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There were difficulties in the way, and Mrs Corporal Beane was consulted, for it was evident that Dick was in too exhausted a state to be moved, and she said so as she paused for a few moments in the task of giving him food, a little at a time. "No, I'm not, sir," said the boy, to the great surprise of all present.
Hither comes Major Tolhurst, one of my old acquaintance in Cromwell's time, and sometimes of our clubb, to see me, and I could do no less than carry him to the Mitre, and having sent for Mr. Beane, a merchant, a neighbour of mine, we sat and talked, Tolhurst telling me the manner of their collierys in the north. We broke up, and I home to dinner.
"I intend to insult no one, but I claim that I have done nothing wrong." "That is what all criminals say," sneered the squire. Luke was about to make an angry reply, but Mr. Beane, waving his hand as a signal for our hero to be quiet, remarked calmly: "I think, Duncan, in justice to Luke, we ought to hear his story as to how the box came into his possession." "That is my opinion," said Mr. Bailey.
"This box has been in our possession for a fortnight." "Such is your statement, Luke." "It is the truth," said Luke, flushing with indignation. "My boy," said Mr. Beane, "don't be angry. I, for one, have no suspicion that you have done anything wrong, but it is our duty to inquire into this matter." "Who told you that we had such a box, Mr. Beane?" "Miss Melinda Sprague was the informant."
"That's right," said the Colonel: "we have been successful many times. But let's see, Dick, you were brought into camp wounded." "Yes," said Dick. "My head was very bad." "Of course. I remember all about it. How was it you were injured?" Dick shook the head that had been hurt. "You don't know? But you speak well. Who are your father and mother?" "Corporal Beane and Mrs Corporal."
"Oh, Tom! We'll have cakes to-night, and you shall carry some to the officers' mess." "Give us one if I do, Mother Beane?" "Ah, pig! I never saw such a boy to eat." "Well, how can I help it? I get so holler," grumbled the boy. "It's 'cause I'm growing."
The boy shuddered, for he knew it was not the note of the bugle, but a horrible long-drawn cry, faint and strange, and the cold drops began to gather on his forehead, for it sounded like the howling of a wolf, such a cry as he had heard Mother Beane talk about when telling him and Tom Jones about her adventures over the camp-fire.
"And you inferred that they had not come honestly by the tin box?" "It grieves me to say that I did," said Melinda, putting her handkerchief to her eyes to brush away an imaginary tear. Finally Melinda sat down, and witnesses were called to testify to Luke's good character. There were more who wished to be sworn than there was time to hear. Mr. Beane called only Mr. Hooper, Mr.
"Yes," said the woman, with a sigh, as she re-arranged her battered old straw bonnet cocked up as if it were a hat, and took off the old scarlet uniform tail coat she wore over her very clean cotton gown, before going to the pot, wooden spoon in hand, to raise the lid and give the contents a stir round. "Oh, I say, Mother Beane, it does smell good! What's in it?"
Here Mrs. Larkin presented herself with the missing box. Instantly it became an object of attention. "It looks like the missing box," said the squire. "Of course, I can offer no opinion," said Mr. Beane, "not having seen the one lost. Such boxes, however, have a general resemblance to each other." "Have you the key that opens it?" asked the squire. "No, sir." "Squire Duncan," asked Mr.
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