THE PIRATE

AND

THE THREE CUTTERS

[Illustration: Publishers mark]

[Illustration: _Cain. _]

THE PIRATE

AND

THE THREE CUTTERS

BY

CAPTAIN MARRYAT

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY EDMUND J. SULLIVANAND AN INTRODUCTION BY DAVID HANNAY

LondonMACMILLAN AND CO. , LIMITED

NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY1897

_All rights reserved_

INTRODUCTION

Among the few subjects which are still left at the disposal of theduly-gifted writer of romance is the Pirate. Not but that many havewritten of pirates. Defoe, after preparing the ground by a pamphletstory on the historic Captain Avery, wrote _The Life, Adventures, andPiracies of Captain Singleton_. Sir Walter Scott made use in somewhatthe same fashion of the equally historic Gow--that is to say, his piratebears about the same relation to the marauder who was suppressed byJames Laing, that Captain Singleton does to Captain Avery. Michael Scotthad much to say of pirates, and he had heard much of them during hislife in the West Indies, for they were then making their last fightagainst law and order. The pirate could not escape the eye of Mr. R. L. Stevenson, and accordingly we have an episode of pirates in the episodeof the _Master of Ballantrae_. Balsac, too, wrote _Argow le Pirate_among the stories which belong to the years when he was exhausting allthe ways in which a novel ought not to be written. Also the pirate is acommonplace in boys' books. Yet for as much as he figures in stories forold and young, it may be modestly maintained that nobody has ever yetdone him quite right. 

Defoe's Captain Singleton is a harmless, thrifty, and ever moral pirate, of whom it is impossible to disapprove. Sir Walter's is a mildgentleman, concerning whom one wonders how he ever came to be in suchcompany. Michael Scott's pirate is a bloodthirsty ruffian enough, andyet it is difficult to feel that a person who dressed in such a highlypicturesque manner, and who was commonly either a Don or a Scotchgentleman of ancient descent, was quite the real thing. Mr. Stevenson'spirate is nearer what one knows must have been the life. He is acowardly, lurking, petty scoundrel. John Silver is certainly somethingvery different, but then when Mr. Stevenson drew the commanding figurein Treasure Island he was not making a portrait of a pirate, but wasonly making play with the well-established puppet of boys' books. Yet, after all, the pirate, if he was not such an agreeable rascal as JohnSilver, was not always the greedy, spiritless rogue drawn in the _Masterof Ballantrae_. To do him properly and as he was, he ought to beapproached with a mixture of humour and morality, and also with aknowledge of the facts concerning him, which to the best of my knowledgehave never been combined in any writer. 

Captain Johnson, in his valuable _General History of the Pirates fromtheir First Rise and Settlement in the Island of Providence to thepresent time_, begins with antiquity. He mounts up the dark backwardabyss of time till he meets with the pirates who captured Julius Caesar, and were suppressed by Pompey. This is not necessary. Our pirate was avery different fellow from those broken men of the ancient world, thewrecks of States shattered by Rome and the victims of the usury of theKnights who collected in the creeks of Cilicia. It is not quite easy tosay what he was, but we know well enough what he was not. He was not formany generations the recognised enemy of the human race. On thecontrary, he was often a comparative respectable person, who wasdisposed to render service to his king and country at a crisis, even ifhe did not see his advantage in virtuous conduct. To begin with, he wasonly a seafaring man who carried on the universal practice of the MiddleAges after they had ceased to be recognised as legitimate. Then for along time a pirate was not thought worthy of hanging until he had showna hopelessly contumacious disposition by refusing the king's pardonseveral times. Sir William Monson, who was admiral to James I. , saw noharm in recruiting well-known pirates for His Majesty's service. On thecoast of Ireland he found Irish country gentlemen of respectableposition, and the agents of London trading firms, engaged in friendlybusiness transactions with these skimmers of the sea. The redoubtedCaptain Bartholomew Roberts, to skip over a century, went about theworld recruiting for a well-organised piratical business, and there weremany among his followers who would have been honest men if temptationhad not come in their way, and who hastened to leave a life of vice sosoon as the neighbourhood of one of His Majesty's cruisers made itdangerous. We ought not to speak of these men with harsh contempt. Theking's government was largely responsible for their existence, bypromising pardon to all who would come in before a given date. They camein and brought their booty with them. Captain Johnson had the pleasureof the personal acquaintance of several who were living in comfortableretirement at Rotherhithe or at Limehouse, and in the enjoyment, foraught we know to the contrary, of the respect of their neighbours. Theyhad come in on a proclamation, and there was nothing more to be saidagainst them. In many cases, no doubt, when the booty was spent theydrifted back to the old irregular courses, and on that road those ofthem who did not get shot when boarding a galleon, or go down at sea, or die of starvation among the keys of the West Indies, did sooner orlater contrive to overtake the gallows. But these men, if they were notquite so moral and orderly as Captain Singleton, or so romantic as thepirates of Michael Scott, were not altogether bloodthirsty, mercilessscoundrels. Many of them had every intention of returning to theircountry upon the appearance of the next proclamation, and as they sawthe prospect of a safe return for themselves they were not under thenecessity of acting on the rule that dead men tell no tales. They didnot make their prisoners walk the plank. They did not even burn theirprizes, but were often content with taking out such provisions andportable property as their immediate occasions made desirable, and thenallowing the plundered merchant-ship to continue her voyage. They wereby no means so thoroughly hated as they ought to have been, to judge bythe more recent opinion held of the pirate. 

In fact, till towards the end of the pirate's existence he was nearly asmuch the product of the Government's management as of his own sins. During Charles II. 's reign, his governors in Jamaica gave what they werepleased to term commissions to all who would plunder the Spaniard. TheSpaniards retaliated by giving commissions to all who would plunderanyone else. The marauder who victimised the Spaniard was sure of amarket, and a refuge in Jamaica. The other marauder who was prepared tofeed upon English, Dutch, or French, was sure of a welcome in Cuba. WhenGovernments suddenly took to being virtuous, a sense of wrong inflamedthe minds of the men who had hitherto been allowed to live in recognisedlawlessness. Captain Kidd, for example, manifestly thought that LordBellomont and the other gentleman who sent him out to Madagascar tocruise against the pirates, were only assuming a decent excuse for alittle speculation in piracy on their own account. The freebooters whosettled at Providence, in the Bahamas, were really to be pardoned fornot realising that the happy days of Governor Moddiford at Jamaica wereover. When they were made to understand that there were to be no more ofthese cakes and ale, the majority, under the command of CaptainJennings, promptly came in. Captain Jennings was the owner of an estatein Jamaica, and he brought a comfortable little sum back with him fromhis piratical adventures. The residue, who probably had no comfortablesum to bring with them, did not come in, and as they were given tounderstand that they would certainly be hanged if caught, they took inself-defence to giving no quarter. So at the end of the great war, thepowers who had encouraged privateering while the fighting lasted, without inquiring too closely how far the privateer confined hisoperations to the enemy only without plundering the neutral, becamesuddenly very strict. Then the men whom they had allowed to becomehardened to a life of pillage took refuge in downright piracy. These menwere the _Pescadores del Puerto Escondido_ who enlightened the pages ofMichael Scott. The Spaniards tolerated them as the English Governors ofJamaica had once encouraged the Buccaneers. It was not until a combinedvigorous effort of the English and the United States navies had driventhem off the sea, and till they had begun to support themselves byplundering plantations, that the Captains-General of Cuba took them inhand. 

Now, in all this life, floating as it did between the honest and thedishonest, there was room for something more human than the be-sashed, velvet-jacketed, crimson-capped, and long-knifed heroes of MichaelScott, or than the mere rogue and floating footpad we meet in _TheMaster of Ballantrae_. There was also room, it must be candidly allowed, for something better than Captain Cain of the _Avenger_. The _Pirate_ isnot among the books which one most willingly re-reads out of Marryat'svery respectably lengthy list of stories. Yet it is not without gaiety, and, as is ever the case with him, the man-of-war scenes are all alive. Captain Plumpton, and Mr. Markital the first lieutenant, and EdwardTemplemore the midshipman, are credible. Whenever Marryat has tointroduce us to a man-of-war, he could draw on inexhaustible treasure ofreminiscences, or of what is for the story-writer's purpose quite asgood, of types and incidents which his imagination had made out ofincidents supplied by his memory. The naval parts of the _Pirate_ are nodoubt variations on what he had recently written in _Midshipman Easy_, but they are not mere repetitions, and they have the one saving qualityof life, which will make even a poorly constructed story readable. 

It is impossible to say as much for the captain and crew of the_Avenger_. Cain is not only not a pirate, but he is not a human being. He is a Byronic or even a Michael Scottish hero--an impossible monster, compounded of one virtue and a thousand crimes. There never was any suchperson, and even on paper he is not tolerable for more than a paragraphor two without the help of verse. The crew of the _Avenger_ is aninconceivable ship's complement for any pirate. Credulity itself cannoteven in early life accept the capture of the Portuguese carrack. Marryatdrew on his recollections of the time when he was a midshipman withCochrane in the _Impèrieuse_, for the figure of the old steersman, whosticks to his post under the fire of the _Avenger_. He had seen themate of a Spanish trading ship behaving in just that way when attackedby boats from the _Impèrieuse_. When he was asked why he did notsurrender, though he was mortally wounded and had no chance of escape, he answered that he was an 'old Christian. ' The term, which by the wayonly means a pure-blooded Spaniard, puzzled Marryat and his shipmates. It is not wonderful that he did not understand its meaning, since inspite of campaigning in Spain, and many visits to Spanish ports, henever learnt to avoid the absurd blunder of putting the title Don beforea surname. But if the steersman is drawn from life, so are not eitherthe carrack, which is a fragment of the sixteenth century, out of itsplace, nor 'Don' Ribiera and his sons, nor the bishop, nor anybody elsein that ill-fated ship, nor the stilted, transpontine style of theirconversation. Francisco and his bible are no more credible than thecarrack and the bishop. Francisco's brother and his love affairs are notmore credible, though they are decidedly more tolerable. The daughtersof Spanish Governors who carry on flirtations on the sea-shore with thecaptains of English men-of-war, who are carried off by pirates andrescued in the nick of time, whose papas not only consent to theirmarriage with the heretical object of their affections but send boxesfull of gold doubloons, together with their blessing, are so much betterthan life that we need not quarrel when invited to meet any number ofthem. The sea adventures in Marryat are always good, and so are thefights. The storms and wrecks, the rafts and wonderful escapes, thedefences of houses, and the escapes of pirates and smugglers from underthe very guns of His Majesty's frigates, are as welcome as, and are muchmore credible than, the lovely daughters of benevolent Spanishgovernors. Of them there is no want, and for their sake the _Pirate_can be read; but it is not what Marryat might have made it if he hadwritten it in the spirit in which he was to write _Snarley-Yow_. 

In _The Three Cutters_ Marryat allowed himself to take a little holidayin company with another kind of sea malefactor whom he knew intimatelywell. He had already played with the smuggler in _The King's Own_. Inthis little story he reintroduces us to M'Elvina, somewhat disguised, and in altered circumstances, but essentially the same. 

_The Three Cutters_ may be supposed to have been written to fill out thevolume containing _The Pirate_ and those twenty engravings from drawingsby Clarkson Stanfield, which still make the first edition a desirablepossession. This function, whether it was originally designed or not, isvery agreeably fulfilled by the history of the _Arrow_, the _Active_, and _Happy-go-lucky_. Although he wrote very few of them, Marryat had ahappy hand with a short story. _The S. W. And by W. And 1/4 W. Wind_ and_Moonshine_ are very happy examples of the magazine story. _The ThreeCutters_ is somewhat longer than either, but the difference in bulk isdue less to any greater amount of pure story there is than to the carewith which Marryat introduces his three vessels, and sketches theirrespective starting-places--Plymouth, Portsmouth, and St. Malo. Hereagain it is to be noted that Marryat is far more at home in theman-of-war than in the smuggler or the yacht. Mr. Appleboy, with hisforty-five years' service, and the interesting story which remainsuntold of the something which took place in '93 or '94, his seventeendaily tumblers of gin-toddy, his mate and his midshipman, is a part, andnot an inferior one, of Marryat's inimitable naval gallery. The_Happy-go-lucky_ is perhaps rather a smuggler of the Pays Bleu than ofthe British Channel, but she is sufficiently in place in a story notintended to be too slavishly faithful to life. Morrison, thesailing-master, with his augury of the blue pigeon, is real, and nothingcan be more consistent with human nature than that he should have cursedthe bird when he did finally find himself in prison. As for theadventures, they belong to the region of the fantastic, which does notpretend to be anything else. The idea of a yacht which endeavours thecapture of a smuggler, and is herself made prize by him, is of course amotive for farce. 

The scenes on board the captive yacht are not exactly horse-play. Thereare too many ladies concerned, and Marryat, in spite of occasionallapses of taste, preferred to write like a gentleman. But if there is nohorse-play there is a great deal of what I hope it is permissible todescribe as 'lark. ' The sour old maid Miss Ossulton, her niece Cecilia, who, if she has not much character, is still a very nice girl, thefrisky widow Mrs. Lascelles, make a capital trio. Given a gallantdashing smuggler, who is really a gentleman in disguise, in possessionof the yacht, and determined to revenge himself on the owner by taking alittle harmless amusement, it follows that lively incidents are to beexpected. Marryat did not work the situation out at any length, probablybecause he felt that the stuff would not bear much handling. If he cuthis story short for this reason he was undoubtedly right. It is sodifficult as to be quite impossible for the majority of writers to hangjust on the border of the outrageously impossible for more than a fewpages. While it lasts it is very good fun. The reformation ofPickersgill through the influence of Mrs. Lascelles is quite inMarryat's manner. His heroes, when they need reformation, are commonlybrought into the right path by the combined influence of a pretty womanand a round sum of money. Mrs. Lascelles, too, was unquestionably justthe woman to marry Pickersgill. Having married an old man to please herparents, and having inherited his money, she had decided both to marryagain and to please herself in her second husband. Experience shows thatthe Mrs. Lascelles of real life not uncommonly fall into the hands of aruffian or an adventurer. Marryat was not making a study of real life, and he was too fond of his puppets; and besides that would have beenanother story, which would have been superfluous, considering thatMarryat wanted to end this one. So Mrs. Lascelles had her fine dashingseaman, who stood six feet odd in his stockings, and was also agentleman in disguise. Of course she was happy ever after. One has ahaunting suspicion that the story was not only written to fill out thevolume, but also to accompany Clarkson Stanfield's three very prettyplates of Plymouth, Portsmouth, and St. Malo. If so, that only provesthat when a man is a born storyteller he can write good stories for veryhumble business reasons. 

CONTENTS

THE PIRATE

 PAGE

CHAPTER I

THE BAY OF BISCAY 3

CHAPTER II

THE BACHELOR 11

CHAPTER III

THE GALE 20

CHAPTER IV

THE LEAK 26

CHAPTER V

THE OLD MAID 34

CHAPTER VI

THE MIDSHIPMAN 43

CHAPTER VII

SLEEPER'S BAY 50

CHAPTER VIII

THE ATTACK 60

CHAPTER IX

THE CAPTURE 69

CHAPTER X

THE SAND-BANK 87

CHAPTER XI

THE ESCAPE 93

CHAPTER XII

THE LIEUTENANT 104

CHAPTER XIII

THE LANDING 111

CHAPTER XIV

THE MEETING 124

CHAPTER XV

THE MISTAKE 135

CHAPTER XVI

THE CAICOS 145

CHAPTER XVII

THE TRIAL 158

CHAPTER XVIII

CONCLUSION 173

THE THREE CUTTERS

 PAGE

CHAPTER I

CUTTER THE FIRST 185

CHAPTER II

CUTTER THE SECOND 199

CHAPTER III

CUTTER THE THIRD 208

CHAPTER IV

PORTLAND BILL 216

CHAPTER V

THE TRAVESTIE 227

CHAPTER VI

THE SMUGGLING YACHT 239

CHAPTER VII

CONCLUSION 247

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

THE PIRATE

 PAGE

Cain _Frontispiece_

'Coco ab ten finger, and take long while suck em all dry' 7

Coco shouted to his utmost, and fortunately attracted notice 9

'That will do, Jonathan; I'll ring for coffee presently' 18

Oswald Bareth gained the helm, which he put hard up 23

'I'll cleave to the shoulder the first man who attempts to breakinto the spirit-room' 32

Found his green morocco easy-chair already tenanted by Williamthe footman 35

'Antony, for shame! fie, for shame!' 41

He walked with his coat flying open, his thumbs stuck intothe arm-holes of his waistcoat 44

A general discharge from a broadside of carronades, and a heavyvolley of muskets, was the decided answer 62

'Take that, babbler, for your intelligence; if these men areobstinate, we may have worked for nothing' 72

'_Blood for blood!_' cried Francisco, as he fired his pistol atCain, who staggered, and fell on the deck 82

Before Francisco had gained the sand-bank she was hull-downto the northward 85

At last he snatched up the haulyards of his boat's sail, andhastened down to the spot to afford such succour as mightbe possible 95

The flames increased in violence, mounting up to the mastsand catching the sails one after another 101

Don Felix de Maxos de Cobas de Manilla d'Alfarez, too busywith his cigar to pay attention to his daughter 107

Francisco fixed the glass against the sill of the window, andexamined the vessel some time in silence 113

The ball entered the left shoulder of Hawkhurst, and hedropped his hold 122

'God bless you, boy! God bless you!' said Cain; 'but leaveme now' 129

'Blood for blood I will have, ' continued the mate, holding up hisclenched hand, and shaking it almost in the pirate captain's face 139

The pirate captain was seen to raise his body convulsively halfout of the water--he floundered, sank, and was seen no more 152

Clara sprang into his arms, and was immediately in a state ofinsensibility 155

The pirates at the bar 160

As soon as she was sufficiently composed, was sworn, and gaveher evidence 166

'Blood for blood!' 171

'Captain Templemore, I wish you joy!' 178

'_Resurgam!_' said the butler 181

THE THREE CUTTERS

The ladies 188

The Hon. Miss Cecilia Ossulton 190

'Fie! Mr. Vaughan, ' cried Cecilia Ossulton; 'you know itcame from your heart' 197

Lieutenant Appleboy 201

'Salt water, sir!' cried Jem. 'Yes, sir, ' replied Mr. Appleboy, tossing the contents of the tumbler in the boy's face 206

The captain of the _Happy-go-lucky_, Jack Pickersgill 210

Jeannette held her finger up to Corbett, saying, with a smile, '_méchant!_' and then quitted the room 214

The gun was loaded, and not being more than a mile from thesmuggler, actually threw the ball almost a quarter of theway 219

'Well, gentlemen, what do you want?' said Pickersgill 222

'Pirates!--_bloody, murderous stick-at-nothing_ pirates!'replied the steward 229

'Upon my soul, my lord, ' cried Maddox, dropping on his knees, 'there is no Burgundy on board--ask the ladies' 237

Miss Ossulton, frightened out of her wits, took his arm; and, with Mrs. Lascelles on the other, they went up to the hotel 245

'Mrs. Lascelles, ' said Pickersgill, 'before we part, allow me toobserve, that it is _you_ who have induced me to give upmy profession----' 255

THE PIRATE

CHAPTER I

THE BAY OF BISCAY

It was in the latter part of the month of June, of the year 179--, thatthe angry waves of the Bay of Biscay were gradually subsiding, after agale of wind as violent as it was unusual during that period of theyear. Still they rolled heavily; and, at times, the wind blew up infitful, angry gusts, as if it would fain renew the elemental combat; buteach effort was more feeble, and the dark clouds which had been summonedto the storm now fled in every quarter before the powerful rays of thesun, who burst their masses asunder with a glorious flood of light andheat; and, as he poured down his resplendent beams, piercing deep intothe waters of that portion of the Atlantic to which we now refer, withthe exception of one object, hardly visible, as at creation, there was avast circumference of water, bounded by the fancied canopy of heaven. Wehave said, with the exception of one object; for in the centre of thispicture, so simple, yet so sublime, composed of the three greatelements, there was a remnant of the fourth. We say a remnant, for itwas but the hull of a vessel, dismasted, water-logged, its upper worksonly floating occasionally above the waves, when a transient repose fromtheir still violent undulation permitted it to reassume its buoyancy. But this was seldom; one moment it was deluged by the seas, which brokeas they poured over its gunwale; and the next it rose from itssubmersion, as the water escaped from the portholes at its sides. 

How many thousands of vessels--how many millions of property--have beenabandoned, and eventually consigned to the all-receiving depths of theocean, through ignorance or through fear! What a mine of wealth must lieburied in its sands! what riches lie entangled amongst its rocks, orremain suspended in its unfathomable gulf, where the compressed fluid isequal in gravity to that which it encircles, there to remain secured inits embedment from corruption and decay, until the destruction of theuniverse and the return of chaos! Yet, immense as the accumulated lossmay be, the major part of it has been occasioned from an ignorance ofone of the first laws of nature, that of specific gravity. The vessel towhich we have referred was, to all appearance, in a situation of asextreme hazard as that of a drowning man clinging to a single rope-yarn;yet, in reality, she was more secure from descending to the abyss belowthan many gallantly careering on the waters, their occupants dismissingall fear, and only calculating upon a quick arrival into port. 

The _Circassian_ had sailed from New Orleans, a gallant andwell-appointed ship, with a cargo, the major part of which consisted ofcotton. The captain was, in the usual acceptation of the term, a goodsailor; the crew were hardy and able seamen. As they crossed theAtlantic, they had encountered the gale to which we have referred, weredriven down into the Bay of Biscay, where, as we shall hereafterexplain, the vessel was dismasted, and sprang a leak, which baffled alltheir exertions to keep under. It was now five days since the frightenedcrew had quitted the vessel in two of her boats, one of which hadswamped, and every soul that occupied it had perished; the fate of theother was uncertain. 

We said that the crew had deserted the vessel, but we did not assertthat every existing being had been removed out of her. Had such been thecase, we should not have taken up the reader's time in describinginanimate matter. It is life that we portray, and life there still wasin the shattered hull thus abandoned to the mockery of the ocean. In the_caboose_ of the _Circassian_, that is, in the cooking-house secured ondeck, and which fortunately had been so well fixed as to resist theforce of the breaking waves, remained three beings--a man, a woman, anda child. The two first-mentioned were of that inferior race which have, for so long a period, been procured from the sultry Afric coast, totoil, but reap not for themselves; the child which lay at the breast ofthe female was of European blood, now, indeed, deadly pale, as itattempted in vain to draw sustenance from its exhausted nurse, downwhose sable cheeks the tears coursed, as she occasionally pressed theinfant to her breast, and turned it round to leeward to screen it fromthe spray which dashed over them at each returning swell. Indifferent toall else, save her little charge, she spoke not, although she shudderedwith the cold as the water washed her knees each time that the hull wascareened into the wave. Cold and terror had produced a change in hercomplexion, which now wore a yellow, or sort of copper hue. 

The male, who was her companion, sat opposite to her upon the iron rangewhich once had been the receptacle of light and heat, but was now but aweary seat to a drenched and worn-out wretch. He, too, had not spokenfor many hours; with the muscles of his face relaxed, his thick lipspouting far in advance of his collapsed cheeks, his high cheekbonesprominent as budding horns, his eyes displaying little but their whites, he appeared to be an object of greater misery than the female, whosethoughts were directed to the infant and not unto herself. Yet hisfeelings were still acute, although his faculties appeared to bedeadened by excess of suffering. 

'Eh, me!' cried the negro woman faintly, after a long silence, her headfalling back with extreme exhaustion. Her companion made no reply, but, roused at the sound of her voice, bent forward, slid open the door alittle, and looked out to windward. The heavy spray dashed into hisglassy eyes, and obscured his vision; he groaned, and fell back into hisformer position. 'What you tink, Coco?' inquired the negress, coveringup more carefully the child, as she bent her head down upon it. A lookof despair, and a shudder from cold and hunger, were the only reply. 

It was then about eight o'clock in the morning, and the swell of theocean was fast subsiding. At noon the warmth of the sun was communicatedto them through the planks of the _caboose_, while its rays poured asmall stream of vivid light through the chinks of the closed panels. Thenegro appeared gradually to revive; at last he rose, and with somedifficulty contrived again to slide open the door. The sea had graduallydecreased its violence, and but occasionally broke over the vessel;carefully holding on by the door-jambs, Coco gained the outside, that hemight survey the horizon. 

'What you see, Coco?' said the female, observing from the _caboose_ thathis eyes were fixed upon a certain quarter. 

'So help me God, me tink me see something; but ab so much salt water inum eye, me no see clear, ' replied Coco, rubbing away the salt which hadcrystallised on his face during the morning. 

'What you tink um like, Coco?'

'Only one bit cloud, ' replied he, entering the _caboose_, and resuminghis seat upon the grate with a heavy sigh. 

'Eh, me!' cried the negress, who had uncovered the child to look at it, and whose powers were sinking fast. 'Poor lilly Massa Eddard, him lookvery bad indeed--him die very soon, me fear. Look, Coco, no ab breath. '

The child's head fell back upon the breast of its nurse, and lifeappeared to be extinct. 

'Judy, you no ab milk for piccaninny; suppose um ab no milk, how canlive? Eh! stop, Judy, me put lilly finger in um mouth; suppose MassaEddard no dead, him pull. '

Coco inserted his finger into the child's mouth, and felt a slightdrawing pressure. 'Judy, ' cried Coco, 'Massa Eddard no dead yet. Trynow, suppose you ab lilly drop oder side. '

Poor Judy shook her head mournfully, and a tear rolled down her cheek;she was aware that nature was exhausted. 'Coco, ' said she, wiping hercheek with the back of her hand, 'me give me heart blood for MassaEddard; but no ab milk--all gone. '

This forcible expression of love for the child, which was used by Judy, gave an idea to Coco. He drew his knife out of his pocket, and verycoolly sawed to the bone of his forefinger. The blood flowed andtrickled down to the extremity, which he applied to the mouth of theinfant. 

'See, Judy, Massa Eddard suck--him not dead, ' cried Coco, chuckling atthe fortunate result of the experiment, and forgetting at the momenttheir almost hopeless situation. 

The child, revived by the strange sustenance, gradually recovered itspowers, and in a few minutes it pulled at the finger with a certaindegree of vigour. 

[Illustration: '_Coco ab ten finger, and take long while suck em alldry. _']

'Look, Judy, how Massa Eddard take it, ' continued Coco. 'Pull away, Massa Eddard, pull away. Coco ab ten finger, and take long while suck emall dry. ' But the child was soon satisfied, and fell asleep in the armsof Judy. 

'Coco, suppose you go see again, ' observed Judy. The negro again crawledout, and again he scanned the horizon. 

'So help me God, dis time me tink, Judy--yes, so help me God, me see aship!' cried Coco joyfully. 

'Eh!' screamed Judy faintly, with delight; 'den Massa Eddard no die. '

'Yes, so help me God--he come dis way!' and Coco, who appeared to haverecovered a portion of his former strength and activity, clambered onthe top of the _caboose_, where he sat, cross-legged, waving his yellowhandkerchief, with the hope of attracting the attention of those onboard; for he knew that it was very possible that an object floatinglittle more than level with the water's surface might escape notice. 

As it fortunately happened, the frigate, for such she was, continued hercourse precisely for the wreck, although it had not been perceived bythe look-out men at the mast-heads, whose eyes had been directed to theline of the horizon. In less than an hour our little party werethreatened with a new danger, that of being run over by the frigate, which was now within a cable's length of them, driving the seas beforeher in one widely extended foam, as she pursued her rapid and impetuouscourse. Coco shouted to his utmost, and fortunately attracted thenotice of the men who were on the bowsprit, stowing away theforetopmast-staysail, which had been hoisted up to dry after the gale. 

[Illustration: _Coco shouted to his utmost, and fortunately attractednotice_. ]

'Starboard, hard!' was roared out. 

'Starboard it is, ' was the reply from the quarter-deck, and the helm wasshifted without inquiry, as it always is on board of a man-of-war;although, at the same time, it behoves people to be rather careful howthey pass such an order, without being prepared with a subsequent andmost satisfactory explanation. 

The topmast studding-sail flapped and fluttered, the foresail shivered, and the jib filled as the frigate rounded to, narrowly missing thewreck, which was now under the bows, rocking so violently in the whitefoam of the agitated waters that it was with difficulty that Coco could, by clinging to the stump of the mainmast, retain his elevated position. The frigate shortened sail, hove-to, and lowered down a quarter-boat, and in less than five minutes Coco, Judy, and the infant were rescuedfrom their awful situation. Poor Judy, who had borne up against all forthe sake of the child, placed it in the arms of the officer who relievedthem, and then fell back in a state of insensibility, in which conditionshe was carried on board. Coco, as he took his place in the stern-sheetsof the boat, gazed wildly round him, and then broke out into peals ofextravagant laughter, which continued without intermission, and were theonly replies which he could give to the interrogatories of thequarter-deck, until he fell down in a swoon, and was entrusted to thecare of the surgeon. 

CHAPTER II

THE BACHELOR

On the evening of the same day on which the child and the two negroeshad been saved from the wreck by the fortunate appearance of thefrigate, Mr. Witherington, of Finsbury Square, was sitting alone in hisdining-room, wondering what could have become of the _Circassian_, andwhy he had not received intelligence of her arrival. Mr. Witherington, as we said before, was alone; he had his port and his sherry before him;and although the weather was rather warm, there was a small fire in thegrate, because, as Mr. Witherington asserted, it looked comfortable. Mr. Witherington having watched the ceiling of the room for some time, although there was certainly nothing new to be discovered, filledanother glass of wine, and then proceeded to make himself morecomfortable by unbuttoning three more buttons of his waistcoat, pushinghis wig farther off his head, and casting loose all the buttons at theknees of his breeches; he completed his arrangements by dragging towardshim two chairs within his reach, putting his legs upon one while herested his arm upon the other. And why was not Mr. Witherington to makehimself comfortable? He had good health, a good conscience, and eightthousand a year. 

Satisfied with all his little arrangements, Mr. Witherington sipped hisport wine, and putting down his glass again, fell back in his chair, placed his hands on his breast, interwove his fingers; and in this mostcomfortable position recommenced his speculations as to the non-arrivalof the _Circassian_. 

We will leave him to his cogitations while we introduce him moreparticularly to our readers. 

The father of Mr. Witherington was a younger son of one of the oldestand proudest families in the West Riding of Yorkshire; he had his choiceof the four professions allotted to younger sons whose veins are filledwith patrician blood--the army, the navy, the law, and the Church. Thearmy did not suit him, he said, as marching and counter-marching werenot comfortable; the navy did not suit him, as there was little comfortin gales of wind and mouldy biscuit; the law did not suit him, as he wasnot sure that he would be at ease with his conscience, which would notbe comfortable; the Church was also rejected, as it was, with him, connected with the idea of a small stipend, hard duty, a wife and elevenchildren, which were anything but comfortable. Much to the horror of hisfamily he eschewed all the liberal professions, and embraced the offerof an old backslider of an uncle, who proposed to him a situation in hisbanking-house, and a partnership as soon as he deserved it; theconsequence was, that his relations bade him an indignant farewell, andthen made no further inquiries about him: he was as decidedly cut as oneof the female branches of the family would have been had she committed a_faux pas_. 

Nevertheless Mr. Witherington senior stuck diligently to his business, in a few years was partner, and at the death of the old gentleman, hisuncle, found himself in possession of a good property, and every yearcoining money at his bank. 

Mr. Witherington senior then purchased a house in Finsbury Square, andthought it advisable to look out for a wife. 

Having still much of the family pride in his composition, he resolvednot to muddle the blood of the Witheringtons by any cross from CateatonStreet or Mincing Lane; and after a proper degree of research, heselected the daughter of a Scotch earl, who went to London with a bevyof nine in a Leith smack to barter blood for wealth. Mr. Witheringtonbeing so unfortunate as to be the first comer, had the pick of the nineladies by courtesy; his choice was light-haired, blue-eyed, a littlefreckled, and very tall, by no means bad-looking, and standing on thelist in the Family Bible No. IV. From this union Mr. Witherington hadissue: first, a daughter, christened Moggy, whom we shall soon have tointroduce to our readers as a spinster of forty-seven; and second, Antony Alexander Witherington, Esquire, whom we just now have left in avery comfortable position, and in a very brown study. 

Mr. Witherington senior persuaded his son to enter the banking-house, and, as a dutiful son, he entered it every day: but he did nothing more, having made the fortunate discovery that 'his father was born beforehim'; or, in other words, that his father had plenty of money, and wouldbe necessitated to leave it behind him. 

As Mr. Witherington senior had always studied comfort, his son had earlyimbibed the same idea, and carried his feelings, in that respect, to amuch greater excess: he divided things into comfortable anduncomfortable. One fine day Lady Mary Witherington, after paying all thehousehold bills, paid the debt of Nature; that is, she died: her husbandpaid the undertaker's bill, so it is to be presumed that she was buried. 

Mr. Witherington senior shortly afterwards had a stroke of apoplexy, which knocked him down. Death, who has no feelings of honour, struck himwhen down. And Mr. Witherington, after having lain a few days in bed, was by a second stroke laid in the same vault as Lady Mary Witherington;and Mr. Witherington junior (our Mr. Witherington), after deducting£40, 000 for his sister's fortune, found himself in possession of a clear£8000 per annum, and an excellent house in Finsbury Square. Mr. Witherington considered this a comfortable income, and he thereforeretired altogether from business. 

During the lifetime of his parents he had been witness to one or twomatrimonial scenes, which had induced him to put down matrimony as oneof the things not comfortable; therefore he remained a bachelor. 

His sister Moggy also remained unmarried; but whether it was from a veryunprepossessing squint which deterred suitors, or from the same disliketo matrimony as her brother had imbibed, it is not in our power to say. Mr. Witherington was three years younger than his sister; and althoughhe had for some time worn a wig, it was only because he considered itmore comfortable. Mr. Witherington's whole character might be summed upin two words--eccentricity and benevolence; eccentric he certainly was, as most bachelors usually are. Man is but a rough pebble without theattrition received from contact with the gentler sex; it is wonderfulhow the ladies pumice a man down to a smoothness which occasions him toroll over and over with the rest of his species, jostling but notwounding his neighbours, as the waves of circumstances bring him intocollision with them. 

Mr. Witherington roused himself from his deep reverie and felt for thestring, connected with the bell-pull, which it was the butler's dutyinvariably to attach to the arm of his master's chair previous to hislast exit from the dining-room; for, as Mr. Witherington very trulyobserved, it was very uncomfortable to be obliged to get up and ring thebell; indeed, more than once Mr. Witherington had calculated theadvantages and disadvantages of having a daughter about eight years oldwho could ring the bell, air the newspapers, and cut the leaves of a newnovel. 

When, however, he called to mind that she could not always remain atthat precise age, he decided that the balance of comfort was against it. 

Mr. Witherington having pulled the bell again, fell into a brown study. 

Mr. Jonathan, the butler, made his appearance; but observing that hismaster was occupied, he immediately stopped at the door, erect, motionless, and with a face as melancholy as if he was performing muteat the porch of some departed peer of the realm; for it is an understoodthing, that the greater the rank of the defunct the longer must be theface, and, of course, the better must be the pay. 

Now, as Mr. Witherington is still in profound thought, and Mr. Jonathanwill stand as long as a hackney-coach horse, we will just leave them asthey are, while we introduce the brief history of the latter to ourreaders. Jonathan Trapp has served as foot-_boy_, which term, webelieve, is derived from those who are in that humble capacity receivinga _quantum suff. _ of the application of the feet of those above them toincrease the energy of their service; then as foot-_man_, which impliesthat they have been promoted to the more agreeable right ofadministering instead of receiving the above dishonourable applications;and lastly, for promotion could go no higher in the family, he had beenraised to the dignity of butler in the service of Mr. Witheringtonsenior. Jonathan then fell in love, for butlers are guilty ofindiscretions as well as their masters: neither he nor his fair flame, who was a lady's-maid in another family, notwithstanding that they hadwitnessed the consequences of this error in others, would take warning;they gave warning, and they married. 

Like most butlers and ladies'-maids who pair off, they set up apublic-house; and it is but justice to the lady's-maid to say that shewould have preferred an eating-house, but was overruled by Jonathan, whoargued, that although people would drink when they were not dry, theynever would eat unless they were hungry. 

Now, although there was truth in the observation, this is certain, thatbusiness did not prosper: it has been surmised that Jonathan's tall, lank, lean figure injured his custom, as people are but too muchinclined to judge of the goodness of the ale by the rubicund face androtundity of the landlord, and therefore inferred that there could be nogood beer where mine host was the picture of famine. There certainly ismuch in appearances in this world; and it appears, that in consequenceof Jonathan's cadaverous appearance, he very soon appeared in the_Gazette_; but what ruined Jonathan in one profession procured himimmediate employment in another. An appraiser, upholsterer, andundertaker, who was called in to value the fixtures, fixed his eye uponJonathan, and knowing the value of his peculiarly lugubrious appearance, and having a half-brother of equal height, offered him immediateemployment as a mute. Jonathan soon forgot to mourn his own loss of afew hundreds in his new occupation of mourning the loss of thousands;and his erect, stiff, statue-like carriage, and long melancholy face, ashe stood at the portals of those who had entered the portals of the nextworld, were but too often a sarcasm upon the grief of the inheritors. Even grief is worth nothing in this trafficking world unless it is paidfor. Jonathan buried many, and at last buried his wife. So far all waswell; but at last he buried his master, the undertaker, which was notquite so desirable. Although Jonathan wept not, yet did he express mutesorrow as he marshalled him to his long home, and drank to his memory ina pot of porter as he returned from the funeral, perched, with manyothers, like carrion crows on the top of the hearse. 

And now Jonathan was thrown out of employment from a reason which mostpeople would have thought the highest recommendation. Every undertakerrefused to take him, because they could not _match_ him. In thisunfortunate dilemma Jonathan thought of Mr. Witherington junior; he hadserved and he had buried Mr. Witherington his father, and Lady Mary hismother; he felt that he had strong claims for such variety of services, and he applied to the bachelor. Fortunately for Jonathan, Mr. Witherington's butler-incumbent was just about to commit the same follyas Jonathan had done before, and Jonathan was again installed, resolvingin his own mind to lead his former life, and have nothing more to dowith ladies'-maids. But from habit Jonathan still carried himself as amute on all ordinary occasions--never indulging in an approximation tomirth, except when he perceived that his master was in high spirits, andthen rather from a sense of duty than from any real hilarity of heart. 

Jonathan was no mean scholar for his station in life, and, during hisservice with the undertaker, he had acquired the English of all theLatin mottoes which are placed upon the hatchments; and these mottoes, when he considered them as apt, he was very apt to quote. We leftJonathan standing at the door; he had closed it, and the handle stillremained in his hand. 'Jonathan, ' said Mr. Witherington, after a longpause, 'I wish to look at the last letter from New York; you will findit on my dressing-table. '

Jonathan quitted the room without reply, and made his reappearance withthe letter. 

'It is a long time that I have been expecting this vessel, Jonathan, 'observed Mr. Witherington, unfolding the letter. 

'Yes, sir, a long while; _tempus fugit_, ' replied the butler in a lowtone, half shutting his eyes. 

'I hope to God no accident has happened, ' continued Mr. Witherington;'my poor little cousin and her twins! e'en now that I speak, they may beall at the bottom of the sea. '

'Yes, sir, ' replied the butler; 'the sea defrauds many an honestundertaker of his profits. '

'By the blood of the Witheringtons! I may be left without an heir, andshall be obliged to marry, which would be very uncomfortable. '

'Very little comfort, ' echoed Jonathan--'my wife is dead. _In coeloquies. _'

'Well, we must hope for the best; but this suspense is anything butcomfortable, ' observed Mr. Witherington, after looking over the contentsof the letter for at least the twentieth time. 

'That will do, Jonathan; I'll ring for coffee presently;' and Mr. Witherington was again alone and with his eyes fixed upon the ceiling. 

A cousin of Mr. Witherington, and a very great favourite (for Mr. Witherington, having a large fortune, and not having anything to do withbusiness, was courted by his relations), had, to a certain degree, committed herself; that is to say that, notwithstanding the injunctionsof her parents, she had fallen in love with a young lieutenant in amarching regiment, whose pedigree was but respectable, and whose fortunewas anything but respectable, consisting merely of a subaltern's pay. Poor men, unfortunately, always make love better than those who arerich, because, having less to care about, and not being puffed up withtheir own consequence, they are not so selfish, and think much more ofthe lady than of themselves. Young ladies, also, who fall in love, neverconsider whether there is sufficient 'to make the pot boil'--probablybecause young ladies in love lose their appetites, and, not feelinginclined to eat at that time, they imagine that love will always supplythe want of food. Now, we will appeal to the married ladies whether weare not right in asserting that, although the collation spread for themand their friends on the day of the marriage is looked upon with almostloathing, they do not find their appetites return with interest soonafterwards. This was precisely the case with Cecilia Witherington, orrather Cecilia Templemore, for she had changed her name the day before. It was also the case with her husband, who always had a good appetite, even during his days of courtship; and the consequence was that themessman's account, for they lived in barracks, was, in a few weeks, rather alarming. Cecilia applied to her family, who very kindly sent herword that she might starve; but, the advice neither suiting her nor herhusband, she then wrote to her cousin Antony, who sent her word that hewould be most happy to receive them at his table, and that they shouldtake up their abode in Finsbury Square. This was exactly what theywished; but still there was a certain difficulty; LieutenantTemplemore's regiment was quartered in a town in Yorkshire, which wassome trifling distance from Finsbury Square; and to be at Mr. Witherington's dinner-table at 6 P. M. , with the necessity of appearingat parade every morning at 9 A. M. , was a dilemma not to be got out of. Several letters were interchanged upon this knotty subject; and at lastit was agreed that Mr. Templemore should sell out, and come up to Mr. Witherington with his pretty wife. He did so, and found that it was muchmore comfortable to turn out at nine o'clock in the morning to a goodbreakfast than to a martial parade. But Mr. Templemore had an honestpride and independence of character which would not permit him to eatthe bread of idleness, and after a sojourn of two months in mostcomfortable quarters, without a messman's bill, he frankly stated hisfeelings to Mr. Witherington, and requested his assistance to procurefor himself an honourable livelihood. Mr. Witherington, who had becomeattached to them both, would have remonstrated, observing that Ceciliawas his own cousin, and that he was a confirmed bachelor; but, in thisinstance, Mr. Templemore was firm, and Mr. Witherington very unwillinglyconsented. A mercantile house of the highest respectability required apartner who could superintend their consignments to America. Mr. Witherington advanced the sum required; and in a few weeks Mr. And Mrs. Templemore sailed for New York. 

[Illustration: '_That will do, Jonathan; I'll ring for coffeepresently. _']

Mr. Templemore was active and intelligent; their affairs prospered; andin a few years they anticipated a return to their native soil with acompetence. But the autumn of the second year after their arrival provedvery sickly; the yellow fever raged; and among the thousands who werecarried off Mr. Templemore was a victim, about three weeks after hiswife had been brought to bed of twins. Mrs. Templemore rose from hercouch a widow and the mother of two fine boys. The loss of Mr. Templemore was replaced by the establishment with which he wasconnected, and Mr. Witherington offered to his cousin that asylum which, in her mournful and unexpected bereavement, she so much required. Inthree months her affairs were arranged; and with her little boys hangingat the breasts of two negro nurses--for no others could be procured whowould undertake the voyage--Mrs. Templemore, with Coco as male servant, embarked on board of the good ship _Circassian_, A I, bound toLiverpool. 

CHAPTER III

THE GALE

Those who, standing on the pier, had witnessed the proud bearing of the_Circassian_ as she gave her canvas to the winds, little contemplatedher fate: still less did those on board; for confidence is thecharacteristic of seamen, and they have the happy talent of impartingtheir confidence to whomsoever may be in their company. We shall passover the voyage, confining ourselves to a description of thecatastrophe. 

It was during a gale from the north-west, which had continued for threedays, and by which the _Circassian_ had been driven into the Bay ofBiscay, that, at about twelve o'clock at night, a slight lull wasperceptible. The captain, who had remained on deck, sent down for thechief mate. 'Oswald, ' said Captain Ingram, 'the gale is breaking, and Ithink before morning we shall have had the worst of it. I shall lie downfor an hour or two: call me if there be any change. '

Oswald Bareth, a tall, sinewy-built, and handsome specimen oftransatlantic growth, examined the whole circumference of the horizonbefore he replied. At last his eyes were steadily fixed to leeward:'I've a notion not, sir, ' said he; 'I see no signs of clearing off toleeward: only a lull for relief, and a fresh hand at the bellows, dependupon it. '

'We have now had it three days, ' replied Captain Ingram, 'and that's thelife of a summer's gale. '

'Yes, ' rejoined the mate; 'but always provided that it don't blow blackagain. I don't like the look of it, sir; and have it back we shall, assure as there's snakes in Virginny. '

'Well, so be if so be, ' was the safe reply of the captain. 'You mustkeep a sharp look-out, Bareth, and don't leave the deck to call me; senda hand down. '

The captain descended to his cabin. Oswald looked at the compass in thebinnacle--spoke a few words to the man at the helm--gave oneor two terrible kicks in the ribs to some of the men who were_caulking_--sounded the pump-well--put a fresh quid of tobacco into hischeek, and then proceeded to examine the heavens above. A cloud, muchdarker and more descending than the others, which obscured thefirmament, spread over the zenith, and based itself upon the horizon toleeward. Oswald's eye had been fixed upon it but a few seconds, when hebeheld a small lambent gleam of lightning pierce through the most opaquepart; then another, and more vivid. Of a sudden the wind lulled, and the_Circassian_ righted from her careen. Again the wind howled, and againthe vessel was pressed down to her bearings by its force; again anotherflash of lightning, which was followed by a distant peal of thunder. 

'Had the worst of it, did you say, captain? I've a notion that the worstis yet to come, ' muttered Oswald, still watching the heavens. 

'How does she carry her helm, Matthew?' inquired Oswald, walking aft. 

'Spoke a-weather. '

'I'll have that trysail off of her, at any rate, ' continued the mate. 'Aft, there, my lads! and lower down the trysail. Keep the sheet fasttill it's down, or the flogging will frighten the lady passenger out ofher wits. Well, if ever I own a craft, I'll have no women on board. Dollars shan't tempt me. '

The lightning now played in rapid forks; and the loud thunder, whichinstantaneously followed each flash, proved its near approach. A delugeof slanting rain descended--the wind lulled--roared again--thenlulled--shifted a point or two, and the drenched and heavy sailsflapped. 

'Up with the helm, Mat!' cried Oswald, as a near flash of lightning fora moment blinded, and the accompanying peal of thunder deafened, thoseon deck. Again the wind blew strong--it ceased, and it was a dead calm. The sails hung down from the yards, and the rain descended inperpendicular torrents, while the ship rocked to and fro in the troughof the sea, and the darkness became suddenly intense. 

'Down, there, one of you! and call the captain, ' said Oswald. 'By theLord! we shall have it. Main braces there, men, and square the yards. Be smart! That topsail should have been in, ' muttered the mate; 'but I'mnot captain. Square away the yards, my lads!' continued he; 'quick, quick!--there's no child's play here!'

Owing to the difficulty of finding and passing the ropes to each other, from the intensity of the darkness, and the deluge of rain which blindedthem, the men were not able to execute the order of the mate so soon asit was necessary; and before they could accomplish their task, orCaptain Ingram could gain the deck, the wind suddenly burst upon thedevoted vessel from the quarter directly opposite to that from which thegale had blown, taking her all aback, and throwing her on her beam-ends. The man at the helm was hurled over the wheel; while the rest, who werewith Oswald at the main-bits, with the coils of ropes, and every otherarticle on deck not secured, were rolled into the scuppers, strugglingto extricate themselves from the mass of confusion and the water inwhich they floundered. The sudden revulsion awoke all the men below, whoimagined that the ship was foundering; and, from the only hatchway notsecured, they poured up in their shirts with their other garments intheir hands, to put them on--if fate permitted. 

Oswald Bareth was the first who clambered up from to leeward. He gainedthe helm, which he put hard up. Captain Ingram and some of the seamenalso gained the helm. It is the rendezvous of all good seamen inemergencies of this description; but the howling of the gale--theblinding of the rain and salt spray--the seas checked in their runningby the shift of wind, and breaking over the ship in vast masses ofwater--the tremendous peals of thunder--and the intense darkness whichaccompanied these horrors, added to the inclined position of the vessel, which obliged them to climb from one part of the deck to another, forsome time checked all profitable communication. Their only friend, inthis conflict of the elements, was the lightning (unhappy, indeed, thesituation in which lightning can be welcomed as a friend); but its vividand forked flames, darting down upon every quarter of the horizon, enabled them to perceive their situation; and, awful as it was, whenmomentarily presented to their sight, it was not so awful as darknessand uncertainty. To those who have been accustomed to the difficultiesand dangers of a seafaring life, there are no lines which speak moreforcibly to the imagination, or prove the beauty and power of the Greekpoet, than those in the noble prayer of Ajax:--

 Lord of earth and air, O king! O father! hear my humble prayer. Dispel this cloud, the light of heaven restore; Give me to see--and Ajax asks no more. If Greece must perish--we thy will obey; But _let us perish in the face of day_!

[Illustration: _Oswald Bareth gained the helm, which he put hard up. _]

Oswald gave the helm to two of the seamen, and with his knife cut adriftthe axes, which were lashed round the mizenmast in painted canvascovers. One he retained for himself--the others he put into the hands ofthe boatswain and the second mate. To speak so as to be heard was almostimpossible, from the tremendous roaring of the wind; but the lamp stillburned in the binnacle, and by its feeble light Captain Ingram coulddistinguish the signs made by the mate, and could give his consent. Itwas necessary that the ship should be put before the wind, and the helmhad no power over her. In a short time the lanyards of the mizen riggingwere severed, and the mizen mast went over the side, almost unperceivedby the crew on the other parts of the deck, or even those near, had itnot been from blows received by those who were too close to it, from thefalling of the topsail sheets and the rigging about the mast. 

Oswald, with his companions, regained the binnacle, and for a littlewhile watched the compass. The ship did not pay off, and appeared tosettle down more into the water. Again Oswald made his signs, and againthe captain gave his assent. Forward sprang the undaunted mate, clingingto the bulwark and belaying-pins, and followed by his hardy companions, until they had all three gained the main channels. Here, their exposureto the force of the breaking waves, and the stoutness of the ropesyielding but slowly to the blows of the axes, which were used almostunder water, rendered the service one of extreme difficulty and danger. The boatswain was washed over the bulwark and dashed to leeward, wherethe lee-rigging only saved him from a watery grave. Unsubdued, he againclimbed up to windward, rejoined and assisted his companions. The lastblow was given by Oswald--the lanyards flew through the dead-eyes--andthe tall mast disappeared in the foaming seas. Oswald and his companionshastened from their dangerous position, and rejoined the captain, who, with many of the crew, still remained near the wheel. The ship nowslowly paid off and righted. In a few minutes she was flying before thegale, rolling heavily, and occasionally striking upon the wrecks of themasts, which she towed with her by the lee-rigging. 

Although the wind blew with as much violence as before, still it was notwith the same noise, now that the ship was before the wind with herafter-masts gone. The next service was to clear the ship of the wrecksof the masts; but, although all now assisted, but little could beeffected until the day had dawned, and even then it was a service ofdanger, as the ship rolled gunwale under. Those who performed the dutywere slung in ropes, that they might not be washed away; and hardly wasit completed, when a heavy roll, assisted by a jerking heave from a seawhich struck her on the chesstree, sent the foremast over the starboardcathead. Thus was the _Circassian_ dismasted in the gale. 

CHAPTER IV

THE LEAK

The wreck of the foremast was cleared from the ship; the gale continued;but the sun shone brightly and warmly. The _Circassian_ was againbrought to the wind. All danger was now considered to be over, and theseamen joked and laughed as they were busied in preparing jury-masts toenable them to reach their destined port. 

'I wouldn't have cared so much about this spree, ' said the boatswain, 'if it warn't for the mainmast; it was such a beauty. There's notanother stick to be found equal to it in the whole length of theMississippi. '

'Bah! man, ' replied Oswald; 'there's as good fish in the sea as evercame out of it, and as good sticks growing as ever were felled; but Iguess we'll pay pretty dear for our spars when we get to Liverpool--butthat concerns the owners. '

The wind, which at the time of its sudden change to the southward andeastward had blown with the force of a hurricane, now settled into aregular strong gale, such as sailors are prepared to meet and laugh at. The sky was also bright and clear, and they had not the danger of a leeshore. It was a delightful change after a night of darkness, danger, andconfusion; and the men worked that they might get sufficient sail on theship to steady her, and enable them to shape a course. 

'I suppose, now that we have the trysail on her forward, the captainwill be for running for it, ' observed one who was busy turning in adead-eye. 

'Yes, ' replied the boatswain; 'and with this wind on our quarter weshan't want much sail, I've a notion. '

'Well then, one advantage in losing your mast--you haven't much troubleabout the rigging. '

'Trouble enough, though, Bill, when we get in, ' replied another gruffly;'new lower rigging to parcel and sarve, and every block to turn inafresh. '

'Never mind, longer in port--I'll get spliced. '

'Why, how often do you mean to get spliced, Bill? You've a wife in everyState, to my sartin knowledge. '

'I arn't got one at Liverpool, Jack. '

'Well, you may take one there, Bill; for you've been sweet upon thatnigger girl for these last three weeks. '

'Any port in a storm, but she won't do for harbour duty. But the factis, you're all wrong there, Jack: it's the babbies I likes--I likes tosee them both together, hanging at the niggers' breasts, I always thinkof two spider-monkeys nursing two kittens. '

'I knows the women, but I never knows the children. It's just six of oneand half-a-dozen of the other; ain't it, Bill?'

'Yes; like two bright bullets out of the same mould. I say, Bill, didany of your wives ever have twins?'

'No; nor I don't intend, until the owners give us double pay. '

'By the bye, ' interrupted Oswald, who had been standing under theweather bulkhead, listening to the conversation, and watching the workin progress, 'we may just as well see if she has made any water with allthis straining and buffeting. By the Lord! I never thought of that. Carpenter, lay down your adze and sound the well. '

The carpenter, who, notwithstanding the uneasiness of the dismastedvessel, was performing his important share of the work, immediatelycomplied with the order. He drew up the rope-yarn, to which an iron rulehad been suspended, and lowered down into the pump-well, and perceivedthat the water was dripping from it. Imagining that it must have beenwet from the quantity of water shipped over all, the carpenterdisengaged the rope-yarn from the rule, drew another from the junk lyingon the deck, which the seamen were working up, and then carefullyproceeded to plumb the well. He hauled it up, and, looking at it forsome moments aghast, exclaimed, '_Seven feet_ water in the hold, byG--d!'

If the crew of the _Circassian_, the whole of which were on deck, hadbeen struck with an electric shock, the sudden change of theircountenances could not have been greater than was produced by thisappalling intelligence. 

Heap upon sailors every disaster, every danger which can be accumulatedfrom the waves, the wind, the elements, or the enemy, and they will bearup against them with a courage amounting to heroism. All that theydemand is, that the one plank 'between them and death' is sound, andthey will trust to their own energies, and will be confident in theirown skill: but _spring a leak_, and they are half paralysed; and if itgain upon them they are subdued; for when they find that their exertionsare futile, they are little better than children. 

Oswald sprang to the pumps when he heard the carpenter's report. 'Tryagain, Abel--it cannot be: cut away that line; hand us here a dryrope-yarn. '

Once more the well was sounded by Oswald, and the result was the same. 'We must rig the pumps, my lads, ' said the mate, endeavouring to concealhis own fears; 'half this water must have found its way in when she wason her beam-ends. '

This idea, so judiciously thrown out, was caught at by the seamen, whohastened to obey the order, while Oswald went down to acquaint thecaptain, who, worn-out with watching and fatigue, had, now that dangerwas considered to be over, thrown himself into his cot to obtain a fewhours' repose. 

'Do you think, Bareth, that we have sprung a leak?' said the captainearnestly. 'She never could have taken in that quantity of water. '

'Never, sir, ' replied the mate; 'but she has been so strained, that shemay have opened her top-sides. I trust it is no worse. '

'What is your opinion, then?'

'I am afraid that the wreck of the masts have injured her; you mayrecollect how often we struck against them before we could clearourselves of them; once, particularly, the mainmast appeared to be rightunder her bottom, I recollect, and she struck very heavy on it. '

'Well, it is God's will; let us get on deck as fast as we can. '

When they arrived on deck, the carpenter walked up to the captain, andquietly said to him, '_Seven feet three, sir. _' The pumps were then infull action; the men had divided, by the direction of the boatswain, and, stripped naked to the waist, relieved each other every two minutes. For half an hour they laboured incessantly. 

This was the half-hour of suspense: the great point to be ascertainedwas, whether she leaked through the top-sides, and had taken in thewater during the second gale; if so, there was every hope of keeping itunder. Captain Ingram and the mate remained in silence near thecapstern, the former with his watch in his hand, during the time thatthe sailors exerted themselves to the utmost. It was ten minutes pastseven when the half-hour had expired; the well was sounded and the linecarefully measured--_Seven feet six inches!_ So that the water hadgained upon them, notwithstanding that they had plied the pumps to theutmost of their strength. 

A mute look of despair was exchanged among the crew, but it was followedup by curses and execrations. Captain Ingram remained silent, with hislips compressed. 

'It's all over with us!' exclaimed one of the men. 

'Not yet, my lads; we have one more chance, ' said Oswald. 'I've a notionthat the ship's sides have been opened by the infernal straining of lastnight, and that she is now taking it in at the top-sides generally; ifso, we have only to put her before the wind again, and have another goodspell at the pumps. When no longer strained, as she is now with herbroadside to the sea, she will close all up again. '

'I shouldn't wonder if Mr. Bareth is not right, ' replied the carpenter;'however, that's my notion, too. '

'And mine, ' added Captain Ingram. 'Come, my men! never say die whilethere's a shot in the locker. Let's try her again. ' And, to encouragethe men, Captain Ingram threw off his coat and assisted at the firstspell, while Oswald went to the helm and put the ship before the wind. 

As the _Circassian_ rolled before the gale, the lazy manner in which sherighted proved how much water there was in the hold. The seamen exertedthemselves for a whole hour without intermission, and the well was againsounded--_eight feet!_

The men did not assert that they would pump no longer; but they tooplainly showed their intentions by each resuming in silence his shirtand jacket, which he had taken off at the commencement of his exertions. 

'What's to be done, Oswald?' said Captain Ingram, as they walked aft. 'You see the men will pump no longer; nor, indeed, would it be of anyuse. We are doomed. '

'The _Circassian_ is, sir, I am afraid, ' replied the mate: 'pumping isof no avail; they could not keep her afloat till daybreak. We musttherefore trust to our boats, which I believe to be all sound, and quither before night. '

'Crowded boats in such a sea as this!' replied Captain Ingram, shakinghis head mournfully. 

'Are bad enough, I grant; but better than the sea itself. All we can donow is to try and keep the men sober, and if we can do so it will bebetter than to fatigue them uselessly; they'll want all their strengthbefore they put foot again upon dry land--if ever they are so fortunate. Shall I speak to them?'

'Do, Oswald, ' replied the captain; 'for myself I care little, God knows;but my wife--my children!'

'My lads, ' said Oswald, going forward to the men, who had waited inmoody silence the result of the conference--'as for pumping any longerit would be only wearing out your strength for no good. We must now lookto our boats; and a good boat is better than a bad ship. Still this galeand cross-running sea are rather too much for boats at present; we hadtherefore better stick to the ship as long as we can. Let us set to witha will and get the boats ready, with provisions, water, and what elsemay be needful, and then we must trust to God's mercy and our ownendeavours. '

'No boat can stand this sea, ' observed one of the men. 'I'm of opinion, as it's to be a short life, it may as well be a merry one. What d'yesay, my lads?' continued he, appealing to the men. 

Several of the crew were of the same opinion; but Oswald, steppingforward, seized one of the axes which lay at the main-bits, and going upto the seaman who had spoken, looked him steadfastly in the face--

'Williams, ' said the mate, 'a short life it may be to all of us, but nota merry one; the meaning of which I understand very well. Sorry I shallbe to have your blood, or that of others, on my hands; but as sure asthere's a heaven, I'll cleave to the shoulder the first man who attemptsto break into the spirit-room. You know I never joke. Shame upon you! Doyou call yourselves men, when, for the sake of a little liquor now, youwould lose your only chance of getting drunk every day as soon as we geton shore again? There's a time for all things; and I've a notion this isa time to be sober. '

As most of the crew sided with Oswald, the weaker party were obliged tosubmit, and the preparations were commenced. The two boats on the boomswere found to be in good condition. One party was employed cutting awaythe bulwarks that the boats might be launched over the side, as therewere no means of hoisting them out. The well was again sounded. Ninefeet water in the hold, and the ship evidently settling fast. Two hourshad now passed, and the gale was not so violent; the sea, also, which atthe change of wind had been cross, appeared to have recovered itsregular run. All was ready; the sailors, once at work again, had, insome measure, recovered their spirits, and were buoyed up with freshhopes at the slight change in their favour from the decrease of thewind. The two boats were quite large enough to contain the whole of thecrew and passengers; but, as the sailors said among themselves (provingthe kindness of their hearts), 'What was to become of those two poorbabbies, in an open boat for days and nights, perhaps?' Captain Ingramhad gone down to Mrs. Templemore, to impart to her their melancholyprospects; and the mother's heart, as well as the mother's voice, echoedthe words of the seamen, 'What will become of my poor babes?'

It was not till nearly six o'clock in the evening that all was ready:the ship was slowly brought to the wind again, and the boats launchedover the side. By this time the gale was much abated; but the vessel wasfull of water, and was expected soon to go down. 

[Illustration: '_I'll cleave to the shoulder the first man who attemptsto break into the spirit-room. _']

There is no time in which coolness and determination are more requiredthan in a situation like the one in which we have attempted to describe. It is impossible to know the precise moment at which a water-loggedvessel, in a heavy sea, may go down; and its occupants are in a state ofmental fever, with the idea of their remaining in her so late that shewill suddenly submerge, and leave them to struggle in the wave. Thisfeeling actuated many of the crew of the _Circassian_, and they hadalready retreated to the boats. All was arranged; Oswald had charge ofone boat, and it was agreed that the larger should receive Mrs. Templemore and her children, under the protection of Captain Ingram. Thenumber appointed to Oswald's boat being completed he shoved off, to makeroom for the other, and laid-to to leeward, waiting to keep company. Mrs. Templemore came up with Captain Ingram, and was assisted by himinto the boat. The nurse, with one child, was at last placed by herside; Coco was leading Judy, the other nurse, with the remaining infantin her arms; and Captain Ingram, who had been obliged to go into theboat with the first child, was about to return to assist Judy with theother, when the ship gave a heavy pitch, and her forecastle was buriedin the wave; at the same time the gunwale of the boat was stove bycoming in contact with the side of the vessel. 'She's down, by G--d!'exclaimed the alarmed seamen in the boat, shoving off to escape from thevortex. 

Captain Ingram, who was standing on the boat's thwarts to assist Judy, was thrown back into the bottom of the boat; and before he couldextricate himself, the boat was separated from the ship, and had driftedto leeward. 

'My child!' screamed the mother; 'my child!'

'Pull to again, my lads!' cried Captain Ingram, seizing the tiller. 

The men, who had been alarmed at the idea that the ship was going down, now that they saw that she was still afloat, got out the oars andattempted to regain her, but in vain--they could not make head againstthe sea and wind. Further and further did they drift to leeward, notwithstanding their exertions; while the frantic mother extended herarms, imploring and entreating. Captain Ingram, who had stimulated thesailors to the utmost, perceived that further attempts were useless. 

'My child! my child!' screamed Mrs. Templemore, standing up, and holdingout her arms towards the vessel. At a sign from the captain, the head ofthe boat was veered round. The bereaved mother knew that all hope wasgone, and she fell down in a state of insensibility. 

CHAPTER V

THE OLD MAID

One morning, shortly after the disasters which we have described, Mr. Witherington descended to his breakfast-room somewhat earlier thanusual, and found his green morocco easy-chair already tenanted by noless a personage than William the footman, who, with his feet on thefender, was so attentively reading the newspaper that he did not hearhis master's entrance. 'By my ancestor, who fought on his stumps! but Ihope you are quite comfortable, Mr. William; nay, I beg I may notdisturb you, sir. '

William, although as impudent as most of his fraternity, was a littletaken aback: 'I beg your pardon, sir, but Mr. Jonathan had not time tolook over the paper. '

'Nor is it required that he should, that I know of, sir. '

'Mr. Jonathan says, sir, that it is always right to look over the_deaths_, that news of that kind may not shock you. '

'Very considerate, indeed. '

'And there is a story there, sir, about a shipwreck. '

'A shipwreck! where, William? God bless me! where is it?'

'I am afraid it is the same ship you are so anxious about, sir--the----Iforget the name, sir. '

Mr. Witherington took the newspaper, and his eye soon caught theparagraph in which the rescue of the two negroes and child from thewreck of the _Circassian_ was fully detailed. 

'It is indeed!' exclaimed Mr. Witherington. 'My poor Cecilia in an openboat! one of the boats was seen to go down--perhaps she's dead--mercifulGod! one boy saved. Mercy on me! where's Jonathan?'

[Illustration: _Found his green morocco easy-chair already tenanted byWilliam the footman. _]

'Here, sir, ' replied Jonathan, very solemnly, who had just brought inthe eggs, and now stood erect as a mute behind his master's chair, forit was a case of danger, if not of death. 

'I must go to Portsmouth immediately after breakfast--shan't eat, though--appetite all gone. '

'People seldom do, sir, on these melancholy occasions, ' repliedJonathan. 'Will you take your own carriage, sir, or a mourning coach?'

'A mourning coach at fourteen miles an hour, with two pair of horses!Jonathan, you're crazy. '

'Will you please to have black silk hatbands and gloves for the coachmanand servants who attend you, sir?'

'Confound your shop! no; this is a resurrection, not a death: it appearsthat the negro thinks only one of the boats went down. '

'_Mors omnia vincit_, ' quoth Jonathan, casting up his eyes. 

'Never you mind that; mind your own business. That's the postman'sknock--see if there are any letters. '

There were several; and amongst the others there was one from CaptainMaxwell, of the _Eurydice_, detailing the circumstances already known, and informing Mr. Witherington that he had despatched the two negroesand the child to his address by that day's coach, and that one of theofficers, who was going to town by the same conveyance, would see themsafe to his house. 

Captain Maxwell was an old acquaintance of Mr. Witherington--had dinedat his house in company with the Templemores, and therefore hadextracted quite enough information from the negroes to know where todirect them. 

'By the blood of my ancestors! they'll be here to-night, ' cried Mr. Witherington; 'and I have saved my journey. What is to be done? bettertell Mary to get rooms ready: d'ye hear, William; beds for one littleboy and two niggers. '

'Yes, sir, ' replied William; 'but where are the black people to be put?'

'Put! I don't care; one may sleep with cook, the other with Mary. '

'Very well, sir, I'll tell them, ' replied William, hastening away, delighted at the row which he anticipated in the kitchen. 

'If you please, sir, ' observed Jonathan, 'one of the negroes is, Ibelieve, a man. '

'Well, what then?'

'Only, sir, the maids may object to sleep with him. '

'By all the plagues of the Witheringtons! this is true; well, you maytake him, Jonathan--you like that colour. '

'Not in the dark, sir, ' replied Jonathan, with a bow. 

'Well then, let them sleep together; so that affair is settled. '

'Are they man and wife, sir?' said the butler. 

'The devil take them both! how should I know? Let me have my breakfast, and we'll talk over the matter by and by. '

Mr. Witherington applied to his eggs and muffin, eating his breakfast asfast as he could, without knowing why; but the reason was that he waspuzzled and perplexed with the anticipated arrival, and longed to thinkquietly over the dilemma, for it was a dilemma to an old bachelor. Assoon as he had swallowed his second cup of tea he put himself into hiseasy-chair, in an easy attitude, and was very soon soliloquising asfollows:--

'By the blood of the Witheringtons! what am I, an old bachelor, to dowith a baby, and a wet-nurse as black as the ace of spades, and anotherblack fellow in the bargain? Send him back again! yes, that'sbest? but the child--woke every morning at five o'clock with itssqualling--obliged to kiss it three times a day--pleasant!--and thenthat nigger of a nurse--thick lips--kissing child all day, and thenholding it out to me--ignorant as a cow--if the child has thestomach-ache she'll cram a pepper-pod down its throat--West Indiafashion--children never without the stomach-ache--my poor, poorcousin!--what has become of her and the other child, too?--wish they maypick her up, poor dear! and then she will come and take care of her ownchildren--don't know what to do--great mind to send for sisterMoggy--but she's so _fussy_--won't be in a hurry. Think again. '

Here Mr. Witherington was interrupted by two taps at the door. 

'Come in, ' said he; and the cook, with her face as red as if she hadbeen dressing a dinner for eighteen, made her appearance without theusual clean apron. 

'If you please, sir, ' said she, curtseying, 'I will thank you to suityourself with another cook. '

'Oh, very well, ' replied Mr. Witherington, angry at the interruption. 

'And if you please, sir, I should like to go this very day--indeed, sir, I shall not stay. '

'Go to the devil! if you please, ' replied Mr. Witherington angrily; 'butfirst go out and shut the door after you. '

The cook retired, and Mr. Witherington was again alone. 

'Confound the old woman--what a huff she is in! won't cook for blackpeople, I suppose--yes, that's it. '

Here Mr. Witherington was again interrupted by a second double tap atthe door. 

'Oh! thought better of it, I suppose. Come in. '

It was not the cook, but Mary, the housemaid, that entered. 

'If you please, sir, ' said she, whimpering, 'I should wish to leave mysituation. '

'A conspiracy, by heavens! Well, you may go. '

'To-night, sir, if you please, ' answered the woman. 

'This moment, for all I care!' exclaimed Mr. Witherington in his wrath. 

The housemaid retired; and Mr. Witherington took some time to composehimself. 

'Servants all going to the devil in this country, ' said he at last;'proud fools--won't clean rooms after black people, I suppose--yes, that's it, confound them all, black and white! here's my wholeestablishment upset by the arrival of a baby. Well, it is veryuncomfortable--what shall I do?--send for sister Moggy?--no, I'll sendfor Jonathan. '

Mr. Witherington rang the bell, and Jonathan made his appearance. 

'What is all this, Jonathan?' said he; 'cook angry--Mary crying--bothgoing away--what's it all about?'

'Why, sir, they were told by William that it was your positive orderthat the two black people were to sleep with them; and I believe he toldMary that the man was to sleep with her. '

'Confound that fellow! he's always at mischief; you know, Jonathan, Inever meant that. '

'I thought not, sir, as it is quite contrary to custom, ' repliedJonathan. 

'Well then, tell them so, and let's hear no more about it. '

Mr. Witherington then entered into a consultation with his butler, andacceded to the arrangements proposed by him. The parties arrived in duetime, and were properly accommodated. Master Edward was not troubledwith the stomach-ache, neither did he wake Mr. Witherington at fiveo'clock in the morning; and, after all, it was not very uncomfortable. But, although things were not quite so uncomfortable as Mr. Witheringtonhad anticipated, still they were not comfortable; and Mr. Witheringtonwas so annoyed by continual skirmishes with his servants, complaintsfrom Judy, in bad English, of the cook, who, it must be owned, had takena prejudice against her and Coco, occasional illness of the child, _etcætera_, that he found his house no longer quiet and peaceable. Threemonths had now nearly passed, and no tidings of the boats had beenreceived; and Captain Maxwell, who came up to see Mr. Witherington, gaveit as his decided opinion that they must have foundered in the gale. As, therefore, there appeared to be no chance of Mrs. Templemore coming totake care of her child, Mr. Witherington at last resolved to write toBath, where his sister resided, and acquaint her with the whole story, requesting her to come and superintend his domestic concerns. A few daysafterwards he received the following reply:--

 'BATH, _August_. 

 'MY DEAR BROTHER ANTONY--Your letter arrived safe to hand on Wednesday last, and I must say that I was not a little surprised at its contents; indeed, I thought so much about it that I revoked at Lady Betty Blabkin's whist-party, and lost four shillings and sixpence. You say that you have a child at your house belonging to your cousin, who married in so indecorous a manner. I hope what you say is true; but, at the same time, I know what bachelors are guilty of; although, as Lady Betty says, it is better never to talk or even to hint about these improper things. I cannot imagine why men should consider themselves, in an unmarried state, as absolved from that purity which maidens are so careful to preserve; and so says Lady Betty, with whom I had a little conversation on the subject. As, however, the thing is done, she agrees with me that it is better to hush it up as well as we can. 

 'I presume that you do not intend to make the child your heir, which I should consider as highly improper; and, indeed, Lady Betty tells me that the legacy-duty is ten per cent. , and that it cannot be avoided. However, I make it a rule never to talk about these sort of things. As for your request that I will come up and superintend your establishment, I have advised with Lady Betty on the subject, and she agrees with me that, for the honour of the family, it is better that I should come, as it will save appearances. You are in a peck of troubles, as most men are who are free-livers, and are led astray by artful and alluring females. However, as Lady Betty says, "the least said, the soonest mended. "

 'I will, therefore, make the necessary arrangements for letting my house, and hope to join you in about ten days; sooner, I cannot, as I find that my engagements extend to that period. Many questions have already been put to me on this unpleasant subject; but I always give but one answer, which is, that bachelors will be bachelors! and that, at all events, it is not so bad as if you were a married man: for I make it a rule never to talk about, or even to hint about these sort of things, for, as Lady Betty says, "Men will get into scrapes, and the sooner things are hushed up the better. " So no more at present from your affectionate sister, 'MARGARET WITHERINGTON. 

 '_P. S. _--Lady Betty and I both agree that you are very right in hiring two black people to bring the child into your house, as it makes the thing look _foreign_ to the neighbours, and we can keep our own secrets. 

 M. W. '

'Now, by all the sins of the Witheringtons, if this is not enough todrive a man out of his senses! Confound the suspicious old maid! I'llnot let her come into this house. Confound Lady Betty, and allscandal-loving old tabbies like her! Bless me!' continued Mr. Witherington, throwing the letter on the table, with a deep sigh, 'thisis anything but comfortable. '

But if Mr. Witherington found it anything but comfortable at thecommencement, he found it unbearable in the sequel. 

[Illustration: '_Antony, for shame! fie, for shame!_']

His sister Moggy arrived, and installed herself in the house with allthe pomp and protecting air of one who was the saviour of her brother'sreputation and character. When the child was first brought down to her, instead of perceiving at once its likeness to Mr. Templemore, which wasvery strong, she looked at it and at her brother's face with her onlyeye, and shaking her finger, exclaimed--

'O Antony! Antony! and did you expect to deceive me?--the nose--themouth exact--Antony, for shame! fie, for shame!'

But we must hurry over the misery that Mr. Witherington's kindness andbenevolence brought upon him. Not a day passed--scarcely an hour, without his ears being galled with his sister's insinuations. Judy andCoco were sent back to America; the servants, who had remained so longin his service, gave warning one by one, and, afterwards, were changedas often almost as there was a change in the moon. She ruled the houseand her brother despotically; and all poor Mr. Witherington's comfortwas gone until the time arrived when Master Edward was to be sent toschool. Mr. Witherington then plucked up courage, and after a few stormymonths drove his sister back to Bath, and once more found himselfcomfortable. 

Edward came home during the holidays, and was a great favourite; but theidea had become current that he was the son of the old gentleman, andthe remarks made were so unpleasant and grating to him, that he was notsorry, much as he was attached to the boy, when he declared hisintention to choose the profession of a sailor. 

Captain Maxwell introduced him into the service; and afterwards, when, in consequence of ill-health and exhaustion, he was himself obliged toleave it for a time, he procured for his _protégé_ other ships. We must, therefore, allow some years to pass away, during which time EdwardTemplemore pursues his career, Mr Witherington grows older and moreparticular, and his sister Moggy amuses herself with Lady Betty'sremarks, and her darling game of whist. 

During all this period no tidings of the boats, or of Mrs. Templemoreand her infant, had been heard; it was therefore naturally conjecturedthat they had all perished, and they were remembered but as things thathad been. 

CHAPTER VI

THE MIDSHIPMAN

The weather-side of the quarter-deck of H. M. Frigate _Unicorn_ wasoccupied by two very great personages: Captain Plumbton, commanding theship, who was very great in width if not in height, taking much morethan his allowance of the deck, if it were not that he was theproprietor thereof, and entitled to the lion's share. Captain P. Was notmore than four feet ten inches in height; but then he was equal to thatin girth: there was quite enough of him, if he had only been _rolledout_. He walked with his coat flying open, his thumbs stuck into thearm-holes of his waistcoat, so as to throw his shoulders back andincrease his horizontal dimensions. He also held his head well aft, which threw his chest and stomach well forward. He was the prototype ofpomposity and good-nature, and he strutted like an actor in aprocession. 

The other personage was the first lieutenant, whom Nature had pleased tofashion in another mould. He was as tall as the captain was short--asthin as his superior was corpulent. His long, lanky legs were nearly upto the captain's shoulders; and he bowed down over the head of hissuperior, as if he were the crane to hoist up, and the captain the baleof goods to be hoisted. He carried his hands behind his back, with twofingers twisted together; and his chief difficulty appeared to be toreduce his own stride to the parrot march of the captain. His featureswere sharp and lean as was his body, and wore every appearance of across-grained temper. 

He had been making divers complaints of divers persons, and the captainhad hitherto appeared imperturbable. Captain Plumbton was aneven-tempered man, who was satisfied with a good dinner. LieutenantMarkitall was an odd-tempered man, who would quarrel with his bread andbutter. 

[Illustration: _He walked with his coat flying open, his thumbs stuckinto the arm-holes of his waistcoat. _]

'Quite impossible, sir, ' continued the first lieutenant, 'to carry onthe duty without support. '

This oracular observation, which, from the relative forms of the twoparties, descended as it were from above, was replied to by the captainwith a 'Very true. '

'Then, sir, I presume you will not object to my putting that man in thereport for punishment?'

'I'll think about it, Mr. Markitall. ' This, with Captain Plumbton, wasas much as to say, No. 

'The young gentlemen, sir, I am sorry to say, are very troublesome. '

'Boys always are, ' replied the captain. 

'Yes, sir; but the duty must be carried on, and I cannot do withoutthem. '

'Very true--midshipmen are very useful. '

'But I'm sorry to say, sir, that they are not. Now, sir, there's Mr. Templemore; I can do nothing with him--he does nothing but laugh. '

'Laugh!--Mr. Markitall, does he laugh at you?'

'Not exactly, sir; but he laughs at everything. If I send him to themast-head, he goes up laughing; if I call him down, he comes downlaughing; if I find fault with him, he laughs the next minute: in fact, sir, he does nothing but laugh. I should particularly wish, sir, thatyou would speak to him, and see if any interference on your part----'

'Would make him cry--eh? better to laugh than cry in this world. Does henever cry, Mr. Markitall?'

'Yes, sir, and very unseasonably. The other day, you may recollect, whenyou punished Wilson the marine, whom I appointed to take care of hischest and hammock, he was crying the whole time; almost tantamount--atleast an indirect species of mutiny on his part, as it implied----'

'That the boy was sorry that his servant was punished; I never flog aman but I'm sorry myself, Mr. Markitall. '

'Well, I do not press the question of his crying--that I might lookover; but his laughing, sir, I must beg that you will take notice ofthat. Here he is, sir, coming up the hatchway. Mr. Templemore, thecaptain wishes to speak to you. '

Now, the captain did not wish to speak to him, but, forced upon him asit was by the first lieutenant, he could do no less. So Mr. Templemoretouched his hat, and stood before the captain, we regret to say, withsuch a good-humoured, sly, confiding smirk on his countenance, as atonce established the proof of the accusation, and the enormity of theoffence. 

'So, sir, ' said Captain Plumbton, stopping in his perambulation, andsquaring his shoulders still more, 'I find that you laugh at the firstlieutenant. '

'I, sir?' replied the boy, the smirk expanding into a broad grin. 

'Yes; you, sir, ' said the first lieutenant, now drawing up to his fullheight; 'why, you're laughing now, sir. '

'I can't help it, sir--it's not my fault; and I'm sure it's not yours, sir, ' added the boy demurely. 

'Are you aware, Edward--Mr. Templemore, I mean--of the impropriety ofdisrespect to your superior officer?'

'I never laughed at Mr. Markitall but once, sir, that I can recollect, and that was when he tumbled over the messenger. '

'And why did you laugh at him then, sir?'

'I always do laugh when any one tumbles down, ' replied the lad; 'I can'thelp it, sir. '

'Then, sir, I suppose you would laugh if you saw me rolling in thelee-scuppers?' said the captain. 

'Oh!' replied the boy, no longer able to contain himself, 'I'm sure Ishould burst myself with laughing--I think I see you now, sir. '

'Do you, indeed! I'm very glad that you do not; though I'm afraid, younggentleman, you stand convicted by your own confession. '

'Yes, sir, for laughing, if that is any crime; but it's not in theArticles of War. '

'No, sir; but disrespect is. You laugh when you go to the mast-head. '

'But I obey the order, sir, immediately--do I not, Mr. Markitall?'

'Yes, sir, you obey the order; but, at the same time, your laughingproves that you do not mind the punishment. '

'No more I do, sir. I spend half my time at the mast-head, and I'm usedto it now. '

'But, Mr. Templemore, ought you not to feel the disgrace of thepunishment?' inquired the captain severely. 

'Yes, sir, if I felt I deserved it I should. I should not laugh, sir, if_you_ sent me to the mast-head, ' replied the boy, assuming a seriouscountenance. 

'You see, Mr. Markitall, that he can be grave, ' observed the captain. 

'I've tried all I can to make him so, sir, ' replied the firstlieutenant; 'but I wish to ask Mr. Templemore what he means to imply bysaying, "when he deserves it. " Does he mean to say that I have everpunished him unjustly?'

'Yes, sir, ' replied the boy boldly; 'five times out of six I ammast-headed for nothing--and that's the reason why I do not mind it. '

'For nothing, sir! Do you call laughing nothing?'

'I pay every attention that I can to my duty, sir; I always obey yourorders; I try all I can to make you pleased with me--but you are alwayspunishing me. '

'Yes, sir, for laughing, and, what is worse, making the ship's companylaugh. '

'They "haul and hold" just the same, sir--I think they work all thebetter for being merry. '

'And pray, sir, what business have you to think?' replied the firstlieutenant, now very angry. 'Captain Plumbton, as this young gentlemanthinks proper to interfere with me and the discipline of the ship, I begyou will see what effect your punishing may have upon him. '

'Mr. Templemore, ' said the captain, 'you are, in the first place, toofree in your speech, and, in the next place, too fond of laughing. Thereis, Mr. Templemore, a time for all things--a time to be merry, and atime to be serious. The quarter-deck is not the fit place for mirth. '

'I'm sure the gangway is not, ' shrewdly interrupted the boy. 

'No--you are right, nor the gangway; but you may laugh on theforecastle, and when below with your messmates. '

'No, sir, we may not; Mr. Markitall always sends out if he hears uslaughing. '

'Because, Mr. Templemore, you're always laughing. '

'I believe I am, sir; and if it's wrong I'm sorry to displease you, butI mean no disrespect. I laugh in my sleep--I laugh when I awake--I laughwhen the sun shines--I always feel so happy; but though you do mast-headme, Mr. Markitall, I should not laugh, but be very sorry, if anymisfortune happened to you. '

'I believe you would, boy--I do indeed, Mr. Markitall, ' said thecaptain. 

'Well, sir, ' replied the first lieutenant, 'as Mr. Templemore appears tobe aware of his error, I do not wish to press my complaint--I have onlyto request that he will never laugh again. '

'You hear, boy, what the first lieutenant says; it's very reasonable, and I beg I may hear no more complaints. Mr. Markitall, let me know whenthe foot of that foretopsail will be repaired--I should like to shift itto-night. '

Mr. Markitall went down under the half-deck to make the inquiry. 

'And, Edward, ' said Captain Plumbton, as soon as the lieutenant was outof ear-shot, 'I have a good deal more to say to you upon this subject, but I have no time now. So come and dine with me--at my table, you know, I allow laughing in moderation. '

The boy touched his hat, and with a grateful, happy countenance, walkedaway. 

We have introduced this little scene that the reader may form some ideaof the character of Edward Templemore. He was indeed the soul of mirth, good-humour, and kindly feelings towards others; he even felt kindlytowards the first lieutenant, who persecuted him for his risiblepropensities. We do not say that the boy was right in laughing at alltimes, or that the first lieutenant was wrong in attempting to check it. As the captain said, there is a time for all things, and Edward's laughwas not always seasonable; but it was his nature, and he could not helpit. He was joyous as the May morning; and thus he continued for years, laughing at everything--pleased with everybody--almost universallyliked--and his bold, free, and happy spirit unchecked by vicissitude orhardship. 

He served his time--was nearly turned back, when he was passing hisexamination, for laughing, and then went laughing to sea again--was incommand of a boat at the cutting-out of a French corvette, and when onboard was so much amused by the little French captain skipping aboutwith his rapier, which proved fatal to many, that at last he received apink from the little gentleman himself, which laid him on deck. Forthis affair, and in consideration of his wound, he obtained hispromotion to the rank of lieutenant--was appointed to a line-of-battleship in the West Indies--laughed at the yellow fever--was appointed tothe tender of that ship, a fine schooner, and was sent to cruise forprize-money for the admiral, and promotion for himself, if he could, byany fortunate encounter, be so lucky as to obtain it. 

CHAPTER VII

SLEEPER'S BAY

On the western coast of Africa there is a small bay, which has receivedmore than one name from its occasional visitors. That by which it wasdesignated by the adventurous Portuguese, who first dared to cleave thewaves of the Southern Atlantic, has been forgotten with their lostmaritime preeminence; the name allotted to it by the woolly-headednatives of the coast has never, perhaps, been ascertained; it is, however, marked down in some of the old English charts as Sleeper's Bay. 

The mainland which, by its curvature, has formed this little dent, on acoast possessing, and certainly at present requiring, few harbours, displays, perhaps, the least inviting of all prospects; offering to theview nothing but a shelving beach of dazzling white sand, backed with afew small hummocks beat up by the occasional fury of the Atlanticgales--arid, bare, and without the slightest appearance of vegetablelife. The inland prospect is shrouded over by a dense mirage, throughwhich here and there are to be discovered the stems of a few distantpalm-trees, so broken and disjoined by refraction that they present tothe imagination anything but the idea of foliage or shade. The water inthe bay is calm and smooth as the polished mirror; not the smallestripple is to be heard on the beach, to break through the silence ofnature; not a breath of air sweeps over its glassy surface, which isheated with the intense rays of a vertical noonday sun, pouring down awithering flood of light and heat; not a sea-bird is to be discoveredwheeling on its flight, or balancing on its wings as it pierces the deepwith its searching eye, ready to dart upon its prey. All is silence, solitude, and desolation, save that occasionally may be seen the fin ofsome huge shark, either sluggishly moving through the heated element, orstationary in the torpor of the mid-day heat. A sight so sterile, sostagnant, so little adapted to human life, cannot well be conceived, unless, by flying to extremes, we were to portray the chilling blast, the transfixing cold, and 'close-ribbed ice' at the frozen poles. 

At the entrance of this bay, in about three fathoms water, heedless ofthe spring cable which hung down as a rope which had fallen overboard, there floated, motionless as death, a vessel whose proportions wouldhave challenged the unanimous admiration of those who could appreciatethe merits of her build, had she been anchored in the most frequentedand busy harbour of the universe. So beautiful were her lines, that youmight almost have imagined her a created being that the ocean had beenordered to receive, as if fashioned by the Divine Architect, to add tothe beauty and variety of His works; for, from the huge leviathan to thesmallest of the finny tribe--from the towering albatross to the bodingpetrel of the storm--where could be found, among the winged or finnedfrequenters of the ocean, a form more appropriate, more fitting, thanthis specimen of human skill, whose beautiful model and elegant taperingspars were now all that could be discovered to break the meeting linesof the firmament and horizon of the offing. 

Alas! she was fashioned, at the will of avarice, for the aid of crueltyand injustice, and now was even more nefariously employed. She had beena slaver--she was now the far-famed, still more dreaded, pirateschooner, the _Avenger_. 

Not a man-of-war which scoured the deep but had her instructionsrelative to this vessel, which had been so successful in her career ofcrime--not a trader in any portion of the navigable globe but whose crewshuddered at the mention of her name, and the remembrance of theatrocities which had been practised by her reckless crew. She had beeneverywhere--in the east, the west, the north, and the south, leaving atrack behind her of rapine and of murder. There she lay in motionlessbeauty, her low sides were painted black, with one small, narrow ribandof red--her raking masts were clean scraped--her topmasts, hercross-trees, caps, and even running-blocks, were painted in pure white. Awnings were spread fore and aft to protect the crew from the powerfulrays of the sun; her ropes were hauled taut; and in every point she worethe appearance of being under the control of seamanship and strictdiscipline. Through the clear smooth water her copper shone brightly;and as you looked over her taffrail down into the calm blue sea, youcould plainly discover the sandy bottom beneath her, and the anchorwhich then lay under her counter. A small boat floated astern, theweight of the rope which attached her appearing, in the perfect calm, todraw her towards the schooner. 

We must now go on board, and our first cause of surprise will be thedeception relative to the tonnage of the schooner, when viewed from adistance. Instead of a small vessel of about ninety tons, we discoverthat she is upwards of two hundred; that her breadth of beam isenormous; and that those spars, which appeared so light and elegant, areof unexpected dimensions. Her decks are of narrow fir planks, withoutthe least spring or rise; her ropes are of Manilla hemp, neatly securedto copper belaying-pins, and coiled down on the deck, whose whiteness iswell contrasted with the bright green paint of her bulwarks: hercapstern and binnacles are cased in fluted mahogany, and ornamented withbrass; metal stanchions protect the skylights, and the bright musketsare arranged in front of the mainmast, while the boarding-pikes arelashed round the mainboom. 

In the centre of the vessel, between the fore and main masts, there is along brass 32-pounder fixed upon a carriage revolving in a circle, andso arranged that in bad weather it can be lowered down and _housed_;while on each side of her decks are mounted eight brass guns of smallercalibre and of exquisite workmanship. Her build proves the skill of thearchitect; her fitting-out, a judgment in which nought has beensacrificed to, although everything has been directed by, taste; and herneatness and arrangement, that, in the person of her commander, to thestrictest discipline there is united the practical knowledge of athorough seaman. How, indeed, otherwise could she have so long continuedher lawless yet successful career? How could it have been possible tounite a crew of miscreants, who feared not God nor man, most of whom hadperpetrated foul murders, or had been guilty of even blackeriniquities? It was because he who commanded the vessel was so superioras to find in her no rivalry. Superior in talent, in knowledge of hisprofession, in courage, and, moreover, in physical strength--which inhim was almost herculean--unfortunately he was also superior to all invillainy, in cruelty, and contempt of all injunctions, moral and Divine. 

What had been the early life of this person was but imperfectly known. It was undoubted that he had received an excellent education, and it wassaid that he was of an ancient border family on the banks of the Tweed:by what chances he had become a pirate--by what errors he had fallenfrom his station in society, until he became an outcast, had never beenrevealed; it was only known that he had been some years employed in theslave-trade previous to his seizing this vessel and commencing hisreckless career. The name by which he was known to the crew of thepirate vessel was 'Cain, ' and well had he chosen this appellation; for, had not his hand for more than three years been against every man's, andevery man's hand against his? In person he was about six feet high, witha breadth of shoulders and of chest denoting the utmost of physicalforce which, perhaps, has ever been allotted to man. His features wouldhave been handsome had they not been scarred with wounds; and, strangeto say, his eye was mild and of a soft blue. His mouth was well formed, and his teeth of a pearly white; the hair of his head was crisp andwavy, and his beard, which he wore, as did every person composing thecrew of the pirate, covered the lower part of his face in strong, waving, and continued curls. The proportions of his body were perfect;but from their vastness they became almost terrific. His costume waselegant, and well adapted to his form; linen trousers, and untannedyellow leather boots, such as are made at the Western Isles; abroad-striped cotton shirt; a red Cashmere shawl round his waist as asash; a vest embroidered in gold tissue, with a jacket of dark velvet, and pendent gold buttons, hanging over his left shoulder, after thefashion of the Mediterranean seamen; a round Turkish skull-cap, handsomely embroidered, a pair of pistols, and a long knife in his sash, completed his attire. 

The crew consisted in all of 165 men, of almost every nation, but itwas to be remarked that all those in authority were either Englishmen orfrom the northern countries; the others were chiefly Spaniards andMaltese. Still there were Portuguese, Brazilians, negroes, and others, who made up the complement, which at the time we now speak of wasincreased by twenty-five additional hands. These were Kroumen, a race ofblacks well known at present, who inhabit the coast near Cape Palmas, and are often employed by our men-of-war stationed on the coast torelieve the English seamen from duties which would be too severe tothose who were not inured to the climate. They are powerful, athleticmen, good sailors, of a happy, merry disposition, and, unlike otherAfricans, will work hard. Fond of the English, they generally speak thelanguage sufficiently to be understood, and are very glad to receive abaptism when they come on board. The name first given them they usuallyadhere to as long as they live; and you will now on the coast meet witha Blucher, a Wellington, a Nelson, etc. , who will wring swabs, or do anyother of the meanest description of work, without feeling that it isdiscreditable to sponsorials so grand. 

It is not to be supposed that these men had voluntarily come on board ofthe pirate; they had been employed in some British vessels trading onthe coast, and had been taken out of them when the vessels were burnt, and the Europeans of the crews murdered. They had received a promise ofreward, if they did their duty; but, not expecting it, they waited forthe earliest opportunity to make their escape. 

The captain of the schooner is abaft with his glass in his hand, occasionally sweeping the offing in the expectation of a vessel heavingin sight; the officers and crew are lying down, or lounging listlesslyabout the decks, panting with the extreme heat, and impatiently waitingfor the sea-breeze to fan their parched foreheads. With their roughbeards and exposed chests, and their weather-beaten fierce countenances, they form a group which is terrible even in repose. 

We must now descend into the cabin of the schooner. The fittings-up ofthis apartment are simple: on each side is a standing bed-place; againstthe after bulkhead is a large buffet, originally intended for glass andchina, but now loaded with silver and gold vessels of every size anddescription, collected by the pirate from the different ships which hehad plundered; the lamps are also of silver, and evidently had beenintended to ornament the shrine of some Catholic saint. 

In this cabin there are two individuals, to whom we shall now direct thereader's attention. The one is a pleasant-countenanced, good-humouredKrouman, who had been christened 'Pompey the Great'; most probably onaccount of his large proportions. He wears a pair of duck trousers; therest of his body is naked, and presents a sleek, glossy skin, coveringmuscles which an anatomist or a sculptor would have viewed withadmiration. The other is a youth of eighteen, or thereabouts, with anintelligent, handsome countenance, evidently of European blood. Thereis, however, a habitually mournful cast upon his features; he is dressedmuch in the same way as we have described the captain, but the costumehangs more gracefully upon his slender, yet well-formed limbs. He isseated on a sofa, fixed in the fore part of the cabin, with a book inhis hand, which occasionally he refers to, and then lifts his eyes from, to watch the motions of the Krouman, who is busy, in the office ofsteward, arranging and cleaning the costly articles in the buffet. 

'Massa Francisco, dis really fine ting, ' said Pompey, holding up asplendidly embossed tankard, which he had been rubbing. 

'Yes, ' replied Francisco gravely; 'it is indeed, Pompey. '

'How Captain Cain come by dis?'

Francisco shook his head, and Pompey put his finger up to his mouth, hiseyes, full of meaning, fixed upon Francisco. 

At this moment the personage referred to was heard descending thecompanion-ladder. Pompey recommenced rubbing the silver, and Franciscodropped his eyes upon the book. 

What was the tie which appeared to bind the captain to this lad was notknown; but, as the latter had always accompanied, and lived togetherwith him, it was generally supposed that he was the captain's son; andhe was as often designated by the crew as young Cain as he was by hisChristian name of Francisco. Still it was observed that latterly theyhad frequently been heard in altercation, and that the captain was verysuspicious of Francisco's movements. 

'I beg I may not interrupt your conversation, ' said Cain, on enteringthe cabin; 'the information you may obtain from a Krouman must be veryimportant. '

Francisco made no reply, but appeared to be reading his book. Cain'seyes passed from one to the other, as if to read their thoughts. 

'Pray what were you saying, Mr. Pompey?'

'Me say, Massa Captain? me only tell young Massa dis very fine ting; askwhere you get him--Massa Francisco no tell. '

'And what might it be to you, you black scoundrel?' cried the captain, seizing the goblet, and striking the man with it a blow on the headwhich flattened the vessel, and at the same time felled the Krouman, powerful as he was, to the deck. The blood streamed as the man slowlyrose, stupefied and trembling from the violent concussion. Withoutsaying a word, he staggered out of the cabin, and Cain threw himself onone of the lockers in front of the standing bed-place, saying, with abitter smile, 'So much for your intimates, Francisco!'

'Rather, so much for your cruelty and injustice towards an unoffendingman, ' replied Francisco, laying his book on the table. 'His question wasan innocent one--for he knew not the particulars connected with theobtaining of that flagon. '

'And you, I presume, do not forget them? Well, be it so, young man; butI warn you again--as I have warned you often--nothing but theremembrance of your mother has prevented me, long before this, fromthrowing your body to the sharks. '

'What influence my mother's memory may have over you, I know not; I onlyregret that, in any way, she had the misfortune to be connected withyou. '

'She had the influence, ' replied Cain, 'which a woman must have over aman when they have for years swung in the same cot; but that is wearingoff fast. I tell you so candidly; I will not even allow her memory tocheck me, if I find you continue your late course. You have showndisaffection before the crew--you have disputed my orders--and I haveevery reason to believe that you are now plotting against me. '

'Can I do otherwise than show my abhorrence, ' replied Francisco, 'when Iwitness such acts of horror, of cruelty--cold-blooded cruelty, as latelyhave been perpetrated? Why do you bring me here? and why do you nowdetain me? All I ask is, that you will allow me to leave the vessel. Youare not my father; you have told me so. '

'No, I am not your father; but--you are your mother's son. '

'That gives you no right to have power over me, even if you had beenmarried to my mother; which----'

'I was not. '

'I thank God; for marriage with you would have been even greaterdisgrace. '

'What!' cried Cain, starting up, seizing the young man by the neck, andlifting him off his seat as if he had been a puppet; 'but no--I cannotforget your mother. ' Cain released Francisco, and resumed his seat onthe locker. 

'As you please, ' said Francisco, as soon as he had recovered himself;'it matters little whether I am brained by your own hand, or launchedoverboard as a meal for the sharks; it will be but one more murder. '

'Mad fool! why do you tempt me thus?' replied Cain, again starting up, and hastily quitting the cabin. 

The altercation which we have just described was not unheard on deck, asthe doors of the cabin were open, and the skylight removed to admit theair. The face of Cain was flushed as he ascended the ladder. Heperceived his chief mate standing by the hatchway, and many of the men, who had been slumbering abaft, with their heads raised on their elbows, as if they had been listening to the conversation below. 

'It will never do, sir, ' said Hawkhurst, the mate, shaking his head. 

'No, ' replied the captain; 'not if he were my own son. But what is to bedone?--he knows no fear. '

Hawkhurst pointed to the entering port. 

'When I ask your advice, you may give it, ' said the captain, turninggloomily away. 

In the meantime, Francisco paced the cabin in deep thought. Young as hewas, he was indifferent to death; for he had no tie to render lifeprecious. He remembered his mother, but not her demise; that had beenconcealed from him. At the age of seven he had sailed with Cain in aslaver, and had ever since continued with him. Until lately, he had beenled to suppose that the captain was his father. During the years that hehad been in the slave-trade, Cain had devoted much time to hiseducation; it so happened that the only book which could be found onboard of the vessel, when Cain first commenced teaching, was a Biblebelonging to Francisco's mother. Out of this book he learned to read;and, as his education advanced, other books were procured. It mayappear strange that the very traffic in which his reputed father wasengaged did not corrupt the boy's mind; but, accustomed to it from hisinfancy, he had considered these negroes as another species--an ideafully warranted by the cruelty of the Europeans towards them. 

There are some dispositions so naturally kind and ingenuous that evenexample and evil contact cannot debase them: such was the disposition ofFrancisco. As he gained in years and knowledge, he thought more and morefor himself, and had already become disgusted with the crueltiespractised upon the unfortunate negroes, when the slave vessel was seizedupon by Cain and converted into a pirate. At first, the enormitiescommitted had not been so great; vessels had been seized and plundered, but life had been spared. In the course of crime, however, the descentis rapid: and as, from information given by those who had been released, the schooner was more than once in danger of being captured, latterly nolives had been spared; and but too often the murders had been attendedwith deeds even more atrocious. 

Francisco had witnessed scenes of horror until his young blood curdled:he had expostulated to save, but in vain. Disgusted with the captain andthe crew, and their deeds of cruelty, he had latterly expressed hisopinions fearlessly, and defied the captain; for, in the heat of analtercation, Cain had acknowledged that Francisco was not his son. 

Had any of the crew or officers expressed but a tithe of what had fallenfrom the bold lips of Francisco, they would have long before paid theforfeit of their temerity; but there was a feeling towards Franciscowhich could not be stifled in the breast of Cain--it was the feeling ofassociation and habit. The boy had been his companion for years; andfrom assuetude had become, as it were, a part of himself. There is aprinciple in our nature which, even when that nature is most debased, will never leave us--that of requiring something to love, something toprotect and watch over: it is shown towards a dog, or any other animal, if it cannot be lavished upon one of our own species. Such was thefeeling which so forcibly held Cain towards Francisco; such was thefeeling which had hitherto saved his life. 

After having paced up and down for some time, the youth took his seat onthe locker which the captain had quitted: his eye soon caught the headof Pompey, who looked into the cabin and beckoned with his finger. 

Francisco rose, and, taking up a flagon from the buffet, which containedsome spirits, walked to the door, and, without saying a word, handed itto the Krouman. 

'Massa Francisco, ' whispered Pompey, 'Pompey say--all Kroumensay--suppose they run away, you go too? Pompey say--all Kroumensay--suppose they try to kill you? Nebber kill you while one Kroumanalive. '

The negro then gently pushed Francisco back with his hand, as if notwishing to hear his answer, and hastened forward on the berth deck. 

CHAPTER VIII

THE ATTACK

In the meantime, the sea-breeze had risen in the offing, and wassweeping along the surface to where the schooner was at anchor. Thecaptain ordered a man to the cross-trees, directing him to keep a goodlook-out, while he walked the deck in company with his first mate. 

'She may not have sailed until a day or two later, ' said the captain, continuing the conversation; 'I have made allowance for that, and dependupon it, as she makes the eastern passage, we must soon fall in withher; if she does not heave in sight this evening by daylight, I shallstretch out in the offing; I know the Portuguese well. The sea-breezehas caught our craft; let them run up the inner jib, and see that shedoes not foul her anchor. '

It was now late in the afternoon, and dinner had been sent into thecabin; the captain descended, and took his seat at the table withFrancisco, who ate in silence. Once or twice the captain, whose wrathhad subsided, and whose kindly feelings towards Francisco, checked for atime, had returned with greater force, tried, but in vain, to rally himinto conversation, when '_Sail ho!_' was shouted from the mast-head. 

'There she is, by G--d!' cried the captain, jumping from, and then, asif checking himself, immediately resuming, his seat. 

Francisco put his hand to his forehead, covering his eyes as his elbowleant upon the table. 

'A large ship, sir; we can see down to the second reef of her topsails, 'said Hawkhurst, looking down the skylight. 

The captain hastily swallowed some wine from a flagon, cast a look ofscorn and anger upon Francisco, and rushed on deck. 

'Be smart, lads!' cried the captain, after a few seconds' survey of thevessel through his glass; 'that's her: furl the awnings, and run theanchor up to the bows: there's more silver in that vessel, my lads, thanyour chests will hold; and the good saints of the churches at Goa willhave to wait a little longer for their gold candlesticks. '

The crew were immediately on the alert; the awnings were furled, and allthe men, stretching aft the spring cable, walked the anchor up to thebows. In two minutes more the _Avenger_ was standing out on thestarboard tack, shaping her course so as to cut off the ill-fatedvessel. The breeze freshened, and the schooner darted through the smoothwater with the impetuosity of a dolphin after its prey. In an hour thehull of the ship was plainly to be distinguished; but the sun was nearto the horizon, and before they could ascertain what their force mightbe, daylight had disappeared. Whether the schooner had been perceived ornot, it was impossible to say; at all events, the course of the ship hadnot been altered, and if she had seen the schooner, she evidentlytreated her with contempt. On board the _Avenger_, they were not idle;the long gun in the centre had been cleared from the incumbrances whichsurrounded it, the other guns had been cast loose, shot handed up, andeverything prepared for action, with all the energy and discipline of aman-of-war. The chase had not been lost sight of, and the eyes of thepirate captain were fixed upon her through a night-glass. In about anhour more the schooner was within a mile of the ship, and now alteredher course so as to range up within a cable's length of her to leeward. Cain stood upon the gunwale and hailed. The answer was in Portuguese. 

'Heave to, or I'll sink you!' replied he in the same language. 

A general discharge from a broadside of carronades, and a heavy volleyof muskets from the Portuguese, was the decided answer. The broadside, too much elevated to hit the low hull of the schooner, was still notwithout effect--the foretopmast fell, the jaws of the main-gaff weresevered, and a large proportion of the standing as well as the runningrigging came rattling down on her decks. The volley of musketry was morefatal: thirteen of the pirates were wounded, some of them severely. 

[Illustration: _A general discharge from a broadside of carronades, anda heavy volley of muskets, was the decided answer. _]

'Well done, John Portuguese!' cried Hawkhurst; 'by the holy poker! Inever gave you credit for so much pluck. '

'Which they shall pay dearly for, ' was the cool reply of Cain, as hestill remained in his exposed situation. 

'Blood for blood! if I drink it, ' observed the second mate, as he lookedat the crimson rivulet trickling down the fingers of his left hand froma wound in his arm--'just tie my handkerchief round this, Bill. '

In the interim, Cain had desired his crew to elevate their guns, and thebroadside was returned. 

'That will do, my lads: starboard; ease off the boomsheet; let her goright round, Hawkhurst--we cannot afford to lose our men. '

The schooner wore round, and ran astern of her opponent. 

The Portuguese on board the ship, imagining that the schooner, findingshe had met with unexpected resistance, had sheered off, gave a loudcheer. 

'The last you will ever give, my fine fellows!' observed Cain, with asneer. 

In a few moments the schooner had run a mile astern of the ship. 

'Now then, Hawkhurst, let her come to and about; man the long gun, andsee that every shot is pitched into her, while the rest of them get up anew foretopmast, and knot and splice the rigging. '

The schooner's head was again turned towards the ship; her position wasright astern, about a mile distant or rather more; the long 32-poundergun amidships was now regularly served, every shot passing through thecabin windows, or some other part of the ship's stern, raking her foreand aft. In vain did the ship alter her course, and present herbroadside to the schooner; the latter was immediately checked in herspeed, so as to keep the prescribed distance at which the carronades ofthe ship were useless, and the execution from the long gun decisive. Theship was at the mercy of the pirate; and, as may be expected, no mercywas shown. For three hours did this murderous attack continue, when thegun, which, as before observed, was of brass, became so heated that thepirate captain desired his men to discontinue. Whether the ship hadsurrendered or not it was impossible to say, as it was too dark todistinguish: while the long gun was served, the foretopmast andmain-gaff had been shifted, and all the standing and running riggingmade good; the schooner keeping her distance, and following in the wakeof the ship until daylight. 

We must now repair on board of the ship: she was an Indiaman; one of thevery few that occasionally are sent out by the Portuguese government toa country which once owned their undivided sway, but in which, atpresent, they hold but a few miles of territory. She was bound to Goa, and had on board a small detachment of troops, a new governor and histwo sons, a bishop and his niece, with her attendant. The sailing of avessel with such a freight was a circumstance of rare occurrence, andwas, of course, generally bruited about long before her departure. Cainhad, for some months, received all the necessary intelligence relativeto her cargo and destination; but, as usual with the Portuguese of thepresent day, delay upon delay had followed, and it was not until aboutthree weeks previous that he had been assured of her immediatedeparture. He then ran down the coast to the bay we have mentioned thathe might intercept her; and, as the event had proved, showed his usualjudgment and decision. The fire of the schooner had been mostdestructive; many of the Indiaman's crew, as well as of the troops, hadbeen mowed down one after another; until at last, finding that all theirefforts to defend themselves were useless, most of those who were stillunhurt had consulted their safety, and hastened down to the lowestrecesses of the hold to avoid the raking and destructive shot. At thetime that the schooner had discontinued her fire to allow the gun tocool, there was no one on deck but the Portuguese captain and one oldweather-beaten seaman who stood at the helm. Below, in the orlop-deck, the remainder of the crew and the passengers were huddled together in asmall space: some were attending to the wounded, who were numerous;others were invoking the saints to their assistance; the bishop, a tall, dignified person, apparently nearly sixty years of age, was kneeling inthe centre of the group, which was dimly lighted by two or threelanterns, at one time in fervent prayer, at another, interrupted, thathe might give absolution to those wounded men whose spirits weredeparting, and who were brought down and laid before him by theircomrades. On one side of him knelt his orphan niece, a young girl ofabout seventeen years of age, watching his countenance as he prayed, orbending down with a look of pity and tearful eyes on her expiringcountrymen, whose last moments were gladdened by his holy offices. Onthe other side of the bishop stood the governor, Don Philip de Ribiera, and his two sons, youths in their prime, and holding commissions in theking's service. There was melancholy on the brow of Don Ribiera; he wasprepared for, and he anticipated, the worst. The eldest son had his eyesfixed upon the sweet countenance of Teresa de Silva--that very evening, as they walked together on the deck, had they exchanged their vows--thatvery evening they had luxuriated in the present, and had dwelt withdelightful anticipation on the future. But we must leave them and returnon deck. 

The captain of the Portuguese ship had walked aft, and now went up toAntonio, the old seaman, who was standing at the wheel. 

'I still see her with the glass, Antonio, and yet she has not fired fornearly two hours; do you think any accident has happened to her longgun? if so, we may have some chance. '

Antonio shook his head. 'We have but little chance, I am afraid, mycaptain; I knew by the ring of the gun, when she fired it, that it wasbrass; indeed, no schooner could carry a long iron gun of that calibre. Depend upon it, she only waits for the metal to cool and daylight toreturn: a long gun or two might have saved us; but now, as she has theadvantage of us in heels, we are at her mercy. '

'What can she be--a French privateer?'

'I trust it may be so; and I have promised a silver candlestick to St. Antonio that it may prove no worse: we then may have some chance ofseeing our homes again; but I fear not. '

'What, then, do you imagine her to be, Antonio?'

'The pirate which we have heard so much of. '

'Jesu protect us! we must then sell our lives as dearly as we can. '

'So I intend to do, my captain, ' replied Antonio, shifting the helm aspoke. 

The day broke, and showed the schooner continuing her pursuit at thesame distance astern, without any apparent movement on board. It was notuntil the sun was some degrees above the horizon that the smoke wasagain seen to envelop her bows, and the shot crashed through the timbersof the Portuguese ship. The reason for this delay was, that the piratewaited till the sun was up to ascertain if there were any other vesselsto be seen, previous to his pouncing on his quarry. The Portuguesecaptain went aft and hoisted his ensign, but no flag was shown by theschooner. Again whistled the ball, and again did it tear up the decks ofthe unfortunate ship: many of those who had re-ascended to ascertainwhat was going on, now hastily sought their former retreat. 

'Mind the helm, Antonio, ' said the Portuguese captain; 'I must go downand consult with the governor. '

'Never fear, my captain; as long as these limbs hold together, I will domy duty, ' replied the old man, exhausted as he was by long watching andfatigue. 

The captain descended to the orlop-deck, where he found the major partof the crew and passengers assembled. 

'My lords, ' said he, addressing the governor and bishop, 'the schoonerhas not shown any colours, although our own are hoisted. I am come downto know your pleasure. Defence we can make none; and I fear that we areat the mercy of a pirate. '

'A pirate!' ejaculated several, beating their breasts, and calling upontheir saints. 

'Silence, my good people, silence, ' quietly observed the bishop; 'as towhat it may be best to do, ' continued he, turning to the captain, 'Icannot advise; I am a man of peace, and unfit to hold a place in acouncil of war. Don Ribiera, I must refer the point to you and yoursons. Tremble not, my dear Teresa; are we not under the protection ofthe Almighty. '

'Holy Virgin, pity us!' exclaimed Teresa. 

'Come, my sons, ' said Don Ribiera, 'we will go on deck and consult: letnot any of the men follow us; it is useless risking lives which may yetbe valuable. '

Don Ribiera and his sons followed the captain to the quarter-deck, andwith him and Antonio they held a consultation. 

'We have but one chance, ' observed the old man, after a time; 'let ushaul down our colours as if in submission; they will then range upalongside, and either board us from the schooner, or from their boats;at all events, we shall find out what she is, and, if a pirate, we mustsell our lives as dearly as we can. If, when we haul down the colours, she ranges up alongside, as I expect she will, let all the men beprepared for a desperate struggle. '

'You are right, Antonio, ' replied the governor; 'go aft, captain, andhaul down the colours!--let us see what she does now. Down, my boys! andprepare the men to do their duty. '

As Antonio had predicted, so soon as the colours were hauled down, theschooner ceased firing and made sail. She ranged up on the quarter ofthe ship, and up to her main peak soared the terrific black flag; herbroadside was poured into the Indiaman, and before the smoke had clearedaway there was a concussion from the meeting sides, and the beardedpirates poured upon her decks. 

The crew of the Portuguese, with the detachment of troops, still formeda considerable body of men. The sight of the black flag had struck iceinto every heart, but the feeling was resolved into one of desperation. 

'Knives, men, knives!' roared Antonio, rushing on to the attack, followed by the most brave. 

'Blood for blood!' cried the second mate, aiming a blow at the old man. 

'You have it, ' replied Antonio, as his knife entered the pirate's heart, while, at the same moment, he fell and was himself a corpse. 

The struggle was deadly, but the numbers and ferocity of the piratesprevailed. Cain rushed forward followed by Hawkhurst, bearing down allwho opposed them. With one blow from the pirate-captain, the head of DonRibiera was severed to the shoulder; a second struck down the eldestson, while the sword of Hawkhurst passed through the body of the other. The Portuguese captain had already fallen, and the men no longer stoodtheir ground. A general massacre ensued, and the bodies were thrownoverboard as fast as the men were slaughtered. In less than five minutesthere was not a living Portuguese on the bloody decks of the ill-fatedship. 

CHAPTER IX

THE CAPTURE

'Pass the word for not a man to go below, Hawkhurst!' said thepirate-captain. 

'I have, sir; and sentries are stationed at the hatchways. Shall we haulthe schooner off?'

'No, let her remain; the breeze is faint already: we shall have a calmin half an hour. Have we lost many men?'

'Only seven, that I can reckon; but we have lost Wallace' (the secondmate). 

'A little promotion will do no harm, ' replied Cain; 'take a dozen of ourbest men and search the ship, there are others alive yet. By the bye, send a watch on board of the schooner; she is left to the mercy of theKroumen, and----'

'One who is better out of her, ' replied Hawkhurst. 

'And those we find below----' continued the mate. 

'Alive!'

'True; we may else be puzzled where to find that portion of her cargowhich suits us, ' said Hawkhurst, going down the hatchway to collect themen who were plundering on the main deck and in the captain's cabin. 

'Here, you Maltese! up, there! and look well round if there is anythingin sight, ' said the captain, walking aft. 

Before Hawkhurst had collected the men and ordered them on board of theschooner, as usual in those latitudes, it had fallen a perfect calm. 

Where was Francisco during this scene of blood? He had remained in thecabin of the schooner. Cain had more than once gone down to him, topersuade him to come on deck and assist at the boarding of thePortuguese, but in vain--his sole reply to the threats and solicitationsof the pirate was--

'Do with me as you please--I have made up my mind--you know I do notfear death--as long as I remain on board of this vessel, I will take nopart in your atrocities. If you do respect my mother's memory, sufferher son to seek an honest and honourable livelihood. '

The words of Francisco were ringing in the ears of Cain as he walked upand down on the quarter-deck of the Portuguese vessel, and, debased ashe was, he could not help thinking that the youth was his equal inanimal and his superior in mental courage. He was arguing in his ownmind upon the course he should pursue with respect to Francisco, whenHawkhurst made his appearance on deck, followed by his men, who draggedup six individuals who had escaped the massacre. These were the bishop;his niece; a Portuguese girl, her attendant; the supercargo of thevessel; a sacristan; and a servant of the ecclesiastic: they were hauledalong the deck and placed in a row before the captain, who cast his eyesupon them in severe scrutiny. The bishop and his niece looked round, theone proudly meeting the eye of Cain, although he felt that his hour wascome; the other carefully avoiding his gaze, and glancing round toascertain whether there were any other prisoners, and if so, if herbetrothed was amongst them; but her eye discovered not what shesought--it was met only by the bearded faces of the pirate crew, and theblood which bespattered the deck. 

She covered her face with her hands. 

'Bring that man forward, ' said Cain, pointing to the servant. 'Who areyou?'

'A servant of my lord the bishop. '

'And you?' continued the captain. 

'A poor sacristan attending upon my lord the bishop. '

'And you?' cried he to a third. 

'The supercargo of this vessel. '

'Put him aside, Hawkhurst!'

'Do you want the others?' inquired Hawkhurst significantly. 

'No. '

Hawkhurst gave a signal to some of the pirates, who led away thesacristan and the servant. A stifled shriek and a heavy plunge in thewater were heard a few seconds after. During this time the pirate hadbeen questioning the supercargo as to the contents of the vessel andher stowage, when he was suddenly interrupted by one of the pirates, who, in a hurried voice, stated that the ship had received several shotbetween wind and water and was sinking fast. Cain, who was standing onthe slide of the carronade with his sword in his hand, raised his armand struck the pirate a blow on the head with the hilt, which, whetherintended or not, fractured his skull, and the man fell upon the deck. 

'Take that, babbler, for your intelligence; if these men are obstinate, we may have worked for nothing. '

The crew, who felt the truth of their captain's remark, did not appearto object to the punishment inflicted, and the body of the man wasdragged away. 

'What mercy can we expect from those who show no mercy even to eachother?' observed the bishop, lifting his eyes to heaven. 

'Silence!' cried Cain, who now interrogated the supercargo as to thecontents of the hold--the poor man answered as well as he could--'theplate! the money for the troops--where are they?'

'The money for the troops is in the spirit-room, but of the plate I knownothing; it is in some of the cases belonging to my lord the bishop. '

'Hawkhurst! down at once to the spirit-room and see to the money; in themeantime I will ask a few questions of this reverend father. '

'And the supercargo--do you want him any more?'

'No; he may go. '

The poor man fell down on his knees in thankfulness at what heconsidered his escape: he was dragged away by the pirates, and it isscarcely necessary to add that in a minute his body was torn to piecesby the sharks, who, scenting their prey from a distance, were nowplaying in shoals around the two vessels. 

The party on the quarter-deck were now (unperceived by the captain)joined by Francisco, who, hearing from the Krouman, Pompey, that therewere prisoners still on board, and amongst them two females, had comeover to plead the cause of mercy. 

'Most reverend father, ' observed Cain, after a short pause, 'you havemany articles of value in this vessel?'

[Illustration: '_Take that, babbler, for your intelligence; if these menare obstinate, we may have worked for nothing. _']

'None, ' replied the bishop, 'except this poor girl; she is, indeed, beyond price, and will, I trust, soon be an angel in heaven. '

'Yet is this world, if what you preach be true, a purgatory which mustbe passed through previous to arriving there, and that girl may thinkdeath a blessing compared to what she may expect if you refuse to tellme what I would know. You have good store of gold and silver ornamentsfor your churches--where are they?'

'They are among the packages entrusted to my care. '

'How many may you have in all?'

'A hundred, if not more. '

'Will you deign to inform me where I may find what I require?'

'The gold and silver are not mine, but are the property of that God towhom they have been dedicated, ' replied the bishop. 

'Answer quickly; no more subterfuge, good sir. Where is it to be found?'

'I will not tell, thou blood-stained man; at least, in this instance, there shall be disappointment, and the sea shall swallow up thoseearthly treasures to obtain which thou hast so deeply imbrued thy hands. Pirate! I repeat it, I will not tell. '

'Seize that girl, my lads!' cried Cain; 'she is yours, do with her asyou please. '

'Save me! oh, save me!' shrieked Teresa, clinging to the bishop's robe. 

The pirates advanced and laid hold of Teresa. Francisco bounded fromwhere he stood behind the captain, and dashed away the foremost. 

'Are you men?' cried he, as the pirates retreated. 'Holy sir, I honouryou. Alas! I cannot save you, ' continued Francisco mournfully. 'Yet willI try. On my knees--by the love you bore my mother--by the affection youonce bore me--do not commit this horrid deed. My lads!' continuedFrancisco, appealing to the pirates, 'join with me and entreat yourcaptain; ye are too brave, too manly, to injure the helpless and theinnocent--above all, to shed the blood of a holy man, and of this poortrembling maiden. '

There was a pause--even the pirates appeared to side with Francisco, though none of them dared to speak. The muscles of the captain's facequivered with emotion, but from what source could not be ascertained. 

At this moment the interest of the scene was heightened. The girl whoattended upon Teresa, crouched on her knees with terror, had beencasting her fearful eyes upon the men which composed the pirate crew;suddenly she uttered a scream of delight as she discovered among themone that she well knew. He was a young man, about twenty-five years ofage, with little or no beard. He had been her lover in his more innocentdays; and she, for more than a year, had mourned him as dead, for thevessel in which he sailed had never been heard of. It had been taken bythe pirate, and, to save his life, he had joined the crew. 

'Filippo! Filippo!' screamed the girl, rushing into his arms. 'Mistress!it is Filippo; and we are safe. '

Filippo instantly recognised her; the sight of her brought back to hismemory his days of happiness and of innocence; and the lovers wereclasped in each other's arms. 

'Save them! spare them!--by the spirit of my mother! I charge you, 'repeated Francisco, again appealing to the captain. 

'May God bless thee, thou good young man!' said the bishop, advancingand placing his hand upon Francisco's head. 

Cain answered not; but his broad expanded chest heaved withemotion--when Hawkhurst burst into the group. 

'We are too late for the money, captain; the water is already six feetabove it. We must now try for the treasure. '

This intelligence appeared to check the current of the captain'sfeelings. 

Now, in one word, sir, ' said he to the bishop, 'where is the treasure?Trifle not, or, by Heaven----'

'Name not Heaven, ' replied the bishop; 'you have had my answer. '

The captain turned away, and gave some directions to Hawkhurst, whohastened below. 

'Remove that boy, ' said Cain to the pirates, pointing to Francisco. 'Separate those two fools, ' continued he, looking towards Filippo andthe girl, who were sobbing in each other's arms. 

'Never!' cried Filippo. 

'Throw the girl to the sharks! Do you hear? Am I to be obeyed?' criedCain, raising his cutlass. 

Filippo started up, disengaged himself from the girl, and drawing hisknife, rushed towards the captain to plunge it in his bosom. 

With the quickness of lightning the captain caught his uplifted hand, and, breaking his wrist, hurled him to the deck. 

'Indeed!' cried he, with a sneer. 

'You shall not separate us, ' said Filippo, attempting to rise. 

'I do not intend it, my good lad, ' replied Cain. 'Lash them bothtogether and launch them overboard. '

This order was now obeyed; for the pirates not only quailed before thecaptain's cool courage, but were indignant that his life had beenattempted. There was little occasion to tie the unhappy pair together;they were locked so fast in each other's arms that it would have beenimpossible almost to separate them. In this state they were carried tothe entering port, and cast into the sea. 

'Monster!' cried the bishop, as he heard the splash, 'thou wilt have aheavy reckoning for this. '

'Now bring these forward, ' said Cain, with a savage voice. 

The bishop and his niece were led to the gangway. 

'What dost thou see, good bishop?' said Cain, pointing to thediscoloured water, and the rapid motion of the fins of the sharks, eagerin the anticipation of a further supply. 

'I see ravenous creatures after their kind, ' replied the bishop, 'whowill, in all probability, soon tear asunder these poor limbs; but I seeno monster like thyself. Teresa, dearest, fear not; there is a God, anavenging God, as well as a rewarding one. '

But Teresa's eyes were closed--she could not look upon the scene. 

'You have your choice; first torture, and then your body to those sharksfor your own portion; and as for the girl, this moment I hand her overto my crew. '

'Never!' shrieked Teresa, springing from the deck and plunging into thewave. 

There was a splash of contention, the lashing of tails, until the waterwas in a foam, and then the dark colour gradually cleared away, andnought was to be seen but the pure blue wave and the still unsatiatedmonsters of the deep. 

'The screws--the screws! quick! we'll have the secret from him, ' criedthe pirate captain, turning to his crew, who, villains as they were, hadbeen shocked at this last catastrophe. 'Seize him!'

'Touch him not!' cried Francisco, standing on the hammock nettings;'touch him not! if you are men. '

Boiling with rage, Cain let go the arm of the bishop, drew his pistol, and levelled it at Francisco. The bishop threw up the arm of Cain as hefired; saw that he had missed his aim, and clasping his hands, raisedhis eyes to heaven in thankfulness at Francisco's escape. In thisposition he was collared by Hawkhurst, whose anger overcame hisdiscretion, and who hurled him through the entering port into the sea. 

'Officious fool!' muttered Cain, when he perceived what the mate haddone. Then, recollecting himself, he cried, 'Seize that boy and bringhim here. '

One or two of the crew advanced to obey his orders; but Pompey and theKroumen, who had been attentive to what was going on, had collectedround Francisco, and a scuffle ensued. The pirates, not being verydetermined, nor very anxious to take Francisco, allowed him to behurried away in the centre of the Kroumen, who bore him safely to theschooner. 

In the meantime Hawkhurst, and the major part of the men on board of theship, had been tearing up the hold to obtain the valuables, but withoutsuccess. The water had now reached above the orlop-deck, and all furtherattempts were unavailing. The ship was settling fast, and it becamenecessary to quit her, and haul off the schooner, that she might not beendangered by the vortex of the sinking vessel. Cain and Hawkhurst, withtheir disappointed crew, returned on board the schooner, and before theyhad succeeded in detaching the two vessels a cable's length, the shipwent down with all the treasure so coveted. The indignation and ragewhich were expressed by the captain as he rapidly walked the deck incompany with his first mate--his violent gesticulations--proved to thecrew that there was mischief brewing. Francisco did not return to thecabin; he remained forward with the Kroumen, who, although but a smallportion of the ship's company, were known to be resolute and not to bedespised. It was also observed that all of them had supplied themselveswith arms, and were collected forward, huddled together, watching everymotion and manoeuvre, and talking rapidly in their own language. Theschooner was now steered to the north-westward under all press of sail. The sun again disappeared, but Francisco returned not to the cabin--hewent below, surrounded by the Kroumen, who appeared to have devotedthemselves to his protection. Once during the night Hawkhurst summonedthem on deck, but they obeyed not the order; and to the expostulation ofthe boatswain's mate, who came down, they made no reply. But there weremany of the pirates in the schooner who appeared to coincide with theKroumen in their regard for Francisco. There are shades of villainy inthe most profligate of societies; and among the pirate's crew some werenot yet wholly debased. The foul murder of a holy man--the cruel fate ofthe beautiful Teresa--and the barbarous conduct of the captain towardsFilippo and his mistress, were deeds of an atrocity to which even themost hardened were unaccustomed. Francisco's pleadings in behalf ofmercy were at least no crime; and yet they considered that Francisco wasdoomed. He was a general favourite; the worst-disposed of the pirates, with the exception of Hawkhurst, if they did not love, could not forbearrespecting him; although, at the same time, they felt that if Franciscoremained on board the power even of Cain himself would soon bedestroyed. For many months Hawkhurst, who detested the youth, had beenmost earnest that he should be sent out of the schooner. Now he pressedthe captain for his removal in any way, as necessary for their mutualsafety, pointing out to Cain the conduct of the Kroumen, and his fearsthat a large proportion of the ship's company were equally disaffected. Cain felt the truth of Hawkhurst's representation, and he went down tohis cabin to consider upon what should be done. 

It was past midnight when Cain, worn out with the conflicting passionsof the day, fell into an uneasy slumber. His dreams were of Francisco'smother--she appeared to him pleading for her son, and Cain 'babbled inhis sleep. ' At this time Francisco, with Pompey, had softly crawled aft, that they might obtain, if they found the captain asleep, the pistols ofFrancisco, with some ammunition. Pompey slipped in first, and startedback when he heard the captain's voice. They remained at the cabin doorlistening, 'No--no, ' muttered Cain, 'he must die--unless--plead not, woman!--I know I murdered thee--plead not, he dies!'

In one of the sockets of the silver lamp there was a lighted wick, therays of which were sufficient to afford a dim view of the cabin. Francisco, overhearing the words of Cain, stepped in, and walked up tothe side of the bed. 'Boy! plead not, ' continued Cain, lying on his backand breathing heavily--'plead not--woman!--to-morrow he dies. ' A pauseensued, as if the sleeping man was listening to a reply. 'Yes; as Imurdered thee, so will I murder him. '

'Wretch!' said Francisco, in a low, solemn voice, 'didst thou kill mymother?'

'I did--I did!' responded Cain, still sleeping. 

'And why?' continued Francisco, who, at this acknowledgment on the partof the sleeping captain, was careless of discovery. 

'In my mood she vexed me, ' answered Cain. 

'Fiend; thou hast then confessed it!' cried Francisco in a loud voice, which awoke the captain, who started up; but before his senses were wellrecovered, or his eyes open so as to distinguish their forms, Pompeystruck out the light, and all was darkness: he then put his hand toFrancisco's mouth, and led him out of the cabin. 

'Who's there?--who's there?' cried Cain. 

The officer in charge of the deck hastened down. 'Did you call, sir?'

'Call!' repeated the captain. 'I thought there was some one in thecabin. I want a light--that's all, ' continued he, recovering himself, ashe wiped the cold perspiration from his forehead. 

In the meantime Francisco, with Pompey, had gained his former place ofrefuge with the Kroumen. The feelings of the young man changed fromagony to revenge; his object in returning to the cabin to recover hisweapons had been frustrated, but his determination now was to take thelife of the captain if he possibly could. The following morning theKroumen again refused to work or go on deck; and the state of affairswas reported by Hawkhurst to his chief. The mate now assumed anothertone; for he had sounded not the majority but the most steady andinfluential men on board, who, like himself, were veterans in crime. 

'It must be, sir; or you will no longer command this vessel. I amdesired to say so. '

'Indeed!' replied Cain, with a sneer. 'Perhaps you have already chosenmy successor?'

Hawkhurst perceived that he had lost ground, and he changed his manner. 'I speak but for yourself: if you do not command this vessel I shall notremain in her; if you quit her, I quit also; and we must find another. '

Cain was pacified, and the subject was not renewed. 

'Turn the hands up, ' at last said the captain. The pirate crew assembledaft. 

'My lads, I am sorry that our laws oblige me to make an example; butmutiny and disaffection must be punished. I am equally bound asyourselves by the laws which we have laid down for our guidance while wesail together; and you may believe that in doing my duty in thisinstance I am guided by a sense of justice, and wish to prove to youthat I am worthy to command. Francisco has been with me since he was achild; he has lived with me, and it is painful to part with him; but Iam here to see that our laws are put in force. He has been guilty ofrepeated mutiny and contempt, and--he must die. '

'Death! death!' cried several of the pirates in advance; 'death andjustice!'

'No more murder!' said several voices from behind. 

'Who's that that speaks?'

'Too much murder yesterday--no more murder!' shouted several voices atonce. 

'Let the men come forward who speak, ' cried Cain, with a withering look. No one obeyed this order. 'Down, then, my men! and bring up Francisco. '

The whole of the pirate crew hastened below, but with differentintentions; some were determined to seize Francisco, and hand him overto death--others to protect him. A confused noise was heard--the shoutsof '_Down and seize him!_' opposed to those of '_No murder! No murder!_'

Both parties had snatched up their arms; those who sided with Franciscojoined the Kroumen, whilst the others also hastened below to bring himon deck. A slight scuffle ensued before they separated, and ascertainedby the separation the strength of the contending parties. Francisco, perceiving that he was joined by a large body, desired his men to followhim, went up the fore-ladder, and took possession of the forecastle. Thepirates on his side supplied him with arms, and Francisco stood forwardin advance. Hawkhurst, and those of the crew who sided with him, hadretreated to the quarter-deck, and rallied round the captain, who leanedagainst the capstern. They were then able to estimate their comparativestrength. The number, on the whole, preponderated in favour ofFrancisco; but on the captain's side were the older and more athletic ofthe crew, and, we may add, the more determined. Still, the captain andHawkhurst perceived the danger of their situation, and it was thoughtadvisable to parley for the present, and wreak their vengeancehereafter. For a few minutes there was a low consultation between bothparties; at last Cain advanced. 

'My lads, ' said he, addressing those who had rallied round Francisco, 'Ilittle thought that a firebrand would have been cast in this vessel toset us all at variance. It was my duty, as your captain, to propose thatour laws should be enforced. Tell me, now, what is it that you wish. Iam only here as your captain, and to take the sense of the whole crew. Ihave no animosity against that lad; I have loved him--I have cherishedhim; but like a viper, he has stung me in return. Instead of being inarms against each other, ought we not to be united? I have, therefore, one proposal to make to you, which is this: let the sentence go by vote, or ballot, if you please; and whatever the sentence may be, I shall beguided by it. Can I say more?'

'My lads, ' replied Francisco, when the captain had done speaking, 'Ithink it better that you should accept this proposal rather than thatblood should be shed. My life is of little consequence; say, then, willyou agree to the vote, and submit to those laws, which, as the captainsays, have been laid down to regulate the discipline of the vessel?'

The pirates on Francisco's side looked round among their party, and, perceiving that they were the most numerous, consented to the proposal;but Hawkhurst stepped forward and observed: 'Of course the Kroumen canhave no votes, as they do not belong to the vessel. '

This objection was important, as they amounted to twenty-five, and, after that number was deducted, in all probability Francisco's adherentswould have been in the minority. The pirates with Francisco objected, and again assumed the attitude of defence. 

'One moment, ' said Francisco, stepping in advance; 'before this point issettled, I wish to take the sense of all of you as to another of yourlaws. I ask you, Hawkhurst, and all who are now opposed to me, whetheryou have not one law, which is _Blood for blood?_'

'Yes--yes, ' shouted all the pirates. 

'Then let your captain stand forward, and answer to my charge, if hedares. '

Cain curled his lip in derision, and walked within two yards ofFrancisco. 

'Well, boy, I'm here; and what is your charge?'

'First--I ask you, Captain Cain, who are so anxious that the laws shouldbe enforced, whether you acknowledge that "Blood for blood" is a justlaw?'

'Most just: and, when shed, the party who revenges is not amenable. '

''Tis well: then, villain that thou art, answer--Didst thou not murdermy mother?'

Cain, at this accusation, started. 

'Answer the truth, or lie like a recreant!' repeated Francisco. 'Did younot murder my mother?'

The captain's lips and the muscles of his face quivered, but he did notreply. 

'_Blood for blood!_' cried Francisco, as he fired his pistol at Cain, who staggered, and fell on the deck. 

Hawkhurst and several of the pirates hastened to the captain, and raisedhim. 

'She must have told him last night, ' said Cain, speaking withdifficulty, as the blood flowed from the wound. 

'He told me so himself, ' said Francisco, turning round to those whostood by him. 

Cain was taken down into the cabin. On examination, his wound was notmortal, although the loss of blood had been rapid and very great. In afew minutes Hawkhurst joined the party on the quarter-deck. He foundthat the tide had turned more in Francisco's favour than he hadexpected; the law of 'Blood for blood' was held most sacred: indeed, it was but the knowledge that it was solemnly recognised, and that, ifone pirate wounded another, the other was at liberty to take his life, without punishment, which prevented constant affrays between parties, whose knives would otherwise have been the answer to every affront. Itwas a more debased law of duelling, which kept such profligateassociates on good terms. Finding, therefore, that this feelingpredominated, even among those who were opposed to Francisco on theother question, Hawkhurst thought it advisable to parley. 

[Illustration: 'Blood for blood!' _cried Francisco, as he fired hispistol at Cain, who staggered, and fell on the deck. _]

'Hawkhurst, ' said Francisco, 'I have but one request to make, which, ifcomplied with, will put an end to this contention; it is, that you willput me on shore at the first land that we make. If you and your partyengage to do this, I will desire those who support me to return to theirobedience. '

'I grant it, ' replied Hawkhurst; 'and so will the others. Will you not, my men?'

'Agreed--agreed upon all sides, ' cried the pirates, throwing away theirweapons, and mingling with each other as if they had never been opposed. 

There is an old saying that there is honour amongst thieves; and so itoften proves. Every man in the vessel knew that this agreement would bestrictly adhered to; and Francisco now walked the deck with as muchcomposure as if nothing had occurred. 

Hawkhurst, who was aware that he must fulfil his promise, carefullyexamined the charts when he went down below, came up and altered thecourse of the schooner two points more to the northward. The nextmorning he was up at the mast-head nearly half an hour, when hedescended and again altered the course. By nine o'clock a low sandyisland appeared on the lee bow; when within half a mile of it he orderedthe schooner to be hove-to, and lowered down the small boat from thestern. He then turned the hands up. 'My lads, we must keep our promiseto put Francisco on shore at the first land which we made. There it is!'And a malicious smile played on the miscreant's features as he pointedout to them the barren sand-bank, which promised nothing but starvationand a lingering death. Several of the crew murmured; but Hawkhurst wassupported by his own party, and had, moreover, taken the precautionquietly to remove all the arms, with the exception of those with whichhis adherents were provided. 

'An agreement is an agreement; it is what he requested himself, and wepromised to perform. Send for Francisco. '

'I am here, Hawkhurst; and I tell you candidly, that, desolate as isthat barren spot, I prefer it to remaining in your company. I will bringmy chest up immediately. '

'No--no; that was not a part of the agreement, ' cried Hawkhurst. 

'Every man here has a right to his own property. I appeal to the wholeof the crew. '

'True--true, ' replied the pirates; and Hawkhurst found himself again inthe minority. 

'Be it so. '

The chest of Francisco was handed into the boat. 

'Is that all?' cried Hawkhurst. 

'My lads, am I to have no provisions or water?' inquired Francisco. 

'No, ' replied Hawkhurst. 

'Yes--yes, ' cried most of the pirates. 

Hawkhurst did not dare put it to the vote; he turned sulkily away. TheKroumen brought up two breakers of water, and some pieces of pork. 

'Here, massa, ' said Pompey, putting into Francisco's hand a fishing-linewith hooks. 

'Thank you, Pompey; but I had forgot--that book in the cabin--you knowwhich I mean. '

Pompey nodded his head, and went below; but it was some time before hereturned, during which Hawkhurst became impatient. It was a very smallboat which had been lowered down; it had a lug-sail and two pair ofsculls in it, and was quite full when Francisco's chest and the otherarticles had been put in. 

'Come! I have no time to wait, ' said Hawkhurst; 'in the boat!'

Francisco shook hands with many of the crew, and wished all of themfarewell. Indeed, now that they beheld the poor lad about to be cast ona desolate island, even those most opposed to him felt some emotions ofpity. Although they acknowledged that his absence was necessary, yetthey knew his determined courage; and with them that quality wasalways a strong appeal. 

[Illustration: _Before Francisco had gained the sand-bank she washull-down to the northward. _]

'Who will row this lad ashore, and bring the boat off?'

'Not I, ' replied one; 'it would haunt me ever afterwards. '

So they all appeared to think, for no one volunteered. Francisco jumpedinto the boat. 

'There is no room for any one but me; and I will row myself on shore, 'cried he. 'Farewell, my lads! farewell!'

'Stop! not so; he must not have the boat--he may escape from theisland, ' cried Hawkhurst. 

'And why shouldn't he, poor fellow?' replied the men. 'Let him have theboat. '

'Yes--yes, let him have the boat;' and Hawkhurst was again overruled. 

'Here, Massa Francisco--here de book. '

'What's that, sir?' cried Hawkhurst, snatching the book out of Pompey'shand. 

'Him, massa, Bible. ' Francisco waited for the book. 

'Shove off!' cried Hawkhurst. 

'Give me my book, Mr. Hawkhurst!'

'No!' replied the malignant rascal, tossing the Bible over the taffrail;'he shall not have that. I've heard say that _there is consolation in itfor the afflicted_. '

Francisco shoved off his boat, and seizing his sculls, pushed astern, picked up the book, which still floated, and laid it to dry on theafter-thwart of the boat. He then pulled in for the shore. In themeantime the schooner had let draw her foresheet, and had already lefthim a quarter of a mile astern. Before Francisco had gained thesand-bank she was hull-down to the northward. 

CHAPTER X

THE SAND-BANK

The first half-hour that Francisco was on this desolate spot he watchedthe receding schooner; his thoughts were unconnected and vague. Wandering through the various scenes which had passed on the decks ofthat vessel, and recalling to his memory the different characters ofthose on board of her, much as he had longed to quit her--disgusted ashe had been with those with whom he had been forced to associate--still, as her sails grew fainter and fainter to his view, as she increased herdistance, he more than once felt that even remaining on board of herwould have been preferable to his present deserted lot. 'No, no!'exclaimed he, after a little further reflection, 'I had rather perishhere, than continue to witness the scenes which I have been forced tobehold. '

He once more fixed his eyes upon her white sails, and then sat down onthe loose sands, and remained in deep and melancholy reverie until thescorching heat reminded him of his situation; he afterwards rose andturned his thoughts upon his present situation, and to what would be themeasures most advisable to take. He hauled his little boat still fartheron the beach, and attached the painter to one of the oars, which hefixed deep in the sand; he then proceeded to survey the bank, and foundthat but a small portion was uncovered at high water; for, trifling aswas the rise of the tide, the bank was so low that the water flowedalmost over it. The most elevated part was not more than fifteen feetabove high-water mark, and that was a small knoll of about fifty feet incircumference. 

To this part he resolved to remove his effects; he returned to theboat, and having lifted out his chest, the water, the provisions, withthe other articles which he had obtained, he dragged them up, one byone, until they were all collected at the spot he had chosen. He thentook out of the boat the oars and little sail, which, fortunately, hadremained in her. His last object, to haul the little boat up to the samespot, was one which demanded all his exertion; but, after considerablefatigue, he contrived, by first lifting round her bow, and then herstern, to effect his object. 

Tired and exhausted, he then repaired to one of the breakers of waterand refreshed himself. The heat, as the day advanced, had becomeintolerable; but it stimulated him to fresh exertion. He turned over theboat, and contrived that the bow and stern should rest upon two littlehillocks, so as to raise it above the level of the sand beneath it twoor three feet; he spread out the sail from the keel above, with thethole-pins as pegs, so as to keep off the rays of the sun. Dragging thebreakers of water and the provisions underneath the boat, he left hischest outside; and having thus formed for himself a sort of coveringwhich would protect him from the heat of the day and the damp of thenight, he crept in to shelter himself until the evening. 

Although Francisco had not been on deck, he knew pretty well whereaboutshe then was. Taking out a chart from his chest, he examined the coast toascertain the probable distance which he might be from any prospect ofsuccour. He calculated that he was on one of a patch of sand-banks offthe coast of Loango, and about seven hundred miles from the Isle of St. Thomas--the nearest place where he might expect to fall in with aEuropean face. From the coast he felt certain that he could not be morethan forty or fifty miles at the most; but could he trust himself amongthe savage natives who inhabited it? He knew how ill they had beentreated by Europeans; for, at that period, it was quite as common forthe slave-trader to land and take away the inhabitants as slaves byforce, as to purchase them in the more northern territories: still, hemight be fortunate enough to fall in with some trader on the coast, asthere were a few who still carried on a barter for gold-dust and ivory. 

We do not know--we cannot conceive a situation much more deplorable thanthe one we have just described to have been that of Francisco. Alone--without a chance of assistance--with only a sufficiency of foodfor a few days, and cut off from the rest of his fellow-creatures, withonly so much _terra firma_ as would prevent his being swallowed up bythe vast, unfathomable ocean, into which the horizon fell on every sidearound him! And his chance of escape how small! Hundreds of miles fromany from whom he might expect assistance, and the only means of reachingthem a small boat--a mere cockle-shell, which the first rough gale wouldinevitably destroy. 

Such, indeed, were the first thoughts of Francisco; but he soonrecovered from his despondency. He was young, courageous, and buoyantwith hope; and there is a feeling of pride--of trust in our ownresources and exertions, which increases and stimulates us in proportionto our danger and difficulty; it is the daring of the soul proving itscelestial origin and eternal duration. 

So intense was the heat that Francisco almost panted for sufficient airto support life, as he lay under the shade of the boat during the wholeof that day; not a breath of wind disturbed the glassy wave--all natureappeared hushed into one horrible calm. It was not until the shades ofnight were covering the solitude that Francisco ventured forth from hisretreat; but he found little relief; there was an unnatural closeness inthe air--a suffocation unusual even in those climes. Francisco cast hiseyes up to the vault of heaven, and was astonished to find that therewere no stars visible--a gray mist covered the whole firmament. Hedirected his view downwards to the horizon, and that, too, was not to bedefined; there was a dark bank all around it. He walked to the edge ofthe sand-bank; there was not even a ripple--the wide ocean appeared tobe in a trance, in a state of lethargy or stupor. 

He parted the hair from his feverish brow, and once more surveying thehorrible, lifeless, stagnant waste, his soul sickened, and he casthimself upon the sand. There he lay for many hours in a state borderingupon wild despair. At last he recovered himself, and, rising to hisknees, he prayed for strength and submission to the will of Heaven. 

When he was once more upon his feet, and had again scanned the ocean, heperceived that there was a change rapidly approaching. The dark bank onthe horizon had now risen higher up; the opaqueness was everywhere moredense; and low murmurs were heard as if there was wind stirring aloft, although the sea was still glassy as a lake. Signs of some movementabout to take place were evident, and the solitary youth watched andwatched. And now the sounds increased, and here and there a wildthread of air--whence coming, who could tell? and as rapidlydisappearing--would ruffle, for a second, a portion of the stagnant sea. Then came whizzing sounds and moans, and then the rumbling noise ofdistant thunder--loud and louder yet--still louder--a broad black lineis seen sweeping along the expanse of water--fearful in its rapidity itcomes!--and the hurricane burst, at once and with all its force, and allits terrific sounds, upon the isolated Francisco. 

The first blast was so powerful and so unexpected that it threw himdown, and prudence dictated to him to remain in that position, for theloose sand was swept off and whirled in such force as to blind andprevent his seeing a foot from him; he would have crawled to the boatfor security, but he knew not in which direction to proceed. But thisdid not last; for now the water was borne up upon the strong wings ofthe hurricane, and the sand was rendered firm by its saturation with theelement. 

Francisco felt that he was drenched, and he raised his head. All hecould discover was that the firmament was mantled with darkness, horrible from its intensity, and that the sea was in one extendedfoam--boiling everywhere, and white as milk--but still smooth, as if thepower of the wind had compelled it to be so; but the water hadencroached, and one half the sand-bank was covered with it, while overthe other the foam whirled, each portion chasing the other with wildrapidity. 

And now the windows of heaven were opened, and the rain, mingled withthe spray caught up by the hurricane, was dashed and hurled upon theforlorn youth, who still lay where he had been first thrown down. But ofa sudden, a wash of water told him that he could there remain no longer:the sea was rising--rising fast; and before he could gain a few paces onhis hands and knees, another wave, as if it chased him in its wrath, repeated the warning of his extreme danger, and he was obliged to riseon his feet and hasten to the high part of the sand-bank, where he haddrawn up his boat and his provisions. 

Blinded as he was by the rain and spray, he could distinguish nothing. Of a sudden he fell violently; he had stumbled over one of the breakersof water, and his head struck against his sea-chest. Where, then, wasthe boat? It was gone!--it must have been swept away by the fury of thewind. Alas, then all chance was over! and if not washed away by theangry waters, he had but to prolong his existence but a few days, andthen to die. The effect of the blow he had received on his forehead, with the shock of mind occasioned by the disappearance of the boat, overpowered him, and he remained for some time in a state ofinsensibility. 

When Francisco recovered, the scene was again changed: the wide expansewas now in a state of wild and fearful commotion, and the waters roaredas loud as did the hurricane. The whole sand-bank, with the exception ofthat part on which he stood, was now covered with tumultuous foam, andhis place of refuge was occasionally invaded, when some vast mass, o'erlording the other waves, expended all its fury even to his feet. Francisco prepared to die!

But gradually the darkness of the heavens disappeared, and there was nolonger a bank upon the horizon, and Francisco hoped--alas! hopedwhat?--that he might be saved from the present impending death to bereserved for one still more horrible; to be saved from the fury of thewaves, which would swallow him up, and in a few seconds remove him fromall pain and suffering, to perish for want of sustenance under a burningsun; to be withered--to be parched to death--calling in his agony forwater; and as Francisco thought of this he covered his face with hishands, and prayed, 'O God, Thy will be done! but in Thy mercy, raise, still higher raise the waters!'

But the waters did not rise higher. The howling of the wind graduallydecreased, and the foaming seas had obeyed the Divine injunction--theyhad gone so far, but no farther! And the day dawned, and the skycleared; and the first red tints, announcing the return of light andheat, had appeared on the broken horizon, when the eyes of thedespairing youth were directed to a black mass on the tumultuouswaters. It was a vessel, with but one mast standing, rolling heavily, and running before the gale right on for the sand-bank where he stood;her hull, one moment borne aloft and the next disappearing from his viewin the hollow of the agitated waters. 'She will be dashed to pieces!'thought Francisco; 'she will be lost!--they cannot see the bank!' And hewould have made a signal to her, if he had been able, to warn her of herdanger, forgetting at the time his own desolate situation. 

As Francisco watched, the sun rose bright and joyous over this scene ofanxiety and pain. On came the vessel flying before the gale, while theseas chased her as if they would fain overwhelm her. It was fearful tosee her scud--agonising to know that she was rushing to destruction. 

At last he could distinguish those on board. He waved his hand, but theyperceived him not; he shouted, but his voice was borne away by the gale. On came the vessel, as if doomed. She was within two cables' length ofthe bank when those on board perceived their danger. It was toolate!--they had rounded her to--another, and another wave hurled hertowards the sand. She struck!--her only remaining mast fell over theside, and the roaring waves hastened to complete their work ofdestruction and of death!

CHAPTER XI

THE ESCAPE

Francisco's eyes were fixed upon the vessel, over which the sea nowbroke with terrific violence. There appeared to be about eight or ninemen on her deck, who sheltered themselves under the weather bulwarks. Each wave, as it broke against her side and then dashed in foam overher, threw her, with a convulsive jerk, still further on the sand-bank. At last she was so high up that their fury was partly spent before theydashed against her frame. Had the vessel been strong and well-built--hadshe been a collier coasting the English shores--there was a fair chancethat she might have withstood the fury of the storm until it hadsubsided, and that by remaining on board the crew might have survived;but she was of a very different mould, and, as Francisco justlysurmised, an American brig, built for swift sailing, very sharp, and, moreover, very slightly put together. 

Francisco's eyes, as may easily be supposed, were never removed from theonly object which could now interest him--the unexpected appearance andimminent danger of his fellow-creatures at this desolate spot. Heperceived that two of the men went to the hatches and slid them over toleeward; they then descended, and although the seas broke over thevessel, and a large quantity of water must have poured into her, thehatches were not put on again by those who remained on deck. But in afew minutes this mystery was solved; one after another, at first, andthen by dozens, poured forth, out of the hold, the kidnapped Africanswho composed her cargo. In a short time the decks were covered withthem: the poor creatures had been released by the humanity of twoEnglish sailors, that they might have the same chance with themselvesof saving their lives. Still, no attempt was made to quit the vessel. Huddled together, like a flock of sheep, with the wild waves breakingover them, there they all remained, both European and African; and asthe heavy blows of the seas upon the sides of the vessel careened andshook her, they were seen to cling, in every direction, with nodistinction between the captured and their oppressors. 

But this scene was soon changed; the frame of the vessel could no longerwithstand the violence of the waves, and as Francisco watched, of asudden it was seen to divide amidships, and each portion to turn over. Then was the struggle for life; hundreds were floating on the ragingelement and wrestling for existence, and the white foam of the ocean wasdotted by the black heads of the negroes who attempted to gain the bank. It was an awful, terrible scene, to witness so many at one moment tossedand dashed about by the waves--so many fellow-beings threatened witheternity. At one moment they were close to the beach, forced on to it bysome tremendous wave; at the next, the receding water and the undertowswept them all back; and of the many who had been swimming one half haddisappeared to rise no more. Francisco watched with agony as heperceived that the number decreased, and that none had yet gained theshore. At last he snatched up the haulyards of his boat's sail whichwere near him, and hastened down to the spot to afford such succour asmight be possible; nor were his efforts in vain. As the seas washed theapparently inanimate bodies on shore, and would then have again sweptthem away to return them in mockery, he caught hold of them and draggedthem safe on the bank, and thus did he continue his exertions untilfifteen of the bodies of the negroes were spread upon the beach. Although exhausted and senseless they were not dead, and long before hehad dragged up the last of the number, many of those previously savedhad, without any other assistance than the heat of the sun, recoveredfrom their insensibility. 

Francisco would have continued his task of humanity, but the partedvessel had now been riven into fragments by the force of the waves, andthe whole beach was strewed with her timbers and her stores, which weredashed on shore by the waters, and then swept back again by the return. In a short time the severe blows he received from these fragmentsdisabled him from further exertion, and he sank exhausted on the sand;indeed, all further attempts were useless. All on board the vessel hadbeen launched into the sea at the same moment, and those who were notnow on shore were past all succour. Francisco walked up to those who hadbeen saved: he found twelve of them were recovered and sitting on theirhams; the rest were still in a state of insensibility. He then went upto the knoll where his chest and provisions had been placed, and, throwing himself down by them, surveyed the scene. 

[Illustration: _At last he snatched up the haulyards of his boat's sail, and hastened down to the spot to afford such succour as might bepossible. _]

The wind had lulled, the sun shone brightly, and the sea was much lessviolent. The waves had subsided, and, no longer hurried on by the forceof the hurricane, broke majestically and solemnly, but not with thewildness and force which, but a few hours before, they had displayed. The whole of the beach was strewed with the fragments of the vessel, with spars and water-casks; and at every moment was to be observed thecorpse of a negro turning round and round in the froth of the wave, andthen disappearing. 

For an hour did he watch and reflect, and then he walked again to wherethe men who had been rescued were sitting, not more than thirty yardsfrom him; they were sickly, emaciated forms, but belonging to a tribewho inhabited the coast, and who, having been accustomed from theirinfancy to be all the day in the water, had supported themselves betterthan the other slaves, who had been procured from the interior, or theEuropean crew of the vessel, all of whom had perished. 

The Africans appeared to recover fast by the heat of the sun, sooppressive to Francisco, and were now exchanging a few words with eachother. The whole of them had revived, but those who were most in need ofaid were neglected by the others. Francisco made signs to them, but theyunderstood him not. He returned to the knoll, and pouring out water intoa tin pan from the breaker, brought it down to them. He offered it toone, who seized it eagerly; water was a luxury seldom obtained in thehold of a slave-vessel. The man drank deeply, and would have drained thecup, but Francisco prevented him, and held it to the lips of another. Hewas obliged to refill it three times before they had all been supplied:he then brought them a handful of biscuit and left them, for hereflected that, without some precautions, the whole sustenance would beseized by them and devoured. He buried half a foot deep, and coveredover with sand, the breakers of water and the provisions, and by thetime he had finished this task, unperceived by the negroes, who stillsquatted together, the sun had sunk below the horizon. Francisco hadalready matured his plans, which were, to form a raft out of thefragments of the vessel, and with the assistance of the negroes attemptto gain the mainland. He lay down, for the second night, on thiseventful spot of desolation, and commending himself to the Almightyprotection, was soon in a deep slumber. 

It was not until the powerful rays of the sun blazed on the eyes of theyouth that he awoke, so tired had he been with the anxiety and fatigueof the preceding day, and the sleepless harrowing night which hadintroduced it. He rose and seated himself upon his sea-chest: howdifferent was the scene from that of yesterday! Again the ocean slept, the sky was serene, and not a cloud to be distinguished throughout thewhole firmament; the horizontal line was clear, even, and well defined:a soft breeze just rippled over the dark blue sea, which now had retiredto its former boundary, and left the sand-bank as extended as when firstFrancisco had been put on shore. But here the beauty of the landscapeterminated: the foreground was horrible to look upon; the whole of thebeach was covered with the timbers of the wreck, with water-casks andother articles, in some parts heaped and thrown up one upon another; andamong them lay jammed and mangled the bodies of the many who hadperished. In other parts there were corpses thrown up high and dry, orstill rolling and turning to the rippling wave; it was a scene ofdesolation and of death. 

The negroes who had been saved were all huddled up together, apparentlyin deep sleep, and Francisco quitted his elevated position and walkeddown to the low beach, to survey the means which the disaster of othersafforded him for his own escape. To his great joy he found not onlyplenty of casks, but many of them full of fresh water, provisions alsoin sufficiency, and, indeed, everything that could be required to form araft, as well as the means of support for a considerable time forhimself and the negroes who had survived. He then walked up to them andcalled to them, but they answered not, nor even moved. He pushed them, but in vain; and his heart beat quick, for he was fearful that they weredead from previous exhaustion. He applied his foot to one of them, andit was not until he had used force, which in any other case he wouldhave dispensed with, that the negro awoke from his state of lethargy andlooked vacantly about him. Francisco had some little knowledge of thelanguage of the Kroumen, and he addressed the negro in that tongue. Tohis great joy he was answered in a language which, if not the same, hadso great an affinity to it that communication became easy. With theassistance of the negro, who used still less ceremony with his comrades, the remainder of them were awakened, and a palaver ensued. 

Francisco soon made them understand that they were to make a raft and goback to their own country; explaining to them that if they remainedthere, the water and provisions would soon be exhausted, and they wouldall perish. The poor creatures hardly knew whether to consider him asupernatural being or not; they talked among themselves; they remarkedat his having brought them fresh water the day before; they knew that hedid not belong to the vessel in which they had been wrecked, and theywere puzzled. 

Whatever might be their speculations they had one good effect, whichwas, that they looked upon the youth as a superior and a friend, andmost willingly obeyed him. He led them up to the knoll, and, desiringthem to scrape away the sand, supplied them again with fresh water andbiscuit. Perhaps the very supply, and the way in which it was given tothem, excited their astonishment as much as anything. Francisco ate withthem, and, selecting from his sea-chest the few tools in his possession, desired them to follow him. The casks were collected and rolled up; theempty ones arranged for the raft; the spars were hauled up and clearedof the rigging, which was carefully separated for lashings; the one ortwo sails which had been found rolled up on the spars were spread out todry; and the provisions and articles of clothing, which might be useful, laid together on one side. The negroes worked willingly and showed muchintelligence; before the evening closed everything which might beavailable was secured, and the waves now only tossed about lifelessforms, and the small fragments of timber which could not be serviceable. 

It would occupy too much time were we to detail all the proceedings ofFrancisco and the negroes for the space of four days, during which theylaboured hard. Necessity is truly the mother of invention, and many werethe ingenious resources of the party before they could succeed informing a raft large enough to carry them and their provisions, with amast and sail well secured. At length it was accomplished; and on thefifth day Francisco and his men embarked, and, having pushed clear ofthe bank with poles, they were at last able to hoist their sail to afine breeze, and steer for the coast before the wind at the rate ofabout three miles an hour. But it was not until they had gained half amile from the bank that they were no longer annoyed by the dreadfulsmell arising from the putrefaction of so many bodies, for to bury themall would have been a work of too great time. The last two days of theirremaining on the island, the effluvia had become so powerful as to be asource of the greatest horror and disgust even to the negroes. 

But before night, when the raft was about eight leagues from thesand-bank, it fell calm, and continued so for the next day, when abreeze sprang up from the south-east, to which they trimmed their sailwith their head to the northward. 

This wind, and the course steered, sent them off from the land, butthere was no help for it; and Francisco felt grateful that they had suchan ample supply of provisions and water as to enable them to yield to afew days' contrary wind without danger of want. But the breeze continuedsteady and fresh, and they were now crossing the Bight of Benin; theweather was fine and the sea smooth; the flying-fish rose in shoals anddropped down into the raft, which still forced its way through the waterto the northward. 

Thus did Francisco and his negro crew remain for a fortnight floating onthe wide ocean, without any object meeting their view. Day after day itwas the same dreary 'sky and water, ' and by the reckoning of Franciscothey could not be far from the land, when, on the fifteenth day, theyperceived two sails to the northward. 

Francisco's heart bounded with joy and gratitude to Heaven; he had notelescope to examine them, but he steered directly for them, and, aboutdark, he made them out to be a ship and a schooner hove-to. 

As Francisco scanned them, surmising what they might be, the sun setbehind the two vessels, and after it had sunk below the horizon theirforms were, for a few minutes, delineated with remarkable precision andclearness. There could be no mistake. Francisco felt convinced that theschooner was the _Avenger_; and his first impulse was to run to thesweep with which they were steered, and put the head of the raft againto the northward. A moment's reflection determined him to act otherwise;he lowered down his sail that he might escape observation, and watchedthe motions of the vessels during the few minutes of light whichremained. That the ship bad been captured, and that her capture had beenattended with the usual scene of outrage and violence, he had no doubt. He was now about four miles' from them, and just as they were vanishingfrom his straining eyes he perceived that the schooner had made all sailto the westward. Francisco, feeling that he was then secure from beingpicked up by her, again hoisted his sail with the hope of reaching theship, which, if not scuttled, he intended to remove on board of, andthen make sail for the first port on the coast. But hardly had the raftregained her way when the horizon was lighted up, and he perceived thatthe pirates had set fire to the vessel. Then it was useless to proceedtowards her; and Francisco again thought of putting the head of the raftto the northward, when the idea struck him, knowing the character andcruelty of the pirates, that there might be some unfortunate people lefton board to perish in the flames. He therefore continued his course, watching the burning vessel; the flames increased in violence, mountingup to the masts and catching the sails one after another. The wind blewfresh, and the vessel was kept before the wind--a circumstance thatassured Francisco that there were people on board. At first she appearedto leave the raft, but as her sails, one after another, were consumed bythe element, so did she decrease her speed, and Francisco, in about anhour, was close to her and under her counter. 

[Illustration: _The flames increased in violence, mounting up to themasts and catching the sails one after another. _]

The ship was now one mass of fire from her bows to her mainmast; avolume of flame poured from her main hold, rising higher than her lowermasts, and ending in a huge mass of smoke carried by the wind ahead ofher; the quarter-deck was still free from fire, but the heat on it wasso intense that those on board were all collected at the taffrail; andthere they remained, some violent, others in mute despair; for the_Avenger's_ people, in their barbarity, had cut away and destroyed allthe boats to prevent their escape. From the light thrown round thevessel those on board had perceived the approach of Francisco to theirrescue, and immediately that it was under the counter, and the saillowered, almost all of them had descended by ropes, or the stern ladder, and gained a place in her. In a few minutes, without scarcely anexchange of a word, they were all out of the brig, and Francisco pushedoff just as the flames burst from the cabin windows, darting out in ahorizontal line like the tongues of fiery serpents. The raft, nowencumbered with twelve more persons, was then steered to the northward;and as soon as those who had been saved had been supplied with somewater, which they so much needed, Francisco obtained the intelligencewhich he desired. The ship was from Carthagena, South America; hadsailed from thence to Lisbon with a Don Cumanos, who had large propertyup the Magdalen river. He had wished to visit a part of his family atLisbon, and from thence had sailed to the Canary Isles, where he alsohad property. In their way from Lisbon to South America they had beenbeaten by stress of weather to the southward, and afterwards had beenchased by the _Avenger_; being a very fast sailer she had run downseveral degrees before she had been captured. When the pirate tookpossession, and found that she had little or no cargo of value to them, for her hold was chiefly filled with furniture and other articles forthe use of Don Cumanos, angry at their disappointment, they had firstdestroyed all their boats and then set fire to the vessel, taking carenot to leave her until all chance of the fire being put out washopeless. And thus had these miscreants left innocent and unfortunatepeople to perish. 

Francisco heard the narrative of Don Cumanos, and then informed him inwhat manner he had left the schooner, and his subsequent adventures. Francisco was now very anxious to make the land, or obtain succour fromsome vessel. The many who were now on board, and the time that he hadalready been at sea, obliged him to reduce the allowance of water. Fortune favoured him after all his trials; on the third day a vesselhove in sight, and they were seen by her. She made sail for them, andtook them all on board. It was a schooner trafficking on the coast forgold dust and ivory; but the magnificent offers of Don Cumanos inducedthem to give up their voyage and run across the Atlantic to Carthagena. To Francisco it was of little moment where he went, and in Don Cumanoshe had found a sincere friend. 

'You have been my preserver, ' said the Spaniard, 'allow me to return theobligation--come and live with me. '

As Francisco was equally pleased with Don Cumanos, he accepted theoffer; they all arrived safely at Carthagena, and from thence proceededto his estate on the Magdalen river. 

CHAPTER XII

THE LIEUTENANT

When we last mentioned Edward Templemore we stated that he was alieutenant of the admiral's ship on the West India station, commandingthe tender. Now the name of the tender was the _Enterprise_: and it wassingular that she was one of two schooners built at Baltimore, remarkable for their beauty and good qualities; yet how different weretheir employments! Both had originally been built for the slave-trade;now one hoisted the English pennant, and cruised as the _Enterprise_;the other threw out the black flag, and scoured the seas as the_Avenger_. 

The _Enterprise_ was fitted much in the same way as we have alreadydescribed her sister vessel--that is, with one long brass gun amidships, and smaller ones for her broadside. But in the numbers of their crewthere was a great disparity; the _Enterprise_ not being manned with morethan sixty-five English sailors belonging to the admiral's ship. She wasemployed, as most admiral's tenders usually _were_, sometimes carrying atender made for a supply of provisions, or a tender of services, ifrequired, from the admiral; or, if not particularly wanted, with theimportant charge of a tender _billet-doux_ to some fair friend. But thisis a tender subject to touch upon. In the meantime it must be understoodthat she had the same commission to sink, burn, and destroy, as allother of his Majesty's vessels, if anything came in her way; but as sheusually carried despatches, the real importance of which were, ofcourse, unknown, she was not to go out of her way upon such service. 

Edward Templemore did, however, occasionally go a little out of his way, and had lately captured a very fine privateer, after a smart action, for which he anticipated his promotion; but the admiral thought him tooyoung, and therefore gave the next vacancy to his own nephew, who, theadmiral quite forgot, was much younger. 

Edward laughed when he heard of it upon his arrival at Port Royal; andthe admiral, who expected that he would make his appearance pouting withdisappointment, when he came up to the Penn to report himself, was sopleased with his good humour that he made a vow that Templemore shouldhave the next vacancy; but this he also quite forgot, because Edwardhappened to be, at the time it occurred, on a long cruise--and 'out ofsight out of mind' is a proverb so well established, that it may beurged as an excuse for a person who had so many other things to think ofas the admiral entrusted with the command of the West India station. 

Lieutenant Templemore had, in consequence, commanded the _Enterprise_for nearly two years, and without grumbling; for he was of a happydisposition, and passed a very happy sort of life. Mr. Witherington wasvery indulgent to him, and allowed him to draw liberally; he had plentyof money for himself or for a friend who required it, and he had plentyof amusement. Amongst other diversions, he had fallen most desperatelyin love; for, in one of his trips to the Leeward Isles (so called fromtheir being to windward) he had succoured a Spanish vessel, which had onboard the new Governor of Porto Rico, with his family, and had takenupon himself to land them on that island in safety; for which servicethe English admiral received a handsome letter, concluding with themoderate wish that his Excellency might live a thousand years, andEdward Templemore an invitation to go and see them whenever he mightpass that way; which, like most general invitations, was as much acompliment as the wish which wound up the letter to the admiral. It did, however, so happen that the Spanish governor had a very beautiful andonly daughter, carefully guarded by a duenna, and a monk who was thedepositary of all the sins of the governor's establishment; and it waswith this daughter that Edward Templemore fell into the heresy of love. 

She was, indeed, very beautiful; and, like all her country-women, wasardent in her affections. The few days that she was on board theschooner with her father, during the time that the _Enterprise_convoyed the Spanish vessel into port, were quite sufficient to ignitetwo such inflammable beings as Clara d'Alfarez and Edward Templemore. The monk had been left on board of the leaky vessel; there was noaccommodation in the schooner for him or the duenna, and Don Felix deMaxos de Cobas de Manilla d'Alfarez was too busy with his cigar to payattention to his daughter. 

When they were landed, Edward Templemore was asked to their residence, which was not in the town, but at a lovely bay on the south side of theisland. The town mansion was appropriated to business and the ceremonyof the court: it was too hot for a permanent abode, and the governoronly went there for a few hours each day. 

Edward Templemore remained a short time at the island, and at hisdeparture received the afore-mentioned letter from the father to theEnglish admiral, and an assurance of unalterable fidelity from thedaughter to the English lieutenant. On his return he presented theletter, and the admiral was satisfied with his conduct. 

When ordered out to cruise, which he always was when there was nothingelse to do, he submitted to the admiral whether, if he should happen tonear Porto Rico, he could not leave an answer to the Spanish governor'sletter; and the admiral, who knew the value of keeping up a goodunderstanding with foreign relations, took the hint, and gave him one todeliver, if _convenient_. The second meeting was, as may be supposed, more cordial than the first on the part of the young lady; not so, however, on the part of the duenna and holy friar, who soon found outthat their charge was in danger from heretical opinions. 

Caution became necessary; and as secrecy adds a charm to an amour, Clarareceived a long letter and a telescope from Edward. The letter informedher that, whenever he could, he would make his appearance in hisschooner off the south of the island, and await a signal made by her ata certain window, acknowledging her recognition of his vessel. On thenight of that signal he would land in his boat and meet her at anappointed spot. This was all very delightful; and it so happened thatEdward had four or five times contrived, during the last year, to meetClara without discovery, and again and again to exchange his vows. Itwas agreed between them that when he quitted the station, she wouldquit her father and her home, and trust her future happiness to anEnglishman and a heretic. 

[Illustration: _Don Felix de Maxos de Cobas de Manilla d'Alfarez, toobusy with his cigar to pay attention to his daughter. _]

It may be a matter of surprise to some of our readers that the admiralshould not have discovered the frequent visits of the _Enterprise_ toPorto Rico, as Edward was obliged to bring his log for examination everytime that he returned; but the admiral was satisfied with Edward'sconduct, and his anxiety to cruise when there was nothing else for himto do. His logs were brought on shore to the admiral's secretary, carefully rolled and sealed up. The admiral's secretary threw thepackages on one side, and thought no more of the matter, and Edward hadalways a ready story to tell when he took his seat at the admiral'sdinner-table; besides, he is a very unfit person to command a vessel whodoes not know how to write a log that will bear an investigation. Acertain latitude is always allowed in every degree of latitude as wellas longitude. 

The _Enterprise_ had been despatched to Antigua, and Edward thought thisan excellent opportunity to pay a visit to Clara d'Alfarez: hetherefore, upon his return, hove-to off the usual headland, and soonperceived the white curtain thrown out of the window. 

'There it is, sir, ' said one of the midshipmen who was near him--for hehad been there so often that the whole crew of the _Enterprise_ wereaware of his attachment--'she has shown her flag of truce. '

'A truce to your nonsense, Mr. Warren, ' replied Edward, laughing; 'howcame you to know anything about it?'

'I only judge by cause and effect, sir; and I know that I shall have togo on shore and wait for you to-night. '

'That's not unlikely; but let draw the foresheet; we must now get behindthe headland. '

The youngster was right: that evening, a little before dark, he attendedhis commander on shore, the _Enterprise_ lying-to with a lantern at herpeak. 

'Once more, dearest Clara!' said Edward, as he threw off her long veiland pressed her in his arms. 

'Yes, Edward, once more--but I am afraid only once more; for my maid, Inez, has been dangerously ill, and has confessed to Friar Ricardo. Ifear much that, in her fright (for she thought that she was dying), shehas told all. She is better now. '

'Why should you imagine so, Clara?'

'Oh, you know not what a frightened fool that Inez is when she is ill!Our religion is not like yours. '

'No, dear, it is not; but I will teach you a better. '

'Hush, Edward, you must not say that. Holy Virgin! if Friar Ricardoshould hear you! I think that Inez must have told him, for he fixes hisdark eyes upon me so earnestly. Yesterday he observed to me that I hadnot confessed. '

'Tell him to mind his own business. '

'That is his business, and I was obliged to confess to him last night. Itold him a great many things, and then he asked if that was all. Hiseyes went through me. I trembled as I uttered an untruth, for I said itwas. '

'I confess my sins but to my Maker, Clara! and I confess my love but toyou. Follow my plan, dearest!'

'I will half obey you, Edward. I will not tell my love. '

'And sins you have none, Clara; so you will obey me in all. '

'Hush, Edward, you must not say that. We all have sins; and oh! what agrievous sin they say it is to love you, who are a heretic! Holy Virgin, pardon me! but I could not help it. '

'If that is your only sin, dearest, I can safely give you absolution. '

'Nay, Edward, don't joke, but hear me. If Inez has confessed, they willlook for me here, and we must not meet again--at least not in thisplace. You know the little bay behind the rock, it is not much fartheroff, and there is a cave where I can wait: another time it must bethere. '

'It shall be there, dearest; but is it not too near the beach? will younot be afraid of the men in the boat, who might see you?'

'But we can leave the beach. It is Ricardo alone that I am in dread of, and the Donna Maria. Merciful Heaven! should my father know it all, weshould be lost--be separated for ever!' and Clara laid her forehead onEdward's shoulder, as her tears fell fast. 

'There is nought to fear, Clara. Hush! I heard a rustling in thoseorange-trees. Listen!'

'Yes! yes!' whispered Clara hastily; 'there is some one. Away! dearEdward, away!'

Clara sprang from his side, and hastened up the grove. Edward made hisretreat, and, flying down the rocky and narrow path through theunderwood, was soon on the beach and into his boat. The _Enterprise_arrived at headquarters, and Edward reported himself to the admiral. 

'I have work for you, Mr. Templemore, ' said the admiral; 'you must beready to proceed on service immediately. We've found your match. '

'I hope I may find her, sir, ' replied the lieutenant. 

'I hope so, too; for, if you give a good account of her, it will putanother swab on your shoulder. The pirate schooner, which has so longinfested the Atlantic, has been seen and chased off Barbadoes by the_Amelia_; but it appears that there is not a vessel in the squadronwhich can come near her, unless it be the _Enterprise_. She has sincecaptured two West Indiamen, and was seen steering with them towards thecoast of Guiana. Now, I am going to give you thirty additional hands, and send you after her. '

'Thank you, sir, ' replied Edward, his countenance beaming with delight. 

'How soon will you be ready?' inquired the admiral. 

'To-morrow morning, sir. '

'Very good. Tell Mr. Hadley to bring me the order for the men and yoursailing orders, and I will sign them; but recollect, Mr. Templemore, youwill have an awkward customer. Be prudent--brave I know you to be. '

Edward Templemore promised everything, as most people do in such cases;and before the next evening the _Enterprise_ was well in the offing, under a heavy press of sail. 

CHAPTER XIII

THE LANDING

The property of Don Cumanos, to which he had retired with his family, accompanied by Francisco, extended from the mouth of, to many miles up, the Magdalen river. It was a fine alluvial soil, forming one vast stripof rich meadow, covered with numerous herds of cattle. The house was nota hundred yards from the banks of this magnificent stream, and a smallbut deep creek ran up to the adjacent buildings; for Don Cumanos hadproperty even more valuable, being proprietor of a gold mine near thetown of Jambrano, about eight miles farther up, and which mine hadlatterly become exceedingly productive. The ore was brought down theriver in boats, and smelted in the outhouses near the creek to which wehave just referred. 

It will be necessary to observe that the establishment of the nobleSpaniard was numerous, consisting of nearly one hundred persons, employed in the smelting-house or attached to the household. 

For some time Francisco remained here happy and contented; he had becomethe confidential supervisor of Don Cumanos' household, proved himselfworthy of a trust so important, and was considered as one of the family. 

One morning, as Francisco was proceeding down to the smelting-house toopen the hatches of the small decked boats which had arrived fromJambrano with ore, and which were invariably secured with a padlock bythe superintendent above, to which Don Cumanos had a corresponding key, one of the chief men informed him that a vessel had anchored off themouth of the river the day before, and weighed again early that morning, and that she was now standing off and on. 

'From Carthagena, probably, beating up, ' replied Francisco. 

'Valga me Dios, if I know that, sir, ' said Diego. 'I should have thoughtnothing about it; but Giacomo and Pedro, who went out to fish lastnight, as usual, instead of coming back before midnight, have not beenheard of since. '

'Indeed! that is strange. Did they ever stay so long before?'

'Never, sir; and they have fished together now for seven years. '

Francisco gave the key to the man, who opened the locks of the hatches, and returned it. 

'There she is!' cried the man; the head-sails making their appearance asthe vessel opened to their view from the projecting point distant aboutfour miles. Francisco directed his eye towards her, and, without furtherremark, hastened to the house. 

'Well, Francisco, ' said Don Cumanos, who was stirring a small cup ofchocolate, 'what's the news this morning?'

'The _Nostra Senora del Carmen_ and the _Aguilla_ have arrived, and Ihave just unlocked the hatches. There is a vessel off the point whichrequires examination, and I have come for the telescope. '

'Requires examination! Why, Francisco?'

'Because Giacomo and Pedro, who went fishing last night, have notreturned, and there are no tidings of them. '

'That is strange! But how is this connected with the vessel?'

'That I will explain as soon as I have had an examination of her, 'replied Francisco, who had taken up the telescope, and was drawing outthe tube. Francisco fixed the glass against the sill of the window, andexamined the vessel some time in silence. 

'Yes! by the living God, it is the _Avenger_, and no other!' exclaimedhe, as he removed the telescope from his eye. 

'Eh?' cried Don Cumanos. 

'It is the pirate vessel--the _Avenger_--I'll forfeit my life upon it!Don Cumanos, you must be prepared. I know that they have long talked ofa visit to this quarter, and anticipate great booty, and they have thoseon board who know the coast well. The disappearance of your two menconvinces me that they sent up their boats last night to reconnoitre, and have captured them. Torture will extract the information which thepirates require, and I have little doubt but that the attack will bemade when they learn how much bullion there is at present on yourpremises. '

[Illustration: _Francisco fixed the glass against the sill of thewindow, and examined the vessel some time in silence. _]

'You may be right, ' replied Don Cumanos thoughtfully; 'that is, providedyou are sure that it is the pirate vessel. '

'Sure, Don Cumanos! I know every timber and plank in her; there is not arope nor a block but I can recognise. At the distance of four miles, with such a glass as this, I can discover every little variety in herrigging from other craft. I will swear to her, ' repeated Francisco, oncemore looking through the telescope. 

'And if they attack, Francisco?'

'We must defend ourselves, and, I trust, beat them off. They will comein their boats, and at night. If they were to run in the schooner bydaylight and anchor abreast of us, we should have but a poor chance. Butthey little think that I am here, and that they are recognised. Theywill attack this night, I rather think. '

'And what do you then propose, Francisco?'

'That we should send all the females away to Don Teodoro's--it is butfive miles--and call the men together as soon as possible. We are strongenough to beat them off if we barricade the house. They cannot land morethan from ninety to one hundred men, as some must remain in charge ofthe schooner; and we can muster quite as many. It may be as well topromise our men a reward if they do their duty. '

'That is all right enough; and the bullion we have here?'

'Here we had better let it remain; it will take too much time to removeit, and, besides, will weaken our force by the men who must be in chargeof it. The outhouses must be abandoned, and everything which is ofconsequence taken from them. Fire them they will, in all probability. Atall events we have plenty of time before us, if we begin at once. '

'Well, Francisco, I shall make you commandant, and leave thearrangements to you, while I go and speak to Donna Isidora. Send for themen and speak to them; promise them rewards, and act as if you wereordering upon your own responsibility. '

'I trust I shall prove myself worthy of your confidence, sir, ' repliedFrancisco. 

'Carambo!' exclaimed the old Don, as he left the room; 'but it isfortunate you are here. We might all have been murdered in our beds. '

Francisco sent for the head men of the establishment, and told them whathe was convinced they would have to expect; and he then explained tothem his views. The rest were all summoned; and Francisco pointed out tothem the little mercy they would receive if the pirates were notrepulsed, and the rewards which were promised by Don Cumanos if they didtheir duty. 

Spaniards are individually brave; and, encouraged by Francisco, theyagreed that they would defend the property to the last. 

The house of Don Cumanos was well suited to resist an attack of thisdescription, in which musketry only was expected to be employed. It wasa long parallelogram of stone walls, with a wooden veranda on the firstfloor, --for it was only one story high. The windows on the first storywere more numerous, but at the basement there were but two, and no otheropening but the door in the whole line of building. It was of acomposite architecture, between the Morisco and the Spanish. If thelower part of the house, which was of stone, could be secured fromentrance, the assailants would, of course, fight under a greatdisadvantage. The windows below were first secured by piling a heavymass of stones in the interior of the rooms against them, rising to theceiling from a base like the segment of a pyramid, extending to theopposite side of the chamber; and every preparation was made foreffectually barricading the door before night. Ladders were then fixedto ascend to the veranda, which was rendered musket-proof nearly as highas its railings, to protect the men. The Donna Isidora, and the women ofthe establishment, were in the afternoon despatched to Don Teodoro's;and, at the request of Francisco, joined to the entreaties of DonnaIsidora, Don Cumanos was persuaded to accompany them. The Don called hismen, and telling them that he left Francisco in command, expected themto do their duty; and then shaking hands with him, the cavalcade wassoon lost in the woods behind the narrow meadows which skirted theriver. 

There was no want of muskets and ammunition. Some were employed castingbullets, and others in examining the arms which had long been laid by. Before evening all was ready; every man had received his arms andammunition; the flints had been inspected; and Francisco had time to paymore attention to the schooner, which had during the day increased herdistance from the land, but was not again standing in for the shore. Half an hour before dusk, when within three miles, she wore round andput her head to the offing. 

'They'll attack this night, ' said Francisco, 'I feel almost positive:their yards and stay-tackles are up, all ready for hoisting out thelong-boat. '

'Let them come, señor; we will give them a warm reception, ' repliedDiego, the second in authority. 

It was soon too dark to perceive the vessel. Francisco and Diego orderedevery man, but five, into the house; the door was firmly barricaded, andsome large pieces of rock, which had been rolled into the passage, piledagainst it. Francisco then posted the five men down the banks of theriver, at a hundred yards' distance from each other, to give notice ofthe approach of the boats. It was about ten o'clock at night whenFrancisco and Diego descended the ladder and went to examine theiroutposts. 

'Señor, ' said Diego, as he and Francisco stood on the bank of the river, 'at what hour is it your idea that these villains will make theirattempt?'

'That is difficult to say. If the same captain commands them who didwhen I was on board of her, it will not be until after the moon is down, which will not be till midnight; but should it be any other who is inauthority, they may not be so prudent. '

'Holy Virgin! señor, were you ever on board of that vessel?'

'Yes, Diego, I was, and for a long while too; but not with my own goodwill. Had I not been on board I never should have recognised her. '

'Very true, señor; then we may thank the saints that you have once beena pirate. '

'I hope that I never was that, Diego, ' replied Francisco, smiling; 'butI have been a witness to dreadful proceedings on board of that vessel, at the remembrance of which, even now, my blood curdles. '

To pass away the time, Francisco then detailed many scenes of horror toDiego which he had witnessed when on board of the _Avenger_; and he wasstill in the middle of a narrative when a musket was discharged by thefarthermost sentinel. 

'Hark, Diego!'

Another, and another, nearer and nearer to them, gave the signal thatthe boats were close at hand. In a few minutes the men all came in, announcing that the pirates were pulling up the stream in three boats, and were less than a quarter of a mile from the landing-place. 

'Diego, go to the house with these men, and see that all is ready, ' saidFrancisco. 'I will wait here a little longer; but do not fire till Icome to you. '

Diego and the men departed, and Francisco was left on the beach alone. 

In another minute the sound of the oars was plainly distinguishable, andFrancisco's ears were directed to catch, if possible, the voices. 'Yes, 'thought he, 'you come with the intentions of murder and robbery, but youwill, through me, be disappointed. ' As the boats approached, he heardthe voice of Hawkhurst. The signal muskets fired had told the piratesthat they were discovered, and that in all probability they would meetwith resistance; silence was, therefore, no longer of any advantage. 

'Oars, my lads!--oars!' cried Hawkhurst. 

One boat ceased rowing, and soon afterwards the two others. The whole ofthem were now plainly seen by Francisco, at the distance of about onecable's length from where he stood; and the clear still night carriedthe sound of their voices along the water. 

'Here is a creek, sir, ' said Hawkhurst, 'leading up to those buildings. Would it not be better to land there, as, if they are not occupied, theywill prove a protection to us if we have a hard fight for it?'

'Very true, Hawkhurst, ' replied a voice, which Francisco immediatelyrecognised to be that of Cain. 

'He is alive, then, ' thought Francisco, 'and his blood is not yet uponmy hands. '

'Give way, my lads!' cried Hawkhurst. 

The boats dashed up the creek, and Francisco hastened back to thehouse. 

'Now, my lads, ' said he, as he sprang up the ladder, 'you must beresolute; we have to deal with desperate men. I have heard the voices ofthe captain and the chief mate; so there is no doubt as to its being thepirate. The boats are up the creek and will land behind theout-buildings. Haul up these ladders, and lay them fore and aft on theveranda; and do not fire without taking a good aim. Silence! mymen--silence! Here they come. '

The pirates were now seen advancing from the out-buildings in strongforce. In the direction in which they came, it was only from the side ofthe veranda, at which not more than eight or ten men could be placed, that the enemy could be repulsed. Francisco therefore gave orders thatas soon as some of the men had fired they should retreat and load theirmuskets, to make room for others. 

When the pirates had advanced half-way to the house, on the clear spacebetween it and the out-buildings, Francisco gave the word to fire. Thevolley was answered by another, and a shout from the pirates, who, withHawkhurst and Cain at their head, now pressed on, but not until they hadreceived a second discharge from the Spaniards, and the pirates hadfired in return. As the Spaniards could not at first fire a volley ofmore than a dozen muskets at a time, their opponents imagined theirforce to be much less than it really was. They now made otherarrangements. They spread themselves in a semicircle in front of theveranda, and kept up a continued galling fire. This was returned by theparty under Francisco for nearly a quarter of an hour; and as all themuskets were now called into action, the pirates found out that they hada more formidable enemy to cope with than they had anticipated. 

It was now quite dark, and not a figure was to be distinguished, exceptby the momentary flashing of the firearms. Cain and Hawkhurst, leavingtheir men to continue the attack, had gained the house, and a positionunder the veranda. Examining the windows and the door, there appearedbut little chance of forcing an entrance; but it immediately occurred tothem that under the veranda their men would not be exposed, and thatthey might fire through the wooden floor of it upon those above. Hawkhurst hastened away, and returned with about half the men, leavingthe others to continue their attack as before. The advantage of thismanoeuvre was soon evident. The musket-balls of the pirates piercedthe planks, and wounded many of the Spaniards severely; and Franciscowas at last obliged to order his men to retreat into the house, and fireout of the windows. 

But even this warfare did not continue; for the supporting pillars ofthe veranda being of wood, and very dry, they were set fire to by thepirates. Gradually the flames wound round them, and their forked tongueslicked the balustrade. At last the whole of the veranda was in flames. This was a great advantage to the attacking party, who could nowdistinguish the Spaniards without their being so clearly seenthemselves. Many were killed and wounded. The smoke and heat became sointense in the upper story that the men could no longer remain there;and, by the advice of Francisco, they retreated to the basement of thehouse. 

'What shall we do now, señor?' said Diego, with a grave face. 

'Do?' replied Francisco; 'they have burnt the veranda, that is all. Thehouse will not take fire; it is of solid stone: the roof indeed may; butstill here we are. I do not see that they are more advanced than theywere before. As soon as the veranda has burnt down, we must returnabove, and commence firing again from the windows. '

'Hark, sir! they are trying the door. '

'They may try a long while; they should have tried the door while theveranda protected them from our sight. As soon as it is burnt, we shallbe able to drive them away from it. I will go up again and see howthings are. '

'No, señor; it is of no use. Why expose yourself now that the flames areso bright?'

'I must go and see if that is the case, Diego. Put all the wounded menin the north chamber, it will be the safest, and more out of the way. '

Francisco ascended the stone staircase, and gained the upper story. Therooms were filled with smoke, and he could distinguish nothing. Anoccasional bullet whistled past him. He walked towards the windows, andsheltered himself behind the wall between them. 

The flames were not so violent, and the heat more bearable. In a shorttime a crash, and then another, told him that the veranda had fallen in. He looked through the window. The mass of lighted embers had fallendown in front of the house, and had, for a time, driven away theassailants. Nothing was left of the veranda but the burning ends of thejoists fixed in the wall above the windows, and the still glowingremains of the posts which once supported it. 

But the smoke from below now cleared away, and the discharge of one ortwo muskets told Francisco that he was perceived by the enemy. 

'The roof is safe, ' thought he, as he withdrew from the window; 'and nowI do not know whether the loss of the veranda may not prove a gain tous. '

What were the intentions of the pirates it was difficult to ascertain. For a time they had left off firing, and Francisco returned to hiscomrades. The smoke had gradually cleared away, and they were able toresume their positions above; but as the pirates did not fire, they, ofcourse, could do nothing, as it was only by the flashing of the musketsthat the enemy was to be distinguished. No further attempts were made atthe door or windows below; and Francisco in vain puzzled himself as tothe intended plans of the assailants. 

Nearly half an hour of suspense passed away. Some of the Spaniards wereof opinion that they had retreated to their boats and gone away, butFrancisco knew them better. All he could do was to remain above, andoccasionally look out to discover their motions. Diego, and one or twomore, remained with him; the other men were kept below, that they mightbe out of danger. 

'Holy Francis! but this has been a dreadful night, señor! How many hoursuntil daylight?' said Diego. 

'Two hours at least, I should think, ' replied Francisco; 'but the affairwill be decided before that. '

'The saints protect us! See, señor, are they not coming?'

Francisco looked through the gloom, in the direction of theout-buildings, and perceived a group of men advancing. A few moments andhe could clearly make them out. 

'Yes, truly, Diego; and they have made ladders, which they are carrying. They intend to storm the windows. Call them up; and now we must fighthard indeed. '

The Spaniards hastened up and filled the room above, which had threewindows in the front, looking towards the river, and which had beensheltered by the veranda. 

'Shall we fire now, señor?'

'No--no; do not fire till your muzzles are at their hearts. They cannotmount more than two at a time at each window. Recollect, my lads, thatyou must now fight hard, for your lives will not be spared; they willshow no quarter and no mercy. '

The ends of the rude ladders now made their appearance above the sill ofeach window. They had been hastily, yet firmly, constructed; and werenearly as wide as the windows. A loud cheer was followed by asimultaneous mounting of the ladders. 

Francisco was at the centre window, when Hawkhurst made his appearance, sabre in hand. He struck aside a musket aimed at him, and the ballwhizzed harmless over the broad water of the river. Another step, and hewould have been in, when Francisco fired his pistol; the ball enteredthe left shoulder of Hawkhurst, and he dropped his hold. Before he couldregain it, a Spaniard charged at him with a musket, and threw him back. He fell, bearing down with him one or two of his comrades, who had beenfollowing him up the ladder. 

Francisco felt as if the attack at that window was of little consequenceafter the fall of Hawkhurst, whose voice he had recognised; and hehastened to the one on the left, as he had heard Cain encouraging hismen in that direction. He was not wrong in his conjecture; Cain was atthe window, attempting to force an entrance, but was opposed by Diegoand other resolute men. But the belt of the pirate captain was full ofpistols, and he had already fired three with effect. Diego and the twobest men were wounded, and the others who opposed him were alarmed athis giant proportions. Francisco rushed to attack him; but what was theforce of so young a man against the herculean power of Cain? StillFrancisco's left hand was at the throat of the pirate, and the pistolwas pointed in his right, when a flash of another pistol, fired by onewho followed Cain, threw its momentary vivid light upon the features ofFrancisco, as he cried out, 'Blood for blood!' It was enough; the piratecaptain uttered a yell of terror at the supposed supernaturalappearance; and he fell from the ladder in a fit amongst the stillburning embers of the veranda. 

[Illustration: _The ball entered the left shoulder of Hawkhurst, and hedropped his hold. _]

The fall of their two chiefs, and the determined resistance of theSpaniards, checked the impetuosity of the assailants. They hesitated;and they at last retreated, bearing away with them their wounded. TheSpaniards cheered, and, led by Francisco, followed them down theladders, and in their turn became the assailants. Still the pirates'retreat was orderly: they fired, and retired rank behind ranksuccessively. They kept the Spaniards at bay, until they had arrived atthe boats, when a charge was made, and a severe conflict ensued. But thepirates had lost too many men, and, without their commander, feltdispirited. Hawkhurst was still on his legs, and giving his orders ascoolly as ever. He espied Francisco, and rushing at him, while the twoparties were opposed muzzle to muzzle, seized him by his collar anddragged him in amongst the pirates. 'Secure him, at all events!' criedHawkhurst, as they slowly retreated and gained the outhouses. Franciscowas overpowered and hauled into one of the boats, all of which in a fewminutes afterwards were pulling with all their might to escape from themuskets of the Spaniards, who followed the pirates by the banks of theriver, annoying them in their retreat. 

CHAPTER XIV

THE MEETING

The pirates returned to their vessel discomfited. Those on board, whowere prepared to hoist in ingots of precious metal, had to receivenought but wounded men, and many of their comrades had remained dead onthe shore. Their captain was melancholy and downcast. Hawkhurst wasbadly wounded, and obliged to be carried below as soon as he came onboard. The only capture which they had made was their former associateFrancisco, who, by the last words spoken by Hawkhurst as he wassupported to his cabin, was ordered to be put in irons. The boats werehoisted in without noise, and a general gloom prevailed. All sail wasthen made upon the schooner, and when day dawned she was seen by theSpaniards far away to the northward. 

The report was soon spread through the schooner that Francisco had beenthe cause of their defeat; and although this was only a surmise, still, as they considered that had he not recognised the vessel the Spaniardswould not have been prepared, they had good grounds for what had swelledinto an assertion. He became, therefore, to many of them, an object ofbitter enmity, and they looked forward with pleasure to his destruction, which his present confinement they considered but the precursor of. 

'Hist! Massa Francisco, ' said a low voice near to where Francisco sat onthe chest. Francisco turned round and beheld the Krouman, his oldfriend. 

'Ah! Pompey, are you all still on board?' said Francisco. 

'All! no, ' replied the man, shaking his head; 'some die--some getaway--only four Kroumen left. Massa Francisco, how you come back again?Everybody tink you dead. I say no, not dead--ab charm with him--abbook. '

'If that was my charm, I have it still, ' replied Francisco, taking theBible out of his vest; for, strange to say, Francisco himself had a kindof superstition relative to that Bible, and had put it into his bosomprevious to the attack made by the pirates. 

'Dat very good, Massa Francisco; den you quite safe. Here comeJohnson--he very bad man. I go away. '

In the meantime Cain had retired to his cabin with feelings scarcely tobe analysed. He was in a bewilderment. Notwithstanding the wound he hadreceived by the hand of Francisco, he would never have sanctionedHawkhurst putting him on shore on a spot which promised nothing but alingering and miserable death. Irritated as he had been by the youngman's open defiance, he loved him--loved him much more than he was awareof himself; and when he had recovered sufficiently from his wound, andhad been informed where Francisco had been sent on shore, he quarrelledwith Hawkhurst, and reproached him bitterly and sternly, in languagewhich Hawkhurst never forgot or forgave. The vision of the starving ladhaunted Cain, and rendered him miserable. His affection for him, nowthat he was, as he supposed, lost for ever, increased with tenfoldforce; and since that period Cain had never been seen to smile. Hebecame more gloomy, more ferocious than ever, and the men trembled whenhe appeared on deck. 

The apparition of Francisco after so long an interval, and in such anunexpected quarter of the globe, acted as we have before described uponCain. When he was taken to the boat he was still confused in his ideas, and it was not until they were nearly on board that he perceived thatthis young man was indeed at his side. He could have fallen on his neckand kissed him; for Francisco had become to him a capture more prizedthan all the wealth of the Indies. But one pure, good feeling wasunextinguished in the bosom of Cain; stained with every crime--with hishands so deeply imbrued in blood--at enmity with all the rest of theworld, that one feeling burnt bright and clear, and was not to bequenched. It might have proved a beacon-light to steer him back torepentance and to good works. 

But there were other feelings which also crowded upon the mind of thepirate captain. He knew Francisco's firmness and decision. By someinscrutable means, which Cain considered as supernatural, Francisco hadobtained the knowledge, and had accused him, of his mother's death. Would not the affection which he felt for the young man be met withhatred and defiance? He was but too sure that it would. And then hisgloomy, cruel disposition would resume its influence, and he thought ofrevenging the attack upon his life. His astonishment at the reappearanceof Francisco was equally great, and he trembled at the sight of him, asif he were his accusing and condemning spirit. Thus did he wander fromone fearful fancy to another, until he at last summoned up resolution tosend for him. 

A morose, dark man, whom Francisco had not seen when he was before inthe schooner, obeyed the commands of the captain. The irons wereunlocked, and Francisco was brought down into the cabin. The captainrose and shut the door. 

'I little thought to see you here, Francisco, ' said Cain. 

'Probably not, ' replied Francisco boldly, 'but you have me again in yourpower, and may now wreak your vengeance. '

'I feel none, Francisco; nor would I have suffered you to have been puton shore as you were, had I known of it. Even now that our expeditionhas failed through your means, I feel no anger towards you, although Ishall have some difficulty in preserving you from the enmity of others. Indeed, Francisco, I am glad to find that you are alive, and I havebitterly mourned your loss;' and Cain extended his hand. 

But Francisco folded his arms, and was silent. 

'Are you then so unforgiving?' said the captain. 'You know that I tellthe truth. '

'I believe that you state the truth, Captain Cain, for you are too boldto lie; and, as far as I am concerned, you have all the forgiveness youmay wish: but I cannot take that hand; nor are our accounts yetsettled. '

'What would you more? Cannot we be friends again? I do not ask you toremain on board. You are free to go where you please. Come, Francisco, take my hand, and let us forget what is past. '

'The hand that is imbrued with my mother's blood, perhaps!' exclaimedFrancisco. 'Never!'

'Not so, by G--d!' exclaimed Cain. 'No, no; not quite so bad as that. Inmy mood I struck your mother; I grant it. I did not intend to injureher, but I did, and she died. I will not lie--that is the fact. And itis also the fact that I wept over her, Francisco; for I loved her as Ido you. ' ('It was a hasty, bitter blow, that, ' continued Cain, soliloquising, with his hand to his forehead, and unconscious ofFrancisco's presence at the moment. 'It made me what I am, for it mademe reckless. ') 'Francisco, ' said Cain, raising his head, 'I was bad, butI was no pirate when your mother lived. There is a curse upon me; thatwhich I love most I treat the worst. Of all the world, I loved yourmother most; yet did she from me receive much injury, and at last Icaused her death. Next to your mother, whose memory I at once revere andlove, and tremble when I think of (and each night does she appear tome), I have loved you, Francisco, for you, like her, have an angel'sfeelings; yet have I treated you as ill. You thwarted me, and you wereright. Had you been wrong, I had not cared; but you were right, and itmaddened me. Your appeals by day--your mother's in my dreams----'

Francisco's heart was softened; if not repentance, there was at leastcontrition. 'Indeed I pity you, ' replied Francisco. 

'You must do more, Francisco; you must be friends with me, ' said Cain, again extending his hand. 

'I cannot take that hand, it is too deeply dyed in blood, ' repliedFrancisco. 

'Well, well, so would have said your mother. But hear me, Francisco, 'said Cain, lowering his voice to a whisper, lest he should be overheard;'I am tired of this life--perhaps sorry for what I have done--I wish toleave it--have wealth in plenty concealed where others know not. Tellme, Francisco, shall we both quit this vessel, and live together happilyand without doing wrong? You shall share all, Francisco. Say, now, doesthat please you?'

'Yes; it pleases me to hear that you will abandon your lawless life, Captain Cain: but share your wealth I cannot, for how has it beengained?'

'It cannot be returned, Francisco; I will do good with it. I willindeed, Francisco. I--will--repent;' and again the hand was extended. 

Francisco hesitated. 

'I do, so help me God! I _do_ repent, Francisco!' exclaimed the piratecaptain. 

'And I, as a Christian, do forgive you all, ' replied Francisco, takingthe still extended hand. 'May God forgive you too!'

'Amen!' replied the pirate solemnly, covering his face up in his hands. 

In this position he remained some minutes, Francisco watching him insilence. At last the face was uncovered, and, to the surprise ofFrancisco, a tear was on the cheek of Cain, and his eyes suffused withmoisture. Francisco no longer waited for the hand to be extended; hewalked up to the captain, and taking him by the hand, pressed it warmly. 

'God bless you, boy! God bless you!' said Cain; 'but leave me now. '

Francisco returned on deck with a light and grateful heart. Hiscountenance at once told those who were near him that he was notcondemned, and many who dared not before take notice of, now salutedhim. The man who had taken him out of irons looked round; he was acreature of Hawkhurst, and he knew not how to act. Francisco observedhim, and, with a wave of the hand, ordered him below. That Francisco wasagain in authority was instantly perceived, and the first proof of itwas, that the new second mate reported to him that there was a sail onthe weather bow. 

Francisco took the glass to examine her. It was a large schooner underall sail. Not wishing that any one should enter the cabin but himself, he went down to the cabin door and knocked before he entered, andreported the vessel. 

'Thank you, Francisco; you must take Hawkhurst's duty for thepresent--it shall not be for long; and fear not that I shall makeanother capture. I swear to you I will not, Francisco. But thisschooner--I know very well what she is; she has been looking after ussome time; and a week ago, Francisco, I was anxious to meet her, that Imight shed more blood. Now I will do all I can to avoid her, and escape. I can do no more, Francisco. I must not be taken. '

'There I cannot blame you. To avoid her will be easy, I should think;the _Avenger_ outsails everything. '

'Except, I believe, the _Enterprise_, which is a sister vessel. Byheaven! it's a fair match, ' continued Cain, his feelings ofcombativeness returning for a moment; 'and it will look like a craven torefuse the fight: but fear not, Francisco--I have promised you, and Ishall keep my word. '

[Illustration: _'God bless you, boy! God bless you!' said Cain; 'butleave me now. '_]

Cain went on deck, and surveyed the vessel through the glass. 

'Yes, it must be her, ' said he aloud, so as to be heard by the pirates;'she has been sent out by the admiral on purpose, full of his best men. What a pity we are so short-handed!'

'There's enough of us, sir, ' observed the boatswain. 

'Yes, ' replied Cain, 'if there was anything but hard blows to be got;but that is all, and I cannot spare more men. Ready about!' continuedhe, walking aft. 

The _Enterprise_, for she was the vessel in pursuit, was then about fivemiles distant, steering for the _Avenger_, who was on a wind. As soonas the _Avenger_ tacked, the _Enterprise_ took in her topmaststudding-sail, and hauled her wind. This brought the _Enterprise_ wellon the weather-quarter of the _Avenger_, who now made all sail. Thepirates, who had had quite enough of fighting, and were not stimulatedby the presence of Hawkhurst, or the wishes of their captain, now showedas much anxiety to avoid as they usually did to seek a combat. 

At the first trial of sailing between the two schooners there was noperceptible difference; for half an hour they both continued on a wind, and when Edward Templemore examined his sextant a second time, he couldnot perceive that he had gained upon the _Avenger_ one cable's length. 

'We will keep away half a point, ' said Edward to his second in command. 'We can afford that, and still hold the weather-gage. '

The _Enterprise_ was kept away, and increased her speed: they neared the_Avenger_ more than a quarter of a mile. 

'They are nearing us, ' observed Francisco; 'we must keep away a point. '

Away went the _Avenger_, and would have recovered her distance, but the_Enterprise_ was again steered more off the wind. 

Thus did they continue altering their course until the studding-sailsbelow and aloft were set by both, and the position of the schooners waschanged; the _Enterprise_ now being on the starboard instead of thelarboard quarter of the _Avenger_. The relative distance between the twoschooners was, however, nearly the same, that is, about three miles anda half from each other; and there was every prospect of a long and wearychase on the part of the _Enterprise_, who again kept away a point tonear the _Avenger_. Both vessels were now running to the eastward. 

It was about an hour before dark that another sail hove in sight rightahead of the _Avenger_, and was clearly made out to be a frigate. Thepirates were alarmed at this unfortunate circumstance, as there waslittle doubt but that she would prove a British cruiser; and, if not, they had equally reason to expect that she would assist in theircapture. She had evidently perceived the two schooners, and had made allsail, tacking every quarter of an hour so as to keep her relativeposition. The _Enterprise_, who had also made out the frigate, toattract her attention, though not within range of the _Avenger_, commenced firing with her long gun. 

'This is rather awkward, ' observed Cain. 

'It will be dark in less than an hour, ' observed Francisco; 'and that isour only chance. '

Cain reflected a minute. 

'Get the long gun ready, my lads! We will return her fire, Francisco, and hoist American colours; that will puzzle the frigate, at all events, and the night may do the rest. '

The long gun of the _Avenger_ was ready. 

'I would not fire the long gun, ' observed Francisco; 'it will show ourforce, and will give no reason for our attempt to escape. Now, if wewere to fire our broadside guns, the difference of report between themand the one of large calibre fired by the other schooner would inducethem to think that we are an American vessel. '

'Very true, ' replied Cain; 'and, as America is at peace with all theworld, that our antagonist is a pirate. Hold fast the long gun, there, and unship the starboard ports. See that the ensign blows out clear. '

The _Avenger_ commenced firing an occasional gun from her broadside, thereports of which were hardly to be heard by those on board of thefrigate; while the long gun of the _Enterprise_ reverberated along thewater, and its loud resonance was swept by the wind to the frigate toleeward. 

Such was the state of affairs when the sun sank down in the wave, anddarkness obscured the vessels from each other's sight, except with theassistance of the night-telescopes. 

'What do you propose to do, Captain Cain?' said Francisco. 

'I have made up my mind to do a bold thing. I will run down to thefrigate, as if for shelter; tell him that the other vessel is a pirate, and claim his protection. Leave me to escape afterwards; the moon willnot rise till nearly one o'clock. '

'That will be a bold ruse indeed; but suppose you are once under herbroadside, and she suspects you?'

'Then I will show her my heels. I should care nothing for her and herbroadside if the schooner was not here. '

In an hour after dark the _Avenger_ was close to the frigate, havingsteered directly for her. She shortened sail gradually, as if she hadfew hands on board; and, keeping his men out of sight, Cain ran underthe stern of the frigate. 

'Schooner ahoy! What schooner is that?'

'_Eliza_ of Baltimore, from Carthagena, ' replied Cain, rounding to underthe lee of the man-of-war, and then continuing: 'That vessel in chase isa pirate. Shall I send a boat on board?'

'No; keep company with us. '

'Ay, ay, sir, ' replied Cain. 

'Hands about ship!' now resounded with the boatswain's whistle on boardof the frigate, and in a minute they were on the other tack. The_Avenger_ also tacked and kept close under the frigate's counter. 

In the meantime Edward Templemore and those on board of the_Enterprise_, who, by the course steered, had gradually neared them, perceiving the motions of the two other vessels, were quite puzzled. Atone time they thought they had made a mistake, and that it was not thepirate vessel; at another they surmised that the crew had mutinied andsurrendered to the frigate. Edward hauled his wind, and steered directlyfor them, to ascertain what the real facts were. The captain of thefrigate, who had never lost sight of either vessel, was equallyastonished at the boldness of the supposed pirate. 

'Surely the rascal does not intend to board us?' said he to the firstlieutenant. 

'There is no saying, sir; you know what a character he has; and somesay there are three hundred men on board, which is equal to our ship'scompany. Or perhaps, sir, he will pass to windward of us, and give us abroadside, and be off in the wind's eye again. '

'At all events we will have a broadside ready for him, ' replied thecaptain. 'Clear away the starboard guns, and take out the tompions. Pipestarboard watch to quarters. '

The _Enterprise_ closed with the frigate to windward, intending to runround her stern and bring to on the same tack. 

'He does not shorten sail yet, sir, ' said the first lieutenant, as theschooner appeared skimming along about a cable's length on their weatherbow. 

'And she is full of men, sir, ' said the master, looking at her throughthe night-glass. 

'Fire a gun at her!' said the captain. 

Bang! The smoke cleared away, and the schooner's foretopsail, which shewas in the act of clewing up, lay over her side. The shot had struck theforemast of the _Enterprise_, and cut it in two below the catharpings. The _Enterprise_ was, for the time, completely disabled. 

'Schooner ahoy! What schooner is that?'

'His Majesty's schooner _Enterprise_. '

'Send a boat on board immediately. '

'Ay, ay, sir. '

'Turn the hands up! Shorten sail!'

The top-gallant and courses of the frigate were taken in, and themainsail hove to the mast. 

'Signalman, whereabouts is that other schooner now?'

'The schooner, sir? On the quarter, ' replied the signalman, who, witheverybody else on board, was so anxious about the _Enterprise_ that theyhad neglected to watch the motions of the supposed American. The man hadreplied at random, and he now jumped upon the signal-chests abaft tolook for her. But she was not to be seen. Cain, who had watched all thatpassed between the other two vessels, and had been prepared to slip offat a moment's warning, as soon as the gun was fired at the otherschooner, had wore round and made all sail on a wind. The night-glassdiscovered her half a mile astern; and the ruse was immediatelyperceived. The frigate filled and made sail, leaving Edward to return onboard--for there was no time to stop for the boat--tacked, and gavechase. But the _Avenger_ was soon in the wind's eye of her; and atdaylight was no longer to be seen. 

In the meantime, Edward Templemore had followed the frigate as soon ashe could set sail on his vessel, indignant at his treatment, and vowingthat he would demand a court-martial. About noon the frigate rejoinedhim, when matters were fully explained. Annoyed as they all felt at nothaving captured the pirate, it was unanimously agreed, that by hisaudacity and coolness he deserved to escape. It was found that the mastof the _Enterprise_ could be fished and scarfed, so as to enable her tocontinue her cruise. The carpenters of the frigate were sent on board;and in two days the injury was repaired, and Edward Templemore once morewent in pursuit of the _Avenger_. 

CHAPTER XV

THE MISTAKE

The _Avenger_ stood under a press of sail to the northward. She had lefther pursuers far behind; and there was not a speck on the horizon, when, on the second morning, Francisco, who had resumed his berth in thecaptain's cabin, went up on deck. Notwithstanding the request of Cain, Francisco refused to take any part in the command of the schooner, considering himself as a passenger, or prisoner on parole. He had notbeen on deck but a few minutes, when he observed the two Spanishfishermen, belonging to the establishment of Don Cumanos, conversingtogether forward. Their capture had quite escaped his memory, and hewent forward to speak to them. Their surprise at seeing him was great, until Francisco informed them of what had passed. They then recountedwhat had occurred to them, and showed their thumbs, which had been putinto screws to torture from them the truth. Francisco shuddered, butconsoled them by promising that they should soon be at liberty, andreturn to their former master. 

As Francisco returned from forward, he found Hawkhurst on the deck. Their eyes met and flashed in enmity. Hawkhurst was pale from loss ofblood, and evidently suffering; but he had been informed of the apparentreconciliation between Francisco and the captain, and he could no longerremain in his bed. He knew, also, how the captain had avoided the combatwith the _Enterprise_; and something told him that there was arevolution of feeling in more than one point. Suffering as he was, heresolved to be a spectator of what passed, and to watch narrowly. Forboth Francisco and Cain he had imbibed a deadly hatred, and was watchingfor an opportunity to wreak his revenge. At present they were toopowerful; but he felt that the time was coming when he might betriumphant. 

Francisco passed Hawkhurst without speaking. 

'You are at liberty again, I see, ' observed Hawkhurst, with a sneer. 

'I am not, at all events, indebted to you for it, ' replied Franciscohaughtily; 'nor for my life either. '

'No, indeed; but I believe that I am indebted to you for this bullet inmy shoulder, ' replied the mate. 

'You are, ' replied Francisco coolly. 

'And depend upon it, the debt shall be repaid with usury. '

'I have no doubt of it, if ever it is in your power; but I fear younot. '

As Francisco made this reply, the captain came up the ladder. Hawkhurstturned away and walked forward. 

'There is mischief in that man, Francisco, ' said the captain in anundertone; 'I hardly know whom to trust; but he must be watched. He istampering with the men, and has been for some time; not that it is ofmuch consequence, if he does but remain quiet for a little while. Thecommand of this vessel he is welcome to very soon; but if he attemptstoo early----'

'I have those I can trust to, ' replied Francisco. 'Let us go below. '

Francisco sent for Pompey the Krouman, and gave him his directions inthe presence of the captain. That night, to the surprise of all, Hawkhurst kept his watch; and, notwithstanding the fatigue, appearedevery day to be rapidly recovering from his wound. 

Nothing occurred for several days, during which the _Avenger_ stillcontinued her course. What the captain's intentions were did nottranspire; they were known only to Francisco. 

'We are very short of water, sir, ' reported Hawkhurst one morning;'shall we have enough to last us to where we are going?'

'How many days of full allowance have we on board?'

'Not above twelve at the most. '

'Then we must go on half allowance, ' replied Cain. 

'The ship's company wish to know where we are going, sir. '

'Have they deputed you to ask the question?'

'Not exactly, sir; but I wish to know myself, ' replied Hawkhurst, withan insolent air. 

'Turn the hands up, ' replied Cain; 'as one of the ship's company undermy orders, you will, with the others, receive the information yourequire. '

The crew of the pirate collected aft. 

'My lads, ' said Cain, 'I understand, from the first mate, that you areanxious to know where you are going? In reply, I acquaint you that, having so many wounded men on board, and so much plunder in the hold, Iintend to repair to our rendezvous when we were formerly in this part ofthe world--the _Caicos_. Is there any other question you may wish to askof me?'

'Yes, ' replied Hawkhurst; 'we wish to know what your intentions arerelative to that young man, Francisco. We have lost immense wealth; wehave now thirty men wounded in the hammocks, and nine we left dead onthe shore; and I have a bullet through my body; all of which has beenoccasioned by him. We demand justice!'

Here Hawkhurst was supported by several of the pirates; and there weremany voices which repeated the cry of 'Justice!'

'My men! you demand justice, and you shall have it, ' replied Cain. 'Thislad you all know well; I have brought him up as a child. He has alwaysdisliked our mode of life, and has often requested to leave it, but hasbeen refused. He challenged me by our own laws, "Blood for blood!" Hewounded me; but he was right in his challenge, and therefore I bear nomalice. Had I been aware that he was to have been sent on shore to diewith hunger, I would not have permitted it. What crime had he committed?None; or, if any, it was against me. He was then sentenced to death forno crime, and you yourselves exclaimed against it. Is it not true?'

'Yes--yes, ' replied the majority of the pirates. 

'By a miracle he escapes, and is put in charge of another man'sproperty. He is made a prisoner, and now you demand justice. You shallhave it. Allowing that his life is forfeit for this offence, --you havealready sentenced him, and left him to death unjustly, and therefore arebound in justice to give his life in this instance. I ask it, my men, not only as his right, but as a favour to your captain. '

'Agreed; it's all fair!' exclaimed the majority of the pirate's crew. 

'My men, I thank you, ' replied Cain; 'and in return, as soon as wearrive at the Caicos, my share of the plunder on board shall be dividedamong you. '

This last observation completely turned the tables in favour of thecaptain; and those who had joined Hawkhurst now sided with the captain. Hawkhurst looked like a demon. 

'Let those who choose to be bought off take your money, ' replied he;'but _I will not_. Blood for blood I will have; and so I give youwarning. That lad's life is mine, and have it I will! Prevent me, if youcan!' continued the mate, holding up his clenched hand, and shaking italmost in the pirate captain's face. 

The blood mantled even to the forehead of Cain. One moment he raisedhimself to his utmost height, then seizing a handspike which lay near, he felled Hawkhurst to the deck. 

'Take that for your mutiny!' exclaimed Cain, putting his foot onHawkhurst's neck. 'My lads, I appeal to you. Is this man worthy to be incommand as mate? Is he to live?'

'No! no!' cried the pirates. 'Death!'

Francisco stepped forward. 'My men, you have granted your captain onefavour; grant me another, which is the life of this man. Recollect howoften he has led you to conquest, and how brave and faithful he has beenuntil now! Recollect that he is suffering under his wound, which hasmade him irritable. Command you he cannot any longer, as he will neverhave the confidence of your captain; but let him live, and quit thevessel. '

'Be it so, if you agree, ' replied Cain, looking at the men; 'I do notseek his life. '

The pirates consented. Hawkhurst rose slowly from the deck, and wasassisted below to his cabin. The second mate was then appointed as thefirst, and the choice of the man to fill up the vacancy was left to thepirate crew. 

[Illustration: _'Blood for blood I will have, ' continued the mate, holding up his clenched hand, and shaking it almost in the piratecaptain's face. _]

For three days after this scene all was quiet and orderly on board ofthe pirate. Cain, now that he had more fully made up his mind how toact, imparted to Francisco his plans; and his giving up to the men hisshare of the booty still on board was, to Francisco, an earnest of hisgood intentions. A cordiality, even, a kind of feeling which neverexisted before, was created between them; but of Francisco's mother, andthe former events of his own life, the pirate never spoke. Franciscomore than once put questions on the subject; the answer was, 'You shallknow some of these days, Francisco, but not yet; you would hate me toomuch!'

The _Avenger_ was now clear of the English isles, and with light windsrunning down the shores of Porto Rico. In the evening of the day onwhich they had made the land, the schooner was becalmed about threemiles from the shore, and the new first mate proposed that he shouldland in the boat and obtain a further supply of water from a fall whichthey had discovered with the glasses. As this was necessary, Cain gavehis consent, and the boat quitted the vessel full of breakers. 

Now it happened that the _Avenger_ lay becalmed abreast of the countryseat of Don d'Alfarez, the governor of the island. Clara had seen theschooner; and, as usual, had thrown out the white curtain as a signal ofrecognition; for there was no perceptible difference, even to a sailor, at that distance, between the _Avenger_ and the _Enterprise_. She hadhastened down to the beach, and hurried into the cave, awaiting thearrival of Edward Templemore. The pirate boat landed at the very spot ofrendezvous, and the mate leaped out of the boat. Clara flew to receiveher Edward, and was instantly seized by the mate, before she discoveredher mistake. 

'Holy Virgin! who and what are you?' cried she, struggling to disengageherself. 

'One who is very fond of a pretty girl!' replied the pirate, stilldetaining her. 

'Unhand me, wretch!' cried Clara. 'Are you aware whom you areaddressing?'

'Not I! nor do I care, ' replied the pirate. 

'You will perhaps, sir, when you learn that I am the daughter of thegovernor!' exclaimed Clara, pushing him away. 

'Yes, by heavens! you are right, pretty lady, I do care; for agovernor's daughter will fetch a good ransom, at all events. So come, my lads, a little help here; for she is as strong as a young mule. Nevermind the water, throw the breakers into the boat again; we have a prizeworth taking!'

Clara screamed; but she was gagged with a handkerchief and lifted intothe boat, which immediately rowed back to the schooner. 

When the mate came on board and reported his capture, the pirates weredelighted at the prospect of addition to their prize-money. Cain couldnot, of course, raise any objections; it would have been so differentfrom his general practice, that it would have strengthened suspicionsalready set afloat by Hawkhurst, which Cain was most anxious just thento remove. He ordered the girl to be taken down into the cabin, hoistedin the boat, and the breeze springing up again, made sail. 

In the meantime Francisco was consoling the unfortunate Clara, andassuring her that she need be under no alarm, promising her protectionfrom himself and the captain. 

The poor girl wept bitterly, and it was not until Cain came down intothe cabin and corroborated the assurances of Francisco that she couldassume any degree of composure; but to find friends when she hadexpected every insult and degradation--for Francisco had acknowledgedthat the vessel was a pirate--was some consolation. The kindness andattention of Francisco restored her to comparative tranquillity. 

The next day she confided to him the reason of her coming to the beach, and her mistake with regard to the two vessels, and Francisco and Cainpromised her that they would themselves pay her ransom, and not waituntil she heard from her father. To divert her thoughts Francisco talkedmuch about Edward Templemore, and on that subject Clara could alwaystalk. Every circumstance attending the amour was soon known toFrancisco. 

But the _Avenger_ did not gain her rendezvous as soon as she expected. When to the northward of Porto Rico an English frigate bore down uponher, and the _Avenger_ was obliged to run for it. Before the wind isalways a schooner's worst point of sailing, and the chase was continuedfor three days before a fresh wind from the southward, until they hadpassed the Bahama Isles. 

The pirates suffered much from want of water, as it was necessary stillfurther to reduce their allowance. The frigate was still in sight, although the _Avenger_ had dropped her astern when the wind becamelight, and at last it subsided into a calm, which lasted two days more. The boats of the frigate were hoisted out on the eve of the second dayto attack the schooner, then distant five miles, when a breeze sprang upfrom the northward, and the schooner being then to windward, left theenemy hull down. 

It was not until the next day that Cain ventured to run again to thesouthward to procure at one of the keys the water so much required. Atlast it was obtained, but with difficulty and much loss of time, fromthe scantiness of the supply, and they again made sail for the Caicos. But they were so much impeded by contrary winds and contrary currentsthat it was not until three weeks after they had been chased from PortoRico that they made out the low land of their former rendezvous. 

We must now return to Edward Templemore in the _Enterprise_, whom weleft off the coast of South America in search of the _Avenger_, whichhad so strangely slipped through their fingers. Edward had examined thewhole coast, ran through the passage and round Trinidad, and thenstarted off to the Leeward Isles in his pursuit. He had spoken everyvessel he met with without gaining any information, and had at lastarrived off Porto Rico. 

This was no time to think of Clara; but, as it was not out of his way, he had run down the island, and as it was just before dark when hearrived off that part of the coast where the governor resided, he hadhove-to for a little while, and had examined the windows: but the signalof recognition was not made, and after waiting till dark he again madesail, mad with disappointment, and fearing that all had been discoveredby the governor; whereas the fact was, that he had only arrived two daysafter the forcible abduction of Clara. Once more he directed hisattention to the discovery of the pirate, and after a fortnight'sexamination of the inlets and bays of the Island of St. Domingo withoutsuccess, his provisions and water being nearly expended, he returned, inno very happy mood, to Port Royal. 

In the meantime the disappearance of Clara had created the greatestconfusion in Porto Rico, and upon the examination of her attendant, whowas confronted by the friar and the duenna, the amour of her mistresswas confessed. The appearance of the _Avenger_ off the coast on thatevening confirmed their ideas that the Donna Clara had been carried offby the English lieutenant, and Don Alfarez immediately despatched avessel to Jamaica, complaining of the outrage, and demanding therestoration of his daughter. 

This vessel arrived at Port Royal a few days before the _Enterprise_, and the admiral was very much astonished. He returned a very politeanswer to Don Alfarez, promising an investigation immediately upon thearrival of the schooner, and to send a vessel with the result of thesaid investigation. 

'This is a pretty business, ' said the admiral to his secretary. 'Youngmadcap! I sent him to look after a pirate, and he goes after thegovernor's daughter! By the Lord Harry, Mr. Templemore, but you and Ishall have an account to settle. '

'I can hardly believe it, sir, ' replied the secretary; 'and yet it doeslook suspicious. But on so short an acquaintance----'

'Who knows that, Mr. Hadley? Send for his logs, and let us examine them;he may have been keeping up the acquaintance. '

The logs of the _Enterprise_ were examined, and there were the fatalwords--Porto Rico, Porto Rico, bearing in every division of the compass, and in every separate cruise, nay, even when the schooner was chargedwith despatches. 

'Plain enough, ' said the admiral. 'Confounded young scamp, to embroil mein this way! Not that his marrying the girl is any business of mine; butI will punish him for disobedience of orders, at all events. Try him bya court-martial, by heavens!'

The secretary made no reply: he knew very well that the admiral would dono such thing. 

'The _Enterprise_ anchored at daylight, sir, ' reported the secretary asthe admiral sat down to breakfast. 

'And where's Mr. Templemore?'

'He is outside in the veranda. They have told him below of what he hasbeen accused, and he swears it is false. I believe him, sir, for heappears half mad at the intelligence. '

'Stop a moment. Have you looked over his log?'

'Yes, sir. It appears that he was off Porto Rico on the 19th; but theSpanish governor's letter says that he was there on the 17th, and againmade his appearance on the 19th. I mentioned it to him, and he declaresupon his honour that he was only there on the 19th, as stated in hislog. '

'Well, let him come in and speak for himself. '

Edward came in, in a state of great agitation. 

'Well, Mr. Templemore, you have been playing pretty tricks! What is allthis, sir? Where is the girl, sir--the governor's daughter?'

'Where she is, sir, I cannot pretend to say; but I feel convinced thatshe has been carried off by the pirates. '

'Pirates! Poor girl, I pity her!--and I pity you too, Edward. Come, sitdown here, and tell me all that has happened. '

Edward knew the admiral's character so well, that he immediatelydisclosed all that had passed between him and Clara. He then stated howthe _Avenger_ had escaped him by deceiving the frigate, and theagreement made with Clara to meet for the future on the beach, with hisconviction that the pirate schooner, so exactly similar in appearance tothe _Enterprise_, must have preceded him at Porto Rico, and have carriedoff the object of his attachment. 

Although Edward might have been severely taken to task, yet the admiralpitied him, and therefore said nothing about his visits to Porto Rico. When breakfast was over he ordered the signal to be made for a sloop ofwar to prepare to weigh, and the _Enterprise_ to be revictualled by theboats of the squadron. 

'Now, Edward, you and the _Comus_ shall sail in company after thisrascally pirate, and I trust you will give me a good account of her, andalso of the governor's daughter. Cheer up, my boy! depend upon it theywill try for ransom before they do her any injury. '

That evening the _Enterprise_ and _Comus_ sailed on their expedition, and having run by Porto Rico and delivered a letter to the governor, they steered to the northward, and early the next morning made the landof the Caicos, just as the _Avenger_ had skirted the reefs and bore upfor the narrow entrance. 

'There she is!' exclaimed Edward; 'there she is, by heavens!' making thesignal for the enemy, which was immediately answered by the _Comus_. 

CHAPTER XVI

THE CAICOS

The small patch of islands called the Caicos, or Cayques, is situatedabout two degrees to the northward of St. Domingo, and is nearly thesouthernmost of a chain which extends up to the Bahamas. Most of theislands of this chain are uninhabited, but were formerly the resort ofpiratical vessels, --the reefs and shoals with which they are allsurrounded afforded them protection from their larger pursuers, and thepassages through this dangerous navigation being known only to thepirates who frequented them, proved an additional security. The largestof the Caicos islands forms a curve, like an opened horse-shoe, to thesouthward, with safe and protected anchorage when once in the bay on thesouthern side; but, previous to arriving at the anchorage, there arecoral reefs, extending upwards of forty miles, through which it isnecessary to conduct a vessel. This passage is extremely intricate, butwas well known to Hawkhurst, who had hitherto been pilot. Cain was notso well acquainted with it, and it required the greatest care in takingin the vessel, as, on the present occasion, Hawkhurst could not becalled upon for this service. The islands themselves--for there wereseveral of them--were composed of coral rock; a few cocoa trees raisedtheir lofty heads where there was sufficient earth for vegetation, andstunted brushwood rose up between the interstices of the rocks. But thechief peculiarity of the islands, and which rendered them suitable tothose who frequented them, was the numerous caves with which the rockswere perforated, some above high-water mark, but the majority with thesea-water flowing in and out of them, in some cases merely rushing in, and at high water filling deep pools, which were detached from eachother when the tide receded, in others with a sufficient depth of waterat all times to allow you to pull in with a large boat. It is hardlynecessary to observe how convenient the higher and dry caves were asreceptacles for articles which were intended to be concealed until anopportunity occurred for disposing of them. 

In our last chapter we stated that, just as the _Avenger_ had enteredthe passage through the reefs, the _Comus_ and _Enterprise_ hove insight and discovered her; but it will be necessary to explain thepositions of the vessels. The _Avenger_ had entered the southernchannel, with the wind from the southward, and had carefully sounded herway for about four miles, under little or no sail. 

The _Enterprise_ and _Comus_ had been examining Turk's Island, to theeastward of the Caicos, and had passed to the northward of it on thelarboard tack, standing in for the northern point of the reef, whichjoined on to the great Caicos Island. They were, therefore, in asituation to intercept the _Avenger_ before she arrived at heranchorage, had it not been for the reefs which barred their passage. Theonly plan which the English vessels could act upon was to beat to thesouthward, so as to arrive at the entrance of the passage, when the_Enterprise_ would, of course, find sufficient water to follow the_Avenger_; for, as the passage was too narrow to beat through, and thewind was from the southward, the _Avenger_ could not possibly escape. She was caught in a trap; and all that she had to trust to was thedefence which she might be able to make in her stronghold against theforce which could be employed in the attack. The breeze was fresh fromthe southward, and appeared inclined to increase, when the _Comus_ and_Enterprise_ made all sail, and worked, in short tacks, outside thereef. 

On board the _Avenger_ the enemy and their motions were clearlydistinguished, and Cain perceived that he was in an awkward dilemma. That they would be attacked he had no doubt; and although, at any othertime, he would almost have rejoiced in such an opportunity ofdiscomfiting his assailants, yet now he thought very differently, andwould have sacrificed almost everything to have been able to avoid therencontre, and be permitted quietly to withdraw himself from hisassociates, without the spilling of more blood. Francisco was equallyannoyed at this unfortunate collision; but no words were exchangedbetween him and the pirate captain during the time that they were ondeck. 

It was about nine o'clock, when having safely passed nearly half throughthe channel, that Cain ordered the kedge-anchor to be dropped, and sentdown the people to their breakfast. Francisco went down into the cabin, and was explaining their situation to Clara, when Cain entered. He threwhimself on the locker, and appeared lost in deep and sombre meditation. 

'What do you intend to do?' said Francisco. 

'I do not know; I will not decide myself, Francisco, ' replied Cain. 'IfI were to act upon my own judgment, probably I should allow the schoonerto remain where she is. They can only attack in the boats, and, in sucha case, I do not fear; whereas, if we run right through, we allow theother schooner to follow us, without defending the passage; and we maybe attacked by her in the deep water inside, and overpowered by thenumber of men the two vessels will be able to bring against us. On theother hand, we certainly may defend the schooner from the shore as wellas on board; but we are weak-handed. I shall, however, call up theship's company and let them decide. God knows, if left to me I would notfight at all. '

'Is there no way of escape?' resumed Francisco. 

'Yes, we might abandon the schooner; and this night, when they would notexpect it, run with the boats through the channel between the greatisland and the north Cayque: but that I dare not propose, and the menwould not listen to it; indeed, I very much doubt if the enemy willallow us the time. I knew this morning, long before we saw thosevessels, that my fate would be decided before the sun went down. '

'What do you mean?'

'I mean this, Francisco, ' said Cain; 'that your mother, who always hasvisited me in my dreams whenever anything (dreadful now to think of!)was about to take place, appeared to me last night; and there was sorrowand pity in her sweet face as she mournfully waved her hand, as if tosummon me to follow her. Yes, thank God! she no longer looked upon me asfor many years she has done. '

Francisco made no answer; and Cain again seemed to be lost inmeditation. 

After a little while Cain rose, and taking a small packet from one ofthe drawers, put it into the hands of Francisco. 

'Preserve that, ' said the pirate captain; 'should any accident happen tome it will tell you who was your mother; and it also contains directionsfor finding treasure which I have buried. I leave everything to you, Francisco. It has been unfairly obtained; but you are not the guiltyparty, and there are none to claim it. Do not answer me now. You mayfind friends, whom you will make after I am gone, of the same opinion asI am. I tell you again, be careful of that packet. '

'I see little chance of it availing me, ' replied Francisco. 'If I live, shall I not be considered as a pirate?'

'No, no; you can prove the contrary. '

'I have my doubts. But God's will be done!'

'Yes, God's will be done!' said Cain mournfully. 'I dared not have saidthat a month ago. ' And the pirate captain went on deck, followed byFrancisco. 

The crew of the _Avenger_ were summoned aft, and called upon to decideas to the measures they considered to be most advisable. They preferredweighing the anchor and running into the bay, where they would be ableto defend the schooner, in their opinion, much better than by remainingwhere they were. 

The crew of the pirate schooner weighed the anchor, and continued theirprecarious course; the breeze had freshened, and the water was in strongripples, so that they could no longer see the danger beneath her bottom. In the meantime, the sloop of war and _Enterprise_ continued to turn towindward outside the reef. 

By noon the wind had considerably increased, and the breakers now turnedand broke in wild foam over the coral reefs in every direction. The sailwas still more reduced on board the _Avenger_, and her difficultiesincreased from the rapidity of her motion. 

A storm-jib was set, and the others hauled down; yet even under thissmall sail she flew before the wind. 

Cain stood at the bowsprit, giving his directions to the helmsman. Morethan once they had grazed the rocks and were clear again. Spars weretowed astern, and every means resorted to, to check her way. They had noguide but the breaking of the wild water on each side of them. 

'Why should not Hawkhurst, who knows the passage so well, be made topilot us?' said the boatswain to those who were near him on theforecastle. 

'To be sure! let's have him up!' cried several of the crew; and some ofthem went down below. 

In a minute they reappeared with Hawkhurst, whom they led forward. Hedid not make any resistance, and the crew demanded that he should pilotthe vessel. 

'And suppose I will not?' said Hawkhurst coolly. 

'Then you lose your passage, that's all, ' replied the boatswain. 'Is itnot so, my lads?' continued he, appealing to the crew. 

'Yes; either take us safe in, or--overboard, ' replied several. 

'I do not mind that threat, my lads, ' replied Hawkhurst; 'you have allknown me as a good man and true, and it's not likely that I shall desertyou now. Well, since your captain there cannot save you, I suppose Imust; but, ' exclaimed he, looking about him, 'how's this? We are out ofthe passage already. Yes--and whether we can get into it again I cannottell. '

'We are not out of the passage, ' said Cain; 'you know we are not. '

'Well then, if the captain knows better than I, he had better take youthrough, ' rejoined Hawkhurst. 

But the crew thought differently, and insisted that Hawkhurst, who wellknew the channel, should take charge. Cain retired aft, as Hawkhurstwent out on the bowsprit. 

'I will do my best, my lads, ' said Hawkhurst; 'but recollect, if westrike in trying to get into the right channel, do not blame me. Starboard a little--starboard yet--steady, so--there's the true passage, my lads!' cried he, pointing to some smoother water between thebreakers; 'port a little--steady. '

But Hawkhurst, who knew that he was to be put on shore as soon asconvenient, had resolved to lose the schooner, even if his own life wereforfeited, and he was now running her out of the passage on the rocks. Aminute after he had conned her, she struck heavily again and again. Thethird time she struck, she came broadside to the wind and heeled over;a sharp coral rock found its way through her slight timbers andplanking, and the water poured in rapidly. 

During this there was a dead silence on the part of the marauders. 

'My lads, ' said Hawkhurst, 'I have done my best, and now you may throwme overboard if you please. It was not my fault, but his, ' continued he, pointing to the captain. 

'It is of little consequence whose fault it was, Mr. Hawkhurst, ' repliedCain; 'we will settle that point by and by; at present we have too muchon our hands. Out boats, men! as fast as you can, and let every manprovide himself with arms and ammunition. Be cool! the schooner is fixedhard enough, and will not go down; we shall save everything by and by. '

The pirates obeyed the orders of the captain. The three boats werehoisted out and lowered down. In the first were placed all the woundedmen and Clara d'Alfarez, who was assisted up by Francisco. As soon asthe men had provided themselves with arms, Francisco, to protect Clara, offered to take charge of her, and the boat shoved off. 

The men-of-war had seen the _Avenger_ strike on the rocks, and thepreparations of the crew to take to their boats. They immediatelyhove-to, hoisted out and manned their own boats, with the hopes ofcutting them off before they could gain the island and prepare for avigorous defence; for, although the vessels could not approach thereefs, there was sufficient water in many places for the boats to passover them. Shortly after Francisco, in the first boat, had shoved offfrom the _Avenger_, the boats of the men-of-war were darting through thesurf to intercept them. The pirates perceived this, and hastened theirarrangements; a second boat soon left her, and into that Hawkhurstleaped as it was shoving off. Cain remained on board, going round thelower decks to ascertain if any of the wounded men were left; he thenquitted the schooner in the last boat and followed the others, beingabout a quarter of a mile astern of the second, in which Hawkhurst hadsecured his place. 

At the time that Cain quitted the schooner, it was difficult to saywhether the men-of-war's boats would succeed in intercepting any of thepirates' boats. Both parties exerted themselves to their utmost; andwhen the first boat, with Francisco and Clara, landed, the headmost ofthe assailants was not much more than half a mile from them; but shallowwater intervening there was a delay, which was favourable to thepirates. Hawkhurst landed in his boat as the launch of the _Comus_ firedher eighteen-pound carronade. The last boat was yet two hundred yardsfrom the beach, when another shot from the _Comus's_ launch, which hadbeen unable hitherto to find a passage through the reef, struck her onthe counter, and she filled and went down. 

'He is gone!' exclaimed Francisco, who had led Clara to a cave, andstood at the mouth of it to protect her; 'they have sunk his boat--no, he is swimming to the shore, and will be here now, long before theEnglish seamen can land. '

This was true. Cain was breasting the water manfully, making for a smallcove nearer to where the boat was sunk than the one in which Franciscohad landed with Clara and the wounded men, and divided from the other bya ridge of rocks which separated the sandy beach, and extended some wayinto the water before they were submerged. Francisco could easilydistinguish the pirate captain from the other men, who also wereswimming for the beach; for Cain was far ahead of them, and as he gainednearer to the shore he was shut from Francisco's sight by the ridge ofrocks. Francisco, anxious for his safety, climbed up the rocks and waswatching. Cain was within a few yards of the beach when there was areport of a musket; the pirate captain was seen to raise his bodyconvulsively half out of the water--he floundered--the clear blue wavewas discoloured--he sank, and was seen no more. 

Francisco darted forward from the rocks, and perceived Hawkhurststanding beneath them with the musket in his hand, which he wasrecharging. 

'Villain!' exclaimed Francisco, 'you shall account for this. '

Hawkhurst had reprimed his musket and shut the pan. 

'Not to you, ' replied Hawkhurst, levelling his piece, and taking aim atFrancisco. 

The ball struck Francisco on the breast; he reeled back from hisposition, staggered across the sand, gained the cave, and fell at thefeet of Clara. 

[Illustration: _The pirate captain was seen to raise his bodyconvulsively half out of the water--he floundered, sank, and was seen nomore. _]

'O God!' exclaimed the poor girl, 'are _you_ hurt? who is there, then, to protect me?'

'I hardly know, ' replied Francisco faintly; and, at intervals, 'I feelno wound. I feel stronger;' and Francisco put his hand to his heart. 

Clara opened his vest, and found that the packet given to Francisco byCain, and which he had deposited in his breast, had been struck by thebullet, which had done him no injury further than the violent concussionof the blow--notwithstanding he was faint from the shock, and his headfell upon Clara's bosom. 

But we must relate the proceedings of those who were mixed up in thisexciting scene. Edward Templemore had watched from his vessel, with aneager and painful curiosity, the motions of the schooner--her running onthe rocks, and the subsequent actions of the intrepid marauders. Thelong telescope enabled him to perceive distinctly all that passed, andhis feelings were increased into a paroxysm of agony when his strainingeyes beheld the white and fluttering habiliments of a female for amoment at the gunwale of the stranded vessel--her descent, as itappeared to him, nothing loth, into the boat--the arms held out toreceive, and the extension of hers to meet those offered. Could it beClara? Where was the reluctance, the unavailing attempts at resistance, which should have characterised her situation? Excited by feelings whichhe dared not analyse, he threw down his glass, and, seizing his sword, sprang into his boat, which was ready manned alongside, desiring theothers to follow him. For once, and the only time in his existence whenapproaching the enemy, did he feel his heart sink within him--a coldtremor ran through his whole frame, and as he called to mind the loosemorals and desperate habits of the pirates, horrible thoughts enteredhis imagination. As he neared the shore, he stood up in the stern-sheetsof the boat, pale, haggard, and with trembling lips; and the intensityof his feelings would have been intolerable but for a more violentthirst for revenge. He clenched his sword, while the quick throbs of hisheart seemed, at every pulsation, to repeat to him his thoughts ofblood! blood! blood! He approached the small bay, and perceived thatthere was a female at the mouth of the cave--nearer and nearer, and hewas certain that it was his Clara--her name was on his lips when heheard the two shots fired one after another by Hawkhurst--he saw theretreat and fall of Francisco--when, madness to behold! he perceivedClara rush forward, and there lay the young man supported by her, andwith his head upon her bosom. Could he believe what he saw? could shereally be his betrothed? Yes, there she was, supporting the handsomefigure of a young man, and that man a pirate--she had even put her handinto his vest, and was now watching over his reviving form. Edward couldbear no more; he covered his eyes, and now, maddened with jealousy, in avoice of thunder he called out--

'Give way, my lads! for your lives, give way!'

The gig was within half a dozen strokes of the oar from the beach, andClara, unconscious of wrong, had just taken the packet of papers fromFrancisco's vest, when Hawkhurst made his appearance from behind therocks which separated the two little sandy coves. Francisco hadrecovered his breath, and, perceiving the approach of Hawkhurst, hesprang upon his feet to recover his musket; but, before he couldsucceed, Hawkhurst had closed in with him, and a short and dreadfulstruggle ensued. It would soon have terminated fatally to Francisco, forthe superior strength of Hawkhurst had enabled him to bear down the bodyof his opponent with his knee, and he was fast strangling him bytwisting his handkerchief round his throat, while Clara shrieked, andattempted in vain to tear the pirate from him. As the prostrateFrancisco was fast blackening into a corpse, and the maiden screamed forpity, and became frantic in her efforts for his rescue, the boat dashedhigh up on the sand; and, with the bound of a maddened tiger, Edwardsprang upon Hawkhurst, tearing him down on his back, and severing hiswrist with his sword-blade until his hold of Francisco was relaxed, andhe wrestled in his own defence. 

'Seize him, my lads!' said Edward, pointing with his left hand toHawkhurst; as with his sword directed to the body of Francisco hebitterly continued, '_This victim is mine!_' But, whatever were hisintentions, they were frustrated by Clara's recognition, who shriekedout, 'My Edward!' sprang into his arms, and was immediately in a stateof insensibility. 

The seamen who had secured Hawkhurst looked upon the scene with curiousastonishment, while Edward waited with mingled feelings of impatienceand doubt for Clara's recovery; he wished to be assured by her that hewas mistaken, and he turned again and again from her face to that ofFrancisco, who was fast recovering. During this painful suspense, Hawkhurst was bound and made to sit down. 

[Illustration: _Clara sprang into his arms, and was immediately in astate of insensibility. _]

'Edward! dear Edward!' said Clara at last, in a faint voice, clingingmore closely to him; 'and am I then rescued by thee, dearest!'

Edward felt the appeal; but his jealousy had not yet subsided. 

'Who is that, Clara?' said he sternly. 

'It is Francisco. No pirate, Edward, but my preserver. '

'Ha, ha!' laughed Hawkhurst, with a bitter sneer, for he perceived howmatters stood. 

Edward Templemore turned towards him with an inquiring look. 

'Ha, ha!' continued Hawkhurst; 'why, he is the captain's son! No pirate, eh? Well, what will women not swear to, to save those they dote upon!'

'If the captain's son, ' said Edward, 'why were you contending?'

'Because just now I shot his scoundrel father. '

'Edward!' said Clara solemnly, 'this is no time for explanation; but, asI hope for mercy, what I have said is true; believe not that villain. '

'Yes, ' said Francisco, who was now sitting up, 'believe him when he saysthat he shot the captain, for that is true; but, sir, if you value yourown peace of mind, believe nothing to the prejudice of that young lady. '

'I hardly know what to believe, ' muttered Edward Templemore; 'but, asthe lady says, this is no time for explanation. With your permission, madam, ' said he to Clara, 'my coxswain will see you in safety on boardof the schooner, or the other vessel, if you prefer it; my duty will notallow me to accompany you. '

Clara darted a reproachful yet fond look on Edward, as, with swimmingeyes, she was led by the coxswain to the boat, which had been joined bythe launch of the _Comus_, the crew of which were, with their officers, wading to the beach. The men of the gig remained until they had givenHawkhurst and Francisco in charge of the other seamen, and then shovedoff with Clara for the schooner. Edward Templemore gave one look at thegig as it conveyed Clara on board, and ordering Hawkhurst and Franciscoto be taken to the launch, and a guard to be kept over them, went up, with the remainder of the men, in pursuit of the pirates. 

During the scene we have described, the other boats of the men-of-warhad landed on the island, and the _Avenger's_ crew, deprived of theirleaders, and scattered in every direction, were many of them slain orcaptured. In about two hours it was supposed that the majority of thepirates had been accounted for, and the prisoners being now verynumerous, it was decided that the boats should return with them to the_Comus_, the captain of which vessel, as commanding officer, would thenissue orders as to their future proceedings. 

The captured pirates, when mustered on the deck of the _Comus_, amountedto nearly sixty, out of which number one-half were those who had beensent on shore wounded, and had surrendered without resistance. Of killedthere were fifteen; and it was conjectured that as many more had beendrowned in the boat when she was sunk by the shot from the carronade ofthe launch. Although, by the account given by the captured pirates, themajority were secured, yet there was reason to suppose that some werestill left on the island concealed in the caves. 

As the captain of the _Comus_ had orders to return as soon as possible, he decided to sail immediately for Port Royal with the prisoners, leaving the _Enterprise_ to secure the remainder, if there were any, andrecover anything of value which might be left in the wreck of the_Avenger_, and then to destroy her. 

With the usual celerity of the service these orders were obeyed. Thepirates, among whom Francisco was included, were secured, the boatshoisted up, and in half an hour the _Comus_ displayed her ensign, andmade all sail on a wind, leaving Edward Templemore, with the_Enterprise_, at the back of the reef, to perform the duties entailedupon him; and Clara, who was on board of the schooner, to remove thesuspicion and jealousy which had arisen in the bosom of her lover. 

CHAPTER XVII

THE TRIAL

In a week, the _Comus_ arrived at Port Royal, and the captain went up tothe Penn to inform the admiral of the successful result of theexpedition. 

'Thank God, ' said the admiral, 'we have caught these villains at last! Alittle hanging will do them no harm. The captain, you say, was drowned?'

'So it is reported, sir, ' replied Captain Manly; 'he was in the lastboat which left the schooner, and she was sunk by a shot from thelaunch. '

'I am sorry for that; the death was too good for him. However, we mustmake an example of the rest; they must be tried by the Admiralty Court, which has the jurisdiction of the high seas. Send them on shore, Manly, and we wash our hands of them. '

'Very good, sir; but there are still some left on the island, we havereason to believe, and the _Enterprise_ is in search of them. '

'By the bye, did Templemore find his lady?'

'Oh yes, sir; and--all's right, I believe: but I had very little to sayto him on the subject. '

'Humph!' replied the admiral. 'I am glad to hear it. Well, send them onshore, Manly, to the proper authorities. If any more be found, they mustbe hung afterwards when Templemore brings them in. I am more pleased athaving secured these scoundrels than if we had taken a French frigate. '

About three weeks after this conversation, the secretary reported to theadmiral that the _Enterprise_ had made her number outside; but that shewas becalmed, and would not probably be in until the evening. 

'That's a pity, ' replied the admiral; 'for the pirates are to be triedthis morning. He may have more of them on board. '

'Very true, sir; but the trial will hardly be over to-day: the judgewill not be in court till one o'clock at the soonest. '

'It's of little consequence, certainly; as it is, there are so many thatthey must be hanged by divisions. However, as he is within signaldistance, let them telegraph 'Pirates now on trial. ' He can pull onshore in his gig, if he pleases. '

It was about noon on the same day that the pirates, and among themFrancisco, escorted by a strong guard, were conducted to the court-houseand placed at the bar. The court-house was crowded to excess, for theinterest excited was intense. 

Many of them who had been wounded in the attack upon the property of DonCumanos, and afterwards captured, had died in their confinement. Stillforty-five were placed at the bar; and their picturesque costume, theirbearded faces, and the atrocities which they had committed, created inthose present a sensation of anxiety mingled with horror andindignation. 

Two of the youngest amongst them had been permitted to turn king'sevidence. They had been on board of the _Avenger_ but a few months;still their testimony as to the murder of the crews of three West Indiaships, and the attack upon the property of Don Cumanos, was quitesufficient to condemn the remainder. 

Much time was necessarily expended in going through the forms of thecourt; in the pirates answering to their various names; and, lastly, intaking down the detailed evidence of the above men. It was late when theevidence was read over to the pirates, and they were asked if they hadanything to offer in their defence. The question was repeated by thejudge; when Hawkhurst was the first to speak. To save himself he couldscarcely hope; his only object was to prevent Francisco pleading hiscause successfully, and escaping the same disgraceful death. 

[Illustration: _The pirates at the bar. _]

Hawkhurst declared that he had been some time on board the _Avenger_, but that he had been taken out of a vessel and forced to serve againsthis will, as could be proved by the captain's son, who stood there(pointing to Francisco), who had been in the schooner since her firstfitting out: that he had always opposed the captain, who would not partwith him, because he was the only one on board who was competent tonavigate the schooner: that he had intended to rise against him, andtake the vessel, having often stimulated the crew so to do; and that, asthe other men, as well as the captain's son, could prove, if theychoose, he actually was in confinement for that attempt when theschooner was entering the passage to the Caicos; and that he was onlyreleased because he was acquainted with the passage, and threatened tobe thrown overboard if he did not take her in: that, at every risk, hehad run her on the rocks; and aware that the captain would murder him, he had shot Cain as he was swimming to the shore, as the captain's soncould prove; for he had taxed him with it, and he was actuallystruggling with him for life, when the officers and boats' crewseparated them, and made them both prisoners: that he hardly expectedthat Francisco, the captain's son, would tell the truth to save him, ashe was his bitter enemy, and in the business at the Magdalen river, which had been long planned (for Francisco had been sent on shore underthe pretence of being wrecked, but, in fact, to ascertain where thebooty was, and to assist the pirates in their attack), Francisco hadtaken the opportunity of putting a bullet through his shoulder, whichwas well known to the other pirates, and Francisco could not venture todeny. He trusted that the court would order the torture to Francisco, and then he would probably speak the truth; at all events, let him speaknow. 

When Hawkhurst had ceased to address the court, there was an anxiouspause for some minutes. The day was fast declining, and most parts ofthe spacious court-house were already deeply immersed in gloom; whilethe light, sober, solemn, and almost sad, gleamed upon the savage andreckless countenances of the prisoners at the bar. The sun had sunk downbehind a mass of heavy yet gorgeous clouds, fringing their edges withmolten gold. Hawkhurst had spoken fluently and energetically, and therewas an appearance of almost honesty in his coarse and deep-toned voice. Even the occasional oaths with which his speech was garnished, but whichwe have omitted, seemed to be pronounced more in sincerity than inblasphemy, and gave a more forcible impression to his narrative. 

We have said that when he concluded there was a profound silence; andamid the fast-falling shadows of the evening, those who were presentbegan to feel, for the first time, the awful importance of the dramabefore them, the number of lives which were trembling upon the verge ofexistence, depending upon the single word of 'Guilty. ' This painfulsilence, this harrowing suspense, was at last broken by a restrained sobfrom a female; but, owing to the obscurity involving the body of thecourt, her person could not be distinguished. The wail of woman sounexpected--for who could there be of that sex interested in the fate ofthese desperate men?--touched the heart of its auditors, and appeared tosow the first seeds of compassionate and humane feeling among those whohad hitherto expressed and felt nothing but indignation towards theprisoners. 

The judge upon the bench, the counsel at the bar, and the juryimpannelled in their box, felt the force of the appeal; and it softeneddown the evil impression created by the address of Hawkhurst against theyouthful Francisco. The eyes of all were now directed towards the onedoubly accused--accused not only by the public prosecutor, but even byhis associate in crime--and the survey was favourable. They acknowledgedthat he was one whose personal qualities might indeed challenge the loveof woman in his pride, and her lament in his disgrace; and as theirregard was directed towards him, the sun, which had been obscured, nowpierced through a break in the mass of clouds, and threw a portion ofhis glorious beams from a window opposite upon him, and him alone, whileall the other prisoners who surrounded him were buried more or less indeep shadow. It was at once evident that his associates were bold yetcommonplace villains--men who owed their courage, their only virtueperhaps, to their habits, to their physical organisation, or theinfluence of those around them. They were mere human butchers, with theonly adjunct that, now that the trade was to be exercised uponthemselves, they could bear it with sullen apathy--a feeling how farremoved from true fortitude! Even Hawkhurst, though more commanding thanthe rest, with all his daring mien and scowl of defiance, looked nothingmore than a distinguished ruffian. With the exception of Francisco, theprisoners had wholly neglected their personal appearance; and in themthe squalid and sordid look of the mendicant seemed allied with theferocity of the murderer. 

Francisco was not only an exception, but formed a beautiful contrast tothe others; and as the evening beams lighted up his figure, he stood atthe bar, if not with all the splendour of a hero of romance, certainly amost picturesque and interesting personage, elegantly if not richlyattired. 

The low sobs at intervals repeated, as if impossible to be checked, seemed to rouse and call him to a sense of the important part which hewas called upon to act in the tragedy there and then performing. Hisface was pale, yet composed; his mien at once proud and sorrowful; hiseye was bright, yet his glance was not upon those in court, but faraway, fixed, like an eagle's, upon the gorgeous beams of the settingsun, which glowed upon him through the window that was in front of him. 

At last the voice of Francisco was heard, and all in that wide courtstarted at the sound--deep, full, and melodious as the evening chimes. The ears of those present had, in the profound silence, but justrecovered from the harsh, deep-toned, and barbarous idiom of Hawkhurst'saddress, when the clear, silvery, yet manly voice of Francisco rivetedtheir attention. The jury stretched forth their heads, the counsel andall in court turned anxiously round towards the prisoner, even the judgeheld up his forefinger to intimate his wish for perfect silence. 

'My lord and gentlemen, ' commenced Francisco, 'when I first found myselfin this degrading situation, I had not thought to have spoken or to haveuttered one word in my defence. He that has just now accused me hasrecommended the torture to be applied; he has already had his wish, forwhat torture can be more agonising than to find myself where I now am?So tortured, indeed, have I been through a short yet wretched life, thatI have often felt that anything short of self-destruction which wouldrelease me would be a blessing; but within these few minutes I have beenmade to acknowledge that I have still feelings in unison with myfellow-creatures; that I am not yet fit for death, and all too young, too unprepared to die: for who would not reluctantly leave this worldwhile there is such a beauteous sky to love and look upon, or whilethere is one female breast who holds him innocent, and has evinced herpity for his misfortunes? Yes, my lord! mercy, and pity, and compassionhave not yet fled from earth; and therefore do I feel I am too young todie. God forgive me! but I thought they had--for never have they beenshown in those with whom by fate I have been connected; and it has beenfrom this conviction that I have so often longed for death. And now maythat righteous God who judges us not here, but hereafter, enable me toprove that I do not deserve an ignominious punishment from myfellow-sinners--men!

'My lord, I know not the subtleties of the laws, nor the intricacy ofpleadings. First, let me assert that I have never robbed; but I haverestored unto the plundered: I have never murdered; but I have stoodbetween the assassin's knife and his victim. For this have I been hatedand reviled by my associates, and for this is my life now threatened bythose laws against which I never have offended. The man who lastaddressed you has told you that I am the pirate captain's son; it is theassertion of the only irreclaimable and utterly remorseless villainamong those who now stand before you to be judged--the assertion of onewhose glory, whose joy, whose solace, has been blood-shedding. 

'My lord, I had it from the mouth of the captain himself, previous tohis murder by that man, that I was not his son. His son! thank God, notso. Connected with him and in his power I was most certainly and mostincomprehensibly. Before he died, he delivered me a packet that wouldhave told me who I am; but I have lost it, and deeply have I felt theloss. One only fact I gained from him whom they would call my father, which is, that with his own hand he slew--yes, basely slew--my mother. '

The address of Francisco was here interrupted by a low deep groan ofanguish, which startled the whole audience. It was now quite dark, andthe judge ordered the court to be lighted previous to the defence beingcontinued. The impatience and anxiety of those present were shown in lowmurmurs of communication until the lights were brought in. The word'Silence!' from the judge produced an immediate obedience, and theprisoner was ordered to proceed. 

Francisco then continued his address, commencing with the remembrancesof his earliest childhood. As he warmed with his subject he became moreeloquent; his action became energetical without violence; and the pallidand modest youth gradually grew into the impassioned and inspiredorator. He recapitulated rapidly, yet distinctly and with terribleforce, all the startling events in his fearful life. There was truth inthe tones of his voice, there was conviction in his animatedcountenance, there was innocence in his open and expressive brow. 

All who heard believed; and scarcely had he concluded his address, whenthe jury appeared impatient to rise and give their verdict in hisfavour. But the judge stood up, and addressing the jury, told them thatit was his most painful duty to remind them that as yet they had heardbut assertion, beautiful and almost convincing assertion truly; butstill it was not proof. 

'Alas!' observed Francisco, 'what evidence can I bring forward, exceptthe evidence of those around me at the bar, which will not be admitted?Can I recall the dead from the grave? Can I expect those who have beenmurdered to rise again to assert my innocence? Can I expect that DonCumanos will appear from distant leagues to give evidence on my behalf?Alas! he knows not how I am situated, or he would have flown to mysuccour. No, no; not even can I expect that the sweet Spanish maiden, the last to whom I offered my protection, will appear in such a place asthis to meet the bold gaze of hundreds!'

'She is here!' replied a manly voice; and a passage was made through thecrowd; and Clara, supported by Edward Templemore, dressed in hisuniform, was ushered into the box for the witnesses. The appearance ofthe fair girl, who looked round her with alarm, created a greatsensation. As soon as she was sufficiently composed she was sworn, andgave her evidence as to Francisco's behaviour during the time that shewas a prisoner on board of the _Avenger_. She produced the packet whichhad saved the life of Francisco, and substantiated a great part of hisdefence. She extolled his kindness and his generosity; and when she hadconcluded every one asked of himself, 'Can this young man be a pirateand a murderer?' The reply was, 'It is impossible. '

[Illustration: _As soon as she was sufficiently composed, was sworn, andgave her evidence. _]

'My lord, ' said Edward Templemore, 'I request permission to ask theprisoner a question. When I was on board of the wreck of the _Avenger_, I found this book floating in the cabin. I wish to ask the prisonerwhether, as that young lady has informed me, it is his?' And EdwardTemplemore produced the Bible. 

'It is mine, ' replied Francisco. 

'May I ask you by what means it came into your possession?'

'It is the only relic left of one who is now no more. It was theconsolation of my murdered mother; it has since been mine. Give it tome, sir; I may probably need its support now more than ever. '

'Was your mother murdered, say you?' cried Edward Templemore, with muchagitation. 

'I have already said so; and I now repeat it. '

The judge again rose, and recapitulated the evidence to the jury. Evidently friendly to Francisco, he was obliged to point out to them, that although the evidence of the young lady had produced much whichmight be offered in extenuation, and induce him to submit it to HisMajesty, in hopes of his gracious pardon after condemnation, yet, thatmany acts in which the prisoner had been involved had endangered hislife, and no testimony had been brought forward to prove that he hadnot, at one time, acted with the pirates, although he might since haverepented. They would, of course, remember that the evidence of the mate, Hawkhurst, was not of any value, and must dismiss any impression whichit might have made against Francisco. At the same time he had theunpleasant duty to point out that the evidence of the Spanish lady wasso far prejudicial, that it pointed out the good terms subsistingbetween the young man and the pirate captain. Much as he was interestedin his fate, he must reluctantly remind the jury that the evidence onthe whole was not sufficient to clear the prisoner; and he considered ittheir duty to return a verdict of _guilty against all the prisoners atthe bar_. 

'My lord, ' said Edward Templemore, a few seconds after the judge hadresumed his seat, 'may not the contents of this packet, the seal ofwhich I have not ventured to break, afford some evidence in favour ofthe prisoner? Have you any objection that it should be opened previousto the jury delivering their verdict?'

'None, ' replied the judge; 'but what are its supposed contents?'

'The contents, my lord, ' replied Francisco, 'are in the writing of thepirate captain. He delivered that packet into my hands previous to ourquitting the schooner, stating that it would inform me who were myparents. My lord, in my present situation I claim that packet, andrefuse that its contents shall be read in court. If I am to die anignominious death, at least those who are connected with me shall nothave to blush at my disgrace, for the secret of my parentage shall diewith me. '

'Nay--nay; be ruled by me, ' replied Edward Templemore, with muchemotion. 'In the narrative, the handwriting of which can be proved bythe king's evidence, there may be acknowledgment of all you have stated, and it will be received as evidence; will it not, my lord?'

'If the handwriting is proved, I should think it may, ' replied thejudge; 'particularly as the lady was present when the packet wasdelivered, and heard the captain's assertion. Will you allow it to beoffered as evidence, young man?'

'No, my lord, ' replied Francisco; 'unless I have permission first toperuse it myself. I will not have its contents divulged, unless I amsure of an honourable acquittal. The jury must deliver their verdict. '

The jury turned round to consult, during which Edward Templemore walkedto Francisco, accompanied by Clara, to entreat him to allow the packetto be opened; but Francisco was firm against both their entreaties. Atlast the foreman of the jury rose to deliver the verdict. A solemn andawful silence prevailed throughout the court; the suspense was painfulto a degree. 

'My lord, ' said the foreman of the jury, 'our verdict is----'

'Stop, sir!' said Edward Templemore, as he clasped one arm round theastonished Francisco, and extended the other towards the foreman. 'Stop, sir! harm him not! for he is my brother!'

'And my preserver!' cried Clara, kneeling on the other side ofFrancisco, and holding up her hands in supplication. 

The announcement was electrical; the foreman dropped into his seat; thejudge and whole court were in mute astonishment. The dead silence wasfollowed by confusion, which, after a time, the judge in vain attemptedto put a stop to. 

Edward Templemore, Clara, and Francisco, continued to form the samegroup; and never was there one more beautiful. And now that they weretogether, every one in court perceived the strong resemblance betweenthe two young men. 

Francisco's complexion was darker than Edward's, from his constantexposure, from infancy, to tropical sun; but the features of the twowere the same. 

It was some time before the judge could obtain silence in the court; andwhen it had been obtained, he was himself puzzled how to proceed. 

Edward and Francisco, who had exchanged a few words, were now standingside by side. 

'My lord, ' said Edward Templemore, 'the prisoner consents that thepacket shall be opened. '

'I do, ' said Francisco mournfully; 'although I have but little hope fromits contents. Alas! now that I have everything to live for--now that Icling to life, I feel as if every chance was gone! The days of miracleshave passed; and nothing but the miracle of the reappearance of thepirate captain from the grave can prove my innocence. '

'He reappears from the grave to prove thine innocence, Francisco!' saida deep, hollow voice, which startled the whole court, and most of allHawkhurst and the prisoners at the bar. Still more did fear and horrordistort their countenances when into the witness-box stalked the giantform of Cain. 

But it was no longer the figure which we have described in thecommencement of this narrative; his beard had been removed, and he waspale, wan, and emaciated. His sunken eyes, his hollow cheek, and a shortcough, which interrupted his speech, proved that his days were nearly ata close. 

'My lord, ' said Cain, addressing the judge, 'I am the pirate Cain, andwas the captain of the _Avenger_! Still am I free! I come herevoluntarily, that I may attest the innocence of that young man! As yet, my hand has not known the manacle, nor my feet the gyves! I am not aprisoner, nor included in the indictment, and at present my evidence isgood. None know me in this court, except those whose testimony, asprisoners, is unavailing; and therefore, to save that boy, and only tosave him, I demand that I may be sworn. '

The oath was administered with more than usual solemnity. 

'My lord, and gentlemen of the jury, I have been in court since thecommencement of the trial, and I declare that every word which Franciscohas uttered in his own defence is true. He is totally innocent of anyact of piracy or murder; the packet would, indeed, have proved as much:but in that packet there are secrets which I wished to remain unknown toall but Francisco; and, rather than it should be opened, I have comeforward myself. How that young officer discovered that Francisco is hisbrother I know not; but if he also is the son of Cecilia Templemore, itis true. But the packet will explain all. 

'And now, my lords, that my evidence is received, I am content; I havedone one good deed before I die, and I surrender myself, as a pirate anda foul murderer, to justice. True, my life is nearly closed--thanks tothat villain there; but I prefer that I should meet that death I merit, as an expiation of my many deeds of guilt. '

Cain then turned to Hawkhurst, who was close to him, but the mateappeared to be in a state of stupor; he had not recovered from his firstterror, and still imagined the appearance of Cain to be supernatural. 

'Villain!' exclaimed Cain, putting his mouth close to Hawkhurst's ear;'doubly d--d villain! thou'lt die like a dog, and unrevenged! The boy issafe, and I'm alive!'

'Art thou really living?' said Hawkhurst, recovering from his fear. 

'Yes, living--yes, flesh and blood; feel, wretch! feel this arm, and beconvinced; thou hast felt the power of it before now, ' continued Cainsarcastically. 'And now, my lord, I have done; Francisco, fare theewell! I loved thee, and have proved my love. Hate not then my memory, and forgive me--yes, forgive me when I'm no more, ' said Cain, who thenturned his eyes to the ceiling of the court-house. 'Yes, there she is, Francisco!--there she is! and see, ' cried he, extending both armsabove his head, 'she smiles upon--yes, Francisco, your sainted mothersmiles and pardons----'

[Illustration: _'Blood for blood!'_]

The sentence was not finished; for Hawkhurst, when Cain's arms wereupheld, perceived his knife in his girdle, and, with the rapidity ofthought, he drew it out, and passed it through the body of the piratecaptain. 

Cain fell heavily on the floor, while the court was again in confusion. Hawkhurst was secured, and Cain raised from the ground. 

'I thank thee, Hawkhurst!' said Cain, in an expiring voice; 'anothermurder thou hast to answer for; and you have saved me from the disgrace, not of the gallows, but of the gallows in thy company. Francisco, boy, farewell!' and Cain groaned deeply, and expired. 

Thus perished the renowned pirate captain, who in his life had shed somuch blood, and whose death produced another murder. 'Blood for blood!'

The body was removed; and it now remained but for the jury to give theirverdict. All the prisoners were found guilty, with the exception ofFrancisco, who left the dock accompanied by his newly-found brother, andthe congratulations of every individual who could gain access to him. 

CHAPTER XVIII

CONCLUSION

Our first object will be to explain to the reader by what means EdwardTemplemore was induced to surmise that in Francisco, whom he hadconsidered as a rival, he had found a brother; and also to account forthe reappearance of the pirate Cain. 

In pursuance of his orders, Edward Templemore had proceeded on board ofthe wreck of the _Avenger_; and while his men were employed incollecting articles of great value which were on board of her, he haddescended into the cabin, which was partly under water. Here he hadpicked up a book floating near the lockers, and on examination found itto be a Bible. 

Surprised at seeing such a book on board of a pirate, he had taken itwith him when he returned to the _Enterprise_, and had shown it toClara, who immediately recognised it as the property of Francisco. Thebook was saturated with the salt water, and as Edward mechanicallyturned over the pages, he referred to the title-page to see if there wasany name upon it. There was not; but he observed that the blank orfly-leaf next to the binding had been pasted down, and that there waswriting on the other side. In its present state it was easily detachedfrom the cover; and then, to his astonishment, he read the name ofCecilia Templemore--his own mother. He knew well the history; how he hadbeen saved, and his mother and brother supposed to be lost; and it mayreadily be imagined how great was his anxiety to ascertain by what meansher Bible had come into the possession of Francisco. He dared not thinkFrancisco was his brother--that he was so closely connected with one hestill supposed to be a pirate: but the circumstance was possible; andalthough he had intended to have remained a few days longer, he nowlistened to the entreaties of Clara, whose peculiar position on boardwas only to be justified by the peculiar position from which she hadbeen rescued, and returning that evening to the wreck he set fire toher, and then made all sail for Port Royal. 

Fortunately he arrived, as we have stated, on the day of the trial; andas soon as the signal was made by the admiral he immediately manned hisgig, and taking Clara with him, in case her evidence might be of use, arrived at the court-house when the trial was about half over. 

In our last chapter but one, we stated that Cain had been wounded byHawkhurst, when he was swimming on shore, and had sunk; the ball hadentered his chest, and passed through his lungs. The contest betweenHawkhurst and Francisco, and their capture by Edward, had taken place onthe other side of the ridge of rocks, in the adjacent cove, and althoughFrancisco had seen Cain disappear, and concluded that he was dead, itwas not so; he had again risen above the water, and dropping his feetand finding bottom, he contrived to crawl out, and wade into a caveadjacent, where he lay down to die. 

But in this cave there was one of the _Avenger's_ boats, two of thepirates, mortally wounded, and the four Kroumen, who had concealedthemselves there with the intention of taking no part in the conflict, and as soon as it became dark of making their escape in the boat, whichthey had hauled up dry into the cave. 

Cain staggered in, recovered the dry land, and fell. Pompey, theKrouman, perceiving his condition, went to his assistance and bound uphis wound, and the stanching of the blood soon revived the piratecaptain. The other pirates died unaided. 

Although the island was searched in every direction, this cave, from thewater flowing into it, escaped the vigilance of the British seamen; andwhen they re-embarked with the majority of the pirates captured, Cainand the Kroumen were undiscovered. 

As soon as it was dark Cain informed them of his intentions; andalthough the Kroumen would probably have left him to his fate, yet, asthey required his services to know how to steer to some other island, hewas assisted into the stern-sheets, and the boat was backed out of thecave. 

By the directions of Cain they passed through the passage between thegreat island and the northern Cayque, and before daylight were far awayfrom any chance of capture. 

Cain had now to a certain degree recovered, and knowing that they werein the channel of the small traders, he pointed put to the Kroumen that, if supposed to be pirates, they would inevitably be punished, althoughnot guilty, and that they must pass off as the crew of a smallcoasting-vessel which had been wrecked. He then, with the assistance ofPompey, cut off his beard as close as he could, and arranged his dressin a more European style. They had neither water nor provisions, andwere exposed to a vertical sun. Fortunately for them, and still morefortunately for Francisco, on the second day they were picked up by anAmerican brig bound to Antigua. 

Cain narrated his fictitious disasters, but said nothing about hiswound, the neglect of which would certainly have occasioned his death avery few days after he appeared at the trial, had he not fallen by themalignity of Hawkhurst. 

Anxious to find his way to Port Royal, for he was indifferent as to hisown life, and only wished to save Francisco, he was overjoyed to meet asmall schooner trading between the islands, bound to Port Royal. In thatvessel he obtained a passage for himself and the Kroumen, and hadarrived three days previous to the trial, and during that time hadremained concealed until the day that the Admiralty Court assembled. 

It may be as well here to remark that Cain's reason for not wishing thepacket to be opened was, that among the other papers relative toFrancisco were directions for the recovery of the treasure which he hadconcealed, and which, of course, he wished to be communicated toFrancisco alone. 

We will leave the reader to imagine what passed between Francisco andEdward after the discovery of their kindred, and proceed to state thecontents of the packet, which the twin-brothers now opened in thepresence of Clara alone. 

We must, however, condense the matter, which was very voluminous. Itstated that Cain, whose real name was Charles Osborne, had sailed in afine schooner from Bilboa, for the coast of Africa, to procure a cargoof slaves; and had been out about twenty-four hours when the crewperceived a boat, apparently with no one in her, floating about a mileahead of them. The water was then smooth, and the vessel had but littleway. As soon as they came up with the boat, they lowered down theirskiff to examine her. 

The men sent in the skiff soon returned, towing the boat alongside. Lying at the bottom of the boat were found several men almost dead, andreduced to skeletons, and in the stern-sheets a negro woman, with achild at her breast, and a white female in the last state of exhaustion. 

Osborne was then a gay and unprincipled man, but not a hardened villainand murderer, as he afterwards became; he had compassion and feeling. They were all taken on board the schooner: some recovered, others weretoo much exhausted. Among those restored was Cecilia Templemore and theinfant, who at first had been considered quite dead; but the negrowoman, exhausted by the demands of her nursling and her privations, expired as she was being removed from the boat. A goat, that fortunatelywas on board, proved a substitute for the negress; and before Osbornehad arrived off the coast, the child had recovered its health andvigour, and the mother her extreme beauty. 

We must now pass over a considerable portion of the narrative. Osbornewas impetuous in his passions, and Cecilia Templemore became his victim. He had, indeed, afterwards quieted her qualms of conscience by apretended marriage, when he arrived at the Brazils with his cargo ofhuman flesh. But that was little alleviation of her sufferings; she whohad been indulged in every luxury, who had been educated with thegreatest care, was now lost for ever, an outcast from the society towhich she could never hope to return, and associating with those sheboth dreaded and despised. She passed her days and her nights in tears;and had soon more cause for sorrow from the brutal treatment shereceived from Osborne, who had been her destroyer. Her child was heronly solace; but for him, and the fear of leaving him to thedemoralising influence of those about him, she would have laid down anddied: but she lived for him--for him attempted to recall Osborne fromhis career of increasing guilt--bore meekly with reproaches and withblows. At last Osborne changed his nefarious life for one of deeperguilt: he became a pirate, and still carried with him Cecilia and herchild. 

This was the climax of her misery; she now wasted from day to day, andgrief would soon have terminated her existence, had it not beenhastened by the cruelty of Cain, who, upon an expostulation on her part, followed up with a denunciation of the consequences of his guiltycareer, struck her with such violence that she sank under the blow. Sheexpired with a prayer that her child might be rescued from a life ofguilt; and when the then repentant Cain promised what he never didperform, she blessed him, too, before she died. 

Such was the substance of the narrative, as far as it related to theunfortunate mother of these two young men, who, when they had concluded, sat hand-in-hand in mournful silence. This, however, was soon broken bythe innumerable questions asked by Edward of his brother, as to what hecould remember of their ill-fated parent, which were followed up by thehistory of Francisco's eventful life. 

'And the treasure, Edward, ' said Francisco; 'I cannot take possession ofit. '

'No, nor shall you either, ' replied Edward; 'it belongs to the captors, and must be shared as prize-money. You will never touch one penny of it;but I shall, I trust, pocket a very fair proportion of it! However, keepthis paper, as it is addressed to you. '

The admiral had been made acquainted with all the particulars of thiseventful trial, and had sent a message to Edward, requesting that, assoon as he and his brother could make it convenient, he would be happyto see them at the Penn, as well as the daughter of the Spanishgovernor, whom he must consider as being under his protection during thetime that she remained at Port Royal. This offer was gladly accepted byClara; and on the second day after the trial they proceeded up to thePenn. Clara and Francisco were introduced, and apartments and suitableattendance provided for the former. 

'Templemore, ' said the admiral, 'I'm afraid I must send you away toPorto Rico, to assure the governor of his daughter's safety. '

'I would rather you would send some one else, sir, and I'll assure herhappiness in the meantime. '

'What! by marrying her? Humph! you've a good opinion of yourself! Waittill you're a captain, sir. '

'I hope I shall not have to wait long, sir, ' replied Edward demurely. 

[Illustration: _'Captain Templemore, I wish you joy!'_]

'By the bye, ' said the admiral, 'did you not say you have notice oftreasure concealed in those islands?'

'My brother has: I have not. '

'We must send for it. I think we must send you, Edward. Mr. Francisco, you must go with him. '

'With pleasure, sir, ' replied Francisco, laughing; 'but I think I'drather wait till Edward is a captain! His wife and his fortune ought tocome together. I think I shall not deliver up my papers until the day ofhis marriage!'

'Upon my word, ' said Captain Manly, 'I wish, Templemore, you had yourcommission, for there seems so much depending on it--the young lady'shappiness, my share of the prize-money, and the admiral's eighth. Really, admiral, it becomes a common cause; and I'm sure he deservesit!'

'So do I, Manly, ' replied the admiral; 'and to prove that I have thoughtso, here comes Mr. Hadley with it in his hand: it only wants one littlething to complete it----'

'Which is your signature, admiral, I presume, ' replied Captain Manly, taking a pen full of ink, and presenting it to his senior officer. 

'Exactly, ' replied the admiral, scribbling at the bottom of the paper;'and now--it does not want that. Captain Templemore, I wish you joy!'

Edward made a very low obeisance, as his flushed countenance indicatedhis satisfaction. 

'I cannot give commissions, admiral, ' said Francisco, presenting a paperin return; 'but I can give information--and you will find it notunimportant--for the treasure appears of great value. '

'God bless my soul! Manly, you must start at daylight!' exclaimed theadmiral; 'why, there is enough to load your sloop! There!--read it!--andthen I will write your orders, and enclose a copy of it, for fear ofaccident. '

'That was to have been my fortune, ' said Francisco, with a grave smile;'but I would not touch it. '

'Very right, boy!--a fine principle! But we are not quite soparticular, ' said the admiral. 'Now, where's the young lady? Let herknow that dinner's on the table. '

A fortnight after this conversation, Captain Manly returned with thetreasure; and the _Enterprise_, commanded by another officer, returnedfrom Porto Rico, with a letter from the governor in reply to one fromthe admiral, in which the rescue of his daughter by Edward had beencommunicated. The letter was full of thanks to the admiral, andcompliments to Edward; and, what was of more importance, it sanctionedthe union of the young officer with his daughter, with a dozen boxes ofgold doubloons. 

About six weeks after the above-mentioned important conversation, Mr. Witherington, who had been reading a voluminous packet of letters in hisbreakfast-room in Finsbury Square, pulled his bell so violently that oldJonathan thought his master must be out of his senses. This, however, did not induce him to accelerate his solemn and measured pace; and hemade his appearance at the door, as usual, without speaking. 

'Why don't that fellow answer the bell?' cried Mr. Witherington. 

'I am here, sir, ' said Jonathan solemnly. 

'Well, so you are! but, confound you! you come like the ghost of abutler! But who do you think is coming here, Jonathan?'

'I cannot tell, sir. '

'But I can!--you solemn old----Edward's coming here!--coming homedirectly!'

'Is he to sleep in his old room, sir?' replied the imperturbable butler. 

'No; the best bedroom! Why, Jonathan, he is married--he is made acaptain--Captain Templemore!'

'Yes--sir. '

'And he has found his brother, Jonathan; his twin-brother!'

'Yes--sir. '

'His brother Francis--that was supposed to be lost! But it's a longstory, Jonathan!--and a very wonderful one!--his poor mother has longbeen dead!'

'_In coelo quies!_' said Jonathan, casting up his eyes. 

'But his brother has turned up again. '

'_Resurgam!_' said the butler. 

'They will be here in ten days--so let everything be in readiness, Jonathan. God bless my soul!' continued the old gentleman, 'I hardlyknow what I'm about. It's a Spanish girl, Jonathan!'

[Illustration: 'Resurgam!' _said the butler. _]

'What is, sir?'

'What is, sir!--why, Captain Templemore's wife; and he was tried as apirate!'

'Who, sir?'

'Who, sir? why, Francis, his brother! Jonathan, you're a stupid oldfellow!'

'Have you any further commands, sir?'

'No--no!--there--that'll do--go away. '

And in three weeks after this conversation, Captain and Mrs. Templemore, and his brother Frank, were established in the house, to the greatdelight of Mr. Witherington; for he had long been tired of solitude andold Jonathan. 

The twin-brothers were a comfort to him in his old age: they closed hiseyes in peace--they divided his blessing and his large fortune--and thusends our history of THE PIRATE!

THE THREE CUTTERS

CHAPTER I

CUTTER THE FIRST

Reader, have you ever been at Plymouth? If you have, your eye must havedwelt with ecstasy upon the beautiful property of the Earl of MountEdgcumbe: if you have not been at Plymouth, the sooner that you go therethe better. At Mount Edgcumbe you will behold the finest timber inexistence, towering up to the summits of the hills, and feathering downto the shingle on the beach. And from this lovely spot you will witnessone of the most splendid panoramas in the world. You will see--I hardlyknow what you will not see--you will see Ram Head, and Cawsand Bay; andthen you will see the Breakwater, and Drake's Island, and the Devil'sBridge below you; and the town of Plymouth and its fortifications, andthe Hoe; and then you will come to the Devil's Point, round which thetide runs devilish strong; and then you will see the New VictuallingOffice--about which Sir James Gordon used to stump all day, and take apinch of snuff from every man who carried a box, which all weredelighted to give, and he was delighted to receive, proving how muchpleasure may be communicated merely by a pinch of snuff; and then youwill see Mount Wise and Mutton Cove; the town of Devonport, with itsmagnificent dockyard and arsenals, North Corner, and the way which leadsto Saltash. And you will see ships building and ships in ordinary; andships repairing and ships fitting; and hulks and convict ships, and theguardship; ships ready to sail and ships under sail; besides lighters, men-of-war's boats, dockyard-boats, bumboats, and shore-boats. In short, there is a great deal to see at Plymouth besides the sea itself: butwhat I particularly wish now is, that you will stand at the Battery ofMount Edgcumbe and look into Barn Pool below you, and there you willsee, lying at single anchor, a cutter; and you may also see, by herpendant and ensign, that she is a yacht. 

Of all the amusements entered into by the nobility and gentry of ourisland there is not one so manly, so exciting, so patriotic, or sonational as yacht-sailing. It is peculiar to England, not only from ourinsular position and our fine harbours, but because it requires acertain degree of energy and a certain amount of income rarely to befound elsewhere. It has been wisely fostered by our sovereigns, who havefelt that the security of the kingdom is increased by every man beingmore or less a sailor, or connected with the nautical profession. It isan amusement of the greatest importance to the country, as it has muchimproved our ship-building and our ship-fitting, while it affordsemployment to our seamen and shipwrights. But if I were to say all thatI could say in praise of yachts, I should never advance with mynarrative. I shall therefore drink a bumper to the health of AdmiralLord Yarborough and the Yacht Club, and proceed. 

You observe that this yacht is cutter-rigged, and that she sitsgracefully on the smooth water. She is just heaving up her anchor; herforesail is loose, all ready to cast her--in a few minutes she will beunder way. You see that there are ladies sitting at the taffrail; andthere are five haunches of venison hanging over the stern. Of allamusements, give me yachting. But we must go on board. The deck, youobserve, is of narrow deal planks as white as snow; the guns are ofpolished brass; the bitts and binnacles of mahogany; she is painted withtaste; and all the mouldings are gilded. There is nothing wanting; andyet how clear and unencumbered are her decks! Let us go below. This isthe ladies' cabin: can anything be more tasteful or elegant? is it notluxurious? and, although so small, does not its very confined spaceastonish you, when you view so many comforts so beautifully arranged?This is the dining-room, and where the gentlemen repair. What can bemore complete or _recherché_? And just peep into their state-rooms andbed-places. Here is the steward's room and the beaufet: the steward issqueezing lemons for the punch, and there is the champagne in ice; andby the side of the pail the long corks are ranged up, all ready. Now, let us go forwards: here are the men's berths, not confined as in aman-of-war. No; luxury starts from abaft, and is not wholly lost even atthe fore-peak. This is the kitchen: is it not admirably arranged? What a_multum in parvo_! And how delightful are the fumes of the turtle-soup!At sea we do meet with rough weather at times; but, for roughing it out, give me a _yacht_. Now that I have shown you round the vessel, I mustintroduce the parties on board. 

You observe that florid, handsome man, in white trousers and bluejacket, who has a telescope in one hand, and is sipping a glass ofbrandy and water which he has just taken off the skylight. That is theowner of the vessel, and a member of the Yacht Club. It is Lord B----:he looks like a sailor, and he does not much belie his looks; yet I haveseen him in his robes of state at the opening of the House of Lords. Theone near to him is Mr. Stewart, a lieutenant in the navy. He holds on bythe rigging with one hand, because, having been actively employed allhis life, he does not know what to do with hands which have nothing inthem. He is a _protégé_ of Lord B. , and is now on board assailing-master of the yacht. 

That handsome, well-built man, who is standing by the binnacle, is a Mr. Hautaine. He served six years as midshipman in the navy, and did notlike it. He then served six years in a cavalry regiment, and did notlike it. He then married, and in a much shorter probation found that hedid not like that. But he is very fond of yachts and other men's wives, if he does not like his own; and wherever he goes, he is welcome. 

That young man with an embroidered silk waistcoat and white gloves, bending to talk to one of the ladies, is a Mr. Vaughan. He is to be seenat Almack's, at Crockford's, and everywhere else. Everybody knows him, and he knows everybody. He is a little in debt, and yachting isconvenient. 

The one who sits by the lady is a relation of Lord B. ; you see at oncewhat he is. He apes the sailor; he has not shaved, because sailors haveno time to shave every day; he has not changed his linen, becausesailors cannot change every day. He has a cigar in his mouth, whichmakes him half sick and annoys his company. He talks of the pleasure ofa rough sea, which will drive all the ladies below--and then they willnot perceive that he is more sick than themselves. He has the misfortuneto be born to a large estate, and to be a _fool_. His name is Ossulton. 

[Illustration: _The ladies. _]

The last of the gentlemen on board whom I have to introduce is Mr. Seagrove. He is slightly made, with marked features full ofintelligence. He has been brought up to the bar; and has everyqualification but application. He has never had a brief, nor has he achance of one. He is the fiddler of the company, and he has locked uphis chambers and come, by invitation of his lordship, to play on boardof his yacht. 

I have yet to describe the ladies--perhaps I should have commenced withthem--I must excuse myself upon the principle of reserving the best tothe last. All puppet-showmen do so; and what is this but the first scenein my puppet-show?

We will describe them according to seniority. That tall, thin, cross-looking lady of forty-five is a spinster, and sister to Lord B. She had been persuaded, very much against her will, to come on board;but her notions of propriety would not permit her niece to embark underthe protection of _only_ her father. She is frightened at everything: ifa rope is thrown down on the deck, up she starts, and cries 'Oh!' if onthe deck, she thinks the water is rushing in below; if down below, andthere is a noise, she is convinced there is danger; and if it beperfectly still, she is sure there is something wrong. She fidgetsherself and everybody, and is quite a nuisance with her pride andill-humour; but she has strict notions of propriety, and sacrificesherself as a martyr. She is the Hon. Miss Ossulton. 

The lady who, when she smiles, shows so many dimples in her pretty ovalface, is a young widow, of the name of Lascelles. She married an old manto please her father and mother, which was very dutiful on her part. Shewas rewarded by finding herself a widow with a large fortune. Havingmarried the first time to please her parents, she intends now to marryto please herself; but she is very young, and is in no hurry. 

That young lady with such a sweet expression of countenance is the Hon. Miss Cecilia Ossulton. She is lively, witty, and has no fear in hercomposition; but she is very young yet, not more than seventeen--andnobody knows what she really is--she does not know herself. These arethe parties who meet in the cabin of the yacht. The crew consists of tenfine seamen, the steward and the cook. There is also Lord B. 's valet, Mr. Ossulton's gentleman, and the lady's-maid of Miss Ossulton. Therenot being accommodation for them, the other servants have been left onshore. 

[Illustration: _The Hon. Miss Cecilia Ossulton. _]

The yacht is now under way, and her sails are all set. She is runningbetween Drake's Island and the main. Dinner has been announced. As thereader has learnt something about the preparations, I leave him to judgewhether it be not very pleasant to sit down to dinner in a yacht. Theair has given everybody an appetite; and it was not until the cloth wasremoved that the conversation became general. 

'Mr. Seagrove, ' said his lordship, 'you very nearly lost your passage; Iexpected you last Thursday. '

'I am sorry, my lord, that business prevented my sooner attending toyour lordship's kind summons. '

'Come, Seagrove, don't be nonsensical, ' said Hautaine; 'you told meyourself, the other evening, when you were talkative, that you had neverhad a brief in your life. '

'And a very fortunate circumstance, ' replied Seagrove; 'for if I had hada brief I should not have known what to have done with it. It is not myfault; I am fit for nothing but a commissioner. But still I hadbusiness, and very important business, too. I was summoned by Ponsonbyto go with him to Tattersall's, to give my opinion about a horse hewishes to purchase, and then to attend him to Forest Wild to plead hiscause with his uncle. '

'It appears, then, that you were retained, ' replied Lord B. ; 'may I askyou whether your friend gained his cause?'

'No, my lord, he lost his cause, but he gained a suit. '

'Expound your riddle, sir, ' said Cecilia Ossulton. 

'The fact is, that old Ponsonby is very anxious that William shouldmarry Miss Percival, whose estates join on to Forest Wild. Now, myfriend William is about as fond of marriage as I am of law, and therebyissue was joined. '

'But why were you to be called in?' inquired Mrs. Lascelles. 

'Because, madam, as Ponsonby never buys a horse without consultingme----'

'I cannot see the analogy, sir, ' observed Miss Ossulton, senior, bridling up. 

'Pardon me, madam: the fact is, ' continued Seagrove, 'that, as I alwayshave to back Ponsonby's horses, he thought it right that, in thisinstance, I should back him: he required special pleading, but his uncletried him for the capital offence, and he was not allowed counsel. Assoon as we arrived, and I had bowed myself into the room, Mr. Ponsonbybowed me out again--which would have been infinitely more jarring to myfeelings, had not the door been left ajar. '

'Do anything but pun, Seagrove, ' interrupted Hautaine. 

'Well then, I will take a glass of wine. '

'Do so, ' said his lordship; 'but recollect the whole company areimpatient for your story. '

'I can assure you, my lord, that it was equal to any scene in a comedy. '

Now be it observed that Mr. Seagrove had a great deal of comic talent;he was an excellent mimic, and could alter his voice almost as hepleased. It was a custom of his to act a scene as between other people, and he performed it remarkably well. Whenever he said that anything hewas going to narrate was 'as good as a comedy, ' it was generallyunderstood by those who were acquainted with him that he was to be askedso to do. Cecilia Ossulton therefore immediately said, 'Pray act it, Mr. Seagrove. '

Upon which, Mr. Seagrove--premising that he had not only heard but alsoseen all that passed--changing his voice, and suiting the action to theword, commenced. 

'It may, ' said he, 'be called

"FIVE THOUSAND ACRES IN A RING-FENCE"'

We shall not describe Mr. Seagrove's motions; they must be inferred fromhis words. 

'"It will then, William, " observed Mr. Ponsonby, stopping, and turningto his nephew, after a rapid walk up and down the room with his handsbehind him under his coat, so as to allow the tails to drop theirperpendicular about three inches clear of his body, "I may say, withoutcontradiction, be the finest property in the county--five thousand acresin a ring-fence. "

'"I daresay it will, uncle, " replied William, tapping his foot, as helounged in a green morocco easy-chair; "and so, because you have setyour fancy upon having these two estates enclosed together in aring-fence, you wish that I should be also enclosed in a _ring_-fence. "

'"And a beautiful property it will be, " replied Mr. Ponsonby. 

'"Which, uncle? the estate or the wife?"

'"Both, nephew, both; and I expect your consent. "

'"Uncle, I am not avaricious. Your present property is sufficient forme. With your permission, instead of doubling the property, and doublingmyself, I will remain your sole heir and single. "

'"Observe, William, such an opportunity may not occur again forcenturies. We shall restore Forest Wild to its ancient boundaries. Youknow it has been divided nearly two hundred years. We now have aglorious, golden opportunity of reuniting the two properties; and whenjoined, the estate will be exactly what it was when granted to ourancestors by Henry VIII. , at the period of the Reformation. This housemust be pulled down, and the monastery left standing. Then we shall haveour own again, and the property without encumbrance. "

'"Without encumbrance, uncle! You forget that there will be a wife. "

'"And you forget that there will be five thousand acres in aring-fence. "

'"Indeed, uncle, you ring it too often in my ears that I should forgetit. But, much as I should like to be the happy possessor of such aproperty, I do not feel inclined to be the happy possessor of MissPercival; and the more so, as I have never seen the property. "

'"We will ride over it to-morrow, William. "

'"Ride over Miss Percival, uncle! That will not be very gallant. I will, however, one of these days ride over the property with you, which, aswell as Miss Percival, I have not as yet seen. "

'"Then I can tell you she is a very pretty property. "

'"If she were not in a ring-fence. "

'"In good heart, William. That is, I mean an excellent disposition. "

'"Valuable in matrimony. "

'"And well tilled--I should say well educated--by her three maidenaunts, who are the patterns of propriety. "

'"Does any one follow the fashion?"

"In a high state of cultivation; that is, her mind highly cultivated, and according to the last new system--what is it?"

'"A four-course shift, I presume, " replied William, laughing; "that is, dancing, singing, music, and drawing. "

'"And only seventeen! Capital soil, promising good crops. What would youhave more?"

"A very pretty estate, uncle, if it were not the estate of matrimony. Iam sorry, very sorry, to disappoint you; but I must decline taking alease of it for life. "

'"Then, sir, allow me to hint to you that in my testament you are only atenant-at-will. I consider it a duty that I owe to the family that theestate should be re-united. That can only be done by one of our familymarrying Miss Percival; and as you will not, I shall now write to yourcousin James, and if he accept my proposal, shall make _him_ my heir. Probably he will more fully appreciate the advantages of five thousandacres in a ring-fence. "

'And Mr. Ponsonby directed his steps towards the door. 

'"Stop, my dear uncle, " cried William, rising up from his easy-chair;"we do not quite understand one another. It is very true that I wouldprefer half the property and remaining single, to the two estates andthe estate of marriage; but at the same time I did not tell you that Iwould prefer beggary to a wife and five thousand acres in a ring-fence. I know you to be a man of your word. I accept your proposal, and youneed not put my cousin James to the expense of postage. "

'"Very good, William; I require no more: and as I know you to be a manof your word, I shall consider this match as settled. It was on thisaccount only that I sent for you, and now you may go back again as soonas you please. I will let you know when all is ready. "

"I must be at Tattersall's on Monday, uncle; there is a horse I musthave for next season. Pray, uncle, may I ask when you are likely to wantme?"

'"Let me see--this is May--about July, I should think. "

"July, uncle! Spare me--I cannot marry in the dog-days. No, hang it! notJuly. "

'"Well, William, perhaps, as you must come down once or twice to seethe property--Miss Percival, I should say--it may be too soon--supposewe put it off till October?"

'"October--I shall be down at Melton. "

'"Pray, sir, may I then inquire what portion of the year is not, withyou, _dog_-days?"

'"Why, uncle, next April, now--I think that would do. "

'"Next April! Eleven months, and a winter between. Suppose Miss Percivalwas to take a cold and die. "

'"I should be excessively obliged to her, " thought William. 

'"No, no!" continued Mr. Ponsonby: "there is nothing certain in thisworld, William. "

'"Well then, uncle, suppose we arrange it for the first _hard frost_. "

'"We have had no hard frosts lately, William. We may wait for years. Thesooner it is over the better. Go back to town, buy your horse, and thencome down here, my dear William, to oblige your uncle--never mind thedog-days. "

'"Well, sir, if I am to make a sacrifice, it shall not be done byhalves; out of respect for you I will even marry in July, without anyregard to the thermometer. "

'"You are a good boy, William. Do you want a cheque?"

'"I have had one to-day, " thought William, and was almost at fault. "Ishall be most thankful, sir--they sell horseflesh by the ouncenowadays. "

'"And you pay in pounds. There, William. "

'"Thank you, sir, I'm all obedience; and I'll keep my word, even ifthere should be a comet. I'll go and buy the horse, and then I shall beready to take the ring-fence as soon as you please. "

'"Yes, and you'll get over it cleverly, I've no doubt. Five thousandacres, William, and--a pretty wife!"

'"Have you any further commands, uncle?" said William, depositing thecheque in his pocket-book. 

'"None, my dear boy; are you going?"

'"Yes, sir; I dine at the Clarendon. "

'"Well, then, good-bye. Make my compliments and excuses to your friendSeagrove. You will come on Tuesday or Wednesday. "

'Thus was concluded the marriage between William Ponsonby and EmilyPercival, and the junction of the two estates, which formed togetherthe great desideratum--_five thousand acres in a ring-fence_. '

Mr. Seagrove finished, and he looked round for approbation. 

'Very good indeed, Seagrove, ' said his lordship; 'you must take a glassof wine after that. '

'I would not give much for Miss Percival's chance of happiness, 'observed the elder Miss Ossulton. 

'Of two evils choose the least, they say, ' observed Mr. Hautaine. 'PoorPonsonby could not help himself. '

'That's a very polite observation of yours, Mr. Hautaine--I thank you inthe name of the sex, ' replied Cecilia Ossulton. 

'Nay, Miss Ossulton; would you like to marry a person whom you neversaw?'

'Most certainly not; but when you mentioned the two evils, Mr. Hautaine, I appeal to your honour, did you not refer to marriage or beggary?'

'I must confess it, Miss Ossulton; but it is hardly fair to call on myhonour to get me into a scrape. '

'I only wish that the offer had been made to me, ' observed Vaughan; 'Ishould not have hesitated as Ponsonby did. '

'Then I beg you will not think of proposing for me, ' said Mrs. Lascelles, laughing; for Mr. Vaughan had been excessively attentive. 

'It appears to me, Vaughan, ' observed Seagrove, 'that you have slightlycommitted yourself by that remark. '

Vaughan, who thought so too, replied, 'Mrs. Lascelles must be aware thatI was only joking. '

'Fie! Mr. Vaughan, ' cried Cecilia Ossulton; 'you know it came from yourheart. '

'My dear Cecilia, ' said the elder Miss Ossulton, 'you forgetyourself--what can you possibly know about gentlemen's hearts?'

'The Bible says that they are "deceitful and desperately wicked, " aunt. '

'And cannot we also quote the Bible against your sex, Miss Ossulton?'replied Seagrove. 

'Yes, you could, perhaps, if any of you had ever read it, ' replied MissOssulton carelessly. 

'Upon my word, Cissy, you are throwing the gauntlet down to thegentlemen, ' observed Lord B. ; 'but I shall throw my warder down, and notpermit this combat _à l'outrance_. I perceive you drink no more wine, gentlemen; we will take our coffee on deck. '

[Illustration: _'Fie! Mr. Vaughan, cried Cecilia Ossulton; 'you know itcame from your heart. '_]

'We were just about to retire, my lord, ' observed the elder MissOssulton, with great asperity; 'I have been trying to catch the eye ofMrs. Lascelles for some time, but----'

'I was looking another way, I presume, ' interrupted Mrs. Lascelles, smiling. 

'I am afraid that I am the unfortunate culprit, ' said Mr. Seagrove. 'Iwas telling a little anecdote to Mrs. Lascelles----'

'Which, of course, from its being communicated in an undertone, was notproper for all the company to hear, ' replied the elder Miss Ossulton;'but if Mrs. Lascelles is now ready----' continued she, bridling up, asshe rose from her chair. 

'At all events, I can hear the remainder of it on deck, ' replied Mrs. Lascelles. The ladies rose and went into the cabin, Cecilia and Mrs. Lascelles exchanging very significant smiles as they followed theprecise spinster, who did not choose that Mrs. Lascelles should take thelead merely because she had once happened to have been married. Thegentlemen also broke up, and went on deck. 

'We have a nice breeze now, my lord, ' observed Mr. Stewart, who hadremained on deck, 'and we lie right up Channel. '

'So much the better, ' replied his lordship; 'we ought to have beenanchored at Cowes a week ago. They will all be there before us. '

'Tell Mr. Simpson to bring me a light for my cigar, ' said Mr. Ossultonto one of the men. 

Mr. Stewart went down to his dinner; the ladies and the coffee came ondeck; the breeze was fine, the weather (it was April) almost warm; andthe yacht, whose name was the _Arrow_, assisted by the tide, soon leftthe Mewstone far astern. 

CHAPTER II

CUTTER THE SECOND

Reader, have you ever been at Portsmouth? If you have, you must havebeen delighted with the view from the saluting battery; and if you havenot, you had better go there as soon as you can. From the salutingbattery you may look up the harbour, and see much of what I havedescribed at Plymouth; the scenery is different, but similar arsenalsand dockyards, and an equal portion of our stupendous navy, are to befound there; and you will see Gosport on the other side of the harbour, and Sallyport close to you; besides a great many other places, whichfrom the saluting battery you cannot see. And then there is SouthseaBeach to your left. Before you, Spithead, with the men-of-war, and theMotherbank crowded with merchant vessels; and there is the buoy wherethe _Royal George_ was wrecked and where she still lies, the fishswimming in and out of her cabin windows; but that is not all; you canalso see the Isle of Wight--Ryde with its long-wooden pier, and Cowes, where the yachts lie. In fact, there is a great deal to be seen atPortsmouth as well as at Plymouth; but what I wish you particularly tosee just how is a vessel holding fast to the buoy just off the salutingbattery. She is a cutter; and you may know that she belongs to thePreventive Service by the number of gigs and galleys which she hashoisted up all round her. She looks like a vessel that was about to sailwith a cargo of boats; two on deck, one astern, one on each side of her. You observe that she is painted black, and all her boats are white. Sheis not such an elegant vessel as the yacht, and she is much morelumbered up. She has no haunches of venison hanging over the stern, butI think there is a leg of mutton and some cabbages hanging by theirstalks. But revenue cutters are not yachts. You will find no turtle orchampagne; but, nevertheless, you will, perhaps, find a joint to carveat, a good glass of grog, and a hearty welcome. 

Let us go on board. You observe the guns are iron, and painted black, and her bulwarks are painted red; it is not a very becoming colour, butthen it lasts a long while, and the dockyard is not very generous on thescore of paint--or lieutenants of the navy troubled with much sparecash. She has plenty of men, and fine men they are; all dressed in redflannel shirts and blue trousers; some of them have not taken off theircanvas or tarpaulin petticoats, which are very useful to them, as theyare in the boats night and day, and in all weathers. But we will at oncego down into the cabin, where we shall find the lieutenant who commandsher, a master's mate, and a midshipman. They have each their tumblerbefore them, and are drinking gin-toddy, hot, with sugar--capital gin, too, 'bove proof; it is from that small anker standing under the table. It was one that they forgot to return to the custom-house when they madetheir last seizure. We must introduce them. 

The elderly personage, with grizzly hair and whiskers, a round paleface, and a somewhat red nose (being too much in the wind will make thenose red, and this old officer is very often 'in the wind, ' of course, from the very nature of his profession), is a Lieutenant Appleboy. Hehas served in every class of vessel in the service, and done the duty offirst lieutenant for twenty years; he is now on promotion--that is tosay, after he has taken a certain number of tubs of gin, he will berewarded with his rank as commander. It is a pity that what he takesinside of him does not count, for he takes it morning, noon, and night. He is just filling his fourteenth glass: he always keeps a regularaccount, as he never exceeds his limited number, which is seventeen;then he is exactly down to his bearings. 

The master's mate's name is Tomkins; he has served his six years threetimes over, and has now outgrown his ambition; which is fortunate forhim, as his chances of promotion are small. He prefers a small vessel toa large one, because he is not obliged to be so particular in hisdress--and looks for his lieutenancy whenever there shall be anothercharity promotion. He is fond of soft bread, for his teeth are allabsent without leave; he prefers porter to any other liquor, but he candrink his glass of grog, whether it be based upon rum, brandy, or theliquor now before him. 

[Illustration: _Lieutenant Appleboy. _]

Mr. Smith is the name of that young gentleman whose jacket is so out atthe elbows; he has been intending to mend it these last two months, butis too lazy to go to his chest for another. He has been turned out ofhalf the ships in the service for laziness; but he was born so--andtherefore it is not his fault. A revenue cutter suits him, she is halfher time hove-to; and he has no objection to boat-service, as he sitsdown always in the stern-sheets, which is not fatiguing. Creeping fortubs is his delight, as he gets over so little ground. He is fond ofgrog, but there is some trouble in carrying the tumbler so often to hismouth; so he looks at it, and lets it stand. He says little because heis too lazy to speak. He has served more than _eight years_; but as forpassing--it has never come into his head. Such are the three persons whoare now sitting in the cabin of the revenue cutter, drinking hotgin-toddy. 

'Let me see, it was, I think, in ninety-three or ninety-four. Before youwere in the service, Tomkins----'

'Maybe, sir; it's so long ago since I entered, that I can't recollectdates--but this I know, that my aunt died three days before. '

'Then the question is, When did your aunt die?'

'Oh! she died about a year after my uncle. '

'And when did your uncle die?'

'I'll be hanged if I know!'

'Then, d'ye see, you've no departure to work from. However, I think youcannot have been in the service at that time. We were not quite soparticular about uniform as we are now. '

'Then I think the service was all the better for it. Nowadays, in yourcrack ships, a mate has to go down in the hold or spirit-room, and afterwhipping up fifty empty casks, and breaking out twenty full ones, he isexpected to come on quarter-deck as clean as if he was just come out ofa bandbox. '

'Well, there's plenty of water alongside, as far as the outward mangoes, and iron dust is soon brushed off. However, as you say, perhaps alittle too much is expected; at least, in five of the ships in which Iwas first lieutenant, the captain was always hauling me over the coalsabout the midshipmen not dressing properly, as if I was their dry-nurse. I wonder what Captain Prigg would have said if he had seen such aturn-out as you, Mr. Smith, on his quarter-deck. '

'I should have had one turn-out more, ' drawled Smith. 

'With your out-at-elbows jacket, there, eh!' continued Mr. Appleboy. 

Smith turned up his elbows, looked at one and then at the other; afterso fatiguing an operation, he was silent. 

'Well, where was I? Oh! it was about ninety-three or ninety-four, as Isaid, that it happened--Tomkins, fill your glass and hand me thesugar--how do I get on? This is No 15, ' said Appleboy, counting somewhite lines on the table by him; and taking up a piece of chalk, hemarked one more line on his tally. 'I don't think this is so good a tubas the last, Tomkins, there's a twang about it--a want of juniper;however, I hope we shall have better luck this time. Of course you knowwe sail to-morrow?'

'I presume so, by the leg of mutton coming on board. '

'True--true; I'm regular--as clockwork. After being twenty years a firstlieutenant one gets a little method. I like regularity. Now the admiralhas never omitted asking me to dinner once, every time I have come intoharbour, except this time. I was so certain of it, that I never expectedto sail; and I have but two shirts clean in consequence. '

'That's odd, isn't it?--and the more so, because he has had such greatpeople down here, and has been giving large parties every day. '

'And yet I made three seizures, besides sweeping up those thirty-seventubs. '

'I swept them up, ' observed Smith. 

'That's all the same thing, younker. When you've been a little longer inthe service, you'll find out that the commanding officer has the meritof all that is done; but you're _green_ yet. Let me see, where was I?Oh! it was about ninety-three or ninety-four, as I said. At that time Iwas in the Channel fleet----Tomkins, I'll trouble you for the hot water;this water's cold. Mr. Smith, do me the favour to ring the bell. Jem, some more hot water. '

'Please, sir, ' said Jem, who was barefooted as well as bareheaded, touching the lock of hair on his forehead, 'the cook has capsized thekettle--but he has put more on. '

'Capsized the kettle! Hah!--very well--we'll talk about that to-morrow. Mr. Tomkins, do me the favour to put him in the report: I may forget it. And pray, sir, how long is it since he has put more on?'

'Just this moment, sir, as I came aft. '

'Very well, we'll see to that to-morrow. You bring the kettle aft assoon as it is ready. I say, Mr. Jem, is that fellow sober?'

'Yees, sir, he be sober as you be. '

'It's quite astonishing what a propensity the common sailors have toliquor. Forty odd years have I been in the service, and I've never foundany difference. I only wish I had a guinea for every time that I havegiven a fellow seven-water grog during my servitude as first lieutenant, I wouldn't call the king my cousin. Well, if there's no hot water, wemust take lukewarm; it won't do to heave-to. By the Lord Harry!who would have thought it?--I'm at number sixteen! Let mecount--yes!--surely I must have made a mistake. A fact, by Heaven!'continued Mr. Appleboy, throwing the chalk down on the table. 'Only onemore glass after this; that is, if I have counted right--I may have seendouble. '

'Yes, ' drawled Smith. 

'Well, never mind. Let's go on with my story. It was either in the yearninety-three or ninety-four that I was in the Channel fleet; we werethen abreast of Torbay----'

'Here be the hot water, sir, ' cried Jem, putting the kettle down on thedeck. 

'Very well, boy. By the bye, has the jar of butter come on board?'

'Yes, but it broke all down the middle. I tied him up with a rope-yarn. '

'Who broke it, sir?'

'Coxswain says as how he didn't. '

'But who did, sir?'

'Coxswain handed it up to Bill Jones, and he says as how he didn't. '

'But who did, sir?'

'Bill Jones gave it to me, and I'm sure as how I didn't. '

'Then who did, sir, I ask you?'

'I think it be Bill Jones, sir, 'cause he's fond of butter, I know, andthere be very little left in the jar. '

'Very well, we'll see to that to-morrow morning. Mr. Tomkins, you'lloblige me by putting the butter-jar down in the report, in case itshould slip my memory. Bill Jones, indeed, looks as if butter wouldn'tmelt in his mouth. Never mind. Well, it was, as I said before--it was inthe year ninety-three or ninety-four, when I was in the Channel fleet;we were then off Torbay, and had just taken two reefs in the topsails. Stop--before I go on with my story, I'll take my last glass; I thinkit's the last--let me count. Yes, by heavens! I make out sixteen, welltold. Never mind, it shall be a stiff one. Boy, bring the kettle, andmind you don't pour the hot water into my shoes, as you did the othernight. There, that will do. Now, Tomkins, fill up yours; and you, Mr. Smith. Let us all start fair, and then you shall have my story--and avery curious one it is, I can tell you; I wouldn't have believed itmyself, if I hadn't seen it. Hilloa! what's this? Confound it! what'sthe matter with the toddy? Heh, Mr. Tomkins?'

Mr. Tomkins tasted; but, like the lieutenant, he had made it very stiff;and, as he had also taken largely before, he was, like him, not quite soclear in his discrimination. 'It has a queer twang, sir; Smith, what isit?'

Smith took up his glass, tasted the contents. 

'_Salt water_, ' drawled the midshipman. 

'Salt water! so it is, by heavens!' cried Mr. Appleboy. 

'Salt as Lot's wife! by all that's infamous!' cried the master's mate. 

'Salt water, sir!' cried Jem in a fright, expecting a _salt_ eel forsupper. 

'Yes, sir, ' replied Mr. Appleboy, tossing the contents of the tumbler inthe boy's face, 'salt water. Very well, sir--very well!'

'It warn't me, sir, ' replied the boy, making up a piteous look. 

'No, sir, but you said the cook was sober. '

'He was not so _very_ much disguised, sir, ' replied Jem. 

'Oh! very well--never mind. Mr. Tomkins, in case I should forget it, dome the favour to put the kettle of salt water down in the report. Thescoundrel! I'm very sorry, gentlemen, but there's no means of having anymore gin-toddy. But never mind, we'll see to this to-morrow. Two canplay at this; and if I don't salt-water their grog, and make them drinkit too, I have been twenty years a first lieutenant for nothing, that'sall. Good-night, gentlemen; and, ' continued the lieutenant, in a severetone, 'you'll keep a sharp look-out, Mr. Smith--do you hear, sir?'

[Illustration: _'Salt water, sir!' cried Jem. 'Yes, sir, ' replied Mr. Appleboy, tossing the contents of the tumbler in the boy's face. _]

'Yes, ' drawled Smith, 'but it's not my watch; it was my first watch; andjust now it struck one bell. '

'You'll keep the middle watch, then, Mr. Smith, ' said Mr. Appleboy, whowas not a little put out; 'and, Mr. Tomkins, let me know as soon as it'sdaylight. Boy, get my bed made. Salt water, by all that's blue! However, we'll see to that to-morrow morning. '

Mr. Appleboy then turned in; so did Mr. Tomkins; and so did Mr. Smith, who had no idea of keeping the middle watch because the cook was drunkand had filled up the kettle with salt water. As for what happened inninety-three or ninety-four, I really would inform the reader if I knew;but I am afraid that that most curious story is never to be handed downto posterity. 

The next morning Mr. Tomkins, as usual, forgot to report the cook, thejar of butter, and the kettle of salt water; and Mr. Appleboy's wrathhad long been appeased before he remembered them. At daylight, thelieutenant came on deck, having only slept away half of the sixteen, anda taste of the seventeenth salt-water glass of gin-toddy. He rubbed hisgray eyes, that he might peer through the gray of the morning; the freshbreeze blew about his grizzly locks, and cooled his rubicund nose. Therevenue cutter, whose name was the _Active_, cast off from the buoy, and, with a fresh breeze, steered her course for the Needles passage. 

CHAPTER III

CUTTER THE THIRD

Reader! have you been to St. Maloes? If you have, you were glad enoughto leave the hole; and if you have not, take my advice, and do not giveyourself the trouble to go and see that or any other French port in theChannel. There is not one worth looking at. They have made one or twoartificial ports, and they are no great things; there is no getting outor getting in. In fact, they have no harbours in the Channel, while wehave the finest in the world; a peculiar dispensation of Providence, because it knew that we should want them, and France would not. InFrance, what are called ports are all alike--nasty, narrow holes, onlyto be entered at certain times of tide and certain winds; made up ofbasins and back-waters, custom-houses and cabarets; just fit forsmugglers to run into, and nothing more; and, therefore, they are usedfor very little else. 

Now, in the dog-hole called St. Maloes there is some pretty land, although a great deficiency of marine scenery. But never mind that. Stayat home, and don't go abroad to drink sour wine, because they call itBordeaux, and eat villainous trash, so disguised by cooking that youcannot possibly tell which of the birds of the air, or beasts of thefield, or fishes of the sea, you are cramming down your throat. 'If allis right, there is no occasion for disguise, ' is an old saying; sodepend upon it that there is something wrong, and that you are eatingoffal, under a grand French name. They eat everything in France, andwould serve you up the head of a monkey who has died of the smallpox, as_singe au petite vérole_--that is, if you did not understand French; ifyou did, they would call it _tête d'amour à l'Ethiopique_, and then youwould be even more puzzled. As for their wine, there is no disguise inthat; it's half vinegar. No, no! stay at home; you can live just ascheaply, if you choose; and then you will have good meat, goodvegetables, good ale, good beer, and a good glass of grog; and, what isof more importance, you will be in good company. Live with your friends, and don't make a fool of yourself. 

I would not have condescended to have noticed this place, had it notbeen that I wish you to observe a vessel which is lying along thepier-wharf, with a plank from the shore to her gunwale. It is low water, and she is aground, and the plank dips down at such an angle that it isa work of danger to go either in or out of her. You observe that thereis nothing very remarkable in her. She is a cutter, and a good sea-boat, and sails well before the wind. She is short for her breadth of beam, and is not armed. Smugglers do not arm now--the service is toodangerous; they effect their purpose by cunning, not by force. Nevertheless, it requires that smugglers should be good seamen, smart, active fellows, and keen-witted, or they can do nothing. This vessel hasnot a large cargo in her, but it is valuable. She has some thousandyards of lace, a few hundred pounds of tea, a few bales of silk, andabout forty ankers of brandy--just as much as they can land in one boat. All they ask is a heavy gale or a thick fog, and they trust tothemselves for success. 

There is nobody on board except a boy; the crew are all up at thecabaret, settling their little accounts of every description--for theysmuggle both ways, and every man has his own private venture. There theyare all, fifteen of them, and fine-looking fellows, too, sitting at thatlong table. They are very merry, but quite sober, as they are to sailto-night. 

[Illustration: _The captain of the_ Happy-go-lucky, _Jack Pickersgill. _]

The captain of the vessel (whose name, by the bye, is the_Happy-go-lucky_--the captain christened her himself) is thatfine-looking young man, with dark whiskers meeting under his throat. Hisname is Jack Pickersgill. You perceive at once that he is much above acommon sailor in appearance. His manners are good, he is remarkablyhandsome, very clean, and rather a dandy in his dress. Observe how verypolitely he takes off his hat to that Frenchman, with whom he has justsettled accounts; he beats Johnny Crapeau at his own weapons. And thenthere is an air of command, a feeling of conscious superiority, aboutJack; see how he treats the landlord, _de haut en bas_, at the same timethat he is very civil. The fact is, that Jack is of a very good oldfamily, and received a very excellent education; but he was an orphan, his friends were poor, and could do but little for him; he went out toIndia as a cadet, ran away, and served in a schooner which smuggledopium into China, and then came home. He took a liking to theemployment, and is now laying up a very pretty little sum: not that heintends to stop: no, as soon as he has enough to fit out a vessel forhimself, he intends to start again for India, and with two cargoes ofopium he will return, he trusts, with a handsome fortune, and reassumehis family name. Such are Jack's intentions; and, as he eventually meansto reappear as a gentleman, he preserves his gentlemanly habits; heneither drinks, nor chews, nor smokes. He keeps his hands clean, wearsrings, and sports a gold snuff-box; notwithstanding which, Jack is oneof the boldest and best of sailors, and the men know it. He is full offun, and as keen as a razor. Jack has a very heavy venture thistime--all the lace is his own speculation, and if he gets it in safe, hewill clear some thousands of pounds. A certain fashionable shop inLondon has already agreed to take the whole off his hands. 

That short, neatly-made young man is the second in command, and thecompanion of the captain. He is clever, and always has a remedy topropose when there is a difficulty, which is a great quality in a secondin command. His name is Corbett. He is always merry--half-sailor, half-tradesman; knows the markets, runs up to London, and does businessas well as a chapman--lives for the day and laughs at to-morrow. 

That little punchy old man, with long gray hair and fat face, with anose like a note of interrogation, is the next personage of importance. He ought to be called the sailing-master, for, although he goes on shorein France, off the English coast he never quits the vessel. When theyleave her with the goods, he remains on board; he is always to be foundoff any part of the coast where he may be ordered; holding his positionin defiance of gales, and tides, and fogs: as for the revenue vessels, they all know him well enough, but they cannot touch a vessel inballast, if she has no more men on board than allowed by her tonnage. Heknows every creek, and hole, and corner of the coast; how the tide runsin--tide, half-tide, eddy, or current. That is his value. His name isMorrison. 

You observe that Jack Pickersgill has two excellent supporters inCorbett and Morrison; his other men are good seamen, active andobedient, which is all that he requires. I shall not particularlyintroduce them. 

'Now you may call for another litre, my lads, and that must be the last;the tide is flowing fast, and we shall be afloat in half an hour, and wehave just the breeze we want. What d'ye think, Morrison, shall we havedirt?'

'I've been looking just now, and if it were any other month in the yearI should say yes; but there's no trusting April, captain. Howsomever, ifit does blow off, I'll promise you a fog in three hours afterwards. '

'That will do as well. Corbett, have you settled with Duval?'

'Yes, after more noise and _charivari_ than a panic in the StockExchange would make in England. He fought and squabbled for an hour, andI found that, without some abatement, I never should have settled theaffair. '

'What did you let him off?'

'Seventeen sous, ' replied Corbett, laughing. 

'And that satisfied him?' inquired Pickersgill. 

'Yes--it was all he could prove to be a _surfaire_: two of the kniveswere a little rusty. But he will always have something off; he could notbe happy without it. I really think he would commit suicide if he had topay a bill without a deduction. '

'Let him live, ' replied Pickersgill. 'Jeannette, a bottle of Volnay of1811, and three glasses. '

Jeannette, who was the _fille de cabaret_, soon appeared with a bottleof wine, seldom called for, except by the captain of the_Happy-go-lucky_. 

'You sail to-night?' said she, as she placed the bottle before him. 

Pickersgill nodded his head. 

'I had a strange dream, ' said Jeannette; 'I thought you were all takenby a revenue cutter, and put in a _cachot_. I went to see you, and I didnot know one of you again--you were all changed. '

'Very likely, Jeannette; you would not be the first who did not knowtheir friends again when in misfortune. There was nothing strange inyour dream. '

'_Mais, mon Dieu! je ne suis pas comme ça, moi. _'

'No, that you are not, Jeannette; you are a good girl, and some of thesefine days I'll marry you, ' said Corbett. 

'_Doit être bien beau ce jour là, par exemple_, ' replied Jeannette, laughing; 'you have promised to marry me every time you have come inthese last three years. '

'Well, that proves I keep to my promise, anyhow. '

'Yes; but you never go any further. '

'I can't spare him, Jeannette, that is the real truth, ' said thecaptain; 'but wait a little--in the meantime, here is a five-franc pieceto add to your _petite fortune_. '

'_Merci bien, monsieur le capitaine; bon voyage!_' Jeannette held herfinger up to Corbett, saying, with a smile, '_méchant!_' and thenquitted the room. 

'Come, Morrison, help us to empty this bottle, and then we will all goon board. '

'I wish that girl wouldn't come here with her nonsensical dreams, ' saidMorrison, taking his seat; 'I don't like it. When she said that weshould be taken by a revenue cutter, I was looking at a blue and a whitepigeon sitting on the wall opposite; and I said to myself, Now, if thatbe a warning, I will see: if the _blue_ pigeon flies away first, I shallbe in jail in a week; if the _white_, I shall be back here. '

'Well?' said Pickersgill, laughing. 

'It wasn't well, ' answered Morrison, tossing off his wine, and puttingthe glass down with a deep sigh; 'for the cursed _blue_ pigeon flew awayimmediately. '

'Why, Morrison, you must have a chicken heart to be frightened at a bluepigeon!' said Corbett, laughing, and looking out of the window; 'at allevents, he has come back again, and there he is sitting by the whiteone. '

'It's the first time that ever I was called chicken-hearted, ' repliedMorrison in wrath. 

'Nor do you deserve it, Morrison, ' replied Pickersgill; 'but Corbett isonly joking. '

'Well, at all events, I'll try my luck in the same way, and see whetherI am to be in jail: I shall take the blue pigeon as my bad omen, as youdid. '

[Illustration: _Jeannette held her finger up to Corbett, saying, with asmile, _ 'méchant!' _and then quitted the room_]

The sailors and Captain Pickersgill all rose and went to the window, toascertain Corbett's fortune by this new species of augury. The bluepigeon flapped his wings, and then he sidled up to the white one; atlast, the white pigeon flew off the wall and settled on the roof of theadjacent house. 'Bravo, white pigeon!' said Corbett; 'I shall be hereagain in a week. ' The whole party, laughing, then resumed their seats;and Morrison's countenance brightened up. As he took the glass of winepoured out by Pickersgill, he said, 'Here's your health, Corbett; it wasall nonsense, after all--for, d'ye see, I can't be put in jail withoutyou are. We all sail in the same boat, and when you leave me you takewith you everything that can condemn the vessel--so here's success toour trip. '

'We will all drink that toast, my lads, and then on board, ' said thecaptain; 'here's success to our trip. '

The captain rose, as did the mates and men, drank the toast, turned downthe drinking vessels on the table, hastened to the wharf, and in half anhour the _Happy-go-lucky_ was clear of the port of St. Maloes. 

CHAPTER IV

PORTLAND BILL

The _Happy-go-lucky_ sailed with a fresh breeze and a flowing sheet fromSt. Maloes the evening before the _Arrow_ sailed from Barn Pool. The_Active_ sailed from Portsmouth the morning after. 

The yacht, as we before observed, was bound to Cowes, in the Isle ofWight. The _Active_ had orders to cruise wherever she pleased within thelimits of the admiral's station; and she ran for West Bay, on the otherside of the Bill of Portland. The _Happy-go-lucky_ was also bound forthat bay to land her cargo. 

The wind was light, and there was every appearance of fine weather, whenthe _Happy-go-lucky_, at ten o'clock on the Tuesday night, made thePortland lights; as it was impossible to run her cargo that night, shehove-to. 

At eleven o'clock the Portland lights were made by the revenue cutter_Active_. Mr. Appleboy went up to have a look at them, ordered thecutter to be hove-to, and then went down to finish his allowance ofgin-toddy. At twelve o'clock the yacht _Arrow_ made the Portland lights, and continued her course, hardly stemming the ebb tide. 

Day broke, and the horizon was clear. The first on the look-out were, ofcourse, the smugglers; they, and those on board the revenue cutter, werethe only two interested parties--the yacht was neuter. 

'There are two cutters in sight, sir, ' said Corbett, who had the watch;for Pickersgill, having been up the whole night, had thrown himself downon the bed with his clothes on. 

'What do they look like?' said Pickersgill, who was up in a moment. 

'One is a yacht, and the other may be; but I rather think, as far as Ican judge in the gray, that it is our old friend off here. '

'What! old Appleboy?'

'Yes, it looks like him; but the day has scarcely broke yet. '

'Well, he can do nothing in a light wind like this; and before the windwe can show him our heels; but are you sure the other is a yacht?' saidPickersgill, coming on deck. 

'Yes; the king is more careful of his canvas. '

'You're right, ' said Pickersgill, 'that is a yacht; and you're rightthere again in your guess--that is the stupid old _Active_ which creepsabout creeping for tubs. Well, I see nothing to alarm us at present, provided it don't fall a dead calm, and then we must take to our boat assoon as he takes to his; we are four miles from him at least. Watch hismotions, Corbett, and see if he lowers a boat. What does she go now?Four knots?--that will soon tire their men. '

The positions of the three cutters were as follows:--

The _Happy-go-lucky_ was about four miles off Portland Head, and wellinto West Bay. The revenue cutter was close to the Head. The yacht wasoutside of the smuggler, about two miles to the westward, and about fiveor six miles from the revenue cutter. 

'Two vessels in sight, sir, ' said Mr. Smith, coming down into the cabinto Mr. Appleboy. 

'Very well, ' replied the lieutenant, who was _lying_ down in his_standing_ bed-place. 

'The people say one is the _Happy-go-lucky_, sir, ' drawled Smith. 

'Heh? what! _Happy-go-lucky_? Yes, I recollect; I've boarded her twentytimes--always empty. How's she standing?'

'She stands to the westward now, sir; but she was hove-to, they say, when they first saw her. '

'Then she has a cargo in her;' and Mr. Appleboy shaved himself, dressed, and went on deck. 

'Yes, ' said the lieutenant, rubbing his eyes again and again, and thenlooking through the glass, 'it is her, sure enough. Let draw theforesheet--hands make sail. What vessel's the other?'

'Don't know, sir--she's a cutter. '

'A cutter? yes; maybe a yacht, or maybe the new cutter ordered on thestation. Make all sail, Mr. Tomkins; hoist our pendant, and fire agun--they will understand what we mean then; they don't know the_Happy-go-lucky_ as well as we do. '

In a few minutes the _Active_ was under a press of sail; she hoisted herpendant, and fired a gun. The smuggler perceived that the _Active_ hadrecognised her, and she also threw out more canvas, and ran off more tothe westward. 

'There's a gun, sir, ' reported one of the men to Mr. Stewart, on boardof the yacht. 

'Yes; give me the glass--a revenue cutter; then this vessel inshorerunning towards us must be a smuggler. '

'She has just now made all sail, sir. '

'Yes, there's no doubt of it. I will go down to his lordship, keep heras she goes. '

Mr. Stewart then went down to inform Lord B. Of the circumstance. Notonly Lord B. But most of the gentlemen came on deck; as did soonafterwards the ladies, who had received the intelligence from Lord B. , who spoke to them through the door of the cabin. 

But the smuggler had more wind than the revenue cutter, and increasedher distance. 

'If we were to wear round, my lord, ' observed Mr. Stewart, 'she is justabreast of us and inshore, we could prevent her escape. '

'Round with her, Mr. Stewart, ' said Lord B. ; 'we must do our duty andprotect the laws. '

'That will not be fair, papa, ' said Cecilia Ossulton; 'we have noquarrel with the smugglers: I'm sure the ladies have not, for they bringus beautiful things. '

'Miss Ossulton, ' observed her aunt, 'it is not proper for you to offeran opinion. '

The yacht wore round, and, sailing so fast, the smuggler had littlechance of escaping her; but to chase is one thing--to capture another. 

'Let us give her a gun, ' said Lord B. , 'that will frighten her; and hedare not cross our hawse. '

The gun was loaded, and not being more than a mile from the smuggler, actually threw the ball almost a quarter of the way. 

[Illustration: _The gun was loaded, and not being more than a mile fromthe smuggler, actually threw the ball almost a quarter of the way. _]

The gentlemen, as well as Lord B. , were equally excited by the ardour ofpursuit; but the wind died away, and at last it was nearly calm. Therevenue cutter's boats were out, and coming up fast. 

'Let us get our boat out, Stewart, ' said his lordship, 'and help them;it is quite calm now. '

The boat was soon out: it was a very large one, usually stowed on, andoccupied a large portion of, the deck. It pulled six oars; and when itwas manned, Mr. Stewart jumped in, and Lord B. Followed him. 

'But you have no arms, ' said Mr. Hautaine. 

'The smugglers never resist now, ' observed Stewart. 

'Then you are going on a very gallant expedition indeed, ' observedCecilia Ossulton; 'I wish you joy. '

But Lord B. Was too much excited to pay attention. They shoved off, andpulled towards the smuggler. 

At this time the revenue boats were about five miles astern of the_Happy-go-lucky_, and the yacht about three-quarters of a mile from herin the offing. Pickersgill had, of course, observed the motions of theyacht; had seen her wear on chase, hoist her ensign and pendant, andfire her gun. 

'Well, ' said he, 'this is the blackest ingratitude: to be attacked bythe very people whom we smuggle for! I only wish she may come up withus; and, let her attempt to interfere, she shall rue the day. I don'tmuch like this, though. '

As we before observed, it fell nearly calm, and the revenue boats werein chase. Pickersgill watched them as they came up. 

'What shall we do?' said Corbett, 'get the boat out?'

'Yes, ' replied Pickersgill, 'we will get the boat out, and have thegoods in her all ready; but we can pull faster than they do, in thefirst place; and, in the next, they will be pretty well tired beforethey come up to us. We are fresh, and shall soon walk away from them; soI shall not leave the vessel till they are within half a mile. We mustsink the ankers, that they may not seize the vessel, for it is not worthwhile taking them with us. Pass them along, ready to run them over thebows, that they may not see us and swear to it. But we have a goodhalf-hour and more. '

'Ay, and you may hold all fast if you choose, ' said Morrison, 'althoughit's better to be on the right side and get ready; otherwise, beforehalf an hour, I'll swear that we are out of their sight. Look there, 'said he, pointing to the eastward at a heavy bank, 'it's coming rightdown upon us, as I said it would. '

'True enough; but still there is no saying which will come first, Morrison, the boats or the fog; so we must be prepared. '

'Hilloa! what's this? why, there's a boat coming from the yacht!'

Pickersgill took out his glass. 

'Yes, and the yacht's own boat, with the name painted on her bows. Well, let them come--we will have no ceremony in resisting them; they are notin the Act of Parliament, and must take the consequences. We have noughtto fear. Get stretchers, my lads, and handspikes; they row six oars, andare three in the stern-sheets: they must be good men if they take us. '

In a few minutes Lord B. Was close to the smuggler. 

'Boat ahoy! what do you want?'

'Surrender in the king's name. '

'To what, and to whom, and what are we to surrender? We are an Englishvessel coasting along shore. '

'Pull on board, my lads, ' cried Stewart; 'I am a king's officer: we knowher. '

The boat darted alongside, and Stewart and Lord B. , followed by the men, jumped on the deck. 

'Well, gentlemen, what do you want?' said Pickersgill. 

'We seize you! you are a smuggler--there's no denying it: look at thecasks of spirits stretched along the deck. '

'We never said that we were not smugglers, ' replied Pickersgill; 'butwhat is that to you? You are not a king's ship, or employed by therevenue. '

'No; but we carry a pendant, and it is our duty to protect the laws. '

'And who are you?' said Pickersgill. 

'I am Lord B. '

'Then, my lord, allow me to say that you would do much better to attendto the framing of laws, and leave people of less consequence, like thoseastern of me, to execute them. "Mind your own business" is an oldadage. We shall not hurt you, my lord, as you have only employed words, but we shall put it out of your power to hurt us. Come aft, my lads. Now, my lord, resistance is useless; we are double your numbers, and youhave caught a Tartar. '

[Illustration: _'Well, gentlemen, what do you want?' saidPickersgill. _]

Lord B. And Mr. Stewart perceived that they were in an awkwardpredicament. 

'You may do what you please, ' observed Mr. Stewart, 'but the revenueboats are coming up, recollect. '

'Look you, sir, do you see the revenue cutter?' said Pickersgill. 

Stewart looked in that direction, and saw that she was hidden in thefog. 

'In five minutes, sir, the boats will be out of sight also, and so willyour vessel; we have nothing to fear from them. '

'Indeed, my lord, we had better return, ' said Mr. Stewart, who perceivedthat Pickersgill was right. 

'I beg your pardon, you will not go on board your yacht so soon as youexpect. Take the oars out of the boat, my lads, two or three of you, andthrow in a couple of our paddles for them to reach the shore with. Therest of you knock down the first man who offers to resist. You are notaware, perhaps, my lord, that you have attempted _piracy_ on the highseas?'

Stewart looked at Lord B. It was true enough. The men of the yacht couldoffer no resistance; the oars were taken out of the boat and the men putin again. 

'My lord, ' said Pickersgill, 'your boat is manned, do me the favour tostep into it; and you, sir, do the same. I should be sorry to lay myhands upon a peer of the realm, or a king's officer even on half-pay. '

Remonstrance was vain; his lordship was led to the boat by two of thesmugglers, and Stewart followed. 

'I will leave your oars, my lord, at the Weymouth Custom-house, and Itrust this will be a lesson to you in future to "mind your ownbusiness. "'

The boat was shoved off from the sloop by the smugglers, and was soonlost sight of in the fog, which had now covered the revenue boats aswell as the yacht, at the same time it brought down a breeze from theeastward. 

'Haul to the wind, Morrison, ' said Pickersgill, 'we will stand out toget rid of the boats; if they pull on they will take it for granted thatwe shall run into the bay, as will the revenue cutter. '

Pickersgill and Corbett were in conversation abaft for a short time, when the former desired the course to be altered two points. 

'Keep silence all of you, my lads, and let me know if you hear a gun ora bell from the yacht, ' said Pickersgill. 

'There is a gun, sir, close to us, ' said one of the men; 'the sound wasright ahead. '

'That will do, keep her as she goes. Aft here, my lads; we cannot runour cargo in the bay, for the cutter has been seen to chase us, and theywill all be on the look-out at the Preventive stations for us on shore. Now, my lads, I have made up my mind that, as these yacht gentlemen havethought proper to interfere, I will take possession of the yacht for afew days. We shall then outsail everything, go where we likeunsuspected, and land our cargo with ease. I shall run alongside ofher--she can have but few hands on board; and mind, do not hurt anybody, but be civil and obey my orders. Morrison, you and your four men and theboy will remain on board as before, and take the vessel to Cherbourg, where we will join you. '

In a short time another gun was fired from the yacht. 

Those on board, particularly the ladies, were alarmed; the fog was verythick, and they could not distinguish the length of the vessel. They hadseen the boat board, but had not seen her turned adrift without oars, asthe fog came on just at that time. The yacht was left with only threeseamen on board, and should it come on bad weather, they were in anawkward predicament. Mr. Hautaine had taken the command, and ordered theguns to be fired that the boat might be enabled to find them. The fourthgun was loading, when they perceived the smuggler's cutter close to themlooming through the fog. 

'Here they are, ' cried the seamen; 'and they have brought the prizealong with them! Three cheers for the _Arrow_!'

'Hilloa! you'll be on board of us!' cried Hautaine. 

'That's exactly what I intended to be, sir, ' replied Pickersgill, jumping on the quarter-deck, followed by his men. 

'Who the devil are you?'

'That's exactly the same question that I asked Lord B. When he boardedus, ' replied Pickersgill, taking off his hat to the ladies. 

'Well, but what business have you here?'

'Exactly the same question which I put to Lord B. , ' replied Pickersgill. 

'Where is Lord B. , sir?' said Cecilia Ossulton, going up to thesmuggler; 'is he safe?'

'Yes, madam, he is safe; at least he is in his boat with all his men, and unhurt; but you must excuse me if I request you and the other ladiesto go down below while I speak to these gentlemen. Be under no alarm, miss, you will receive neither insult nor ill-treatment--I have onlytaken possession of this vessel for the present. '

'Take possession, ' cried Hautaine, 'of a yacht?'

'Yes, sir, since the owner of the yacht thought proper to attempt totake possession of me. I always thought that yachts were pleasurevessels, sailing about for amusement, respected themselves, and notinterfering with others; but it appears that such is not the case. Theowner of this yacht has thought proper to break through the neutralityand commence aggression, and under such circumstances I have now, inretaliation, taken possession of her. '

'And pray what do you mean to do, sir?'

'Simply for a few days to make an exchange. I shall send you on board ofmy vessel as smugglers, while I remain here with the ladies and amusemyself with yachting. '

'Why, sir, you cannot mean----'

'I have said, gentlemen, and that is enough; I should be sorry to resortto violence, but I must be obeyed. You have, I perceive, three seamenonly left: they are not sufficient to take charge of the vessel, andLord B. And the others you will not meet for several days. My regard forthe ladies, even common humanity, points out to me that I cannot leavethe vessel in this crippled condition. At the same time, I must havehands on board of my own: you will oblige me by going on board andtaking her safely into port. It is the least return you can make for mykindness. In those dresses, gentlemen, you will not be able to do yourduty; oblige me by shifting and putting on these. ' Corbett handed aflannel shirt, a rough jacket and trousers to Messrs. Hautaine, Ossulton, Vaughan, and Seagrove. After some useless resistance they werestripped, and having put on the smugglers' attire, they were handed onboard of the _Happy-go-lucky_. 

The three English seamen were also sent on board and confined below, aswell as Ossulton's servant, who was also equipped like his master, andconfined below with the seamen. Corbett and the men then handed up allthe smuggled goods into the yacht, dropped the boat, and made it fastastern, and Morrison having received his directions, the vesselsseparated, Morrison running for Cherbourg, and Pickersgill steering theyacht along shore to the westward. About an hour after this exchange hadbeen effected the fog cleared up, and showed the revenue cutter hove-tofor her boats, which had pulled back and were close on board of her, andthe _Happy-go-lucky_ about three miles in the offing; Lord B. And hisboat's crew were about four miles inshore, paddling and drifting withthe tide towards Portland. As soon as the boats were on board, therevenue cutter made all sail after the smuggler, paying no attention tothe yacht, and either not seeing or not caring about the boat which wasdrifting about in West Bay. 

CHAPTER V

THE TRAVESTIE

Here we are, Corbett, and now I only wish my venture had been double, 'observed Pickersgill; 'but I shall not allow business to absorb mewholly--we must add a little amusement. It appears to me, Corbett, thatthe gentleman's clothes which lie there will fit you, and those of thegood-looking fellow who was spokesman will, I am sure, suit me well. Nowlet us dress ourselves, and then for breakfast. '

Pickersgill then exchanged his clothes for those of Mr. Hautaine, andCorbett fitted on those of Mr. Ossulton. The steward was summoned up, and he dared not disobey; he appeared on deck, trembling. 

'Steward, you will take these clothes below, ' said Pickersgill, 'and, observe, that I now command this yacht; and during the time that I am onboard you will pay me the same respect as you did Lord B. ; nay, more, you will always address me as Lord B. You will prepare dinner andbreakfast, and do your duty just as if his lordship was on board, andtake care that you feed us well, for I will not allow the ladies to beentertained in a less sumptuous manner than before. You will tell thecook what I say; and now that you have heard me, take care that youobey; if not, recollect that I have my own men here, and if I but pointwith my finger, _overboard you go_. Do you perfectly comprehend me?'

'Yes, sir, ' stammered the steward. 

'Yes, _sir!_--What did I tell you, sirrah?--Yes, my lord. Do youunderstand me?'

'Yes--my lord. '

'Pray, steward, whose clothes has this gentleman put on?'

'Mr. --Mr. Ossulton's, I think--sir--my lord, I mean. '

'Very well, steward; then recollect in future you always address thatgentleman as _Mr. Ossulton_. '

'Yes, my lord, ' and the steward went down below, and was obliged to takea couple of glasses of brandy to keep himself from fainting. 

'Who are they, and what are they, Mr. Maddox?' cried the lady's-maid, who had been weeping. 

'Pirates!--_bloody, murderous stick-at-nothing_ pirates!' replied thesteward. 

'Oh!' screamed the lady's-maid, 'what will become of us, poorunprotected females?' And she hastened into the cabin, to impart thisdreadful intelligence. 

The ladies in the cabin were not in a very enviable situation. As forthe elder Miss Ossulton (but, perhaps, it will be better in future todistinguish the two ladies, by calling the elder simply Miss Ossulton, and her niece, Cecilia), she was sitting with her salts to her nose, agonised with a mixture of trepidation and wounded pride. Mrs. Lascelleswas weeping, but weeping gently. Cecilia was sad, and her heart wasbeating with anxiety and suspense, when the maid rushed in. 

'Oh, madam! oh, miss! oh, Mrs. Lascelles! I have found it all out!--theyare murderous, bloody, do-everything pirates!!!'

'Mercy on us!' exclaimed Miss Ossulton; 'surely they will neverdare----'

'Oh, ma'am, they dare anything!--they just now were for throwing thesteward overboard; and they have rummaged all the portmanteaus, anddressed themselves in the gentlemen's best clothes. The captain of themtold the steward that he was Lord B. , and that if he dared to call himanything else, he would cut his throat from ear to ear; and if the cookdon't give them a good dinner, they swear that they'll chop his righthand off, and make him eat it without pepper or salt!'

Miss Ossulton screamed, and went off into hysterics. Mrs. Lascelles andCecilia went to her assistance; but the latter had not forgotten thevery different behaviour of Jack Pickersgill, and his polite manners, when he boarded the vessel. She did not, therefore, believe what themaid had reported, but still her anxiety and suspense were great, especially about her father. After having restored her aunt she put onher bonnet, which was lying on the sofa. 

'Where are you going, dear?' said Mrs. Lascelles. 

[Illustration: '_Pirates!_--bloody, murderous stick-at-nothing_pirates!' replied the steward. _]

'On deck, ' replied Cecilia. 'I must and will speak to these men. '

'Gracious heaven, Miss Ossulton! going on deck! have you heard whatPhoebe says?'

'Yes, aunt, I have; but I can wait here no longer. '

'Stop her! stop her!--she will be murdered!--she will be--she is mad!'screamed Miss Ossulton; but no one attempted to stop Cecilia, and ondeck she went. On her arrival she found Jack Pickersgill and Corbettwalking the deck, one of the smugglers at the helm, and the restforward, and as quiet as the crew of the yacht. As soon as she made herappearance Jack took off his hat, and made her a bow. 

'I do not know whom I have the honour of addressing, young lady; but Iam flattered with this mark of confidence. You feel, and I assure youyou feel correctly, that you are not exactly in lawless hands. '

Cecilia looked with more surprise than fear at Pickersgill. Mr. Hautaine's dress became him; he was a handsome, fine-looking man, andhad nothing of the ruffian in his appearance; unless, like Byron'sCorsair, he was _half savage, half soft_. She could not help thinkingthat she had met many with less pretensions, as far as appearance went, to the claims of a gentleman, at Almack's and other fashionable circles. 

'I have ventured on deck, sir, ' said Cecilia, with a littletremulousness in her voice, 'to request, as a favour, that you willinform me what your intentions may be with regard to the vessel and withregard to the ladies!'

'And I feel much obliged to you for so doing, and I assure you I will, as far as I have made up my own mind, answer you candidly: but youtremble--allow me to conduct you to a seat. In few words, then, toremove your present alarm, I intend that the vessel shall be returned toits owner, with every article in it, as religiously respected as if theywere church property. With respect to you, and the other ladies onboard, I pledge you my honour that you have nothing to fear; that youshall be treated with every respect; your privacy never invaded; andthat, in a few days, you will be restored to your friends. Young lady, Ipledge my hopes of future salvation to the truth of this; but, at thesame time, I must make a few conditions, which, however, will not bevery severe. '

'But, sir, ' replied Cecilia, much relieved, for Pickersgill had stoodby her in the most respectful manner, 'you are, I presume, the captainof the smuggler? Pray answer me one question more--What became of theboat with Lord B. ? He is my father. '

'I left him in his boat, without a hair of his head touched, young lady;but I took away the oars. '

'Then he will perish!' cried Cecilia, putting her handkerchief to hereyes. 

'No, young lady; he is on shore, probably, by this time. Although I tookaway his means of assisting to capture us, I left him the means ofgaining the land. It is not every one who would have done that, afterhis conduct to us. '

'I begged him not to go, ' said Cecilia; 'I told him that it was notfair, and that he had no quarrel with the smugglers. '

'I thank you even for that, ' replied Pickersgill. 'And now, miss--I havenot the pleasure of recollecting his lordship's family name----'

'Ossulton, sir, ' said Cecilia, looking at Pickersgill with surprise. 

'Then, with your permission, Miss Ossulton, I will now make you myconfidant: excuse my using so free a term, but it is because I wish torelieve your fears. At the same time, I cannot permit you to divulge allmy intentions to the whole party on board. I feel that I may trust you, for you have courage, and where there is courage there generally istruth; but you must first tell me whether you will condescend to acceptthese terms. '

Cecilia demurred a moment; the idea of being the confidant of a smugglerrather startled her: but still, her knowledge of what his intentionswere, if she might not reveal them, might be important; as, perhaps, shemight dissuade him. She could be in no worse position than she was now, and she might be in a much better. The conduct of Pickersgill had beensuch, up to the present, as to inspire confidence; and, although hedefied the laws, he appeared to regard the courtesies of life. Ceciliawas a courageous girl, and at length she replied--

'Provided what you desire me to keep secret will not be injurious to anyone, or compromise me in my peculiar situation, I consent. '

'I would not hurt a fly, Miss Ossulton, but in self-defence; and I havetoo much respect for you, from your conduct during our short meeting, tocompromise you. Allow me now to be very candid; and then, perhaps, youwill acknowledge that in my situation others would do the same, and, perhaps, not show half so much forbearance. Your father, without anyright whatever, interferes with me and my calling: he attempts to makeme a prisoner, to have me thrown in jail, heavily fined, and, perhaps, sent out of the country. I will not enter into any defence of smuggling:it is sufficient to say that there are pains and penalties attached tothe infraction of certain laws, and that I choose to risk them. But LordB. Was not empowered by Government to attack me; it was a gratuitousact; and had I thrown him and all his crew into the sea, I should havebeen justified: for it was, in short, an act of piracy on their part. Now, as your father has thought to turn a yacht into a revenue cutter, you cannot be surprised at my retaliating, in turning her into asmuggler; and as he has mixed up looking after the revenue withyachting, he cannot be surprised if I retaliate by mixing up a littleyachting with smuggling. I have dressed your male companions assmugglers, and have sent them in the smuggling vessel to Cherbourg, where they will be safely landed; and I have dressed myself, and theonly person whom I could join with me in this frolic, as gentlemen, intheir places. My object is twofold: one is, to land my cargo, which Ihave now on board, and which is very valuable; the other is, toretaliate upon your father and his companions for their attempt upon me, by stepping into their shoes, and enjoying, for a day or two, theirluxuries. It is my intention to make free with nothing but hislordship's wines and eatables--that you may be assured of; but I shallhave no pleasure if the ladies do not sit down to the dinner-table withus, as they did before with your father and his friends. '

'You can hardly expect that, sir, ' said Cecilia. 

'Yes, I do; and that will be not only the price of the early release ofthe yacht and themselves, but it will also be the only means by whichthey will obtain anything to eat. You observe, Miss Ossulton, the sinsof the fathers are visited on the children. I have now told you what Imean to do, and what I wish. I leave you to think of it, and decidewhether it will not be the best for all parties to consent. You have mypermission to tell the other ladies that, whatever may be their conduct, they are as secure from ill-treatment or rudeness as if they were inGrosvenor Square; but I cannot answer that they will not be hungry, if, after such forbearance in every point, they show so little gratitude asnot to honour me with their company. '

'Then I am to understand that we are to be starved into submission?'

'No, not starved, Miss Ossulton; but recollect that you will be on breadand water, and detained until you do consent, and your detention willincrease the anxiety of your father. '

'You know how to persuade, sir, ' said Cecilia. 'As far as I amconcerned, I trust I shall ever be ready to sacrifice any feelings ofpride to spare my father so much uneasiness. With your permission, Iwill now go down into the cabin and relieve my companions from the worstof their fears. As for obtaining what you wish, I can only say that, asa young person, I am not likely to have much influence with those olderthan myself, and must inevitably be overruled, as I have not permissionto point out to them reasons which might avail. Would you so far allowme to be relieved from my promise, as to communicate all you have saidto me to the only married woman on board? I think I then might obtainyour wishes, which, I must candidly tell you, I shall attempt to effect_only_ because I am most anxious to rejoin my friends. '

'And be relieved of my company, ' replied Pickersgill, smilingironically--'of course you are; but I must and will have my pettyrevenge: and although you may, and probably will, detest me, at allevents you shall not have any very formidable charge to make against me. Before you go below, Miss Ossulton, I give you my permission to add themarried lady to the number of my confidants; and you must permit me tointroduce my friend, Mr. Ossulton;' and Pickersgill waved his hand inthe direction of Corbett, who took off his hat and made a low obeisance. 

It was impossible for Cecilia Ossulton to help smiling. 

'And, ' continued Pickersgill, 'having taken the command of this yachtinstead of his lordship, it is absolutely necessary that I also take hislordship's name. While on board I am Lord B. ; and allow me to introducemyself under that name; I cannot be addressed otherwise. Depend uponit, Miss Ossulton, that I shall have a most paternal solicitude to makeyou happy and comfortable. '

Had Cecilia Ossulton dared to have given vent to her real feelings atthat time, she would have burst into a fit of laughter; it was tooludicrous. At the same time, the very burlesque reassured her stillmore. She went into the cabin with a heavy weight removed from herheart. 

In the meantime, Miss Ossulton and Mrs. Lascelles remained below, in thegreatest anxiety at Cecilia's prolonged stay; they knew not what tothink, and dared not go on deck. Mrs. Lascelles had once determined atall risks to go up; but Miss Ossulton and Phoebe had screamed andimplored her so fervently not to leave them, that she unwillinglyconsented to remain. Cecilia's countenance, when she entered the cabin, reassured Mrs. Lascelles, but not her aunt, who ran to her crying andsobbing, and clinging to her, saying, 'What have they done to you, mypoor, poor Cecilia?'

'Nothing at all, aunt, ' replied Cecilia; 'the captain speaks veryfairly, and says he shall respect us in every possible way, providedthat we obey his orders; but if not----'

'If not--what, Cecilia?' said Miss Ossulton, grasping her niece's arm. 

'He will starve us, and not let us go!'

'God have mercy on us!' cried Miss Ossulton, renewing her sobs. 

Cecilia then went to Mrs. Lascelles, and communicated to her apart allthat had passed. Mrs. Lascelles agreed with Cecilia that they were in nodanger of insult; and as they talked over the matter they at last beganto laugh; there was a novelty in it, and there was something soridiculous in all the gentlemen being turned into smugglers. Cecilia wasglad that she could not tell her aunt, as she wished her to be sofrightened as never to have her company on board the yacht again; andMrs. Lascelles was too glad to annoy her for many and various insultsreceived. The matter was therefore canvassed over very satisfactorily, and Mrs. Lascelles felt a natural curiosity to see this new Lord B. Andthe second Mr. Ossulton. But they had had no breakfast, and were feelingvery hungry now that their alarm was over. They desired Phoebe to askthe steward for some tea or coffee. The reply was, that 'Breakfast waslaid in the cabin, and Lord B. Trusted that the ladies would come topartake of it. '

'No, no, ' replied Mrs. Lascelles, 'I never can, without being introducedto them first. '

'Nor will I go, ' replied Cecilia, 'but I will write a note, and we willhave our breakfast here. ' Cecilia wrote a note in pencil as follows:--

 'Miss Ossulton's compliments to Lord B. , and, as the ladies feel rather indisposed after the alarm of this morning, they trust that his lordship will excuse their coming to breakfast; but hope to meet his lordship at dinner, if not before that time on deck. '

The answer was propitious, and the steward soon appeared with thebreakfast in the ladies' cabin. 

'Well, Maddox, ' said Cecilia, 'how do you get on with your new master?'

The steward looked at the door, to see if it was closed, shook his head, and then said, with a look of despair, 'He has ordered a haunch ofvenison for dinner, miss, and he has twice threatened to toss meoverboard. '

'You must obey him, Maddox, or he certainly will. These pirates aredreadful fellows. Be attentive, and serve him just as if he was myfather. '

'Yes, yes, ma'am, I will; but our time may come. It's _burglary_ on thehigh seas, and I'll go fifty miles to see him hanged. '

'Steward!' cried Pickersgill, from the cabin. 

'O Lord! he can't have heard me--d'ye think he did, miss?'

'The partitions are very thin, and you spoke very loud, ' said Mrs. Lascelles; 'at all events, go to him quickly. '

'Good-bye, miss; good-bye, ma'am, if I shouldn't see you any more, ' saidMaddox, trembling with fear, as he obeyed the awful summons--which wasto demand a toothpick. 

Miss Ossulton would not touch the breakfast; not so Mrs. Lascelles andCecilia, who ate very heartily. 

'It's very dull to be shut up in this cabin, ' said Mrs. Lascelles;'come, Cecilia, let's go on deck. '

'And leave me!' cried Miss Ossulton. 

'There is Phoebe here, aunt; we are going up to persuade the piratesto put us all on shore. '

Mrs. Lascelles and Cecilia put on their bonnets and went up. Lord B. Took off his hat, and begged the honour of being introduced to thepretty widow. He handed the ladies to a seat, and then commencedconversing upon various subjects, which at the same time possessed greatnovelty. His lordship talked about France, and described its ports; toldnow and then a good anecdote; pointed out the different headlands, bays, towns, and villages, which they were passing rapidly, and always hadsome little story connected with each. Before the ladies had been twohours on deck they found themselves, to their infinite surprise, notonly interested, but in conversation with the captain of the smuggler, and more than once they laughed outright. But the _soi-disant_ Lord B. Had inspired them with confidence; they fully believed that what he hadtold them was true, and that he had taken possession of the yacht tosmuggle his goods, to be revenged, and to have a laugh. Now none ofthese three offences are capital in the eyes of the fair sex, and Jackwas a handsome, fine-looking fellow, of excellent manners and veryagreeable conversation; at the same time, neither he nor his friend werein their general deportment and behaviour otherwise than mostrespectful. 

'Ladies, as you are not afraid of me, which is a greater happiness thanI had reason to expect, I think you may be amused to witness the fear ofthose who accuse your sex of cowardice. With your permission, I willsend for the cook and steward, and inquire about the dinner. '

'I should like to know what there is for dinner, ' observed Mrs. Lascelles demurely; 'wouldn't you, Cecilia?'

Cecilia put her handkerchief to her mouth. 

'Tell the steward and the cook both to come aft immediately, ' criedPickersgill. 

In a few seconds they both made their appearance. 

'Steward!' cried Pickersgill, with a loud voice. 

'Yes, my lord, ' replied Maddox, with his hat in his hand. 

'What wines have you put out for dinner?'

'Champagne, my lord; and claret, my lord; and Madeira and sherry, mylord. '

'No Burgundy, sir?'

[Illustration: _'Upon my soul, my lord, ' cried Maddox, dropping on hisknees, 'there is no Burgundy on board--ask the ladies. '_]

'No, my lord; there is no Burgundy on board. '

'No Burgundy, sir! do you dare to tell me that?'

'Upon my soul, my lord, ' cried Maddox, dropping on his knees, 'there isno Burgundy on board--ask the ladies. '

'Very well, sir, you may go. '

'Cook, what have you got for dinner?'

'Sir, a haunch of mutt--of venison, my lord, ' replied the cook, with hiswhite nightcap in his hand. 

'What else, sirrah?'

'A boiled calf's head, my lord. '

'A boiled calf's head! Let it be roasted, or I'll roast you, sir!' criedPickersgill, in an angry tone. 

'Yes, my lord; I'll roast it. '

'And what else, sir?'

'Maintenon cutlets, my lord. '

'Maintenon cutlets! I hate them--I won't have them, sir. Let them bedressed _à l'ombre Chinoise_. '

'I don't know what that is, my lord. '

'I don't care for that, sirrah; if you don't find out by dinner-time, you're food for fishes--that's all; you may go. '

The cook walked off wringing his hands and his nightcap as well--for hestill held it in his right hand--and disappeared down the fore-hatchway. 

'I have done this to pay you a deserved compliment, ladies; you havemore courage than the other sex. '

'Recollect that we have had confidence given to us in consequence ofyour pledging your word, my lord. '

'You do me, then, the honour of believing me?'

'I did not until I saw you, ' replied Mrs. Lascelles; 'but now I amconvinced that you will perform your promise. '

'You do indeed encourage me, madam, to pursue what is right, ' saidPickersgill, bowing; 'for your approbation I should be most sorry tolose, still more sorry to prove myself unworthy of it. '

As the reader will observe, everything was going on remarkably well. 

CHAPTER VI

THE SMUGGLING YACHT

Cecilia returned to the cabin, to ascertain whether her aunt was morecomposed; but Mrs. Lascelles remained on deck. She was much pleased withPickersgill; and they continued their conversation. Pickersgill enteredinto a defence of his conduct to Lord B. ; and Mrs. Lascelles could notbut admit the provocation. After a long conversation she hinted at hisprofession, and how superior he appeared to be to such a lawless life. 

'You may be incredulous, madam, ' replied Pickersgill, 'if I tell youthat I have as good a right to quarter my arms as Lord B. Himself; andthat I am not under my real name. Smuggling is, at all events, no crime;and I infinitely prefer the wild life I lead at the head of my men tobeing spurned by society because I am poor. The greatest crime in thiscountry is poverty. I may, if I am fortunate, some day resume my name. You may, perhaps, meet me, and if you please, you may expose me. '

'That I should not be likely to do, ' replied the widow; 'but still Iregret to see a person, evidently intended for better things, employedin so disreputable a profession. '

'I hardly know, madam, what is and what is not disreputable in thisconventional world. It is not considered disreputable to cringe to thevices of a court, or to accept a pension wrung from the industry of thenation, in return for base servility. It is not considered disreputableto take tithes, intended for the service of God, and lavish them away atwatering-places or elsewhere, seeking pleasure instead of doing Godservice. It is not considered disreputable to take fee after fee touphold injustice, to plead against innocence, to pervert truth, and toaid the devil. It is not considered disreputable to gamble on the StockExchange, or to corrupt the honesty of electors by bribes, for doingwhich the penalty attached is equal to that decreed to the offence ofwhich I am guilty. All these, and much more, are not considereddisreputable; yet by all these are the moral bonds of society loosened, while in mine we cause no guilt in others----'

'But still it is a crime. '

'A violation of the revenue laws, and no more. Observe, madam, theEnglish Government encourage the smuggling of our manufactures to theContinent, at the same time that they take every step to preventarticles being smuggled into this country. Now, madam, can that be a_crime_ when the head of the vessel is turned north, which becomes _nocrime_ when she steers the opposite way?'

'There is a stigma attached to it, you must allow. '

'That I grant you, madam; and as soon as I can quit the profession Ishall. No captive ever sighed more to be released from his chains; but Iwill not leave it, till I find that I am in a situation not to bespurned and neglected by those with whom I have a right to associate. '

At this moment the steward was seen forward making signs to Mrs. Lascelles, who excused herself, and went to him. 

'For the love of God, madam, ' said Maddox, 'as he appears to be friendlywith you, do pray find out how these cutlets are to be dressed; the cookis tearing his hair, and we shall never have any dinner; and then itwill all fall upon me, and I--shall be tossed overboard. '

Mrs. Lascelles desired poor Maddox to wait there while she obtained thedesired information. In a few minutes she returned to him. 

'I have found it out. They are first to be boiled in vinegar, then friedin batter, and served up with a sauce of anchovy and Malaga raisins!'

'First fried in vinegar, then boiled in batter, and served up withalmonds and raisins!'

'No--no!' Mrs. Lascelles repeated the injunction to the frightenedsteward, and then returned aft, and re-entered into a conversation withPickersgill, in which for the first time Corbett now joined. Corbett hadsense enough to feel that the less he came forward until his superiorhad established himself in the good graces of the ladies, the morefavourable would be the result. 

In the meantime Cecilia had gone down to her aunt, who still continuedto wail and lament. The young lady tried all she could to console her, and to persuade her that if they were civil and obedient they hadnothing to fear. 

'Civil and obedient, indeed!' cried Miss Ossulton, 'to a fellow who is asmuggler and a pirate! I, the sister of Lord B. ! Never! The presumptionof the wretch!'

'That is all very well, aunt; but recollect, we must submit tocircumstances. These men insist upon our dining with them; and we mustgo, or we shall have no dinner. '

'I sit down with a pirate! Never! I'll have no dinner--I'll starve--I'lldie!'

'But, my dear aunt, it's the only chance we have of obtaining ourrelease; and if you do not do it Mrs. Lascelles will think that you wishto remain with them. '

'Mrs. Lascelles judges of other people by herself. '

'The captain is certainly a very well-behaved, handsome man. He lookslike a nobleman in disguise. What an odd thing it would be, aunt, ifthis should be all a hoax!'

'A hoax, child?' replied Miss Ossulton, sitting up on the sofa. 

Cecilia found that she had hit the right nail, as the saying is; and shebrought forward so many arguments to prove that she thought it was ahoax to frighten them, and that the gentleman above was a man ofconsequence, that her aunt began to listen to reason, and at lastconsented to join the dinner party. Mrs. Lascelles now came down below;and when dinner was announced they repaired to the large cabin, wherethey found Pickersgill and Corbett waiting for them. 

Miss Ossulton did not venture to look up, until she heard Pickersgillsay to Mrs. Lascelles, 'Perhaps, madam, you will do me the favour tointroduce me to that lady, whom I have not had the honour of seeingbefore?'

'Certainly, my lord, ' replied Mrs. Lascelles. 'Miss Ossulton, the auntof this young lady. '

Mrs. Lascelles purposely did not introduce _his lordship_ in return, that she might mystify the old spinster. 

'I feel highly honoured in finding myself in the company of MissOssulton, ' said Pickersgill. 'Ladies, we wait but for you to sit down. Ossulton, take the head of the table and serve the soup. 

Miss Ossulton was astonished; she looked at the smugglers, and perceivedtwo well-dressed gentlemanly men, one of whom was apparently a lord, andthe other having the same family name. 

'It must be all a hoax, ' thought she, and she very quietly took to hersoup. 

The dinner passed off very pleasantly; Pickersgill was agreeable, Corbett funny, and Miss Ossulton so far recovered herself as to drinkwine with his lordship, and to ask Corbett what branch of their familyhe belonged to. 

'I presume it's the Irish branch?' said Mrs. Lascelles, prompting him. 

'Exactly, madam, ' replied Corbett. 

'Have you ever been to Torquay, ladies?' inquired Pickersgill. 

'No, my lord, ' answered Mrs. Lascelles. 

'We shall anchor there in the course of an hour, and probably remainthere till to-morrow. Steward, bring coffee. Tell the cook these cutletswere remarkably well dressed. '

The ladies retired to their cabin. Miss Ossulton was now convinced thatit was all a hoax; 'but, ' said she, 'I shall tell Lord B. My opinion oftheir practical jokes when he returns. What is his lordship's name whois on board?'

'He won't tell us, ' replied Mrs. Lascelles; 'but I think I know; it isLord Blarney. '

'Lord Blaney, you mean, I presume, ' said Miss Ossulton; 'however, thething is carried too far. Cecilia, we will go on shore at Torquay, andwait till the yacht returns with Lord B. I don't like these jokes; theymay do very well for widows, and people of no rank. '

Now Mrs. Lascelles was sorry to find Miss Ossulton so much at her ease. She owed her no little spite, and wished for revenge. Ladies will govery far to obtain this. How far Mrs. Lascelles would have gone, I willnot pretend to say; but this is certain, that the last innuendo of MissOssulton very much added to her determination. She took her bonnet andwent on deck, at once told Pickersgill that he could not please her orCecilia more than by frightening Miss Ossulton, who, under the idea thatit was all a hoax, had quite recovered her spirits; talked of her prideand ill-nature, and wished her to receive a useful lesson. Thus, tofollow up her revenge, did Mrs. Lascelles commit herself so far as to beconfidential with the smuggler in return. 

'Mrs. Lascelles, I shall be able to obey you, and, at the same time, tocombine business with pleasure. '

After a short conversation, the yacht dropped her anchor at Torquay. Itwas then about two hours before sunset. As soon as the sails werefurled, one or two gentlemen, who resided there, came on board to paytheir respects to Lord B. ; and, as Pickersgill had found out fromCecilia that her father was acquainted with no one there, he receivedthem in person; asked them down into the cabin--called for wine--anddesired them to send their boat away, as his own was going on shore. Thesmugglers took great care that the steward, cook, and lady's-maid shouldhave no communication with the guests; one of them, by Corbett'sdirection, being a sentinel over each individual. The gentlemen remainedabout half an hour on board, during which Corbett and the smugglers hadfilled the portmanteaus found in the cabin with the lace, and they wereput in the boat; Corbett then landed the gentlemen in the same boat, andwent up to the hotel, the smugglers following him with the portmanteaus, without any suspicion or interruption. As soon as he was there, heordered post-horses, and set off for a town close by, where he hadcorrespondents; and thus the major part of the cargo was secured. Corbett then returned in the night, bringing with him people to receivethe goods; and the smugglers landed the silks, teas, etc. , with the samegood fortune. Everything was out of the yacht except a portion of thelace, which the portmanteaus would not hold. Pickersgill might easilyhave sent this on shore; but, to please Mrs. Lascelles, he arrangedotherwise. 

The next morning, about an hour after breakfast was finished, Mrs. Lascelles entered the cabin pretending to be in the greatestconsternation, and fell on the sofa as if she were going to faint. 

'Good heavens! what is the matter?' exclaimed Cecilia, who knew verywell what was coming. 

'Oh, the wretch! he has made such proposals!'

'Proposals! what proposals? what! Lord Blaney?' cried Miss Ossulton. 

'Oh, he's no lord! he's a villain and a smuggler! and he insists that weshall both fill our pockets full of lace, and go on shore with him. '

'Mercy on me! Then it is no hoax after all; and I've been sitting downto dinner with a smuggler!'

'Sitting down, madam!--if it were to be no more than that--but we are totake his arm up to the hotel. Oh, dear! Cecilia, I am ordered on deck;pray come with me!'

Miss Ossulton rolled on the sofa, and rang for Phoebe; she was in astate of great alarm. 

A knock at the door. 

'Come in, ' said Miss Ossulton, thinking it was Phoebe; whenPickersgill made his appearance. 

'What do you want, sir? Go out, sir! go out directly, or I'll scream!'

'It is no use screaming, madam; recollect that all on board are at myservice. You will oblige me by listening to me, Miss Ossulton. I am, asyou know, a smuggler; and I must send this lace on shore. You willoblige me by putting it into your pockets, or about your person, andprepare to go on shore with me. As soon as we arrive at the hotel, youwill deliver it to me, and I then shall reconduct you on board of theyacht. You are not the first lady who has gone on shore with contrabandarticles about her person. '

'Me, sir! go on shore in that way? No, sir--never! What will the worldsay?--the Hon. Miss Ossulton walking with a smuggler! No, sir--never!'

'Yes, madam; walking arm-in-arm with a smuggler. I shall have you on onearm, and Mrs. Lascelles on the other; and I would advise you to take itvery quietly; for, in the first place, it will be you who smuggle, asthe goods will be found on your person, and you will certainly be put inprison; for at the least appearance of insubordination, we run andinform against you; and further, your niece will remain on board as ahostage for your good behaviour--and if you have any regard for herliberty, you will consent immediately. '

Pickersgill left the cabin, and shortly afterwards Cecilia and Mrs. Lascelles entered, apparently much distressed. They had been informed ofall, and Mrs. Lascelles declared, that for her part, sooner than leaveher poor Cecilia to the mercy of such people, she had made up her mindto submit to the smuggler's demands. Cecilia also begged so earnestly, that Miss Ossulton, who had no idea that it was a trick, with muchsobbing and blubbering, consented. 

[Illustration: _Miss Ossulton, frightened out of her wits, took his arm;and, with Mrs. Lascelles on the other, they went up to the hotel. _]

When all was ready Cecilia left the cabin; Pickersgill came down, handedup the two ladies, who had not exchanged a word with each other duringCecilia's absence; the boat was ready alongside--they went in, andpulled on shore. Everything succeeded to the smuggler's satisfaction. Miss Ossulton, frightened out of her wits, took his arm; and, with Mrs. Lascelles on the other, they went up to the hotel, followed by four ofhis boat's crew. As soon as they were shown into a room, Corbett, whowas already on shore, asked for Lord B. , and joined them. The ladiesretired to another apartment, divested themselves of their contrabandgoods, and after calling for some sandwiches and wine, Pickersgillwaited an hour, and then returned on board. Mrs. Lascelles wastriumphant; and she rewarded her new ally--the smuggler--with one of hersweetest smiles. Community of interest will sometimes make strangefriendships. 

CHAPTER VII

CONCLUSION

We must now return to the other parties who have assisted in the acts ofthis little drama. Lord B. , after paddling and paddling, the menrelieving each other, in order to make head against the wind, which wasoff shore, arrived about midnight at a small town in West Bay, fromwhence he took a chaise on to Portsmouth, taking it for granted that hisyacht would arrive as soon as, if not before himself, little imaginingthat it was in possession of the smugglers. There he remained three orfour days, when, becoming impatient, he applied to one of his friendswho had a yacht at Cowes, and sailed with him to look after his own. 

We left the _Happy-go-lucky_ chased by the revenue cutter. At first thesmuggler had the advantage before the wind; but, by degrees, the windwent round with the sun, and brought the revenue cutter to leeward: itwas then a chase on a wind, and the revenue cutter came fast up withher. 

Morrison, perceiving that he had no chance of escape, let run the ankersof brandy that he might not be condemned; but still he was in an awkwardsituation, as he had more men on board than allowed by Act ofParliament. He therefore stood on, notwithstanding the shot of thecutter went over and over him, hoping that a fog or night might enablehim to escape; but he had no such good fortune; one of the shot carriedaway the head of his mast, and the _Happy-go-lucky's_ luck was all over. He was boarded and taken possession of; he asserted that the extra menwere only passengers; but, in the first place, they were dressed inseamen's clothes; and, in the second, as soon as the boat was aboard ofher, Appleboy had gone down to his gin-toddy, and was not to bedisturbed. The gentlemen smugglers therefore passed an uncomfortablenight; and the cutter going to Portland by daylight, before Appleboy wasout of bed, they were taken on shore to the magistrate. Hautaineexplained the whole affair, and they were immediately released andtreated with respect; but they were not permitted to depart until theywere bound over to appear against the smugglers, and prove the brandyhaving been on board. They then set off for Portsmouth in the seamen'sclothes, having had quite enough of yachting for that season, Mr. Ossulton declaring that he only wanted to get his luggage, and then hewould take care how he put himself again in the way of the shot of arevenue cruiser, or of sleeping a night on her decks. 

In the meantime Morrison and his men were locked up in the jail, the oldman, as the key was turned on him, exclaiming, as he raised his foot invexation, 'That cursed blue pigeon. '

We will now return to the yacht. 

About an hour after Pickersgill had come on board, Corbett had made allhis arrangements and followed him. It was not advisable to remain atTorquay any longer, through fear of discovery; he therefore weighed theanchor before dinner, and made sail. 

'What do you intend to do now, my lord?' said Mrs. Lascelles. 

'I intend to run down to Cowes, anchor the yacht in the night, and anhour before daylight have you in my boat with all my men. I will takecare that you are in perfect safety, depend upon it, even if I run arisk. I should, indeed, be miserable, if, through my wild freaks, anyaccident should happen to Mrs. Lascelles or Miss Ossulton. '

'I am very anxious about my father, ' observed Cecilia. 'I trust that youwill keep your promise. '

'I always have hitherto, Miss Ossulton; have I not?'

'Ours is but a short and strange acquaintance. '

'I grant it; but it will serve for you to talk about long after. I shalldisappear as suddenly as I have come--you will neither of you, in allprobability, ever see me again. '

The dinner was announced, and they sat down to table as before; but theelderly spinster refused to make her appearance, and Mrs. Lascelles andCecilia, who thought she had been frightened enough, did not attempt toforce her. Pickersgill immediately yielded to these remonstrances, andfrom that time she remained undisturbed in the ladies' cabin, meditatingover the indignity of having sat down to table, having drank wine, andbeen obliged to walk on shore, taking the arm of a smuggler, and appearin such a humiliating situation. 

The wind was light, and they made but little progress, and were notabreast of Portland till the second day, when another yacht appeared insight, and the two vessels slowly neared, until in the afternoon theywere within four miles of each other. It then fell a dead calm: signalswere thrown out by the other yacht, but could not be distinguished, and, for the last time, they sat down to dinner. Three days' companionship onboard of a vessel, cooped up together, and having no one else toconverse with, will produce intimacy; and Pickersgill was a young man ofso much originality and information, that he was listened to withpleasure. He never attempted to advance beyond the line of strictdecorum and politeness; and his companion was equally unpresuming. Situated as they were, and feeling what must have been the case had theyfallen into other hands, both Cecilia and Mrs. Lascelles felt somedegree of gratitude towards him; and, although anxious to be relievedfrom so strange a position, they had gradually acquired a perfectconfidence in him; and this had produced a degree of familiarity ontheir parts, although never ventured upon by the smuggler. As Corbettwas at the table, one of the men came down and made a sign. Corbettshortly after quitted the table and went on deck. 'I wish, my lord, youwould come up a moment, and see if you can make this flag out, ' saidCorbett, giving a significant nod to Pickersgill. 'Excuse me, ladies, one moment, ' said Pickersgill, who went on deck. 

'It is the boat of the yacht coming on board, ' said Corbett; 'and LordB. Is in the stern-sheets with the gentleman who was with him. '

'And how many men in the boat?--let me see--only four. Well, let hislordship and his friend come: when they are on the deck, have the menready in case of accident; but if you can manage to tell the boat's crewthat they are to go on board again, and get rid of them that way, somuch the better. Arrange this with Adams, and then come down again--hislordship must see us all at dinner. '

Pickersgill then descended, and Corbett had hardly time to give hisdirections and to resume his seat, before his lordship and Mr. Stewartpulled up alongside and jumped on deck. There was no one to receive thembut the seamen, and those whom they did not know. They looked round inamazement; at last his lordship said to Adams, who stood forward--

'What men are you?'

'Belong to the yacht, ye'r honour. '

Lord B. Heard laughing in the cabin; he would not wait to interrogatethe men; he walked aft, followed by Mr. Stewart, looked down theskylight, and perceived his daughter and Mrs. Lascelles, with, as hesupposed, Hautaine and Ossulton. 

Pickersgill had heard the boat rub the side, and the sound of the feeton deck, and he talked the more loudly, that the ladies might be caughtby Lord B. As they were. He heard their feet at the skylight, and knewthat they could hear what passed; and at that moment he proposed to theladies that as this was their last meeting at table they should all takea glass of champagne to drink to 'their happy meeting with Lord B. ' Thiswas a toast which they did not refuse. Maddox poured out the wine, andthey were all bowing to each other, when his lordship, who had come downthe ladder, walked into the cabin, followed by Mr. Stewart. Ceciliaperceived her father; the champagne-glass dropped from her hand--sheflew into his arms, and burst into tears. 

'Who would not be a father, Mrs. Lascelles?' said Pickersgill, quietlyseating himself, after having first risen to receive Lord B. 

'And pray, whom may I have the honour of finding established here?' saidLord B. , in an angry tone, speaking over his daughter's head, who stilllay in his arms. 'By heavens, yes!--Stewart, it is the smuggling captaindressed out. '

'Even so, my lord, ' replied Pickersgill. 'You abandoned your yacht tocapture me; you left these ladies in a vessel crippled for want of men;they might have been lost. I have returned good for evil by coming onboard with my own people, and taking charge of them. This night Iexpected to have anchored your vessel in Cowes, and have left them insafety. '

'By the----' cried Stewart. 

'Stop, sir, if you please!' cried Pickersgill; 'recollect you have oncealready attacked one who never offended. Oblige me by refraining fromintemperate language; for I tell you I will not put up with it. Recollect, sir, that I have refrained from that, and also from takingadvantage of you when you were in my power. Recollect, sir, also, thatthe yacht is still in possession of the smugglers, and that you are inno condition to insult with impunity. My lord, allow me to observe, thatwe men are too hot of temperament to argue or listen coolly. With yourpermission, your friend, and my friend, and I, will repair on deck, leaving you to hear from your daughter and that lady all that haspassed. After that, my lord, I shall be most happy to hear anythingwhich your lordship may please to say. '

'Upon my word----' commenced Mr. Stewart. 

'Mr. Stewart, ' interrupted Cecilia Ossulton, 'I request your silence;nay, more, if ever we are again to sail in the same vessel together, I_insist_ upon it. '

'Your lordship will oblige me by enforcing Miss Ossulton's request, 'said Mrs. Lascelles. 

Mr. Stewart was dumbfounded--no wonder--to find the ladies siding withthe smuggler. 

'I am obliged to you, ladies, for your interference, ' said Pickersgill;'for, although I have the means of enforcing conditions, I should besorry to avail myself of them. I wait for his lordship's reply. '

Lord. B. Was very much surprised. He wished for an explanation; he bowedwith _hauteur_. Everybody appeared to be in a false position; even he, Lord B. , somehow or another had bowed to a smuggler. 

Pickersgill and Stewart went on deck, walking up and down, crossing eachother without speaking, but reminding you of two dogs who are bothanxious to fight, but have been restrained by the voice of theirmasters. Corbett followed, and talked in a low tone to Pickersgill;Stewart went over to leeward to see if the boat was still alongside, butit had long before returned to the yacht. Miss Ossulton had heard herbrother's voice, but did not come out of the after-cabin; she wished tobe magnificent, and at the same time she was not sure whether all wasright, Phoebe having informed her that there was nobody with herbrother and Mr. Stewart, and that the smugglers still had the command ofthe vessel. After a while, Pickersgill and Corbett went down forward, and returned dressed in the smuggler's clothes, when they resumed theirwalk on the deck. 

In the meantime it was dark; the cutter flew along the coast, and theNeedles' lights were on the larboard bow. The conversation between Mrs. Lascelles, Cecilia, and her father was long. When all had been detailed, and the conduct of Pickersgill duly represented, Lord B. Acknowledgedthat, by attacking the smuggler, he had laid himself open toretaliation; that Pickersgill had shown a great deal of forbearance inevery instance; and after all, had he not gone on board the yacht, shemight have been lost, with only three seamen on board. He was amusedwith the smuggling and the fright of his sister, still more with thegentlemen being sent to Cherbourg, and much consoled that he was not theonly one to be laughed at. He was also much pleased with Pickersgill'sintention of leaving the yacht safe in Cowes harbour, his respect to theproperty on board, and his conduct to the ladies. On the whole, he feltgrateful to Pickersgill, and where there is gratitude there is alwaysgoodwill. 

'But who can he be?' said Mrs. Lascelles; 'his name he acknowledges notto be Pickersgill, and he told me confidentially that he was of goodfamily. '

'Confidentially, my dear Mrs. Lascelles?' said Lord B. 

'Oh, yes! we are both his confidants. Are we not, Cecilia?'

'Upon my honour, Mrs. Lascelles, this smuggler appears to have made animpression which many have attempted in vain. '

Mrs. Lascelles did not reply to that remark, but said, 'Now, my lord, you must decide--and I trust you will, to oblige us, treat him as he hastreated us, with the greatest respect and kindness. '

'Why should you suppose otherwise?' replied Lord B. ; 'it is not only mywish but my interest so to do. He may take us over to France to-night, or anywhere else. Has he not possession of the vessel?'

'Yes, ' replied Cecilia; 'but we flatter ourselves that we have _thecommand_. Shall we call him down, papa?'

'Ring for Maddox. Maddox, tell Mr. Pickersgill, who is on deck, that Iwish to speak with him, and shall be obliged by his stepping down intothe cabin. '

'Who, my lord? What? _Him?_'

'Yes, _him_, ' replied Cecilia, laughing. 

'Must I call him my lord, now, miss?'

'You may do as you please, Maddox; but recollect he is still inpossession of the vessel, ' replied Cecilia. 

'Then, with your lordship's permission, I will; it's the safest way. '

The smuggler entered the cabin; the ladies started as he appeared in hisrough costume. With his throat open, and his loose black handkerchief, he was the _beau ideal_ of a handsome sailor. 

'Your lordship wishes to communicate with me?'

'Mr. Pickersgill, I feel that you have had cause of enmity against me, and that you have behaved with forbearance. I thank you for yourconsiderate treatment of the ladies; and I assure you that I feel noresentment for what has passed. '

'My lord, I am quite satisfied with what you have said; and I only hopethat, in future, you will not interfere with a poor smuggler, who may bestriving, by a life of danger and privation, to procure subsistence forhimself, and, perhaps, his family. I stated to these ladies my intentionof anchoring the yacht this night at Cowes, and leaving her as soon asshe was in safety. Your unexpected presence will only make thisdifference, which is, that I must previously obtain your lordship'sassurance that those with you will allow me and my men to quit herwithout molestation, after we have performed this service. '

'I pledge you my word, Mr. Pickersgill, and I thank you into thebargain. I trust you will allow me to offer some remuneration. '

'Most certainly not, my lord. '

'At all events, Mr. Pickersgill, if, at any other time, I can be ofservice, you may command me. '

Pickersgill made no reply. 

'Surely, Mr. Pickersgill----'

'Pickersgill! how I hate that name!' said the smuggler, musing. 'I begyour lordship's pardon--if I may require your assistance for any of myunfortunate companions----'

'Not for yourself, Mr. Pickersgill?' said Mrs. Lascelles. 

'Madam, I smuggle no more. '

'For the pleasure I feel in hearing that resolution, Mr. Pickersgill, 'said Cecilia, 'take my hand and thanks. '

'And mine, ' said Mrs. Lascelles, half crying. 

'And mine too, ' said Lord B. , rising up. 

Pickersgill passed the back of his hand across his eyes, turned round, and left the cabin. 

'I'm so happy!' said Mrs. Lascelles, bursting into tears. 

'He's a magnificent fellow, ' observed Lord B. 'Come, let us all go ondeck. '

'You have not seen my aunt, papa. '

'True; I'll go in to her, and then follow you. '

The ladies went up on deck. Cecilia entered into conversation with Mr. Stewart, giving him a narrative of what had happened. Mrs. Lascelles satabaft at the taffrail, with her pretty hand supporting her cheek, looking very much _à la Juliette_. 

'Mrs. Lascelles, ' said Pickersgill, 'before we part, allow me toobserve, that it is _you_ who have induced me to give up myprofession----'

'Why me, Mr. Pickersgill?'

'You said that you did not like it'

Mrs. Lascelles felt the force of the compliment. 'You said just now thatyou hated the name of Pickersgill: why do you call yourself so?'

'It was my smuggling name, Mrs. Lascelles. '

'And now that you have left off smuggling, pray what may be the name weare to call you by?'

'I cannot resume it till I have not only left this vessel, but shakenhands with, and bid farewell to, my companions; and by that time, Mrs. Lascelles, I shall be away from you. '

'But I've a great curiosity to know it; and a lady's curiosity must begratified. You must call upon me some day, and tell it me. Here is myaddress. '

Pickersgill received the card with a low bow: and Lord B. Coming ondeck, Mrs. Lascelles hastened to meet him. 

[Illustration: _'Mrs. Lascelles, ' said Pickersgill, 'before we part, allow me to observe, that it is you who have induced me to give up myprofession----'_]

The vessel was now passing the Bridge at the Needles, and the smugglerpiloted her on. As soon as they were clear and well inside, the wholeparty went down into the cabin, Lord B. Requesting Pickersgill andCorbett to join him in aparting glass. Mr. Stewart, who had receivedthe account of what had passed from Cecilia, was very attentive toPickersgill, and took an opportunity of saying that he was sorry that hehad said or done anything to annoy him. Every one recovered his spirits;and all was good-humour and mirth, because Miss Ossulton adhered to herresolution of not quitting the cabin till she could quit the yacht. Atten o'clock the yacht was anchored. Pickersgill took his leave of thehonourable company, and went in his boat with his men; and Lord B. Wasagain in possession of his vessel, although he had not a ship's company. Maddox recovered his usual tone; and the cook flourished his knife, swearing that he should like to see the smuggler who would again orderhim to dress cutlets _à l'ombre Chinoise_. 

The yacht had remained three days at Cowes, when Lord B. Received aletter from Pickersgill, stating that the men of his vessel had beencaptured, and would be condemned, in consequence of their having thegentlemen on board, who were bound to appear against them, to prove thatthey had sunk the brandy. Lord B. Paid all the recognisances, and themen were liberated for want of evidence. 

It was about two years after this that Cecilia Ossulton, who was sittingat her work-table in deep mourning for her aunt, was presented with aletter by the butler. It was from her friend Mrs. Lascelles, informingher that she was married again to a Mr. Davenant, and intended to payher a short visit on her way to the Continent. Mr. And Mrs. Davenantarrived the next day; and when the latter introduced her husband, shesaid to Miss Ossulton, 'Look, Cecilia dear, and tell me if you have everseen Davenant before. '

Cecilia looked earnestly: 'I have, indeed, ' cried she at last, extendingher hand with warmth; 'and happy am I to meet with him again. '

For in Mr. Davenant she recognised her old acquaintance the captain ofthe _Happy-go-lucky_, Jack Pickersgill the smuggler. 

THE END

_Printed by_ R. & R. CLARK, LIMITED, _Edinburgh. _

MACMILLAN'S THREE-AND-SIXPENNY LIBRARY

OF

WORKS BY POPULAR AUTHORS. 

In Crown 8vo. Cloth extra. Price 3s. 6d. Each. 

_By ROLF BOLDREWOOD. _

_SATURDAY REVIEW. _--"Mr. Boldrewood can tell what he knows with greatpoint and vigour, and there is no better reading than the adventurousparts of his books. "

_PALL MALL GAZETTE. _--"The volumes are brimful of adventure, in whichgold, gold-diggers, prospectors, claim-holders, take an active part. "

Robbery under Arms. The Squatter's Dream. A Colonial Reformer. The Miner's Right. A Sydney-Side Saxon. Nevermore. A Modern Buccaneer. 

_By HUGH CONWAY. _

_MORNING POST. _--"Life-like, and full of individuality. "

_DAILY NEWS. _--"Throughout written with spirit, good feeling, andability, and a certain dash of humour. "

Living or Dead?A Family Affair. 

_By MRS. CRAIK. _

(The Author of 'JOHN HALIFAX, GENTLEMAN. ')

Olive. With Illustrations by G. BOWERS. The Ogilvies. With Illustrations. Agatha's Husband. With Illustrations. Head Of the Family. With Illustrations. Two Marriages. The Laurel Bush. About Money, and other Things. My Mother and I. With Illustrations. Miss Tommy: A Mediæval Romance. Illustrated. King Arthur: Not a Love Story. Sermons out of Church. Concerning Men, and other Papers. 

_By F. MARION CRAWFORD. _

_SPECTATOR. _--"With, the solitary exception of Mrs. Oliphant we have noliving novelist more distinguished for variety of theme and range ofimaginative outlook than Mr. Marion Crawford. "

Mr. Isaacs: A Tale of Modern India. Portrait of Author. Dr. Claudius: a True Story. A Roman Singer. Zoroaster. Marzio's Crucifix. A Tale of a Lonely Parish. Paul Patoff. With the Immortals. Greifenstein. Sant' Ilario. A Cigarette-Maker's Romance. Khaled. The Three Fates. The Witch of Prague. Children of the King. Marion Darche. Pietro Ghisleri. Katharine Lauderdale. Don Orsino. 

_By Sir HENRY CUNNINGHAM, K. C. I. E. _

_ST. JAMES'S GAZETTE. _--"Interesting as specimens of romance, the styleof writing is so excellent--scholarly and at the same time easy andnatural--that the volumes are worth reading on that account alone. Butthere is also masterly description of persons, places, and things;skilful analysis of character; a constant play of wit and humour; and ahappy gift of instantaneous portraiture. "

The Coeruleans. The Heriots. Wheat and Tares. 

MACMILLAN AND CO. , LTD. , LONDON. 

MACMILLAN'S THREE-AND-SIXPENNY LIBRARY. 

Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. Each volume. 

_By CHARLES DICKENS. _

The Pickwick Papers. Oliver Twist. Nicholas Nickleby. Martin Chuzzlewit. The Old Curiosity Shop. Barnaby Rudge. Dombey and Son. Christmas Books. Sketches by Boz. David Copperfield. American Notes and Pictures from Italy. The Letters of Charles Dickens. Bleak House. 

_By MARY ANGELA DICKENS. _

A Mere Cypher. A Valiant Ignorance. 

_By BRET HARTE. _

_SPEAKER. _--"The best work of Mr. Bret Harte stands entirelyalone ... Marked on every page by distinction and quality.... Strengthand delicacy, spirit and tenderness, go together in his best work. "

Cressy. The Heritage of Dedlow Marsh. A First Family of Tasajara. 

_By THOMAS HUGHES. _

Tom Brown's Schooldays. With Illustrations by A. HUGHES and S. P. HALL. Tom Brown at Oxford. With Illustrations by S. P. HALL. The Scouring of the White Horse, and The Ashen Faggot. WithIllustrations by RICHARD DOYLE. 

_By HENRY JAMES. _

_SATURDAY REVIEW. _--"He has the power of seeing with the artisticperception of the few, and of writing about what he has seen, so thatthe many can understand and feel with him. "

_WORLD. _--"His touch is so light, and his humour, while shrewd and keen, so free from bitterness. "

A London Life. The Aspern Papers. The Tragic Muse. 

_By ANNIE KEARY. _

_SPECTATOR. _--"In our opinion there have not been many novels publishedbetter worth reading. The literary workmanship is excellent, and all thewindings of the stories are worked with patient fulness and a skill notoften found. "

Castle Daly. A York and a Lancaster Rose. Oldbury. A Doubting Heart. Janet's Home. Nations around Israel. 

_By W. CLARK RUSSELL. _

_TIMES. _--"Mr. Clark Russell is one of those writers who have setthemselves to revive the British sea story in all its gloriousexcitement. Mr. Russell has made a considerable reputation in this line. His plots are well conceived, and that of 'Marooned' is no exception tothis rule. "

Marooned. A Strange Elopement. 

MACMILLAN AND CO. , LTD. , LONDON. 

MACMILLAN'S THREE-AND-SIXPENNY SERIES. 

Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. Each volume. 

_By CHARLES KINGSLEY. _

Westward Ho!Yeast. Hypatia. Alton Locke. Two Years Ago. Hereward the Wake. Poems. The Heroes. The Water Babies. Madam How and Lady Why. At Last. Prose Idylls. Plays and Puritans, etc. The Roman and the Teuton. Sanitary and Social Lectures and Essays. Historical Lectures and Essays. Scientific Lectures and Essays. Literary and General Lectures. The Hermits. Glaucus: or the Wonders of The Seashore. With Coloured Illustrations. Village and Town and Country Sermons. The Water of Life, and other Sermons. Sermons on National Subjects, and the King of the Earth. Sermons for the Times. Good News of God. The Gospel of the Pentateuch, and David. Discipline, and other Sermons. Westminster Sermons. All Saints' Day, and other Sermons. 

_By D. CHRISTIE MURRAY. _

_SPECTATOR_. --"Mr. Christie Murray has more power and genius for thedelineation of English rustic life than any half-dozen of our survivingnovelists put together. "

_SATURDAY REVIEW_. --"Few modern novelists can tell a story of Englishcountry life better than Mr. D. Christie Murray. "

Aunt Rachel. John Vale's Guardian. Schwartz. The Weaker Vessel. He Fell among Thieves. D. C. MURRAY and H. HERMAN. 

_By Mrs. OLIPHANT. _

_ACADEMY_. --"At her best she is, with one or two exceptions, the best ofliving English novelists. "

_SATURDAY REVIEW_. --"Has the charm of style, the literary quality andflavour that never fails to please. "

A Beleaguered City. Joyce. Neighbours on the Green. Kirsteen. Hester. Sir Tom. A Country Gentleman and his Family. The Curate in Charge. The Second Son. He that Will Not when He May. The Railway Man and his Children. The Marriage of Elinor. The Heir-Presumptive and the Heir-Apparent. A Son of the Soil. The Wizard's Son. Young Musgrave. Lady William. 

_By J. H. SHORTHOUSE. _

_ANTI-JACOBIN_. --"Powerful, striking, and fascinating romances. "

John Inglesant. Sir Percival. The Little Schoolmaster Mark. The Countess Eve. A Teacher of the Violin. Blanche, Lady Falaise. 

_By FREDERICK DENISON MAURICE. _

Sermons Preached in Lincoln's Inn Chapel. In 6 vols. Christmas Day, and other Sermons. Theological Essays. Prophets and Kings. Patriarchs and Lawgivers. The Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven. Gospel of St. John. Epistles of St. John. Lectures on the Apocalypse. Friendship of Books. Social Morality. Prayer Book and Lord's Prayer. The Doctrine of Sacrifice. Acts of the Apostles. 

MACMILLAN AND CO. , LTD. , LONDON. 

MACMILLAN'S THREE-AND-SIXPENNY SERIES. 

Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. Each volume. 

_By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. _

The Heir of Redclyffe. Heartsease. Hopes and Fears. Dynevor Terrace. The Daisy Chain. The Trial: More Links of the Daisy Chain. Pillars of the House. Vol. I. Pillars of the House. Vol. II. The Young Stepmother. The Clever Woman of the Family. The Three Brides. My Young Alcides. The Caged Lion. The Dove in the Eagle's Nest. The Chaplet of Pearls. Lady Hester, and the Danvers Papers. Magnum Bonum. Love and Life. Unknown to History. Stray Pearls. The Armourer's 'Prentices. The Two Sides of the Shield. Nuttie's Father. Scenes and Characters. Chantry House. A Modern Telemachus. Bye-Words. Beechcroft at Rockstone. More Bywords. A Reputed Changeling. The Little Duke. The Lances of Lynwood. The Prince and the Page. P's and Q's, and Little Lucy's Wonderful Globe. Two Penniless Princesses. That Stick. An Old Woman's Outlook. Grisly Grisell. 

_By ARCHDEACON FARRAR. _

Seekers after God. Eternal Hope. The Fall of Man. The Witness of History to Christ. The Silence and Voices of God. In the Days of thy Youth. Saintly Workers. Ephphatha. Mercy and Judgment. Sermons and Addresses in America. 

_By VARIOUS WRITERS. _

SIR S. W. BAKER. --True Tales for My Grandsons. 

W. FORBES-MITCHELL. --Reminiscences of the Great Mutiny, 1857-59. 

FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT. --Louisiana; and That Lass o' Lowrie's. 

R. BLENNERHASSETT AND L. SLEEMAN. --Adventures in Mashonaland. 

SIR MORTIMER DURAND, K. C. I. E. --Helen Treveryan. 

'English Men of Letters' Series. In 13 Monthly Volumes, each Volumecontaining three books. 

LANOE FALCONER--Cecilia de Noël. 

ARCHIBALD FORBES. --Barracks, Bivouacs, and Battles. --Souvenirs of SomeContinents. 

W. W. FOWLER. --Tales of the Birds. Illustrated by BRYAN HOOK. A Yearwith the Birds. Illustrated by BRYAN HOOK. 

Rev. J. GILMORE. --Storm Warriors. 

P. KENNEDY. --Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts. 

HENRY KINGSLEY. --Tales of Old Travel. 

MARGARET LEE. --Faithful and Unfaithful. 

AMY LEVY. --Reuben Sachs. 

S. R. LYSAGHT. --The Marplot. 

LORD LYTTON. --The Ring of Amasis. 

M. M'LENNAN. --Muckle Jock, and other Stories of Peasant Life. 

LUCAS MALET. --Mrs. Lorimer. 

GUSTAVE MASSON. --A French Dictionary. 

A. B. MITFORD. --Tales of Old Japan. 

MAJOR G. PARRY. --The Story of Dick. 

E. C. PRICE. --In the Lion's Mouth. 

W. C. RHOADES. --John Trevennick. 

THE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE. Vol. I. Comedies. Vol. II. Histories. Vol. III. Tragedies. 3 vols. 

FLORA A. STEEL. --Miss Stuart's Legacy. --The Flower of Forgiveness. 

MARCHESA THEODOLI. --Under Pressure. 

"TIMES" Summaries. --Biographies of Eminent Persons. In 4 vols. --AnnualSummaries. In 2 vols. 

Mrs. HUMPHRY WARD. --Miss Bretherton. 

MONTAGU WILLIAMS, Q. C. --Leaves of a Life. --Later Leaves. --Round London:Down East, and Up West. 

Hogan, M. P. --Tim. --The New Antigone. --Flitters, Tatters, etc. 

MACMILLAN AND CO. , LTD. , LONDON. 

Transcriber's note

Printer's errors have been corrected. All other inconsistencies are as in the original. The author's spelling has been maintained.