A Galahad of the Creeks

"Unsurpassably written, full of matter of historical value, and in excellence of composition, clearness of description and delineation of character is assuredly one of the first in the field."--Chicago Journal.

"The story is full of romance, life, and action.... One of those which demand reading through at a sitting."--San Francisco Chronicle.

"A picturesque and exciting panorama of the most brilliant and eventful period of old Italian history."--London Times.

"The book is a first-rate piece of work, and holds the reader enchained from the sensational outset to the very last page."--London Athenæum.

"Stirring incidents and adventures follow so closely upon each other's heels that the reader becomes fascinated. It is a story to be read and reread for the mere pleasure the reading gives."--New York Evening World.

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D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK.

A GALAHAD OF THE CREEKS

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THE WIDOW LAMPORT.

BY

S. LEVETT-YEATS

AUTHOR OF THE HONOUR OF SAVELLI

NEW YORK D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 1897

COPYRIGHT, 1897, BY D. APPLETON AND COMPANY

CONTENTS.

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A GALAHAD OF THE CREEKS.

I.--The coming of the Woon.

II.--A dinner à deux.

III.--Father Fragrance limes a twig.

IV.--Ruys Smalley.

V.--"Furiis agitates amor."

VI.--Anthony Pozendine speaks up.

VII.--The ruby bracelet.

VIII.--The Sirkar's salt.

IX.--His lady's gage.

X.--An atonement.

XI.--The patience of Habakkuk Smalley.

XII.--The episode of Li Fong.

XIII.--An overreach.

XIV.--Pallida mors.

XV.--The passing of the Woon.

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THE WIDOW LAMPORT.

I.--At the door of the tabernacle.

II.--A cup of tea.

III.--A billet-doux.

IV.--Yes.

V.--Mrs. Bunny Doubts.

VI.--Master Edward Bunny.

VII.--Dungaree's Belt.

VIII.--Cast out from the fold.

IX.--At The Divan Exchange.

X.--Exit Manuel.

XI.--The happy pair.

XII.--The devil at work.

XIII.--Husband and wife.

XIV.--John Galbraith goes.

XV.--The glory departs.

XVI.--An account balanced.

XVII.--From the choir of the Holy Innocents.

A GALAHAD OF THE CREEKS.

CHAPTER I.

THE COMING OF THE WOON.

The good ship steered toward the East, To the East, o'er the salt sea foam; And years rolled by, and time grew old, But she nevermore came home.

Voyage of the Tobias.

When a man has taken a first-class degree, when he has won his blue, and has passed high into the Indian Civil Service without the wet-nursing of a crammer, it might be hazarded that he is worth something. One might go further and picture out his future career--how he would be a prop of Israel; how, step by step, he would rise until the Honourable Council enshrouded him; and how, after a life of useful work, he would, like Oliver, desire more, and drop into being the bore of "the House," or into the warmest corner of the "Oriental," and dream over the fire of the time when he was his Honour the Lieutenant Governor; but the lion is very old now--let him doze.