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Updated: June 4, 2025
Poor Mr. Lipscombe! The neglected 'Three Pigeons' was just now the worst place in all Water Lane. The little that had hastily been done since the morning seemed to have had no effect on the foetid atmosphere, even to Herbert's well accustomed nostrils; and what must it have been to a stranger, in spite of the open window and all the disinfectants? And, alas! the man had sunk into a sleep.
"Sound and well!" replied Sir Austin. "And yours?" "Oh, Lipscombe's always the same!" Lord Heddon sighed peevishly. "He's quiet that's one good thing; but there's no getting the country to take him, so I must give up hopes of that." Lord Lipscombe entering the room just then, Sir Austin surveyed him, and was not astonished at the refusal of the country to take him.
It gradually fell to his lot to perform this duty, though if it happened to be a very large vessel Lieutenant Lipscombe would take upon himself to go on board, especially if he fancied that there would be an invitation to a well-kept cabin and a glass of wine, or perhaps a dinner, during which Hilary would be in command, and the cutter would sail on in the big ship's wake till the lieutenant thought proper to come on board.
"What you please, sir," said Hilary quietly. "Then, sir, in addition to deserting, which you try to hide by professing to have been made a prisoner, you now mutiny against my orders!" "Look here, Lieutenant Lipscombe," cried Hilary, who was now in a passion; "if you want me to take command of the expedition, and to lead the men to the smugglers' place, say so like a man.
On again stop again jolt here jolt there more blows and kicking, and Hilary still lying there half stifled beneath the straw; but his youth and abundant vitality kept him up, so that he lay listening to the battles between the donkey and his driver; then he thought of his men, and wondered whether they had made a good search for him; then he began to think of the lieutenant, and wondered what he would say when the men went back and reported his absence; lastly, he began to wonder whether Mr Lipscombe would come with the Kestrel and try to find him.
For when Hilary Leigh ran below, it was to seize a long spyglass out of the slings in the cabin bulkhead, and to give his commanding officer a tremendous shake. "Sail on the larboard bow, Mr Lipscombe, sir. I say, do wake up, sir; I think it is something this time."
"Quite right, Mr Leigh; I ought not to have asked you, for you are not the proper person to speak, but you will tell me this, I suppose," he added with a smile. "You will not be sorry to hear that Lieutenant Lipscombe will be appointed to another vessel." "I am both sorry and glad, sir," replied Hilary, "for he is a brave officer, even if he is eccentric." "Eccentric!" said Captain Charteris.
That's not likely. Why should they? So I shall just make the best of things, and old Lipscombe must grumble as long as he likes." Phew! It was very hot, and he was very weary. The kicking of the donkey and the sound of the blows had ceased to amuse him. He was so sore with the jolting that he told himself he could not get any worse.
There was the old Kestrel, and the idea of getting back to his stuffy quarters and the ill-temper of Lieutenant Lipscombe seemed delightful; but he knew that the greatest caution was needed, or he would fail in his attempt.
Hilary stared, but he had common sense enough to say nothing, while the lieutenant took a turn up and down the deck, which would have been a very pleasant promenade for a cripple with one leg shorter than the other; but as the cutter was a good deal heeled over, it was so unpleasant for Lieutenant Lipscombe, already suffering from giddiness, the result of his wound, that he stopped short and stood holding on by a stay.
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