Great Britain -- History, Naval -- 18th century -- Fiction; Nore Mutiny, 1797 -- Fiction
But to continue. The bodies of the dead in the shealing were consigned
to the earth as they lay, the four walls composing a mausoleum where
animosity was buried. The corpses of McDermot, and the Irish who had
been killed in the conflict, were removed by their friends, that they
might be waked. By the direction of McElvina the wounded English were
carried up by their former antagonists to the small town at the foot of
the castle, where surgical assistance was to be obtained. Seymour was
placed on a sort of bier that had been constructed for him, Emily and
her companions riding by his side; and the cavalcade wound up the hill,
the rear brought up by Mr Hardsett and the remainder of the English
crew. In two hours all were at their respective destinations; and
Seymour, who had been examined by the surgeon upon his arrival at the
castle, and whose wound had been pronounced by no means dangerous, was
in bed and fast asleep, Susan and Emily watching by his side.
Debriseau, who had recognised his quondam friend McElvina, and perceived
by his appearance, and the respect that was shown to him, that he had
been more fortunate in his career, since they had parted, than he had
himself, from a proud feeling of the moment, did not make himself known.
That McElvina, who had no idea of meeting him in such a quarter, should
not, in the hurry of the scene, distinguish his former associate,
covered as he was with dust and blood, and having the appearance more of
a New Zealand warrior than of any other living being, was not
surprising--and Debriseau joined the English party in the rear of the
cavalcade, and remained with them at the town, while McElvina and the
rest of the cortege continued their route to the castle, with the
wounded Seymour.
As soon as our hero's wound had been dressed, and the favourable opinion
of the surgeon had been pronounced, McElvina rode down to the town, to
make arrangements for the board and lodging of the English seamen. It
was then that he was asked by Mr Hardsett, what was to be done with the
Frenchman who had been saved.
"Where is he?" demanded McElvina.
Debriseau was summoned to the magistrate, and having cleaned himself of
the dust and gore, was immediately recognised.
"Debriseau!" exclaimed McElvina, with astonishment, and a look of
displeasure.
"Even so, Captain McElvina," replied Debriseau haughtily; "you do not
seem very well pleased at meeting an old acquaintance."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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