Quicksilver: The Boy With No Skid to His Wheel Read online

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

  "THEM AS IS BORN TO BE HANGED."

  It might have been presumed that Bob Dimsted would either have tried torender some assistance or else have raised an alarm.

  Bob Dimsted did nothing of the kind.

  For certain reasons of his own, and as one who had too frequently beenin the hot water of trouble, Master Bob thought only of himself, andcatching his line in his hand as he quickly drew it from the water, hehastily gathered up his fishing paraphernalia, and ran off as hard as hecould go.

  He had time, however, to see Dexter's wet head rise to the surface andthen go down again, for the unwilling bather had one leg hooked in thebough, which took him down once more, as it yielded to the current, andthe consequence was that when Dexter rose, breathless andhalf-strangled, he was fifty yards down the stream.

  But he was now free, and giving his head a shake, he trod the water fora few moments, and then struck out for the shore, swimming as easily asa frog.

  A few sturdy strokes took him out of the sharp current and into an eddynear the bank, by whose help he soon reached the deep still water,swimming so vigorously that before long he was abreast of the doctor'sgarden, where a group beneath the trees startled him more than hisinvoluntary plunge.

  For there, in a state of the greatest excitement, were the doctor andHelen, with Peter Cribb, with a clothes-prop to be used for a differentpurpose now.

  Further behind was Dan'l Copestake, who came panting up with the longesthandled rake just as Dexter was nearing the bank.

  "Will he be drowned?" whispered Helen, as she held tightly by herfather's arm.

  "No; he swims like a water-rat," said the doctor.

  "No, no," shouted Dexter, beginning to splash the water, and sheeringoff as he saw Dan'l about to make a dab at him with the rake.

  There was more zeal than discretion in the gardener's use of thisimplement, for it splashed down into the water heavily, the teeth nearlycatching the boy's head.

  "Here, catch hold of this," cried Peter Cribb.

  "No, no; let me be," cried Dexter, declining the offer of theclothes-prop, as he had avoided it before when he was on the top of thewall. "I can swim ashore if you'll let me be."

  This was so self-evident that the doctor checked Dan'l as he was aboutto make another skull-fracturing dash with the rake; and the next minuteDexter's hand clutched the grass on the bank, and he crawled out, withthe water streaming down out of his clothes, and his short hair gummed,as it were, to his head.

  "Here!" he cried; "where's my fish?"

  "Fish, sir!" cried the doctor; "you ought to be very thankful thatyou've saved your life."

  "O Dexter!" cried Helen.

  "I say, don't touch me," cried the boy, as she caught at his hand. "I'mso jolly wet."

  He was like a sponge just lifted out of a pail, and already about himthere was a pool.

  "Here, quick, sir; run up to the house and change your clothes," criedthe doctor.

  "But I must get my fish, sir."

  "Fish!" cried the doctor angrily; "that's not the way to fish."

  "Yes, it was, sir; and I caught one."

  "You caught one!"

  "Yes, sir; a beauty."

  "Look here, Dexter," cried the doctor, catching him by his wet arm; "doyou mean to tell me that you dived into the river like that and caught afish!"

  "No, sir; I fell in when I was getting my line out of the tree."

  "Oh, I see."

  "Beg pardon, sir," said Dan'l sourly; "but he've broke a great branchoff this here tree."

  "Well, I couldn't help it," said Dexter, in an ill-used tone. "I caughtmy line in the tree, and was obliged to get up and fetch it, and--stop aminute. I can see it. All right."

  He ran off along the river-bank till they saw him stoop just where thewall dipped down into the river. There he found the rod floating closeto the edge, and, securing it, he soon after drew in the loose branch hehad cut off the tree, and disentangled his line, with the little roachstill on the hook.

  "There!" he cried in triumph, as he ran back with rod, line, and fish;"look at that, Miss Grayson, isn't it a beauty, and--What are youlaughing at!"

  This was at Peter Cribb, who was grinning hugely, but who turned away,followed by Dan'l.

  "Them as is born to be hanged'll never be drowned," grumbled the oldgardener sourly, as the two men went away.

  "No fear of him being drowned," said Peter. "Swims like a cork."

  "It's disgusting; that's what I say it is," growled Dan'l; "disgusting."

  "What's disgusting?" said Peter.

  "Why, they cuddles and makes a fuss over a boy as is a reg'lar noosanceabout the place, just as any other varmint would be. Wish he haddrowned himself. What call was there for me to come and bring a rake!"

  "Ah, he's a rum un, that he is," said Peter. "And master's a rum un;and how they can take to that boy, Miss Helen specially, and have himhere's more'n I can understand. It caps me, that it do."

  "Wait a bit, my lad, and you'll see," cried the old gardener. "He'sbegun his games just as such a boy would, and afore long this heregarden will be turned into such a wreck as'll make the doctor tear hishair, and wish as he'd never seen the young rascal. He's a bad un; youcan see it in his eye. He's got bad blood in him, and bad blood alluscomes out sooner or later. Peter Cribb, my lad--"

  "Yes."

  "We're getting old fellow-servants, though you're only young. Peter, mylad, I'm beginning to tremble for my fruit."

  "Eh?"

  "Yes; that I am, my lad," said Dan'l in a whisper. "Just as Iexpected--I was watching of him--that rip's took up with bad company,Poacher Dimsted's boy; and that means evil. They was talking together,and then young Dimsted see me, and run away."

  "Did he?"

  "Did he? Yes, he just did; and you mark my words, Peter Cribb, it willnot be long before the gov'ner gets rid of him."

  "Oh yes; it's a very beautiful fish," said the doctor testily; "but makehaste in. There, run and get all your wet things off as quickly as youcan."

  Dexter was so deeply interested in the silvery scales and graceful shapeof his fish that he hardly heard the doctor's words, which had to berepeated before the boy started, nodded shortly, and ran off toward thehouse, while his patron walked to a garden chair, sat down, and gazed upat Helen in a perplexed way.

  Helen did not speak, but gazed back at her father with a suppressedlaugh twinkling about the corners of her lips.

  "You're laughing at me, my dear," said the doctor at last; "but you markmy words--what I say is true. All this is merely the froth of the boy'snature, of which he is getting rid. But tut, tut, tut! All this mustbe stopped. First a new cap destroyed by being turned into a bucket,and now a suit of clothes gone."

  "They will do for a garden suit, papa," said Helen, speaking as if shehad had charge of boys for years.

  "Well, yes: I suppose so," said the doctor. "But there: I am not goingto worry myself about trifles. The cost of a few suits of clothes areas nothing compared to the success of my scheme. Now let's go in andsee if the young dog has gone to work to change his things."

  The doctor rose and walked up the garden, making comments to hisdaughter about the course of instruction he intended to pursue withDexter, and on reaching the house and finding that the object of histhoughts was in his bedroom, he went on to the study just as Maria camefrom the front door with a letter.

  "Letter, eh? Oh, I see. From Lady Danby!"

  The doctor opened the letter.

  "Any one waiting!" he said.

  "Yes, sir. Groom waiting for an answer."

  "I'll ring, Maria," said the doctor, and then he smiled and lookedpleased. "There, my deaf," he cried, tossing the note to his daughter."Now I call that very kind and neighbourly. You see, Sir James and LadyDanby feel and appreciate the fine manly conduct of Dexter over thatcattle, and they very wisely think that he not only deserves greatcommendation, but that the present is a favourable opportunity forbeginning
an intimacy and companionship."

  "Yes, papa," said Helen, with rather a troubled look.

  "Danby sees that he was wrong, and is holding out the right hand of goodfellowship. Depend upon it that we shall have a strong tie betweenthose two boys. They will go to a public school together, help oneanother with their studies, and become friends for life. Hah! Yes.Sit down, my dear," continued the doctor, rubbing his hands. "My kindregards to Sir James and Lady Danby, that I greatly appreciate theirkindness, and that Dexter shall come and spend the day with Edgar onFriday."

  Helen wrote the note, which was despatched, and the doctor smiled, andlooked highly satisfied.

  "You remember how obstinate Sir James was about boys?"

  "Yes, papa. I heard a part of the conversation, and you told me therest."

  "To be sure. You see my selection was right. Dexter behaved like alittle hero over that adventure."

  "Yes," said Helen; "he was as brave as could be."

  "Exactly. All justification of my choice. I don't want to prophesy,Helen, but there will be a strong friendship between those boys fromthat day. Edgar, the weak, well-born boy, will always recognise themanly confidence of Dexter, the er--er, well, low-born boy, who in turnwill have his sympathies aroused by his companion's want of--er--well,say, ballast."

  "Possibly, papa."

  "My dear Helen, don't speak like that," said the doctor pettishly. "Youare so fond of playing wet blanket to all my plans."

  "Oh no, papa; I am sure I will help you, and am helping you, in allthis, but it is not in my nature to be so sanguine."

  "Ah, well, never mind that. But you do like Dexter!"

  "Yes; I am beginning to like him more and more."

  "That's right. I'm very, very glad, and I feel quite grateful to theDanbys. You must give Dexter a few hints about behaving himself, and,so to speak, keeping down his exuberance when he is there."

  "May I say a word, papa!"

  "Certainly, my dear; of course."

  "Well, then, I have an idea of my own with respect to Dexter."

  "Ah, that's right," said the doctor, smiling and rubbing his hands."What is it!"

  "I have been thinking over it all a great deal, dear," said Helen, goingto her father's side and resting her hand upon his shoulder; "and itseems to me that the way to alter and improve Dexter will be byexample."

  "Ah yes, I see; example better than precept, eh!"

  "Yes. So far his life has been one of repression and the severestdiscipline."

  "Yes, of course. Cut down; tied down, and his natural growth stopped.Consequently wild young shoots have thrust themselves out of hisnature."

  "That is what I mean."

  "Quite right, my dear; then we will give him as much freedom as we can.You will give him a hint or two, though."

  "I will do everything I can, papa, to make him presentable."

  "Thank you, my dear. Yes, these boys will become great companions, Ican see. Brave little fellow! I am very, very much pleased."

  The doctor forgot all about the broken branch, and Dexter's spoiled suitof clothes, and Helen went to see whether the boy had obeyed the lastcommand.