``Now,'' I said, ``it's time for you to tell me something of yourself, and how you chanced to come into this country.''
`` 'Twas Darnley's fault,'' said Nick.
``Darnley!'' I exclaimed; ``he whom you got into the duel with--'' I stopped abruptly, with a sharp twinge of remembrance that was like a pain in my side.'Twas Nick took up the name.
``With Harry Riddle.'' He spoke quietly, that was the terrifying part of it.``David, I've looked for that man in Italy and France, I've scoured London for him, and, by God, I'll find him before he dies.And when Ido find him I swear to you that there will be no such thing as time wasted, or mercy.''
I shuddered.In all my life I had never known such a moment of indecision.Should I tell him? My conscience would give me no definite reply.The question had haunted me all the night, and I had lost my way in consequence, nor had the morning's ride from the Widow Brown's sufficed to bring me to a decision.Of what use to tell him? Would Riddle's death mend matters?
The woman loved him, that had been clear to me; yet, by telling Nick what I knew I might induce him to desist from his search, and if I did not tell, Nick might some day run across the trail, follow it up, take Riddle's life, and lose his own.The moment, made for confession as it was, passed.
``They have ruined my life,'' said Nick.``I curse him, and I curse her.''
``Hold!'' I cried; ``she is your mother.''
``And therefore I curse her the more,'' he said.``You know what she is, you've tasted of her charity, and you are my father's nephew.If you have been without experience, I will tell you what she is.A common--''
I reached out and put my hand across his mouth.
``Silence!'' I cried; ``you shall say no such thing.And have you not manhood enough to make your own life for yourself?''
``Manhood!'' he repeated, and laughed.It was a laugh that I did not like.``They made a man of me, my parents.My father played false with the Rebels and fled to England for his reward.A year after he went I was left alone at Temple Bow to the tender mercies of the niggers.Mr.Mason came back and snatched what was left of me.He was a good man; he saved me an annuity out of the estate, he took me abroad after the war on a grand tour, and died of a fever in Rome.I made my way back to Charlestown, and there I learned to gamble, to hold liquor like a gentleman, to run horses and fight like a gentleman.We were speaking of Darnley,'' he said.
``Yes, of Darnley,'' I repeated.
``The devil of a man,'' said Nick; ``do you remember him, with the cracked voice and fat calves?''
At any other time I should have laughed at the recollection.
``Darnley turned Whig, became a Continental colonel, and got a grant out here in the Cumberland country of three thousand acres.And now I own it.''
``You own it!'' I exclaimed.
``Rattle-and-snap,'' said Nick; ``I played him for the land at the ordinary one night, and won it.It is out here near a place called Nashboro, where this wild, long-faced Mr.Jackson says he is going soon.I crossed the mountains to have a look at it, fell in with Nollichucky Jack, and went off with him for a summer campaign.There's a man for you, Davy,'' he cried, ``a man to follow through hell-fire.If they touch a hair of his head we'll sack the State of North Carolina from Morganton to the sea.''
``But the land?'' I asked.
``Oh, a fig for the land,'' answered Nick; ``as soon as Nollichucky Jack is safe I'll follow you into Kentucky.''
He slapped me on the knee.``Egad, Davy, it seems like a fairy tale.We always said we were going to Kentucky, didn't we? What is the name of the place you are to startle with your learning and calm by your example?''
``Louisville,'' I answered, laughing, ``by the Falls of the Ohio.''
``I shall turn up there when Jack Sevier is safe and Ihave won some more land from Mr.Jackson.We'll have a rare old time together, though I have no doubt you can drink me under the table.Beware of these sober men.
Egad, Davy, you need only a woolsack to become a full-fledged judge.And now tell me how fortune has buffeted you.''
It was my second night without sleep, for we sat burning candles in Mr.Wright's house until the dawn, ****** up the time which we had lost away from each other.
