THE O'RUDDY
A ROMANCE
BY
STEPHEN CRANE
Author of "The Red Badge of Courage," "Active
Service," "Wounds in the Rain," etc.
AND
ROBERT BARR
Author of "Tekla," "In the Midst of Alarms,"
"Over the Border," "The Victors," etc.
With frontispiece by
C. D. WILLIAMS
NEW YORK
FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY
PUBLISHERS
Copyright, 1903,
By Frederick A. Stokes Company
THE O'RUDDY
CHAPTER I
y chieftain ancestors had lived at Glandore for many centuries andwere very well known. Hardly a ship could pass the Old Head of Kinsalewithout some boats putting off to exchange the time of day with her,and our family name was on men's tongues in half the seaports ofEurope, I dare say. My ancestors lived in castles which were likechurches stuck on end, and they drank the best of everything amid thejoyous cries of a devoted peasantry. But the good time passed awaysoon enough, and when I had reached the age of eighteen we had nobodyon the land but a few fisher-folk and small farmers, people who werealmost law-abiding, and my father came to die more from disappointmentthan from any other cause. Before the end he sent for me to come tohis bedside.
"Tom," he said, "I brought you into existence, and God help you safeout of it; for you are not the kind of man ever to turn your hand towork, and there is only enough money to last a gentleman five moreyears.
"The 'Martha Bixby,' she was, out of Bristol for the West Indies, andif it hadn't been for her we[2] would never have got along this far withplenty to eat and drink. However, I leave you, besides the money, thetwo swords,—the grand one that King Louis, God bless him, gave me,and the plain one that will really be of use to you if you get into adisturbance. Then here is the most important matter of all. Here aresome papers which young Lord Strepp gave me to hold for him when wewere comrades in France. I don't know what they are, having had verylittle time for reading during my life, but do you return them to him.He is now the great Earl of Westport, and he lives in London in agrand house, I hear. In the last campaign in France I had to lend hima pair of breeches or he would have gone bare. These papers areimportant to him, and he may reward you, but do not you depend on it,for you may get the back of his hand. I have not seen him for years. Iam glad I had you taught to read. They read considerably in England, Ihear. There is one more cask of the best brandy remaining, and Irecommend you to leave for England as soon as it is finished. And now,one more thing, my lad, never be civil to a king's officer. Whereveryou see a red coat, depend there is a rogue between the front and theback of it. I have said everything. Push the bottle near me."
Three weeks after my father's burial I resolved to set out, with nomore words, to deliver the papers to the Earl of Westport. I wasresolved to be prompt in obeying