Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-01-24
CHAPTER II.
AT THE RED LION.

of England were in Spain, and her naviss
were on the ocean, fighting the French,
and the war spirit was wild through the
land. The national emblem. therefore,
hung out in front OF an inn, was sure to
attract custom; and none knew this bet
ter than Richard Ryder, the host Of this
tavern, who had long kept it.
1t was q stOutly framed cottage build
ing that had Weathered the storms OF
century, and is probably still affOrding
entertainment for man and beast. There
were accommodations for no more than
half a dozen guests, for the main de-
pendence of the place was its tap-roOm,
where sailors and rustics were wont to
gather at night, hear the Gazette from
London read, talk over the war news,
and drink the landlords old ale. One
room Of the building requires special
mention; it was the cosy little parlOr in
the south end, which was fitted up and
furnished in much better style than other
apartments of the house, for the use of
officers of the great War-shlps that ire
quently lay over night at the good anchor
age grounds outside and the gentry OF the
neighbOrhood. Many a jovial evening
was spent in this parlor, and the landlord
was particular to keep in his cellar q store
of choice old wine for this class of Gus
toners.
Next adjoining the parlor, with a door
communicating, was the large tap-rOOm,
dining-rOOm and the few chambers. The
house fronted toward the main high
way, but the parlOr could be entered at
the rear by steps from the beach. With
in the memory of men who often came
to the Red Lion the sea at high tide was
thirty yards from the rear of the inn; now
the water had so encroached upon the
land that the spray of the waves in rough
weather dashed against the windows, and
a rOW-bOat from the bay had been known
to come right up to these rear steps and
disembark ITS load.
The daylight hours of that third day of
September had been mild and pleasant,
but at nightfail came a chilly wind from
the sea, and the landlord had fire built
in the great chimney.
Dick Ryder, as he was familiarly
called, was short and stout usually
good natured but with reserve of spirit
within him, for he had been a soldier in
his early years, and had seen some SER
vice in the Low Countries. He bore the
signs Of good living upon his face and
person, and the mere sight of him, 1t was
said, was a frst-class recommendation of
his inn.
In the tap-room we now find the host
and half a dozen idlers; the hOstler, the
stable-boy, and four farmers lads come
in to look and hear the news.
The light of the fire fell on the pol
the heavy, dark cOlored frames of the
windows, and the rather dull faces and
coarse frocks of the laborers, and gave q
picturesque effect to the interior Of the
tap.
Ryder leaned on the counter and was
silent. This was not the kind of a
crowd that brought grist to the mill, and
he wasted no politeness on them.
"Oi see a big ship outside the night,
VeDture6 one of the TuEtics
80, aye!" said another. What they
calls un frigate, Oh say. LeastaWays, Oh
counted matter o fifteen ports this way;
so if so be there be as many"
Come, Barney, quit now" the land
lord said, rather testify. Were not all
fools. She's a thirty-gun ship; that's
easy to see. Haven't you seen a boat on
the bay?"
There was a chorus of negatives.
"When the frigate came in and an
chOred about the middle Of the after
noon, I hoped some of the gentlemen
would come of to spend the evening here.
They may yet.
Heavy footballs were heard on the steps
outside, the door was thrown open, and a
man whom nobody could mistake for
aught but a sailor strobe in. He had on
a tarpaulin, or rough pilot coat, and the
vide flowing trousers of the tar; his face
was red and tanned with the suns Of
gruff, but by no means unpleasant.
There was nothing in his dress to indi-
cate that he had any rank aboard ship;
yet a close observer, a closer observer
than any present, would have noticed
something in his air and speech which
could only come from habitual authority.
Good evening, shlpmates all, he said,
looking about the room. Landlord,
ahoy therei I've had no good ale since
we anchored at the Downs, a month ago.
Give me a tankard; and you, ye lubbersl
step up here and drink the health of
good King George, and confusion to the
French.
This was an invitation that nobody was
slow to accept. The sailor threw down a
golden guinea, telling Mr.. Ryder that he
need not make the change just yet, as he
might want more entertainment, and
taking the large mug that had been filed
for him he went across the room, took a
large armchair, and tilted it comfortably
back against the wall. The others drank
what had been set out for them, and re-
turned TO their places about the apart
ment. The sailor threw open his coat,
laid his great stiff hat on the floor. and
prepared to take his ease. It was OBJ
served, but without any comment, that he
did not act as though he was dry; he
leisurely slipped his ale, and his eyes
tWinkled under his shaggy brOWs as they
examined the room and the face Of every
person in it.
You're from the frigate, I expeot2"
Right, mate; the Hero, thirty-two,
and as good q ship as flies the British
cOlors.
Won't any of the gentlemen be OF to-
night2"
IF you mean won't they visit you, /
fancy not. I'm one of the boats crew
that brought the Captain ashore half a
mile above here, just around that great
| cliff. He's got some kind of a lark to see
/ knoW-and the crew ara waiting for him.
/ He may come back in an hour, and he
may not before midnight; and says "a
! the bos'n, Look here, bOs'n, Tn told OF
a good place round the point there
to get a glass of aIe.' 'HumphP says