"Didn"t you tell me I was not a gentleman?" said Oscar, hotly.
"I said you did not talk like one."
"That"s about the same thing," said Oscar.
"Just as you like. Even if I did say so, you said the same of me,"
"Well, suppose I did."
"I am as much a gentleman as you, to say the least," a.s.serted Herbert.
"If you say that again, I"ll knock you down," said Oscar, furiously.
"I"ll say it all day, if I like," said Herbert, defiantly.
Perhaps it would have been better for Herbert to stop disputing, and to have taken no notice of Oscar"s words. But Herbert was not perfect. He had plenty of spirit, and he was provoked by the airs Oscar chose to a.s.sume, and by no means inclined to allow him to arrogate a superiority over himself, merely on account of his wealth. Though manly and generous, he was quick to resent an insult, and accordingly, when Oscar dared to repeat what he had said, he instantly accepted the challenge as recorded above.
Had Oscar been prudent, he would have hesitated before endeavoring to carry his threat into execution. A moment"s glance at the two boys would have satisfied anyone that the chances, in a personal contest, were decidedly in our hero"s favor. Herbert was not only a little taller than Oscar, perhaps an inch and a half, but his shoulders were broader and his frame more muscular. Oscar had never done any work to strengthen his arms, while Herbert had been forced by circ.u.mstances to do so.
Oscar flung himself upon Herbert, and endeavored to bear him to the ground. But the latter, without an effort, repelled the charge, and flung himself free from his antagonist"s grasp.
This naturally made Oscar more determined to overcome his foe. His face red with pa.s.sion, he showered blows upon Herbert, which the latter parried with ease. At first he acted wholly upon the defensive, but, finding that Oscar"s impetuosity did not abate, suddenly closed with him and threw him down.
Oscar rose but little hurt, for Herbert used no unnecessary force, and recommenced the a.s.sault. But the result was the same as before. Oscar was almost beside himself with mingled rage and mortification, and it is hard to tell how long the contest would have lasted, had not a servant come up and informed the boys that Mrs. Peyton wished to see them immediately. She had witnessed the whole scene from a window and felt called upon to interfere.
"How is this, young gentleman?" she asked, gravely. "You have scarcely been together twenty minutes, and I find you fighting."
"I beg your pardon, Mrs. Peyton," said Herbert, in a manly tone. "I feel ashamed of myself, but Oscar attacked me for claiming to be a gentleman, and I am afraid that my blood was up, and so we got into a fight."
"How is this, Oscar?" said his mother. "Did you so wholly lose your politeness as to attack your guest for a.s.serting his claims to be a gentleman? I am annoyed with you."
"He says he has to work for a living," said Oscar, sullenly.
"So may you, some time."
"I am rich."
"You may not always be. At any rate, being rich doesn"t insure gentlemanly behavior, as your conduct to-day clearly shows. Herbert, I hope you will excuse my son"s rudeness."
"Here is my hand, Oscar," said Herbert, cordially. "Let us be friends."
Oscar hardly knew how to receive this overture, but he was finally thawed by Herbert"s manner, and they were soon sauntering about on the lawn on the best of terms.
At half-past eleven, after an inviting lunch, the carriage was ordered, and Herbert and Mr. Carroll were driven to the depot, accompanied by Oscar, who went in his mother"s place.
Herbert purchased tickets for both, being intrusted with Mr. Carrol"s pocketbook for that purpose. He found a comfortable seat for the old gentleman, and sat down beside him.
CHAPTER XIX
A SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER
I pa.s.s over the route pursued by the travelers from Columbus to Wheeling, in West Virginia, as it possesses no special interest.
But after leaving Wheeling there is quite a change. Those of my readers who are familiar with the Baltimore & Ohio Railway will be able to understand the enjoyment which Herbert derived from the bold and romantic scenery visible from the car windows. Mr. Carroll made him take the seat nearest the window, that he might have a better view, and from time to time Herbert described what he saw to his sightless fellow- traveler.
Northwestern Virginia is very mountainous and the construction of a railway through such a region was a triumph of engineering skill. At times the road makes bold curves, so that the traveler, looking from the car window, can see opposite him, across an intervening gulf, the track over which the train was pa.s.sing five minutes before. At some places the track is laid on a narrow shelf, midway of the mountain, a steep and rugged ascent on one side, a deep ravine on the other, somewhat like the old diligence road over the Alpine Mt. Cenis. Here and there appear small hamlets, consisting of one-story cabins, with the chimney built alongside, instead of rising from the roof in the usual manner.
How long shall we be in reaching Baltimore, Mr. Carroll? "asked Herbert.
"I believe it takes about twenty-six hours," said the old gentleman.
"But I do not mean to go through without stopping."
"I didn"t know what your plan was," said Herbert.
"I have been meaning to tell you. Our tickets will allow us to stop anywhere, and resume our journey the next morning, or even stop two or three days, if we like."
"That is convenient."
"Yes. If it had been otherwise, I should have purchased the ticket piecemeal. I cannot endure to travel all night. It fatigues me too much."
"Where shall we stop, then?"
"I have not yet quite made up my mind. We will ride till about eight o"clock, and then stop over at whatever place we chance to have reached."
This arrangement struck Herbert favorably. He was in no particular hurry, and the scenery was so fine, that he feared that he should lose a great deal by traveling at night, when, of course, he could not see anything.
They sat for a while in silence. Then Mr. Carroll inquired, suddenly, "Did you ever fire a pistol, Herbert?"
"Yes, sir," was the surprised reply.
"Then you understand how to use one?"
"Oh, yes, sir. There was a young man in Waverley, the town where I used to live, who owned one, and I sometimes borrowed it to fire at a mark."
"Then I think I will intrust this weapon to your charge," said the old gentleman, drawing from his pocket a handsome pistol, and placing it in Herbert"s hand.
"Is it loaded, sir?"
"No, not at present. We will have it loaded before going to bed. I will tell you," he added, in a lower tone, "my reason for going armed. It so happens that I have a large amount of money with me, and, of course, I feel a little concerned about its safety."
"Perhaps it will be well not to say anything more about it at present, sir," suggested Herbert, in a low voice. "You may be heard by someone who would like to take advantage of his discovery."
"No doubt you are right. I will follow your advice."