No Defense

No Defense, by Gilbert Parker,
Complete

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Title: No Defense, Complete
Author: Gilbert Parker
Release Date: August, 2004 [EBook #6295] [Yes, we are more than

one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on December 12,
2002]
Edition: 10
Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NO
DEFENSE, BY PARKER, ENTIRE ***

This eBook was produced by David Widger

NO DEFENSE
By Gilbert Parker

CONTENTS
BOOK I. I. THE TWO MEET II. THE COMING OF A MESSENGER
III. THE QUARREL IV. THE DUEL V. THE KILLING OF ERRIS
BOYNE VI. DYCK IN PRISON VII. MOTHER AND DAUGHTER
VIII. DYCK'S FATHER VISITS HIM IX. A LETTER FROM
SHEILA
BOOK II X. DYCK CALHOUN ENTERS THE WORLD AGAIN XI.
WHITHER NOW? XII. THE HOUR BEFORE THE MUTINY XIII.
TO THE WEST INDIES XIV. IN THE NICK OF TIME XV. THE
ADMIRAL HAS HIS SAY
BOOK III XVI. A LETTER XVII. STRANGERS ARRIVE XVIII. AT
SALEM XIX. LORD MALLOW INTERVENES XX. OUT OF THE

HANDS OF THE PHILISTINES XXI. THE CLASH OF RACE XXII.
SHEILA HAS HER SAY XXIII. THE COMING OF NOREEN XXIV.
WITH THE GOVERNOR XXV. THEN WHAT HAPPENED

BOOK I
CHAPTER I
THE TWO MEET
"Well, good-bye, Dyck. I'll meet you at the sessions, or before that at
the assizes."
It was only the impulsive, cheery, warning exclamation of a wild young
Irish spirit to his friend Dyck Calhoun, but it had behind it the humour
and incongruity of Irish life.
The man, Dyck Calhoun, after whom were sent the daring words about
the sessions and the assizes, was a year or two older than his friend, and,
as Michael Clones, his servant and friend, said, "the worst and best
scamp of them all"--just up to any harmless deviltry.
Influenced by no traditions or customs, under control of no stern
records of society, Calhoun had caused some trouble in his time by the
harmless deeds of a scapegrace, but morally--that is, in all relations of
life affected by the ten commandments--he was above reproach. Yet he
was of the sort who, in days of agitation, then common in Ireland,
might possibly commit some act which would bring him to the sessions
or the assizes. There never was in Ireland a cheerier, braver, handsomer
fellow, nor one with such variety of mind and complexity of purpose.
He was the only child of a high-placed gentleman; he spent all the
money that came his way, and occasionally loaded himself with debt,
which his angry father paid. Yet there never was a gayer heart, a more
generous spirit, nor an easier-tempered man; though, after all, he was
only twenty-five when the words with which the tale opens were said to

him.
He had been successful--yet none too successful--at school and Trinity
College, Dublin. He had taken a pass degree, when he might have
captured the highest honours. He had interested people of place in the
country, but he never used promptly the interest he excited. A pretty
face, a fishing or a shooting expedition, a carouse in some secluded
tavern, were parts of his daily life.
At the time the story opens he was a figure of note among those who
spent their time in criticizing the government and damning the Irish
Parliament. He even became a friend of some young hare-brained
rebels of the time; yet no one suspected him of anything except
irresponsibility. His record was clean; Dublin Castle was not after him.
When his young friend made the remark about the sessions and assizes,
Calhoun was making his way up the rocky hillside to take the
homeward path to his father's place, Playmore. With the challenge and
the monstrous good-bye, a stone came flying up the hill after him and
stopped almost at his feet. He made no reply,