The Guerilla Chief Part 22

Impelled by a sort of instinct, I sprang forward and clutched the pistol around the lock.

Whether I saved the life of my friend by so doing, I cannot say; but the shot was not delivered; and in the subsequent struggle between myself and the stranger, for possession of the pistol, the cap was wrenched off, and the weapon remained in my hands.

Seeing it was harmless, I returned it to its owner, with a word of caution to him not to be so ready in drawing such dangerous weapons in the middle of a crowd.

"_Sacre_!" shouted he, addressing himself more particularly to my fellow-voyager; "you shall repent this insult--_sacr-r-re_!"

"Insult, indeed!" stammered out the Hibernian--whom, as he would not desire his real name to be known, I shall call Casey. "I repeat it, then, my fine fellow! My watch is gone--it was taken from my fob here: you see _this_, gentlemen?" and Casey exhibited to the crowd the wrenched swivel. "It was he who did it: I repeat that he is the thief!"

The Frenchman fairly foamed with rage at this fresh accusation; while, by his gestures, he appeared as if desirous of recapping the pistol.

I watched him closely, however, to prevent such a movement, as I knew that Casey was in no condition to defend himself.

At the same time I endeavoured, along with several others, to bring the affair to an explanation, and, if possible, to a pacific termination.

Story 2, Chapter III.

A GENERAL SEARCH ALL ROUND.

My first belief was that Casey was labouring under an erroneous impression. That some one had robbed him of his watch was clear enough; but there were several persons around him--some of them far more suspicious-looking characters than the accused.

Moreover, the elegant style of the man, and the indignant warmth he had displayed, seemed, to some extent, to attest his innocence.

My belief, then, was that Casey had pitched upon the wrong man; and I appealed to him to withdraw the charge, and acknowledge his error.

To my surprise he would do neither the one nor the other; and, notwithstanding the half-maudlin state he was in, there was an earnestness in his manner, and an unwavering pertinacity in his accusation, that led me to think he was not acting upon mere suspicion, but had _seen something_.

The noise and confusion, however, for the time prevented any explanation from being heard upon either side.

A voice arose above the din, calling out for the doors to be closed.

This was followed by a proposal that every one present should submit to be searched.

"Let there be a general search all round!" demanded several voices.

I recognised the man who was foremost in this demand--it was the mate of our own s.h.i.+p, who had dropped in along with several old sea-wolves like himself--for the vessel had been warped up, and was now lying at an adjacent wharf.

"Yes," responded several voices; "a search, a search! let us see who is the thief!"

No one objected--no one could--for each person present had a personal interest in the result; and, as no one was likely now to go out, the shutting of the doors was ruled as unnecessary.

Two men were immediately chosen as "searchers"--one of whom was our mate himself--the other the keeper of the saloon; and, without loss of time, the search proceeded.

It was altogether an odd spectacle, to see the two inquisitors pa.s.s from individual to individual--stopping before each one in turn, handling him about the breast and back, and stripping him down the arms, legs, and thighs, as if they were a brace of electro-biologists, putting the whole company into a mesmeric slumber.

There was a good deal of merriment, and now and then loud bursts of laughter, as some character well known to the company interrupted the silence with a _jeu d'esprit_. For all this, there was a certain solemnity about the proceeding--a sort of painful antic.i.p.ation that some one would prove the criminal.

During all this time the accused maintained a moody silence--addressing only a short phrase or two to some of his own friends, who had cl.u.s.tered around him. His look betokened confidence; and but for a side-whisper which I had heard from Casey, I should certainly have continued under the impression that the gentleman was innocent. This whisper, however, staggered my faith: for it was a simple and earnest declaration that he, Casey, had seen the watch in the fellow's hand.

"Surely you must be mistaken--it might have been some other hand?"

"Not a bit of it!--I noticed the ruffles as the watch disappeared under them."

"Remember, Casey, you're not very clear-sighted at this moment: think what you've been taking--"

"Bah! I'm not blind for all that; and I tell you, the loss of my twenty guinea repeater has made me as sober as a judge, my boy. I hope, however, it is not gone yet--we'll soon see."

"You'll never see your watch again," said I. "The fellow hasn't got it--I can tell by his looks."

My conjecture proved correct. The young Frenchman was searched in common with the others. He made no objection--he could make none--and, to do the old sea-wolf justice, he performed his duty with elaborate exactness. He was no lover of Creole dandyism; and I verily believe he would have chuckled with delight, to have found the stolen property on the person of the exquisite.

It was not so to be, however: the watch was not there, and the Frenchman smiled triumphantly at the termination of the search.

Others were now examined, until all had had their turn. No watch!

All present were declared innocent men--the watch was not in the room!

This result had been prophesied long before, and I expected it myself.

It was easily explained. Beyond doubt Casey had lost his watch, by a thief, and inside the saloon; but several persons had been observed to go out about the time he discovered his loss, or rather at the moment when he declared the accusation. One of these must have been the thief--that was the verdict of the company. More likely one of them had been the _receiver_.

Casey was a little crest-fallen, and the regards of the company were not favourable to him. This, however, only referred to the Creoles and Frenchmen. The honest sea-faring fellows rather sympathised with him.

They saw he had sustained a loss; and they were well enough acquainted with New Orleans life, to know that the man who did the deed was probably still in the room.

Casey obstinately clung to his original statement; but of course no longer urged it publicly--only _sotto voce_ to our mate, and one or two others, who, with myself, were counselling him to apologise.

Our whispering conversation was interrupted by the approach of the young Frenchman. There was a certain resolve in his look, that bespoke some determination--evidently the affair was not over.

As he drew near, way was made for him, and he stood confronting Casey.

"Now, Monsieur, do you apologise?"

Several cried "Yes," by way of urging Casey to an affirmative.

"No," said he, firmly and emphatically--"never! I stand to what I said.

You took my watch--you _stole_ it."

"Liar!" cried the once more infuriated Frenchman, and both at the same instant sprang towards each other.

Fortunately, neither was armed--except with the weapons which nature had provided--and a short game of "fisticuffs"--in which Casey had decidedly the advantage--served as a 'scape valve for the ebullition of their anger.

I might have dreaded the re-drawing of the pistol; but, during the whole interval, the mate and I, to whom I had given a hint, had kept our eyes upon the owner of it, and hindered him from rendering it available.

The combatants were soon separated; and after that commenced the more formal ceremony of the exchange of "cards."

Casey gave his address, "Saint Charles Hotel"--whither we were bound, and towards which we had been steering when "brought to" by the gleaming lights of the _cafe_.

The Frenchman's card was taken in return; and, after a parting gla.s.s with the honest mate, and his two or three confreres, we sallied forth from the saloon; traversed the long narrow streets of the First Munic.i.p.ality, and a little before midnight we arrived at that magnificent _caravanserai_ known as the Saint Charles Hotel.

Story 2, Chapter IV.