME
XV. THE ADMIRAL HAS HIS SAY

BOOK III
XVI. A LETTER
XVII. STRANGERS ARRIVE
XVIII. AT SALEM
XIX. LORD MALLOW INTERVENES
XX. OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE PHILISTINES
XXI. THE CLASH OF RACE
XXII. SHEILA HAS HER SAY
XXIII. THE COMING OF NOREEN
XXIV. WITH THE GOVERNOR
XXV. THEN WHAT HAPPENED

CHAPTER I. THE TWO MEET

"Well, good-bye, Dyck. I'll meet you at the sessions, or before that at
the assizes."

It was only the impulsive, cheery, warning exclamation of a wild young
Irish spirit to his friend Dyck Calhoun, but it had behind it the humour
and incongruity of Irish life.

The man, Dyck Calhoun, after whom were sent the daring words about the
sessions and the assizes, was a year or two older than his friend, and,
as Michael Clones, his servant and friend, said, "the worst and best
scamp of them all"--just up to any harmless deviltry.

Influenced by no traditions or customs, under control of no stern
records of society, Calhoun had caused some trouble in his time by the
harmless deeds of a scapegrace, but morally--that is, in all relations
of life affected by the ten commandments--he was above reproach. Yet he
was of the so