Path of the Tiger

… we’ll make our way tae the New World an’ find our fortunes there! After all, what work are we gonnae find here in the Highlands once we leave Sir MacTaggart’s estate? Work’s getting’ harder an’ harder tae find in these parts. An’ I dunnae about you lot, but I dunnae like the prospect ay movin’ tae a city tae work in a factory fir fourteen or fifteen hours a day, every day … or goin’ down the coal mines, which would be even harsher. An’ wha’ other prospects exist fir men like us? Aye, we ca’ read an’ write, but we’ve got little real schooling, no family, no connections, no real money saved. What else is there fir us here but coal mines or factories? No … I refuse tae give in tae such a fate. We’ll elope, Aurora an’ I, an’ find freedom an’ wealth in America.’

‘That’s the spirit, laddie!’ Michael cried. ‘And by Jove I’ll help you pack and escape, as much as it’ll pain me tae see ma’ best boyo leave fir the New World.’

‘Ye can all come wi’ us!’ William cried, throwing one arm around Michael and one around Paul, possessed of an ebullient optimism. ‘We can all sail across the ocean, an’ start afresh there! We’ll no’ be lowly servants no more, we’ll be landowners, an’ princes among men!’

Paul’s identical twin, the taciturn Andrew, had been silently imbibing his ale all throughout the exchange, but now he decided to pipe in.

‘Hold on a minute there, lads.’

All of the others fell silent and turned to look at Andrew.

‘Her father will no’ let her marry you at this time, tha’ much is true,’ he said.

‘That’s why we’re going tae help Will elope wi’ the lass!’ Michael bellowed.

Andrew shook his head emphatically.

‘A noble thought, Mikey, but impossible. How would we get her and William ontae a ship? Her father an’ his associates own most ay the ships in the nearest port. An’ he’s got businesses in America, from what I hear, an’ he’s certainly no’ the sort ay gentleman who would let his sole heir, well, heiress, elope wi’ a stable boy. He’ll hunt you down, Will, he’ll hunt you tae the ends ay the earth. He’ll ne’er stop until you’re dead an’ he’s got her back.’

‘Aye, an’ we’ll defend our boyo until death takes us!’ Michael thundered, bristling with fierce bravado and reckless self-confidence.

Paul let out a huff of exasperation, entering the conversation again.

‘Defend him wi’ wha’, Mikey? Our fists, against the guns an’ swords he’ll no doubt send against us? Come on. We’re stable boys, no’ fighters. We’d stand no chance.’

‘I dunnae care! I’d defend my Will until the end, against anyone that auld bastard sends against us, no matter what weapons they carry, an—’

‘As would I,’ Andrew interrupted, his tone calm and measured. ‘But tha’s no’ the only option here. I know ay a way by which Will can attain true prestige, enough tha’ it would make elopement an’ deception unnecessary.’

‘You mean you’ve got a way tae get that auld git tae willinglyconsent tae give William his daughter’s hand?!’ Michael asked, raising a single incredulous eyebrow at this suggestion. ‘Pray tell, Andy, what on earth might tha’ be then?’

‘It’s just an idea, but hear me out.’

Michael called for another ale, and then turned to Andrew, his features drawn tight in an expression of focus and concentration.

‘I’m all ears, Andy,’ Michael said. ‘I’m sure we all are. So go on then, let’s hear what you’ve got tae say.’

Andrew took a deep swig of his ale before continuing.

‘Remember a few months ago, when tha’ cavalry officer was up at Sir MacTaggart’s stables, askin’ about horses?’

‘Aye, the man from the 17^th Lancers, tha’ one?’

‘Aye, tha’ chap. Well he an’ I got tae talking, see. It turns out he was born in Whitechapel, London, like all ay us were.’

‘What?! But he’s an officer!’ Michael exclaimed.

Andrew took another sip of his ale and then gave his friend a smug wink.

‘Exactly.’

William sipped on his own ale and swilled the liquid around in his mouth before he turned and stared for a time at Andrew with narrowed eyes.

‘Are you suggesting what I think ye are, Andy?’ he asked.

‘Will,’ Andrew said, ‘if you joined the Lancers you could conceivably rise through the ranks and become an officer. Listen, you’re one ay the most charismatic lads I’ve ever met; you’re a natural leader. This is what tha’ bloke did. He came from the lowest ay the low in society, as we all did, but now, after ten years ay service, he’s a captain ay the 17^th Lancers. A captain!’

William masticated on this for a while, but he soon crumpled his face into a sad, defeated frown.

‘I’m no fighter, Andrew. And what’s more, I’ve heard that it’s an exceptionally rare thing for an enlisted man tae be promoted in tha’ manner. Most ay them officers are just toffs who bought their commissions wi’ family money, like. I’m no’ sure … it doesnae seem a wise path tae tread.’

‘Yet eloping does?’

‘Well tha’s … tha’s…’

‘Something that’ll end in tragedy, fir sure,’ Paul interjected, contributing to the conversation once more. ‘If you elope wi’ the lass, you’ll spend the rest ay your lives on the run. Think about tha’. Her father isnae the sort ay man who merely forgives an’ forgets. Like I said, he’ll hunt you down, an’ he’ll no’ stop until he finds you. And what’s more, he’s got the money an’ the resources an’ the connections tae dae just tha’. However, wi’ this way tha’ Andy is suggestin’, if you could rise tae the rank ay lieutenant, even, you’d ha’ a fair chance at attaining your beloved’s hand.’

‘That wouldnae change the fact that I’m but a lowly nobody by birth,’ William muttered forlornly. ‘No uniform nor rank will change tha’.’

‘You’re correct Will,’ Andrew said, ‘but the auld git willnae know tha’! Right now he doesnae even know you exist. Keep it tha’ way fir the time bein’, an’ then when you’ve attained your rank,