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diff --git a/21389.txt b/21389.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f8756da --- /dev/null +++ b/21389.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15449 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Ronald Morton, or the Fire Ships, by W.H.G. Kingston + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Ronald Morton, or the Fire Ships + A Story of the Last Naval War + +Author: W.H.G. Kingston + +Illustrator: T. Hoggans + +Release Date: May 8, 2007 [EBook #21389] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RONALD MORTON, OR THE FIRE SHIPS *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Ronald Morton, or the Fire Ships; A Story of the Last Naval War, by +W.H.G. Kingston. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +This is quite a difficult book to get the gist of. It is a tale of +inheritance. A family inhabiting a castle in Shetland, a group of +islands to the north of Scotland, is also apparently entitled to a title +and lands in Spain and elsewhere. But who of the Shetland family is the +rightful heir? The Spanish usurpers are well aware that the true heir +is in Shetland, and their agent is a priest who appears several times in +the book. + +Apart from all this there is a background of seamanship and sailing +vessels, for the time is just after the Napoleonic War with France. +This of course is the setting in which Kingston excels as an author. + +You will probably need a pencil and paper when you are working out who +Ronald Morton really is, but the story is a fascinating one, and you +will enjoy the task. It's about fourteen hours as an audiobook. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +RONALD MORTON, OR THE FIRE SHIPS, A STORY OF THE LAST NAVAL WAR, BY +W.H.G. KINGSTON. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +THE SPANISH MAN-OF-WAR OFF SHETLAND--A CALM--THE "SAINT CECILIA" IN +DANGER--THE PILOT--BRASSAY SOUND. + +"Land! land on the larboard bow!" The cry was uttered in a foreign +tongue from the masthead of a corvette of twenty guns, a beautiful long, +low, flush-decked craft with dark hull, taunt raking masts, and square +yards, which, under all the sails she could carry with a southerly +breeze right aft, was gliding rapidly over the now smooth surface of the +northern ocean. The haughty flag of old Spain, and the language spoken +on board, showed that she belonged to that nation. The crew sat +clustered about on the forecastle with their arms folded in a listless, +inactive way--some asleep--others smoking cigarillos or playing games of +chance between the guns, while a few were disputing on some trivial +points with a vehemence which proved the fiery tempers hidden under +those calm exteriors. The officers lolled against the bulwarks, sat on +the guns, or paced slowly backwards and forwards; but rather more +etiquette was kept up on the quarter deck than appeared to be the case +among the men forward. The captain walked backwards and forwards with +his first lieutenant on the starboard side; they crossed occasionally, +and lifted their hands to their eyes to watch the land just sighted as +the ship approached and glided by it at the distance of two or three +miles. The captain's appearance was in his favour. He was tall and +graceful, with the clear olive-complexion, the pointed beard, the thin +moustache, and the large pensive eyes, so frequently seen in portraits +of high-born Spaniards. Still, though his features were handsome and +very intelligent, there was an expression in them not altogether +satisfactory. His companion was a short, thick-set man, dark and +bearded, with a daring look in his countenance and a firmness in his +month which might raise a suspicion that in cases of emergency he would +be likely to take the command in the place of his superior. + +"That land out there should be of some interest to us, Alvarez," said +the captain, pointing to the little conical-shaped islets the ship was +passing. "It was there, so history tells us, that one of the grandees +of Spain, the great Duke of Medina Sidonia, was wrecked when he sailed +in command of that mighty Armada which would have assuredly crushed the +power of England had it not been so completely baffled by the wonderful +opposition of the elements. Many of his crew after being saved from the +fury of the tempest were cruelly murdered by the barbarous inhabitants, +and he and a small remnant only escaped to the main island of Shetland, +whither we are bound." + +"Ah! I have heard say that the people in those parts are little better +than cannibals," answered the lieutenant; "we may as well, at all +events, keep our guns run out and double-shotted while we lie here, that +we may be prepared for them should they attempt to play us any tricks." + +"Oh! they are tolerably civilised now, I fancy," answered the captain. +"I myself have some Shetland blood in my veins, so I have been told, +though it must be tolerably diluted by this time." + +"You sir! I thought that in your veins flowed none but the purest of +Castilian streams," answered the lieutenant, with a slight sneer in his +tone. It was so slight, however, that his captain did not perceive it. +"How came that about, Don Hernan?" + +"I will tell you," answered the captain: "an ancestor of mine--in our +family tree he appears quite a modern one--commanded one of the ships of +the holy Armada. She, like that of the Admiral, was driven north, and +ultimately wrecked and totally lost on the land we shall soon make to +the northward, called Shetland. He and his crew were kindly treated by +the chief of the little island on which they were driven. The crew +built a chapel to show their gratitude, and having nearly produced a +famine in the district, were conveyed home with honour; while he, to +prove his, married the old Udaller's daughter, and thinking it likely +that his head might be chopped off as a sacrifice to assuage the rage of +our pious monarch Philip, settled on the island, and did not return home +till towards the end of a long life. His son, who accompanied him, +having recovered his ancestral estates, remained in Spain; but he, when +advanced in years, in consequence of being implicated in some political +plot, fled the country, and naturally took refuge in that of his mother, +where he was cordially welcomed. He was afterwards joined by his son, +who, curiously enough, married a Shetland lady, and thus, even in the +days of my father, who was his grandson, a constant communication was +kept up with our Norse connections. I, also, have more than once heard +of them since my father's death, and have determined to become more +intimately acquainted with my relatives during this northern voyage of +ours. But where are we getting to? What with the strong tide, and the +favourable breeze, we positively fly by the land. Send for the chart on +deck, Alvarez, and let me have a look at its bearings." + +The first lieutenant beckoned to a midshipman, who soon returned with a +large sea-chart, which the captain spread out on the capstan head. + +"Ah! here we have this small rock--Fate Island, I see the natives call +it--away to the south-west; and that lofty bluff headland, north by +west, now shining so white, as if formed of marble, is Fitfiel Head, or +the _White Mountain_, I see by a note--not an unfit name either; and +that high point to the south-east again is Sumburgh Head. What bleak +and barren hills appear to the northward again! What a dreadful coast +to make during the long nights of winter!" The captain shuddered. +"Unless we find the interior more attractive, I shall wonder how my +ancestors could have had so much partiality for such a country." + +"Summer or winter, in stormy weather it is not a coast a seaman would +wish to hug too closely," observed Lieutenant Alvarez; "the crews of the +ships of our great Armada found that to their cost. However, there +appear to be some good roadsteads, where, should bad weather come on, we +may be secure." + +"Numbers. See what a curious shape has the mainland," observed the +captain, pointing to the chart. "It is fully twenty leagues long, and +yet there does not appear to be a point where it is more than a league +across from sea to sea. Those voes run up for a league or more, and +make it appear like some huge insect. Then what innumerable islands of +all shapes and sizes! The people should be amphibious, who live here, +to enable them to visit their neighbours: in a southern clime what a +delightful spot it might be! but in this hyperborean region, existence +must be a penalty." + +"As to that, my fancy is for a southern clime," answered the lieutenant, +who, by-the-by, did not clearly comprehend all his captain's remarks; +"but I suppose as there are some animals, polar bears and arctic foxes, +who delight in snow and frost, so there are human beings who are content +to live on in this cheerless region." + +"Not a bad notion, Alvarez," observed the captain, who continued walking +the deck, and talking much in the same strain with his officer. The +contrast between the two was very considerable. The captain, Don Hernan +Escalante, was a refined, highly-educated man. His knowledge on most +matters was extensive, if not profound; he spoke several languages, and +among them English, with a fluency few Spaniards attain. Few Spaniards +indeed of that day were equally accomplished. His first lieutenant, +Pedro Alvarez, was every inch a seaman, and like many seamen despised +all who were not so. Again the captain stopped before the chart, and +placing his finger on it, observed: "Here I hope we may anchor to-night, +opposite the capital, Lerwick. See, there is a long wide sound marked +with good anchorage, called Brassay Sound, formed by the mainland and +the island of Brassay. I wonder what sort of a city is Lerwick! It of +course has theatres, hotels, billiard-rooms, and balls; these northern +people are fond of dancing, I have read. We shall have ample amusement +with the fair islanders." + +"The dances will be something like those of the North American Indians, +I suspect," answered the lieutenant, who might have thought that his +captain was laughing at him, when he talked of such amusements in a +country he believed so barbarous. + +The corvette had got close in with Sumburgh Head, when her sails gave +several loud flaps against the masts, bulged out, then again collapsed, +and she speedily lost all steerage way. The head of the vessel, instead +of pointing, as heretofore, towards the north, now began slowly to turn +round west, and south, and east, and then, as if some secret power had +seized her keel, away she was whirled, now to the westward, and then to +the north in the direction of the towering heights of Fitfiel Head. + +As the ship lay rocking to and fro under this lofty headland, which they +at length arrived at, the sea-birds flew forth in myriads from the +ledges and caverns, where, for ages past, in storm and sunshine, in +winter and summer, they have roosted undisturbed, wheeling and circling +with discordant cries round the stranger, as if to inquire why she had +thus come to intrude on their domain. The Spanish seamen, accustomed +chiefly to southern climes, gazed with superstitious wonder at the +frowning cliff and the screeching birds, and fully believed that those +winged denizens of the wild sea-coast were evil spirits sent out by the +witches of the country to trick and torment them, and perchance to lead +them to destruction. + +"Shall we anchor, Alvarez?" asked the captain, anxiously looking around +seaward, and then at the frowning height above their heads. + +"Anchor!" exclaimed the lieutenant, "as well anchor in the middle of the +Bay of Biscay as in the Roust of Sumburgh with such a current as this, +even if the depth would allow. We might get the boats out and tow, and +perchance, by gaining time, obtain a breeze to carry us free." + +"By all means do so," was the answer. The boats were lowered, and their +crews were soon lustily tugging at their oars with the head of the +corvette to the westward, while long sweeps were got out and run through +the ports to impel her yet more rapidly through the water. Suddenly, +however, she seemed to be once more seized upon and carried completely +out of their control. Her head was to the westward, but she herself was +swept away as fast as before to the southward; while so tumbling and +breaking was the sea, that it was not without danger of being swamped +that the boats were again hoisted in. The crew cast frowning glances +towards the shore. + +"What are we to do, Alvarez?" asked the captain, not at all liking the +condition of his ship. + +"Let her drive backwards and forwards till a breeze springs up, I +suppose," answered the lieutenant. "Should a westerly gale catch us +before we again get to the southward of Sumburgh Head, and should we +fail to weather some of those ugly-looking points, I doubt much whether +Saint Cecilia herself, after whom our pretty craft is called, could +prevent every one of us from sharing the fate which has befallen many a +bold seaman before us. However, we'll hope for the best." + +"You do not seem to like the prospects of this northern cruise of ours, +Alvarez," observed the captain. "You have not been in good humour since +we entered the British Channel, and have done nothing but predict +disaster." + +"Pardon me, captain," answered the lieutenant, "I am not now predicting +disaster--though it requires no seer to foretell the fate of the ship, +if not of our lives, should certain not unlikely contingencies occur. +However, here comes a breeze, I verily believe from the westward too, +and if it will but fill our sails for a short half-hour, we may double +yon ugly-looking Sumburgh Head, and getting out of the Roust, the tide +will carry us along to our anchorage." + +The boats being once more lowered, towed the head of the corvette round +to the westward, though all the time several hands were bailing to keep +them free of the water, which bubbled and tumbled hissing into them over +the sides. The breeze which Pedro Alvarez had observed playing on the +surface in the distance, at length filled her sails, and stemming the +current, she again got into smooth water and the influence of the tide, +making to the northward. The wind also drew round to the southward, and +all sails being made, the corvette, with her wide spread of canvas, +glided on as smoothly and majestically as before, till the island of +Mousa, with its Pictie tower, bore west on her larboard beam. A signal +was flying for a pilot, and a long, light boat, pulling six oars, was +seen coming off from Fladbister, a town--in reality a little fishing +village--on the shore. The heads of her crew were visible a long way +off, by the bright hues of their long pendant worsted caps. They wore +large sheepskin coats, coming down to the knee over their worsted +shirts, and high boots of yellow untanned leather. The corvette was +about to shorten sail, but they making signals that that was +unnecessary, the boat shot alongside, and two of them sprang on board. + +"Those fellows would be unpleasant customers if they came as enemies to +attack our ship, from the active way in which they leaped up our sides," +observed the captain. "They would be as difficult to keep out as wild +cats." + +One of the two pilots was a man advanced in life, the other was very +much younger, and habited in the quaint costume which has been +described; his dress, though rough, differed much from the rest, while +his easy, unembarrassed manner showed that he was an officer rather than +an ordinary seaman. With a brisk step the men came aft, inquiring, as +they did so, of the officers if any of them could speak English. They +were referred to Don Hernan, who politely returned the salute as they +touched their hats to him. + +"Well, my men," said he, "will you take charge of the ship, and bring +her to an anchor in Brassay Sound to-night?" + +"That will we, captain, right gladly," answered the younger of the two, +glancing aloft with the eye of a seaman. "She is as pretty a craft as +any one has ever seen in these waters, and well worth taking care of. +What is her name? where are you from? and whither are you bound, +captain? Pardon me for asking, but it is my duty so to do. They are +the questions we always put in these waters." + +"As to that, of course you are perfectly right," answered the captain. +"Her name is the `Saint Cecilia,' her commander Don Hernan de Escalante, +and she carries, as you see, twenty guns. We sailed from Cadiz, and +have touched at two or three French ports, and the British port of +Plymouth; after visiting Lerwick, we are bound round the north of your +island, into the Atlantic again. You see that we have nothing to +conceal. The character of this ship is above all suspicion; and you +will find, my friend, that you have lost nothing by navigating her in +safety wherever we may wish to go." + +"Very likely, captain," answered the pilot, looking up into the +captain's countenance. "I entertain no doubt about the matter, and if +the provost and bailies of Lerwick are satisfied, I am sure that I shall +be: keep her as she goes now for the Bard of Brassay. The tide will +shoot her into the sound rapidly enough as we draw near it." + +When in a short time the corvette was off the Bard or Beard of Brassay, +as the ragged-looking southern end of that island is called, a turn of +the helm to starboard sent the vessel into the Sound, and up she flew +with smooth green heights on either side, here and there a few white +buildings showing, and numerous rocks visible, till the pilot warned the +captain that it was time to shorten sail. At a word the sailors were +seen swarming aloft; studding-sails came in as if by magic, royals and +top-gallant sails were handed, topsails clewed up, and with her taunt +tapering masts and square yards alone, surrounded by the intricate +tracery of their rigging, the beautiful fabric glided up to an anchorage +off the town of Lerwick. + +"Friend, you brought the ship to an anchor in true seamanlike style," +said Captain Don Hernan, touching the young pilot on the shoulder. "You +have not been a simple pilot all your life." + +"No, indeed, captain," answered the pilot, "I have been afloat since my +earliest days in southern seas, as well as engaged in the Greenland +fishery. Lately I have been mate of a whaler, and maybe my next voyage +I shall have charge of a ship as master. You have hit the right nail on +the head--this is the first summer that I ever spent on shore." + +"Can I trust you, then, to take charge of the ship round the coast?" +asked the captain. "Perhaps, however, you are not well acquainted with +that?" + +The pilot smiled. "There is not a point or headland, a rock, or shoal, +or island, which I have not as clearly mapped down in my memory, as are +the hues on yonder chart, and more correctly, too, I doubt not." + +"That will do--I will trust you," said Don Hernan. "What is your name, +friend, that I may send for you when you are wanted?" + +"Rolf Morton," was the answer; "but my home is some way to the +northward, on the island of Whalsey. There you have it on your chart. +Those who live on it boast that it is the finest of the outlying +islands; and well I know that such a castle as we have is not to be +found in all Shetland." + +"Ah, it is your native place," observed the captain. "You therefore +think so highly of it." + +"Not exactly, though I remember no other spot of earth before I put eyes +on Whalsey. I was, so I have been told, picked up, when a child, from a +wreck at sea; and the men I was with called me Rolf Morton, the name +which has stuck to me for want of a better. I know nothing more of my +history; but I am prating of myself, and shall weary you, captain." + +"Far from it, friend; I delight in a little romance," answered the +captain. "How comes it, though, that you remained on shore this +summer?--but I need not ask--one of your fair islanders, of whom I have +heard so much, was your attraction." + +"Yes, in truth," said the pilot, laughing; "she has become my wife, +though; and as I could not bring myself to quit her, I bethought me I +would try to gain my livelihood by turning pilot. Yours is one of the +first ships I have taken charge of. There--I have been frank with you, +captain, and told you all my history from beginning to end." + +"And I thank you for it. I saw at a glance that you were above the +ordinary style of a pilot. I wanted to find a man like yourself, who +would give me the information I require about the country, the habits +and customs of the people. I would wish to win their regard. But you +have, I suppose, few good families here?" + +Don Hernan well knew that the islander's pride would tempt him to launch +out in a full description of all the families of consequence in the +group, and that he should thus easily obtain, without apparently seeking +for it, all the information of that description which he required. + +Morton unsuspectingly answered exactly in the tone for which he was +prepared. + +"Indeed, captain, you are out of your latitude. We have the Edmonstones +of Unst, and the Lord Dundas, and the Mouats, and the Ogilvys, and Scott +of Scalloway, and Braces of Sandwick, and also of Symbister; and +Spences, and Duncans, and the Nicolson family; baronets of old date, all +honourable men, and of ancient lineage; besides many others I have not +named, standing equally well in the estimation of the country; and then +there is the Lunnasting family of Lunnasting Castle, of which I spoke to +you. The owner is Sir Marcus Wardhill, who succeeded to his property by +right of his wife, the Lady Margaret Brindister; one of the most ancient +of our Shetland families, descended, so it is said, from one of the +former chiefs, the Udallers of old. They are very great and important +people, at all events when in their own castle, and of course have +little communication with a man of my humble rank. Maybe I hear more of +them than do others, because my wife's mother was for long the companion +of the Lady Margaret, and the nurse to her children. I believe she +loved them as her own. Indeed, although but called a nurse in the +family, she is nearly akin to the Lady Margaret. But these are matters +about which a stranger can have no interest." + +"A stranger might not, but I must not be considered in that light," +answered the captain. "Strange as it may appear to you, I am connected +with that very family of which you are speaking. An ancestress of mine +was a Brindister. I must claim relationship with the occupants of +Lunnasting. It will, in truth, be pleasant in this remote region to +find friends so nearly related to me." + +The reserve which the pilot had hitherto maintained seemed to vanish on +hearing the assertion made by Don Hernan. + +"I have no doubt, captain, that they would have given you a warm +northern welcome," he answered. "But Sir Marcus Wardhill himself, and +his second daughter, are in the south, travelling, I have heard, among +French and Germans, and it is said that they purpose remaining some time +in the big city of London, a place among all my wanderings I have never +seen." + +"The Lady Margaret, of whom you speak, and her elder daughter are there, +I hope; or is the castle shut up?" asked Don Hernan. + +"The Lady Margaret, as we called her, Lady Wardhill, is dead, but her +elder daughter, Miss Hilda Wardhill, lives at Lunnasting, and manages +the Shetland estates, they say as well as any man would do." + +"Ho, ho! I should like to become acquainted with this talented cousin +of mine," said Don Hernan. "Is she handsome as well as clever?" + +Thus appealed to, Morton replied with even more hesitation than before. +"As to an eye for the look of a ship aloft, or for her build or trim, +I'll yield to no man; and maybe I like the faces of some women more than +others. This I'll say, sir; it's my belief that there are not many in +this world like the Lady Hilda." + +"You have probably heard of the Spanish connection of the family." + +"Yes, once or twice, maybe," answered Morton; "my wife's mother often +speaks of them. In her father's time they constantly corresponded, and +exchanged presents--Shetland shawls and stockings for Spanish silks and +brocades. It was said that, during his travels, Sir Marcus thought of +visiting his connections in Spain." + +After some further conversation, the captain observed, "I would pay my +respects to the governor or authorities of the town. As you have proved +so good a pilot afloat, you shall accompany me as my guide on shore." + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +LUNNASTING CASTLE--THE STRANGER SHIP--SANDY REDLAND, THE FACTOR--ARCHY +EAGLESHAY--MISS WARDHILL'S VISITORS--THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE HEIR. + +Lunnasting Castle stood on a high rocky promontory, washed by the ocean +on the south and east, and by a voe which ran up some way inland on the +west. It was a somewhat extensive building; but though of a castellated +style of architecture it was not really a fortress further than the +naturally inaccessible nature of the ground on which it stood made it +so. It stood on the site, and was formed partly of such materials as +time had left of an old castle of the earls or ancient Udal lords of +Shetland, and had been very much increased in size, and ornamented, as +well as rendered a more commodious habitation by the present owner, Sir +Marcus Wardhill. The dwelling-house consisted but of two stories, and +standing, as it did, elevated some way above the sea, looked lower than +it really was. It was surrounded on the north, east, and west, by a +high castellated wall, flanked with towers, which, if not capable of +keeping out a mortal enemy, served the purpose for which it was built,-- +to guard the mansion from the assaults of the wintry blasts of the icy +ocean. In front, on the south side, that the inhabitants might enjoy +the sea view, and that the warm rays of the sun might be admitted, the +wall sunk down to the height of a mere ornamental parapet, the round +towers at either end giving it some right to claim the title bestowed on +it; especially as on the summit of either tower Sir Marcus had mounted a +couple of long six-pounders, capable of considerably annoying any +hostile vessel of a size at all likely to venture near that part of a +coast so full of dangers that no large ship would willingly approach it. +The muzzles of some smaller guns appeared through the embrasure of the +parapet wall, which was also flanked by a buttress, or rather a circular +outwork at either end at the foot of the towers, where pivot guns were +placed, so that the one on the west could fire directly up the voe or +gulf, and served to flank the western wall. The two principal front +towers were connected with the dwelling-house, and had small chambers in +them, one above the other, which had been fitted up as sitting-rooms or +dormitories. + +In a deep window recess, in the highest chamber of the western tower of +Lunnasting Castle, sat Miss Wardhill, Sir Marcus Wardhill's eldest +child. Although the window matched in appearance the others in that and +the opposite tower, which were mere high, narrow, glazed loop-holes, by +an ingenious contrivance a huge stone was made to turn on an iron axle, +and by pressing a spring, it slid in sufficiently to allow the inmate of +the room to gaze out conveniently on the surrounding scene. + +Few scenes, to a romantic temperament, could have been more attractive. +The subdued twilight of that northern clime reigned over the face of +nature, softening and mellowing all objects, but in no way obscuring +them. The light was not so bright as that of the day, and yet it +partook in no way of the characteristics of night. It was more like the +warm light of the dawn of a summer day in the south, just before the sun +rises up from below the horizon in refulgent glory. The water near the +land was perfectly smooth, though a breeze could be seen rippling the +surface in the offing, the ripple being increased probably by the strong +current which nearly at all times sets one way or the other round the +islands. + +Before the castle, on the right, rose the rocky heights and green +swelling undulations of the mainland--the Noup of Nesting Kirkbuster, +Brough and Moul of Eswick, while the highlands above Lerwick, and the +heights of Brassy and Noss, appeared blue and indistinct in the far +distance. + +To the east, several green islands, or rather islets, known as Grief +Skerries, Rumble, Eastling, and other equally euphonious names, ran out +of the dark-blue ocean. The last-named being a mile and a half in +length, formed with the main island, along the shore of which it ran +parallel, and from which it was little more than a quarter of a mile +distant, a sound of some extent, where vessels in all but north-easterly +winds could ride safely at anchor. Even in these winds the force of the +sea was considerably broken by the small island or holm of Isbuster, +which lay in the very centre of the northern entrance. + +Looking eastward, and north from the towers of Lunnasting, the view +extended nearly up the Sound, and commanded the whole island of +Eastling, which perhaps obtained its name from lying east of the chief +habitation of the lords of the domain, Eastling being a corruption of +Eastlying. Such was the view on which Hilda Wardhill was occasionally +turning her gaze, though her eyes were more frequently fixed on the +pages of a large volume lying open on a dark oak reading desk fixed in +the recess, and so placed that the last rays of that precious sunlight +which so soon departs in the long winter season of the North, might fall +full upon it. The room was of an octagon shape, with dark oak +wainscoting and ceiling; the chairs were of a suitable character, mostly +with high upright backs, rudely carved, as were some book-shelves, which +occupied two of the sides, while a massive table, supported by sea +monsters, or at all events by creatures of fish-like form, stood in the +centre; another table of similar character stood against the side of the +room with writing materials on it, and there was a sofa of antique form, +and two large chests of some dark wood, with brass clasps and plates on +the lids and sides, so tarnished however by the sea air, as scarcely to +be discerned as brass. A second high narrow window, with a lattice, +faced towards the west and north, so that persons standing at it could, +by leaning forward, look completely up the voe. Thus, from this turret +chamber, a view could be obtained on every side, except on that looking +inland, or rather over the island. + +On one of the eight sides there was, however, a small door in the +panelling, which opened on a spiral staircase leading to the very summit +of the tower, where, as has been said, a gun was placed, and whence a +complete view was obtained over every portion of the island, extending +far away over the sea beyond, to the Out Skerries, a rocky group so +called; and the distant shores of the large island of Yell. As the roof +could only be reached by passing through the chamber below, it was +completely private to the fair occupant as long as she chose to close +the ingress to her own room. + +Seldom has a more beautiful picture been portrayed to the mind's eye of +the most imaginative of painters, than that which Hilda Wardhill +presented as she sat at the window of her turret chamber, either leaning +over the volume which occupied her attention, or gazing out on the calm +ocean, her thoughts evidently still engaged in the subject of her +studies. + +At length she rose, and was about to close the window, when her eye fell +on a vast towering mass of white, gliding slowly from the northward down +Eastling Sound. She looked more than once, mistrusting her senses, and +inclined to believe that it was some phantom of the deep, described in +wild romances, often her study, which she beheld, till another glance +assured her, as the object drew nearer that it was a large ship far +larger than had ever been known during her recollection to anchor in the +Sound. With speed which seemed like magic, the white canvas +disappeared, and the tall masts and the yards and the light tracery of +the rigging could only dimly be traced against the clear sky. + +Whence the stranger had come, or for what object, Hilda could not tell, +but still she had a feeling--how communicated she did not inquire--that +the event portended some great change in her own fate. Painful +forebodings of evil came crowding like mocking phantoms around her. She +tried with the exercise of her own strong will to banish them. In vain +she strove--the more they seemed to mock her power. She felt as if she +could almost have shrieked out in the agony of her mortal struggle, till +her proud spirit quailed and trembled with unwonted fears. Again the +clock tolled forth a solitary sound, which vibrated strangely on her +overwrought nerves, and seemed more sonorous than usual. She pressed +her hand upon her brow, then by an effort she seemed by a single gasp to +recover herself, and, closing the window, retired to her sleeping +chamber in that part of the house in the immediate neighbourhood of her +favourite tower. + +At an early hour the lady of the castle was on foot. She at once +ascended to the summit of her tower, and gazed eagerly up the Sound, +half expecting to find that she had been deceived by her imagination on +the previous night, and that the ship she had seen was but a creation of +the brain. There, however, floated the beautiful fabric, but there was +not the slightest movement or sign of life on board. At all events, it +seemed improbable that she would soon move from her present position. +At length she descended to her boudoir below, where, as usual, her light +and frugal meal was brought to her by her own attendant, Nanny Clousta. + +Her meal, at which Nanny stood ready to help her to anything she +required, being quickly concluded, Miss Wardhill descended to the large +hall on the ground-floor, in the centre of the castle. It was a +handsome room, with an arched ceiling of dark oak, supported by pillars +round the wall. A long table ran down the centre, at one end of which, +on a raised platform or dais, she took her seat. Several tenants of the +Lunnasting estate came in to make complaints, to beg for the redress of +grievances, to report on the state of the farms, or fisheries, or +kelp-collecting; to all of which the lady listened with the most perfect +attention, making notes in a book placed before her. Two or three were +told to wait till she had seen the factor, that she might hear his +reports before deciding on their claims. She looked round as if the +audience was over; and inquired why Alexander, or Sandy Redland, as he +was called, the factor, did not make his appearance, when an old man, +leaning on a stick, hobbled into the hall. + +"I come for justice, my lady. Oh, hear me, hear me!" he exclaimed; as +if before entering the hall he had worked himself up to address her; "I +am just auld Archy Eagleshay, and as ye ken weel, my leddie, my only son +has long gane been awa to sea, and I've been left to struggle on fra ane +year to another, till now that I am grown too weak to toil, and the +factor, Sandy Redland, comes down upon me, and makes awfu' threats to +distrain and turn me out of my sma' holding if I dinna pay; and pay I +canna', that is truth, my leddie. Have mercy, have pity, my leddie. Ye +love justice whatever else ye love." + +"Justice might induce me to expel you from your holding, if you cannot +pay your rent, old man," said Miss Wardhill, in a cold severe tone. +"However I will listen to what Sandy Redland, the factor, has to say. +Ha! here he comes. You are late Mr Redland, in your attendance. What +has kept you?" + +The man who entered was a tall, thin person, habited in the grey +shepherd's plaid of the north. His features were coarse. He possessed +a sharp nose, high cheek bones, and small and grey unpleasantly +twinkling eyes. He bowed low, and in a voice which was intended to be +soft and insinuating, replied-- + +"It is no fault o' mine when your orders are na implicitly obeyed, Miss +Wardhill; but circumstances militate against the best intentions, as may +be clear to you oftentimes, I doubt not. I was delayed by having to +make inquiries respecting a strange ship, which anchored, it appears, a +few hours back, in the Sound of Eastling, and which, as I opine, is +within your leddyship's jurisdiction, I deemed it incumbent on me to +ascertain the object of her coming, and the time it might be proposed +for her to stay. As she is a foreigner, it struck me that charge might +be made for harbour and light dues, and the chances are that it would +not be disputed. Ye see, Miss Wardhill, that I have always your +honoured father's interests at heart." + +The lady gave a glance towards the factor, which bespoke the most +perfect contempt--too cold and confirmed to cause much change in her +features. + +"And what have you learned respecting this stranger ship?" she asked. + +"Nathing, my leddie, nathing," answered Sandy, shuddering. "What could +I tell but that she might be a pirate or an enemy in disguise, or some +ill-doer, and that if I, the factor of Lunnasting, was entrapped on +board, I might be retained as a hostage in durance vile, till sic times +as a heavy sum might be collected for my ransom." + +A gleam flitted across Miss Wardhill's countenance, as she replied: "You +estimate yourself somewhat highly, factor. Then, in truth, you know +nothing of the ship which has anchored in the Sound?" + +"Nathing whatever, my leddie," was the answer. "But I await the return +of Jock Busta's boat which I despatched as soon as I reached Whalsey +this morning from the mainland." + +"Bring me the information as soon as you obtain it," said Miss Wardhill. +"In the meantime let me hear what answer you have to make to a +complaint old Archy Eagleshay brings against you." + +The factor gave a variety of reasons for his conduct, to which she +listened without replying, and then called up the old man to her end of +the table. + +"Go home Archy Eagleshay," she said, in a voice totally different to +that in which she had spoken to the factor. "Best quiet in your hut. +The old and infirm must be sheltered and fed; of that there is no doubt; +but let the evil-doer and idle beware. On them I shall have no mercy. +Sandy Redland, mark me: I will have no cruelty or oppression--remember +that. The instant you receive information respecting the strange ship, +let me know through Nanny Clousta." + +There was a cowed look on the countenance of Sandy Redland as he bowed, +while his young mistress rose to retire. + +Old Archy lifted up his hands, as if about to address her once more, +then he turned slowly round. "Ha, ha!" he muttered; "if she had yielded +to you, cruel factor, I'd have told her all I know, and made e'en her +proud spirit tremble; but she's been good and kind to an auld man, and +I'll say nothing." + +On leaving the hall, Hilda Wardhill went at once to the turret chamber, +and from thence mounted to the platform on the summit of the tower. Her +first glance was up the Sound, where lay the stranger ship. The sails +were still closely furled; the boats were hoisted up; not a movement of +any sort appeared to be taking, place. The only object stirring was a +small boat, which just then was gliding rapidly close under the headland +on which the castle stood. A single rower sat in it, who managed his +oars with the skill which long practice gives. He looked up, and seeing +Miss Wardhill, flourished his oar as a salute, which she returned with +the slightest possible inclination of her head, and then continued +pacing up and down, while he pursued his course till he entered the voe, +and reached the castle landing-place, where he was hid from view. Miss +Wardhill continued her circumscribed walk backwards and forwards across +the top of the tower, now stopping to look up the Sound at the ship, now +casting her glance round the horizon, speaking frequently to herself, +and more than once sighing deeply, as if there was some weight at her +heart of which she longed to be relieved. + +She had again stopped, and was looking at the beautiful ship in the +distance, when she started on hearing herself addressed-- + +"Good morrow, cousin Hilda," said the intruder, who had that instant +come up from the room below. "Engaged, as I expected, or you would not +be a woman, gazing with curiosity at the strange ship in the Sound, +wondering whence she came, and all about her." + +She turned as he spoke, when he lifted a little gold-laced, +three-cornered hat from his head, and saluted her with a profound bow, +which might have appeared respectful in the extreme, had he not at the +same time indulged in a low chuckling laugh, the usual conclusion, it +seemed, of most of his sentences. His manner and appearance were +peculiar in the extreme: he was broad and large boned, but thin; and a +suit of brown cloth, with huge silver buttons, hung loosely about his +body; a wide shirt-frill stuck out in front, and his shirt collars +reached up to his ears. His gait was shuffling and shambling; he wore +knee-breeches and grey homespun stockings, and his shoes, which were +ornamented with silver buckles, were far too large for him, and of +course, even had he not had the propensity to do so, would have made him +shuffle his feet over the ground, his eyes were unusually large, grey, +and staring; and his hair, which was already so grey that its original +colour could scarcely be perceived, was cut short, and stood up on end, +all over his head like the quills of the porcupine; his forehead was +somewhat narrow, but his features were neither plain nor coarse; there +was, however, a startled, frightened look about them, and an otherwise +painful and indescribable expression, which told too plainly that the +ruling power of the intellect had been overthrown, and that the living +machine could no longer be altogether held responsible for its acts. +Such, in appearance, was Lawrence Brindister: had he been of sane mind, +he would have been the lord of Lunnasting and the broad acres of several +estates, both on the mainland of Shetland and in the north of Scotland; +but as he had, long before coming of age, given undoubted signs of being +totally incapable of managing his affairs, his claims had been set aside +in favour of his cousin, Margaret Brindister, the next heir, married to +Sir Marcus Wardhill. There had been, when Sir Marcus married, three +other heirs besides Lawrence, before Margaret Brindister could succeed +to the property: the same fever within a few days carried off two of +them; and then, and perhaps not till then, a longing desire seized Sir +Marcus to obtain the estates. The possessor was an old man--a bachelor. +Sir Marcus was not a man--that was well known--who allowed obstacles to +stand in his way; in the most unaccountable manner, the next heir, a +boy, disappeared: he was supposed, with his nurse, to have fallen over a +cliff, or to have been on the beach when a sea came in and swept them +both away--either occurrences too likely to happen to allow suspicion +justly to rest on any one. A handkerchief of the nurse's, and a +plaything of the child's, were found dropped on the road they had taken. +Their bodies were searched for in every direction in vain; the old man +mourned for the child, of whom he was very fond, and died shortly after. +Sir Marcus, too, mourned for the loss of his young kinsman, but +instantly commenced a suit which terminated by making poor Lawrence +Brindister his ward. There were certain conditions attached, that +Lunnasting should be his abode, and that he should be kindly treated and +well looked after, and supplied with anything he might in reason require +for his amusement: Lawrence himself, so far from opposing, seemed +perfectly contented with the arrangement; and while Lady Wardhill, to +whom he was much attached, lived, he was always cheerful and +good-tempered, though he afterwards exhibited so much extravagance of +behaviour that he required to be carefully watched, and his actions more +curbed than he liked. He had at first much resented this mode of +proceeding with him, but of late years he had become apparently so +perfectly harmless, that he was allowed to do exactly as he pleased. +Such was the eccentric being who now stood before Miss Wardhill. + +"Yes, Lawrence, I have been looking at the ship," she answered, with so +peculiar a calmness, that it appeared to be produced by an effort. "You +have, I conclude, visited her, and can give me some information about +the stranger." + +"Ah! that can I, fair cousin," he answered, with his usual painful +chuckle. "I have been on board the ship, and introduced myself to her +captain, and, what is more, invited him to the castle. He has a right +to claim our hospitality, for who, think you, is he?--no other than one +of those Spanish cousins we have heard often spoken about by her who +lies sleeping in yonder churchyard out there--ah's me!--and others. +Nurse Bertha will know all about them; we must get her to tell us before +he comes: he will be here soon, though. I told him that he must let me +go on ahead, to give due notice of his coming, or he would have arrived, +and taken you by surprise. He is a gallant-looking knight; a true don +of the old school. But I say, Hilda, don't treat him to the scornful +glances you cast at me, or he will not like it." + +Miss Wardhill took no notice of the last remark. "Since you have +invited these strangers to the castle, whether they are really our +relations or not, we must be prepared to receive them. Go, look for +Sandy Redland; he has not left the island yet: he must go round and +collect an ample store of provisions, that we may not be looked on as +niggards in our hospitality, in this island home of ours. Send Bertha +Eswick to me; she knows, better than any other person here, what +arrangements should be made to do honour to strangers; it is so long +since any one came here, that I cannot hope to remember what +preparations are required. Go, Lawrence, and do you remember not to +bring discredit on the family by any pranks or strange vagaries you may +wish to play." + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +LAWRENCE BRINDISTER VISITS THE SPANISH SHIP--DON HERNAN INVITED TO THE +CASTLE--SURLY GRIND, LAWRENCE'S DOG. + +The accounts which Don Hernan had received from various quarters while +on shore at Lerwick about the inhabitants of Lunnasting Castle had +excited his curiosity and interest to the highest pitch. Though fully +intending to return shortly to Lerwick, he had an object in suddenly +leaving Brassay Sound. He also wished to arrive unexpectedly in the +neighbourhood of Lunnasting. + +Rolf Morton came at his summons; and understanding the "Saint Cecilia" +was shortly to return to Lerwick, not having reason to suspect fraud of +any description, he, without hesitation, took the ship on to Eastling +Sound. She had not been long at anchor before Lawrence Brindister--who, +as was his custom, had been at an early hour of the morning out +fishing--espied her, and very soon made his appearance on board. +Lawrence walked about the deck admiring the guns and the carved and gilt +work with which the ship was adorned; for it was the custom, especially +in the Spanish navy, in those days to ornament ships of war far more +profusely than at present. At length Don Hernan came on deck. He +observed the skiff alongside; and his eye falling on Lawrence, he very +naturally at first took him to be some poor fisherman habited in the +cast-off finery of a gentleman. Lawrence, however, guessed who he was +from his uniform, and, shuffling along the deck, made him one of his +profoundest bows, which Don Hernan returned with one in the same style. + +As it had not been, impressed on Lawrence's mind that there existed +numerous nations speaking different tongues, he at once addressed the +Spanish captain in English. + +"Your people, good sir, have been very silent: not one has spoken to me +since I stepped on board this trim craft of yours; for you have, I +conclude, the happiness of being her captain, and you have, I hope, a +tongue with which to hold pleasant and profitable converse." + +"I command this ship, and I am able to converse in English," answered +Don Hernan, wondering who his strange visitor could be. "May I ask in +return whom I have the honour of addressing?" + +"No less a person than Lawrence Brindister, Lord of Lunnasting Castle +and the lands adjacent," answered Lawrence, drawing himself up--"that is +to say, who would be, and should be, and ought to be, had not certain +traitorous and vile persons, who shall be nameless, interfered with his +just rights, and ousted him from his property. But say not a word about +that, most noble stranger. `A guid time is coming--a guid time is +coming.' `The prince shall have his ain again!'" + +Don Hernan at once perceived his visitor's state of mind. + +"I had thought that Sir Marcus Wardhill was Lord of Lunnasting, though I +am aware that, from times immemorial, it has been held by Brindisters, +of whom I conclude you are one," remarked the captain. + +"Ay, there's the rub," said Lawrence. "You see, most noble captain, +I've a difficulty in steering my craft; I never can keep her in good +trim. Sometimes she luffs up, and sometimes she falls off; so as to +holding a steady course, I find that out of the question. Ah, now I +know all about it. I have come, most noble captain, feeling assured +that you are of gentle birth and a man of honour, to invite you and your +officers to visit Lunnasting Castle. My cousin and I will do our best +to receive you as becomes your rank." + +Don Hernan, who believed that Miss Wardhill had really sent this strange +being to invite him to the castle, replied, in suitable terms, that he +should have great happiness in paying his respects to her. He also +explained his connection with the Brindister family, and begged Lawrence +to say that he hoped to visit Lunnasting in the character of a kinsman. + +Lawrence was about to step into his boat when he saw Rolf Morton, who, +hearing that a boat was alongside, had just come on deck with the +intention of going on shore. He and Rolf were always on very good +terms; so, when the latter begged for a cast on shore, he gladly +undertook to land him wherever he wished. + +"Abreast of the ship will suit me, for in half an hour I can be at +home," answered Morton. "Good-bye, Don Hernan; should the wind shift, I +will be on board in a trice; or should you want me, send. We have not +so many houses in Whalsey that mine cannot be found without difficulty." + +Saying this, he was following Lawrence into the skiff, when the latter +cried out, "Hold fast! you are stepping on Surly Grind, Morton; he'll +not like it, let me tell you. He's apt to treat with scant ceremony +those who offend him." + +Morton looked down, and saw, coiled away at the bottom of the skiff, +where Lawrence had taught him to lie, a huge black dog, with an +unusually ferocious expression of countenance, though from his coat he +had evidently much of the Newfoundland breed in him, but his face showed +that he had also much of that of the mastiff and bloodhound, probably. + +"Lie down, Surly Grind, and treat my visitors with respect," said +Lawrence; and the dog, which had lifted up his head and begun to growl +and snarl, crouched down as before. + +"Now, take your seat, man, and I'll show you how a true Shetlander can +pull," said Lawrence, taking his place at the oars and giving several +rapid strokes. + +"But I deem that I have a right to hail from Shetland also, Master +Lawrence," answered Morton. "There is no other land owns me, and it is +hard for a man to be without a country or a home." + +"Ay, true; you have a Shetland look and a Shetland tongue, and I believe +that you have a Shetland heart also, Morton. `The prince shall hae his +ain again, his ain again!' That's a curious old Scotch song; it's +always running in my head. `The prince shall hae his ain again!' Well, +but, you know, Morton, he didn't get his ain again; so I've heard nurse +Bertha say. She's a wise woman, your mother-in-law, and my good cousin, +too. Well, well; there are ups and downs in this life. All don't get +their ain, that's poz; if they did, another'd be sitting on George's +throne; but that's treason, ye ken; and another'd be ruling in +Wardhill's room, but that's treason, too; so I'd better be holding my +tongue, or all the cats I've got in my bag will be jumping out and +playing more pranks than either you or I, or Sir Marcus Wardhill to +boot, will be able to stay." + +Rolf Morton was too well aware of poor Lawrence's state of mind to +listen with much attention to what he said; but his curiosity was +sufficiently awakened by some of the remarks he let fall to make him +resolve to learn more about the matter from Bertha Eswick as soon as he +could meet her. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +HILDA'S FIRST MEETING WITH DON HERNAN--HILDA ON BOARD THE CORVETTE--ROLF +MORTON PILOTS THE SHIP--CRUISE IN THE "SAINT CECILIA."--HILDA ACCEPTS +DON HERNAN. + +The heiress of Lunnasting was high-minded, unconscious of evil, +confident of her own strength and resolution, and utterly ignorant of +the world and of its deceits and wickedness. She had for long lived in +one of her own creation, which she fancied was like the real world of +other mortals. She met Don Hernan Escalante, and at once clothed him +with all the attributes and perfections with which a romantic girl could +endow the object of her fancy. He, too, at the moment he entered the +hall, and found her seated in courtly style to receive him, was struck +by her rare and exquisite beauty. He had never seen any being so +lovely, and, man of the world as he thought himself, he at once yielded +to the influence of that beauty. She herself was scarcely aware of the +power she might have exerted over him, but gave herself up to the full +enjoyment of the new sensations she experienced. + +Hilda occasionally heard from her father and sister, but not very +frequently, and their letters contained little more than an outline of +their progress, the names of the places they had visited, and the length +of their stay at each. Sir Marcus now and then added a few directions +as to the management of the estate, but generally wound up by saying, +that as he felt sure everything necessary would be done, he would not +interfere with any arrangements she might have seen fit to make. +Hitherto all had gone well. Hilda had, by a wonderful exertion of +resolution, so successfully combated the dreadful malady which, like +some monster bird of prey, hung hovering above her, ready to pounce down +and dethrone her intellect from its sway, that few, although in constant +communication with her, had any suspicion of the real state of the case. +Probably at that time only two people in the world had discovered the +unstable character of Hilda's mind, and they themselves were the two +most opposite in all respects connected with her--her nurse Bertha and +her cousin Lawrence; but while the latter had more than once betrayed +his knowledge to her, the former had never by word or look allowed her +to suspect that she had an idea of the truth. + +The Spanish corvette had been nearly a week at anchor in Eastling Sound, +and on each day her captain had appeared at Lunnasting, his visits +increasing gradually in length as he found them more and more +acceptable. Hilda had at first received him in the great hall, into +which, as not only the members of the household, but all visitors, had +access, their intercourse was too public and restrained to suit the +feelings which were springing up in their hearts. + +"Lady, the view from the summit of the tower where I first beheld you +must be lovely," said Don Hernan, adding in a lower tone some words +which made the colour mantle into Hilda's cheeks. An invitation to +visit the tower was the consequence of the remark; but before going +there a ramble was taken over the chief part of the castle, to which Don +Hernan had not yet been introduced. There was a private entrance to the +highest floor of the tower; but as that led through the lady's +apartments, they had to descend to mount the more public stair. That +was, however, narrow and winding, and somewhat inconvenient; at the foot +of it they encountered Lawrence. + +"Ah, my brave Don Hernan, so our cousin Hilda is about to show you the +secrets of her prison tower," he exclaimed, in a facetious tone. "Take +care that she does not shut you up, as enchantresses of old were wont to +do their captive knights, and never again set you free. However, to +prevent such a catastrophe, I'll accompany you. Let me mount first, and +show you the way, or you might chance to knock your head against some of +the iron-plated gates, which bar the approach to the summit." + +In what direction Don Hernan might just then have wished poor Lawrence, +it need not be said. No means of getting rid of him occurred to his +mind. Had he been on the top of the tower, he might have felt inclined +to throw him over; but as it was, he had to submit to his company with +as good a grace as he could command. + +"I fear that you may not consider my cousin the best of guides on all +occasions; but he can lead the way to the top of our tower as well as a +wiser man," said Hilda, observing the Spaniard's look of anger, and at +the same time, from maiden bashfulness, not sorry to have Lawrence as an +escort. Up they went, therefore, till they reached Hilda's +sitting-room. + +"This, you see, Don Hernan, is my fair kinswoman's bower--her boudoir, +her retiring-room, or whatever else you like to call it--where she sits +brooding in silence, watching the stars and the moon sometimes, ye ken, +or reading romances and works on philosophy, metaphysics, astrology, and +other subjects far too deep for my poor brain," said Lawrence, as he +entered the apartment. + +Don Hernan glanced round with an eye of curiosity and surprise. "It is +indeed a delightful spot for retirement and contemplation," he remarked, +turning to Hilda, as he offered her his hand to assist her up the last +step of the stair. "I would gladly give up my roving life to inhabit +it." + +"How strange! for though I love it dearly, I can fancy nothing so +delightful as being able to wander here and there to new and far-off +lands," answered Hilda, smiling. + +Don Hernan whispered a few words, which Lawrence could not hear. "You +have now shown me your home on the shore, let me have the opportunity of +showing you mine on the water," he added, taking her hand, with an +expression which called forth a deep blush on her cheek; yet her hand +was not withdrawn. "You can, I doubt not, persuade your cousin and good +housekeeper to accompany you, and any other escort you may deem +advisable. I will send for our pilot, and we will take a short cruise +round some of the neighbouring islets." + +Hilda, after a moment's hesitation, consented to the proposal. Lawrence +was delighted at the idea of a sail in the big ship. + +The summer days of Shetland are few, but they are perfect while they +last, and long enough to satisfy the most enthusiastic admirer of +out-door amusements. Such was the day Hilda had selected for paying a +visit to the corvette. At an early hour the state barge of Lunnasting +was in attendance at the landing-place, manned by a sturdy crew of eight +of her tenants, whilst Lawrence claimed the privilege of acting as +coxswain--a post for which, from his practical knowledge of seamanship, +he was perfectly well fitted. + +The Spanish captain had wished to send a boat from the corvette, but the +offer had been declined, as Hilda knew that it would be considered +undignified unless she went in her own. Besides the crew and Lawrence +Brindister, her only escort consisted of Bertha Eswick, Nanny Clousta, +her own attendant, and her factor, Sandy Redland. + +As they got alongside, the crew sprang aloft and manned yards, but +instead of cheering they waved their hats above their heads; a salute +was at the same moment fired from the guns, and the captain himself +descended the side ladder to assist Miss Wardhill on deck. He pressed +her hand as he did so, and the glance she gave him showed the pleasure +she felt in visiting his ocean home. They said but little, for they +already understood each other too well to feel inclined to interchange +many words in public. The first lieutenant, Pedro Alvarez, took charge +of Bertha Eswick, and one of the junior officers devoted himself to +Nanny Clousta, very little caring what was her position in the family. +Lawrence, who had constantly been on board the corvette, seemed on +intimate terms with every one, while Sandy Redland, the factor, stalked +about wondering at the sights he beheld, and not attempting to exchange +words with any one. As soon as the last of the party were out of the +Lunnasting barge, she was sent back to the castle, with directions to +pull off to the ship when a signal should be made; at the same moment +the boatswain's shrill whistle was heard, the topsails were let fall, +the capstan bars were shipped, and the men tramped round to the sound of +fife and fiddle. The wide extending courses next dropped from the +brails, the topgallant sails and royals were set, and the ship under all +her canvas stood out with the wind on her larboard quarter by the +northern passage from Eastling Sound. As she began to move on, Rolf +Morton, who had been on the forecastle superintending getting up the +anchor, came aft to the wheel to direct her course. He bowed distantly +to Hilda, while with affectionate warmth he pressed Bertha Eswick's hand +to his lips; Lawrence shook him cordially by his hand, saying as he did +so-- + +"I am glad, cousin, that you have charge of so fine a ship. I hope it +will be as profitable as a voyage to Greenland. We are all cousins +here, you see, captain--that is to say, all of true Norse blood; and, +moreover, are not ashamed of our connections. Here we have Rolf Morton, +as pretty a man as you may wish to see, though not Shetland born, as far +as we know, married to young Bertha Eswick, daughter to our good cousin +Dame Eswick, at present governess, manager, or housekeeper of Lunnasting +Castle. Thus, you understand, Rolf Morton is our cousin by marriage; +and who would disown him because he is at present but an humble pilot! +A finer fellow or a truer seaman does not step, though I say it to his +face." + +Morton had not listened to these remarks; but Don Hernan had heard +sufficient to understand their tenor, and to make him feel that he was +not wrong in placing perfect reliance on his pilot's seamanship and +knowledge of the coast. Hilda, who had never before been on board a +large ship, was delighted with the sight as she gazed upwards on the +towering mass of canvas which seemed to rise into the very blue sky +itself; then around on the rich carving and gilt work; on the polished +brass, of which several of the guns were formed; on the fresh, bright +painting, and the various other embellishments of the ship. + +Directed by Morton, the "Saint Cecilia" soon glided out through the +narrow entrance to the Sound, so close to the black rocks on one side +that a good leaper could almost have sprung on shore. The officers +turned their eyes now and anon from the rocks, which threatened +destruction to their beautiful ship, to the pilot, but his calm, +self-confident look assured them that there was no danger, and soon she +was rising and falling to the undulations of the open sea, while Whalsey +and the other outlying islands blended rapidly into one, and soon could +not be distinguished from the main land. + +"This is indeed truly enchanting!" exclaimed Hilda. "Though I have +frequently been at sea, it has always been on board some slow-sailing +trader or packet, where sights and sounds and associations were all +unpleasant together. In a ship like this, how delightful to sail round +the world! I should never weary of such a life." + +"Then share it with me, Hilda," was the natural though unexpected +rejoinder of the Spanish captain, spoken in a low voice. "Oh do not +raise hopes and thoughts and aspirations, only to hurl them overboard! +We rovers of the sea have but little time to give to wooing. Be mine +now and for ever." + +Hilda's countenance betrayed the agitation, doubt, and astonishment +which filled her bosom. + +"Dearest lady! I would not thus hurriedly press my suit, but any post +may bring me orders to leave the coast, never again to return. Your own +words betrayed me into uttering a prayer I might not otherwise have +ventured so soon to urge; but now it has been made, do not compel me to +retract it." + +He stopped a moment to allow his words to take effect. Two or three of +his own officers and men only were within hearing, and his calm attitude +and manner did not betray the subject of their conversation. Her +countenance would have done so to Bertha or Morton, but she turned her +head towards the side, apparently watching the ship's course through the +water. No one valued her own position more than did Hilda; she had long +been taught the importance of keeping her feelings and words under +control, from the very reason that she was well aware should she once +give them rein they would run wildly off beyond her power. Her +thoughts, unhappily, she had never been able to command; and now she +found her feelings for this stranger--for stranger he was, though he +came in the guise of a kinsman--too powerful for her to conquer. Don +Hernan stood gazing into her countenance with as great anxiety, +apparently, as if his life hung on her decision. The struggle within +her--and a violent one it was--continued till it well-nigh overcame her. +She had to hold on to the bulwarks to support herself. Don Hernan +began to fear that she would decide against him. + +"Speak, Hilda--relieve me from the misery of this suspense!" he +exclaimed in a low voice, which could but just reach her ear. + +She looked up, and gasped faintly forth--"I am yours, now and for ever." + +Don Hernan poured forth, with all the vehemence of a Spaniard, his +expressions of gratitude and joy. + +"Happily, there exists no impediment to our immediate union," he added. +"I have, as you know, a priest of my own faith on board, and he tells me +that there exists on your island a chapel built by some of the seamen of +the holy Armada under the direction of my ancestor, and that, although +decaying, it is still in a sufficient state of preservation to allow the +ceremonies of our religion to be performed in it. Under his directions +some of my crew shall be employed, with your permission, in restoring it +sufficiently to enable our nuptials to take place there, and your own +minister shall afterwards perform the marriage ceremony according to the +rites of your church. We will deposit the documents with trustworthy +persons, so that no one may afterwards cast discredit on my honour, or +utter a word against your fair fame." + +"You have been thoughtfully careful of my interests and happiness, Don +Hernan," answered Hilda. "I feel that both are safe in your hands." + +It did not occur to her that Don Hernan must have felt tolerably sure of +success, to have made all the arrangements of which he spoke. + +Calm and collected as the two lovers believed themselves, many eyes on +board had been watching their proceedings. Their conversation was +interrupted by Rolf Morton coming aft to the captain and inquiring in +what direction he would prefer standing. + +It was late in the day before the corvette, on her return, approached +the Sound. The wind had got round so much to the northward, that Morton +determined on taking the corvette into the Sound by the same narrow +passage through which she had passed in the morning. Don Hernan +consented to his proposal; but when Pedro Alvarez saw the course that +was being steered, he showed every disposition to mutiny. + +"Because our captain wishes to suit the convenience of a fair lady, and +his own pleasure, he will run the risk of casting away our gallant ship. +Why not run for Brassy Sound, which is open before us, with a safe +entrance?" + +These remarks were made to some of his messmates, who were generally +ready to assent to his proposals. However, guided by Morton, the +corvette stood on, though even Hilda, who had the most perfect +confidence in the pilot, as she saw the fierce, foaming waves dashing +high up with a loud roar over the rocks to the very summit of the +cliffs, could scarcely persuade herself that the ship was not rushing on +destruction. The captain stood by the helmsman's side to repeat the +pilot's orders. Now nothing but a wall of rocks and foam appeared +before them. + +"Steady!" cried Morton, "starboard a little. Steady!" he again cried. + +The captain echoed his cry; the passage opened before them; in an +instant the ship flew past the rocks; even the oldest sailor breathed +more freely when she glided on inside the Sound. + +The sails were furled, the anchor was dropped, as she reached the spot +from which she had weighed in the morning. The captain insisted on +escorting Hilda and her companions on shore. + +"In three days, then, at midnight, all will be ready," he whispered, as +he parted from her at the castle landing-place. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +LAWRENCE'S EXPEDITION--HILDA'S MARRIAGE IN THE OLD CHAPEL--A STORM. + +Although the sun during the middle of the Shetland summer scarcely +ceases to shine, the inhabitants of these isles, like other mortals, +require sleep, and take it at the usual time. Soon after the sea trip +Miss Wardhill had taken on board the "Saint Cecilia," Lawrence +Brindister was seen one afternoon to descend from his room, booted and +spurred, as if for a distant excursion, Hilda, who had her reasons for +so doing, watched him anxiously. He stamped about the house, clattering +his spurs, and muttering to himself, as was his custom, when anything +out of the usual course occupied his mind. At last, going to Surly +Grind's kennel, he loosed the dog, and entering his skiff, crossed the +voe, as if about to proceed to the mainland. Hilda breathed more freely +when he had gone, but seldom had she appeared so distracted, and little +at her ease, as she did till the usual hour of closing the castle gates. +The keys were brought to her, as was the custom, by David Cheyne, the +old butler, or Major Domo. As he made his bow, he cast a hurried glance +at her countenance, and on his way down stairs he shook his head, +muttering to himself, "This foreign gallant will bring no good to the +house of Lunnasting--that I see too well; and the sooner the islands are +quit of him and his ship--for all he looks so brave and so bonnie--the +better it will be for the young mistress." + +Hilda, instead of retiring to rest, went to her tower; there she +remained for some time, pacing up and down the room, now glancing out on +the wide ocean, now clasping her hands in a manner expressive of doubt +and indecision. + +"It is too late to retract," she exclaimed, at length; "why should I +think of it? What right has my father to complain? He leaves me here +without compunction, and am I to await his tardy permission to act, as I +have a full right to do, without it? No, that point is settled. Then +Bertha suggests that the world will call me unmaidenly, more than +indiscreet, and will say that I have been ready to throw myself into the +arms of the first stranger I have met; but what care I for this little +world of Shetland? I stand on my own rectitude. I shall be far away, +and can afford to despise all such insinuations. But the greatest doubt +Bertha, in her over-anxious love, has raised up before me, is that +regarding Hernan himself. Still I feel sure that he is all that is +honourable and noble. He has given me numberless assurances, undoubted, +that he is what he represents himself. The proofs he offers are so +clear, can I for a moment doubt him? His I have promised to be: his I +will be. I should be unworthy of the name of woman were I now to +discard him." + +Such was the style of argument with which Hilda Wardhill persuaded +herself that she was right in the course she had resolved to adopt. + +The marriage was duly solemnised according to the terms of the Roman +Catholic Church by Father Mendez. Hilda and Don Hernan signed their +names on a parchment placed before them, Bertha and Nanny Clousta +signing as witnesses, while Rolf Morton stepped forward and added his +name. + +Two of Don Hernan's officers, Pedro Alvarez and another, signed their +names to the document as witnesses; whilst Lawrence protested against +the marriage, as being without the consent or knowledge of Hilda's +father, and, therefore, according to Shetland law, invalid. This +protest he made with an air of dignity wholly different from his usual +manner. + +The midnight wedding ceremony at the old chapel terminated in a most +terrific hurricane, and the new married couple were compelled to take +refuge from the storm in the house of Bertha Morton. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +ROLF MORTON'S HISTORY--DON HERNAN AND HILDA IN THE MORTON'S HOUSE-- +MORTON DISPATCHED TO THE CORVETTE. + +Bertha Morton had been considered not only one of the prettiest girls in +that part of Shetland where she was known, but as good and modest as she +was pretty, which is saying much in her favour, where beauty, modesty, +and kindness of heart are the characteristics of the people. Her +cottage, which was one of the largest in the island, was fitted up with +more taste and comfort than was usually found in others, and everything +about it bore the marks of competency and good taste. She had but +lately married Rolf Morton, who had, a year or two before, been left a +small property by his friend and guardian, Captain Andrew Scarsdale. +Rolf Morton's own history was somewhat romantic. + +Captain Scarsdale, a Shetlander by birth, commanded one of the many +Greenland whalers belonging to Hull, Aberdeen, and other northern parts, +which touched at Lerwick on their outward and homeward voyages. At +length, however, having fallen into ill-health, he was advised to try +the effects of a southern clime; and having in his youth made two or +three voyages to the South Seas, he was induced to take the command of a +South-Sea whaler, which would keep him out three years, or probably +more: having no family to bind his affections to England, this was of +little consequence. + +On his outward voyage, when nearly half way across the Atlantic, he fell +in with a raft, on which were three men and a young boy. The men stated +that the ship to which they belonged had foundered, and that the boy, +whose name they stated was Rolf Morton, belonged to a lady and gentleman +among the passengers on board. The rest of the people had perished, and +they, with no little exertion, had contrived to save the child. + +Captain Scarsdale had, from the first, rather doubted the correctness of +their statement, and on his cross-questioning the men separately, his +suspicions that there was some mystery in the matter were further +confirmed. However, they suspected his object, and he was unable to +elicit what he could suppose to be the truth from them. He would have +remained altogether in ignorance had not one of them been seized with an +illness, and believing himself to be dying, sent for the captain, and +made what he asserted to be a full confession of all he knew about the +boy. + +Captain Scarsdale, who was a cautious man, wrote down all that was told +him, and induced the man to sign it. He then instantly sent for the +other two men, and telling them what he knew, induced them to confess +the truth, and, partly by threats, and partly by persuasions, made them +sign the same document. He then carefully locked it up in his chest, +and being an upright and kind-hearted man, it was with great +satisfaction that he believed he had it in his power to right the +wronged. + +"Man proposes, God disposes," is a proverb, day after day proved to be +true in the lives of every man. The sick seaman recovered, and he and +his comrades, after serving some months on board deserted the ship; and +although Captain Scarsdale hunted everywhere, he could gain no further +tidings of them. + +The child thus strangely found became a fine intelligent boy, and +attached himself warmly to him. His recollections, faint though they +were, all tended to corroborate the account the seamen had given. +Captain Scarsdale would have sent home the information he had received, +and placed the cause of the boy in proper hands; but the men having +disappeared, he was afraid to trust the document to a stranger, with the +numberless chances of a long sea voyage, against its ever reaching its +destination. Unexpected events, however, kept him out in the South Seas +far longer than he had anticipated. He did not object to this, for he +had the boy as his companion, and he devoted himself to his education. +Young Rolf did not show any great talent, but he gave every promise of +becoming a fine, manly, true-hearted sailor, and with that his kind +patron was amply satisfied. + +At length, just as the ship had nearly completed her cargo of sperm oil, +and was about to return home, she was overtaken by a hurricane, and +driven on shore and lost; the crew were saved, and so was the captain's +chest. Most of Captain Scarsdale's hard-earned gains were swallowed up; +and the command of another whaler, whose master had died, being offered +him, he gladly accepted it, in the hopes that, by remaining out a few +years longer, he should be able to retrieve his fortunes; and what was +still nearer his heart, of obtaining the means for, as he told his +acquaintance, of establishing young Morton's rights. What he considered +those rights to be he wisely told no one. + +"No, no," he replied, when asked; "no one but a fool sounds a trumpet +before him to give notice of his approach, that the enemy may be +prepared to receive him." + +Rolf Morton had by this time become all that his friend anticipated; but +though well-informed for his age, his knowledge of the world and its +ways, it must be owned, was not extensive. + +The ship was bound to Liverpool, but being dismasted in a terrific gale, +she was driven past the entrance to the Channel, and up the west coast +of Ireland. Land was made at last on the starboard bow, and hopes were +entertained that she might be brought round so as to enter the Irish +Channel by the northern passage. Captain Scarsdale himself lay in his +hammock, disabled by a falling spar. + +Scarcely an hour had passed after the land was seen before the ship +struck. It was ascertained that it was on the extreme point of a reef, +and the first mate hoped that by lightening the ship she might beat over +it. The captain acquiesced, and every article that could be got at was, +as soon as possible, committed to the sea. + +"Yes, heave away--heave away everything you can lay your hands on, +lads!" was the order. "It will matter but little, I suspect, after +all." + +Among other things thrown overboard was the captain's chest; the mate +saw it just as it reached the foaming sea, too late to save it. He said +nothing to the captain: he believed that the ship herself would be lost, +but his prognostications proved wrong; the good ship drove over the +bank, weathered out the gale, jury-masts were got up, and she not only +got into the Irish Channel, but safe up the Mersey, without any help +whatever. + +Great was the grief of good Captain Scarsdale, when, on recovering from +his hurts, he discovered that his chest and its valuable contents had +been hove overboard. As has been said, he was a mild-tempered man, so +he did not storm and rage, but as the profits of the voyage had been +considerable, he resolved to devote them to establishing the claims of +the young foundling. He had never told Rolf Morton what those claims +were. He knew that they would only tend to unsettle the mind of the +boy, and make him less contented with his lot, should he fail to obtain +his rights. Rolf had no more notion, therefore, than the world in +general, who he was, and he believed the story which had at first been +told by the men, that he was the son of a gentleman and lady who had +perished on board a ship which had foundered on its way to South +America. + +As soon as Captain Scarsdale had settled his affairs in Liverpool, he +hastened to Edinburgh, where he had a relative, a writer to the +"Signet." He laid the boy's case before him. + +"My good Andrew, don't waste your money in making the attempt till you +have surer grounds to go on than you now have," was the answer. +"Possession is nine parts of the law. I have no more doubt than you +have as to the claims of this boy; but can you prove them without +documents or evidence of any sort? Can you expect to overcome a +powerful and unscrupulous opponent? You have perfect trust in +Providence, Andrew--so have I, lawyer though I am; and be assured that +in God's good time justice will be awarded to all parties concerned." + +This was not exactly like legal advice in general; but Andrew Scarsdale +at once saw its wisdom, and agreed to abide by it. Proceeding to +Aberdeen, he was at once offered the charge of a Greenland whaler. He +accepted the offer, taking Rolf Morton with him. He touched at Lerwick +both on his outward and homeward voyage. While on shore on the first +occasion, he heard that a small property was for sale in the island of +Whalsey, nearly the only portion of the whole island which did not +belong to the Lunnasting family. He at once authorised the principal +legal man in the island to purchase it for him at any cost. + +"I have a mind to have it," he observed; "remember my ancestors came +from Whalsey, and I should like, perchance, to end my latter days +there." + +Great was his satisfaction, on his return, to find that the property was +his. "That is well," he remarked; "and now, in case of my death, I wish +to settle it on my young friend Rolf Morton. You can get the necessary +documents drawn up, I hope, before I sail: we seamen learn one piece of +wisdom, at all events--the uncertainty of life--however slow we may be +to pick up others; and, therefore, when we sail, leave our last will and +testament behind us. You'll take care of this for me, and act upon it, +should I never return to desire it altered." + +The lawyer promised to see his friend's bequest attended to, but many +years passed before he was called on to act in the matter. Not only did +Captain Scarsdale come back, but with young Rolf Morton as his +companion, he took up his abode for several years, during the winter, in +a farm-house which he had considerably improved on his newly purchased +property; he claimed relationship, which was fully acknowledged, with +the Brindister family, and he and Lawrence, who took also very speedily +to Rolf, soon became fast friends. He was invited also to become a +frequent guest at Lunnasting Castle, though he showed but little +inclination to accept the hospitality of its inmates. + +Andrew Scarsdale, however, did not give up the sea. Though possessed of +a moderate independence he did not wish to lead an idle life, but every +summer he sailed to Greenland in command of a whaler, and most years +took Rolf with him: wishing at the same time that his young ward should +have the advantages of a liberal education, he sent him for two years to +Aberdeen, that he might acquire some knowledge in those branches in +which he was himself unable to afford him instruction. Rolf made up by +perseverance for what he wanted in talent, and thus, with Captain +Scarsdale's help, he obtained not only a necessary knowledge of nautical +affairs, but as large an amount of general information as most seafaring +men of his position at that time possessed. It might have been better +if the good captain, who was now advancing in years, had remained at +home; but anxious to increase his means for the sake of the object he +had nearest at heart, he took a larger share than before in a whaler, +and sailed once more, with Rolf in his company, for Greenland. Eager in +the pursuit of the oil-giving whale, he proceeded further north than +usual, his ship got nipped in the ice, crushed into a thousand +fragments, and Rolf Morton, and six of the crew only escaped with their +lives. + +Sorrowing deeply for the loss of his kind friend and protector, and +caring very little for that of his fortune, Rolf at length returned home +to find himself the possessor of the small farm and house on Whalsey, +and very little else in the world. He was not in the slightest degree +cast down, however; he made another voyage to Greenland as mate, and +having been very successful, came home and married young Bertha Eswick, +to whom he had before sailing engaged himself. + +Bertha Morton, like the rest of her countrywomen, accepted her lot, and +notwithstanding the fate to which so many others were subjected, she +hoped to enjoy years of happiness with her brave, fine-hearted husband. +There was not in all Scotland, just then, a blither or happier woman +than Bertha Morton. Her husband had told her that he expected to be at +home soon after midnight, and she was sitting up to receive him. As the +fury of the storm had not broke till some time after she hoped her +husband would be safe on shore, she was not particularly anxious about +his safety; still, as time wore on, her keen ear became more and more +alive to approaching sounds: at length she heard footsteps. Her +husband's voice called to her, and in he rushed with her mother and +Nanny Clousta, followed by Don Hernan and Hilda. Her astonishment at +seeing them was very great, but without losing time in asking +unnecessary questions, she set to work to remedy, as far as she had the +power, the effects of the pelting rain to which her guests had been +exposed. Fresh fuel was added to the already hot peat fire on the +hearth, that the foreign captain and her husband might dry their clothes +while she retired with her female visitors, that they might change +theirs for such as her own ample wardrobe could supply. Her best Sunday +gown well became Hilda, for except in height they differed but little in +figure; indeed, dressed as they now were, in the same homely garb, there +was a remarkable likeness between them. Nanny soon came back to place +certain pots and kettles on the fire to prepare supper, which by the +time all the party were ready to partake of it, was placed on the table. + +Bertha Eswick's position in the family fully entitled her to sit at +table with her mistress, and of course her daughter and son-in-law took +their seats at their own table, but nothing could induce Nanny so to +intrude herself, and she requested that she might be allowed to carry +her plate to a large chest at one side of the room where she might eat +her food by herself. Morton and Don Hernan could not help glancing a +look at each other, as they observed the similarity of feature, but the +tranquil, contented look which those of Bertha wore offered a strong +contrast to the agitated unsettled expression of Hilda's. Bertha and +her mother did their utmost to tranquillise her mind, and by lively +conversation to counteract the effect which the strange scene she had +just gone through had produced. The beating of the rain and the roaring +and howling of the wind were alone sufficient to baffle all their +efforts. The storm continued with unabated fury, and gave every sign of +being one of those which last for three or four days. + +Hilda having expressed her annoyance at the surmises to which her +absence would give rise in the castle, Rolf volunteered to go and inform +the household that she had taken refuge in his house, and would return +as soon as the weather permitted her to do so, while Don Hernan further +commissioned him to proceed on along the shore of the Sound to ascertain +that the "Saint Cecilia" was in safety, and whether his officers and men +had escaped injury, and had returned on board. + +"I ought to go myself, Mr Morton, I am well aware of that, but here is +my excuse," he observed, pointing to Hilda: "my officers are true +Spaniards, and will receive it as a valid one." + +"An English officer would consider that his first duty was to look after +his ship, whatever else might interfere, and there lies the difference +between us," muttered Morton, as facing the pelting rain and furious +wind, he took his departure from his comfortable home. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +DON HERNAN AND HILDA AT THE CASTLE--THE SPANISH OFFICERS ON SHORE--DON +HERNAN ORDERED TO QUIT SHETLAND. + +"To my mind it wad ha' been better for one and a' of us, if Miss Hilda +had gone and wed with a true, honest-hearted Shetlander, instead of this +new-found foreigner, for all his fine clothes, and fine airs, and silk +purse; it's few times I have seen the inside of it." This was said by +old Davie Cheyne to Nanny Clousta, about two weeks after Hilda and her +husband had taken up their abode at the castle. "What Sir Marcus will +say about the matter, it makes me tremble to think of. It's my belief +he'll be inclined to pull the house down about our ears, or to send us +and it flying up into the sky together. I wad ha' thought she might ha' +found a young Mouat, or a Gifford, or a Bruce, or Nicolson. There are +mony likely lads among them far better than this captain, now; I can no +like him better than does Mr Lawrence, and that's a sma' portion +indeed." + +"You're too hard, Mr Cheyne, on our new master," answered Nanny; "if ye +had seen the gold piece he gave me the day we came back to the castle, +and the beautiful silver one which he put into my hand only yesterday, +with the two pillars on it, you wad no say a' that against him. No, no, +Mr Cheyne, he's a fine gentleman, and a right fit husband for our young +mistress." + +For more than a fortnight Don Hernan had not set his foot on board the +"Saint Cecilia." Both officers and crew had, however, begun to complain +at being left so long in so uninteresting a spot in perfect inactivity; +Don Hernan accordingly ordered the ship back to Brassay Sound under +charge of Pedro Alvarez. + +Strange as it may seem, the news of Don Hernan's marriage with Miss +Wardhill had not yet reached Lerwick. There was at no time any very +regular intercourse kept up between the islands, and that which was +usual had been interrupted by the bad weather. + +Rolf Morton, like a wise man, resolved to keep his knowledge of the +matter to himself, and to say nothing, while Father Mendez, the only +person belonging to the ship who, from being able to speak English, +could have communicated it, was not likely to say a word about the +matter, unless he had some object in doing so. Bailie Sanderson of +Lerwick was a staunch Presbyterian, and a warm hater of Episcopacy and +Popery; and it was a sore struggle in his mind how far he was justified +in having any dealings with the only representative of the latter power, +who had for many a long year ventured to set foot on the soil of +Shetland; in vain he tried to make the purser understand him. Stores +for the ship of all sorts were wanted, but no arrangements could be +made, and at length Father Mendez was called to their councils. The +bailie believed himself so fully guarded against any of the doctrines +held by the priest, that he had no fear as to any attempts he might make +to change his own opinions; but the truth was, that Father Mendez +understood him far better than he understood Father Mendez, who, had he +thought it worth his while, would not have made his approaches in a mode +the bailie was at all likely to discover till the foundations of his +fortress had been sapped and undermined. The priest, however, had not +the slightest intention of making an attack on the bailie's religious +principles, whatever might have been his mission to those northern +regions. There were some who did not fail to assert that he had +ulterior views; but he made himself generally so very popular, that the +greater number considered him a very well-behaved, harmless, kind +gentleman, who was ready to smile at all their amusements, even though +he might not partake in them, and was conversable and affable with every +one. + +For nearly three weeks or more the "Saint Cecilia" remained at Lerwick, +and while her officers were busy gaining golden opinions from the +people, they spent a good many golden pieces among them. + +"And after a' the real goud is the best thing o' the twa," as Bailie +Sanderson observed. "The one, unless, maybe, it's the deil's pay, will +rest in the purse, or bring something substantial in return, and is +muckle like the snow in the spring time; it looks very white and +glittering, but quickly vanishes awa." + +At length Rolf Morton arrived from Whalsey with an order from Don Hernan +to Pedro Alvarez to carry the ship back to Eastling Sound. The corvette +was instantly got under weigh, and tide and wind suiting, she stood back +towards Lunnasting Castle. The inhabitants of Lerwick saw her departure +with no little astonishment, as not a word had been said to lead them to +suppose she was going. Some had their misgivings on certain material +points. Bailie Sanderson, especially, was very uncomfortable; he had +furnished a large amount of stores--far more than any one else had done; +but though he had got in his hands several bills, in the shape of long +bits of paper, accepted by Don Diogo Ponti, purser of His most Catholic +Majesty's ship, the "Saint Cecilia," and by Don Hernan de Escalante, +captain of the said ship, he had received very little hard cash, and +several of his friends, when they had looked at those strips of paper, +and turned and twisted them about, in a variety of ways, with an +expression in their countenances which betokened commiseration, hoped +that he might, by the mercy of Providence, get the siller for them, but +that it would be next a miracle if he did. In a moment all his airy +castles and the delightful profits he had anticipated were scattered to +the wind, while no one to whom he applied could afford him the slightest +consolation. + +The most trying time in Hilda's existence had arrived. She had given +her heart to Don Hernan, and she had married him; but she had never +dared to reflect on the consequences of her doing so. When at length he +told her that the last packet from the south had brought him peremptory +orders to proceed on his voyage, the news came on her like a sudden +thunder-clap. No longer had she the power of acting, as of yore, +according to her own untrammelled will. She had discovered that +already. What would he determine? To let him go from her, and leave +her alone, were worse than death. When might he return? Would he ever +come back? What numberless chances might intervene to prevent him. Yet +the thought of leaving the castle, placed under her charge, was +naturally revolting to her feelings. Her father had intrusted her with +his property. Could she betray that trust without meriting his just +censure? Yet had she not already done enough to make him discard her +altogether? + +"Yes, I have," she exclaimed, with some degree of bitterness. "How can +I stand the storm of rage, and then the scornful sneers with which he +will assail me? Accompany Hernan, I will, come what may of it. If he +refuses he shall not leave behind a living bride. Scorn, pity, or +anger, would be insufferable, and to all shall I be exposed if I +remain." + +To such a resolution it might have been expected that a woman of ardent +temperament and untrained mind, like Hilda, would have arrived, whatever +course of doubt and hesitation she might have first gone through. + +Don Hernan returned with a clouded brow from his first visit to his +ship. He found Hilda seated in her turret-chamber. He threw himself on +a sofa by her side. + +"There has been discontent and well-nigh mutiny among my people," he +exclaimed in an angry tone. "I might have known that it would have been +so; idleness does not suit the fellows--I must take care that they have +no more of it; they will have plenty to do in future. Well, Hilda, our +happy days here must now come to an end. They have flitted by faster +than I could have expected." Hilda gazed in his face, trembling to hear +what might follow. He spoke calmly: "Yes, a few short weeks seem not +longer than as many hours; and now I fear, dearest, we must part, though +it may be but for a short period. I may obtain leave to return with the +`Saint Cecilia,' or you must travel south by a shorter route through +England, and thence on to Spain. I cannot shield you, I fear, from some +of the inconveniences to which sailors' wives are exposed." + +"Leave me! Oh, no, no!" exclaimed Hilda, passionately. "Take me with +you. I cannot be parted from you! You tell me you love me: it would be +but cruel love to kill me; and I tell you I could not survive our +separation. I speak the truth--oh, believe me, Hernan,--I do!" + +The Spanish captain looked at her as if he doubted her assertion; but he +would indeed have been a sceptic as to the depth of the power of woman's +affection had he longer continued to doubt when he saw her beseeching +and almost agonised countenance turned on him, waiting for his decision. + +"But can you, Hilda, endure all the hardships and dangers we may have to +go through?" he asked. "We may be exposed to furious tempests, and +perhaps have to fight more than one battle, before we reach a Spanish +port." + +"Yes, yes, I can endure everything you have to suffer," she answered, +taking his hand in one of hers, while she placed the other on his +shoulder, and looked up into his face as if she would read his inward +soul. "Why should I fear the tempest when you are on board, or the +battle, while I can stand by your side? Take me with you, Hernan. +Prove me, and I shall not be found wanting." + +"Hilda, you are a brave woman--you have conquered my resolution. We +will go together," he exclaimed, clasping her to his heart. + +The shriek of joy she gave showed the intensity of her anxiety, and how +it had been relieved by this announcement. + +Still Don Hernan lingered. Was it that he was unwilling to tear himself +away from a spot where he had spent some of the brightest moments of his +existence? Had he other less ostensible motives for delay? + +Hilda's announcement of her intended departure was received in silence +by Sandy Redland, the factor, and David Cheyne, the old butler. The +former, perhaps, was not ill-content to have the entire management of +the estate left in his hands. Nanny Clousta, without hesitation, agreed +to accompany her mistress, and thus the only person who really grieved +for Hilda's departure was Bertha Eswick. She walked about the castle in +a state of bewilderment very different to her usual collected manner, +and was continually asking herself if she could not have prevented the +result for which she mourned. The only person who seemed totally +unconscious that any unusual event was about to occur was Lawrence +Brindister. He treated his cousin and Don Hernan with a mock courtesy +which was excessively annoying, the more especially as it was utterly +impossible to resent it. + +The hour of her departure arrived. Hilda had made every preparation for +it in her power; still the utter want of propriety in the step she was +taking pressed heavily on her spirits. Except her own garments and a +few of her books, she took nothing with her. "It shall not be said that +I am spoiling my father's house," she exclaimed, with some bitterness, +as she showed Bertha everything she wished packed up. + +Don Hernan's barge was in readiness at the landing-place, where Sandy +Redland stood ready to receive the keys. As she left the castle, she +looked, as old Davie Cheyne afterwards remarked, "more like Mary Queen +of Scots, or some other great lady, going to execution, than a bride +accompanying her husband to his home." As she was about to step into +the boat she took Bertha's hand. + +"Dear nurse and cousin," she whispered, "you know I loved you more than +any other human being, but I dare not show it lest my feelings should +run riot with me. Farewell! The future is all obscure and uncertain. +I dare not talk of when we may meet again." + +Don Hernan took her hand and helped her into the boat. The word was +given to shove off--the oars were dipped into the water--when down from +the castle gate rushed Lawrence Brindister, followed closely by Surly +Grind. + +"Ha! ha!" he exclaimed, in a hoarse, angry voice. "Fare-thee-well, +cousin Hilda--fare-thee-well! though you would leave your kinsman +without saying as much to him. And you, Don Hernan, fare-thee-well, +too. You think you have wedded with the heiress of Lunnasting. It's a +pleasant dream to believe that you will some day be master of those +lordly towers. Dream on as you please, but know the truth: `The prince +will hae his ain again! the prince will hae his ain again!'" + +These words he continued singing at the top of his voice, pointing +derisively at the boat as long as she continued in sight. + +Don Hernan urged the crew to give way, and with lusty strokes they sent +the boat flying through the water, till she was far out of hearing of +Lawrence's voice. Hilda sank back in her husband's arms, and hid her +eyes while she was passing under the walls of the dwelling she believed +that she was leaving for ever. With shouts of welcome the Spanish crew +received their captain's bride. Scarcely had she stepped on board than +the anchor, which had been hove short, was run up to the bows, the sails +were let fall, and, with a light breeze from the westward, the corvette +stood out of Eastling Sound. + +Rolf Morton was on board as pilot. He bowed to Hilda, but his duty in +attending to the steering of the ship prevented his speaking. As she +looked at him, she felt that he was the last link which yet united her +with the past, and she almost dreaded the moment that he would have to +leave the ship. "Yet, after all, from what do I sever myself?" she +thought. "From associations only. Begone all such recollections. Let +me enjoy the delightful present, and the no less happy future I trust." + +No day could have been more beautiful in any latitude than that on which +the "Saint Cecilia" sailed from Shetland. The sea was smooth, just +broken with a slight ripple, which glittered brightly in the rays of the +sun as the ship slipped quickly through it with a gentle breeze abeam. +The arrangements, also, which Hilda's husband had made below for her +accommodation were perfect. He, too, was kind and courteous in the +extreme; and had she been a princess, the officers could not have +treated her with greater respect. Over and over again she said to +herself, "I should indeed be ungrateful if I am not happy." + +Having given a good offing to the Out Skerries, so as to avoid the +dangers near Feltar, the corvette stood to the northward, it being the +intention of the captain to round the northern end of Shetland, and by +that course to enter the Atlantic. Rolf Morton's boat was towing +astern, and he agreed to remain on board to see the ship clear of the +land. The weather was beautiful, the sea was smooth, the wind was +light, and there was every prospect of a pleasant commencement of a +voyage, as he finally wished her God-speed. + +Soon after Rolf Morton had left the corvette, the wind, after veering +about for a short time, had got round to the southward, so that she was +able to haul up to the southward of west. This appeared a great +advantage gained, as it enabled her to keep exactly on her proper +course. How short-sighted truly are mortals in discovering what is +really to their advantage! The sun sunk in an angry glow of ruddy hue +which suffused the whole eastern sky, and cast an ensanguined tint on +the foaming crests of the fast-rising waves. Then, as if it had gone to +hurry on the storm, there rushed up from the dark bank of clouds +numerous detached masses, which flew rapidly across the sky, one chasing +the other in their headlong speed. + +Don Hernan and his officers saw the storm coming, but they were anxious +to get as good an offing as possible before it had time to burst on +them, and therefore kept the ship under all the canvas she could carry. +On she flew, right into the eye of the rising tempest, so it seemed, +though as yet the wind held to the southward. The topgallant masts bent +and twisted like wands; still the captain would not allow the sails to +be taken in. The wind whistled more and more shrilly through the +rigging; each sea that rose seemed to increase in height, and to strike +the bows with greater force as the ship, frantically it seemed, forced +her onward way, while white driving foam flew in dense masses over her +forecastle, and sprinkled with its lighter showers the greater part of +the deck. A few stars came out and shone brightly overhead, but they +were quickly obscured by the gathering clouds; the darkness increased, +till nothing could be seen on either hand but the dark, tumbling seas +with their white foaming crests. + +Pedro Alvarez had been watching the signs of the weather with anything +but a satisfied look. "We shall have it down upon us, Don Hernan, +before long," he remarked, going up to the captain. "If it catches us +with all this canvas spread, some of our masts will go, I fear." + +"We may hold on yet for some time, I hope," was the answer. "I have not +forgotten yet the look of that rocky coast." + +"Nor I either; and I therefore would try to keep my sticks to beat it +off," muttered the first lieutenant, as he turned away. It appeared, +however, that he was over-cautious; for some time longer there was no +alteration in the weather. + +"After all, I am in hopes that the squall will pass over, and by the +time we have made good our westing we may get a favourable change of +wind," observed the captain, as the first lieutenant approached him. "I +am going below; call me, should anything occur." + +"You will not have long to wait," said Pedro Alvarez, bluntly. + +He was right. The captain's head was scarcely below the companion +hatch, when the ship, which had been heeling over to starboard till the +scuppers were under water, righted suddenly, and her sails flapped +loudly against the masts. + +"Hands aloft, shorten sail!" shouted the first lieutenant, with an +energy that made every one start to obey the order. "Let fly topgallant +sheets! Be smart, my men." + +The sails were being quickly handed. The officer had ordered +topgallant-yards to be sent down, and topgallant-masts struck, when a +vivid flash of forked lightning darted close ahead, across the ship's +course, followed by a terrific crash of thunder, which startled all on +board. Many thought the electric fluid had struck the ship. The +captain sprang on deck. He was just in time to see the ship taken aback +by the long threatening gale, which came down with greater fury from its +continued delay. Stern first she drove, the rising seas threatening to +engulph her. Pedro Alvarez was shouting out the necessary orders to +bring her round, so as once more to get headway on her. But the men +were aloft endeavouring to execute the previous order issued to them, +and some were obeying one order, some another. In vain Don Hernan +endeavoured to aid in restoring order. The object was to reduce the +after sails, so that those ahead might have greater influence. All the +masts were crowded with the labouring crew; fiercer blew the tempest; +there was a crash; wild shrieks, rising high above the howling of the +storm, rent the air. The mizenmast had gone by the board, and falling +over the starboard side had carried all those upon it into the boiling +ocean. + +There was a second crash; the mainyard had gone, and it seemed likely, +from the way in which the mainmast bent and quivered that that also +would go. In vain many of the poor fellows cast from the mizen-mast +struggled for life; their shipmates were too busily occupied to afford +them assistance. Some had clung desperately to the rigging, and had +managed to regain it, and were endeavouring to haul themselves on board +again. Now one succeeded; now another, with a cry of despair, was +washed off, as the seas dashed furiously up against the corvette's +quarter, threatening to drive in her counter, or to carry away her +taffrail. + +All the time the butt end of the mizen-mast was striking like a +battering-ram against the side of the ship, with every chance of +speedily making a hole in it. The main-yard, too, had fallen across the +deck, still held by lifts and braces from going overboard, more +dangerous in that position than if it had done so. The sudden blast +which had caused the destruction was only the first of the tempest. +Stronger and stronger it grew. It would be difficult truly to picture +the scene of tumult and confusion which the deck of the corvette +presented, all the time driving stern first at a fearful rate, now +lifted high up by the sea, now rushing downward into the watery gulf, +the opposite sea looking as if it would overwhelm her. The officers, +with loud shouts, were issuing orders in different parts of the ship; +the men, called off from their regular stations, rushing here and there, +not knowing which to obey, but still seeing clearly that each order +imperatively demanded to be instantly executed. In vain Don Hernan, +speaking-trumpet in hand, endeavoured to reduce the confusion into +order. At this juncture a flash of lightning revealed a tall figure, +with flowing white drapery, standing near the companion-hatch. He +shuddered with a superstitious feeling of dread. The next instant he +saw that it was his wife; he hurried up to her to entreat her to go +below. The darkness concealed the look of astonishment and dismay with +which she regarded the scene around her. In a moment Don Hernan was by +her side-- + +"Hilda, my beloved, this is no place for you. Oh, go below, I entreat +you, I command you. Any moment your life may be sacrificed." + +"Why should I shun dangers, Hernan, to which you must be exposed?" she +exclaimed. "But what does this mean--what has happened?" + +"A mere accident, to which all ships are liable," he answered. "There +is nothing to fear, if you will remain calmly in your cabin." + +"But shrieks and cries for help reached my ears, and terrific blows," +said Hilda. "Oh! do not deceive me, Hernan; surely some sad calamity +has occurred." + +The captain saw that he could not deceive her, and not till he had +explained how matters really stood, could he induce her to return to her +cabin. Meantime Pedro Alvarez had succeeded in bracing round the head +yards and furling all the after sails. Slowly the ship answered her +helm and fell off; but as she did so, two seas in quick succession +struck her abeam, dashing across her deck, and carrying away the boats +stowed on the boom, and part of the lee bulwarks. Again shrieks for +help were heard; but the darkness prevented it being seen from whence +they came, though there was too much reason to fear that the same seas +which had washed away the boats, had carried off more of their +unfortunate shipmates. Once more the ship went ahead, but it was before +the wind, and she was flying back towards that iron-bound coast of +Shetland, from which all on board had been so eager to escape. Every +effort was now made to bring the ship on a wind either to heave her to, +or to stand to the northward or southward, so that, should the gale +continue, she might weather one end or the other of the islands. After +a time it was decided to haul up on the port or larboard tack, as it was +believed that she had made but little southing, and was in consequence, +nearer the northern than the southern end of Shetland. + +On ploughed the "Saint Cecilia" through the darkness, and many a heart +on board dreaded the sight which daylight would reveal to them. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +ROLF MORTON'S EXPEDITION--WATCHES THE CORVETTE--HILDA'S MARRIAGE +DISCUSSED--THE STORM--A SHIP SEEN DRIVING TOWARDS SHORE. + +After Rolf Morton had left the "Saint Cecilia," and was steering for +Yell Sound, he recollected that a long time had passed since he had paid +a visit to an old friend, who had been Captain Scarsdale's first mate on +several voyages, but who had now retired from sea life, and settled at +Hillswick, in the southern part of that peculiarly shaped peninsula of +Shetland, called North Maven. There were two ways of getting there. +The most speedy was to haul up to the southward at once, and to steer +for Saint Magnus's Bay, so as to round the southern point of North +Maven, called Esha Ness; but then, when he wished to return to Whalsey, +he would have had to retrace his course along the whole western coast of +the peninsula before he could enter Yell Sound. Should the weather +continue fine, this would be of little consequence; but in bad weather +the voyage would be one of great danger, as standing out as do its lofty +cliffs, to brave the whole roll of the Western Ocean, on no part of the +coast does the sea break with more terrific fury. The other course was +to run up Yell Sound as he had intended; but, instead of passing through +it, to land on the southern shore, in one of the many small voes or +inlets, to be found there, so that a walk of a mile or so would enable +him to reach the house of his friend Angus Maitland. Before determining +what to do, he cast his eye seaward round the horizon. The low bank of +clouds he there observed, just rising, as it were, out of the water, +made him keep the boat on the course he had before been steering. +Before many minutes had passed the increasing wind showed the wisdom of +his determination. Away bounded the boat over the rising seas; but no +sooner had she entered the Sound than she glided smoothly along over its +calm water, and soon reached the point where Morton proposed landing. +All the crew, however, had some excuse for visiting Hillswick. Angus +Maitland's abode was known for its hospitality, and no one ever came +there who did not receive a hearty welcome, and the best accommodation +he could afford, suited to their rank and position. The boat was left +securely moored in a little voe, where not the fiercest of storms from +without could reach her. + +Honesty is a characteristic of the Shetlanders, and Morton and his crew +knew well that should she by chance be discovered, not a rope-yarn would +be taken away. A high heather-covered hill lay between the spot where +they landed and Hillswick. Morton stopped when he reached the top, and +took a glance along the whole western horizon, which lay open to view. +The corvette was already hull down, standing on close-hauled to the +southward of west, in which direction the bank of clouds he had before +remarked had greatly increased in height and denseness. + +"She is making a good offing, and the Spaniards will have reason enough +to be glad they have done so," observed Morton. "The squall brewing out +there will be down upon them before long, hot and strong; but if they +heave the ship to at once, it will have blown itself out before they +have time to drift back near enough to our coast to come to any harm." + +The men assented to the correctness of Morton's remark. Perhaps they +did not as warmly wish for the safety of the corvette as he did. +Formerly, probably, they would have prayed that Providence would +mercifully drive her back, and wreck her in some convenient spot among +the rocks, where, though the crew might be lost, whatever was of value +in her might be cast on shore for the benefit of the people. + +Angus Maitland spied Morton coming down the hill, and, his portly figure +clad in a suit of grey shepherd's plaid, and a stout stick in his hand, +he sallied forth to meet him. His greeting was warm and hearty. + +"Come along, Rolf--come along, man; now I've got you I'll keep you," he +exclaimed, when Morton had told him how it was he had come to North +Maven. "Your guid wife will spare ye for a day, and she'll guess that +you would not pass within hail of our shores without coming to see me." + +Morton, however, urged that Bertha was not aware that he had come round +to the west coast; that she would be expecting him, and would be anxious +if he did not appear. + +"Stay, though," exclaimed his host. "There is Sandy McNab will be +crossing the mainland with his pack, and he will send over a message for +you to Whalsey; there will be no lack of opportunities." + +Morton promised to stay away this night, should he be able to send a +message to his wife, to the effect that he was doing so. Sandy McNab, +the packman, was found on the point of starting, with his two +half-starved shelties, scarcely the size of ordinary donkeys, but with +wonderful strength of limb and power of endurance. He undertook that +Morton's note to his wife should be delivered without fail; and this +matter being settled, Rolf, in no way loath, accepted his friend's +invitation. There was good cheer for all hands, though dried fish, +oat-cakes, and whisky formed the staple articles of the feast. + +Maitland of course wished to hear all about the extraordinary marriage +of the heiress of Lunnasting with the Spanish captain, for strange +stories had got about, and, as he observed, it was hard to know what to +believe and what to discredit. + +"There's nothing so unnatural-like in the proceeding," observed the old +gentleman, after Rolf had given him a true, unvarnished account of the +affair. "He's a handsome gallant, and she's a very fine lassie, there's +no denying that; but at the same time, God's blessing does not alight on +marriages contracted without the parent's consent; and it's my opinion +that Miss Wardhill should have waited till Sir Marcus came home before +entering into a contract." + +Rolf hinted that Sir Marcus's whole conduct was not such as to secure +the love and obedience of his daughter. + +"That may be," answered Maitland; "he might not have gained her love, +but her obedience still was due to him. He left her, too, in charge of +the castle, and now she has fled from her post like a deserter. Poor +lassie, I would not be hard on her, though; and I doubt not by this time +she is wishing herself on shore again, for the gallant ship she thought +so brave must be pitching and rolling pretty heavily by this time." + +The friends were at supper, and while they were discussing their food +and this same knotty subject, the loud barking of two Newfoundland dogs +which roamed round the premises was heard, answered by the fierce growl +of another of the canine race, which seemed to come from some little +distance off. + +"This is a late time o' night for a visitor to come, but whoever he may +be he is welcome," said Maitland. "Here's to you, Rolf; we'll just +finish this glass, that we may have a fresh brew of toddy for him when +he comes." + +Again the deep bark and growl of the stranger's dog was heard. + +"There is but one creature in Shetland which barks like that," observed +Morton. "I should know his voice anywhere; it is Lawrence Brindister's +dog, Surly Grind. What can have brought him here?" + +"He'll answer for himself, for here he comes," replied Maitland, looking +out of the window, whence the person in question was seen approaching +the house, mounted on the smallest and shaggiest of Shetland ponies, and +his legs, encased in top-boots, almost dragging along the ground, though +he managed, by a succession of sudden jerks, to lift them up so as to +avoid the numerous inequalities of the way. His odd appearance was +increased by his wearing a broad-brimmed hat and feather, and a +long-waisted coat, part of an old court-suit. When he came to the door +of the house, all he did was to stand upright, and to let his steed pass +from under him. He threw the bridle to Surly Grind, who took it in his +mouth, and lying down held it fast, the pony agreeing quietly in that +novel mode of being tethered. Just as Captain Maitland had risen to +receive him, he shuffled into the room, making a bow worthy of a +Frenchman of the old school. + +"Welcome to Hillswick, Mr Lawrence," said Captain Maitland; "it is not +often that we have had the pleasure of your company of late. Come, sit +down and take your supper; it's a long journey you have made to-day, and +the air on the top of Ronas Hill is well calculated to give a man an +appetite." + +"Not a bad notion, friend Maitland," answered poor Lawrence. "By the +same token, too, little Neogle and Surly Grind will be beholden to your +hospitality, for it is but a small allowance of food they have had since +we left Whalsey this morning. A bone for the dog, and a handful of meal +for Neogle, is all I'll ask. The pony will easily pick up enough by +himself to finish his supper." + +Captain Maitland gave the necessary orders to an old man who acted as +his servant-of-all-work, but Surly Grind would not be induced to let go +the bridle, even though a savoury mess besides the bone was placed +before his nose, till his master had called to him from the window and +released him from his office. The pony, as soon as he had had his basin +of brose, and his bridle and saddle were taken off him, trotted off to +the plot of greenest grass in the neighbourhood. + +"That is a curious name you have given your pony, Mr Lawrence," +observed Maitland, when his guest was comfortably seated at supper. "It +is what would be called in Scotland a water kelpie. Is there anything +of the nature of a Trow in your little animal?" + +"More, perhaps, than you think of, friend," answered Lawrence, gravely. +"Neogle can do everything but speak; whatever I tell him he does it +immediately. He follows me like my dog; he'll step into my boat and lie +down at the bottom of it, as readily as Surly Grind himself, or if I +order him to swim astern, he jumps in forthwith; and if I was to take a +cruise round the mainland, he would come after me as long as he had +strength to swim." + +"He may do all that and not be a trow," observed Morton, laughing; for +he, as well as Captain Maitland, was anxious to prevent Lawrence's +thoughts running upon the recent events. + +"Right, cousin Morton, right," answered Lawrence. "I came honestly by +him by purchase, and called him Neogle on account of his strength, and +sagacity, and docility. The country people gave the name of the Neogle +to a wicked sort of trow, whom they believe lives in the water, and +whose great aim is to carry off people to destroy them. On that account +he appears in the shape of a pretty pony, bridled and saddled, and all +ready for a pleasant gallop across the country. He has a great fancy +for carrying off millers. To do this he stops the wheel of the mill. +That makes the miller come out of the house to learn what is the matter. +On goes the mill once more, and when he looks about he sees the pony. +If he is a young miller, and has not heard about the Neogle, or doesn't +believe in it, or forgets about it--`Ho, ho!' says he, `the mill is +going on all smooth and pleasantly, so I'll just take a gallop, and be +back before it's time to put in more grist.' On that he leaps on the +seeming pony, when off goes the trow, fleet as the winds. Away, away he +goes. In vain the poor miller tries to throw himself off: a broken leg +or an arm would be far, far better than the fate awaiting him. He is +though, he finds, glued, as it were, to the saddle. On gallops the +Neogle over hill and down, and bog, and loch, and stream, and voe; +nothing stops him till the sea is reached, and then across it he flies +till he is over the deep water, when down he dives in a mass of flame, +with loud shrieks of mocking laughter, and never again is the poor +miller heard of." + +"That's a curious notion, Mr Lawrence," observed Captain Maitland. "I +never heard it before; but do you say the people believe in it?" + +"Troth do I; and why should they not?" answered Lawrence, blinking his +eyes. "There are many things which you have seen in your voyages, and +which would seem very strange to our people, if you were to tell of +them. As to the Neogle, I never saw one that I know of, but I should be +very cautious about mounting him if I did." + +The evening was now drawing on, the storm which had for some time been +threatening had nearly reached the island; vivid flashes of lightning +darted from the sky, and loud thunder claps rolled almost overhead. A +sharp neigh was heard, and Lawrence Brindister started up. + +"Ah, Neogle is aware of what is coming, and has trotted up to ask for +shelter," he observed, going to the window. "You'll let him have a +corner in your stable, captain, I dare say?" + +The request was at once complied with, and scarcely was the pony under +shelter than down came the storm, the wind blowing furiously, with +torrents of rain, while the lightning flashed faster and brighter, and +the thunder broke in louder and more crashing peals. The rain kept the +party close prisoners in the house till it was time for them to retire +to bed. All night the storm raged. At an early hour Lawrence +Brindister was on foot, the rain had ceased, but the wind blew as +furiously as ever. Lawrence was seen to put on his boots, then hurrying +to the stable he mounted Neogle, and followed by Surly Grind, he was +trotting off, when Captain Maitland hailed him, and inquired where he +was going. + +"To Navie Grind, Captain," was his answer. "I have a fancy for watching +the sea breaking over those cliffs, as it will be doing this morning, +and maybe I shall get a glimpse of the Spanish ship, for she is not so +far off our shores as some of you may think, and as those on board would +pray they might be." + +"Heaven forbid that the Spaniard, or any other craft, is near our cliffs +at this time," said Morton. "There are good seamen on board her, and +she must have got a good offing before she met the gale." + +"Still, we'll take a stroll across to Navie Grind, and have a look at +the Western Ocean," observed Maitland. "I love to watch it at all +times, in storm or sunshine; but, as my days of romance are over, we'll +have breakfast first. Morton, you'll agree to that? Mr Lawrence, +you'll join us? The sea will not go down before you have had time to +break your fast, nor will, I trust, the Spanish ship heave in sight." + +Notwithstanding, however, all the hospitable old sailor's persuasions, +Lawrence would only be persuaded to take a handful of oatcake and a +draught of milk; and then away he trotted on Neogle, followed by Surly +Grind, towards the west. Morton and their host took their time in +discussing a far more substantial breakfast, consisting of salted and +dried haddocks, pickled pork, oaten cakes, and other substantial +articles of food, sufficient to astonish a southern stomach. The +captain then lighted his pipe, inviting Rolf to join him, and they +smoked away in that deliberate manner which showed that they considered +it a far pleasanter pastime than battling with the fierce gale outside. +Captain Maitland at length shook the ashes out of his pipe, and was +considering whether he should light another, when Lawrence Brindister's +voice was heard from below the window, shouting-- + +"The spirits of the storm have not failed in their duty; the proud +Spaniards will meet with their deserts. I knew it would be so. Hurra! +hurra! but I'm off again. I wouldn't miss the sight to be made Earl of +Zetland." + +The two friends hurried to the window, and inquired what was the matter. + +"Matter!" exclaimed Lawrence. "Why, that the Spanish corvette is +driving ashore, and that ere many minutes are over she and all on board +will be hurled to destruction. I would save poor Hilda if I could, in +spite of her pride and haughtiness, but that is beyond human power to +accomplish." + +"Heaven forbid!" exclaimed Captain Maitland. "The poor young lady, we +must at all events try to save her and those with her." + +"Are you certain, Mr Lawrence, that it is the Spanish ship you have +seen?" shouted Morton; but he received no answer, for Lawrence had +turned Neogle's head, and was galloping off as hard as the little +creature could lay hoof to the ground. + +"Whether Spanish or any other ship, we'll try what brave hearts and +stout hands can do to help the unfortunates on board her," said the fine +old seaman, Captain Maitland, as he hurried out of the house. "Here, +Sandy Neill, Davie Borthwick,--here, lads!" he shouted, and two stout +seafaring-looking men employed on his farm came running up. "There's a +ship ashore, or likely soon to be, and you'll be ready to follow me, not +to wreck and to plunder, but to save life, if so we can." + +Both Sandy and Davie agreed to do whatever the captain wished, and +Morton's own crew were also quickly collected. Before setting out they +provided themselves with such coils of rope and long spars as the +captain's store could provide. Morton and his friend, armed with stout +sticks and coats buttoned up, followed by their men, set out with the +fierce gale blowing in their teeth, on their errand of mercy. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +NAVIE GRIND DESCRIBED--THE WRECK ON SHORE--THE SHIP DASHED TO PIECES-- +THE RESCUED. + +Navis Grind, or Navie Grind, the point towards which Morton and his +friend directed their steps, is a high cliff forming the extreme western +point of that part of Shetland called North Maven, and thus stands out +prominently into the Atlantic Ocean, some way to the south of Ronas +Hill. A short way off from it, due west, like the advanced sentry of an +outpost, is the small rocky islet of Ossa Skerry, but this in no way +breaks the force of the seas as they rush impetuously onward from far +far away across the ocean. It seems, on the contrary, to have the +effect of uniting the strength of two seas in one, and of impelling them +with double vehemence against the bold cliff which confronts their fury. +Solid as is the rock of which the cliff is composed, it has in the +course of ages been rent away, quarried out as it were; huge blocks, +many of several tons weight, being cast far away inland, while the whole +ground, for two or three hundred yards from the edge of the cliff, is +strewed with fragments of lesser size, so that the rocks present more +the appearance of the ruins of some vast edifice, than, as they really +are, masses hove there by the operation of one of nature's most potent +agents. At length the sea has worked a deep chasm in the cliff, and +each successive storm seems to dig out and force upward a fresh layer of +rock. As the party approached this spot, so wild and desolate at all +times, but doubly so now, the seas, dark, towering, and topped with +crests of foam, came rolling onward in quick succession, with a +fierceness which seemed irresistible, till, meeting the cliff, they +rushed upwards in dense masses, making the very ground shake with the +concussion. Now a sea, fiercer than its forerunners, would tear away a +huge fragment of rock, and throw it into the air as if it had been +projected from the mouth of a volcano, or send it rolling along the +down, making it dangerous to approach the spot; and, while dense sheets +of spray obscured the view seaward, the great body of water was thrown +back in a continuous cascade, increasing the tumult of the foaming +caldron which raged below. + +"It was near this wild place that Lawrence Brindister obtained that +strange dog of his," said Captain Maitland to Morton. "It was the only +living creature washed ashore from the wreck of a large ship--a +foreigner, we could not ascertain of what nation. While others were +engaged in picking up the treasures they could find, he, at no little +risk to his own life, assisted the poor animal, who was sadly battered +by the fragments of wreck, and exhausted by swimming to land. The +creature looked up into his face, licked his hand, and, from that +moment, claimed him as his master, and would follow no one else. See, +there he stands; I fear he is to-day in one of his maddest fits." + +The captain pointed, as he spoke, to the top of a high rocky mount which +overlooked the sea. Lawrence Brindister, with his two dumb animals by +his side, was there seen gesticulating wildly, waving his hand towards +the ocean, and shouting apparently with his utmost strength. The roar +of the waters, however, as they were hurled against the cliff, added to +the howling of the tempest, created a noise so deafening that even the +two seamen, accustomed even in the hurricane to make their voices heard, +could with difficulty hear each other speak. + +Their first glance, as they came in sight of the sea, was in search of +the ship of which Lawrence had told them. + +"Too true, there she is," exclaimed Morton, while a sickening feeling +came over his heart. + +Morton and his friend lifted their glasses to their eyes mechanically, +for they could scarcely have expected to have discovered more than their +unaided sight would have told them. + +"She is the Spanish corvette, there's no doubt about it," shouted Morton +to his companion, who, however, could scarcely hear what else he said, +as he added: "All the poor fellows on board can hope to do is to put off +this fatal moment, though I doubt not they have some notion of making +Yell Sound; but the sight of Ronas Hill must, if they look at their +charts, show them that they cannot fail to drive on shore long before +they could reach it." + +"Even now that ship might be saved, or, at all events, the lives of her +people, if she had a pilot on board to carry her into Yell Sound," +shouted Captain Maitland. "What say you, Rolf?" + +"That if mortal power could carry a man on board her, I would go," +answered Morton. "But what boat could live in such a sea as that?" + +"If a boat built and manned by human hands can live in this sea, there +is one this moment in Hamna Voe as well able to do so as any which +floats on water," answered Maitland. "Some of her crew may be at their +hut even now, though the gale will have given those who live nearest a +holiday, and they probably have gone to their houses." + +The voe alluded to was a small but deep one, forming a good harbour on +the north side of Navie Grind. High rugged rocks formed the sides, but +there was a pathway down them to the water. Towards the inner end there +was a piece of level ground, sloping up from the beach; here the +fishermen had built a shed, which served them as a dwelling during the +fishing season. It was a long, low edifice, composed both of mud and +blocks of rock, but chiefly of timber, fragments of wreck cast up on the +beach. The doorway was the only aperture, and this served not only for +the ingress and egress of the inhabitants, but to admit light, and to +allow such part of the smoke from the fire in the centre as ever found +its way into the open air to escape; a considerable portion, it appeared +clinging to the walls and rafters, which were thoroughly blackened by +it, giving it a somewhat gloomy aspect. On one side were piled up +masts, and spars, and oars; and sails, and nets, and coils of rope were +hung against the walls or on the beams overhead; while, on the other, +were a row of bunks or standing bed places, formed out of fragments of +wreck-wood. Three or four men, seated on casks or three-legged stools, +were busily plying their netting-needles, while several others were fast +asleep on the bunks. The pathway, down which Morton and his companions +hurried, led close down to the shed. His announcement, as he entered, +that there was a ship in sight, partly dismasted, made all hands, the +sleepers as well as the workers, spring to their feet. They looked +rather blank, however, when Captain Maitland, who entered directly +after, added: + +"Remember, lads, we must have none of the old customs of the island put +in practice, understand that. We want to save the ship if we can, or +the lives of those on board. Come, lads, they are fellow-creatures-- +seamen like ourselves, in distress. Where is the faint-hearted coward +who would leave them to perish without lifting a hand to save them. +Such a fellow is not to be found among Shetlanders, I hope." + +This appeal had an instant effect. When the men heard that Captain +Maitland and Rolf Morton proposed going out in their boat to assist the +disabled ship, they agreed to lend her, and to accompany them, the +captain undertaking to make good any damage which might accrue, even to +the loss of the boat herself. + +The boat, the largest of the class used for fishing on that coast, +pulled twelve oars, and, what with the men belonging to her, and those +who had come from Hillswick, as fine a crew as ever manned a boat was +collected. The oars and other gear being placed in her, the next thing +to be done was to launch her; and while this operation was taking place, +Morton and his friend ascended the cliff, to ascertain the position of +the corvette, and what prospect there was of getting on board her. As +they climbed up the path they observed that the wind had somewhat +abated, and this gave them greater hopes of getting to sea. A moment's +glance, however, told them, when they reached the top of the cliff, that +all hope of saving the ship must be abandoned. Perhaps the Spaniards, +mistaking Saint Magnus's Bay for the entrance of Yell Sound, she had +been kept away and then hauled up again; but there she was drifting +bodily down towards the terrific headland on which they stood. + +Callous and cold-hearted indeed must be the man who can witness with +indifference a scene such as that at which the two seamen now gazed--the +proud ship, which but the day before had left the shore in such gallant +trim, now shattered and crippled, struggling on amid the giant seas +which were about, in a few short moments, to hurl her to destruction. + +"Nothing can save her, I fear," cried Morton, his generous heart wrung +with sorrow. + +"Nothing," answered his older companion; "still, by the will of +Providence, we may be able to save the lives of some of the people on +board; but we must wait and see where she strikes: if we were to attempt +to get out to her now we should only involve ourselves in her fate." + +"If she fails to weather Ossa Skerry she will drift right down on Navie +Grind, and then Heaven have mercy on their souls, for no human being on +board can escape," said Captain Maitland. "A few minutes must settle +the point." + +"Luff, luff all you can, men," he exclaimed, as if those on board could +hear him. Probably they had caught sight of the terrific sea breaking +over the cliffs, and still hoped to weather the little island under +their lee bow. + +All this time Lawrence Brindister kept his post, with his pony and dog +by his side, waving his arms towards the ship, and apparently shouting +out as before. + +"She will weather the Skerry even now," cried Morton, but at that +instant a squall--one of the last blasts of the tempest--struck her. +Over went her mainmast, her head fell off from the sea, on she flew amid +showers of foam, and in another minute she was hid to view by the rocky +island before them. In vain they hoped against hope to see her appear +on the other side. Her fate was indeed sealed. There was only one spot +where even in moderate weather a landing could be without difficulty +effected on Ossa Skerry. Still Morton and his friend resolved to +attempt it. There was not a moment to be lost, already, probably, +numbers of the hapless crew were being swept to destruction. They +hurried down the cliff, sprang on board the boat, and shoved off. +Morton steered: with rapid strokes they pulled down the remainder of the +voe; even there heavy waves rolled in and showed the crew the sort of +sea with which they would have to contend when they got outside. Few +but Shetlanders would have attempted to face such a sea, and the finest +of boats alone could have lived in it. They reached the mouth of the +voe; their passage through the mouth was the first danger they had to +encounter; a huge sea came thundering in. + +"Back off all," cried Morton; and instead of forcing the boat onward, +she slowly receded before the wave, which broke in a loud crash directly +before her, the foam flying over her bows and deluging her fore and aft. +"Now, lads, give way," shouted Morton again, and before the next sea +broke, the boat had got into deep water. They now encountered the full +force of the gale; and none but a boat admirably manned, as was theirs, +could have made headway against it, nor could she have escaped being +instantly swamped, unless steered with the greatest caution and +judgment. Now she rose on the top of a sea surrounded with foam, now +she plunged down into the trough, and those standing on the rocks, at +the mouth of the voe, feared more than once that she had sunk for ever. +Again she rose on the side of the opposite sea; the summit was reached; +but once more she disappeared beyond it. At times it seemed as if +scarcely any way was made, but still the bold seamen persevered; the +lives of some of their fellow-creatures depended on their exertions--how +many it was impossible to say, till they had ascertained where the ship +had gone on shore. They knew that in all probability in a few minutes, +even should the ship hold together, numbers must be swept off from the +decks. + +Morton's object was to get sufficiently out to sea to ascertain the +position of the ship. The rapid diminution of the strength of the wind +enabled him to do this with greater ease than had at first appeared +possible; still the sea came rolling in as fiercely as before, and +rendered the greatest caution necessary to prevent the boat being +swamped. At last they got sufficiently to the westward to look along +the outer side of Ossa Skerry. No ship was to be seen. Had she +foundered, or was it possible that in so short a time she had so +completely gone to pieces that not a particle of the wreck was to be +seen? If so, not a soul on board could have escaped. + +"Poor girl!" thought Morton; "it will break the heart of Bertha Eswick +to hear of it; and my wife, too--it will make her very sad." + +"We will pull out a little further, Rolf," said Captain Maitland. +"There is a little bay, or bight, nearly at the south-east of the rock-- +if the ship by chance drove in there we should not see her from hence." + +"Give way, lads!" shouted Morton, with hope revived by his friend's +remark. + +In a short time they opened the little bay of which Captain Maitland +spoke. There lay the ship almost broadside on with the shore, her stern +apparently under an overhanging cliff, while her bow, over which the sea +made a clean breach, seemed to hang on a rock, and was thus prevented +from being driven further in. Her masts and bowsprit were gone by the +board: and from the force with which the sea was breaking over her, it +seemed scarcely possible that she could herself keep much longer +together. An attempt to approach her from the seaside would have proved +the destruction of the boat. The only chance of rendering assistance +was to land on the east side of the island. Hitherto the boat's head +had been kept directly towards the seas as they came rolling in. It was +far more dangerous work crossing them as they had now to do, to reach +the inner side of the island. Often Morton and his friend watched the +foaming masses of water, as they came roaring towards them, with no +little anxiety; but by pulling round to face the larger ones, and by +then rapidly giving way, the boat at length got under the lee of the +islet. To obtain footing on the slippery rock was a work of +considerable difficulty, and still greater was it to climb to the summit +and to convey them the ropes and spars which they had brought with them. +Some of the men remained to take care of the boat, for that alone was +not an easy task, as had she been carried away by the sea, the whole +party might have been starved before assistance could have come to them. +The remainder proceeded, as rapidly as they could, across the island. +With more anxiety than they had often felt, Morton and the captain +hurried towards the edge of the cliff. Before even reaching it the +appearance which the foaming water presented, even some way from the +shore, told them too plainly the destruction which had already occurred; +while the fearful shrieks, which even through the roar of the angry +waters came up from below, warned them that every instant fresh victims +were being added to those who had already fallen a sacrifice to the +tempest. + +Among fragments of masts, and spars, and planks, and other parts of the +ship, were seen the forms of numerous human beings, some yet struggling, +but struggling in vain, for life; others floating helplessly among the +pieces of wreck, or clinging to them with a convulsive clutch, while +many, already lifeless, were tossed to and fro in the boiling caldron, +happier than those who were seen every now and then, as they were swept +off, to throw up their arms, and then, with a fearful shriek of despair, +to sink from sight. + +On gaining the edge of the cliff, Morton and Captain Mainland threw +themselves on the ground and looked over. The fore part of the vessel +had already been knocked to pieces. A few men still clung to part of +the bulwarks in the waist; but the sea was making a clean breach over +it, and one by one they were torn from their treacherous hold and +carried off by the waves. The only part of the wreck which yet afforded +a precarious shelter was the poop. The mainmast, in falling, had been +washed across it, and the end jamming against the cliff, it formed a +breakwater, within which a group of people yet stood, almost paralysed +with terror and despair, for the precipitous cliff above them afforded +not the slightest prospect of escape, while the violent shaking of the +wreck, and the rapid advances of the waves, showed them that in a few +minutes even that uncertain foothold would be carried from beneath them. + +Morton and his friend beckoned to their companions to bring on the +ropes. It was the work of a few seconds to uncoil them and to make one +end fast to the spars they had brought. These they fixed in the ground, +two of them holding on at the same time to the upper part of the spars. + +Not till all the preparations were made did Morton shout to those below +to let them know that aid was at hand. In the centre of the group was a +female form--that it was Hilda there could be little doubt. The rope +was lowered with a pair of slings at the end of it. How anxiously did +those both above and below watch its descent! The end dropped some way +from the stern of the ship; it seemed a question whether it was within +reach of those whose existence depended on clutching it. A seaman +sprang towards it as it swung backwards and forwards in the gale, but he +missed his aim, and fell headlong into the seething water, which soon +silenced his death shriek. Another, an officer apparently, made the +attempt; he had secured a line round his body, he clutched the rope and +dragged it inboard. Even at that moment Spanish gallantry was +maintained; no undue haste was shown by any to secure their own lives. +The first care of the men was to secure Hilda in the slings; this was +speedily done, but it was soon seen that if she was hauled up by herself +she would run great risk of being thrown against the side of the cliff +and severely injured. The officer who had hauled in the rope +accordingly secured himself to it, and made a sign to those above to +hoist away. The fearful rocking of the ship made them do this with all +the speed of which they were capable. At any moment the ship might go +to pieces; Morton stood nearest the edge. At length the head of Pedro +Alvarez appeared, and while with one arm he kept the end of the rope +from dashing against the cliff, with the other he supported the almost +inanimate form of Hilda Wardhill. She was speedily released from the +rope, which was again lowered, while Captain Maitland and one of the men +carried her to a hollow in the downs, which afforded some shelter from +the wind. The brave lieutenant made signs that he was going to descend +again, but Morton, who saw that it would be useless, refused to allow +him. The rope was lowered; "Haul away!" he shouted, and in a little +time the priest, Father Mendez, appeared. He was unloosed also, more +dead than alive; the rope was lowered, but scarcely had it reached the +deck when a raging sea came roaring up--fearful shrieks were heard--the +mast was torn away from its hold in the rock--a rush was made at the +rope; one man grasped it, but others in their haste dragged him off, and +the next instant the remainder of the wreck which hung together was +dashed into numberless fragments, while all who had clung to it were +hurled amidst them, one after the other rapidly disappearing beneath the +foaming waters. + +Morton and the Shetlanders looked anxiously over the cliff. It was too +evident that not another human being had escaped from the wreck of the +"Saint Cecilia." + +"There goes the brave ship, and there go my gallant captain and worthy +comrades," cried Pedro Alvarez, wringing his hands and pulling away at +his moustachios in the excess of his grief, as he looked over the cliff +and watched the utter destruction of the corvette. The priest, when he +had sufficiently recovered to understand what had occurred, knelt down, +and those who watched him supposed, as he lifted up his hands over the +ocean, that he was uttering prayers for the souls of his departing +shipmates. Meantime Captain Maitland was kneeling by the almost +inanimate form of Hilda, and endeavouring by every means which his +experience could suggest to restore her to consciousness. At length he +was joined by Father Mendez. "Let her continue thus, kind sir," he +said. "It is better that she should not be aware of the calamity which +has overtaken her." + +Morton also, followed by the Spanish lieutenant, came up. "We can +render no further assistance to the crew of the unfortunate ship," he +observed; "not another person who was on board her remains alive but +those we have here." + +With the most gentle care poor Hilda was conveyed to the boat, which +pulled back towards Hamna Voe. + +The priest shuddered as he saw the seas from which he had so lately +escaped come rolling up on the boat's quarter, but his compressed lips +showed that he was resolved not to give way to his feelings in words. +Sea followed sea in quick succession, and Morton's utmost care was +required to save the boat from being swamped. All breathed more freely +when the entrance of the voe was safely reached. As they pulled up it, +Morton heard some shouts. On raising his head, he saw Lawrence +Brindister standing on a height overlooking the voe. He was whirling +his arms wildly about as before, and peering down to ascertain who was +in the boat. When he discovered a female, he apparently guessed that +she was his cousin Hilda; and striking little Neogle, he turned the +pony's head, and rode off as fast as the creature could gallop. The +boat continued her course to the head of the voe. + +A rough litter being formed, Hilda was conveyed to Captain Maitland's +house; but as she continued plunged in a state of stupor, Father Mendez +advised that she should at once be taken to her home. His advice seemed +so judicious, that Morton offered to carry her there in his boat. +Captain Maitland also expressed a wish to be of the party, and the next +morning, accompanied by Pedro Alvarez and Father Mendez, they embarked +for Lunnasting. The only person who appeared on the landing-place was +Lawrence Brindister. He stood, hat in hand, with a mocking expression +on his countenance, and he was beginning to address the party when his +eye fell on Hilda. Her appearance seemed to touch his heart, for he +said nothing, but, turning round, walked slowly back before them to the +castle. + +It is needless to describe the dismay and astonishment which poor +Hilda's return excited in the establishment. Lawrence had evidently in +no way warned them of what had occurred. Bertha Eswick had need of all +her self-possession and presence of mind to perform her duty. It was +many days before Hilda returned to a state of consciousness! In the +meantime, Father Mendez took up his abode in the castle; and, from the +way in which Pedro Alvarez settled himself in his apartment, it looked +as if he also intended to be a permanent guest at Lunnasting. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +GUESTS AT THE CASTLE--THE HEIR OF LUNNASTING--LAWRENCE BRINDISTER'S +CAVE. + +For a long time after Hilda's return to Lunnasting, Bertha Eswick feared +that the mind of her young mistress had gone for ever. All the aid +which medical skill could afford appeared to be of no avail; the only +person who had in the slightest degree the power of arousing her +sufficiently to speak was Father Mendez--the means he employed no one +could discover. He would sit with her in a turret chamber for hours +together; and after several weeks had passed, she was heard talking +fluently and rapidly with him; but as soon as she entered the hall, +where she took her seat as usual, she relapsed into the most perfect +silence. When, however, the priest addressed her, she answered him +readily, though briefly, but seemed to be totally unconscious of the +presence of any one else. The condition of the unfortunate lady was a +sufficient reason for Father Mendez remaining at Lunnasting; indeed, he +remarked that he should consider himself guilty of the greatest cruelty +should he take his departure till the return of her father and sister. +There was no one besides Hilda of sufficient authority in the castle to +request him to go, so he remained on. No news had been received of Sir +Marcus Wardhill and his daughter, and it was supposed that they were +entirely ignorant of the strange occurrences which had taken place. +Pedro Alvarez likewise continued to live on at the castle; when he had +learned enough English to express himself, he offered several excellent +reasons for remaining. In the first place, he said that Don Hernan had +confided his wife to his charge, as with a prescience of what was to +occur, just before the shipwreck; and that at that awful moment he had +vowed to devote himself to her interests as long as his life should +last. He also frankly confessed that he had no means of returning home; +he had written to Spain for a remittance, as well as to announce the +loss of the corvette, and till his cash arrived he could not go away, +even if he wished to do so. Father Mendez also stated that it was the +wish of his late captain's widow that the lieutenant should continue a +guest at the castle, as long as he found it convenient to remain. + +Pedro Alvarez and Lawrence after a time became very great friends. They +boated, and fished, and shot together; and Lawrence assisted him very +much in learning English. When, however, the days grew shorter, and the +nights longer and colder, he shrugged his shoulders, and complained that +the time was very dull. He had, however, by his frank, open, and +unpretending manners, and quiet habits, won very much upon the good +opinion of Bertha Eswick, who declared that she would far rather have +his society at the castle than that of Father Mendez, whose ways and +notions she could by no means understand, although she owned that he +spoke far better English, and that no fault could be found with the +courtesy and gentleness of his manners. Neither of them gave any +trouble. Father Mendez especially was satisfied with the simplest fare. +Plain water formed his beverage, eggs and fish his principal food. +Pedro Alvarez preferred as great a variety as he could get, and several +times descended to the kitchen to instruct Moggie Druster, the cook, in +the art of concocting dishes in the Spanish fashion, of which oil (and +of that there was an ample supply in Shetland) formed one of the chief +ingredients. He was made perfectly happy too with a package of tobacco, +which Rolf Morton obtained for him from Lerwick, and which he employed +his leisure moments in converting into cigarettes. Lawrence Brindister +also still further added to his satisfaction, by putting into his hands +five goodly volumes, on opening which he found to be Spanish; travels, +histories, and a romance--subjects exactly suited to the worthy Pedro's +tastes. They were strangely battered, and stained as with salt water. +How he had obtained them Lawrence would not say. The priest saw the +books, but turned away from them with a disdainful glance, as if he +could take no interest in subjects of a character so trivial. The +contrast between the two strangers was very great. Pedro Alvarez was in +figure more like an English sailor than a Spaniard. He was somewhat +short, and broad-shouldered, and stout, with a frank, open, and ruddy, +though sunburnt countenance; his large black sparkling eyes, beaming +with good humour, spoke of the southern clime which gave him birth, as +did his black curling moustache, and hair of the same hue. Father +Mendez, on the other hand, was thin in the extreme, with sallow +complexion, and sharp features, but his countenance showed that he +possessed a peculiarly intelligent and acute intellect. It could not be +said that there was anything unpleasing in the expression of his +features; it was rather the total want of expression which they +mechanically assumed when he was conversing, or when he was aware that +he was observed, of which any one would complain. It was not a stolid +look which he put on, but rather that of a person totally unconscious of +what was passing around; indeed, so perfect was the composure of every +muscle of his face, that it looked completely like a mask with a pair of +bright eyes gleaming through it. Though he kept those eyes perfectly +fixed, he had not succeeded in obscuring at pleasure their brightness. +Nothing could surpass the subdued gentleness of the tone of voice in +which he generally spoke, though he could at will raise it in a way to +astonish his hearers. + +The long winter of Shetland was passing slowly by, without any events of +interest occurring in the neighbourhood of Lunnasting; the time was +drawing on when it would be necessary for Rolf Morton to go south to +look out for a ship, unless he would altogether give up his profession +and chance of promotion; but he was naturally unwilling to leave home +till his wife had made him a father, which she expected in a very short +time to do. It was also generally understood that the unhappy Hilda +would shortly become a mother, and already a very general feeling of +compassion was expressed for the poor little fatherless babe which was +about to be born. How would the poor lady get through her trials? Was +she likely to live? If the child lived, would it be the heir of +Lunnasting? Or should its father have been heir to estates, and a title +in Spain, as it had been said he was, would it succeed instead of him? + +These and numerous other questions of a similar character were asked +over and over again, but were never satisfactorily answered. Letters +had been received from Sir Marcus, but he fixed no time for his return +home, and it was very evident from the tenor of his remarks that he +believed everything was going on in his castle as he had left it. He +might possibly have been rather astonished had he heard what had +occurred. The truth was, that neither had his factor Sandy Redland, nor +any one else, ventured to write to him, and very naturally Hilda had not +done so; Sandy was a man who liked to live a peaceable life, and to have +matters his own way, and he knew very well that, should Sir Marcus be +hurried back, not only would all peace and quiet be banished from +Lunnasting, but he would most certainly for the future have nothing +whatever his own way. It is possible that Sir Marcus was not the only +head of a family who might have cause to be astonished at the doings of +his household during his absence. At length a packet of letters arrived +from Spain. It contained some for Don Hernan, as well as for other +deceased officers of the "Saint Cecilia;" one was for Pedro Alvarez, and +several were addressed to Father Mendez, who likewise took possession of +all the rest. The lieutenant read his despatch with a great deal of +interest. + +"And so our poor captain would have been a marquis," he exclaimed to +himself, "the Marquis de Medea, and owner of those magnificent estates. +Well, truly he had something to live for, and yet he was cut off--while +I who have not a peco beyond my pay, and little enough of that, have +been allowed to remain in existence. I cannot understand these +matters--it is very strange; still, I will not forget my vow. I +promised that poor fellow to look after his widow, and if she has a son, +I will, to the best of my humble power, see that his interests are not +neglected. Now I wonder what information Father Mendez has received. +He must have heard that Don Hernan, had he lived, would have succeeded +to this title and these estates. The letters to the captain, which he +has opened, cannot fail of speaking of the matter. Probably they are +written expressly to give the information. I wonder, now, whether the +father will say anything about it. Well, he does not love me, and I do +not trust him, and I will watch him narrowly, and see if I cannot be as +close as he can. Bah! if all men would be honest it would save a great +deal of trouble. If Donna Hilda's child should be a girl there will be +very little for me to do in the affair; she cannot, I suspect, inherit +either the title or estates. If the child is a boy he will be the +rightful heir, there is no doubt about that; but then he will find a +mortal enemy in Don Hernan's cousin, Don Anibal Villavicencio, who will +stir heaven and earth to keep the boy out of his rights; the moment he +hears of Don Hernan's death he will take possession of the property and +assume the title. I must find out what tack Father Mendez is sailing +on. Is he in the interest of the living marquis, or of the unborn baby? +He is never happy unless he is playing some deep game or other. I +suspect that he is waiting to see how things turn out. At all events, +though he beats me hollow in an argument, I'll try whether in a good +cause I cannot outmanoeuvre him. He does not want for money, that I +know. He has his belt stuffed full of gold pieces even now, so the want +of means to go away does not keep him here. Why he does not offer some +to me to get me away I do not know. Probably he looks on me as a rough, +untutored sailor, and despises me too much to dread my interference with +his plans. Perhaps he intends to buy me over, and to make use of me to +aid him. He knows himself pretty well, and thinks all men are likewise +rogues. He will be rather astonished if he finds that he has been +outwitted by a straightforward, honest sailor." + +At length the event for some time looked for, both at the castle and the +cottage, occurred. Bertha Morton presented her husband with a fine boy, +and scarcely had the young gentleman--Ronald Morton he was to be +called--given notice of his arrival in the world by a lusty fit of +crying, and had been exhibited in due form to his father, than the wise +woman who attended on such occasions was now moving in hot haste to the +castle of Lunnasting, to afford her aid to Donna Hilda, who was, it is +said, in sore pain and distress. Alas! she had no fond husband to cheer +and console her; no one to whom she could show with pride and joy the +little creature about to be born into the world. Bertha Eswick had +expressed her hopes that the child would be a girl. A lassie, she +observed, would be a comfort and a companion to the poor lady, who would +herself be able to instruct her, and would ever keep her by her side; +whereas a boy must be sent away to school, and would then have to go +into the world, where he would again see little or nothing of his poor +mother. + +Father Mendez and Pedro Alvarez were walking up and down, but not +together, on the sunny side of the court-yard. It was the only spot, +they declared, in the whole island where they could be sheltered from +the biting keenness of the wind, and feel any of the warmth to which +they were accustomed in their own country. Both were anxious to hear +whether a son or daughter was born to the lady of the mansion. Pedro +Alvarez was certainly the least anxious. + +While the two foreigners were thus engaged, Moggie Druster, the cook, +put her head out of a window and shouted-- + +"It's a braw laddie, sirs--a fine strapping bairn. It's like to do +weel, and so is it's mother, poor lady." + +"A what do you say it is, Mistress Moggie?" asked Father Mendez. + +"A braw laddie; a big bouncing boy, ye would ca' him in English," +answered Moggie, with a slight touch of scorn in her tone. + +"A boy!" exclaimed the priest and the lieutenant almost at the same +moment. + +The priest took several rapid turns up and down the courtyard with +compressed lips and knitted brow, but said nothing. + +"And how goes the poor lady?" inquired Pedro Alvarez. "And good +Mistress Moggie," he continued, going up to her and whispering, "I tell +her that her husband's warmest friend is ready and at hand to assist and +comfort her, as far as he has the power." + +"Ay, that will I, Mr Pedro; ye are a kind-hearted gentleman, that ye +are," answered Moggie, whose heart the honest lieutenant had completely +won, in return for the culinary instruction he had afforded her. + +Poor Bertha Eswick was nearly worn to death from hurrying between her +daughter's cottage and the castle, though her young mistress required, +and certainly obtained, by far the greatest share of her care. Healthy, +however, as Bertha Morton had always appeared, soon after the birth of +her child she caught a cold, and this produced an illness which made her +mother and husband very anxious about her, and it became too evident, +before long, to the anxious eyes of affection, that she held her life on +a most precarious tenure. Hilda, on the contrary, seemed completely +restored to health, both of body and mind. She had now a deeply +interesting object in existence, and all her thoughts and attention were +devoted to her infant. + +Lawrence Brindister did not return to the castle till late in the day on +which Hilda's child was born. He received the announcement with a look +of incredulity on his countenance. + +"And so you tell me that an heir to Lunnasting is born," he exclaimed to +Bertha Eswick, whom he met as she was hurrying down for the first time +from her mistress's chamber. "Ha, ha, ha! how many heirs to Lunnasting +are there, think ye? Never mind, good Bertha, `The prince will hae his +ain again! The prince will hae his ain again!' Who is the prince, +think ye, Bertha? Ye little ken, but I do; the fool knows more than the +wise man, or the wise woman either ha, ha, ha!" + +These remarks sorely puzzled Bertha Eswick, and made her think a great +deal; she knew Lawrence Brindister thoroughly, and seldom failed to +distinguish between the mere hallucinations which occasionally took +possession of his mind, and the ideas which originated from facts. "If +Marcus Wardhill is not the rightful possessor of Lunnasting, who can be +the owner?" she asked herself, over and over again. + +Several weeks passed by, and young Don Hernan, for so Hilda's new-born +babe was called, gave every promise of being a remarkably healthy and +robust child. Father Mendez seemed deeply interested in it, and took +every opportunity of watching its progress, and examining it to +ascertain that it was a thoroughly well-made healthy child. + +At length the father gave notice that he was going to Lerwick: he went, +and some of the household declared that they breathed far more freely +than they had done for a very long time. Pedro Alvarez walked about +with a more self-confident air than usual, and Lawrence sang and laughed +and rattled away as had been his custom in former days; even Hilda +looked as if she had been relieved of an incubus which had depressed her +spirits. She said nothing; she did not even mention the name of Father +Mendez, but if by chance she heard it, she gave a slight shudder, while +the frown which grew on her brow showed that whatever the influence he +had gained over her, it was not of a nature to which she willingly +submitted. He had announced that he should not be absent more than +three or four days; but more than a week elapsed and he did not return. +As no one wished him back, this caused more surprise than regret. Ten +days, then a fortnight, passed by, and the priest did not appear. At +last Pedro Alvarez whispered his suspicions to Lawrence Brindister that +the reverend father had played them a slippery trick, and left Shetland +altogether; this idea was found to be correct, when Sandy McNab, the +pedlar and great news-monger of the district, paid his next visit to +Whalsey. A foreigner who, though somewhat disguised, was recognised as +the Spanish priest, Father Mendez, had been observed going on board a +ship bound for the south, and he had not since then been seen in +Lerwick. The lieutenant was more than usually agitated when he heard +this. "There is some mischief brewing," he observed, the first moment +he found Lawrence alone. "You and I must try to fathom it, if we can. +You can be secret, Mr Lawrence, and with such a man as that cunning +priest to contend, with, we need all the caution we can exercise." + +"Mum's the word with me," answered Lawrence, looking very sagacious; "I +love not the priest more than you do, for I believe he would not scruple +to stick a dagger in the back of his brother if that brother stood in +the way of any object he wished to attain. What he aims at I do not +know: whether or not he wishes to advance the interests of Hilda's +child, is what I want to discover." + +Pedro shook his head. "Not he, Mr Lawrence," he answered: "he cares +not for the fatherless or the widow. I have watched him narrowly: his +aim was to get Donna Hilda completely under his thumb, so that he might +rule her and her child. While he thought that there was a prospect of +success he remained on here, but when he at length discovered that he +had totally failed, or that he could not depend for an instant on +maintaining his influence, he at once altered his whole plan. You must +understand that when we left Spain there were three persons in existence +who would by law succeed to the title and estates of the Marquis of +Medea before Don Hernan de Escalante. He often told me that he himself +never expected to inherit the property, and that he must find some other +means of improving his fortunes. It is my belief, however, that Father +Mendez, by some of the wonderful means at his disposal, knew that these +three persons would die before our return, and that he accompanied us +for the very purpose of obtaining an influence over Don Hernan, that his +order might thus benefit by the wealth which would be at his disposal. +He knew Don Hernan sufficiently to believe that he should obtain that +influence, and he probably would have succeeded. Now, however, he is +playing another game; he can have no sure hold over a person of so +uncertain a mind as Donna Hilda, and he has now returned to Spain that +he may be able to make his bargain with Don Anibal Villavicencio, who +has already succeeded to the property. Just consider the immense +influence he will have over him when he is able to prove that there is +an heir alive, who, if produced, will turn him out of the estates and +title. What do you say to the question, Mr Lawrence? Do you think I +am right in my suspicions?" + +"Ay, that I do, most sagacious mariner," answered Lawrence, who had +really comprehended the tenor of these remarks; they were of course made +in much more broken English than has been used. "The priest may be an +honest priest, as he is undoubtedly a most polite gentleman; and his +ways may be good ways, in his own sight, though they are not my ways; +but that he is not labouring for the good of the poor little fatherless +child up there, I am clearly of opinion." + +"So far we are agreed, my friend," said the lieutenant; "but when the +boy succeeds his grandfather, and becomes the owner of the property, he +will be able with his own right arm, or rather with his well-filled +purse, which is better than a strong arm to him, to establish his rights +to his Spanish estates and proper rank." + +"Ah, there a fool may by chance know more than a wise man, friend +Pedro," observed Lawrence, rubbing the side of his nose with his +forefinger. "Come along with me, most worthy lieutenant, and I will +show you matters which will astonish you." + +Pedro Alvarez accepted the invitation, and the two oddly-matched friends +set out together, towards the east end of the island. Lawrence turned +several times to observe if they were watched, and then continued his +course across heathery moorland, and valley, and swamp, as rapidly as +before. + +"I know this spot, surely," observed Pedro Alvarez; "it is where the +Catholic chapel stands." + +"The same, friend mariner," answered Lawrence; "but we have nothing to +do with the chapel just now: keep close at my heels, or rather step +exactly where I step, or you may chance to have a tumble to the bottom +of the cliff, with a broken neck as the consequence." + +Lawrence, as he spoke, reached the brow of the cliff; he slid over it, +and dropped himself down on a narrow ledge which appeared to afford +scarcely room for his feet to rest. He went on, leaning against the +side of the cliff for a short distance, and then let himself down in the +same manner that he had before done. The Spanish officer at first +hesitated to follow, but a laugh from Lawrence made him ashamed of +himself, and when he reached the first ledge, he perceived that there +were rings let into the rock, and of the same colour, which made the +operation less difficult than it had at first appeared. Three or four +ledges were thus reached in succession, and then there was a very narrow +winding path cut in the face of the cliff which led down to the very +edge of the water. Before, however, Lawrence reached the bottom, he +turned off along another ledge, when Pedro entirely lost sight of him. + +Following in the same direction, however, he found himself in front of a +cave; the entrance was so small, that at a distance it could scarcely be +perceived, but on looking in he saw that it expanded into a chamber of +considerable dimensions. + +"Come in, friend mariner, and survey my marine abode," exclaimed +Lawrence from within. + +A few rough steps enabled him to enter, and he discovered that the cave +was not only large, but that it contained a bed and table, some stools +and several chests, and casks, and bales, besides sails and coils of +rope, and spars, and pieces of wreck; indeed, it had somewhat the +appearance of a marine store, so various were the articles collected in +it. + +As he entered he was saluted by a low, fierce growl, and he saw in +rather unpleasant proximity to his legs the savage jaws of Surly Grind, +wide expanded in readiness to seize him. A word, however, from his +master, sent him growling back to his couch at the further end of the +cave. + +"Never fear the dog; he is the guardian genius of the place, and is in +duty bound to defend it against the approach of animated visitors," said +Lawrence. "But sit down, worthy mariner, and feel that you are in the +abode of a friend; eatables we do not require, but I keep a store of +some of the luxuries of life of which I know you will not refuse to +partake." + +Saying this, he produced some pipes and tobacco, and a bottle of +Schiedam, a case of which, he told his guest, had come on shore near his +cave. Pedro partook of the latter very moderately, but he gladly +replenished his own tobacco-pouch, as his own supply of the fragrant +weed was running short. Lawrence then led him to the mouth of the cave. + +"Mark the appearance of that line of broken water out there, which with +its whirlpools and eddies comes sweeping round from the north and +strikes the base of this point. Every object which once gets within its +power is driven against this point. All these things which you see +arranged round here have reached me in that way. What tales of +shipwreck do they tell! Often, too, I fancy the waifs cast up come from +far distant shores; strange, also, the water which rushes round the base +of this rock is quite warm at times, and I could believe that it still +retains the heat imparted to it by the sun of a southern clime. But all +these things are useless to you, you will say, and so it may be; but +these are the chests, and the bales, and the casks which Surly Grind and +I, between us, have hauled on shore. That reminds me I promised to show +you the contents of one of the chests; and here--," (he opened a +remarkably massive and well-made oaken sea-chest; the lid fitted so +well, that although it had evidently been in the water for some time, +none had found an entrance; Lawrence had contrived to force it open; +lifting the lid, he took from it a tin case, and out of the case +produced a document which he put into his companion's hand). "Read +that, and tell me what you think," he said; and while Pedro opened the +paper, and slowly perused it, he fixed his eyes earnestly on his +countenance. + +The Spaniard read on very slowly, and not without great difficulty. + +"It is in English," he said at length. "I cannot pretend to understand +it all, but from what I do comprehend, I see that if I could fulfil my +promise to my dead shipmate and captain, and see justice done to his +widow and child, I have greater reason than ever for hurrying back to +Spain to try and counteract the schemes of Father Mendez, and to oppose +the Marquis Don Anibal Villavicencio, who will of course stir heaven and +earth to maintain his position." + +"I thought as much," said Lawrence; "you see that his friend here may +have very little power to assist him in asserting his rights. Give me +back the paper. I keep all my valuables in this cavern; there is no +place so safe, for there is little chance of fire, and still less likely +are thieves to break in and steal." + +Lawrence pointed to several other chests, but he seemed in no way +disposed to exhibit any more of his treasures, whatever they were. The +lieutenant, indeed, proposed returning forthwith to the castle. +Lawrence having charged Surly Grind to keep strict watch and ward over +his storehouse, they set off to return by the same way they had come. + +Not long after this Pedro received the long-looked-for remittance from +Spain, and prepared for his departure from Shetland. When he went to +pay his adieus to Hilda, he dropped on one knee, and taking her hand, +respectfully pressed it to his lips, while he silently repeated his +oath, to exert himself to the utmost in the cause of her and her child. +Accompanied by Lawrence, he then set off for Lerwick, whence he +immediately embarked on board a vessel bound for London. He was much +regretted by all the inhabitants of Lunnasting, but more especially by +Hilda, who, although not aware of the extent of his devotion to her +cause, felt that she had lost one of the few friends on whom she could +depend for counsel and assistance. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +FATHER MENDEZ IN SPAIN--THE MARQUIS AND HIS OLD SHIPMATES--CAPTAIN TACON +THE EX-PIRATE. + +Father Mendez, on reaching Lerwick, found a vessel about to sail for +Leith. He might probably have taken a courteous farewell of the +inhabitants of Lunnasting, had he not wished to steal a march on Pedro +Alvarez. He had discovered that the worthy lieutenant suspected his +designs, and would, if he had the power, counteract them; he therefore +resolved to deprive him, forthwith, of that power. The Inquisition, +that admirable institution for the destruction of heresy, existed in +full force in those days in Spain, and the father well knew that if he +could induce its officials to lay hands on his rival that he would give +him no further trouble. The father reached Leith in safety, and thence +was able to proceed on, without loss of time, direct to Cadiz. Not far +off from that fair city was the magnificent mansion of the Marquis de +Medea. The father, on landing, did not at once hasten to visit his +relations and friends, to receive their congratulations on his escape; +nor did he even go to pay his respects to the superior of his order, +but, without a moment's loss of time, he hurried off to the residence of +the marquis. He introduced himself without much ceremony. The marquis +could not at first believe the unwelcome news he brought. + +"I have no object in deceiving you, most noble marquis," answered the +priest, with a calm, unruffled brow. "I have ample proofs of the truth +of my statements, and should I bring them forward you could no longer +keep possession of this beautiful mansion, of yonder fertile fields, of +the time-honoured title you hold. But do not be alarmed; far be it from +me to wish to dispossess you; the real heir is the son of a heretic +woman, and will be brought up as a heretic; and I feel that I shall but +be supporting the cause of our Holy Mother Church by saying nothing +about this matter, and by maintaining you in possession of your +property; you, who will, I doubt not, prove yourself one of her most +devoted and zealous sons." + +The marquis was a person with a narrow forehead, small grey eyes, and +that peculiar expression of countenance which the vice of indulged +avarice seems generally to produce. Though his lips denoted sensuality, +their total want of firmness showed the astute Father Mendez that he +would be easily moulded to his will. The marquis was perfectly well +aware of the way in which the church was at times apt to bleed those +whom she designated her most devoted sons, and he winced at the thoughts +of having to part with the large portion of his newly-acquired wealth +which would be required. + +"I know not what you mean, father," he answered. "I have always been a +devoted son of Holy Mother Church, and shall ever be ready to pay those +dues which she can rightly demand." + +The priest fixed his eyes sternly on him. + +"It will be as well, Don Anibal, that we come to a right understanding +on the matter," he remarked, in a low firm tone. "Remember, I have the +power of depriving you of every silver piece of the wealth you enjoy; of +stripping you of your title and estates, and reducing you to the state +of poverty from which you have sprung; that is what I have the power of +doing. The heir--the real owner of this superb mansion, of these broad +lands--is a fine healthy child; a word from me would bring him over, and +put him, or his proper guardians, in possession of them. Now, if I +refrain from doing this, I am in duty bound to demand a sufficient +recompense, not for myself--far be it from me to claim any earthly +reward, for my labours are for the benefit of our Holy Mother Church, +whose devoted servant I am. Here you will see I know the exact value of +your property, and its rental. This paper contains my terms: if you +agree to them, well and good--if not, you know the consequences. I +leave you for half an hour to consider over the matter, while I go and +pay my respects to the marchioness; she is a wise woman and a faithful +daughter of the church. I doubt not how she will decide." + +Now Father Mendez was excessively clever and acute, but Don Anibal +Villavicencio's cunning had been sharpened in the school of adversity. +He looked up with an innocent expression of countenance, and asked-- + +"How do I know that the child you speak of is in existence? Pardon me +for putting so rude a question, father. Where is he to be found? Give +me particulars which will enable me to judge whether I am making a fair +bargain with you." + +The father smiled at Don Anibal's frankness; he was in no way offended +at the doubt cast on his veracity; he liked people to be open with him; +it gave him, he thought, more power over them. He knew that the marquis +could have no interest in bringing the child from Shetland, and as that +island was a long way off, he was not likely to set off there to verify +the accounts he might give. He might, therefore, have told him any +story he pleased. In this instance, however, as it answered his purpose +to speak the truth, seeing that the truth would have more influence with +Don Anibal than any tale he could invent, he told him all that had +occurred, and gave him a full description of Lunnasting, and its +position. The marquis had learnt to conceal his thoughts as well as the +priest; he assumed a dull and indifferent air as Father Mendez continued +his account. + +"I see the justice of your remark, father, and rest assured that I will +do my duty," he answered, with a twirl of his moustache and a stiff bow +of the head. "The child is heir, you tell me, to a good property in +this far-off island of Shetland, of which till now I never heard; he may +well be content with that; indeed it is clear that he would be out of +his element as the possessor of an estate like this; besides, as you +wisely remark, he will be brought up as an heretic. Yes, father, my +conscience is at rest; I feel that I am doing what must be well-pleasing +to the church, and you assuredly shall receive the reward you demand." + +"His conscience!--I wonder of what that is composed," muttered the +priest, and then added aloud, "You have not yet decided with regard to +the paper I put into your hands, Don Anibal." + +"Well, do as you propose," answered the marquis. "I hope that you have +not been too hard on me, though." + +The priest gave a searching glance at the marquis, and without speaking, +left the room. Don Anibal's countenance did not wear a particularly +pleasant expression as his eyes followed the priest. + +"I'll be even with you," he muttered, as he ground his teeth and shook +his clenched fist towards the door at which the priest had retired. +"What! Does he think I am fool enough to pay him the enormous sum he +demands? He has given me the key to the means of settling the matter in +a cheaper way than that. I must, however, in the meantime, keep my +plans secret as the grave, or he will manage to counteract them." + +At the end of the time Father Mendez had fixed, he returned, and was +highly pleased with the ready acquiescence with which the marquis agreed +to his proposals. He then, with a conscience at rest, hastened on to +his convent to report his arrival, and to give an account of his +proceedings. The marquis waited till he had assured himself that he had +without doubt left the neighbourhood, and then set out for Cadiz. He +had a mansion in that city where he took up his abode. He had been in +his youth at sea, and had still a number of seafaring acquaintance. +They were not all of them amongst the most respectable orders of +society; perhaps they were the better suited to carry out the object he +had in view. He was a cunning man if not a wise one, and knew that he +was more likely to succeed by doing things deliberately than in a hurry. +He began to frequent places where he was likely to fall in with his old +nautical associates, and when he met them he seemed to take great +interest in their welfare, and made many inquiries as to their late +adventures and mode of life. + +War had just broken out between England and France, and all the other +nations of Europe were in consequence arming, both afloat and on shore, +not knowing when they might be drawn into the vortex of strife. + +In all the ports of Spain, and at Cadiz especially, not only at the +royal, but at the mercantile dockyards, vessels were being fitted out +and armed ready to take a part in the contest. People of all +descriptions, many who had long been wanderers on the face of the globe, +were collected there with the hope of getting employment on board the +numerous privateers fitting out, caring nothing which side they +espoused, provided an abundance of prize-money was to be obtained. +Among these worthies the marquis found several old acquaintances. He +did not fail in the course of conversation to make inquiries about other +former shipmates. He invited them to his house, and treated them with +unexpected liberality. One and all declared that he was well worthy of +the exalted rank to which he had attained. He was seated one day alone, +not having yet found the description of man of whom he was in search, +when a stranger was announced. + +"He is a seafaring man," said the servant, "but he declines to give his +name, as he says your excellency is not acquainted with it." + +"Let him come in--perhaps he may have business with me," said the +marquis; and a tall, thin, swarthy personage, with a large pair of +moustaches which totally concealed his mouth, entered the room. He +probably was about fifty years old, but he had as much the appearance of +a soldier as of a sailor about him; he seated himself in a chair, and +immediately said: "Your very obedient servant, most noble marquis. I +understand that you are in search of a trustworthy man to undertake some +work or other for you." + +"I--I never said any such thing," exclaimed the marquis, somewhat +confused. + +"Your excellency may not have said it, but the tenor of your conduct +shows me what you require. You would not trouble yourself with the +company of all the people you have lately invited to your house unless +you required something from them. Come, be frank; I have guessed +rightly, have I not?" + +"Before I answer that question I must know whom I address," answered the +marquis, trying to look very wise. + +"As to that, my name is not unknown to fame," replied the stranger in a +careless tone. "I am Don Josef Tacon, or Captain Tacon, as I am +generally called; we have met before now in the days of our youth; in +the West Indies; on the coast of Africa; you remember me, perhaps. You +recollect how we boarded the Dutchman, and how we relieved the Mynheers +of their cash and cargo, and provisions and water; and you haven't +forgotten the English West Indiaman we captured and sent to the bottom +with all her crew when they threatened to send one of their cruisers +after us. These and other little similar incidents have not escaped +your memory, most noble marquis." + +Don Anibal winced not a little while the pirate--for such he avowed +himself to be--was speaking; but he notwithstanding held out his hand +and hailed him as an old shipmate, "My memory is as good as you suppose, +my friend," he remarked; "but we will not dwell on those matters. There +are some things a man would gladly forget if he could. However, there +is an affair in which an intelligent fellow like you would be useful, if +you will undertake it." + +"Name your price, Don Anibal, and I will tell you if I can undertake +it," answered Captain Tacon; "my fortunes are somewhat at a low ebb, and +I am ready to engage in any enterprise which promises sufficient +remuneration." + +"You were always a reasonable man. What do you say to two thousand +dollars? It would be worth a little exertion to gain that," observed +the marquis. + +"Tell me what you require to be done, and I will then give you a direct +answer," said the pirate. + +The marquis thought for some time before he replied. "I must swear you +to secrecy in the first place, and in the next, that you will decide, +when I have put before you the outline of the work required, without +obliging me to descend to particulars." + +"Depend on me, marquis," exclaimed the pirate. "As I see a crucifix at +the other end of the room, I will take the oath; and now hasten on with +your sketch; I am a man of action, and will speedily decide." + +"Listen, then," said Don Anibal. "You can, I doubt not, obtain command +of one of the numerous vessels fitting out as privateers; I will use my +influence. I can speak to your character for bravery, enterprise, +sagacity--you understand me: you must use every exertion to find a +craft. I know your talents--you will not fail." + +Captain Tacon smiled grimly at the compliments the marquis paid him. +"But the enterprise, the work you require of me, most noble marquis?" he +said, with a slight gesture of impatience. + +"I am coming to that, my friend," was the answer. "It lies in a +nutshell: in a northern region there exists a child, of whose person, +for certain reasons, unnecessary now to state, I wish to obtain +possession. He lives in a mansion capable of defence; you may possibly, +therefore, have to use force, but that of course will only make the work +more agreeable to you. On your bringing me satisfactory assurance that +you have disposed of the child as I may direct, the reward shall be +yours. In the meantime, this purse, as soon as you decide, I will +present to you. It is but an earnest of my liberal intentions." + +The exhibition of the gold was a bright thought of Don Anibal's. As the +taste of blood whets the appetite of the wild beast, so did the +glittering bait the avarice of the pirate. + +"Give me the purse," he exclaimed, eagerly stretching out his hands; "I +will take the oath." + +"Take the oath, and you shall have the purse," answered the marquis, +smiling blandly. "No mental reservations, though; I do not forget your +antecedents, my old comrade." + +Captain Tacon gave a hoarse laugh, and twirling his moustachios, while +his countenance wore the expression of a person about to swallow a +nauseous draught, he walked across the room towards the crucifix. The +marquis followed, with a self-satisfied look, as if he had achieved a +victory. It is not necessary to repeat the oath taken by the pirate, or +to describe the final arrangements entered into between the two +worthies. + +In a few days Captain Tacon again made his appearance, habited in a +handsome nautical costume, with a huge cocked hat, and a richly-mounted +sword by his side, and announced that he had become the captain of the +privateer schooner "San Nicolas." + +"Never did you set eyes on a finer craft, most noble marquis," he +exclaimed; "she will fly like the wind, and swim like a wild-fowl. She +carries eight guns, and an unlimited supply of small arms, with a bold +crew of sixty men, villains every one! There is no deed of violence +they will not dare or do; and now we are ready to sail when we receive +your final orders." + +"I knew that I could trust you in the selection of your followers," said +the marquis, quietly. "Here are your orders; you will open them when at +sea, and see that you carry them out in the spirit as well as in the +letter. You will, of course, be well provided with flags. It may be +convenient, at times, to sail under some other flag than that of Spain." + +Don Tacon smiled. "I have some little experience in those matters," he +answered, "trust me." + +That evening the "San Nicolas" privateer was seen standing out of the +harbour and steering to the northward. It was announced that she had +sailed on a cruise, and would before long return. + +It must not be supposed that all these arrangements took place with the +rapidity with which they have been described. The Spaniards love dearly +to do everything with deliberation; the summer had ended, and the winter +had come and gone, before the events just narrated took place. + +Two or three days after the "San Nicolas" had sailed, it became +generally known that Lieutenant Pedro Alvarez, the only surviving +officer of the unfortunate "Saint Cecilia," had arrived at Cadiz. Such +was the case--Pedro had obtained a passage on board an English +man-of-war. When some sixty leagues to the north of Cadiz, she had +fallen in with a suspicious-looking craft, which hoisted Spanish +colours. An officer was sent to board her, and Lieutenant Alvarez was +requested to go as interpreter. The stranger proved to be the privateer +schooner "San Nicolas," and in her captain he recognised an old +acquaintance. The last time they had met, it had been under somewhat +unpleasant circumstances for Captain Tacon, who had almost got his head +into a halter, and but narrowly slipped it out again. The worthy +lieutenant very naturally suspected, from his knowledge of Don Josef's +previous history, that he was not engaged in any very creditable +undertaking. He at once suspected that he was not sailing on a simple +privateering voyage, but of course he failed to ascertain the truth. +The more questions he asked, the more mysterious and important his +quondam acquaintance became. The result of his conversation was, that +he resolved, as soon as he arrived at Cadiz, to make all the inquiries +in his power about Captain Tacon, and the "San Nicolas." Pedro Alvarez +was a blunt sailor, but he had a very considerable amount of sagacity. +Before long, he discovered that his quondam acquaintance had been known +to pay frequent visits to the Marquis de Medea, who was also known to +have had some correspondence with the owners of the "San Nicolas." More +than this Pedro could not discover; but it was sufficient to make him +suspect that the schooner's voyage was in some way connected with the +affairs of the marquis himself. He was not however a man to do things +by halves, so he continued to work on in the hope that he might at last +ferret out the truth. However, he had not much time for this +occupation; for having reported himself to the naval authorities, he was +forthwith promoted, and appointed to the command of a brig-of-war. His +great aim, however, before he sailed, was to place in proper train with +the legal authorities the claims of young Hernan Escalante to the title +and estates now held by Don Anibal de Villavicencio. He was aware that +possession is nine-tenths of the law, and that he must expect to have a +very tough battle to fight. + +"Never fear for the consequences," said he to his legal adviser. "I +have neither wife nor child, nor any one depending on me, and as long as +I have a silver piece belonging to me, I will expend it in claiming the +rights of that poor child." + +Having just given expression to this virtuous resolution as he was +leaving the lawyer's door, he found himself standing face to face with +Father Mendez. + +The priest looked narrowly at the house. He recollected that a +well-known lawyer lived there. What could the rough lieutenant want +with him? He jumped at a conclusion, which was not far from the truth; +still his countenance wore its usual calm and inexpressive look. + +"Ha! my old shipmate! I did not expect to see you so soon in our own +well-beloved native land," he exclaimed. "These are stirring times, and +you did well to return: you will not be long on shore, however, I +conclude?" + +"Not long enough to lose my sea legs or sea manners," answered Pedro, +bluntly. + +"Have you another appointment yet, my friend?" asked the priest. + +"My superiors think me too useful to allow me to remain long +unemployed," replied Pedro. + +"That is well: take the advice of a friend, and attend to your own +duties," said the priest, in a suppressed tone, sinking at last to a +whisper; "you will but burn your fingers if you interfere where you have +no concern." + +"Thank you for your hint, most astute priest. Then you guess what I am +about," thought Pedro, but he did not speak aloud. He only tried to +look totally unconscious of what Father Mendez could possibly mean. He +did not succeed as well as he wished or fancied that he had done, and +the father saw that it would be necessary to watch him very narrowly, to +counteract any scheme he might attempt to carry into execution. + +The lieutenant, meantime, fancied that he had outwitted the priest, and +continued with the greatest energy to prosecute the work he had +commenced. + +Father Mendez was not long in discovering this, and with fully equal +resolution took steps to put a stop to his proceedings. He also prided +himself on performing whatever he undertook in the most effectual +manner. He saw that Pedro might cause him a great deal of trouble and +inconvenience. There were two ways which suggested themselves of +disposing of him: he might inform the marquis of his proceedings, who +would, without the slightest scruple, probably get him assassinated; but +the bravo's dagger was not always sure, and if the marquis knew that he +was dead he might be tempted to assume more independence than would be +convenient. He had another plan, which could not possibly fail. + +Pedro Alvarez, as do most captains, lived on shore while his ship was +fitting out. He continued to do so after she was ready for sea, and +while he was waiting for orders. He had made every preparation for +sailing, and was ready to trip his anchor at a moment's notice. At last +his despatches arrived. He was paying his last visit to the shore, +when, as he was sitting in the room of his lodging glancing over a few +accounts which remained unpaid, a stranger was announced. Captain +Alvarez rose to receive him, and requested to know the object of his +visit. As he did so, he recognised a person of whom he had caught a +glimpse more than once, watching him as he left the house. + +"No matter who I am," said the stranger; "I but obey the orders of my +superiors, and I am directed to desire you to attend at the office of +the Holy Inquisition, there to answer certain accusations which have +been brought against you. This, it is hoped, you can at once easily and +completely do, and that you will therefore not hesitate to accompany me. +A carriage waits for us at the end of the street. You can arrange the +matters about which you are now occupied on your return. I am directed +to accompany you, and as the council is now sitting there is no time to +be lost." + +"Do you expect to catch a weasel asleep?" thought Pedro, at least an +equivalent Spanish proverb occurred to him. Pedro was conscious that he +had at times expressed himself, in coffee-houses and taverns, in a way +not over complimentary, either to the priests or the Inquisition itself; +and he felt very sure that no explanations he could give would prove +satisfactory to the Inquisitional council. The bold determined look he +gave the officer was such as that worthy officer was little accustomed +to receive from the trembling wretches on whom he served his summonses. + +"You have performed your duty, my friend, and now go back to those who +sent you, and inform them that you have delivered your message, but that +my avocations prevent me from acceding to their demands." + +The official looked wonderfully astonished, and, without saying another +word, drew a pistol from his bosom, and clapping it to the seaman's +head, told him that he must enforce obedience. + +"Must you, friend?" exclaimed Pedro, by a sudden movement of his arm +striking up the pistol; "then I must resist by force." + +The official pulled the trigger, but the weapon had not often been used, +and the powder flashed in the pan. He was about to draw another, but +Pedro's quick eye saw the man's purpose. His own sword lay on the +table. He seized it with one hand, while with the other he grasped the +barrel of the pistol about to be turned towards him. At that instant +the official's foot slipped, and, as he fell heavily forward, the point +of the sword entered his throat and pierced through to the spine. Pedro +caught him as he fell, but the wound was mortal, and in another minute +he was dead. + +Pedro Alvarez was as bold and brave a seaman as ever stepped; but he +knew full well that killing an official of the Inquisition in the +execution of his duty, would make the country too hot for him. The +instinct of self-preservation was as strong with him as with most men. +He considered how he could avoid the consequences of his act. There was +a large cupboard in the room. He dragged the body in, and locking the +door put the key in his pocket. The wound had not bled much, and he was +able to get rid of the traces without much difficulty. It just then +occurred to him that the owners of the house would get into trouble when +the body should be discovered; so he wrote on a piece of paper--"This +man attempted to kill me, and in self-defence, I, against my wish, slew +him.--Pedro Alvarez;" and, opening the door of the cupboard, pinned it +on the stranger's coat. He then put all the papers belonging to him +into his pocket, and deliberately walked down to the quays. His boat +was waiting for him. His heart beat much more regularly than it had +done for the last half hour, as he sprang on board and shoved off. His +crew gave way, and he soon stepped the deck of his beautiful little +brig, the "Veloz." The next instant the boats were hoisted in, the +anchor was weighed, the topsails were let fall and sheeted home, and the +brig, with a fine breeze from the southward, stood out of the harbour. +Every sail the brig could carry was pressed on her. The officers and +crew were delighted with the way she flew through the water. Her +captain turned his spyglass very often towards the town: he made out, at +last, a boat pulling off rapidly towards the brig, and shortly +afterwards his signal midshipman reported that one of the ships-of-war +in the harbour was telegraphing to them. + +"You must be mistaken, boy; it cannot be intended for us shut up your +book, we are beyond signalling distance," he answered. "And so farewell +to lovely Spain--for ever, perhaps," he thought to himself. "It will +take more years than I am likely to live to make those wretches forget +or forgive the death of their official. From henceforth I am a banished +man. For myself I care not; but for poor young Hernan--who is to +advocate his cause? Well, I fear for this time the spirit of evil and +his imps have got the upper hand of honest folk." + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +A STRANGE SCHOONER APPEARS OFF LUNNASTING--THE CASTLE ATTACKED--THE +PIRATES ENTER THE CASTLE--YOUNG HERNAN CARRIED OFF. + +The winds whistled round the towers of Lunnasting, and the wild waves, +as they were wont, washed the base of the rock on which it stood, and +time sped on without any material change taking place among its +inhabitants. Hilda spent the greater portion of the day in her turret +chamber, gazing out--when not engaged in nursing her child--on the +wide-spread ocean, and thinking of him who slept beneath its surface. +Her infant, however, was her constant and only source of interest. + +The little fatherless infant grew and flourished, and gave every promise +of becoming a strong healthy boy. Meantime the health of Bertha Morton +became week after week worse and worse, and her mother began to fear, +too justly, that her days on earth were numbered. Rolf had been +compelled to make a voyage to Greenland, as first mate of a ship; and he +came back only in time to have his little boy put into his arms and to +receive the last breath of the wife he so fondly loved. At Hilda's +special invitation the young Ronald was carried up to castle that his +grandmother might have the entire charge of him. + +"He will make a good playmate for my little Hernan, dear Bertha," +observed Hilda; "so you see he will amply repay me for any advantage he +may obtain by the arrangement. I trust the boys may be friends through +life. They are of kindred blood, and Morton is a person in manners and +conduct far above the position he holds. From his appearance it has +more than once occurred to me that he must be of gentle blood. He that +is gone, who saw a good deal of him, several times made the same +remark." + +"He was brought up by a good, kind, Christian man, and it is on that +account, rather than on account of his birth, that he possesses the +qualities of which you so kindly speak, my dear mistress," answered +Bertha. + +Hilda made no reply; affliction had not taught her to adopt the +principles which guided Bertha's conduct. + +The brief daylight hours of the northern winter had once more begun to +increase, when Hilda received a letter from her father, announcing his +intention of returning to Lunnasting in the early part of the summer, +with Edda. He also spoke of her sister's engagement to a Colonel +Armytage, remarking that the marriage would soon take place. + +It is scarcely possible to describe the varied, but chiefly painful +feelings which this information created in Hilda's bosom. Her father +had hitherto remained ignorant of her conduct, and she felt that he +would be very justly incensed when he heard of it. Still she was too +proud and self-willed to meditate for an instant asking his pardon, or +seeking for reconciliation, and her whole thoughts were occupied in +considering how she could best meet the storm of indignation and anger +which she expected to burst on her. For Edda, however, she had as warm +an affection as it was in her nature to feel for anybody so totally +different as her sister and she were to each other. She could scarcely +help despising Edda for her gentleness and her kind and affectionate +disposition, as well as for the implicit obedience she yielded to their +father's often imperious commands. + +"I pray heaven the gentleman our sweet Miss Edda is going to marry is +worthy of her--good, and generous, and kind--or it will break her +heart," said nurse Bertha, as they were talking over the subject +together. + +"It takes a good deal to break a Wardhill's heart, or mine would have +gone long ago," answered Hilda, with a sigh so deep and sad that it made +Bertha's sicken as she heard it. + +Lawrence Brindister was as little pleased as any one with the report of +Sir Marcus Wardhill's intended return. Poor Lawrence had that +instinctive dread of his guardian which a cat or a dog has of the person +who takes every occasion of giving them a kick or a buffet when they +meet. He felt that he was unjustly and tyrannically treated, yet he had +no means of breaking away from his thraldom. Sir Marcus had a very +simple plan for keeping him within bounds; he never intrusted him with +money; and as poor Lawrence was known to be of unsound mind, nobody was +found willing to lend him their gold to supply his wants, as none of it +was ever likely to be repaid. + +Pending the expected arrival of her father, Hilda was seated as usual at +her turret window; now gazing at her infant, who was sleeping on a pile +of cushions at her feet; now casting a glance across the ocean, over +which the sun, now declining towards the west, was casting a rich glow, +when her eye was attracted by the white sails of a vessel which, lighted +up by his beams, shone like driven snow. There was a light wind from +the south-east, before which the vessel under all sail was standing in +towards the land. Hilda, who from having lived all her life near the +sea was well acquainted with the rigs of vessels, recognised the one now +approaching as a schooner, and from her wide spread of canvas she judged +that she was a large one. + +On stood the stranger, directly towards Whalsey. At first, from the +bold way in which she approached, Hilda thought that she must have a +pilot on board, but as she drew in with the channel between the south +end of Eastling and the little island known as Grief Skerry, she hauled +her wind, and then went about and hove-to, with her head off shore. + +"What can possibly be her errand here?" said Hilda to herself. "Can my +father be on board her? But no, he would have stood on, and brought the +vessel to an anchor." + +The family retired to rest at the usual hour of ten o'clock, and +probably not long after that were wrapped in sound sleep. Not so poor +Hilda. The mistress of the mansion slept far less than any of those who +obeyed her orders. She invariably retired long after the household were +in bed, rose early, and probably seldom obtained more than an hour's +continuous sleep. On this evening her child had been somewhat fretful, +and Bertha insisted on carrying the little fellow off to sleep in her +room with her grandson, Ronald Morton. Hilda had reluctantly consented +to the arrangement, and frequently awoke with a start of terror on +missing her little companion from her side. At length she had fallen +into a comparatively sound sleep, when she was suddenly awakened by a +loud, crashing sound. She started up. The noise brought to her +recollection, with painful clearness, the moment when the "Saint +Cecilia" struck on the rocks of Ossa Skerry. She thought she must have +been dreaming, but again the sound was renewed. She felt confident that +it was caused by heavy blows dealt against a small postern gate which +led out on the front terrace overhanging the sea. From the noise, Hilda +suspected that this had already partly given way, and she feared that +the assailants, whoever they were, would already have gained an entrance +before she could summon any of the servants to resist them. Besides +Lawrence, it was not likely that there were more than five or six men in +the house. The bell belonging to her room led only to the chambers of +the women, and she feared that when they awoke, they would do little +more for the defence of the castle than scream; nor had she much +confidence in the valour of old David Cheyne, the butler. Still she +herself felt no overwhelming alarm. Throwing some garments round her, +she hurried to the hall, where a bell rope communicated with the +servants' room. She pulled it violently, and then hastened on to call +Lawrence. She had little confidence, however, in the way he might +behave; still, she had no reason to doubt his courage, and knew that if +he comprehended what was required, he was likely to be of as much value +as any other man. He had fire-arms, and so had all the servants, and +she hoped, if there was time for them to collect, to give the assailants +a warm reception. The door, it was evident, had resisted the first +attack made on it, for again there came a succession of thundering +blows, which echoed through the castle, and must have aroused the +soundest sleepers. Hilda took a turn up and down the hall to relieve +her impatience. She felt inclined herself to go to the gate to +ascertain how far it had resisted the attacks made on it, but she +reflected that this would be folly, because, should she be seized by the +enemy, it would make all further resistance useless. Every moment her +impatience increased. + +"What! are the men turned cowards?" she exclaimed, when she found that +no one appeared; "are they skulking in bed, afraid to encounter the +unexpected foe? Oh! that I were a man, to be able to fight as brave men +do! I thought better things of Lawrence. If they would but come, we +might yet drive back these marauders. It shall never be said that the +castle of Lunnasting was given up without a desperate struggle." + +Again she rang such a peal, that Davie Cheyne must have been aroused, +had he been twice as sound asleep as he had ever been before. It +produced its effect, and with startled looks, his hair on end, with his +night-cap in one hand and his coat in the other, the old butler rushed +into the hall, followed by the other serving-men, and some farm +labourers who slept in the castle. + +"Oh my lady!--oh Miss Hilda! Oh--I beg pardon, Madame Escalante--what +is the matter? What is going to happen?" + +"That you, lazy-bones, have been snoring in bed, while the castle is +being attacked by a band of robbers or privateers; and that, unless you +stir yourselves to defend it, you may all be murdered as you deserve. +Quick!--get your arms, and try to defend the place. Where is Mr +Lawrence? Is he as cowardly as the rest of you?" + +"No, cousin Hilda, he is not," said Lawrence, who entered at that moment +with a musket in one hand, a sword in the other, and a brace of pistols +in his belt. "I have been to take a look at the besiegers. They are +taking breath to make a fresh attack, and it's my opinion that we take +them on the flank, and if we work our guns well, we shall be able to +shoot them down before one of them can return to their boats." + +"Excellent, Lawrence," exclaimed Hilda, pleased with his unexpected +sagacity and promptness. "Place the men as you think best. What could +induce an enemy to attack this place, it is difficult to say, unless +from its apparent strength they suppose it contains large stores of +plate and jewels. However, I trust to your courage and conduct to +disappoint them." + +While Hilda was speaking, some of the men were loading their firelocks; +others found that they had forgot their ammunition, and ran back to get +it; and Davie Cheyne was putting on his coat and arranging his garments +in a seemly manner, and stuffing a night-cap into his pouch, he armed +himself with a huge blunderbuss, which, with its ammunition pouches, +hung over the mantelpiece. + +"Give me a musket!" cried Hilda. "Where there are not enough men, women +must fight. I would sooner lose my life than allow these marauders to +enter the castle." + +Hilda was speaking while Davie Cheyne was getting down the fire-arm and +handing it to her. Not another moment was then lost, and the party, led +by Lawrence, were hastening to the eastern tower which commanded the +gate, when several of the women rushed with loud shrieks into the hall, +exclaiming that the robbers were breaking into the castle, and that they +were all going to be murdered. + +"Silence, wenches!" cried Hilda, indignantly. "When I show signs of +fear it is time for you to be afraid. Those who have the nerve to load +the guns come with me; the rest go and remain with Bertha Eswick and the +children. She will shame you, I doubt not, by her coolness." + +Two of the damsels alone were influenced by this address, and followed +their mistress, while the rest, every now and then giving way to a +shriek, ran up stairs as fast as they could go, to the nursery, where, +surrounding Bertha, who was sitting up with the children, they said the +mistress had sent them, and pulling away at her, entreated her to tell +them what was going to happen. + +"Girls, girls; it is something very dreadful, I doubt not," she +answered, solemnly. "But shrieking and crying will not ward off the +danger. Let us rather silently pray to Him who can alone save us, for +protection and the safety of those we best love." + +The girls were silent for a short time, but Bertha's address did not +seem to have much effect on them; and the sound of a volley of musketry, +which was soon afterwards heard again, set them off shrieking louder +than before. + +The effects of the volley did not appear to have much availed the +defenders of the castle, for, almost before it had ceased, the +thundering blows on the gate were renewed with greater violence than +before, and the crashing noise which followed showed that it was +yielding to them. There were, as Bertha well knew, two small gates, one +within the other. The first had, as she suspected, given way to the +attack the assailants had first made, the crushing sound of which had +awakened her as it had Hilda. The second gate was the one against which +they were now directing their efforts. Lawrence had not been aware of +this, and he fancied that it was the outer gate alone which had to be +defended. On reaching the first storey of the tower, and on looking +from the window which commanded the space before this outer gate, he saw +a large group of armed men, apparently prepared for attacking it. + +"There are the enemy! Have no parley with them! Fire, boys!" he +exclaimed, setting the example by discharging his musket. The rest +fired likewise, and apparently several of the enemy were hit; but, +instead of taking to flight, they fired in return, and several of the +Lunnasting party might have been hit had they not speedily retired from +the window. In the chamber below, however, there were several +loopholes, and in these they forthwith assembled, and commenced firing +away as before. Hilda had not used her musket; but she in no way felt +inclined to shrink from the contest, and her presence wonderfully +animated the rest. They soon, however, discovered that the first of +their defences had been taken, and that they were not in the slightest +degree impeding the progress of the attacking party, who, in spite of +the repeated volleys with which their comrades were saluted, continued +to batter away at the door with an evident determination to succeed. At +the same time the door was a very solid one, and resisted all their +efforts. Several of those outside had been wounded. One or two had +been seen to fall. This encouraged Lawrence and his followers. + +"Could you not make a sally and drive them off?" at length exclaimed +Hilda, as the blows on the door became louder and more reiterated. "If +you rushed out suddenly they would not know how many men were following, +and might take to flight." + +"They know well enough how many men are inside these walls, or they +would not have dared to attack us, my lady," observed Davie Cheyne. +"With your permission, my lady, we'll fight on till the powder is gone, +with the thick stone between us, but there is no use in venturing our +lives against six times our number without some such aid." + +The firing on both sides now became very warm till two of the servants +were hit, and a bullet passed through the sleeve of Lawrence's coat. On +discovering this Hilda despatched one of the girls for bandages, while +she endeavoured to staunch the blood of the man who was most hurt with +her handkerchief. + +"Thank ye, ma'am--thank ye, my lady," said the poor fellow, looking up +at her with an expression of gratitude in his countenance; "it will not +be much harm done, and if ye will let me I'll be at them again." + +The girl was absent nearly a minute, and, as she appeared, in a voice of +terror she exclaimed, "the gate is giving way, and they will be into the +castle in a moment!" + +The courage of Hilda and her two attendants formed a great contrast to +the behaviour of the women who had taken refuge with Bertha. The more +constant the firing the louder they shrieked; and, as the sound of the +blows on the gate reached them they clung to her gown, entreating her to +tell them what to do. At last there came a crash louder than any that +had preceded it, followed immediately by shouts and cries, and the +report of fire-arms, evidently inside the castle, and the cries and +shrieks increased, and then there was the heavy tramp of men's feet, +some hurrying along the passages, others ascending the stairs. + +"Oh, they are coming here--they are coming here!" cried one of the +servant girls. "We shall all be murdered, and the castle will be burnt. +Oh, Mistress Bertha, where shall we run to?--where shall we hide?" + +"Close the doors, girls," said Bertha, calmly. "Perhaps they will not +come here." + +The sound of the footsteps drew nearer and nearer. One room after the +other was entered, and at last that next to the nursery. A moment +afterwards the nursery door was violently shaken. Bertha made a sign to +the women to keep silence, but in vain: as a heavy blow was struck +against the door, one of them shrieked out. Some words in a strange +language were spoken by men with gruff voices, and the next instant the +door was burst open, and a dozen or more armed men, fierce looking +fellows, rushed into the room. The girls fled to the extreme corner, +but the pirates--for that they were desperadoes of that description, +there seemed no doubt--took at first but little notice of them, turning +all their attention to Bertha and the two children. A tall sinewy +fellow, with long moustachios, stalked up to her, and, before she was +aware of what he was about, snatched one of the children from her, and +scrutinising its countenance returned it to her, and then seized the +other, which he examined still more minutely. He seemed sorely puzzled, +and pulled away furiously at his moustachios, while he talked and +gesticulated to his companions. + +They then commenced an examination of the children, and were so absorbed +in the matter, that the serving girls were able to make their escape +from the room, while poor Bertha was left alone with the savage-looking +band of strangers. However, the matter was soon decided. The tall man, +who seemed to be the captain, attempted to snatch the one he had first +seized from poor Bertha's grasp. In vain she struggled, and entreated +him to let it go. Both the little fellows shrieked out with terror, as, +hugging them in her arms, she endeavoured to escape from him; but, +tearing the child from her, he held it up to his companions, and seemed +to be asking them certain questions. They nodded in return; and while +two of them held back poor Bertha, who was struggling to regain the +child, he threw a cloak over it, and, calling to his followers, hurried +down stairs. Bertha attempted to follow, in the hopes of regaining the +child, but, overcome with terror and agitation, she sunk exhausted on +the ground. The marauders took their way to the postern gate, by which +they had entered the castle. Near it was a room, at the door of which a +number of their companions were standing, guarding the defenders of the +castle, whom they had overpowered. Leaving them there, he passed on, +and, getting over the terrace parapet wall, he descended the cliff with +his burden towards the boat which lay at the foot of it, and to which +the men who had been wounded had been already conveyed. The little boy +was all the time shrieking out most lustily, and desiring to be taken +back to his mamma. Placing the child in the boat, with strict charges +to one of the men who were in her not to let it out of his arms, he +climbed the cliff again with the agility of a cat, and rejoined his +comrades. He addressed them in Spanish. + +"My men," he observed, "we have thus far fulfilled our engagement. Now +let us recompense ourselves in case the promised reward should not be +forthcoming." + +His proposal seemed to meet with the warm approval of all the party. It +was necessary, however, to leave some of them to guard the prisoners, at +which those who were to be left grumbled much. "No matter," he +observed; "three of you will do, and if any of the prisoners attempt to +escape, shoot them. It is the quickest way of disposing of those sort +of people." + +Bertha had lain thus for some time, still grasping the little child, and +in spite of his piteous cries, unconscious of his presence, when she was +aroused by her mistress's voice exclaiming-- + +"Bertha, Bertha! where is my boy?--where is Hernan?" + +"Your boy, Hilda! is he not here?" answered Bertha, scarcely yet fully +aroused. "Is he not here--here in my arms?" + +"Here?--no! Where is he? who has him? Give him to me!" exclaimed +Hilda, in a tone which showed the agony of her terror. + +"Oh! was it not a dream? Where is he, do you ask? What has happened? +Those men--they bore him away," said Bertha, trying to rouse herself. + +"My boy gone? You gave him to them instead of your own," cried Hilda. +"Oh! woman--woman! Did you not know how precious he was to me? And you +let them take him! You should have died rather than allow them to tear +him from you." + +"You wrong me, dear mistress," answered Bertha. "They chose yours--they +had come on purpose to get him, for they rejected mine. But have they +gone? Let us follow them: a mother's tears may induce them to give him +back." + +"And I have lost all this time!" cried Hilda, putting her hand to her +brow, and moving from the room. + +When the pirates forced their way into the castle, the defenders were +separated; Davie Cheyne, with the two serving girls, hurrying off their +mistress in one direction, while Lawrence and the men bravely opposed +them for some minutes, till they were completely overpowered, and +compelled to submit to the enemy. + +Having provided for their prisoners, the captain of the pirates and his +men set off to engage in the pleasant occupation of ransacking the +castle. From room to room they went, injuring nothing, and breaking +nothing, except the locks of drawers, cabinets, chests, and cupboards. +These, as the keys were not forthcoming, they burst open to examine +their contents. They worked away briskly, but in no undue hurry. They +knew that the operation in which they were engaged should not be done +slowly, in case of interruption; at the same time at present, they had +no reason to expect any interference with their performances. They were +most of them evidently practised hands, for they were choice in their +selections, and took only the more valuable articles. Plate, jewels, +and ornaments were quickly transferred to their pockets, or to bags with +which they had come prepared; but, with the exception of a few clothes, +to which some of them took a fancy, and a collection of eatables from +the housekeeper's store-room, nothing else was carried off. + +These matters being arranged, the captain ordered a retreat to be +sounded. It was time, for daylight was already coming on, and they +could not tell what assistance might be sent to the inhabitants of the +castle, as they knew that the sound of their firing must have given +notice to the neighbouring population that something unusual was going +on. With some derisive expressions, the meaning of which Lawrence +alone, of those who heard them, could understand, they left the party in +the room, simply turning the key on them, and took their way to their +boats. Just as they were shoving off through the twilight, a figure was +seen standing on the edge of the cliff, stretching forth her arms, and +shrieking out-- + +"My child--my child! Bring back my boy! Take him not away!" + +In vain she cried, and those fierce men, cruel and callous as they were, +had not the barbarity to mock her. Without uttering a word, they pulled +rapidly from the shore. Giving vent to her feelings in cries, she +uttered shriek after shriek, and would have thrown herself into the +water, in her eagerness to follow them, had not Davie Cheyne come behind +her, and, seizing her in his arms, drawn her back from the edge of the +precipice. She broke from him, and was again rushing forward, when +Lawrence and a servant, who burst out of the room where they had been +locked in, ran forward and surrounded her. When they saw the boats, two +of them, who had secured some muskets which the pirates had overlooked, +threatened to fire on them; but as they levelled their pieces the +captain held up the child, and three or four bullets whizzing above +their heads, showed them that they would gain nothing by warlike +proceedings. Some of the men--and so did Lawrence--proposed manning Sir +Marcus's barge, and going in pursuit of the enemy; but the proposal was +wisely overruled by Davie Cheyne. "How could they expect, with a single +boat, and with but few men ill-armed, to capture two boats full of +well-armed men, perfectly practised in warfare, and who had already +shown their superiority?" + +The argument was unanswerable, and the proposal was withdrawn. It was, +meantime, with the greatest difficulty that Hilda was held back from the +edge of the cliff. + +"My child! my child!" she continued crying out. "Oh, bring me back my +child!" + +The sound of her voice could no longer reach those she addressed. Away +pulled the boat towards the schooner in the offing; and as all hope of +recovering her soon vanished, she again sunk senseless into the arms of +those surrounding her. + +When daylight increased, a schooner, which hoisted French colours, was +seen standing away to the eastward; but whence she had come, and where +she went to, no one connected with Lunnasting was ever able to discover. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +ARRIVAL OF SIR MARCUS--HILDA AND HER SISTER--A BRIG OF WAR APPEARS-- +EDDA'S MARRIAGE--ROLF MORTON SAILS ON A LONG VOYAGE. + +For many days after the loss of her child, Hilda remained in a state of +such utter prostration, that Bertha, who would allow no one but herself +to watch her, often dreaded that her mind would go altogether. + +"Perhaps she would be happier thus unconscious of past griefs, or of the +dreary future in store for her," Bertha frequently repeated to herself; +but Hilda was not thus to be spared the trials and sorrows sent to +purify and correct her nature. Not only did she become fully aware of +all that had taken place, but she was made fully alive to events daily +occurring, and was able to contemplate what the future might bring +forth. On what account her son was carried off, she could form no +conjecture, but she always cherished the hope of seeing him again. This +hope occupied her thoughts by day and her dreams by night, and appeared +to be the chief means of her restoration to comparative health. At +first she could not bear the sight of her child's playmate, Ronald +Morton; but one day she suddenly desired Bertha to bring him to her, and +after gazing at him for some moments, she covered him with kisses, and +from that moment could scarcely bear him out of her sight. At first the +child cried, and evidently regarded her with dread; but Bertha soothed +him, and persuaded him to go back to her; and Hilda, by gentle caresses, +which seemed totally foreign to her nature, soon won him over +completely, so that he quickly learned to look on her as really his +mother. His father had sailed, at the commencement of the year, for +Greenland, and there was no probability of his returning till the +autumn. + +In spite of the exciting incidents which had occurred, matters at +Lunnasting returned very much to their usual condition. Even poor +Lawrence Brindister, who had behaved with courage and a considerable +amount of judgment when the castle was attacked, very speedily again +became the half-witted creature he generally appeared, and once more +resumed his eccentric habits and behaviour. + +Sir Marcus had before this again put off the time for his return home; +but at length a large cutter--a Leith smack--was seen standing towards +the castle. She dropped her anchor at the entrance of Lunnasting Voe, +and a boat containing a lady and gentleman immediately put off from her, +and pulled for the landing-place. Hilda soon recognised her father and +sister. As she saw them, she felt every nerve in her system trembling +with agitation. Bertha entreated her to be calm, and at last, by a +violent effort, she gained sufficient command over herself to hurry down +to the landing-place to meet them. Her father met her with his usual +polite, but cold and indifferent manner; but Edda herself, blooming with +life and health, looked deeply concerned when she saw her altered +appearance, for physical suffering and mental anxiety had made sad havoc +with those features. Sir Marcus had now to learn, for the first time, +of the piratical attack which had been made on his castle, and of the +severe loss he had suffered. Every one was anxious to screen Hilda; and +probably, had it not been necessary to account to him for the +disappearance of so many articles of property, even that event would not +have been told him. Of all others, he was allowed to remain perfectly +ignorant. + +Thus, strange as it may appear, he heard nothing of the circumstances of +the visit of the "Saint Cecilia," of Hilda's marriage with Don Hernan, +or of the birth of her child. All he heard was, that a foreign +ship-of-war had anchored in the Sound, and that, shortly after, she had +been wrecked on the west coast of the mainland; so sure are those who +attempt to rule their dependents with severity or injustice, to be +deceived or misled by them. + +Humbled, softened, and weighed down with grief, Hilda could not long +keep her secret from her sister; and Edda heard, with amazement and +sorrow, all the strange events which had occurred at Lunnasting during +her absence. Once having broken through the ice of reserve which had so +long existed, the two sisters were on far more affectionate terms than +they had ever before been. + +Edda did not utter a word of blame. She well knew how little trained +Hilda had ever been to bear it, but she gave her sympathy, and treated +her with all the tenderness and affection of a loving sister. + +Meantime, Sir Marcus Wardhill, who was not a man to suffer an injury +without attempting to obtain redress, was sending memorial after +memorial to the government in England, to complain of the attack made on +his castle, and was also instituting every inquiry to ascertain to what +nation the people belonged who had been guilty of the act. All he could +learn with regard to the latter point was, that on the day following +that on which it occurred, a pilot boat and several fishing vessels had +fallen in with a large schooner of a very rakish appearance, under +French colours, steering a course apparently with the intention of +running between Shetland and Orkney, into the Atlantic. + +In the course, however, of his inquiries, information which he little +expected came out, and which could not fail to raise his suspicions as +to his daughter's discretion. He was, as has been seen, a man wise in +the ways of the world, and not at all liable to give way to sudden +bursts of temper, great as might be the provocation. Instead, +therefore, of rushing into his daughter's room, and accusing her of her +misconduct, he kept his counsel, and said nothing whatever on the +subject. It might have occurred to him that he should have been wiser +had he remained at home, and looked more narrowly after his +establishment. He found that he had been deceived--of that there could +be no doubt. Information which he naturally expected would have been +given to him had been withheld. He knew that this being the case, he +was not likely to force it out of his dependents. He went on, +therefore, quietly making inquiries, now of one, now of the other, and +though he did not gain the whole truth, he ascertained enough to assure +him that it would be wiser not to push his inquiries much further. Had +he become aware of the exact state of the case, he would have +undoubtedly been far more satisfied than he was; but cunning men are +often caught in their own snares, and miss the mark at which they are +aiming. + +It was remarked that, after a time, he took far more interest in little +Ronald Morton than he had at first done, and seemed not at all surprised +at finding the child so constantly with his daughter. He even made some +attempts to play with it, but they were not very successful, and the +little fellow invariably made his escape from him as soon as he could. + +The time fixed for Edda's marriage had now arrived, and Colonel Armytage +was daily expected. Sir Marcus mentioning this to Hilda, remarked, "You +will let that child remain with Bertha Eswick while Armytage is here. I +do not object to your petting him, but it is fit that you should pay all +the attention in your power to your intended brother-in-law." + +There might have been far more order and regularity in the castle after +the master's return, but everybody felt an uncomfortable sensation of +oppression whenever he was present. The only sun which shed any light +through the surrounding atmosphere was his daughter Edda. Full of life +and animation, nothing could quell her spirits, and in most cases she +had only to appear to dispel the gloom. + +Poor Lawrence, even more than any one else, felt the weight of his +guardian's presence whenever he was compelled to remain at home; but he +had the resource--of which he never failed to avail himself when the +weather allowed him--of going out in his boat, of wandering about the +island on Neogle, with Surly Grind, or of visiting his cavern. Sir +Marcus had gained that influence over him which a man of strong mind +usually obtains over one of weak intellect, and he was thus often able +to make him say the very things which he purposely intended to keep +secret. Still Lawrence did not tell him the whole truth, and often thus +misled him more than if he had not said a word on the subject. Often, +too, he would startle him as he walked away by breaking out, as if +unconsciously, with "The prince will hae his ain again! The prince will +hae his ain again!" + +"What do you mean by that, Lawrence?" exclaimed the baronet, one day, +with greater agitation than he usually exhibited. + +"The meaning, coz?" said Lawrence, turning round and looking at him +hard. "The true meaning is this: that the king of the land will some +day come back, and put his own crown of gold on his head, in spite of +the rebels and all the cunning men who try to keep him from it." + +A very uncomfortable sensation crept round the baronet's heart. + +Poor Lawrence went his way, rejoicing under the belief that he had +frightened the stern, dignified baronet out of his wits. He little +understood the tough materials of which his cousin's mind was composed, +or dreamed of the injury the hints he had thrown out would induce him to +work against those he might suppose stood in his way. At present it was +Sir Marcus's wish to keep everything as smooth and pleasant at +Lunnasting, that he might be able to give an agreeable welcome to his +intended son-in-law. + +Colonel Armytage had written word that he had engaged the same cutter +which had carried Sir Marcus and his daughter to Shetland. It was very +natural, therefore, that Edda should very frequently have her eye at a +large telescope Sir Marcus had brought with him, and which he had placed +in Hilda's room at the top of the tower. One day, as she was looking +through the glass, she exclaimed suddenly to her sister, "Oh Hilda, +Hilda, there is the cutter at last!" + +Hilda looked, but her more practised eye told her that it was no cutter, +but a square-rigged vessel, which, with a fair breeze, under all sail, +was approaching the island. She was sorry to disappoint Edda, and for +sometime she did not tell her of her mistake. She herself went several +times to the glass, and was convinced, from the squareness of the +vessel's yards and the whiteness of her canvas, that she was a +man-of-war. Painful feelings crowded to her heart, for the vessel +approaching reminded her strongly of the "Saint Cecilia:" she stood on +boldly, as if those on board were well acquainted with the coast, and in +a short time Hilda ascertained, without doubt, that she was a +brig-of-war. Poor Edda, with a sigh, discovered that she had been +mistaken. + +The brig-of-war stood on towards Lunnasting till she neared the south +end of Eastling Island, when, as she hauled her wind to stand up the +Sound, Hilda saw with a thrill that the flag of Spain was flying from +her peak. She brought to, at the very spot at which the "Saint Cecilia" +had anchored. Before her sails were furled a boat was lowered, and +pulled towards the castle. Hilda watched it through the telescope, and, +as it passed under the walls, she recognised, in the officer who sat in +the stern-sheets, the first-lieutenant of the "Saint Cecilia," Pedro +Alvarez. Though eager to learn what cause had brought him to +Lunnasting, she was afraid of going down to meet him, lest it should +excite suspicion in her father's mind. Trembling with agitation, she +sat still, waiting for his appearance, with the hope, though it was full +of doubt, that he might bring her tidings of her son. + +Meantime, Lawrence Brindister had espied him, and hurrying to the +landing-place, welcomed him cordially. "But I say, old friend," he +continued, holding his finger to his nose, "the cat has come back, and +the mice mustn't play any more; you understand--mum's the word; don't +talk of anything that has occurred: let old Grimalkin find out what he +can; I delight in teasing him." + +Although the worthy Pedro did not comprehend all Lawrence said, he +understood that he was not to allude to past events in the presence of +the lord of the castle. Lawrence hurried him on, talking in his usual +rambling way, so that before he had time to make any inquiries, he found +himself in the presence of Sir Marcus Wardhill. The baronet received +him with all due courtesy, and he was invited to stop and dine at the +castle--an invitation he at once accepted. Hilda had no opportunity of +seeing him till they met before dinner. It was not even then, without +great exertion, that she obtained sufficient self-command to speak to +him with ordinary calmness. + +During the meal little Ronald Morton toddled into the room, having +escaped from the arms of his nurse. Captain Alvarez gave an inquiring +glance at the child, and at first looked puzzled, and then well +satisfied. Hilda was able to converse with him in Spanish, and with his +broken English and French he managed to make himself very agreeable to +Sir Marcus and Edda; Sir Marcus, indeed, begged that when he could live +on shore that he would make his castle his home; he declined, on the +plea that he must sail, probably the next day, for the southward. + +The attack on the castle had been spoken of, but not a word had been +said of the child having been carried off. + +Hitherto Hilda had been unable to talk to the Spanish captain alone; +fortunately, at length, Sir Marcus left the room; Ronald was sitting +playing on the ground near them. + +"He is truly a noble child, though his complexion shows more of his +northern than his southern blood," observed the captain. + +"That child!--oh, you are mistaken!" exclaimed Hilda, "Have you not +heard that my own Hernan was carried off?" And she told him all that +had occurred. + +"The atrocious scoundrel!" exclaimed Pedro Alvarez; "I feared it would +be so, and for your sake, lady, and for that of my late brave captain, I +will pursue them round the world, and recover the boy." + +Hilda looked at him with an expression of the deepest gratitude:-- + +"I was certain that you had come either to bring me notice of my lost +one, or that you would aid me in discovering him," she exclaimed, taking +his hand. "I trust to you, Captain Alvarez, and I am sure that you will +not deceive me." + +The captain assured her that he would be faithful to his promise, and +explained all he knew of the plot which had been formed to carry off her +son, to prevent him from inheriting his title and property. + +"But cannot we punish the treacherous marquis and kinsman?" she +exclaimed. "Cannot we compel him to tell us where my child has been +carried to? Has the law no power in your country?" + +"None, lady, in this matter," answered Pedro. "I myself am an outlaw; I +can never return as a free man to Spain. I have been guilty of a crime +so heinous in the eyes of the law, that should the officers of my own +ship discover it, they would be compelled to carry me there in chains. +My dread, therefore, is lest we should fall in with any Spanish ship, +from which they may learn what has occurred." He then briefly told her +how he had killed the officer of the Inquisition who had tried to +apprehend him. + +"But the priest, Father Mendez; surely he can aid us?" said Hilda. + +"Unless you can show him that by his aiding you he can advance the +object for which alone he lives, he will stir neither hand nor foot in +the cause," answered the Spanish captain. "Besides, I am certain that +he believes the child still safe in the castle." + +"Then, Captain Alvarez, I must place all my hope on you," exclaimed +Hilda. + +"Place it on the justice of heaven, lady," he replied, solemnly. + +Hilda made no reply, but her beautiful features wore an expression of +the deepest, the most hopeless distress. + +Pedro Alvarez having obtained from Lawrence, and others, every +particular about the attack on the castle, as well as a description of +the child, and even the appearance of the men who carried him off, +returned on board his brig, and the next day sailed for the southward. + +His coming had thrown Hilda into a painful state of agitation. She had +not recovered from it when the smack with Colonel Armytage on board +anchored before the castle. Edda's joyous countenance formed a great +contrast to her melancholy look. Sir Marcus met her, as she was +preparing to receive her future brother-in-law, and harshly ordered her +to appear more cheerful. + +"Those lachrymose features of yours will raise suspicions in his mind +which may induce him to make disagreeable inquiries," he said, in an +angry tone. "I know his disposition, and fully believe that, should he +discover anything to displease him, he is capable of breaking off the +match altogether. Should he do so, remember, Hilda, you will be +answerable for the consequences." + +"Can you intrust my sister's happiness with such a man?" asked Hilda. + +"I am the best judge on that point," was the answer. + +Colonel Armytage soon came on shore, attended by two servants. He was +decidedly handsome and gentlemanly, and though at times his manner was +somewhat haughty and reserved, he was often so courteous and agreeable, +that he quickly regained his place in the good graces of those with whom +he associated. Hilda, indeed, soon forgot her father's remarks, and +felt perfectly satisfied as to the prospect of her sister's happiness. + +Colonel Armytage was accompanied by two friends, brother officers. +Their presence made the castle far more lively than it had wont to be +for many a long year; but all their sallies could not dispel the +melancholy which Hilda could not hide even from them. Sir Marcus very +narrowly watched Lawrence, who had become intimate with them; but +whether or not he had told them of any of the occurrences which had +lately taken place, he could not ascertain. It was a relief to him +when, the day of the wedding having arrived, the castle was filled with +the families of sufficient distinction to be invited to it. Hilda could +not but feel that they generally regarded her with looks of curiosity, +and, at the same time, of compassion, excessively annoying to her +feelings. Often as she approached a group she found them whispering, +and she observed that their manner was constrained, and that they either +became silent, or had evidently abruptly commenced a fresh subject of +conversation. + +Nothing, however, occurred to interrupt the marriage ceremony. How +different did it appear to the unhappy Hilda to that by which she had +been united to Don Hernan! + +It was not till Colonel Armytage was about to take his departure, with +his bride, for the south, that on taking his leave of his father-in-law, +he showed that he was aware of what had taken place. He drew himself up +haughtily as he remarked-- + +"My love and esteem for your daughter, and a sense of honour, compelled +me to fulfil my engagement with her; but I must ever regard with +feelings of distrust and contempt the man who would conceal from me +matters of which I ought to have been informed. We shall probably +seldom, perhaps we shall never, meet again--our doing so can produce +little mutual satisfaction." + +Sir Marcus looked confused, and could make no answer, and in silence he +handed his daughter into the boat which was to convey them on board +their vessel. His feelings were not soothed by hearing Lawrence give a +loud laugh, and sing--as he hopped and skipped up the causeway-- + +"The prince will hae his ain again! The prince will hae his ain again!" + +The summer passed away, and business compelled Sir Marcus to visit +Scotland. During his absence Rolf Morton returned to Shetland. How +different was his home to what it had been! Its chief ornament, its +only attraction was gone. He frequently came up to the castle to see +his child; but he was soon convinced that he could not, as usual, spend +the winter at home, and he determined to go to Leith to seek for the +command of some ship sailing to southern latitudes. + +A few days before he took his departure Sir Marcus returned to +Lunnasting. They met, and the baronet eyed him with so sinister an +expression that an uncomfortable sensation crept over the heart of the +bold seaman, and he felt that he was in the presence of one who would do +him an injury if he had the power. + +Bidding farewell, however, to Bertha Eswick and his boy, he sailed for +Leith, believing that for this time, however, he had escaped the malice +of his enemy. He was mistaken. He had not been at Leith many days +before he had the offer made him of the command of a fine ship bound +round Cape Horn. The preliminary arrangements were soon made, but the +usual papers were not yet signed. As he walked through the streets of +Leith he more than once observed a man, who, he felt certain, was +dodging his steps, and whom he observed watching him as he entered his +lodgings. The matter, however, did not make much impression on him. He +was on his way to the owner's office to conclude the arrangements for +his taking command, when, as he was passing along the quays, he was +accosted by the individual he had remarked following him, and who now +asked him if his name was Rolf Morton. + +"That is my name," he answered. + +"Then you are the very man I want to see," was the reply. "Come along +under this archway." + +Morton unsuspectingly followed his guide, but no sooner had he reached +the arch, than a body of seamen rushed out of a door close at hand. He +was wondering where they were going, when he found himself surrounded by +them, and dragged off to a boat lying at a jetty not far off. + +He was in the hands of a press-gang. He had no power of making any +resistance. He was forced into the boat, which pulled away to a +ship-of-war at anchor in the Forth. He explained that he was virtually +master of a merchantman, and that the owners would suffer loss should he +be detained. He was ordered to exhibit his protection. He had none. +His remonstrances were unheeded. He found that with his will, or +against his will, he must serve his Majesty. Many other men had been +brought on board in the same way that he had been. + +"It matters little, if a man does his duty, in what condition of life he +is placed; he may be equally happy in one as the other," he said to +himself; "I shall have fewer cares and responsibilities as a +man-of-war's man, than as a master of a ship. Why should I sigh and +moan thus over my lot? What can't be cured must be endured. Yes, sir, +I'll serve his Majesty, and serve him well, I hope," he exclaimed aloud, +turning to the officer who was examining the pressed men. + +Rolf Morton kept his word. He was soon known as one of the best men in +the ship, and he had not been long on board before he was raised to the +rank of a first-class petty officer. He saw much service in various +parts of the world. Wherever work was to be done he was foremost in +doing it. Had he been younger, he would probably have been placed on +the quarterdeck: but he was unambitious, and contented with his lot, +though he, at last, was made a warrant officer, and ultimately became +boatswain of a dashing frigate, under as gallant a captain as ever took +a ship into action. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +THE FLEET AT SPITHEAD--ROLF MORTON'S VISIT TO SHETLAND--ROLF TAKES +RONALD TO SEA--THE THISBE AND FRENCH FRIGATE--RONALD MORTON'S FIRST +BATTLE--THE ENEMY STRIKES. + +One of the most beautiful sights on the ocean, to the eye of a sailor, +is the spectacle presented by a large fleet, when the signal for +weighing is seen flying from the flag-ship. The boatswain's whistle +sends its shrill sounds along each deck; the capstan bars are shipped, +the merry pipe strikes up, with sturdy tramp round go the men--others of +the crew swarm upon the yards, the broad folds of canvas are let fall, +and, as if by magic, those vast machines, lately so immovable, now +looking like tall pyramids of snow, begin noiselessly to glide over the +blue surface of the water. + +Such was the sight witnessed by numerous spectators, both on the Isle of +Wight shore and that of Portsmouth, when early in the year 1794 one of +England's noble fleets sailed from Spithead. A fine breeze from the +northward enabled the ships to be well out round Saint Helen's, when +hauling their tacks aboard they stood down channel under all sail. In +the centre were the heavy line-of-battle ships, exhibiting a dense mass +of shining canvas; while scattered around on either side were the +lighter frigates, like skirmishers on the field of battle feeling the +way for the main body of the army. Among the fastest, the finest, and +most dashing of the latter craft, was the thirty-eight gun frigate +"Thisbe." + +She had only lately been put in commission, and her captain, officers, +and crew, were mostly strangers to each other. Captain Courtney, who +commanded her, had the reputation of being brave and enterprising, but +his present crew had yet to learn what he was made of. + +The day was closing; the fleet had made good progress down channel, and +the "Thisbe" was one of the southernmost look-out frigates; the crew +were enjoying a short relaxation from their duties, which were pretty +severe, for when a ship first gets to sea there is much to be done to +put her in order, to encounter an enemy or a gale. + +The captain and two of his lieutenants walked the weather side of the +quarter-deck, while the other gun-room officers and some of the +midshipmen, paced the lee side. Captain Courtney's appearance was much +in his favour; though his firm mouth and the general expression of his +features showed that he was accustomed to command, the pleasant smile +occasionally playing over his countenance relieved them from too great +sternness. + +The first lieutenant, Mr Strickland, looked like his chief, the perfect +officer and gentleman, while the second, well known in the service as +Tom Calder, was more of the rough-and-ready school. + +Tom was broad-shouldered and short, with an open countenance, and a +complexion which once had been fair, but was now burnt nearly to a +bright copper, but neither winds nor sun had been able to change the +rich golden tint of his hair, which clustered in thick curls under his +hat, which hat he managed to stick on the very back of his head; whether +cocked hat, or tarpaulin, or sou'-wester, he wore it the same; it was a +puzzle, though, to say how it kept there. But to see Tom as he was, was +to catch him at work, with knife and marlin-spike, secured by rope-yarns +round his neck, his hands showing intimate acquaintance with the tar +bucket, while not a job was there to be done which he could not show the +best way of doing. + +Tom Calder, as was said of him, was the man to get work out of a crew, +and where he led others were ever ready to follow. Altogether, he was +evidently cut out for a good working first lieutenant, and there seemed +every prospect of his becoming one. He had entered the service at the +hawse-hole, and worked his way up, by his steadiness and gallantry, to +the quarterdeck, a position to which he was well calculated to do +credit. + +On the forecastle the three warrant officers sauntered slowly up and +down, stretching their limbs after their day's work was over. + +They were accompanied by a fine intelligent-looking boy, apparently of +about fifteen, who was attentively listening to their conversation. The +likeness which the boy bore to one of them, made it pretty evident that +they were father and son. + +The boatswain was Rolf Morton. When once pressed into the navy, by the +management of Sir Marcus Wardhill, he had, from want of the energy +required to take steps to leave it, remained in the service till a +warrant had been almost forced on him. Just before the "Thisbe" was +commissioned he had paid a visit to Shetland; he had found his boy +Ronald grown and improved beyond his most sanguine expectations. The +Lady Hilda, as she was still called, had devoted herself to his +education, and treated him as her son; and in the more important matters +which she unhappily was unable to teach him. Bertha Eswick had afforded +him instruction. But Ronald had another instructor, though an eccentric +one, in Lawrence Brindister. Not a more daring or expert boatman, a +finer swimmer, or a better shot of his age, or much above his age, was +to be found in all Shetland. + +Poor Hilda had never heard from Pedro Alvarez, nor had she received +tidings of her son, though, hopeless as it might seem, she lived on in +the expectation of one day recovering him. Both she and Bertha had so +earnestly entreated Rolf to leave Ronald in Shetland, that he would have +done so, had he not received a warning, not to be neglected, from +Lawrence Brindister, to be off and to take his boy with him. + +He had often suspected that Sir Marcus Wardhill was his enemy, and now +he learned from Lawrence, that he was the enemy of his son also, and +would work him ill if he had him in his power. + +"Then I will take him out of his power," observed Rolf; and before the +next morning he was away to Lerwick. Sir Marcus sent a fast rowing boat +after him, but when she reached the capital of Shetland, Rolf and his +son had already taken their departure. Sir Marcus Wardhill was reaping +where he had sown. + +From his younger and best-loved daughter he had long been almost totally +estranged. Colonel Armytage had for years held no direct communication +with him, while Edda's letters were very brief, and she, having become +the mother of a daughter, offered this as an excuse for not paying a +visit to the north. + +It was not till now that Hilda revealed to him the whole history of her +marriage and the loss of her boy. His rage knew no bounds when he +discovered that no certificate of this marriage was forthcoming. But +one witness, who was forthcoming, survived--Bertha Eswick: she, however, +had been in a declining state for some time, and but a few days had +passed after Rolf and Ronald had quitted Lunnasting before she expired, +leaving Hilda more solitary and miserable than ever. + +Ronald Morton had commenced his life at sea with the greatest zest, and +although he had a few difficulties to contend with, and not a few older +boys to fight, he invariably came off victorious, and was altogether a +general favourite. Rolf devotedly loved his son, and though not +ambitious for himself, his great desire was to see Ronald on the +quarter-deck, and rising in his profession: he certainly looked as if it +were more his proper place than was the forecastle where he now was. + +"Father," he said, turning his beaming countenance, "I do long to be in +a battle. Are we likely soon to fall in with an enemy?" + +"No hurry for that, boy," answered the boatswain, who had been in many a +desperate fight, and knew what fighting was; "we shall fall in with one +before long, depend on that." + +"I hope so, indeed," exclaimed Ronald; "those Frenchmen who have cut off +their king's head deserve to be thrashed round and round the globe till +not a man of them remains alive." + +This sentiment was warmly applauded both by the gunner and carpenter. + +"I don't say as how I 'zactly hates the Frenchmen," observed Mr +Rammage, the gunner; "but it's my opinion that the sea is not big enough +for both of us, and the sooner we drives them off it, the sooner we +shall be friends again." + +Ronald had not long to wait before he saw, though chiefly at a distance, +one of the most important of England's naval battles. The "Thisbe" +formed one of Lord Howe's fleet, when he gained the glorious victory of +the 1st of June which taught the Frenchmen, by a lesson often to be +repeated, that they must expect defeat whenever they might venture to +contend with England's navy on the ocean. + +As the "Thisbe" was employed as a look-out frigate, she took but little +part in the action. What she did do, far from damping Ronald's ardour, +only made him the more eager to fight again. He had not long to wait. +The "Thisbe," with the rest of the fleet, returned to Spithead to +receive the marks of honour the sovereign and the nation showered on the +heads of the gallant chiefs, who had led their ships to victory; but +before long she was again on a cruise down channel. Rounding Ushant, +she steered to the southward, boldly standing along the French coast, +and making what the French probably considered a very impertinent +examination of their forts and harbours. + +She approached the place to be examined during the night, and at early +dawn the required information having been obtained, she was again +standing off shore, under all sail, before any of the enemy's ships +could get under weigh to pursue her. She proceeded as far south as +Rochelle. + +Looking one morning into the harbour of that place, a frigate was +discovered in the outer roads, apparently ready for sea. + +"She seems about our size; if we could draw her out, we might take her," +observed Captain Courtney to his first lieutenant, Mr Strickland. + +"No doubt about it, sir," was the answer; "she is, however, I suspect, +rather larger, but so much the better. There is little honour in +capturing a Frenchman of one's own size. That we are of course expected +to do. We should be thankful when we fall in with an antagonist of +superior strength." + +"You are right, Strickland," exclaimed the captain, warmly. "Back the +maintopsail and fire a gun towards her. The signal of defiance will be +understood, and if her captain has a spark of courage, he'll come out +and meet us." + +With colours flying, the British frigate lay-to off the Frenchman's +port. While thus defying the enemy a large schooner was seen standing +along shore and apparently making for the harbour. + +"We'll take her before their very noses, and if that does not rouse +them, I do not know what will," observed the captain, as he gave the +orders to make sail in chase. + +The schooner, little expecting to be snapped up by an enemy in the very +sight of port, endeavoured in vain to escape. The "Thisbe," like an +eagle towards its prey, flew after her, and in a short time she was a +prize. + +Taking out the prisoners and putting a prize crew on board, Captain +Courtney stood back, with the schooner in tow, towards the mouth of the +harbour; then again firing another shot of defiance, he bore away to the +westward. + +"The Frenchmen will bear a great deal, but they will not bear that," +observed Morton to his son. "Before this time tomorrow we shall either +be inside that harbour, feeling very much ashamed of ourselves--and I +don't think that is likely to happen--or we shall have that frigate in +there for our prize, and be standing away with her for old England." + +The "Thisbe" had got some eight miles or so away from the land, when the +French frigate was seen under sail and standing towards her. Captain +Courtney was anxious to draw the enemy as far from the coast as +possible, lest, when the hoped-for result of the action should become +known, notice might be sent of the event to other ports to the +northward, and a superior force despatched to capture him. He +accordingly hove-to occasionally, and then stood on to entice the enemy +after him. + +When the evening closed in, the Frenchman was in sight about two leagues +off, coming up astern. The "Thisbe," now casting off the prize, stood +towards her. At this time there was no other sail in sight, with the +exception of a small boat, apparently a fishing boat, which kept as +close as she could to the "Thisbe," possibly to watch what was going to +take place. + +Captain Courtney's object was, of course, to obtain the weather gauge; +and in consequence of having to manoeuvre to obtain it, it was not till +past midnight that the two ships got within range of each other's guns. +Not a man of the "Thisbe's" crew had turned in. The drum beat to +quarters. The men flew to their stations with pistols in their belts +and cutlasses by their sides, eager to begin the fight. + +The "Thisbe" was on the starboard tack, when the enemy, on the larboard +tack, slowly glided past her to windward, looking like some dark phantom +stalking over the surface of the deep. + +Ronald, who stood on the forecastle with his father, watched her with +intense eagerness. Presently a sheet of flame burst from her side, +followed by the loud thunder of the guns and the whizzing of shot. A +few came near the English frigate, but none struck her. + +"Return the compliment, my lads. Give it them!" exclaimed Captain +Courtney. + +The crew, with a cheer, obeyed the order, the flashes of their guns +throwing a ruddy glow on the bulwarks and the figures of the crew, as +stern and grim they stood at their quarters. + +"Hands about ship!" was the next order issued; and the "Thisbe," tacking +in the wake of her opponent, stood after her. + +"Father," asked Ronald, as he stood by Morton's side on the forecastle, +"will the Frenchman try to escape us?" + +"No fear of that, he would not have come out at first if he had intended +to play us that trick," was the answer. "He has made one slight +mistake, though; he fancies that he is going to take us; and it's my +firm belief that we are going to take him." + +"I hope so, father," answered Ronald. "I would sooner die than be taken +by a Frenchman." + +"That is the right spirit, my boy," exclaimed Rolf, warmly. "But little +fear of what will happen--our captain is not a man to throw away a +chance of victory." + +While they were speaking, the "Thisbe" was rapidly coming up with the +enemy; and as her guns could be brought to bear they were fired in quick +succession--the French frigate returning them with right good will, +though as her shot flew high, the "Thisbe's" masts and spars suffered +more than her hull, and few of her men had hitherto been hit. + +Morton looked anxiously aloft. "It will be a bad job if they go," he +muttered to himself. He then sent Ronald aft to ascertain the condition +of the main and mizenmast, which he believed had been struck. + +His son soon returned with a very bad report. The masts were already +badly wounded. + +Soon after this the "Thisbe" got within musket-shot of the starboard +quarter of her opponent; and the marines opened their fire, while the +firing of the great guns became warmer than ever. + +Captain Courtney had never, for a moment, taken his eye off the French +ship, that he might watch for the least indication of any manoeuvre she +might be about to perform. Suddenly he exclaimed, "Up with the helm!-- +square away the after yards!" + +Quickly the manoeuvre was executed, though only just in time to prevent +the enemy who wore the instant before, from crossing the "Thisbe's" +bows, and pouring in a raking fire. The two frigates now ran on before +the wind, closely engaged, broadside to broadside. Fast came the round +shot, crashing on board. Splinters from the torn bulwarks were flying +about, from aloft some rattling blocks and shattered spars; while +showers of bullets were raining down death and wounds in every +direction. + +Ronald Morton felt his spirits rise to an unnatural pitch as the fight +grew hotter and hotter. Not the remotest thought of death, not a shadow +of fear crossed his mind. Others were struck down, but those missiles +of destruction were not for him. Others might be hit, but he bore a +charmed life. + +There is something far more terrific and trying to the nerves in a night +action than in one fought by day. The dark, mysterious form of the +enemy, the flashes of the guns, the irregular glare, the dim light of +the fighting lanterns, the cries and groans of the wounded, the +uncertainty as to who is hit or what damage has been done, all combine +to produce an effect which the most desperate fight by day can scarcely +exhibit. + +The crew of the "Thisbe" could see that their shot was producing great +effect on their antagonist. Her masts still stood, but several of her +spars were shot away, and her rigging appeared a mass of wreck. The +English frigate was also much injured aloft, but her masts were still +standing. + +By this time the "Thisbe" had shot ahead of her antagonist. "Starboard +the helm!" exclaimed Captain Courtney. "Cease firing, my lads! Be +ready to give her a raking broadside as we cross her hawse." + +The frigate luffed up into the wind; and, as she did so, her larboard +guns were discharged in quick succession into the bows of the Frenchman; +but amid the roar of the guns a loud crash was heard, and the mizenmast, +unable to bear the additional strain on it, went by the board, but +falling to starboard, did not impede the working of the guns. As the +crew were running from under it, the tall mainmast was seen to totter, +and with all its yards and sails, over it went on the same side. With a +groan the boatswain saw what had occurred. He feared, too, that the +enemy might escape, as her masts were still standing; but as the +"Thisbe's" mainmast went, the French frigate ran stern on to her, on her +larboard quarter, her bowsprit passing directly across her deck over the +capstan. + +"She is our own if we can but keep her," exclaimed the boatswain; and, +followed by Ronald, he hurried aft, calling to some of his mates to +assist him. + +The officers and crew had enough to do at that moment, for the Frenchmen +trusting to their number, which appeared to be very great, were swarming +on the forecastle, and rushing along the bowsprit with the intention of +boarding the "Thisbe." + +"Boarders! repel boarders!" shouted the captain, setting the example in +attacking the first Frenchmen who presented themselves as they sprang +forward. + +Now the clash of steel, the sharp report of pistols, intermingled with +the roar of the great guns--those on the quarter and main-decks still +continuing to pour a destructive fire into the enemy's starboard bow as +they could be brought to bear the Frenchmen, from the position in which +their ship was placed, being only able to reply with musketry. Their +critical position made them rush on and on again with the greatest +frenzy, but each time they were driven back with heavy loss, many of +them falling overboard from off the bowsprit, or being cut down by the +British seamen. Meantime Rolf Morton and his followers were busily +engaged in lashing the enemy's bowsprit to their capstan with such ropes +as they could lay hands on. Captain Courtney looked round, and saw how +they were engaged. + +"Admirably done, Mr Morton," he cried out. "Keep her there, and we +will give a good account of the Frenchmen in her." + +At that moment the enemy, with loud shouts and _sacres_ and other oaths, +came rushing forward in greater numbers than before, intending to drop +down on the "Thisbe's" deck, and hoping to overwhelm her crew by their +numbers. Again they felt the effect of British cutlasses. Desperately +as they fought, they were once more driven back with diminished numbers +to the ship. In vain the Frenchmen endeavoured to free their ship from +the position in which they had placed her. The "Thisbe" stood on, +towing them after her. Scarcely one of their guns could be brought to +bear, but the marines, however, kept up a hot and destructive fire of +musketry on the deck of the frigate, from the tops as well as from some +of her quarter-deck guns which had been run in midships fore and aft. +Though the darkness prevented their taking good aim, no sooner was it +known that the bowsprit was being made fast to the capstan of the +English frigate, than the whole of their fire was turned in that +direction. The lashings were not yet completed. Showers of bullets +fell around the brave men engaged in the work. Several had fallen. The +boatswain did not think of himself, but he dreaded lest his son should +be hit. He was considering on what message he should send him to +another part of the ship, when he felt a sharp blow, his fingers relaxed +from the rope he was grasping, and he fell to the deck. He had the +feeling that he had received his death wound. Ronald saw what had +happened, and in an instant was on his knees supporting his father's +head. + +What thought he then of the fierce contest raging? What did he care who +gained the victory? All his feelings were concentrated on his father. +Was he mortally wounded, or would he recover? He entreated some of the +men to carry him below, but they were at that moment too much occupied +to attend to him. Rolf recovered slightly. + +"No, no, boy; let me remain here," he said in a firm voice. "All hands +have work enough to do; I am but hit in the leg, and if they would set +me on my feet again I could still be of use." + +But Ronald did not heed him, and continued imploring the men to carry +the boatswain below. Just then the lashings were torn away, and the +French frigate floated clear of the "Thisbe." Cries of disappointment +escaped from the English crew, but they redoubled their efforts to +cripple their opponent, so as once more to get hold of her. Meantime +several of the men, being now at liberty, offered to take the boatswain +below, but he desired to be left on deck. + +"I'll see the fight out, lads," he answered. "Help me up, some of you, +and pass this handkerchief round the limb. Cheer up, Ronald, I'm not so +badly hurt as you fancy, boy." + +"Hurra, lads! here she comes again; we'll have her fast this time," +shouted the captain at this juncture. + +The "Thisbe," deprived of her after-sail, paid off before the wind, and +thus the French frigate ran directly into her, on the starboard quarter, +the enemy's bowsprit hanging over the stump of her mainmast. The +opportunity of securing the French ship was not lost, though her crew +attempted to rush on board, as before, to prevent the operation. + +While the captain and most of the superior officers who had escaped +wounds or death were engaged in repelling them, Rolf caused himself to +be brought nearer to the mainmast, that he might superintend the crew in +lashing the bowsprit to it. + +This time they took care that it should not again break away; and now +the "Thisbe," running directly off before the wind, dragged the +Frenchman after her. + +The fight had been hot before, but it became hotter still. Again and +again the Frenchmen endeavoured to cut away those second lashings, but +the English marines kept up so hot a fire, that each time the attempt +was frustrated. Still the enemy showed no signs of yielding. Something +must be done. Wounded as he was, Morton dragged himself up to where the +captain was standing. + +"I beg your pardon, Captain Courtney, but if we could get a couple of +guns run out abaft on the main-deck, we could silence that fellow pretty +quickly," he said, touching his hat with all due formality. + +It was somewhat out of rule for the boatswain to offer his advice +unasked to the captain, but under the circumstances the irregularity was +easily overlooked by such a man as Captain Courtney. + +"You are right, Mr Morton," he answered; "send the carpenter and his +crew aft, Mr Calder," to the second lieutenant. "Get the two after +guns on the main-deck ready to run out astern as soon as we have some +ports made for them." + +Having given this order, the captain descended to the main-deck. + +Mr Gimbol, the carpenter, soon made his appearance there from below, +where he had been going his rounds through the wings, to stop any +shot-holes which might have been made between wind and water. + +With axes and saws he and his crew set to work, but the upper transom +beam resisted all their efforts. + +"We must blow out some ports," exclaimed the captain. "Send the firemen +here." + +A gang of men with buckets were quickly on the spot. The guns were +pointed aft. "Fire!" cried the captain. The two guns went off +together, and as the suffocating smoke blew off, two holes with jagged +edges were seen in the stern, but flames were bursting out around them. +These, however, the firemen with their buckets quickly extinguished, and +the guns, being again loaded, opened their fire through them on the deck +of the Frenchman. The effect produced from this unexpected quarter was +terrific. Fore and aft the shot flew crashing between the decks, seldom +failing to find some victims, and oftentimes carrying off the heads of +half-a-dozen men, as they stood at their guns, in its course from one +end of the ship to the other. Never were guns more rapidly worked than +were those two twelve-pounders on board the "Thisbe." The captain stood +by, encouraging the men. + +Rolf Morton went about, badly wounded as he was, to ascertain where his +services were most required. Ronald followed his father, dreading every +moment to see him fall from the effects of his first wound, or to find +that he was again hit. Once more they returned to the upper deck. +Their numbers were falling, wounds were being received, and havoc was +being made aloft and on every side. The masts of the French ship were +still standing, but from the shrieks and cries which proceeded from her +decks, there seemed little doubt that she was suffering even more than +the "Thisbe." Ronald kept watching the enemy. + +"See, father!--see!" he exclaimed. "Down, down they come!" He pointed +at the Frenchman's foremast. It bent on one side, the few ropes which +held it gave way, and crash it came down over the side. The mainmast +stood, but the mizenmast in an instant afterwards followed the foremast, +preventing the crew from working the greater number of the guns. +However, with those still unencumbered they continued to fire away with +the greatest desperation. The English seamen fought on with the same +determined courage as at first. They had made up their minds that they +would take the enemy, and there was not a man on board who would have +given in till they had done so, or till the ship sunk under them. +Half-an-hour passed away. It seemed surprising that either ship could +float with the pounding they gave each other, or that any human beings +could survive on their decks amid the storm of shot and bullets rushing +across them. At length a loud cheer burst from the throats of the +English seamen, the Frenchman's last remaining mast was seen to lean +over, and down it came with a tremendous crash, crushing many in its +fall, and completely preventing the crew from working any of their guns. + +"They will give in now, father, to a certainty," exclaimed Ronald. + +"Not so sure, boy; see, they are going to make a desperate attempt to +revenge themselves." + +"Here they come!" he answered, and then the cry arose from the English +ship of, "Boarders! repel boarders!" + +Once more the Frenchmen came on with the most determined courage. +Captain Courtney and some of his officers and men who were aft threw +themselves before the enemy, to stem the torrent which threatened to +pour down on the "Thisbe's" decks; but with such fury and desperation +did the Frenchmen come on, that many of the English were driven back, +and there seemed no little probability that the former would gain their +object. Rolf Morton, on perceiving this, and forgetting his wound, +seized a cutlass, and calling on all the men at hand, followed by +Ronald, sprang aft to the aid of his captain. His assistance did not +come a moment too soon. Captain Courtney was brought to his knee, and a +French officer, who had led the boarders, was on the point of cutting +him down, when Ronald sprang to his side, and thrusting his cutlass +before him, saved him from the blow intended for his head. Ronald would +have had to pay dearly for his gallantry, had not Rolf cut the Frenchman +down at the moment he was making, in return, a fierce stroke at his son. + +More of the English crew, led by their officers, now came hurrying aft, +and the Frenchmen, disheartened by the loss of their leader, again +retreated to their ship, leaving eight or ten of their number dead or +dying behind them. Still no one cried for quarter; and though not a gun +was discharged, the marines and small-arm men kept up as hot a fire as +before. + +All this time the "Thisbe's" two after-guns on the maindeck kept +thundering away at them, fearfully diminishing their numbers. And thus +the fight continued: they made, however, no signal of yielding. + +The Frenchmen had scarcely retreated from their daring attempt to board +the frigate, when the lashings which secured their bowsprit to her began +to give way. The boatswain had, however, got a hawser ready ranged +along the deck, and this, in spite of the fire kept up at them, he, with +his mates and others of the crew, secured to the gammoning of the +Frenchmen's bowsprit. + +"Now the lashings may go as soon as they like!" he exclaimed, almost +breathless with the exertion; "the Frenchmen will gain little by the +change." + +So it proved: the enemy's ship, when the lashings gave way, dropped +astern a few fathoms, and there she hung, towed onwards, as before, by +the "Thisbe," whose crew were thus enabled to rake her decks with more +deadly effect. Still the battle raged as at first. + +At length some voices were heard from the bowsprit of the French +frigate. + +"Quarter! quarter!" was the cry. "We have struck! we yield!" + +"Cease firing, my lads!" shouted the captain; "we have won the night!" + +The order was obeyed. For an instant there was a perfect silence, a +contrast to the uproar which had so long continued; even the wounded +restrained the expression of their sufferings; and then there burst +forth one of those hearty cheers, which few but English seamen can give, +and which they so well know how to give with effect. And now many of +the brave fellows who had hitherto worked away at their guns without +flinching, sank down with fatigue, Rolf Morton even then would not go +below. + +"I'll stay on deck and see the enemy secured, and get the ship put to +rights a little," he answered; "I am only just showing my boy how I wish +him to behave. While there is duty to do, and a man has strength to do +it, he should not shrink from it, whatever it may cost him." + +Ronald listened to what his father was saying. + +"That's it, father; I'll try and stick to that," he observed, looking up +in his father's face. + +It was now necessary to board the French ship to take possession of her, +but how that was to be accomplished was the question, for not a boat +that could swim remained on board either of the combatants. + +The second lieutenant--one of the few officers unwounded--volunteered to +work his way along the hawser, and a midshipman and several of the men +offered to accompany him; Ronald begged leave to go also. + +In those days, strange as it may seem, many seamen could not swim. + +The boarding-party commenced their somewhat hazardous passage from one +ship to the other. The "Thisbe" had but slight way on her; the hawser +was consequently somewhat slack, and the weight of the people on it +brought it down into the water. The lieutenant and several of the men +clung on, but the midshipman was by some means or other washed off. +Unable to swim, he cried out loudly for help, but no one could afford +it, till Ronald let go his own hold of the rope, and swam towards him. +Of course to regain the hawser was hopeless, and it was equally +difficult to swim back to the "Thisbe." Ronald had practised swimming +from his childhood, and was as much at home in the water as on shore. +He struck out with one hand while he supported the young midshipman with +the other. His first fear was that the French ship would run them down, +but a few strokes carried him and his charge clear of that danger. He +next attempted to get alongside her. He looked up, and saw her dark +hull rising up above him. There were plenty of ropes hanging overboard; +he found one that appeared secure above; he put it into the midshipman's +hands. + +"There, Mr Glover," he exclaimed; "we shall be the first on the enemy's +deck after all." + +He was not long in finding another rope for himself, and to the surprise +of the Frenchmen they found two stranger boys standing on their +quarter-deck. + +"Have you come to take possession?" asked a lieutenant in tolerable +English. "What! are all your superior officers killed?" + +"Oh, no, monsieur," answered the midshipman; "they will be on board +presently; but we are somewhat lighter craft, so made quicker work of +it." + +The second lieutenant of the "Thisbe" and his companions soon made their +appearance, having clambered in over the bows; and the French frigate, +which was found to be the "Concorde"--one of the largest class in the +French navy--was formally taken possession of. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +MORNING AFTER THE BATTLE--RONALD PLACED ON QUARTERDECK--RONALD SENT ON +BOARD THE PRIZE--A SUSPICIOUS SAIL IN SIGHT--GALLANT DEFENCE OF THE +"THISBE"--NIGHT CLOSES ON THE FIGHT. + +As the bright cheerful light of morning broke on the world of waters, +there lay the two frigates, which, when the sun went down, looked so +gallant and so trim--now shorn of their beauty, shattered and blackened +wrecks. + +The foremast of the "Thisbe" was alone standing, while all the masts of +the French frigate, with their sails, and yards, and rigging, hung in +masses of wreck and confusion over her sides. The decks covered with +blood and gore, and the shattered remnants of mortality, presented a +horrible and disgusting scene; while the broken bulwarks, the decks +ploughed up, the wheel shot away, and the ruined condition of every part +of the ship, showed the desperate nature of the conflict, and told of +the bravery of the gallant French crew who had endured so much before +they had consented to yield. + +Onboard the "Thisbe" the carpenters were busily employed in patching up +some of the boats, so that the prisoners might be removed from the +prize, while the rest of the crew were engaged in clearing away the +wreck of the masts, and in preparing to make sail on the ship. + +Ronald was in attendance on his father in his cabin. The boatswain had +been more hurt than he supposed; but he did his utmost to conceal his +suffering from his son. + +The shout was heard: "All hands on the quarter-deck!" + +The captain was about to address the crew. + +Rolf Morton tried to rise, but he soon found that he could not. "Go, +Ronald, and hear what the captain has to say. It will be something +pleasant, I doubt not," he said, pressing his boy's hand. "Come and +tell me when you are dismissed." + +Ronald sprang up the hatchway. The men were mustering aft. The captain +and all the officers stood on the quarter-deck--not as usual, in those +bright and shining uniforms, but in the dress in which they had fought, +most of them still bearing about their persons the marks of the battle. + +"My lads, I have called you aft to thank you for the gallant way in +which you have fought this ship, and captured an enemy with more men, +more guns, and of larger tonnage than ourselves," he began. "I do from +my heart thank you; and our king and countrymen will thank you, and you +may well be proud of what you have done. I wish that I could reward you +as you deserve; but when all have done their duty it is difficult to +pick out any for especial notice. Still there is one man who much +helped us in capturing the enemy. That is the boatswain. He caught, +and kept him, by lashing his bowsprit to our mainmast, and by his advice +we blew open the stern ports which so mainly contributed to our success. +His son, too, saved my life, and afterwards saved the life of Mr +Glover, and was, with him, the first on board the prize. The boatswain +will, I hope, receive his reward hereafter; but as I have the means of +showing my appreciation of his son's gallantry, I gladly do so at once: +I have therefore rated him as a midshipman on board this ship. I am +sure that no one will think that I have done more for him than he +deserves. Come aft, Mr Ronald Morton, and receive the welcome of your +new messmates." + +Ronald came forward almost with a bound, though perfectly unconscious +that he was moving more rapidly than usual. The wish of his heart was +accomplished. His countenance beamed with satisfaction, and he frankly +put out his hand towards the midshipmen and the other members of their +berth. They all in turns took it and shook it warmly; but none grasped +it more heartily than did young Glover. + +"I must thank you for myself, Morton," he exclaimed, in a tone which +showed that he spoke from his heart. "If it had not been for you I +should have been among the missing, to a certainty." + +Morton's own heart was too full to answer. Numberless emotions were +working in his bosom. He felt a proud satisfaction at having obtained +the rank for which he was conscious he was fitted; he sincerely rejoiced +at having been the means of saving his captain from a severe wound, if +not from death; and scarcely less so at having prevented Glover from +being drowned. All these feelings kept him silent: but his silence was +understood; and perhaps no one felt more pleased at seeing him on the +quarter-deck than did Captain Courtney himself. + +"Now back to your duty, my lads," he exclaimed; "we have plenty of work +before us." + +Three hearty cheers burst unpremeditatedly from the throats of the +crew--and then in high spirits they separated to their respective +duties. The work was accomplished, as the captain knew it would be, all +the better for this little interruption. + +Ronald hurried below. He wanted to be the first to tell his father of +his good fortune, as he called it. + +Rolf Morton was less surprised than he expected. "I was certain it +would be so some day, if your life was spared," he observed. "And now, +my boy, that your foot is on the first ratline, mount upwards by your +own exertions. Be thankful to others who help you, but trust to +yourself for success." + +Ronald had got his father to select a little fellow called Bobby Doull, +as his boy, whom he had, when he first came on board, taken under his +protection. + +Bobby had been sent to sea from a workhouse. If not an orphan he was in +the condition of one; for his father, who was a seaman, had deserted +him, and had not, since he was an infant, been heard of. Ronald had, at +first, frequently to do battle in his cause; but he at length taught the +other boys to respect him, and to let Bobby alone. + +Bobby did his best to repay the kindness he had received, by his +constant attention to the wants of the wounded boatswain. + +Ronald had now to mess with the midshipmen. One of his first duties was +to visit the prize, as soon as the boats had been got ready to transfer +the prisoners to the "Thisbe." + +Glover had insisted on lending him a uniform, jacket, and dirk, till he +could obtain a suit of his own. + +Ronald did not hesitate about accepting the offer; and, as Doull told +the boatswain, he looked every inch a midshipman. + +Very little had been done when Ronald returned to the prize towards +getting her into order; and as he looked fore and aft along the decks, +it seemed scarcely possible that she could ever be put in a condition at +sea, to make sail, so as to reach a British port in safety. Some of her +crew were already mustered on deck, but others were keeping below. He +was accordingly directed to take a party of men round the decks to send +them up. As he passed it, he looked into the midshipman's berth, where +a boy, whose life he had probably been the means of preserving at the +time of boarding, still lay. + +The French midshipman recognised him immediately. "Ah! come in, my +friend!" he exclaimed, in broken English: "I want to recompense you for +what you did for me: but--they told me that you were a ship's boy, and +now I see that you are of the same rank as myself." + +"I was a ship's boy when I found you under the masts, but now I am a +midshipman," answered Ronald. "But tell me your name--I shall be glad +to help you in any way I can." + +"My name--ah--they call me Alfonse Gerardin," answered the French +midshipman. "I am obliged to you for your kindness. A prisoner is +little able to requite it. Perhaps I may some day--as I should wish to +do." + +"I have done nothing to deserve even thanks," said Ronald. "But I must +not stay. I will come and see you again as soon as I can." + +Mr Strickland, the first lieutenant of the "Thisbe," being badly +wounded, Mr Calder, the second, was directed to take charge of the +prize. + +Robert Rawson, an old master's mate, was ordered to go as his second in +command, with Glover and Morton as midshipmen, and a master's assistant +called Twigg. + +Ronald wished to have remained to look after his father; but Rolf would +not hear of it. + +"You'll be better in another ship, away from me, boy," he remarked. +"The doctor and Bobby Doull will look after me. I shall return to my +duty in a few days--never fear!" + +The peculiar talents of the prize-master of the "Concorde," honest Tom +Calder, were now brought into full play. Head and hand were busily +employed from morning till night, and neither grew weary. Where the +hardest work was to be done, there Tom's cheery voice was heard and his +helping hand was to be found, and before the two, difficulties, at first +deemed insurmountable, vanished like magic. + +Tom had naturally a strong fellow feeling for Ronald. He remembered his +own annoyances under similar circumstances, and he fancied that Ronald +would have to undergo the same. He had, hitherto, scarcely spoken to +Ronald, but no sooner did he take the command of the "Concorde," than he +singled him out to superintend any work requiring more than usual care +and judgment. + +Ronald in no way disappointed him; everybody, indeed, on board the +prize, worked well, and with a will, and in a wonderfully short space of +time jury-masts were rigged, and sails were ready for hoisting. + +It was evening; the two frigates lay within a few hundred fathoms of +each other: the "Thisbe," from having her foremasts standing, had a far +wider range of vision than her prize. "The `Thisbe' is signalling us, +sir," said Morton to Mr Calder. + +"Get the signal-book, and see what she is saying," was the answer. + +The meaning of the signals was soon ascertained. + +"A sail in the south-west," Morton read; "An enemy--Prepare for action." + +"That's just like him," exclaimed Mr Calder; "if the stranger was a +seventy-four he would prepare to fight her. It is to be hoped, though, +that she is only another frigate, and then, in spite of the loss of our +masts, we may be able to give a good account of her." + +Ronald was ready enough to fight, but could not help thinking that they +just then had had enough of it, and therefore hoped that the stranger +might prove a friend. + +Some time must elapse before the point could be ascertained, and during +the interval every effort was made to get sail on the two ships, not for +the purpose of flying, but to enable them the better to manoeuvre, +should fighting be the order of the day. + +At length Ronald went below to snatch a mouthful of food, and took the +opportunity of paying a visit to the wounded midshipman, Alfonse +Gerardin. He had been placed in the gun-room with the rest of the +French officers; he lifted up his head as Ronald entered the cabin. + +After returning the salutation, he remained silent, and then he +exclaimed, somewhat bitterly, "Ah, how different are our lots! you have +gained a victory, have come out of the battle unhurt, and have been +placed on the first step of the ladder, up which you may climb to the +highest--while here I lie, a prisoner badly wounded, and, alas! have +just discovered that I have lost the only friend I had in the world." + +"Oh, you are mistaken; I am sure that I have many, and so would you if +you proved them," said Ronald, in a cheerful tone. "You are wounded and +ill; when you recover you will be in better spirits; but tell me, who is +the friend whose loss you mourn?" + +"He was the second lieutenant of this ship, and he was killed early in +the action with you," answered young Gerardin, with a sigh. "He was a +brave man. I loved him as a son loves his father, and for long I +thought he was my father. Only just before we were going into action +did he tell me that I should find all the particulars about myself in a +box, in a house where we lived when we were on shore, near Brest. I +thought at first that he was jesting, and asked no questions, and it was +only after he was killed that I believed he spoke the truth. Poor dear +Pierre Gerardin! you were always kind and good to me, and I shall never +see you again." + +The young foreigner gave way to his grief with a vehemence which +somewhat astonished Ronald, accustomed to the more phlegmatic +temperaments of the north. He tried to comfort him, but in vain, and +when the surgeon came he intimated to Ronald that he had better leave +him, as talking to a stranger seemed to agitate him in an extraordinary +degree. + +"He seems very sorry for the loss of his guardian, but he is an odd +fellow, and I don't quite like the look of his countenance," said Ronald +to himself, as he left the cabin. + +As soon as he reached the deck he looked out to ascertain what progress +the stranger had made. Her courses were already seen from the deck, +appearing above the horizon. The work on board the two frigates was +going forward as energetically as ever. Still there was yet much to be +done before they could be put in good fighting order. The "Thisbe" was +by far the most advanced of the two, still the bravest on board would +rather have avoided than sought a fight just then. On came the +stranger. + +"Well, Morton, just say what you think of her?" said Dicky Glover, +handing a telescope to Ronald; "there's a mighty Frenchified look about +those topsails." + +"I have not much experience in the matter," answered Ronald, modestly; +"but she looks very like the `Concorde,' as she appeared when standing +out toward us." + +"That's what Mr Calder and the rest think," observed Glover. "Well, we +are ready for the fellow whoever he may be; and for my part, I'd sooner +blow our prize up into the sky than let her be taken from us; wouldn't +you, Morton?" + +Ronald was not quite so sure of that, and he suspected that Dicky +himself, if put to the test, might change his mind. + +The stranger in a short time drew near enough to see the signals which +the "Thisbe" began to make. Her answers were watched for with intense +interest on board both ships. Mr Calder had his signal-book open on +deck. + +"There goes up the stranger's bunting," he exclaimed; "now we shall see +what he has got to say for himself." Again and again his glass was at +his eye: at length he shut it up with a loud slap. + +"I thought as much," he added; "he's a Frenchman; but he will find the +`Concorde' a tough morsel if he attempts to swallow her, after she has +belonged to us." + +Captain Courtney arrived before long at the same conclusion, and ordered +the prize to stand to the northward, under all the sail she could carry. + +Tom Calder received the order with a very bad grace. "I thought that he +would at least have let us stop to help him to fight it out," he +muttered to himself as he put his hand to his mouth to issue the +necessary orders to his scanty crew. + +Sail was made on the prize, while the "Thisbe" hauled up her courses, +and stood slowly after her to draw the enemy more away from the land +before the commencement of their expected contest. + +Mr Calder felt that he had no right to question his commander's +judgment; he could not help seeing, also, that could he effect his +escape, he might possibly fall in with another British cruiser, and send +her to the "Thisbe's" assistance. + +Even with more intense interest than at first, the approach of the +stranger was watched from the deck of the "Concorde." + +The prize had got a mile from the "Thisbe" when the French surgeon made +his appearance on deck, to enjoy a mouthful of fresh air, after his +fatiguing duties below. His eager glance, and the sudden lighting up of +his eye, showed that he fully comprehended the state of affairs. + +Among the many accomplishments Ronald had obtained at Lunnasting was a +certain amount of French. He could not speak fluently, but he could +understand what was said. He could not help asking the surgeon what he +thought about the stranger coming up from the southward. + +"That she is one of the fastest frigates belonging to our navy," was the +answer. "We were expecting her here about this time; you have no chance +of escaping her. We were to have cruised together; perhaps we shall do +so now." + +"Ask him what sort of a man is her captain," said Mr Calder, who saw +Ronald talking to the surgeon. + +Ronald put the question. + +"There are two opinions," said the surgeon, making a face. "He would be +a coward who would refuse to attack our late antagonist in the condition +to which we have reduced her." + +"All right," observed Mr Calder, when he heard the remark; "if there +are two opinions about a man's courage it is seldom that the favourable +one is the right; we shall see, though." + +In accordance with his orders, though much against his inclination, +Lieutenant Calder stood away from the scene of the approaching combat. + +A flash and a puff of smoke was seen, and soon afterwards a low +thundering noise boomed along the waters. The French frigate had fired +her first shot at the "Thisbe." + +"I hope it did not hit her!" exclaimed Morton. "Oh, how I wish we were +there to help her!" + +The same sentiment was expressed by all on board. + +It seemed probable that the first shot did hit, for the Frenchman now +luffed up and fired his broadside at the "Thisbe." She waited till he +bore away again, and then returned the compliment. + +For a few minutes the firing ceased. Probably neither of the combatants +had committed as much damage to each other as they expected, and were +not desirous of throwing away their shots. + +Ronald thought all the time of his father, and the danger to which he +was exposed, for considering the comparatively defenceless state of the +"Thisbe" he could not help dreading the result. + +The breeze increased, and the "Concorde" got further and further from +the scene of contest. Again the firing commenced. All hands knocked +off work to watch the progress of the fight. The officers forgot even +to recall them to their duty. The French surgeon and several of the +wounded prisoners crawled up on deck to watch it also. + +"There they go at it! Well done, `Thisbe'!" exclaimed Tom Calder. +"Never saw a more rapidly delivered broadside. If she had all her spars +she wouldn't be long in taking that ship, too. Not certain that she +won't do it now. Hurra! there's one of the Frenchman's spars shot +away." + +"Hurra for the `Thisbe'!" shouted the crew. "She's the girl to win the +day. Hurra! hurra!" + +"Not so sure of that," muttered Rawson, an old mate, who seldom saw +things in a pleasant light. No wonder, for he had seen numbers who had +come to sea long after him promoted over his head, and were now +commanders and post captains, while he remained almost without hope in a +subordinate position. He was pretty certain to be senior of the mess in +whatever ship he sailed, and that was his only consolation, as it gave +him some little authority, and full licence to growl to his heart's +content. + +The firing became hotter than ever, though at the distance the +"Concorde" was now from the two combatants it was difficult to observe +the changes of the fight. Still all the glasses were kept in that +direction. + +"There! there! I said it would be so!" exclaimed Rawson, still keeping +his eye at the glass. + +"What has happened?" inquired Ronald, eagerly. + +"Why, the Frenchmen have shot away the `Thisbe's' foretopmast, as far as +I can make out--her jury-masts, too," answered Rawson. "The `Thisbe's' +done for, I'm afraid." + +"What's that you say, Rawson?" exclaimed Lieutenant Calder. "Done for! +not she; she's not done firing, at all events." + +Rawson said no more; still it was very evident that the "Thisbe" was +again almost a complete wreck, while the Frenchman had her rigging +comparatively uninjured. The firing on both sides began to decrease. +Evening was now drawing on, the wind was increasing, and dark clouds +were coming up from the westward. For several minutes not a shot had +been heard. Flashes there were, but they were from the clouds, and +heaven's artillery now rattled through the sky. The combatants could +now scarcely be discerned in the distance. + +"The `Thisbe' has struck," cried Rawson. "I said it would be so. I +knew I should never have such luck as to take a prize like this, and to +keep our ship." + +"I don't believe it," exclaimed Mr Calder. "Captain Courtney would +never have given in to the Frenchman without a harder tussle for it." + +"Perhaps Captain Courtney has been killed," croaked out poor Rawson, who +was very bitter at the prospect of losing his long-looked-for promotion, +which he would have obtained as soon as the prize was carried into port. +Tom Calder, too, had every reason to wish to escape the enemy, with the +same object in view, and he was not a man to throw a chance away. + +The wind was fair, and the coming darkness and the rising gale would +favour their escape. He now clapped on every inch of canvas which could +possibly be set, and did his utmost to keep up the spirits of his crew, +rating Mr Rawson soundly for his expressing his forebodings of ill. + +The wind increased, and howled through the rigging; the seas came +roaring and hissing up alongside, as the frigate, driven onward by the +gale, went surging through the foaming water. + +Thus on she went for some time. + +"If we had but our masts the enemy would have a hard job to come up with +us," observed Dicky Glover to Ronald. "As it is, I doubt whether she'll +find us, after all." + +The two midshipmen were standing aft, looking over the taffrail. + +"I wish that I thought we should escape her," answered Ronald; "but I +say--look!--look!--what's that out there?" + +At that moment there was a break in the clouds, and through it a gleam +of light fell on the lofty sails of a ship coming up within gunshot +astern. + +"The French frigate! I knew it would be so," said the rough voice of +old Rawson. + +There could be little doubt that he was right. The stranger was +supposed by the French officers on board to be the "Atalante," a frigate +of the same size as the "Concorde." What hope then that the latter +could successfully resist her? Not many men besides Tom Calder would +have had any hope of escaping. + +"Never cry out till you are caught," was his motto on similar occasions. + +"That vessel astern has not yet made us out," he observed to Rawson. +"Though should she prove to be the `Atalante,' perhaps we may still +escape her, or she may be a friend after all." + +"Not likely that last, sir," said Rawson, "but whether friend or foe, +here she comes! She has made us out clearly enough, too, that I'll be +sworn." + +For a short time the clouds had closed in, and the stranger was hidden +from view, but they again breaking, she was seen like some huge dark +monster, towering up towards the sky, surging onwards on the starboard +quarter of the "Concorde." + +"We shall soon see now, sir, what she is," observed Rawson to his +superior. + +The bright flash of a gun, and an eighteen-pound shot, which came +crashing into the side of the prize left that point very little in +doubt. + +"Man the starboard guns!" cried Mr Calder. "We'll show the Frenchmen +that though we have lost our wings we have still got our beaks." + +With a hearty cheer--though, from the paucity of their numbers, not a +very loud one--the men went to the guns. + +Could they beat off the enemy? They would try, at all events. Rawson +in a moment forgot his forebodings, and was all life and courage. The +enemy was seen to be shortening sail, so as not to pass the "Concorde." + +"Fire!" cried Lieutenant Calder. The men obeyed with alacrity, but +scarcely had the shot left the mouths of the guns than the enemy replied +with a crashing broadside, which shot away several of the stays of the +jury-masts, knocked over three or four of the crew, and reduced the +frigate almost to the state of wreck in which she had been found when +captured. + +Rawson was the only officer wounded, but still he cheered on the crew. + +"We'll not give in lads! Old England for ever!" he exclaimed, putting +his right hand to a gun-tackle, and hauling away. The other arm had +been hit. + +In vain were all the efforts of those gallant men. + +"Here she comes!" was the cry. "Boarders! repel boarders!" + +The enemy gave a sheer to port, and with a loud crash ran alongside the +"Concorde." Grappling-irons were hove aboard her and the next instant +the Frenchmen, in overpowering numbers, rushed like a torrent along her +decks. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +THE "THISBE'S" CREW PREPARE FOR A FRESH FIGHT. + +The chief anxiety of Captain Courtney when he ascertained that the +approaching ship was an enemy, was to secure the escape of the prize. +She would indeed have been of very little use to the "Thisbe" in +repelling an attack, as the French frigate from having all her canvas +would have been able to manoeuvre so as to engage each of them singly. + +"There she goes, and I'll engage Tom Calder's heart is heavier than any +one's aboard here at having to run away!" exclaimed Captain +Courtney--"Good luck go with him. We'll try and keep the enemy engaged, +and wing him, if we can. You'll do your best, I know, my lads." + +A cheerful shout was the answer to this appeal, the last part of which +was addressed to the crew. + +The men were now seen fastening their handkerchiefs round their heads, +tightening their waistbands, most of them having thrown off their +jackets and shirts, standing at their guns with their brawny arms and +shoulders bare, like pictures of Hercules prepared for battle; not a +countenance that did not exhibit a cheerful alacrity for the battle. + +As the captain took a walk round the decks, he felt assured that what +men could do they would to maintain the honour of old England's flag. + +Many bore marks of their recent combat, and several still pale from loss +of blood, had insisted on rising from their hammocks and going to their +guns. Among them stood the boatswain, Rolf Morton; the captain shook +his head at him. + +"What! you could not trust us to fight the ship without you, Mr +Morton?" he said, in a kind tone of reproof. "I must let you stay now +you are on deck, but I would rather you were snug in your berth." + +"While I've breath for my pipe, and legs to stand on, I'd rather be +here, Captain Courtney, thank you, sir," answered Rolf. "I would lose +an arm rather than let our prize be retaken." + +"So would I, Mr Morton, and we will do our best to help her escape," +said the captain, and he passed on. + +With like kind words of encouragement both to officers and men, the +captain passed along the guns; not a man of the crew who would not have +dropped at their quarters, or gone down with the ship, rather than yield +as long as their brave chief bade them fight on. + +By the time Captain Courtney regained his post on the quarter-deck, the +enemy had got within gun-shot, and commenced firing with her longer +pieces at the "Thisbe," but the shot fell wide. + +"The enemy's gunners want practice," observed the captain to the third +lieutenant, who was doing duty as first, though he himself was severely +wounded. "We'll reserve our fire till they get a little nearer, and +then give it them with a will. They probably expect that we shall haul +down our colours after we have satisfied the calls of honour with a few +shots." + +"They don't know of whom they have got hold then," answered Mr Trenane, +the lieutenant. "In a light wind they might have had too much the +advantage of us, but with this breeze, the loss of our masts will matter +less, I hope." + +The enemy was now coming up rapidly on the "Thisbe's" quarter. A shot +from her bow chasers whistled through the latter's rigging; several +others followed as the guns could be brought to bear. + +On she came. + +The "Thisbe" had not fired. + +"Down with the helm and give it them, my lads!" suddenly shouted the +captain. + +The English frigate luffed up, and poured her whole broadside into the +bows of the approaching enemy. The Frenchman put down his helm and +returned the compliment, and now the two ships stood on for some time +exchanging broadsides as rapidly as they could. At length a shot struck +the "Thisbe's" fore-topmast; it had been wounded in the previous +engagement. Down it came with a crash, but so eagerly were the crew +engaged that few discovered what had happened. + +The master with a few hands flew aloft, and quickly cut away the wreck; +the crew redoubled their efforts. Still the uninjured condition of the +enemy's rigging gave her an important advantage; her shot came crashing +on board the "Thisbe." + +Whatever Captain Courtney might have thought, he appeared as cheerful +and confident as ever. His courage kept up that of the crew. The enemy +was frequently hulled. Now one spar was shot away; now another; his +fire slackened. The British crew cheered lustily. That hearty cheer +must have been heard along the Frenchman's decks. It showed him that +though his enemy was almost dismantled, the courage of the people was as +undaunted as ever. + +"We may not take him, but we may prevent his taking us," observed +Morton, as he moved among the crew. + +Just then the Frenchman's bow was seen to move up closer to the wind; +his tacks were hauled aboard, the breeze was freshening, and away he +stood on a bowline under all the sail he could set, leaving the +astonished crew of the British ship rubbing their eyes and wondering +what he was about. They, however, did not cease sending their shot +after him, as a parting compliment. + +"She has but hauled off to repair damages," observed the third +lieutenant to the captain. + +"Not so sure of that, Trenane," answered Captain Courtney; "probably her +captain and other superior officers have been killed or wounded, and the +rest suspect that we should prove too tough a morsel for them to +digest." + +Captain Courtney seemed to be right in his conjectures; the French +frigate stood on. + +All hands were instantly set to work to repair damages, to be ready for +her in case she should return. Many an eye cast an anxious glance in +the direction in which she was steering. The brave crew would have +welcomed her back, but they wished to be ready first to receive her. + +Again she was observed to alter her course. + +"She is coming back!" was the cry. "Hurra, lads, we'll give it her if +she does." + +They watched her eagerly. She was steering to the northward under all +sail. There could be little doubt that she was in pursuit of the +"Concorde." More energetically than ever the crew worked away, in the +hopes of being in a condition to go to the aid of their consort; but +every instant the wind was increasing, the sea was getting up, and their +task became more difficult. Dark clouds were gathering in the western +horizon. It was evident that a gale was brewing, and there were +appearances that it would be a severe one. The safety of the ship +demanded all the care of the officers and the redoubled exertions of the +men. The guns were secured, the shot holes stopped, the rigging knotted +and spliced as strongly as time would allow; everything moveable below +was lashed, and the ship's head was brought to the wind to meet the +expected blast. Had she had sea room she might have scudded, but, with +the land under her lee, that was out of the question. As a brave man +girds himself for an inevitable and deadly contest, so was the gallant +ship prepared for the desperate conflict with the elements. + +The British crew had not prepared unnecessarily to meet the gale, +although delayed; down it came at length upon them with even greater +fury than was expected. More than once it seemed as if the masts and +rigging would give way, and that the frigate would be driven helplessly +before its fury. Had a sail gone, had a rope given way, she might have +been hurried to destruction; but careful hands had secured the rigging, +every rope held, and there she lay nobly breasting the storm. Still she +drifted to the eastward, and, should the gale continue long, she after +all could not escape destruction. + +As the morning approached, the wind blew harder and harder. Daylight +exhibited no sign of its abating. All that day it continued, its fury +in no way decreased. The weary crew began to faint with their +exertions, but the officers went among them, and with cheering words +reanimated their spirits. The carpenter had often sounded the well. He +now reported that the ship had sprang a leak; the pumps must be manned; +the demand on the energies of the crew was increased. Still they worked +cheerfully. Even some of the wounded insisted on coming up to take +their spell at the pumps. + +Night again came on, but not for a moment during the whole course of it +did Captain Courtney leave the deck. Often and often did he look out +astern. He had good reason for so doing. The order was given to range +the cables. It might be necessary to anchor, to make, at all events, +the attempt to bring up the ship before she was driven on the enemy's +shores. + +The morning returned at last, and away to the leeward, amid the thick +driving spray, and through the pale cold cheerless light, a line of +coast rose above the tumbling waters. Calm, as if no storm was raging, +Captain Courtney walked the deck, his eye now turned astern--now at the +rigging of his ship. He sent Mr Trenane forward to see that the +anchors were ready for letting go. The lieutenant reported all ready. + +"Then we have done all that men can do to save the ship, and to +Providence we must trust the rest," observed the captain. + +Few words were exchanged by any on board, the crew were at their +stations, ready to perform any duty required of them; those told off to +labour at the pumps were working manfully; and thus they would have +continued till the noble ship had struck on the rocks, or gone down +beneath the waves. + +Hours passed by. Slowly but certainly she drove stern on towards the +land. The captain after a time was seen to look frequently over the +side, and to watch the land more earnestly. His countenance brightened. + +"There is hope for us yet," he observed to Mr Trenane; "the wind is +dropping." + +Such was the case. Rapidly the gale abated, the ship no longer laboured +as before, the leak was easily kept under, the sea quickly went down, +the wind got round to the southward, and by nightfall the "Thisbe," +under all sail, was steering a course for England. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +THE "CONCORDE" RECAPTURED BY THE "ATALANTE"--THE SHIPS IN A GALE--THE +"ATALANTE" WRECKED--RONALD SWIMS ASHORE--COMMUNICATION ESTABLISHED--THE +ENGLISH SHUT UP IN A TOWER. + +In vain Lieutenant Calder and the prize crew of the "Concorde" attempted +to resist the onslaught of the enemy. Several were killed, others were +wounded, and they soon found themselves completely overpowered. No time +was lost in conveying them on board the ship which had captured them, +which proved to be the "Atalante," a consort of their hard-won prize. +Most of the wounded French prisoners were removed likewise, that they +might be under the care of the chief surgeon of the ship, and among them +was Alfonse Gerardin. He had somewhat recovered his strength and +spirits, and now that he found himself no longer a prisoner, he talked +away freely as well with the young Frenchmen of his own rank as with the +English midshipmen. + +When the transfer of prisoners had been accomplished, the "Atalante" +took the "Concorde" in tow and made sail, but the wind increasing, the +hawser broke, and both ships had to look out for their safety +independently of each other. + +In consequence of the comparatively small number of the English +prisoners they were not very strictly guarded, and the officers were +allowed to go about the decks by themselves. + +The gale increased during the night, and when early in the morning +Ronald Morton went on deck, he found the French ship scudding before it +under bare poles. + +There was a good deal of confusion on board; the crew were labouring at +the pumps, but in anything but an energetic manner; some would suddenly +knock off, and halloa and bawl at their shipmates to come and help them, +but it was often long before their places were taken. On looking aloft +he saw, too, that the masts were wounded in several places, and though +the ship was placed in much greater peril by the way she had been +knocked about, it was with no little satisfaction that he observed the +battering she had received from the "Thisbe's" and "Concorde's" guns. +Before long he encountered Mr Calder, whose eyes were engaged as his +had been. + +"What do you think, sir, of the state of affairs?" he asked. + +"That they are as bad, Morton, as well can be," was the answer. +"Neither captain nor officers know what they are about, and it will be a +miracle if they do not cast the ship away." + +"Of course they will," observed Rawson, who had just then joined them; +"I said from the first that we should have no good luck, and what I said +has come true." + +"But other chaps among us said that we should have good luck," remarked +Twigg, the master's assistant, who was always fond of putting Rawson in +the wrong. "Now, you see, old fellow, it was just heads or tails--even, +you'll understand--and as ill-luck would have it, you happened to win." + +"It's the only thing I ever did win, then," answered poor Rawson, in a +melancholy tone. + +"Well, well, Rawson, the next time you prophesy ill, we'll all pray that +you may prove a false prophet," observed Mr Calder. "But, my lads, it +may before long be of very little consequence to most of us who is right +and who is wrong; unless these Frenchmen are steering for some shelter, +and know the coast perfectly, they will run us hard and fast on it +before the world is many hours older." + +Ronald on this said he would go and learn what he could from young +Gerardin, who would probably be able to ascertain what the Frenchmen +proposed doing. + +Ronald found his way to the sick-bay, where Alfonse was in his cot, able +to sit up and talk without difficulty. + +"What we are going to do, you demand?" he answered. "Why, let the ship +drive and go to destruction, for what I can tell; all on board seem to +have lost their wits, from the captain downwards. They would pitch me +out of the ship if they heard my remarks, so do not repeat them." + +When Ronald returned on deck he found things in no way mended. The +French crew appeared to be obeying their officers very slowly and +unwillingly; indeed, the ship was already in a state of semi-mutiny. +The officers, too, seemed to be issuing contradictory orders. Ronald +saw them examining a chart, but it was evident from their gestures that +they differed very much in opinion as to the course which should be +steered. No decision was arrived at, and the ship drove onwards towards +the coast of Finisterre. + +There were harbours and shelter there in abundance; but judgment and +good pilotage was required to take advantage of them, and these +qualities were wanting on board the "Atalante." + +The English officers stood grouped together, affording a strong contrast +to their French captors. Mr Calder was cool and collected as ever. + +"If the Frenchmen won't let us try and save the ship, we must do our +best to save our lives," he remarked. "Remember, in the first place, +let us all hold together and help each other. We may make a harbour and +run no risk of losing our lives, or we may drive on the rocks and have a +desperate struggle for them, but in either case, prisoners we shall +remain, only in the last we shall have a better chance of making our +escape in the end--let us keep that in view, whatever happens. Now, +lads! there is the land; it won't be long before we become more nearly +acquainted with it." + +Rawson, Morton, and the rest promised implicitly to follow Mr Calder's +directions. It was agreed that the instant the ship struck, Morton and +Twigg should hasten down to release their own men below, and to tell +them what had been resolved on. There was little doubt, even in the +expected extremity, that they would willingly follow Mr Calder's +directions. + +"In ten minutes we shall know our fate," said Mr Calder, calmly +watching the shore, towards which the helpless ship was rapidly driving. + +It consisted of a sandy beach, the ground rising a little beyond it, +with here and there a low building, and in the centre a ruined mill, or +fort, or watchtower--it was difficult to say what. + +The sandy beach might have offered some prospect that their lives would +be preserved, but in front of it rose among the foaming breakers a line +of dark rocks, and no break was perceived in them through which the ship +might force her way. + +"Few of those on board this ill-fated craft will see another day," +observed Rawson, as he eyed the threatening coast. But he no longer +spoke in a desponding tone; the moment of action was at hand, and such a +prospect always roused him up. + +"There's a fresh hand at the bellows, to help us along to our fate," he +added. "Well, let it do its worst; Jack Rawson won't flinch as long as +he has a head on his shoulders." + +Morton was what is called constitutionally brave, and the calmness of +his companions increased his courage. His friend, Dicky Glover, looked +at him with admiration; Morton's bearing gave him confidence. If one +who, so short a time before, was a ship's boy, was so cool and brave, of +course he who was born a gentleman, and had long been a midshipman, +ought to exhibit even more calmness and resolution. So in reality, at +this trying moment, Glover appeared as much the hero as did Morton. + +Mr Calder noted both of the lads, and his heart warmed with pride as he +marked the courage of his young countrymen, though he grieved at the too +great probability of their being cut off. + +The greater number of the Frenchmen were all this time agitated in the +greatest degree, each man following his own devices; the officers having +lost all shadow of control. Some had hurried below to put on their best +clothes, or to secure what valuables they possessed; others had broken +into the spirit-room, and with cans and bottles in their hands, came +reeling on deck, insisting on their officers drinking with them. Some +were dancing furiously; others were singing at the top of their voices, +but except a very few, no one was preparing for the inevitable +catastrophe. More than half were below when it came. + +"Secure that coil of rope, and hold on for your lives!" shouted Mr +Calder. + +The ship struck, the foremast instantly went by the board; the seas +furiously dashed up the frigate's sides, and washed through her ports +and over her deck. Each time she was struck, she shivered as if about +to be wrenched asunder. + +Numbers of the hapless crew were washed away. Men and officers shared +the same fate; some were seen for a time struggling between the beach +and the ship, but the cruel seas as they rushed back, carried them off, +and hurled them among the dark rocks, where life was speedily crushed +and washed out of them. + +Ronald, Glover, and Twigg, as directed, had instantly the ship struck, +hurried below to release their countrymen. The seamen, knowing what had +happened, were making desperate efforts to get out of the hold in which +they had been battened down. A capstan bar, which Morton and his +companions found outside, enabled them to accomplish their object. The +English seamen rushed upon deck, for the terrific sounds which reached +their ears, and the fierce concussions the ship was receiving, warned +that no time was to be lost, if they would preserve their lives. + +Morton was hurrying up with the rest, when he recollected the wounded +midshipman, Alfonse Gerardin. + +"His countrymen won't help him, of that I am pretty certain, and I +cannot leave the poor fellow to perish," he exclaimed to Glover, who was +near him. + +"I'll help you, whatever you do," answered Dicky Glover, who was as +ready to do a good deed as a mischievous one, if it was suggested to +him. + +"So will I, Mr Morton," said a seaman who had kept by the two +midshipmen from the moment he had got his liberty, and had moreover +possessed himself of the capstan bar, to serve him as a trusty weapon in +case of need. + +"Thank you, friend Truefitt," said Morton: "come along." + +Ronald was well pleased to get such an ally as honest Job Truefitt, for +there was not among the crew of the "Thisbe" a better seaman or a more +trustworthy, better-hearted fellow. + +While the rest were rushing on deck, Ronald and his companions made +their way along the deck to the sick-bay. Many of the wounded were +calling on their shipmates to come to their assistance, and uttering +imprecations fierce and terrible, when they found that they called in +vain. + +Gerardin was attempting to get up, but his strength failed him, and he +lay back, his countenance betokening a proud resignation to his own +fate, and scorn at the terror of the wretches who surrounded him. + +"What!" he exclaimed, when he saw Morton and Glover with Job Truefitt, +"have you Englishmen found time, amid all this confusion, to come and +look after a wounded wretch like me; an enemy too--who has been taught +with his utmost strength to hate the English?" + +"We Englishmen have been taught to help our enemies in distress, +mounseer," observed Job Truefitt, as, without waiting a moment to ask +leave, he lifted the wounded lad on his shoulders. "There's no time for +palavering. Come along, sirs." + +The midshipmen sprang on, helping Job to support his burden, and they +soon reached the upper-deck, when the scene of horror and confusion was +indescribable! Not without difficulty, and in great danger of being +washed off, they made their way to the after part of the quarter-deck, +where Mr Calder, with the other Englishmen, were assembled. + +The ship had driven with her larboard side to the shore, and as she +heeled over they were partly sheltered from the force of the seas, which +dashed in arches of foam high above her. + +The English lieutenant and his party had made fast a cask to the end of +the line they had secured, and were endeavouring to float it towards the +shore, where three or four people stood ready to receive it. In vain +they tried. Several times the cable got almost within their reach, and +was carried back again with the reflux of the wave. Morton, however, +observed to his satisfaction, that just at that part there were no +rocks, and that the seas rushed on without any break till they reached +the beach. + +"If I could but do it," thought Morton to himself. "I have swum through +some tolerably heavy seas on the Shetland coast." + +He at once made the proposal to Mr Calder. + +"Impossible!" was the answer. "You would be drowned, my boy, to a +certainty." + +"But I could do it, and whether I'm drowned or not, it matters little," +exclaimed Job Truefitt. "Here, who'll take charge of this here young +Frenchman?" + +Rawson offered also to make the attempt, but he was known not to be a +good swimmer. + +A thundering crash was heard. It was the fall of the remainder of the +foremast, and the breaking up of the fore part of the ship. It was a +strong hint to the English party to hasten whatever they might +undertake. + +"You'll let me go, Mr Calder?" said Morton again. + +He and Job Truefitt had secured some light line to the cask, which had +just been hauled up. It was again lowered, and the lieutenant nodded +his head, but his countenance was very sad, as if he had little hopes of +the success of the expedition. The instant his permission was gained, +Ronald and Job slid down the side of the ship, and were quickly borne on +with the cask towards the shore. They both struck out bravely, and soon +reached the cask. They had little at first to do, except to keep +themselves afloat. All those who anxiously watched them, knew that the +trial would come as they neared the beach, and got within the power of +the under suck of the receding waves. At first they merely accompanied +the cask, and supporting themselves by it, husbanded their strength. + +"They will be lost to a certainty, I know," observed Rawson. "If they +don't succeed, I don't know who will. I never saw a finer swimmer than +that man Truefitt." + +"Oh, I hope they will! I hope they will be saved!" cried Glover, in an +agony of terror for Morton, who had inspired him with the sincerest +affection. + +"There they go! bravely they swim!" cried Mr Calder. "They are ahead +of the cask--they dart forward--the undertow has got them. No!--they +are struggling desperately with it--they don't lose ground--on they +go!--No!" + +There was a cry that the sea had carried them back, but the next moment +their heads appeared on the top of a foaming sea, and on it rushed +towards the beach. + +Now was the critical moment. Their shipmates on board the wreck held +their breath as they watched their progress. One was seen to rise up on +the beach from out of a sheet of foam, and to hurry upwards; but there +was only one. He did not stop a moment. Down he dashed again. He had +a grasp of a rope, though the other end of which was held by the people +on the shore. + +Without hesitation, he plunged once more into the seething waters; he +did not again appear--there was a cry of despair--all thought he was +lost--but no--the next instant he was seen, and this time with a +companion, and aided by the people, who were on the watch for them, they +both together hurried up the beach, and the cask, with the line, was +hauled up after them. + +The great object was accomplished; a communication was secured with the +shore. The passage, however, was still full of danger. + +More line was procured. A traveller and slings were fitted, and Rawson +volunteered to lead the way. Should he succeed, the passage would be +somewhat less dangerous. + +The people on shore now tightened the rope. He took a supply of line +with which to haul the next person on shore. A shout from the English +seamen proclaimed that he was successful. + +It was now according to rule, under such circumstances, the privilege of +the youngest to proceed. Dicky Glover was ordered into the slings. + +"If I must go, may I take the young Frenchman?" he asked. "I know +Morton would wish it." + +"Yes, be sharp," answered Mr Calder, assisting himself to secure them +both. Away they went on their perilous passage. It was near sun-down +when the ship struck. It was now rapidly getting dark. What a night of +horrors was there for those who were compelled to spend it on board the +wreck. + +When Dicky Glover had nearly reached the shore, the surf almost tore +young Gerardin from the slings, and the hold he had of him. Almost +hopelessly he struggled. In another instant they both would have been +carried away, when Glover saw some one making his way through the +foaming water towards him. A friendly hand grasped his, and in another +minute he and his charge were hauled up out of the power of the sea. + +Ronald Morton, with a rope round his waist, had been the means of +rescuing him and Gerardin from death. Dicky began to thank him. + +"Only obeying orders--helping each other," answered Ronald. "But lend a +hand, Glover, we have plenty to do." + +Morton and his companions became very anxious for the fate of their +gallant superior. Had the frigate been his own ship, he would have been +the last to leave the wreck; but now, having seen his own people on +shore, he would have no hesitation in coming. + +Ronald applied to Gerardin, but he could get no information from his +confused countrymen as to what had become of the English lieutenant. +The Englishmen, notwithstanding this, continued to assist energetically +in hauling the people on shore. Each time a man reached the beach, they +hailed him, hoping to find that he was their officer. + +Suddenly, as they were hauling in on the line made fast to the +traveller, the main line became slack: alas! all communication with the +ill-fated ship was cut off. + +"Haul on it, lads!" shouted Rawson and Morton in concert. + +"It is heavy; there is some one on it," cried the men. "Steady, lads, +steady." + +Gradually they hauled in the line. The life of one more fellow-creature +might be saved. They hauled away. Yes, a man was there! was he still +alive, though? + +They hailed as he neared them. An English voice answered, "All right, +lads!" It was their own lieutenant. They welcomed him with a joyful +shout, which showed that he had won the honest affections of his men, a +prize worthy of an officer's aim. + +"I had a struggle for it," he observed, as soon as he was somewhat +recovered. "No sooner was I on the rope, than some of the wretches in +their madness cut it, and have so lost all means of reaching the shore +in safety. Still we will do what we can to help them." + +The Englishmen kept to this resolution. With unceasing watchfulness +they moved up and down along the beach, saving the lives of many who +would otherwise have fallen victims to the waves. + +The wearied seamen, their labours over, threw themselves on the sands to +rest, scarcely allowing the thought to trouble them of what next they +should do. They had not enjoyed many minutes' repose before they were +roused up by a party of soldiers, who, without much ceremony, marched +them all off to a tower in the neighbourhood, which Ronald recollected +observing before the ship struck. Here, in spite of all Mr Calder's +expostulations, they were locked up in an upper chamber without food or +water, and left to their own devices. + +It is not surprising if their remarks and reflections were not very +complimentary to the people on whose shores they had been thrown. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +JOB'S PLAN FOR ESCAPING--A HINT FROM GERARDIN--A ROPE BROUGHT IN A +BASKET--DESCENT FROM THE TOWER--THE GUARD MADE PRISONER--GET ON BOARD A +FISHING-BOAT. + +"If I'd my way I'd break out of this here hole, knock the mounseers down +that stands guard, and cut and run," observed Job Truefitt, as he woke +up after a sound sleep on some straw, in the afternoon of the day on +which he and his companions had been shut up in the tower. "We might +get hold of some fishing craft or other, and make good our escape. I've +heard of such things being done afore now." + +The sentiment was warmly echoed by the speaker's shipmates. + +Mr Calder and the other officers had overheard what was said. It was +intended that they should. Probably the same idea was occupying the +lieutenant's mind; he got up and took a survey of the interior of the +tower. The upper part was of wood, and through a chink came a ray from +the setting sun, and cast a bright light on the opposite wall. It +showed the prisoners the direction of the ocean, and the point towards +which they must make their way if they could escape from the tower. + +Mr Calder, with no little exertion, climbed up to the chink to look +out; the chamber was without any window; there had been one in the stone +wall, but that had been blocked up. From the dome shape of the roof it +appeared, too, that the chamber was the highest in the tower. Mr +Calder having completed his survey of the surrounding country, as far as +his position would allow him, descended to the floor. He said but +little; he was pondering the means of escape. To be kept a prisoner +now, almost at the commencement of what everybody said would be a long +war, was more than his philosophy would enable him to bear with +patience. Morton guessed what was passing in his superior's mind. + +"It would, indeed, be terrible to be shut up," he observed. "It is only +just what I ought to have expected," said Rawson. "My ill-luck will +stick to me to the end; no fear of that going, though everything else +leaves me." + +His remark produced a laugh among his companions, who, if they even +believed in ill-luck, had very little compassion on him when he +complained of it; indeed, it was suspected that he rather liked to be +joked on the subject. + +"I should like to have a look out too," said Ronald, climbing up by the +inequalities in the stone wall and the planks which formed the side of +the tower. + +The sun was just sinking in the ocean, and casting a rich glow over the +whole western sky. The storm had completely ceased, though the waves +still rolled in with a loud roar, lining the coast with a fringe of +foam. + +The tide was low; a few ribs on the reef, almost abreast of the tower, +was the only remnant of this once beautiful frigate, with the addition +of the broken timbers and planks which strewed the shore, and which the +peasantry had not yet carried off. The appearance of the coast indeed +in the immediate neighbourhood of the tower offered no hopes of escape +to the Englishmen, even should they succeed in getting out of their +prison. To the north, however, Morton observed a high reef of black +rocks, running out into the sea, and circling round so as to form a +secure harbour. Two or three small craft were floating on the surface +of this little haven, either launched after the gale, or which had +ridden it out in safety, while several boats, appearing like black dots +on the yellow sand, lay drawn up on the beach. + +Ronald was still employed in making his survey, when steps were heard +ascending the rickety creaking stairs of the tower, and Mr Calder +ordered him down, that he might not excite the suspicion of the +Frenchmen that they entertained the idea of escaping. + +The door opened, and two soldiers entered with a jar of wine, and some +bread and cheese and fruit. Placing the provisions before the +lieutenant, they made signs that he might divide them among his people. +Ronald, thinking it might be politic to get into conversation with them, +mustering all his knowledge of French, thanked them warmly for what they +had brought. + +The man answered, somewhat gruffly, that they were only obeying orders, +and that they had been directed by a young officer of the marine, who +had been wrecked, to bring the provisions. + +"Pray thank him for us, and say how grateful we feel for his gift," said +Ronald. + +"We may not see him again," answered one of the men. "He is ill in bed, +and he will be going away into the interior, as soon as he is able to be +removed." + +The men said that they did not know the young officer's name. There +could be little doubt, however, that Alfonse Gerardin had sent the +provisions. + +Ronald in vain tried to ascertain if the soldiers knew how they, the +English prisoners, were to be disposed of, but the Frenchmen only +shrugged their shoulders, and replied that that was no business of +theirs. It was not likely that they would be kept for ever in the +tower, which, as the rats had already deserted it, was very likely to +tumble about their ears. + +"It is a wonder, then, that it did not come down during the late gale," +observed Ronald. + +"Ah," said one of the men with a shrug and a wink, "it is a wonder +truly, considering how rotten it is from the top to the bottom. But we +must not stop here, talking with you Englishmen, or we shall be +suspected of wishing to help you to escape. Adieu, adieu,--_au revoir_. +You don't seem much cast down. Perhaps you would be, if you knew the +fate prepared for you." + +With another wink from the chief speaker, a corporal, by his uniform, +the man took his departure. + +"I am certain, sir, they had meaning in what they said," observed Ronald +to Mr Calder, explaining the Frenchman's remarks. "Gerardin is not +ungrateful, and wishes to help us to escape." + +Rawson laughed at the notion of a Frenchman being grateful, and even Mr +Calder seemed to doubt that he, or any one else, had the slightest idea +of helping them to escape. + +"People are not fond of putting their lives in jeopardy, to help those +in whom they have no interest," he remarked. + +It seemed too likely that the lieutenant was right, for the night +passed, and noon of the following day arrived, and no one came near +them. At that time the two soldiers who had before appeared brought in +their food, but left it without saying a word, and again hurried down +the stairs. + +Ronald was persuaded that the corporal gave a significant look at him, +as he followed his companion out of the door. It was probable that the +two men did not trust each other. + +"It is all your fancy, Morton," said Rawson, gloomily. "Depend on it we +shall be marched off to some horrible out of the way fortress, and be +shut up for the next ten years of our lives, while our old shipmates are +crowning themselves with laurels, or what is better, making no end of +prize-money, and rising to the top of their profession. When we get +back once more to the shores of old England, there we shall be wretched +white-haired old mates and midshipmen, forgotten by our friends, and +cared for by nobody. There's one consolation,--I'll not learn a word of +their beastly lingo, they may depend on that." + +Although the picture Rawson had drawn was very melancholy, and too +likely to be true, his latter observation so tickled the fancies of his +hearers, that they all burst into a loud laugh, in which Rawson himself +could not help joining. + +"Well, my lads, though we may have some difficulty in breaking out of +this, and more in making our escape, there's no doubt that the +alternative, as Rawson describes it, will be a very unpleasant one," +exclaimed Mr Calder. "We must all go, or none; and yet I would force +none to go, for the attempt may cost us our lives." + +"Never fear, Mr Calder, sir; there'll be no skulkers among us," +exclaimed Job Truefitt, from among the seamen. "Just you give the word +as if you was on the quarter-deck of our own tight little frigate, and +there is not a man here who won't obey you as smartly, whatever you +thinks fit to order, whether it is to jump off the top of this here +tower, or to knock over every Frenchman we meet." + +"Yes, sir,--yes, sir,--that's it. Job speaks the truth," exclaimed +several of the men simultaneously. + +The men required no incitement to induce them to attempt escaping, +although there was but little fault to find with the provisions which +had been sent them. There was excellent bread and cheese, and fruit of +various sorts, and some fried fish, though certainly there was neither +beef nor pork, while the _vin du pays_ was of a somewhat thin and sour +description. A few bottles of fiery hot _eau de vie_ would have suited +the taste of the honest tars much better. + +This day, like the former one, passed away, and nobody came near the +prisoners; they all wished that the time was come when they were to make +the attempt to escape. The next day, at noon, a much larger supply of +provisions was brought to them. Two men accompanied their friend, the +corporal, to carry them. He also carried a good-sized basket, which he +deposited in a corner of the chamber, and then nodding, without saying a +word, hurried down the steps; as if their friends outside had divined +their wishes, there were half-a-dozen bottles of brandy! + +Morton and Rawson were examining the contents of the corporal's basket. + +"I thought so," exclaimed Ronald, joyfully; and he pulled out a long +rope, amply strong enough to support the weight of a man. There was no +longer any doubt that they had friends outside, anxious to assist their +escape. + +The weather had now become perfectly serene. A light south-easterly +breeze, and smooth water, would enable them to run along the coast just +out of sight of those on land, while several small vessels in the +harbour would supply them with a craft suited to their purpose. + +The prospect in view put them all in high spirits, and with infinite +relish they discussed the viands which had been brought them. While +thus engaged the door of their prison opened, and two persons in naval +uniform appeared before them. One Morton at once recognised as Alfonse +Gerardin, though he looked even more pale and sickly than when he had +been rescued from the wreck. Ronald sprang up to greet him. His +companion, on whose arm he rested, was a strongly-built middle-aged man. +Alfonse gave his hand to Ronald. + +"I could not bear the thought of your going away without seeing you once +more," he said. "I could not have obtained leave had it not been for my +father, Lieutenant Gerardin, of whom I told you." + +"What you told me was merely that he had been killed," said Ronald. + +"So I thought, but happily I was mistaken. He had been knocked +overboard, but he was picked up by a boat, and unable to regain the ship +was brought to shore, not far from this, when hearing of the shipwreck +he found us out." + +"And you are the young gentleman to whom my dear boy here is indebted +for his life," said Lieutenant Gerardin, in broken English, grasping +Ronald's hand warmly. "I am grateful to you. Though my nation is at +war with yours, I love your countrymen. I would serve you gladly at the +risk of my life. You are to be removed into the interior to-morrow, and +a far-off fortress will be your habitation. This night you must make +your escape; I have provided part of the means. There is a fishing-boat +in that little harbour to the north; she pulls fast, and has oars and +sails aboard, as also some water and provisions, but not sufficient. +Carry all you can with you. I have bribed some of the guards, but not +all; you may meet with opposition; you will know how to deal with your +enemies. Do not think me a traitor to France; I owe her no allegiance, +and yet I am bound to her. Now farewell!--we may never meet again, but +you will at least not think that he whom you so bravely saved from death +is ungrateful." + +Alfonse Gerardin said but little; he warmly shook Ronald's and Glover's +hands, and then he and his father hurriedly took their departure. + +The rest of the day was spent by the party in talking over their escape, +and the best mode of meeting all possible contingencies, and then most +of the old hands lay down to sleep, that they might be fresher when the +moment of action arrived. + +No sooner was it dark than Mr Calder set to work to remove some of the +planks above the brickwork. It was, as the corporal had hinted, very +rotten, and quickly gave way to their pulls. An aperture of size +sufficient to allow a man to force himself through was soon made. Mr +Calder then securing the rope, and lowering it to the ground, directing +his men to stand in the order they were to descend, told Rawson to bring +up the rear, went himself through the hole, and slid down noiselessly to +the ground. The midshipmen followed, and then came the men; not a word +was spoken, but they imitated their leader's example in picking up some +large stones with which to defend themselves, should they be suddenly +attacked. One after the other the men came gliding down in the rapid +way none but seamen could have done; not the slightest noise was made; +their feet, as they touched the ground, made no more sound than those of +cats. All had descended except Rawson, when a noise was heard in the +room above, as of a door opening. There was a scuffle, but no one cried +out; in an instant Job Truefitt was swarming up the rope hand over hand; +Morton, the most active of the party, followed him. Whatever there was +to be done was to be effected quickly. With the deepest anxiety the +rest of the party waited to ascertain what had happened, while two or +three prepared to follow. Job crept in at the hole in the wall, and +looked round the prison. At first he could see nothing. At last he +fancied that he could distinguish something moving on the other side of +the room. He sprang towards the spot, and so did Morton. + +"Here we are, Mr Rawson; here we are, come to help you," whispered Job. +A deep groan was the response. It was soon evident that there were two +people on the ground, struggling in a deadly embrace--but which was +friend or foe, was the question. They had tight hold of each other's +throats, and were actually throttling each other. + +"You catch hold of one, Mr Morton," whispered Job, who had recognised +Ronald. "I'll take t'other, and then we'll settle with the mounseer, +whichever he may be." + +Ronald found by his jacket that he had got hold of Rawson, but it was +not without digging his nails into the Frenchman's wrist that he was +able to make him relax his hold of Rawson's throat. Still more +difficult was it to induce the latter to take his gripe off his +opponent's neck. To bind the legs and arms of the Frenchman, and to gag +his mouth, was the work of a few moments. Ronald stumbled against his +lantern, at which Rawson must have struck when he entered. + +"It may prove of service," thought Ronald, as he hung it round his neck. + +Rawson soon recovered. Two more seamen had come in by this time. Their +first care was to barricade the door. At first they thought of leaving +the Frenchman in the room, but it was agreed that, as he might make some +noise, and give the alarm, it would be better to take him part of the +way with them. He was speedily lowered down, much to the astonishment +of those below, and to his own annoyance. Then Morton and the rest of +the party followed. Who their prisoner was it was impossible to +ascertain, for fear lest the moment the gag was removed he might cry +out. He was a soldier, but not their friend the corporal, as he was a +shorter and stouter man. + +There could be little doubt that the guard was in the room below them, +and when their comrade was missed, others probably would go up to look +for him. No further time was to be lost. Mr Calder, therefore, +ordered the men in a whisper to close up together, carrying their +prisoner among them, and to move off in the direction of the harbour. +As they began to advance, Morton recollected the rope which they ought +to have taken with them, as should it be left behind and recognised, it +might betray the friends who had supplied it to them. As the rope was +long enough to allow of its being slipped round a beam, and then again +to reach the ground, he was on the point of ascending once more to +execute his project, hoping quickly to overtake his companions, when a +noise in the room immediately above him arrested his movements. The +guard was on the alert. His delay, contrary to the orders of his +superior, might cause the ruin of the whole party. He let go the rope +and sprang after his companions. + +"It cannot much matter," he thought; "our friends would have warned us +to carry off the rope." + +The English seamen hurried on till they came to a deep hollow in the +sands. Here Mr Calder ordered them to leave their prisoner. + +"Remember, mounseer, if you hallo or make any row, we'll be back and +blow your brains out for you," whispered Job Truefitt, as he placed him +on the ground. + +A grunt was the only answer. It was doubtful whether the prisoner +understood what was said, though he might have guessed the meaning of +the remark. + +The seamen pushed on as fast as they could move. It was no easy matter +to find their way, for the night was very dark, and though the sky was +clear, there was a slight mist, which concealed all objects, except +those close at hand, from view. This was, however, an advantage, as +well as a disadvantage, to the fugitives. Though they had, in +consequence of the mist, greater difficulty in making their way towards +the shore, it assisted to conceal them from any persons who might chance +to cross their path. They had made their escape at an early hour, that +they might have longer time to get an offing before daylight. + +Mr Calder strode on ahead, Rawson brought up the rear, Ronald pushed +on, and ranged up alongside his lieutenant. He had a fancy that if +there was danger, it would be there, and he wished to be near him. The +road lay chiefly over sand-hills, very heavy walking. Now and then they +came to rocks, which still further impeded their progress, but there +were bits also of hard ground, over which they passed at a run. The +wind being from the south, they kept at their backs, while the gentle +ripple of the sea on the beach, assisted still further to guide them. +At last Mr Calder stopped. + +"We ought to be up to the harbour by this time," he observed in a low +voice. "I see no signs of it." + +All the party had now pulled up. As they did so, the sound of voices +from no great distance reached their ears. The speakers were to the +north of them. It was not likely that they were pursuers. Still, if +they passed near, they might discover them. The seamen crouched down to +the ground. The voices grew louder and louder. They seemed to be +coming towards the very spot where the Englishmen were collected. + +"Lads, we must master them, whether many or few," whispered Mr Calder. +"Take care none escape." + +Morton had been attentively listening to the speakers. "They are +fishermen just landed," he said, in a low tone. "They are on their way +to their homes. I doubt, from what they say, if they have landed their +fish." + +"Be ready, lads," said Mr Calder, expecting that the next instant they +would be grappling with the Frenchmen. "Each of you seize his man, +bring him to the ground, and gag him. Take care none get away." + +Suddenly the voices ceased. Morton thought that they had been +overheard, but once more the fishermen went on talking; their footsteps +were heard, but gradually the strength of the sound decreased, their +voices became less and less distinct, till they were altogether lost in +the distance. The lieutenant now led the way rapidly onward. + +"If we had been a minute sooner we should have been discovered," thought +Morton. "All is for the best." + +They had now reached the little harbour. Several boats were drawn up, +but all at a considerable distance from the water. It would be +difficult to launch one of them without making a noise. A small boat +was distinguished a short distance from the shore. Ronald offered to +swim off to it, and bring it in. His clothes were off in an instant. + +"Stay, I may have to cut the cable," he observed, putting his clasp +knife between his teeth. + +The water was somewhat cold, but he did not heed that. Excitement kept +his blood in circulation. He soon reached the boat. His knife came +into requisition, and though there were no oars, he found a loose bottom +board, and managed to paddle in with it to the beach. + +It was still necessary to be very cautious. Lights were seen in some +huts not far off, and the inmates might hear them and suspect that +something was wrong. + +The boat would not hold the entire party, so Mr Calder and Glover, with +some of the men, embarked first, to select the craft most likely to suit +them. + +It was an anxious time for those on shore. The crews might be on board +some of the boats, and if one of those was selected, the alarm might be +given. + +"We shall have to knock some of the fellows on the head if they are, +that will be all," observed Rawson, coolly. + +The boat, however, returned without any disturbance, and the rest of the +seamen got into her, bringing her gunwale almost flush with the water. +Scarcely had they got twenty yards from the shore, when a voice hailed +in French, "Yes, you were before us; don't wait--_bon soir_," answered +Ronald, promptly, in the same language. + +They pulled out as fast as they could, and got on board a a large +half-decked boat, with her sails on board, and pulling eight oars. + +The question was now, how to get out of the harbour. Rawson in the punt +went ahead, to pilot the way, while the anchor was noiselessly weighed. +The oars being got out, the little craft stood after the boat. + +The mouth of the harbour was discovered, they were in the open sea. How +joyously beats the hearts of all to find themselves free! As they drew +off the land, the breeze freshened, the punt was cast adrift, and sail +was made; just then there were lights seen on the beach; shouts were +heard. There was a grating sound as of a boat being launched. They +were about to be pursued, there could be no doubt about that. Still +sharp eyes would be required to see them. Impelled by wind and oars the +boat stood out to the westward. + +The wind was fair, the sea was smooth. Of course in the darkness it was +impossible to select the best boat, but they had happily hit upon one +which at all events seemed a fine little craft, and they hoped she might +prove the fastest. The seamen bent their backs to the oars with right +good will; the water hissed and bubbled under the bows. + +"The mounseers must be in a precious hurry to catch us, if they do catch +us," exclaimed Job Truefitt. "Give way, mates: if we can't keep ahead +of a crew of frog-eaters, we desarves to be caught and shut up in the +darkest prison in the land, without e'er a quid o' baccy to chaw, or a +glass o' grog to freshen our nip." + +The men, however, required no inducement to exert themselves to the +utmost. + +"Avast pulling!" exclaimed Mr Calder, after they had made good three +miles or more from the harbour. + +There was no sound of oars. The Frenchmen, it was supposed, had thought +the pursuit useless, and had given it up. Still daylight must find them +far away from the coast, and spell and spell throughout the night the +undaunted seamen laboured at their oars. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +A SAIL IN SIGHT--A GALE COMES ON--REACH THE FRIGATE--RONALD REJOINS THE +"THISBE"--MADE LIEUTENANT. + +When morning dawned, and hunger reminded the escaped prisoners that it +was time for breakfast, they looked about and discovered in the forepeak +a supply of water and provisions, and what was of most consequence, a +compass. She was evidently, then, the very craft the Gerardins had +intended for their use. + +"I hope they won't get into a scrape for what they have done for us," +observed Ronald. "Though he is an odd fish in some respects, I liked +that fellow, Alfonse Gerardin; and from the glimpse I got of his father, +I should say he is first-rate." + +The health of their friends was therefore drunk in some very fair +claret, which was found among the stores, and never has a merrier party +floated in an open boat out in the Atlantic. + +Two days passed, and Mr Calder calculated that they were well into the +Chops of the Channel. + +Several vessels had been seen, but none had been approached. Mr Calder +did not care about this; he hoped to carry the boat into Falmouth or +Plymouth harbour in safety. + +The evening was drawing on. "A sail on the starboard bow!" was the cry. +She was a ship standing across channel; unless she or they altered +their course, she could not help falling in with them. From the look of +the vessel it was impossible to say whether she was a friend or an +enemy. + +"If them there tops'ls weren't cut by an English sail-maker, I'm ready +to pass for a Schiedam drinking big-breeched Dutchman for the rest of my +born days," observed Job Truefitt, in a decisive tone, as standing up on +the forecastle deck, and holding on by the mast, he shaded his eyes with +his hand, and took a severe scrutiny of the stranger. + +"Maybe I've handed them more than once and again." + +"What do you make her out to be, Truefitt?" asked Mr Calder from aft. + +"Why, sir, maybe I'm wrong, and maybe I'm right; but if I'm right, then +I take it she's no other than the thirty-two pounder frigate, `Thetis.' +I served aboard her better nor twelve months, so I don't deserve to have +eyes in my head if I shouldn't know her again," answered Job. + +"I think that you are very likely to be right, Job, and I'll trust that +you are," said Mr Calder. "Take a couple of reefs in the mainsail as +you hoist it, lads. The sky gives promise of a blowing night, and we +shall do well if we can have a stout ship under our feet." + +As the lieutenant was speaking, a heavy squall passed over the boat, +which, had her sails been set, she would have felt severely. As it was, +the spray which it carried drove over her in thick masses, as she +drifted before it. Dark clouds were breaking up heavily to the +southward, while others drove across the sky, their outer edges glowing, +like red-hot coals, with the beams of the setting sun. The squall, +however, passed away, sail was made, and the boat sprang briskly over +the rising seas towards the frigate. All were now as anxious to be seen +by those on board her, as they were before to escape observation. It +was very evident that a storm was brewing, and a pretty heavy one--such +a gale as the French fishing-boat they were in could scarcely weather. +Every instant the wind increased, and the seas rose higher and higher. +The frigate, it was very probable, was outward bound, for as the wind +got round she trimmed sails and steered to the westward. The boat was +now close hauled. If not seen by the frigate, it was scarcely to be +hoped that she would cut her off on the other tack. The gloom of +evening was coming on also, causing the small sails of the boat to be +less discernible. + +"They'll not see us," sighed Rawson. "And as to this wretched little +craft living out such a night as we are going to have, that's a sheer +impossibility." + +"The craft has carried us thus far in safety, and may carry us into +Penzance or Falmouth harbour, I hope, even if we do miss the frigate," +observed Morton. "We shouldn't so mistrust Providence, I think." + +"You think, you youngster!" said Rawson, contemptuously. "You haven't +been tried as I have." + +"But Rawson, suppose we are preserved. What will you Bay then?" + +"That we have obtained more than we deserve," answered the old mate, as +if involuntarily. + +"The frigate sees us," shouted Job Truefitt, from forward, making use of +a very common nautical figure of speech. "There's port the helm--square +away the yards--she'll be down to us in a jiffy." + +"Time she was too," observed Rawson, and he was right, for the gloom was +increasing, the rising sea was tumbling and pitching the boat about, and +even with two reefs down she could scarcely look up to her canvas. + +The frigate, however, had not shortened sail, and on she came, looming +large through the midst as she ploughed her way with irresistible force +across the intervening space of tumbling foam-covered seas. Mr Calder +gave the necessary orders to prepare for going alongside. It was a work +of no little danger. The frigate had now got within a few hundred +fathoms of the boat. Her canvas was reduced, and the helm being put +down she rounded-to, and there she lay, dipping away heavily into the +seas, making it appear to a landsman an utter impossibility to get near +her, and even to a seaman a dangerous undertaking. The boat's sails +were lowered, and, if it could have been done, the mast would have been +unstepped and pitched overboard; the oars were got out, and the boat +approached the side of the frigate. Numerous friendly hands were ready +to heave ropes for their assistance from various parts of the sides, +from the chains and ports. + +"Now give way, my good lads!" shouted Mr Calder, seeing that not a +moment was to be lost. + +The men pulled on, but the ship at the moment plunged forward, and the +boat dropped astern. Should this again occur they might lose the chance +of getting alongside altogether. With renewed efforts they again pulled +up. A rope was hove on board and secured to the bits, and by its +assistance they at length got alongside. + +"Now, lads, up with you!" shouted the lieutenant. + +The men caught hold of the ropes thrown into their outstretched hands. +The greater number sprang up the side like cats, but Morton, with the +right feeling that it is the officer's duty to see his men in safety +before seeking his own, hung back. Now the frigate rose on the side of +a sea, leaving the boat in the trough far below her, then in another +instant down she came striking the boat with a terrific crash. The side +was crushed in, and the water rushing over her, down she went. More +ropes were hove to those still on board. Morton caught hold of a rope +with his left hand, but, at the same time, a spar struck his right a +blow which rendered it powerless. He held on with all the energy of +despair, for he knew that if he let go he should be lost. A poor +fellow, one of his companions, was washed away close to him. His own +was an awful position. He had received a second blow from a fragment of +the boat. The sea was surging up round him. Should the ship roll over +he must be submerged, and would inevitably be torn from his hold. He +tried to cry out. The spray rushed into his mouth and almost choked +him. Already it was so dark that he feared no one would see him. He +believed that his last hour had come. The loud roar of waters was in +his ears; he was losing all consciousness, and in another instant would +have let go his hold, when his arm was grasped by a vice-like clutch, +and he found himself lifted upwards till he was safely deposited on +deck. He looked round to ascertain who had been his preserver. A tall +gaunt young man was standing and shaking the water from his jacket, but +just then an order was issued for all those who had been rescued from +the boat to muster aft. + +Lanterns were brought, and no sooner did the light of one of them fall +on Mr Calder's countenance, than one of the lieutenants, who proved to +be the first of the ship, stepped forward, and grasped him warmly by the +hand. + +"What, old ship, is it you?" he exclaimed, almost wringing his hand off, +and speaking rapidly, as if unable to restrain his feelings. "Where do +you come from? What has happened to you? Tell me all about it." + +This Mr Calder briefly did, and warm and hearty was the reception he +met with in the gun-room, to which Rawson was also invited, while the +other midshipmen were taken care of in the berth. + +The gale continued to increase in fury. + +"We should have found ourselves in a bad way by this time on board the +French fishing-boat," observed Mr Calder. "Ah, Rawson! we have reason +to be grateful, man, and we should do well if we left off grumbling for +the rest of our lives." + +"You would deprive all poor old mates of the only privilege they +possess," answered Rawson; "that would be hard indeed." + +The frigate, it was found, was bound out to the North-American station. +This was a great disappointment, as Mr Calder, especially, was anxious +to rejoin the "Thisbe" as soon as possible, not to lose his chance of +promotion. + +However, although the gale continued to increase, Captain Markham was +not the man to put back into port as long as he could possibly keep the +sea. He had a good deal of the Flying Dutchman spirit about him, +without the profanity of that far-famed navigator, which has so justly +doomed him to so unenviable a notoriety. + +The frigate was rolling and pitching somewhat heavily, as Ronald and his +companions found their way into the midshipmen's berth. + +"Take your seats. You are welcome here, mates," said the caterer as +they entered. "We shall have food on the table in a jiffy. There's +cold beef, and salt pork, and soft tack, and here is some honest Jamaica +rum. Not a bad exchange for the Frenchman's wish-wash claret, I +suspect." + +The reception, altogether, given to the new comers was cordial, if +unrefined, and not many minutes had elapsed before they were all +perfectly at home. Ronald, less accustomed than the rest to a +midshipman's berth, felt more inclined than usual to be silent. He +found himself seated next to a midshipman, who differed considerably, +both in manners and in many points, from his companions. His appearance +was not at the first glance in his favour. He was red-haired, and tall, +and thin; so tall, indeed, that when he stood up his shoulders touched +the deck above, and his head and neck formed an arch over the table. He +must have been eighteen or nineteen years old at least; indeed, he might +have been older, though he still wore the uniform of a midshipman. +Ronald thought that he was rather dogmatical, though his remarks were +characterised by shrewd, good sense, not destitute of humour. It was +not till he stood up that Ronald, who had been looking round the berth +to discover the person who had just rendered him such essential service, +felt sure that he was the one. Ronald suddenly put out his hand. + +"I have to thank you for saving my life just now," he exclaimed with +genuine warmth. "If it had not been for you I should be floating away +dead astern." + +"It cost me but little to haul you up, so say no more about it," +answered the tall midshipman. "I happened to be looking over the side, +and caught a glimpse of your head as you were hanging on like a codfish +just caught by a hook. Besides, I find you come from the far north, and +we Scotchmen always help each other." + +Ronald had detected a slight Scotch accent in his new friend. + +"You must let me be grateful, at all events," he answered. "And you +won't heave me overboard again when I tell you that I am not a +Scotchman, but a Shetlander." + +"I knew that when you began to speak," observed the tall midshipman; and +they went on to talk about Shetland, and before long the latter had +learned several particulars of Ronald's history. + +"We must be friends for the future," he observed, as the master-at-arms +appeared at the door of the berth, with the announcement that it was +time to douse the glim, and the various members whose watch it was below +hurried off to their hammocks with as little concern as if the ship lay +snug at her anchors, instead of being exposed to the full fury of a +heavy gale. + +The frigate was kept thrashing at it, in the hopes that she might hold +her own till the storm abated. The important result of the first +lieutenant's constant care and attention to the fitting of the rigging +was now fully exhibited. Not a strand of a rope parted, not a spar was +sprung. + +Ronald soon saw that the tall midshipman was a great favourite with Mr +Lawrence, the rough diamond of a first lieutenant, nor was he surprised +when he found that he was a lord, and yet the most attentive to his +duty, and most eager to master all the details of his profession. + +Lord Claymore, the tall midshipman, and Ronald soon became fast friends. +Ronald admired him especially for the good sense and judgment he +displayed in conversation, and the coolness and courage he exhibited in +danger. + +The gale continued, and the frigate lay her course to cross the +Atlantic. + +"She has been making much lee-way," Ronald heard the master observe to +the captain. + +"We shall weather Cape Clear for all that," was the answer; "once free +we may run before it with a flowing sheet to the banks of Newfoundland." + +"Ay, if we are once free," muttered the master, who was not at all of +the touch-and-go school. + +On stood the frigate. It was night. The midshipmen who had been +rescued from the fishing-boat were allowed, after their fatigues, to +remain below without doing duty for some days. Ronald could not sleep. +This was very un-midshipmanlike; he knew that it was Claymore's watch on +deck, and he thought he would take a turn with him. He dressed and went +on deck; it was not a tempting night; it was still blowing very hard, +and the frigate under close-reefed topsails was heeling to the breeze +till her lee-ports were deeply submerged, while the spray in thick +showers flew over her. Ronald soon found his tall friend. + +"I like this," observed the latter with enthusiasm, rubbing his hands; +"the wind is strong enough to blow every inch of canvas out of the bolt +ropes, if it wasn't all good and new, or to send the masts over the side +if they were not well stayed up. We have the land under our lee, and if +anything was to go we should in all probability drive on to it. Now, +just consider the satisfaction of knowing that everything is as strong +and good as wood, iron, and hemp can be, and of feeling that one has +contributed to that end. There isn't a block, or a spar, or a rope, +that Jack Lawrence or I haven't overhauled. See the advantage. He +sleeps as soundly as if we were in harbour, when most other first +lieutenants would have been up and down fifty times to ascertain that +all was going right, and not have slept a wink. Take a leaf out of his +book, Morton--it's what I am doing, and intend continuing to do." + +"Land on the lee-bow!" cried one of the looks-out forward. + +Had any one been drowsy, that sound would have made them rouse up very +rapidly. All eyes were directly turned towards the quarter indicated. +The clouds had broken away in that direction, and a gleam of light fell +on the threatening headland. The officer of the watch sent a midshipman +down to call the captain and master. They were on deck almost as soon +as he was. The compass was consulted, and the bearing of the land +taken. The master then went below to consult the chart. Claymore +begged Morton to go and call the first lieutenant. + +"We take things coolly aboard here, but he would not like to be below at +this time, and would thank you for summoning him." + +Mr Lawrence sprang on deck after Morton. A consultation was held; it +was the general opinion that the land seen was Mizen Head, and that if +there were light sufficient, Cape Clear would be seen on their quarter. +They might take shelter in Crook Haven; but under the uncertainty that +the point seen was Mizen Head, the master refused to undertake the +fearful responsibility. The determination to keep the sea was also more +in accordance with the captain's inclinations. + +"She has drifted to leeward more than I suspected; we must yet shake +another reef out of the topsails," he observed. "What say you, master-- +do you think she will bear it?" + +"She must bear it," was the answer. + +"She will bear it," said Jack Lawrence, positively. + +The united strength of all the crew was required to perform the +operation. + +"All hands on deck!" shouted the boatswain, giving emphasis to the +summons with his shrill whistle. + +Directly the order was given one of the first aloft was Claymore; Morton +followed him on to the main-yard; it was not his duty to go aloft, but +he could not resist the impulse which made him do so. It was fearful +work, holding on to that yard, up in the darkness, with the fierce gale +howling round their heads and the ship pitching furiously, while at the +same time she heeled down over the roaring seas. The word was given to +let go; but before the sail could be sheeted home it shook and +struggled, almost freeing itself from the sturdy crew who were hauling +away on the sheet. + +Morton felt as if he should be shaken off the yard, but a hand with a +firm grasp held him, nor let him go till he had reached the top. They +descended on deck. + +"Thank you, Lord Claymore," said Morton, warmly; "had you not held me I +might have lost my life." + +"I don't say you would have deserved it," said the tall midshipman; "but +why rush to a post of danger without necessity? stronger and older men +are better fitted for the task you attempted. It was my duty, and I +went. However, I like your spirit, Morton. If we weather this cape we +shall know more of each other; if our masts go over the side, or we +otherwise fail, we may none of us see another sunrise." + +He spoke as coolly and calmly as if talking on some ordinary topic. + +Away the ship plunged through the seas more furiously than ever, bending +down till it seemed as if her yard-arms literally touched the foaming +tops of the seas as they came rolling and hissing by. Every officer was +at his post: the captain, with his lips compressed and teeth clenched, +stood watching, now the bending masts, now the compass, now the dark +threatening land. The frigate drew nearer and nearer to it; still she +flew ahead. A quartermaster and two of the best seaman in the ship were +at the helm; Jack Lawrence stood near them; they were doing as well as +he could desire. + +"Keep your luff, lads," he said once in a quiet tone; "steady--that will +do." + +Not another word was spoken by him, or by any one on deck; all eyes were +riveted on the land. The ship seemed to be making no progress, for +there it still lay on the lee-bow. Some thought they could hear the +roaring of the surges, as with the whole force of a south-westerly gale +they were hurled against the cliffs. Still the canvas held the fierce +wind, and the well-set-up rigging supported the masts. + +"Morton, the land is drawing abeam," exclaimed Claymore suddenly; "the +ship will be saved. I did not think so at one time, though." + +He was right: gradually it seemed to rise up more broad on the lee-beam; +but as the ship surged onward amid wildly-leaping waves, the water, +lashed into masses of foam, was seen over the lee-quarter leaping over +the cliff from which she had so narrowly escaped. Still there were +other points and headlands farther to the north, from which she was not +altogether clear. For another two hours or more the same press of +canvas was kept on her. Few breathed freely till the order was being +given to take another reef in the topsails; the order was accomplished +without a casualty, and the watch below were allowed to turn in. + +Some days after this the "Thetis" fell in with a line-of-battle ship +homeward bound: she took Mr Calder and his companions on board. + +"We shall meet again, I hope," said Lord Claymore, as Morton was about +to go down the side. + +"I should be sorry if I did not think so," answered Morton, as the young +men grasped each other's hands. + +Westward steered the "Thetis," and eastward the huge old "Thunderer;" +the latter reached England, and the officers and men of the "Thisbe" +once more rejoined her, to the satisfaction of most of their friends, +who had given them up for lost. + +The "Thisbe" finished her commission with considerable credit to her +captain, officers, and crew, who had likewise not a small amount of +prize-money to boast of. Ronald Morton on his being paid off joined a +sloop-of-war in the West Indies; here he especially distinguished +himself, and, to the great delight of his father, obtained his +promotion. He returned home, and was immediately appointed second +lieutenant of his old ship, the "Thisbe," now commanded by Captain +Calder, and bound out to the East Indies. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +RONALD SECOND LIEUTENANT OF THE "THISBE"--A BALL AT CALCUTTA--RONALD'S +GALLANTRY--A CHALLENGE--HIS REPLY. + +Ronald Morton had gone through the usual vicissitudes of a midshipman's +career, during the full swing of a hot and somewhat bloody war. He had +run a good many chances of being knocked on the head, but he had done a +good many things also to be proud of, though he was not overmuch so, and +he had gained a fair amount of credit. + +Once more he was on board his old ship, the "Thisbe." When he first +joined he was a ship's boy; he was now her second lieutenant. The first +was Rawson--he was a totally changed man. He had performed a very +gallant action under the eye of the admiral, had been highly spoken of +in the "Gazette," had in consequence at once received his promotion, and +had been an active, enterprising officer ever since. He seldom or never +grumbled now, or talked of his bad luck; indeed he seemed to think that +the world was a very good sort of place for some men to live in, and +that the British navy was not a bad profession after all for a fellow to +belong to. He and Ronald Morton had not met for some years. They were +glad to find themselves once again shipmates. + +The "Thisbe" was commanded by one they both loved and respected--honest, +gallant, fighting Tom Calder. Tom had won his upward way by courage and +zeal, rarely surpassed. The Lords of the Admiralty could not refuse him +his promotion, had they wished it. The whole navy would have cried out +at the injustice. Happily, honest Tom had no one to whisper evil +against him. He had not an enemy in the world--so, to be sure, it is +sometimes said of a goose, but then the goose is his own enemy. Tom, on +the contrary, had proved true to himself, and that, in fact, lay at the +bottom of his success. + +Of the old "Thisbes," as they were pleased to call themselves, Dicky +Glover was the only officer. He was, however, still a mate. He was +senior mate, though he could not help now and then just thinking that it +would not be so very unfortunate--only a merciful dispensation of +Providence--should they go into action, seeing that somebody must be +killed, should a shot happen to knock over the third lieutenant, and +give him a chance of promotion--not but what Dicky had a very kind +feeling for the said third lieutenant. He was always ready to do him +any service, to lend him his books or money; the latter the lieutenant +was most fond of borrowing: still Dicky and he were very good friends; +Dicky had plenty of money, and Peter Sims, the third lieutenant, had +none. How he had got his promotion was surprising to those who knew +him, till it was whispered about that he had a very near relative in a +high position, who had no difficulty in obtaining it for him. Sims was, +however, generally liked; he was very inoffensive, he never talked about +himself or his friends, seemed to wish to be let alone, and to let +others alone. He was always ready to do a good-natured action, to take +a brother officer's watch, or to give up his own leave to accommodate +another. + +Before the mast there were several hands who had served in the "Thisbe," +when commanded by Captain Courtney. Two had attached themselves +especially to Ronald--one was Job Truefitt, and the other Bobby Doull. +No men could have been more faithful or attached than they were to him-- +Job regarded him as his son, and constituted himself his guardian, while +Bobby looked up to him as to a superior being whom it was an honour to +follow and obey. + +The frigate was bound out to the land so famed for tigers, and curry, +palanquins, pagodas, and prize-money--the East Indies; she had a quick +run down Channel, when a northerly breeze carried her almost to the +tropics. + +Rio was visited; the frigate touched at the Cape, and finally anchored +at the mouth of the Hooghly, near the flag-ship of the admiral on the +station. + +The usual compliments passed, the sails were furled, and shore-boats, +manned by strange-looking natives, with stranger-looking fruits and +vegetables, chattering unknown tongues intended to be English, came +alongside. The admiral himself was up at Calcutta, and everybody on +board the "Thisbe" was anxious to pay a visit to the city of palaces. +Sims offered to stop, but Rawson bluntly told him that he could not +trust the ship to his charge; so he, pocketing the compliment, +accompanied the captain and Morton, with two or three more of the +gun-room officers, and Glover and several of the midshipmen, up to the +city. They luckily took their full-dress uniforms with them; and having +lionised the city in palanquins all the day, they found themselves in +the evening at a magnificent ball, given by one of the principal +officers of the Company's Civil Service. + +The officers of the "Thisbe" stopped near the entrance to admire the +brilliant spectacle. Superb chandeliers hung from the ceiling or +projected from the walls, amid gay coloured banners, and wreaths of +exquisite flowers; while below them moved the fairest of Eve's daughters +to be found in the capital of the East, amid numerous military officers +in various handsome uniforms; and rajahs, and nabobs, and princes, and +chiefs of every description, habited in the richest and most picturesque +of oriental costumes, with turbans and daggers and sword-hilts sparkling +with gold and silver, and gems of fabulous value. + +The gallant captain of the frigate, and most of the officers who +accompanied him, were more accustomed to the quarterdeck, and the battle +and the breeze, than to ball-rooms or palaces, and they stood for some +time totally entranced, and scarcely able to express their surprise to +each other at the gay scene. + +Morton had in his boyhood learned most of the dances then in vogue, and +a quick eye and perfect self-possession enabled him to appear to +advantage when at rare intervals he entered a ball-room. Still, feeling +himself a stranger among a crowd, he very naturally preferred remaining +in a quiet spot, that he might at his leisure watch what was going +forward. Captain Calder felt very much as he did, for he was even still +less accustomed to ball-rooms, though his true gentlemanly feelings and +innate sense of propriety prevented him from committing any solecism in +good manners. Sims and Dicky Glover stood together. + +"This is very slow work, sir, I think," observed Dicky to his superior, +with whom, bye-the-bye, he felt himself in a ballroom on the most +perfect equality. "I vote we shove forward, and look out for partners. +There are lots of pretty girls, and I flatter myself that if they were +asked they would prefer us blue-jackets to the red-coats." + +"As to that I am not quite certain," answered the lieutenant. "You see +these soldier officers out here, at all events, are generally +matrimonially inclined, while such would be a very inconvenient +inclination for us to indulge in; and so not from superior merit but +from the force of circumstances the soldiers are likely to carry the +day." + +"That argument of yours is irresistible, but still I don't see that it +should make us give up our chance of a dance," answered Glover, pushing +a little more forward. + +Like riflemen they advanced, skirmishing, one supporting the other. +Dicky, however, was the most adventurous; without him, probably, Sims +would have remained in the background. Sims had some modesty. Glover +had the allowance with which, for wise ends, midshipmen are usually +gifted. + +"There's a pretty girl! she hasn't footed it for a long time; there's +nothing like trying it. I'll go and ask her," exclaimed Dicky, as if +suddenly seized with an irresistible impulse; and before Sims could make +any remark he had crossed the intervening space to where the lady at +whom he had pointed was sitting, and was bowing and scraping, and +smiling with the greatest self-confidence. + +The young lady looked rather astonished, and not over well pleased, but +this did not in any way abash Mr Glover. While he with praiseworthy +perseverance was still scraping away, requesting the hand of the lady +for a cotillion, a minuette, or a country-dance, a gentleman came up and +spoke to her. Glover looked at her earnestly, and spoke a few words; +she put out her hand, he took it, and wrung it till she almost cried +out. + +"Cousin Susan!" he exclaimed. "Well, I didn't think it was you, and yet +I ought to have known you among a thousand. But you know you were but a +little girl when we last met, and now you are grown up and married. +Well--but I'm so very glad!--how jolly! I didn't expect to enjoy this +ball; but now I shall like it very much." + +Thus Glover rattled on, and to the surprise of Morton and Sims, and his +other shipmates, who had not overheard the conversation, was seen +standing up to dance with an air of conscious superiority and perfect +self-satisfaction. Sims was rather jealous. Morton was highly amused. +Glover flew up and down the room, enjoying the dance to the full. What +cared he for the heat. What mattered to him that he trod on the toes of +innumerable rajahs and nabobs, who would gladly have stuck their +jewel-hilted daggers into him, or given him an embrace with a tiger's +claw; an instrument worthy of Asiatic invention. His cousin, however, +had soon introduced Glover to a more active partner, and so engrossed +was he at first that he quite forgot to come back to his friends. + +While Morton was watching the dancers an officer with a young lady stood +up near him to join them. His eye was attracted to her countenance, and +he was struck by its excessively pleasing expression. He looked and +looked again: he thought her exquisitely beautiful, and while he looked +he could not help half fancying that he had seen that countenance +before. Still where it had been he could not discover; he had seen so +few ladies during his sea-life that he was convinced he should, before +long, remember. Yet what puzzled him was, that he felt so very familiar +with the countenance. Eyes have a remarkable sympathy for each other; +after a time the lady knew that she was observed--not with idle, +careless admiration, but especially noticed. She looked up for a moment +and observed a countenance of manly beauty and intelligence not easily +forgotten. There were none in that vast assemblage to be compared to +it, she thought, and yet she tried not to allow herself to dwell on the +thought; her partner carried her off in the rapid dance. + +Morton stood watching her with greater interest than he would have +allowed even to himself. + +"Yes, I must have seen her--but where? In my dreams--in my fancy," he +muttered to himself as his eyes continued following the fair young girl. +"Nonsense! I am allowing my imagination to run away with me. And yet +I do know that countenance, I am certain of it." + +Perhaps the young lady saw his eyes following hers. She seemed at all +events to be paying but very little attention to the observations of her +partner. + +Morton at length noticed him; he was a young man, and had the air of a +person thoroughly well satisfied with himself; but as Ronald watched him +more narrowly he was convinced that he had taken more wine than his head +could bear; his flushed countenance and unsteady movements after a time +showed this. His partner probably had made the same discovery; and +though in those days his condition would not have excited the disgust it +would at the present in the mind of a well-educated girl, she was +evidently anxious to obtain a seat, and to release herself from his +society. Still he held her hand with a look of maudlin admiration, and +insisted on forcing her once more down the dance. It was evident that +she would have to struggle to escape from him, and rather than attract +observation she allowed herself to be dragged once more towards the +bottom of the room. + +Such was the interpretation Morton put on what he witnessed, and he felt +strongly inclined to rush forward to assist her. The couple had got +close to him, by which time the gentleman had become still more excited +and unsteady--his foot slipped--the fair girl looked up imploringly at +Morton's countenance, so he thought--her partner fell to the ground, and +would have dragged her with him, when Ronald sprang forward and saved +her from the threatened catastrophe. + +"Thank you--thank you!--oh take me to my friend!" she exclaimed, her +voice trembling with nervousness. + +Ronald led her through the crowd; her partner picked himself up, and +uttering an exclamation would have followed them, had not some +acquaintance near at hand held him back, and ultimately persuaded him +quietly to retire to another room; leave the ball altogether, he would +not. + +"To be cut out by a sea-monster, a porpoise, a mere nautilus--that will +never do!" he hiccupped out. "No, no--I must have my revenge on the +fellow. I'll insult him; drill a hole in him; my honour requires it. +Couldn't show my face again until I have killed my man." + +The young man did not give vent to these expressions until his more +sensible acquaintance had retired; but two or three much of his own +character remained, who partly from a love of mischief, utterly +regardless of the consequences, persuaded him that he had received so +gross an insult that it could be atoned for only by mortal combat. + +"We'll settle matters for you," said Lieutenant Bolton, a chum of +Maguire's. "Go back when you feel a little better; tread on his toe, or +dig your elbow into his ribs, and tell him quietly you intended to do +so. It will wonderfully facilitate our arrangements." + +Meantime Morton--totally unconscious of the annoyance preparing for him, +and with the fair stranger whom he had rescued resting on his arm, was +looking for a vacant seat in which to place her. + +"Who is your chaperone?" he asked. "Where do you think we can find +her?" + +"Mrs Edmonstone," she answered. "Mamma was unwell, and papa could not +come till late in the evening, and so she took charge of me. She is one +of the few ladies we know well in Calcutta, and whom mamma liked to ask +to take her place. Ah, there she comes: she will, I am sure, thank you, +as I do, for saving me from so very disagreeable an accident." + +"I rejoice that you escaped it," answered Morton before he looked up; +when he did so he saw approaching them the very lady with whom Glover +seemed to be so well acquainted: she now had his arm. + +"That is Mrs Edmonstone," said Morton's companion. "There are two +seats; she is going to take one. I am afraid I must sit down." + +Morton led her to the seat next her friend, and would have retired, +though most unwilling so to do, when Glover caught him by the arm, +exclaiming, "Mr Morton, allow me to introduce you to my cousin, Mrs +Edmonstone--she wishes to make your acquaintance; she knows that if it +had not been for you, I should have been food for the sharks long ago." + +Dicky had indeed been saying a number of complimentary things about +Morton, which he fully deserved. Mrs Edmonstone held out her hand and +said frankly, "I am indeed glad to have an opportunity of thanking you +for saving my cousin's life, and affording him the advantage of your +friendship; your name, and, I may say, your many gallant deeds, have +long been familiar to me: all his family are grateful to you." + +Morton bowed and felt gratified, for Mrs Edmonstone's manner was so +frank and cordial that he experienced none of the oppression which a +sensitive person is apt to feel when receiving compliments, however well +merited, if not bestowed with tact. She, supposing naturally that he +had already been introduced to her younger companion, did not think it +necessary again to go through that ceremony. + +Encouraged by her manner, Morton remained talking in an animated way to +her and her friend, Glover standing by and occasionally indulging in +amusing remarks, which savoured more of the salt ocean than of the +ball-room, but had no want of refinement to shock the ears of his +auditors. Morton felt himself altogether in a new world; it was not +very strange, but it was very different to anything he had ever before +enjoyed; he put forth powers of conversation which he had not supposed +himself to possess. He also was struck with the lively and intelligent +remarks of the younger lady, and at the same time enchanted with the +perfect simplicity which they betokened. + +"Certainly her manners and conversation do not belie her looks; she is +charming, she is perfect," he more than once said to himself. + +Few men can so conceal their feelings, especially if they are not aware +what those feelings are, when in conversation with a lady, without her +having an idea, undefined and uncertain though it may be, of the matter. +The party were so interested in each other's conversation that they +might have continued talking till supper was announced, entirely +regardless of what was going forward in the rest of the room, had they +not been interrupted by the appearance of another person on the stage, +who came up to claim the young lady's hand. + +He was slight and, though not very tall, of a good figure, with handsome +features, and a remarkably dark complexion; he was dressed in a rich +semi-oriental military costume, and had a dashing independent air about +him, which Morton thought approached very much to a swagger, but perhaps +at that moment he was not a very unprejudiced judge. Ronald could not +help staring at him in a somewhat marked manner. + +"Extraordinary!" he exclaimed to himself, "that I should come +unexpectedly into this ball-room and meet two persona with whose +countenances I am so familiar, and yet not have the slightest notion who +they are. That young man's face I know perfectly well; I must have met +him over and over again, in a very different dress to what he now wears, +and under very different circumstances, and I must have known him +intimately, of that I am certain." + +"Do you not dance, Mr Morton?" asked Mrs Edmonstone, seeing him look +about the room, as he was doing, in an abstracted manner, and fancying +that he wished probably to be introduced to a partner. The instant her +voice recalled his scattered senses, "Thank you," he answered; "I so +seldom have had opportunities of doing so that I can scarcely call +myself a dancer; at present I confess that I feel more amusement in +looking on than I should in dancing." + +"Can you tell me," said Morton, "who is that young man in the handsome +costume, who is dancing with your friend?" + +"I can indeed say very little about him," was the answer. "He is a +Captain Gerardo, I understand,--a foreigner, that is to say, not +English; either a Frenchman, or Spaniard, or Portuguese. He has been +attached to one of the native courts in the East--I do not know which-- +and has come here on his travels before returning home. He seems to +have come with several good introductions, especially to natives of high +rank, and must be wealthy, as he is lavish in his expenditure. My +husband, however, is not quite satisfied about him, and is making +inquiries to ascertain whether or not he is an impostor. Numbers come +to this country expecting to find a fine field for the exercise of their +talents. They now and then, however, have to beat a precipitate +retreat. I would not willingly have allowed my sweet friend, Edda, to +dance with him, but he has been introduced to her father, who rather +affects him, and I could not interfere." + +"Edda!" repeated Ronald to himself, the name conjuring up a thousand +recollections of his far-distant home, for he had there heard it +frequently. "What is your friend's surname?" he asked; "I did not hear +it." + +"She is the daughter of Colonel and Mrs Armytage, who are at present in +Calcutta. He is on the staff--a somewhat haughty, proud man, and not a +favourite of mine, but she is a gentle, amiable woman; only yields too +much to him, I think." + +"How strange!" repeated Ronald aloud. + +"Do you know them, Mr Morton?" she asked. + +"If Mrs Armytage is the daughter of Sir Marcus Wardhill, of Lunnasting +Castle, in Shetland, I know of them, though I have not seen her since I +was a child. I was born on the estate, and brought up by her elder +sister, who had lost her own child. Her story is a very romantic and +sad one. You probably have heard of it." + +"Something, but I do not recollect all the particulars; Edda herself +knows but little. The families keep up no communication, I fancy." + +"But slight," said Morton, not liking to enter too minutely into +particulars, and yet deeply interested. "I have news from Shetland +occasionally, but I have not been there since I was a boy." + +"Shall I tell Miss Armytage that you know her family?" asked Mrs +Edmonstone, with some hesitation. + +Ronald considered a moment. "I will beg you not to do so," he answered. +"There can be no object gained. She knows nothing of my family, and +probably takes but little interest in Shetland itself, while I have +reason to know that her father has not for many years been on good terms +with Sir Marcus Wardhill." + +"Probably you are right; I will do as you wish," said the lady, and she +kept her word. + +Supper was over, and the guests began to take their departure. Morton +and Glover saw Mrs Edmonstone and Miss Armytage to their carriage, and +were going back to wait for the rest of their shipmates, when a young +man in military uniform stepped up to the former, and, politely bowing, +said that he had been deputed by his friend, Lieutenant Maguire, to +demand the only reparation which one gentleman could afford another, for +an insult he had that evening received. + +"Assuredly, sir, you mistake my identity," answered Morton, calmly. "I +am not acquainted with Lieutenant Maguire, nor have I insulted, +intentionally or otherwise, any human being." + +"Some people entertain very different notions to others as to what is an +insult," said the officer, with a sneer, intended to excite Morton's +anger. "My friend Maguire is exceedingly sensitive as to his honour. +Not to lose time, sir, by any circumlocution in my remarks, you are, +sir, I am led to understand, Lieutenant Morton, of his Majesty's frigate +`Thisbe'?" + +"I am, sir," said Morton; "your information on that point is correct." + +"I knew I was right, sir," said the young officer, with a bullying air, +mistaking a look of astonishment, which Morton could not suppress, for +an exhibition of fear. "Mr Maguire conceives that early this evening +you purposely tripped him up, and when you had brought him to the +ground, you carried off his partner and laughed at him. Any one of +these acts, sir, was an insult, to be washed out only with blood, as any +man with a spark of honour in his composition will allow." + +Morton, though very much inclined to laugh at this absurd assertion, +felt at the same time it was annoying. The only reply he could give +was, that the young man was tipsy, and fell in consequence, and that he +had nothing whatever to do with the matter. This answer would not be +satisfactory to the gentleman who had brought the challenge. Still, it +seemed too preposterous that he should allow himself to be drawn into a +quarrel, against his will, by hair-brained young men who had lost the +few wits they possessed by drinking. His own high sense of honour had +never before been called in question--his gallantry had always been +conspicuous. + +"I cannot reply to you at once," he answered quietly, turning to +Lieutenant Maguire's second. "Leave me your card and address, and I +promise you you shall hear from me. Perhaps, in the meantime, your +friend and his advisers may think better of the matter, and, at all +events, you can convey him my assurance that I had no intention of +insulting him, or of hurting his feelings in any way." + +"Well, sir, I must be content with your reply, though I cannot say that +I conceive it to be a very satisfactory one. My name is Bolton, a +brother officer of Maguire's. Here is my card and address. I shall +expect your friend." Saying this, the young man, with a pompous air, +turned on his heel and walked out of the room. + +"This is indeed provoking, to have a quarrel thus pertinaciously fixed +on me," said Morton, taking Glover's arm. "I must see the captain, and +put the matter into his hands." + +Morton told Captain Calder what had occurred. + +He looked considerably vexed, though he laughed as he answered, "I will +act as your friend, as it is called, with all my heart, and go and see +these young donkeys. If they insist on fighting, it shall be with +cutlasses or boat stretchers. Do they think sailors are accustomed to +handle their little pop-guns, and practise to commit murder with a +steady hand? But seriously, my dear Morton, what do you wish?" + +"To abide by God's laws, Captain Calder, and to set at nought those of +men," answered the lieutenant. + +"Spoken like yourself, Morton, and I have no fear that discredit will be +brought on the service if we all so act," said the captain. "And now +let us collect our forces, and beat a retreat to our quarters." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +PARTY AT MRS. EDMONSTONE'S--INTRODUCTION TO COLONEL ARMYTAGE--VISIT TO +THE "OSTERLEY"--THE "THISBE" ORDERED TO BOMBAY. + +Morton had been anticipating a delightful day: he was to have called, +with Glover, on Mrs Edmonstone, and he hoped to have met Miss Armytage, +who was staying with her; but his first thought on waking was the +disagreeable circumstance which had occurred at the conclusion of the +previous evening, and the still more disagreeable events to which it +would in all probability give rise. + +He was well aware how much the line of conduct he intended to pursue +would be criticised, how the story would be garbled and misrepresented, +and how, in all probability, he would be accused of showing the white +feather. Under ordinary circumstances he would have been very +indifferent to what was said of him: he could well afford to allow idle +tongues to prattle forth slander about him till weary of the occupation, +but he could not bear to fancy that Mrs Edmonstone, or rather her +friend, should hear anything to his disadvantage which he might not be +present to refute; still, happily, he had not forgotten Bertha Eswick's +remark, impressed on his mind in childhood--"Do what is right, lad, and +never mind what men say of thee." + +The temptation of meeting Miss Armytage was at last too strong to be +resisted, and with his captain and brother officers he repaired in the +evening to the house of Mrs Edmonstone. Their hostess received them in +the most friendly manner, and introduced them to several of her friends, +so that they at once felt themselves at home. Morton's eyes ranged +round the room in search of Miss Armytage; she was nowhere to be seen. +He longed to ask Mrs Edmonstone where she was, but he was withheld by a +feeling of bashfulness very unusual with him. Numberless fears entered +his mind. Was she prevented by illness from appearing--had her father +heard who he was, and kept her away that she might not meet him; or had +Colonel Armytage been suddenly called away to another part of the +country, and had his daughter accompanied him? + +That the latter suspicion was correct he was convinced by overhearing +the disjointed remarks of some people near him: "Great loss to our +society--quite unexpected--very charming woman--sweet girl, the +daughter. About him--two opinions--proud--" + +The speakers moved on. Morton was convinced that the sweet girl must +refer to Miss Armytage--surely to no one else. But then came the +thought that he was not to see her that evening--perhaps he might never +again meet her. The pain and disappointment he felt opened his eyes +more rapidly than anything else would have done to his own feelings. As +to enjoying the evening, that was out of the question. Still it would +be a satisfaction to hear something about her. He would inquire where +Colonel Armytage had gone. He was looking round for Mrs Edmonstone, as +he felt that he could ask her better than any one else, when his heart +gave an unwonted bound, for he saw entering the room, and leaning on the +arm of a fine military-looking man, whom he had no doubt was her father, +Miss Armytage herself. On the other side of her, endeavouring to engage +her in conversation, walked the stranger whom Glover thought so like +Alfonse Gerardin. The resemblance struck Morton, as his glance fell on +his countenance, as even greater than on the previous evening. Miss +Armytage seemed rather annoyed than otherwise with his attentions. As +Morton had been walking forward when he first saw the group he could not +stop short, so he continued to advance. The young lady put out her hand +frankly, though a gentle blush rose on her cheeks as she did so. + +"Papa," she said, "I must introduce Mr Morton to you. I am sure that +you wish to thank him for the service he rendered me yesterday evening." + +Colonel Armytage bowed, and assured Mr Morton that he was exceedingly +obliged to him; but he said this in a stiff way, which evidently annoyed +his daughter. + +"I was fortunate indeed in being at hand; but I can claim no merit," +replied Morton, in a modest manner. + +Mrs Edmonstone came up and welcomed her young friend. + +"I am so glad you have come back," she exclaimed, affectionately taking +her hand. "I was quite vexed at your having to run away to a +dinner-party, lest you should be too tired to dance this evening." + +Edda assured her that she was not. She, on this, turned round quickly +to Ronald. "You dance, sometimes, Mr Morton, I know." + +"Yes," he answered quickly, stepping forward and asking Miss Armytage to +dance. + +She smiled and promised. + +The young stranger looked very much annoyed. He had fancied himself +secure of her hand. Many men of rank and wealth would have been proud +of the honour Ronald had obtained, though not more proud than he was. +That evening was the brightest he had ever spent. But there were clouds +in the horizon. He learned that Colonel Armytage had received a high +appointment at Bombay, and that they were about at once to sail for that +presidency, on board the "Osterley," a Company's ship, which was to +touch there on her passage home. + +"We sail in two weeks or so," said Miss Armytage. "I shall be truly +sorry to leave Calcutta." + +"I had little expected to find it so delightful a place," answered +Ronald. + +Miss Armytage slightly blushed when he said this. Why, she could +scarcely tell. Perhaps it was his manner--perhaps an unconscious look +he gave. Though many sought her hand, she declined dancing again, in +consequence of feeling tired, from having danced so much the previous +evening. + +Ronald was constantly by her side; for whenever he left it, he was +quickly again attracted back; nor was he ever in want of an excuse for +returning. Towards the end of the evening he observed the eyes of +several people glancing towards him. It struck him that he formed the +subject of conversation, especially among a group of military men. It +was not, however, till he happened to meet Sims that his suspicions were +confirmed. + +"I knew it would be so," said his brother lieutenant. "The fellows +here, among the military, have got an idea that you refused to fight +Maguire; and I believe that donkey, Bolton, has been setting the story +afloat. I should like to keel-haul him." + +"Let him alone; it matters little what so insignificant a fellow says or +does," observed Morton. "The story can hardly last out the usual nine +days; and if we all behave well, we can allow these empty-headed fellows +to amuse themselves for that time at our expense." + +The ball came to a conclusion without any unusual occurrence. Morton +could not help feeling sure that he stood well in the opinion of Miss +Armytage. He had so little conceit in his composition that it never for +a moment occurred to him that he had excited any warmer sentiment. + +After this he frequently met her at Mrs Edmonstone's, as well as at +other houses. She invariably received him in the same friendly manner, +and exhibited evident pleasure in his society. + +Probably she had not dared to probe her own feelings. Colonel Armytage +treated him as he would any other young officer who had proved a credit +to his profession. Mrs Edmonstone always treated him with the greatest +consideration. + +"I have told her all about you, sir," said Dicky Glover one day. "That +cousin of mine is a first-rate person, and she says she thinks it an +honour to know you." + +"I am much obliged to her for her good opinion," was Morton's reply. + +His spirits were somewhat low; the "Osterley" was about to sail. He had +by chance become acquainted with her commander, Captain Winslow. By his +invitation he was on board to receive Colonel Armytage and his family. +He conducted Mrs and Miss Armytage over the ship. + +"I wish that you were to accompany us in the frigate," said Mrs +Armytage. "In war time we do not know what enemies we may have to +encounter." + +"I should indeed rejoice, if my duty would allow it; but I trust that +you will have no cause for alarm: the `Osterley' is said to be a fast +ship, and report speaks highly of her commander, Captain Winslow." + +Mrs Armytage had spoken without thought. She had been much pleased +with Morton, and it did not occur to her that her daughter might have +been so likewise, in a far greater degree, or that he might misinterpret +her remark. + +"Oh, of course I see that would be out of the question," she observed; +"but perhaps the admiral would send your ship to Bombay, and then you +could watch us. I do not know how it is, but I have a perfect dread of +this voyage." + +Ronald Morton did his best to soothe the lady's alarm, hoping also that +she would not impart it to her daughter. + +Colonel Armytage, when he rejoined the party, was considerably annoyed +at hearing the remarks of his wife. + +Ronald could not help feeling that his manner on the present occasion +was colder than ever, and somewhat supercilious into the bargain. He, +by some means or other, introduced the subject of duelling, and spoke of +it as the only method by which gentlemen could settle their disputes. +"Military men, of course, hold their lives in their hands, and the man +who shirks a duel, or does not insist on having satisfaction for an +insult offered him, should, in my opinion, leave the noble profession of +arms and turn shopkeeper or shepherd. When I commanded a regiment, if +any officer showed the white feather in that respect, I took good care +that he should not long be one of ours." + +Morton could scarcely doubt that the colonel's remarks were aimed at +him; but he thought of his gentle daughter, and refrained from making +any reply. A still higher motive might also have restrained him. + +A pilot vessel accompanied the Indiaman till she was clear of the river. +Morton was therefore able to accept Captain Winslow's invitation to +remain on board till the ship was left to pursue her voyage alone. + +Had Colonel Armytage exhibited towards him, at first, the same temper +that he did subsequently, he would have felt himself compelled, however +much against his will, to return on shore. Fortunately the colonel was +engaged for the greater part of the day in writing in his cabin, so that +Ronald was able to enjoy several hours of uninterrupted intercourse with +Miss Armytage; nor did he, when her father appeared, alter in the +slightest degree his tone of conversation or manner towards her. + +At length the huge Indiaman was fairly out at sea. The pilot announced +that he must take his departure. Morton bade farewell to his friends. +Mrs Armytage held out her hand frankly, and her daughter followed her +example, though there was a softness and perceptible tremor in her voice +which made him wish more than ever that he could take Captain Winslow's +place, or even that of one of his officers. Colonel Armytage parted +with him with a cold shake of the hand and a formal "Good-bye, sir;" and +he was in the boat and soon on board the pilot vessel. The Indiaman's +yards were swung round, and under all sail she stood to the southward. + +No sooner had Morton reached the deck of the pilot vessel than, as he +stood astern watching the Indiaman, his eye fell far beyond her, in the +horizon, on a sail. He saw that it was a large ship. He pointed her +out to the pilot. + +"Yes, sir, there's no doubt of it. She is a large ship," was the +answer. "Maybe she's an Indiaman bound lip the Hooghly. Maybe she's +the `Rajah,' which sailed two days ago, and has been becalmed; or a +China ship looking in for orders; or one of the men-of-war on the +station." + +"I care not what she is, provided she is not an enemy's cruiser," said +Morton. "She seems to have very square yards." + +"Difficult to make that out, I should think," muttered the pilot as he +walked the deck, and then went forward to give some directions to his +native crew. + +Till the pilot vessel re-entered the Hooghly, and Morton lost sight of +the Indiaman, his eye was seldom off her, while his thoughts were even +still more constant. + +Once more he was on board the "Thisbe." He felt no inclination to +revisit Calcutta, and he only went up there once to pay his respects to +Mrs Edmonstone. She very naturally talked of Miss Armytage, and spoke +warmly in her praise. It was a subject of which Morton was not likely +to grow tired. + +"Admiral Rainier tells me that he has ordered the `Thisbe' to proceed to +Bombay, so that you will have an opportunity of renewing your +acquaintance with my young friend," she added. "I think that I shall +charge you with a small parcel for her; some articles which were not +ready before she sailed." + +This was delightful news for Morton. He had not heard that there was +any chance of the frigate being sent round to that presidency. Of +course it was not out of the pale of probability that Mrs Edmonstone +was likely to know where the ship was to be sent before the officers +belonging to her. Two or three days passed before the captain himself +had the information confirmed by the admiral's secretary. + +"You are right, Morton," he said when he came on board. "We are bound +for Bombay, and if we put our best foot foremost we shall get there as +soon as that old tea-chest, the `Osterley.'" + +Morton got his parcel from Mrs Edmonstone, and three days afterwards +the "Thisbe's" keel was ploughing the waters of the Indian Ocean. +During the voyage one pair of eyes, at all events, kept a bright look +out for any sail of the appearance of the "Osterley" Indiaman. The +second lieutenant was continually going aloft, spy-glass in hand, +sweeping the horizon. Some of his shipmates might have suspected the +cause, but he gave no reason for this practice which he had adopted. It +was war time, and he might have been on the look-out for an enemy. + +"We shall be much obliged to you, Morton, if you make out a rich prize +some day," observed Sims. "A Dutchman from Java, or a Spaniard from the +Manillas, would be about the thing." + +Day after day passed, but neither friend nor foe was seen. + +At length, however, the "Thisbe" touched at Ponte de Galle, when she +fell in with another frigate direct from England, which had letters on +board for her. Ronald got one from his father. He could not bring +himself to live on shore, and having applied for employment, had been +appointed boatswain of a line-of-battle ship, the "Lion," which, it was +expected, would be sent out to the East India station. + +Ronald Morton loved and honoured his father too well not to feel +pleasure at the thoughts of meeting him; at the same time he wished that +he could have retired and remained on shore till he could join him. + +Without further adventure the frigate came off Bombay. + +"The Indiaman you were on the look-out for must have arrived before us," +observed Captain Calder, pointing to a large ship which lay in the +roads. + +With a beating heart Ronald watched her as they drew near; but as the +"Thisbe" dropped her anchor at a short distance off, he saw that he was +mistaken. The "Osterley" had not arrived, and considerable alarm was +expressed by those who had been expecting her. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +"THISBE" IN SEARCH OF THE "OSTERLEY"--A CHASE--THE "OSTERLEY" +OVERTAKEN--FOUND IN POSSESSION OF THE FRENCH--RETAKEN--THE PASSENGERS +NOT ON BOARD--MORTON PLACED IN COMMAND OF THE "OSTERLEY"--THE UNKNOWN +ISLAND--OLD DOULL ACTS AS PILOT. + +The non-arrival of the "Osterley" at Bombay created considerable anxiety +in all those who had friends on board, or who were otherwise interested +in her in their feelings or purses. At length the fears for her safety +became so great that Captain Calder was requested to sail in search of +her. No one received with more satisfaction the announcement that the +ship was to put to sea than did Ronald Morton; at all events he would be +doing the only thing in which he could now take an interest. His heart +had been tortured with a thousand fears as to the fate of one whom he +had discovered that he ardently loved. Had nothing unusual occurred it +probably would have taken him much longer to ascertain the true state of +his heart: misfortune has a wonderful power of testing the feelings and +revealing their condition. + +Neither Rawson nor Sims could make him out, they agreed. + +"What can have come over the poor fellow?" said the latter. "The +climate does not agree with him; he should go home invalided." + +Glover might have suspected the true state of the case, but he kept his +counsel to himself. + +The "Thisbe" overhauled every vessel she fell in with, and made +inquiries at numerous places as she ran down the coast, but nothing was +to be heard of the "Osterley." She rounded Ceylon, and stood across the +Indian Ocean. Ronald Morton had kept a sharp look-out for any strange +sail before, on the passage to Bombay; he kept a sharper look out now. + +The frigate had got about a third of the way across the Bay of Bengal, +when the second lieutenant, who, much to the surprise of his +subordinates, spent many of his spare moments aloft, made out a sail to +the southward steering west. She was a large ship, but whether +man-of-war or merchantman, friend or foe, it was impossible to say. +Ronald came on deck, and all sail was made in chase; the idea seized him +that the ship in sight was the one of which they were in search. + +"I am afraid you will be disappointed," remarked Captain Calder. "She +is probably some homeward-bound Indiaman from China; this would be her +track, remember." + +The chase did not alter her course, but all the sail she could carry was +packed on her; she sailed well, but the frigate sailed better; there was +a fear that she might not overtake her till nightfall. Morton walked +the deck with greater impatience than he had ever before exhibited, now +looking out to windward, now at the sails, now at the chase; as the +frigate drew nearer the chase, the opinions were strongly in favour of +her being an Indiaman. + +"But if she is, why should she run away?" observed Glover, who was +always inclined to side with Morton. + +"An Indiaman she is," observed Rawson. "I hope soon we may be near +enough to send a shot across her fore-foot." + +The chase sailed well, and though the frigate gained on her it was not +at a rate to satisfy Morton's impatience. It was getting dusk as they +drew near; his glass had scarcely ever been off the chase. + +"That must be the `Osterley;' and yet it is strange," he exclaimed. +"What can have happened to her?" + +The frigate at length ranged up alongside. By this time it was dark; +lights were seen glimmering through her ports. Captain Calder hailed. +"Wa, wa, wa," was the only answer he received. + +"She must be in the hands of an enemy," he said. + +Morton's heart sank within him. + +"Heave-to, or we fire!" cried the captain. + +In a little time the creaking of blocks was heard, and the Indiaman's +courses being hauled up, she slowly came to the wind. The frigate +hove-to to windward of her, a boat was lowered and manned, and Morton +leaped into her, followed by Glover. + +"Give way, lads!" shouted the lieutenant, eagerly. + +She was soon alongside; her officers and their followers scrambled on +board: little help was afforded them to do so; on the contrary, the +expression of the countenances which looked down on them, seen by the +glare of the lanterns, showed that if not backed by the guns of the +frigate, they would have been received at the points of boarding-pikes +and with the muzzles of pistols presented at their heads. The +determined looks of the sturdy man-of-war's men made the crew of the +Indiaman hold back. Directly Ronald stepped on board he glanced his eye +anxiously around; he had no longer any doubt that she was the +"Osterley," but with not a face that met his gaze was he acquainted. + +A rough piratical-looking man, in a naval uniform, stepped forward, +sword in hand, and presenting the hilt with an air which none but a +Frenchman could assume, said-- + +"Monsieur, the fortune of war places us in your power; we yield +ourselves prisoners, and claim your clemency." + +"On what ground do you claim that? Where are the passengers and crew of +this ship who sailed in her from Calcutta?" exclaimed Ronald. + +"The fortune of war threw them into our hands, as we have been thrown +into yours," answered the captain, drawing himself up. "The courtesy +for which our nation is famed has prompted their captors to treat them +with courtesy." + +"I trust so," exclaimed Morton, with a look which the Frenchman could +not fail to understand. "But tell me--what commission do you bear? Do +you belong to the Imperial marine of France?" + +Morton asked these questions with an agitation he could scarcely +conceal, for from the appearance of the captain and his crew he could +not help dreading that those in whom he took so deep an interest had +fallen into the power of a band of pirates; all the atrocities of which +such ruffians could be guilty occurred to him. + +"Speak, man; tell me--what are you?" he shouted, for the man seemed to +be hesitating about giving a reply. + +"What we are you perceive, monsieur," he answered. "We are cavaliers +and Frenchmen, and are at present prisoners to an honourable enemy; as +such we expect to be treated." + +"How you are ultimately treated depends on your conduct towards those +whom you have had in your power," said Morton. "Enable us to recover +them, and you need have no fear on that score." + +The Frenchman shrugged his shoulders, and protested that he had had +nothing to do with the capture of the Indiaman; that he had been put in +charge of her by others to carry her home, and, moreover, that he knew +nothing of the passengers, except that he had been assured that they +were in safety. + +When Morton interrogated him as to where he had last come from, he +declared that he had been, with his crew, put on board at sea, from a +country craft, and the captors of the ship had taken all the passengers +out and carried them he knew not where. + +Ronald would not believe this statement; but the man persisted in it, +and seemed obstinately determined to make no other Captain Calder +directed Morton to take command of the recaptured "Osterley," and Glover +went as his lieutenant, with a couple of midshipmen, Job Truefitt, Bob +Doull, and about thirty other hands. They not being sufficient to work +the Indiaman, some twenty of the prisoners were retained on board her. +It now became a question what course to steer. At length, as the wind +was favourable, Captain Calder resolved to return to Calcutta, and +should he not hear of the missing prisoners, to get the admiral to send +some other ship in search of them. This determination of the captain +was the only consolation Morton could obtain. Still the fact of their +having fallen in with the Indiaman was of itself considerable +encouragement. + +Two or three days passed by; the wind was light, and not much way was +made. It would be difficult to describe the varied feelings with which +Morton visited the cabins which had been occupied by the Armytage +family. + +To calm the agitation of his mind, he went on deck and paced up and down +by himself. At length, as he turned to walk forward, he saw Bob Doull +coming aft, hat in hand, to the quarter-deck. The young seaman gave the +usual hitch to his waistband, with a scrape of his foot, while he swung +back his hat, and then waited till his superior looked as if he was +ready to listen to him. + +"What is it, Doull?" asked Morton. + +"Please, sir, I've found among these outlandish chaps forward, we took +aboard the prize, an old man who says as how he knows something about +me, sir," said Bob, twisting his hat round and round. + +"About you, my man; who can he be?" inquired the lieutenant. + +"Why, sir, he says as how he's my daddy," answered Doull, bluntly. "He +may be, cause as how my daddy went away to foreign parts many years gone +by, and never came back; but if he is, he's a rum sort of one. I can't +say as how I takes much to the old gentleman as yet." + +"Let me see the man, and hear his story," said Morton. "I had no idea +that we had an Englishman among the prisoners." + +"Bring him aft at once; let him speak to no one; I must question him." + +Before long, Bob Doull was seen dragging along a tall, gaunt, +grey-headed man, with a long beard and moustache, on whose head it was +evident neither scissors nor razors had operated for many a year past. +He was dressed like a French sailor, and except for a peculiar gait and +certain movement characteristic of a British seaman, he would have been +taken for a Frenchman. + +"Please, sir, this old man says as how he is my father," began Bob, +handing him aft on the quarter-deck. "Come, cheer up, and tell +Lieutenant Morton all you know." + +The old man cast an inquiring, doubtful look at Morton's countenance, +but seemingly satisfied with his scrutiny, he exclaimed, "I want, sir, +to make a clean breast of it. For many years of my life I haven't known +what happiness is, and don't ever expect to know it again." + +"As to that," said Morton, interrupting him, "I'll hear you by-and-by; +but first, I wish to know where you have come from, and where the +passengers and crew of this ship are now to be found?" + +"I was coming to all that presently," persisted the old man. "It's of +the past I want to speak." + +"But, man, lately, what have you done?--what crimes have you committed?" +exclaimed Morton. + +"None that I know of," answered the seaman. "I was always a wild blade, +from the time I first set foot on a ship's deck. There was no mischief +I was not up to, no crime I feared committing. I had done many bad +things, but the worst was to come. I was still a lad, and so was my +chum, Archy Eagleshay, and another, an older man, and older in crime, +too, but he's gone to his account, as we must all go, great and small." + +"You speak truth, my man," exclaimed Morton, now losing all patience. +"Again I ask you to pass over your early days, and to come to the latter +events of your career. How did you happen to be on board this ship, +among a set of Frenchmen and ruffians of all nations?" + +"That was what I was coming to tell you, sir," giving a peculiar look at +Morton, who was doubtful whether it was caused by stupidity or +obstinacy. He saw, at all events, that there was no use in attempting +to draw forth the information he required before the old man was ready +to give it. + +After a pause, seeing that Morton was not again going to speak, the old +man continued: "Well, as I was saying, sir, he who is gone came to +Eagleshay and me, and says he, `Are you lads ready to gain more golden +guineas than you ever set eyes on in your life?' Of course we were. +`It's nothing but carrying off a slip of a baby who can do little more +than talk, and just leaving him in the plantations.' We didn't ask +questions, but we went on board a little sloop he owned, and then we +waited, cruising about, till one evening he told us to pull on shore, +and there we found a nurse and child, and the woman gave us the child. +Away we went with it aboard the sloop, and made sail, and never dropped +anchor till we reached the port of Dublin. Then our captain sold the +sloop, and we all went aboard a ship and sailed for America. We didn't +reach it though. We had done a cursed deed, and God's curse was to +follow us. Our ship went down, and we were left floating on a raft; we +were well-nigh starved, when a ship fell in with us, and we were taken +on board. The captain was a kind-hearted man, and he said he would take +care of the little fellow; and as our captain--he that's gone--had got +the money for the deed he'd done, he didn't try to keep him; indeed, he +could not have kept him if he'd wished; and so the good captain drew up +a paper from what we'd told him, and he made us put our names to it, and +he went and locked it up, and after that he never talked about the +matter. We didn't know what he might do, so we ran from the ship at the +first port we came to. From that day to this I never set eyes on the +youngster, or heard of the good captain again. Well, one bad thing +leads to another. We all then went out to the West Indies, and we +shipped aboard some strange craft, and strange flags they sailed under. +It was difficult to know, when you came on deck, what was flying at the +peak. There were many things done which sickened me, and some of my +shipmates I saw hung up at Port Royal in a way I didn't like, and at +last I got away back to England. I then took a wife. Many years, +you'll understand, had passed by. I thought I was going to remain on +shore, and be quiet and honest. I'd one little chap born, and I began +to be fonder of him than I had been of any living creature before; but I +was short of money, and the old feeling came over me. When I wanted it +out in the West Indies then I took it. I now did a thing or two which +made me fly the country. From that day to this I have never set foot on +the shores of old England." + +Morton thought that he might now venture to interrupt the old man. He +had been so anxiously waiting for the account he might give of the +passengers, that he paid little attention to the first part of the +narrative. + +The old man declared that he knew nothing particular about them. He was +on the other side of the island when the Indiaman arrived. He knew that +a number of people had been landed, and that huts had been built for +them, and that they were living on shore; but sentries were placed in +the neighbourhood of the spot, and no one was allowed to pass to +communicate with them. + +"But what is the character of the men who have possession of the +islands? Are they men-of-war's men, privateers, or pirates?" inquired +Ronald. + +The answer the old man gave was not perfectly satisfactory. "They might +be pirates, for they were a rough set; but then privateers were often +rough enough, and little better. Then again some of the ships which +came in wore pennants, and the officers had uniforms; but it was easy +enough for a privateer or a pirate to fly a pennant, and any man could +put on a uniform, as he had often seen done by villains who finished +their career by being hung up in chains." + +Morton took several turns on the deck. Could nothing satisfactory be +made out of the old man? "Could you find your way back again to those +islands you speak of?" he asked. + +"Maybe I could tell the course we've steered; for when it has been my +trick at the helm I marked it well--it has always been the same. Five +days had passed since we tripped our anchor before you fell in with us. +Nor'-west by west, half west; and we ran between seven and eight knots +an hour--seldom less, I should say. There, sir, can you make anything +out of that?" + +"I hope so; and could you pilot us into the harbour from which you +sailed?" asked the lieutenant. + +"That I could, I am bold to say, seeing that I've been fishing over +every spot of it for the last ten years, or more," said the old man. + +"That will do, Mr Doull. Stay aft here, with your son, as you say he +is; and I think you are right, for there is a likeness. I will trust to +you, and I will do my best, if you prove true, to get you pardoned for +any offence against the laws which you have committed." + +Ronald called Glover and signalised the frigate. Both ships hove-to, +and he went on board. His consultation with Captain Calder was soon +over, and on his return both ships shaped a course in the direction +indicated by the old man. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +WHAT HAD BEFALLEN THE "OSTERLEY"--HAD BEEN TAKEN BY THE ENEMY AND +CARRIED INTO PORT--PASSENGERS KEPT PRISONERS ON THE ISLAND. + +When the "Osterley" left Calcutta she stood across the Bay of Bengal, +and there appeared to be every prospect of a favourable commencement of +the voyage. She had a good many passengers, but not so many as she +would have had, probably, had she been going home direct. They were +chiefly married ladies, accompanying their children; or civilians, or +military men returning after many years' service; or invalids, hoping to +regain their health in the land of their birth. + +Altogether, Miss Armytage did not expect to find much to interest her +among the companions of her voyage, as they, one after the other, made +their appearance on the poop-deck of the Indiaman, on which she was +seated. It is possible that, while the pilot vessel continued in sight, +she might have taken an occasional glance to ascertain how the little +vessel was performing her voyage, and afterwards it is certain that she +was lost in a reverie, from which she was not aroused till her mother +had several times addressed her with the inquiry whether she was not +excessively hungry, and would go down and get ready for dinner. Mrs +Armytage was a very good-natured woman, and not destitute of sense, but +she had no romance in her composition. She was a great contrast to her +unhappy sister, Hilda. + +Edda aroused herself. "Yes, mamma; if it is necessary to appear at +dinner, I will go down with you." + +"Of course, dear; and here is Captain Winslow coming to offer you his +arm." + +However, he offered it to Mrs Armytage herself, and with his most +polite of bows, begged that they would take their seats near him at +table. Captain Winslow was courteous to all his passengers, but he +certainly paid more attention to the Armytage party than to all the +rest. + +After dinner, most of the passengers were collected on the poop, +watching two vessels which appeared in the distance. One was evidently +a native craft, a Dhow or Pattarmar, from her high stern, +curiously-projecting bow, and lofty lateen sail. She had apparently +communicated with the other stranger, which was a ship of some size, and +was now working in towards the land. + +The ship engrossed the chief attention of the passengers. She was a +flush-decked vessel or corvette--large for that class of craft, with +very square yards. Miss Armytage hoped that her mother would not +overhear the observations which the appearance of the strange sail +called forth. She was looked upon by all as a very suspicious craft. +Under what flag she sailed was a question, but it was very evident that +she was a man-of-war, a privateer, or a pirate. She was an armed +vessel--she was not a British man-of-war--she might be an English +privateer, but she had the look of a foreigner. + +By degrees the suspicions respecting the character of the stranger +increased, till few had any doubt that he was an enemy. Captain, +Winslow, however, was not to be intimidated by the appearance of the +ship. Captain Winslow had probably made up his own mind as to what he +would do, but, under the circumstances of the case, he judged it +necessary to call his officers and the principal passengers together, to +ask their opinion as to what course should be pursued. Colonel Armytage +was, of course, summoned to the consultation. The captain opened the +proceedings. + +"No one will doubt that, should the sail in sight prove an enemy--for +that has not yet been ascertained--we should run for it," he observed. +"There is no disgrace in that; our business is to carry passengers and +cargo, and we shall do wisely to stick to our business as long as we +can; but the question, gentlemen, which I have to submit to your +consideration is, shall we fight and defend our ship, the passengers and +property confided to our care, or shall we yield to what may prove +superior force?" + +"Superior force or not, I say, sir, by the powers! let us fight it out +to the last, and drive off the enemy," exclaimed the first mate. He +spoke out of order, but his opinion was echoed by his brother officers, +and by most of the passengers, Colonel Armytage was in favour of +fighting to the last. + +"Should she prove a privateer, and we take her, we should do well to +hang every one of her crew up to the yard-arm as pirates, for they are +in no degree better," he exclaimed, in a tone which showed his annoyance +at the prospect of so disagreeable an interruption to their voyage. + +"We shall do well to take the enemy before we decide what is to be done +with him," observed the captain. + +Some few of the passengers were for temporising measures; they proposed +hoisting a flag of truce, and endeavouring to come to terms with the +enemy. + +"Not very likely, gentlemen, that if the enemy think they have the power +to take the ship, and everything on board her, they will be content with +a portion," answered the captain. "The majority are decidedly for +fighting; we will prepare the ship for action." + +The Indiaman was kept on her course, but all the sail she could possibly +carry was set on her. The stranger was at this time to the south-east, +her hull just rising above the horizon. + +The Indiaman was before the wind, so was the stranger, but her courses +were brailed up, and she was evidently waiting for some purpose or +other; she certainly, at present, did not look like an object to be +dreaded. + +The alarm of the ladies gradually subsided, till they began to wonder +why it should be thought necessary to make such preparations for +fighting; why the shot was got up, the powder-tubs filled, and the guns +loaded, and boarding nettings made ready for rigging. + +For some time the stranger did not appear to alter her position. When, +however, at length the Indiaman, under all sail, began to put forth her +speed, giving evidence that she might be many leagues to the southward +by nightfall, the ship in the distance let fall her courses, and her +head coming round, she was seen to be steering a course which would +intersect that of the "Osterley." + +"It will come to a fight, sir, I suspect," observed the captain to +Colonel Armytage. + +"So much the better, for I suppose that there is but little doubt that +we shall beat off the enemy," answered the colonel. "We have plenty of +men, and some serviceable guns, and I trust your fellows will do their +duty like men." + +"I trust so, too, sir; but probably that ship out there has more men and +longer guns than we have," said the captain, gravely. "We should not +conceal from ourselves that the contest will be a severe one, at all +events, and the termination doubtful. I would not say this to the crew, +or to the passengers generally, but in the event of disaster, how are we +to protect the helpless beings committed to our charge--the ladies and +children? Some of these Frenchmen, I have heard, are fiends incarnate +in the moment of victory, and if we offer a stout resistance, and are +conquered at last, what is to be done?" + +"I should feel inclined to blow up the ship rather than run any risk of +the ladies suffering violence," exclaimed the colonel, pacing the deck +in an agitated manner. + +"That were scarcely right in the sight of God, or wise in that of men," +said the captain, calmly: "I had to propose that at a signal which the +chief officer who survives shall give they all assemble in the main +cabin, and that then we rally round them, and refuse to yield till the +enemy agree to terms." + +"Your plan is good, but you look at the dark side of things," remarked +Colonel Armytage. + +"I look at both sides, sir," was the answer. "The `Osterley' is a fast +ship, and we may run away from our pursuer; if we are overtaken, we may +beat her off, or after all she may prove to be no enemy at all. You +see, sir, I turn the state of the case right round; I like to settle +beforehand how, under all circumstances, I shall act." + +"I see, Captain Winslow, you are a man of forethought--a useful quality +in your profession," said Colonel Armytage, though he did not make the +remark with the best possible grace. In truth, he was inclined to look +down on the sea captain as a person of a very inferior grade to himself, +though compelled under peculiar circumstances to associate with him. +With one of his formal bows he said that he must go below to make the +ladies understand the arrangements contemplated for them. + +Edda heard of the expected combat with perfect calmness. + +"How I pity the poor men who may be wounded in the battle!" she +remarked. + +Her father sneered. + +"May we go on deck and help them?" she asked suddenly. "I am sure that +we can be of use." + +"Certainly not," he answered, sternly. "We shall have enough to do +without being interrupted by the interference of women." + +"Oh, father! do not say that," said Edda. "We would be of all the use +in our power; we would tend the wounded; we would take food to those who +were weary; we would carry up powder and shot if required. I have read +of women doing such things. Why should not we?" + +"Because there are men enough to fight, and it is considered that you +will be safer down below," said Colonel Armytage, casting a look of +involuntary admiration at his daughter. "Round shots are no respecters +of persons, and one might destroy you or your mother or the other women +as readily as the roughest man on board. In Heaven's name, child, keep +out of danger." + +A part of the hold was quickly arranged for the accommodation of the +ladies during the expected action. Two lanterns were hung up in it +below the beams, but notwithstanding all that was done, it was a very +dreary, dark abode. Edda entreated that she and her mother might remain +on deck till they were within range of the enemy's guns. Most of the +other ladies followed her example, and the deck once more resumed its +usual orderly appearance, though there were signs of the expected strife +in the warlike costumes of the gentlemen, who walked up and down with +swords buckled to their sides, pistols in their belts, or muskets on +their shoulders. + +The captain had not vainly boasted of the sped of the ship, and, as he +now hauled up a little to the westward there appeared to be a +considerable chance of her running the stranger out of sight during the +night. Darkness was now coming on. The stranger was seen on the +lee-quarter continuing the pursuit under all sail. Some of the more +timid suggested that part of the cargo should be thrown overboard to +lighten the ship, so as to afford them a better chance of escaping, but +to this the captain would not consent. He was responsible for the +property. He hoped to defend it and every part of it, and even if hove +away it could do little to aid their escape. His calmness and +determination infused courage into all around him. Night came on. The +stranger was still far beyond gunshot. Not a light was allowed to be +shown on board the Indiaman. The ladies were induced to retire to their +cabins, many under the happy belief that all danger had passed, and that +they might look forward to a pleasant continuance of the voyage. None +of the officers or crew, however, went below. + +Many of the passengers also remained on deck. As night closed in, far +off was still to be seen the dark outline of the stranger ship. Was she +gaining on the "Osterley?" Captain Winslow and his officers looked and +looked again. There seemed to be little doubt about that. No more +canvas could be clapped on the Indiaman. Everything had been done that +could be thought of to make her sail fast. A hurricane just then would +have been welcome. Clouds were gathering in the sky, and, as the night +drew on, the darkness increased. At length the stranger was hid from +sight. Some declared that they could still see her, but Captain Winslow +was of opinion that they were mistaken. Still even he, as he walked the +deck, continued to cast many an anxious glance astern. He called his +first officer to him, and they held an earnest consultation together. + +"We'll try it," he observed; and the yards were squared away, and the +Indiaman was once more steering to the southward dead before the wind; +it was her best point of sailing. It was hoped that the stranger, +believing that she was bound for Madras, would continue the chase in +that direction. The darkness continued. + +"Well, sir, I trust that we have given that suspicious-looking gentleman +the go-by," observed the captain to Colonel Armytage. "Perhaps it might +be better to inform the ladies of this, to tranquillise any alarm they +may still feel." + +"Have no anxiety on that score. I do not allow my wife and daughter to +indulge in idle apprehensions," answered the colonel in the supercilious +tone in which he frequently spoke. + +"This man may be a very important personage, but he is a very +disagreeable one," thought Captain Winslow, as he turned away. + +The worthy captain was well-nigh wearied out, so, summoning his first +officer to take charge of the deck, he returned to his cabin to +endeavour to snatch a short rest, leaving directions to be summoned +should any change occur in the present state of things. + +The first officer had been one of the most anxious to fight. He +believed that they might not only beat off the enemy, but take her also, +and he now kept a bright look-out, hoping that she might again appear. +He was a young man, and thought more of the honour and glory to be +gained than of the risk to be run. Over and over again his night-glass +swept round in the direction of the eastern horizon. The range of his +vision was limited. After taking a long gaze he suddenly exclaimed, +"There she is though!" He called an old quartermaster and bade him take +the glass. + +"Yes, sir, she's the ship, there's no doubt about it. She has been +keeping way easily with us," observed the seaman. "I'd sooner that +craft, Mr Lloyd, were a hundred miles away, or a thousand, for that +matter, than where she is: we none of us likes her looks, and she'll +prove a rummish customer if she gets alongside of us." + +"Oh, never fear, Davis; you'll all fight like Britons, and beat her off; +or take her, maybe. But call the captain, and let him know our friend +is in sight, away on the larboard beam." + +Captain Winslow was on deck in an instant. He had been dreaming of the +stranger. There she moved like a dark phantom, silently stalking over +the waters. + +There was something peculiarly ominous in her appearance. The very +silence with which she glided on through the darkness was threatening. +She soon came up within range, but not a shot was fired. There she +remained gliding on, with her courses brailed up, keeping pace with the +Indiaman. It was very evident that she might have come down upon her +long before had she chosen. + +The approach of the stranger quickly became known in the cabin, and the +gentlemen passengers were soon congregating on deck, many of them +buckling on their swords and examining the locks of their pistols by the +light of the binnacle lamp. Various opinions were offered. Some +thought that Captain Winslow ought to begin the battle by firing a +broadside into the stranger; but he declined the proposal, and suggested +that it would be better to ascertain first whether she was inimically +disposed. + +"She can scarcely be a friend, or she would not frighten people so +horribly," observed some one, but the speaker was not discovered. + +The remark produced a laugh, and the spirits of the more timid began to +rise. + +"Perhaps the gentleman intends to wait till daylight to commence sport," +observed the previous speaker. + +Another hour passed by; Captain Winslow could not help feeling that his +ship was completely in the power of the stranger. She evidently sailed +two feet to his one; could shoot ahead and rake him, or could stand off +and cannonade him with her long guns, without his being able to return a +shot. A sturdy Briton as he was, he almost wished, for the sake of all +on board, especially of the females, that it had been determined to +yield at once. + +"No, no, that would never do," he muttered soon after to himself; "we'll +fight, and defend them like men." + +The stranger had been edging in nearer and nearer to the Indiaman. The +ladies had been assembled and sent to their apartment in the hold. They +were told it was only as a precautionary measure in case of an action. +They endeavoured to keep up each other's spirits, hoping for the best. +Miss Armytage sat by her mother, calm and resigned, endeavouring to +read, but her mind often left the page and wandered far away. + +Some few tried to talk, but they found the effort vain. A few young +girls laughed and joked, and tried to persuade themselves that there was +nothing to dread, but they too soon became silent, and the whole party +sat patiently waiting for the event they dreaded, yet hoped might be +avoided. They had no means of ascertaining what was taking place; Edda +offered to go up and learn, but her mother entreated her to remain where +she was, reminding her of her father's commands. The time passed slowly +by; many thought that it must be soon day. All hoped that it would be, +for they fancied that with the light the stranger would be discovered to +be a friend. Not a sound from the deck above reached them. The silence +itself was painful. It was suddenly broken by the deep-toned voice of +the captain speaking through a trumpet. Then came the concussion and +fierce roar of the guns overhead, followed by the thunder of those of +their opponent, and the crash of the shot as they tore their way through +the sides of the ship. Many of the ladies shrieked loudly, with wild +fright, and clung trembling to each other. Yes, the bloody fight had +really begun; how would it terminate? Next there was a crashing sound +as if the ship had struck on a rock, and she trembled in all her +timbers, and there was still the roar of the great guns, but added to it +the rattle of musketry; and now followed wild shouts and shrieks, and +the clashing of steel as cutlass met cutlass, and men strove desperately +for life, and there was the sharp report of pistol shots, and the cries +increased; and there was the tramping of feet, every moment becoming +louder, and the clashing of swords, and the shouts and cries growing +nearer. And now one of the officers rushed down the ladder. His face +was pale; there was blood on his arm. + +"Ladies, we will defend you to the last," he exclaimed. "But come up on +the main-deck, and keep together. We have been boarded and overpowered. +We have rallied on the afterpart of the deck, and hold it still; but +there is no time to be lost." + +Miss Armytage and her mother were the first to lead the way. When they +reached the main-deck they saw the gallant band of the defenders +struggling with overwhelming numbers of the enemy. In the front rank +was Colonel Armytage. A huge seaman, a negro, had attacked him, and was +pressing him hard. He seemed to be already wounded; others were rushing +on. His foot slipped and he fell. His opponent's cutlass was uplifted +to give him a blow, which must have proved fatal, when a young officer +sprang forward, interposed his own sword, and turned aside the weapon of +his enemy. + +"Yield, sir," he exclaimed in French. "You are a prisoner, and your +life shall be respected." As he spoke, aided by the others, he dragged +the colonel, no longer able to resist, out from the _melee_, and at that +moment Edda recognised him as the young stranger whom she had met so +frequently at Calcutta. + +"All who yield shall have quarter," cried a voice from among the +assailants of the British. "We are honourable enemies, and seek the +lives of none who no longer resist. The ladies shall be protected." + +"It's Hobson's choice," said one of the passengers: "let us make terms +while we can." + +Several others expressed the same opinion. Indeed, it was evident that +further resistance was useless. The ship was already in possession of +the enemy. The captain was not with them. Where he was, no one knew. +Too probably he was wounded; perhaps killed. Colonel Armytage was a +prisoner. The first officer lay desperately wounded in the front rank +of the little band, who had so gallantly held out to the last. + +"Drop your swords, brave enemies, and the Frenchman who makes another +stroke at your head, dies," said the voice. + +Although many had but little faith in the promise, they yielded to +necessity. The captors, however, kept their word. + +The captain, a stout middle-aged man, came forward, and taking the +swords of the officers, bowed to the group of ladies, and assured them +that everything in his power would be done for their accommodation. + +"Oh, bring my father, then!" exclaimed Miss Armytage. "Let us attend to +him, should he be hurt." + +"The officer, my lieutenant, took prisoner?--certainly. He shall be +placed under your charge, madam," answered the captain, with a bow. + +As soon as it was daylight, the English part of the Indiaman's crew, +with the officers, as well as the military men among the passengers, +were removed on board her captor, which proved to be "La Sybille," a +French privateer corvette. Her name had lately become known for the +havoc she had committed among the British merchantmen, many of which had +been carried off, but what had afterwards become of them it had not been +hitherto ascertained. + +It was a great relief to Edda to receive a visit from Captain Winslow. +He was wounded, and having been knocked down and stunned when the +Frenchman boarded, he had not recovered till the ship was completely in +their power. + +Several of the Indiaman's officers and crew had been killed or wounded, +but the bloody signs of the conflict had been removed when the ladies +once more appeared on deck. Strangers navigated the ship, and Edda +observed that her Calcutta acquaintance had the command. He approached, +however, but seldom, and always with the signs of the most profound +respect. Edda sometimes observed him standing at a distance, watching +her, with his arms folded on his bosom, and a melancholy expression in +his countenance. Still, she did not altogether like his look, though it +would have been difficult for her to determine why. One thing certainly +was against him. He had been acting the part of a spy at Calcutta, and +it at once occurred to her, that it was probably owing to the +information he had obtained that the "Osterley" had been watched for, +and fallen into the hands of the enemy. Senor Gerardo, as he had called +himself, at the same time paid the greatest attention to Colonel +Armytage, and seemed to anticipate all his wants; indeed, no captors +could have behaved with more attention to their prisoners than did the +officers of "La Sybille" to the passengers of the "Osterley." + +The two ships were now sailing together, to the eastward of south, but +where they were going, no one could ascertain. A sentry was stationed +at the compass, and though they were allowed to range anywhere else +about the ship, when any one drew near that, they were civilly ordered +to move away. Ten or more days passed, and the two ships lay at anchor +in a beautiful bay, among a group of islands, some of considerable +elevation, and covered with all the varied productions of the tropics. +There were few signs of cultivation, but there were numerous huts and +tents scattered about, and it was evident that the island had been taken +possession of by the French as a rendezvous for their cruisers. Another +Indiaman lay at anchor with her masts and spars in a shattered +condition, as if she had met with a gale on her passage there, and had +not been in a fit condition to send away. On a near inspection a +battery was discovered thrown up on each side of the bay, while a strong +fort in the centre commanded the anchorage, and sentries were seen +pacing the beach to prevent the possibility of any prisoners escaping. + +The passengers remained on board two days, while workmen were seen on +shore, erecting fresh huts. During this time, Lieutenant Gerardo was +constant in his attentions to Edda, but they were so delicately offered, +and his manners were so gentlemanly and refined, that she was almost +angry with herself for not feeling more grateful. At last the whole +party were directed by the French captain who came on board, to prepare +for going on shore, and informed that they were at liberty to take every +part of their private property with them. + +"We do not war with individuals, and we feel deeply the necessity we are +under of placing a restraint on your actions." + +The young lieutenant expressed his great regret at no longer being +allowed to have charge of them. "Still I trust, Miss Armytage, that you +will allow me occasionally to come and inquire after your health. `La +Sybille' requires repairs, and will be detained here some time." + +At first Colonel Armytage received him with great coldness, naturally +looking on him with contempt, as having played the dishonourable part of +a spy during his visit to Calcutta; but the lieutenant explained the +cause of his appearance there so much to the colonel's satisfaction, and +his attentions were so unremitting and delicate, that he completely won +his way into the good graces of the English officer. + +Gerardo was too acute an observer not to have discovered the authority +Colonel Armytage exercised over his family, and he fancied that the most +certain way of winning the daughter was first to gain over the father. +By degrees also he obtained the good opinion of Mrs Armytage. He never +obtruded his services, but he offered them to her in so delicate a +manner, and showed so much pleasure in being employed, that it was +scarcely possible for her to refuse them. All the fruits and flowers +which the islands produced were collected and brought to her and her +daughter, often not obtained without difficulty, while numberless +objects of interest, evidently taken out of prizes, were offered for +their acceptance. + +Very few of the other officers came near them; indeed, they appeared +generally to be of a different stamp to the captain and his first +lieutenant. + +"We really might be very happy here if we did not wish to be elsewhere," +observed Mrs Armytage to her daughter. + +"Yes, certainly," remarked another lady. "But what shall we do when our +clothes wear out? It will be shocking not to be able to get any of the +new fashions. I am afraid our polite captain and Monsieur Gerardo will +not think half as much about us then." + +"You don't suppose that we are to be kept here for ever!" exclaimed +another lady, in a great state of agitation. + +"Perhaps till the war is over--such things are done," remarked Mrs +Armytage, who, having her husband and daughter with her, was more +inclined to be contented with her lot than were most of the party. + +With most of the captives, however, the days in that delightful climate +passed pleasantly and rapidly by. Had Ronald Morton wished Edda to be +placed in a position where her thoughts would most probably be occupied +with him, he could scarcely have selected one more favourable for the +purpose than that in which she now found herself. + +What might have been the effect of the young French lieutenant's devoted +attention, it is impossible to say; but though he was present, the +absent Morton ever stepped in to prevent him from making the slightest +impression on her affections. The more she thought of Morton, the more +vividly did she realise his noble qualities, his manly appearance; and +thinking of him, she naturally taught herself to believe that, in some +way or the other, she and her friends would be rescued from their +present trying and anxious position. All the time they could not but +feel that they were in the hands of enemies, who, though they behaved +well at present, might at any moment change their conduct. + +Both the French ship and the Indiaman had suffered considerably in the +action; and since their arrival they had been undergoing repairs. These +were now completed. The privateer's men were also refreshed, and eager +to go in search of fresh spoil. + +With heavy hearts the late officers and passengers of the "Osterley" saw +her under all sail, standing out of the bay. It appeared as if their +home--the only means of escaping from their bondage--was leaving them. +Many gave way to tears at the sight, and few looked on unmoved. Two +days afterwards the corvette herself put to sea, both her captain and +first lieutenant going in her. A small garrison was left in each of the +forts, and the seamen remained in prison on board the dismasted prize, +under a strong guard. As there were only a few small canoes on the +beach, used for fishing, and none of the prisoners had arms of any +description, there was very little chance of their attacking the +garrison, or attempting to make their escape. An old French military +officer, who acted as governor, was a very strict disciplinarian, and +was continually going from fort to fort and inspecting his troops, so +that neither he nor they were likely to be caught asleep. Indeed, it +appeared that nothing was likely to occur to disturb the perfect +tranquillity of the island. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +THE "THISBE" APPROACHES THE ISLAND--OLD DOULL'S REVELATIONS AS TO THE +"OSTERLEY'S" PASSENGERS--THE FRIGATE PUT UNDER FRENCH COLOURS-- +EXPEDITION IN THE BOATS--ATTACK ON THE FORTS--"OSTERLEY'S" PASSENGERS +CARRIED OFF. + +To return again to the "Thisbe" and rescued "Osterley." The frigate and +Indiaman were once more hove-to, at a short distance from each other. +In the far distance appeared a group of islands like blue hillocks +rising out of the shining ocean. Volunteers from the frigate eagerly +crowded on board the "Osterley," armed to the teeth. Morton had gained +sufficient information from the old man to enable him to form a plan for +rescuing the prisoners, should they be, as he trusted, still on the +island. He had had frequent conversations with the elder Doull. One +day the old man again referred to the abduction transaction in which he +had been engaged in his youth. The similarity of the account to that +Morton had heard of his father's history, struck him. + +"Where was it? from what part of the coast did you take the child?" he +asked, eagerly. + +"Did I not say from Shetland?" replied the old man. "And what is +strange, Lieutenant Morton, the boy's name was the same as yours; but +maybe you know nothing of Shetland; it's a fine land anyhow, and you are +too young to be the child I was speaking of." + +"You are mistaken in one point, Mr Doull," said Morton. "I belong to +Shetland; I was born and bred there; and I feel almost sure that the boy +you carried off was my father. He was picked up at sea by a Captain +Scarsdale, who brought him up as his son." + +"Scarsdale!--now you speak it, that's the name of the master of the +vessel who took us off the raft, and from whose ship we ran. For many a +long year I have not thought of it. Yes, Andrew Scarsdale; and the boy +was called Rolf Morton--the names come back to me as if I heard them but +yesterday. There are not many other names I can remember which I knew +at that time." + +"But do you believe that that was the real name of the child?" asked +Morton, for he had heard his father express his belief that the name he +bore was not his true one. + +"That I do not know," answered old Doull. "If it was not, the only one +of us who knew the truth was our leader--the man who led us to commit +the crime--that villain, Rolf Yell. It's many a year since I have +spoken his name. Now I remember, he gave me a paper to Captain +Scarsdale, and put his name to it, and we saw him do it; and we--that +is, Archy Eagleshay and I did; and the captain put his name, and we put +ours after that, though we didn't read the paper, but the captain said +that it was all right, and that it was what he wanted, and he took it +below; and so I supposed that it would make everything square for the +poor boy." + +This circumstantial account agreed so exactly with that which Captain +Scarsdale had given his father, that Ronald had no doubt that he had +found a clue which might lead to the solution of the mystery hanging +over his early history. + +What had become of the important document? Why had not Captain +Scarsdale produced it? Yell, at all events, knew his father's real +name, and he must have communicated it to Captain Scarsdale. He longed +to meet his father, that he might give him the information he had +received, and consult with him as to what steps it would be best for +them to pursue. + +Formerly he perhaps would have been very indifferent as to the result; +now he could not help feeling that if it could be proved that he was of +gentle blood, it might enable him the better to succeed in realising the +bright visions in which he had of late been indulging. There might be a +thousand obstacles in his path, but he felt that he could clear them all +away by courage and perseverance, as he would a host of enemies with the +strokes of his cutlass. + +Such were the feelings with which Ronald Morton prepared for the attempt +to rescue the passengers and crew of the "Osterley" from the hands of +the Frenchmen. Old Doull had warned him of the difficulties to be +encountered. He had described the dangers of the approach to the bay, +the strength of the forts, and the number of the garrison. This of +course only increased the anxiety of Morton and his followers to +commence the work in hand. + +While Morton was still forming his plan, old Doull, hat in hand, came +aft. + +"Captain Morton," he said, "my son Bob has been telling me how you have +been kind to him, and stood by him ever since he came to sea, and I want +to show you that my old heart, though it's pretty well scorched and +dried up with the hard life I've led, can still feel thankful for +favours done. At first I couldn't make Bob believe that I was his +father, and no wonder, for an unnatural one I had been to him all his +life; but I told him so many things about when he was a baby that he +knows it now, and has taken to call me father, and that warms my heart +and gives it such a pleasure I can't describe. After having had no one +to care for me for better than twenty years, except old Archy +Eagleshay--and I couldn't trust him over-much, 'specially if a cask of +rum was in his way--it is a happiness to be called father--that it is, +sir. I hope as how some day you will feel it. Well, sir, as I was +saying, I was turning in my mind how I might serve you best. Now, I've +been thinking that if we were to sail in with the ships, and attempt to +take the forts by force, though we might and should succeed in the end, +we might hurt some of the English people on shore, and that's what you +wouldn't wish to do." + +"No, indeed," said Ronald, shuddering. "That I would not, of course. +But what do you propose?" + +Ronald had discovered the uselessness of attempting to hurry the old +man, so he waited patiently for his reply. + +"Why, sir, I think if the ship was to run in just before dark under the +French flag, the people on shore would fancy that she had been brought +back for some reason or other, and very likely wouldn't board her that +night. When it is dark I will go on shore and find my way to the huts +of the prisoners. I will tell them that you have arrived to bring them +off, and I think that I could manage to conduct them down by a path to +the shore, so that the French sentries shall not see them. In that way, +sir, they may be got on board without danger." + +Morton was not satisfied with the whole of Doull's plan. + +"You forget the risk the prisoners would run of being fired on by the +French sentries, if found escaping; while, before the ship could leave +the bay, the forts would open fire on her, and very probably injure some +of them. However, I will think over your proposal, and I thank you for +your anxiety to serve me." + +Morton would rather have run in with both ships, reduced the forts, and +carried off the prisoners in triumph, but caution as well as boldness, +he knew well, were necessary to insure success. Captain Calder highly +approved of the plan he ultimately laid before him. + +All was ready on board the "Osterley." The boats were hoisted in; and +while she ran on towards the land the frigate hauled her wind and stood +off again. + +The Indiaman rapidly approached the land. As she drew in with it the +French ensign was hoisted at the peak. Job Truefitt looked up at it. + +"It's the first time that I minds that I ever sailed under that buntin', +and I would be sorry to see it often hoisted over my head," he observed +to the elder Doull, pointing at it with his thumb half over his +shoulder, and a contemptuous sneer on his lips. "I never loved them +mounseers, and hopes I never may. They are to my mind the nat'ral born +enemies, so to speak, of Englishmen, and it's my belief that they'll +remain the same to the end of the world." + +Doull was now summoned aft to pilot the ship among the reefs which +surrounded the group of islands she was approaching. The wind had been +faithful, and Morton managed so well that it was close upon sunset +before the "Osterley" got inside the reefs. It would have been anxious +work to carry a ship, in the uncertain light which still remained, among +those numerous rocks and shoals, even with a friendly port in which to +drop her anchor. Ronald, with the old man by his side, stood conning +the ship, while two seamen with sharp eyes were placed at the end of the +jib-boom, and others at the fore yardarms, to give notice of any danger +they might discover. + +"There'll be no use keeping the lead going, sir," said Old Doull. "You +may get a cast of twenty fathom, and the next moment have the ship's +bows hard and fast." + +Ronald knew that this was the case, nor did it decrease his anxiety. +Steady hands were at the helm. The seamen were at their stations to +trim or shorten sail. The Indiaman glided onward. She was already +inside the reefs, and the heaving motion of the ocean was no longer +felt. Hills clothed with verdure rose close before them, the shore on +either side, fringed with cocoa-nut trees, seen here and there over the +yellow beach rising against the deep blue sky. The forts, too, could be +made out, though thrown into shade in the centre of the landscape, as +the ship, boldly guided by the old seaman to a berth, dropped her +anchor. The carpenter had been busily employed all day in constructing +a canoe. It was forthwith lowered noiselessly into the water, and Doull +and his son stepping into it, paddled away to the shore, keeping, +however, as far off as possible from the forts. + +"That man can be trusted," observed Ronald to Glover, though the words +implied a doubt of the fact. + +"At all events we must trust him, sir," answered the midshipman; "that +is very clear." + +After waiting for some time, and no one appearing from the shore, the +boats were lowered without noise into the water, and at once manned. By +this time the dim outline of the shores of the bay could alone be seen. +Morton took command of one, Glover of another, and the boatswain of the +frigate of a third. Sims remained on board in charge of the ship. The +Indiaman's boats followed with a midshipman in each, so that there were +six altogether. + +There were three forts, and it was arranged that two boats' crews should +simultaneously attack each of them. The oars were muffled, and away the +flotilla glided from the side of the big ship, as Glover observed to the +midshipman with him, like a brood of new-born serpents sallying from +their parents' side intent on mischief. Not a sound was heard on shore, +not a sound either did the boats make as they glided over the smooth +surface of the bay. Morton's mind misgave him. It seemed strange that +no people from the shore had come off to the ship. + +"Surely they must have seen her even through the gloom," he said to +himself. "Can the Frenchman have left the place, and carried off the +prisoners?" + +The question was soon to be solved, but his impatience would scarcely +brook the necessary delay. He had ascertained from Doull the direction +of the huts where the English prisoners were located. Doull had also +described the best landing-places under the forts. The boats, in three +divisions, proceeded on their separate courses. The centre fort was the +strongest. Ronald selected that for himself. His heart beat quick as +he approached it. Who when going into action does not discover that his +pulse beats more rapidly, even under ordinary circumstances? Ronald +felt that the safety of one now dearer to him than life was involved in +the success of his undertaking. + +As the boats drew closer to the shore it was necessary to proceed more +carefully, for fear of running on the rocks, which jutted out in certain +parts of the bay. Though the surface of the bay was smooth, there was a +slight surf on the shore, the noise of which, as it broke, tended to +overpower any sound which the oars made as they dipped into the water. + +Could the French garrisons be asleep? No sentry's challenge was heard +on the walls. Perhaps, believing that it was unlikely an enemy should +discover them, and impossible for one to approach at night, they had +all, in fancied security, gone to rest; but then they must have seen the +approach of the ship. + +Ronald had promised to send up a rocket the instant the parapet was +gained and the enemy aroused. A few more strokes, and the boats would +reach the landing-place. Just then a loud hail came from the walls of +the fort. Ronald answered, in French, "People from the captured +Indiaman." + +"Stay there," said the sentry, who had, it seemed, either been asleep or +just come up to his post. This, however, was an order the English were +not very likely to obey, so on they dashed as fast as possible, knowing +that in another minute their purpose would be discovered. Leaping on +shore, several carrying ladders, they rushed to the walls. At the same +moment a rocket flew into the night air high above the heads of the +combatants, to give notice to their comrades that the attack was begun. +The ladders were placed in position, and up they climbed, in a way +British seamen only can climb, each eager to be first, and yet one +helping on the other in the noble race of honour. In vain the sentries +and a few men left on guard rushed out to oppose the assailants, and +shouted and bawled to their comrades to hurry to their assistance. A +pistol bullet or the stroke of a cutlass silenced the voice of many a +boasting Frenchman for ever. + +The English had made good their footing in the fort, but before they had +time to advance, they found themselves opposed by the whole garrison, +who, though just awakened from sleep, surprised and bewildered, fought +with the fury of desperation. They had, however, seized in the hurry +and darkness the weapons which first came to hand, and many were but +imperfectly armed. Now they were driven back--now more of the officers +coming among them, they again rallied and stood bravely for a few +minutes, but every foot of ground Morton and his followers gained they +kept, and onward they fought their way. The pistol shots, and shouts, +and cries from the other forts, and high above all, the true hearty +English cheers to which the seamen gave vent, showed the enemy that they +were attacked by no insignificant force. By whom they were attacked +they probably could not tell, till those well-known cheers reached their +ears. Still they bravely stood their ground. + +"On, lads, on!" shouted Morton, laying about him with his cutlass more +furiously than ever. He began to be afraid, from the pertinacity of the +Frenchmen, that they expected reinforcements. Again the British seamen +made a fierce charge; those of the enemy in the front rank were cut down +or driven back upon their companions in the rear. They in their turn +gave way, and the whole body of Frenchmen took a hurried flight across +the fort, with the intention of escaping through the gate on the land +side. This was what Morton was especially anxious they should not do. +He dashed after them like a dog endeavouring to turn a flock of sheep. +He and several of his followers reached the gate almost at the same +moment, but not in time to stop them. Out dashed the Frenchmen, driving +each other forward. The British seamen followed close upon their heels, +cutting down those they could overtake, but they in their fall somewhat +impeded the pursuers. Morton marked well the way they took. It was +towards, he believed, the huts of the prisoners. He guessed what their +purpose would be--on he went in hot haste. Once some of the fugitives, +finding so few of their enemies close at their heels, stopped, and stood +at bay. They had cause to repent their temerity. Three were brought to +the ground by the edge of Ronald's cutlass, somewhat blunted as it was, +while others, with severe wounds, again took to flight. + +In the dark many of the pursuers and pursued were scattered, but Morton +followed what he believed to be the main body. Suddenly cries and +shrieks arose in front, and men's voices were heard shouting, and he +thought he recognised that of old Doull and--yes, he was certain--that +of Colonel Armytage. Among the female voices was one which thrilled +through every nerve. Ronald rushing on, shouted to his men to collect +them round him; in another instant he found the two Doulls and Colonel +Armytage fiercely engaged with a party of the fugitives. His cutlass +soon put the latter to flight. + +"Where are the ladies?" he exclaimed; but he scarcely waited for an +answer. He divined too well what had occurred. + +"There! there! the scoundrels have carried them off towards the woods," +cried Colonel Armytage. + +In another instant Ronald was among the Frenchmen. Some of the men +finding that with their burdens escape was impossible, let them go free, +but others continued their flight. The cries of children and the +shrieks of women resounded through the woods. Edda Armytage was still +in the hands of the enemy. On rushed Morton; young Doull was by his +side. + +"There's some people with a lady, sir," he exclaimed, making a dash +towards a path which led down a dell on one side. There were several +men, and Ronald at that moment caught sight of a female dress among +them. Morton's quick ear recognised Edda's voice. + +"Oh, save me! save me!" she cried out. + +The man who held her boldly came to the front, while his comrades +retreated. Ronald's cutlass was upraised to strike, when the Frenchman +placed his captive before him as a shield. The rest rallied round him, +and Morton, with Doull alone by his side, found himself opposed to a +dozen or more desperadoes, while he felt almost unnerved by seeing Miss +Armytage in their power. His dread was that some stray shot or the +careless stroke of a cutlass might injure her. All he could do was to +keep at bay the rest of the Frenchmen, while he continued to summon his +followers. They, however, it appeared, were skirmishing on either side, +or rather following the retreating enemy in every direction. Ronald +made the most desperate efforts to cut down some of his opponents, but +each time that he appeared to be gaining a success the big Frenchman +thrust himself before him. He had received one or two severe cuts, and +was beginning to despair that help would come in time to prevent the +Frenchman from escaping. + +Edda had from the first recognised his voice, yet she dared not trust +herself to address him by name. Still not for a moment did Ronald relax +in his exertions. The Frenchmen had the advantage of knowing the +ground, and they were evidently, Ronald conjectured, aiming at some +particular spot, where they might hold out successfully. The path was +steep, and numerous creepers of a tropical vegetation crossed it. In +one of these the big Frenchman must have caught his foot; he stumbled, +and before he could recover himself young Doull sprung like a tiger on +his throat, and held him tight. The ruffian still attempted to retain +his hold on Miss Armytage. + +"You look after the others, sir--I can settle with this fellow," sung +out the young seaman; but his officer thought more just then of saving +the lady than of beating the enemy. + +While the Frenchman was still paralysed with the vice-like clutch which +Doull had taken of his throat, Ronald cast his arm round Edda, and +forced her from his grasp. + +"Hurra!" shouted Bob Doull, "I'll soon finish off the villain now." + +He was as good as his word, for never for a moment relaxing his hold of +the man's throat, he threw himself on him with such force, that he +brought him to the ground; with his knee he kept down one of the man's +arms, and with his left hand the other. + +"I shall have done for him soon, sir," he shouted; "he's giving in, no +fear." + +What cared Ronald now for wounds, or for the enemies who were attacking +him! Supporting Edda with one arm, he kept them back, and prevented +them from rescuing their companion. Suddenly Bob Doull sprang to his +feet, and laying about him with his cutlass, quickly put the rest of the +Frenchmen to flight. + +"Oh, Ronald, what happiness to be saved by you!" murmured Edda, scarcely +conscious of what she was saying, as Morton, followed by Bob Doull, who +kept a cautious look-out on every side, returned to the huts. + +Those words revealed to him what he had scarcely dared to hope. He +found old Doull severely hurt, while Colonel Armytage had been unable to +follow, in consequence of his former wounds. He did not recognise +Morton, but he expressed himself full of gratitude to the gallant +officer who had been the means of rescuing his daughter. Mrs Armytage +was soon afterwards conducted back to the huts; she, with the other +ladies and children who had been earned off, having been rescued by +another party of seamen. The remainder who had escaped, and hid +themselves, now made their appearance; husbands and wives looking for +each other, and mothers and nurses hunting for their children. + +Glover and the boatswain now sent two midshipmen from the forts, to +announce their capture, and to state that they had secured the +garrisons. It was thought advisable, however, to get the ladies on +board without delay. + +Captain Winslow and the officers and the crew of the "Osterley," who had +been hutted at a distance from the rest, on hearing the firing, had +broken through the sentries, and hurried to the spot. Arms were put +into their hands, and they were directed to hold the centre fort, while +the passengers were once more conveyed on board. + +Ronald would not entrust Edda to the care of any one, but had supported +her on his arm till the boats were ready to embark the passengers; he +now carefully placed her in one of them, with her mother, and other +ladies, under charge of Colonel Armytage. + +"I would that I could accompany you on board, but my duty keeps me on +shore. I know not what number of the enemy may be on the island; they +may rally and attack the forts: it is of the utmost consequence that +they should be held by us till the ship is clear of the harbour: you and +your companions will be safer on board than even within one of the +forts. I trust by dawn to be on board, and to carry you off in safety +from the scene of your captivity." + +These words, which might have been spoken to any ordinary person, were +heard by all, but the tone of voice and the gentle pressure of the hand +were understood by her to whom they were addressed, and she whispered, +that she was sure whatever he did was for the best. + +As soon as the boats shoved off, Ronald went round to visit the forts. +He found Glover and his party standing guard over the prisoners they had +captured--a ragamuffin crew composed of natives of nearly every country +in the world, and from their appearance Ronald had strong suspicions +that they might deservedly be looked upon as pirates. In the other fort +Mr Tarbot, the boatswain, had charge of a similar crew. They were very +sulky, and as the light of the lanterns fell on their scowling +countenances, Morton thought that they looked capable of committing any +atrocity, and he felt grateful that Edda and her friends had been +rescued from their power. + +The sound which gave him the most satisfaction through the hours of +darkness was the regular striking of the bell on board the Indiaman. It +assured him that her people were on the alert, and that all was going on +well. It was nearly dawn when, hearing a sentry hail, he hastened to +the spot. "A friend," was the answer, and he recognised the voice of +old Doull; he directed him to come into the fort, and he soon appeared +with a companion, whom he introduced as Archy Eagleshay. The latter was +a man very similar in age and appearance to Doull, though his +countenance betokened far less acuteness and intelligence. Ronald was +much relieved at the return of Doull. On many accounts he was anxious +not to lose sight of him, and for the present it was specially important +to have him on board the "Osterley," to take her out of the harbour +through the intricate passages by which he had piloted her in. + +At early dawn every one was astir. The former crew of the "Osterley" +were employed in collecting all the property of the passengers, and in +carrying it on board the ship, greatly to the satisfaction of its +owners. Four seamen had fallen in the attack, and nearly twenty of the +enemy. They were all hurriedly interred, friends and foes sleeping side +by side on the shores of that lovely bay. The prisoners were next +divided among the boats, and carried on board. Their company would +gladly have been dispensed with, but Morton judged that it was the only +safe way to break up this nest of hornets. The last thing that was done +was to spike all the guns; some were simply dismounted, and others were +tumbled over the parapet among the rocks. There was not time to do +more, for Morton was anxious to get to sea and rejoin the frigate. + +Once more the anchor of the "Osterley" was weighed, and with the wind +off the land she stood out of the bay. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +DIFFICULTY OF NAVIGATION--AN OLD ENEMY APPEARS--ENEMY CHASES THE +"OSTERLEY"--THE "THISBE" APPEARS. + +The Indiaman, under the skilful pilotage of old Doull and his companion +Eagleshay, wound her devious way among the shoals and reefs which +guarded the entrance to the bay. Many of the ladies were collected on +deck--Edda was one of them; she eagerly watched every movement of the +young commander of the ship, as he stood in the weather rigging, or +sprang on to the hammock nettings that he might obtain a clearer view of +objects ahead. What she thought and felt it would be difficult to +describe, but other ladies who were watching him too, agreed that he was +a noble specimen of a true sailor. Not for a moment, however, did he +turn to look at them: now by hand, now by voice, did he direct the men +at the helm the course to steer. Rich and deep were the tones in which +the words--starboard--steady--hard a-starboard--port--port--hard a-port, +and similar orders were issued. Colonel Armytage was assisted on deck. +He overheard some of the remarks which were made, and seemed perfectly +ready to acknowledge their justice. + +"Certainly I have seldom seen a finer young man," he observed with a +warmth unusual to him. "We owe him a debt of gratitude, too, for the +gallant way in which he rescued us from our disagreeable captivity. +By-the-by, to what family of Mortons does he belong? It never before +occurred to me to inquire." + +Edda heard the question; it showed her that her father had begun to +think of Morton in another light than that of a common acquaintance. He +was no longer either disposed to treat him with the supercilious air in +which he did on their first acquaintance. She could have replied, +because Ronald had told her that he belonged to Shetland, but she could +not bring herself to speak. Those the colonel addressed hazarded +various opinions, but all were agreed that from his manner and +appearance he must belong to a noble family. Colonel Armytage seemed to +have the same impressions. + +"Yes, certainly I mistook him at first," he remarked. "There were some +reports to his disparagement about a foolish duel, but from what I have +since seen of him, I have little doubt he was in the right. Such a man +would certainly never refuse to fight unless the man with whom he had +quarrelled was palpably in the wrong." + +This was, for Colonel Armytage, saying a great deal. His companions +agreed with him. It did not occur to them that a man might refuse to +fight a duel from a higher motive than knowing that he was so clearly +right that the world could not help taking his part. + +The observations she overheard made Edda's heart glow and beat quicker +than wont. To every word of praise it warmly responded. + +"Yet they know not one-tenth part of his worth; his nobleness of mind, +his generosity, his tenderness," she said to herself. + +Edda Armytage might, perhaps, have been inclined to over-estimate his +various good qualities, gallant fellow as he undoubtedly was. + +The conversation to which she was listening was cut short by a cry from +the mast-head of "A sail in sight." + +"Where away?" inquired Sims, who had charge of the deck. + +"To the southward," was the answer. + +That was not the direction the frigate was expected to appear. The ship +was not yet clear of the reefs. Sims went aloft, and came down with an +anxious look. He told Glover that he did not like the look of the +stranger. "She is a big ship, with square yards and white canvas: an +enemy, I am certain," he observed. "If she was to catch us jammed up +among these reefs she might handle us in a way which would make us look +foolish." + +"We shall be clear, sir, before she can get near us," answered Glover. +"Besides, we have some bull-dogs as well as she has." + +"Mere pop-guns to hers, depend on that," observed Sims. "What do you +say to her being a heavy frigate, capable of blowing this old tea-chest +out of the water?" + +Morton was informed of the sail in sight, but he was too much occupied +in guiding the ship out of the labyrinth of reefs to make any other +reply than the simple one, "If she is like an enemy get the ship ready +for action." + +What he felt his countenance did not show. + +The "Osterley" continued to thread the narrow passage; the slightest +inattention would have brought her upon the reefs. Those who could +employ their eyes kept looking now at the approaching stranger--now at +the direction where they hoped the frigate would appear. At length old +Doull's deep voice was heard exclaiming, "We are free now, sir, of all +dangers; we may stand away to northward." + +Ronald sprang down on deck, and the deep sigh which escaped his bosom +showed the anxiety he had felt. + +"Brace up the yards on the starboard tack!" he cried out, as he stepped +aft, and, calling for his telescope, took a steady examination of the +stranger. He expressed no opinion as to what she was, but ordered all +the sail the ship could carry to be set on her. As she had now a large +crew this was rapidly done. The stranger must have seen, by the way the +"Osterley" made sail, that she was strongly manned. Captain Winslow and +his officers, after a long look at the former, pronounced her to be the +very ship which had captured them. Ronald longed to try and turn the +tables, and to take her, but a glance at the passengers made him feel +that his duty was in this case to do his utmost to escape. A bright +look-out was kept for the frigate. + +"If the mounseers catches sight of she, they'll be inclined to put the +helm down pretty sharp, and go about on t'other tack," observed Job +Truefitt. + +As the stranger approached all doubt as to what she was vanished. She +had before proved herself a good sailer. She maintained her character, +and with a regret almost amounting to anguish, Ronald saw that there was +little probability of avoiding a fight. He had brave men under him, but +the Indiaman was badly armed, and the enemy had before found her an easy +prey. + +"We must, I fear, Winslow, place the ladies and children below, as you +did before," he observed, with a sigh. "I pray heaven the frigate may +heave in sight, for the honest truth is, I never felt so little inclined +to fight; yet, if fight we must, I should never fight more fiercely." + +"Spoke like a brave man, Morton," answered his friend. "When I have +helpless women and children under my charge, though I would fight to the +last gasp to protect them, I would always rather run than fight." + +"Sail ho! ho-o!" shouted the man at the mast-head, with a prolonged +cadence. + +"Where away?" asked Morton. + +"To the north-west," was the reply. + +His heart gave a bound; it was the quarter in which the frigate was +likely to appear. He kept away a little towards her. The "Thisbe" +showed her number. The "Osterley" signalised, "We have all safe on +board. An enemy to the south-east." + +There was no time for further greeting. The frigate made all sail and +stood on. The tables were now fairly turned. The Frenchman made her +out, and going about, stood away to the southward. + +"We shall have Captain Gerardin and his sentimental lieutenant among us +again before long," observed Captain Winslow, rubbing his hands. + +The corvette showed that she had a remarkably fast pair of heels, and +night coming on hid the pursuer, as distance had already hid the +pursued, from the sight of those on board the "Osterley." Sail was +taken off the "Osterley," and she was hove-to, that she might wait for +the return of the frigate. + +A very important question now arose as to what port they should steer +for. The passengers very naturally begged that they might be carried to +Bombay, but Morton conceived that they ought to return to Calcutta. +However, that was a point Captain Calder could alone decide. Poor +Captain Winslow, on his part, wanted to get back the command of his +ship; but that of course, Morton had no power to bestow on him. All +were eager for the morning, but never did a night appear to pass by more +slowly. Dawn broke at last, and a sail was seen to the southward. She +proved to be the "Thisbe"--the corvette had escaped. + +"We'll catch the fellow one of these days, though," exclaimed Captain +Calder. "And if he proves to be a pirate, and I believe he is very +little better, we'll hang him without compunction at his own yard-arm." + +His captain highly commended Morton for his conduct, and decided that +the "Osterley" should return under his charge to Calcutta, where Admiral +Rainier still was, that he might decide how she should be disposed of. + +"She's worth some thousand pounds to us Morton," he observed. "It will +help you to furnish house whenever you set up in that way ashore." + +Ronald hoped that it would not be long before he should employ his +well-gained prize money in the manner his captain suggested. He cared +little to which port the "Osterley" might be sent, except that he would +have preferred the one at the greatest distance, which might have +prolonged the voyage. + +Never had Ronald Morton been so happy. He was in the constant enjoyment +of the society of Edda Armytage. She no longer concealed her love for +him, and his attentions appeared to meet the approval of both her +parents. The days thus glided swiftly by. It was with anything but +satisfaction to him that the "Osterley" at length made the mouth of the +Hooghly. A line-of-battle ship was at the anchorage. As the "Thisbe" +brought up, the two men-of-war exchanged numbers, and Morton discovered +with infinite satisfaction that she was the old "Lion," on board of +which his father was boatswain. + +Ronald was unwilling to leave the "Osterley" even for a short time, so +he despatched a boat with a note to his father, to inquire after his +health, at the same time giving an account of what had occurred, and +promising to visit him as soon as he was at liberty. No reply was sent, +but in a short time a boat from the "Lion" came alongside the +"Osterley," and Rolf Morton himself stepped on board. Ronald welcomed +his father with the affection of a son. He thought not of the +subordinate rank he held in the service, nor of the fine lady and +gentlemen passengers who might be making inquiries as to who he was. + +After a short conversation on the quarter-deck, they retired to Ronald's +cabin, where a considerable time was spent in giving and listening to +accounts of each other's proceedings. + +"And let me hear again this strange story you tell me of these old men," +said Rolf. "I must talk to them, and listen to what, they have to say, +though I scarcely expect that any good will result to us from it." + +Rolf Morton had never been of a sanguine temperament; he had become +still less so as he advanced in life. Ronald, on the contrary, was +accustomed to look on the bright side of objects. He believed that he +had obtained a clue which would lead to the discovery of a matter now he +felt of so much importance to his future happiness. + +The two old men were sent for. They looked at Ronald, and then at his +father; but neither seemed willing to speak. Archie Eagleshay, +especially, put on a stupid expression of countenance, as if he had lost +all recollection of past events. After a time, however, Doull repeated +the account he had already given to Ronald, and the other old man nodded +his head to confirm the correctness of the statement. + +"Would you swear to all this my friends, in a court of law in England?" +asked Ronald. + +Even Doull hesitated. The idea of a court of law, in consequence of his +early transgressions, had terrors for him which he could not overcome. +As pale a hue as his sunburnt skin would allow came over old Archy's +face as he heard the words, and Ronald soon discovered that he had made +a mistake by putting the question. + +"Well, my friends, we will not ask you to do what you do not like," he +remarked. "But do not you think that if it was to serve my father and +me, and that we would take care that you suffered no injury, you could +swear to the truth of the story you have told us? It is my belief that +you see before you the very man you assisted to carry off when a child +from his family and his country. He bears you no ill-will in +consequence. Surely you would wish to do your best to repair the injury +you have done him?" + +"I would do anything to serve you, Captain Morton, that I would, sir, or +swear anything you please: and for that matter, so would Archy." + +"No, no, my friends," exclaimed Ronald, somewhat inclined to laugh; "I +only wish you to swear the truth, nothing else can serve me. However, +the time for doing so has not yet arrived. We must get home first." + +"The truth!" muttered Rolf Morton. "Where is that to be found? I doubt +that it will serve us anyhow." + +"Well, dear father, all is in God's hands," said Ronald, after he had +dismissed the old men; "I have always been content and proud to be your +son, and to me, therefore, as far as my own feelings are concerned it +matters little who was your father, or to what family he belonged, +except--ah--I for an instant forgot--others may value family more than I +do." And Ronald told his father of his love for Edda Armytage, and of +his belief that his love was returned. + +Rolf Morton listened earnestly. He had more knowledge of the world than +his son, and he was less accustomed to look on the bright side of +things. + +He shook his head. + +"I doubt not she is all you say, and I am grateful to her mother's +sister for instructing you in your boyhood, but I have little cause to +love her race. The old Sir Marcus worked me all the ill he could, and +from what I have heard of this son-in-law of his, he is a proud and vain +man, not likely to have much regard for the feelings of young lovers' +hearts. But cheer up, Ronald. You have a noble profession, and the way +to its highest rank is open to you." + +"But Edda has promised to be mine, and her father could scarcely wish to +make her break her word," answered Ronald, with a simplicity which would +have made a man of the world smile. + +"I would not damp your spirits, lad; but if you would escape having your +hopes stranded, don't trust too much to promises." + +Ronald thought that his father was taking too desponding a view of +matters. + +"We'll hope, father, that in this instance you are mistaken as to +Colonel Armytage," he answered, in a cheerful tone. "I am sure that you +would like both his wife and daughter." + +"Ronald, my boy, you forget that I am a bo'sun," said Rolf, rising from +his seat. "Let us go on deck." + +They there met Glover, who welcomed Mr Morton with the greatest +cordiality. + +"I first went to sea with you, Mr Morton, you remember," he observed. +"You taught me more of seamanship than I ever learnt from anybody else. +Besides, you know if it hadn't been for your son I should long ago have +been food for the fish." + +It was now time for Rolf to return on board the "Lion." His son and +Glover attended him down the side with as much attention as they would +have paid to an admiral. + +A number of the passengers were collected on the poop-deck, waiting for +the boats to convey them up to Calcutta. + +"Who is that man to whom Mr Morton and Mr Glover are paying so much +attention?" asked Colonel Armytage, who happened just then to look up +from his book. + +No one could tell him. After he had seen his father off, Ronald joined +the party on the poop. He certainly would not have gone, had Edda not +been there. The feeling came forcibly on him that he ought to tell her +about his father. It had never occurred to him before. As he was going +up to address her, some ladies stopped him, and asked, "Who is that fine +looking, officer-like man who just now left the ship!" + +"He is my father," said Ronald, firmly. Edda looked up at him with a +surprised expression. + +"Why, Mr Morton, if I mistake not, he wears the dress of a boatswain," +said Colonel Armytage, in a cool, deliberate manner. + +"Yes, sir--he is boatswain of his Majesty's ship the `Lion.'" + +"Your father a boatswain!" said the colonel in the same slow manner. +"You should have informed me of this before, sir." + +"The question was not asked me," answered Ronald. "I was wrong, I feel, +in not mentioning it." + +At that moment his eye caught Edda's, casting on him a look of such +sorrow and pain that he was about to spring to her side, when she +suddenly sunk on her seat, and would have fallen on the deck had not +Mrs Armytage and another lady at hand caught her in their arms. + +"It is of no consequence," exclaimed Colonel Armytage, in a peremptory +manner; "you have undoubtedly duties to perform about the ship. We will +not detain you from them." + +Ronald felt that his only dignified course was to retire. With a heart +bursting with indignation, he walked forward. Not long after this the +boats arrived to carry the passengers back to Calcutta, where they +purposed remaining till the arrangements respecting the ship were +concluded. Ronald had been directed to retain the command till it could +be legally restored to Captain Winslow. + +Miss Armytage had gone below, and was kept out of his sight till she was +ready to leave the ship. He came to assist her down the side. She gave +him a look full of sorrow, but which he interpreted to mean, "Do not +think that what I have heard can diminish my affection for you; it were +worth little if it did." But she had scarcely time to falter out a few +words before her father stepped up and effectually stopped any further +communication. + +The manner of Colonel Armytage, indeed, was so rude, that Ronald had to +recollect who he was, to assist him in commanding his temper. + +The passengers in the boats were concealed by the awnings which covered +them, but Ronald could not help standing on the deck, watching them with +a heavy heart as they took their way up the broad stream of the Hooghly. + +The next day he received three letters; two were official, one of them +was from his captain, expressing the warm approbation of Admiral Rainier +for his conduct in the attack on the enemy's forts; the other was from +the officials of the Honourable East India Company, promising him some +substantial proof of their sense of his merit. The third letter was +private. He opened it with some misgiving. + +"It is as I expected," he exclaimed bitterly; "my father was right." + +The letter was from Colonel Armytage, and was couched in almost +offensive terms. + +"Sir,--You took unwarrantable advantage of the opportunities afforded +you of paying attention to Miss Armytage during our late voyage; and in +case you should misunderstand my behaviour towards you while you had +command of the `Osterley,' I feel it necessary to state that, +considering your true position in society, I consider your conduct most +reprehensible, and desire that from henceforth all communication between +you and any member of my family shall cease. My daughter is too +obedient, and has too high a sense of propriety to differ in opinion +with me on this subject.--I am, sir, your obedient servant-- + +"A. Armytage." + +When Ronald told his father what had occurred, Rolf replied-- + +"You will serve your country the more devotedly, and depend on it she +has need of you." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +RONALD JOINS LORD CLAYMORE'S SHIP--THE "PALLAS" AT SEA--A CHASE--ENEMY'S +FLEET IN SIGHT--"PALLAS" CHASED BY ENEMY--LORD CLAYMORE'S MANOEUVRE-- +ESCAPE OF "PALLAS." + +No part of the British coast presents a harbour of beauty equal to that +of Plymouth Sound, with its lofty banks covered with trees from the +summit to the water's edge, its rocks and headlands, its numerous bays, +inlets, and other indentations, the towers and glittering white +buildings of the picturesque town at the northern end, and the lordly +castle and waving woods of Mount Edgcombe on the west. + +On a bright summer morning a frigate was seen gliding slowly up the +Sound, and making her way towards Hamoaze. The French flag under that +of England proclaimed her to be a prize. She was quickly boarded by +boats from the shore, every one in them eager to be on board, for a +prize crew are supposed to have their pockets well lined with coin, and +to be ready to spend it. She was soon known to be "La Forte," captured +by the "Thisbe" in the East Indies. She at once went into dock, her +crew was paid off, and Rawson got confirmed in his rank of commander; +but Ronald Morton received no further acknowledgment of his services. +He had been paid some prize-money, and he might have remained on shore +to enjoy some relaxation after the number of years he had been employed; +but he had few even of the acquaintance young naval men usually make, +and idleness was the very last thing in which he wished just then to +indulge. Action, excitement, was what he wanted. He longed once more +for the battle and the tempest. In this mood, when the ship was paid +off, he went on shore. A tall thin young man, in a post-captain's +uniform, met him before he had walked a hundred paces, and after looking +at him hard, held out his hand, exclaiming--"Morton, old shipmate, I'm +glad to meet you." + +"So am I, you, Lord Claymore," returned Ronald, happy to encounter one +he had known and liked so much. + +"Well, you see, Morton, that I have got the two swabs on my shoulders," +said the young lord, laughing. "I've worked hard for them, let me tell +you; my lords of the Admiralty don't give promotion for nothing to those +who don't happen to be born with silver spoons in their mouths; and I +was not, I know. Mine was of wood or iron. I hope that you will get +your's soon--you deserve it. I met Rawson just now, and he was speaking +of you. But, in the meantime, what do you say to taking a berth as my +first lieutenant? I've interest enough to obtain that for you. Come +along with me for a few yards. You can see the ship I have just +commissioned. She is not long off the stocks. I cannot say much for +her at present. She is small and cramped, but she carries thirty-eight +guns, and I'll make her do something one of these days." + +Ronald at once accepted Lord Claymore's offer. They shortly after fell +in with Glover. Lord Claymore told him that he should apply for him as +his junior lieutenant. + +In a week the two old shipmates found themselves appointed to the +"Pallas" frigate, nominally of thirty-two guns, though in reality +mounting thirty-eight. Of course Job Truefitt and Bob Doull followed +them. Ronald had been puzzled to know how to dispose of the elder Doull +and Archy Eagleshay, when the two old men applied to enter. At first he +was inclined to laugh at the notion, but when the captain saw them he +desired that they might not be refused. + +"There is stuff in them yet--they will be useful." + +They proved that Lord Claymore was right, and he soon rated them as +quarter-masters. + +"We must be sharp in manning the frigate, Morton," said his captain. +"Promise largely. We'll redeem our word, depend on that." + +Bills soon appeared, posted all over Plymouth:--"The `Pallas,' fitting +for sea, in want of a few prime hands. The fastest frigate in the +service--sure to come back in a few weeks with a full cargo of Spanish +pewter and cobs. Plenty of liberty at the end of each trip. Engaged to +make more prize-money in three weeks than any other ship in three +years." + +Lord Claymore was not unknown to fame. Many men joined in consequence +of the deeds he had already done, and some, after reading the placards +or hearing them read, though they had no great faith in the promises. +Still, the ship could not be manned entirely without sending out +press-gangs. + +At length the "Pallas" was ready for sea. + +"I hope we may fulfil all our pledges," observed Ronald one day, after +the frigate had left the shores of England far astern. + +"I am determined to do so," exclaimed the captain. "Morton, I have +lived long enough to know that a man can do nothing without money. That +is irresistible, in politics, war, or love--rather marriage; it conquers +all opposition. There is but one way by which seamen can make it. We +are on that course. We'll take good care that the opportunity does not +escape us." + +Morton thought awhile. For the first time in his life, perhaps, the +idea occurred to him that money would aid his cause. "It may serve to +elucidate the mystery of my father's birth; or why can I not win my way +up to fame and fortune? I will show Colonel Armytage that the +boatswain's son may become his superior in rank, and surpass him in +wealth, just as much as the boatswain does in all the qualities which +make a man truly noble." + +Ronald did not allow himself generally to give way to such feelings, but +they would arise in spite of him, when he thought of the ungrateful +conduct of Colonel Armytage towards him. Lord Claymore, who took an +interest in all serving with him, observed Morton's depressed spirits. +He, did not, however, inquire directly into the cause. + +"By-the-by, Morton, you are a Shetlander, if I recollect rightly," he +exclaimed. "I have been lately among your people, and a kind-hearted, +hospitable race they are. Among other places I visited was Lunnasting +Castle, where I made the acquaintance of Sir Marcus Wardhill and his +daughter, a handsome person, though no longer young. He is a hale old +man, but somewhat eccentric, and rather morose, I suspect; has a bee in +his bonnet--that is the case with many of his family. There is a cousin +who lives there; not quite as old as Sir Marcus--a very odd fellow; +indeed, I should say decidedly mad. You may probably know something of +them?" + +Ronald told him that he had been brought up in the castle. + +"A relative of the family?" said the captain. + +"I can scarcely be called so," said Morton humbly. "A distant one only, +on my mother's side. My father was about to take command of a +merchantman when he was pressed into the navy. He has remained in the +service ever since. He is now but a boatswain, but he is a man of whom +any son may be proud." + +Ronald then told the captain all he knew of his father's early history, +and of the discovery of the two men who had carried him off. + +"I understand the whole affair," exclaimed Lord Claymore, warmly. "With +all my heart I'll help you to clear it up. You will have plenty of +employment for your prize-money: the lawyers will take good care of +that; but never mind, we'll have enough for their maws, and to spare. +Sharks must be fed as well as other fish, you know. As to that Sir +Marcus Wardhill, I like him not. I should have little compunction about +sending him on his travels; but I was interested in his daughter, a +stately lady, still bearing the marks of great beauty; the Lady Hilda, +they call her." + +"Yes, I used, as a boy, to think her very lovely," said Ronald, warmly. + +"I may say she is so still," returned his captain. "But do you know, +Morton, there is something very strange about her; she talked to me in +the oddest way; inquired if I understood astrology, and would favour her +by working out her horoscope, and would inform her when the lost one +would return." + +"She has been sorely tried," observed Ronald. "Her father and Lawrence +Brindister are but sorry companions for one so gifted; and the death of +her husband and loss of her child were blows she has never recovered." + +Lord Claymore had not heard the circumstances of the case, and so Ronald +gave him the whole story as he had heard it. His captain was much +interested. + +"What a delightful thread to unravel!" he exclaimed. "I should like to +aid in it; but unless you have a clue, it is not likely that her son +will be discovered." + +"She lives on in hopes that he may," answered Ronald. "I pray that she +may not be disappointed. I owe her a debt of gratitude I can never +repay for all the instruction she gave me." + +"Perhaps you may be able to serve her," remarked Lord Claymore. "Though +it strikes me, from what I can make out, that she was but repaying the +debt she owes you." + +Ronald did not inquire what his captain meant, for they were both +summoned on deck with the pleasant information that a sail was in sight. +The frigate was at this time off the Azores. + +"What does she look like?" was the question hurriedly put, as the +captain himself was buckling his telescope over his shoulder preparatory +to mounting the rigging to take a look at the stranger should the answer +be promising. + +"A ship, and a big one," was the reply. + +In a few seconds Lord Claymore had joined the look-out man aloft. When +the captain was thus active it was not likely that the officers and crew +would neglect their duty. Lord Claymore took a long steady look at the +stranger through his telescope, and returning on deck ordered the ship's +course to be altered a couple of points, and all sail to be made in +chase. + +"Morton, I have a wonderful presentiment that yonder craft is loaded +with the pewter and cobs we have been promising our fellows," he +exclaimed, walking the deck with a quick step. "Her top-gallant-sails +and royals have a foreign cut, and the blanched hue of cotton cloth such +as the rich galleons of Spain usually carry. They are heavy sailers, +too, and the `Pallas,' as I thought she would, has shown herself light +of heel. We shall get up with the chase before any third party steps in +to snap up our prey." + +Not only Ronald, but every man and boy in the ship entered fully into +the captain's eagerness. All longed for prize-money; the greater +number, probably, that they might spend it as sailors in those days got +rid of their hard-earned gains, in wild extravagance and debauchery; a +few might have thought of their old fathers, mothers, and sisters, whose +comforts they hoped to increase; or some one, more romantic than his +shipmates, might have had in view some quiet woodbine-covered cottage, +on the sunny slope of a hill, with green fields and a sparkling stream +below, a seaman's paradise, with an Eve as a companion. + +Ronald Morton, in spite of his resolution to the contrary, could not +help thinking of Edda Armytage, and the possibility of yet winning her; +still, again and again he tried to overcome aspirations which appeared +so utterly hopeless. Indeed, why should he ever wish to make her his? +Had she ever attempted to assure him that she did not share her father's +feelings? Had she not, from what he had heard, been willingly receiving +the attentions of Alfonse Gerardin, a mere adventurer, at best, who must +have been guilty of the most barefaced falsehoods to have gained so +completely, as he appeared to have done, the good opinion of a person +generally so acute as Colonel Armytage? No, he did not want money for +himself; it was to place his father in the position in life to which he +was born, should it be, as he had every reason to hope, superior to that +he now occupied; still, as he thought all this, and much more, his +captain's remark, "With money you can do everything," rang in his ear. + +Not a man or boy on board that ship who was not thinking at that moment +of the same thing--money; most of them were talking of it too. With +eager eyes they watched the chase as a wild beast does its prey, longing +to get possession. + +The stranger at first did not seem to have understood the character of +the frigate. Her people were not keeping so good a look-out as were +Lord Claymore's crew; when they did, all sail was crowded in flight. +Away she went before the wind. A stern chase is proverbially a long +one; a tub can sail with the wind aft. + +Many hours of the day had passed: evening was approaching: should the +night prove a dark one, she after all might escape. The captain was +becoming anxious, so was every one on board. The nearer they had got to +the chase the more like a Spaniard she appeared. All was done that +could be thought of to make the frigate sail; every inch of canvas she +could carry was set on her; studdingsails on either side hanging down to +the very surface of the water, which they swept as she glided proudly +on, while other light sails were placed even above the royals, till she +looked like a lofty pyramid of snow gliding over the deep. Faster she +glided--the breeze was increasing; now she rushed through the water; the +officers looked over her sides and watched with satisfaction the foam +which rose on either side and formed a long sparkling frothy line +astern. + +"We shall do now, Morton," exclaimed the captain, in high glee. "Don't +you hear the dollars chinking away in her hold?" + +Lord Claymore wanted the money--not that he was avaricious--far from +that; but he had numberless schemes in view, and he knew full well that +without the gold they could not be carried out. + +As the chase was neared, the Spanish colours were seen flying at the +peak. Not a shot did she fire. From the squareness of her yards and +the whiteness of her canvas, as seen in the dusk of evening, as the +"Pallas" got her within range of her guns, it was not altogether certain +that she might not prove a man-of-war. + +"So much the better," answered the captain, when Glover and the master +gave it as their opinion that she was so. "We shall have more honour, +though less gold. We must look out for the gold another time." + +The men were sent to their quarters, and the ship was prepared for +action. The chances that the chase would escape were small indeed. + +"There's many a slip between the cup and the lip," observed Mr Hardman, +the second lieutenant, who had experienced the truth of the saying in +his own person so often that he seldom failed to give expression to it +on every opportunity. Though he numbered many more years than either +the captain or first lieutenant, he had not been promoted till some time +after them. Sometimes when he foretold a slip, he was mistaken. + +"Ready with a gun forward!" exclaimed the captain. + +The chase was well within range. + +"We don't want to injure her more than we can help," he added. "Send a +shot past her first. Fire!" + +The gloom prevented the shot being seen as it flew on over the surface +just free of the chase. + +The Spaniards thought that the next, might come in through the +stern-windows. Down went her helm; studdingsail booms were cracking +away on either side; royal and topgallant sheets were let fly; topsails +and courses were clewed or brailed up, and the Spaniard yielded himself +to the mercy of his captors. + +The frigate brought to in a more deliberate way, taking care to be to +windward of the prize; boats were instantly lowered and manned, and +Hardman and Glover hurried off to take possession. Perhaps the captain +would have liked to have gone, but it would have been undignified. +Glover soon returned with the satisfactory information that she was the +"Carolina," a large Spanish ship, richly laden from the Havanah to +Cadiz. A prize crew was immediately put on board, and the prisoners +were removed to the "Pallas." They pulled their moustaches, lit their +cigars, and resigned themselves to their lot. By dawn the next morning +the "Carolina," in charge of her new masters, with Glover as commander, +was on her way to Plymouth. + +Lord Claymore's satisfaction was not small when he discovered that the +"Carolina" formed one of a large convoy, and that it was believed the +other ships were astern. Sharper than ever was the look-out kept for a +strange sail. Day after day passed, however, and no merchantman or +other ships appeared. Hardman began to crow, though the loss was his as +well as that of the rest: it was an odd amusement, though some men will +suffer anything to prove that they are true prophets. + +A week had passed. + +"I told you so, Morton," he observed. "There's many a slip between the +cup and the lip. The convoy probably stole by us during the night when +some of our volunteers, who had been keeping so sharp a look-out during +the day, were nodding." + +"Sail ho!" was sung out at that moment in a loud cheerful tone from the +mast-head. + +"Who'll prove right now?" exclaimed Morton, as he sprang aloft with his +glass at his back. + +Others were looking-out likewise. All sail was instantly made in chase. +It was some time, however, before it could be made out whether the +stranger was friend or foe, man-of-war or merchantman. At last Hardman +condescended to take a look at her. + +"Those sails have a decided English cut about them," he observed, in a +tone of satisfaction. "Depend on it she's not got a dollar on board +that will ever enter our pockets." + +"To my mind," observed Job Truefitt, who with Bob Doull was standing on +the fore-topgallant cross-trees, "that craft out there looks as if she +was come from the land where the gold and silver grows. He looks like a +Don, every inch of him. Mark my words, mate, we shall line our pockets +with the rhino, and have a pretty handsome sum to take home to our old +mothers or sweethearts." + +"Well for those who have them, but I have neither one nor t'other," +answered Bob. "I've made up my mind to have a jolly spree on shore, and +live like a lord till it's all gone." + +"That won't be long, I suspect," said Job. + +The conversation was cut short by a summons on deck. The frigate was +nearing the chase. The whole of her hull could now be seen clearly from +the deck. As to her character there was little doubt. She was a +merchantman of considerable tonnage. However, as yet she showed no +ensign at her peak by which her nation might be known. She was +pronounced to be Dutch, French, Danish, and Spanish in turn. At last +the captain thought of sending for some of the prisoners to give their +opinion on the subject. The Spaniards did not take long before they +declared their belief that she was one of the convoy to which they +belonged, and if they were not mistaken she was very richly laden. + +A scarcely suppressed shout ran round the decks as the fact became +known. + +"Ay, but we've not got her yet," observed Hardman. + +Both captain and crew looked as if they wished they could urge on the +frigate by means more potent than the light breeze then blowing. What +plans and projects might not even then have been working in that fertile +brain! Still the chase did her best to escape. + +"She has something to run for, or she would have given in before this," +observed the captain, rapidly walking up and down the deck, and eyeing +his anticipated prize. "Her violent efforts to escape is a good sign, +at all events." + +There was now no longer any doubt as to the character of the chase, for +she hoisted the Spanish flag, though she still held on. That she could +escape seemed impossible, and Lord Claymore was unwilling to fire, for +fear of damaging her, not in consequence of tenderness towards her, but +because he hoped in a short time that she would become his property. + +"Perhaps she has some notion that she will haul aft her sheets and +escape to windward of us," observed the master. + +"Not at all likely that she will make so hopeless an attempt," answered +Morton. + +"No; but what do you say to the fellows blowing themselves up," put in +Hardman. "There's many a slip between the cup and the lip; it is the +only way by which they can disappoint us, unless they heave their cargo +overboard, which they may have done already, by-the-by." + +His brother officers, as usual, laughed at Hardman's prognostications. +At length the frigate got the chase directly under her guns, when, +instead of making the slightest attempt to escape, she hauled down her +flag, and heaving-to, waited to be taken possession of. This was done +as soon as a boat could be lowered from the frigate; Morton went in her, +and Evans the mate, who spoke Spanish, accompanied him. He stepped on +board the prize. She was a handsome ship, and from her very appearance +Morton hoped that she would have a rich cargo. The captain received his +captors very politely, and at once produced his invoice. + +"That is what you want, gentlemen," he observed, with a deep sigh; "your +gain is my loss, I am a ruined man." + +"There are all sorts of valuable things here, sir," observed Morton's +subordinate. "I only hope they are not all shams." + +"We'll go below and examine," was the wise reply. + +The ship was undoubtedly laden with all sorts of West India produce. +Then some chests were come to; they were full of bars of silver. + +"Pretty pickings, these," observed Evans. + +Some smaller boxes were next examined. + +"As I am a gentleman and a Welshman, if I ever cast my eyes on diamonds +before, these are diamonds!" he exclaimed, holding up a rough-looking +but shining stone between his fingers. They might have been pieces of +glass for what Morton could tell. + +"These little boxes are worth some thousands, Morton, I can tell you," +exclaimed Hardman, half beside himself with delight. "A magnificent +haul!" Suddenly he recollected himself,--"That is to say, if they ever +reach England in safety. But, you know, there's many a slip between the +cup and the lip." + +Morton was too busy to laugh just then. He had discovered some larger +chests, containing some large gold candlesticks, which the captain +informed them, were to ornament the church of our Lady of the +Conception, in Madrid. There were just three of them, enormous and +massive articles, not less than five feet high, besides, a quantity of +rich plate of gold and silver. Morton sent back Evans to make a report +to the captain. Lord Claymore heard the account with unrestrained +delight. + +"We'll have it all safe on board, without delay," he exclaimed. "It +will not do to let it fall again into the enemy's hands; in the frigate, +at all events, we shall be able to fight for it." + +The men cheered as they saw the chests hoisted up the side. It was +bringing back the good old buccaneering days; such a prize had not been +made by any cruiser for a long time. A mate was sent home in charge of +her. + +"Take care you don't get caught, and clapped into a French prison," said +Hardman, as he shoved off. + +Scarcely were the chests of treasure stowed below, and the prize out of +sight, than another sail was descried from the mast-head--chase was +made--the prisoners confessed that she was one of their convoy, and as +the "Pallas" came up with her, they stated that she was even more richly +laden than the last. She saw that flight was useless. She was speedily +boarded, and found to contain more dollars, bars of gold and silver, and +other treasure. It took no long time to transfer the whole to the +"Pallas." + +"If we go on at this rate, Morton, we shall have enough of the needful +to satisfy all the land sharks in the kingdom, and to establish your +rights, whatever they may be, against all opposition." + +Morton's hopes began to rise high. The wealth they were collecting +seemed almost fabulous; though he knew that but a small share would come +to him, he thought that it would be ample to carry out his objects. + +The treasure had not long been stowed away, when the wind got up with a +heavy sea, and the ship laboured considerably. Hardman, when sitting +over his wine with his messmates in the gun-room, began to talk of +planks starting, and rich argosies going suddenly to the bottom. No +one, however, paid much attention to his prognostications of evil. By +dawn the next day another sail hove in sight. Chase was made, but the +stranger showed that she had a fast pair of heels; the "Pallas," +however, had a faster pair, and by noon had gained upon her so much that +she was seen to be an armed ship of considerable size. No sooner +however did the "Pallas" get her under her guns, than she hauled down +her flag and hove-to. Though a heavy sea was running, she was +immediately boarded and found to be a richly laden Letter of Marque. +She also had a chest of dollars; but as there would have been great +danger of losing them in transferring them to the "Pallas," they were +allowed to remain on board; Evans was sent in charge of her. + +"Take care that you do not slip into a lion's mouth," said Morton, as +his brother officer took his departure. + +"If I do, I hope that I shall slip out again before he has time to shut +it," was Evans's reply. + +Fortune was smiling, it seemed, on the "Pallas." Four rich prizes had +already been made; it was difficult to calculate their worth. The +sanguine temperament of the captain might have over-estimated it. + +"My share alone is little short of a hundred thousand pounds," he +exclaimed, showing Morton a sheet of paper on which he had been making a +rough calculation--"a splendid fortune for a man of moderate wishes. I +wish that you had a larger share. We captains get the lion's part +certainly; but perhaps it is as well as it is. What a stimulus it is to +an officer to exert himself to obtain command in time of war." + +"Yes," thought Morton; "but let men exert themselves to the utmost, how +many fail to obtain the desired rank, or if they get that, the coveted +wealth!" + +"Remember, however, Morton," continued Lord Claymore, "I have promised +to assist you in establishing your claims, or your father's rather, +whatever they are. He may be the son of a peasant, or noble. No one +cares less for what is called gentle blood than I do; but it is not the +estimate which we set on an article, but at which the world at large +holds it, which is its true value. I don't feel happier because I am +the possessor of a hundred thousand pounds than I did ten years ago when +I was a beggar; but depend on it, the world will esteem me much more +highly than it did." + +Morton always listened with pleasure to the remarks which dropped from +his captain's lips, always full of shrewdness and good sense. + +It was now time for the "Pallas" to return home. Four prizes had been +despatched to England. All were anxious to ascertain that they had +arrived there safely. + +"Little chance of that," observed Hardman; "plenty of the enemy's +cruisers about, to snap them up." + +Though homeward bound, as bright a look-out as ever was kept, in the +hopes that another prize might be taken. + +When off the coast of Portugal, at dawn one morning, a light silvery fog +lay on the water, bright but sufficiently opaque to conceal all objects +even close at hand. The wind at dawn was light, but as the sun rose, so +did the breeze, and the royals and top-gallant sails, which had at first +been set, were, one after the other, taken off the frigate. + +"This fog is, indeed, provoking. We may run by a whole convoy of the +enemy's merchantmen without seeing them," observed Morton, who had +become as eager as the most avaricious of his shipmates in the pursuit +of wealth, by the royal road opened up before them. + +"Of course," answered Hardman: "very likely at this moment we are +passing within hail of some Spanish galleons, whose cargoes would make +every man on board independent for life." + +The looker-out at the mast-head hailed the deck. + +"A ship, sir, close to--I see her mast-heads over the fog." + +"What does she look like?" asked Morton. "A large ship, sir, +line-of-battle ship, I should say." + +The officers were alert in an instant. Hardman flew aloft. Scarcely +had he got there, than he shouted, "There's another! another!--three of +them--line-of-battle ships and enemies." + +The last words had an electric effect. From the movements of the +line-of-battle ships, as they were seen over the fog, there was no doubt +that their look-outs had discovered the "Pallas." In an instant the +captain was on deck; Morton had already ordered the ship to be kept +away, and was again setting topgallant sails and royals; he thought the +royal masts would scarcely stand. + +"Never mind, we must do everything to preserve our booty and our +liberty," answered Lord Claymore. + +The breeze increased almost to a gale. The wind soon dispersed the +mist, and the three huge line-of-battles ships were seen rushing on +towards the frigate. A broadside from one of them would have sunk her. +Her top-gallant masts bent like willow wands. Every moment it appeared +that they must go. Lord Claymore stood watching them, and now and then +taking a glance at his enemies, and though cool and collected, seeming +positively to revel in the excitement of the scene. The wind was abeam; +and the frigate, which proved herself but a crank ship, heeled over till +her hammock-nettings dipped in the seething, foaming waters, which +bubbled and hissed up through the lee scuppers. + +On tore the "Pallas." It was a race for liberty and the preservation of +the wealth in which they had been rejoicing. + +"What will you take for your prize-money in prospect now, Morton?" asked +the pertinacious Hardman. "I told you so, old boy--there's many a slip +between the cup and the lip. It's the great truth I've learned in my +life--I shall always stick to it." + +"It may apply equally to our enemies astern, though," observed the +captain, who had overheard the remark, "we will see if we cannot make it +so." + +The line-of-battle ships were by this time beginning to feel the fury of +the gale, which was well nigh carrying her masts out of the frigate, or +sending her over on her beam-ends. The more, however, the Spaniards saw +her pressed, the less willing they were to shorten sail. She now kept +edging more and more away to bring the wind further astern, squaring her +yards as she did so, the Spaniards having to do the same. They did not +seem to think it worth while to spend much powder and shot on her, as +they, of course, felt sure of capturing her in the end. It was a grand +sight to see the little English frigate dauntlessly doing her utmost to +escape from her huge pursuers, the foam in dense masses flying over her, +while, with bending masts, and lee-shrouds bulging out, she dashed +through the frantic waves, her side, as she heeled over, half buried +beneath them. What hope was there of her escaping? + +One huge Spaniard was on her weather, another on her lee-beam, while the +other was coming up fast astern on her weather quarter. Still Lord +Claymore did not despair. He stepped down among the crew and spoke to +them. + +"My lads, never say die while there's life. Let every man and boy of +you do your best, and we'll yet give the Dons the slip. Be smart, as if +your lives depended on it. To your stations now." + +Every man stood ready, watching the captain's eye. He had explained his +plan to his officers. All was ready. There was a dead silence--the +gale roared louder than ever--the frigate tore through the waves. The +Spaniards were close upon her; angry at her still holding out, they +began to fire; the shots came fast and thick, flying over and on each +side of the frigate, but hitherto none had struck her. At length the +Spaniards saw again that firing was of no use--they should only be +knocking their destined prize to pieces--like vast mountains of snow +they came rushing on. It appeared as if they were about to crush the +little frigate with their united weight. + +"Ready, lads!" shouted the captain of the "Pallas." + +"Clew up! Haul down!" + +Those magic words put every human being on board the frigate in motion. +Tacks and sheets were let go. Some hauled away at the brails. Topsails +were clewed up, topgallant sheets were let fly, stay-sails hauled down, +and the frigate, which an instant before was under a cloud of canvas, +was now reduced to her bare poles. + +The Spaniards, totally unprepared for such a manoeuvre, at first +scarcely comprehended what had happened. On the huge ships sailed in +their headlong course. It did not occur to their captains to attempt +instantly to shorten sail, but one and all turned their eyes aft to see +what their expected prize was about. + +Lord Claymore watched them for a short time, but only to assure himself +that they were well to leeward of him. The frigate had not lost her way +through the water. + +"Down with the helm!" cried the captain, in a cheerful tone, which gave +encouragement to all. "Hoist away! Flatten aft the sheets!" + +Not an officer, or man, or boy, but put his hand to halliards sheets, +braces, or bowlines; and if the way in which she had been stripped of +her canvas had appeared like magic to her pursuers, much more must the +style in which sail was again made. Off she flew on a bowline on the +other tack, while the three line-of-battle ships were hurrying headlong +miles away to leeward. + +A loud, hearty cheer burst from the throats of the British seamen as +they saw the success of their captain's skilful manoeuvre. + +"What do you say now, Mr Hardman?" he said, laughing. "There's many a +slip between the cup and the lip." + +"Yes, my lord; the Spaniards must confess to the truth of the saying +just now," he answered. "But we are not altogether clear of them yet." + +"No, by Jove! the fellows are after us!" exclaimed the captain, pointing +to leeward, where the three ships were seen under shortened sail, slowly +coming up on a wind. "We must trust to our heels and the shades of +night. That trick won't answer twice." + +Though not over-well managed, the Spanish ships sailed well, and were +once more in hot pursuit of the "Pallas." The wind had decreased a +little, which was somewhat in her favour, but still, with the pressure +of sail upon her, she heeled over as much as before. In smooth water +she might have had the advantage, but, with the heavy sea then running, +the Spaniards were evidently coming up with her. They were seen also to +be steering different courses for the purpose of cutting her off. Lord +Claymore, however retained his usual composure. + +"Night will be down upon us soon, and then we will give the Dons the +slip," he observed calmly, and gave the order to have a lantern fixed on +a ballasted cask prepared. + +This was for some time carried over the stern and then lowered into the +water. When this was done, the ship's course was altered, and she stood +to the north-east leaving the enemy to follow the false light. After a +little time one watch was sent below, and except that the sharpest eyes +in the ship were kept on the look-out, everything returned to its usual +routine, and many a weary form lay stretched in the hammocks. + +Dawn came at last. As the first bright streaks appeared in the sky, +look-outs were aloft, and as the darkness rolled away towards the far +west, they shouted, "No sail in sight!" + +The captain breathed more freely--so did Morton. He had begun to fear +that his prospects so lately brightening were again to be blighted. By +keeping a constant look-out the "Pallas" once more made the Eddystone +Lighthouse. + +"Now, my lads, we'll show our friends on the shore that we have redeemed +our pledges," cried the captain. "Have on deck those chests with the +golden candlesticks, Mr Nibs," he added, turning to the purser. The +chests were got up, and tackles being made ready to each mast-head, a +golden candlestick was sent up and fixed above the truck. It was no +easy work, but sailors can do anything that is possible. Thus with bags +of dollars at the yard-arms, and rich brocades pendant from the stays, +the frigate sailed up Plymouth Sound. Great was the excitement she +caused, though she had already been looked for, as her four prizes, in +spite of Hardman's prognostications, had arrived in safety before her. + +All her crew who wished it got leave on shore; there was no fear of any +running from her; their places would instantly have been filled by +hundreds of eager applicants for a berth on board. Fully did Bob Doull +carry out his intentions; and strange, though not very unusual, were the +scenes witnessed in Plymouth and its neighbourhood for several days +after the arrival of the "Pallas." + +Coaches-and-four and coaches-and-six were seen driving about Plymouth, +laden inside and out with seamen and their sweethearts, decked out in +costumes of the most gaudy colours and extravagant fashion. Suppers and +dancing closed the day. There was no great variety, perhaps, in the +style of their amusements. The great object seemed to be to get rid of +their money as rapidly as possible. + +Ronald Morton, for the first time in his life, found himself possessed +of what appeared to him a very large sum of money. + +"It will be enough to sift this affair of my father's to the bottom, and +if claims he has, to establish them thoroughly," he observed to his +captain. + +Lord Claymore laughed heartily. + +"My dear fellow, you know not what amount a lawyer's maw is capable of +swallowing," he answered. "It will prove a mere soppit if the matter is +contested, as undoubtedly it will be. However, we will see about it +when we return from our next cruise. Till your father returns home, you +can do nothing." + +Once more, her officers and crew having spent all their superfluous +cash, the "Golden Pallas," as she was now called, put to sea. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +LORD CLAYMORE AND THE FIRE SHIPS--"PALLAS" ENGAGES BLACK FRIGATE-- +COLONEL ARMYTAGE IN THE PENINSULA. + +"Morton, we ought to be content with the prizes we have made; we must +now do something in the fighting way, or we shall be looked upon as mere +buccaneers, who think of nothing but making money." + +This remark was made by Lord Claymore, after the frigate had been for +some time in commission--had been to America and back, and being now on +the French coast, had sent home a few more captures, though not of any +very great value. + +"That may be very well for a captain who has made the best part of +eighty thousand pounds," thought Morton, "but for a poor lieutenant, who +has made not a twentieth part of that, yet wants it as much, it is a +very different affair." + +Ronald had begun to find the value of money, and also that it has wings +with which to betake itself away. He acquiesced, however, in the +propriety of fighting. An opportunity was not long wanting. + +Before many days had passed the frigate was off the Isle d'Aix, on the +French coast. She stood in; the captain and most of the officers with +glasses at their eyes watching for the appearance of a French fleet. At +length the masts and spars of several line-of-battle ships came in view. +Still the frigate stood on till a three-decker--an eighty-gun ship-- +three seventy-fours, four frigates, and three brigs were counted. The +little English frigate paraded up and down before the roadstead, but +none ventured out to attack her. It was the French squadron under +Admiral Allemand. + +"I have been thinking over a plan which may sound terrible to the ears +of some, but it is both feasible and right, I fully believe," said the +captain, after taking several turns on deck, and addressing his first +lieutenant. "We might set fire to or blow up into the air, one and all +of those ships. I only wish that there were more together. You see +they are deep in the water. They have stores on board, and are +evidently intended for some expedition or other; an attack on our West +India Islands, or to attack us in some other vulnerable part. They must +or should be got rid of: other plans might be adopted; but I hold to +that of the fire-ships. I should delight in conducting the enterprise. +With a few brave men under me, on whose coolness and judgment I could +rely, it would be certain to succeed. Morton, I would select you. +Would it not be a glorious work?" + +"If you selected me, my lord, I would certainly follow you, and do my +utmost to carry out your directions," answered Morton; "but the idea of +employing fire-ships has never been congenial to my taste. I would +rather meet the enemy and destroy him in a general engagement." + +"That sounds very right and chivalric," replied Lord Claymore, smiling; +"but observe the true state of the case. The object of going to war +with an enemy is to sink, burn, and destroy his ships at sea, and to do +him all the injury in our power on shore. In a general engagement you +attack his fleet with yours, at the cost of some of your ships, perhaps, +and the loss of many hundreds of your men. If a great victory is +gained, a tenth, or at all events a twentieth, part of the enemy are +killed and wounded. Now, by my plan the lives of very few of our own +people are risked; perhaps no one may be lost; while the ships of the +enemy are entirely destroyed; and though, of course, some of their +people are sacrificed, probably not more are lost than in a general +engagement, while the chances are that the war in consequence is more +speedily brought to a conclusion, and the lives of thousands saved, and +people able to return to their peaceful and useful occupations. Morton, +I look upon war as a terrible curse. The sooner it can be put an end to +the better, but I am very certain that in this instance it can only be +by humbling our proud foes to the very dust. Napoleon will bite till +every tooth in his head is drawn." + +Although Morton's reason was convinced by the reasoning of his +enthusiastic captain, his feelings were not entirely satisfied. He, +however, promised to aid him as far as he had the power in carrying out +any project of that description which he might conceive. + +The subject was again and again reverted to during the time the frigate +was on the coast, and while he was engaged in the most stirring and +often hazardous operations--such as cutting out vessels, armed and +unarmed, landing and destroying telegraph stations, and storming and +blowing up forts. + +Once more the "Pallas" returned to L'Isle d'Aix. The French squadron +was still there. + +"We must be at those fellows," exclaimed Lord Claymore, as he walked the +deck, looking towards the enemy with a greedy eye. "We must get them +out somehow or other, if we can. It would have a grand moral effect to +carry off a prize from before their very noses." + +Morton was as eager as his chief. There was a soldier's wind, so that +the frigate could stand in or off shore at pleasure. + +"This is an opportunity many would rejoice to have; don't let us throw +it away," continued the captain, watching the French ships through his +telescope. They lay at their anchors, seemingly determined not to move +in spite of the bold enemy proudly cruising before their eyes. + +"Give them a shot or two, Morton," said the captain; "we'll try if that +does not excite them to bestir themselves." + +In advance of the rest of the squadron was a large frigate, painted +black and heavily armed, and near her were three brigs. Still they were +all under shelter of the batteries on the island. + +With a shout of satisfaction the British crew observed the topsails of +the black frigate and her three consorts let fall. It was a sign that +they were coming out. The sails were sheeted home. Out they all four +stood. The canvas of the "Pallas" was reduced, and she was hove-to, in +the most gallant way, to wait for them. + +"We must have him, I am determined," exclaimed the captain, as the +enemy's frigate drew near. Everybody was as eager and sanguine as the +captain, except Lieutenant Hardman. + +"We have had all the luck hitherto--we must not expect to keep it," he +remarked to Glover. "Remember what I often have said: There's many a--" + +A shot from the enemy, which came whizzing close over his head, and the +loud shouts of "Fire!" from the captain, cut short his remarks. + +The crew gave a hearty cheer, and obeyed the order by delivering a +rattling broadside at the advancing enemy. + +More sail was now made on the frigate, so that she might be kept +completely under command. The brigs coming up also commenced firing, as +did the batteries on the island, but, boldly standing on, the English +frigate gallantly engaged them all. The crew required no words of +encouragement. Most of the men stood at their guns stripped to the +waist, with their handkerchiefs bound round their heads, labouring with +that determined energy which was the sure promise of victory. Now, as +they could bring their guns to bear, they aimed at the brigs, now again +at their larger opponent, the black frigate. As she drew near it was +seen that she was greatly superior to the "Pallas," both in size and as +to the number of her guns, while probably also her crew were much more +numerous, but that in no way daunted Lord Claymore. On the contrary, he +seemed the more eager not to part with her, but to carry her off as his +prize. + +In spite, however, of this superiority, the black frigate, as well as +the brigs, showed a disposition to keep at a respectful distance. +Several times the "Pallas" had to tack to avoid the shoals surrounding +the island. Besides this, her captain's aim was, by manoeuvring, to get +to windward of the black frigate, and also between her and the +batteries, so that their shot would be likely to damage friends as well +as foes. The brigs, which showed signs of being much cut up in their +rigging, seemed inclined to keep at a respectful distance. The shots of +the "Pallas" were, however, aimed chiefly at her more worthy antagonist. +The guns were admirably served. Again the men cheered. The first step +towards victory had been gained. The mizen-mast of the black frigate +had been shot away, and over the side it went, with its yards and sails. + +The "Pallas" ceased firing--so did the batteries, for they would have +hit the French ship had they continued to do so. Once more the British +frigate tacked. She had gained a position directly to windward of her +opponents. Once more she opened her fire; it was with dreadful effect. +She, however, was suffering much, both in spars and hull. + +"This must be cut short," observed the captain, calmly. "Now, master, +up with the helm, and carry us alongside the enemy. My men, be ready to +board, the cutlass must decide the day." + +In gallant style the small English frigate bore down upon an opponent +nearly twice her size. The "Pallas" poured a well-directed broadside +into the black frigate, and the instant afterwards there was a fearful +concussion. The main-deck guns were driven in by the sides of the +French ship, and at the same moment the maintopsail-yard was torn from +the mast, and much other damage was done aloft, while the bumpkin, chain +plates, cat heads, and bower anchor were carried away. In vain the +captain called to his men to aid in lashing the two frigates together. +Before they could assemble they had separated. Ronald, with a boarding +party, was about to spring on to the deck of the French frigate, but he +was too late to make the attempt. + +Once more Lord Claymore was about to bear down on the French frigate, +when Hardman pointed out to him two more French frigates coming out +under all sail to the rescue of their friend. To have remained longer +would have been madness. Lord Claymore was not a man to do a foolish +rash thing. Waving his hat to the brave captain of the black frigate, +who kept his post on a gun watching their proceedings, he ordered the +tacks to be hauled aboard, and, without further injuring his opponent, +stood out to sea. The guns were run in and secured, and the crew were +sent aloft to repair damages. So severe, however, were they, that the +"Pallas" could scarcely have escaped from her pursuers, had not a sloop +of war hove in sight and taken her in tow. The enemy's frigates, +disappointed of their expected prey, returned to their anchorage. + +"We must be back there some day, Morton, for if life and strength is +allowed me, I will not rest till I have carried out my plan for the +destruction of this remainder of the Frenchman's fleet." Lord Claymore +spoke, and faithfully he kept his word. + +When the frigate rejoined the admiral she was found to be in so +shattered a condition from her engagement with the Frenchman, that he +sent her home to undergo repairs. + +Morton was once more in England. He found a letter from his father, +saying that the "Lion" had not yet received orders to return home, but +he hoped that she soon would. He added, that this trip had satisfied +him; that if he was allowed once more to set foot on British ground he +had determined to take up his abode on shore, and that what with the +prize-money he had made, and the produce of his farm in Shetland, he +should be able to live on shore in a style suited to the rank his son +had gained, so that he should have a home to offer him whenever he was +not employed. This was satisfactory news to Ronald. Curiously enough, +his father did not once allude to Doull or Eagleshay. He seemed to have +forgotten all about the mystery of his birth, and that it might possibly +by their means be cleared up. The truth was, that he had always been +contented with his lot. He saw his son in the fair way of rising in his +profession, and he fancied that no advantage would be gained by +ascertaining the truth, even if it were possible to do so. + +Soon after the letters had been brought on board, Glover came into +Ronald's cabin. + +"Here, Morton, is news which will interest you!" he said, showing an +open letter. "It is from my cousin, Mrs Edmonstone--she and her +husband are in England; they arrived some time ago. She tells me that +they made the voyage with the Armytage family; Miss Armytage still +unmarried, her mamma as amiable as ever, and the colonel as much the +reverse as before; he is supposed to have gained very little advantage +by his visit to India; his extravagance and love of play have ruined +him: however, he has interest in high quarters, and soon after his +return home, he got an appointment in the army in the Peninsula, and he +has gone out there with his wife and daughter. In what part of Portugal +or Spain they are, she does not tell me, but I will write and ascertain. +There is a bare possibility of our being some day in the neighbourhood; +and, judging of your wishes by mine own, I am sure that you would like +to meet Mrs and Miss Armytage again, though you may wish to stand clear +of the colonel." + +There is a happy familiarity among messmates which seldom exists between +other people. + +Morton thanked Glover, and acknowledged, after a moment's thought, that +he should be delighted again to meet Miss Armytage. + +"Am I bound to obey her father, who discards me simply because he +believes me to be of inferior birth to his daughter? I feel convinced +that I am her equal. I have at all events gained the rank of a +gentleman; I may some day obtain the fortune to support it, and to +maintain her as well as her father can do. No; I feel that I am bound +by no laws, divine or human, to yield to his unjust demands. If she +loves me still, and I can win her, I will." + +Glover, who was fully acquainted with his friend's feelings, and to whom +part of these remarks were addressed, highly applauded his resolution, +and promised to afford him all the aid in his power. + +The "Pallas" was found to have received so much injury that her repairs +would take a long time. Lord Claymore and his officers and crew were +accordingly turned over to another frigate, the "Imperious," and ordered +to proceed forthwith to the Mediterranean. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +RONALD JOINS THE "IMPERIOUS"--CHASE OF A FELUCCA--THE MARQUIS DE MEDEA-- +THE SPANISH PRIEST--RONALD ASTONISHES THE PRIEST. + +The "Imperious" had been some time in the Mediterranean. She had not +been idle, nor had her crew; that was not likely under such a captain as +Lord Claymore. She had been up the Levant, and cruising among the +Ionian Islands, and then back to Gibraltar, and had returned to Malta; +and her blue-jackets and marines had landed on the Spanish and French +coasts, and, as they had done before on the Biscay shores, had captured +forts, destroyed barracks, and other public buildings, and burnt a town +or two, and cut out merchant-men and armed vessels of all sorts; indeed, +had done as much mischief as they possibly could. In all these +proceedings Ronald Morton had greatly distinguished himself, and his +captain promised him that he would not rest till he had obtained for him +his rank as a commander. + +Morton was in better spirits than he had been for a long time. He was +as ready as ever for any daring exploit, but he had no desire to throw +his life away if he could help it; he had a fancy that there was +something worth living for. The good Lord Collingwood so highly +approved of the proceedings of the "Imperious," that he sent her back, +after her return to Malta, to continue the same sort of employment. + +On the passage, when not far off Minorca, a large felucca was sighted, +which, from her manoeuvres, was evidently anxious to avoid the frigate. +Lord Claymore had received directions from the admiral to look out for a +craft of this description, which was known to be a pirate, and to have +committed innumerable atrocities. Chase was instantly made. The +felucca on seeing this, and apprehending danger, rigged out her tall +tapering lateen sails, wing-a-wing, as it is called, one on each side. +She appeared like a graceful sea-bird, and did her utmost to escape. +She sailed so well that there seemed a great possibility that she might +effect this. The "Imperious," like some huge bird of prey, followed in +her wake, resolved on her destruction. As yet the felucca was beyond +the range of the frigate's bow-chasers. One shot from those long guns +striking her masts or slender spars, would effectually have stopped her +flight. Over the blue waters she flew; the officers and crew of the +frigate were watching her. + +"She has an evil conscience, or she would not fly so fast," observed +Glover. + +"Very likely; but like other rogues, she will escape the punishment she +deserves," answered Hardman. "The wind is falling, that is in her +favour." + +"Not if it fall altogether; we may take her with the boats," remarked +Morton. "There is every sign of a calm." + +"She has sweeps, and it is extraordinary the rate at which these craft +can pull," observed the pertinacious Hardman. "She has every chance of +getting away from us." + +"Hardman is a wise fellow. He is always expecting blanks that he may +enjoy the prizes the more when they turn up," said the surgeon. + +"He loses the pleasure of anticipation, though," said Morton. "That is +too often greater than the reality." + +"Ah, but I am saved the disappointment of the reverse," answered the +second-lieutenant. "See our courses are hanging against the mast, and +the felucca has lost the wind altogether. She has got out her sweeps, +and off she goes like a shot." + +Just then the captain called Morton. "We must take that fellow in the +boats. Call away the crews of the pinnace and first and second cutters. +Do not lose a moment. He will show fight, and it may save bloodshed to +overawe him." + +The boats were instantly made ready, and in two minutes were pulling +away full of armed men, and led by Morton to the attack of the felucca. + +The crew of that vessel did not for some time discover them, and +continued as before urging her on at a rapid rate with their long +sweeps, evidently hoping to escape. The boats, however, gained on them +fast, and in a short time they were seen to lay in their long sweeps, +finding, probably, that escape was hopeless, and to prepare for the +attack. As the boats drew near, Ronald ordered them to separate so as +to board at different parts of the vessel. Her deck was soon crowded +with men, who, from their varied costumes, had a very suspicious +appearance. Some were at their guns, others held cutlasses or pistols +in their hands, threatening to make a stout resistance. One tall old +man in a Spanish dress, with a huge white moustache and a long thin +beard, stood on the companion hatch waving his sword, and with loud +vociferations calling on his men to fight. As the boats got within +hail, Morton rose and ordered the crew of the felucca to throw overboard +their weapons and yield, for they showed no flag which could be hauled +down as a sign of surrender. The answer was a round of grape and +langrage from three guns, and a volley of musketry. The missels flew, +whizzing and whistling close to his head. Happily he was unhurt; but +two of his boat's crew were hit, and the side of the boat riddled in +several places. The British seamen dashed on, and in another instant +were clambering over the low bulwarks of the felucca. + +"What are we, who have been fighting with honest Frenchmen all our +lives, to be dared by a set of cut-throats like you? Take that," +exclaimed Job Truefitt, as he dealt a blow which nearly severed a +pirate's head from his shoulder. + +The man fell dead, and Job and the rest springing on, the ruffians gave +way, and many were driven overboard right across the deck, as a flock of +sheep are swept away by a torrent. The old captain defended himself +with all the fierceness of despair. He fought with the feeling that a +rope was about his neck. Ronald at last reached him, and by a dexterous +turn sent his sword flying over the side. The old man drew a pistol, +but before he could fire it, Bob Doull, had sprung up at him, and, +wrenching it from his hand, pulled him down to the deck. In vain he +struggled, other seamen surrounded him, and he was secured. Several men +of the pirate crew were driven overboard, and the rest leaped down below +to avoid the cutlasses of the British. Some in the madness of their +rage began to fire up at their captors. Fortunately, none of the latter +were killed, or it would have fared ill with the pirates. Truefitt and +others on finding this, leaped down among them, and singling out the +culprits, bound them hand and foot, and bringing them on deck, threw +them down with a kick in their sides, and an order to behave themselves. + +Soon after the din of battle was over, some cries were heard proceeding +from a cabin in the after part of the vessel. Morton at once, knocking +off the companion-hatch, followed by a midshipman and several more, +leaped below. As the skylight hatch was on, the cabin was very dark, +but there was light sufficient to enable him to distinguish two old men +and a young lady struggling in the power of some of the pirate crew, who +had apparently forced their way into the cabin from forward. The +ruffians were soon hauled off from their intended victims, and secured, +with a double allowance of kicks, on deck, while Morton busied himself +with rendering what assistance he could to the young lady and her +companions. They were Spanish he found by their dress and language. +One was habited in the costume of an ecclesiastic. + +He was a thin, small old man, in whose sallow cheeks it seemed as if the +blood could never have mantled, while from his calm exterior it could +not have been supposed that he had just been rescued from imminent +danger. The young lady, before Morton could reach her, had sunk down on +a locker half-fainting. + +"Air, air!" she murmured out, "Oh, my father! see to him." + +The old man had sunk on the deck of the cabin. The priest stooped down +to raise him up, while Ronald helped to knock off the skylight, and then +went to the assistance of the young lady. The stream of fresh air which +came from above helped to restore both daughter and father. They were +then got upon deck, and the pure atmosphere, with a sight of the British +flag, and their late masters bound hand and foot, soon completely +restored them. The old gentleman was a fine looking Don of the ancient +regime; the daughter, a perfect Spanish beauty, with raven hair and +flashing eyes, and dark clear complexion. The old Don was profuse in +his expressions of gratitude towards those who had rescued him from the +hands of the pirates. He and his daughter, with his father confessor, +the priest now present, had been travelling in France, when they heard +that Spain was about to throw off the yoke of Bonaparte; and fearing +that they should be detained, they got on board a small vessel to return +to their own country. On their passage they had been attacked and +captured by the felucca. + +"That we have escaped with our lives is a mercy, when we reflect what +atrocious villains are those into whose hands we fell, and from whom you +have so nobly rescued us. That captain--the sooner you hang him at your +yard-arm the better. He cumbers the earth. It is a disgrace to +humanity to allow him to live." + +"We do not execute people in England without a trial; if the captain of +the felucca is found guilty, he will probably be hung," answered Morton, +to whom this remark was made in French, a language the old Don spoke +very well. Ronald did not altogether like his manner, or the expression +of his countenance. + +The sweeps of the felucca had been got out, and the boats had also taken +her in tow, and she was now rapidly approaching the frigate. + +During the time, Morton endeavoured to ascertain what he could about his +new companions. Thinking that he might very possibly gain the +information he wished for most easily from the priest, he took the +opportunity of addressing him when out of hearing of the rest. + +"You and your friends must have suffered much while in the power of +those ruffians," he remarked. "That old gentleman has not yet +recovered; he seems from his manner to be a man of rank." + +"Yes; he is one of the old grandees of Spain," answered the priest. + +"May I ask his name? for I wish to address him properly," said Ronald. + +"Certainly," returned the priest. "He is known as the Marquis de +Medea." + +"How strange!" exclaimed Morton, involuntarily, for he had heard that +name frequently repeated at Lunnasting, and had been taught to consider +the possessor of the title certainly not in a favourable light. + +The priest, as Ronald said this, gave him a glance as if he would look +through him to his inmost soul, and yet he spoke softly and blandly as +he asked, "Why so? Why strange, sir?" + +"It is a name I frequently heard in my boyhood," answered Ronald, not +supposing that there was the slightest necessity for being on his guard +with the mild-looking priest. + +"That is strange," repeated the priest. "Where was your boyhood passed, +may I ask?" said the priest. + +Ronald told him, "Chiefly in the castle of Lunnasting, in Shetland." + +Again the priest gave a piercing glance at him. + +"May I inquire your name?" + +"I am called Ronald Morton." + +"You say you are called so. Will it appear impertinent if I ask if you +believe that you have the right to bear another?" said the priest. + +"Why do you put the question?" was Ronald's very natural demand. + +"You said that you were called Morton. I fancied, from your tone, that +you insinuated that you have a right to some other name," said the +priest. + +"I may have some such idea; but at the same time I am perfectly +contented with the one I bear." + +The priest appeared lost in thought. + +"Do you remember your father!" he asked, abruptly. + +"Certainly; he is, I trust, alive still. I hope to meet him shortly;" +surprised at the way in which the priest continued to cross-question +him. Some men would have been much annoyed, and refused to reply; but +Ronald saw that his interrogator had some good reasons for putting the +questions, and felt no inclination to disappoint him. + +"May I ask if you were ever considered like the lady of Lunnasting +Castle? Donna Hilda, I think you called her," inquired the priest. + +"I have not, that I am aware of, mentioned her name," answered Morton, +looking in his turn hard at the priest. "I will reply to your question, +though, before I ask one in return. I have heard that I was like her, +and that is not surprising; my mother was very like her--they were +cousins. Now I must inquire how comes it that you know anything of the +family of Lunnasting? Were you ever in Shetland?" + +"There are few parts of the world where I have not been. The members of +my order go everywhere, and should know everything that takes place on +its surface," answered the priest, evasively. + +"I do not recollect you in Shetland," said Ronald, "May I ask your +name?" + +"I am called Father John," replied the priest, humbly. "I would yet +further ask you, what you know respecting the Marquis de Medea?" + +Ronald considered whether he should reply. + +"There can be no harm in speaking the truth, surely," he said to +himself. "I will tell you," he answered frankly. "The marquis is +believed, at Lunnasting, at all events, to have inherited the estates +which should rightly have belonged to the son of Don Hernan Escalante, +the husband of the Lady Hilda of Lunnasting, as she is called in +Shetland, the daughter of Sir Marcus Wardhill. Moreover, it is believed +that, instigated by the present marquis, a pirate crew attacked the +castle, and carried off the son of Donna Hilda, of whom I speak, the +rightful heir to the title and estates of Medea." + +Never, probably, had the countenance of the priest exhibited so much +astonishment, or indeed, any sentiment, as it did at present. + +"By what wonderful means have you become acquainted with what you have +told me?" he asked. + +"By the simplest of all; by having been told by those who were +acquainted with the facts," answered Ronald. + +"But how were they informed of those facts?" asked the priest, with +increased interest. + +"They learned them from a Spanish naval officer, Pedro Alvarez by name, +who was the lieutenant of Don Hernan. He had promised to assist his +captain's widow and her infant son to the utmost of his power. He +returned to Shetland for that purpose, and when he heard that the boy +had been carried off, he sailed away in search of the pirate; he, +however, never returned to Shetland, and it is believed that he perished +before he accomplished his purpose. The young Escalante has never been +discovered, though the poor Lady Hilda lives on in expectation of +recovering her son." + +"No wonder that sacrilegious wretch, Pedro Alvarez, never returned to +you. He was guilty of murdering one of the familiars of our most holy +Inquisition. Had he ever caught the pirate he could not have returned +to Spain, but must have been a wanderer on the face of the earth, with +the mark of Cain on his brow." + +"I was a mere infant when he last came to Shetland, so that I have no +personal recollection of him, but from what I have heard, he was very +much liked by all with whom he associated," said Ronald. + +"Your heretical countrymen would probably think that killing an officer +of the Inquisition was a very venial offence, and not look upon him with +any horror on that account; but depend on it, an avenging Nemesis +followed him to his grave, or will follow him, if he still lives," +remarked the priest. "But we are now close to your ship. I would +advise you not to let the marquis know that you are acquainted with that +part of his history, which he would desire to keep secret. At first I +thought that you were the son of Don Hernan, but I see that I was +mistaken." + +As soon as the felucca was towed alongside the frigate, the prisoners, +as well as the marquis and his daughter, and the priest, were removed on +board. + +After inspecting the felucca, the captain resolved to keep her as a +tender to the frigate, believing that she might be made very useful in +capturing the enemy's merchantmen, as, from her rig, she might get close +to them without being suspected. + +Lord Claymore highly commended Morton for the gallant way in which he +had taken the vessel. + +"I scarcely know what to do with the prisoners," he observed. "We must +not cut their throats, or hang them at the yard-arms, but that would be +the simplest way of disposing of them, and they probably will not come +to any better end." + +Ronald also told his captain all he had heard of the Marquis of Medea. + +"The old scoundrel!" was the answer. "However, he is our guest, and he +has a lovely daughter; we must treat him politely." + +The most important information, however, was the statement made by the +marquis, that Spain had at length declared herself independent of +France, and formed a league with England. + +"It may be true, but we must not trust to it till we have more certain +information," remarked Lord Claymore. + +The calm lasted long enough to have the felucca over-hauled, somewhat +cleansed, and put in order. Glover was placed in command of her, with +two midshipmen and twenty men. The prisoners were secured below on +board the frigate, and sentries put over them, while Lord Claymore gave +up a cabin to the young lady, and accommodated the marquis and the +priest with cots in his own. It was very difficult to please the old +marquis, who, notwithstanding the trouble taken to attend to his +comfort, grumbled at everything--so much so, that Lord Claymore would +have sent him on board the felucca to shift for himself, had it not been +for his daughter, who showed herself contented and thankful for the +kindness she and her father were receiving, while her brilliant smiles +and joyous laughter proved that she was sincere in her expressions. + +The breeze came at last, and the frigate, followed by the little +felucca, stood on towards the Spanish coast. + +In the course of his duty, Morton was going the round of the decks, when +he heard a voice from among the prisoners calling to him in French: "A +poor dying wretch would speak to you. Have pity, brave Englishman, and +hear what he has to say!" + +"Who are you?" asked Morton. + +"I was captain of the felucca. I am now a criminal, expecting speedy +death," returned the speaker. + +The master at arms held up the lantern he carried, and as its light fell +on the countenance of the person who had addressed him, Morton +recognised the old white-bearded captain who had made so desperate a +resistance when his vessel was attacked. He had been lying at his +length on some straw on the deck. He was now supporting himself on one +arm that he might have a better look at the lieutenant as he passed. + +"What would you say to me?" asked Morton. + +"Many things, if you will listen to me," answered the old pirate. "I +overheard part of your conversation with the priest. I know more about +you than you suppose." + +"What can you know about me?" asked Morton, very much surprised. "Here +are two persons I fall in with unexpectedly and both assert they know +more about me than I do myself," he thought. + +"If you will have me removed out of earshot of my comrades, I will tell +you," replied the old pirate. "We cannot speak in a language which some +of them do not understand." + +Morton ordered the old man to be unshackled, and to be conducted to +another part of the deck. After he had gone his rounds, he returned and +took a seat on a bucket by his side. + +"Thanks, sir, for this kindness," said the old pirate; though as he +spoke Ronald rather doubted his sincerity. "It is not thrown away. You +see before you a victim to circumstances. I have done many evil deeds-- +many things of which I repent--but necessity drove me to commit them; +poverty, that stern task-master, urged me on--not inclination, believe +me. I say this that you may not look at me with the disgust that you +might otherwise do. However, I am not now going to give an account of +my life--I may some day, if you desire it; simply I will tell you who I +am. You know already who the old man is whom I took prisoner." + +"I should like to know who you are," said Ronald. + +"I am, then, the celebrated Don Annibal Tacon," said the old man, in a +tone of no little conceit. "I have made my name famous in most parts of +the world. For some reason or other, however, my enterprises have not +been as successful as they ought, and I have continued in the same state +of poverty in which I began life. I say this as an excuse for myself, +and to excite your compassion. It is not the matter on which I wish to +speak to you. I have, since my early days, been acquainted with the +Marquis de Medea. He, too, led a wild life in his youth; and there are +many things he did which he would not like mentioned. Many years ago, +when you were but a child, he encountered me in Cadiz. Promising me a +large reward, and giving me a handsome sum as an earnest of his +intentions, he engaged me on a hazardous and daring enterprise. It was +no less than to sail to the North of England--to the islands of +Shetland--and to carry off from a castle, situated on the shores of one +of them, a child, the son of a certain Captain Don Hernan Escalante. I +see you are interested in my account; you may well be so. I heard you +speaking of that castle. I accomplished my errand. I attacked the +castle, bore away the child, and purposed to return to Cadiz to receive +my reward, and to learn what the noble marquis wished as to the disposal +of the boy. I had some idea, indeed, of concealing him, and employing +him to wring from the marquis the gold which I might require. My plans +were, however, frustrated. I was driven by a gale nearly across the +Atlantic, and so many British cruisers swarmed in all directions, that I +was continually driven back whenever I attempted to approach the Spanish +coast. At length a Spanish vessel hove in sight. As she drew nearer, I +recognised her as a corvette commanded by an officer I knew, Pedro +Alvarez by name. I at first thought she was a friend, but, by the way +she approached, I suspected she had hostile intentions. I endeavoured +to make my escape, for I have always held that men should never fight if +they can help it. That is to say, if an enemy has a rich cargo on +board, a wise man may fight to capture it; but if he himself has +anything of value on board, he will fly to preserve it, and only fight +when he cannot preserve it by any other means. + +"The corvette bore down upon us, and so well did she sail, that I found +escape impossible. She ran me aboard; and Pedro Alvarez and half his +crew, leaping down on my decks, drove my people before them; he fought +his way into the cabin--there was the infant, on the possession of whom +I rested the hopes of my future support. He seized it, and hurrying +back to his own vessel, called his people to follow him, and then, +casting my craft free, he stood away to the eastward, without firing a +shot at my vessel, seeming content with the mischief he had already done +me. Believing that he would at once go back to Spain, denounce the +marquis, and proclaim me as his tool, I dared not return to Cadiz. I +therefore sailed for the West Indies, and employed myself in an +occupation which I found tolerably lucrative, seeing that all the +transactions were for ready money, though it must be owned that it was +somewhat hazardous. Some people might call it piracy. It was not till +long afterwards, when I was paying a visit to Cadiz, that I learned that +Pedro Alvarez was himself an outlaw, that he had not returned to Cadiz, +and that neither he nor his ship had ever again been heard of. + +"From the words which reached my ears while you were talking to that +wily priest, I have an idea that you are no other than the son of Don +Hernan and the lady of that northern castle. By whatever means you got +back there, my evidence will be of value to prove that you are the child +I carried off. I have no doubt about it; I would swear to the fact. +Let us be friends, then. You assist to preserve my life; I will help +you to obtain your rights as the Marquis de Medea, and to become the +master of the immense estates belonging to the family." + +The old villain looked up into the young officer's face, expecting a +favourable reply. Ronald was almost inclined to laugh at his outrageous +audacity and cunning. "You are entirely mistaken as to whom I am," he +answered. "The child you carried off from Lunnasting was never brought +back. I cannot even tell you if he is still alive; but whether or not, +I have no power to make any bargain with you. You must abide by the +consequences of your misdeeds." + +"I have always done that," answered the pirate, with an humble look. +"From my youth up till now I have been an unfortunate man. I hope some +day the tide will turn; but there is not much time left for that." + +Ronald made no reply. He resolved to tell the captain all he had heard; +and on going aft he left directions that the old prisoner should be +strictly watched, and not allowed to communicate with any one. + +As Ronald could not speak to Lord Claymore in the cabin lest he should +be overheard, he waited till he came on deck. + +"A pretty set of scoundrels!" was Lord Claymore's remark. "That cunning +priest, too, depend on it, has a finger in the pie. A curious +coincidence there is, too, in your own history, and in that of the story +you have just told me. You want to find out to what family you belong, +and here is a title, estates, and fortune, waiting to be filled by the +rightful heir, if he can be found." + +Though the captain entertained a considerable amount of contempt for the +marquis, for the sake of his daughter he treated him with his usual +courtesy. He felt that he should be very glad to get him out of the +ship; still, by keeping him on board, he might possibly gain some +information which might prove useful in establishing the claims of Hilda +Wardhill's son to the property of his father. The most important object +was to discover if that son was alive, and where he was, and what had +become of Pedro Alvarez. + +Lord Claymore and Ronald talked the subject over with such intense +eagerness, that the latter almost forgot his own interests in the desire +he felt to be of service to one whom he justly looked on as his +patroness and the protectress of his youth. The homicide of the +familiar of the Inquisition fully accounted for Pedro's not returning to +Spain; while as that country had been for so many years at war with +England, he might have found it impossible to send him back to Shetland. +He might have written, to be sure, but the letters might have +miscarried. Nothing was more probable. It was too likely, however, +that both he and the boy were lost. Still Lord Claymore hoped the +contrary, and, perhaps, his anxiety was not a little increased by the +satisfaction he anticipated in ousting the rascally old marquis from his +estates and rank. + +The coast of Spain was soon after made, and the active operations in +which the ship was engaged allowed the captain or Morton very little +time to think of that or any other subject. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +RONALD MEETS HIS FATHER--OLD DOULL RECOGNISES ROLF MORTON--MORTON +RECOGNISES FATHER MENDEZ--ROLF MORTON'S DIPLOMACY--A FORT ATTACKED--BLUE +JACKETS ON SHORE. + +A few days after the "Imperious" reached the coast, a brig of war hove +in sight. The frigate stood towards her, and when the two vessels had +hove-to, the commander of the brig came on board, and confirmed the +statement made by the marquis and the priest, that Spain had made peace +with England, and had determined to throw off the French yoke. + +"Much good may our allies do us," remarked Lord Claymore who had a +profound contempt for the Spaniards. "A cowardly braggadocio set. I +would place no dependence on their support in case of need." + +The commander of the brig bowed; he was not likely to dispute the matter +with his lordship. + +"By-the-by, I have brought a passenger--an old shipmate of mine, whom +Mr Morton will at all events be glad to see." + +"And so shall I," said Lord Claymore, glancing at the gangway, at which +a fine, stout, elderly-looking man appeared, dressed in plain clothes. +Ronald sprang aft, and grasped his hand. + +"Father, I little expected to see you. Where have you come from?" + +"From Malta last," answered Rolf Morton. "I went out there to look for +you. When I arrived home in the old `Lion,' and was paid off, I applied +for and obtained my discharge from the service. I found that I had made +a mistake in going to sea the last time. It did not suit me. I felt, +too, that for your sake as well as my own, it would be better for me to +live in a private capacity on shore. You are a lieutenant, and may soon +be a commander. It would stand in your way in society to have it said +that your father was a boatswain; not that you would be ashamed of me, I +am sure, but we cannot make people wiser, we must take them as they are. +Besides, I am more at liberty to attend to the subject you wrote to me +about. I am not very sanguine of success, but still it would be +satisfactory, for your sake, to discover after all that I was of good +family, and to find some relations for you." + +After Rolf Morton had talked for some time with his son, Lord Claymore +sent for him. He had heard from the commander of the brig that he had +retired from the service. He shook him warmly by the hand. + +"It will be pleasant for you to be together, and as the brig has to +return immediately, I shall be glad if you like to remain on board. +Your son, I doubt not, can put you up." + +Rolf Morton thanked the captain for his kindness. It was the very thing +he wished. He wanted to be for some time with Ronald, and to talk to +old Doull and Eagleshay, to ascertain what they knew about his early +days. + +Most of the prisoners taken in the felucca were sent to Malta, but +Captain Tacon was kept on board the frigate, as Lord Claymore considered +that he might assist in clearing up the matter in which he was so much +interested, and be made useful in other ways, from his knowledge of the +coast and of the towns and villages near it. + +Rolf was naturally eager to see Doull and Eagleshay. The two old men +were sent for. Their astonishment was very great when they were told +that he was the boy they had carried off from Shetland nearly fifty +years before. He assured them that he clearly recollected the +circumstance, and that two of the men were tall, like them, and that +there was one much older and shorter. They both looked at him very +earnestly for some time. At last Doull exclaimed-- + +"I remember well a mark on the laddie's hand; a spike or a nail had run +through it just between the bones of the fore and second finger. It was +a curious mark to be in the hand of so small a child, and I mind well +thinking that mark will never wear out, and I shall know the boy +whenever I meet him again." + +While the old man was speaking, Rolf was examining his hand. He held it +out with the back up; there, sure enough, was visible, through the +brown, hairy skin, a deep mark, evidently produced as Doull had +described. + +"Father, there can be no longer any doubt about the matter," exclaimed +Ronald with more excitement than he usually exhibited. + +"I am afraid that the evidence will not be considered very strong in a +court of law," observed Rolf. "However, it leaves no doubt on my mind +that these two men assisted to carry me off. But that is all! they +cannot say, more than I can, to what family I belong; and as for this +paper which they say they signed, that of course is irretrievably lost. +Ronald, I have made up my mind what I will do--I will go back to Whalsey +and take possession of my farm. I no longer fear Sir Marcus Wardhill-- +he can do me no harm, and I will try to live at peace with the old man. +I will take these two men, Doull and Eagleshay, with me. Lord Claymore +will give them their discharge. They are no longer fit for duty. They +shall be well looked after, for I bear them no ill-will for the injury +they did me. All has been for the best, I doubt not: we can but do our +duty and trust in Providence." + +Ronald heartily entered into his father's plans, though he felt much +more sanguine than he did as to the result. He said that he had little +doubt but that Lord Claymore would grant a superannuated discharge to +the two old men. + +"All will be right," said Rolf, cheerfully. "I must, however, take a +cruise with you first, my lad. It will be time enough to think of going +home when we fall in with a ship bound that way." + +Rolf had gone into the gun-room soon after his arrival on board, and did +not return on deck till the evening. When he made his appearance, the +marquis and his daughter and the priest were assembled there. All the +officers, and especially Glover, welcomed him cordially, and Lord +Claymore came up and spoke to him in the kindest way. Rolf looked +across the deck at the Spanish party, and could not help fixing his eyes +on the priest. + +"I am sure it is him," he exclaimed. "I never saw a stronger likeness; +years have only dried him up a little." And without another word he +walked up to the old man, and said-- + +"What, Father Mendez! it is long since we met; but don't you know me?" + +The priest cast a calm glance at him, totally free from astonishment, as +he answered--"Time changes all people. If it is long since we met, you +must excuse me if I do not recollect you." + +"I forgot that," said Rolf, frankly. "My name is Morton--we met in +Shetland. Were you not then called Father Mendez?" + +"I am called Father John," said the priest in the same calm tone as +before. + +This reply would have irritated many men, but Rolf looked at him, and +said quietly--"That may be your present name, but unless my recollection +strangely deceives me, you were called Mendez." + +The priest bowed and replied--"I have seen many people in the course of +my life. It is possible we have met, but you will understand that the +memory of a man, as he advances in life, is not as good as it was in his +youth." + +"I have the advantage of you in that respect, certainly," persisted +Rolf, in a manner very different to his usual custom. + +"Come, come, Father Mendez! we were too much together in days gone by +for you to have forgotten me any more than I have forgotten you," +continued Morton. "I do not wish to annoy you, but I wish you to do an +act of justice. The son of your former patron and friend, Don Hernan +Escalante, was carried off from his mother's house by the crew of a +schooner which suddenly appeared before the place. He has never since +been heard of: what has become of him? I ask. His mother has friends +in this ship who will insist on knowing the truth. It will be wiser for +you to speak it at once." + +The priest was more thrown off his guard by this appeal than he probably +had ever been before. + +"I know nothing of Don Hernan's child," he answered quickly. "I did not +carry him off, nor was I privy to it. I could not be guilty of such a +deed; the members of my order never employ violence to bring about what +they desire. That alone ought to convince you that I am guiltless of +the charge you make against me." + +Morton was not in the slightest degree more convinced than at first by +what the father said. + +"Then, at all events, you do not deny that you were in Shetland, and +that I knew you as Father Mendez?" said Rolf. + +The marquis and his daughter were all this time watching the speaker +with looks of astonishment. + +"There would be no object in denying that such was the case," answered +the priest. "I was in Shetland rather more than twenty years ago, and I +was then known as Father Mendez. I am at present called Father John." + +"I thought so," observed Rolf, bluntly. "You'll understand me, sir--I +am but a rough seaman, and all I want is fair play. You and I were +present at the marriage of that unhappy lady of Lunnasting Castle. We +are the only surviving witnesses, besides Pedro Alvarez, and where he is +to be found no one knows. What I ask you is, to help me to see her +righted, and to find her lost son. Now that England and Spain are +friends again, her son may be discovered with less difficulty than +before; when discovered, assist in enabling him to regain his father's +property in Spain, which was, if I remember rightly, at once taken +possession of by his relative, who, from the accounts received in +Shetland, was a very great rogue; the Marquis of Medea he was called. I +am not wrong, I fancy." + +Father Mendez rapidly thought over the state of the case. The marquis +had certainly supported him during the misfortunes which their country +had suffered by the French invasion, but he had been anything but a +generous patron, and it occurred to him that he might make a far better +bargain with the rightful heir, if he could be found; and he believed +that Rolf Morton, notwithstanding what he said, had the clue to his +discovery, if he did not already know where to place his hand on him. +When therefore, Rolf, feeling that he might have been too abrupt and +uncourteous in the way he had addressed him, apologised for his +roughness, the priest answered blandly-- + +"Do not concern yourself, my friend, on that account. We are old +acquaintance. I have good reason to remember your sterling qualities, +which far outweigh all others, and I own that it would be with great +satisfaction that I found you looked upon me as a friend. I love +justice as much as you do, and most anxious I am to attain it for the +son of my old and esteemed friend, Don Hernan. Tell me how I can assist +you, and I promise you all the aid I can afford." + +Rolf Morton was not so completely deceived by this speech as the priest +might have supposed. He, however, thanked him, and rejoined Ronald in +his quarter-deck walk, which they had to themselves, as the captain and +most of the officers had, gone below. + +Very great was Rolf's surprise when he found that the dignified old +gentleman on the other side of the deck was the Marquis de Medea, and +still more so on hearing that the very man who had carried off the young +Hernan Escalante was in irons below. + +Ronald reported to Lord Claymore the fresh discoveries that had been +made. "All will go right, Morton, in the end, depend on that," he +answered. "I am very sanguine that the young Hernan, if he is +forthcoming, will obtain his rights, and so will your father his; those +two old men were not fallen in with by you in so unlikely a way, except +for some object. `Never despair!' has always been my motto, adopt it, +there is no safer one." + +Lord Claymore would very gladly have landed the disagreeable marquis and +the priest on the first part of the coast of Spain they made; but as the +French still held numerous ports and towns to the west, they would have +found it impossible to travel towards Cadiz, to which they expressed +their wishes to proceed, and as there was a lady of the party, he could +not, without great want of courtesy, have put them on shore. For the +sake indeed of Don Josef's daughter, Donna Julia, the captain would very +gladly have borne with his haughty and morose manners. The young lady, +indeed, contrived to enchant every one on board; and those who knew the +character of her father, and entertained hopes of dispossessing him of +his property, could not help feeling compassion for one so young and +lovely, who would, should they succeed, be in reality the principal +sufferer. + +The frigate was not to be idle; numberless were the dashing exploits +performed by her gallant crew. In most of them Ronald took an active +part, and several times his father insisted on accompanying him, as he +observed, just to make him feel young again. Numerous vessels were also +captured--one was a French privateer; some Spaniards taken in a prize +were on board her. From these men Lord Claymore learned that within a +day's sail there was a strong and important castle, garrisoned by French +troops. This castle commanded a pass on the road by which the chief +communication was kept open between the borders of France and the French +army on the Ebro. A Spanish force, it was said, had already assembled, +and commenced the siege of the place, but with little success. The +frigate made a long tack off the coast; when she again stood in the fort +was made out, situated on a commanding elevation, overlooking the road +which wound along the shore. The frigate had her guns run out, and the +crew stood at their quarters, ready for action. The officers, with +their glasses, were examining the coast. The sun shone brightly; the +water was blue, still more blue was the sky, shedding a brilliancy over +the sand, the rocks, the hill-sides clothed with verdure, showing here +and there the darker tints of orange or olive groves, with lighter +shades where vineyards clothed the ground. Had it not been for that +ominous-looking little fort, with its extended outworks, the landscape +would have exhibited a picture of perfect rest and peace. + +Nearer and nearer approached the frigate, gliding majestically over the +smooth sea. Suddenly, emerging from a ravine, appeared a long line +moving slowly on. Then dots which might have been mistaken for minute +insects separated from it, and here and there puffs of smoke were seen, +which were replied to by the fort with other puffs, and the faint +thunder of cannon was heard on board the frigate. + +"Those must be Spaniards attacking the fort," exclaimed the captain, +mechanically whistling for a breeze to urge on the ship with the +rapidity that might satisfy his impatience. + +In a short time the whole line was enveloped in smoke, and every gun on +the south side of the fortifications commenced firing, forming so dense +a cloud that the operations of the assailants could no longer be +distinguished. + +"The Spaniards will have completed the work, and gained all the glory, +before we can get there to help them," cried Glover. "I wish we had +more wind!" + +"So do the Spaniards, but depend on it they will wait for us. There +will be nothing desperate done till we get up to their assistance," +observed Hardman. + +The marines were now ordered to prepare for landing. The captain had +made up his mind to storm the place under cover of the frigate's guns. +Morton volunteered to lead the party. The captain was doubtful about +letting him go. Rolf declared that if his son went, he would go also as +a volunteer. At last the wished-for breeze came, and the frigate +rapidly approached the scene of action. + +The breeze lifted the canopy of smoke which hung over it, and the +combatants could now be seen, the Spaniards pushing on in great force +and clambering over an out-work, from which the French, still fighting +bravely, were retreating. + +"Ay, those Spaniards have many an act of outrage and cruelty to avenge," +observed the captain. "Their blood is up now; I never saw them fight so +bravely." + +The spectacle greatly increased the eagerness of all onboard the frigate +to take part in the work. The crews of the boats, and those who were to +go on the expedition, stood in readiness, with pistols in their belts, +and cutlasses at their sides; the marines drawn up, stiff and prim, +ready to step into the boats, offering a strong contrast to the +blue-jackets, with their rolling, somewhat swaggering movements, while +several not told off to go were stealing round in the hopes of being +able to slip unnoticed into the boats. + +The Spaniards, apparently encouraged by the approach of the British +ship, and knowing that those they had some reason to suspect were +witnesses of their conduct, charged with greater vigour. + +At length the wished-for moment arrived. The "Imperious" teached in as +close as the depth of water would allow. A spring had been got ready on +her cable. The moment the anchor was dropped she opened her broadside +on the fort, while the boats collecting on the other, the men sprang +into them, and giving way, they pulled with lusty strokes towards the +shore. The forts opened fire on them, but the boats were small objects, +and though the shots ploughed up the water ahead and astern of them, no +one was hit. As they reached the beach some way to the southward of the +castle, the marines and bluejackets sprang on shore, and instantly +formed; then "Onward!" was the word. The Spaniards welcomed them with +vivas. There was little time for Morton to exchange greetings with the +Spanish chief. A supply of scaling ladders had been prepared and +brought on shore, and Lord Claymore had taken good care that they should +be long enough. The seamen carried them, and rushed on, following +Ronald and his father. Rolf kept up with the activity of a younger man. +On they went; they soon distanced the Spaniards. The outworks had been +secured. Through them they dashed. The scaling ladders were planted +against the walls; the French made some attempt to throw them down, but +some of the seamen held them fast at the foot while the others climbed +up. Nothing could stop their impetuosity. + +The Spaniards were now swarming up likewise. The enemy fought with the +courage of despair. They well knew that, should they fall into the +hands of the Spaniards, their doom would be sealed. A number of +Spaniards had made good their footing, when the French charged them with +such fury that many were cut down, or hurled back over the wall. Two or +three were defending themselves bravely. One of the number fell. +Morton, seeing what was taking place, and that they would all be killed, +calling some of his men, made a dash at the enemy. Rolf was by his +side, and lifting up the man who had been wounded, bore him out of the +fight. More marines and seamen clambered up. + +The Frenchmen gave way and fled to the citadel. Some were cut down +while bravely defending the gate. The rest got in; the portal was +closed, and then a white flag was hung out, as a token that the governor +was ready to surrender on terms. His sole proposal was that he and his +men might be conveyed on board the British ship-of-war, to save them +from the certainty of being cut to pieces by the Spaniards, should they +have them in their power. + +The Spaniard whom Rolf had rescued was full of gratitude. He had been +knocked down, but his wound was not dangerous. He was a militia-man; a +brave fellow, as he had proved himself by the ardour with which he had +scaled the walls. He put his house and everything he possessed at the +service of those who had preserved his life. He lived, he said, some +way to the south. He should now return home, having had fighting +enough, and a wound to show as a proof of his patriotism. + +Ronald took the offers at what he believed them worth, and parted from +him on the most friendly terms. The prisoners were conveyed on board +the frigate; and as they embarked, the scowling looks the Spaniards cast +on them showed what would have been their fate had they remained on +shore. + +Part only of the work to be accomplished was performed. As the French +would soon again occupy the fort if it was left without a garrison, and +as the Spaniards could not be depended on, it was necessary to blow it +up. A supply of powder was found in it; some more was landed from the +ship. Excavations were made under the walls; the train was laid. One +gig only remained. Bob Doull undertook to fire the train. The rest of +the crew were in their seats, with oars in hand, ready to pull off. +Ronald stood up in the stern-sheets to give the word. Bob applied the +match, and stooped down as if to blow it, and was in consequence sent +reeling backward, while the fire, like a snake, went hissing along the +ground. Ronald shouted to him. He picked himself up, and rushed down +to the boat with his hair singed and his face blackened like a negro's. + +"Shove off, my lads! Give way!" cried Ronald. + +Not a moment was to be lost. As it was, they could scarcely hope to get +beyond the influence of the explosion. There was a hollow, rumbling +sound, and then, in clouds of smoke and flame and dust, up flew the +whole of the fortress into the air. The next moment down rushed huge +masses of masonry; it seemed indeed as if the solid rock itself had been +rent, and filled up the whole of the road. Some loud splashes astern +showed that the boat had but narrowly escaped destruction. + +"The French will find it difficult to pass this way again for some time +to come," observed Morton to the midshipman who accompanied him. + +"Yes, sir," observed the youngster, who was somewhat of a philosopher. +"It is wonderful how easy it is to knock a thing to pieces. It must +have taken some years to have put all those stones together." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +LORD CLAYMORE ON SHORE--MORTON AGAIN MEETS EDDA--RONALD'S NEW FRIEND, +DON JOSEF. + +The frigate continued her cruise further to the south; she touched at +several places, and Lord Claymore or Morton went constantly on shore to +urge the Spanish authorities and the people to take up arms, and to +assist in organising their forces. From the information the captain +received, he considered it important to communicate with some +influential people a short way in the interior. He gave his +instructions to Morton, therefore, and directed him to take two men as a +body-guard, and to set off at once. Ronald selected Truefitt and Doull, +the first for his steadiness and the other for his cool courage, and +having procured a guide and a horse, and two wretched mules which had +been too decrepit for the enemy to carry off, proceeded on his mission. + +Ronald and his guide rode on ahead, the two seamen following. Neither +of them were better horsemen than are sailors in general, but they were +at all events able to stick on, in spite of the kicks and stumbles and +flounders their animals occasionally gave; each was armed with a good +thick stick, besides a cutlass by his side and a brace of pistols in his +belt. "This is a pleasanter sort of a cruise, mate, to my notion, than +we've had the chance of for many a day," observed Doull. + +"Keep up on your four legs, you brute, now. The people here, though, +seems to me to be an outlandish set; did you ever hear such a rum way of +speaking as they've got? they all seem to have got lumps of biscuit or +duff, or something of that sort, down their throats." + +"That's the way they have. Different people speak a different lingo, +just as different animals make different noises," answered Job, +sententiously. "I can't say as how I likes these Dons; they've too +stuck up and stand clear a manner about them to please me." + +"That's my notion, too, Job," said Bob. "I like the Mounseers a +precious sight better; when one is friends with them, they take to our +ways a hundred-fold better than these Dons. They'll talk and laugh +away, and drink too, with a fellow, just for all the world as if they +were as regular born Christians as we are. That's what a Don will never +do; he won't drink with you, he won't talk to you, he won't laugh or +dance, and what's more, he won't fight with you; and that's what the +Mounseers never refuses to do, and that's why I likes them." + +Morton enjoyed the change very much, from his usual life on board ship; +he had not the same objection to the Spaniards as had his followers, and +as he had now sufficiently mastered their language to converse with +ease, he was never at a loss for amusement, and was able to obtain all +the information he required about the country. Three days were consumed +in reaching his destination; the French, he found, had lately been in +that part of the country, but had retired northward. The people were +anxious to drive the French out of their country, but they wanted arms, +and money, and leaders. + +Ronald was treated with great courtesy wherever he appeared, and he felt +himself a much more important personage than he had ever before been. +He had concluded the work on which he had been sent, and was about to +return to his ship, when one of the Spanish officials informed him that +he had received notification of the approach of a British commissioner, +a military officer, to assist them in organising their forces. + +"He must be a great man, an important person," observed the Spaniard; +"for he travels with many attendants, and his wife and family. No +Spanish ladies would dream of travelling about the country at a time +like this." + +Morton considered that it would be his duty to communicate with the +commissioner, and hearing that he was only a day's journey off, he set +out to meet him. The village at which he arrived in the afternoon, like +most in Spain, consisted of neat, low, white-washed houses, with bright, +red-tiled roofs, most of them having massive wooden verandahs and +trellis-work in front, forming arbours, over which vines in rich +profusion were taught to trail. The interior, at all events, had a neat +and clean appearance, but several blackened ruins, loop-holed walls, the +upper part of which were thickly bespattered with bullet-marks, showed +that it had been lately the scene of, perhaps, a brief but desperate +encounter between the hostile forces. The inn where the British +commissioner was said to be was pointed out to him. It was a long low +building like the rest in the place; the ground floor being divided into +two compartments, one serving as a kitchen and common eating-room, the +other as a stable and sleeping-place for the muleteers; the upper part +consisted of one large room, with dormitories roughly partitioned off +round it. An English cavalry soldier was doing duty as sentry at the +door. He informed Morton that the colonel had gone out with some of the +authorities in the neighbourhood, but that the ladies were upstairs. + +While Ronald was doubting what he should do, another man appeared and +begged that he would walk up and remain till the colonel returned. +Handing the bridle to his attendants with directions to them to wait for +him, he threw himself off his horse, and followed the servant through +the dark smoky kitchen to the stairs leading to the upper floor. His +heart beat more quickly than usual, for he had a hope, though a faint +one, that he was about once more to meet Edda Armytage, yet again he +thought it very improbable that Colonel Armytage would bring her and her +mother, accustomed as they had been to all the luxuries of life, into a +part of the country in which travelling was so inconvenient and +dangerous. Still they were in Spain. Of that Mrs Edmonstone had +assured Glover. He sprang up the steps. The door was opened. He +walked in with more than usual precipitation. At one end of the room +were several persons with cloaks over their shoulders, and, hat in hand, +sitting silent and solemn, evidently waiting the return of the +commissioner. At the further end, in the deep window recess, sat two +ladies. The back of one was turned towards him. The other was looking +down at a piece of work on which she was engaged. Though jaded and +looking very sad, her countenance was, he was certain, that of Mrs +Armytage. His quick step roused both the ladies. They turned round. +In an instant Edda's hand was placed in his. The rich blood mantled in +her cheeks, her eyes sparkled with pleasure. She forgot everything but +the happiness of again meeting him. Mrs Armytage received him most +cordially. The Spaniards looked on at what was taking place, and +twirled their moustachios. They thought the young stranger officer a +very happy fellow. After the first greetings were over, and Ronald had +explained how he came to be at the place, Mrs Armytage told him that +Colonel Armytage had met with considerable pecuniary losses, and that +when he received the appointment he now held, he wished her to accompany +him, and that Edda had insisted on not being left behind. + +"We knew that there were inconveniences to be encountered, though we did +not suppose that there were any dangers to be feared to which we would +not gladly submit for the sake of accompanying Colonel Armytage, who so +much requires our care," observed Mrs Armytage. "The inconveniences +are more ridiculous than disagreeable, and I fully believe Edda enjoys +them; and as to dangers, we have found none hitherto, and rather look +for them to add zest to the interest of the journey." + +Mrs Armytage went on speaking in this strain for some time, when she +became very grave. Ronald suspected that, although she might not have +been unwilling to come, it was not only her husband's state of health +which had induced her to accompany him. He knew how selfish and +tyrannical Colonel Armytage always was, and he suspected that he had not +given his wife the choice of remaining behind. Edda, as she watched her +mother's countenance, grew silent, and a shade of melancholy also stole +over her features. Mrs Armytage at last spoke. + +"We are truly glad to see you again, Mr Morton, and you know how high +you stand in both Edda's estimation and mine. Nothing you have ever +done has forfeited our regard, but I dread that when Colonel Armytage +returns he will not treat you in the way that we would desire. You know +that he is irritable, and that when he has taken up a prejudice it is +difficult to eradicate it. He has not got over the objections which he +formerly expressed to you. Earnestly do I wish that he would. But you +are generous and noble-minded; you will not think unkindly of us because +one we are bound to obey treats you unjustly. I know that I describe my +daughter's feelings, and I speak thus because I feel that it is due to +you to say it." + +While her mother was speaking, Edda looked up imploringly at Ronald. He +could not help perceiving that her countenance wore an expression of +tenderness and love towards him, and it was a sore trial for him to +promise compliance with the unjust demands which her father might make +on him. Mrs Armytage had spoken as she felt she was bound to do. In +her heart she rebelled against her husband's commands. Edda was old +enough both to judge and act for herself, she considered. She had +perfect confidence in her sense and discretion. Scarcely conscious of +what she was doing, she rose from her seat and went to her room, leaving +her daughter and Ronald together. The window recess was very deep; Edda +had retired into it, and was thus concealed from the view of the people +at the other end of the room. Ronald stood with his back towards them. + +"Edda, I have never ceased to think of you, to ground all my +expectations of earthly happiness on the hopes of making you mine," he +exclaimed in a low deep voice. "You require no assurances of my love +and my constancy; then promise me that you will not consent to become +another's whatever may occur. I dare not ask you to disobey your +father, and marry me against his will; but for your own sake, for mine, +I do entreat you not to yield to his authority so far as to marry one +you cannot love. I have hopes, great hopes that his objections to me +may be removed; but till they are so, I dread lest he should compel you +to give your hand to some one else. The promise I ask will give you +strength to resist any unjust exercise of authority. No one holds in +more respect than I do the duty of the obedience of a child to a parent; +but in this case it would, I am certain, work woe to you, sorrow to your +mother, and ultimate regret to your father. You will be firm, Edda? +Promise me." + +"Indeed, indeed I will," answered Miss Armytage. "Most faithfully and +unreservedly I promise you that." + +At that moment there was a commotion among the people at the other end +of the room, and a scraping of their feet on the floor as they rose from +their seats. They simultaneously began to bow with a formal air; the +noise they had created made Ronald turn his head, and as he did so, he +saw an officer in full uniform entering the room, followed by a number +of persons in various costumes. A second glance told Ronald that +Colonel Armytage was before him. + +Ronald at once advanced to meet him, and said, "I am an officer of his +Majesty's ship `Imperious.' I was sent by my captain to communicate +with the people in this district, and hearing that you were in the +neighbourhood, I considered it my duty to inform you of what I have +done." + +"In that light I am perfectly ready to receive you sir," said the +colonel, with a stiff bow. "But you will have the goodness to proceed +at once with your narrative: you see that there are a number of people +waiting to transact business with me, and that my time is short." + +Ronald felt a disagreeable sensation at his heart as the colonel was +speaking, but he overcame his feelings, and at once entered on the +business which had brought him to the place. + +The manner of Colonel Armytage was stiff and ungracious in the extreme. +Ronald had done everything so well, and gave so clear an account of all +the arrangements he had made, that the colonel could not do otherwise +than express himself satisfied. At length he rose, and said in a formal +way, "I think now, sir, our business is ended. You will, I conclude, at +once return to your ship, and express to Lord Claymore my satisfaction +at the arrangements which have been made. His lordship will, however, +see the necessity of leaving to me the task which he has hitherto +performed so efficiently." + +Edda had not dared to stir from her seat, but had continued with her +head bent down over some work, only venturing at times to cast a furtive +glance at her father and Ronald, to ascertain how they got on together. +Mrs Armytage soon afterwards joined her, and continued equally silent, +her countenance exhibiting still greater anxiety and nervousness. + +The colonel ceased speaking, and looked as if he expected the young +officer to make his bow and walk straight out at the door, but Ronald +felt that he must risk everything rather than take his departure without +exchanging another word with Edda. He therefore, as soon as he rose, +observing that Colonel Armytage had beckoned to one of the Spaniards to +advance, said quietly, "I will pay my respects to Mrs and Miss Armytage +before I go." + +Before the colonel could reply he had crossed the room to them. + +"Mrs Armytage, whatever happens, I entreat you to think favourably of +me," he said; and then he took Edda's hand, willingly given him, and he +whispered, "Farewell, dearest; we shall meet, I trust, ere long, again, +when I have hopes that some of the difficulties which now surround us +may be surmounted. Your promise, though we were interrupted before the +whole was given, has afforded joy and contentment to my heart." + +"Oh, but I give it entirely," Edda exclaimed, eagerly. "No power shall +make me break it, believe me Ronald." + +"You will be benighted, sir, and brigandage is rife," exclaimed Colonel +Armytage, looking up with an angry glance, which Edda observed, but +Ronald did not. + +"Go, go!" she exclaimed. "Heaven protect you?" + +Morton shook hands with Mrs Armytage, bowed to the colonel, and walked +with as much dignity as he could command out of the room. + +He threw himself on his horse, and rather than remain in the place he +determined to ride back to a village he had passed on his way there, +where he might find refreshment and rest both for man and beast during +the night. + +As Ronald passed the group of Spaniards, he saw one of those who had +come in with Colonel Armytage stare very hard at him. It struck him at +the moment that he recollected the man's features. He had just mounted +his horse, when the person in question rushed down the steps, and +grasped him by the hand. + +"I am ashamed, my brave friend, that I should not at once have known +you!" exclaimed the Spaniard. "But we both of us look to much greater +advantage than we did on the day we stormed the fort, when we were +covered with gunpowder and blood. But you must not go; come to my +house, it is not many leagues off. You can be spared from your ship for +a day or two longer." + +Ronald thanked his friend Don Josef very warmly, but assured him that it +was his duty to make the best of his way to the coast, as the ship would +be standing in to take him. + +"How unfortunate!" said the Spaniard. "I have to see your +commissioner--he seems a very great man--or I would accompany you all +the way, and we might stop at the houses of some of my friends. Still I +must go a little way with you. Wait a moment; I will send for my horse: +it is a poor animal--the only one those thieving French have left me. +But a day of retribution is coming, and soon, I hope." + +The steed was brought out; it was a far better animal than Ronald +expected to see. The Spaniard mounted, and the cavalcade moved on. + +The village was soon left behind. Ronald's new friend, however, had not +accompanied him more than a league when he said he must return, or he +should miss his interview altogether with the commissioner. He had +given Morton during that time a great deal of information as to the +state of the country, and the temper of the people generally. One +feeling seemed to pervade all classes--the deepest hatred of their late +master, and a desire to be free. + +"Better times may arrive, the country may be restored to peace, +prosperity may be her lot, and then I trust that you will come and visit +me at my home, and receive the thanks of my wife and children for the +benefit you conferred on me." + +Saying this with the usual complimentary Spanish expressions, Don Josef +turned his horse's head, and rode back towards the village from which +they had started, while Ronald continued his journey. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. + +A SPANISH INN--THE SPANIARDS AROUSED TO ARMS--RONALD HEADS A GUERILLA +BAND--EDDA RESCUED BY RONALD. + +The sun had set some short time when Ronald, with his companions, +reached the village where the guide told him he could obtain shelter and +refreshment. The village itself was small and mean, and the only house +of entertainment it possessed offered but few attractions to the +travellers to remain there. However, as their beasts required rest, +they were compelled to dismount, and while the guide with the boys of +the inn led the animals into the stables, Ronald and the two seamen +walked into the common room, which served as dining-hall, kitchen, and +apparently the sleeping-place of the family, as well as of a numerous +family of fowls. A very unattractive dame, who presided over the +culinary department of the establishment, was now engaged in preparing +supper for a very mixed and somewhat suspicious-looking company, who +were seated at a long table, on benches at one side of the room. None +of them rose as the strangers entered, and the few who condescended to +pay them any attention scowled at them from under their brows, as if +resenting their appearance as an intrusion. Ronald was very little +moved by the want of courtesy with which he was received, but, walking +up to the presiding genius of the place, he inquired, in the best +Spanish he could command, whether he and his followers could have beds +and food. The old woman looked up with a sinister expression without +speaking, while she continued stirring the pot boiling on the huge wood +fire. Her eyes were bleared with the smoke, and her face was wrinkled +and dried, with a few white hairs straggling over her brow, while the +long yellow tusks which protruded beyond her thin lips gave her a +peculiarly hag-like look. Ronald repeated his question. + +"Food?--yes, and good enough for any one," she answered in a low +croaking voice; "but for beds, the enemy carried them off, and +everything in the house. There is space enough and to spare, upstairs, +for a taller man than you to stretch his legs. You can go and look when +you have a mind; your valise will serve you as a pillow, and a sack with +some straw must be your mattress. Many a better man has slept in a +worse bed." + +"I do not doubt it," answered Ronald, calmly. "My men and I will manage +well enough, but we are hungry, and shall be glad of food." + +"All in good time," said the old woman, somewhat softening her tone, and +pleased at being spoken to in her own language. "You may carry your +baggage upstairs, and select any corner you like for your +sleeping-place. The girl will be in and give you a light presently. +See that there are no holes in the roof above you, in case it should +rain. You will find it warmer too if you avoid those in the floor +beneath you." + +The old woman said this evidently with serious good-will. Ronald +thanked her, and directly afterwards a stout buxom girl came from the +further end of the hall, with a brass oil lamp in her hand. Taking the +advice of the old woman, Ronald went upstairs to select a corner where +he and his party might rest a night. The apartment consisted of the +entire upper floor, but as the old woman had warned him, it contained +not a particle of furniture, though, from its appearance, there was +little doubt that there would be a large number of inhabitants. In +several places through the roof he could see the stars shining, while +the faint rays of light, and odours anything but faint, which came up +through the floor, showed the numerous holes and rents which time had +made in the boards. + +"This is a rum place for our lieutenant to sleep in," observed Bob Doull +to Job; "and as to the gentry below there, they are as cut-throat a crew +as I ever set eyes on. I'll not let his valise go out of my hands, for +it would be whipped up pretty smartly by one of these fellows, and we +should never see more of it. Looking at the land from aboard the +frigate, I never should have thought it was such an outlandish sort of a +country. Should you, Job?" + +"Can't say much for their manners. May be they are better than they +look," answered the elder seaman; "but if it came to a scrimmage, I +can't say but what I wouldn't mind tackling a dozen of them." + +These remarks were made while Morton was taking a survey of the +unpromising apartment. It had apparently been used as a barrack by the +French when, not long ago, they occupied the village, and very little +trouble had since been taken to clean it out. Morton asked the girl if +his surmise was not correct. + +"Yes, the demons! they have been here, and Heaven's curse go with them!" +she answered, with startling fierceness. "It was dark when you rode in, +or you would have seen the number of houses burnt down, vineyards and +orange-groves rooted up for firewood; but that was not all the harm they +did. Woe, unutterable woe, they inflicted on thousands. I had a lover, +to whom I was betrothed; they slew him, and me they rendered wretched. +But I need not tell my own griefs. Thousands have suffered as much as I +have. There, senor, that corner you will find the freest from +inconvenience. Place your valise and saddle-bags there--they will be +safe. We are honest, though our accursed foes have made us poor +indeed." + +The poor girl's dark eyes flashed fire as she spoke. Ronald felt sure +that he might trust her entirely. He ordered Bob and Job, therefore, to +deposit his scanty baggage in the corner indicated, and to follow him +below. + +"What! does the lieutenant think he'll ever see them again if we does?" +observed Bob. + +"Orders is orders," answered Job; "but just you keep a bright look out +on the stair while we're below, and as soon as we've stowed away some +grub, we'll take it watch and watch, and go up and sit on 'em. The Dons +will find it a hard job to carry them off then, I'll allow." + +Satisfied with their arrangements, the two seamen followed their +officer. He took his seat at one end of the table, and, as he did so, +he fancied the other guests seemed to regard him with more friendly +glances than before. Not a minute had elapsed before Maria placed +before him a smoking puchero (a dish to be found from one end of Spain +to the other, composed of various sorts of meats minced with spices). +There was a soup also, of a reddish tinge, from being coloured with +saffron, and sausages rather too strong of garlic, and very white bread, +and two dishes of vegetables, one of which was of garbanzos, a sort of +haricot beans. There was wine also, and brandy; indeed, the inhabitants +must have managed cleverly to hide their stores from their invaders to +enable them to produce so good a supply. Job and Bob did not conceal +their astonishment; the viands suited their taste, and they did ample +justice to them. + +Though Ronald was in love, and had just cause to be anxious as to its +result, and though he had only just parted from his mistress, yet he was +a sailor; he had been a midshipman, and he had always a remarkably good +appetite; and now, much to his surprise (for when he stopped at the door +of the inn he had no thoughts of eating), he felt every inclination to +do justice to the feast set before him. + +"He'll do," observed Job to Bob, as they sat at a respectful distance +from their officer. "At first I could not tell what had come over him +as he got on his horse after he'd been talking to that young lady up at +the window. Whenever I sees a man able to take his grub, whatever's the +matter with him, I knows it's all right." + +Ronald had addressed some of the Spaniards near him. They listened +respectfully. He spoke to them of the tyranny to which Spain had been +so long subject; of the sufferings she had endured; of the only means of +freedom--the rising of the whole nation, as a man, to throw off the +yoke. "The English will help you, but they can only help, remember. It +is you who must do the work," he added. + +"True, true! the cabaliero speaks well!" resounded from all parts of the +room. + +"It is to urge you to rise in arms, to drive the invaders from your +country that I have come among you," said Ronald. He warmed on the +subject. His hearers grew enthusiastic. + +"We have arms! we have arms!" they shouted. "We will bring them forth; +we have powder and shot. The enemy are not far off. We will go and +meet them. We will drive them before us like sheep." + +Ronald was satisfied with the effect of his address. He knew perfectly +well that in the morning, after they had cleaned their arms and filled +their pouches with powder, they would stop and consider before they +advanced to meet the enemy. Altogether, he felt that the evening had +not been ill-spent, and at the end of it the very people who had, when +he came among them, cast on him such sinister looks, now regarded him +with the greatest respect. It was late before he threw himself down on +a sack of straw in a corner of the upper room, wrapped up in his cloak. +Though the room was occupied by a large portion of the rest of the +guests, who kept up a concert of snores all night long, he managed to +sleep soundly till daylight. + +The next morning after breakfast, having bid farewell to his new +friends, he continued his journey. Nothing would induce his horse to go +out of a walk, while the mules refused to proceed at a faster rate than +their more noble companions, so that their progress was of necessity +slow. As they proceeded the sad traces of warfare were everywhere +visible. Whole farmsteads burnt to the ground, houses in ruins, +churches unroofed, groves of orange and olive trees cut down, fences +destroyed, and fields once fertile returning to a state of nature, and +overrun with weeds. The guide looked at them as objects to which he was +well accustomed, but now and then he ground his teeth and swore +vengeance on the heads of the fell invaders of his country. + +Job had been remarking where the devastating hand of war had passed, and +had counted up the objects destroyed. At length he gave expression to +his thoughts. + +"Well, to my mind, it's a mortal pity people take to fighting on shore. +Why don't they stick to their ships, and always have it out afloat? +that's the sensible thing, and then the only harm's done to the ships +and the men who has the fun of the thing, and gets the honour and glory, +and that's all natural and right." + +Bob heartily joined in with Job's notion. + +"If I was a king, I wouldn't let 'em," he remarked. "I'd say, just you +let the farms, and the gardens, and the women and children, and the +churches alone; and if you wants to tight, by all manner of means fight +it out, but keep afloat, and don't come here." + +The seamen had been conversing for some time in this strain, when the +clatter of a horse's hoof was heard behind them, and turning their heads +they saw the same Spaniard who had accompanied them on their way the day +before. They told Morton, who turned his horse's head to meet him. + +"Thank heaven that my steed has carried me so well, and that I have come +up to you," exclaimed Don Josef. "There is work for you; your aid is +wanted; you will not refuse it, I know? But come, ride back with me as +fast as your beast's legs will move, and I will tell you. Give him the +spur! spare him not; I may supply you with a better soon. The French +are at no great distance from this; secure as they fancy themselves, we +have spies among them to inform us of all their movements. After +daybreak this morning, one of the spies arrived, and brought me notice +that the enemy were advancing, and that they having heard that a British +commissioner was in the neighbourhood, had resolved to carry him off. +On hearing this, I instantly set out to warn your countryman of the +danger to which he was exposed, but on my way I met a person who +informed me that he and his party had set forth at a very early hour, +and were actually advancing in the very direction where they would +encounter the enemy. I, on this, instantly sent forth a person to warn +him of his danger, and galloped after you, to entreat you to head a +party, of strength sufficient to meet the enemy. I directed all the men +in the district to assemble in arms; they want a leader, however, in +whom they may have confidence. I have told them that they would find +one in you, and they believe me. You will come, will you not?" + +"Indeed, I will!" answered Ronald, belabouring his horse, and digging +his spurs into his flanks with an energy proportioned to his anxiety. +So eager was he, that for some time he could scarcely ask questions. +One thought alone occupied his mind: Edda was in danger, and there was a +possibility that he might preserve her from it. + +The party soon got back to the village, where, in front of the inn, a +large number of men with arms in their hands were assembled. They +received Morton as he rode up with loud vivas. He had won their regards +the previous evening by the way he had addressed them, and Don Josef had +been telling them what a gallant fellow he was. They were, therefore, +now prepared to place the most implicit confidence in him, and to hail +him as a leader in the enterprise Don Josef had projected. The Spaniard +had been giving him an exact account of all the information he had +received, and of the plans he had formed. Ronald thought them +excellent; there was, however, no time to be lost. Messengers with the +fiery cross--at least a message of the same import--had been sent round +to all the neighbourhood, and armed men were coming in from every +direction. When their numbers were counted, Morton found himself at the +head of a guerilla band, mustering upwards of three hundred men, cavalry +and infantry. They varied more in their arms than in their costume, and +though many were somewhat ragged, when massed together and all looking +fierce and eager for the fight, they had a very warlike appearance. + +The great object was to overtake Colonel Armytage before he could reach +the spot where the ambush was supposed to be placed; he travelled with +only a small escort of a dozen troopers, merely sufficient for +protection against any brigands who might be roving through the country. +As to the French, he had fancied that they were at a considerable +distance, and had no fear of falling in with them: he ought of course to +have been better informed. The truth was, that though formal and +dignified, and so far fitted to have intercourse with the Spaniards, his +manners were not sufficiently conciliatory to have gained their +affections, and they consequently neglected to give him the information +on many points which it was most important for him to obtain. + +Job and Bob exchanged a few passing remarks as they bumped along in a +way to which they were not at all accustomed, and which caused their +words to come out like shot from guns irregularly served in action, or +the pantings of a broken-down steam-engine; only such an invention was +not known in those days. + +"I'd sooner be serving my gun aboard the frigate than be on the top of +this here brute," observed Bob. "But it's no odds, I suppose; if we +catches the Mounseers, and drubs them, we shall ride back on their +backs--eh, Job?" + +"Not so sure of that; they'll sham lame and refuse to carry us," +answered the other seaman. "But I say, Bob, what a hurry our +lieutenant's in; to my mind, it's all about that young lady at the +window; mark my words, there'll be a splice some day or other, and good +luck to him too; a finer-hearted fellow never stepped, for all he's a +boatswain's son. There's some men born to be officers, and he's one of +'em." + +People seldom dream of the way in which they and their acts are +discussed by their inferiors. + +Don Josef now told Ronald that they were approaching the spot where he +hoped to overtake Colonel Armytage and his party, but no traces of them +could be seen. They must have proceeded faster than Don Josef had +calculated. "On, on!" was the cry. They met a peasant, a half-witted +fellow; he had seen such a party--a carriage with ladies, a waggon and +some horsemen--pass an hour before. + +"We shall be too late, I fear," exclaimed Don Josef; "but on, my +friends; we may still overtake the enemy." + +The party redoubled their speed; never had Ronald been worked up to such +a pitch of anxiety and eagerness. + +The sound of shots was heard; the road wound among low broken cliffs, +and trees growing thickly together; it was a likely place for an +assault; so frequent were the bends made by the road that seldom was +there a direct view of more than a hundred yards. Horse and foot rushed +on, till Ronald remembering that their impetuosity might do more harm +than good, halted them; and begging Don Josef to remain with them and +not to advance till summoned, rode on with the two seamen, and six other +men, of the best-equipped and best-mounted of the party. Now again he +pushed on as rapidly as he could. How his heart beat! Should he be in +time to rescue his friends? If not, how would they be treated? His +eagerness prompted him to shout to his men, but he recollected caution +was necessary, and restrained himself. Again the rattle of musketry was +heard, and dropping shots, and even the shouts of the combatants reached +his ears; he was close to them; a carriage was the first object which +met his view. The mule which dragged it had drawn it against the side +of the cliff, against which it lay half upset. Before it were a party +of men drawn up across the pass, and bravely contending against a whole +host who appeared beyond. It was evident, however, the small band would +be quickly overpowered, for men were seen climbing the cliff with +muskets in hand, belonging to the opposite party. By their dress, and +the rapidity with which they climbed the cliffs, they seemed to be +seamen. Ronald's plans were formed in a moment; he instantly despatched +the most trusty of his party to direct Don Josef to send a hundred men +up the cliffs, so as to gain a higher level than the French, and to +advance with all rapidity with the rest. Putting spurs to his horse, +Ronald, with his small body of companions, darted on, shouting in +English and Spanish, "To the rescue! to the rescue! Do not give way--a +strong force is at hand!" + +He had neither been heard nor seen by the commissioner's escort: at that +moment they wavered and drew back. Once losing ground, the French +dashed in among them; while some of the latter engaged each of them in +single combat, a French officer and several others made their way to the +carriage; Ronald and his band galloped on. At that moment only were +they discovered. A shriek was heard. The Frenchmen were dragging the +ladies from their carriage. Ronald repeated the shouts he had already +uttered. Among the French were sailors as well as soldiers. + +"We'll tackle them," cried Job. + +"What business has they to be here?" exclaimed Bob. + +The French officer was in naval uniform, and Ronald, even at that +distance, recognised Alfonse Gerardin. + +Mrs Armytage and her daughter shrieked for help; they fancied they had +been attacked by bandits. They had been more alarmed for the safety of +Colonel Armytage than for their own; he was nowhere to be seen. + +"Fear not, my beloved Edda; you and your mother are in perfect safety," +said Alfonse Gerardin, who had thrown himself from his horse. He was +now endeavouring to draw her, with as little violence as possible, from +the carriage. "I have sought for you through many lands; I have found +you at last, and we will never again part." + +These expressions frightened Edda far more than any threats would have +done. There was a concentrated energy and determination in the way he +spoke them that made her feel that he would keep his word. + +"Oh, spare me! spare me!" she exclaimed. "You are not a brigand; you do +not war with women. Let us go free, and hasten to the assistance of my +father. You expressed friendship for him. Prove it now." + +"I will, Edda, I swear; but you cannot remain here. Any moment you may +be sacrificed. The shot are falling thickly around. It is hopeless to +expect help from any one but me." + +At that moment Edda saw him change colour, and then she heard the sound +of a voice which she knew full well--"To the rescue! to the rescue!" +while Bob and Job shouted, "Down with the Mounseers; down with them!" + +Edda saw Ronald coming. She struggled to free herself; while Alfonse, +having leapt on his horse, was attempting to lift her up on the saddle; +but he was not a good horseman, and it seemed doubtful whether he would +succeed. + +While some of his followers were endeavouring to carry off Mrs +Armytage, in obedience to his orders, the others were facing about to +defend themselves against the approaching enemy. When the French saw +the small body of men led by Morton, those who had faced to meet them +boldly advanced. Morton dashed forward. His great object was to reach +Alfonse Gerardin. He saw nothing else, he thought of nothing else but +Edda Armytage in his power. + +"Release her, or you die!" he shouted. + +Truefitt and Doull meantime had each singled out a French seaman, and +with hearty good-will were attacking them with their cutlasses. So +fierce was their onslaught that they drove them back into the midst of +the _melee_, where Colonel Armytage's troopers were still holding their +own against their foes. The French were, however, pressing them very +hard. Alfonse looked round and saw that the way was open to him. In +another moment Ronald Morton would be at his side. He stooped down, and +throwing his arms round Edda, by a violent effort lifted her off the +ground and placed her on his saddle. + +"Retreat, men!" he shouted, "Let alone the other lady." + +He was galloping off, but Ronald digging his spurs into his horse's +flanks, and cutting down a French soldier, who attempted to stop him, +was in another instant by the side of the young lieutenant. Gerardin +saw him coming with uplifted sword. He raised his own weapon to defend +himself, while he still held Edda with his left arm. He knew that +Ronald would not dare to fire; he doubted whether he would even venture +to strike, for fear of injuring Miss Armytage. Ronald's eye was +practised, his nerves were well strung. + +"Release her, villain!--madman!" he shouted again. He saw what Alfonse, +who had to turn his head to look at him, did not see, Truefitt and Doull +springing across the road. Bob seized the horse's head; the animal +reared. Gerardin, in attempting to seize the rein, loosened his hold of +Edda, and she would have fallen to the ground had not Truefitt caught +her. The enemy were gathering thickly around. Bob, seeing what had +happened, let go the rein to defend his own head, as well as his +shipmate's, from the blows showered on them. Morton, too, was attacked +on all sides. He did not seek for revenge. Gerardin's horse sprang +forward and saved his rider from the only blow aimed at him by Morton. +All these events had passed within a few seconds of time. At that +instant the Frenchmen uttered a cry of "Retreat!--retreat! _Sauve qui +peut_!" They had good reason for so doing; for the cliffs on either +side appeared covered with guerillas, who began firing down upon them, +while a strong band was seen advancing at full speed along the road. + +"Ronald Morton, I hate you!" exclaimed Gerardin, turning round in his +saddle, and shaking his clenched fist at the English lieutenant. "You +have foiled me again and again. I know you, and who you are; you stand +between me and my birthright; you shall not foil me again. I have +before sought your life; the next time we meet we will not separate till +one or the other dies." + +These last words were uttered as, surrounded by the survivors of his +band, he was galloping off. The advantage of having sent the Spaniards +to crown the height was now apparent. They drove the French riflemen +down to the main body, and the enemy, not being able to ascertain the +number opposed to them, gave way before a very inferior and +undisciplined force. Ronald did not attempt to follow them till he had +placed Edda in safety by the side of her mother, whom he found half +fainting in the carriage. Then telling her that he would go in search +of Colonel Armytage, he leapt on his horse and joined Don Josef and the +surviving troopers who were moving on in pursuit of the enemy. He had +not gone far before he fancied that he could distinguish Colonel +Armytage mounted on a horse among the French, and drooping as if badly +wounded. + +The road sloped considerably in front. The French were descending the +steep. Calling to his companions to charge, he led the way, attacking +the rear-guard of the enemy with irresistible impetuosity. Down they +went before the Spanish blades like corn before the sickle. Those in +front endeavoured to fly. Some few turned to withstand their opponents, +but they, too, gave way, and Ronald and his followers fought on till +they reached the prize the French fancied they had secured: the person +to capture whom the expedition had apparently been despatched. The +colonel, who had been secured to his horse, was almost insensible, and +seemed not at all aware by whom he had been rescued. The French, +meantime, when they discovered the small number of the guerilla band +opposed to them halted, and seemed about to return; but Ronald showed so +bold a front that they apparently thought better of it, and on finding +that they were not again attacked, formed in order, and continued their +retreat. + +Ronald observed, as he rode back, that although there were numbers of +dead on the road, there was not a wounded man alive among them. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. + +COLONEL ARMYTAGE WOUNDED--CROSSING THE BAY OF BISCAY--CHASED DURING A +GALE--THE BRIG DISMASTED--CAPTURED. + +Ronald Morton's heart beat high with hope when he rode back, and was +able to announce to Mrs Armytage and Edda that he had recovered Colonel +Armytage. "Though wounded and faint from loss of blood, I trust that he +is not seriously hurt," he added. + +He received an ample reward in the look of love and gratitude which Edda +gave him. + +Before the arrival of the colonel, the carriage was got up, the traces +were repaired, the mules caught, and everything was in readiness to +move. Don Josef, who now came up, insisted on their returning to his +house. + +"Even if the enemy were not in the neighbourhood," he observed, "it +would be useless for the commissioner to proceed further, utterly unable +as he is to attend to business." + +After a time Colonel Armytage yielded an unwilling consent to the +arrangement, he had learned that Don Josef was Morton's friend, and he +was evidently doubting in his mind how he should treat Morton himself. +He had just rendered him a great service, and the very man whom he had +once favoured as the suitor of his daughter, and who had promised to +come and claim her when circumstances would allow him, he had seen in +the ranks of the enemy, and he now learned had also attempted to carry +off his daughter. These thoughts occupied his mind as the carriage +moved on in the centre of the party. Ronald had too correct notions of +generalship not to march in true military order. He sent forward an +advanced guard, and kept a rear guard at some distance to give timely +notice of the approach of an enemy, should they be pursued. He himself +was everywhere, seeing that his newly-raised band of guerillas were +attending to their duty, though he did not fail, whenever he passed, to +make inquiries at the carriage-window as to how Colonel Armytage was +bearing his journey. + +It was dark when the country-house of Don Josef was reached. He +literally made his house the home of the foreigners, for he made them +occupy all the best rooms, and retired himself to a small chamber remote +from all the rest. It was one of those glorious nights which in no part +of Europe are seen to greater advantage than in the clear atmosphere of +Spain. The moon, in full lustre, shone out from a sky undimmed by a +single cloud, and every object on which its light fell stood out clear +and defined, casting the darkest of shadows behind it. + +When the guerilla band had been refreshed they assembled in the patio, +or yard in front of the house, and gave vent to their satisfaction at +their victory in patriotic songs. It was great enjoyment to Morton to +find himself again by the side of Edda, and to feel that he had just +conferred so great a benefit on her father that he could scarcely refuse +his consent to their union. He little knew the unyielding nature of the +man with whom he had to deal. Both Edda and Ronald referred to the +threats they had heard uttered by Alfonse Gerardin. + +"I cannot understand him," she said, "who he is, nor what he is. My +father certainly favoured his suit in a way I could not fancy he would +do that of a person of whom he knew nothing, while he treats you, whom +he does know, with evident dislike. I cannot conceal it from myself. +You know the pain it must give me. Nor can I help owning that my father +is acting a cruel and wrong part." + +Ronald knew how near the enemy were, and would have been anxious for the +safety of his friends had not Don Josef assured him that he had sent out +scouts to watch their movements, and to give the earliest notice of +their approach. + +The next day a surgeon arrived, who pronounced the wounds Colonel +Armytage had received to be in no way dangerous, but expressed his +opinion that he would be unfit for a long time to perform the duties +intrusted to him. Of this the colonel himself seemed to be fully aware, +and he accordingly at once wrote to beg that he might be superseded. + +In the afternoon a scout arrived with the information that the French +were retreating northward. This was accounted for by the rumour of the +approach of a strong Spanish force. + +Ronald would gladly have remained to watch over the safety of Edda and +her parents, and Don Josef did not fail to employ every argument he +could think of to persuade him that he would be right in so doing. He +had, however, been absent from his ship much longer than had been +intended; and though he could give a very good account of the way he had +employed his time, and he knew that his captain would be perfectly +satisfied, he felt sure that she would be employed in some work in which +he would wish to take a part. Edda had too high a sense of the duty of +an officer to attempt for a moment to detain him, though her sad looks +showed how much she felt the parting. She talked hopefully of the +future; of the happiness which might be in store for them when her +father's objections were overcome. + +"They must be conquered some day," she exclaimed. "Why should he object +on the score of birth? We are cousins, though distant ones, and as for +fortune, I have never been ambitious, and shall be well content to share +what you may have, till--You know some day, Ronald, Lunnasting in all +probability will be mine. I am not greedy of it. I would gladly see it +belong to my long-lost cousin, poor aunt Hilda's son, if he could be +found; but after the lapse of so many years, that is not likely. +Indeed, it is for your sake alone, Ronald, that I should prize it." + +Ronald pressed her to his heart. "Thanks, thanks, generous one," he +whispered. "We may yet obtain ample fortune to satisfy our wishes. Of +that I have little fear." + +The tears came into Mrs Armytage's eyes when Ronald wished her +farewell. It appeared to her as if the only person to whom she could +look with confidence for protection and support was about to leave her, +for even should Colonel Armytage recover his health, his temper was not +likely to improve, while, should he grow worse, she would be left in a +still more helpless condition. + +Ten days more passed, and a fine brig stood into the harbour. The +master came on shore, and finding out Colonel Armytage, announced +himself as Captain Carlton, of the "Helen," bound direct for London. +Nothing could be more convenient; every arrangement was soon concluded; +the colonel and his family went on board; the generous Don Josef bade +them farewell, and with a favourable breeze, a course was shaped for the +Straits of Gibraltar. + +The "Helen" remained only a couple of days at Gibraltar. Colonel +Armytage refused to go on shore, or to allow his wife or daughter to go. +They were glad, therefore, once more to be at sea. The weather +continued fine, and the wind favourable, and there was every promise of +a prosperous voyage. The wind was from the south-east, and as the +"Helen" ran along the coast of Portugal the sea was perfectly smooth, +except that a slight ripple played over its surface, on which the sun +sparkled with dazzling brilliancy. An awning was spread, under which +the ladies sat, and when the rock of Lisbon rose in view and the +pine-crowned heights of Cintra, just then especially notorious, not for +its beauty, not for its orange groves, but on account of the disgraceful +treaty which had there lately been concluded, even Colonel Armytage +condescended to come on deck, and to admire the beauty of the scene. +Through their glasses the Cork convent could be seen perched on its +lofty crags, and below them to the north the mass of odd-looking +buildings known as the palace of Mafra, containing a royal residence, a +monastery, barracks, and a church. Further north, little more could be +seen than a long line of yellow sand, with pine-covered hills. + +"Now, ladies, I think you have seen enough of Portugal," said Captain +Carlton. "We'll haul off the shore, if you please; for, to tell you the +truth, it's a treacherous coast, which I'm in no way fond of. From +here, right away till we come to Vigo in Spain, there is not a single +harbour into which a ship can run for shelter; I don't say that it's a +disgrace to the people--they didn't make the coast; it was so formed for +some good reason, I doubt not, but still I always like to give it a wide +berth." + +The fine weather continued till the "Helen" had passed Cape Ortegal, and +was fairly in the Bay of Biscay. The wind then increased, and became +variable, and dark clouds were seen banking up in the south-western +horizon. The kind old captain became less cheerful than usual. The +brig no longer glided on smoothly and sedately as before, but began to +roll and pitch with the rising sea. The ladies came on deck, but were +unable to read and work as they had previously done, but Edda declared +that she enjoyed the change, and found amusement in looking at the +dancing seas, and in watching a shoal of porpoises which went careering +along, sporting and rolling and keeping way with the brig without +effort. + +"Ah, young lady, you are looking at those fellows, are you?" said +Captain Carlton. "Just watch how they go along. Now I have heard +people on shore talk of a porpoise as a fat, heavy creature who hasn't +got any spirit in him, just like a hog, for instance, wallowing in the +mud. I should like to see the race-horse which could keep up with them. +They would beat that gallant frigate which passed us the other day, and +as to this brig you see, they swim round and round her as if she was at +anchor, and we are going a good seven knots through the water. People +fancy when they see their black tails when they dive that they are +rolling along, but the truth is, there isn't a creature darts quicker +through its native element than a porpoise." + +The captain's lecture on the much-maligned fish was suddenly brought to +a close by a cry from the masthead of a sail on the larboard-quarter. +In war time merchantmen keep a sharp look-out, or ought to do so, that +they may have timely notice to enable them to avoid an enemy. On the +present occasion all Captain Carlton could do was to make more sail and +to continue the same course he had been steering. As there were +threatenings of a stiff breeze, if not of a gale, the hands were ordered +to stand by to take it in again, should it be necessary. + +The stranger gained rapidly on the brig, and as she was pronounced to be +a large ship, then a man-of-war from the squareness of her yards, and at +length a frigate-- + +"Could she be the `Imperious?'" Edda ventured to ask. + +The old captain shook his head. + +"No, my dear young lady," he answered gravely; "it goes to my heart to +alarm you, but the truth must be spoken. I am very much afraid that the +stranger is an enemy." + +Edda's heart sunk within her. English prisoners, she knew, whether +combatants or not, were detained in France for years, and the Emperor +had shown his intention of keeping them till he had attained the objects +he sought. + +Mrs Armytage fainted when she heard the report, and the colonel came on +deck to ascertain its truth. He evidently did not like the look of +things. + +"Cannot you make this craft of yours sail faster?" he asked, in an angry +tone of the master. + +"It is the people who built her, sir, are to blame, not me. I am doing, +and will do, all a seaman can accomplish to escape the enemy; I have no +wish to be taken. I have a wife and family waiting my return home, and +Heaven have mercy on them! we shall be utterly ruined if the brig is +taken." + +Colonel Armytage was silent; the chances of escape seemed small indeed. +Still pressed as she was with a far larger amount of canvas than the +master would have ventured to carry under ordinary circumstances, the +brig tore through the rising seas at a greater rate than had ever before +probably been got out of her. + +The master stood watching the masts and spars with an anxious eye. They +bent and cracked with the greatly increased strain to which they were +exposed; the weather-shrouds and stays were tautened to the utmost. At +length the master turned round to Edda and Mrs Armytage, who, having +recovered from her first alarm, had come up on deck. + +"My dear young lady, and you, ma'am, do go below, let me pray you; this +is no place for you," he said, with deep earnestness. "Any moment we +may have the masts and spars rattling down on our heads, or the enemy's +shot flying along our decks. Please Heaven, while the masts stand we'll +hold on. They can but take us in the end; but, dear ladies, do go +below. We shall act more like men if we know that you are safe." + +Thus urged, most unwillingly Edda and her mother retired to the cabin. +The colonel, however, remained on deck. + +"It shall never be said that where danger was present I was absent," he +remarked. + +"Maybe, but you would be of much more use looking after your wife and +daughter in the cabin," muttered the honest old captain. + +Edda and Mrs Armytage went into their own cabin. They knelt down. +They could not strive like men, but they could pray that the ship might +be preserved from the threatened danger, or, if it was Heaven's will +that it should overtake her, that they might have strength given them to +bear whatever it was their lot to suffer. + +The breeze was freshening rapidly, the movement of the brig increased as +she plunged with a violent jerk into one sea, and then rose up the +watery ridge only to sink down again into another watery valley. Still +on she tore. The master was keeping his word. On a sudden there was a +cry; then followed a fearful crash. + +"Oh, my father! he may have been killed," exclaimed Edda, as she rushed +on deck. + +Both the masts had gone by the board, and the brig lay a helpless wreck +on the tossing waters. The frigate was close to them. For an instant a +wild hope rose in Edda's heart. Was she after all the "Imperious?" + +The hope was soon banished. The flag of France flew out from the +stranger's peak. Edda looked round for her father, trembling with fear. +He had fallen, and lay on the deck unable to rise. She rushed towards +him, all his unkindness, his harshness and injustice forgotten. She +attempted to lift him up; but her strength was unequal to the task. He +soon somewhat recovered. + +"I am not materially injured, I fancy," he said at length. "This is a +fearful accident; I was struck by a falling block, and was stunned. I +shall be myself again directly. But where is the master? What has +become of the crew?" + +Edda gazed horror-struck at the spectacle which met her sight. Several +of the men lay crushed under the masts and heavy spars which had fallen +on the deck, a few who had leaped below were returning to their +assistance, but Captain Carlton was nowhere to be seen. Just then a cry +struck Edda's ears; she gazed out on the foam-covered sea. Among the +wildly leaping waves she caught sight of the old master's countenance-- +it was turned towards the brig with a look of agony. He was swimming +bravely, sorely buffeted as he was by the seas. The effort was beyond +his strength. With a wild cry he threw up his arms, and the next sea +rolled over his head. + +Edda would have sunk with horror had not the call of duty supported her. + +"Father! oh come below! we can do nothing to help ourselves, and shall +be safe there," she exclaimed, in an imploring tone. + +"No, no, girl; I must be on deck to receive our captors. See, they are +coming!" + +He raised himself to his feet, and was pointing to the frigate, which, +having passed to windward of the dismasted brig, was now hove-to. A +boat was at that instant being lowered from her side. + +"Then I will not leave you, father," said his daughter, clinging to the +bulwarks near him. + +The boat from the French frigate approached; she came close to the brig, +but it was both difficult and dangerous for the crew to get on board. +More than once they made the attempt, and each time the boat was driven +off again by the sea; at last they shouted to the English seamen to come +and help them. The surviving crew of the brig had gone below, as is the +practice of seamen likely to be captured, to put on their best clothing +and to secure any valuables belonging to them. At last they appeared, +and with their assistance and the ropes they hove-to the boat, and the +Frenchmen succeeded in getting on board. Their officer was the first up +the side. Edda looked at him, and almost shrieked with terror when she +recognised Alfonse Gerardin. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. + +THE "IMPERIOUS" HOMEWARD BOUND--THE FIRE-SHIPS ARE PREPARED--THE FRENCH +FLEET IN BASQUE ROADS--RONALD CONDUCTS A FIRE-SHIP--GENERAL EXPLOSION OF +FIRE-SHIPS. + +The "Imperious," with a fine breeze from the southward, was standing +across the Bay of Biscay. She had been actively engaged all the time +she had been in the Mediterranean, chiefly on the coasts of France and +Spain, capturing armed ships and merchantmen, destroying telegraph +stations, blowing up forts, and harassing the enemy in every possible +way. + +The Marquis de Medea and his daughter, with Father Mendez, had been, at +their own request, put on board a Spanish vessel bound round to Cadiz, +as they fancied that the unsettled state of the country would make the +journey by land dangerous and disagreeable. Don Tacon had before that +been sent to Malta to take his trial as a pirate, but by some means or +other he had been completely, if not honourably, acquitted, and very +soon afterwards disappeared from the island. He was supposed by some +speedily to have taken to his old courses, and several merchantmen +reported that they had been chased by a suspicious-looking lateen-rigged +craft, on their passage between Gibraltar and Malta. He had latterly, +when the ship was at sea, been allowed a good deal of liberty on board +the frigate, and had been allowed to go about the decks at pleasure. + +He was, however, again deprived of this liberty in consequence of having +been found one day climbing up over the quarter, as if he had been +prying into the captain's cabin. No one had seen him go; it was, +therefore, supposed that he must have been concealed there for some +time. When caught he at once begged to be secured. + +"My life is not safe if I am left at liberty," he exclaimed, frantically +tearing his hair. "I have looked at the past. I look at the future. I +am miserable. I see nothing but wretchedness before me. I contemplated +self-destruction. I purposed dropping quietly over the stern into the +water. I did not wish to create confusion. If I had jumped overboard +before you all, a boat would have been lowered, and I should have been +picked up; but--must I own it?--my courage failed me. I--I who have +been in a hundred fights, and have braved death in a thousand forms--I +felt fear. I clung to the side trembling, and climbed on board again, +and here I am." + +Ronald had a very just suspicion that Don Tacon was acting. He had +formed, indeed, a perfectly just estimate of his consummate impudence +and roguery, but still it was difficult to account for the reason of his +having got there. + +He might have gone there for the sake of eaves-dropping, for the captain +was in the cabin at the time, but then it was not likely that he +understood English enough to comprehend what was said. There was one +very suspicious circumstance against the worthy Tacon. + +A few days before Ronald had been with the captain in his cabin +discussing a very important matter. It was no less than Lord Claymore's +long-projected plan of destroying the French fleet whenever it could be +found collected in one of these exposed roadsteads. Lord Claymore had +become more than ever sanguine as to the success of his plan. + +"It must succeed, my dear Morton," he exclaimed vehemently. "It will be +of advantage to our country, equal to that of a great victory; but it +will be gained without one-tenth part of the loss which a general action +would entail. I must obtain my recall forthwith, and lay my plans +before the Admiralty. They must listen to me; they can scarcely refuse +to consider my plans. They won't do it for love; they never do love a +man who has got brains in his head, unless those brains are subservient +to their will and pleasure." + +Ronald remembered that such had been some of the remarks made on the +occasion referred to. Lord Claymore was rather inclined to laugh at his +suspicions; but notwithstanding that, took good care that Senor Tacon +should not again have an opportunity of throwing himself overboard. + +It was not till some time after the Don had been sent to Malta, that +Lord Claymore missed a couple of sheets of paper, on which he had drawn +out some of his proposed plans. He, however, thought that very likely +they had been blown overboard, and troubled himself no more about the +matter. After some time he obtained his recall, and the frigate was now +on her way to England. + +"A sail on the starboard bow!" was the cry from the masthead. The +captain was anxious to get to England, and if he chased in that +direction he should be led deep into the bay, and perhaps not be able to +get out again; but when the stranger was made out to be a frigate, and, +in all probability an enemy, the temptation to pursue her was +irresistible. The helm was put up and all sail made in chase of the +stranger. Away flew the gallant "Imperious," with the wind on her +quarter, and far ahead kept the other frigate, steering directly in for +the French coast. There could be now no longer any doubt that she was +an enemy. An English ship could never have run in that way; but it was +strongly suspected that the Emperor had ordered his naval officers to +avoid fighting unless sure of success. + +Once having commenced a pursuit Lord Claymore was not the man to give it +up until he had caught the chase, or run her to earth. Every means that +could be thought of was tried to increase the speed of the frigate, but +it was soon evident that the enemy was very fast and could easily keep +ahead. Still Lord Claymore hoped that some chance might enable him to +come up with her and bring her to action. The weather, however +continued fine, which was so far in favour of the Frenchman, that there +was little chance of his carrying away any masts or spars, by which the +"Imperious" might have gained an advantage. Night drew on; but the moon +rose and her beams fell on the chase exactly in the position she had so +long held. It was now very evident that she was steering for Basque +Roads. + +"She may get there but we'll bring her out for all that," exclaimed the +captain, as he walked the deck, with his night-glass in hand, watching +the chase. + +Hour after hour passed without the slightest alteration in the relative +position of the two frigates. Day came and the chase continued. + +The officers each snatched a few hours' rest; the captain probably took +less than any one. The land was made out ahead and then on the +starboard bow. It was the island of Oleron, forming the south side of +Basque Roads. There was no longer any hope of bringing the enemy to +action, still the "Imperious" stood on. The chase was seen to bring up +under a strong fort, below which several line-of-battle ships and two +frigates were at anchor. + +"The fellow has shown us his den, at all events," observed Lord +Claymore, examining the enemy's squadron, while the frigate continued +standing in towards the anchorage. The crew were at their stations, +eyeing the French squadron and forts with the most perfect unconcern, +though it was possible for them, had they made the attempt, to blow the +English frigate out of the water; but so perfect was the confidence of +the seamen in the captain, that they felt as if there was no more danger +than in Portsmouth Harbour. + +"Morton!" exclaimed the captain, "look at that fleet of Frenchmen. +Think of the havoc and devastation they will commit among our +merchantmen and colonies if they get free away from this. Every one of +them we could destroy with our fire-ships and explosion vessels. It +must be done. I shall never forgive myself if I do not stir every nerve +to get the Admiralty to undertake it. We will stand further in. I +delight in thus bearding them in their very harbours." + +A shot, however, from the fort, which flew between the masts, showed him +that he had stood close enough in. The frigate wore round, and did what +Job Truefitt observed she wasn't often apt to do--showed her stern to +the enemy. It was surprising that she was not pursued. This made Lord +Claymore suspect that the line-of-battle ships were not yet completely +ready for sea. + +Away sailed the "Imperious" with all the haste she could make. The wind +held fair; England was soon reached. A powerful squadron, under Lord +Gambier, was despatched to watch the enemy's fleet, and the captain of +the "Imperious" used every exertion to obtain leave to carry out his +plans. + +While the captain was absent in London, Morton had charge of the ship. +He seldom or never went on shore. As soon as the frigate reached +Spithead he got Glover to write to his cousin, Mrs Edmonstone, to +inquire for the Armytages. Her answer was unsatisfactory; she had heard +nothing of them for several months. She, indeed, knew no more of their +movements than did Ronald himself. His mind was racked with the most +painful doubts and fears. He could not even conjecture where they were. +He had expected to have heard that they had long ago arrived in +England. He missed the counsel and support of his father at the present +juncture. Rolf had some time before returned to England with old Doull +and Eagleshay. He had from thence, accompanied by them, gone to +Shetland, where he had re-occupied his farm. Ronald received a letter +from him. He had abundance of occupation in repairing the house and +improving the property, which was in a sadly neglected state. He had +not seen Sir Marcus Wardhill, but he understood that he was failing. +The Lady Hilda seldom left the castle. She was said to spend most of +the hours of the day and night in her turret chamber, occupying herself +with her books, though, as the country people observed, she got very +little good out of them. "But you know, my dear Ronald," he added, "I +am not the man to interfere with my neighbours' doings. I wish that the +poor Lady Hilda's lot had been happier, and as for Sir Marcus, whatever +may be his feelings towards me, I never bore him any ill-will." In a +P.S. he added, "I have just had a visit from Lawrence Brindister; he +looks wonderfully little changed. It is thought wears out a man, they +say, and he, poor man, does not do much in that way. He shook me warmly +by the hand and shuffled about the room, examining everything, and +talking of old times, while he made his comments on everything he saw. +He is madder, in my opinion, than ever, for he talked in the strangest +way of events of which he was cognisant; but when I questioned him, said +he should say nothing till you made your appearance. I hope, therefore, +Ronald, that you will come as soon as you can get leave, and induce our +eccentric cousin to give us the information he possesses, though I +confess that I shall not be surprised if after all it turns out he knows +nothing of importance. I received a visit from my old friend Captain +Maitland. He came over in his boat from North Maven. He bears his +eighty winters wonderfully well. I used to think him an oldish man +nearly thirty years ago. How time flies. Though I say come when you +can, I would not for a moment draw you away from your duty. You know +that so well that I need not have said so. I shall be looking soon for +your promotion. I met Captain Courtney while I was in Portsmouth; he +told me that you were sure to get it, and that he would see that you +were not passed by. Again, my dear boy, good-bye. No more at present +from your affectionate father-- + +"R.M." + +His father's letter cheered Ronald for a time. He was glad to find that +he was contented with the lot he had selected, and he determined not to +tell him of his own anxieties and unhappiness. Glover, at his request, +again made inquiries of Mrs Edmonstone, but her reply was as before-- +she could gain no information about the Armytages. The duties of the +ship, however, gave Ronald ample occupation, so that he had very little +time to think about himself. + +Lord Claymore now returned on board in high spirits. He had obtained +his object, and was at once to set to work to prepare the explosion +vessels and fire-ships according to his proposed plan. + +"We must, however, part, Morton, I am on many accounts sorry to say," he +observed. + +"Indeed, so am I, my lord, to hear you say so," answered Ronald. "I had +hoped to continue with you in the `Imperious' till she was paid off." + +"Why, the fact is, my dear Captain Morton, I have got your commission in +my pocket, and appointment to a sixteen-gun sloop-of-war, the +`Scorpion.' I met Courtney at the Admiralty, and he insisted on my +bringing it down to you, it having just been put into his hands by the +first lord. I sincerely congratulate you, though I must say you have +only obtained what you deserve." + +Morton's heart bounded. What officer's does not on receiving +unexpectedly his promotion! He thanked Lord Claymore most cordially. + +"Come on shore then with me in an hour, and go on board your ship and +take command," said Lord Claymore. "Get her ready for sea as rapidly as +possible. You will accompany me, and I hope before our return we shall +have managed to destroy the whole French fleet." + +Ronald begged that Truefitt and Doull might accompany him, a request +that was at once granted; and then he put in a word for Glover, and +asked if he might have him as a first lieutenant. + +"Yes, I esteem him; he is a good officer, but I can get a man to fill +his place, who will suit me better," was the answer. + +So it was arranged. Ronald went on board and read his commission. +Glover and his two constant followers joined in a few days, and the +"Scorpion" was rapidly got ready for sea. + +Two explosion vessels were, in the meantime, being prepared under Lord +Claymore's directions, and ten or a dozen fire-ships. The first were +terrific engines of destruction. Ronald accompanied him on board one of +them. She in the first place contained one thousand five hundred +barrels of gunpowder, in casks, placed on end, and bound tightly +together by stout ropes; the intervening spaces were filled with wet +sand, rammed down with great force, so that the whole formed one solid +mass. On the top of it were placed an immense number of hand grenades +and rockets, and no less than four hundred live shells with short +fusees, so that they might explode soon after the fire reached them. + +"What do you think of that?" asked Lord Claymore. "Woe betide the +unfortunate ship she comes in contact with," he answered. "Not a man of +her crew can escape, I should think." + +The "Imperious," with the two explosion vessels, the "Scorpion," and +such of the fire-ships as were ready, sailed for the Bay of Biscay. +They reached the English blockading squadron under Lord Gambier. Many +of the captains were highly indignant at finding one junior to +themselves appointed to so important a charge. + +"I hate to see gallant men yield to feelings so contemptible," observed +Lord Claymore. "But let them rail on. He laughs who wins." + +If the deed was to be done, no time was to be lost. The time for the +terrific experiment arrived. The French ships lay at their anchors +across the harbour with springs on their cables, in two lines, so placed +that the broadsides of the inner line could be fired clear of the outer +one. The island of Aix, with powerful batteries, guarded them on one +side, that of Oleron, also with strong forts, on the other. To make +their position still more secure, a boom of half a mile in length, +composed of numerous spars, and formed in the shape of an obtuse angle, +was placed in front of them, and secured by anchors and cables of +immense thickness. + +The French fleet consisted of twelve line-of-battle ships, a store-ship +of fifty guns, and three frigates, amounting altogether to a number of +guns perfectly capable of sinking the whole British fleet, had they +attempted to force an entrance. + +Besides the line-of-battle ships, the French had three frigates placed +as an advanced guard in front of the other lines, and close to the boom. +This boom was, as has been said, composed of a great number of spars +lashed together and floated by large buoys, and was secured in its +position by huge anchors and cables of great thickness. The boom was in +the shape of an obtuse angle, the apex facing out, so that, a vessel +striking it would glance off either on one side or the other. + +The object to be attained was, first to force the boom with the +explosion vessels, so as to allow an entrance for the fireships. By +means of these fire-ships it was believed that the whole French squadron +might be destroyed. + +The "Scorpion" lay near the "Imperious," and Lord Claymore invited +Ronald to accompany him one night to reconnoitre the enemy's position. + +Ronald had been dining with Lord Claymore. Soon after it was dark they +left the frigate in the captain's gig, and pulled with muffled oars +towards the boom. The night was very dark, but the lights on board the +enemy's ships could be clearly made out. They enabled Morton, who had +taken the helm, to steer a right course. The object to be guarded +against was falling in with any of the French boats which would be very +likely rowing guard. A midshipman with a sharp pair of eyes was placed +in the bows to give instant notice of the appearance of any other boat. +It was supposed that, to a certainty, the French would have guard-boats +on the watch near their boom, and the danger to be apprehended was +coming suddenly upon them. However, the gig was a remarkably fast boat, +and Morton hoped that they might easily escape if pursued. Of course +his companion had no doubt about it, or he would not have run the risk, +seeing that so much depended on his superintendence of the undertaking +in hand. Except the rush of the tide as it swept by, a perfect silence +reigned on the waters. + +"How calm and solemn is the night?" thought Ronald. "How different will +be to-morrow, when all this space will be full of burning ships, and the +roar of guns and shrieks of dismay and agony will rend the air!" + +At length the boom was reached: they now spoke in low whispers. Lord +Claymore pointed out a frigate close to on the other side of it. + +"This must be our point of attack," he observed; "we'll break the boom +and then set fire to that frigate. She will cut her cables to escape +her doom, and will carry consternation and confusion among the ships +astern." + +"The plan must succeed if all hands do their duty," answered Ronald. + +"That is the point," said Lord Claymore somewhat bitterly. "Many of +those to be employed are untried. I wish that I could trust all as I do +you. We'll pull along by the boom a little further, and then make the +best of our way on board." + +The gig had not proceeded fifty fathoms when a voice hailed, "Qui va +la?" + +"Round with the boat, Morton. Pull up your larboard oars, lads," +whispered the captain. + +Again a Frenchman hailed, and immediately afterwards a bullet came +whizzing close to them. The gig's crew required no urging to bend to +their oars. They must have been seen, for a whole volley followed them. +They were not at first pursued, and it was evident that the French +boats were at the inner side of the boom. + +The shot continued to fall thickly round them, but no one was hit. At +last they got beyond the range of fire. + +"Avast pulling!" cried Lord Claymore. + +The sound of oars was heard on either hand. It would be impossible to +fight the enemy with any hope of success. Plight was their only +resource. Morton steered for the frigate. The enemy's boats continued +to come after them. Morton kept a look-out for the frigate's light. +The Frenchmen saw at length that the pursuit was useless, and gave it +up. No sooner was this ascertained than Lord Claymore began to talk on +various subjects with as much composure as if they had not just narrowly +escaped losing their lives or liberty. + +A strong leading wind was required to execute the project. It came at +last. In the afternoon the boats assembled round the various vessels +destined for the undertaking, which then proceeded towards the stations +allotted to them in readiness for the night, when their operations were +to commence. + +It was a solemn time even for the thoughtless, and highly exciting to +the most phlegmatic. To many the undertaking appeared desperate in the +extreme, Ronald had unbounded confidence in the judgment and bravery of +their leader. He had himself volunteered to conduct one of the +fire-ships. Lord Claymore was to lead in the largest explosion vessel. + +Two gun-brigs were stationed at each end of the enemy's line, and within +the distance of two miles. They had lights hoisted to guide their +friends, but screened from the enemy. In the centre space between these +two vessels the fire-ships were to be conducted. The "Imperious" and +three other frigates anchored about a gun-shot and a half from the boom +to support the boats accompanying the fire-ships. Five or six +sloops-of-war and brigs were placed near the east end of the island to +make a diversion, while a bomb-vessel and several small craft, supplied +with rockets, took up their stations near the Boyart shoal. + +Under the veil of night the vessels took up their stations. The wind, +which was increasing, blew directly into the harbour. In the centre of +the space formed by the two light-vessels, the frigates, and the boom, +were collected the fleet of fire-ships and the explosion vessels. + +The awful moment had arrived. The terrific work of destruction was to +begin. The darkness was intense. The two lights on either hand were +the only guides on which those piloting the vessels had to depend. The +explosion vessels led the way, under all sail. Morton stood at the helm +of his fireship to guide her course, his heart beating as it had seldom +beat before. He was calm and collected, but fully impressed with the +awful nature of the work in which he was engaged. The darkness rendered +the moment still more solemn. He could not help feeling also that at +any instant he and those with him might be launched into eternity. + +The train was laid, all was ready; a spark from one of the explosion +vessels might ignite it suddenly. He could not see live yards from +where he stood. The darkness was oppressive. A single star in the sky +above would have been a relief. His ship proceeded under easy sail, to +give time for the explosion vessels to produce the intended effect. The +eyes of all on board were on the watch for the awful event. They could +hear the people of the vessels on either side of them, but could not +catch even an outline of their forms. Thus the fleet of fire-ships +glided on to their work of destruction. + +"The leading explosion vessel must be near the boom," observed Job +Truefitt, who had accompanied him. "Nothing can have gone amiss, I +hope." + +"Not where he is, sir," answered Bob, confidently. "See--there! there!" + +A terrific roar was heard. Bright flames darted forth, seeming to reach +the very sky, and illuminating the whole surrounding space hitherto +shrouded in darkness. In the centre the light fell on the fire-ships on +either side, on the two light vessels with the high land and the forts +behind them, while right ahead was the French fleet riding calmly at +anchor. Like some ocean volcano, the explosion vessel continued for a +few moments sending upwards its sheets of flame, while missiles of every +description were flying in showers around. + +Ronald trembled for the fate of his gallant friend. Could he have had +time to escape? + +Ronald's own turn was to come soon. The fire which had been raging so +furiously, ceased as rapidly as it had commenced, and all was again +dark. Not a minute had passed when a second volcano burst forth, and +burnt like the first. + +"Now, lads, make sail!" shouted Ronald. + +The topsails were on the caps; they were hoisted and sheeted home; the +courses were let fall, and Ronald steered his fire-ship directly for the +spot where the first explosion had taken place. He hoped the boom had +been broken, but if not, he expected to be able to force a passage with +his ship. He fancied that he heard Lord Claymore hail as he passed. He +hoped that it was his voice. The wind blew stronger and stronger. On +flew the fire-ship. The boom was reached. With a crash she forced her +way through it. She was bearing directly down for the French fleet. + +"To the boats!" shouted Ronald. + +The cry was repeated by the other officers with him. + +"Wait till I give the word to shove off, so that no one may be left +behind. To your stations, and fire the trains," he added. He looked to +ascertain that the helm was properly placed, and that the vessel was +standing the right way. The instant after small snake-like lines of +fire was seen stealing along the decks. Ronald sprang to the side, the +deck, as he did so, seemed to lift beneath his feet. He threw himself +over the bulwarks, and slid down by a rope left there for the purpose, +into the boat. + +"Shove off! shove off!" he shouted. + +The other officers were leaping into their respective boats. He hoped +that he was, as he intended to be, the last to leave the ship. Flames +were bursting forth on every side of the ship, and climbing up the +masts; rockets were going off, and fiery missiles of all sorts were +rising from the hold, and falling around in every direction. Thus amply +capable of fulfilling her mission of death and destruction, she bore +down on the French ships. + +The boats shoved off, but one poor fellow was blown up before he reached +the one to which he belonged, and his mangled form fell close to the +captain's gig. + +The rockets, too, were flying in every direction, as many directing +their course towards the retreating boats as towards the ships of the +enemy. No sooner, too, did the French perceive the nature of their +approaching foe than they opened their fire on her, for the purpose of +knocking away her masts, and altering the direction in which she was +coming. Their shot also fell thickly round the boats. + +The lights from his fire-ship showed Morton several others approaching +the spot; and now the flames burst forth rapidly from one after the +other; the distance at which they were ignited showing in a certain +degree the amount of courage and judgment possessed by those who +commanded them. Some were close to the boom, others were a mile, and +others nearly two miles further off. On drove the fiery masses, like +huge monsters of destruction, independent of human control. + +Every object, far and near, was now lighted up by their flames. On, on +they went, carrying havoc, terror, and confusion wherever they went; +their loud explosions, added to the roar of the guns, which opened on +them from the whole French squadron, increasing the awfulness of the +scene. The enemy soon saw that their firing was in vain: even their +boats failed to tow aside the fiery masses borne down on them by the +gale. One after the other they cut their cables, and attempted to run +up the harbour; but in the darkness and confusion, aided by terror at +their approaching foes, they ran on shore, some on one side, some on the +other; some were already grappled by the flaming ships, which literally +covered them with showers of fire, while all the time the roar of the +guns sounded as if a general action was taking place. Most of the +fire-ships had got inside the boom, but Morton saw that one only just +beginning to burn would miss it. + +"Now, my lads, we'll get hold of her, and tow her down on the +Frenchmen!" he exclaimed. + +"Ay, ay, sir! we're all ready," was the answer. + +On they dashed towards the flaming mass. They got hold of the burning +vessel, and towed her up towards the now retreating French ships. + +Ronald saw Lord Claymore similarly engaged with another fire-ship. +While they were pulling on one of the French frigates made sail, and +passed to windward of them. As she did so she discharged her broadside +into the two fire-ships, but the boats escaped without damage. + +They were, however, compelled to let go, and allow the fire-ships to +proceed on their course alone. + +"Well done, Morton, those craft are performing their duty admirably!" he +shouted. "It is time, however, to be out of this; we can do no more at +present, I fear." + +Morton's own boats and others had joined with Lord Claymore's. There +was no difficulty now in seeing their way; the fire-ships gave them +light enough. The explosions and the cannonading had much lulled the +wind; the boats which had ventured inside the boom had again nearly +reached it, when one of the enemy, which had driven on shore, was seen +to be grappled by a fire-ship. In vain the Frenchmen strove to free +themselves; their burning enemy held them in her deadly embrace till +their ship was set on fire in several places; not till then did the +fire-ship drift on, leaving them to their fate. They were lowering some +of their boats, but most of them had been destroyed. It was too clear +that numbers of the hapless crew must fall victims to the flames. + +"They are no longer enemies--we'll try and save them," shouted Morton. + +His proposal met with a ready response from the officers and crews of +the other boats, and in spite of the shot from the heated guns of the +burning ship, away they dashed to the rescue of the Frenchmen. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. + +EDDA IN GERARDIN'S POWER--THE FRIGATE STEERS FOR ROCHELLE--CAPTAIN +TACON--PEDRO ALTAREZ AND FATHER MENDEZ--TACON BETRAYS LORD CLAYMORE'S +PLANS. + +When Edda Armytage discovered by whom the brig had been captured, her +dread of the consequences, added to the grief and terror she had been +experiencing, overcame her, and she fainted. When she returned to +consciousness she found herself on a sofa in a handsome well-furnished +cabin; her mother was tenderly watching by her side, and her father was +walking up and down making observations partly to himself and partly to +his wife. + +"Yes, it is provoking to be captured just as we were reaching England, I +own that," he observed. "How long we may be detained it is impossible +to say. Yet things might be much worse. For the first lieutenant of +the ship I have a great regard. You never appreciated him properly, +Edda. Is that poor daughter of ours likely to come round soon? I must +beg the surgeon of the ship to see her. Oh, well, if you think there is +no danger perhaps she is better as she is. Now, with regard to this +young officer, I take a deep interest in him. His history is, I +confess, a mystery, but I hope to have the means of clearing it up. +You, of all people, ought to take an interest in him. How constant and +devoted he is to our daughter: from the first time he met her at +Calcutta he admired her: nothing could be more tender or delicate than +were his attentions to her when we were in his power. She has since +made him the most ungrateful return. Her coldness, and the scornful way +in which she treated him, was enough to drive any man away unless he was +truly and sincerely attached. You tell me she does not and cannot love +him. All nonsense. It is a daughter's duty to set her affections where +her father desires. I have my reasons. That is sufficient. You speak +of that young English lieutenant. He is a fine-looking fellow--granted. +But what else is he? The son of a boatswain--not holding the rank of a +gentleman. He has himself risen from before the mast. He is said to be +held in estimation in his own service--granted; but he certainly, +according to my idea, showed the white feather in that duel affair with +young Maguire." + +"But, Colonel Armytage, surely you do not forget that this Monsieur +Gerardin was among those who made that dreadful attack on us in Spain-- +that he certainly attempted to carry off Edda, and would have succeeded +had it not been for Mr Morton's gallantry." + +Mrs Armytage had seldom ventured to differ so strongly with her +husband. + +"I have always doubted whether it was Gerardin who figured on that +occasion," he answered. "Morton, of course, is ready to suppose so, and +you and Edda were too frightened, I suspect, to know what happened. +Appearances are deceptive; I did not recognise him, and depend on it he +will be able to assure us that he was not there." + +The lady after this dared not reply. + +Colonel Armytage was in an excessively amiable mood. He was altogether +not so much displeased at having been taken prisoner, for he anticipated +very little satisfaction on his arrival in England. He had left it with +an accumulation of debts, and he felt very sure that his creditors would +give him no rest when they heard of his return. On the other hand he +could live cheaply in France; the climate suited him; and he concluded +that though he might be detained as a prisoner, he should be able to +select his residence. But what pleased him most was the having fallen +into the hands of his old acquaintance, Captain Gerardin, and his son, +who, from his previous acquaintance with them, he was certain would do +all in their power to make his position as agreeable as they could. + +Edda had overheard the latter remarks made by her father. They did not +contribute to afford her comfort, although they had the effect of +arousing her attention. She kept her eyes shut, however, that she might +have time to collect her thoughts. She soon comprehended very clearly +what had happened, and remembering the counsel given her by Mrs +Edmonstone, she resolved to treat the young foreigner with the same +coldness which she had exhibited towards him at Calcutta. She forgot +one very important point--their positions had been changed. He was then +a prisoner--she was one now. At length, when her mother bent fondly +over her with an expression of deep anxiety at her protracted fit, she +could no longer resist opening her eyes to assure her that she was +recovering. + +A short time after this, a knock was heard at the door of the cabin, and +the captain of the frigate entered. He said that he came to take the +commands of his passengers as to the hour they would prefer having their +meals. He was most anxious that they should enjoy every accommodation +his ship could afford. He had not forgotten their kindness; and if they +were destined to be made prisoners he was too happy to be their captor +that he might prove to them his gratitude. + +Though Captain Gerardin's countenance was sufficiently battered and +weather-worn, there was an honest, good-natured expression about it +which made Mrs Armytage feel far more confidence in his expressions +than in those of his son. + +It was not till the next day that Edda could be persuaded to go on deck; +the sea was smooth, and the air soft and balmy, and she could not help +looking out on the blue ocean which she had learned to love so much. +Alfonse Gerardin only occasionally approached her. When he did so his +manner was so gentle and courteous that she could not help acknowledging +to herself that she had no reason to complain of him. Captain Gerardin +was good-natured and hearty, and laughed and talked with her and her +father and mother with well-bred ease and freedom. + +The frigate, he told them, was attached to a squadron now at anchor near +Rochelle, and that she was now on her way back to rejoin it. + +The next morning land was seen ahead, and soon afterwards the frigate +came up with a small lateen-rigged craft standing the same way. Captain +Gerardin hailed, and asked where she was bound? In return, a person who +said he was the captain, replied that he was in search of a French +squadron which would soon be ready to sail, and that he had very +important information to communicate. + +"We will heave-to, and you can come on board," answered the captain of +the French frigate. + +In a short time a boat was launched from the deck of the little felucca, +and pulled towards the frigate. She was soon alongside, and a tall thin +old man made his appearance on deck. Captain Gerardin scrutinised him +severely, and he stared at the captain in return. + +"We have met before, my friend, if I mistake not," exclaimed the former. +"I see before me Don Annibal Tacon." + +"The same, though changed, I suspect, since we last parted," said +Captain Tacon. "And I may venture to say that I behold one with whom I +have exchanged some hard knocks, but love not the worse, and whom I once +knew as Pedro Alvarez; though from the flag under which you serve I +presume you have changed your name as well as your nation." + +"You are right, friend Tacon," answered the captain. "What is more, you +are the very man for whom I have been long searching; but let me have +your information first, and then I will tell you the reason why I have +been anxious to find you." + +"It will take some time," answered the old pirate. "If you like to make +sail, I will order the felucca to stand on in your wake." + +"No; but direct her to stand on under our lee," said the captain. "Your +people may be very honest and faithful, but they may take it into their +heads to run away, and leave you with us. It is well to be cautious +with such gentry." + +Captain Tacon was profuse in his thanks. "Certainly, rogues like mine +do require to be watched," he remarked. "Ah, as I have always thought, +honesty is the best policy, but somehow or other I never could manage to +adhere to it. But before you make sail I may as well bring some +passengers I have on board here. They are rather unwilling passengers, +I own; I might call them prisoners, for they are Spaniards, enemies to +France--an old man, a marquis and his daughter, and a priest. I took +them out of a vessel bound for Cadiz; and as I did not know how to +dispose of her, after removing every thing of value, I scuttled her." + +"But what did you do with her crew?" asked the captain of the frigate. +"Let them go down in her," answered Tacon coolly. "I thought it would +show my other prisoners that I was not a man to be trifled with." + +"By all means let them come on board here," said the captain of the +frigate, anxious to get the prisoners out of the power of such a +ruffian. "I will send an officer and a boat to conduct them." + +A boat was lowered; one of the lieutenants jumped into it, and soon +returned from the felucca with the persons Tacon had described. They +were helped up the frigate's side, and the old man advanced, with his +daughter leaning on his arm, and followed by the priest, who, though +concealed by those in front, was, by peering out on one side, able to +take a steady survey of the officers on the quarter-deck. + +The captain received the marquis and his daughter with great politeness. + +"We have already ladies on board, and I hope mademoiselle will have no +cause to complain of her treatment while on board the ship, though our +accommodation is somewhat limited." + +Mrs Armytage and Edda signed to the young lady to come to them, and she +advanced at once, glad to find herself in the society of some of her own +sex, whose countenances showed that they were worthy of her confidence. + +The marquis stood alone, and the old priest was seen behind him. + +No sooner did the eyes of the captain fall on him than he exclaimed, +"What! Father Mendez is it you still on this side the grave? I meet +you very opportunely, for of all people you were the one I desired to +see. What! do you not recollect your old shipmate?" + +"Perfectly," answered the priest in a low tone; "but I should have +thought, Pedro Alvarez, that I was the person of all others you would +have been most desirous of avoiding--I, who am cognisant of your crimes, +of the sacrilege you have committed, of your traitorous conduct--you, an +outcast from the bosom of our Holy Mother Church--even now I find you in +command of a ship belonging to the enemies of our country. If I speak, +it must be to pronounce the curse of our Holy Church and of Heaven on +your head." + +"Hold, father! you are going ahead too fast," exclaimed the old seaman, +bluntly; "I have braved the curses of your Church too long to care for +them; those of Heaven--Heaven alone can pronounce or inflict; but call +not one a traitor who was unjustly driven from his country, and has +never ceased to love her. However, you are an ancient comrade, and as +such have the privilege of speaking freely. I wish to be on friendly +terms with you and every human being. I am never happier with the +feeling that I have made an enemy. But, as I was saving, I rejoice to +meet you, for you can render me a service which will enable me to +accomplish an object which has been nearer my heart than any other in +the world." + +The English prisoners, as well as the marquis and his daughter, were +near. + +"Yes, I will confess to you, my friends," he added, addressing them: "I +am not a Frenchman by birth, but a Spaniard--Pedro Alvarez by name, as +Father Mendez called me. With your wife's family, as I told you, +Colonel Armytage, I am well acquainted. For many months I have resided +in Shetland." + +The marquis started, and cast an inquiring look at the captain's +countenance. + +"Circumstances occurred there of which Father Mendez is cognisant. We +will speak of them by-and-by. My ship was wrecked, and my captain and +all his crew perished. I was the only officer saved. On my return to +Spain I was accused of heresy, and an officer of the Inquisition was +sent to apprehend me. Perhaps the Marquis de Medea may know something +about that. In self-defence I was compelled to slay the alguizal. I +knew that the vengeance of the Inquisitors would follow me, and I +escaped on board a ship-of-war which I had been appointed to command. I +at length left her, and so managed that my officers believed me to be +dead, and on their return home reported accordingly that such was the +case. I wandered about in many parts of the world till the French +Republic was established, and then I entered the naval service of +France, and for convenience' sake changed my name. For long I continued +in it and served France faithfully, but an event occurred which +compelled me for a time to quit it. I went to India, and for several +years I remained in the eastern seas in command of a privateer, and +having made some money in her, I returned to Europe, when I received the +command of this frigate. Such has been my career. There is no great +mystery in it, but it was necessary that I should give an account of it, +lest any present should consider me a monster in human shape, and guilty +of all the crimes of which the father accuses me." + +The marquis, who had been anxiously watching the captain's countenance, +breathed more freely when he ceased speaking. "Certainly, my friend, I +think that you have every excuse for your conduct," he exclaimed, +offering his hand to the captain, who did not seem very anxious to +accept it. "I for one shall be happy to welcome you back to Spain when +peace is restored, and as the Inquisition has been abolished you need +have no fear on that account. My friend, Father Mendez, will, I am +sure, also retract his disparaging expressions he has applied to you. +He must acknowledge that they are unjust--not such as you deserve. +Come, father, say that you regret having spoken so harshly of the worthy +officer." + +But the father shook his head without speaking. + +"It matters little," said the captain. "He laughs who wins. Perhaps +when all the details are filled up, some of my very worthy friends may +not be so well pleased." + +He looked significantly at the marquis. At that moment Alfonse Gerardin +crossed the quarter-deck. The marquis looked at him and started. + +"Who is that young man?" he asked, in an agitated tone. + +"One of the officers of my ship, as you see by his uniform," answered +the captain, carelessly. + +"A sail on the larboard beam!" sung out a man from the mast-head. Soon +afterwards the cry was heard that there were three, four, five sail--a +whole fleet of ships in sight. The captain went aloft, and so did +several of the officers, to examine the strangers with their glasses. +On their return on deck, they pronounced them to be English, but the +greater number of the ships were well on the frigate's quarter. + +"As soon as we are seen they will give chase, but we must do our utmost +to get under the batteries of Aix before they reach us. We have a good +excuse for running away." + +More sail was set on the frigate. It was a question, however, whether +she could reach the shelter which was sought for, in time. Several of +the English ships were seen making sail in chase. + +Edda Armytage looked out eagerly towards them. She at all events had no +wish to remain a prisoner. Some wild hopes, too, rose in her heart as +she understood that the pursuing ships were frigates. + +"They will not overtake us, young lady," said the captain, who observed +the nature of her thoughts. "I would rather, too, that you did not +indulge in the wish, for I cannot bear to see you disappointed." + +"Thank you for your kindness, but it is but natural that I should wish +to be free," she answered, endeavouring to smile. + +She fancied, by the countenances of some of the other officers, that +they had not the same confidence as the captain. She observed the point +for which the French frigate was steering, and it appeared to her that +the English ships were just as near. This gave her hopes. Still she +was afraid that the French would fight, and that there would be a +desperate struggle before they allowed their ship to be captured. She +was not aware that the French frigate was to windward of Rochelle, and +that the English were some way to leeward, which gave the advantage to +the former. The ships were, however, rapidly approaching each other. +She saw, indeed, that even the captain thought that there might possibly +be a fight, for the guns were being cast loose, and powder and shot were +brought up on deck. + +So much engaged had everybody been in observing the movements of the +English fleet on the larboard beam, that no one had been watching the +proceedings of the little felucca which had been on the other side. A +loud oath from the lips of Don Tacon gave them notice that something was +wrong, and looking out over the starboard bulwarks she was seen close +hauled under all sail, standing away to the southward. The old man +walked up and down the deck, throwing furious glances at her, while he +stamped and swore, and tore his hair. + +"The rogues, the villains, the scoundrels, to desert me thus!" he +exclaimed. "To take advantage of me when they saw that I could not +pursue them. Who is one to trust in this world? My curses go with you, +you knaves!" he shouted, shaking his fist at the far-distant vessel. +"Ha! it is some satisfaction to know that none of you know anything of +navigation, and that you will cast yourselves away to a certainty. May +every one of you be food for the fish before many days are over!" + +No one pitied the old pirate, and he was allowed to rave on without +interference. + +The frigate tore through the water--the breeze was freshening. This was +all in her favour. Still the British ships were coming up fast; the +leading frigate began to fire her bow chasers, but the shot fell short. +She waited for some time. One fortunate shot, and the Frenchman would +be her prize. The forts on the island of Oleron could now be seen +clearly with the naked eye. The English frigate drew still nearer. +Captain Gerardin judged that she was nearly within gunshot. "Ladies, +this quarter-deck is no longer a place for you," he said, addressing +Edda and her mother, and the Spanish young lady. "I regret to drive you +from it, but I must use the authority of a captain, and order you +below." + +Mrs Armytage and her daughter saw that he was in earnest, and prepared +to obey. A shot which whistled close over the quarter showed the wisdom +of his order. + +"Oh, but my father--my father! will he not come?" exclaimed the daughter +of the marquis in the most bitter anguish. + +"Your father will do as he thinks fit, Donna Julia," said the captain. +"I only exert my influence where ladies are concerned. Spain is at +present united to England. He cannot be called on to fight." + +"And you, Captain Alvarez, you are a Spaniard. Why unite with the +enemies of Spain?" + +"Spain disinherited me," he answered, turning away. "But, ladies, +hasten below, there is no time to be lost." + +Another shot came whistling by, and cut short all further conversation. + +The captain now ordered a couple of long brass guns to be run out aft to +return the compliment the English were paying him. They were served +well, and the nearer the enemy approached, the more effective they +became. At length a shot struck the taffrail, and glancing along the +bulwarks, sent the splinters flying about the deck. The marquis turned +pale. + +"It is my duty to go and look after the safety of my daughter," he +observed, diving rapidly below. + +"I am not a belligerent, and if I am wounded I cannot attend to the +spiritual affaire of the dying," said Father Mendez, following his +patron. + +"It matters little what becomes of me, since all my worldly possessions +are on board the craft those scoundrels are carrying off," remarked Don +Tacon, as he sulkily walked the deck. + +Colonel Armytage kept his post on the deck, eyeing the English ships. + +"It would be wiser for you, sir, to go below," said the captain. "We +shall be hotly engaged soon, and there is no reason why you should +expose your life." + +"I have never avoided danger in whatever form it has presented itself," +answered the colonel, haughtily. "I do not feel disposed to show on the +present occasion that I have a faint heart." + +"As you like, colonel," said the captain, shrugging his shoulders. "It +is an odd fancy some men have for making targets of their heads." + +The shots now came with greater rapidity on board the frigate. Her +sails had several holes in them, and some of her standing as well as of +her running rigging had been cut away. Still, only one of the chasing +ships was near enough to fire, but the other two were coming up fast. +The brave captain looked at his foes, and then at the friendly forts. + +"We shall soon escape from them," he observed to his lieutenant. "But +one of these shots may any moment cut short my career. Should I fall, +fight the ship to the last. And, Alfonse, remember--Colonel Armytage +and Father Mendez know all." + +The French frigate was drawing in closer and closer to the fort. +Suddenly one of the guns from it sent a shot flying past her towards her +enemy. Several followed. The French garrison had got the range. +Still, the Englishman did not give up the pursuit. A fortunate shot +might enable him to bring the enemy to closer action. At length, +however, a shot from the fort carried away his foretop-gallant-mast, +another might do still further damage; and as it would have been extreme +rashness to continue the pursuit further, he hauled his wind and made +the best of his way out of the range of the guns of the forts, while the +French frigate came to an anchor safe under their shelter near several +line-of-battle ships and frigates. + +No sooner had the sails been furled than Captain Tacon came aft, and +begged at once to be taken to the admiral. + +"I told you that I was coming to give important information," he said +coolly. "I prefer giving it to the admiral, who has the power to reward +me as I deserve." + +The captain had nothing whatever to say against this, and accordingly +conducted him on board the flag-ship. The old pirate then gave the +information that the English had resolved to attempt the destruction of +the French fleet by fire-ships; and, as a proof, exhibited the plan +which he had abstracted from Lord Claymore's cabin. + +"I will consider the information you have brought me, and judge of the +probability of its correctness," answered the admiral. "You shall, +according as it is found to be correct, receive your reward. Take him +on board again, Captain Gerardin, and see that he does not escape. He +will probably be equally ready to inform the British government, if he +has the opportunity, of what we are about." + +Tacon looked not over well pleased; he well knew that expostulation +would be useless. + +"The fates are against me, and I am truly an unfortunate and +much-to-be-pitied man," he muttered, as he was led away. + +Captain Gerardin took him back on board the frigate, and, to prevent the +possibility of his escaping, put him into irons. "A hard necessity, +friend Tacon," he remarked; "but necessity often compels us to perform +unpleasant acts." + +"Ah, yes, it is my unfortunate fate! I am truly much to be +commiserated," answered the old pirate. "Now there is the marquis, up +there, in your cabin. He is a much greater scoundrel than I am, and yet +rank and wealth are his lot." + +"Oh, we have a bonne-bouche prepared for him, which he may not relish +much more than you do those manacles on your legs," remarked the +captain, as he left the worthy Tacon to his solitary reflections. + +The French admiral, meantime, paid much more attention to the +information he had received than he was willing to acknowledge he should +do. It corroborated what he had received from other quarters, and he +instantly issued orders to prepare for the expected attack. Lord +Gambier's squadron had for some time been cruising off the coast, and it +was considered a wonder that Captain Gerardin's frigate had got safe +into harbour. + +Meantime the prisoners, for so they were, though treated more as friends +and passengers, were detained on board. The preparations for the attack +were concluded, and the French were convinced that it could not succeed. +It was now the common subject of conversation; and Edda heard that Lord +Claymore was about to take an active part in the operation, and, of +course, supposing that Ronald Morton was still with him, she felt sure +that he would likewise be engaged, and would be foremost wherever danger +was to be encountered. Never had she passed a time of suspense so +painful. It was shared, however, in a great degree, by her mother and +by Donna Julia. + +She was becoming much interested in the young Spanish girl, though she +could not entirely make out her character. At all events she was +warm-hearted and enthusiastic, but though gentle in her manners, she +seemed more inclined to resent an injury than to forgive it. Still she +was very different to her father, for whom Edda had conceived a great +dislike. No one, indeed, liked him. Her father kept studiously aloof +from his society, and even Father Mendez rarely or never spoke to him. +Edda's chief annoyance arose from the attentions paid her by Alfonse +Gerardin; they had become more frequent, and he was far more confident +in his manner than he had ever before been. How to treat him under the +present circumstances she could not tell. The cabin was no sanctuary to +her. He entered it at all times with perfect freedom, and evidently +with the captain's sanction. + +One day, believing that he was on duty on deck, where the rest of the +party were assembled, she remained in the cabin to read. She was seated +on a sofa, and had succeeded in fixing her attention on the book, when +the door opened, and on looking up she saw Lieutenant Gerardin +approaching her. She let her eyes again drop on the page before her, +but not a word could she read. He sat down by her side, and before she +was aware of it had grasped her hand. + +"Hear me, Edda!" he exclaimed with vehemence. "I can exist no longer in +the state of uncertainty I have endured for so many years. From the +first moment I saw you, I loved you. You know it. My love was sincere, +faithful, disinterested. I am not a mere adventurer, as you may +suppose. My birth is equal, if not superior, to yours. Rank and wealth +will be mine. All I offer to lay at your feet. You doubt my words. +The means of proving my claims have only lately, in the most wonderful +way, been placed in the power of my guardian and protector, Pedro +Alvarez, whom you know as Pierre Gerardin, the captain of the ship. Let +me have the satisfaction of telling you, dear Edda, that I am your +cousin, the long-lost son of Donna Hilda Escalante." + +Edda looked incredulously in his face, and endeavoured to withdraw her +hand; she suspected that he had by some means become acquainted with her +family history, and having concocted a story, was practising on her +simplicity. + +"I tell you the solemn truth. Why do you doubt me," he exclaimed, +almost fiercely. "You have surely often heard how a child was carried +away by pirates from Lunnasting, and that no tidings had ever been +gained of him. I was that child. The chief of the band, Tacon, is a +prisoner on board this ship. For the sake of obtaining his liberty, he +will be ready to acknowledge his part in the transaction. I was rescued +from his power by my father's faithful lieutenant, and my constant +friend and guardian, Pedro Alvarez. He had no means of getting to +Shetland, nor could he return to Spain. After wandering about in many +parts of the world, taking me with him, he repaired to France, then at +war with England. He sent to Shetland, and from the answer he received, +he believed that my mother was dead. He fancied that, even should he be +able to get there, my claims would not be acknowledged, and he +determined, therefore, till peace was restored, not to make the attempt. +My father, as you may have heard, would have succeeded to the title of +the Marquis de Medea and to a magnificent estate. On his death the +inheritance became mine; but without proofs of my birth, Pedro Alvarez +himself being unable to return to Spain, how could he hope to succeed in +obtaining for me my rights? He had carefully abstained from telling me +the secret of my birth, and I fully believed that I was his son. I have +been brought up as a Frenchman, and as a Frenchman I have always felt +and acted. To support the honour and glory of our great emperor has +always been my ambition and aim; though he may meet with reverses, he +must succeed in the end--I am sure of that as I am of my own existence. +Spain, which has foolishly abandoned him, will again be brought under +his power, and through his means I feel sure that I shall some day +obtain my father's inheritance. You look incredulous, lady. Proud +England, too, will be humbled, and France, and all who adhere to her, +will be triumphant. Those glorious days, when France will rule the +world, will soon arrive, sweet Edda; and I ask you to share with one who +loves you with devotion and tenderness unsurpassed, the wealth and rank +which will then be his." + +"I thank you, Monsieur Gerardin, from my heart, I do, for your +sentiments towards me," she answered, in a gentle tone. "But be assured +that I cannot return them. To be frank with you, my heart is given to +another. To you I can only be a cousin, a friend, and well-wisher. You +will, I feel sure, find many girls whose hearts are disengaged, who will +love you for yourself, and not for the wealth and rank which I hope may +be yours." + +"My friend and well-wisher!" he exclaimed, starting up and walking about +the cabin. "Those are cold words to address to one who loves you as I +have done. You tell me that you love another. He shall pay the penalty +of interfering with me. I knew that he was my rival. He has escaped me +often, but the next time we meet we will not part till one has fallen." + +He continued pacing up and down before her; and stamping furiously on +the deck, he exclaimed--"Thus will I trample all my enemies under my +feet! Ay, little does that usurping kinsman of mine dream what I +prepared for him. I have him in my power, and I will take good care to +exercise that power. He lives on under the belief that he is the owner +of broad lands and wealth unbounded, and it is a pleasure to watch him +as he paces the deck, and to know that I, all the time, am the true +marquis, and that he is the impostor. Ah, cousin Edda! you supposed me +a quiet, gentlemanly young lieutenant of marine. You now know who I am +and what I am. I am one not to be trifled with--not to be opposed with +impunity. You would have thought me a person of importance if I were +simply the inheritor of the castle and the estates of Lunnasting--those +estates which would have been yours had I not appeared. Without them, +remember, you will be reduced to poverty--the most complete poverty-- +your father confesses as much. Let that weigh with you. Your love I +shall gain ere long. I fear not on that point. Come, cousin, be mine-- +be mine. Neither heaven nor earth shall keep you from me!" + +He rushed towards her and endeavoured to grasp her hand. She shrunk +from him with dread, for there was a glare in his eye, and a wildness in +his look which suggested the horrible idea that he was attacked with +insanity. She looked round with the intention of escaping from the +cabin, when the door opened and Donna Julia entered. Hernan was calm in +an instant, and bowing to the Spanish lady, he said in English--"Cousin, +soothe that poor girl. The blow that I have to strike will be terrible +indeed to her." + +He disappeared as he spoke. He hurried on deck. His great anxiety was +now to bring the marquis, Tacon, Father Mendez, and Pedro Alvarez +together before Colonel Armytage, that the whole chain of evidence might +be clearly exhibited to him. He was about to propose this to the +captain, when a gun was fired from the flag-ship, and the signal was +seen flying for the first lieutenants and four boats from every ship to +come alongside. + +Hernan hurried off in obedience to orders. When he got on board the +flag-ship he found that a number of vessels which had been seen joining +the English fleet, then at anchor about six miles off, were supposed to +be fire-ships, and that an immediate attack from them was apprehended. + +The fleet of boats was to be on the watch near the boom, to attack any +English boats which might approach, or to tow the fire-ships clear of +the men-of-war. + +The night was of pitchy darkness when the flotilla of French boats +started on their perilous expedition. Long they watched, every moment +expecting to see the flames from the fire-ships bursting forth close to +them, or to be engaged in a deadly conflict with the English boats. + +"Hark!" said Hernan to the midshipman by his side; "I hear the sound of +oars. Ah, there is a boat! What boat is that?" he asked, in a loud +voice. + +Little did he dream who was in that boat, that his hated rival was +almost within his power. The French boats gave chase. There could be +but little doubt that the English boat had been in the midst of them. +Many a loud oath was sent after her, but she flew faster than they or +their oaths, and the flotilla returned discomfited to their stations at +the boom. Thus the night passed away. The general opinion was, that +after all they had little to fear from the threatened fire-ships. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. + +THE FRIGATE ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE FROM THE FIRE-SHIP--THE BURNING FRIGATE-- +DANGER OF THE PASSENGERS--ESCAPE FROM THE BURNING SHIP--ON BOARD THE +"SCORPION"--LORD CLAYMORE ILL SUPPORTED--THE "SCORPION" SENT TO THE +NORTH SEA. + +The night passed off without any attack on the French fleet from the +British fire-ships. Pedro Alvarez, or rather Captain Gerardin, offered +to land Colonel Armytage on his parole with his family and Donna Julia, +so that they might remain in a place of safety in case of threatened +danger; but the colonel, with his characteristic obstinacy, declined the +favour, saying that he felt himself in perfect safety on board the +frigate. It must be said that the general opinion among the French +officers was, that the English would not attack them, while he, +accustomed to hold the navy somewhat in contempt, persuaded himself that +they would not dare to make the attempt. + +The evening had passed much as others had done. Edda enjoyed it the +more that Hernan was absent. The captain, as he had been accustomed, +brought his guitar into the cabin, and played and sang a number of +Spanish airs, and persuaded Donna Julia to do the same. Father Mendez, +as he well could when he had the will, made himself very agreeable by +describing many places he had visited, and narrating a number of +anecdotes. Even Colonel Armytage entered freely into conversation, and +he and Father Mendez soon became on very friendly terms. The marquis +was the only person who was in ill temper. He sat aloof from the rest +of the party, and refused all invitations to join in the conversation. +The truth was, he had begun to suspect that Pedro Alvarez and Father +Mendez were plotting against him. He felt himself in the power of +Tacon, whom he knew would give them all the information they required, +while he looked with a suspicious eye on the young lieutenant, whose +likeness to Don Hernan Escalante had forcibly struck him. His daughter +only fancied that he was unhappy at being a prisoner; but as she was in +very pleasant society, and was treated with all courtesy and kindness, +she had no cause to complain. + +Some of the other officers of the ship came in, cards were introduced, +and the marquis was tempted to play. Colonel Armytage joined him. It +was a somewhat incongruous collection of people. With music and +conversation the evening passed rapidly away, and the party continued +together till a much later hour than usual. + +The captain handed his guitar to Donna Julia with a gallant bow. + +"One more song, sweet lady," he said. "It is seldom we seamen enjoy the +delightful harmony you have afforded us this evening." + +Donna Julia took the instrument, and running her fingers over the cords +commenced a low and plaintive air. Her voice was sweet, but not strong, +though it was sufficient to fill the cabin, and to rivet the attention +of all present. The air was sad and plaintive, and from the pathos with +which she sung, it showed too clearly her own feelings. It is wonderful +how music unlocks the heart, and melts the long pent-up stream. Not a +sound but that sweet voice was heard. The seamen on their watch +overhead stopped in their walk to listen to strains so unusual. +Suddenly a roar, more terrific than the bursting of a volcano, was +heard, followed by shrieks, and groans, and cries; a bright light was +seen glancing over the water through the stern ports; the ship shook +from her keel. The guitar fell from Donna Julia's hands. Mrs Armytage +grasped her daughter's arm, expecting something more dreadful to follow, +and believing that the ship was about to blow up. The gentlemen started +to their feet; the officers rushed out of the cabin. The scene which +met their view was sufficient to inspire the stoutest heart with fear. +Directly ahead, and rushing towards them, was a vast fiery mass, +furiously darting forth flames, sufficient, should it reach her, to wrap +the frigate in a destructive embrace. At the same time, from out of +this floating volcano, shot forth red-hot missiles, which fell in +destructive showers on her decks. The crew, in dismay, were running for +shelter below, till their captain's voice was heard high above the din, +calling on them to act like men, and to endeavour to save the ship by +throwing overboard their dangerous visitors. + +The remaining boats were then ordered to be lowered to tow aside the +burning mass now close at hand. But who would venture to approach it? + +"Alfonse would have attempted it!" exclaimed the captain, but not an +officer moved. Certain destruction would be their doom. + +"I then must go myself; who will follow me?" cried the captain. + +Numbers of the crew sprang towards the boats. There was ample light to +see what was to be done. At that instant the flames and sparks darted +up higher than ever, and then, as if it were the work of magic, there +was total darkness; the explosion vessel had sunk: the frigate was +saved. + +"We must get under weigh," cried the captain. "The boom has been +shattered. Another vessel may strike the same spot with more success, +and we may not escape her so easily." + +The crew flew aloft to loosen sails. They were eager to avoid a similar +danger to that which had almost paralysed them. Before they were again +off the yards another fearful explosion took place close to them, but +though numerous fiery fragments fell on board, few were hurt. Had they +not been aloft many more would have suffered. The cable was slipped, +and the frigate now began to move through the water. + +On hearing the second explosion, the remaining occupants of the cabin +rushed up on deck. Colonel Armytage was the least agitated, but even he +did not attempt to quiet the alarm of his wife and daughter. Father +Mendez trembled like an aspen leaf. The usual calmness of his exterior +had disappeared. The danger which threatened was strange, +incomprehensible. So occupied were the officers and crew, that none of +the party were observed. The spectacle which soon after met their sight +was not calculated to allay their terror. + +For a few minutes all was again darkness, and then rapidly, one after +the other, masses of flame burst forth from the surface of the ocean, +hurrying towards them. As they approached, the sails and rigging of +large vessels were seen amid the flames. No human beings could have +stood on those decks; but yet onward came, rushing impetuously, the +burning fleet. They were the much dreaded fire-ships. On they came. +The boom had been forced. By what power could they be resisted? The +French ships opened their fire on them, and shot were flying about among +friends and foes, increasing the confusion and dismay. Still the +fire-ships sailed on, intent on their mission of destruction. Now a +line-of-battle ship was grappled. For long her gallant crew in vain +sacrificed their lives in the attempt to free her from the fire-ship's +deadly embrace. The cables were cat, and both together drifted away to +leeward. And now dismay seized nearly all the French officers and +crews. Simultaneously the cables were slipped, and they endeavoured to +avoid the threatened danger by flight. Some effected their escape, but +others were overtaken by the fire-ships, and were seen surrounded by +flames. The frigate had been kept under weigh, firing sometimes at the +fire-ships as they sailed by, and at others at boats which were supposed +to be English. As the fire reached the guns of the burning ships they +were discharged right and left, and a whole broadside was poured into +the frigate. It was blowing strong--a shot struck her foremast, and +with all its top hamper away it went over the side, carrying the +maintopmast with it. The frigate luffed up into the wind and became +unmanageable. A fire-ship was approaching. On it came. It got +entangled in the wreck of the mast, and soon the frigate herself was +wrapped in flames. + +Edda saw and comprehended the danger. "Oh, mother, we will die +together!" she exclaimed, for she saw no hope of escape. + +The crew, led by their captain, made many gallant attempts to cut clear +the wreck and the fire-ships, but each time the fierce heat of the +flames drove them back again. Still they persevered. They all saw +that, with the few boats they had remaining, unless the flames were +subdued they must be destroyed. From the rest of the squadron they +could expect no help; some of the ships were seeking safety in flight, +others were in alike predicament as themselves. The French officers +exerted themselves heroically. Again and again they led their men up +among the flames, where many, as with axes in hand they cut away at the +spars or ropes, lost their hold and fell headlong into the burning mass, +or were suffocated by the smoke. Many were precipitated into the water; +and their shrieks were heard as they struggled vainly in their endeavour +to reach the burning frigate driving away before them. Even at that +moment the brave Pedro Alvarez did not forget his passengers. He had +done all that a man could do to save the ship, but he believed that his +efforts would prove fruitless. He now thought of the means of saving +his friends. He was hurrying to the cabin when he perceived them +grouped together on the deck. The three ladies stood, not shrieking nor +giving way to fear, but calm and collected, waiting till they received +directions what to do. Colonel Armytage, with the marquis and Father +Mendez were endeavouring to shield them from the sparks, which flew +thickly around, and threatened to ignite their dresses. The colonel +looked up and saw that the flames were rapidly gaining on the ship. He +was not altogether so stubborn and selfish as not to wish to preserve +the lives of his wife and daughter. The awful scene made him also more +kind and gentle than usual. + +"Edda--wife, daughter, we must get you into the boats," he said. "Donna +Julia, and her father, and the priest will accompany us. I must obtain +assistance from some of the crew." + +"The boats--the boats!" shouted the captain, rushing now to one side of +the ship--now to the other; they were gone! + +Some of the dastards among the crew, in selfish haste to save +themselves, had leaped into them and pulled away. + +Where all this time was the first-lieutenant of the ship? He with his +boats had not returned; what had become of him no one could tell. He +might have missed the frigate, and gone in another direction, or might +have been captured by the English. Secretly, Pedro Alvarez hoped that +this might be the case, for whatever his adopted son, who had always +been brought up as a Frenchman, might think on the subject, he had begun +to wish that he could be engaged in fighting the battles of his native +country, instead of those of her enemies and oppressors. + +Thinking of Hernan reminded him of his prisoner, and the old pirate +Tacon. To his adopted son the old man's life was of the greatest +importance. Should he be destroyed one chief witness of his identity +would be lost. He hurried below to release him. He was only just in +time to save him from suffocation, for the smoke was already finding its +way along the decks. He had found the armourer on his way, and ordering +him to knock off the prisoner's fetters, he dragged him up, and placed +him close to Colonel Armytage. + +"Much depends on his safety: keep your eye on him, sir," he said. + +A terrible idea occurred to him. The magazine had not been drowned. +Should it not be done, all on board might be blown to destruction. It +was a work of awful danger, for a spark might fly in before the powder +was destroyed, and produce the dreaded catastrophe. He gave the +necessary orders, and then devoted himself to other endeavours to save +the lives of some of those on board. That all could be saved, he knew +was impossible. + +For some time longer, efforts were made to clear the fireship, and while +some of the crew were thus employed, others, under the captain's +superintendence, were endeavouring to form a raft, but at length the +flames seemed resolved to claim their victim. And now a scene of the +wildest confusion ensued. Many who had hitherto been exerting +themselves manfully abandoned all hope; some threw themselves overboard, +others rushed below to the spirit-store, hoping to reach it before the +fire had gained possession of the hold. Some rushed aft, imploring the +captain to save them, and shouting loudly for boats to come to their +assistance. No one among that multitude of rough men stood so calm and +resigned as Mrs Armytage and her daughter. Donna Julia was scarcely +less so; but her hands were clasped firmly, and every now and then she +moved a few paces with rapid steps up and down the deck, regardless of +the sparks which fell around her. Edda stood motionless, with her head +turned away from the flames, and her eye ranging with undefined hope +seaward, over the water. + +"There are boats coming!--boats! boats!" was the cry. + +A shout was raised by the remainder of the crew clustered on the +quarter-deck. + +"Lieutenant Gerardin and our comrades have arrived." + +The crew began to rush to the sides to throw themselves into the boats, +but a warning cry was raised in English, "Keep back, or we pull away!" +One boat, however, dashed alongside. Ropes were hove to the people in +her by the captain and others, and an officer climbed up on board, and +instead of Alfonse Gerardin, whom she expected, Edda beheld, to her +unspeakable joy, Ronald Morton. The bright glare revealed her to him. +He did not look to see who else was there. He knew her in a moment. He +asked not how she came there, but clasping her in his arms, he carried +her to the side of the vessel. + +"Oh, Ronald, my mother!" she exclaimed. + +Several persons had followed him. + +"I'll look after her, miss," said Job Truefitt, taking up Mrs Armytage, +with as much ease as if she had been a child, and accompanying his +chief. An officer--it was Glover--who had got on board from one of the +other boats, seeing Donna Julia, without a word, lifting her in his +arms, carried her to the ship's side. With the assistance of Pedro +Alvarez they were lowered safely into the boats. Many of the seamen +were then about to leap in, but the captain drove them back with his +sword. + +"Shame on you! there are old men and a priest to be first placed in +safety," he shouted. "Help them first, and then think about +yourselves." + +Even at that awful moment the men obeyed. The marquis and the priest +were lowered down, and Colonel Armytage followed. As Pedro Alvarez was +helping him down the side he said in a low voice, "Keep an eye on old +Tacon, he is even now meditating how he may escape. I will lower him +down to you." + +The captain then caught hold of Tacon, and without much ceremony sent +him down after the rest. + +Ronald's boat was now full enough, and he ordered the men to shove off +and lie on their oars, while the other boats took off the remainder of +the crew. + +A considerable number of the Frenchmen had been taken off the burning +ship, when Ronald saw the brave captain standing by himself, he having +refused to quit her till his men were in safety. + +"It were a pity so brave a fellow should be lost," said Ronald. + +"Oh, do--do save him!" cried Edda, who heard the remark. "He is kind +and good as well as brave." + +This was enough; he once more steered the boat towards the burning ship. +Just then a burning spar fell from aloft. It appeared to strike him, +for he disappeared. A groan escaped all who saw the accident. + +"He may not be killed though, sir," said Job Truefitt. "If I may, I'll +look for him." + +Ronald gave him leave. There were numbers of ropes hanging over the +frigate's quarter. Job swarmed up by one of them, and directly after +appeared with the captain, about whose body he had secured a rope. He +lowered him down into the boat, and followed immediately. Still numbers +of the crew remained. Many who had gone below hearing that there were +boats alongside, came up with the hopes of escaping. When the already +overloaded boats pulled away their rage and despair knew no bounds. +They were seen standing on the hammock-nettings, or in the mizzen +rigging, shaking their fists and uttering the most dreadful imprecations +on the heads of those whom they considered were deserting them. As it +was, the boats were so full that not another person could have been +received on board with safety. + +Morton gave the orders for the boats to pull back to the "Scorpion." It +was heavy work, for there was a strong wind and a heavy sea; but the +crews encouraging each other cheerfully pulled on. + +What joy filled Morton's heart at having been the means of preserving +Edda's life and that of her father and mother! He did not press her to +say much; but a few words explained how they came to be on board the +French frigate. + +Her feelings were not dissimilar to his. She was with him again, and +she had no fear for the future. + +Pedro Alvarez, too, was perfectly satisfied with having been taken +prisoner, when he found from Colonel Armytage who was his captor. "The +very man I wished to meet," he said to himself. "He will tell me where +his father is to be found, and Rolf Morton is an important witness in +proving the claim of my poor Hernan. Where can he be though? Probably +he had gone with the boats to the assistance of some of the other ships, +and was not aware of our danger." + +Just before daylight the boats reached the "Scorpion." The ladies were +carried below to obtain that rest they so much required, and Ronald +accommodated the rest of the party as well as he could. + +Pedro Alvarez at once went up to him and claimed his acquaintance. "I +wish to tell you of circumstances with which it is important you should +be acquainted without delay," he said. "I know that you have every +reason to be interested in Donna Hilda Escalante, known as the Lady of +Lunnasting." + +Ronald was all attention. He knew how really interested Mrs Armytage +was in all concerning her unhappy sister, while he was most anxious to +show his gratitude by serving her. + +Pedro Alvarez then explained who he himself was, and told his astonished +hearer that the pirate Tacon, whom he had on board, was the very man who +had carried off Hilda's child, which child had been rescued and brought +up by him. + +"Then the young officer whom I have so often and so unexpectedly met, +and who appears to have such bitter animosity towards me, is no other +than Hernan Escalante, the long-lost son of my kind patroness Donna +Hilda?" exclaimed Ronald. + +"Such is the case," said Pedro Alvarez. "He has fallen in love with his +fair cousin, and he believes that you are his rival. He has another +reason for disliking you, but of that by-and-by. I believe that I can +do you a service, and certainly you can do me a considerable one. You +owe me a good turn, let me tell you; for in consequence of having +assisted you to escape, I was obliged to take command of a privateer, +bound for the East Indies, and to make my escape from France. I was +wandering about in those seas for many years; but at length, having some +friends in power, I was reinstated in the French navy. However, my +heart has never been estranged from Spain. She is at peace with +England; and as I now hope to see the great object of my existence +accomplished--the son of my old captain established in his rights--I +purpose throwing off my allegiance to France, and becoming once more a +Spaniard. I have told you all this, at a moment so unfitting, because I +am anxious that you should endeavour to prevent any of the persons who +were on board my frigate from escaping. Tacon will certainly make the +attempt. He does not know of what crimes he may be found guilty, and +instinctively will do what he can to be at liberty." + +In a few words the worthy Pedro also told Ronald who the marquis and the +old priest were, and he undertook to do his best to keep a watch on them +till they had given the evidence required to establish young Hernan in +his rights. + +"Believe me," he added, "I wish him no ill, and I would gladly make any +sacrifice to see him restored to his mother and the possessor of his +paternal inheritance. As to the marquis, I am not surprised at what you +tell me; I never liked him when we had him on board the `Imperious,' +while the priest always puzzled me. Tacon showed himself to be a most +perfect rogue, and I suspect will give us no little trouble before we +can get the required truth out of him. However, as it can be proved +that he committed an act of piracy in attacking a Spanish vessel, I +shall take the liberty of putting him into irons, to prevent the chance +of his escaping." + +Pedro Alvarez was well satisfied with the arrangements made by Morton, +while the miserable Tacon complained bitterly of the hard fate to which +he was doomed. + +"Oh, the malice and cruelty of this world!" he exclaimed. "I no sooner +get my legs out of one pair of irons than I find them clapped into +another--wretched--ill-used man that I am! What have I done to deserve +such a lot?" + +When daylight returned, the effect produced by the fireships became +apparent. The whole French fleet lay scattered about in every +direction. Some had disappeared altogether. They had either sunk or +effected their escape up the harbour, but the greater number lay hard +and fast on shore, some so much on the heel that a few shots from the +British ships would have knocked holes in their bottoms, and when the +tide rose have effectually prevented their again floating. + +Soon after daybreak the gallant Lord Claymore, the soul and moving +spirit of the enterprise, signalised to the Admiral that the whole might +be destroyed. For a long time no notice of his signals was taken. At +length some vessels were sent to his assistance, but much valuable time +was lost, and several of the French ships, by throwing overboard their +stores and guns, floated, and got higher up the harbour. + +When the British squadron did get into action, they performed their work +effectually, and four line-of-battle ships and a fifty-gun ship were +taken, two of which were at once destroyed. The other two were not set +on fire till night, when a panic seized the French crews, who believed +them to be more fire-ships, and then some again cut their cables, and +endeavoured to escape up the harbour, while one captain and his ship's +company abandoned their ship altogether. One man only was left on +board, who, by his bravery and presence of mind, prevented her from +becoming a prize to an English midshipman and his boat's crew. When the +boat pulled up, he hailed in a loud voice, ordering her to keep off, and +having a number of marines' muskets ready, he fired them one after the +other with such rapidity, that the midshipman of course fully believed +that a considerable part of the crew were still on board. + +The next day some fresh fire-ships were fitted for the purpose of +destroying the enemy's ships on shore, which could not otherwise be got +at. The wind was, however, unfavourable, and the enterprise was +ultimately abandoned. + +Ronald's own ship was not engaged in these operations, and he perhaps +was secretly not sorry to avoid the risk his passengers would have run +had she been so. He, however, accompanied Lord Claymore, and assisted +in capturing the line-of-battle ships and in removing the prisoners. He +made all the inquiries he could from the prisoners for Alfonse Gerardin, +but not a word could he hear of him, and he began to fear that he must +have been killed. + +"Poor Hernan!" he said to himself; "it will be sad if such is your fate +at the very moment that there is a prospect of your being restored to +your name and station." + +Directly after this Lord Claymore returned to England, and the +"Scorpion" was also ordered home. + +Although most of the prisoners taken from the burning frigate were +removed, on Morton's application Pedro Alvarez was allowed to remain on +board the corvette. He kept likewise that worthy, Tacon, as he felt +sure that if he did not he should never seen him again. Colonel +Armytage behaved much more courteously to Ronald than he had formerly +done, but still there was more stiffness in his manner than was +pleasant; and in his presence his wife and daughter appeared restrained +and uneasy, as if he had laid injunctions on them which they would +gladly have broken through. + +The day after the marquis got on board he was seized with a severe +illness, brought on by the anxiety and alarm which he had experienced. +The surgeon pronounced it to be very dangerous. Glover had given up his +cabin to him, and now assisted poor Donna Julia in tending him, which he +did with the greatest devotion. + +The "Scorpion" had a quick passage to Plymouth, where Colonel Armytage +and his family went on shore. + +Edda's last words to Ronald were, "We must live in hope. My father may +compel me to remain single, as I will not marry in opposition to his +wishes; but at the same time I will marry no one but you." + +What more could a lover wisely desire? + +"Hope has borne me up hitherto. It will, I trust, continue to sustain +me," answered Ronald, as, having escorted her and her parents on shore, +he was compelled to return on board. + +The marquis continued too ill to be moved, and Father Mendez claimed the +right, as his confessor, of remaining with him. To this Morton had no +objection, especially as the priest interfered with no one, and made +himself a very agreeable companion. Ronald was doubting how to dispose +of Pedro Alvarez, for whom he had begun to feel much regard. He was +very unwilling to send him on shore, where he would have been committed +to prison. While he was thus uncertain how to act, he received orders +to fill up with provisions and stores, and proceed to the north seas for +a summer cruise. For this he was not sorry, for though he would have +preferred being more actively engaged in the Channel, it gave him the +prospect of visiting Shetland. He had written to his father as soon as +he reached England, and told him everything that occurred. It would now +be impossible for him to know what steps he might think fit to take till +he could meet him in Shetland. He thought over the matter with regard +to Pedro Alvarez, and thinking it probable that he would not be inquired +for, he offered to allow him to remain on board as his guest, on +receiving his parole that he would not escape. This he of course at +once gave, as he was himself very anxious to visit Shetland, that he +might communicate with Sir Marcus Wardhill and Hilda, in order to +arrange the proofs necessary for Hernan to establish his claims. + +The marquis, as he lay on his sick bed, little dreamed of the probable +result of his plots and contrivances, and of the reverse of fortune +preparing for him. + +Pedro Alvarez had clearly explained all his plans to Ronald. + +"I will, my friend, help you to the utmost to do justice to the wronged; +and scarcely any event will give me greater satisfaction than seeing +Donna Hilda Escalante recover her son," said Morton; "but I fear that by +so doing I shall make a mortal enemy of Colonel Armytage, who would +otherwise succeed to the Lunnasting property; and I shall deprive his +daughter of the fortune which would fall to her." + +Pedro Alvarez looked at him hard. + +"Should Hernan Escalante ever succeed to the Lunnasting property, I can +answer for it that Miss Armytage will not be the sufferer," he answered. + +The remark shot a pang through Ronald's heart. "Should Hernan become +owner of Lunnasting, and a Spanish marquis, what pressure will Colonel +Armytage bring to bear to compel Edda to break her promises to me, and +to unite herself to him. It was of that the Spaniard was thinking. But +no; I have heard and read of the falsehood and faithlessness of women, +but I will not believe that Edda Armytage could by any possibility be +guilty of such treachery: the very thought is dishonouring to her. Did +I think that such a union would tend to her happiness, I would release +her from her promise; but I feel sure it would not. No, no! wealth and +rank would not bribe her. She loves me. What pride and happiness to +know that I am loved for myself, and myself alone! Should I be +deceived, life in future will indeed be a blank." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. + +LUNNASTING CASTLE--LAWRENCE BRINDISTER--LAWRENCE'S MYSTERIOUS SAYINGS-- +UNPLEASANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO SIR MARCUS--ARRIVAL OF THE "SCORPION"--THE +PRIEST'S VISIT TO HILDA. + +Hilda Wardhill, or rather Donna Hilda Escalante, was to be seen in her +turret chamber in the same spot, and almost in the same position, as +when first in her youth and glorious beauty she was introduced to the +reader. Years had dimmed and changed that beauty, but had not +altogether destroyed it; and as she now sat habited in black, her +complexion pure as alabaster, and her light hair braided over her +forehead, which was bowed down over a volume of huge dimensions, she +presented a subject which a painter would have delighted to portray. +She leaned back in her chair, and pressing her hand on her brow, +exclaimed, "In vain have I studied to ascertain how, or in what guise he +will return. I demand an answer, but the oracles cruelly refuse to +reply. O that I had the potent secret by which I could compel an +answer, and that the dark veil which hides the future might be torn +aside to disclose the view I long to see! Yet of one thing I am +certain--the time cannot be far distant; of this many significant events +have warned me. The return of Rolf Morton after so long an absence is +strange; my father's illness, and his strong desire to see my sister +Edda once more, and her daughter, who they tell me is as lovely as she +was. The old man's illness will, I doubt not, induce that stern English +colonel to come down, that he may secure some share of his wealth. He +dreams not that my Hernan will return some day to claim his own, and +prevent poor Edda's daughter from becoming the Lady of Lunnasting, as +they now believe she will be." + +Her hand slowly dropped from her brow, and she gazed forth on the ocean. + +"What--what is yonder object? Is it a phantom of the brain or a +reality?" she exclaimed, rising from her seat, and pointing towards the +south-west. "See, there--there at the very spot where that beautiful +ship first appeared, which the cruel ocean dashed to fragments on these +rocks of Shetland, floats her counterpart. Can it be her--the `Saint +Cecilia' herself? Is all that has passed for these long years a dream? +No, no; it has been too real, too palpable, too full of pain, and +sorrow, and hope deferred, to be a dream. Yet, what is that?--a ship, +come to mock me, as others have done; first to raise my hopes that my +long-lost son is on board, and again as bitterly to disappoint them." + +"Yes, cousin; that is a ship, and a very fine ship, too; a British +man-of-war, I judge, by the ensign which floats proudly at her peak," +said a voice behind her. + +Hilda turned quickly round, and an angry frown rose on her brow as she +saw Lawrence Brindister, who had entered just as she had discovered the +strange ship. He shuffled up to the window, with a peculiar gait partly +caused by the size of his shoes. His appearance, as he advanced in age, +had become more grotesque. He wore a gay-flowered waistcoat, with knee +breeches, and huge silver buckles on his shoes. His coat, which was +much too large for his now shrunken figure, was trimmed with gold lace +in a style already long gone out of fashion. His grey eyes looked +larger and rounder than ever, while his hair, which had become perfectly +white, was cropped short, and stood on end like the quills of an +irritated porcupine. + +"Why comes she here, I wonder?" he continued. "Once upon a time, I +would have gone to ascertain, but my old arms can now scarcely paddle a +boat across the voe, and were I to attempt to go, and the tide catch me, +I might be swept helplessly out to sea. It might not be a bad ending +for the puir auld daft bodie, you'll be saying, cousin, and a wonder it +had never happened before. But I've some work to do before that time, +Hilda. `The prince will hae his ain again! The prince will hae his ain +again!' and before long too, let me tell you, cousin." + +"Lawrence, what is the import of those words?" exclaimed Hilda, +vehemently, grasping his arm as she spoke; "for years past you have +uttered them. I adjure you, tell me what you mean." + +"Cousin, I am but a puir fule," answered Lawrence, looking calmly into +her face; "fules speak mony things without meaning, ye ken." + +Hilda looked steadfastly in his face, and he returned her gaze with an +expression so unmoved and idiotic, that she saw it was hopeless to +expect a satisfactory reply. + +They were standing close to the window as she turned from him; her +glance once more ranged over the ocean. Again she stopped and gazed; +Lawrence watched the direction of her eyes. + +"Ha, ha, cousin! you have discovered the other craft, have you? Who +comes in her, think you? Guests are expected at the castle, I +understand, and some at the cottage, if so you choose to designate my +friend Rolf Morton's abode; sages learned in the law coming to +investigate a knotty subject, to unravel a long-continued mystery." + +"I understand you not," answered Hilda, still continuing to watch the +two vessels. The latter-mentioned one was a cutter or smack, such as +was employed in the summer months to keep up the communication between +the islands and the ports of Aberdeen and Leith. She had come +apparently from Lerwick, and was now observed to be steering directly +for Lunnasting, while the corvette kept in the offing, and was, as far +as could be seen, about to enter Eastling Sound from the east, or to +pass it by altogether. The smack had got a favourable slant of wind, +and rapidly approached. + +Hilda stood watching her with trembling anxiety. Lawrence was also +watching her narrowly, and taking apparently a strange pleasure in so +doing. At length an idea seemed to strike him. + +"I'll be off, and tell Sir Marcus of his coming guests," he exclaimed, +shuffling out of the room. "He little wots how near at hand they are, +and what strange tidings some of them may chance to bring. Ho, ho, ho! +you shall reap as you sow; there's truth in that saying. Ho, ho, ho! +`The prince will hae his ain again!'" + +With these words on his lips he approached the door of Sir Marcus's +chamber. The old man was seated in a large armchair, propped up with +cushions, before a blazing fire. His long white hair drawn back, and +fastened in a queue behind, exposed his high thin forehead, while his +lustreless eyes and fallen jaw showed that the hand of time was pressing +heavily on him, and summoning him to conclude his career on earth. + +"They're coming, cousin! they're coming!" exclaimed Lawrence. + +"Who--who?" asked the old man, rousing up, but trembling violently. +"Who do you mean, Lawrence?" + +"Colonel Armytage and his wife and daughter, whom you sent for, and some +gentlemen learned in the law, whom you didn't send for, I ween. +There'll be strange doings at Lunnasting before long, Sir Marcus. Ho, +ho, ho! `The prince will hae his ain again, his ain again!'" And +Lawrence, shouting and laughing, shuffled out of the room. + +Meantime, Hilda had been watching the corvette and the smack. What the +former was about to do still remained doubtful, but the latter continued +her course till she came to an anchor close in with the mouth of the +voe. A boat which Hilda recognised as belonging to Rolf Morton went out +to meet her. The smack's own boat was also lowered, and several people +among whom were two ladies, embarked in her. + +A tall thin man stepped into Rolfs boat with the air of a sailor, and +having shaken him warmly by the hand, assisted in two other gentlemen in +black dresses, who showed by their movements that they were far from +well accustomed to nautical adventure. + +While Rolfs boat proceeded up the voe, the other pulled towards the +Lunnasting landing-place. Hilda would fain have watched the proceedings +of the corvette, but believing that her sister had arrived she hurried +down to meet her. At first she was about to go down to the +landing-place, but her courage failed, and she waited in the great hall +to receive her guests. At last they entered, ushered in by Lawrence, +who kept bowing and flourishing his three-cornered hat before them in a +way which seemed more like mockery than respect. + +Colonel Armytage approached Hilda with formal respect, but the sisters +threw themselves into each other's arms, and the younger found vent for +her feelings in a torrent of tears; but not a drop fell from Hilda's +eye. Edda stood hesitating for a moment, and then threw her arms round +her aunt's neck, and kissed her affectionately. + +"Oh, may you be more happy than either of us!" was all Hilda said, as +she looked at the sweet face beaming up at her. + +A gentleman followed Colonel Armytage into the room. Hilda looked +towards him as if to inquire who he was. + +"He is Mr Boland, my legal adviser," said the colonel. "I thought it +wiser to bring him, in case any difficulties should arise about the +succession to this property." + +"What difficulties can arise--what doubts are there?" inquired Hilda, in +an agitated tone. + +"Matters will be explained to you, madam, shortly," answered Colonel +Armytage, suspecting that Hilda had not heard of the discovery of her +son. + +He was not a man who would have attempted to prevent him from obtaining +his rights, but he had not virtue enough to resist the wish that he +might, after all, never appear to claim them. + +The meeting between Sir Marcus Wardhill and his once favourite daughter +was very painful. He scarcely aroused himself to greet her. + +"You have come a long distance, daughter, and have been a long time +coming," he said, putting out his hand, and looking up coldly in her +face. "I suppose you feared the old man might die and leave his wealth +elsewhere; it was that made you come, Edda?" + +Mrs Armytage, with her eyes full of tears, stooped down and kissed the +old man's forehead. "Father, no--do not be so cruel as to speak thus," +she sobbed out. "Money I have never coveted. You sent for Colonel +Armytage; you desired us to accompany him, and most gladly we came; but +it was to see you, and you only, dear father." + +"Ah, so I did--now I recollect," said Sir Marcus. "I never loved him +and he never loved me, but he is a man--he has sense; he knows the +world; he can rule a disorderly household. Go out, all of you. Let him +come in; we have matters to arrange, and no time is to be lost. Go, go +quickly!" + +Colonel Armytage and Mr Boland, when summoned, hurried up to the old +man's room with due alacrity. They were closeted an hour or more with +Sir Marcus, and when they came out there was a look of satisfaction in +the colonel's countenance which showed that he believed he had attained +the object he had in view incoming to see his father-in-law. When he +soon afterwards met his wife, he appeared to be in far better humour +than she had long known him. + +"Your father, my good wife, is a far more reasonable man than I expected +to find him," he said, taking her hand with an unusually affectionate +air. "I had few or no difficulties with him. He told me, what I have +long suspected, that your sister Hilda is the victim at times of strange +hallucinations, that she is eccentric always--in fact, that she is +totally unable to manage this property. He has therefore, in the most +sensible way, left it entirely to us, with the proviso that we make a +certain allowance for your sister's maintenance. Our daughter, +therefore, becomes the heiress of Lunnasting, and as such I feel has a +right to make as good a match as any girl in the kingdom." + +"Poor Hilda!" was all Mrs Armytage said; she was going to add, "Poor +Edda!" for she foresaw the grief and trouble prepared for her daughter. + +"Why, madam, you do not look pleased at this announcement of our good +fortune," said Colonel Armytage. + +"How can I, when I know that my poor sister, who has so long been +mistress here, will ere long find herself almost disinherited?" + +"Nonsensical idea!" said Colonel Armytage, scornfully. "Your sister +will be as happy as her nature will allow her, with her books and +abstruse studies, which, by all accounts, have turned her brain, and +unfitted her for every-day life. However, we will not discuss the +subject. It is settled to my satisfaction, at all events. I am no +longer the miserable beggar I was two hours ago. By-the-by, what has +become of our tall friend who accompanied us from Aberdeen? I expected +to have seen him here. He seemed to be perfectly well acquainted with +the state of things here, and intimate with those two black-coated +gentlemen who professed to be ministers. From the tone of their +conversation, and the merry twinkle in their eyes, I rather suspected +them, to say the truth." + +"A fine-looking old gentlemen came off to receive them," said Mrs +Armytage. "He is a resident of the island. I know no more." + +"It matters not; I only hope that we shall not have to encounter that +tall, red-haired young man again," observed the colonel. "His manner to +me was most offensive; he is a sailor, I feel sure, by the way he walked +the deck. He recognised the sloop-of-war we saw in the offing; but when +I asked her name he pretended not to hear my question; and the look he +gave me, as he turned round, prevented me from again asking it. I +wonder, though, what has become of her! Some of the people on board the +smack seemed to think that she might anchor in the Sound near here. +What is the name gived to it?" + +"Eastling Sound," answered Mrs Armytage; "we can have a perfect view of +it from the eastern tower, if you like to go there." + +When Colonel and Mrs Armytage reached the tower, they found their +daughter already there, attended by Lawrence Brindister, who had placed +himself before her, that she might rest a telescope on his shoulder to +look at the corvette, which was gliding gracefully down Eastling Sound, +and shortening sail preparatory to coming to an anchor. Edda had not +heard her parents' approach. + +"Yonder seems truly a brave and gallant ship, sweet cousin mine," said +Lawrence. "Can you guess her name, or whence she comes?" + +"Yes, yes--it is the `Scorpion!'" she exclaimed. + +"And what is there wonderful in the `Scorpion,' fair coz?" asked +Lawrence. + +"Do not you know, cousin Lawrence, that she is commanded by a very brave +officer, Captain Ronald Morton?" said Edda. + +"That is fortunate, indeed," exclaimed Lawrence, turning round suddenly, +and encountering Colonel Armytage's gaze fixed on him. + +"Why is it fortunate?" asked the colonel. + +"Because he is, I opine, a very brave officer, as your daughter says, +good sir," answered Lawrence. And away he shuffled down the steps. + +There was a pause of some duration. + +"Remember, Edda," said her father, at last, "if your conjecture is +right, and yonder vessel is commanded by Captain Morton, should he +venture here, I command you to have no communication with him. He is a +mere adventurer; you are heiress of Lunnasting, and the lands +appertaining to it. Listen, girl! you will drive me mad if you look so +melancholy, instead of rejoicing at your good fortune." + +Hilda had been watching the corvette from her own tower, and seeing a +boat leave the ship and approach the landing-place, she descended to the +hall to learn who the strangers were, and to receive them, should they +visit the castle. A note was soon afterwards put into her hands, +informing her that two old acquaintances had arrived, and craved leave +to see her. + +She desired that they might be admitted, and in a short time the stout, +well-knit figure of Pedro Alvarez was seen entering the hall, while by +his side glided the attenuated form of the priest, Father Mendez. + +Changed as they were by years, Hilda knew them at once. She trembled +violently, and it was with difficulty she could rise to receive them. + +"You are welcome, old friends," she exclaimed; "but speak--tell me by +what wonderful means have you reached Lunnasting once more? What event +do you come to announce?" + +"The father, lady, is a more fitting person than I am to tell you," +answered Pedro Alvarez. "He has more command of the language necessary +to convey to you the information we possess." + +Hilda again started from the chair into which she had sunk, and seizing +the priest's arm, she exclaimed, "Speak without delay! You come to tell +me of my son: yes, is it not so? He is found! Speak--speak! where is +he? Why did you not bring him? Oh! do not mock me!" + +"Lady, we come not to mock you," said the priest, quietly. "You speak +of your son; he is, we believe, alive, and more, that he can be found." + +Hilda clasped her hands in speechless eagerness, fixing her eyes +intently on the countenance of the priest. + +"He can be found, I say; but at once to save you from disappointment, I +must tell you that he is not here. By a wonderful chain of +circumstances, not only has his life been preserved, but we can, without +doubt, prove his identity to satisfy the most rigid demands of a court +of law." + +The priest's slow mode of speaking did not at all satisfy poor Hilda's +eagerness. She turned to his companion. + +"Tell, Pedro Alvarez, where is he?" she exclaimed. "I care not now for +the means by which he has been preserved. Where can I find him? When +can I see him? You swore to search for him. Did you fulfil your +promise? Oh! bring him to me, if you have found him." + +"Lady, I did fulfil my promise most faithfully, and to the service of +your son I have devoted my life. It may be weeks or months before you +can see him, but I have every reason to hope that he is safe at this +moment in France. But the means were afforded me of coming here, and, +moreover, of producing all the existing witnesses necessary to prove the +legality of his birth in the first place, his identity in the second, +and his right, if not to the castle and estates of Lunnasting, to the +rank which his father would have held of Marquis de Medea, and the +valuable property attached to it." + +The hapless mother heaved a deep sigh. + +"All that I doubt not; but could you not have brought him to me?" she +gasped out, as she sunk once more back in her seat. It was some time +before either she or her visitors again spoke. At last Father Mendez +saw that it would be advantageous to her to break the silence. + +"Donna Hilda, I crave your pardon," he said, "but I have been charged +with a request from the captain of yonder ship, one who owns himself to +be deeply indebted to you in his youth, Ronald Morton. It is, that you +will give shelter to an old man, who has long been ill, and his +daughter, who has accompanied him. I will not tell you the old man's +name; but he feels that he has much to ask you to forgive, ere he can +die in peace. He has not many days to live, so you will not have long +to exercise your mercy." + +Hilda scarcely appeared to comprehend the last remarks. + +"Yes, yes; whatever you desire, most readily do I grant," she answered. +"An old man, you say? If he thinks that he can die in peace on shore, +let him come here and finish his remaining days." + +It was some time before Hilda was sufficiently tranquillised to listen +to the details which Pedro Alvarez had to give her of the recapture of +her son from the pirate Tacon, the causes of his flight from Europe, +which prevented him from bringing Hernan back to Shetland, and his +ultimate meeting with Tacon and Father Mendez, and of the aid which +Ronald Morton had promised towards the accomplishment of his object. + +"He was always a noble, generous boy!" she exclaimed, warmly; but she +was little aware of the sacrifice Ronald was prepared to make to assist +his rival, and one who had shown such bitter animosity towards him in +obtaining his rights. + +By this time the "Scorpion's" boat returned under charge of Lieutenant +Glover, with the Marquis de Medea, as Don Josef de Villavicencio had +hitherto been called, and his daughter Julia. She, poor girl, had at +first been astounded with the information that another person intervened +between the title and estates her father had held, and that he had no +right to them; but latterly, in consequence of the delicate endeavours +of Glover to console her, she had become much more reconciled to her +lot. + +Whatever were the motives which influenced him, Father Mendez, armed +with the information he had gained from Tacon, so worked either on the +fears or better feelings of the dying marquis, that he professed himself +ready to confess his crime, and to do his utmost to right the wronged. + +Hilda, still ignorant of who he was, had him conveyed to one of the best +chambers in the castle, and directed that all his wants should be +attended to, while another room near his was prepared for Donna Julia. + +Ronald Morton was of course not aware of the arrival of Edda Armytage +and her parents; and feeling that it might be an intrusion, under the +circumstances, to present himself before Hilda on that day, he directed +Glover to say that he hoped to pay his respects in person on the +following morning, and then hastened on towards his father's house. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. + +RONALD VISITS LUNNASTING CASTLE--LEGAL VISITORS ARRIVE AT LUNNASTING-- +THE RIGHTFUL HEIR DISCOVERED--THE PRINCE HAS GOT HIS AIN AGAIN. + +With a heart agitated by a variety of conflicting feelings, Ronald +Morton, the day after the "Scorpion" reached Eastling Sound, approached +Lunnasting Castle. He was followed at a distance by his father and the +three gentlemen who had arrived by the smack from Aberdeen. His great +wish was that he might first meet Edda, and break to her the discoveries +which had been made, and which it was now necessary to disclose. +"Should I be unable to meet her, I will endeavour to see the Lady Hilda +by herself, and it will soften the blow, when I am able to remind her +that her son will undoubtedly succeed in establishing his claim to his +father's inheritance." This thought was uppermost in Ronald's mind, as +he opened the well-known wicket and was crossing the court-yard to enter +the hall. + +At that moment Colonel Armytage was sallying out to inspect the domain +which he hoped soon would be his own. He stopped, and looking with an +angry frown on his frown at Ronald, said, "Captain Morton, it will +prevent mistakes in future, if I at once tell you that I cannot allow +your visits to this house, especially if paid, as I have reason to +suppose, for the sake of seeing my daughter. While on service I was +always ready to treat you as an equal in rank, but you must remember +that your birth does not entitle you to associate on the same terms with +the owners of Lunnasting; and as, at the express wish of Sir Marcus +Wardhill, I am henceforth to be master here, I must at once, to save +unpleasantness for the future, forbid you the castle." + +Morton bowed; though he bit his lip at the insult offered him, there was +a smile in his eye which showed that he was not very much moved by the +colonel's behaviour. + +"I will not dispute the matter with you now, sir," he answered, calmly. +"But I have a matter of importance on which to speak with the Lady +Hilda, and unless she refuses to see me, I feel myself bound to +communicate with her." + +Colonel Armytage, notwithstanding all Morton could say, was determined +that he should not enter. He was still holding out against what Ronald +was urging, when Rolf Morton and his friends entered the court-yard. + +"Colonel Armytage, these gentlemen have come expressly to see Sir Marcus +Wardhill and his daughter, the Lady Hilda," said Ronald firmly. "I must +introduce them. My former captain and friend, Lord Claymore; Mr Frazer +and Mr Scott, two eminent lawyers from Scotland; and my father, whom +you have heard of as Mr Rolf Morton." + +Colonel Armytage looked confused. + +"Of course, my lord and gentlemen, if you desire to see Sir Marcus +Wardhill, I cannot prevent you. I will lead the way and prepare him for +your visit." + +Scarcely had Colonel Armytage disappeared than another party entered the +court-yard. In the centre walked the worthy Captain Tacon, who was +examining the building with much curiosity, and looking about him with a +swaggering air of independence. He was guarded on either side by Job +Truefitt and young Doull, who showed by their looks that they were not +at all likely to allow him to escape from want of watchfulness. +Directly after them came the elder Doull and Archy Eagleshay. Ronald +directed them to wait in the hall while he went to look for Pedro +Alvarez and Father Mendez. During his absence another person arrived, +who was warmly greeted by Lord Claymore and the two lawyers as Mr +Cameron, the Sheriff-Substitute for Shetland. + +In a few minutes Colonel Armytage returned, and announced that Sir +Marcus Wardhill was prepared to receive them. + +He seemed very much astonished at the appearance of so many strangers, +and probably had a presentiment of what was preparing for him. + +He was, however, a man of the world; he was also an honourable man, +according to his own code; he knew that nothing was to be gained by +contending against authority, and much by yielding gracefully; and he +also did not desire to oppose an act of justice, even though he might be +the sufferer. With a proud resolution to do all that the strictest +justice could require of him, he led the way to Sir Marcus's room. + +Here also his daughters and granddaughter, accompanied by Pedro Alvarez +and Father Mendez, were assembled, and and before they sat down two +servants wheeled in, on a sofa, the old Spanish marquis, who was +followed by his weeping daughter. Edda invited her to come and sit by +her, but she declined, and stood holding her father's hand, while the +priest stood on the other side of the sofa, every now and then stooping +down to whisper into his ear. + +The old man looked up and inquired why so many people were assembled; +but when he saw Mr Cameron and the two lawyers he bowed his head, +whispering slowly--"Some criminal to be tried, I see: let the case go +on." + +"Not exactly that, Sir Marcus," said the sheriff. "I have been +requested to attend here to investigate two important cases, in both of +which Lord Claymore, who is known to you, has taken much interest. At +his request, my two learned friends, Mr Scott and Mr Frazer, have come +from Edinburgh to assist us in our investigations; but it depends on +circumstances whether the cases are or are not carried into a court of +law, and thus made public. With which shall we proceed first, my lord?" + +"By all means with that relating to the son of a lady present--the wife +of a Spanish officer, Don Hernan Escalante," said Lord Claymore. "We +all must feel how anxious she must be to know that the interests of her +child have been secured." + +It is not necessary to describe all the examinations which took place. +Hilda's marriage with Don Hernan was proved by three surviving +witnesses--Father Mendez, Pedro Alvarez, and Rolf Morton, though the +loss of the certificate, one of the lawyers was of opinion, might prove +a difficulty in a Spanish court. + +"It is one a few hundred dollars may get over," observed Pedro Alvarez, +with a shrug of his shoulders. + +The birth of the child, and its abduction by strangers, was proved with +equal ease. And now Captain Tacon was led forward, and in pure +Castilian, which Pedro Alvarez translated, confessed that he was the +person who carried off the young Hernan. + +"But there, there is the man who instigated me to commit the deed!" he +exclaimed, pointing to the marquis, who lay on the sofa with his eyes +half closed. + +"Yes, I confess my crime," said the old man, slowly raising himself up. +"I have enjoyed but little happiness since. My palaces have been burnt +down, and my plate and jewels carried off by the French. May the +rightful owner enjoy what remains. I have done what my father confessor +directed. I am prepared for the grave which yawns to receive me, and a +few hundred dollars which my daughter possesses will enable her to enter +a convent, and there forget my sorrow and shame." + +Pedro Alvarez then described his recovery of young Hernan, and his +career up to the moment he parted from him. + +"I can without difficulty communicate with friends in France, who will +inform him of what has occurred, and enable him to come here without +delay," he added. "Thence he can go to Spain, and take possession of +his estates." + +What the marquis had said was translated to Sir Marcus. The number of +people collected, and the discussions taking place, had had the effect +of rousing him up, and his intellect seemed as bright and acute as ever. + +"Then, Colonel Armytage, since a male heir is found for Lunnasting, I +fear that I must alter the will which I lately made in your favour." + +"You may save yourself that trouble, Sir Marcus," said the sheriff, +somewhat sternly. "There is another claimant to the Lunnasting +property. I would save your daughters from the pain of listening to the +investigation of the case which must now be held. They will, however, +perhaps wish to see that justice is done to all parties, and they may be +assured that it is with the greatest unwillingness that I shall say +anything which may wound their feelings." + +Mrs Armytage thanked the sheriff, and expressed her wish to remain; but +Hilda did not speak. She had sat like a statue with her hands clasped +during the examination of the witnesses, once only casting a look of +reproach at the marquis, when he confessed that he had instigated Tacon +to carry off her son. Still she sat in the same position, lost in +thought, and utterly regardless of everything around. + +"Sir Marcus Wardhill," said the sheriff, "as you well know, the heir to +these estates was Bertram Brindister. He was first in succession before +your wife, but unaccountably disappeared, and was supposed to have been +washed away by the sea. Two witnesses have now appeared, who can prove +that he was designedly carried off by a noted smuggler and outlaw, +Halled Yell by name, and by themselves. They are both present. All +three men and the child were rescued from a wreck by Captain Andrew +Scarsdale, who brought up the boy under the name of Rolf Morton. You +knew his father. There stands the present Bertram Brindister, the real +Lord of Lunnasting; is he not like his father?" + +Sir Marcus looked up furtively at Rolf Morton, who stood with a calm +countenance, expressive of more pain than triumph, directly in front of +him. + +"Yes, yes, he is very like," he answered, and then conquering any fear +he might have felt, he added--"But gentlemen, assertions are not proofs. +This latter tale is too clumsy an imitation of the first we have just +heard not to make a man of sense discredit it. Let us hear what the men +have to say." + +On this the two old men, Doull and Eagleshay, stepped forward and +described their having carried off a child from Whalsey at the very time +the boy, Bertram Brindister, was missed, and all the events which +followed, but they could neither of them tell the exact date of the +occurrence. + +"I thought so," said Sir Marcus, calmly. "The man I see before me may +be Bertram Brindister, but it cannot be proved; nor can, as far as I can +see, the instigator of the crime be discovered, if, as I say, there is +truth in the story, which I am inclined to doubt. An important link is +missing, and your case, gentlemen, falls to the ground." + +"But the link is found, and truth is triumphant. `The prince will hae +his ain again! The prince will hae his ain again!'" exclaimed Lawrence +Brindister, starting up and flourishing two papers in his hands, while +he skipped about the room, in doubt to whom he should deliver them. +"This is your marriage certificate, cousin Hilda, and I have been a +faithful guardian of it; and this, Mr Sheriff, is the link you require +to prove that honest Rolf Morton is really Bertram Brindister, and +rightful Lord of Lunnasting, and that yonder old man, who has tyrannised +over me, and insulted me and wronged me in every way, is an impostor; +and that he instigated the villain Yell to abduct the heir that the +inheritance might be his. See, it is the paper signed by Yell, and +those other two men, and delivered to honest Andrew Scarsdale. Many a +long year have I kept it. You all have heard that it was locked up in +Captain Scarsdale's chest, which, guided by a hand more potent than that +of man, came floating by the northern end of Whalsey, and was drawn on +shore by me and my old dog, Surly Grind. In a cave I had hard by, I +kept the chest and its contents, but months passed away before I +examined them. When I did, I saw well that nothing would be gained by +publishing them. The rightful heir was away, and with his means how +could he hope to contend with the wily and astute Sir Marcus Wardhill? +So I did what many a wiser man might not have done, I bided my time. +Maybe, Sir Marcus, you have thought me at times a greater fool than I +was; but which is the greatest fool of the two--the man who obeys, or he +who sets Heaven at defiance? Once, who could compete with me at school +or college? and what might I not have been had you not, when I was +struck down by illness, taken advantage of my weakness, and by sending +me to a madhouse, confirmed my malady; but fool as you called me, I can +see that Heaven's retributive justice has chastised you through life. +Me you got into your power on the ground that I was insane, and the mind +of the daughter, in whom you took such pride, often totters on its +throne; her son was carried off, as was the rightful heir, and for long +weary years has she waited his return, while the daughter you loved has +been a stranger to your sight; and now deprived of fortune, dishonoured, +and disgraced, you are sinking unregretted into the grave." + +"Oh spare him! spare him!" cried Edda, gliding forward and taking the +old man's hand, for neither her mother nor Hilda could speak. "Let his +grey hairs, cousin Lawrence, be his protection." + +The old man's head had fallen on his bosom. He was breathing with +difficulty, but she did not perceive it. + +Ronald sprang to her side. "For your sake Edda, no one belonging to you +shall suffer; my generous father promised me this. Be mine. The only +objection Colonel Armytage urged against me no longer exists. Let us +afford a home to those whom it will be our duty to cherish and console." + +Colonel Armytage, who had through all the proceedings maintained as calm +and dignified a deportment as he could command, overheard the words, and +stepping forward said, "Captain Morton, or I should rather say, Captain +Brindister--for I fully believe that name is yours--you have acted nobly +and generously; you have taught me to think better of the world than I +was inclined to do. My daughter's hand is your's as her heart is +already, and may she prove as good a wife to you as her mother has to +me, and may her lot be far happier. I will use all my influence to +persuade Sir Marcus not to oppose your father's claims, and I trust that +the act he so long ago committed may not be bruited abroad to bring +discredit on the family." + +"After all, colonel, you are a wiser man than I took you for," said +Lawrence, resuming again his former and usual extravagant manner. "Blow +the wind as it may, you always sail before it, and you keep your hat +ready to bow to the rising star. That's the way of the world, and what +can a poor fool like me do but approve it. But what care I now how the +world wags!--`The prince has got his am again--his ain again!' Said I +not the truth when I sang that song!" + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. + +THE PRIEST GOES IN SEARCH OF HERNAN--THE "SCORPION" ENGAGES A FRENCH +SHIP--THE VICTOR'S RETURN. + +As the "Scorpion" required her rigging set up, Ronald had a good excuse +for remaining in Eastling Sound longer than he might otherwise have +done. He came on shore every day; and his first lieutenant, Mr Glover, +was wonderfully fertile in excuses for coming also, as soon as the +duties of the ship would allow him. It was remarked that when he came +Donna Julia took the opportunity of leaving her father's room, except +when he went in to visit the old man. At last Ronald taxed him with the +singularity of his proceedings. + +"The fact is, Captain Morton, that she is a sweetly pretty, good girl," +he answered; "and as, instead of being an heiress and a marchioness, she +is likely to be penniless, I've made up my mind to splice her, if she +will have me, as I couldn't otherwise look after her properly when her +old father slips his cable, which he may do any day." + +Ronald advised him to make his offer forthwith, which he did, and was +without hesitation accepted. The next day the old marquis died, and was +buried, with due ceremony, within the walls of the old Roman Catholic +chapel in which Hilda's unfortunate marriage took place. + +Lord Claymore was so much interested in Hilda that he did not +immediately take his departure from Whalsey. + +Pedro Alvarez had at once written to France, enclosing a letter to +Hernan, telling him of the wonderful change in his fortunes. It was +evident, however, that he was more likely to be discovered if some one +could go over to look for him. Father Mendez volunteered to go. + +Lord Claymore and Rolf supplied the father with ample funds, and he +forthwith started on his journey. + +It was thought prudent to keep the worthy Tacon a prisoner, in case he +might be required as a witness, should other claimants arise to oppose +Hernan; but as he was well fed and amply supplied with whisky, he did +not complain of his fate. + +At length the "Scorpion" was ready for sea. The sails were loosed, and +all was in readiness to weigh. Ronald was still on shore, and had +accompanied Edda to the summit of the eastern tower, the upper room in +which she had appropriated to herself. As they stood together on the +summit, his glance, as he looked seaward, fell on a sail just rising +above the horizon. He watched her narrowly, and pronounced that she was +drawing nearer. + +"Edda, farewell, dearest!" he exclaimed. "I must hasten on board, and +sail in chase of yonder vessel. I received notice this morning from +Lerwick that several merchantmen have been chased by a sloop-of-war, and +some expected have not made their appearance, which it is supposed she +may have captured. I must not delay a moment. Who knows but what I may +bring her back in triumph!" + +He hastened down to his boat, and as fast the crew could bend their +backs to the oars, pulled on board the corvette. The anchor was +tripped, and under all sail she stood away in chase of the stranger. + +Edda remained on the top of the tower watching the receding ship. She +was soon joined by Donna Julia. Poor girl! her lover too had gone away, +and she was equally anxious with Edda. + +They were not long in private, for they were soon joined by Lord +Claymore and Rolf Morton; Pedro Alvarez and other inmates of the castle +followed. + +The stranger, a corvette, was standing in towards Whalsey close hauled +on the starboard tack, and when the "Scorpion" rounded the island and +showed herself, she continued on the same course. + +"That fellow by the cut of his canvas is a Frenchman," observed Lord +Claymore; "what think you, Captain Alvarez?" + +"No doubt about it," answered Pedro Alvarez. "But I know of no French +ship in these seas." + +"See--see! there goes up the French flag!" exclaimed Lord Claymore; "she +is going about to, as she does not wish to commence the fight while the +`Scorpion' has the weather-gauge. A brave fellow commands that craft; +he has no intention, at all events, of avoiding an engagement." + +Both vessels were now seen standing away from the land, the "Scorpion" +steering both so as most speedily to come up with the enemy, and at the +same time to keep the advantage of the wind which she possessed, while +the other was manoeuvring to avoid a close engagement till she had +gained the weather-gauge. + +"Ronald will not let him do that," cried Rolf. "See, the `Scorpion' is +gaining on her. She has got her within range of her guns. There goes +the first shot." + +As he spoke, a puff of smoke was seen to proceed from the bows of the +English ship, and the sound of the gun struck faintly on their ears. +Another and another followed as soon as they could be brought to bear. + +As the "Scorpion" was coming up on the quarter of the French ship, the +latter could not at first discharge her broadside guns with any effect, +but as her enemy got more abeam of her she too opened fire, and shot +after shot was exchanged in rapid succession. + +The interest of all the spectators became intense, though exhibited in +different ways. Lord Claymore was all excitement and animation, +evidently wishing himself on board the "Scorpion." + +Rolf now waved his hand--now addressed his son--now cheered as the +"Scorpion" delivered an effective broadside. + +The colonel stood as if snuffing up the smoke of battle, and coolly +criticising the manoeuvres of the combatants. + +The interests of Pedro Alvarez seemed now to side with the flag of +France, under which he had so long fought, now with the "Scorpion," +commanded by his friend. Lawrence kept moving about the platform +rubbing his hands and cheering loudly every time a broadside was +delivered. + +"Well done, `Scorpion'!" + +"Bravo, my boy!" shouted Lord Claymore and Rolf, in concert, as the +Frenchman's foretop-mast went over the side. + +This caused him to luff up, and the "Scorpion," shooting ahead, poured a +raking broadside into his bows. On this, the Frenchman's helm was put +to starboard, by which he was able to fire his hitherto disengaged +starboard broadside. It had, however, the effect of bringing his head +round, and now once more he stood towards the land, while the "Scorpion" +ran on in an opposite direction. It was but for a minute, she also +quickly came about and ranged up on the enemy's weather beam, pouring in +the whole of her larboard broadside. + +As the smoke cleared away, the Frenchman was seen with her foremast and +main-top-mast gone, while the "Scorpion" did not appear to have lost a +spar. + +"Hurrah, my brave Ronald! the day is yours," shouted Rolf. "It is but a +matter of time." + +Still the Frenchman fired on, but the wreck of his masts seemed to +impede the working of his foremost guns. It appeared as if the +"Scorpion" was about again to pass ahead, when the two ships met, and +lay locked together in a deadly embrace. The guns continued to roar as +before, and clouds of smoke enveloped the combatants. It was a period +of awful suspense--no one on the platform spoke. The firing ceased; the +canopy of smoke disappeared. The two flags of England and France flew +out as before from the peaks of the two ships. + +"Morton has boarded the Frenchman," cried Lord Claymore at length. "No +doubt now as to the result. The Frenchmen fight bravely though. At +them again, my boys! Hurrah!--hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted Rolf. +"Down comes the Frenchmen's flag." + +The fight was over, the "Scorpion" was the victor. + +The two ships rapidly approached, steering for the west end of Eastling +Island, and when at the entrance of the sound, and not far from the +castle, they both came to an anchor. A boat was seen to be lowered from +the "Scorpion," and with rapid strokes to approach the castle. With +what eagerness did Edda watch her till she could distinguish the people +on board. She uttered a cry of joy as she saw Ronald himself steering +the boat. At the same time she perceived a person stretched at his +length in the stern sheets. Poor Donna Julia almost fainted with alarm +lest Glover should be the wounded man. Together they hurried down to +the landing-place, where the rest of the party had already gone. + +Where all this time was Hilda? She, too, had witnessed the fight. She +had seen the desperate struggle, the flag of France hauled down, the +ships brought to an anchor, and a wounded officer lowered into the boat. +A vague, yet overpowering dread had seized her. She attempted to go +down that she might meet the boat at the landing-place, but her strength +failed, and she sunk back in her chair near the window, whence she could +watch the boat as it glided rapidly by. + +Her sister found her thus. + +"Hilda, nerve yourself for a great trial," she said, as she took her +hand to lead her to the door, where Rolf Morton stood ready to conduct +her down the steps. + +A group was collected round a couch in the great hall. As Hilda +entered, they opened out, and a young man in the naval uniform of France +was seen extended upon it. Pedro Alvarez stood by him, holding one +hand, while the surgeon of the "Scorpion" was feeling the wrist of the +other, and administering a restorative. Hilda tottered forward. + +"Who is that?" she asked in a hollow voice, as she gazed eagerly at the +countenance of the wounded man. + +"Madam," said Pedro Alvarez, looking up, "that is Hernan Escalante, your +son." + +"Mother!" whispered the young officer, and the light returned to his +eyes, which had appeared so lustreless. + +"My son, my son, have I indeed found you, and thus sorely wounded!" +cried Hilda, kneeling down to impress a kiss on his brow, while she cast +her arms around him. + +"I shall soon recover now that I know I have you to live for," he +answered, in a faint voice. + +"Oh, will he live! Can you cure him?" she exclaimed, turning to the +surgeon. "Gold, any amount you can name, shall be your reward if he +recovers." + +"I will do my best, madam," said the surgeon, bowing; "he is young and +strong, and I have seen those who have received worse hurts survive." + +Young Hernan was by Hilda's directions carried to her room. Day and +night she watched over him, jealous of the interference of all others. + +Though he long hung between life and death, her constant care was +rewarded, and the surgeon pronounced him at length out of danger. He +remained, however, too weak to be moved. + +The only person besides the surgeon whom Hilda would allow to come near +him was the faithful pastor of Lunnasting. He knew well how to minister +to a soul diseased; and Hilda herself, while listening to the words of +Truth which were addressed to her son, had her own mind enlightened, and +was brought to trust to the loving mercy of Him who had restored to her +her long-lost child. Hernan, too, awakened to a sense of the sinfulness +of the designs which his own evil passions had induced him to entertain, +sought for pardon through the only means by which pardon can be +obtained. + +When at length he rose from his sick bed he was truly an altered man, +and Pedro Alvarez acknowledged that he loved him better than ever, +although a Protestant minister had been the means of his reformation. + +Sir Marcus Wardhill died shortly after, in a state of utter imbecility, +without recognising his grandson. + +On her father's death Hilda accompanied her son to Spain, where Hernan +succeeded in establishing his rights to his paternal estates. He had, +however, never entirely recovered from his wounds, and in two years +Hilda had to endure the grief of seeing him die in her arms; but she +bore it with fortitude, and, invited by her loving relatives at +Lunnasting, returned to spend the evening of her days in Shetland. + +Glover having married Donna Julia, inherited Hernan's estates in Spain. +Their children, brought up partly in the Protestant faith, became the +ancestors of those who have since fought the battle for the truth in +that long-benighted land. + +Pedro Alvarez not being perfectly satisfied that the officers of the +Inquisition, though itself abolished, might not by some means get hold +of him, continued a welcome inmate to the end of his days at Lunnasting +Castle, the constant companion of Lawrence Brindister, who, on the death +of Sir Marcus recovered his intellect so far that he was looked upon by +Ronald's large family of young cousins as a most agreeable and amusing +old gentleman, the chief promoter of every sort of pastime and amusement +in which they were indulged. + +For several years a gaunt old beggar might be seen at the corner of one +of the streets of Cadiz, surpassing his mendicant brethren in the +loudness of his complaints and the squalor of the rags which covered +him; and one day Glover, passing by, recognised in him his quondam +acquaintance, the ex-pirate, Tacon. + +Father Mendez was never again heard of, nor was any surmise offered as +to what had become of him. + +As Admiral Sir Ronald Brindister might object to have more of his +private history brought to light, we must bring, our tale to a +conclusion. + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Ronald Morton, or the Fire Ships, by +W.H.G. 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