"Will you explain the reason?"
"Yes, it is as well to be candid with you: my mother, whom both Lena and myself respect beyond every one and everything else in the world, has made up her mind that my sister shall contract a distinguished alliance."
"What do you mean by that? I am a gentleman and I have a moderate income."
"Don't think for a moment," Alfred hastened to say, "that I intended to cast any reflection upon you. My mother tried in Paris to make Lena marry a French count, and now she has set her heart on an English lord."
Jack felt a quivering at the heart.
"Noblemen are scarce in this democratic country," he said.
"Admitted; but my mother has already selected her future son-in-law."
"Will you kindly tell me who this fortunate scion of the aristocracy is?" inquired Jack, in a cold, hard voice.
"It is your enemy."
"Lord Maltravers?"
"The same," replied Alfred Van Hoosen.
Jack flushed with indignation.
"But, my dear sir, from what I have already told you," he exclaimed, "the man is a scoundrel."
"True; and we must band together to save Lena. I am with you all the time. Yet the danger is imminent. We have had a dispatch."
"From his lordship?"
"Yes, and he is expected here to-day."
Jack looked blankly at Van Hoosen.
"Maltravers to be here to-day?" he ejaculated. "I fought a duel with him in France, and I thought the sword-thrust I gave him, would disable him for some time to come."
A servant entered the room in which they were sitting.
"What is it, John?"
"Lord Maltravers is down-stairs, sir, and Mrs. Van Hoosen requests your presence."
The young men looked at one another.
"Say I am indisposed," exclaimed Alfred; "desire my mother to make my excuses."
"Yes, sir."
"And John—where is my sister?"
"Miss Van Hoosen is out, sir," replied the servant.
Alfred put his arm in that of Jack and drew him out of the room.
"Come," he said, "I will walk with you to your hotel. I want to talk to you on the way."
They passed down-stairs and out into the street, Jack's only consolation for the news he had just heard, being the knowledge that the brother of the girl he loved was his friend.
As they walked along, Alfred said: "I did not finish asking you all the questions I wanted to. What brought you and your friends over here?"
"Frankly," answered Jack, "I came to see your sister. My friends came over to find buffaloes in New York."
Alfred Van Hoosen burst into a roar of laughter.
"Buffaloes in New York!" he said. "You surely are not serious."
"Indeed I am."
"Why, you might as well look for Indians on Staten Island. Is it possible that educated Englishmen, such as any friends of yours must be, can be so ignorant?"
"The average Englishman," replied Jack, "knows about as much of America, as he does of Kamschatka."
"Who are these friends of yours?"
"You have seen them, when they called at the house during the time I was sick. There is Captain Cannon, Mr. Twinkle, Professor Mole and Harvey, though the latter is not as foolish as the rest."
Alfred reflected a moment.
"We will have some fun with them," he said. "Of course you can post Harvey."
"How?" inquired Jack.
"An uncle of mine, who is at one and the same time very rich and very eccentric, has a farm in New Jersey, not very far from New York, and his pet idea is to tame the buffalo and make him subservient to husbandry."
"Has he any on his farm?"
"A score or more. Uncle is away in Philadelphia. The farm is in charge of an old servant of the family, with whom I can do what I like."
"What's your plan?"
"I will invite your friends to a grand buffalo-hunt in New Jersey."
"But your uncle!"
"Never mind him; I am his favorite nephew and he has made his will in my favor."
"He may revoke it."
"Not he. The old boy loves a joke too well," replied Alfred. "Shall we do it?"
"Willingly."
"That is settled, then. I will make all my arrangements to-day, and if you will be good enough to invite your friends on my behalf, we will start early to-morrow."
"So soon?"
"Why delay? a little fun will relieve your mind."
"But with regard to Maltravers?"
"Leave him to me. I am your friend. You do not wholly understand the service you did me in riding my horse to win. You saved me from financial ruin, and made a friend of me for life."
"Yet he will meet your sister. You will be away and your mother's influence may—"
"Be easy, Harkaway. If I have any voice in the matter, he shall never marry Lena!" exclaimed Van Hoosen.
"If—"
"Well, I mean, if the court knows herself and I think she does. Good-by. I will go home, see how the thing works, and talk to Lena. To-morrow you shall hear what she says."
This speech of Alfred Van Hoosen's cheered Jack up considerably. Since he had made friends with Alfred and been an inmate of his mother's house, his love for Lena had doubled in intensity. He felt that he could not live without her.
The presence of Lord Maltravers in New York was a standing menace against the accomplishment of his marriage with Lena. He had a bitter, unscrupulous and unrelenting enemy to deal with. It had already been shown that he would stop at nothing.
With a heart full of conflicting emotions, Jack went to his hotel.
FORTUNE-TELLING.
When Alfred Van Hoosen quitted Harkaway he dropped in at the Union Club and played a couple of games of billiards.
He played very badly, for his thoughts were intent on anything but the game.
"Beaten you again," said his friend; "what is the matter with you this afternoon?"
"My right hand has lost its cunning."
"Play another?"
"Not to-day, you will have to excuse me," said Alfred.
Two gentlemen entered the room and approached Van Hoosen, one saying:
"Ah! Van, glad to see you. I want to make you acquainted with my friend, Lord Maltravers. Just arrived from England. He has brought a letter of introduction to me and tells me that he met your people in Paris."
Alfred shook hands with his friend, who was named Sinclair, and was well known as a banker in Wall street, while he bowed somewhat stiffly to the peer.
The latter placed a glass in his eye, and stared somewhat rudely at Van Hoosen.
"Pleased to know you, you know," he exclaimed. "But I thought you were out of form; your mother sent up for you, but you were indisposed; preferred playing billiards to seeing me, eh?"
"I can choose my own occupation, I guess," replied Alfred, who did not like his lordship's manner.
The tone in which he was addressed was offensive.
"Oh! certainly; I can forgive anything to the brother of such a charming sister."
"I don't want you to forgive me anything. Lord Maltravers," said Alfred haughtily, "and I beg, once for all, that you will not dare to take the liberty of mentioning Miss Van Hoosen's name in a billiard-room."
"But it's a club, you know."
"That makes no difference; don't do it."
"Eh?" said his lordship, calling the eye-glass into requisition again.
"Don't dare to do it."
"Did you say dare?"
"Certainly I did. Is it necessary to repeat it?" replied Alfred, turning away.
Maltravers stared after him, and taking up a cue began to knock the balls about, remarking as he did so: "Queer people, these Americans."
Sinclair ran after Alfred, and caught him at the door.
"What's got into you?" he asked.
"Oh! nothing," was the evasive answer.
"I didn't think you would insult a friend of mine."
"Excuse me, I have my reasons. The fellow was not too conciliatory to me, and I'm not running after English lords just now. Good-afternoon."
Alfred left the club, more than ever inclined to support the cause of Jack Harkaway.
Dinner was ready, when he reached home, and when the meal was over, he had an opportunity of speaking to his sister.
Mrs. Van Hoosen had gone to the opera, having accepted a seat in Lord Maltravers's box, but Lena remained at home under the plea of a severe headache.
The brother and sister sat on a lounge together, and Alfred slipped his arm round her waist.
"You have stayed home, my baby," he said, "because you didn't want to meet him."
"Whom do you mean?" asked Lena.
"This English puppy, Lord Maltravers. Is it not so, sis?"
"Yes, dear," she replied. "When did you see him?"
"To-day, at the club, and we came near having a row."
"What about?"
"He mentioned your name, and I told him that I did not care to have my sister spoken of in a public place."
"That was right," said Lena.
"Tell me, my pet, which do you like best, Maltravers or Harkaway?"
Lena blushed scarlet.
"I esteem Mr. Harkaway very much," she replied.
"Esteem?" he repeated. "Is not that cold?"
"Well, as far as love goes, I do not know that I love any one."
"Yet you have lots of admirers."
"Have I?"
"Why, certainly you have, and a pretty girl like you deserves them. But tell me, do you care for this upstart lord?"
"Mamma says he has the blood of forty generations in his veins, and is the representative of one of the first noble families in England."
"I know mamma's weakness, and I am ashamed of it; but let me put it to you plainly. If you had your choice of the two men, which would you rather marry?"
"What do you think?" replied Lena with an arch smile.
"Harkaway."
"You are welcome to your opinion. I will not contradict you. Yet, Alfred, I cannot offend our mother, and I must be civil to a man, I freely admit, I do not like."
"If you ever marry him, I'll never speak to you again."
"That would be a terrible punishment," said Lena, "for you know full well, how much I think of you, Alfred."
"I do know it, sis, but my advice to you is to consult your own happiness."
"I cannot be happy if I offend mamma."
"But you cannot be happy if you marry Lord Maltravers."
"That is the dilemma," said Lena, "and how am I to get out of it?"
Alfred Van Hoosen shook his head.
"Give me a few days to think the matter over," he replied, "and perhaps I can see some way out of the difficulty. One thing I know, I would rather see you drop down dead at the altar, than become the wife of that man."
"Oh! Alfred. What dreadful language!"
"You do not know so much about him as I do. I am Harkaway's friend now, and I don't want you to encourage Maltravers. You will do that much for me?"
"I can make no promise."
"Why not?"
"I must obey mamma—oh!" she added, while the tears flooded her eyes, "I wish I had never been born!"
"That is a foolish wish."
"No. You have never known what it is to struggle between inclination and duty," said Lena.
"That will do. I am satisfied with that answer!" cried Alfred Van Hoosen. "Be true to yourself, sis, and trust to my inventive faculties to make you happy."
He kissed his sister affectionately, and she sought the privacy of her own chamber.
In a little while she grew tired of being alone, and threw aside a book which she had endeavored to read.
Ringing her bell, she summoned her maid whom she had brought from Paris with her; this was a bright little brunette named Fifine.
"Did ma'm'selle ring?" she asked.
"Yes, tell me what to do with myself. I am distraite."
"Is it that ma'm'selle will go to the theater?" asked Fifine. "But no, she can not go alone. Tiens! Why not have your fortune told?"
"Where?" said Lena, struck with this novel suggestion.
"There is one clairvoyant in this street, who always tells true. She is called Vesta Levine."
"Have you been there?"
"Oui, ma'm'selle, and she tell me I shall some day marry a prince, with so much money he can not spend it."
"That is encouraging," said Miss Van Hoosen with a smile. "Give me my hat; we will go to your fortune-teller, for I should like to know whom I am likely to marry."
"In France," exclaimed Fifine, "women never marry; it is the men who marry them. What is the difference? marriage is a lottery."
Lena was quickly attired. With her face hidden by a thick vail, and accompanied by her maid she went to visit the clairvoyant who was spoken of so highly.
She had no faith in the art of fortune-telling, and believed astrology to be all nonsense, but in every woman's breast there is a slight undercurrent of superstition.
Consequently she fancied, in spite of her reason, that there might be something in it.
The madame's house was not far from that in which she resided, and five minutes walking brought her to it.
Fifine rung the bell, and they were ushered by the domestic, into a room dimly lighted.
Here they waited fully ten minutes, when a curtain was thrown aside, the gas was turned up as if by magic; and the madame, without speaking, beckoned them into an inner room.
They obeyed the silent summons, the curtain fell behind them, and an undefinable feeling of dread came over Lena.
Madame Levine was a well-preserved woman of forty, with a pale, delicate, classic face, and large dreamy eyes. She was simply attired in black silk and wore no jewelry.
The inner apartment in which they found themselves was plainly furnished. Reclining on a couch was a young girl who appeared to be asleep.
This was Adéle Bellefontaine, the poor insane victim of Lord Maltravers's deceit, who had been placed with the clairvoyant for care and protection.
Madame Levine was not long in discovering that the girl possessed remarkable mediumistic properties, and she soon tested her powers; the result being so encouraging that she kept her in a trance half the time.
"Be seated, ladies," said the clairvoyant. "If you wish your fortune revealed, my fee is five dollars. You will address your questions to the medium who is on the lounge."
Lena Van Hoosen handed her the money, and the madame sat down at a small harmonium, from which she drew sweet and plaintive strains.
The music was not loud enough to drown the sound of the voices, and Lena, in low, trembling tones, said: "Shall I ever be married?"
"Yes," replied Adéle.
"To whom?"
"An Englishman."
She thought of Harkaway and Lord Maltravers, who were both of that nationality.
To which of the two did the medium refer?
"Two men love you," continued Adéle.
"I know it, but for heaven's sake which of the two will be my fate?" cried Lena, who was scarcely able to suppress her emotion.
Adéle's fingers nervously clutched the gold locket which hung round her neck.
"Come!" she said.
Lena Van Hoosen advanced like one in a dream.
"Look," continued Adéle.
Unclasping the locket she gazed upon the face within.
"Lord Maltravers!" she gasped.
"It is he whom you will marry," replied the medium.
Lena staggered back and fell heavily on the floor.
The revelation was too much for her, and she fainted away.
Adéle continued to lie in a trance and was apparently unconscious of all that was going on around her.
MRS. VAN HOOSEN SACRIFICES HER DAUGHTER TO HER AMBITION.
When Lena Van Hoosen recovered her senses she found herself in the outer room which she had just entered. Her maid Fifine was engaged in bathing her forehead with Florida water and fanning her face.
"Where am I?" she gasped.
"In the house of the clairvoyant, ma'm'selle," answered Fifine.
"Where is Madame Levine?"
"Gone. She took the medium away, and they went out together."
"Oh! why did you bring me here?" said Lena, wringing her hands piteously.
"Ma'm'selle wished to know whom she would marry, and it seems to me that the English suitor is rich and handsome."
"Be silent."
Fifine shrugged her shoulders.
"For my part, I wish he would love me well enough to marry me," she continued.
"You are impertinent. Let us go home," replied her mistress.
Just as she had arranged her shawl and was about to take her departure, Madame Levine entered the apartment.
"Are you satisfied?" she inquired.
"I am bewildered. I know not what to think," answered Lena.
"Oh! as for that, you can always rely upon the predictions of the medium, who is really remarkable."
"But she told me I should marry the man I hate."
"Then it will be so."
"Can you explain how she came to have the portrait of Lord Maltravers in her locket?" asked Lena.
"That is a mysterious locket," said Mme. Levine; "in ordinary times it is perfectly blank. When the medium wishes to think of any particular individual, the face is represented on the glass."
Lena smiled, incredulously.
"I cannot believe that," she said.
The madame touched a small bell, and its silvery cadence had scarcely died away when the servant attached to the house entered.
"Bring down Adéle," she exclaimed.
The domestic bowed and departed.
"Oh!" said Lena, under her breath. "Her name is Adéle."
Presently Adéle Bellefontaine, pale and delicate, entered the room, with an absent air.
She did not seem to notice any one.
"Child," exclaimed Madame Levine.
Adéle started and pressed her hand to her head as if in pain.
It was clear that the clairvoyant possessed a strange influence over her.
"You called me," she replied.
"I did. Show that lady your locket."
Adéle walked with a childish manner and offered the locket to Lena, who, with trembling fingers, opened it.
A cry of astonishment escaped her, for the surface of the locket was perfectly plain.
"There is nothing there," she said.
"Is not that precisely what I told you?" replied Mme. Levine.
Like one in a dream Lena put her hand on her head, shuddered, and quitted the house.
"How beautiful she is!" she muttered, thinking of Adéle.
She was completely mystified, for it did not occur to her that the madame, seeing the peculiar effect the portrait in the locket had upon her, had taken the precaution to remove it while she was lying senseless in the adjoining room.
Lena reached home a short time before her mother returned from the opera, and waited in the drawing-room to receive her.
Mrs. Van Hoosen did not come back alone.
She was accompanied by Lord Maltravers.
"You look distraite, my dear," said Mrs. Van Hoosen. "I hope your head is better?"
"A little, mamma," replied Lena, flushing, as she extended her hand to Maltravers, adding, "How do you do? it is some time since we met."
"Yes, indeed. It seems an age to me."
"Did you like the opera, mamma?"
"I cannot say I did. It was Lohengrin. Wagner may have his admirers, but for my part I do not care for the music of the future."
Saying this, Mrs. Van Hoosen retired to take off her bonnet and left the young people together.
Lena sat on the sofa, and toyed with a fan.
"I hope you do not consider my presence an intrusion, Miss Van Hoosen," exclaimed Maltravers.
"Oh, no; any friend of my mother's is welcome to me," she answered.
"Is not your reception a little cold?"
"Not that I am aware of."
He left the chair in which he was sitting, and ventured to take a seat by her side on the sofa.
Lena moved away, and pulled up the skirts of her dress as if she were afraid of his touching them.
"May I take this opportunity of telling you how dear you are to me?" he said.
"I have heard that before, my lord," she replied.
"Lena—let me call you Lena—I love you madly, passionately, and I offer you my hand, my heart, my coronet and my fortune."
"I wish to remain single," she answered.
"It is your mother's wish that you should marry me. We have had a conversation about it."
"Lord Maltravers," replied Lena, "I can never love you. Would you take the hand, where the heart can never be?"
"Oh, yes. If I can only call you mine, I will teach you to love me; believe me, dearest, love will come in time."
"Never!"
"Is it possible that you love another?"
Lena looked up indignantly, almost angrily.
"You have no right to pry into the secrets of my heart," she replied.
"I know how it is," said Maltravers, bitterly, "you love that fellow, Harkaway."
"Suppose I do care for Mr. Harkaway—what then?"
"You shall never be his."
"Allow me to ask you a question, my lord," she exclaimed. "Have you never loved before?"
"Never, until I saw you."
"Who is Adéle?"
At this question he turned pale, and it was only by the exercise of a great effort that he mastered his emotion.
She saw him change color and gnaw his nether lip and drew her own conclusions.
"I do not know any one of that name," he replied. "What induces you to ask me?"
"Never mind. Perhaps it was a silly fancy of mine."
"Once more; will you be mine?" he urged.
"Give me time to think."
"I want your answer now."
"You shall have it in a week. I cannot talk further, now," replied Lena. "Pardon me if I leave you."
Lord Maltravers took up his hat.
"I shall not intrude further upon you; in a week I shall call for your answer. Please say good-night to your mother for me," he exclaimed.
Seizing her hand he raised it to his lips and imprinted a passionate kiss upon it.
As he left the room he added, under his breath: "She shall yet be mine, in spite of every thing."
Scarcely had she drawn a sigh of relief at his welcome absence than her mother entered.
There were tears in Lena's eyes, and she was pale and tremulous.
"Where is Lord Maltravers?" asked Mrs. Van Hoosen.
"He has gone."
"I hope, my child, you have not offended him."
"No," said Lena, laconically.
"Did he talk to you on a delicate subject?"
"He did."
"That is right. I gave him permission to do so. What answer did you give him when he asked you to become his wife?"
"I told him he should have my answer in a week, and I gave him to understand that I could never love him."
"I am sorry for that, for I have set my heart on your marrying that man. You must become Lady Maltravers or I will disown you. Girls do not know what's good for them."
"Pity me, mamma," cried Lena.
"I will not; pity would be wasted on so silly a girl. Think of the brilliant match I have arranged for you! There are very few young ladies who would refuse Lord Maltravers with his ancient lineage, fine form and splendid income."
"I do not love him."
"Pshaw! People do not marry for love nowadays. Accept his lordship in a week or prepare to leave my house forever."
"I will obey you, mamma," replied Lena.
Mrs. Van Hoosen bent over and kissed her affectionately.
"That is my own dear girl," she said. "I am content now, and to-morrow I will arrange for your wedding outfit."
That night Lena cried herself to sleep, for she had allowed her mother to sacrifice her to her ambition.
Jack Harkaway was lost to her forever and she could never know what happiness was again.
The week passed, Lord Maltravers called, and was coldly but formally accepted by Lena.
It was settled that the marriage should take place in a month, and the papers contained the following announcement:
"Engaged.—Lena Van Hoosen, daughter of the late Cornelius Van Hoosen, to Lord Maltravers of the peerage of Great Britain."
This to all appearance sealed her fate.
"A BUFFALO-HUNT."
Alfred Van Hoosen kept his word in relation to the buffalo-hunt, and early on a fine morning the party took the cars for his uncle's farm in Jersey.
Captain Cannon and Mr. Twinkle were in high spirits, and even Mr. Mole looked forward to some excellent sport.
Jack and Harvey pretended to be as enthusiastic as the rest, while Van Hoosen discoursed upon the danger attending such a hunt as the one they were about to engage in.
When the old homestead was reached, Alfred apologized for the absence of his uncle, who was still away in Philadelphia, and did the honors of the house himself.
Old Stock, the steward, who had been posted by Alfred, spread an excellent lunch on the table, and provided rifles and ammunition for the party, but none of them, except Alfred, Jack and Harvey, knew that the cartridges were all blank.
It would never have done to kill the buffalo, for Alfred's uncle would not have pardoned such an outrage.
Champagne flowed briskly, and every one was in high spirits.
"Are there many buffalo, sir, in Jersey?" inquired Captain Cannon, of Alfred.
"Considerable," replied Alfred. "But not so many as there were. They are gradually being killed off."
"When in India," continued the captain, "I shot a tiger before breakfast, regularly, every day, for a year."
"Come, come! That is drawing the long bow," said Mr. Twinkle. "I shot a lion once a week, while in Africa, for six months, but a tiger every day, is too much."
"Fact, I assure you, sir."
"I can quite believe it," said Professor Mole. "For when I was in China I used to kill a score of alligators, every day, just to keep my hand in."
"Well, gentlemen," exclaimed Alfred, "suppose you show your skill on the buffalo."
They all jumped up, grasped their rifles, took a supply of cartridges, and started for the park in which the big game were grazing.
It was raining slightly, and Mr. Mole provided himself with an umbrella, which did not add to his sportsmanlike appearance.
The professor also carried a note-book, in which to record any interesting fact concerning the day's hunt, so that he could send a report to the President of the Travelers' Club.
"Fine undulating country," he wrote. "Buffalo-grass observable. Jersey the favorite home of this remarkable animal."
After walking half an hour they came upon an old bull who was standing under a tree.
"Ha! What have we here?" cried Captain Cannon.
"That's a buffalo," replied Van Hoosen.
"Dear me, I should have taken it for a cow. How savage he looks!"
"Yes. The buffalo in his wild, untamed state is very ferocious. Now, gentlemen, Harkaway, Harvey and myself will stay here, while you three go up and stalk the game. If he escapes you, we will bring him down."
"Thank you," replied the captain. "Advance, my friends. This is a glorious moment."
It was observable that Mr. Twinkle trembled violently and could scarcely hold his gun.
The three advanced together slowly, but neither would go ahead of the others.
Van Hoosen made a signal to Jack and Harvey, who followed him into a thicket.
Here old Stock, the steward, was securely hidden, awaiting their coming.
"What's in the wind now?" asked Jack.
"We're bound to scare your friends, and I want you to dress up as Indians. Stock has everything ready for us, even to a pot of red paint."
Jack struck an attitude.
"Heap big Injun, ugh!" he exclaimed, amid much laughter.
They quickly proceeded to disguise themselves, tied feathers in their hair, put on their war-paint, and slung blankets over their shoulders.
While they were dressing the three buffalo-hunters were approaching the old bull, who watched them with as much curiosity as they displayed with regard to him.
"Twinkle," said the captain, "you are entitled to the first shot."
"N-no," replied Twinkle, with chattering teeth. "Think you ought to have the honor."
"I decline it."
"Then by all means let Mr. Mole attack the beast. How fierce he looks, and what terrible horns he has! Go in, Mole, and slay him!"
"That is for you to do," replied Mole. "I will lie down in the grass where he can't see me."
"What is the use of that?"
"Don't you see? I can take a steady shot at the savage creature and he won't know what hit him."
The professor did not waste any more time in words. He threw himself down in the long grass, while Captain Cannon retired behind the unfortunate Twinkle.
The latter had never in his life shot anything bigger than a sparrow in spite of all his boasting, and he was thoroughly alarmed.
"Bless me!" exclaimed the captain. "Where are Harkaway and the other fellows?"
"Not gone, are they?" inquired Twinkle.
"I can't see them anywhere."
"The cowards! They have run away and left us to face the music! That's mean," said Twinkle.
The bull at this moment left the shelter of the tree and advanced toward the intruders on his domain.
"He's a-coming!" gasped Twinkle.
"Fire!" said the captain.
Mr. Twinkle grasped his gun fiercely, shut his eyes, turned his back to the buffalo, and fired.
The blank cartridge struck Captain Cannon, hurting him considerably in a very tender portion of his body—not in front neither.
"Oh-h!!! I'm shot!" he said, clapping his hands to the place and dropping his gun.
"Shot! did I hit you?" asked Mr. Twinkle, innocently.
"Did you? Why, you confounded idiot, I'm covered with blood. Look here!" the captain gasped, indignantly.
He withdrew his hands from the wound and regarded the ruby fluid grimly.
"I'm very sorry."
"Sorry be hanged! What good will that do me? Perhaps I shall die, or lose my leg; anyway, I know I sha'n't be able to sit down in comfort for a week."
"I apologize. It—it sha'n't occur again," replied Twinkle. "I don't know how it happened. This is a horrid old gun. I never shot with such a funny gun before."
"It's my opinion you're afraid, sir," shouted the captain. "Why don't you load up?"
"I distinctly refuse to do so, sir," retorted Twinkle; "and after the injurious language you have used to me, sir, I shall retire from this shoot and leave you to kill the buffalo yourself."
Saying this, he ran away and hid himself behind a neighboring tree.
The captain looked after him contemptuously.
Meanwhile the bull was getting nearer, and it was necessary to do something to check his progress.
Taking a steady aim, Captain Cannon discharged his piece, and was surprised to see the animal remain unharmed.
Loading up, he fired again and again, but the beast did not fall, though he grew enraged, and uttering a defiant snort, charged.
The captain ran with all his might and succeeded in reaching a tree, behind which he sheltered himself.
"Shoot him, Mole!" he cried. "You've a capital chance; let the brute have it, under the foreleg."
The professor fired, but with no better luck than the others; and the bull, having his attention diverted, took a survey of his new enemy.
Snorting again, he charged at the professor, who sprung to his feet, threw away his gun, and for want of a better weapon, opened his umbrella.
Probably the buffalo had never before seen this offshoot of civilization, for he was much alarmed.
Turning tail, he fled ignominiously from the field of battle, and was soon lost to sight.
"Bravo," cried the captain.
"Victory!" shouted Mr. Twinkle.
They emerged from their shelter and warmly congratulated the professor on his exploit.
"It was a happy thought," said Mole. "I will make a note of it. 'The buffalo, though impervious to bullets, will fly at the sight of an umbrella.'"
"I think we had better go home," exclaimed Twinkle.
"And I second that motion," replied the captain; "for my wound is becoming stiff and painful. We have actually seen a buffalo and had a terrific encounter with it. This will be sufficient to report to our society."
"Quite," remarked Mole. "I am perfectly satisfied."
Suddenly they were startled by a fearful yell, which made them jump.
Looking round, they beheld three red Indians in all their majesty of paint, feathers and tomahawks.
"Oh!! look!!!!" exclaimed Twinkle, "we shall all be robbed and murdered!"
"Indians!" said the captain. "Why did not Mr. Van Hoosen warn us of this danger? I thought the wretches were kept on their reservations and guarded by government troops."
"They can't scalp me," remarked Mole.
"Why not?"
"I wear a wig, to which they are welcome, if they will only spare my life."
"Whoop! la whoop!" yelled the Indians, dancing about in eccentric circles.
Twinkle fell on his knees, and clasping his hands begged for mercy.
"Oh! good, kind gentlemen!" he said. "Have pity on a poor Englishman far away from home, who only came out here in the interest of science."
"Ugh! take scalp, want heap scalp to put in wigwam," replied an Indian.
"I've very little hair, sir; it is scarcely worth taking."
"My white brother is a squaw, he has the heart of a dog; the pale-face is a coward; ugh! I have spoken."
Captain Cannon and Mr. Mole followed Twinkle's example and sunk on their knees.
They looked very comical in this undignified position.
The Indians stood over them, each selecting his victim and threatening him with a tomahawk in one hand and the scalping-knife in the other.
Jack knocked off the professor's hat and making a rapid circle with his knife, lifted the wig.
"Ha! white man heap big fraud," he exclaimed as he hung the wig at his belt.
"I'm very sorry, sir," replied Mole. "But I couldn't help growing bald. It's my misfortune, not my fault—nature did it—all my family lose their hair quite early in life."
"Give watch, money!"
"Certainly, with the greatest pleasure in life," said Mole, emptying his pockets.
He handed out some currency, a watch and chain, chewing tobacco and a small flask of spirits.
"What this? fire-water, hey?"
"Yes, good, kind sir. It's old rye whisky."
"If bad, Indian kill lying pale-face," said Jack, tasting the whisky and handing it to Harvey and Van Hoosen, who evinced their satisfaction by guttural sounds and grunts.
Harvey contented himself with cutting Mr. Twinkle's hair as short as he could, and Van Hoosen did the same for the fire-eating captain.
They then tore up their hats and the close-cropped looked as if they had just come out of jail, while Mole's polished crown shone in the sunshine like a ball of ivory.
Mr. Twinkle and the captain had to give up all their valuables, which they did gladly, thinking they were very lucky to escape with their lives.
"White men crawl on belly, like snake, and kiss Indians' feet," exclaimed Jack.
"I don't care about doing that," replied Mole.
Jack flourished his knife.
"White dog want to die?" he asked.
"Oh! no. Not yet. I'll do it," cried Mole, hastily.
Jack retreated several paces, and the professor crawled toward him, kissing his feet.
Van Hoosen and Harvey made their captives do the same thing.
"Whoop!" cried Jack, "we leave the white squaws now."
He took another drink out of the flask, his companions did the same, and then they vanished in the thicket as mysteriously as they had come.
"That was a narrow escape," said the professor.
"Yes, indeed," replied Captain Cannon. "I shall have a fine story to tell when I get back to London. First, I killed a savage buffalo bull, in the wilds of New Jersey."
"You didn't kill him," observed Mr. Twinkle.
"Didn't I?"
"No, indeed. I think that honor belongs to me."
"Any way, you shot something and that was myself. I'll forgive you, if you will let me say, without fear of contradiction, that I slew the buffalo."
"You may as well tell a good lie while you are about it," said Mr. Mole. "I always do."
"I have remarked that already," observed the captain.
"A small falsehood is a contemptible thing, but there is some glory in a big one."
"In what way can I amend mine?"
"Say that in the encounter with the bull he tossed you on his horns, and you can show your wound in corroboration of the story," replied the professor.
The captain did not relish this allusion to his wound, which was situated in an inglorious portion of his anatomy.
Mr. Mole picked up the flask, which was empty, and having discovered this fact, his disgust found vent in words.
"These Indians are the meanest wretches I ever met with," he said.
"What have they done now?" inquired Mr. Twinkle.
"Emptied the flask—drained it dry, sir, by Jove! I had intended to solace myself with a quiet drink, but human aspirations are ever destined to be dashed to the ground."
He sighed deeply.
"Let us go back to the house and enjoy Mr. Van Hoosen's hospitality," suggested Mr. Twinkle.
"I believe that motion was seconded and carried, a few moments ago," said the captain.
"It was," replied the professor.
"Then I will give the word of command. By your right, march! And if I ever come out buffalo-hunting in the Jersey wilds again, may the Lord forgive me."
The three men marched disconsolately toward the house, and arranged among themselves to say that they had encountered a band of Indians, who, after a severe fight, overpowered them by the sheer force of numbers.
"Let me tell the story," exclaimed Mole, "and you corroborate all I say."
"Good!" cried the captain and Mr. Twinkle.
"I don't mind a little romancing," continued Mole. "It comes naturally to me, and I know it requires an effort on your part, gentlemen."
The sportsmen smiled and quickened their pace, as they were anxious to reach the homestead, and enjoy the good things which they felt sure Mr. Van Hoosen would regale them with.
When they arrived at the house, they were met at the door by Alfred, Jack and Harvey.
"What sport did you meet with, sir?" asked Harkaway.
"Splendid, my dear boy," replied Mr. Mole. "You missed it."
"Is that so?"
"We killed the buffalo bull—at least, he was hit and went away into a thicket to die. If it had not been for a tribe of Indians who attacked us, we should have had a capital day's gunning."
"Did the Indians fight you?"
"Yes, sir," answered Mr. Mole. "We were absolutely surrounded by fifty of the red fiends, but we showed a determined front and beat them off."
"Did you kill any?"
"Did we. Well, I should smile if we did not," answered Mr. Mole.
"Where are the dead?"
"Ask their comrades. When they saw they were defeated, they retired in disorder, but they carried their dead with them."
"Carried off the dead?"
"Yes. I will give them the credit for that."
"But how did it occur that your wig is gone and these gentlemen have had their hair cut short?" inquired Harkaway.
Mr. Mole looked a little confused.
"Oh! I will explain that," he said; "on our way home we were attacked by a horde of tramps."
"A horde?"
"Yes, about a score, and being exhausted by our encounter with the Indians we surrendered at discretion."
"That was rough on you, sir. It was indeed. Did the tramps rob you of anything?"
"All we possessed; but we beat the Indians, and if we had been possessed of any cartridges we should have driven off the tramps."
"That is a very good story," said Jack.
Mr. Mole looked indignant.
"What do you mean by that insinuation?" he exclaimed. "Do you doubt my honor?"
"Oh! no. Not for a moment."
"Then why is it a good story?"
"Simply because it is the best lie, Mr. Mole, that I have heard for a long time."
Captain Cannon struck his breast with his hand and Mr. Twinkle looked unutterable things at Jack.
"I am concerned in this allegation," said the captain.
"Did I allegate anything?" asked Jack.
"Yes, sir, and I deny the allegation and despise the allegator."
"That's a stale joke," replied Jack. "But look here, gentlemen, if the Indians cut your hair or took Mr. Mole's wig, we can return the hirsute appendages. If the tramps robbed you of money or valuables we can give them back."
"You!"
"Yes, sir," continued Harkaway; "what do you say to this?"
"And this?" cried Harvey.
"And this?" added Van Hoosen.
They severally displayed the spoils they had taken, placing them on a table.
The consternation and dismay of the three pretenders was funny in the extreme.
"Then you were the Indians!" said the professor; grasping the tail end of the joke feebly.
"We were," answered Jack.
"But how did you do it?"
"Oh! we dressed up, being determined to have some fun with you, and as there was no harm done, I hope you will forgive the joke."
"I do," replied the professor; "and I may add that I knew it was you, Jack, all along."
"You did?"
"If I hadn't known it, do you think I would have allowed you to take my wig."
"Allowed me?"
"Yes. It was the only one I had, and a bald-headed old man is not a cheerful spectacle, nor calculated to inspire respect."
He took up his wig and fitted it on, after which he appropriated the various articles which had been taken from him.
"Ah! Jack, you think you are a very smart fellow, but I have known you from a boy, and you can't fool me," said Mr. Mole.
"But I did to-day, though," replied Harkaway.
Captain Cannon took what belonged to him, and appeared very indignant.
"Mr. Harkaway," he said, "you and I are members of the same club."
"We are."
"And we came over here to hunt the buffalo in its native wilds and make a report at home."
"You did, but I had other things to attend to."
"Never mind, you have grossly deceived me, and I consider your joke an insult, sir."
"Do you?" said Jack, coldly.
"Yes, sir, I do. Look at my hair! it will take a month to grow. I shall leave this country at once."
"If you do, the country won't miss you. I don't think there will be a general mourning, or that the nation will go into bankruptcy."
Mr. Twinkle put on his hat with a savage air.
"I shall go, too," he said.
"By all means. Go to—Hong Kong or Halifax, if you like."
Captain Cannon put his arm in that of Mr. Twinkle.
"Mr. Van Hoosen," exclaimed Mr. Twinkle, "we are disappointed in you."
"Sorry for that. I generally pan out pretty good," replied Alfred.
"We are going, sir."
"So I heard you say before."
"We will not stay to partake of your hospitality, sir."
"Nobody asked you. I gave you a shot at my uncle's old tame buffalo bull, but you had only blank cartridges, and having done that, I have no inclination to do anything further for you."
"Blank cartridges!" ejaculated the captain.
"The deuce," said Mr. Twinkle. "That was lucky for you, Cannon, when I fired round the corner; I might have settled you, altogether."
"Come!" replied the captain, grandly.
"One word before you go, gentlemen," exclaimed Alfred Van Hoosen. "You, as educated men, ought not to have been such idiots as to suppose you would find buffaloes and Indians in New York State or Jersey, and you can't blame me, as a playful American, for having a joke with you, especially as your better-informed friend, Mr. Harkaway, assisted me."
"I have nothing to say," replied Captain Cannon.
"Nor I," replied Mr. Twinkle. "For my part, I don't like the country, and the people are—"
Alfred Van Hoosen stared at him, fixedly.
"Are what?" he asked.
Mr. Twinkle made just the least little nervous start.
"Oh! perfect gentlemen, of course," he added.
"Come!" again said the captain. "The gentlemen shall hear from us."
"By cable, I guess," laughed Alfred.
"Do you join us, Mr. Mole?" asked the captain, not noticing the remark of Van Hoosen.
"Well—no," answered the professor. "I knew it was a lark all through, and as I never bite off my nose to spite my face, I will forgive Jack this time, and stay to lunch with my very good friend, Mr. Van Hoosen."
He held out his hand.
"No animosity, Al?" he added.
"Not the slightest in the world, my dear fellow," replied Van Hoosen.
Captain Cannon and Mr. Twinkle walked out of the room together, fully determined to return to England by the next steamer.
As they went, Alfred sung, the others joining in the chorus: