UNDER A CLOUD; OR, "STRANGER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED." BY THE AUTHOR OF "BOY AND MAN." "I told you to be careful," said Daniel. Bott and the carriage, but could not see either the one or the other. He expected they would have been there waiting for him, and thought it rather slighty of them to have failed, especially as the train was late. The only person who remained after the train had passed on was a tall, elderly man, with a heavy countenance, having ALCOLM FRERE the appearance of a labourer from the was not parti- plough-tail, and the only carriage in view cularly happy was a spring-cart, well bespattered with at the prospect mud, which had been suffered to accumuof spending late upon the body and wheels for weeks three or four or months perhaps. The man had a cartweeks among whip in his hand, a worn and battered strangers in an hat upon his head, and a pair of clodout-of-the-way crushers on his feet - Malcolm could farmhouse in- not call them boots. This individual folstead of accom- lowed Malcolm about with his eyes for panying his fa- some minutes, and then shuffled up to bim ther to the Con- and said, in a husky voice, "Are you the tinent. But he young gent as I'm a-looking for? resolved to Malcolm had a particular objection to be make the best of it. For some things it called a 'gent," " and he was unwilling to might be pleasant enough. It would be all admit the idea which had crossed his mind new to him. He liked the idea of the castle, that this man and that cart had been sent and the gorse-covered hill, and the rabbits. to convey him to Clare Hall Farm, or the There were horses, too, which he supposed Castle. So he answered rather shortly, he could ride, or Mrs. Bott would not have "How can I tell?" mentioned them. He would receive a great deal of attention, and should be able to astonish the country folks, and perhaps teach them something. Mrs. Bott had said so, or hinted as much, and it had pleased him more than he would have cared to confess. He arrived at Bubbenhoe Station at the appointed time, and looked out for Mr. "If you can't, who can?" said the man. "Mr. Bott sent me to look for a young gent as was coming by that there train as is gone. If you are the young gent as Mr. Bott expects, you are to go along with me." "If Mr. Bott sent you," said Malcolm, "I suppose I must be the gentleman in question.' "Frere my name is-Malcolm Frere," the young gentleman replied, drawing himself up. No consequence, indeed! Such a name as his! "Ah, well! it was something of that sort, I do think; but it don't signify. You are to come along with me." "Has Mr. Bott sent his carriage?" Malcolm asked, ignoring the spring-cart. "What'say?" Malcolm repeated the question. 66 Carriage? No; not as I know on. He has sent the trap, though. There it is." Malcolm, though bursting with vexation, had no alternative but to call to the only porter on duty to carry his luggage to the trap, but the porter was busy talking to some one, and did not immediately reply. You take one handle, and I'll take the t'other," said the old man; "the portmantle won't break us down." Malcolm, after another glance at the industrious porter, did as he was requested, and they were soon ready to start. The horse-a clumsy animal, with long hair about its fetlocks-stood dozing between the shafts, and had to be waked up with sundry jerks of the reins before he would move on. "Mrs. Bott said as I was to ask if you could drive; 'cause if you could, you might." "Much obliged to her," said Malcolm. "Yes, I can drive a pair of ponies, but I don't want to drive that creature; he does not look as if he had any go in him." "One can't judge of a horse by the look of him," said the man, any more than one can of a young gent. Poppitt can shack along pretty sharp when he gets started; but you needn't drive unless you like." There was a public-house close by, and Malcolm, notwithstanding his annoyance, thought it would be the right thing, and perhaps add something to his importance, if he offered the man who had come to meet him some refreshment. "Will you take anything? " he said. "What say "Will you take anything? "Yes; I'll take my departure if you're ready." I meant, would you take anything to drink?" said Malcolm, thinking the man had not understood him. "No, thank you; I be'ant dry. And yet I be; I be always Dry; I were born Dry, and shall be Dry as long as I live." "Is that your name, then?" "Yes, it be. Daniel Dry; that's how I were born and christened." Before they had gone far Daniel Dry pointed to a little shop, and said, "Will you take anything? "What do you mean?" said Malcolm. "A peppermint, or a sugar-stick?" "No," said Malcolm; he could not bring himself to add "thank you" to such an offer. "One good turn deserves another," said old Dry. "It's a different thing, though," said Malcolm, hardly knowing whether the old man was serious or making fun of him. "Yes," ," said Dry; "I be old and you be young; that's the difference." When they had gone about a mile, Poppitt drew up at a farmhouse by the roadside. "Mo-a-a-a," said the calf. "I shall get down and walk," said Malcolm. "How far is it to the Castle ?" "The what?" "Clare Hall-Mr. Butt's farm." "Ho! ho!" laughed Daniel Dry; "the Castle! Ho, ho, ho! Well, the farm isever so far, so sit ye still. Ho, ho, ho, ho!" "I'll get "I've got another passenger a-coming in here," said Dry. "There's no room," Malcolm answered. "We'll make room," said Dry. "I won't," said Malcolm. down and walk." "You are sure you have not seen him?" the constable asked again, suspiciously. "What is that under the sack in your cart?" He had caught sight of something moving, and approached to examine it. "Gee up," said Daniel, giving his horse a lash with the whip instead of answering; "Shack on, Poppitt! "Come up," said Dry, addressing the horse this time, and giving him a pull with the rein; "Shack on, Poppitt! Then turning to Malcolm and jerking with his head towards the calf, he added, Why you are as restless as that there t'other one. Mr. Bott should have sent another calf-net, and I would have put it on. No offence, you know; where none is intended none should be took." By the time he had cleared a place at the back of the cart, a calf was brought from the farmyard with much pushing and pulling, and was lifted into the vehicle. The calf did not seem to like the trap any better than Malcolm did, and a strong net was brought and tied across the rails to keep it from jumping down into the road. This did not prevent it from thrusting its nose over Malcolm's shoulder and mo-a-a-ing incessantly close to his "Stop," cried the constable; but Daniel pretended not to hear him. 66 Stop, I charge you," he cried again. "Pull up this minute." Malcolm looked as if he did not think much of the assurance that no offence was intended. And yet Daniel Dry was so simple and serious in his manner of speaking, that he could not make out whether he was laughing at him, or whether the words had only dropped from him without thought. Daniel Dry had a habit of asking in a sharp voice" What say?" almost before the person who addressed him had done speaking. Malcolm did not like it; it was not respectful, and it gave him the trouble of speaking a second time. "I wish it would not make that noise," he repeated, in a loud voice. "What, don't you like it?" Dry asked. "No, I should think not." Daniel drew up with seeming reluctance, and the policeman went to the back of the cart and lifted the sack. The calf thrust out its head and said, "Mo-a-a-a." 66 'There," said Daniel, "you have got your answer now; you can understand his language, I dare say. Shack on, Poppitt!" The calf after a time "lost its legs," as Daniel said, and then he threw a sack over it to keep it quiet. It had the desired effect, and they drove on in comparative silence. Presently they met two men driving a taxed cart, a much more stylish sort of machine than their own. "Those be constables," said Daniel. Policemen; yes, I see." ་ The horse did as he was bid, and the constable was left in the road looking very angry. They be on dooty too," said Daniel. "Now then! you don't want me, do you?" "Who is Widow Wilkin's boy?" Malcolm asked, after they had gone a little farther. The constable who was driving had pulled up, and made a gesture to Daniel to do the same. "No," was the answer; "but I want a friend of yours." Rabbits they call him,” said Daniel. "His father's name was Roberts, though. He don't belong to the widow, only she took care on him when his father died, and he lodges with her when he's at home. He is an unfortunate young fellow; his father was gamekeeper at the Hall-Clare Hall, you know; so young Rabbits was brought up among the game, and took to it natural. And now, instead of settling to work, he goes about idling, and setting snares for rabbits among the gorse. I shouldn't care, for my part, if he was to catch all the rabbits as ever was born, for they are nasty things in a barley field, and there's no keeping them down, with spinneys on one side and a gorse common on the other; and that's the case all round Clear-all Farm." "Not this here young gent?" Dry asked. Malcolm was again put out, though he had begun to get used to this sort of thing. "I want that lad that used to work with you at Bott's farm. Widow Wilkin's boy," said the man. Poor chap!" said Daniel, in a tone of sympathy. "What has he been after now? Nothing very bad, I hope? "Rabbiting in the squire's gorse." Malcolm pricked up his ears; that was exactly what he had intended doing. In that case he might really have been the person wanted. "Is that all?" said Dry. "He can't help that, he were brought up to it, and it's "You see it has been taken from its his natur." mother, poor thing!" "That's no reason," said Malcolm. "You don't look for reason in a poor creetur like that, do you?" "Mo-a-a-a," said the calf. "Then he must take the consequences of his nature. You haven't seen anything of him, have you? I heard he had gone towards the station at Bubbenhoe." 66 You had better make haste after him," "Now if I understand right," Dry said Daniel. "Clear-all?" "Yes, the Castle, you know. Ho, ho, ho, ho! Clear-all is the name it goes by mostly. You'll know all about it after a bit. Mr. Bott he makes the best of everything, and quite right too, in moderation. There ain't much picking left where he's been. No one ever goes on his land to glean; he don't leave five straws upon a acre. Yes, Clear-all Farm is the right name for it; and here we are. Take the reins while I open the gate. Now then, if you can drive, come on. Mind the gate was nowh El the e elean and drive; hed wi en two m at set down - as a cr Bott, ho tely, and detonate, are desired e kissed u have not seen in d again, sustansy e constable; but D e you," he cried aga with seeming relate as he was bid, and t t in the road lo >w Wilkin's boy?" Ma · they had gone a ba call him," said Da ne was Roberts, th o the widow, only sheti 1 his father died, and when he's at home. E young fellow; his st at the Hall-Clare Hi ung Rabbits was beg me, and took to it s d of settling to work ng, and setting snare i I shk the gorse. , if he was to catch was born, for the a barley field, and the a down, with spinne Orse common on the case all round Car provoked old Dry to cry "Ho, ho, ho, ho!" The interior was not much better. The rooms, though large, were bare and comfortless. The floors below were of stone, and those upstairs of plaster. The furniture of most of the rooms was old and cumbrous, but that of the parlour had been modernised when the new window was put in; and contained half a dozen very red mahogany chairs, and a mahogany sofa to match. This room was only used on Sundays and festivals; it was cold and damp, and smelt musty. Malcolm was shown into it on his arrival, but he soon found that the large common room or the, you know. Ho kitchen, with a long deal table in the row of Windsor chairs is the name its middle and a against the wall, was the one in which he I know all about it aiz was to take his meals and to spend the he makes the best of err right too, in mois ach picking left where ever goes on his lan leave five strawie greater part of his time when indoors. He did not intend to be much indoors if he could help it. But the prospect of outdoor amusements which had been held out to him were not very bright. The horses did not seem to be such as he would care to ride or drive; and the rabbits could not en the grind the be approached without danger. Before he had two minutes Farm, lear-all Farm is the and here we are. Take gate. Now tha e pen o had been used to d he had set down the whole thing in his home, was rexed at ba ne, was anxious to rea Fore the gate was ful own mind as a cruel imposition. Mrs. Bott, however, appeared almost immediately, and she was as warm, not to say affectionate, in her manner, as he could have desired. She gave him a hearty welcome, kissed him, smoothed down his ADVENTURES OF SIR FRANCIS Spanish gold, and some young gentlemen DRAKE. joined by many volunteers, greedy f noble blood. But though Drake brought h two ships safely home again, no such ben MONG the great men who made the reign fits had been reaped as he had fondly hope of Elizabeth glorious, none are more In the following year, 1572, this ind worthy of remembrance than the bold sea-fatigable sailor again set out, and it wa captains whose adventures were a source of this expedition that Sir Philip Sidney w pride and delight alike to their Queen and peremptorily forbidden by the Queen their fellow-countrymen. join, "lest she should lose the jewel of h dominions." This time Drake succeede in his two great objects: he did gre damage to the Spaniards, and amassed considerable booty. Though he desire money, it was only that he might be able carry out his great exploratory voyage and not for greed, for we read of his throw ing the presents of golden wedges given him by an Indian chief into the commo stock, saying nobly, "I think it but just the such as have borne the charge of so un certain a voyage on my credit should sha the utmost advantages the voyage ma produce." The Spaniards had assumed hitherto the right to dominate the New World and rule the Indian seas. As yet they had been unchecked; but the spirit of enterprise and adventure fostered by Elizabeth's sagacious rule was stirring in many a bold heart in England, and was soon to lead such men as Frobisher, Drake, and Hawkins to assert their country's supremacy on the ocean. Devonshire had the honour of giving birth to that one of these heroes who is the subject of this paper. Sir Francis Drake was born in the year 1545, some say at Plymouth, a town which always claimed him afterwards; others say at Tavistock. His father was a yeoman farmer, and the boyhood of young Drake was spent at Crowndale Farm, near the River Tavy. During the Marian persecution, Farmer Drake, known as a zealous Protestant, had to leave Devonshire. To be a Protestant in those days meant more than mere outward profession. It meant true faith in Jesus Christ, and a readiness to do all or suffer all for Him who died to save us. It meant the possession of divine grace in the heart, which led faithful men to protest against the Romish errors and superstitions which had come back with Queen Mary. Multitudes outwardly conformed, but Farmer Drake was not of that sort. He left his Devonshire home, and went to reside in Kent. We hear of him after the accession of Queen Elizabeth employed as "reader of the gospel" to the sailors in the Medway. It was thus that Francis Drake was early imbued with hatred of Popery and of its champions, the Spaniards, a hatred very natural to Englishmen in days when the fires of persecution were but lately extinguished, and when the Netherlands were still groaning and bleeding under the tyranny of Spain. Young Drake's attraction to the sea was no doubt owing to his uncle, the great Sir John Hawkins. It was, in fact, Sir John Hawkins who brought up our hero, and sent him, at the age of eighteen, to Biscay, as purser to a ship, and two years later to Guinea. At twenty-two Drake became captain of the Judith, and set sail for Mexico, at that time the land of every sailor's dreams, where glory and renown were to be acquired by vanquishing the hated Spaniards. It was a Sunday in August, 1573, whe they entered Plymouth Harbour. Most the inhabitants were in church, when th news was whispered that Drake had re turned from the Spanish main; the whispe spread through the whole congregation imparting an irresistible impulse to escap to the shore. One, we may well fanc bolder than the rest, crept out, the another, till at last "there remained fe or no people with the preacher," the who congregation running down to the port welcome the "hero of Devonshire an his merry men. Drake had now the means to fit out thre frigates, with which he sailed to Ire land, and served as a volunteer und Walter, Earl of Essex, the father of Eliza beth's unfortunate favourite. After the death of Essex, Drake returne to England, and was presented to h Majesty by Sir Christopher Hatton; bu he had no taste for a courtier's life, an already he was busy with plans for th great expedition which was to make h name famous. He proposed to get into th men. South Seas through the Straits of Mage lan, a passage never yet attempted by an Englishman. The Queen, being then a peace with Spain, could not openly sand tion the project, but she secretly supplie him with money, and his fame soon dre together enough bold and adventurou spirits to fill his ships, among them man gentlemen who to the art navigation under so great a captain. The expedition started December 13t 1577, and consisted of five vessels and 16 On the 25th the coast of Barbar was sighted, on the 29th Cape Verd, and c the 5th April Drake and his company entere the River de la Plate. Here it was the of his ships to two, turning the other thr adrift. He then proceeded to the Port S Julian, on the coast of Patagonia, and r mained there two months taking in prov sions. In this place Drake discovered gibbet, and pointed it out to his men as proof that Christian people had been the before them! the post, and the pet hair, blessed his little heart half a dozen In the Bay of Mexico Drake joined with Drake thought good to reduce the numb ed off and fell up u to be careful," said what you have done. F en used to driving ot been used to drivi is," said Malcolm e plough." 46 od horse, though, Papild Only let him ered. ant him to do, and le cok the reins in his bio up to the door of the times, and told him he should have his tea directly. Mr. Bott was out, and would not be home till late, so they were not to wait for him. Thus Malcolm and Mrs. Bott had their tea together in the damp parlour; and then the good woman took him out with her to show him the garden and the pigs and sheep and poultry. He saw the gorse-covered hill in the distance, and watched the sun go down beyond it in the west. He thought also of his father, who had by that time crossed the Channel, and speeding on his way south. He felt lonely and heartsick, and wondered how he should ever be able to get through a month in such a house and in such company. Was his uncle, Sir John, in many an attack on the Spanish ships and settlements, and greatly distinguished himself, so that we are told "he returned to England with great reputation, though not worth a groat." Glory without wealth, however, did not satisfy him, for the Queen, though ready to approve and reward such expeditions, if On the 20th August he entered th successful, preferred to leave all expenses Straits of Magellan with only his own shipon the shoulders of those bold enough to the other having already passed through th undertake them. In fact, great sea-cap-straits and returned home-and proceede tains were only adventurers, and their ships we might now call privateers, if not pirates. Drake now determined to make an expedition against the Spanish settlements in the West Indies, in the hope of little known, hoping to find a passage back that way; but failing to do so, he made for the Moluccas, and thence sailed to Java; then crossing the Indian Ocean and doubling the Cape of Good Hope, he entered Plymouth Harbour November 3rd, 1580, about two years and ten months after he had started on this perilous undertaking. Camden, a contemporary historian, gives a quaint account of this, the greatest of Drake's voyages:-"Drake was, in maritime achievements, without dispute the greatest captain of our age-who, first to repair the losses he had suffered from the Spaniards, as I have heard himself say, did, as it were, block up the Bay of Mexico for two years altogether, with continual de might be forthcoming if the Spaniards The news of the enormous force about to The fact that a Roman Catholic was placed in this high position of Admiral of the Fleet is very significant. It shows the national unity of England, and the patriotism which extended to all classes, The Armada coming up the British Channel. orders to burn all the Spanish ships he should meet, and so prevent, or at any rate retard, the execution of Philip's plans. feats; and travelled over the Straits of and to men 66 So it was in the old days when Howard and Drake stood for England and its Queen against Spain and the Pope. Stow, |