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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/28418-8.txt b/28418-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3117aa8 --- /dev/null +++ b/28418-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6493 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Black Buccaneer, by Stephen W. Meader + +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: The Black Buccaneer + +Author: Stephen W. Meader + +Release Date: March 27, 2009 [EBook #28418] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BLACK BUCCANEER *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Bruce Thomas and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: "If a man starts to haul on that line, I'll shoot him +dead!" [See page 62.]] + + + THE BLACK BUCCANEER + + BY + + STEPHEN W. MEADER + + ILLUSTRATIONS BY THE AUTHOR + + + NEW YORK + + HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY + + + COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY + HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY, INC. + + Twelfth printing, May, 1940 + + + PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA + BY QUINN & BODEN COMPANY, INC., RAHWAY, N. J. + + + + + +FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS + + +"If a man starts to haul on that line, I'll shoot him +dead!" _Frontispiece_ + + FACING + PAGE + +"Ho, ho, young woodcock, and how do ye like the +company of Stede Bonnet's rovers?" 23 + +"Don't say a word--sh!--easy there--are you +awake?" 143 + +A sudden red glare on the walls of the chasm 223 + +Job had bracketed his target 247 + + + + +THE BLACK BUCCANEER + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +On the morning of the 15th of July, 1718, anyone who had been standing +on the low rocks of the Penobscot bay shore might have seen a large, +clumsy boat of hewn planking making its way out against the tide that +set strongly up into the river mouth. She was loaded deep with a +shifting, noisy cargo that lifted white noses and huddled broad, woolly +backs--in fact, nothing less extraordinary than fifteen fat Southdown +sheep and a sober-faced collie-dog. The crew of this remarkable craft +consisted of a sinewy, bearded man of forty-five who minded sheet and +tiller in the stern, and a boy of fourteen, tall and broad for his age, +who was constantly employed in soothing and restraining the bleating +flock. + +No one was present to witness the spectacle because, in those remote +days, there were scarcely a thousand white men on the whole coast of +Maine from Kittery to Louisberg, while at this season of the year the +Indians were following the migrating game along the northern rivers. The +nearest settlement was a tiny log hamlet, ten miles up the bay, which +the two voyagers had left that morning. + +The boy's keen face, under its shock of sandy hair, was turned toward +the sea and the dim outline of land that smudged the southern horizon. + +"Father," he suddenly asked, "how big is the Island?" + +"You'll see soon enough, Jeremy. Stop your questioning," answered the +man. "We'll be there before night and I'll leave you with the sheep. +You'll be lonesome, too, if I mistake not." + +[Illustration: Jeremy] + +"Huh!" snorted Jeremy to himself. + +Indeed it was not very likely that this lad, raised on the wildest of +frontiers, would mind the prospect of a night alone on an island ten +miles out at sea. He had seen Indian raids before he was old enough to +know what frightened him; had tried his best with his fists to save his +mother in the Amesbury massacre, six years before; and in a little +settlement on the Saco River, when he was twelve, he had done a man's +work at the blockhouse loophole, loading nearly as fast and firing as +true as any woodsman in the company. Danger and strife had given the +lad an alert self-confidence far beyond his years. + +Amos Swan, his father, was one of those iron spirits that fought out the +struggle with the New England wilderness in the early days. He had +followed the advancing line of colonization into the Northeast, hewing +his way with the other pioneers. What he sought was a place to raise +sheep. Instead of increasing, however, his flock had dwindled--wolves +here--lynxes there--dogs in the larger settlements. After the last +onslaught he had determined to move with his possessions and his two +boys--Tom, nineteen years old, and the smaller Jeremy--to an island too +remote for the attacks of any wild animal. + +So he had set out in a canoe, chosen his place of habitation and built a +temporary shelter on it for family and flock, while at home the boys, +with the help of a few settlers, had laid the keel and fashioned the +hull of a rude but seaworthy boat, such as the coast fishermen used. + +Preparations had been completed the evening before, and now, while Tom +cared for half the flock on the mainland, the father and younger son +were convoying the first load to their new home. + +In the day when these events took place, the hundreds of rocky bits of +land that line the Maine coast stood out against the gray sea as bleak +and desolate as at the world's beginning. Some were merely huge +up-ended rocks that rose sheer out of the Atlantic a hundred feet high, +and on whose tops the sea-birds nested by the million. The larger ones, +however, had, through countless ages, accumulated a layer of earth that +covered their gaunt sides except where an occasional naked rib of gray +granite was thrust out. Sparse grass struggled with the junipers for a +foothold along the slopes, and low black firs, whose seed had been +wind-blown or bird-carried from the mainland, climbed the rugged crest +of each island. Few men visited them, and almost none inhabited them. +Since the first long Norse galley swung by to the tune of the singing +rowers, the number of passing ships had increased and their character +had changed, but the isles were rarely touched at except by mishap--a +shipwreck--or a crew in need of water. The Indians, too, left the outer +ones alone, for there was no game to be killed there and the fishing was +no better than in the sheltered inlets. + +It was to one of the larger of these islands, twenty miles south of the +Penobscot Settlement and a little to the southwest of Mount Desert, that +a still-favoring wind brought the cumbersome craft near mid-afternoon. +In a long bay that cut deep into the landward shore Amos Swan had found +a pebbly beach a score of yards in length, where a boat could be run in +at any tide. As it was just past the flood, the man and boy had little +difficulty in beaching their vessel far up toward high water-mark. Next, +one by one, the frightened sheep were hoisted over the gunwale into the +shallow water. The old ram, chosen for the first to disembark, quickly +waded out upon dry land, and the others followed as fast as they were +freed, while the collie barked at their heels. The lightened boat was +run higher up the beach, and the man and boy carried load after load of +tools, equipment and provisions up the slope to the small log shack, +some two hundred yards away. + +Jeremy's father helped him drive the sheep into a rude fenced pen beside +the hut, then hurried back to launch his boat and make the return trip. +As he started to climb in, he patted the boy's shoulder. "Good-by, lad," +said he gently. "Take care of the sheep. Eat your supper and go to bed. +I'll be back before this time tomorrow." + +"Aye, Father," answered Jeremy. He tried to look cheerful and +unconcerned, but as the sail filled and the boat drew out of the cove he +had to swallow hard to keep up appearances. For some reason he could not +explain, he felt homesick. Only old Jock, the collie, who shouldered up +to him and gave his hand a companionable lick, kept the boy from +shedding a few unmanly tears. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +The shelter that Amos Swan had built stood on a small bare knoll, at an +elevation of fifty or sixty feet above the sea. Behind it and sheltering +it from easterly and southerly winds rose the island in sharp and rugged +ridges to a high hilltop perhaps a mile away. Between lay ascending +stretches of dark fir woods, rough outcroppings of stone and patches of +hardy grass and bushes. The crown of the hill was a bare granite ledge, +as round and nearly as smooth as an inverted bowl. + +Jeremy, scrambling through the last bit of clinging undergrowth in the +late afternoon, came up against the steep side of this rocky summit and +paused for breath. He had left Jock with the sheep, which comfortably +chewed the cud in their pen, and, slipping a sort pistol, heavy and +brass-mounted, into his belt, had started to explore a bit. + +He must have worked halfway round the granite hillock before he found a +place that offered foothold for a climb. A crevice in the side of the +rock in which small stones had become wedged gave him the chance he +wanted, and it took him only a minute to reach the rounded surface near +the top. The ledge on which he found himself was reasonably flat, nearly +circular, and perhaps twenty yards across. + +[Illustration] + +Its height above the sea must have been several hundred feet, for in the +clear light Jeremy could see not only the whole outline of the island +but most of the bay as well, and far to the west the blue masses of the +Camden Mountains. He was surprised at the size of the new domain spread +out at his feet. The island seemed to be about seven miles in length by +five at its widest part. Two deep bays cut into its otherwise rounded +outline. It was near the shore of the northern one that the hut and +sheep-pen were built. Southwesterly from the hill and farther away, +Jeremy could see the head of the second and larger inlet. Between the +bays the distance could hardly have been more than two miles, but a high +ridge, the backbone of the island, which ran westward from the hilltop, +divided them by its rugged barrier. + +Jeremy looked away up the bay where he could still see the speck of +white sail that showed his father hurrying landward on a long tack with +the west wind abeam. The boy's loneliness was gone. He felt himself the +lord of a great maritime province, which, from his high watchtower, he +seemed to hold in undisputed sovereignty. + +Beneath him and off to the southward lay a little island or two, and +then the cold blue of the Atlantic stretching away and away to the +world's rim. + +Even as he glowed with this feeling of dominion, he suddenly became +aware of a gray spot to the southwest, a tiny spot that nevertheless +interrupted his musing. It was a ship, apparently of good size, bound up +the coast, and bowling smartly nearer before the breeze. The boy's dream +of empire was shattered. He was no longer alone in his universe. + +The sun was setting, and he turned with a yawn to descend. Ships were +interesting, but just now he was hungry. At the edge of the crevice he +looked back once more, and was surprised to see a second sail behind the +first--a smaller vessel, it seemed, but shortening the distance between +them rapidly. He was surprised and somewhat disgusted that so much +traffic should pass the doors of this kingdom which he had thought to be +at the world's end. So he clambered down the cliff and made his way +homeward, this time following the summit of the ridge till he came +opposite the northern inlet. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +It was growing dark already in the dense fir growth that covered the +hillside, and when Jeremy suddenly stepped upon the moss at the brink of +a deep spring, he had to catch a branch to keep from falling in. There +was an opening in the trees above and enough light came through for him +to see the white sand bubbling at the bottom. + +At one edge the water lapped softly over the moss and trickled down the +northern slope of the hill in a little rivulet, which had in the course +of time shaped itself a deep, well-defined bed a yard or two across. +Following this, the boy soon came out upon the grassy slope beside the +sheep-pen. He looked in at the placid flock, brought a bucket of water +from the little stream, and, not caring to light a lantern, ate his +supper of bread and cheese outside the hut on the slope facing the bay. +The night settled chill but without fog. The boy wrapped his heavy +homespun cloak round him, snuggled close to Jock's hairy side, and in +his lonesomeness fell back on counting the stars as they came out. First +the great yellow planet in the west, then, high overhead, the sparkling +white of what, had he known it, was Vega; and in a moment a dozen +others were in view before he could number them--Regulus, Altair, Spica, +and, low in the south, the angry fire of Antares. + +For him they were unnamed, save for the peculiarities he discovered in +each. In common with most boys he could trace the dipper and find the +North Star, but he regrouped most of the constellations to suit himself, +and was able to see the outline of a wolf or the head of an Indian that +covered half the sky whenever he chose. He wondered what had become of +Orion, whose brilliant galaxy of stars appeals to every boy's fancy. It +had vanished since the spring. In it he had always recognized the form +of a brig he had seen hove-to in Portsmouth Harbor--high poop, +skyward-sticking bowsprit and ominous, even row of gun-ports where she +carried her carronades--three on a side. How those black cannon-mouths +had gaped at the small boy on the dock! He wondered-- + +"Boom...!" came a hollow sound that seemed to hang like mist in a long +echo over the island. Before Jeremy could jump to his feet he heard the +rumbling report a second time. He was all alert now, and thought +rapidly. Those sounds--there came another even as he stood there--must +be cannon-shots--nothing less. The ships he had seen from the hilltop +were men-of-war, then. Could the French have sent a fleet? He did not +know of any recent fighting. What could it mean? + +Deep night had settled over the island, and the fir-woods looked very +black and uninviting to Jeremy when he started up the hill once more. + +As their shadow engulfed him, he was tempted to turn back--how he was to +wish he had done so in the days that followed--but the hardy strain of +adventure in his spirit kept his jaw set and his legs working steadily +forward into the pitch-black undergrowth. Once or twice he stumbled over +fallen logs or tripped in the rocks, but he held on upward till the +trees thinned and he felt that the looming shape of the ledge was just +in front. His heart seemed to beat almost as loudly as the cannonade +while he felt his way up the broken stones. + +Panting with excitement, he struggled to the top and threw himself +forward to the southern edge. + +A dull-gray, quiet sea met the dim line of the sky in the south. Halfway +between land and horizon, perhaps a league distant, Jeremy saw two vague +splotches of darkness. Then a sudden flame shot out from the smaller +one, on the right. Seconds elapsed before his waiting ear heard the +booming roar of the report. He looked for the bigger ship to answer in +kind, but the next flash came from the right as before. This time he +saw a bright sheet of fire go up from the vessel on the left, +illuminating her spars and topsails. The sound of the cannon was drowned +in an instant by a terrific explosion. Jeremy trembled on his rock. The +ships were in darkness for a moment after that first great flare, and +then, before another shot could be fired, little tongues of flame began +to spread along the hull and rigging of the larger craft. Little by +little the fire gained headway till the whole upper works were a single +great torch. By its light the victorious vessel was plainly visible. She +was a schooner-rigged sloop-of-war, of eighty or ninety tons' burden, +tall-masted and with a great sweep of mainsail. Below her deck the +muzzles of brass guns gleamed in the black ports. As the blazing ship +drifted helplessly off to the east, the sloop came about, and, to +Jeremy's amazement, made straight for the southern bay of the island. He +lay as if glued to his rock, watching the stranger hold her course up +the inlet and come head to wind within a dozen boat-lengths of the +shore. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +One of the first things a backwoods boy learns is that it pays to mind +your own business, _after_ you know what the other fellow is going to +do. Jeremy had been threshing his brain for a solution to the scene he +had just witnessed. Whether the crew of the strange sloop, just then +effecting a landing in small boats, were friends or enemies it was +impossible to guess. Jeremy feared for the sheep. Fresh meat would be +welcome to any average ship's crew, and the lad had no doubt that they +would use no scruple in dealing with a youngster of his age. He must +know who they were and whether they intended crossing the island. There +was no feeling of mere adventure in his heart now. It was purely sense +of duty that drove his trembling legs down the hillside. He shivered +miserably in the night air and felt for his pistol-butt, which gave him +scant comfort. + +[Illustration] + +The ridge, which has already been described, bore in a southerly +direction from the base of the ledge, and sloped steeply to the head of +the southern inlet. High above the arm of the bay, where the sloop was +now moored, and scarcely a quarter of a mile from the shore, the ridge +projected in a rough granite crag like a bent knee. Jeremy had a very +fair plan of all this in his mind, for his trained woodsman's eye had +that afternoon noted every landmark and photographed it. He followed +this mental map as he stumbled through the trees. It seemed a long time, +perhaps twenty or thirty minutes, before he came out, stifling the sound +of his gasping breath, and crouched for a minute on the bare stone to +get his wind. Then he crawled forward along the rough cliff top, feeling +his way with his hands. Soon he heard a distant shout. A faint glow of +light shone over the edge of the crag. As he drew near, he saw, on the +beach below, a great fire of driftwood and some score or more of men +gathered in the circle of light. The distance was too great for him to +tell much about their faces, but Jeremy was sure that no English or +Colonial sloop-of-war would be manned by such a motley company. Their +clothes varied from the sea-boots and sailor's jerkin of the average +mariner to slashed leather breeches of antique cut and red cloth skirts +reaching from the girdle to the knees. Some of the group wore +three-cornered hats, others seamen's caps of rough wool, and here and +there a face grimaced from beneath a twisted rag rakishly askew. +Everywhere about them the fire gleamed on small-arms of one kind or +another. Nearly every man carried a wicked-looking hanger at his side +and most had one or two pistols tucked into waistband or holster. + +This desperate gang was in a constant commotion. Even as Jeremy watched, +a half dozen men were rolling a barrel up the beach. Wild howls greeted +its appearance and as it was hustled into the circle of bright light, +those who had been dancing, quarreling and throwing dice on the other +side of the fire fell over each other to join the mob that surrounded +it. The leaping flames threw a weird, uncertain brilliance upon the +scene that made Jeremy blink his eyes to be sure that it was real. With +every moment he had become more certain what manner of men these were. + +His lips moved to shape a single terrible word--"Pirates!" + +The buccaneers were much talked of in those days, and though the New +England ports were less troubled, because better guarded, than those +farther south, there had been many sea-rovers hanged in Boston within +Jeremy's memory. + +As if to clinch the argument a dozen of the ruffians swung their +cannikins of rum in the air and began to shout a song at the top of +their lungs. All the words that reached Jeremy were oaths except one +phrase at the end of the refrain, repeated so often that he began to +make out the sense of it. "Walk the bloody beggars all below!" it seemed +to be--or "overboard"--he could not tell which. Either seemed bad enough +to the boy just then and he turned to crawl homeward, with a sick +feeling at the pit of his stomach. + +His way led straight back across the ridge to the spring and thence down +to the shelter on the north shore. He made the best speed he was able +through the woods until he reached the height of land near the middle of +the island. He had crashed along caring only to reach the sheep-pen and +home, but as he stood for a moment to get his breath and his bearings, +the westerly breeze brought him a sound of voices on the ridge close by. +He prayed fervently that the wind which had warned him had served also +to carry away the sound of his progress. Cowering against a tree, he +stood perfectly still while the voices--there seemed to be two--came +nearer and nearer. One was a very deep, rough bass that laughed hoarsely +between speeches. The other voice was of a totally different sort, with +a cool, even tone, and a rather precise way of clipping the words. + +"See here, David," Jeremy understood the latter to say, "It's for you to +remember those bearings, not me. You're the sailor here. Give them again +now!" + +"Huh!" grunted Big Voice, "two hunder' an' ten north to a sharp rock; +three-score an' five northeast by east to an oak tree in a gully; two +an' thirty north to a fir tree blazed on the south; five north _an'_ +there you are!" He ended in a chuckle as if pleased by the accuracy of +his figures. + +"Ay, well enough," the other responded, "but it must be wrong, for +here's the blazed tree and no spring by it." + +Close below, Jeremy saw their lantern flash and a moment later the two +men were in full view striding among the trees. As he had almost +expected from their voices, one was a tremendous, bearded fellow in +sea-boots and jerkin and with a villainous turban over one eye, while +his companion was a lean, smooth-shaven man, dressed in a fine buff +coat, well-fitting breeches and hose, and shoes with gleaming buckles. + +They must have passed within ten feet of the terrified Jeremy while the +tossing lantern, swung from the hairy fist of the man called David, +shone all too distinctly upon the boy's huddled shape. When they were +gone by he allowed himself a sigh of relief, and shifted his weight from +one foot to the other. A twig broke loudly and both men stopped and +listened. "'Twas nought!" growled David. The other man paid no attention +to him other than to say, "Hold you the lantern here!" and advanced +straight toward Jeremy's tree. The boy froze against it, immovable, but +it was of no avail. + +"Aha," said the lean man, quietly, and gripped the lad's arm with his +hand. As he dragged him into the light, his companion came up, staring +with astonishment. A moment he was speechless, then began ripping out +oath after oath under his breath. "How," he asked at length, "did the +blarsted whelp come here?" The smaller man, who had been looking keenly +into Jeremy's face, suddenly addressed him: "Here you, speak up! Do you +live here?" he cried. "Ay," said the boy, beginning to get a grip on his +thoughts. + +"How long has there been a settlement here? There was none last Autumn," +continued the well-dressed man. Jeremy had recovered his wits and +reasoned quickly. He had little chance of escape for the present, while +he must at all costs keep the sheep safe. So he lied manfully, praying +the while to be forgiven. + +"'Tis a new colony," he mumbled, "a great new colony from Boston town. +There be three ships of forty guns each in the north harbor, and they be +watching for pirates in these parts," he finished. + +"Boy!" growled the bearded man, seizing Jeremy's wrist and twisting it +horribly. "Boy! Are you telling the truth?" With face white and set and +knees trembling from the pain, the lad nodded and kept his voice steady +as he groaned an "Ay!" + +The two men looked at each other, scowling. The giant broke silence. +"We'd best haul out now, Cap'n," he said. + +"And so I believe," the other replied, "But the water-casks are empty. +Here!" as he turned to Jeremy, "show us the spring." It was not far away +and the boy found it without trouble. + +"Now, Dave Herriot," said the Captain, "stay you here with the light, +that we may return hither the easier. Boy, come with me. Make no fuss, +either, or 'twill be the worse for you." And so saying he walked quickly +back toward the southern shore, holding the stumbling Jeremy's wrist in +a grip of iron. + +Crashing down the hill through the brush, the lad had scant time or will +for observing things about him, but as they crossed a gully he saw, or +fancied he saw, on the knee-shaped crag above, the slouched figure of a +buccaneer silhouetted against the sky. It was not the bearded giant +called Herriot, but another, Jeremy was sure. He had no time for +conjectures, for they plunged into the thicket and birch limbs whipped +him across the face. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +The events of that night made a terribly clear impression on the mind of +the young New Englander. Years afterward he would wake with a shiver, +imagining that the relentless hand of the pirate captain was again +dragging him toward an unknown fate. It must have been the darkness and +the sudden unexpectedness of it all that frightened him, for as soon as +they came down the rocks into the flaring firelight he was able to +control himself once more. The wild carouse was still in progress among +the crew. Fierce faces, with unkempt beards and cruel lips, leered redly +from above hairy, naked chests. Eyes, lit from within by liquor and from +without by the dancing flames, gleamed below black brows. Many of the +men wore earrings and metal bands about the knots of their pig-tails, +while silver pistol-butts flashed everywhere. + +As the Captain strode into the center of this group, the swinging chorus +fell away to a single drunken voice which kept on uncertainly from +behind the rum-barrel. + +"Silence!" said the Captain sharply. The voice dwindled and ceased. All +was quiet about the fire. "Men," went on Jeremy's captor, "clear heads, +all, for this is no time for drinking. We have found this boy upon the +hill, who tells of a fleet of armed ships not above a league from here. +We must set sail within an hour and be out of reach before dawn. Every +man now take a water-keg and follow me. You, Job Howland, keep the boy +and the watch here on the beach." + +Fresh commotion broke out as he finished. "Ay, ay, Captain Bonnet!" came +in a broken chorus, as the crew, partially sobered by the words, hurried +to the long-boat, where a line of small kegs lay in the sand. A moment +later they were gone, plowing up the hillside. Jeremy stood where he had +been left. A tall, slack-jointed pirate in the most picturesque attire +strolled over to the boy's side and looked him up and down with a +roguish grin. Under his cloak Jeremy had on fringed leather breeches and +tunic such as most of the northern colonists wore. The pirate, seeing +the rough moccasins and deerskin trousers, burst into a roar. "Ho, ho, +young woodcock, and how do ye like the company of Major Stede Bonnet's +rovers?" + +[Illustration: "Ho, ho, young woodcock, and how do ye like the company +of Stede Bonnet's rovers?"] + +The lad said nothing, shut his jaw hard and looked the big buccaneer +squarely in the face. There was no fear in his expression. The man +nodded and chuckled approvingly. "That's pluck, boy, that's pluck," said +he. "We'll clip the young cock's shank-feathers, and maybe make a +pirate of him yet." He stooped over to feel the buckskin fringe on +Jeremy's leg. The boy's hand went into his shirt like a flash. He had +pulled out the pistol and cocked it, when he felt both legs snatched +from under him. + +His head hit the ground hard and he lay dazed for a second or two. When +he regained his senses, Job Howland stood astride of him coolly tucking +the pistol into his own waist-band. "Ay," said Job, "ye'll be a fine +buccaneer, only ye should have struck with the butt. I heard the click." +The pirate seemed to hold no grudge for what had occurred and sat down +beside Jeremy in a friendly fashion. + +"Free tradin' ain't what it was," he confided. "When Billy Kidd cleared +for the southern seas twenty years agone, they say he had papers from +the king himself, and no man-of-war dared come anigh him." He swore +gently and reminiscently as he went on to detail the recent severities +of the Massachusetts government and the insecurity of buccaneers about +the Virginia capes. "They do say, tho', as Cap'n Edward Teach, that they +call Blackbeard, is plumb thick with all the magistrates and planters in +Carolina, an' sails the seas as safe as if he had a fleet of twenty +ships," said Job. "We sailed along with him for a spell last year, but +him an' the old man couldn't make shift to agree. Ye see this +Blackbeard is so used to havin' his own way he wanted to run Stede +Bonnet, too. That made Stede boilin', but we was undermanned just then +and had to bide our time to cut loose. + +"Cap'n Bonnet, ye see, is short on seamanship but long in his sword arm. +Don't ye never anger him. He's terrible to watch when he's raised. Dave +Herriot sails the ship mostly, but when we sight a big merchantman with +maybe a long nine or two aboard, then's when Stede Bonnet comes on deck. +That Frenchman we sunk tonight, blast her bloody spars"--here the lank +pirate interrupted himself to curse his luck, and continued--"probably +loaded with sugar and Jamaica rum from Martinique and headed up for the +French provinces. Well, we'll never know--that's sure!" He paused, bit +off the end of a rope of black tobacco and meditatively surveyed the +boy. "I'm from New England myself," said he after a time. "Sailed honest +out of Providence Port when I was a bit bigger nor you. Then when I was +growed and an able seaman on a Virginia bark in the African trade, along +comes Cap'n Ben Hornygold, the great rover of those days and picks us +up. Twelve of the likeliest he takes on his ship, the rest he maroons +somewhere south of the Cubas, and sends our bark into Charles Town under +a prize crew. So I took to buccaneering, and I must own I've always +found it a fine occupation--not to say that it's made me rich--maybe it +might if I'd kept all my sharin's." + +[Illustration: Job Howland] + +This life-history, delivered almost in one breath, had caused Howland an +immense amount of trouble with his quid of tobacco, which nearly choked +him as he finished. Except for the sound of his vast expectorations, the +pair on the beach were quiet for what seemed to Jeremy a long while. +Then on the rocks above was heard the clatter of shoes and the bumping +of kegs. Job rose, grasping the hand of his charge, and they went to +meet the returning sailors. + +To the young woodsman, utterly unused to the ways of the sea, the next +half-hour was a bewildering mêlée of hurrying, sweating toil, with +low-spoken orders and half-caught oaths and the glimmer of a dying fire +over all the scene. He was rowed to the sloop with the first boatload +and there Job Howland set him to work passing water-kegs into the hold. +He had had no rest in over twenty hours and his whole body ached as the +last barrel bumped through the hatch. All the crew were aboard and a +knot of swaying bodies turned the windlass to the rhythm of a muttered +chanty. The chain creaked and rattled over the bits till the dripping +anchor came out of water and was swung inboard. The mainsail and +foresail went up with a bang, as a dozen stalwart pirates manned the +halyards. + +Dave Herriot stood at the helm, abaft the cabin companion, and his bull +voice roared the orders as he swung her head over and the breeze +steadied in the tall sails. + +"Look alive there, mates!" he bellowed. "Stand by now to set the main +jib!" Like most of the pirate sloops-of-war, Stede Bonnet's _Revenge_ +was schooner-rigged. She carried fore and main top-sails of the old, +square style, and her long main boom and immense spread of jib gave her +a tremendous sail area for her tonnage. The breeze had held steadily +since sundown and was, if anything, rising a little. Short seas slapped +and gurgled at the forefoot with a pleasant sound. Jeremy, desperately +tired, had dropped by the mast, scarcely caring what happened to him. +The sloop slid out past the dark headlands, and heeled to leeward with a +satisfied grunt of her cordage that came gently to the boy's ears. His +head sank to the deck and he slept dreamlessly. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +A rough hand shook him awake. He was lying in a dingy bunk somewhere in +the gloom of the cramped forecastle. "Come, young'un," growled a voice, +strange to Jeremy, "you've slept the clock around! Cap'n wants you aft." + +The lad ached in all his bones as he rolled over toward the light. As he +came to a sitting position on the edge of the bunk, he gave a start, for +the face scowling down at him looked utterly fiendish to his sleepy +eyes. Its ugliness fairly shocked him awake. The man had a grim, bristly +jaw and a twisted mouth. His eyes were small and cruel, so light in +color that they looked unspeakably cold. The livid gray line of a +sword-cut ran from his left eyebrow to his right cheek, and his nose was +crushed inward where the scar crossed its bridge, giving him more the +look of an animal than of a man. A greasy red cloth bound his head and +produced a final touch of barbarity. To the half-dazed Jeremy there +seemed something strangely familiar about his pose, but as he still +stared he was jerked to his feet by the collar. "Don't stand there, you +lubber!" shouted the man with the broken nose. "Get aft, an' lively!" A +hard shove sent the boy spinning to the foot of the ladder. He climbed +dizzily and stumbled on deck, looking about him, uncertain where to go. +It must have been past noon, for the sun was on the starboard bow. + +The _Revenge_ was close-hauled and running southwest on a fresh west +wind. Dave Herriot leaned against the weather rail, a short clay pipe in +one fist and his bushy brown beard in the other. At the wheel was a +swarthy man with earrings, who looked like a Portuguese or a Spaniard. +Glancing over his shoulder, Jeremy saw most of the crew lolled about +forward of the fo'c's'le hatch. Herriot looked up and called him gruffly +but not unkindly, the boy thought. He advanced close to the +sailing-master, staggering a little on the uneven footing. + +"Now look sharp, lad," said the pirate in a stern voice, "and mind what +I tell 'ee. There's nought to fear aboard this sloop for them as does +what they're told. We run square an' fair, an' while Major Stede Bonnet +and David Herriot gives the orders, no man'll harm ye. _But_"--and a +hard look came into the tanned face--"if there's any runnin' for shore +'twixt now and come time to _set_ ye there, or if ever ye takes it in +yer head to disobey orders, we'll keel-haul ye straight and think no +more about it. You're big and strong, an' may make a foremast hand. For +the first on it, until ye get your sea legs, ye can be a sort o' cabin +boy. Cap'n wants ye below now. Quick!" + +Jeremy scrambled down the companionway indicated by a gesture of +Herriot's pipe. There was a door on each side and one at the end of the +small passage. He advanced and knocked at this last one, and was told, +in the Captain's clear voice, to open. + +Major Bonnet sat at a good mahogany table in the middle of the cabin. +Behind him were a bunk, two chairs and a rack of small arms, containing +half a dozen guns, four brace of pistols, and several swords. He had +been reading a book, evidently one of the score or more which stood in a +case on the right. Jeremy gasped, for he had never seen so many books in +all his life. As the Captain looked up, a stern frown came over his +face, never a particularly merry one. The boy, ignorant as he was of +pirates, could not help feeling that this man's quietly gentle +appearance fitted but ill with the blood-thirsty reputation he bore. His +clothes were of good quality and cut, his grayish hair neatly tied +behind with a black bow and worn unpowdered. His clean-shaven face was +long and austere--like a Boston preacher's, thought Jeremy--and although +the forehead above the intelligent eyes was high and broad, there was a +strange lack of humor in its vertical wrinkles. + +"Well, my lad," said the cool voice at last, "you're aboard the +_Revenge_ and a long way from your settlement, so you might as well make +the best of it. How long you _stay_ aboard depends on your behavior. We +might put into the Chesapeake, and if there are no cutters about, I'd +consider setting you ashore. But if you like the sea and take to it, +there's room for a hand in the fo'c's'le. Then again, if you try any +tricks, you'll leave us--feet first, over the rail." He leaned forward +and hissed slightly as he pronounced the last words. Something in the +eyes under his knotted gray brows struck deeper terror into the boy's +heart than either Herriot's threat or the cruel face of the man with the +broken nose. For that instant Bonnet seemed deadly as a snake. + +[Illustration: Stede Bonnet] + +Jeremy was much relieved when he was bidden to go. The sailing-master +stood by the companionway as he ascended. "You'll bunk for'ard," he +remarked curtly. "Go up with the crew now." The boy slipped into the +crowd that lay around the windlass as unobstrusively as he could. A +thick-set, bearded man with a great hairy chest, bare to the yellow sash +at his waist, was speaking. "Ay," he said, "a hundred Indians was dead +in the town before ever we landed. They didn't know where to run except +into the huts, an' those our round-shot plowed through like so much +grass--which was what they was, mostly. Then old Johnny Buck piped the +longboat overside and on shore we went, firin' all the time. Cap'n Vane +himself, with a dirk in his teeth and sword an' pistol out, goes +swearin' up the roadway an' we behind him, our feet stickin' in blood. A +few come out shootin' their little arrers at us, but we herded 'em an' +drove 'em, yellin' all the time. At close quarters their knives was no +match for cutlasses. So we went slashin' through the town, burnin' 'em +out an' stickin' 'em when they ran. Our sword arms was red to shoulder +that day, but we was like men far gone in rum an' never stayed while an +Indian held up head. Then we dropped and slept where we fell, across a +corp', like as not, clean tuckered, every man of us. Come mornin', the +sight and smell of the place made us sober enough and not a man in the +crew wanted to go further into the island. There was no gold in the +town, neither. All we got was a few hogs and sheep. We left the same +day, for it come on hot an' we had no way to clean up the mess. That +island must ha' been a nuisance to the whole Caribbean for weeks." + +Job Howland nodded and spat as the story ended. "Ye're right, George +Dunkin," he said. "That was a day's work. Vane's a hard man, I'm told, +an' that crew in the _Chance_ was one of his worst." He was interrupted +by a villainous old sea-dog with a sparse fringe of white beard, who +sprawled by the hatchway. He cleared his throat hoarsely and spoke with +a deep wheeze between sentences. + +"All that was nowt to our fight off Panama in the spring of 'eighty," he +growled. "We weren't slaughterin' Indians, but Spaniards that could +fight, an' did. What's more, they were three good barks and nigh three +hundred men to our sixty-eight men paddlin' in canoes. Ah, that was a +day's work, if you will! I saw Peter Harris, as brave a commander as +ever flew the black whiff, shot through both legs, but he was a-swingin' +his cutlass and tryin' to climb the Spaniard's side with the rest when +our canoe boarded. Through most of that battle we was standin' in +bottoms leakin' full of bullet holes, a-firin' into the Biscayner's +gun-ports, an' cheerin' the bloody lungs out of us! When we got aboard, +their hold was full of dead men an' their scuppers washin' red. They +asked no quarter an' on we went, up an' down decks, give an' take. At +the last, six men o' them surrendered. The rest--eighty from the one +ship--we fed to the sharks before we could swab decks next day. Eh, but +that was a v'yage, an' it cost the seas more good buccaneers than ever +was hanged. Harris an' Sawkins an' half o' their best men we left on the +Isthmus. But out of one galleon we took fifty thousand pieces-of-eight, +besides silver bars in cord piles. Think o' that, lads!" + +A fair, stocky, young deserter from a British man-of-war--his forearm +bore the tattooed service anchor--broke in, his eyes gleaming greedily +at the thought of the treasure. + +"That was in New Panama," he cried. "Do you mind old Ben Gasket we took +off Silver Key last summer! Eighty years old he was, and marooned there +for half his life. He was with Morgan at the great sack of Old Panama +before most on us was born. An' Old Ben, he said there was nigh two +hundred horse-loads o' gold an' pearls, rubies, emeralds and diamonds +took out o' that there town, an' it a-burnin' still, after they'd been +there a month. Talk o' wealth!" + +The man with the broken nose raised himself from his place by the +capstan and stretched his hairy arms with an evil, leering yawn. Every +eye turned to him and there was silence on the deck as he began to +speak. + +"Dollars--louis d'ors--doubloons?" said he. "There was one man got 'em. +Solomon Brig got 'em. All the rest was babes to him--babes an' beggars. +Billy Kidd was thought a great devil in his day, but when he met Brig's +six-gun sloop off Malabar, he turned tail, him an' his two great +galleons, an' ran in under the forts. Even then we'd ha' had him out an' +fought him, only that the old man had an Indian princess aboard he was +takin' in to Calicut for ransom. That was where Sol Brig got his broad +gold--kidnappin'. Twenty times we worked it--a dash in an' a fight out, +quick an' bloody--then to sea in the old red sloop, all her sails fair +pullin' the sticks out of her, an' maybe a man-o'-war blazin' away at +our quarter. Weeks after, we'd slip into some port bold as brass an' +there, sure enough, Brig would set the prisoner ashore an' load maybe a +hundred weight of little canvas bags or a stack of pig-silver half a +man's height. The very name of him made him safe. I'd take oath he could +have stole the Lord Mayor o' London and then put in for his ransom at +Execution Dock. + +"We got good lays, us before the mast, but there never was a fair +sharin' aboard that ship. One night I crawled aft an' looked in the +stern-port. 'Twas just after we'd got our lays for kidnappin' the +Governor o' Santiago--a rich town as you know. In the cabin sat ol' +Brig, a bare cutlass acrost his lap, countin' piles o' moidores that +filled the whole table. When a rope creaked the old fox saw me an' let +drive with his hanger. Where I was I couldn't dodge quick, an' the +blade took me here, acrost the face. Why he never knifed me, after, I +don't know." + +The scarred man stopped with the same abruptness that had marked his +beginning. His fierce, light eyes, like those of a sea-hawk, swept +slowly around the audience and lit on Jeremy. He reached forward, +clutched the boy's shirt, and with an ugly laugh jerked him to his feet. +"'Twas havin' boys aboard as killed Sol Brig," he rasped. + +[Illustration: Pharaoh Daggs] + +"They hear too much! Look at this young lubber"--giving him a +shake--"pale as a mouldy biscuit! No use aboard here an' poverty-poor in +the bargain! Why Stede don't walk him over the side, I don't see. Here, +get out, you swab!" and he emphasized the name with a stiff cuff on the +ear. Job Howland interposed his long Yankee body. His lean face bent +with a scowl to the level of the other's eyes. "Pharaoh Daggs," he +drawled evenly, "next time you touch that lad, there'll be steel between +your short ribs. Remember!" + +He turned to Jeremy who, poor boy, was utterly and forlornly seasick. +"Here, young 'un," he said kindly, "--the _lee_ rail!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +Bright summer weather hovered over the Atlantic as the _Revenge_ +ploughed smartly southward. Jeremy grew more accustomed to his new +manner of life from day to day and as he found his sea-legs he began to +take a great pleasure in the free, salt wind that sang in the rigging, +the blue sparkle of the swells, and the circling whiteness of the +offshore gulls. He was left much to himself, for the Captain demanded +his services only at meal times and to set his cabin in order in the +morning. In the long intervals the boy sat, inconspicuous in a corner of +the fore-deck, watching the gayly dressed ruffians of the crew, as they +threw dice or quarrelled noisily over their winnings. He was assigned to +no watch, but usually went below at the same time as Job Howland, thus +keeping out of the way of Daggs, the man with the broken nose. As +Howland was in the port watch, on deck from sunset to midnight, Jeremy +often took comfort in the sight of his loved stars wheeling westward +through the taut shrouds. He would stand there with a lump in his throat +as he thought of his father's anguish on returning to the island to +find the sheep uncared for and the young shepherd vanished. In a region +desolate as that, he knew that there was but one conclusion for them to +reach. Still, they might find the ashes of the pirate fire and keep up a +hope that he yet lived. + +But the boy could not be unhappy for long. He would find his way home +soon, and he fairly shivered with delight as he planned the grand +reunion that would take place when he should return. Perhaps he even +imagined himself marching up to the door in sailor's blue cloth with a +seaman's cloak and cocked hat, pistol and cutlass in his belt and a +hundred gold guineas in his poke. Not for worlds would he have turned +pirate, but the romance of the sea had touched him and he could not help +a flight of fancy now and then. + +Sometimes in the long hours of the watch, Job would give him lessons in +seamanship--teach him the names of ropes and spars and show how each was +used. The boy's greatest delight was to steer the ship when Job took his +trick at the helm. This was no small task for a boy even as strong as +Jeremy. The sloop, like all of her day, had no wheel but was fitted with +a massive hand tiller, a great curved beam of wood that kicked amazingly +when it was free of its lashings. Of course, no grown man could have +held it in a seaway, but during the calm summer nights Jeremy learned +to humor the craft along, her mainsail just drawing in the gentle land +breeze, and her head held steadily south, a point west. + +One night--it was perhaps a week after Jeremy's capture, and they had +been sighting low bits of land on both bows all day--Dave Herriot came +on deck about the middle of the watch and told Curley, the Jamaican +second mate, he might go below. He set Job to take soundings and, +himself taking the tiller, swung her over to port with the wind abeam. +Jeremy went to the bows where he could see the white line of shore +ahead. They drew in, steering by Job's soundings, and by the time the +watch changed were ready to cast anchor in a small sandy bay. Herriot +came forward, scowling darkly under his bushy eyebrows, and rumbling an +occasional oath to himself. The sloop, her anchor down and sails furled, +swung idly on the tide. The men were clearly mystified as the +sailing-master started to give orders. "George Dunkin," he said, "take +ten men of the starboard watch, and go ashore to forage. There be farms +near here and any pigs or fowls you may come across will be welcome. +You, Bill Livers," addressing the ship's painter, "take a lantern and +your paint-pot and come aft with me. All the rest stay on deck and keep +a double lookout, alow an' aloft!" The forage party slipped quietly off +toward the beach in one of the boats. The remainder of the crew looked +blankly after the retreating Bill Livers. + +"Hm," murmured Job, "has Stede Bonnet gone _clean_ crazy?"--and as +Herriot let the painter down over the bulwark at the stern--"Ay, he's +goin' to change her name, by the great Bull Whale!" + +An hour before dawn the crew of the long-boat returned, grumbling and +empty-handed. Herriot appeared preoccupied with some weightier matter +and scarcely deigned to notice their failure by swearing. There was no +singing as the anchor was raised. A sort of gloom hung over the whole +ship. As she stole out to sea again, the men, one by one, went aft and +leaned outboard, peering down at the broad, squat stern. Jeremy did +likewise and beheld in new white letters on the black of the hull, the +words _Royal James._ Next day in the fo'c's'le council he learned why +the renaming of the _Revenge_ had cast a pall of apprehension over the +crew. There were low-muttered tales of disaster--of storm, shipwreck, +and fire, and that dread of all sailors--the unknown fate of ships that +never come back to port. Apparently the rule was unfailing. Sooner or +later the ship that had been given a new name would come to grief and +her crew with her. Pharaoh Daggs cast an eye of hatred at Jeremy and +growled that "one Jonah was enough to have abroad, without clean +drownin' all the luck this way," while the crew looked black and shifted +uneasily in their places. + +The bay where they had anchored overnight must have been somewhere on +the eastern end of Long Island, a favorite landing place for pirates at +that time. All day they cruised along the hilly southern shore. The men +seemed unable to cast off the gloom that had settled upon them. Stede +Bonnet sat in his cabin, never once coming on deck, and drinking hard, a +thing unusual for him. Jeremy, who saw more of him than any of the +foremast hands, realized from his gray, set face that the man was under +a terrible strain of some sort. He told Job what he had seen and the +tall New Englander looked very thoughtful. He took the boy aside. +"There'll be mutiny in this crew before another night," he whispered. +"They'll never stand for what he's done. If it comes to handspikes, you +and I'd best watch our chance to clear out. Pharaoh Daggs don't love us +a mite." + +But the mutiny was destined not to occur. An hour before noon next day +the lookout, constantly stationed in the bows, gave a loud "Sail ho!" +and as Dave Herriot re-echoed the shout, all hands tumbled on deck with +a rush. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +As the pirate sloop raced southward under full sail, the form of the +other ship became steadily plainer. She was a brig, high-pooped, and +tall-masted, and apparently deeply laden. Major Bonnet, who had come up +at the first warning, seemed his old cool self as he conned the enemy +through a spyglass. Jeremy had been detailed as a sort of errand boy, +and as he stood at the Captain's side he heard him speaking to Herriot. + +"She's British, right enough," he was saying. "I can make out her flag; +but how many guns, 'tis harder to tell. She sees us now, I think, for +they seem to be shaking out a topsail.... Ah, now I can see the sun +shine on her broadside--two ... three ... five in the lower port tier, +and three more above--sixteen in all. 'Twill be a fight, it seems!" + +Aboard the _Royal James_ the men were slaving like ants, preparing for +the battle. Every man knew his duties. The gunners and swabbers were +putting their cannon in fettle below decks. Others were rolling out +round-shot from the hold and storing powder in iron-cased lockers behind +the guns. Great tubs of sea water were placed conveniently in the +'tween-decks and blankets were put to soak for use in case of fire. +Buckets of vinegar water for swabbing the guns were laid handy. In the +galley the cook made hot grog. Cutlasses were looked after, pistols +cleaned and loaded and muskets set out for close firing. Jeremy was sent +hither and thither on every imaginable mission, a tremendous excitement +running in his veins. + +The sloop gained rapidly on her prey, hauling over to windward as she +sailed, and when the two ships were almost within cannon range, Stede +Bonnet with his own hand bent the "Jolly Roger" to the lanyard and sent +the great black flag with its skull and crossbones to fly from the +masthead. The grog was served out. No man would have believed that the +roaring, rollicking gang of cutthroats who tossed off their liquor in +cheers and ribald laughter was identical with the grumbling, sour-faced +crew of twenty hours before. As they finished, something came skipping +over the water astern and the first echoing report followed close. The +cannonade was on. + +A loud yell of defiance swept the length of the _Royal James_ as the men +went to their posts. The gun decks ran along both sides of the sloop a +few feet above the water line. They were like alleyways beneath the main +deck, barely wide enough to admit the passage of a man or a keg of +powder behind the gun-carriages. These latter were not fixed to the +planking as afterward became the fashion, but ran on trucks and were +kept in their places by rope tackles. In action, the recoil had to be +taken up by men who held the ends of these ropes, rove through pulleys +in the vessel's side. Despite their efforts the gun would sometimes leap +back against the bulkhead hard enough to shatter it. As the charge for +each reloading had to be carried sometimes half the length of the ship +by hand, it is easy to see that the men who served the guns needed some +strength and agility in getting past the jumping carriages. + +Jeremy was sent below to help the gunners, as the shot from the +merchantman continued to scream by. Job Howland was a gunner on the port +side and the boy naturally lent his services to the one man aboard that +he could call his friend. There was much bustle in the alley behind the +closed ports but surprisingly little confusion was apparent. The +discipline seemed better than at any time since the boy had been brought +aboard the black sloop. + +Job was ramming the wad home on the charge of powder in his bow gun. The +other four guns in the port deck were being loaded at the same time, +three men tending each one. + +"Here, lad," sang out Job, as he put the single iron shot in at the +muzzle, "take one o' the wet blankets out o' yon tub an' stand by to +fight sparks." Jeremy did as he was bid, then got out of the way as the +ports were flung open and the guns run forward, with their evil bronze +noses thrust out into the sunlight. + +The sloop, running swiftly with the wind abeam, had now drawn abreast of +her unwieldy adversary. The merchant captain, apparently, finding +himself out-speeded and being unable to spare his gun crews to trim +sails, had put the head of his ship into the wind, where she stood, with +canvas flapping, her bows offering a steady mark to the pirate. + +"Ready a port broadside!" came Bonnet's ringing order, and then--"Fire!" +Job Howland's blazing match went to the touch-hole at the word and his +six-pounder, roaring merrily, jumped back two good feet against the +straining ropes of the tackle. Instantly the next gun spoke and the next +and so on, all five in a space of a bare ten seconds. Had they been +fired simultaneously they might have shaken the ship to pieces. Jeremy +was half-deafened, and his whole body was jarred. Thick black smoke hung +in the alleyway, for the ports had been closed in order to reload in +greater safety. The boy felt the deck heel to starboard under him and +thought at first that a shot had caught them under the waterline, but +when he was sent above to find out whether the broadside had taken +effect, he found that the sloop had come about and was already driving +north still to windward of the enemy. Bonnet was giving his gunners more +time to load by running back and forth and using his batteries +alternately. Herriot had the tiller and in response to Jeremy's question +he pointed to the fluttering rags of the brig's foresail and the smoke +that issued from a splintered hole under her bow chains. + +Below in the gun deck the buccaneers, sweating by their pieces, heard +the news with cheers. The sloop shook to the jarring report of the +starboard battery a moment later, and hardly had it ceased when she came +about on the other tack. "Hurrah," cried Job's mates, "we'll show him +this time! Wind an' water--wind an' water!" + +The open traps showed the green seas swirling past close below, and off +across the swells the tall side of the merchantman swaying in the trough +of the waves. "Ready!" came the order and every gunner jumped to the +breach, match in hand. Before the command came to fire there was a crash +of splintering wood and a long, intermittent roar came over the water. +The brig had taken advantage of her falling off the wind to deliver a +broadside in her own turn. Stede Bonnet's voice, cool as ever, gave the +order and four guns answered the brig's discharge. The crew of the +middle cannon lay on the deck in a pitiable state, two killed outright +and the gunner bleeding from a great splinter wound in the head. A shot +had entered to one side of the port, tearing the planking to bits and +after striking down the two gun-servers, had passed into the fo'c's'le. +Jeremy jumped forward with his blanket in time to stamp out a blaze +where the firing-match had been dropped, and with the help of one of the +pirates dragged the wounded man to his berth. Almost every shot of the +last volley had done damage aboard the brig. Her freeboard, twice as +high as that of the sloop, had offered a target which for expert gunners +was hard to miss. Jagged openings showed all along her side, and as she +rose on a swell, Job shouted, "See there! She's leakin' now. 'Twas my +last shot did that--right on her waterline!" + +"All hands on deck to board her!" came a shout, almost at the same +instant. Jeremy hurrying up with the rest found the sloop bearing down +straight before the wind, and only a dozen boat's lengths from the +enemy. + +A wild whoop went up among the pirates. Every man had seized on a musket +and was crouching behind the rail. Bonnet alone stood on the open deck, +his buff coat blowing open and his hand resting lightly on his sword. An +occasional cannon shot screamed overhead or splashed away astern. +Apparently the brig's batteries were too greatly damaged and her crew +too badly shot up to offer an effective bombardment. She was drifting +helplessly under tattered ribbons of canvas and the _Royal James_, whose +sails had suffered far less, bore down upon her opponent with the swoop +of a hawk. + +As she drew close aboard a scattered fusillade of small arms broke out +from the brig's poop, wounding one man, a Portuguese, but for the most +part striking harmlessly against the bulwark. The buccaneers held their +fire till they were scarce a boat's length distant. Then at the order +they swept the ship with a withering musket volley. The brig was down by +the head and lay almost bow on so that her deck was exposed to Bonnet's +marksmen. Herriot brought his sloop about like a flash and almost before +Jeremy realized what was toward, the ships had bumped together side by +side, and the howling mob of pirates was swarming over the enemy's rail. +Job Howland and another man took great boat-hooks, with which they +grappled the brig's ports and kept the two vessels from drifting apart. +Jeremy was alone upon the sloop's deck. He put the thickness of the mast +between him and the hail of bullets and peered fearfully out at the +terrible scene above. + +[Illustration: Dave Herriot] + +The crew of the brig had been too much disorganized to repel the +boarders as well as they might, and the entire horde of wild barbarians +had scrambled to her deck, where a perfect inferno now held sway. The +air seemed full of flying cutlasses that produced an incessant hiss and +clangor. Pistols banged deafeningly at close quarters and there was the +constant undertone of groans, cries and bellowed oaths. Above the din +came the terrible, clear voice of Stede Bonnet, urging on his seadogs. +He had become a different man from the moment his foot touched the +merchantman's deck. From the cool commander he had changed to a devil +incarnate, with face distorted, eyes aflame, and a sword that hacked and +stabbed with the swift ferocity of lightning. Jeremy saw him, fighting +single-handed with three men. His long sword played in and out, to the +right and to the left with a turn and a flash, then, whirling swiftly, +pinned a man who had run up behind. Bonnet's feet moved quickly, +shifting ground as stealthily as a cat's and in a second he had leaped +to a safer position with his back to the after-house. Two of his +opponents were down, and the third fighting wearily and without +confidence, when a huge, flaxen-haired man burst from the hatch to the +deck and swung his broad cutlass to such effect that the battling groups +in his path gave way to either side. The burly form of Dave Herriot +opposed the new enemy and as the two giants squared off, sword ringing +on sword, more than one wounded sailor raised himself to a better +position, grinning with the Anglo-Saxon's unquenchable love of a fair +fight. Herriot was no mean swordsman of the rough and ready seaman's +type and had a great physique as well, but his previous labors--he had +been the first man on board and had already accounted for a fair share +of the defenders--had rendered him slow and arm-weary. The ready +parrying, blade to blade, ceased suddenly as his foot slipped backward +in a pool of blood. The blond seaman seized his advantage and swung a +slicing blow that glanced off Herriot's forehead, and felled the huge +buccaneer to the deck where he lay stunned, the quick red staining his +head-cloth. As the blond-haired man stepped forward to finish the +business, a long, keen, straight blade interposed, caught his cutlass in +an upward parry and at the same time pinked him painfully in the arm. + +Jumping back the seaman found himself faced by the pitiless eyes of +Stede Bonnet, who had killed his last opponent and run in to save his +mate's life. That quick, darting sword baffled the sailor. Swing and +hack as he might, his blows were caught in midair and fell away +harmless, while always the relentless point drove him back and back. +Forced to the rail, he stood his ground desperately, pale and glistening +with the sweat of a man in the fear of death. Then his sword flew up, +the pirate captain stabbed him through the throat and with a dying gasp +the limp body fell backward into the sea. + +Meanwhile the pirates had steadily gained ground in the hand to hand +struggle and now a bare half-dozen brave fellows held on, fighting +singly or in pairs, back to back. The brig's captain, wounded in several +places and seeing his crew in a fair way to be annihilated, flung up a +tired arm and cried for quarter. Almost at once the fighting ceased and +half the combatants, utterly exhausted, sank down among their dead and +wounded fellows. The deck was a long shambles, red from the bits to the +poop. + +While the hands of the prisoners were being bound, Bonnet and all of his +men not otherwise employed hurried below to search for loot. The man who +had held the boat-hook astern left this task and greedily clambered up +the brig's side lest he should miss his chance at the booty. Job alone +stuck to his post, and motioned Jeremy to stay where he was. Cheers and +yells of joy rang from the after-hold of the merchantman where the +pirates had evidently discovered the ship's store of wine. + +After a few moments Pharaoh Daggs thrust his scarred face out of the +companion, and with a fierce roar of laughter waved a black bottle above +his head. The others followed, drinking and babbling curses, and last of +all Stede Bonnet, pale, dishevelled, mad with blood and liquor, stood +bareheaded by the hatch. He raised his hand in a gesture of silence and +all the hubbub ceased. "We have beaten them!" he cried between twitching +lips. "I Captain Thomas, the chiefest of all the pirates, and my +bully-boys of the _Royal James_! We'll show 'em all! We'll show 'em all! +Blackbeard and all the rest! He, he, he!" and his voice trailed off in +crazy laughter. The men of the crew stood about him on the brig's deck +dumbfounded by his words. Jeremy could hardly breathe in his surprise. +Suddenly he gave a start and would have cried out but that Job Howland's +hand closed his mouth. A swiftly widening lane of water separated the +sloop from her late enemy. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +As she cleared the side of the waterlogged merchantman, the _Royal +James_ began to move. Her sails which had been left flapping during the +close fighting, now filled with a bang and she went away smartly on the +starboard tack. Job had dragged Jeremy aft and the two were huddled at +the tiller, partially screened by the mainsail, when a howl of +consternation broke out aboard the brig. Few if any of the firearms were +still loaded, or they might have been shot to death, out of hand. As it +was, the sloop had drawn away to a distance of nearly a quarter of a +mile before any effort was made to stop her. + +Then a single cannon roared and a round shot whizzed by along the tops +of the waves. When the next report came, Jeremy could see the splash +fall far astern. They were out of range. + +The two runaways now felt comparatively safe. It was certain that the +brig was too badly damaged to give chase even if she could keep afloat. +Jeremy felt a momentary pang at the thought of leaving even that +graceless crowd in such jeopardy, but he remembered that they had the +brig's boats in which to leave the hulk, and his own present danger +soon gave him enough to occupy him. + +Job lashed the tiller and going to the lanyard at the mainmast, hauled +down the black flag. Then they both set to work cleaning up the deck. +The three dead men were given sea burial--slipped overboard without +other ceremony than the short prayer for each which Jeremy repeated. The +gunner who lay in agony in his berth had his wound bound up and was +given a sip of brandy. Then the lank New Englander went below to get a +meal, while Jeremy sluiced the gun decks with sea water. + +Night was falling when Job reappeared on deck with biscuit and beans and +some preserves out of the Captain's locker. There was little appetite in +Jeremy after what he had witnessed that day, but his tall friend ate his +supper with a relish and seemed quite elated at the prospect of the +voyage to shore. He filled a clay pipe after the meal and smoked +meditatively awhile, then addressed the boy with a queer hesitancy. + +"Sonny," he began, "since we picked you up, I've been thinkin' every +day, more an' more, what I'd give to be back at your age with another +chance. Piratin' seemed a fine upstandin' trade to me when I +begun,--independent an' adventurous too, it seemed. But it's not so +fine--not so fine!" He paused. "One or two or maybe five years o' rough +livin' an' rougher fightin', a powerful waste o' money in drink an' +such, an' in the end--a dog's death by shootin' or starvation, or the +chains on Execution Dock." Another pause followed and then, turning +suddenly to Jeremy--"Lad, I can get a Governor's pardon ashore, but +'twould mean nought to me if my old days came back to trouble me. You're +young an' you're honest an' what's more you believe in God. Do you +figger a man can square himself after livin' like I've lived?" The boy +looked into the pirate's homely, anxious face. He felt that he would +always trust Job Howland. "Ay," he answered straightforwardly, and put +out his hand. The man gripped it with a sort of fierce eagerness that +was good to see and smiled the smile of a man at peace with himself. +Then he solemnly drew out his clasp-knife and pricked a small cross in +the skin of his forearm. "That," said he, "is for a sign that once I get +out o' this here pickle I'll never pirate nor free-trade no more." + +The wind sank to a mere breath as the darkness gathered and Jeremy stood +the first watch while his tired friend settled into a deep sleep that +lasted till he was wakened a little after midnight. Then the boy took +his turn at sleeping. + +When the morning light shone into his eyes he woke to find Job pacing +the deck and casting troubled looks at the sky. The wind was dead and +only an occasional whiff of light air moved the idly swinging canvas. A +tiny swell rocked the sloop as gently as a cradle. + +"Well, my boy, we won't get far toward shore at this gait," said Job +cheerfully as Jeremy came up. "Except for maybe three hours sailin' last +night, we've made no progress at all. I've got some porridge cooked +below. You bring it on deck an' we'll have a snack." + +The meal finished, they turned to the rather trying task of waiting for +a breeze. About noon Job climbed to the masthead for a reconnaissance +and on coming down reported a sail to the east, but no sign of any wind. +The sky was dull and overcast so that Job made no effort to determine +their bearings. They figured that they had drifted a dozen or more +sea-miles to the west since the battle, and were lying somewhere off the +little port of New York. + +The day passed, Job amusing Jeremy with tales of his adventures and old +sea-yarns and soon night had overtaken them again. This time the boy had +the first nap. He was roused to take his watch when Job saw by the stars +that it was eight bells, and, still yawning with sleep, the lad went to +stand by the rail. Everything was quiet on the sea, and even the swell +had died out, leaving a perfect calm. There was no moon. The boy's head +sank on his breast and softly he slid to the deck. Drowsiness had +overcome him so gently that he slept before he knew he was sleepy. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +Jeremy's first waking sensation was the sound of a hoarse confused shout +and the rattle of oars being shipped. He struggled to his feet, staring +into the dark astern. Almost at the same instant there came a series of +bumps along the sloop's side, and as the boy rushed to the hatch to call +his ally, he heard feet pounding the deck. "Job!" he cried, "Job!" and +then a heavy hand smote him on the mouth and he lost consciousness for a +time. + +The period during which he stood awake and terrified had been so brief +and so fraught with terror that it never seemed real to the lad in +memory. There was something of the awful hopelessness of nightmare about +it. Always afterward he had difficulty in convincing himself that he had +not slept steadily from the time he drowsed on watch to the minute when +he opened his eyes to the light of morning and felt his aching head +throb against the hard deck. + +As he lay staring at the sky, a footstep approached and some one stood +over him. He turned his eyes painfully to look and beheld the dark, +bearded visage of George Dunkin, the bo's'n, who scowled angrily and +kicked him in the ribs with a heavy toe. "Get up, ye young lubber!" +roared the man and swore fiercely as the boy, unable to move, still lay +upon his back. A moment later the bo's'n went away. To Jeremy's numb +consciousness came the realization that the pirates had caught them +again. + +The words of the Captain on his first day aboard came back to the lad +and made him shudder. There had been stories current among the men that +gave a glimpse of how Stede Bonnet dealt with those who were +treacherous. Which of a dozen awful deaths was in store for him? Ah, if +only they would spare the torture, he thought that he could die bravely, +a worthy scion of dauntless stock. He thought of Job who must have been +seized in his bunk below. The poor fellow was to have short happiness in +his changed way of life, it seemed. + +Jeremy tried to steel his nerves against the test he was sure must +follow soon. Instead of going to pieces in terror, he succeeded in +forcing himself to the attitude of a young stoic. He had done nothing of +which he was ashamed, and he felt that if he was called to face a just +God in the next twenty-four hours, he would be able to hold his head up +like a man. + +Time passed, and he heard a heavy tramp coming along the deck. He was +hoisted roughly by hands under his arm-pits and placed upon his feet, +though he was still too weak to stand without support. A dozen faces +surrounded him, glaring angrily. Out of a sort of mist that partly +obscured his vision came the terrible leer of the man with the broken +nose. The twisted mouth opened and the man spoke with a deliberate +ugliness. The very absence of oaths seemed to make his slow speech more +deadly. + +"Ah, ye misbegotten young fool," he said, "so there ye stand, scared +like the cowardly spawn ye are. We took ye, and kept ye, and fed ye. +What's more, we was friends to ye, eh mates? An' how do ye treat yer +friends? Leave 'em to starve or drown on a sinkin' ship! Sneak off like +a dog an' a son of a cowardly dog!" Jeremy went white with anger. "An' +now"--Daggs' voice broke in a sudden snarl--"an' now, we'll show ye how +we treat such curs aboard a ten-gun buccaneer! Stand by, mates, to +keel-haul him!" + +At this moment a second party of pirates poured swearing out of the +fo'c's'le hatch, dragging Job Howland in their midst. He was stripped to +his shirt and under-breeches and had apparently received a few bruises +in the tussle below. Jeremy's spirits were momentarily revived by seeing +that some of the buccaneers had suffered like inconveniences, while the +young ex-man-o'-war's-man was gingerly feeling of a shapeless blob that +had been his nose. Dave Herriot, his head tied up in a bandage, was +superintending the preparations for punishment. "Let's have the boy +first," he shouted. + +Aboard a square-rigger, keel-hauling was practiced from the main +yardarm. The victim was dragged completely under the ship's bottom, +scraping over the jagged barnacles, and drawn up on the other side, more +often dead than living. As the sloop had only fore and aft sails, they +had merely run a rope under the bottom, bringing both ends together +amidships. They now dragged the boy forward, still in a half-fainting +condition and made fast his feet in a loop in one end of the rope, then, +stretching his arms along the deck in the other direction, bound his +wrists in a similar way. He was practically made a part of the ring of +hemp that circled the ship's middle. + +Without further ceremony other than a parting kick or two, the crew took +their places at the rope, ready to pull the lad to destruction. He set +his teeth and a wordless prayer went up from his heart. + +The wrench of the rope at his ankles never came. As he lay with his eyes +closed, a high-pitched voice broke the quiet. "If a man starts to haul +on that line, I'll shoot him dead!" Jeremy turned his head and looked. +There stood Stede Bonnet, his face ashen gray and trembling, but with a +venomous fire in his sunken eyes. He held a pistol in each hand and two +more were thrust into his waist-band. Not a man stirred in the crew. + +"That boy," went on the clear voice, "had no hand in the business, and +well you know it. It is for me to give out punishments while I am +Captain of this sloop, and by God I shall be Captain during my life. +Pharaoh Daggs, step forward and unloose the rope!" The man with the +broken nose fixed his light eyes on the Captain's for a full five +seconds. Bonnet's pistol muzzle was as steady as a rock. Then the +sailor's eyes shifted and he obeyed with a sullen reluctance. Jeremy, +liberated, climbed to his knees and stood up swaying. Just then there +was a rush of feet behind. He turned in time to see Job Howland vanish +head foremost over the rail in a long clean dive. The astonished crew +ran cursing to the side and stared after him, but no faintest trace of +the man appeared. At dawn a breeze had sprung up and now the little +waves chopped along below the ports with a sound like a mocking chuckle. +They had robbed the buccaneers of their cruel sport. + +Mutiny might have broken out then and there, but Stede Bonnet, cool as +ever, stood amidships with his arms crossed and a calm-looking pistol in +each fist. "Herriot," he remarked evenly, "better set the men to +cleaning decks and repairing damage. We'll start down the Jersey coast +at once." + +Jeremy got to his bunk as best he might and slept for the greater part +of twenty-four hours. When he awoke, the crew had just finished +breakfast and were sitting, every man by himself, counting out gold +pieces. Bonnet had divided the booty found on the brig and in their +greedy satisfaction the pirates were, for the time at least, utterly +oblivious to former discontent. When he got up and went to the galley +for breakfast, Jeremy was ignored by his fellows or treated as if +nothing had occurred. Indeed, there had been little real ground for +wishing to punish the boy aside from the ugly temper occasioned by +having to row a night and a day in open boats. Only Pharaoh Daggs bore +real malice toward Jeremy and his feelings were for the most part +concealed under a mask of contemptuous indifference. + +As the day progressed the lad found that matters had resumed their +accustomed course and that he was in no immediate danger. He missed his +brave friend and co-partner as bitterly as if he had been a brother, but +partially consoled himself with the thought that Job's act in jumping +overboard had probably spared him the awful torture of the keel or some +worse death. The Captain would never have defended the runaway sailor as +he had done Jeremy, the boy was certain. + +All day the sloop made her way south at a brisk rate, occasionally +sighting low, white beaches to starboard. Sometime in the first +dog-watch her boom went over and she ran her slim nose in past Cape May, +heading up the Delaware with the hurrying tide, while the brig's +long-boat, towing behind, swung into her wake astern. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's +cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow +angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he +went. Intrenching himself behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him +and on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at bay for several +moments. The pistol, covering the only path of attack, made them wary of +approaching too close. When, finally, a half-dozen jumped forward at +once, he pulled the trigger only to find that the weapon had not been +loaded. In desperation he grasped the muzzle in his hand and struck out +fiercely with the heavy butt, beating off his assailants time after +time. This was well enough at first, but the buccaneers, who cared much +less for a broken crown than for a bullet wound, pressed in closer and +closer, striking with fists and marline-spikes. It was soon over. They +jammed him so far into the corner than his tireless arm no longer had +free play, and then bore him down under sheer weight of numbers. When he +ceased to struggle they seized him fast and carried him to the deck. + +Job was out of breath and much bruised but had suffered no lasting hurt. +He saw Jeremy led forward, heard the men's cries and realized that the +torture was in store for them both. + +Unbound, but helpless to interfere, he saw the boy stretched on the deck +and the rope attached to his arms and legs. He suffered greater agony +than did Jeremy as the crew made ready to begin their awful work, for he +had seen keelhauling before. And then suddenly Stede Bonnet was standing +by the companion and the ringing shout that saved the boy's life struck +on Job's ears. He could hardly keep from cheering the Captain then and +there, but relief at Jeremy's delivery brought with it a return of his +quick wits. He himself was in as great danger as ever. + +He was facing aft, and his eye, roving the deck for a means of escape, +lit on the brig's boat, which the pirates had tied astern after +reboarding the sloop. She was trailing at the end of a painter, her bows +rising and falling on the choppy waves. He waited only long enough to +see that the Captain succeeded in freeing Jeremy, then drew a great +breath and plunged over the side. Swimming under water, he watched for +the towed longboat to come by overhead, and as her dark bulk passed, he +caught her keel with a strong grip of his fingers, worked his way back +and came up gasping, his hands holding to the rudder ring in her stern. + +The hot, still days had warmed the surface of the sea to a temperature +far above the normal, or he must certainly have become exhausted in a +short time. As it was, he clung to his ring till near noon, when, +cautiously peering above the gunwale, he saw the sloop's deck empty save +for a steersman, half asleep in the hot sun by the tiller. With a great +wrench of his arms the ex-buccaneer lifted himself over the stern and +slipped as quietly as he was able into the boat's bottom. There he lay +breathless, listening for sounds of alarm aboard the sloop. None came +and after a few moments he wriggled forward and made himself snug under +the bow-thwart. The boat carried a water-beaker and a can of biscuit for +emergency use. After refreshing himself with these and drying out his +thin clothing in the sun, he retreated under the shade of the thwart and +slept the sleep of utter fatigue. + +Late the next day he took a brief observation of the horizon. There was +sandy shore to the east and from what he knew of the coast and the +ship's course he judged they must be nearing the entrance to Delaware +Bay. His long rest had restored to him most of his vigor and although he +was sore in many places, he felt perfectly ready to try an escape as +soon as the sloop should approach the land and offer him an +opportunity. + +As the night went on the _Royal James_ made good speed up the Bay aided +by a strong tide. A little while before light she came close enough to +the west shore for Job to see the outlines of trees on a bluff. He +figured the distance to be not above a mile at most. There was some +question in his mind whether he should cut the painter and use the boat +in getting away or swim for it. He decided that it would be better for +him in most ways if the pirates still supposed him dead. So, quietly as +an otter, he slipped over the gunwale, paddled away from the boat's side +and set out for the land, ploughing through the water with a long +overarm stroke. + +Job had a hard fight with the turning tide before the trees loomed above +his head and his feet scraped gravel under the bank. When at last he +crept gasping out upon dry ground, it was miles to the southward of his +first destination. Dawn had come and the early light silvered the +rippling cross-swells and glinted on the white wings of the gulls. The +big mariner shook the water from his sides like a spaniel, stretched +both long arms to the warm sky, laughed as he thought of his escape and +turning his gaunt face to the northward set out swiftly along the +tree-clad bluffs. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +Meanwhile the _Royal James_ was far up inside the Capes, sailing +demurely along, the ports of her gun deck closed and the British colors +fluttering from her top. Jeremy watched the shores they passed with deep +interest. He wondered if there would be a chance for him to get away +when they came to anchor. There was nothing but hardship in his lot +aboard the sloop, now that Job was gone. He was unnoticed for the most +part by the men of the crew, and when any of them spoke to him it was +with a cuff or a curse. As for Captain Bonnet, he had relapsed into one +of his black moods. Nothing brought him on deck or made him speak except +to give Herriot monosyllabic commands. + +Late the following day, after a slow progress along the Delaware shore, +the sloop hove to in a wide roadstead and the anchor was run out. The +steeples and shipping of a little town were visible by the water side, +but no one put off to meet them. To the surprise of all, Bonnet himself +came on deck, wearing a good coat and fresh ruffles and with his hair +powdered. He ordered the gig lowered, then looked about the assembled +crew and addressed them good-humoredly enough. "Now, my lads," said he, +"I'm going ashore with a picked boat's crew to get what news there is +about. You that go with me remember that you are of the _Royal James_, +honest merchant coaster, and that I am Captain Thomas, likewise honest +navigator. We'll separate into every tavern and ship-chandler's place +along the wharves, pick up the names of all ships that are soon to sail, +and their cargoes, and meet at the gig at eight bells. Herriot and you +men aboard here, keep a strict watch. Daggs, I leave the boy in your +charge. Don't let him out of your sight." + +At the last words Jeremy's heart sank to his boots. He knew how futile +would be any attempt to escape under the cold hawk-eyes of the man with +the broken nose. As the gig put off from the sloop's side, the boy +leaned dejectedly against the rail. Pharaoh Daggs slouched up to him. +"Ah there, young 'un," said he with cynical jocularity, "just thinkin' +o' leavin' us, were ye, when the old man took the gimp out o' ye?" The +bantering note vanished from the man's voice. "I'ld like to break yer +neck, ye young whelp, but I won't--not just yet!" He seemed to be +licking his ugly chops at the thought of a future occasion when he might +allow himself this luxury. Then he went on, half to himself it seemed. +"Hm, Bonnet's a queer 'un! Never _can_ tell what he'll do. Them eight +men aboard that brig, now--never was a rougher piece o' piracy since +Morgan's day than his makin' those beggars walk the plank. Stood there +an' roared an' laughed, he did, an' pricked 'em behind till they tipped +the board. An' then to stop us from drownin' a blasted little rat that'd +tried to kill us all! Oh, he's bad, is Stede--bad!" Jeremy gave a start +as this soliloquy progressed. He had wondered once or twice what had +become of the prisoners taken aboard the brig. That attempted escape of +Job's had cost dear in human life it seemed. And his own deliverance had +been the mere whim of a mad-man! He shuddered and thanked God fervently +for the fortune that had so far attended him. + +There was a pause while the buccaneer seemed to regard him with a sort +of crafty hesitancy. At length he spoke. + +"See here, boy," he said, his voice sinking to a hoarse whisper, "how +long had you been livin' on that there island?" + +Jeremy looked up wonderingly. "Not long," he answered, "only a day or +two, really." + +"And you--nor none of yer folks--never went nosin' 'round there to find +nothin', did yer? Tell me the truth, now!" Daggs leaned closer, a +murderous intensity in his face. + +"No," said Jeremy, squirming as the man's fingers gripped his shoulder. + +The pirate gave him another long, piercing look from his terrible eyes, +then released him and went forward, where he stood staring off toward +the shore. + +In his wretched loneliness the boy sank down by the rail, his heart +heavier than it had ever been in his whole life. It might have been a +relief to him to cry. A great lump was in his throat indeed and his eyes +smarted, but he had considered himself too old for tears almost since he +could walk, and now with the realization that he was near shedding them, +he forced his shoulders back, shut his square jaw and resolved that he +would be a man, come what might. Darkness settled over the river mouth. +The form of Pharaoh Daggs in black silhouette against the gray of the +sky sent a shudder through Jeremy. He recalled with startling +distinctness the solitary man he had seen on the island the night of his +capture. The two figures were identical. Pondering, the boy fell asleep. + +It was some four hours later that he woke to the sound of hurrying oars +close aboard. A subdued shout came across the water. The voice was Stede +Bonnet's. "Stand by to take us on!" he cried. A moment later the gig +shot into sight, her crew rowing like mad. They pulled in their oars, +swept up alongside the black sloop, and were caught and pulled aboard by +ready hands. "Cut the cable!" cried the Captain as soon as he reached +the deck. The gig was swung up, the cable chopped in two and the +mainsail spread, and in an incredibly short time the _Royal James_ was +bowling along down the roadstead. Hardly had she gotten under way when +two long-boats appeared astern and amid shouts and orders to surrender +from their crews, a scattered fusillade of bullets came aboard. No one +on the sloop was hit, and as the sails began to draw properly the pirate +craft soon left her pursuers far to the rear. + +Jeremy, never one to watch others work, had lent a hand wherever he was +best able, during the rush of the escape. When the sloop was well out of +range and the excitement had subsided, he turned for the first time to +look at a small group that had been talking amidships. Two of the +figures were very well known to him--Bonnet and Herriot. The light of a +lantern, which the latter held, fell upon the face of a boy no older +than Jeremy, dressed in the finest clothes the young New Englander had +ever seen. + +The lad's face was dark and resolute, his hair black, smoothly brushed +back and tied behind with a small ribbon. His blue coat was of velvet, +neatly cut. Below his long flowered waistcoat were displayed buff velvet +breeches and silk stockings of the same color. His shoes were of fine +leather and buckled with silver. + +In response to the oaths and rough questions of the two pirates, the lad +seemed to have little to say. When he spoke it was with a scornful ring +in his voice. The first words Jeremy heard him say were: "You'll +understand it soon, I fancy. We are well enough known along the bay and +my father, as I have said, is a friend of the Governor's. There'll be +ten ships after you before morning." Herriot put back his head and +roared with laughter. "Hear the young braggart!" he shouted. "Ten ships +for such a milk-fed baby as he is!" + +"Well, my lad," said the Captain, "you'll be treated well enough while +we wait for the money to be paid. Here, Jeremy!" As the young +backwoodsman came up, Bonnet continued, "Two boys aboard is bad +business, for you're sure to be scheming to get away. However, it can't +be helped, just yet, and mind what I say,--there'll be a bullet ready +for the first one that tries it. Now get below, the pair of you." + +Glad as he was to have a companion of his own age aboard, Jeremy, +boylike, was too shy to say anything to the new arrival that night, and +indeed the other boy seemed to class him with the rest of the pirates +and to feel some repugnance at his company. So the two unfortunate +youngsters slept fitfully, side by side, until broad daylight next +morning. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +The "salt horse" which was served out for breakfast aboard the _Royal +James_ made scant appeal to the Delaware boy's appetite. He hardly +touched the portion which Jeremy offered him and kept up his pose of +proud aloofness all the morning. It is scarcely a matter for wonder that +he did not at once make friends with Jeremy. The latter's buckskin +breeches and moccasins had been taken from him when he came aboard and +he was now clad in his old leather tunic, a pair of seaman's trousers, +which bagged nearly to his ankles, wrinkled, garterless wool socks and +an old pair of buckled shoes, stuffed with rags to make them fit. His +hair, never very manageable, had received little attention during the +voyage and now was as wild and rough as that of a savage. It would have +required a long second glance for one to see the fine qualities of grit +and self-reliance in the boy's keen face. + +The sloop was making great speed down the middle channel of the Bay, her +canvas straining in a fine west breeze, and her deck canted far to +leeward. No boy could long withstand the pleasure of sailing on such a +day, and before noon the young stranger had given in to a consuming +desire to know the names of things. Jeremy now had the whole ship by +heart and was filled with joy at the opportunity of talking about her to +one more ignorant than himself. Of course, he was as proud of the _Royal +James_ as if he owned her. How he glowed over his account of the battle +with the brig! Nothing on the coast could outsail the sloop, he was +sure. Indeed, it was with some regret that he admitted a hope of her +being overtaken by the Delaware boy's friends, and he was divided +between pride and despair as the day went on and no sail appeared to the +north. By noon his new acquaintance was ravenously hungry, as was to be +expected, and over their pannikins of soup the last reserve between them +went by the board. + +[Illustration: Bob] + +"Are you his son?" asked the dark-haired lad, nodding toward Herriot. +Jeremy laughed and described his adventure from the beginning while the +other marveled open-mouthed. "Are they holding you for ransom, too?" +asked he, as the story ended. "No," replied Jeremy, "I reckon they knew +as soon as they saw me that there wasn't much money to be gotten in my +case. As I figure it, they didn't dare leave me on the island for fear +I'ld have those three ships-of-war after them." Both boys laughed as +they thought of the head-long flight of Stede Bonnet's company from a +garrison of fifteen sheep. + +"Well," said the Delaware boy, still chuckling, "you know most of my +story already. My father is Clarke Curtis of New Castle. My own name is +Bob. Father owns some ships in the East India trade and has a plantation +up on the Brandywine creek. Last night I was at our warehouse by the +wharves. Father was inside talking to one of his captains who had just +come to port. I wanted to see the ship--she's a full-rigger, three or +four times as big as this, and fast too for her burden. Well, I went +down on the dock where she was moored. There was nobody around and no +lights and she stood up above the wharf-side all dark and big--her +mainmast is as high as our church steeple, you know--and I was just +looking up at her and wondering where the watchman was, when four men +came along down the wharf. I thought perhaps 'twas Father and some of +his men. When they were quite close that biggest one, Herriot, stepped +up to me and before I could shout he put his hand over my mouth and held +me. They gagged me fast and then one of them gave a whistle, long and +low. Pretty soon a boat came up to the dock and they grabbed me and put +me in, spite of all I could do. They paddled along to another wharf and +took aboard some more men and then started to row out as fast as they +could. I guess those boats that came after us were from Father's ship. +He must have missed me right away. So now old Bonnet or Thomas or +whatever his name is thinks he's going to get a fat sum out of me. +That's all of my story, so far. But there'll be another chapter yet!" +Jeremy, for both their sakes, sincerely hoped that there might. + +At sunset of that day the _Royal James_ cleared Cape Henlopen and held +her course for the open sea, while behind her in the gathering dusk the +coast grew hazy--faded out--was gone. The two boys, sitting late into +the first watch, shivered with that fine ecstasy of adventure that can +come only in the shadowy mystery of star-lit decks and the long, +whispering ripple of a following sea. + +Jeremy, who twenty-four hours before had thought of the ship as a place +of utter desolation, would not now have changed places with any boy +alive. He knew, perhaps for the first time, the fulness of joy that +comes into life with human companionship. That night two lads at least +had golden dreams of a youthful kind. Ducats and doubloons, princesses +and plum-cake, swords awave and cannon blazing, great galleons with +crimson sails--no wonder that they were smiling in their sleep when +George Dunkin held a lantern over the bunk at the change of the watch. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +The day came in dark with fog, which changed a little after noon to +driving scud. The wind had gone around to the northeast and freshened +steadily, driving the waves in from the sea in steep gray hills, quite +different from anything Jeremy had before experienced. The sloop, under +three reefs and a storm jib, began to make rough weather of it, +staggering up and down the long slopes in an aimless, dizzy fashion that +made Jeremy and Bob very unhappy. The poor young New Englander had to +perform his regular tasks no matter how he felt within, but once the +work was done he stumbled forward miserably and lay upon his bunk. Bob +was too wretched to talk all day, and for the time at least cared very +little whether he was rescued or keel-hauled. + +Near nightfall Jeremy went aft to serve the Captain's supper, and as he +returned along the reeling wet deck in the gathering dark, he stopped a +moment to look off to windward. The racing white tops of the waves +gleamed momentarily and vanished. He was appalled at their height. While +the little vessel surged along in the trough, great slopes of foam and +black water rose on either beam, up and up like tossing hillsides. Then +would come the staggering climb to the summit, and for a dizzy second +the terrified lad, clinging to a shroud, could look for miles across the +shifting valleys. Before he could catch his breath, the sloop pitched +down the next declivity in a long, sickening sag, and rocked for a brief +instant at the foot, her masts swaying in a great arc half across the +sky. Then she began to ascend. Shivering and wide-eyed, the boy crept to +his bunk, where he fell asleep at last to the sound of screaming wind +and lashing water. + +At dawn and all next day the gale swept down from the northeast +unabated. The fo'c's'le was thick with tobacco smoke and the wet reek of +the crew, for only the steersman and the lookout would stay on deck. +Bob, somewhat recovered from his seasickness, lay wide-eyed in his bunk +and heard such tales of plunder and savagery on the high seas as made +his blood run cold. When Jeremy came dripping down the ladder, early +that afternoon, he found the Delaware lad staring at Pharaoh Daggs with +a look of positive terror. The buccaneer's evil face was lit up by the +rays of the smoky lantern, hung from a hook in one of the deck beams. He +sat on the edge of the fo'c's'le table, his heavy shoulders hunched and +a long clay pipe in his teeth. "That night," he was saying, "four on us +went an' cut Sol Brig down from where they'd hanged him. We got away, +down to the sloop an' out to sea with him. I didn't have no cause to +love the old devil, but I'd ha' hated to have a ghost like his after me, +so I lent a hand. We wrapped him up decent an' gave him sea-burial from +his own deck, as he'd paced for thirty year. An' _then_," he said with a +snarl and half-turning to face Jeremy, "we got them two boys on deck! +Both of 'em said 'twas the other as told, so we treated 'em fair an' +alike. We stripped 'em an' laid in deep with the cat till there wasn't +no white skin left above the waist. Then we sluiced 'em with sea water. +When they could feel pain again, we stretched 'em with rope an' windlass +till one died. T'other was a red-headed, tough young devil, an' took +such a deal of it that we had to brain him with a handspike at the +last." + +Even the crew were silenced for a little by this recital. Jeremy and Bob +shivered in their places, hardly daring to breathe. Then a Portuguese +spoke from the corner, his greedy little black eyes glittering in his +swarthy face. + +"Where wass da Cap'n's money--da gold 'e 'ada-not divide', eh?" + +Daggs gave a little start and leaned forward scowling. "Who said he had +any?" he asked savagely. "Sol Brig kept himself to himself. He never +told secrets to any man aboard!" Then he turned and with a black frown +at the two boys, climbed through the hatch into the howling smother +outside. + +Jeremy, always alert, saw one or two glances exchanged among the pirates +before the interminable foul stream of fo'c's'le talk resumed its +course, but apparently the incident of the scarred man's abrupt +departure was soon forgotten. + +As the storm continued, Bonnet and Herriot gave up their attempts to +sail the _Royal James_ and contented themselves with keeping her afloat. +The gale was driving them southward at a good rate and they were not +ungrateful as they reflected that it must have effectually put a stop to +all pursuit. Toward night the wind went down a trifle, though the seas +still ran in veritable mountain ranges. The dawn of the following day +showed a clear sky to the north, and every prospect of fair weather. +Before breakfast all hands were set to shaking out reefs and trimming +sails, a task which the tossing of the sloop made unusually difficult. +New halyards had to be fitted in some places. Otherwise the vessel +herself had suffered but little. The brig's boat, towed astern all +through the flight down the bay, had been swamped and cut loose on the +first day of storm. However, as the _Royal James_ had two boats of her +own lashed on deck, this was not considered a real loss. + +When the sun was high enough, Herriot took his bearings, and gave the +helmsman orders to keep her headed west, a point north. The sloop made a +long beat of it to starboard, thrashing up all night and most of the +following day, before she sighted the Virginia Capes. Slipping through +under cover of darkness, Bonnet resumed his rôle of sober merchantman +and sailed the _James_ up the Chesapeake under the British flag, with a +fine air of honesty. + +Jeremy and Bob regained their spirits as the low shores unrolled ahead +and passed astern, with an occasional glimpse of a plantation house or a +village at the water's edge. As every fresh estuary and arm of the bay +opened on the bow, the lads hoped and expected that the sloop would +enter. Bob thought the chances for escape or rescue would be much +increased if they came to anchor in some harbor. Jeremy remembered the +Captain's half-promise to free him when they reached the Chesapeake, and +although he would have been loth to part from his new friend, he felt +that he might render him better service ashore than in his company +aboard the pirate. + +It was two full days before the order was finally given to anchor. They +had put into the mouth of a wide inlet far up on the Eastern shore, and +Bonnet had her brought into the wind at a good distance from either +side. The banks were high and wooded, and as far as the boys could see +there was no sign of habitation anywhere about. Their minds were both +busy planning some way of getting to land when Dave Herriot came up +behind them and put a huge hand into the collar of each. "Come along +below, lads," he said gruffly. They went, completely mystified, until +the big sailing-master thrust them before him into the port gun deck. +Then Jeremy understood. The old-fashioned arrangement of iron bars +called the "bilboes" was fastened to the bulkhead at the bow end of the +alleyway. It had two or three sets of iron shackles chained to it and +into the smallest pair of these, meant for the wrists of a grown victim, +he locked an ankle of each of the boys. + +"Ye'll stay _there_ a while, till we sail again," Herriot remarked as he +departed. The lads stared at each other, too glum to speak. Bob was pale +with rage at what he considered a dishonor, while the Yankee boy's heart +was heavy as he thought of the opportunities for flight he had let slip +on the voyage up the bay. Within half an hour after the anchor was +dropped the young prisoners heard the creak of the davit blocks, and a +moment later the splash of a boat taking water close to the nearest +gun-port. Jeremy stretched as far as his chain would allow, and through +a crevice saw four men start to row toward shore. There was some coarse +jesting and laughter on deck, then one of the crew sent a "Fare ye well, +Bill!" after the departing gig. The hail was answered by the voice of +the Jamaican, Curley. Half an hour later the boat returned, carrying +only three. Jeremy, straining at his tether, made out that Curley was +not one of them. He sat down, thoughtful. "Well, Bob," he said at last, +"whether it's about your ransom I can't say, but Bill Curley's been sent +ashore on some errand or other--and to be gone a while, too, I figure." + +They could do little but wait for developments. It was something of a +surprise to both when Bonnet's voice was heard on the deck above, soon +after, ordering the capstan manned. The anchor creaked up and to the +rattle of blocks the sail was hoisted. They felt the sloop get under way +once more. When one of the foremast hands brought them some biscuit and +pork for supper, he told them it was Herriot's orders that they be left +in irons for the present at least, and added, in response to Jeremy's +query, that they were headed south under full canvas. The boys' thoughts +were very bitter as they tried to make themselves comfortable on the +bare planking. Fortunately, at their age it requires more than a hard +bed to banish rest, and before the ship had made three sea-miles, care +and bodily misery alike were forgotten in the heavy slumber of fatigue. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +Job Howland's long legs, clad as they were in nothing more cumbersome +than a pair of under-breeches, made light work of hills and ravines as +he held his way steadily up the Delaware shore. Like most of the sailors +of that day, he had gone barefoot aboard ship since the beginning of the +warm weather and his soles were so calloused that he hardly felt the +need of shoes. + +At a shack on a little cove, just before midday, he found several +fishermen, to whom he applied for clothing. They had pity on his plight, +fitted him out with a shirt, serviceable breeches and rough boots, and +gave him, as well, as much biscuit and dried fish as he wished to carry. +Thus reinforced he continued to put the leagues behind him till night, +when he slept under a convenient jack-pine. Early next morning he pushed +on and came without further adventure to the little port of New Castle, +just as the sun was setting. + +Job had been in the town before and now went straight to the Red Hawk +Tavern, a small place on the water-front that catered chiefly to +seafaring men. The tavern-keeper, a brawny Swede, to whose blue eyes +half the seamen that plied along the coast were familiar, held out a +big hand to him as he entered. He had known the tall mariner when he had +been on the Virginia bark before Hornygold had captured it and had had +no news of him since. Job told him his whole story over a hot meal in +the back room, and it is merely indicative of the public mind of that +day that the big Swede had not the slightest compunction in sympathizing +with him. Indeed, in most dockside resorts it was a common thing for +pirates and honest seamen to fraternize with perfect goodwill. The +innkeeper offered him a bed for the night, and next morning directed him +to the governor's house. + +Delaware, a far smaller and less developed colony than her neighbors, +Pennsylvania and Maryland, had, nevertheless, her own government, +located at New Castle. The brick house of the King's appointee was on +the High Street--the most imposing building in the town, excepting the +two churches. Job knocked at the door and was admitted by a colored +servant in livery, who gave him a chair in the wide hall and asked him +to wait there. + +As the long Yankee fidgeted uncomfortably on the edge of his seat, he +heard voices raised in a room opposite, the door of which was closed. +Some one, apparently growing angry, was saying: + +"Good Gad, man, are we to sit idle and let these ruffianly thieves make +off with our money--children--wives! One good man-o'-war could teach the +scamps such a lesson as would scare half of 'em off the seas! Why, if +I'd had even a good culverin aboard the _Indian Queen_ last night, I'd +have chased the beggars clear to Africa, an need were. Governor, you +_must_ see this as we see it!" + +There was a reply in a lower tone and a moment later the door opened for +two gentlemen to come out. One was thin and pale and seemed a suave, +cool fellow, Job thought. He was elegantly dressed in gray. His +companion, larger and more strongly built, seemed to have become very +red in the face from suppressed emotion. His linen ruffles were awry and +his fists clenched as he emerged. Without looking at Job, he jammed his +cocked hat upon his head and strode out. + +The man in gray turned to the waiting seaman and beckoned him into the +room just vacated. Job, as cool and self-possessed as if he were loading +his six-pounder under fire, told the story of his experiences aboard the +pirate sloop, finishing with an account of the attempted flight with +Jeremy, their recapture and his escape. The Governor listened gravely, +starting once when the mariner named Captain Bonnet. At the end he +nodded. "You shall have the pardon as ruled by the Crown," he said. "But +there is another side to this affair. You say you slept at the Red +Hawk. Was there no talk there of a boy stolen from the wharves late in +the evening?" Job replied that he had gone to bed early and had +breakfasted and left without hearing any gossip. + +"From what you say," went on the Governor, "I should be ready to swear +that the Captain Thomas, who proclaimed himself by that name in a tavern +last night and later made off with the son of Clark Curtis, was the same +man as your Stede Bonnet." Job hastened to relate the incident of the +buccaneer's crazed speech from the brig's deck. He asked how the +kidnapper had been described. The features tallied almost exactly with +those of Stede Bonnet. In addition, the schooner, as half a dozen men +would swear, had been painted black. + +Thus satisfied that Bob Curtis was aboard the _Royal James_, the +Governor wrote a formal pardon, stating that "Job Howland, late a +pirate, having duly sworn his allegiance to his Majesty the King, and +repented of all unlawful acts committed by him aforetime," was +henceforward granted full release from the penalty of his crimes and was +to be held an honest man during his good behavior. Then he took the +seaman with him and passed quickly down to one of the larger warehouses +by the dockside. + +Standing in the doorway were the red-faced gentleman whom Job had seen +that morning and a large man in sea boots, easily recognized as a ship's +officer. To the rather cool greeting of the former the Governor returned +a cheerful nod as they came up. "Look here now, Curtis," he said, "I +can't spare those cannon, and that's flat, but to show that I mean well +by you, I've brought a man whom you may find of some use. Tell him +your story, Howland." + +The tale was repeated, to the intense interest of its two new hearers. +"By Gad," cried Mr. Curtis, slapping his thigh, as the seaman finished, +"that's a clue worth having! We know who the scoundrel is, at least, +and, of course, he'll be sure to head for Carolina. Bonnet couldn't keep +away from that coast for more than six months if his life depended upon +it. Howland, if you care to ship again, I'll make you gun-pointer aboard +the _Indian Queen_ here. You say you want nothing better than to get a +crack at the pirate. We'll make what preparations we can and get off at +once. This young friend of yours--about Bob's age he must be--well, I'm +glad my boy's got company! Let's get to work aboard here now." + +Job fell to with a good will helping the _Indian Queen's_ crew get her +ready for an encounter with the pirates. She carried only two light +serpentine cannon of an ancient make, far below the standard necessary +to combat a well-armed schooner like the _Royal James_. There were no +other ships in the harbor carrying guns, however, and it was over the +matter of procuring an armament that Curtis had had words with the +Governor. There were six good culverins mounted in the fort below the +town. The planter had wished to borrow them to fit out his vessel, +urging that it was a matter of concern to the whole colony. To this the +Governor replied that with the port stripped of defences it would be +possible for a pirate fleet to enter and plunder without difficulty, +while Curtis's ship was careering over the seven seas on a wild-goose +chase. Naturally the personal element in the affair blinded Curtis to +the truth in this argument. However, with the advent of Job Howland and +the news he bore, all differences were forgotten. The planter and +ship-owner now needed thorough, rather than hurried, preparation. He +sent his overseer on horseback to Philadelphia to arrange for the +purchase of guns, and put all the available carpenters and shipwrights +to work on the _Queen_, strengthening the improvised gun decks and +cutting the rows of ports. + +The northeast gale that sprang up next day put a temporary stop to these +activities and gave Job an opportunity to get himself some decent +clothes and hobnob a while with his friend the Swede. The whole +waterfront was agog with the news of the kidnapping, and everywhere the +tall New Englander went he was surrounded by a knot of questioning +seamen. Several coasting-skippers, whose vessels lay ready-loaded at the +wharves, decided to put off sailing until some news should indicate that +the Bay was clear. + +When the storm had blown itself out the artisans again set to work on +the big East Indiaman. Job, who had learned the science of gunnery under +good masters, supervised the placing of every porthole with reference to +ease and safety in firing as well as to the effectiveness of a +broadside. He had a section of the deck forward of the capstan +reinforced stoutly to bear the weight of a bow-chaser, on which he +placed some dependence in case of a running fight. + +It was about six days later, in the first week of August, when two men +came into New Castle from different directions, one on horseback, the +other on foot. The first of these was Curtis's overseer, returned from +the larger colony up the Bay, and bringing the good news that a score of +cannon were lying on the dock at the foot of Market Street, in +Philadelphia, ready to be shipped aboard the _Queen_ as soon as she was +put in shape. + +The other was a sour-looking man of middle height, lean and darkly +sallow, dressed in good sea clothes somewhat worn. He slipped through +the trees into a lane that led toward the wharves. Coming unobtrusively +into the Red Hawk Tavern at a little after 7 o'clock in the evening, he +asked for a pint of rum, paid for it, and began to talk politely to the +Swede. Job was eating his supper in one corner. He started when the man +entered, but made no exclamation, and shading his face from the light, +continued to watch him narrowly. It was his old shipmate, Bill Curley, +the Jamaican. The pirate finished his rum and giving the barkeep a civil +"Good-night," passed out into the ill-lighted street. When he was gone +Job rose and stepped to the bar. "Quick, Nels," he whispered, "what did +he ask you? He's one of Bonnet's crew!" The Swede replied that he had +inquired the way to Clarke Curtis's house. Job was armed with a good +pistol. He made sure it was primed and then set out up the street, +keeping a careful lookout. + +Soon he detected the figure of the Jamaican in the gloom ahead, and +followed it, keeping out of earshot. The man went straight up High +Street to the town residence of the planter. There were tall shrubs in +the yard and he waited behind one of these, apparently reconnoitering. +Then he stooped, took off his shoes, and carrying them in one hand, +advanced and pinned a piece of paper to the door. Turning, he made his +way back to the gate and once on the soft earth of the road, started to +run in the direction from which he had come. This brought him, in fifty +yards, face to face with a pistol muzzle, the butt of which was held by +his old friend, Job Howland. He stopped in his tracks and at the big +Yankee's command held both arms above his head. Job jammed the nose of +his weapon against Curley's breastbone and searched him without a word. +Having removed a long dirk and a pistol from the Jamaican's waistband, +he ordered him to face about and walk back to the planter's house. When +they arrived there, Job took down the paper from the door and knocked +loudly. A negro boy, scared almost into fits at the sight of the drawn +pistol, led the way into his master's room. + +Curtis rose with an ejaculation of surprise and heard Job's brief +account of the events leading to Curley's capture. Then he took the +paper and read it, alternately frowning and exclaiming. As he finished, +he passed it to the New Englander. It was a letter neatly drawn up and +written in Stede Bonnet's even, refined hand. + + + Aboard Sloop _Royal James,_ now + in an Inlet near the Head of the + Chesapeake Bay. + + To Mr. Clarke Curtis. Esq. + of New Castle, in the Delaware Colony. + + Sir: + + Having now aboard us and in safe custody your son Robert Curtis, we + offer you the following terms for his release and safe return to + you. Namely, to wit: + + First, that you shall make no attempt to attack us in an armed + vessel, or otherwise to employ force upon us. + + Second, that you shall send a single man, carrying or otherwise + bringing, provided he is alone, a sum in gold amounting to 5,000 + pounds sterling. + + + Third, that this man shall be on the sandbars at the entrance to + the Cape Fear River in Carolina at noon on the 10th day of + September in this year of grace 1718, ready to deliver the sum + before-mentioned and to take in charge the boy, also + before-mentioned. + + Failing the accomplishment of any or all of these terms the boy + will be immediately put to death without stay or pity. + + Expecting you to act with discretion and for the welfare of your + son, + + Ever your humble servant, + + Captain Thomas. + (Ship _Royal James_) + + +"Well," remarked Job as he finished, "we know where they'll be on +September the 10th, at all events. As for our friend here, we can safely +turn him over to the constable, I reckon. Here, Curley--march!" And he +ushered the Jamaican out as they had entered. The gaol was only a few +doors down a cross street, and Job had soon delivered his prisoner into +capable hands. Then he returned to Curtis's house. + +The shipowner was pacing up and down his library, where the paper lay +half-crumpled on the floor. He looked up as Job entered and his brow was +wrinkled deep with lines of worry. + +"Gad!" he exclaimed, "this is awful! Must we actually give up trying to +punish the dog? Why, he has us at his mercy, it seems. The money I can +raise, I believe, and it's not the thought of losing it that cuts me. +It's letting that gallows-hound go unscathed. And if anything should +slip in the plans--good God, it's too terrible to think of!" + +He dropped into an armchair, his head resting in his hands. Job +understood something of the father's anguish and refrained from any +comment. Standing by the broad oak mantelpiece, he mused over the +chances of the boy's escape alive. Knowing Bonnet's eccentricities, he +would have been the last to urge an armed attack in defiance of the +terms in the letter. He had not the slightest doubt that the Captain, +half-insane as he was, would be capable of even more dastardly crimes +than the one he now threatened. Gradually an idea took form in the +ex-pirate's brain. It was a bold one and needed to be executed boldly if +at all. When the grief-stricken gentleman raised his head, Job turned +and faced him. "Mr. Curtis," he said, "there's one thing to be done, as +far's I can see, and I believe it's for me to do it. I've told you about +Jeremy Swan, the boy we took aboard up north along. I think most as much +o' getting him out o' this scrape as you do o' savin' your lad. Now +here's my scheme. I know that coast around Cape Fear like I know the +black schooner's deck. I'll get down there about the first o' September, +an' I reckon they'll be there near the same time. I'll sneak up as close +as I can in a small boat, then crawl acrost the bars till I'm near their +moorin', an' swim out after dark, so I can look over the lay o' things +aboard. It's just possible that I can get a word to one o' the boys and +maybe take 'em off without bein' caught. You can be lyin' to, somewhere +out o' sight, and' if we get clean away, we'll take the _Queen_ around +an' blow Bonnet out o' water. That's the best I can offer, but if it +works it'll do the job up brown." + +Curtis had listened earnestly, amazed at the daring of the man's +suggestion. He reached out a broad hand and took Job's hairy fist in a +grip that expressed the depth of his feelings. His eyes were blinking +and he could not trust his voice, but the long Yankee knew that the risk +he had offered to undertake was appreciated. They talked far into the +night, planning the details of the attempt and discussing measures to be +employed should it fail. They still had the best part of a month in +which to work. + +It was Job's suggestion that they should interest the governments of +North and South Carolina to help in destroying Bonnet's craft. The +pirate's port of departure had been Charles Town and he was to be +fought in waters adjacent to both the colonies. It seemed not +unreasonable to hope that there was aid to be obtained there. Next day +they asked the Governor's sanction to this proposal, and were so far +rewarded that in less than another twenty-four hours a messenger had +been dispatched to Wilmington and Charles Town bearing letters under the +colony seal. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +The _Royal James_ hurried down the Chesapeake for a day and a night +before Captain Bonnet gave orders to free the young prisoners below in +the bilboes. Jeremy and Bob came on deck stiff and weary from their +cramped quarters and very far from happy in their minds. Rescue seemed +farther away than ever, and though they had laid many plans for an +escape by swimming, the sight of the great stretch of water off either +beam--the shore was frequently a dozen miles away--quenched their hopes +in this direction. + +The crew seemed quite elated over something, and talked and joked +incessantly about the prospect of action in the near future. Bonnet was +merrier than Jeremy had ever seen him, came often on deck and even mixed +a little in the conversation of the foremast hands. On the night that +they cleared the Capes he served out double noggins of rum to all the +men aboard. There was a good deal of prodigality in the way it was +poured out and a fine scene of carousal ensued, lasting until after the +watch changed at midnight. It was the first time either of the boys had +heard the smashing chorus of "Fifteen Men" sung by the whole fo'c's'le. +Of course, the words had often been hummed by one or two of the pirates, +but it took the hot cheer of the grog to open most of their throats. At +the final "Yo, ho, ho!" every cannikin crashed on the deal table and the +lantern heaved to and fro overhead as if a gale were blowing outside. +There followed the howling refrain that Jeremy had heard on the beach of +the island a month before--"An' we'll walk the bloody beggars all below, +all below--an' we'll walk the bloody beggars all below!" + +The sentiment seemed too true to be picturesque after what had happened +aboard the brig. The fierce-faced buccaneers, with their red, drunken +eyes, strained forward, every man, and yelled like demons under the +swaying lantern. Close behind and above were the smoky beams and +planking, black with dancing shadows. Yet wild and exciting as it all +was, Jeremy felt sickened. There was no illusion, no play-acting about +it for him. He had seen the awful reality--the murder and the +madness--and he had no admiration left for the jolly buccaneer of story. + +On the following morning, and for two days thereafter, the schooner +cruised slowly along a level sea under shortened sail. A double lookout +was kept constantly on duty and as they bore up to the northward, Jeremy +saw that they must be watching for south-bound shipping out of the +Delaware. Bonnet was evidently gambling on the chance that Bob's friends +had given up the idea of pursuit. + +Then one hot mid-afternoon the two boys were startled from their places +in the shade of the after-companion by a quick shout from the man at the +masthead. They followed the direction of his pointing arm with their +eyes and as the schooner heaved slowly on a gentle swell, they caught a +glimpse of a low, broad sail on the port bow. The men were all on deck +ready to trim the sails for greater speed, but Herriot, after consulting +with the Captain, ordered the gunners and gun-servers below to prepare +ordnance. Bob and Jeremy were under a tremendous strain of excitement. +The stranger ship might be one of the New Castle fleet which Bob firmly +believed to be searching the seas to recapture him from Bonnet. Should +it prove to be so, their lives were in worse danger than ever, for +neither of the boys doubted that the erratic Captain would kill them at +once if the fight went against him. + +However, their minds were soon set at rest on this score. As the pirate +drew up closer and closer, the details of the other ship became visible +to those on deck. She also was schooner-rigged, a trifle larger than the +_Royal James_, but without the latter's height of mast. Her low +free-board indicated that she was heavily cargoed. No gunports could be +seen along her sides. + +Bonnet now ordered an extra jib to be broken out, and had the sloop +brought around on the port tack so that her course, instead of running +opposite to the stranger's, would obliquely cross it. The wind, what +little there was, came from the West. + +As soon as the other ship perceived this change in direction, she veered +off her course closer to the wind, and almost immediately the boys could +see the white flutter of some extra canvas being spread at her bows. As +this new piece filled out, it proved to be a great balloon jib, which +increased her sail area by nearly half. Her head came off the wind again +and she went bowing along over the swells to the southward faster than +one would have imagined possible. Bonnet had figured on crossing her at +close range, but as she swept onward he realized that he would go by too +far astern to hail her if he kept his present direction. Herriot himself +took the tiller. As quickly as he could, without loss of headway, he +eased the _Royal James_ over till she was running nearly parallel with +the fleeing ship. His orders came quick and fast, while the men trimmed +the main and fore sheets to the last hair's breadth of perfection. It +was to be a race, and a hard one. + +For nearly half an hour the sloops ran along almost neck and neck and +perhaps half a mile apart. The pirates dared not risk pointing closer to +the wind in order to get into cannon range. They would have lost so much +speed that it would have developed into a stern chase--useless since +they possessed only broadside batteries. The best they could do was to +hold their position, hoping for luck in the wind. + +Bonnet scowled awhile at the British Jack that still flew from the +_James's_ top, then went below and brought up the black pirate flag. The +buccaneers, now all assembled on deck, gave it a cheerful howl of +greeting as it fluttered up to the main truck. "Now we'll catch 'em, +lads!" roared Herriot, and they answered him with a second cheer. + +For once, however, the Jolly Roger seemed to bring bad fortune instead +of good. The wind had hardly swept it easily to leeward once when it +fell back against the shrouds, hardly stirring. The pirate sloop's deck +righted slowly and her limp sails drooped from the gaffs. A sudden flaw +in the breeze had settled about her, without interrupting her rival's +progress in the least. A glum despair came over the crew. They lolled, +for the most part silent or grumbling curses, against the rails, with +here and there one trying to whistle up a wind. The other sloop rapidly +drew away to the south. + +Bonnet had been talking to Herriot with quick gestures and pointings. +Now he walked forward swiftly and the men got to their feet with a jump. +"We'll board the prize yet," said the Captain short and sharp. "Now look +alive--every one of you!" He ordered one squad of men to the hold for +spars, another for rope, a third for a spare mainjib. Meanwhile he set +two men to making a sort of stirrup out of blocks of wood. This was +fastened to the deck far up in the bows. When the spars came up he had +one of them rigged with a tackle running to the foremast, and set its +foot in the wooden contrivance just finished. It swung out forward like +a great jibboom. The crew saw what was in the Captain's mind and gave a +ringing yell of joy. A score of willing hands made fast the stays to +windward and others spread the spare sail from the upper end of the +spar. As the last rope was bent, a strong draught of air came over the +water. The canvas shook, then filled, and as the fresh breeze steadied +in her sails the sloop heeled far to port. She moved faster and faster, +while the white water surged away under her lee. This was sailing worth +while! The returning wind had come in much stronger than before the +flaw, and was now almost worthy of at least one reef under ordinary +conditions. With her extra canvas, the _James_ was canted over +perilously. Her lee scuppers were often awash and a good deal of water +was coming into the port gundeck. + +But to the delight of all on board, including the boys, who could hardly +be blamed for relishing the excitement, Bonnet refused to take in an +inch of sail. Instead, he ordered every available man to the weather +rail. The dead weight of thirty seamen all leaning half-way over the +side served to keep the light craft ballasted for the time being. Bob +and Jeremy clung to the rail amidships and vied with each other in +stretching out over the boiling seas that raced below. + +The fleeing ship, which had gained four or five miles during the lull, +was now in plain view again, nearly straight ahead. Her deep lading was +telling against her now. The handicap of sail area being overcome, the +black pirate's shallow draft and long lines gave her the advantage. +Every buccaneer in the crew was howling with excitement as the race went +on. The long main boom of the _Royal James_ skipped through the spray +and her mainsail was wet to the second line of reef points, but Herriot +held her square on the course and Bonnet smiled grimly ahead, with a +look that meant he would run her under before he would shorten sail. +Hand over hand they overhauled their rival, until once more the tiny +figures of men were visible over her rail. A little knot of them were +gathered aft, busy at something. Bonnet seized his glass and scrutinized +them intently. Then he yelled to Herriot to ease the sloop off to port. +"They've got a gun astern there!" he shouted. "They'll try our range in +a minute." Hardly had he spoken when a spout of foam went up from the +sea far to starboard, followed almost instantly by the dull sound of an +explosion. By the time the gunners on the ship had loaded their piece +again the _James_ had come over to their port quarter and they had to +shift the cannon's position. The shot went close overhead, cutting a +corner from the black flag of the pirate. Bonnet swore beneath his +breath, then ordered the cannoneers below to their batteries. They went +on the run. Jeremy and Bob stayed above watching the operations on the +enemy's deck. The two sloops were less than three hundred yards apart +and the _James_ had drawn nearly abeam when a third shot came from her +rival's deck gun. This time it crashed into the pirate's hull far up by +the bits. Bonnet was by the fore hatch, sword in hand, as was his custom +during an action. Looking coolly at the splintered bulwark forward, then +back at the enemy, he gave the sharp "Ready a starboard broadside!" to +the waiting gunners. He allowed them time to have their matches alight, +then "Fire!" rang his clear voice. The deck leaped under the boys' feet. +The long, thunderous bellow of the battery jarred out over the sea. Even +as they looked the enemy's maingaff, shot away at the jaws, dangled +loose from the peak halyards, and her broad sail crumpled, puffing out +awkwardly in the breeze. + +At the same time a wide rent in her side above the waterline gaped black +as she topped a wave. The gunners' cheer as they saw their handiwork +rose to a deafening yell, taken up by all hands, when, a moment later, +the British colors came fluttering down aboard the other ship. + +Herriot ordered the improvised spinnaker and the flying-jib taken in, +then brought the buccaneer sloop around and came up beside the newly +captured prize. All the pirates were behind the bulwarks with muskets +loaded, prepared for any treachery that might be intended. However, as +they ranged alongside, the hostile crew lined up on their deck, sullen +but unarmed, and the Captain, a big, gray-bearded man, held up a piece +of white cloth in token of surrender. Bonnet hailed him, asking his +name. + +"Captain Peter Manewaring of the sloop _Francis,_ Philadelphia for +Charles Town," answered the coasting skipper. + +"And I am Captain Thomas, in command of the sloop _Royal James,_" Bonnet +gave him in return. "You will set your men to carrying over into my ship +all the powder you have aboard. As soon as we are fast alongside I shall +be pleased to entertain you in the cabin." + +The sails were run down on both sloops and their hulls were quickly +lashed together with ropes. Herriot superintended the operation of +transferring a half-dozen kegs of powder, some casks of wine and the +best food in the coaster's larder to the hold of the black schooner. The +cargo of the _Francis_ was a varied one, but not by any means a poor +prize. She carried some grain in bags forward, a great number of bolts +of cloth, chiefly woollens, and other things of divers sorts, including +some fine mahogany chairs and tables newly brought from England. The +wine was merely incidental, but proved very acceptable to the +ever-thirsty buccaneers. + +That night, with the nine men of the _Francis's_ crew lying in irons on +the ballast, they drank deep to their victory, and once more Jeremy and +Bob fell asleep to the rough half-harmony of their bellowings. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +A stiff easterly breeze whitened the gray seas next morning. It was +cloudy and seemed to be getting ready for a blow. The pirate and her +prize had drifted all night, bound together, and as day broke a tipsy +lookout spied land to the westward. Herriot came on deck hastily at the +call and himself went to the rail to heave the lead. The soundings +showed a bare four fathoms of water. Bonnet was summoned and the crew, +hardly recovered from their orgy, staggered about the deck preparing to +get under way again. Seven men, under Dunkin, were told off to man the +_Francis._ A dozen others were needed to plug her shot-holes before she +was really seaworthy. This task being finally accomplished, the ropes +were taken off, the sails run up and the two sloops, closehauled to +starboard, set about beating off shore. + +It was a terrible day for Jeremy and Bob. In the crew there was the +regular fighting, swearing and vomiting that always followed a night of +carousal. The fact that they were short-handed made the work harder and +the grumbling louder than ever. The bow of the _Royal James_ was partly +shot away above the bits, and there was a full day's work for every hand +that could be spared rigging canvas over the gap to prevent its taking +in water in case of a storm. Meanwhile the fo'c's'le was in as filthy a +state as could well be imagined. Herriot thrust his head down the hatch +once during the morning and as he caught the sickening stench of the +place he called the two boys, who had been up forward helping the +patching. + +"Here, young 'uns, get below and clean up," he ordered sharply, and +handed each lad a bucket and a deck-brush. They filled the buckets and +went below reluctantly. At first it was impossible for them to stay +under hatches for more than five minutes at a time, so they took turns +in running up for air and a fresh supply of water. Gradually the +flooding they gave the place told in its atmosphere, and by noon they +had put it into decent shape again. Hardly had Jeremy come on deck, +weary and sickened with this task, when Captain Bonnet called to him +from the companion. He made his way aft and entered the cabin. Bonnet +had just resumed his place at the broad table. Opposite him and facing +Jeremy was the big slouched figure of Captain Manewaring. "Bring the +wine, Jeremy," said the buccaneer quietly, and without turning. He was +looking with steady eyes at his guest. Jeremy went back along the +passage to the wine-locker under the companion stairs and took from it +two bottles of Madeira. As he was closing the cupboard door, Bonnet's +voice cut the air like a knife. The two words he spoke were not loud, +but pronounced with a terrible distinctness. "You lie!" was what he +said. + +Jeremy shivered and waited, listening. There was no reply loud enough +for him to hear through the closed door of the cabin. After a moment he +tiptoed back and before turning the knob listened again. Nothing but +silence. He opened the door with a pounding heart and stepped into the +room. + +The two men sat motionless in their places. Bonnet held a cocked pistol +in his right hand, its point covering the other man's head. On the table +before Manewaring was a second pistol. His face was drawn and gray and a +fine sweat stood upon his forehead. Jeremy shrank against the wall, +hardly breathing, his two bottles clutched idiotically, one in each +hand. The tense seconds ticked on by the cabin clock. + +"Come--quick!" said the pirate, with a gesture toward the other pistol. +Manewaring's hand appeared over the edge of the table and gave a +trembling jerk toward the pistol-butt. Then it fell back into his lap. +He gasped. A drop of sweat ran down his temple into his gray beard. +Again the only sounds were the tick of the cabin clock, the wash of the +seas outside and the hoarse breathing of the cornered man. At length he +moved with a sort of shudder, whispered the name of his Maker and seized +the butt of the pistol desperately. + +Bonnet had raised his weapon, pointing to the ceiling. "I shall count +three, then fire," said he in the same even voice. + +"One----" But before he spoke again his opponent had jerked his muzzle +down and fired. Bonnet must have seen the flash of the intention in his +eyes, for he threw himself to the left at that instant, and the shot +went crashing through a panel of the door. With the deliberate sureness +of Fate the pirate took aim at his adversary, who whimpered and +grovelled behind the table. Then he shot him. Jeremy's knees went limp, +but he saved himself from falling and managed to set the bottles on the +table. + +Behind him as he staggered out, Stede Bonnet poured himself a glass of +wine and drank it with a steady hand. The boy met a crowd of men at the +head of the companion, but was too shaken to tell them what had +happened. Herriot, going below, heard the details of the duel from the +Captain's own lips. Under the sailing-master's orders the body of the +dead man was carried out on deck, sewed into a piece of sailcloth and +heaved over the rail without more ado. Jeremy made his way to his bunk +and told Bob the story between chattering teeth. + +There was silence on the ship that afternoon. Bonnet's action had +sobered his rough company to the point where they ceased quarreling and +talked in undertones, gathering in little knots about the slanted deck +when not at work. The two boys were glad enough to be out of the way. +Jeremy, tired and discouraged, sat on the bunk's edge, his shoulders +hunched and his eyes on the floor. His young companion, who had more +cause for hope, watched him with sympathetic eyes. He could see that the +New England boy was too dejected even to try to plan their escape--the +usual occupation of their hours together. Finally he reached over, a bit +shyly, and gave him a friendly pat on the back. + +"Brace up, Jeremy," he said. "You're clean tuckered out, but a rest and +a nap'll help. Here, cover yourself up and I'll do your work tonight. +Maybe I'll have a scheme thought up to tell you in the morning." + +Jeremy cared little whether he slept or woke, for the events of the past +days, coupled with the disappointment of not being set ashore as he had +hoped, had brought even his determined courage to a low ebb. He was on +the verge of a fever, and Bob's prescription of rest and sleep was what +he most needed. Made snug at the back side of the berth, where little +or no light came, he fell into a fitful slumber. Bob took a last look to +see that his friend was comfortable and went on deck. + +Pharaoh Daggs had taken a great deal of liquor the night before, as was +his wont when grog was being passed. The rum he consumed seemed to +affect him very little. No one ever heard him sing, though his cruel +face, with its awful, livid scar, would lean forward and sway to and fro +with the rhythm of the choruses. He could walk a reeling deck or climb a +slack shroud as well, to all appearances, when he had taken a gallon as +most men when they were sober. From Newfoundland to Trinidad he was +known among the pirates as a man whose head would stand drink like a +sheet-iron bucket. This reputation was made possible by the fact that he +was no talker at any time, and when in liquor clamped his jaws like a +sprung trap. Whatever effect the alcohol may have had upon his mind was +not apparent because no thoughts passed his lips. The rum did go to his +head, however. The instinctive effort of will that kept his legs steady +and his mouth shut had no root in thought. Behind the veil of those +light eyes, the brain of Pharaoh Daggs, drunk, was like a seething pit, +one black fuddle of ugliness. To compensate for the apparent lack of +effect of liquor upon him, the inward disturbance usually lasted long +after the more tipsy seamen had slept around to clear heads. + +Today he lolled with his sneering face toward the weather beam, a figure +upon whose privacy no one would care to trespass. The sound of the shots +and the tale of the duel had neither one awakened in him any apparent +interest. Through the long afternoon till nearly five o'clock he +slouched by the fo'c's'le. Then with a leisurely stretch he walked to +the hatch, and peered down it. Wheeling about he scanned the deck +craftily, looking at all the men in turn, before he descended the +ladder. + +In the half-light below he paused again, and seemed to send his piercing +glance into every bunk, from the forward to the after bulkhead. Finally, +satisfied that no one else was in the fo'c's'le, he went to his own +sleeping place, on the port side, and kneeling beside the berth hauled a +heavy sea-chest from beneath it. + +Jeremy's light sleep was broken by a scraping sound close by. He opened +his eyes without moving, and from where he lay could see a man busy at +something opposite him. As the figure turned and straightened, he knew +it for the man with the broken nose. The boy was instantly on the alert, +for he had every reason to distrust Daggs. Without making a sound he +worked nearer to the edge of the bunk and pulled the cover up to hide +all but his eyes. The pirate hauled his chest out farther into the +middle of the floor, where more light fell. + +[Illustration] + +Then he knelt before it and unlocked it with a key which he took from +about his neck. Jeremy almost expected to see a heap of gold coin as the +lid was raised. He was disappointed. A garment of dark cloth, probably a +cloak, and some dirty linen were all that came to view. The buccaneer +lifted out a number of articles of seaman's gear and laid them beside +him. After them came a leather pouch, quite heavy, Jeremy thought. The +man raised it carefully and weighed it in his hand. It must have been +his portion of the spoils taken on the voyage. However, this was not +what he was after, it seemed, for a moment later it was laid on the +floor beside the other things. Next he removed two pistols and a second +pouch of the sort used for powder and shot. There was a long interval as +he rummaged in the bottom of the box, under other contents which Jeremy +could not see. At last the pirate stood up, holding a rolled paper tied +with string. Another long moment he peered about him and listened. When +he had reassured himself, he untied the string and opened the paper, a +square document, perhaps a foot each way. It was discolored and worn at +the edges, apparently quite old. What was inscribed on it Jeremy could +not see, stare as he might. Daggs examined it a moment, then knelt, +preoccupied, and spread it upon the floor. With one finger he traced a +line along it, zigzagging from one side diagonally to the foot, his lips +moving silently meanwhile. Then his other hand hovered above the +document for a time before he planted his thumb squarely upon a spot +near the top. + +Jeremy's thoughts kept time with his racing heart. He watched every +motion of the buccaneer with a fierce intentness that missed no detail. +Daggs had been quiet for a full two minutes, a crafty gloating smile +playing over his thin lips. Now once more he touched a place upon the +sheet before him. "Right there, she'll be," he muttered. Then, after +slowly rolling up the paper, he replaced it and locked the box. The eyes +of the boy in the bunk gleamed excitedly, for he was sure now of the +nature of the document. Beyond any reasonable doubt, it was a chart. +"Solomon Brig's treasure!" he whispered to himself as the tall figure of +the man with the broken nose clambered upward through the hatch. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +Jeremy realized that his life would be in danger if Daggs saw him coming +on deck after what had just happened. He lay still, therefore, in spite +of his desire to tell Bob what he had seen. The rest of the afternoon +his imagination painted pictures of ironbound chests half-buried in the +yellow beach sand of some lonely island far down in the tropics; gloomy +caves beneath mysteriously waving palm trees--caves whose black depths +shot forth a ruddy gleam of gold coin, when a chance ray of light came +through the shade; of shattered hulks that lay ten fathoms down in the +clear green water of some still lagoon, where pure white coral beds gave +back the sleeping sunshine, and fishes of all bright colors he had ever +seen or dreamed about swam through the ancient ports to stare +goggle-eyed at heaps of glistening gems. + +At last he must have slept, for Bob's voice in his ear brought him back +to the dingy fo'c's'le of the _Royal James_ with a start. The lantern +was lit and most of the port watch were snoring heavily in their bunks +after a hard day's work. Bob took off his shoes and trousers and climbed +into the narrow berth beside his friend, who was now wide awake. +"Listen, Bob," whispered the New England boy as soon as they were +settled, "do you remember the things Daggs has said, off and on, about +old Sol Brig--how there was always a lot of gold that the men before the +mast never saw and how he must have saved it till he was the richest of +all the pirates? Well, who would know what became of that money, if +anybody did? Daggs, of course, the only man that's left of Brig's crew! +I think Daggs knows, and what's more, I believe I saw the very chart +that shows where it is." He went on to tell all he had seen that +afternoon. Bob was as excited as he when he had finished. "We must try +to get hold of that map or else get a sight of it!" he exclaimed. Jeremy +was doubtful of the possibility of this. "You see," he said, "the key is +on a string 'round his neck. The only way would be to break the chest +open. It's big and heavy and we should raise the whole ship with the +racket. Then, besides, I don't like to steal the thing, even though he +is a pirate." Bob also felt that it would hardly be honest to break into +a man's box, no matter what his character might be. "If we should just +happen to see the chart, though," he finally explained, "why, we have +just as much right to hunt for the treasure as he has, or any one else." +Jeremy agreed to this solution of a knotty problem of honor and both +boys decided that for the present they had no course in the matter but +to wait for some accident to put the paper in their way. However, not to +let any opportunities slip, they resolved to watch Pharaoh Daggs +constantly while he was awake, in the hope of getting a second glimpse +of the treasured document. + +Jeremy had regained both strength and spirits when he tumbled out next +morning. The pall of uneasiness which had hung over the ship all the day +before had lifted and the men, sobered once more, went about their +business as usual. The boys set themselves to the task of watching with +much zeal. It was not so difficult as might be expected. They had always +been aware of the presence of the man with the broken nose whenever he +was on deck. His sinister eye was too unpleasant to meet without a +shiver. Likewise they felt an instinctive relief when he went out of +sight. For this reason it was no great matter for either lad that +happened to be present to note the fact of the pirate's going below. +Whenever he left the deck for anything he was shadowed by Bob or Jeremy +as the case might be. For nearly three days the mysterious chest +remained untouched. Of that the boys were sure. + +The threatened storm that had roughened the sea on the day when Captain +Manewaring met his sudden end seemed to have spent itself in racing +clouds and gusts of wind. Fair weather followed and for forty-eight +hours the _James_ and her prize stood off the coast, heading up to the +northeastward with the wind on the port quarter. + +Bonnet had remained below, haggard and brooding, suffering from one of +the spells of reaction that commonly followed his misdeeds. By night of +the second day he cast off his gloom and came on deck, the old reckless +light in his eye. + +"Here, Herriot," he called, as he appeared, "we've got a rich prize in +our fist and a richer one coming. Let's be gay dogs all tonight. Give +the hands extra grog and I'll see you in the cabin over a square bottle +when the watch is changed." + +Before the mast the news was hailed with delighted cheering. A keg of +rum was rolled out of the hold and set on the fo'c's'le table. Hardly +had darkness settled before half the men aboard were drunk and the +cannikins came back to the spigot in an unending procession. There was +too much liquor available for the usual choruses to be sung. Most of the +pirates swilled it like pigs and stopped for nothing till they could +move no longer, but lay helpless where they happened to fall. Only a +bare three men stayed sober enough to sail the ship. Jeremy thanked his +stars for fair weather when he thought of the case they might have been +in had the orgy occurred in a night of storm. + +Next day a few of the crew woke at breakfast time. The rest snored out +their drunken sleep below. Daggs came on deck as usual, to the outward +eye quite his careless, ugly self. His two young enemies watched him +closely, for they suspected that the drink he had taken had helped to +Jeremy's previous discovery. As the hours went by, one after another of +the buccaneers woke and dragged himself on deck to growl the discomfort +out of him. By mid-afternoon Jeremy, going below, found all the bunks +empty. He slipped behind a chest far up in the dark bow angle and waited +for a signal from Bob. The boys had seen the man with the broken nose +watching the decks uneasily for hours and suspected that he meant to go +below as soon as the fo'c's'le was empty. + +Jeremy must have been in his hiding place close to half an hour before +he heard Bob's sharply whistled tune close outside in the gun deck. He +ducked lower behind his box and presently heard steps descending the +ladder. A guarded observation taken from a dark corner close to the +floor disclosed the slouching form of Daggs standing by the table. + +The buccaneer took a long time for his cautious survey of the fo'c's'le. +Standing perfectly still he turned his body from the hips and gave the +place a silent scrutiny before he set to work. He proceeded just as he +had done before and quickly had the chest open and its contents spread +upon the planking. He had just unrolled the chart when a shout from the +hatch made him leap to his feet. "Sail ho!" was being passed from mouth +to mouth above, and already there were men on the ladder. In a fever of +haste, Daggs half-pushed, half-threw the chest under his bunk and shoved +the loose clothes and small arms after it. The paper he still held in +his hand. After a second of indecision, while he looked over his +shoulder at the descending crowd of seamen, he thrust it in on top of +the box and stood erect, flushed and swaying. The hands were preoccupied +and none seemed to notice his act. There was a general scurrying of +sailors to get out their cutlasses and pistols, and in the confusion +Jeremy found an easy opportunity to crawl out of the hiding place and +busy himself like the rest. + +Going on deck a minute later, he found Bob and whispered a brief account +of what he had seen. For the present there was much to be done on deck. +They ran hither and thither at Herriot's commands, giving a hand at a +rope or fetching something mislaid in the cabin. The _James_ was under +all her canvas and in hot pursuit of a large sloop, visible some three +miles to leeward. The fleeing ship was driving straight to sea before +the strong west breeze, her sails spread on both sides like the broad, +stubby wings of a white owl. Bonnet had his jury spar swung to +starboard from the foremast foot and bent the big jib to balance his +main and foresail. Bowing her head deep into every trough as the waves +swept by, the black sloop ran after her prey at dizzy speed. The crew +gathered along the wet bows, silent, intent on the game in hand. They +were drawing up perceptibly from moment to moment. At last they were +within half a mile--five hundred yards--close astern. Aboard the enemy +they could see a small knot of men huddled aft, working desperately at +the breach of a swivel-cannon. Bonnet ordered Herriot to stand off to +starboard for a broadside. But as the _James_ swerved outward, a flare +of fire and a loud report went up from her opponent's after part. For a +moment it seemed that her cannon had been discharged at the pirate, but +as they waited for the splash of the shot, a thick smoke grew in a cloud +over the enemy's deck. The gun or a keg of powder had exploded. As soon +as the buccaneers perceived it, they bellowed hoarse hurrahs and +prepared to board. The gunners swarmed up from the port gun deck at the +order and all lined up along the rail howling defiance at the +merchantman. Jeremy saw that all were on deck and touched Bob's arm. + +They made their way quietly below, and the New Englander went to Daggs' +berth. From beneath it protruded the corner of the piece of paper. Both +boys knelt eagerly over it as Jeremy pulled it into the light. + +It was, as they had expected, a chart. The drawing was crudely done in +ink, applied it seemed with a stick, or possibly with a very badly +fashioned quill-pen. There was very little writing upon it, and this of +the raggedest sort. To their intense disappointment it bore no name to +tell where in the seven seas it might be. That the chart was of some +coast was certain. A deep, irregular bay occupied the central part of +the sheet. Two long promontories jutting from east and west nearly +closed the seaward or southern end. The single word "Watter" was written +beside a dot high up on the paper and a little northeast of the bay. An +anchor, roughly drawn near the northern shore and a small cross between +two parallel lines a short distance inland, completed the information +given, except for a crossed arrow and letters indicating the cardinal +points of the compass. + +[Illustration] + +It required no great time for the two lads to examine every line and +mark. They looked up and faced each other disappointed. Jeremy voiced +the thought which both had. "How are we to know where the thing is?" he +asked. Bob shook his head and looked glum. Then he seized the paper +feverishly and turned it over. Its soiled yellow back gave no clue. Not +even the latitude and longitude were printed. "Well," said Jeremy, +finally, "one thing we can do, and that's remember exactly how it +looks." He measured the length of the bay with the middle joint of his +forefinger. "Three--four--and a bit over," he counted. "Anchorage in +that round cove to the northwest." Then, measuring again, "And the cross +is two finger-joints northwest of the anchorage. What those lines each +side of it are I don't know, but I'll remember them. And that dot marked +"Watter" is one and a half northeast of the mitten-shaped cove. There--I +guess we've got it all by heart now." He had just finished speaking and +both of them were still looking intently at the map when a fresh +outburst of cheers and the beginning of a sharp musketry fire were heard +above. Jeremy replaced the paper where he had found it and they hurried +up to look out of the hatchway. + +The two ships were now only half a cable's length apart, running side by +side. Few shots were being returned by the merchantman and all her crew +were keeping out of sight behind the solid rail. + +"All hands to board her," Bonnet sang out and answering her tiller the +_Royal James_ swung over till the two sloops' sides met with a jar. They +were fast in an instant and a score of whooping buccaneers swept over +the rail. From a place of vantage the boys watched the short, bloody +conflict that followed. It seemed that several of the enemy's crew, few +as they were at the beginning, had been killed by the explosion of the +gun. Only a half-dozen rose to meet the pirate onslaught. Not one asked +for mercy, even after Herriot had shot down the captain, and the tide of +sea-rovers rushed at and over the little handful of defenders in an +overwhelming flood. There was no need of the plank this time. Every man +fell fighting and died sword in hand. To the two young prisoners, +already sickened with the sight of blood, this wholesale murder of a +band of gallant seamen came as a revolting climax. They stared at each +other, white-faced as they thought of the fate that threatened them and +all honest men who fell into such ruthless hands. It was Bob's first +sight of a hand-to-hand sea-battle, and as the last merchant sailor went +down under the howling pack he fainted and tumbled into Jeremy's arms. +When he came to his senses again the Yankee boy had propped him up +behind the companion and was rubbing him vigorously. "I know how you +feel," he said in answer to Bob's stammered apology. "It's all right and +you've no call to be ashamed. I came near it myself." The Delaware lad, +who had been almost as distressed at being guilty of swooning as at the +pillage of the merchant sloop, felt a vast relief when he heard Jeremy's +words, and quickly got upon his feet once more. + +The pirates had cleared the enemy's deck of bodies and blood and now +were taking an inventory of the sloop's cargo, if the shouts that came +from her hold meant anything. She was a little larger than the _James_ +in length and beam, but had carried no armament other than the now +damaged stern-chaser. The white letters at her stern declared her the +_Fortune_ of New Castle. From what Captain Bonnet said to his +sailing-master as they returned over the rail, Jeremy gathered that she +had been in light cargo and was not as rich a prize as the _Francis_. + +The latter ship had now come up and was standing off and on waiting for +orders. Bonnet had lost two men killed and several hurt in the fight, so +that the crew of the _Royal James_, without the prize crew on board the +_Francis_, now numbered scarce a dozen able-bodied men. The question of +manning the newly captured sloop was finally settled by transferring to +her George Dunkin and his seven seamen. Bonnet freed the men of the +_Francis_ who had been in chains, and set them to work their own ship +under command of Herriot and another pirate. He undertook to sail the +_James_ himself, for by this time he was really an able skipper, despite +the fact that he had taken to the sea so late in life. As the crew of +the _Francis_ lined up before going aboard, the notorious buccaneer +faced them with a cold glitter in his eyes. For a while he kept them +wriggling under his piercing scrutiny. Then he spoke, his voice even and +dangerous. + +"You will be under Mr. Herriot's orders. I think you are wise enough not +to try to mutiny with him. But if you should undertake it, remember that +no sooner does your sloop draw away to over one mile's distance than I +will come after you and blow you out of water without parley. There are +just enough sails left aboard your ship to keep headway in a light +breeze. Over with you now!" + +As darkness deepened the three sloops set out westward under shortened +canvas, keeping so close that the steersmen hailed each other +frequently through the night. Bob and Jeremy went to their bunks gloomy +and subdued. But Jeremy's sorrows were lightened by the feeling that +sometime, somewhere, he would find a use for the chart, the outline of +which he had firmly fixed in his memory that afternoon. And wondering +how, he fell asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +The fair weather held and for several days the little fleet cruised west +by south, then southerly when they had picked up the Virginia Capes. The +pirate crew, in spite of their impatience to divide the cumbersome booty +they had helped to win, kept in a fairly good temper. Hopes were high +and quarrels were quickly put aside with a "Take it easy, boys--wait +till the sharin's over." Bob and Jeremy got off with a minimum of hard +words and might have considered their lot almost agreeable but for one +incident. The whippings which were a regular part of boys' lives aboard +ship in those days, had always been administered by George Dunkin. As +bo's'n, it was not only his right but his duty to lay in with a rope's +end occasionally. He was one of the fairest men in Bonnet's company and +Jeremy had never felt any great injustice in the treatment Dunkin had +accorded him. Since his lieutenancy aboard the prize-sloop, however, the +bo's'n had necessarily ceased to be the executive of punishment, and +when Monday, recognized on all the seas as whipping day, came around, +there was a very secret hope in Jeremy's heart that the office would be +forgotten. As for Bob, he had so far escaped the lash, it being +understood that he was not an ordinary ship's boy. As the day wore on, +the Yankee lad remained as inconspicuous as possible, and began to think +that he was safe. About mid-afternoon, however, a gang of buccaneers, +working at the rent in the bows which still gave trouble, shouted for a +bucket of drinking water. Bob had been snoozing in the shade of the +sail, and when he was roused at last, took his own time in carrying out +the order. When he appeared finally, there was a good deal of swearing +in the air. Daggs reached out and jerked the boy into the center of the +group, his light eyes agleam under scowling brows. "See here, you little +runt," he hissed, "don't think because the Cap'n's savin' you to kill +later, that you're the bloomin' mate of this ship! Come here to the +capstan, now!" Before Bob was aware of what they meant to do, the angry +sailors had slung him over a capstan bar and tied his hands and feet to +a ring in the deck. After the clothes had been pulled off his back, +there was an interval while the pirates quarrelled over who should do +the whipping. Daggs demanded the right and finally prevailed by +threatening the instant disemboweling of his rivals. Bob was trembling +and white, not from fear but because of the indignity of the punishment. +The scarred executioner spat on his hands, took the heavy rope and +squared his feet. "Shiver away, you cowardly pup," said he, grinning at +one side of his twisted mouth. Then with a vicious whirl of his arm he +brought the hard hemp down on the boy's naked shoulders--once, twice, +three times--the lad lost count. At last he nearly lost consciousness +under the torturing fire of the blows. When the buccaneer ceased for +lack of breath his victim hung limp and twitching over the wooden bar. +Long welts that were beginning to drip red crossed and recrossed his +back. "Now, where's that other whelp?" panted Daggs. Somebody went below +and dragged Jeremy to light. The boy was brought up to the crowd at the +capstan. He took one look at Bob's pitiful, set stare and the red drops +on the deck, then turned blazing to face the man with the broken nose. + +"You great coward!" he cried. The man was staggered for an instant. Then +his rage boiled up and the tanned skin of his neck turned the color of +old mahogany. "I'll kill the boy," he whispered hoarsely and drew back +his heavy rope for a swing at Jeremy's head. + +"Daggs"--a voice cut the air from close by his side. "Daggs, who made +you bo's'n of this sloop?" + +The man whirled and nearly fell over, for Stede Bonnet was at his elbow. +"One more thing of this kind aboard, and I'll maroon you," said the +Captain sharply, and added, "Gray, put this man in irons and see that +he gets only bread and water for five days!" Then he turned on his heel +and went back to the cabin. So once more Jeremy's life was saved by the +Captain's whim. He half carried, half supported his chum to their bunk +and after rubbing his back with grease, begged from the galley, nursed +him the rest of the day. By the following afternoon the Delaware lad had +recovered his spirits and although he was still too sore and stiff to go +on deck, had no trouble in eating the food Jeremy brought him. The +absence of Daggs made life assume a happier outlook and it was not long +before the boy was as right as ever. + +August was nearly past. To the boys, who knew little of the geography of +the coast and nothing of Bonnet's plans, it was something of a surprise +when the man at the tiller of the _James_, which was in the lead, swung +her head over to landward one morning. Low shores, with a white line of +sand beneath the vivid dark green of trees, ran along the western +horizon. As the sloop ran in, the boys expected to see the broad opening +of some bay but there was still no visible variation of the coast line. +No town was to be seen, nor even a single hut, when they were close in. +The trees were live-oaks, Bob said, though Jeremy had never seen one to +know it before. + +The _Royal James_ and her consorts held a slow course along the shore +for several hours. The strip of sand was gradually widening and in +places stretched inland for a mile in dunes and hillocks, traversed by +little tidewater creeks. At last there showed a narrow inlet between two +dunes, and Bonnet, who had now taken the helm, headed the sloop +cautiously for this opening. One of the men constantly heaved the lead +and cried the soundings as the ship progressed. The pirate chief kept to +the left of the channel and finally passed through into a wide lagoon, +with a scant fathom to spare at the shallowest place. The _Fortune_ +entered without difficulty, but the deeply-laden _Francis_ grounded +midway in and had to wait several hours for the tide to float her. + +Listening to the talk of the crew, Bob heard them say they had come into +the mouth of the Cape Fear River in Carolina. From what he knew of the +nearby coast he believed that it was a very wild region, almost +unsettled, and that there would be slight chance of getting to safety, +even if they were able to effect an escape. This fear seemed justified +later in the day, when Bonnet said to one of his men that there was no +need of shackling the boys as had been done in the Chesapeake. Turning +so that they could hear, he added, "Too many Indians in these woods for +the lads to try to leave the ship." Jeremy, who had seen enough of both +pirates and Indians to last him a lifetime, remarked to his friend that +personally he would risk his neck with one as soon as the other, but Bob +had heard terrible stories of the red men's cruelty and did not agree +with him. "We'd best stay aboard and wait for a better chance," he +argued. + +All three of the sloops were leaky and needed a thorough overhauling in +various ways. As soon as the _Francis_ was off the bar, therefore, they +proceeded up the estuary for a distance of nearly two miles and secured +their vessels in shallow water, where they could be careened at low +tide. + +Next morning and for many hot days thereafter the pirates and their +prisoners toiled hard at the refitting of the ships. Lumber was not easy +to come by in that desolate region and when they had used up all their +spare planking, Bonnet took the _Royal James_ out over the bar to hunt +for the wherewithal to do his patching. After a cruise of a day and a +night to the southward they sighted a small fishing shallop which they +quickly overtook, and captured without a fight. The two men in the +shallop jumped overboard and swam ashore when they saw the black flag, +and Bonnet was too much occupied in getting the prize back to the +river-mouth to give chase. It was an unfortunate thing for him that he +did not do so, but of that presently. The shallop was run into the +river-mouth and broken up the next day. With the fresh supply of lumber +thus secured, the work of repair went forward undelayed, and within a +few weeks the sloops were almost ready for sea again. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +It had been about the beginning of September when the pirate fleet had +sighted the live oaks on the bars of the Cape Fear River. To Bob and +Jeremy those first days were uneventful but hardly pleasant. Through the +long still afternoons a pitiless sun blazed into every corner of the +deck. Wide flats and hot-looking white dunes stretched away on either +hand. Only the line of woods half a mile distant offered a suggestion of +green coolness. When the sun had set the fo'c's'le held the heat like a +baker's oven. One long, tossing night of it sufficed for the two boys, +and after that they sought a corner of the deck away from the snoring +seamen and lying down on the bare planks, contrived to sleep in +reasonable comfort. + +The days were spent in hard work for the most part. A good deal of +washing and cleaning had to be done aboard all three vessels, and as +labor requiring no special skill, it fell frequently to the lot of +Jeremy and Bob. It was small matter to them whether they toiled or were +idle, for the blistering sun allowed no respite and it seemed preferable +to sweat over something useful than over nothing at all. + +On the third day after the return of the _James_ from her foraging trip, +Jeremy, who had been scraping and tarring ropes for hours on end, +straightened his back with a discontented grunt and looked away to the +edge of the woods, his eyebrows puckered in a frown. "Bob," he said in a +voice too low for any of their shipmates to hear, "Bob, I'm going to run +away if something doesn't happen soon." + +"You'll be shot, like as not," answered the Delaware boy. + +"Well, shot let it be," he replied doggedly. "If I'm to stay aboard here +all my life, I'd _rather_ be shot. It looks like the best chance we've +had, right now. Will you come tonight?" + +Bob thought for a moment. "I'm not afraid of their catching us," he +finally said. "It's the Indians, after we're into the woods. You say you +know the Indians and trust them as long as they are treated right. That +may be true of the ones you've known, but these Tuscaroras are +different. They don't talk the same language, and those words you +learned would mayhap go for curses down here. I don't think we ought to +try it." + +Jeremy admitted that his previous acquaintance stood for nothing, but +argued, from the fact that Bonnet had been trying to frighten them, that +he had probably exaggerated the danger. Finally, not wishing to leave +his friend if he could help it, he agreed to abandon the plan for the +present. + +They worked at the rope-tarring till suppertime, then rose wearily, +stretching, and went for their salt-horse and biscuit. When the coarse +rations were eaten, it was nearly sunset. Jeremy watched the sluggish +water glide by below the canted rail, till at last small quivering blurs +of light, the reflections of stars, began to gleam in the ripples. A +faint breeze, sprung up with the coming of night, blew across the +sweltering lagoon. Bob, tired out, fell asleep, his head pillowed on the +deck. The pirates, some below in the bunks, some stretched on the +planking, lay like dead men. After the hard labor of the day even the +regular watch slumbered undisturbed. Jeremy's thoughts went drifting off +into half-dreams as the soft black water lulled him with its unending +whisper. His head nodded. He raised it, striving, he knew not why, to +keep awake. The gentle water-sounds crept in again, soothing his drowsy +ears. He was close to sleep--so close that another moment would have +taken him across the border. But in that little time the sharp double +cry of a heron, flying high over the lagoon, cut the night air and +startled the boy broad awake. + +As he stared off over the dim whiteness of the bars, his senses astretch +for a repetition of that weird call, there was a faint splashing in the +water close to the sloop. One of the starpools was blotted out in +blackness at the instant he turned to look over the rail. The boy's +heart seemed to be beating against the roof of his mouth. Thoughts of +alligators crossed his mind, for he had heard of them from the pirates +who had plied in southern waters. As quietly as he could, he moved to +the rail and stood staring over, his eyes bulging into the dark and his +breath coming short and fast. For perhaps a minute there was no sight +nor sound but the lapping water of the lagoon. Then he became aware of a +whiteness drifting close, and heard a familiar voice whispering his +name. "Jeremy--Jeremy--it's Job!" said the white blotch. It bumped +softly along the side, and at last the boy could see the homely features +of his old friend, pale through the gloom. There was a loose rope-end +dragging over the side, and Job's hand feeling along the woodwork came +in contact with it. + +"Better not try to come aboard," whispered Jeremy. "They're all on deck +here. Can you take us off?" + +There was silence for an instant as Job felt for a hold in one of the +gun ports. Then he raised himself till his head was level with the deck. + +"Is the other lad there?" he asked. + +"Ay," replied Jeremy. "He's here but he will have to be wakened." + +[Illustration: "Don't say a word--sh!--easy there--are you awake?"] + +"Go to him and take his hand. Begin squeezing soft-like, and press +harder till he opens his eyes. Don't startle him," was Job's admonition. + +The boy did as he was bid. A gentle grip on the Delaware lad's palm +brought him to his senses. Jeremy was whispering in a cool, steady +undertone, "Bob, that's the lad--wake up, Bob--don't say a +word--sh!--easy there--are you awake?" When he was rewarded by a nod of +comprehension, he told his comrade of Job's presence and the chance they +had to escape. Bob understood in a moment. They returned to the rail and +first one, then the other let himself quietly down, holding to the rope. +Jeremy slipped into the water last. + +Luckily they could both swim, though the sloop was so near the beach +that swimming was hardly necessary. The tall ex-pirate crawled out upon +the sand in the lead and they followed him quickly over a dune and +across another creek. They were now far enough away for their flight to +be unheard and Job began to run, the boys close behind him. They made a +good mile to the south before he allowed his panting runaways to stop +for breath. There in the reeds beside a narrow estuary, they came upon a +small dinghy, pulled up. The seaman ran the boat into the water, bundled +the boys into the bottom astern, and was quickly pulling down stream +along the sharp windings of the creek. + +When they had put three miles of sand and water behind them, Job rested +on his oars to catch his breath. His voice came through the hot dark, +pantingly. "Lucky you stood up an' came to the rail the way you did, +lad," he said. "I didn't know just how I was to reach you. When you came +to the side I could see it was a boy, an' knew things was all right. +Well--we'd best be gettin' on--no tellin' how soon they may find you're +gone." Once more the big Yankee bowed his back to the task in hand and a +silence fell, broken only by the faint sound of the muffled oars and the +swirl of water along the sides. Not even the thrill of the escape could +keep the two tired boys awake, and it was nearly an hour later that they +were roused by voices calling at no great distance. A tall black mass on +which showed a single moving light rose out of the gloom ahead. The hail +was repeated. "Oh, there, Job Howland--boat ahoy! What luck?" "All's +well," replied Job, and ran in under the ship's counter. A line was let +down and as soon as the skiff was made fast Bob and Jeremy and their +deliverer scrambled up to the open port. + +There was shouting and a moving to and fro of lanterns, as they were +ushered into the cabin, and suddenly a tall man, half-clad, burst +through the door at the farther end. He had the tattered form of Bob +Curtis in his arms in an instant, and great boy though he was, the +Delaware lad hugged his father ecstatically and wept. + +Job and Jeremy, pleased as they were to see this reunion, were hardly +comfortable in its presence and made a vain attempt to withdraw +gracefully. The merchant was after them before they could reach the +door. "Here, Howland," he cried, holding to Bob with one hand and +seizing the ex-pirate's arm with the other. "Don't you try to leave yet. +Gad, man, this is the happiest hour I've had in years. I owe you so much +that it can't be put in figures. And this tall lad is Jeremy that you've +told me of. Look at the sunburn on the pair of 'em--pretty desperate +characters to have aboard, I'm afraid!" + +His roar of laughter was joined by the other three, as he showed the way +to a couple of roomy berths, built in at the end of the cabin. The two +boys were left, after a final boisterous "Good-night," and proceeded to +make themselves snug between the linen sheets. Jeremy had never slept in +such luxury in his whole life, and moved gingerly for fear of hurting +something. At last their exhilaration subsided enough for the rescued +lads to go to sleep once more. Jeremy's last thought was a half-mournful +one as he wondered how long it must be before he, too, could throw +himself against the broad homespun wall of his father's breast. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +When they woke it was to the regular heave and lurch of a sailing vessel +in motion, and Jeremy, looking out the port, beheld the crisp, sparkling +blue of open sea. + +There were two suits of every-day clothes upon the cabin bench and into +these the boys climbed, impatient to get out on deck. The ship was the +big merchantman, _Indian Queen_, though Bob, used as he was to her +appearance, would hardly have known her in her new guise. Long lines of +black cannon grimly faced the open ports along either side. The rail had +been built up solidly to a height of about six feet, so that the main +deck was now a typical gun deck, open overhead. Her regular crew of +seasoned mariners was augmented by as many more longshoremen, all good +men, picked for their courage and hand-to-hand fighting ability. + +Job, who acted as second mate and was in full charge of the gun crews, +took the boys proudly from one big carronade to another, explaining each +improvement which his experience or ingenuity had devised. His chief +pride was the long nine-pounder in the bows. She was a swivel gun set on +bearings so finely adjusted and well-greased that one man could aim +her. Job patted her shiny brass rump lovingly as he looked across the +blue swells ahead. He could hardly wait for the hour when he should set +a match to her breach. + +Clarke Curtis joined the group a few minutes later, and they went +together to the main cabin. Bob's father, Mr. Ghent, the Captain, and +Job Howland settled themselves comfortably over long pipes and glasses +of port, and prepared to hear the boys' story. Jeremy, bashful in such +fine company, was persuaded to recount his adventures from the time Job +had gone over the side till the kidnapped Delaware boy had come aboard. +Then Bob took up the tale and told with much spirit of the storm, the +trip up the Chesapeake and the subsequent pursuit of the _Francis_ off +the Capes. From this point on the two lads told the story together, +eagerly interrupting each other to put in some incident forgotten for +the moment. When they came to the discovery of Pharaoh Daggs' chart, Job +sat up with a jerk. "I always thought he knew!" he exclaimed. "Jeremy, +lad, could ye draw me a picture of what 'twas like?" The boy readily +consented, and given a piece of paper, proceeded to set down, from his +memory of the outline and from the general measurements he had taken, a +very fair copy of the original. The ex-buccaneer leaned over him as he +drew, and shook his head doubtfully as the work went on. "No," he said +when the boy had finished, "I can't recall such a bay just this minute. +An' as there was nothin' on it to tell where it might be, I don't know +as there's anything for us to do. Like as not it's on some little island +as isn't set down, so 'twould be scant use to look over the ship's +charts. Still, I'll try it." A half-day of poring over the maps produced +no result. There were bays large and small that resembled the one Jeremy +had drawn, but none closely enough to warrant the belief that it was the +same. "Well," remarked Job as he put away the charts, "Daggs'll never +live to reach his bay. He'll swing on Charles Town Dock, an' I mistake +not." But in that saying at least the ex-pirate proved himself no +prophet. + +The light wind held and the _Indian Queen_ made reasonable speed down +the coast for nearly two days. Then, after drifting under short sail all +night, she made in with the dawn, past the small island which nearly a +century and a half later was to be the scene of a great war's beginning, +crept up against the tide till noon and anchored off the thriving port +of Charles Town. Mr. Curtis and Job went ashore in the cutter, as soon +as all was snug aboard. On landing they went directly to the Governor's +house. + +Governor Johnson was at home and gladly welcomed the Delaware merchant, +who was an old acquaintance of his. When they had been shown into a +large room where the official business of the colony was transacted, Mr. +Curtis proceeded at once to the point of his visit. He learned that the +messenger from Delaware had arrived and his plea for aid had been duly +considered. Johnson was troubled at having no better answer for his +friend, but said that the treasury of the southern colony had not yet +recovered from the strain put upon it four years before at the time of +the Indian massacres. He believed that he had no right at this time to +spend the public funds in fitting out a fleet, unless it was to avenge +an injury done some member of the colony. His honest distress at being +unable to assist was so obvious that neither the merchant nor his chief +gunner felt like urging their claim for help. + +Mr. Curtis told of the rescue of the two boys, much to the discomfort of +the blushing Job, and they rose to take their departure, feeling no ill +will toward the Governor for his inability to help them. As they started +to go out of the room, a loud insistent knock was heard. "Come in," said +Johnson, and immediately the door was opened to admit a short, +well-built gentleman, very much flushed as to the face, and whose eyes +fairly shot forth sparks. He was followed by two other men, dressed in +rough clothes that seemed to have seen recent hard usage. The leader +advanced with rapid steps. "Look'e here, Governor," he said, "those +confounded pirates are at us again. Here's two of my men----" + +"Gently, Colonel Rhett," interrupted the Governor, his eyes twinkling. +"Allow me to introduce Mr. Clarke Curtis of Delaware and his friend, Mr. +Howland. I believe your business and theirs will fall very easily into +one track. Pray be seated, gentlemen." + +The Colonel shot a keen glance at these new acquaintances and, when the +four had taken chairs around the table, began again more calmly to tell +his story. A fishing smack, one of a half-dozen open boats belonging to +him, had been cruising along the coast to the eastward the week before, +and when about forty miles west of Cape Fear had sighted a large black +sloop under great spread of sail, bearing down upon her. The two men in +the shallop put about and made for shore as fast as they could, using +oars and canvas alike, but when they were still half a mile out they saw +that the pursuing ship flew a black pirate flag. When, a few moments +after, a round shot came dangerously close to their stern, they leaped +over the side without more ado and succeeded in swimming ashore, glad to +come out of the adventure with whole skins. After a perilous journey of +many leagues overland, they had just arrived in Charles Town and +reported the affair to Rhett, their employer. "So you see," said the +Colonel in conclusion, "we're in for another siege of the kind we had +with _Blackbeard_ unless we take some quick action on this." + +Johnson sat thoughtful for a moment. "Let me put the matter up to you +exactly as it now stands," he finally said. "There is a little money in +the treasury. But to buy and fit out properly three ships would drain us +almost as dry as we were in 1715. Would you have me do that, Rhett?" The +Colonel shook his head. "No," he replied, "you must not." Then after +looking at the floor for a moment he stood up with quick decision. "See +here," he said, "we can get enough volunteers to do this whole business +or my name's not William Rhett." Mr. Curtis thrust out a big hand. "My +ship _Indian Queen_, twenty-one guns, is in the harbor, ready for sea. +She's at your service," he smiled. The Colonel gripped his hand +delightedly. "Done," he cried, "and now let's see what other commanders +we can recruit. Will you give me a commission, Governor?" And receiving +an affirmative reply, he led the way down to the docks. + +Colonel Rhett was a well-known figure in Charles Town. He owned a large +plantation a few miles inland, and conducted a fish warehouse as well. +Among tobacco growers, townsmen and sea-captains alike he was widely +acquainted and respected as much as any man in the colony. His courage +and skill as a soldier were proverbial, for he had been a leader in the +suppression of the Indian uprising. Certainly no man in the Carolinas +was better fitted for the task which he had in hand. For two days he and +his friends from the _Queen_ fairly lived on the wharves, and before +sunset of the second he had secured the services of two sloops, the +_Henry_, Captain John Masters, and the _Sea Nymph_, Captain Fayrer Hall. +Neither ship was equipped for fighting, but by using cannon from the +town defences and borrowing some half-dozen pieces from the +heavily-armed _Indian Queen_, a complement of eight guns for each sloop +was made up. + +On September 15th the three ships, in war trim and carrying in their +combined crews nearly 200 men, crossed the Charles Town bar. Just before +they sailed news had come in that the notorious pirate, Charles Vane, +had passed to the south with a prize, and Rhett's first course was laid +along the coast in that direction. Two or three days of search in the +creeks and inlets failed to reveal any sign of the buccaneer, however, +and much to the relief of the impatient Mr. Curtis, they put about for +Cape Fear on the eighteenth. The progress of the fleet up the coast was +slow. Constant rumors of pirates were received, and every hiding place +on the shore was examined as they went along. + +Bob and Jeremy, wild with suppressed excitement, could hardly brook this +delay, for, as they warned the officers of the expedition repeatedly, +there was every reason to expect that Bonnet would leave the river soon, +if he had not gone already. For this reason the _Indian Queen_ went on +in advance of the others and patrolled the waters off the headland for +four days, until Rhett should come up. + +On the evening of the twenty-sixth he made his appearance and as there +was still light they decided to enter the river-mouth. The tide was just +past flood. Rhett's flagship, the _Henry_, nosed in first over the bar +and was followed by the _Sea Nymph._ The great, deep-draughted _Queen_ +advanced to within a few lengths of the entrance, but the soundings +showed that even there she had only a fathom or two to spare, and would +certainly come to grief if she adventured further. As it was, even the +lighter sloops ran aground fifteen minutes later and were not launched +again till nearly dawn. Captain Ghent had anchored the big ship as close +in as he dared and she sat bow-on to the channel-mouth. Her two consorts +were in plain sight a few hundred yards inside. Rhett came back during +the night in a small boat and held a council of war with Curtis, Ghent +and Job Howland. He reported that a party of pirates in longboats had +come down river during the evening to reconnoitre, but had beat a +retreat as soon as they had seen the _Henry's_ guns. + +It was decided about half the crew of the _Queen_ should be added to the +force of men on the two sloops, while the big vessel herself was forced +to be content with standing guard off the entrance. This was a bitter +blow not only to Mr. Curtis, but to Job and the boys, who had looked +forward to the battle with zest. + +Bob and Jeremy had been ordered to bed about midnight, but they rose +before light, in their excitement, and sunrise found them in the bows +with Job, watching the long point of sand behind which they knew the +pirates lay. Preparations had been made aboard the _Henry_ and _Sea +Nymph_ for an immediate advance up the river. Hardly had the first slant +beams of sunlight struck upon Rhett's deck before the crew were lustily +pulling at the main halyards and winding in the anchor chain. + +But even before the two Carolina sloops were under way there was an +excited chorus of "Here he comes!" and above the dune at the bend of the +river, appeared the headsails of the _Royal James_. Bonnet had weighed +his chances and decided for a running fight. The pirate ship cleared the +point, nearly a mile away, and came flying down, every inch of canvas +drawing in the stiff offshore breeze. It seemed for a moment as if she +might get safely past the Carolinians and out to sea, with the _Queen_ +as her only antagonist. Probably Bonnet had counted on the +unexpectedness of his maneuver to accomplish this result. But if so, he +had left out of his reckoning the character of William Rhett. That +gentleman hesitated not an instant, but headed upstream directly toward +the enemy. Fortunately, he had two good skippers in Masters and Hall, +for the good Colonel himself knew little of sailing. Thanks to these +lieutenants, the two attacking sloops were let off the wind at exactly +the right time, and filled away down the river close together off the +pirate's starboard bow. Bonnet raced up abeam, firing broadsides as fast +as his men could load, and his cannonade was answered in kind from the +_Henry_. She and the _Sea Nymph_ began to veer over to port, forcing the +black sloop closer and closer to shore, but the buccaneer Captain +refused to take in an inch of sail. His course was all but justified. +The speedy craft which he commanded gained on her foes hand over hand +till, when only a few hundred yards from the narrow mouth of the +estuary, she led them both by her own length. + +From the deck of the _Queen_ Jeremy and Bob could pick out the big form +of Herriot at the tiller. Just as the _Royal James_ passed into the +lead, they saw him swing mightily on the long steering-beam while at the +same instant the main sheet was hauled in. It was prettily done. The +pirate went hard over to starboard, kicking up a wave of spray as she +slewed. She sprang away from under the bows of the _Henry_ with only +inches to spare, for the bowsprit of Rhett's sloop tore the edge of her +mainsail in passing. The fierce cheer that rose from the deck of the +black buccaneer was drowned in a jarring crash. She had eluded her foe +only to run, ten seconds later, upon a submerged sand bar. It was now +the Carolinians' turn to cheer, though it soon appeared that they might +better have saved their breath for other purposes. The _Henry_, unable +to check her speed, ran straight ahead, and hardly a minute after her +enemy's mishap was hard aground twenty yards away. Both sloops lay +careened to starboard, so that the whole deck of the _Henry_ offered a +fair target for Bonnet's musketry, while the _Royal James's_ port side +was thrown up, a stout defence against the small-arm fire of Rhett's +men. Owing to the slant of their decks it was impossible to train the +cannon of either ship. + +The _Sea Nymph_, meanwhile, in an effort to cut off the course of the +pirate, had put over straight for the channel mouth, and before she +could come about her bows also were fast in the sand, and she lay stern +toward the other two, but out of musket-shot, unable to take a hand in +the hot fight that followed. Had either the _Henry's_ crew or the +buccaneers been able to send a proper broadside from their position, it +seems that they must surely have blown their foe out of water, though we +need, of course, to make allowance for the comparative feebleness of +their ordnance in contrast to that of the present day. + +The stranding of the three vessels had occupied so short a time that the +little group of witnesses high up in the bow of the _Indian Queen_ had +not yet exchanged a word. Clinging to the rail, open-mouthed, they had +seen the pirate make her bold dash across the bows of her pursuers, only +to strike the bar in her instant of triumph, then following with the +quickness of events in a dream, the grounding first of the _Henry_, +afterwards of the _Nymph_. + +Nor was there an appreciable pause in the spectacle, for the pirates, +who had been shooting steadily during the race down river, wasted no +time in trying to get off the bar, but raked their nearby adversaries' +deck with a withering fire. Rhett's crew tumbled into the scuppers, +where they were under the partial cover of the bulwark, but many were +killed, even before they could reach this shelter, and living and dead +rolled down together, as in a ghastly comedy. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + +The boys, intent upon this awful scene, turned as a shout from Job +Howland swelled above the uproar. The big gunner was at the breach of +his swivel-gun, ramrod in hand. The little group scattered to one side +or the other, leaving an open space at the bow rail. At the same moment +Job put in his powder, a heavy charge, ramming it home quickly, but with +all care. On top of the wadding went the round-shot, which was in its +turn hammered down under the powerful strokes of the ramrod. Maneuvering +the well-balanced breech with both hands, the tall Yankee trained his +cannon upon the pirate sloop; allowed for distance, raising the muzzle +an inch or more; nosed the wind and glanced at the foremast pennons; +then swung his piece a fraction of an inch to windward. + +At last with a shout of "'Ware fire!" he sprang back and laid his match +to the touch-hole. There was a spurt of flame as the long nine roared +above the staccato bark of the musketry. Then they saw a section of the +pirate's upper rail leap clear of her deck and fall overside. "Too +high," said Job shortly, though Ghent and Curtis had cheered at the +shot, for the distance was a good half-mile. Job worked feverishly at +his reloading, helped by others of the _Queen's_ gun crews. Again the +charge was a stout one, but this time the gunner laid his muzzle +pointblank at the top of the rail, allowing only for wind. Once more he +fired. Just short of the _Royal James_ went up a little tower of spray. +Job said not a word, but set his great angular jaws and went about his +work with all the speed he had. + +"Look," said Jeremy to Bob, in a sudden burst of understanding, "the +tide's rising. See how it runs in past our bows. In another five minutes +one of those boats will be afloat. Watch how the _James_ rocks up and +down already! If she gets off first, it'll go hard with Rhett, for +Bonnet'll let off a broadside as soon as his guns are level. That's why +Job's trying so hard to put a hole in her." + +Almost as he spoke the report of the third shot rolled out. The +buccaneer sloop jumped sharply, like a spurred horse. In her side, just +at the water line, a black streak had suddenly appeared. The waves of +the incoming tide no longer swayed her buoyantly, for she wallowed on +the bar like a log. The effect of the shot, though it could be seen from +the _Sea Nymph_, where it was greeted with cheers, was still unknown +aboard the _Henry_. In the wash of water as the tide rolled in, Rhett's +sloop stood almost on an even keel. The remnant of his crew appeared to +have taken heart, for a brisk fire now answered that of the buccaneers. +Suddenly a triumphant shouting began aboard the stranded flagship, soon +answered in increasing volume from her two consorts. The _Henry_ was +moving slowly off the bar. + +On the black sloop there was a silence as of death. Stede Bonnet, late +gentleman of the island of Barbadoes, honorably discharged as major from +the army of his Majesty, since turned sea-rover for no apparent cause, +and now one of the most notorious plunderers of the coast, faced his +last fight. Outnumbered nearly ten to one, his ship a stranded hulk, his +cannon useless, surely he read his doom. His men read it and turned +sullenly to haul down the tattered rag of black that still hung from the +masthead. But a last blaze of the old mad courage flared up in the +Captain, as he faced them, dishevelled and bloody, from behind cocked +pistols. Above the tumult of the fusillade his voice, usually so clear, +rose hoarse with anger. "I'll scatter the deck with the brains of any +man who will not fight to the end!" he cried. + +For a second the issue was in doubt. In another instant the iron spell +he held over his men must have won them back. Herriot was already +running to his side. But before he reached his chief a louder cheer from +the attacking sloops made him turn. The black "Roger" fluttered +downward to the deck. + +One of the captive sailors from the _Francis_, fearing to be taken for a +pirate if it came to deck-fighting, had crept up behind the mast and cut +the flag halyards. The men's hearts fell with the falling ensign and +they stood irresolute while the _Henry_ went up alongside. There was now +water enough for her to come close aboard and when she stood at a boat's +length distant, Colonel Rhett appeared at the rail. He pointed to the +muzzles of four loaded cannon aboard his sloop and told Bonnet that he +would proceed to blow him into the air if he did not surrender in one +minute's time. There was little parley. The pirate captain's flare of +resistance had burned out and pale and strangely shaken he handed over +his sword and submitted to the disarming of his men. + +It was now well along in the morning. The prisoners whom Rhett had taken +were rowed out in small boats across the bar and put aboard the _Indian +Queen_. One by one they were hauled over the side and placed below in +chains. Job, Jeremy and Bob stood at a little distance and counted those +who had been captured. Now and then they were greeted by an ugly look +and a curse as some old shipmate recognized them. Last of all, Major +Bonnet passed, haggard and unkempt, his head bowed in shame. + +"Thirty-five in all," finished Job. "Guess our old and handsome friend, +Pharaoh Daggs must have got his gruel in that fight. Well, if ever man +deserved to die a violent death, it's him. I'd like to make sure, +though. Want to go over to the _James_ with me?" Both boys welcomed the +opportunity and as the longboat was just then starting back, they were +soon aboard the battered pirate, so recently their home. Three or four +dead men lay on the canted deck, for no effort had been made as yet to +clean the ship. Bob and Jeremy had no stomach for looking at the corpses +of their erstwhile companions and turned rather to explore the cabin and +fo'c's'le, leaving Job to hunt for the body of their old enemy. + +In the long bunkroom some water had entered with the rising tide and +they found the lower side a miniature lake. In the semi-darkness, +seamen's chests floated past like houses in a flood. One of the big +boxes was open, half its contents trailing after it. Something familiar +about the brass-bound cover and the blue cloth that hung over the side +made Jeremy start. "Daggs' chest!" he exclaimed and reached forward, +pulling it up on the dry planking. The two boys delved into the damp +rubbish it held. There were a few clothes, a rusty pistol, an able +seaman's certificate crumpled and torn almost beyond recognition. The +sack of money and the chart were gone. After searching in dark corners +of the fo'c's'le and fishing in the pool of leakage without discovering +what they sought, the boys returned to the box. "Odd," said Jeremy at +length. "Every other chest is locked fast. Why should he have opened +his?" This seemed unanswerable. They returned to the deck, to find Job +peering into the green water overside. "The body's not here," said the +big seaman, "unless he fell over the rail or was thrown over. I'm +looking to see if it's down there." The sand shone clean and white +through the shallow water on every side. No trace of the buccaneer was +to be seen. Jeremy told of finding the open chest. "Hm," mused Job, +"looks like he'd got away, though he may be dead; I'd like to know for +sure. Still," he added, his face clearing, "chances are we'll never see +nor hear of him again." And putting the man with the broken nose out of +their thoughts, they rejoined their friends on the big merchantman. + +Just before nightfall the Carolina sloops, which had made an expedition +up the river, returned with Bonnet's two prizes in tow. They had been +abandoned in the effort to escape, and Rhett had launched them without +difficulty. A great sound of hammering filled the air above the desert +lagoon for two days. The old _Revenge_, now so rechristened since she +had fallen into honest hands, had to be floated, for there was still +service in her shattered black hull. A hundred men toiled on and around +her, and in a remarkably short time a jury patch was made in her gaping +side and her hold pumped dry. Then crews were picked to man the three +captured sloops, and the flotilla was ready to return triumphant. On the +morning when they stood out to sea, the twelve men of Rhett's party who +had been killed in action were buried with military honors, saluted by +the cannon of the fleet. + +A voyage of three days, unmarred by any accident, brought the victorious +squadron into Charles Town harbor. Joy knew no bounds among the +merchants and seamen along the docks. Indeed, the rejoicing spread +through the town to the tune of church bells and the whole colony was +soon made aware of Rhett's victory. + +When the buccaneers had been taken ashore under a heavy guard and locked +up in the public watchhouse, Mr. Curtis and Bob, with Job and Jeremy, +went ashore to stretch their legs. It was a fine, fall day, warm as +midsummer to Jeremy's way of thinking. The docks were fascinatingly full +of merchandise. Great hogsheads of molasses and rum from Jamaica, set +ashore from newly arrived ships, shouldered for room with baled cotton +and boxes of tobacco ready to be loaded. There was a smell of spices and +hot tar where the sun beat down on the white decks and tall spars of +the shipping. Negroes, hitherto almost unknown to the Yankee boy, +handled bales and barrels on the wharves, their gleaming black bodies +naked to the waist. + +Planters from the fertile country behind the town rode in with their +attendant black boys, and gathered at the coffee-houses on King Charles +Street. It was to one of these, the "Scarlet Fish," that the bluff +Delaware man took his protégés for dinner. + +The place was resplendent with polished deal and shining pewter. +Curtains of brightly colored stuff hung at the high square windows, and +on the side where the sun entered, pots of flowers stood in the broad +window-shelves. There were gay groups of men at the tables, and talk of +the pirates was going everywhere over the Madeira and chocolate. It +seemed the news of Job's gunnery had been spread by Rhett's men, for +some of the diners recognized and pointed to him. A pretty barmaid, with +dimples in her elbows, curtsied low as she set down his cup. "Oh, yes, +Captain Howland!" she answered as he gave his order, blushed a deep pink +and ran to the kitchen. Whereupon Job, quite overcome, vowed that the +ladies of Carolina were the fairest in the world, and Mr. Curtis roared +heartily, saying that "Captain Howland" it should be, and that before +many months, if he knew a good seadog. + +As they sat and sipped their coffee after a meal that reflected glory +upon the cook of the "Scarlet Fish," Colonel Rhett came in and made his +way to their table through a hurly-burly of back-slappings and "Bravos." +As soon as he was able to sit down in peace, he drew Mr. Curtis a little +aside to talk in private. The two boys were content to watch the +changing scene and listen to the hearty badinage of the fashionable +young blades about the tables. It was, you must remember, Jeremy's first +experience of luxury, unless the good, clean quarters and wholesome +meals aboard the _Queen_ could be so called. He had never read any book +except the Bible, had never seen more than a half-dozen pictures in his +life. From these and from the conversation of backwoodsmen and, more +recently, of pirates, he had been forced to form all his conceptions of +the world outside of his own experience. It is a tribute to his clean +traditions and sturdy self-reliance that he sat unabashed, pleased with +the color, the gayety, the richness, but able still to distinguish the +fine things from the sham, the honest things from those which only +appeared honest--to feel a thrill of pride in his father's hard, +rough-hewn life and his own. + +Colonel Rhett's conference with Mr. Curtis being over, the score was +paid and the party took their triumphal way to the door, Job turning his +sunburned face once or twice to glance regretfully after the dimpled +barmaid. + +That afternoon they were taken to the Governor's house, where Job and +each of the boys told the story of their experiences in Bonnet's +company. These stories were sworn to as affidavits and kept for use in +the coming trial of the pirate crew. It was a special dispensation of +the Governor's which allowed them to give their evidence in this form +instead of waiting in Charles Town for the court to sit, and needless to +say they were heartily glad of it. The formalities over, Governor +Johnson led the party into the adjoining room. He motioned them to sit +down and faced them with a smile. "Now, my lads," said he, "the spoil +taken on the _Royal James_ has been divided, and though, as you may +guess, it had to go a long way, there's a share left for each of you." +Jeremy and Bob stared at each other and at their friends. The benign +smiles of Mr. Curtis, Colonel Rhett and Job showed that they had known +beforehand of this surprise. The Governor was holding out a small +leather sack in each hand. "Here, catch," he laughed, and the two +astonished lads automatically did as they were bid. In each purse there +was something over twenty guineas in gold. Before they had found words +to thank the Governor he laughed again merrily. "Never mind a speech of +acceptance," said he. "Colonel Rhett, here, has something else for you." + +"Yes," replied the Colonel. "You see, there was a deal of junk in the +Captain's cabin that comes to me as Admiral of the expedition. I'd be +much pleased if you two lads would each pick out anything that pleases +you, as a personal gift from myself and Stede Bonnet." As he spoke, he +took the cloth cover from a table which stood at one side. On it the +boys saw a shining array of small arms, some glass and silver decanters +and a pile of books. The Colonel motioned Bob forward. "Here you are, +lad, take your choice," he said. Bob stepped to the table and glanced +over the weapons eagerly. He finally selected a silver-mounted pistol +with the great pirate's name engraved on the butt, and went with pride +to show it to his father. + +It was Jeremy's turn. He had no hesitation. From the moment he had heard +the offer his shining eyes had been fastened upon one object, and now he +went straight to the table and picked up the biggest and thickest of the +heap of books, a great leather-bound volume--Bunyan's "Pilgrim's +Progress." It is not the least inexplicable fact in the career of the +terrible Stede Bonnet that he was a constant reader of such books as +this and the "Paradise Lost" of Milton. Bunyan's great allegory had +come at last into a place where it could do more good than in the cabin +bookshelf of a ten-gun buccaneer. Jeremy, poor lad, uneducated save for +the rude lessons of his father and the training of the open, had longed +for books ever since he could remember. He had affected a gruff scorn +when Bob had spoken from his well-schooled knowledge, but inwardly it +had been his sole ground for jealousy of the Delaware boy. That +ponderous leather book was read many times and thoroughly in after +years, and it became the foundation of such a library as was not often +met with in the colonies. Job gave the lad an understanding smile and a +pat on the back, for Jeremy had told him of his passion for an +education. + +The four grown men drank each other's health and separated with many +hearty handclasps. An hour later the _Queen's_ anchor was up and she was +moving out to sea upon the tide, cheered vigorously from the docks and +saluted by every vessel she passed. The warm September dusk settled over +the ocean. A soft land breeze rustled in the shrouds, and the great +sails filled with a gentle flapping. Slowly the tall ship bowed herself +to the northeast and settled away on her course contentedly, while the +water ran with a smooth murmur beneath her forefoot. Jeremy, lying +wide-eyed in his bunk, where a single star shone through the open port, +thought it the sweetest sound he had ever heard. He was homeward bound +at last. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + +There were brave days aboard the _Queen_ as she voyaged up the +coast--days of sun and light winds when the boys sat lazily in the blue +shadow of the sails, looking off through half-closed eyes toward the +faint line of shore that appeared and disappeared to leeward; or +listened to Job's long tales of adventure up and down the high seas; or +fished with hand-lines over the taffrail, happy if they pulled up even a +goggle-eyed flounder. Twice they ran into fog, and on those days, when +the wet dripped dismally off the shrouds and the watch on deck sang +mournful airs in the gray gloom, the two lads settled into big chairs in +the cabin, beneath a mighty brass oil-lamp, and while Bob sat bemused +over Captain Dampier's Voyages, Jeremy fought Apollyon with that good +knight Christian, in "Pilgrim's Progress." But best of all were the days +of howling fair weather, when sky and sea were deep blue and the wind +boomed over out of the west, and the scattered flecks of white cloud +raced with the flying spray below. Then all hands would stand by to +slack a sheet here or reef a sail there, and Ghent, who was a bold +sailor, would take the kicking tiller with Job's help, and keep the big +ship on her course, the last possible foot of canvas straining at the +yardarms. High along the weather rail, with the wind screaming in their +ears or down in the lee scuppers where the white-shot green passed close +below with a roar and a rush, the boys would cling, yelling aloud their +exultation. It was more than the risk, more than the dizzy movement that +made them happy. With every hour of that strong wind they were ten knots +farther north. + +So they sailed; and one morning when the mist cleared, Mr. Curtis led +both boys to the port rail to show them where the green head of Cape +Henlopen stood, abeam. There was moisture in the corners of his eyes as +he pointed to it. "Thank God, Bob, my lad, you're here to see the +Delaware again!" he said huskily. + +Up the blue bay they cruised in the fine October weather and came in due +time--a very long time it seemed to some aboard--to the roadstead +opposite New Castle port. There was a boat over almost before the anchor +was dropped and a picked crew rowed the Curtises, Job and Jeremy ashore +as fast as they dared without breaking oars. They drew up across the +swirling tidewater to the foot of a long pier. It was black with people +who cheered continually, and somewhere above the town a cannon was fired +in salute, but all Bob saw was a slender figure in white at the +pier-edge and all he heard was a woman's happy crying. A message to his +mother telling of his safety had been sent from Charles Town three weeks +before, and there she was to welcome him. There was a ladder further in +along the pier, but before they reached it some one had thrown a rope +and Bob swarmed up hand over hand. Jeremy, stricken with a sudden +shyness, watched the happy, tearful scene that followed from the boat +below. + +Women had had small part in his own life. Since his mother's death he +had known a few in the frontier settlements, and they had been good to +him in a friendly way, but this ecstatic mother-love was new and it made +him feel awkward and lonely. + +It seemed that all Delaware colony must be at the waterfront. Every soul +in the little town and men from miles around had turned out to welcome +the returning vessel, for the news of Bonnet's defeat had been brought +in, days before, by a Carolina coaster. There was bunting over doorways +and cheering in the streets as the Governor's coach with the party of +honor drove up the main thoroughfare to the Curtis house. + +When they were within and the laughing crowds had dispersed, Bob's +mother came to Jeremy, put her hands on his shoulders and looked long +into his face. She was a frail slip of a woman, dark like her son, with +a sensitive mouth and big, black eyes full of courage. Jeremy flushed a +slow scarlet under her gaze, but his eyes never flinched as he returned +it. + +"A fine boy," she said, at length, "and my own boy's good friend!" Then +she smiled tenderly and kissed him on the forehead. Jeremy was then and +there won over. All women were angels of light to him from that moment. + +That night, alone in the white wilderness of his first four-poster, the +poor New England boy missed his mother very hard, more perhaps than he +had ever missed her before. He fell asleep on a pillow that was wet in +spots--and he was not ashamed. + +In the days that followed nothing in Delaware Colony was too good for +the young heroes. Jeremy could never understand just _why_ they were +heroes, but was forced to give up trying to explain the matter to an +admiring populace. As for Bob, he gleefully accepted all the glory that +was offered and at last persuaded Jeremy to take the affair as +philosophically as himself. They were in a fair way to be spoiled, but +fortunately there was enough sense of humor between them to bring them +off safe from the head-patting gentlemen and tearfully rapturous ladies +who gathered at the brick house of afternoons. + +Perhaps the thing that really saved them from the effects of too much +petting was the trip up the Brandywine to the Curtis plantation. It was +a fine ride of thirty miles and the trail led through woods just turning +red and yellow with the autumn frosts. Jeremy, though he had been on a +horse only half a dozen times in his life, was a natural athlete and +without fear. He was quick to learn and imitated Bob's erect carriage +and easy seat so well that long before they had reached their journey's +end he backed his tall roan like an old-timer. With Job it was a +different matter. He was all sailor, and though the times demanded that +every man who travelled cross-country must do it in the saddle, the lank +New Englander would have ridden a gale any day in preference to a steed. +Even Jeremy could afford to laugh at the sorry figure his big friend +made. + +The trail they followed was no more than a rough cutting, eight or ten +feet wide, running through the forest. Here and there paths branched off +to right or left and up one of these Bob turned at noon. It led them +over a wooded hill, then down a long slope into the valley of a stream. +"John Cantwell's plantation. We'll stop here for a bite to eat," +explained the boy. By the water side, in a wide clearing, was a group of +log huts and farther along, a square house built of rough gray stone. + +They rode up to the wide door which looked down upon the river. In +answer to Bob's hail a colored boy in a red jacket ran out to take the +horses' heads and four black and white fox terriers tore round the +corner barking a chorus of welcome. Bob jumped down with a laughing, "Ah +there, Rufus!" to the horse-boy, and proceeded to roll the excited +little dogs on their backs. As Jeremy and Job dismounted, a big man in +sober gray came to the doorway. His strong, kindly face broke into a +smile as he caught sight of his visitors. "Well, Bob, I'm mightily glad +to see thee back, lad! We got news from the town only yesterday." He +strode down the steps and took the boy's hand in a hearty grip, then +greeted the others, as Bob introduced them. Jeremy marvelled much at the +cut of the man's coat, which was without a collar, and at his continual +use of the plain _thee_ and _thy_. But there was a direct simplicity +about all his ways, and a gentleness in his eyes that won the boy to him +instantly. + +One moment only he wandered at John Cantwell. In the next he had +forgotten everything about him and stood open-mouthed, gazing at the +square doorway. In the sun-lit frame of it had appeared a little girl of +twelve. She was dressed demurely in gray, set off with a bit of white +kerchief. Her long skirt hid her toes and her hands were folded most +properly. But above this sober stalk bloomed the fairest face that +Jeremy had ever seen. She had merry hazel eyes, a straight little nose +and a firm little chin. Her plain bonnet had fallen back from her head +and the brown curls that strayed recklessly about her cheeks seemed to +catch all the sunbeams in Delaware. + +For a very little time she stood, and then the pursed red mouth could be +controlled no longer. She opened it in a whoop of joy and catching up +her skirts ran to smother Bob in a great hug. Next moment Jeremy, still +in a daze, was bowing over her hand, as he had learned to do at New +Castle. She dropped him a little curtsey and turned to meet Job. + +Betty Cantwell and her father were Quakers from the Penn Colony to the +north, Bob had time to tell Jeremy as they entered. That accounted for +the staid simplicity of their dress and their quaint form of speech--the +plain language, as it was called. Jeremy had heard of the Quakers, +though in New England they were much persecuted for their beliefs by the +Puritans. Here, apparently, people not only allowed them to live, but +liked and honored them as well. He prayed fervently that Betty might +never chance to visit Boston town. Yet already he half hoped that she +would. Of course, he would have grown bigger by then, and would carry a +sword and how he would prick the thin legs of the first grim deacon who +dared so much as to speak to her! These imaginings were put to rout at +the dining-room door by the delicious savor of roast turkey. One of the +black farmhands had shot the great bird the day before, and the three +travellers had arrived just at the fortunate moment when it was to be +carved. + +It was a dinner never to be forgotten. The twenty miles they had ridden +through the crisp air would have given them an appetite, even had they +not been normally good trenchermen, and there were fine white potatoes +and yams that accompanied the turkey, not to mention some jelly which +Betty admitted having made herself, "with cook's help." Bob joyfully +attacked his heaped-up plate and ate with relish every minute that he +was not talking. Jeremy could say not a word, for opposite him was Betty +and in her presence he felt very large and awkward. His hands troubled +him. Indeed, had it been a possibility, he would have eaten his turkey +without raising them above the table edge. As it was, he felt himself +blush every time a vast red fist came in evidence. Yet he succeeded in +making a good meal and would not have been elsewhere for all Solomon +Brig's gold. Perhaps Job, who was neither talkative nor under the spell +of a lady's eyes, wielded the best knife and fork of the three. + +Dinner over, and Bob's story finished, they were taken to see the stable +and the broad tilled fields by the river bank, where corn stood shocked +among the stubble. Afternoon came and soon it was time for them to +start. There were laughing farewells and a promise that they would stop +on the return trip, and before Jeremy could come back to earth the gloom +of the forest shut in above their heads once more. They put the horses +to a canter as soon as the ridge was cleared, for there were still ten +miles to go and the light was waning. Jeremy was very much at home in +the woods, but the chill, sombre depths that appeared and reappeared on +either hand seemed to warn him to be prepared. He reached to the +saddlebow, undid the flap of the pistol holster, and made sure that his +weapon was loaded, then put it back, reassured. The footing was bad, and +they had to go more slowly for a while. Then Bob, in the lead, came to a +more open space where light and ground alike favored better speed. He +spurred his horse to a gallop and had turned to call to the others, when +suddenly the animal he rode gave a snort of fear and stopped with braced +forefeet. Bob, caught off his guard, went over the horse's head with a +lurch and fell sprawling on the ground in front. Then he gave a scream, +for not two feet away he saw the short, cruel head of a coiled +rattlesnake. + +Jeremy, riding close behind, pulled up beside the other horse and threw +himself off. Even as he touched the ground a sharp whirr met his ear +and he saw the fat, still body and vibrating tail of the snake. He +wrenched the pistol from the holster, took the quickest aim of his life +and pulled the trigger. After the shot apparently nothing had changed. +The whirr of the rattle went on for a second or two, then gradually +subsided. Bob lay white-faced, and still as death. Jeremy drew a step +closer and then gave a choked cry of relief. The snake's smooth, +diamond-marked body remained coiled for the spring. Its lithe forepart +was thrust forward from the top coil and the venemous, blunt head--but +the head was no more. Jeremy's ball had taken it short off. + +Bob was unhurt, but badly shaken and frightened, and they followed the +trail slowly through the dusk. Then just as the shadows that obscured +their way were turning to the deep dark of night a small light became +visible straight ahead. They pushed on and soon were luxuriously +stretched before a log fire in the Curtis plantation house, while Mrs. +Robbins, the overseer's wife, poured them a cup of hot tea. + +When bedtime came, Bob came over to Jeremy and gave him a long grip of +the hand, but said never a word. There was no need of words, for the New +England boy knew that his chum would never be quite happy till he could +repay his act in kind. Yet he could not tell Bob that the shooting of a +snake was but a small return for the gift of a vision of one of heaven's +angels. Each felt himself the other's debtor as they got into the great +feather bed side by side. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + +Two boys turned loose on a present-day farm can find enough interesting +things to do to fill a book much larger than this. For me to go into the +details of that week's visit to Avon Dale would preclude any possible +chance of your hearing the end of this story. And there are still many +things that need telling. + +But though no great or grave adventure befell the two boys while they +stayed at the plantation, you may imagine the days they spent together. +Back of the farm buildings lay the fields, all up and down the river +bank for miles. And back of the fields, crowding close to the edge of +the plowed ground, the big trees of an age-old forest rose. The great +wild woods ran straight back from the plantation for five hundred miles, +broken only by rivers and the steep slopes of the Alleghanies, as yet +hardly heard of by white men. Giant oaks, ashes and tulip trees mingled +with the pine and hemlock growth. The hillsides where the sun shone +through were thick with rhododendron and laurel. And all through this +sylvan paradise the upper branches and the underbrush teemed with wild +life. Squirrels, partridges and occasional turkeys offered frequent +marks for the long muzzle-loading rifles, while a thousand little song +birds flitted constantly through the leaves. Jeremy had never seen such +hunting in his colder northern country. The game was bigger and more +dangerous in New England, but never had he found it so plentiful. As the +boys were both good marksmen, a great rivalry sprang up between them. +They scorned any but the hardest shots--the bright eye of a squirrel +above a hickory limb fifty yards off or the downy form of a wood pigeon +preening in a tree top. Though a good deal of powder and lead was spent +in the process, they were shooting like old leather-stocking hunters by +the end of the week. + +The last two days had to be spent indoors, for a heavy autumn rain that +came one night held over persistently and drenched the valley with a +sullen, steady pour. Little muddy rivulets swept down across the fields +and joined the already swollen current of the Brandywine. On the morning +when they started back, the river was running high and fast and yellow +along the low banks, but a bright sun shone, and a fresh breeze out of +the west promised fair weather. + +The horses were left at the plantation. They took their guns and a day's +provisions and carried a long, narrow-beamed canoe down to the shore. It +was a dugout, quite unlike the graceful birch affairs that Jeremy had +seen among the Penobscots, but serviceable and seaworthy enough. + +Job, happy to be on the water once more, took the stern paddle, Bob +knelt in the bow, and Jeremy squatted amidships with the blankets and +guns. With a cry of farewell to the kindly folk on the bank, they shoved +out and shot away down the swift river. + +It was exciting work. The stream had overflowed its banks for many yards +and the brown water swirled in eddies among the trees. To keep the canoe +in the main channel required judgment and good steering. Job proved +equal to the occasion and though with their paddling the swiftness of +the current gave the craft a speed of over ten miles an hour, he brought +her down without mishap into a wide-spreading cove. They rested, +drifting slowly across the slack water. "This can't be far from +Cantwell's," Bob was saying, when Jeremy gave a startled exclamation, +and pointed toward the shore, some fifty yards away. A little girl in a +gray frock stood on the bank, her arms full of golden rod and asters. +She had not seen the canoe, for she was looking behind her up the bank. +At that instant there was a crashing in the brush and a big buck deer +stepped out upon the shore, tossing his gleaming antlers to which a few +shreds of summer "velvet" still clung. He was not twenty feet from the +girl, who faced him, perfectly still, the flowers dropping one by one +from her apron. + +It was the rutting season and the buck was in a fighting mood. But he +was puzzled by this small motionless antagonist. He hesitated a bare +second before launching his wicked charge. Then as he bellowed his +defiance there came a loud report. The buck's haunches wavered, then +straightened with a jerk, as he made a great leap up the bank and fell +dead. From Jeremy's long-barrelled gun a wisp of smoke floated away. +Betty Cantwell sat down very suddenly and seemed about to cry, but as +the canoe shot up to the shore she was smiling once more. They took her +aboard and started down stream again. A few hundred yards brought them +to the edge of the Cantwell clearing, where Bob hailed the negroes +working in the field and gave them orders for bringing down the dead +buck. + +At the landing John Cantwell was waiting in some anxiety, for the sound +of Jeremy's shot had reached him at the house. Bob told the story, +somewhat to Jeremy's embarrassment, for nothing was spared in the +telling. The Quaker thanked him with great earnestness and reproved his +daughter gently for straying beyond the plantation. + +After another of those famous dinners Job and the boys returned to their +craft, for there were many miles to make before night. As Jeremy took +up the bow paddle he waved to Betty on the bank, and thrilled with +happiness at the shy smile she gave him. Once again they were in the +current, shooting downstream toward tidewater. + +It was mid-afternoon when they crossed the Brandywine bar and paddled +past the docks of Wilmington. Outside in the Delaware there was a choppy +sea that made their progress slower, and the sun had set when the slim +little craft ran in for the beach above New Castle. The voyagers +shouldered their packs and made their way up the High Street to the +brick house. + +When the greetings were over and the boys were changing their clothes +before coming down for supper, Clarke Curtis entered their room. "Lads," +he said, "I'd advise you to go early to bed tonight. You'll need a long +rest, for in the morning you start overland for New York." At Bob's +exclamation of surprise he went on to explain that the _Indian Queen_ +had weighed anchor two days before for that port, and as there was no +other ship leaving the Delaware soon, he wished the boys to board her at +New York for the voyage to New England. Both youngsters were overjoyed +at the prospect of an early start. Bob, who had been promised that he +could accompany his chum, was hilarious over the news, while Jeremy was +too happy to speak. + +Later, as they were packing their belongings for the trip, Job Howland +came in. He, too, looked excited. "Jeremy, boy," he said, "I'd have +liked to go north with you, but something else has come my way. Mr. +Curtis bought a new schooner, the _Tiger_, last week, and she's being +fitted out now for a coast trader. He offered me the chance to command +her!" + +"Three cheers!" shouted Bob. "Then New Castle will be your home port, +and I'll see you after every voyage!" + +The three comrades chatted of their prospects a while and shortly went +to bed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + + +The boys and their luggage were on their way to Wilmington in the family +chaise before dawn, and it was scarce seven o'clock when they bade +farewell to the old colored serving-man and clambered aboard the +four-horse coach that connected in Philadelphia with the mail coach for +New York. + +The coaches of that day were cumbersome affairs, huge of wheel, and with +ridiculously small bodies slung on wide strips of bull's hide which +served for springs. The driver's box was high above the forward running +gear. There were as yet no "seats on top," such as were developed in the +later days of fast stage-coach service. + +In one of these rumbling, swaying conveyances the boys rode the thirty +miles to Philadelphia, crossing the Schuylkill at Gray's Ferry about +noon. They had barely time for a bite of lunch in the White Horse Tavern +before the horn was blown outside and they hurried to take their places +in the north-bound coach. Along the cobbled streets of the bustling, +red-brick town they rumbled for a few moments, then out upon the smooth +dirt surface of the York Road, where the four good horses were put to a +gallop. + +The Delaware, opposite Trenton, was reached by six o'clock, and there +the half-dozen passengers left the coach and were carried across on a +little ferry boat, rowed by an old man and his two sons. They spent the +night at an Inn and next morning early boarded another coach bound +northeast over the sparsely settled hills of New Jersey. The road was +narrow and bad in places, slackening their speed. Twice the horses were +changed, in little hamlets along the way. In the late afternoon they +crossed the marshy flats beyond Newark and just after dusk emerged on +the Jersey side of the Hudson. A few lights glimmered from the low +Manhattan shore. The quaint Dutch-English village which was destined to +grow in two hundred years to be the greatest city in the world, lay +quiet in the gathering dark. + +The ferry was just pulling out from shore, but at the sound of the coach +horn it swung back into its slip and waited for the passengers to board. + +A gruff Hollander by the name of Peter Houter was the ferryman. He stood +at the clumsy steering-beam, while four stout rowers manned the oars of +his wide, flat-bottomed craft. Approaching the steersman, Bob asked +where in the town he would be likely to find the Captain of a +merchantman then taking cargo in the port. The Dutchman named two +taverns at which visiting seafaring men could commonly be found. One was +the "Three Whales" and the other the "Bull and Fish." + +Landing on the Manhattan shore, the boys shouldered their luggage and +trudged by ill-lighted lanes across the island to the East River. As +they advanced along the dock-side, Jeremy distinguished among the +low-roofed houses a small inn before which a great sign swung in the +wind. By the light which flickered through the windows they could make +out three dark monsters painted upon the board, a white tree apparently +growing from the head of each. "The Three Whales," laughed Jeremy, "and +every one a-blowing! Let's go in!" + +It was an ill-smelling and dingy room that they entered. A score of men +in rough sailor clothes lounged at the tables or lolled at the bar. Two +pierced tin lanterns shed a faint smoky light over the scene. Bob waited +by their baggage at the door, while Jeremy made his way from one group +to another, inquiring for Captain Ghent of the _Indian Queen_. Several +of the mariners nodded at mention of the ship, but none could give him +word of the skipper's whereabouts. + +As he was turning to go out he noticed a man drinking alone at a table +in the darkest corner. His eyes were fixed moodily on his glass and he +did not look up. Jeremy shivered, took a step nearer, and almost cried +out, for he had caught a glimpse of a livid, diagonal scar cutting +across the nose from eyebrow to chin. It was such a scar as could belong +to only one man on earth. Jeremy retreated to a darker part of the room +and watched till the man lifted his head. It was Pharaoh Daggs and none +other. + +A moment later the boy had hurried to Bob outside and told him his news. +"If we can find Ghent," said Bob, "he will be able to summon soldiers +and have him placed under arrest." + +They hastened along the river front for a hundred yards or more and came +to the "Bull and Fish." A man in a blue cloth coat was standing by the +door, looking up and down the street. He gave a hail of greeting as they +came up. It was Captain Ghent. + +"I was just going down to the "Three Whales" thinking you might have +stopped there," he said. Bob told him their news and the skipper's face +grew grave. "Better leave the bags here for the present," he suggested +and then, after a moment's quiet talk with the landlord, he led the way +toward the other tavern. On the way he stopped a red-jacketed soldier +who was patrolling the dock. After a word or two had been exchanged the +soldier fell in beside them, and just as they reached the inn door two +more hurried up. + +"Come in with me, Jeremy, and point out the man," said Captain Ghent. + +The lad's heart beat like a triphammer as he entered the tavern once +more. A silence fell on the room when the three soldiers were observed. +Jeremy crossed toward the dark corner. The table was empty. He looked +quickly about at the faces of the drinkers, but Daggs was not there. +"He's gone," he said in a disappointed voice. + +The innkeeper came forward, wiping his hands on his apron. "That fellow +with the scar?" he said. "He went out of here some five minutes ago." + +"Which way?" asked Ghent. But no one in the room could say. + +They passed out again, and Ghent smiled reassuringly at the boys. +"Well," he said, "like as not he'll never cross our path again, so it's +only one rogue the more unhung." + +Jeremy failed to find much comfort in this philosophy, but said no more, +and soon found himself snugly on board the big merchantman, where his +bunk and Bob's were already made up and awaiting them. + +It was good to hear the creak of timbers and feel the rocking of the +tide once more. Jeremy lay long awake that night thinking of many +things. At last he was on the final lap of his journey. The _Indian +Queen's_ cargo would be stowed within a day or two and she would start +with him toward home. He thought with a quiver of happiness of the +reunion with his father. Had he quite given up hope for his boy? Jeremy +had heard of such a shock of joy being fatal. He must be careful. + +He thought of the evil face of the broken-nosed buccaneer. What was +Daggs doing in New York? Just then there was a faint sound as of +creaking cordage from beyond the side. Jeremy's bunk was near the open +port and by leaning over a little he could see the river. Barely a +boat's length away, in the dark, a tall-masted, schooner-rigged craft +was slipping past on the outgoing tide, with not so much as a +harbor-light showing. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + + +It was on the second morning after the boys had reached New York that +the _Indian Queen_ went down the harbor, her canvas drawing merrily in +the spanking breeze of dawn. The intervening day had been spent at the +dock-side, where wide-breeched Dutch longshoremen were stoutly hustling +bales and boxes of merchandise into the hold. Jeremy had watched the +passers along the river front narrowly, though he could not help having +a feeling that Pharaoh Daggs was gone. The fancy would not leave his +mind that there was some connection between the vanished pirate and the +dark vessel he had seen stealing out on the night tide. + +A strong southwest wind followed them all day as the _Queen_ ran past +the low Long Island shore, and that night, though Captain Ghent gave +orders to shorten sail, the ship still plunged ahead with unchecked +speed. They cleared the Nantucket shoals next day and saw all through +the afternoon the sun glint on the lonely white dunes of Cape Cod. + +Two more bright days of breeze succeeded and they were working up +outside the fringe of islands, large and small, that dot the coast of +Maine. + +Jeremy was too excited even to eat. He stayed constantly by the man at +the helm and was often joined there by Bob and the Captain, as they drew +nearer to the Penobscot Bay coast. In the morning they dropped anchor in +fifteen fathoms, to leeward of a good-sized fir-clad island. Jeremy had +a dim recollection of having seen it from the round-topped peak above +his father's shack. His heart beat high at the thought that tomorrow +might bring them to the place they sought, and it was many hours before +he went to sleep. + +At last the morning came, cloudless and bright, with a little south +breeze stirring. Before the sun was fairly clear of the sea, the anchor +had been catted, and the _Queen_ was moving gracefully northeastward +under snowy topsails. + +They cleared a wide channel between two islands and Jeremy, forward with +the lookout, gave a mighty shout that brought his chum to his side on +the run. There to the east, across a dozen miles of silver-shimmering +sea, loomed a gray peak, round and smooth as an inverted bowl. "It's the +island!" cried Jeremy, and Captain Ghent, turning to the mate, gave a +joyful order to get more sail on the ship. + +About the middle of the forenoon the _Queen_ came into the wind and her +anchor went down with a roar and a splash, not three cables' lengths +from the spot in the northern bay where Jeremy and his father had first +landed their flock of sheep. On the gray slope above the shore the boys +could see the low, black cabin, silent and apparently tenantless. Behind +it was the stout stockade of the sheep-pen, also deserted, and above, +the thin grass and gray, grim ledges climbed toward the wooded crest of +the hill. + +Jeremy's face fell. "They must have gone," he said. But Bob, standing by +the rail as they waited for the jollyboat to be lowered, pointed +excitedly toward the rocky westward shoulder of the island. "Look +there!" he cried. Three or four white dots were moving slowly along the +face of the hill. + +"Sheep!" said Jeremy, taking heart. "They'd not have left the +sheep--unless----" + +But the boat was ready, below the side, and the Captain and the two boys +tumbled quickly in. Five minutes later the four stout rowers sent the +bow far up the sand with a final heave on the oars. They jumped out and +hastened up the hill. There was still no sign of life about the cabin, +but as they drew near a sudden sharp racket startled them, and around +the corner of the sheep-pen tore a big collie dog, barking excitedly. He +hesitated a bare instant, then jumped straight at Jeremy with a whine of +frantic welcome. + +"Jock, lad!" cried the boy, joyfully burying his face in the sable ruff +of the dog's neck. In response to his voice, the door of the cabin was +thrown open and a tall youth of nineteen stepped out, hesitating as he +saw the group below. Jeremy shook off the collie and ran forward. "Don't +you know me, Tom?" he laughed. "I'm your brother--back from the +pirates!" + +The amazed look on the other's face slowly gave place to one of +half-incredulous joy as he gripped the youngster's shoulders and looked +long into his eyes. + +"Know ye!" he said at length with a break in his voice. "Certain I know +ye, though ye've grown half a foot it seems! But wait, we must tell +father. He's in bed, hurt." + +Tom turned to the door again. "Here, father," he called breathlessly. +"Here's Jeremy, home safe and sound!" He seized his brother's hand and +led him into the cabin. In the half-darkness at the back of the room the +lad saw a rough bed, and above the homespun blankets Amos Swan's bearded +face. He sprang toward him and flung himself down by the bunk, his head +against his father's breast. He felt strong, well-remembered fingers +that trembled a little as they gripped his arm. There was no word said. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + + +It was the savory smell of cooking hominy and the sizzle of broiling +fish that woke Jeremy next morning. He drew a breath of pure ecstasy, +rolled over and began pummelling the inert form of Bob, who had shared +his blanket on an improvised bed in the cabin. The Delaware boy opened +an eye, closed it again with carefully assumed drowsiness, and the next +instant leaped like a joyful wildcat on his tormentor. There was a +beautiful tussle that was only broken off by Tom's announcement of +breakfast. + +Opposite the stone fireplace was a table of hewn planks at which Bob, +with Jeremy, Tom and their father, were soon seated. The latter had +bruised his knee several days before, but was now sufficiently recovered +to walk about with the aid of a stick. + +"Father," said Jeremy between mouthfuls, "I want to see that cove again, +where the pirates landed. If we may take the fowling-piece, Bob and I'll +go across the island, after we've bade good-by to Captain Ghent." + +"Ay, lad," Amos Swan replied, "you'll find the cove just as they left +it. An I mistake not, the place where their fire was is still black +upon the beach, and the rum-barrels are lying up among the driftwood. +'Twas there we found them--on the second day. Ah, Jeremy, lad--little we +thought then we'd see you back safe and strong, and that so soon!" + +The white frost of the November morning was still gleaming on the grass +when the two boys went out. Against the cloudless sky the spires of the +dark fir trees were cut in clean silhouette. From the _Indian Queen_, +lying off shore, came the creak of blocks and sheaves as the yards were +trimmed, and soon, her anchor catted home, she filled gracefully away to +the northward, while the Captain waved a cheery farewell from the poop. +He was bound up the coast for Halifax, and was to pick Bob up on his +return voyage, a month later. + +When they had watched the ship's white sails disappear behind the +eastern headland, the boys started up the hill behind the cabin. They +carried a lunch of bread and dried fish in a leather pouch and across +Jeremy's shoulder was one of his father's guns. Bob was armed with the +silver-mounted pistol from Stede Bonnet's arsenal. + +It was a glorious morning for a trip of exploration and the hearts of +both lads were high as they clambered out on the warm bare rock that +crowned the island. + +"Isn't it just as fine as I told you?" Jeremy cried. "Look--those blue +mountains yonder must be twenty leagues away. And you can hardly count +the islands in this great bay! Off there to the south is where I saw the +_Revenge_ for the first time--just a speck on the sea, she was!" + +Bob, who had never seen the view from a really high hill before, stood +open-mouthed as he looked about him. Suddenly he grasped Jeremy's arm. + +"See!" he exclaimed, "down there--isn't that smoke?" He was pointing +toward the low, swampy region in the southwestern part of the island. +Jeremy watched intently, but there was nothing to disturb the morning +calm of sky and shore. + +"That's queer," Bob said at last, with a puzzled look. "I could take an +oath I saw just the faintest wisp of smoke over there. But I must have +been mistaken." + +"Well," laughed Jeremy, "we'll soon make sure, for that's not far from +where we're going." + +They scrambled down, and following the ridge, turned south toward the +lower bay at about the point where Jeremy had been discovered by Dave +Herriot and the pirate Captain. + +Dodging through the tangle of undergrowth and driftwood, they soon +emerged on the loose sand above the beach. As Amos Swan had said, the +rains had not yet washed away the black embers of the great bonfire, and +near by lay a barrel with staves caved in. Looking at the scene, Jeremy +almost fancied he could hear again the wild chorus of that drunken crew, +most of whom had now gone to their last accounting. + +"What say we walk down the shore a way?" suggested Bob. "There might be +a duck or two in that reedy cove below here." And Jeremy, glad to quit +the place, led off briskly westward along the sand. + +Soon they came to the entrance of a narrow, winding tide-creek that ran +back till it was hidden from sight in the tall reeds. Just as they +reached the place, a large flock of sandpeeps flew over with soft +whistling, and lighting on the beach, scurried along in a dense company, +offering an easy target. Bob, who was carrying the gun, brought it +quickly to his shoulder and was about to fire when Jeremy stopped him +with a low "S-s-s-s-t!" + +Bob turned, following the direction of Jeremy's outstretched arm, and +for a second both boys stood as if petrified, gazing up the tide-creek +toward the interior of the island. About a quarter of a mile away, above +the reeds, which grew in rank profusion to a man's height or higher, +they saw a pair of slender masts, canted far over. + +"A ship!" whispered Bob. "Deserted, though, most likely." + +"No," Jeremy answered, "I don't think it. Her cordage would have slacked +off more and she wouldn't look so trim. Bob, wasn't it near here you saw +that smoke?" + +"Jiminy!" said Bob, "so it was! Right over in the marsh, close to those +spars. It's some vessel that's put in here to careen. Wonder where her +crew can be?" + +"That's what looks so queer to me," the other boy replied. "They're +keeping out of sight mighty careful. Men from any honest ship would have +been all over the island the first day ashore. I don't like the look of +it. Let's get back and tell father. Maybe we can find out who it is, +afterwards." + +Bob argued at first for an immediate reconnaissance, but when Jeremy +pointed out the fact that if the strangers were undesirable they would +surely have a guard hidden in the reeds up the creek, he accepted the +more discreet plan. + +They made their way quietly, but with as much haste as possible back +along the shore, past the remnant of the fire, and up the hill into the +thick woods. + +Just as they crossed the ridge and began to see the glint of the +northern inlet through the trees, Jeremy paused with a sudden +exclamation. + +"Here's the spring," he said, "and look at the sign above it. I never +saw that before, for it was dark when I was up here. I almost fell in." + +The spring itself was nearly invisible to one coming from this +direction, but stuck in the fork of a tree, beside it, was a weathered +old piece of ship's planking on which had been rudely cut the single +word WATTER. + +"Some Captain who used to fill his casks here must have put it up so +that the spring would be easier to find," Bob suggested. But Jeremy, +striding ahead, was thinking hard and did not answer. + +Amos Swan heard their news with a grave face. No ship but the _Queen_ +had touched at the island for several months to his knowledge, he said. +He agreed with the boys that the secrecy of the thing looked suspicious. +When Tom came in for the noon meal, his father told him of the discovery +and they both decided to bring the sheep in at once, and make +preparations for possible trouble. + +Tom, armed, and accompanied by the boys, set out soon after dinner for +the western end of the island, two miles from the shack. It was there +that the flock was accustomed to graze, shepherded by the wise dog, +Jock. Their way led along the rocky northern slope, where the sheep had +already worn well-defined paths among the scrubby grass and juniper +patches, then up across a steep knoll and through a belt of fir and +hemlock. When at length they came out from among the trees, the pasture +lay before them. There in a hollow a hundred yards away the flock was +huddled. Jock became aware of their approach at that instant and lifted +his head in a short, choking bark. He started toward them, but before he +had taken a dozen steps they could see that he was limping painfully. +Running forward, Jeremy knelt beside the big collie, then turned with a +movement of sudden dismay and called to his comrades. He had seen the +broad splotch of vivid red stained the dog's white breast. Examination +showed a deep clean cut in the fur of the neck, from which the blood +still flowed sluggishly. But in spite of his weakness and the pain he +evidently suffered, Jock could hardly wait to lead his masters back to +the flock. Hurrying on with him they crossed a little rise of ground and +came upon the sheep which were crowded close to one another, panting in +abject terror. + +[Illustration: Jock] + +"Twenty-six--twenty-eight--yes, twenty-eight and that's all!" Tom said. +"There are two of them missing!" + +Jock had limped on some twenty yards further and now stood beside a +juniper bush, shivering with eagerness. + +Following him thither, the boys found him sniffing at a blood-soaked +patch of grass. The ground for several feet around was cut up as if in +some sort of struggle. A few shreds of bloody wool, caught in the +junipers, told their own story. + +A man--probably several men--had been on the spot not two hours before +and had killed two of the sheep. They had not succeeded in this without +a fight, in which the gallant old dog had been stabbed with a seaman's +dirk or some other sharp weapon. + +Bob, scouting onward a short distance, found the deep boot-tracks of two +men in a wet place between some rocks. They were headed +south-eastward--straight toward the reedy swamp where the boys had seen +the top-masts of the strange vessel! The crew--whoever they might +be--had decided to leave no further doubt of their intentions. They had +opened hostilities and to them had fallen first blood. + +With serious faces and guns held ready for an attack the three lads +turned toward home, driving the scared flock before them. Old Jock, +stiff and limping from his wound, brought up the rear. They reached the +inlet at last, but it was sunset when the last sheep was inside the +stockade and the cabin door was barred. + +That night the wind changed, and the cold gray blanket of a Penobscot +Bay fog shut down over the island. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + + +The fog held for two days. On the third morning Jeremy, on his knees by +the hearth fire, was squinting down the bright barrel of a flintlock. He +had been quiet for a long time. Bob felt the tenseness of the situation +himself, but he could not understand the other's absolute silence. He +scowled as he sat on the floor, and savagely drove a long-bladed +hunting-knife into the cracks between the hewn planks. At length a low +whistle from Jeremy caused him to pause and look up quickly. + +"What is it?" he asked. + +A look of excitement was growing in Jeremy's face. + +"Say, Bob!" he exclaimed, after a second or two. "I've just remembered +something that I've been trying to bring to mind ever since we crossed +the island. You know the sign we saw up by the spring? Well, somewhere, +once before, I knew I'd seen the word 'Watter' spelled that way. So have +you--do you remember?" + +Bob shook his head slowly. Then a look of comprehending wonder came into +his eyes. "Yes," he cried. "It was on that old chart in Pharaoh Daggs' +chest!" + +"Right," said Jeremy. "And now that I think about it, I believe this is +the very island! Let's see--the bay was shaped this way----" He had +seized a charred stick from the hearth and was drawing on the floor. + +"Two narrow points, with quite a stretch of water inside--a rounded cove +up here, and a mitten-shaped cove over here. And the anchor was +drawn--wait a minute--right here. Why, Bob, look here! That's the same +rounded cove with the beach where the sloop anchored that night they got +me!" + +Bob could hardly contain himself. "I remember!" he said. "And the dot, +with the word 'Watter' was one and a half finger-joints northeast of the +bay. Let's see, the bay itself was about four joints long, wasn't it? Or +a little over? Anyhow, that would put the spring about--here." + +"Allowing for our not being able to remember exactly the shape of the +bay," Jeremy put in, "that's just where the spring should be. Bob, this +is the island! And now that cross-mark between the two straight +lines--two finger-joints northwest of the anchorage-cove, it was. That's +just about here." He marked the spot on the floor with his stick. + +"Now we've got it all down. And if that cross-mark shows where the +treasure is----" Jeremy paused and looked at Bob, his eyes shining. + +"Where would that be--up on the hill somewhere?" asked Bob breathlessly. + +"About three-quarters of a mile south of the spring--right on the +ridge," Jeremy answered. + +"When shall we start?" Bob asked, his voice husky with excitement. + +"Wait a bit," counselled Jeremy. "We daren't tell father or Tom, for +they'd think it just a wild-goose chase, and we'd have to promise not to +leave the cabin. You know it _is_ an improbable sort of yarn. Besides, +we'd better go careful. Do you know who I think is at the head of that +crew, over in the creek?" + +"Who?" whispered Bob. + +Jeremy's face was pale as he leaned close. + +"Pharaoh Daggs!" He said the name beneath his breath, almost as if he +feared that the man with the broken nose might hear him. And now for the +first time he told Bob of the schooner that had slipped past in the dark +that night in the East River. + +"You're right, Jeremy," Bob agreed. "He'd lose no time getting up here +if he could find a craft to carry him. You don't suppose they've found +Brig's treasure yet, do you?" he added in dismay. + +"They can't have reached here more than a day before us," Jeremy +replied. "And if they haven't it already aboard, they won't be able to +do anything while this fog holds. If it should lift tomorrow, we'll +have a chance to scout around up there. But don't say a word to father." + +That night the boys slept little, for both were in a fever of +expectation. They were disappointed in the morning to see the solid wall +of fog still surrounding the cabin. But Jeremy, sniffing the air like +the true woodsman that he was, announced that there would be a change of +weather before night, and set about rubbing the barrel of the flintlock +till it gleamed. The day dragged slowly by. At last, about three in the +afternoon, a slight wind from the northeast sprang up, and the wreaths +of vapor began to drift away seaward. + +Luckily for the boys' plans, both Tom and his father were inside the +sheep-stockade when Bob took the pistols, powder and shot down from the +wall, and with Jeremy went quietly forth. + +Before the mist had wholly cleared, they were well into the woods, +climbing toward the summit of the ridge. Each kept a careful watch +about, for they feared the possibility that a guard might have been set +to observe movements at the cabin. + +They reached the top without incident, however, and turned westward +along the watershed. They were increasingly careful now, for if the +pirates were dependent on the spring for their water, some of them might +pass close by at any moment. Bob, who was almost as expert a hunter as +Jeremy, followed noiselessly in the track of the New England boy, moving +like a shadow from tree to tree. + +So they progressed for fifteen minutes or more. Then Jeremy paused and +beckoned to Bob, whispering that they should separate a short distance +so as to cover a wider territory in their search. They went on, Bob on +the north slope, Jeremy on the south, moving cautiously and examining +every rock and tree for some blaze that might indicate the whereabouts +of the treasure. + +More minutes passed. The sun was already low, and Jeremy began to think +about turning toward home. Just then he came to the brink of a narrow +chasm in the ledge. Hardly more than a cleft it was, three or four feet +wide at its widest part, and extending deep down between the walls of +rock. He was about to jump over and proceed when his eye caught a +momentary gleam in the obscurity at the bottom of the crevice. He peered +downward for a second, then stood erect, waving to Bob with both arms. + +The other boy caught his signal and came rapidly through the trees to +the spot, hurrying faster as he saw the excitement in Jeremy's face. + +"What--what have you found?" he gasped under his breath. + +Jeremy was already wriggling his way down between the smooth rock walls, +bracing himself with back and knees. Within a few seconds he had +reached the bottom, some ten feet below. It was a sloping, uneven floor +of earth, lighted dimly from above and from the south, where the ledge +shelved off down the hillside. The dirt was black and damp, undisturbed +for years save by the feeble pushing of some pale, seedling plant. +Jeremy groped aimlessly at first, then, as his eyes became accustomed to +the half-light, peered closely into the crevices along either side. + +Bob leaned over the edge, pointing. "Back and to the left!" he +whispered. Jeremy turned as directed, felt along the earth and finally +clutched at something that seemed to glitter with a yellow light. He +turned his face upward and Bob read utter disappointment in his eyes. + +The gleaming something which he held aloft was nothing but a bit of +discolored mica that had reflected the faint light. + +Bob almost groaned aloud as he looked at it. Then he took off his belt +and passed an end of it down for Jeremy to climb up by. The latter took +hold half-heartedly, and was commencing the ascent when his moccasined +foot slipped on a low, arching hump in the damp earth. He went down on +one knee and as it struck the ground there was a faint hollow thud. +Astonished, the boy remained in a kneeling posture and felt about +beneath him with his hands. + +"What is it?" whispered Bob. + +Jeremy stood erect again. "Some kind of old, slippery wet wood," he +answered. "It feels like--like a barrel!" + +"I'm coming down!" said the Delaware boy, and casting a cautious look +around, he descended into the depths of the crevice. + +With their hands and hunting-knives both boys went to work feverishly to +unearth the wooden object. A few moments of breathless labor laid bare +the side and part of one end of a heavily-built, oaken keg. + +"Now maybe we can lift it out," said Jeremy, and taking a strong grip of +the edge, they heaved mightily together. It stirred a bare fraction of +an inch in its bed. "Again!" panted Jeremy, and they made another +desperate try. It was of no avail. The keg seemed to weigh hundreds of +pounds. + +Mopping his forehead with his sleeve, Bob stood up and looked his +companion in the face. "Well," he grinned, "the heavier the better!" +"Right!" Jeremy agreed. "But how'll we get it home? We don't dare chop +it open--too much noise--or set fire to it, for they'd see the smoke. +Besides it's too damp to burn. Here--I'll see what's in it, yet!" + +He crouched at the end of the barrel, whetted his hunting-knife on his +palm a few times, and began to cut swiftly at a crack between two +staves. Gradually the blade worked into the wood, opening a long narrow +slot as Jeremy whittled away first at one side, then at the other. From +time to time either he or Bob would stoop, trembling with excitement to +peer through the crack, but it was pitch-dark inside the barrel. + +Jeremy kept at his task without rest, and as his knife had more play, +the shavings he cut from the sides of the opening grew thicker and +thicker. First he, then Bob, would try, every few seconds, to thrust a +fist through the widening hole. + +At length Bob's hand, which was a trifle smaller than Jeremy's, squeezed +through. There was a breathless instant, while he groped within the keg, +and then, with a struggle he pulled his hand forth. In his fingers he +clutched a broad yellow disc. + +"Gold!" + +They gasped the word together. + +Bob's face was awe-struck. "It's full of 'em--full of pieces like this," +he whispered, "right up to within four inches of the top!" + +They bent over the huge gold coin. The queer characters of the +inscription, cut in deep relief, were strange to both boys. Jeremy had +seen Spanish doubloons and the great double _moidores_ of Portugal, but +never such a piece as this. It was nearly two inches across and thick +and heavy in proportion. + +One after another Bob drew out dozens of the shining coins, and they +filled their pockets with them till they felt weighted down. At length +Jeremy, looking up, was startled to see that the sun had set and +darkness was rapidly settling over the island. They threw dirt over the +barrel, then with all possible speed clambered forth, and taking up +their guns, made their way home as quietly as they had come. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + + +"No, lad, the risk is too great. Ye'd be in worse plight than before, if +they caught ye, and with a score of the ruffians searching the island +over, ye'd run too long a chance. Better be satisfied with what's here, +and stay where we can at least defend ourselves." + +Amos Swan was speaking. On the deal table before him, a heap of great +goldpieces gleamed in the firelight while seated around the board were +his two sons and Bob. + +It was Tom who answered. "True enough, father," he said, "and yet this +gold is ours. We own the island by the Governor's grant. If we sit idle +the pirates will surely find the treasure and make off with it. But if +we go up there at night, as Jeremy suggests, the risk we run will be +smaller, and every time we make the trip we'll add a thousand guineas to +that pile there. Think of it, father." + +The elder man frowned thoughtfully. "Well," he said at length, "if you +go with them, Tom, and you go carefully, at night, we'll chance it, once +at least. Not tonight, though. It's late now and you all need sleep. +I'll take the first watch." + +At about ten o'clock of the evening following, Jeremy, Bob and Tom stole +out and up the hill in the darkness. They were well-armed but carried no +lantern, the boys being confident of their ability to find the cleft in +the ledge without a light. A half hour's walking brought them near the +spot, and Jeremy, who had almost an Indian's memory for the "lay of the +ground," soon led the way to the edge of the chasm. Dim starlight shone +through the gap in the trees above the ledge, but there was only +darkness below in the pit. One by one they felt their way down and at +last all three stood on the damp earth at the bottom. "Here's the +barrel--just as we left it. They haven't been here yet!" Jeremy +whispered. + +Working as quickly and as quietly as he could, Bob reached into the +opening in the keg and pulled out the gold, piece by piece, while the +others, taking the coins from his fingers, filled their pockets, and the +leather pouches they had brought. + +It was breathlessly exciting work, for all three were aware of the +danger that they ran. When finally they crawled forth, laden like +sumpter-mules, the perspiration was thick on Jeremy's forehead. Knowing +the character of Pharaoh Daggs so well, he realized, better probably +than either of his companions, what fate they might expect if they were +discovered. So far, apparently, the pirates had not thought of setting a +night guard on the ridge. If they continued to neglect this precaution +and failed to find the treasure themselves, three more trips would---- + +His calculations were interrupted by the sudden snapping of a twig. He +stopped, instantly on the alert. Behind him Tom and Bob had also paused. +Neither of them had caused the sound. It had seemed to come from the +thick bush down hill to the right. For an endlessly long half-minute the +three held their breath, listening. Then once more something crackled, +farther away this time, and in a more southwesterly direction. + +Man or animal, whatever it was that made the sounds, was moving rapidly +away from them. + +Jeremy hunched the straps of his heavy pouch higher up on his shoulder +and led on again, faster than before, and hurrying forward in Indian +file, they reached the cabin without further adventure. + +All through the next day they stood watch and watch at the shack, ready +for the attack which they expected to develop sooner or later. But still +it appeared that the pirates preferred to keep out of sight. The boys +had told Amos Swan of the noises they had heard the previous night and +he had listened with a grave countenance. It could hardly have been +other than one of the pirates, he thought, for he was quite certain that +except for a few rabbits, there were no wild animals upon the island. +"Still," he said, "if you were moving quietly, there's small reason to +believe the man knew you were near. If he did know and made such a noise +as that, he must have been a mighty poor woodsman!" + +The boys, anxious that nothing should prevent another trip to the +treasure-keg, accepted this logic without demur. + +The following night Amos Swan decided to go with the boys himself, +leaving Tom on guard at the cabin. As before, they armed themselves with +guns, pistols and hunting-knives and ascended the hillside in the inky +dark. There were no stars in sight and a faint breeze that came and went +among the trees foreboded rain. This prospect of impending bad weather +made itself felt in the spirits of the three treasure-hunters. Jeremy, +accustomed as he was to the woods, drew a breath of apprehension and +looked scowlingly aloft as he heard the dismal wind in the hemlock tops. +Ugh! He shook himself nervously and plunged forward along the hillcrest. +A few moments later they were gathered about the barrel at the bottom of +the cleft. + +It was even darker than they had found it on their previous visit. +Jeremy and his father had to grope in the pitchy blackness for the coins +that Bob held out to them. Their pockets were about half-full when there +came a whispered exclamation from the Delaware boy. + +"There's some sort of box in here, buried in the gold!" he said. "It's +too big to pull out through the hole. Where's your dirk, Jeremy?" + +The latter knelt astride the keg, and working in the dark, began to +enlarge the opening with the blade of his hunting-knife. After a few +minutes he thrust his hand in and felt the box. It was apparently of +wood, covered with leather and studded over with scores of nails. Its +top was only seven or eight inches wide by less than a foot long, +however, and in thickness it seemed scarcely a hand's breadth. + +Big cold drops of rain were beginning to fall as Jeremy resumed his +cutting. He made the opening longer as well as wider, and at last was +able by hard tugging to get the box through. He thrust it into his pouch +and they recommenced the filling of their pockets with goldpieces. + +Before a dozen coins had been removed a sudden red glare on the walls of +the chasm caused the three to leap to their feet. At the same instant +the rain increased to a downpour, and they looked up to see a pine-knot +torch in the opening above them splutter and go out. The wet darkness +came down blacker than before. + +But in that second of illumination they had seen framed in the torchlit +cleft a pair of gleaming light eyes and a cruelly snarling mouth set in +a face made horrible by the livid scar that ran from chin to eyebrow +across its broken nose. + +Jeremy clutched at Bob and his father. "This way!" he gasped through the +hissing rain, and plunged along the black chasm toward the southern end, +where it debouched upon the hillside. They clambered over some boulders +and emerged in the undergrowth, a score of yards from the point where +the barrel had been found. + +"Come on," whispered Jeremy hoarsely, and started eastward along the +slope. Burdened as they were, they ran through the woods at desperate +speed, the noise of their going drowned by the descending flood. + +In the haste of flight it was impossible to keep together. When Jeremy +had put close to half a mile between himself and the chasm, he paused +panting and listened for the others, but apparently they were not near. +He decided to cut across the ridge, and started up the hill, when he +heard a crash in the brush just above him. "Father?" he called under his +breath. To his dismay he was answered by a startled oath, and the next +moment he saw a tall figure coming at him swinging a cutlass. The pirate +was a bare ten feet away. Jeremy aimed his pistol and pulled the +trigger, but only a dull click responded. The priming was wet. + +[Illustration: A sudden red glare on the walls of the chasm.] + +At that instant the cutlass passed his head with an ugly sound and +Jeremy, desperate, flung his pistol straight at the pirate's face. As it +left his hand he heard it strike. Then as the man went down with a +groan, he doubled in his tracks like a hare, and ran back, heading up +across the hill. + +It was not till he was over the ridge and well down the slope toward +home that he dropped to a walk. His breath was coming in gasps that hurt +him like a knife between his ribs, and his legs were so weak he could +hardly depend on them. He had run nearly two miles, up hill and down, in +heavy clothes drenched with rain, and carrying a dozen pounds of gold +besides the flintlock fowling-piece which he still clutched in his left +hand. Somewhere behind him he had dropped the box, found amid the +treasure, but he was far too tired to look for it. More dead than alive +he crawled, at last, up to the door of the cabin and staggered in when +Tom opened to his knock. + +While he gasped out his story, the older brother looked more closely to +the barring of the window-shutters and put fresh powder in the +priming-pans of the guns. + +Ten minutes after Jeremy, his father appeared, wet to the skin and with +a grim look around his bearded jaws. He, too, was spent with running, +but he would have gone out again at once when he heard that Bob was +still missing if the boys had not dissuaded him. Jeremy was sure that +if Bob had escaped he would soon reach the cabin, for he had the lay of +the island well in mind now. + +And so, while Tom kept watch, they lay down with their clothes on before +the fire. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + + +The gray November morning dawned damp and cold. In the sheer exhaustion +that followed on their adventure of the night before, Jeremy and his +father slept heavily till close to nine o'clock, when Tom wakened them. +His face was haggard with watching, and he looked so worried that they +had no need to ask him if Bob had come in. + +It was a gloomy party that sat down to the morning meal. The youngest +could eat nothing for thinking of his chum's fate. While his father +still spoke hopefully of the possibility that the boy might have found a +hiding place which he dared not leave, Jeremy could only remember the +frightful, scarred visage of Pharaoh Daggs looming in the torchlight. He +knew that Bob would find little mercy behind that cruel face, and he +could not throw off the conviction that the lad had fallen into the +clutches of the pirates. + +All day, standing at the loopholes, they waited for some sign either of +Bob's return, or, what seemed more probable, an attack by the buccaneer +crew. But as the hours passed no moving form broke the dark line of +trees above them on the slope. + +At length the dusk fell, and they gave up hope of seeing the boy again, +though on the other score their vigilance was redoubled. The night went +by, however, as quietly as though the island were deserted. + +It was about two hours after sunrise that Jeremy stole out to give +fodder to the sheep, penned in the stockade ever since the first alarm. +He had been gone a bare two minutes when he rushed back into the cabin. + +"Look father," he cried. "In the bay--there's a sloop coming in to +anchor!" + +Amos Swan went to a northern loophole, and peered forth. "What is she? +Can ye make her out? Seems to fly the British Jack all right," he said. +Following the two boys, he hurried outside. Jeremy had run down the hill +to the beach where he stood, gazing intently at the craft, and shading +his eyes with his hand. After a moment he turned excitedly. "Father," he +shouted, "it's the _Tiger!_ I saw her only once, but I'd not forget +those fine lines of her. Look--there's Job, himself, getting into the +cutter!" + +A big man in a blue cloak had just stepped into the stern sheets of the +boat, and seeing the figures on the shore, he now waved a hand in their +direction. + +Sure enough, in three minutes Captain Job Howland jumped out upon the +sand and with a roar of greeting caught Jeremy's hand in his big fist. +"Well, lad," he laughed, "ye look glad to see us. Didn't know we was +headed up this way, did ye? But here we be! Soon as the sloop was ready +Mr. Curtis had a light cargo for Boston town, and he told me to coast up +here on the same trip. He wants Bob home again. Why--what ails ye, boy?" + +They were climbing the path toward the shack, when Job noticed the +downcast look on Jeremy's face, and interrupted himself. + +In a few words the boy told what had happened during the brief week they +had been on the island. + +"By the Great Bull Whale!" muttered the ex-buccaneer in astonishment. +"Sol Brig's treasure, sure enough! And that devil, Daggs--see here, if +Bob's alive, we've got to get him out of that!" He swung about and +hailed the boat's crew, all six of whom had remained on the beach. + +"Adams, and you, Mason, pull back to the sloop and bring off all the men +in the port watch, with their cutlasses and small-arms. The rest of you +come up here." + +As soon as Job had shaken hands with Jeremy's father and brother, they +entered the cabin. + +"Now, Jeremy," said the skipper, "you say this craft is careened on the +other side of the island, close to the place where Stede Bonnet landed +us that time? How many men have they?" + +"We don't know," the boy replied. "But I don't think Daggs had time to +gather a big crew, and what's more, he'd figure the fewer the better +when it came to splitting up the gold. I doubt if there's above fifteen +men--maybe only fourteen now." He grinned as he thought of the big +pirate who had attacked him in the woods. + +"Good," said Job. "We'll have sixteen besides you, Mr. Swan, and your +two boys. An even twenty, counting myself. If we can't put that crowd +under hatches, I'm no sailorman." + +The crew of the _Tiger_, bristling with arms and eager for action, now +came up. Without wasting time Job told them what was afoot and they +moved forward up the hill. + +Once among the trees the attacking party spread out in irregular +fan-formation, with Tom and Jeremy scouting a little in advance. The +stillness of the woods was almost oppressive as they went forward. All +the men seemed to feel it and proceeded with more and more caution. Used +to the hurly-burly of sea-fighting, they did not relish this silent +approach against an unseen enemy. + +Clearing the ridge they came down at length to the edge of the beach, +close to the old pirate anchorage, and Jeremy led the way along through +the bushes toward the mouth of the reedy inlet. Working carefully down +the shore to the place whence Bob and he had sighted the spars of the +buccaneer, he climbed above the reeds and peered up the creek. To his +surprise the masts had disappeared. + +"She's gone!" he gasped. + +Job and Tom looked in turn. Certain it was that no vessel lay in the +creek! + +"Perhaps they sighted the _Tiger_," suggested Jeremy. "If so, they can't +have gotten far. They've likely taken the rest of the gold. And Bob must +be aboard, too, if he's still alive." + +As they turned to go back, one of the sailors who had walked down to the +reeds at the edge of the creek, hurried up with a dark object in his +fist. He held it out as he drew near and they saw that it was a pistol, +covered with a mass of black mud, Jeremy saw a gleam of metal through +the sticky lump, and quickly scraping away the mud from the mounting he +disclosed a silver plate which bore the still terrible name "Stede +Bonnet." The boy gave a cry of pleasure as he saw it, and thrust the +weapon quickly into Job's hands. + +"Look!" he exclaimed. "It's Bob's pistol. And there's only one way it +could have gotten where it was. He must have thrown it from the sloop's +deck as they went past, thinking we'd find it. See here! They can't be +gone more than a few hours, for there's not a bit of rust on the iron +parts. Maybe we could catch them, Job, if we hurry!" + +Job turned to his men and called, "What say you, lads--shall we give +them a chase?" + +A chorus of vociferous "Ay, Ay's" was the answer. + +"Here we go, then!" he shouted, and led the way back up the hill at a +trot. + +As they reached the ridge, Jeremy cut over to the left a little through +the trees, so that his course lay past the treasure cleft. When he +reached it he found just what he had expected--the shattered staves of +the barrel lying open on the ledge, and several rough excavations in the +dirt at the bottom of the chasm, where the buccaneers had searched +greedily for more gold. The charred remnants of a bonfire, a few yards +further down the cleft, showed that they had worked partly at night. + +Leaving the ledge, the boy was hurrying back to join the main party when +he came out upon an elevated space, clear of trees, from which one could +command a view of the sea to the west and south. Involuntarily he +paused, and shading his eyes with his hand, swept the horizon slowly. +Then he gave a start, for straight away to the westward, in a gap +between two islands, was a white speck of sail. + +"Job!" he yelled at the top of his lungs. "Job!" + +The big skipper was only a short distance away, and he came through the +trees at a run followed by most of his men, in answer to Jeremy's hail. +No words were necessary. The boy's pointing finger led their eyes +instantly to the far-off ship. Job took a quick look at the sun and the +distant islands, to fix his bearings, then set out for the northern +inlet again, even faster than before. + +As they came running down the slope toward the cabin, Amos Swan emerged, +gun in hand, evidently believing that they were in full rout before the +enemy. + +"They've left the island," panted Jeremy, as he reached the door. "We +saw their sail--we're going to chase them! We're sure, now, that Bob's +aboard!" + +His father looked relieved. + +"Go--you and Tom!" he said. "I'll stay and mind the island." + +Job, with a dozen of his men, was starting in the cutter, and had +already hailed the _Tiger_ to order the other boat sent ashore. Tom and +Jeremy hurried into the cabin, and stuffing some clothes into Jeremy's +sea-chest along with a brace of good pistols and a cutlass apiece, were +soon ready to embark. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + + +There was a bustle of action aboard the sloop when the boys swarmed up +her side. One chanty was being sung up forward, where half a dozen +sturdy seamen were heaving at the capstan bars, and another was going +amidships as the throat of the long main gaff went to the top. Captain +Job stood on the afterdeck, constantly shouting new orders. His big +voice made itself heard above the singing, the groan of tackle-blocks +and the crash of the canvas, flapping in the northwest wind. + +It was a clear, sunny day, with a bite of approaching winter in the air, +and the boys were glad to button their jackets tight and move into the +lee of the after-house. + +"Here, lads," Job cried, "there's work for you, too. Take a run below, +Jeremy, and bring up an armload of cutlasses. See if any of those +muskets need cleaning, Tom." + +Jeremy scurried down the companion ladder, and forward along the +starboard gun deck to the rack of small arms near the fo'c's'le hatch. +Jeremy was pleased to see that the sloop carried a full complement of +ten broadside guns, beside a long brass cannon in the bows. In fact, +she was armed like a regular man-o'-war. The tubs were filled and neat +little piles of round-shot and cannister stood beside each gun. The +_Tiger_, he thought, was likely to give a good account of herself if she +could come to grips with the buccaneers. + +Stepping on deck once more, his arms piled with hangers, Jeremy found +that the sloop had already cleared the bay on her starboard tack and was +just coming about to make a long reach of it to port. The pirate sail +was no longer in sight in the west, but as several islands filled the +horizon in that direction, it seemed likely that she had passed beyond +them. + +Jeremy approached the Captain. "How far ahead do you think they are?" he +asked. + +"When we sighted 'em, they were about four sea-miles to the westward," +answered Job. "If they're making ordinary sailing, they've gained close +to three more, since then. But if they're carrying much canvas it may be +more. We shan't come near them before dark, at any rate." + +He cast an eye aloft as he spoke, and Jeremy's gaze followed. The +_Tiger_ was carrying topsails and both jibs, with a single reef in her +fore and main sails. She was scudding along at a great rate with the +whitecaps racing by, close below the lee gunports. Jeremy whistled with +delight. He had seen Stede Bonnet crowd canvas once or twice, but never +in so good a cause. + +The wind held from the northwest, gaining in strength rather than +decreasing, and the sloop, heeled far to port, sped along close-hauled +on a west-sou'west course. + +After three-quarters of an hour of this kind of sailing they were close +to the group of islands, and sighting a passage to the northward, swung +over on the other tack. A rough beat to starboard brought them into the +gap. Though they crossed a grim, black shoal at the narrowest part, Job +did not shorten sail, but steered straight on as fast as the wind would +take him. And at length they came clear of the headland and saw a great +stretch of open sea to the southwestward with a faint, white dot of sail +at its farthest edge. + +At the sight a hearty cheer went up from the seamen, clustered along the +port rail. A lean, wind-browned man with keen black eyes came aft to the +tiller where Jeremy and Tom stood with the Captain. It was Isaiah +Hawkes, Job's first mate, himself a Maine coast man. "It's all clear +sailin' ahead, sir," he said. "No more reefs or islands 'twixt this an' +Cape Cod, if they follow the course they're on." + +The _Tiger_ hung with fluttering canvas in the wind's eye for a second +or two, then settled away on the port tack with a bang of her main +boom. + +"Here, Isaiah, take the tiller," said Job, at length. "Hold her as she +is--two points to windward of the other sloop. You'll want to set an +extra lookout tonight," he continued. "We shan't be able to keep 'em in +sight at this distance, if they've sighted us, which most likely they +have. I'm going up to have a look at 'Long Poll' now." + +Accompanied by the two boys, he made his way along the steeply canted +deck of the plunging schooner to the breach of the swivel-gun at the +bow. + +"Ever seen this gal afore, Jeremy?" asked Job, shouting to make himself +heard above the hiss and thunder of the water under the forefoot. "She's +the old gun we had aboard the _Queen_. Stede Bonnet never had a piece +like this. Cast in Bristol, she was, in '94. There's the letters that +tells it." And he patted the bright breach lovingly, sighting along the +brazen barrel, and swinging the nose from right to left till he brought +the gun to bear squarely on the white speck that was the pirate sloop, +still hull-down in the sea ahead. "Come morning, Polly, my gal," he +chuckled, "we'll let you talk to 'em." + +As he spoke, the fiery disk of the sun was slipping into the ocean +across the starboard bow. With sunset the breeze lightened perceptibly, +and Job ordered the reefs shaken out of the fore and mainsails and an +extra jib set. Then he and the boys, who, although they had quarters +aft, had been assigned to the port watch, went below and turned in. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + + +Jeremy, stumbling on deck at eight bells, pulled his seaman's greatcoat +up about his ears, for the breeze came cold. He worked his way forward +along the high weather rail and took up his lookout station on the +starboard bow. + +Overhead the midnight sky burned bright with stars that seemed to +flicker like candle-flames in the wind. A half-grown moon rode down the +west and threw a faint radiance across the heaving seas. It was blowing +harder now. The wind boomed loud in the taut stays and the rising waves +broke smashingly over the bow at times, forcing the foremast hands to +cling like monkeys to the rail and rigging. + +Captain Job, with Tom to help him, stood grimly at the thrashing tiller +and drove the sloop southwestward at a terrific gait. The sails had been +single-reefed again during the mate's watch, but with the wind still +freshening the staunch little craft was carrying an enormous amount of +canvas. Job Howland was a sailor of the breed that was to reach its +climax a hundred years later in the captains of the great Yankee +clippers--men who broke sailing records and captured the world's trade +because they dared to walk their tall ships, full-canvassed, past the +heavy foreign merchantmen that rolled under triple reefs in half a gale +of wind. + +One by one the hours of the watch went by. Jeremy, drenched and +shivering, but thrilling to the excitement of the chase, stuck to his +post at the rail beside the long bow gun. His eyes were fixed constantly +on the sea ahead and abeam, while his thoughts, racing on, followed the +pirate schooner close. + +How was Bob to be gotten off alive, he wondered, for he had come to +believe that his chum was aboard the fleeing craft. If it came to a +running fight, their cannonade might sink her, in which case the boy +would be drowned along with his captors. And there were other things +that could happen. Jeremy groaned aloud as he thought of the fate that +Pharaoh Daggs had once so nearly meted out to him. He felt again the +bite of the hemp at his wrists, and saw that pitiless gleam in the +strange light eyes of the pirate. Would Daggs try to settle his long +score against the boys by some unheard-of brutality? + +A sudden hail cut in upon his thoughts. "Sail ho!" the lookout on the +other side had cried. + +"Where away?" came Job's deep shout. + +"Three points on the port bow," answered the seaman, "an' not above a +league off!" + +Jeremy, straining his eyes into the night, made out the dim patch of +sail ahead. + +"How's she headed?" called the Captain again. "Is she still on her port +tack, or running before the wind?" + +"Still beating up to the west!" the sailor replied. + +"Good," cried Job. "They think they can outsail us. Keep her in sight +and sing out if you see her fall off the wind!" + +Half an hour later the watch was changed and Jeremy scrambled into his +warm bunk for a few hours more sleep. + +It was broad daylight when he and Tom reached the deck once more and +went eagerly forward to join the little knot of seamen in the bows. All +eyes were turned toward the horizon, ahead, where the sails of the +fleeing schooner loomed gray in the morning haze. + +The wind which had shifted a little to the north was still blowing +stiffly, heeling both sloops over at a sharp angle. The _Tiger_ had +gained somewhat during the morning watch, but the pirates had now +evidently become desperate and put on all the sail their craft would +carry, so that the two vessels sped on, league after league, without +apparent change of position. + +Job, who had now taken the tiller again, called to Jeremy after a while. +"Here, lad," he said, when the boy reached the poop, "lend me a hand +with this kicker." + +Jeremy laid hold with a will, and found that it took almost all his +strength, along with that of the powerful Captain, to hold the schooner +on her course. At times, when a big beam sea caught her, she would yaw +fearfully, falling off several points, and could only be brought back to +windward by jamming the thrashing rudder hard over. + +"We lose headway when she does that, don't we, Job?" panted the boy +after one such effort. "And I reckon we couldn't lash the beam fast to +keep her this way, could we? No, I see, it has to be free so as to move +all the time. Still----" + +As he staggered to and fro at the end of the tiller, the boy thought +rapidly. Finally he recommenced: "Job--this may sound foolish to +you--but why couldn't we lash her on both sides, and yet give her +play--look--this way! Rig a little pulley here and one here----" He +indicated places on the deck, close to the rail on either quarter. "Then +reeve a line from the tiller-end through each one, and bring it back +with three or four turns around a windlass drum, a little way for'ard, +there. Then you could keep hold of the arms of the windlass, and only +let the tiller move as much as you needed to, either way----" + +"By the Great Bull Whale," Job laughed, as he grasped the boy's plan, "I +wonder if that wouldn't work! Jeremy, boy, we'll find out, anyhow. +Braisted!" he called to the ship's carpenter, "up with some lumber and a +good stout line and a pair of spare blocks if you've got them. Lively, +now!" + +In a jiffy the carpenter had tumbled the tackle out on the deck, and +under the direction of Job, began to rig it according to Jeremy's +scheme. It was a matter of a few moments only, once he caught the idea. +When at length the final stout knot had been tied, Job, still keeping +his mighty clutch on the tiller beam, motioned to Jeremy to take hold of +the windlass. The boy jumped forward eagerly and seized two of the rude +spokes that radiated horizontally from the hub. The position was an +awkward one, but with a slight pull he found that he could swing the +windlass rapidly in either direction. + +"Avast there--avast!" came Job's bass bellow, and looking over his +shoulder, Jeremy saw the big skipper flung from side to side in spite of +himself as the windlass was turned. The seamen who had gathered to watch +were roaring with laughter, and Job himself was chuckling as he let go +the tiller and hurried to Jeremy's side. Taking a grip on the spokes, he +spun them back and forth once or twice, to feel how the vessel answered +her helm under this new contraption, and in a moment had it working +handsomely. He was using the first ship's steering-wheel. + +The sloop, which had yawed and lost some headway during this interlude, +now struck her stride again, and drove along with her nose held steady, +a full half-point closer to the wind than had been possible before. Job +perceived this and loosed one hand long enough to strike Jeremy a mighty +blow on the back. + +"She works, boy!" he cried. "And at this gait we'll catch them before +noon!" + +Indeed, the crew had already noticed the difference in their sailing, +and were lining the bows, waving their caps in the air and yelling with +excitement as they watched the distance between the two craft slowly +shorten. + +An hour passed, and the gunners were sent below to make ready their +pieces, for the lead of the pirate sloop had been cut to a bare mile. + +Job had turned the wheel over to Hawkes, and now, with three picked men +to help him, was ramming home a heavy charge of powder in the long +"nine." On top of it he drove down the round-shot, then bent above the +swivel-breach, swinging it back and forth as he brought the cannon's +muzzle to bear on the topsails of the pirate schooner, whose black hull +was now plainly visible. He sniffed the wind and measured the distance +with his eye. When his calculations were complete he turned and held up +his hand in signal to the helmsman. As the swivel allowed movement only +from side to side, he must depend on the cant of the deck for his +elevation. Holding the long gunner's match lighted in his hand, he +waited for the exact second when the schooner's bow was lifted on a wave +and swinging in the right direction, then touched the powder train. +There was a hiss and flare, and at the end of a second or two a terrific +roar as the charge was fired. The smoke was blown clear almost +instantly, and every one leaned forward, watching the sea ahead with +tense eagerness. At length a column of white spray lifted, a scant +hundred yards astern of the other sloop. The crew cheered, for it was a +splendid shot at that distance and in a seaway. The sky was thickening +to windward, and it grew harder momentarily to see objects at a +distance. Job was already at work, superintending the swabbing-out of +the gun and reloading with his own hands. There was a long moment while +he waited for a favorable chance, then "Long Poll" shook the deck once +more with the crash of her discharge. This time the shot fell just ahead +and to windward of the enemy--so close that the spray blew back into the +rigging. + +Job had bracketed his target, but the mist-clouds that were sweeping +past rendered his task a difficult one. Grimly but with swift certainty +of movement he went about his preparations for a third attempt. + +Suddenly there was a shout from Jeremy, who had climbed into the +forestays for a better view. "Look there!" he cried. "They're lowering a +boat. There's something white in it, like a flag of truce!" + +In the lee of the pirate vessel a small boat could be seen tossing +crazily in the heavy seas. Job, who had called for his spyglass, looked +long and earnestly at the tiny craft. + +"There's but one man in it," he announced at length, "and he's showing a +bit of something white, as Jeremy says. Here, lad, you've the best eyes +on the sloop, see if you can make out more." + +The boy focussed the glass on the little boat, which was now drifting +rapidly to the southeast, already nearly opposite their bows. The figure +in it stood up, waving frantic arms to one side and the other. + +"It's Bob!" Jeremy almost screamed. "That's a signal we used to have +when we were hunting. It means 'Come here!'" + +He had hardly finished speaking when--"Port your helm!" roared Job. "All +hands stand by to slack the fore and main sheets!" + +[Illustration: Job had bracketed his target.] + +The _Tiger_ fell off the wind with a lurch and spun away to leeward, +bowing into the running seas. + +Five minutes later they hauled Bob, drenched and dripping, to the deck. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + + +The boy was pale and haggard and so weak he could hardly stand alone, +but he looked about him with an eager grin as Tom and Jeremy helped him +toward the companion. + +"Why," he gasped, "here's old Job! What's he doing up here!" as the +latter strode aft to seize his hand. + +"Ay, lad," laughed the big mariner, a mighty relief showing in his face, +"we're all your friends aboard here. But how came those devils to let +you off so easy? We figured we'd have to fight to get you, and mighty +lucky to do it at that!" + +The schooner had come into the wind again and was heading westward in +pursuit of the pirate, now hidden in the murk ahead. Bob was helped to +the cabin and propped up in a bunk while his friends hastened to get +some dry clothes on him. A pull of brandy stopped his shivering. + +"I thought none of you would ever see me alive," he said soberly. "But, +Job, before I tell you all about it, are you sure you've lost sight of +Daggs' sloop? They were worried about your shooting, and figured the +only chance they had was to set me adrift and then get away in the +dirty weather, while you were fishing me out. They'd never have given me +up if that second shot hadn't mighty near gone through and through the +old _Revenge_." + +"The _Revenge_!" said Job. "I thought I knew the cut of that big +mainsail, and she was painted black, too! Well, their trick succeeded. +Just this minute we'd have no more chance of finding 'em than a needle +in a haystack. But it may clear again before night, and then we'll see! +Go ahead now and spin your yarn, my lad!" + +And Bob, swigging hot tea and munching a biscuit, began once more to +tell his story. + +"After we separated, and started to run, up on the hill that night," he +said, "I seemed to lose all my sense of direction for a while. I was +scared for one thing, I'll freely admit. When I saw Daggs' face in the +torchlight leaning over us, there by the treasure barrel, it frightened +me pretty nearly out of my senses. So I started to run, without an idea +of where I was going, and by the time I got my wits back, I couldn't +tell just where I was, in the rain and the dark. I seemed to be right on +top of the ridge, but I had zig-zagged several times, I remembered, and +when I tried to figure which side of the hill I should go down, I +couldn't for the life of me decide. Finally I said to myself, 'Here, +don't be a fool! Which way was the wind blowing when we set out from the +shack? Aha, it was north,' says I. 'Very well, then, this must be the +way to the cabin--straight into the wind,' And down the hill I started, +bearing over to my right, so as to come out just above the sheep-pen." + +"But--" interrupted Jeremy, "when that storm came up the wind backed +clear round into the south--" + +"I know it now," Bob answered, "but I didn't then. I kept right on, +tickled that I was out of it so well, and wondering where the rest of +you had gotten to. Pretty soon I came to some low land that I didn't +remember, but I saw a light off ahead and to my right, and decided that +was the cabin. I blundered along through the trees till I was quite +close, and then I discovered that the light came from a bonfire. I +stopped for a second, puzzled, for I was sure I must be near the cabin. +I wondered if the pirates had captured it. I stole up still closer and +watched the light and presently a buccaneer walked in front of it. + +"That was enough for me. I turned and started to run. And at about the +third step I fell plump into the arms of a pirate. You see I had walked +straight toward their part of the island by making that silly mistake. + +"This fellow got a grip on my collar, and I couldn't break loose, though +I'll warrant his shins are tender yet, where I kicked him. He hauled me +down to the fire, and he and three others who were there looked me +over. The one that had caught me was a big mulatto--as ugly-looking a +customer as I ever saw. And the others were no lambs. I'll tell you, my +hearties, Daggs has gathered up a pretty lot of rascals in this crew. +Not one of 'em but looks as if he'd knife you for a copper farthing! + +"These four by the fire wasted no time, but went through my pockets in a +hurry. They took my pistol and were quarreling about dividing the +goldpieces I had, when the rest of the crowd began to appear. They were +all wet, and in a bad temper for a dozen other reasons. Plenty of curses +came my way, but no one laid a hand on me, for they had a mighty fear of +Pharaoh Daggs. When he finally came, he swore at them till they slunk +around like whipped curs. + +"He was in an ugly mood that night. Seemingly he was disappointed in the +amount of treasure they had found. Besides that, they had come on one of +their best men with his head beaten in, and you and your father had +gotten clean away. Things looked black enough for me, I can tell you. + +"Daggs and the mulatto, who is his mate, started in to question me, +after they had grumbled awhile. They knew already how many of you there +were at the cabin, but they asked about your guns and supplies. Of +course, I didn't make the stronghold any weaker in the telling. When +they had all the information they thought they could get out of me, +they held a sort of council. Some wanted to go right over before light +and attack the cabin. Others were for broaching a barrel of rum first, +and making thorough preparations. Finally Daggs decided to put it off +until they could get some pitch and dry grass ready, so as to set fire +to the roof. + +"It was nearly daylight by this time, and they started back through the +reeds toward their sloop, leading me along with them. We travelled half +a mile or so, down a crooked black trail only wide enough for one man at +a time, and ankle deep in the mud of the swamp. When we reached the +schooner they stuck a pair of handcuffs on me and put me down on the +ballast. In spite of the filth and the cold I was so dog-tired that I +tumbled on the nearest pile of old chains and went to sleep. + +"I woke up late in the afternoon, and I don't think I was ever so stiff +and uncomfortable and hungry in my life. I made my way over to the hatch +and found I could reach the combing with my hands, so I pulled myself +up, after a mighty hard tussle. Try it some time with your hands tied! + +"Most of the pirates were forward in their bunks, but one who was +keeping watch on deck took pity on me and gave me a couple of biscuits +and a swig of water. He was more or less talkative, besides, and from +him I learned that Daggs planned to start about midnight for your side +of the island, carrying buckets of pitch and tinder, so as to roast you +out. + +"As you may imagine, this kind of talk nearly turned me sick with fear, +and right in the midst of it Pharaoh Daggs came on deck. + +"He had that empty sort of glare in his eyes that we used to see +sometimes when he was drunk. Of course, he walked straight and even, but +as he came over toward us, with his teeth showing and his eyes fixed on +a point just above the pirate's shoulder, I almost yelled 'Look out!' If +I had, it might have cost me my life right there. He walked along, light +on his toes like a cat, till he stood two feet from us. Then, so fast I +hardly knew what happened, he hit the other man on the chin with his +fist. That was all. The man dropped with his head back against the rail. +And Daggs went off, chuckling to himself but not making any noise. I +don't think he saw me at all, for his attack was more like the work of a +mad dog than of a man. + +"I crept away and got below decks as fast as might be, and there I +stayed hidden till after dark, when some of the buccaneers rousted me +out. A keg of rum had been opened in the waist, and the liquor was going +freely. Most of the crew were already drunk, but they had the sense to +chain me by one leg to the foremast, and then made me run back and +forth between them and the barrel. I was only too glad. No cannikin was +skimped while I was at the spigot. I looked around and remembered some +of the wild nights we had seen on the old _Revenge_. And then for the +first time I realized that the deck I stood on was the same! They'd +gotten hold of the old black sloop when she was auctioned at Charles +Town, patched up her bottom and here she was--buccaneering once more! +Where the gang of cut-throats aboard her were gathered, I don't know, +but they put Stede Bonnet's famous crew to shame. + +"Pharaoh Daggs was somewhere ashore with two of the crew till nearly +midnight. When he returned, the rest were lying like pigs about the +deck. He had sobered slightly--enough to remember the night's +undertaking--but it was useless to think of rousing those sots to any +sort of endeavor. He kicked one or two of them savagely with his heavy +boot, too, but it got hardly more than a grunt from them. + +"He stood there cursing for a minute, then came over and looked at the +shackle that held me to the foremast-foot, and shook it to make sure it +was solid before he went below. He had something done up in a cloth that +he held mighty tenderly, and he seemed in a better humor. + +"I curled up on the deck and by wrapping myself in a greatcoat which I +found beside one of the drunken pirates, succeeded in keeping reasonably +warm. + +"When morning came Daggs and his mulatto mate managed to wake most of +the men and forced them to get out and forage for wood and water, while +they themselves crossed the ridge to reconnoitre. I think it was about +two hours after sunrise when those of us who stayed aboard the sloop saw +figures running down the hill. The buccaneers got out boarding-pikes and +picked up cutlasses, but in a moment Daggs reached the side, out of +breath with his haste. + +"'There's a ten-gun schooner in the northern cove!' he cried. 'They're +landing a boat now. We haven't any time to lose--the tide's past full +already! Cut those moorings!' + +"The hemp lines were slashed through with cutlasses and the men, with +one accord, jumped to the push-holes. The sloop was on an even keel and +just off the bottom. A few strong shoves started her down the creek. + +"My hopes of escaping began to go down, for there I was, still chained +to the fore-stick like a cow put out to grass. I looked around me in +desperation, for I wanted to leave you some sign at least of my +whereabouts. Then my eye fell on a little heap of small arms that had +been thrown down near the forehatch. The pistols were useless to me, as +I had no powder, but among them I saw the bright silver mountings of my +own--the one that used to be Stede Bonnet's. + +"We were drawing near the creek mouth, and those of the crew who were +not at the poles were busy unfurling the sails. I picked the pistol up +unobserved and waited till we were just hauling clear of the creek. Then +I threw it overside and saw it strike in the mud. Did you find it?" + +"Yes," said Jeremy. "That's how we knew for certain that you'd been +captured." + +"Well," the Delaware boy went on, "there's not much more to tell. The +pirates made all sail to the southwest, but after we cleared the +islands, there you were, roaring along in our wake. Daggs thought that +the _Revenge_ was a faster sailer than your craft, but he found he +couldn't keep her as close to the wind on this tack. I don't think he +wants to fight if he can help it, but he was getting desperate this +afternoon before the weather began to thicken up. I heard him tell the +mate he'd rather come to broadside grips than risk having you drop a +shot through the black sloop's bottom with that bowchaser. Then the mist +started to come over, and I guess Daggs saw his chance right away. He +called the crew aft and told them what he was going to do, and a moment +later I found myself being lowered in a boat into that wicked sea. I +thought they were trying to drown me out of hand, till they gave me a +piece of white cloth to wave. Then I got an inkling of their idea. + +"Sure enough, no sooner was I fairly adrift than I saw you put over in +my direction, and thinking Jeremy might be aboard, I gave him our old +signal. It worked, and here I am safe enough. But meanwhile those devils +have got off into the mist, and it'll be hard to follow them." + +Job sat thoughtful, pulling at his pipe. He seemed to be cogitating some +of the points in Bob's narrative, and the others kept silent, unwilling +to interrupt him. At length he blew a great cloud of blue smoke toward +the deck-beams above and turning to the boy, asked, "Did Daggs or any of +the rest ever speak of the place where they were going?" + +"They never talked about it openly," Bob replied, "but from words +dropped now and then by the mulatto mate I figured they were heading +down for the Spanish Islands. I don't think they intend putting in +anywhere first, unless they land for water in one of those out of the +way inlets along the Jersey coast." + +Job nodded. "That's about as I thought," he answered. "So we'll hold on +this tack till nightfall--we're just off the Kennebec, now--and then +we'll run sou'-sou'east before the wind, to clear Cape Cod. Daggs--if he +figgers as I would in his place--won't start to leeward right away, for +he'd rather have us in front of him than behind. And unless I'm much +mistaken he's in too much of a hurry to waste time in doubling back up +the coast. All right Bob, lad, you'll be wanting sleep now, so we'll +leave you. On deck with you, boys!" + +And tucking the blankets about the drowsy youngster in the bunk, Job led +the way to the companion. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + + +The mist was sweeping past in swirls and streaks, and though the wind +had abated somewhat, the _Tiger_ still ploughed along into the obscurity +at a fair rate of speed. Jeremy stayed forward with the lookout, peering +constantly into the gloom ahead, and half expecting to see the ghostlike +sails of the _Revenge_ whenever for a moment a gray aisle opened in the +mist. But there were only the grim, uneasy seas and the shifting fog. + +Before darkness fell Job shortened sail, for he did not wish to get too +far ahead of the enemy. And about the end of the second dog watch he +gave the order to slack sheets and fall away for the southward run. + +The wind turned bitterly cold in the night, and when the watch was +changed Tom and Jeremy staggered below, glad to escape from the stinging +snow that filled the air. + +But with that snow-flurry the weather cleared. The sun rose to a day of +bright blue water and sharp wind, and hardly had its first level rays +shot across the ocean floor when the watch below was tumbled out by a +chorus of shouts from the deck. + +Jeremy, as he burst upward through the hatchway, cast an eager eye to +either beam, then uttered a whoop of joy, as he caught the gleam of +white canvas over the bows. There, straight ahead and barely a league +distant, raced the _Revenge_ and her pirate crew. + +Captain Job reached the deck only a couple of jumps behind the boys, and +an instant later his deep voice boomed the order to shake out all reefs +and set the top-sails. + +Bob, who had slept the clock around and eaten a hearty breakfast, soon +appeared at Jeremy's side, looking fit for any adventure. With Tom they +went up into the bows and were shortly joined there by others of the +crew, all intent on the chase. + +The swells as they surged by from stern to bow seemed to move more and +more sluggishly. Beneath a press of sail that would have made most +skippers fearful of running her under, Job was driving the _Tiger_ along +at a terrific pace. Now once more Jeremy's steering-wheel was proving +its worth. Job at the helm could hold the plunging schooner on her +course with far less danger of being swung over into the trough than +would have been the case with the old hand tiller. + +But in spite of the schooner's headlong speed, the distance between her +and her quarry seemed to lessen scarcely at all. The old _Revenge_ with +her tall sticks and great spread of canvas was flying down before the +wind with all the speed that had made her name a byword, and the man +with the broken nose was evidently willing to take as many chances as +his pursuers. + +All morning the chase went on. At noon, when the winter sun flashed on +the high white dunes of Cape Cod, to starboard, the _Tiger_ seemed to +have gained a little. Job, leaving the wheel for a bit, came forward and +measured the distance with his eye. He shook his head. "Two miles," he +said. "At this rate we can't get within range before dark." And he went +back to his steering. + +But for once he was mistaken. For an hour or more the buccaneers had +been hauling over little by little toward the coast, possibly with the +idea of running in and escaping overland as soon as night should fall. +Now the lookout in the foretop of the _Tigers_ gave a cheer. + +"They've caught a flaw in the wind!" he shouted. "Watch us come up!" + +Sure enough the _Revenge_ had sailed into an area of light air to +leeward of the Cape, and the boys could see that their own sloop, which +still had the wind, was hauling up hand over hand on her adversary. + +"By the Great Bull Whale!" roared Job, leaping forward along the deck, +"now's our chance! Hold her as she is, Hawkes, while I load the long +gun." + +The big gunner-captain worked rapidly as always, but before he had done +ramming down the round-shot, the pirate schooner was within range for a +long-distance try. She lay off the _Tiger's_ starboard bow, almost +broadside on, but still too far away to use her own guns. + +Job aimed with his usual care, but when at length he put a match to the +powder, the shot flew harmlessly through the pirate's rigging, striking +the sea beyond. Almost at the same moment the wind drew strongly in the +sails of the _Revenge_ once more, and she began plunging southward at a +breakneck pace. + +Job ran aft for a word with the mate, who had the wheel, then returned +and again loaded the bowchaser, this time with chainshot and an extra +heavy charge of powder to carry it. When he had finished he stood by the +breach in grim silence, watching the chase. + +It soon became apparent that though the _Tiger_ could gain little on her +rival in actual headway, she was gradually pulling over closer to the +quarter of the _Revenge_. Hawkes, who was an excellent seaman, humored +the craft to starboard, bit by bit, without sacrificing her forward +speed. + +At the end of twenty minutes Job gave a satisfied grunt, maneuvered the +cannon back and forth on its swivel base once or twice, and fired. +Above the roar of the discharge the boys heard the screech of the +whirling chainshot, and then in the _Revenge's_ mainsail appeared a +great gaping rent, through the tattered edges of which the wind passed +unhindered. There was a howl of joy from the crew, and without waiting +for an order, they tumbled pell-mell down the hatches to man the +broadside cannon in the waist. + +Job stayed on deck, watching the enemy through his spy-glass. +Handicapped by her torn mainsail, the _Revenge_ was already falling +abeam. When they had hauled up to within five or six hundred yards of +her, Job called the men of the port watch on deck to shorten sail. This +done, and the two sloops holding on southward at about an even gait, the +Captain took a turn below, where he looked at each of the guns, gave a +few sharp orders and ran back to his station on the after deck. + +"All ready, Hawkes," he called, "bring us up to within a hundred and +fifty fathoms of her!" + +The mate spun the wheel to starboard, and the schooner, answering, drew +nearer to the enemy. + +"Close enough--port your helm," cried Job. + +But even as the _Tiger_ swung into position for a broadside, there came +the roar of the pirate's guns, and a shot crashed through the forestays, +while others, falling short, threw spray along the deck. + +"All right below," shouted Captain Job, steady as a church. "Ready a +starboard broadside!" And at his sharp "Fire!" the five cannon spoke in +quick succession. The deck rocked beneath Jeremy's feet, where he stood +by the companion, ready to carry Job's orders below. + +As the dense smoke was swept away forward on the wind, they could see +the _Revenge_, her rigging still further damaged by the volley, going +about on the starboard tack, and making straight for the shore. + +"Put your helm hard down and bring her to the wind!" roared Job, at the +same time jumping toward the mainsheet. + +The schooner swung to starboard, heeling sharply as she caught the wind +abeam, and was in hot pursuit of her enemy before a full minute had +passed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + + +Little by little the _Tiger_ pulled up to windward of the buccaneer and +the men below in the gun deck could be heard cheering as their advance +brought the black sloop more and more nearly opposite the yawning mouths +of the _Tiger's_ port carronades. + +The shore was now less than half a mile distant. Though making all +possible speed, the pirate schooner seemed to rise on the waves with a +more sluggish heave than before. Job, watching her through the spyglass, +turned to Isaiah Hawkes. + +"Don't she look sort o' soggy to you?" he asked. "I can't quite make out +whether that's a hole in her planking or--by the Great Hook Block! See +there, now, when she lifts! One of our shots landed smack on her +waterline. No wonder they're trying to beach her!" + +A moment later the _Tiger_ had hauled fairly abreast and the two +schooners plunged along a bare hundred yards apart. Not a head showed +above the high weather bulwark of the _Revenge_. Only the muzzles of her +guns peered grimly from their ports in her black side. There was +something sinister about this apparently deserted ship, lurching +drunkenly shoreward, with her torn sails and broken rigging flapping in +the breeze, and the pirate flag flying at her peak. + +Job made a megaphone of his hands and raised his voice in a hail. + +"Ahoy, _Revenge_!" he boomed. "Will you surrender peacefully, and haul +down that flag?" + +There was silence for a full ten seconds. Then a musket cracked and a +bullet imbedded itself in the mainmast by Job's head. + +"All right, boys," he said, without moving, "let 'em have it! Ready, +port battery? Fire!" Jeremy and Bob, clinging side by side to the +hatch-combing, felt the planking quiver under them at the series of +mighty discharges, and saw the pirate schooner check and stagger like an +animal that has received its death wound. + +Only one of her guns was able to reply, the round-shot screaming high and +wide. But on she went, and the steep beach below the dunes was very +close now. + +Captain Job stood by the hatchway. "All hands up, ready to board her," +he ordered, and the crew, swarming on deck, ran to their places by the +longboat amidships. + +The _Tiger_ was now in very shallow water, but Job waited till he saw +the other craft strike. Then, "Bring her head to the wind, Hawkes!" he +cried, "And over with the boat, lads! Lively now, or they'll get +ashore!" + +Hardly was the order given when the boat shot into the water. During the +scramble of the seamen for places on her thwarts, Jeremy and Bob jumped +down and crouched in the bows, unseen by any but those nearest them. Ten +seconds after she hit the waves the boat was filled from gunwale to +gunwale with sailors, armed to the teeth with pistols, cutlasses and +boarding-pikes. Job, last to leave the deck, spoke a word to Hawkes, who +remained in command, and jumped into the sternsheets. + +"Now, give way!" he roared. + +The eight stout oars lashed through the water and the boat sped +shoreward like an arrow. Up in the bows the two boys clutched their +weapons and waited. Neither one would have admitted that he was scared, +though they were both shivering with something more than the cold. +Besides his precious pistol, Bob was gripping the hilt of a +murderous-looking hanger, which he had picked up from the pile on deck +in passing. Jeremy had been able to secure no weapon but a short pike +with a heavy ashen staff and a knife-like blade at the upper end. They +peered over the bows in silence. The longboat was close to the +_Revenge's_ quarter now, but there was no sign of the pirates along her +rail. + +"Suppose they've got ashore?" asked Bob. "I don't see--" + +"Down heads all!" + +It was Job's voice, and the boys together with many of the seamen ducked +instinctively at the words. As they did so there came a crash of +musketry, followed by intermittent shots, and splinters flew from the +gunwale of the boat. Jeremy heard a gasping cry behind him and a young +sailor toppled backward from the thwart. He fell between the boys, and +as they raised him in their arms he died. + +Another seaman had been killed and three more wounded by the pirate +volley, which had been fired from a distance of barely a dozen yards. +Seeing the effect of their fusillade, the buccaneers rose cheering and +yelling from behind the bulwarks of the sloop in the evident belief that +they had succeeded in demoralizing the attacking force. But the speed of +the boat had hardly been checked. In another instant the rowers shipped +their oars and the gunwale scraped along the free-board of the schooner. + +"A guinea to the first man up!" cried Job, himself reaching up with +powerful fingers for a grip by which to climb. + +There were no rope-ends hanging, and as the _Revenge_ in her stranded +position lay much higher forward than aft, the boys, standing in the +bows, found themselves faced by smooth planking too high to scale. + +Jeremy started back over the thwarts, but heard Bob calling to him and +turned. + +"Here's a place to board!" the Delaware boy was saying, and pointed +toward the forward gun-port which stood open just beyond and above the +bow of the longboat. In a twinkling Bob had straddled through the hole, +with Jeremy close after him. It was dark in the 'tween-decks and the two +boys made their way forward on tiptoe, waiting breathlessly for the +attack they felt sure would come. But apparently all the buccaneers were +busy above in the fierce fight that they could hear raging along the +rail. They moved on, undeterred, till they reached the foot of the +fo'c's'le ladder, where Jeremy feeling along the bulkhead, uttered an +exclamation. + +"This is their gun-rack," he said. "And here's a musket all loaded and +primed! I'll take it along!" + +The hatch cover had been drawn to, but Bob, trying it from beneath, +decided it was not fastened. Both boys tugged at it and succeeded in +sliding it back an inch or two, where it stuck. + +The hubbub on deck was now terrific. They could hear, above the general +outcry, an occasional sharply gasped command in Job's voice, or a +snarling oath from one of the buccaneers, but for the most part it was a +bedlam of unintelligible shouts with a constant undertone of ringing +steel and the thud of shifting feet. Most of the firearms, apparently, +had been discharged, and in the mêlée no one had time to reload. + +Bob, straining desperately at the hatch-cover, spied Jeremy's +pike-shaft, and thrusting it through the narrow opening, pried with all +his strength. The hatch squeaked open reluctantly and the boys squirmed +through on to the deck. + +They gasped at the sight which met their eyes as they emerged. Both of +them had confidently expected to find the pirates already beaten, and +fighting with their backs to the wall. But such was far from being the +case. + +On the deck amidships lay two men from the _Tiger_, sorely wounded, +while Job and two others stood at bay above them, swinging cutlasses +mightily, and beating off, time after time, the attacks of a dozen +fierce pirate hanger-men. A number of buccaneers had fallen but all who +were unwounded were raging like a pack of dogs about the figures of Job +and his two supporters. + +"They can't get up!" cried Bob, "The men can't climb the side! Here, +help me bring that rope!" It was a matter of seconds only before the +boys had dashed across the deck and thrown a rope's end to the men below +in the longboat. Then Jeremy turned and ran toward the waist. Another +man was down now. Job and a single comrade were fighting back to back, +parrying with red blades the blows of half a score of the enemy. Jeremy +saw a gleam of yellow teeth between wicked lips, and a flash of light +eyes in the thick of the assault. Then for a moment he had a glimpse of +the whole face of Pharaoh Daggs, scarred and distorted with frightful +passion--a cruel wolf's face--and even as he looked, the dripping +sword-blade of the man with the broken nose plunged between the ribs of +Job's last henchman. The wounded seaman staggered, leaning his weight +against his captain, but still kept his guard up, defending himself +feebly. Job hooked his left arm about the poor lad's body and backed +with his burden toward the mainmast, slashing fiercely around him with +his tireless right arm the while. When they reached the mast, Job leaned +his comrade against it, set his own back to the wood, and battled on. + +But now a cheer resounded, and the buccaneers, turning their heads, +found themselves face to face with the rush of half a dozen men from the +_Tiger_, while more could be seen swarming over the rail. + +The knot of pirates broke to meet the attack, but some of them stayed. +Daggs and three others, including the huge mulatto mate, closed in on +Job, cutting at him savagely. The wounded sailor had fainted and slipped +to the deck. Jeremy saw the saddle-colored mate step swiftly to one +side, then come up from behind the mast, drawing a long dirk from his +sash as he neared Job's back. He had lifted the knife and was stepping +in for a blow, when Jeremy pulled the trigger of his musket. There must +have been an extra heavy charge of powder in the gun, for its recoil +threw the boy flat on the deck, and before he could regain his feet he +saw a man close above him and caught the flash of a hanger in the air. +Desperately Jeremy rolled out of the way, and none too soon, for the +blade cut past his head with a nasty _swish_. He scrambled up and caught +a boarding-pike from the deck as he did so. The pirate followed, hacking +at him with his cutlass, and for seconds that seemed like hours the boy +fought for his life, parrying one stroke after another, till the pike +shaft was broken by the blows, and he was left weaponless. As he ducked +and turned in despair, a man from the _Tiger_ ran in and caught the +buccaneer on his flank, finishing him in short order. + +The deck was now full of struggling groups, for though a score of the +longboat's crew had climbed aboard, the pirates were putting up a fierce +resistance. Jeremy, panting from his encounter, cast about for a weapon +and soon found a cutlass, with which he armed himself. He turned toward +the mainmast foot once more, and to his joy discovered that his shot had +taken effect. The mulatto had disappeared under the trampling mass of +fighting men, and Job's tall figure still towered by the mast. It took +the lad only a second, however, to realize that his Captain's plight was +serious. The big Yankee was fighting wearily with a broken cutlass, and +his face was gray beneath the red stream of blood that ran from a wound +above his eye. Jeremy plunged into the ruck of the battle, careless now +of danger. A sort of berserk rage possessed him at the sight of that +wound. He hewed his way frantically toward the mast, and suddenly found +Bob there beside him, cutting and lunging like a demon. He gasped out a +cheer. But even as it left his throat, the Captain's arm flew up +convulsively, then dropped out of sight in the mob. + +"Job's down!" cried Bob wildly, but the New England boy's only reply was +a half-choked sob. + +Now the tables were turned of a sudden, for three stout sea-dogs from +the _Tiger_, finishing their first opponents, dashed into the fray with +a yell, and Daggs, hewing his way to the mast, turned to face the new +attack with only two men left on foot to back him. + +The fight was short and fierce. First one, then the other of the +buccaneers went down before the furious assault of Job's seamen. At +length only the pirate chief was left to battle on, terrible and +silent, his face set in a ghastly grin, like the visage of a lone wolf +fighting his last fight. + +But the odds were too great. The men of the _Tiger_ pressed in +relentlessly till at last a dozen sword-points found their mark at once. +And so died Pharaoh Daggs, violently, as he had lived. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + + +It was Jeremy who, five minutes later, held Job's head on his knees, +while the weary, bleeding sailors stood silently by with their hats off. + +The bo's'n, a grizzled veteran of many sea-fights, was kneeling beside +his Captain with an ear to his side. There was hope in the man's face +when at length he looked up. + +"He's breathin' yet," was his verdict, "breathin', but not much more. +There's half a score of cuts in him, different places. Here, lads, rig a +stretcher, an' let's get him back to the ship." + +When the unconscious body of their big friend had been placed gently in +the boat, Bob and Jeremy turned to each other with sober faces. + +"It was a costly sort of victory," said Bob. "This deck's not a pretty +sight, and there's nothing much we can do to help. Let's have a look at +the cabin." + +They went below and forced open the door of the after compartment, which +had once housed the great Stede Bonnet. Instead of its old immaculate +and almost scholarly appearance, the place now had an air of desolation. +It reeked of filth, stale tobacco-smoke, and the spilled lees of +liquor. In the clutter on the cabin table lay two bulging sacks and a +small box. + +"Well," said Bob, as he felt the weight of one of the bags, "here's the +rest of Brig's gold!" + +But Jeremy's attention was occupied. He had picked up the box from the +table and was examining it curiously. + +"See here, Bob," he cried, "this is the little chest I was carrying the +night we ran through the woods. I dropped it when that pirate tackled +me. What do you suppose is in it?" + +The box was leather-covered and heavily studded with nails. Jeremy tried +the small padlock and found it rusty and weak. A hard pull on the staple +and it came away in his hand. He threw open the cover and the two boys +stood back, gasping with astonishment. + +There on the lining of soft buckskin lay twelve great emeralds, gleaming +with a clear green light even in that dark place. They were perfectly +matched and as large as the end of a man's thumb, each cut in a square +pattern after the oldtime fashion. Such stones they were as could have +come only from the coffers of an oriental king--the ransom, perhaps, of +a prince of the blood, or of the favorite wife of some Maharajah, seized +in one of Solomon Brig's daredevil raids. + +Bob found breath at last. + +"It's a fortune!" he cried. "They're worth more than all the gold +together! And they're yours, Jeremy--yours by right of discovery twice +over. You're rich--you and your father and Tom! Think of it! You can buy +a whole fleet of big ships like the _Indian Queen_, and become a great +merchant. You and I'll be partners when we're grown up!" Jubilant, he +picked up one of the sacks of gold and made his way to the deck, +followed by the half-dazed Jeremy, who carried the rest of the treasure. + +The sun was close to setting when the _Tiger's_ boat made its last trip +to the pirate sloop. This time its errand was a sad one. Silently the +crew passed long, limp bundles across the rail, rowed with them to the +beach, and clambered up the desolate dunes with picks and shovels in +their hands. There, where the wind moaned in the beach-plum thickets and +the white gulls wheeled and screamed, they dug a long grave and laid the +dead to rest, pirates and honest men together under the wintry sky. + +The boat returned and was hoisted aboard. Just as the mainsail had been +run up and the schooner was filling away for her northward beat, a +single shout from the crosstrees caused every man to turn his gaze +shoreward into the gathering dark. A faint glow seemed to hang in the +air above the pirate sloop. A little snaky flame wriggled its way along +a piece of sagging cordage, licked at the edges of a torn sail, and +flared outward in a burst of red fire. A moment later, and the whole +schooner was ablaze, from waterline to masthead. Jeremy, watching, +fascinated, from the _Tiger's_ rail, thought of the night when he had +first seen that black hull, and of the burning brig that had lit up the +sky as the pirate sloop now illumined it. Her fate was the same that she +had meted out to many a good ship. + +They were rapidly drawing away, now. The great glare of the burning +schooner faded out as the flame devoured her fabric. The foremast +toppled and fell in a shower of sparks. The mainmast followed. Only a +feeble light flickered along the edges of the low-lying hulk. The faint +gleam of it was visible, astern, for some time before it was swallowed +by the dark sea. + +The _Revenge_ was gone. + + * * * * * + +This is the end of my story. + +Of the voyage to Boston town; of how Job was nursed back to health by +Phineas Whipple, the best surgeon in all the colonies; of the glorious +reunion when Amos Swan and Clarke Curtis rejoined their sons; of the +many pleasant things that Bob and Jeremy found to do together, after the +Swans had come to live in Philadelphia--of all these things there is +not space enough in this book for me to tell. + +Jeremy Swan grew up to be one of the great Americans of his day: a man +strong, wise and independent. And although he became rich and highly +honored, he never lost the simplicity of his ways. + +Sometimes when he was a hale old man of seventy, he would take his +grandson, who was named Job Cantwell Swan, on his knee, and tell him +stories. But the story that young Job loved best to hear and that old +Jeremy loved best to tell was about a boy in deerskin breeches, and the +wild days and nights he saw aboard the Black Buccaneer. + + + THE END. + + + + +Transcriber's Notes + +Page 43, 2nd paragraph - changed "broad-side" to "broadside" to match +other instances + +Page 63, next to last line - added opening quote before "Herriot" + +Page 73, first line - corrected typo "priate" to "pirate" + +Page 88, 3rd paragraph - corrected typo "fidgetted" to "fidgeted" + +Page 91, 1st paragraph, next to last sentence - changed "a a man" to "a +man" + +Page 102, second paragraph, 6th line - corrected typo "showly" to +"slowly" + +Page 120, line 21 - added missing end quote at the end after "pirate." + +Page 164, 2nd paragraph, line 8 - added opening quote to "Daggs' chest!" + +Page 189, line 4 - corrected typo "somethinig" to "something" + +Page 196, last line - removed second "and" + +Page 231, 5th line from bottom - corrected typo "neck" to "deck" + +Page 268, 6th paragraph - changed "round-shot" to "roundshot" to match +other instances + +Page 273, 2nd paragraph, line 2 - corrected typo "thmselves" to +"themselves" + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Black Buccaneer, by Stephen W. 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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: The Black Buccaneer + +Author: Stephen W. Meader + +Release Date: March 27, 2009 [EBook #28418] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BLACK BUCCANEER *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Bruce Thomas and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p class="center"><a name="frontis"></a><img src="images/frontise.png" width="328" height="504" alt="Frontisepiece" /><br /> + + "If a man starts to haul on that line, I'll shoot him dead!" [See <a href="#pg_62">page 62</a>.] + <br /><br /></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h1>THE BLACK BUCCANEER</h1> +<p><br /><br /><br /></p> +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>STEPHEN W. MEADER</h2> +<p><br /></p> +<h4>ILLUSTRATIONS BY THE AUTHOR</h4> +<p><br /><br /><br /><br /></p> +<h3>NEW YORK</h3> +<p><br /></p> +<h2>HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY</h2> + + +<p class="center"><br /><br /><br /><br /> +COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY<br /> +HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY, INC.<br /> +<br /> +Twelfth printing, May, 1940<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA<br /> +BY QUINN & BODEN COMPANY, INC., RAHWAY, N. J.<br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table summary="Full Page Illustrations"><tr><td class="left"> +"If a man starts to haul on that line, I'll shoot him<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">dead!" </span> + <span style="margin-left: 9em;"><i><a href="#frontis">Frontispiece</a></i></span></td> <td></td> </tr> + +<tr><td></td><td style="text-align: right; font-size: 60%;">FACING</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td style="text-align: right; font-size: 60%;">PAGE</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="left">"Ho, ho, young woodcock, and how do ye like the<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">company of Stede Bonnet's rovers?"</span></td> + <td style="text-align: right; vertical-align:text-bottom;"><a href="#facing_23">23</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="left">"Don't say a word—sh!—easy there—are you<br /> + <span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">awake?"</span></td> + <td style="text-align: right; vertical-align:text-bottom;"><a href="#facing_143">143</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">A sudden red glare on the walls of the chasm</td> + <td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#facing_222">223</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="left">Job had bracketed his target</td> <td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#facing_247">247</a></td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_BLACK_BUCCANEER" id="THE_BLACK_BUCCANEER"></a>THE BLACK BUCCANEER</h2> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<p>On the morning of the 15th of July, 1718, anyone +who had been standing on the low rocks of +the Penobscot bay shore might have seen a large, +clumsy boat of hewn planking making its way +out against the tide that set strongly up into +the river mouth. She was loaded deep with a +shifting, noisy cargo that lifted white noses and +huddled broad, woolly backs—in fact, nothing less +extraordinary than fifteen fat Southdown sheep +and a sober-faced collie-dog. The crew of this +remarkable craft consisted of a sinewy, bearded +man of forty-five who minded sheet and tiller in +the stern, and a boy of fourteen, tall and broad +for his age, who was constantly employed in +soothing and restraining the bleating flock.</p> + +<p>No one was present to witness the spectacle +because, in those remote days, there were scarcely +a thousand white men on the whole coast of Maine +from Kittery to Louisberg, while at this season +of the year the Indians were following the migrating +game along the northern rivers. The nearest +settlement was a tiny log hamlet, ten miles up the +bay, which the two voyagers had left that morning.</p> + +<p>The boy's keen face, under its shock of sandy +hair, was turned toward the sea and the dim outline +of land that smudged the southern horizon.</p> + +<p><img src="images/image002.png" style="float: left;" width="250" height="332" alt="Jeremy" />"Father," he suddenly +asked, "how big is the +Island?"</p> + +<p>"You'll see soon enough, +Jeremy. Stop your questioning," +answered the man. +"We'll be there before night +and I'll leave you with the +sheep. You'll be lonesome, +too, if I mistake not."</p> + +<p>"Huh!" snorted Jeremy +to himself.</p> + +<p>Indeed it was not very likely that this lad, +raised on the wildest of frontiers, would mind +the prospect of a night alone on an island ten +miles out at sea. He had seen Indian raids before +he was old enough to know what frightened +him; had tried his best with his fists to save his +mother in the Amesbury massacre, six years before; +and in a little settlement on the Saco River, +when he was twelve, he had done a man's work +at the blockhouse loophole, loading nearly as +fast and firing as true as any woodsman in +the company. Danger and strife had given +the lad an alert self-confidence far beyond his +years.</p> + +<p>Amos Swan, his father, was one of those iron +spirits that fought out the struggle with the New +England wilderness in the early days. He had +followed the advancing line of colonization into +the Northeast, hewing his way with the other +pioneers. What he sought was a place to raise +sheep. Instead of increasing, however, his flock +had dwindled—wolves here—lynxes there—dogs +in the larger settlements. After the last onslaught +he had determined to move with his possessions +and his two boys—Tom, nineteen years old, and +the smaller Jeremy—to an island too remote for +the attacks of any wild animal.</p> + +<p>So he had set out in a canoe, chosen his place +of habitation and built a temporary shelter on +it for family and flock, while at home the boys, +with the help of a few settlers, had laid the keel +and fashioned the hull of a rude but seaworthy +boat, such as the coast fishermen used.</p> + +<p>Preparations had been completed the evening +before, and now, while Tom cared for half the +flock on the mainland, the father and younger son +were convoying the first load to their new home.</p> + +<p>In the day when these events took place, the +hundreds of rocky bits of land that line the Maine +coast stood out against the gray sea as bleak and +desolate as at the world's beginning. Some were +merely huge up-ended rocks that rose sheer out +of the Atlantic a hundred feet high, and on whose +tops the sea-birds nested by the million. The +larger ones, however, had, through countless ages, +accumulated a layer of earth that covered their +gaunt sides except where an occasional naked rib +of gray granite was thrust out. Sparse grass +struggled with the junipers for a foothold along +the slopes, and low black firs, whose seed had +been wind-blown or bird-carried from the mainland, +climbed the rugged crest of each island. +Few men visited them, and almost none inhabited +them. Since the first long Norse galley swung +by to the tune of the singing rowers, the number +of passing ships had increased and their character +had changed, but the isles were rarely +touched at except by mishap—a shipwreck—or a +crew in need of water. The Indians, too, left the +outer ones alone, for there was no game to be +killed there and the fishing was no better than +in the sheltered inlets.</p> + +<p>It was to one of the larger of these islands, +twenty miles south of the Penobscot Settlement +and a little to the southwest of Mount Desert, that +a still-favoring wind brought the cumbersome +craft near mid-afternoon. In a long bay that cut +deep into the landward shore Amos Swan had +found a pebbly beach a score of yards in length, +where a boat could be run in at any tide. As it +was just past the flood, the man and boy had +little difficulty in beaching their vessel far up +toward high water-mark. Next, one by one, the +frightened sheep were hoisted over the gunwale +into the shallow water. The old ram, chosen for +the first to disembark, quickly waded out upon +dry land, and the others followed as fast as they +were freed, while the collie barked at their heels. +The lightened boat was run higher up the beach, +and the man and boy carried load after load of +tools, equipment and provisions up the slope to +the small log shack, some two hundred yards away.</p> + +<p>Jeremy's father helped him drive the sheep into +a rude fenced pen beside the hut, then hurried +back to launch his boat and make the return trip. +As he started to climb in, he patted the boy's +shoulder. "Good-by, lad," said he gently. "Take +care of the sheep. Eat your supper and go to +bed. I'll be back before this time tomorrow."</p> + +<p>"Aye, Father," answered Jeremy. He tried to +look cheerful and unconcerned, but as the sail +filled and the boat drew out of the cove he had to +swallow hard to keep up appearances. For some +reason he could not explain, he felt homesick. +Only old Jock, the collie, who shouldered up to +him and gave his hand a companionable lick, kept +the boy from shedding a few unmanly tears.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + + +<p>The shelter that Amos Swan had built stood on +a small bare knoll, at an elevation of fifty or sixty +feet above the sea. Behind it and sheltering it +from easterly and southerly winds rose the island +in sharp and rugged ridges to a high hilltop perhaps +a mile away. Between lay ascending +stretches of dark fir woods, rough outcroppings +of stone and patches of hardy grass and bushes. +The crown of the hill was a bare granite ledge, +as round and nearly as smooth as an inverted +bowl.</p> + +<p>Jeremy, scrambling through the last bit of +clinging undergrowth in the late afternoon, came +up against the steep side of this rocky summit +and paused for breath. He had left Jock with +the sheep, which comfortably chewed the cud in +their pen, and, slipping a sort pistol, heavy and +brass-mounted, into his belt, had started to explore +a bit.</p> + +<p>He must have worked halfway round the granite +hillock before he found a place that offered +foothold for a climb. A crevice in the side of +the rock in which small stones had become wedged +gave him the chance he wanted, and it took him +only a minute to reach the rounded surface near +the top. The ledge on which he found himself +was reasonably flat, nearly circular, and perhaps +twenty yards across.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/image007.png" width="550" height="154" alt="knoll above the sea" /> +</div> + +<p>Its height above the sea must have been several +hundred feet, for in the clear light Jeremy +could see not only the whole outline of the island +but most of the bay as well, and far to the west +the blue masses of the Camden Mountains. He +was surprised at the size of the new domain spread +out at his feet. The island seemed to be about +seven miles in length by five at its widest part. +Two deep bays cut into its otherwise rounded +outline. It was near the shore of the northern +one that the hut and sheep-pen were built. Southwesterly +from the hill and farther away, Jeremy +could see the head of the second and larger inlet. +Between the bays the distance could hardly have +been more than two miles, but a high ridge, the +backbone of the island, which ran westward from +the hilltop, divided them by its rugged barrier.</p> + +<p>Jeremy looked away up the bay where he could +still see the speck of white sail that showed his +father hurrying landward on a long tack with the +west wind abeam. The boy's loneliness was gone. +He felt himself the lord of a great maritime province, +which, from his high watchtower, he seemed +to hold in undisputed sovereignty.</p> + +<p>Beneath him and off to the southward lay a +little island or two, and then the cold blue of the +Atlantic stretching away and away to the world's +rim.</p> + +<p>Even as he glowed with this feeling of dominion, +he suddenly became aware of a gray spot to the +southwest, a tiny spot that nevertheless interrupted +his musing. It was a ship, apparently +of good size, bound up the coast, and bowling +smartly nearer before the breeze. The boy's +dream of empire was shattered. He was no +longer alone in his universe.</p> + +<p>The sun was setting, and he turned with a yawn +to descend. Ships were interesting, but just now +he was hungry. At the edge of the crevice he +looked back once more, and was surprised to see +a second sail behind the first—a smaller vessel, +it seemed, but shortening the distance between +them rapidly. He was surprised and somewhat +disgusted that so much traffic should pass the +doors of this kingdom which he had thought to +be at the world's end. So he clambered down the +cliff and made his way homeward, this time following +the summit of the ridge till he came opposite +the northern inlet.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + + +<p>It was growing dark already in the dense fir +growth that covered the hillside, and when Jeremy +suddenly stepped upon the moss at the brink of +a deep spring, he had to catch a branch to keep +from falling in. There was an opening in the +trees above and enough light came through for +him to see the white sand bubbling at the bottom.</p> + +<p>At one edge the water lapped softly over the +moss and trickled down the northern slope of +the hill in a little rivulet, which had in the course +of time shaped itself a deep, well-defined bed a +yard or two across. Following this, the boy soon +came out upon the grassy slope beside the sheep-pen. +He looked in at the placid flock, brought a +bucket of water from the little stream, and, not +caring to light a lantern, ate his supper of bread +and cheese outside the hut on the slope facing +the bay. The night settled chill but without fog. +The boy wrapped his heavy homespun cloak +round him, snuggled close to Jock's hairy side, +and in his lonesomeness fell back on counting the +stars as they came out. First the great yellow +planet in the west, then, high overhead, the sparkling +white of what, had he known it, was Vega; +and in a moment a dozen others were in view before +he could number them—Regulus, Altair, +Spica, and, low in the south, the angry fire of +Antares.</p> + +<p>For him they were unnamed, save for the peculiarities +he discovered in each. In common with +most boys he could trace the dipper and find the +North Star, but he regrouped most of the constellations +to suit himself, and was able to see +the outline of a wolf or the head of an Indian +that covered half the sky whenever he chose. He +wondered what had become of Orion, whose brilliant +galaxy of stars appeals to every boy's fancy. +It had vanished since the spring. In it he had +always recognized the form of a brig he had seen +hove-to in Portsmouth Harbor—high poop, skyward-sticking +bowsprit and ominous, even row of +gun-ports where she carried her carronades—three +on a side. How those black cannon-mouths +had gaped at the small boy on the dock! He +wondered—</p> + +<p>"Boom...!" came a hollow sound that seemed +to hang like mist in a long echo over the island. +Before Jeremy could jump to his feet he heard +the rumbling report a second time. He was all +alert now, and thought rapidly. Those sounds—there +came another even as he stood there—must +be cannon-shots—nothing less. The ships he had +seen from the hilltop were men-of-war, then. +Could the French have sent a fleet? He did not +know of any recent fighting. What could it mean?</p> + +<p>Deep night had settled over the island, and the +fir-woods looked very black and uninviting to +Jeremy when he started up the hill once more.</p> + +<p>As their shadow engulfed him, he was tempted +to turn back—how he was to wish he had done +so in the days that followed—but the hardy strain +of adventure in his spirit kept his jaw set and +his legs working steadily forward into the pitch-black +undergrowth. Once or twice he stumbled +over fallen logs or tripped in the rocks, but he +held on upward till the trees thinned and he felt +that the looming shape of the ledge was just +in front. His heart seemed to beat almost as +loudly as the cannonade while he felt his way up +the broken stones.</p> + +<p>Panting with excitement, he struggled to the +top and threw himself forward to the southern +edge.</p> + +<p>A dull-gray, quiet sea met the dim line of the +sky in the south. Halfway between land and horizon, +perhaps a league distant, Jeremy saw two +vague splotches of darkness. Then a sudden flame +shot out from the smaller one, on the right. Seconds +elapsed before his waiting ear heard the +booming roar of the report. He looked for the +bigger ship to answer in kind, but the next flash +came from the right as before. This time he saw +a bright sheet of fire go up from the vessel on +the left, illuminating her spars and topsails. The +sound of the cannon was drowned in an instant +by a terrific explosion. Jeremy trembled on his +rock. The ships were in darkness for a moment +after that first great flare, and then, before another +shot could be fired, little tongues of flame +began to spread along the hull and rigging of the +larger craft. Little by little the fire gained headway +till the whole upper works were a single great +torch. By its light the victorious vessel was +plainly visible. She was a schooner-rigged sloop-of-war, +of eighty or ninety tons' burden, tall-masted +and with a great sweep of mainsail. Below +her deck the muzzles of brass guns gleamed +in the black ports. As the blazing ship drifted +helplessly off to the east, the sloop came about, +and, to Jeremy's amazement, made straight for +the southern bay of the island. He lay as if glued +to his rock, watching the stranger hold her course +up the inlet and come head to wind within a dozen +boat-lengths of the shore.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + + +<p>One of the first things a backwoods boy learns is +that it pays to mind your own business, <i>after</i> you +know what the other fellow is going to do. Jeremy +had been threshing his brain for a solution to the +scene he had just witnessed. Whether the crew +of the strange sloop, just then effecting a landing +in small boats, were friends or enemies it was +impossible to guess. Jeremy feared for the sheep. +Fresh meat would be welcome to any average +ship's crew, and the lad had no doubt that they +would use no scruple in dealing with a youngster +of his age. He must know who they were and +whether they intended crossing the island. There +was no feeling of mere adventure in his heart +now. It was purely sense of duty that drove his +trembling legs down the hillside. He shivered +miserably in the night air and felt for his pistol-butt, +which gave him scant comfort.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/image014.png" width="378" height="357" alt="Map of the Island" /> +</div> + +<p>The ridge, which has already been described, +bore in a southerly direction from the base of +the ledge, and sloped steeply to the head of the +southern inlet. High above the arm of the bay, +where the sloop was now moored, and scarcely +a quarter of a mile from the shore, the ridge +projected in a rough granite crag like a bent knee. +Jeremy had a very fair plan of all this in his +mind, for his trained woodsman's eye had that +afternoon noted every landmark and photographed +it. He followed this mental map as he stumbled +through the trees. It seemed a long time, perhaps +twenty or thirty minutes, before he came +out, stifling the sound of his gasping breath, and +crouched for a minute on the bare stone to get +his wind. Then he crawled forward along the +rough cliff top, feeling his way with his hands. +Soon he heard a distant shout. A faint glow of +light shone over the edge of the crag. As he drew +near, he saw, on the beach below, a great fire of +driftwood and some score or more of men gathered +in the circle of light. The distance was too +great for him to tell much about their faces, but +Jeremy was sure that no English or Colonial +sloop-of-war would be manned by such a motley +company. Their clothes varied from the sea-boots +and sailor's jerkin of the average mariner +to slashed leather breeches of antique cut and red +cloth skirts reaching from the girdle to the knees. +Some of the group wore three-cornered hats, +others seamen's caps of rough wool, and here and +there a face grimaced from beneath a twisted rag +rakishly askew. Everywhere about them the fire +gleamed on small-arms of one kind or another. +Nearly every man carried a wicked-looking hanger +at his side and most had one or two pistols +tucked into waistband or holster.</p> + +<p>This desperate gang was in a constant commotion. +Even as Jeremy watched, a half dozen +men were rolling a barrel up the beach. Wild +howls greeted its appearance and as it was hustled +into the circle of bright light, those who had been +dancing, quarreling and throwing dice on the other +side of the fire fell over each other to join the +mob that surrounded it. The leaping flames threw +a weird, uncertain brilliance upon the scene that +made Jeremy blink his eyes to be sure that it was +real. With every moment he had become more +certain what manner of men these were.</p> + +<p>His lips moved to shape a single terrible word—"Pirates!"</p> + +<p>The buccaneers were much talked of in those +days, and though the New England ports were +less troubled, because better guarded, than those +farther south, there had been many sea-rovers +hanged in Boston within Jeremy's memory.</p> + +<p>As if to clinch the argument a dozen of the +ruffians swung their cannikins of rum in the air +and began to shout a song at the top of their +lungs. All the words that reached Jeremy were +oaths except one phrase at the end of the refrain, +repeated so often that he began to make out the +sense of it. "Walk the bloody beggars all below!" +it seemed to be—or "overboard"—he could +not tell which. Either seemed bad enough to the +boy just then and he turned to crawl homeward, +with a sick feeling at the pit of his stomach.</p> + +<p>His way led straight back across the ridge to +the spring and thence down to the shelter on the +north shore. He made the best speed he was able +through the woods until he reached the height +of land near the middle of the island. He had +crashed along caring only to reach the sheep-pen +and home, but as he stood for a moment to get +his breath and his bearings, the westerly breeze +brought him a sound of voices on the ridge close +by. He prayed fervently that the wind which +had warned him had served also to carry away +the sound of his progress. Cowering against a +tree, he stood perfectly still while the voices—there +seemed to be two—came nearer and nearer. +One was a very deep, rough bass that laughed +hoarsely between speeches. The other voice was +of a totally different sort, with a cool, even tone, +and a rather precise way of clipping the words.</p> + +<p>"See here, David," Jeremy understood the latter +to say, "It's for you to remember those bearings, +not me. You're the sailor here. Give them +again now!"</p> + +<p>"Huh!" grunted Big Voice, "two hunder' an' +ten north to a sharp rock; three-score an' five +northeast by east to an oak tree in a gully; two +an' thirty north to a fir tree blazed on the south; +five north <i>an'</i> there you are!" He ended in a +chuckle as if pleased by the accuracy of his figures.</p> + +<p>"Ay, well enough," the other responded, "but +it must be wrong, for here's the blazed tree and +no spring by it."</p> + +<p>Close below, Jeremy saw their lantern flash +and a moment later the two men were in full view +striding among the trees. As he had almost expected +from their voices, one was a tremendous, +bearded fellow in sea-boots and jerkin and with +a villainous turban over one eye, while his companion +was a lean, smooth-shaven man, dressed in +a fine buff coat, well-fitting breeches and hose, +and shoes with gleaming buckles.</p> + +<p>They must have passed within ten feet of the +terrified Jeremy while the tossing lantern, swung +from the hairy fist of the man called David, shone +all too distinctly upon the boy's huddled shape. +When they were gone by he allowed himself a +sigh of relief, and shifted his weight from one +foot to the other. A twig broke loudly and both +men stopped and listened. "'Twas nought!" +growled David. The other man paid no attention +to him other than to say, "Hold you the lantern +here!" and advanced straight toward Jeremy's +tree. The boy froze against it, immovable, +but it was of no avail.</p> + +<p>"Aha," said the lean man, quietly, and gripped +the lad's arm with his hand. As he dragged him +into the light, his companion came up, staring +with astonishment. A moment he was speechless, +then began ripping out oath after oath under his +breath. "How," he asked at length, "did the +blarsted whelp come here?" The smaller man, +who had been looking keenly into Jeremy's +face, suddenly addressed him: "Here you, speak +up! Do you live here?" he cried. "Ay," +said the boy, beginning to get a grip on his +thoughts.</p> + +<p>"How long has there been a settlement here? +There was none last Autumn," continued the well-dressed +man. Jeremy had recovered his wits and +reasoned quickly. He had little chance of escape +for the present, while he must at all costs keep +the sheep safe. So he lied manfully, praying the +while to be forgiven.</p> + +<p>"'Tis a new colony," he mumbled, "a great +new colony from Boston town. There be three +ships of forty guns each in the north harbor, and +they be watching for pirates in these parts," he +finished.</p> + +<p>"Boy!" growled the bearded man, seizing Jeremy's +wrist and twisting it horribly. "Boy! Are +you telling the truth?" With face white and set +and knees trembling from the pain, the lad nodded +and kept his voice steady as he groaned an +"Ay!"</p> + +<p>The two men looked at each other, scowling. +The giant broke silence. "We'd best haul out +now, Cap'n," he said.</p> + +<p>"And so I believe," the other replied, "But +the water-casks are empty. Here!" as he turned +to Jeremy, "show us the spring." It was not +far away and the boy found it without trouble.</p> + +<p>"Now, Dave Herriot," said the Captain, "stay +you here with the light, that we may return hither +the easier. Boy, come with me. Make no fuss, +either, or 'twill be the worse for you." And so +saying he walked quickly back toward the southern +shore, holding the stumbling Jeremy's wrist +in a grip of iron.</p> + +<p>Crashing down the hill through the brush, the +lad had scant time or will for observing things +about him, but as they crossed a gully he saw, or +fancied he saw, on the knee-shaped crag above, +the slouched figure of a buccaneer silhouetted +against the sky. It was not the bearded giant +called Herriot, but another, Jeremy was sure. +He had no time for conjectures, for they plunged +into the thicket and birch limbs whipped him +across the face.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + + +<p>The events of that night made a terribly clear +impression on the mind of the young New Englander. +Years afterward he would wake with a +shiver, imagining that the relentless hand of the +pirate captain was again dragging him toward an +unknown fate. It must have been the darkness +and the sudden unexpectedness of it all that +frightened him, for as soon as they came down +the rocks into the flaring firelight he was able to +control himself once more. The wild carouse was +still in progress among the crew. Fierce faces, +with unkempt beards and cruel lips, leered redly +from above hairy, naked chests. Eyes, lit from +within by liquor and from without by the dancing +flames, gleamed below black brows. Many of +the men wore earrings and metal bands about the +knots of their pig-tails, while silver pistol-butts +flashed everywhere.</p> + +<p>As the Captain strode into the center of this +group, the swinging chorus fell away to a single +drunken voice which kept on uncertainly from +behind the rum-barrel.</p> + +<p>"Silence!" said the Captain sharply. The +voice dwindled and ceased. All was quiet about +the fire. "Men," went on Jeremy's captor, "clear +heads, all, for this is no time for drinking. We +have found this boy upon the hill, who tells of +a fleet of armed ships not above a league from +here. We must set sail within an hour and be out +of reach before dawn. Every man now take a +water-keg and follow me. You, Job Howland, +keep the boy and the watch here on the beach."</p> + +<p>Fresh commotion broke out as he finished. +"Ay, ay, Captain Bonnet!" came in a broken +chorus, as the crew, partially sobered by the +words, hurried to the long-boat, where a line of +small kegs lay in the sand. A moment later they +were gone, plowing up the hillside. Jeremy stood +where he had been left. A tall, slack-jointed pirate +in the most picturesque attire strolled over to the +boy's side and looked him up and down with a +roguish grin. Under his cloak Jeremy had on +fringed leather breeches and tunic such as most +of the northern colonists wore. The pirate, seeing +the rough moccasins and deerskin trousers, +burst into a roar. "Ho, ho, young woodcock, and +how do ye like the company of Major Stede Bonnet's +rovers?"</p> + +<p>The lad said nothing, shut his jaw hard and +looked the big buccaneer squarely in the face. +There was no fear in his expression. The man +nodded and chuckled approvingly. "That's pluck, +boy, that's pluck," said he. "We'll clip the young +cock's shank-feathers, and maybe make a pirate +of him yet." He stooped over to feel the buckskin +fringe on Jeremy's leg. The boy's hand +went into his shirt like a flash. He had pulled +out the pistol and cocked it, when he felt both +legs snatched from under him.</p> + +<div class="center"><a name="facing_23"></a><img src="images/image023.png" width="328" height="511" alt="Job Howland and Jeremy" /> +<br />"Ho, ho, young woodcock, and how do ye like the<br /> company +of Stede Bonnet's rovers?"</div> + +<p>His head hit the ground hard and he lay dazed +for a second or two. When he regained his senses, +Job Howland stood astride of him coolly tucking +the pistol into his own waist-band. "Ay," +said Job, "ye'll be a fine buccaneer, only ye should +have struck with the butt. I heard the click." +The pirate seemed to hold no grudge for what +had occurred and sat down beside Jeremy in a +friendly fashion.</p> + +<p>"Free tradin' ain't what it was," he confided. +"When Billy Kidd cleared for the southern seas +twenty years agone, they say he had papers from +the king himself, and no man-of-war dared come +anigh him." He swore gently and reminiscently +as he went on to detail the recent severities of +the Massachusetts government and the insecurity +of buccaneers about the Virginia capes. "They +do say, tho', as Cap'n Edward Teach, that they +call Blackbeard, is plumb thick with all the magistrates +and planters in Carolina, an' sails the +seas as safe as if he had a fleet of twenty ships," +said Job. "We sailed along with him for a spell +last year, but him an' the old man couldn't make +shift to agree. Ye see this Blackbeard is so used +to havin' his own way he wanted to run Stede +Bonnet, too. That made Stede boilin', but we +was undermanned just then and had to bide our +time to cut loose.</p> + +<p>"Cap'n Bonnet, ye see, is short on seamanship +but long in his sword arm. Don't ye never +anger him. He's terrible to watch when he's +raised. Dave Herriot sails the ship mostly, but +when we sight a big merchantman with maybe +a long nine or two aboard, then's when Stede +Bonnet comes on deck. That Frenchman we sunk +tonight, blast her bloody spars"—here the lank +pirate interrupted himself to curse his luck, and +continued—"probably loaded with sugar and Jamaica +rum from Martinique and headed up for +the French provinces. Well, we'll never know—that's +sure!" He paused, bit off the end of a +rope of black tobacco and meditatively surveyed +the boy. "I'm from New England myself," said +he after a time. "Sailed honest out of Providence +Port when I was a bit bigger nor you. Then +when I was growed and an able seaman on a Virginia +bark in the African trade, along comes +Cap'n Ben Hornygold, the great rover of those +days and picks us up. Twelve of the likeliest he +takes on his ship, the rest he maroons somewhere +south of the Cubas, and sends our bark into +Charles Town under a prize crew. So I took to +buccaneering, and I must own I've always found +it a fine occupation—not to say that it's made +me rich—maybe it might if I'd kept all my sharin's."</p> + +<p>This life-history, delivered almost in one breath, +had caused Howland an immense amount of trouble +<img src="images/image027.png" style="float: right;" width="250" height="310" alt="Job Howland" /> +with his quid of +tobacco, which nearly +choked him as he finished. +Except for the sound of +his vast expectorations, +the pair on the beach +were quiet for what +seemed to Jeremy a long +while. Then on the rocks +above was heard the clatter +of shoes and the bumping of kegs. Job rose, +grasping the hand of his charge, and they went +to meet the returning sailors.</p> + +<p>To the young woodsman, utterly unused to the +ways of the sea, the next half-hour was a bewildering +mêlée of hurrying, sweating toil, with low-spoken +orders and half-caught oaths and the glimmer +of a dying fire over all the scene. He was +rowed to the sloop with the first boatload and +there Job Howland set him to work passing water-kegs +into the hold. He had had no rest in over +twenty hours and his whole body ached as the last +barrel bumped through the hatch. All the crew +were aboard and a knot of swaying bodies turned +the windlass to the rhythm of a muttered chanty. +The chain creaked and rattled over the bits till +the dripping anchor came out of water and was +swung inboard. The mainsail and foresail went +up with a bang, as a dozen stalwart pirates manned +the halyards.</p> + +<p>Dave Herriot stood at the helm, abaft the cabin +companion, and his bull voice roared the orders +as he swung her head over and the breeze steadied +in the tall sails.</p> + +<p>"Look alive there, mates!" he bellowed. +"Stand by now to set the main jib!" Like most +of the pirate sloops-of-war, Stede Bonnet's <i>Revenge</i> +was schooner-rigged. She carried fore and +main top-sails of the old, square style, and her +long main boom and immense spread of +jib gave her a tremendous sail area for her +tonnage. The breeze had held steadily since sundown +and was, if anything, rising a little. Short +seas slapped and gurgled at the forefoot with a +pleasant sound. Jeremy, desperately tired, had +dropped by the mast, scarcely caring what happened +to him. The sloop slid out past the dark +headlands, and heeled to leeward with a satisfied +grunt of her cordage that came gently to the boy's +ears. His head sank to the deck and he slept +dreamlessly.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + + +<p>A rough hand shook him awake. He was lying in +a dingy bunk somewhere in the gloom of the +cramped forecastle. "Come, young'un," growled +a voice, strange to Jeremy, "you've slept the +clock around! Cap'n wants you aft."</p> + +<p>The lad ached in all his bones as he rolled over +toward the light. As he came to a sitting position +on the edge of the bunk, he gave a start, for +the face scowling down at him looked utterly +fiendish to his sleepy eyes. Its ugliness fairly +shocked him awake. The man had a grim, bristly +jaw and a twisted mouth. His eyes were small +and cruel, so light in color that they looked unspeakably +cold. The livid gray line of a sword-cut +ran from his left eyebrow to his right cheek, +and his nose was crushed inward where the scar +crossed its bridge, giving him more the look of +an animal than of a man. A greasy red cloth +bound his head and produced a final touch of +barbarity. To the half-dazed Jeremy there seemed +something strangely familiar about his pose, but +as he still stared he was jerked to his feet by the +collar. "Don't stand there, you lubber!" shouted +the man with the broken nose. "Get aft, an' +lively!" A hard shove sent the boy spinning to +the foot of the ladder. He climbed dizzily and +stumbled on deck, looking about him, uncertain +where to go. It must have been past noon, for +the sun was on the starboard bow.</p> + +<p>The <i>Revenge</i> was close-hauled and running +southwest on a fresh west wind. Dave Herriot +leaned against the weather rail, a short clay pipe +in one fist and his bushy brown beard in the other. +At the wheel was a swarthy man with earrings, +who looked like a Portuguese or a Spaniard. +Glancing over his shoulder, Jeremy saw most of +the crew lolled about forward of the fo'c's'le +hatch. Herriot looked up and called him gruffly +but not unkindly, the boy thought. He advanced +close to the sailing-master, staggering a little on +the uneven footing.</p> + +<p>"Now look sharp, lad," said the pirate in a +stern voice, "and mind what I tell 'ee. There's +nought to fear aboard this sloop for them as does +what they're told. We run square an' fair, an' +while Major Stede Bonnet and David Herriot +gives the orders, no man'll harm ye. <i>But</i>"—and +a hard look came into the tanned face—"if there's +any runnin' for shore 'twixt now and come time +to <i>set</i> ye there, or if ever ye takes it in yer head +to disobey orders, we'll keel-haul ye straight and +think no more about it. You're big and strong, +an' may make a foremast hand. For the first on +it, until ye get your sea legs, ye can be a sort +o' cabin boy. Cap'n wants ye below now. +Quick!"</p> + +<p>Jeremy scrambled down the companionway indicated +by a gesture of Herriot's pipe. There +was a door on each side and one at the end of the +small passage. He advanced and knocked at this +last one, and was told, in the Captain's clear voice, +to open.</p> + +<p>Major Bonnet sat at a good mahogany table +in the middle of the cabin. Behind him were a +bunk, two chairs and a rack of small arms, containing +half a dozen guns, four brace of pistols, +and several swords. He had been reading a book, +evidently one of the score or more which stood +in a case on the right. Jeremy gasped, for he +had never seen so many books in all his life. As +the Captain looked up, a stern frown came over +his face, never a particularly merry one. The +boy, ignorant as he was of pirates, could not help +feeling that this man's quietly gentle appearance +fitted but ill with the blood-thirsty reputation he +bore. His clothes were of good quality and cut, +his grayish hair neatly tied behind with a black +bow and worn unpowdered. His clean-shaven face +was long and austere—like a Boston preacher's, +thought Jeremy—and although the forehead above +the intelligent eyes was high and broad, there +was a strange lack of humor in its vertical +wrinkles.</p> + +<p>"Well, my lad," said the cool voice at last, +"you're aboard the <i>Revenge</i> and a long way from +your settlement, so you might as well make the +best of it. How long you <i>stay</i> aboard depends on +your behavior. We might put into the Chesapeake, +and if there are no cutters about, I'd consider +setting you ashore. But if you like the +sea and take to it, there's room for a hand in the +fo'c's'le. Then again, if you try any tricks, you'll +leave us—feet first, over the rail." He leaned +forward and hissed slightly as he pronounced the +last words. Something in the eyes under his knotted +gray brows struck deeper terror into the boy's +heart than either Herriot's threat or the cruel +face of the man with the broken nose. For that +instant Bonnet seemed deadly as a snake.</p> + +<p>Jeremy was much relieved when he was bidden +to go. The sailing-master stood by the companionway +as he ascended. "You'll bunk for'ard," +he remarked curtly. "Go up with the crew now." +The boy slipped into the crowd that lay around +the windlass as unobstrusively as he could. A +thick-set, bearded man with a great hairy chest, +bare to the yellow sash at his waist, was speaking. +"Ay," he said, "a hundred Indians was dead +in the town before ever we landed. They didn't +know where to run except into the huts, an' those +our round-shot plowed through like so much grass—which +was what they was, mostly. Then old +Johnny Buck piped the longboat overside and +on shore we went, firin' all the time. Cap'n Vane +himself, with a dirk in his teeth and sword an' +pistol out, goes swearin' up the roadway an' we +behind him, our feet stickin' in blood. A few + +<img src="images/image033.png" style="float: right;" width="250" height="274" alt="Stede Bonnet" /> + +come out shootin' their little +arrers at us, but we herded +'em an' drove 'em, yellin' +all the time. At close quarters +their knives was no +match for cutlasses. So we +went slashin' through the +town, burnin' 'em out an' +stickin' 'em when they ran. +Our sword arms was red to shoulder that day, but +we was like men far gone in rum an' never stayed +while an Indian held up head. Then we dropped +and slept where we fell, across a corp', like as not, +clean tuckered, every man of us. Come mornin', +the sight and smell of the place made us sober +enough and not a man in the crew wanted to go +further into the island. There was no gold in the +town, neither. All we got was a few hogs and +sheep. We left the same day, for it come on hot +an' we had no way to clean up the mess. That +island must ha' been a nuisance to the whole +Caribbean for weeks."</p> + +<p>Job Howland nodded and spat as the story +ended. "Ye're right, George Dunkin," he said. +"That was a day's work. Vane's a hard man, +I'm told, an' that crew in the <i>Chance</i> was one of +his worst." He was interrupted by a villainous +old sea-dog with a sparse fringe of white beard, +who sprawled by the hatchway. He cleared his +throat hoarsely and spoke with a deep wheeze +between sentences.</p> + +<p>"All that was nowt to our fight off Panama +in the spring of 'eighty," he growled. "We +weren't slaughterin' Indians, but Spaniards that +could fight, an' did. What's more, they were +three good barks and nigh three hundred men +to our sixty-eight men paddlin' in canoes. Ah, +that was a day's work, if you will! I saw +Peter Harris, as brave a commander as ever +flew the black whiff, shot through both legs, +but he was a-swingin' his cutlass and tryin' +to climb the Spaniard's side with the rest when +our canoe boarded. Through most of that battle +we was standin' in bottoms leakin' full of bullet +holes, a-firin' into the Biscayner's gun-ports, +an' cheerin' the bloody lungs out of us! When +we got aboard, their hold was full of dead men +an' their scuppers washin' red. They asked no +quarter an' on we went, up an' down decks, give +an' take. At the last, six men o' them surrendered. +The rest—eighty from the one ship—we +fed to the sharks before we could swab decks next +day. Eh, but that was a v'yage, an' it cost the +seas more good buccaneers than ever was hanged. +Harris an' Sawkins an' half o' their best men +we left on the Isthmus. But out of one galleon +we took fifty thousand pieces-of-eight, besides silver +bars in cord piles. Think o' that, lads!"</p> + +<p>A fair, stocky, young deserter from a British +man-of-war—his forearm bore the tattooed service +anchor—broke in, his eyes gleaming greedily at +the thought of the treasure.</p> + +<p>"That was in New Panama," he cried. "Do +you mind old Ben Gasket we took off Silver Key +last summer! Eighty years old he was, and marooned +there for half his life. He was with Morgan +at the great sack of Old Panama before most +on us was born. An' Old Ben, he said there was +nigh two hundred horse-loads o' gold an' pearls, +rubies, emeralds and diamonds took out o' that +there town, an' it a-burnin' still, after they'd been +there a month. Talk o' wealth!"</p> + +<p>The man with the broken nose raised himself +from his place by the capstan and stretched his +hairy arms with an evil, leering yawn. Every +eye turned to him and there was silence on the +deck as he began to speak.</p> + +<p>"Dollars—louis d'ors—doubloons?" said he. +"There was one man got 'em. Solomon Brig got +'em. All the rest was babes to him—babes an' +beggars. Billy Kidd was thought a great devil in +his day, but when he met Brig's six-gun sloop off +Malabar, he turned tail, him an' his two great +galleons, an' ran in under the forts. Even then +we'd ha' had him out an' fought him, only that +the old man had an Indian princess aboard he +was takin' in to Calicut for ransom. That was +where Sol Brig got his broad gold—kidnappin'. +Twenty times we worked it—a dash in an' a fight +out, quick an' bloody—then to sea in the old red +sloop, all her sails fair pullin' the sticks out of +her, an' maybe a man-o'-war blazin' away at our +quarter. Weeks after, we'd slip into some port +bold as brass an' there, sure enough, Brig would +set the prisoner ashore an' load maybe a hundred +weight of little canvas bags or a stack of pig-silver +half a man's height. The very name of +him made him safe. I'd take oath he could have +stole the Lord Mayor o' London and then put in +for his ransom at Execution Dock.</p> + +<p>"We got good lays, us before the mast, but there +never was a fair sharin' aboard that ship. One +night I crawled aft an' looked in the stern-port. +'Twas just after we'd got our lays for kidnappin' +the Governor o' Santiago—a rich town as you +know. In the cabin sat ol' Brig, a bare cutlass +acrost his lap, countin' piles o' moidores that +filled the whole table. When a rope creaked the +old fox saw me an' let drive with his hanger. +Where I was I couldn't dodge quick, an' the blade +took me here, acrost the face. Why he never +knifed me, after, I don't know."</p> + +<p>The scarred man stopped with the same abruptness +that had marked his beginning. His fierce, + +<img src="images/image037.png" style="float: right;" width="250" height="238" alt="Pharaoh Daggs" /> + +light eyes, like those +of a sea-hawk, swept +slowly around the audience +and lit on Jeremy. +He reached forward, +clutched the boy's shirt, +and with an ugly laugh +jerked him to his feet. +"'Twas havin' boys +aboard as killed Sol Brig," he rasped.</p> + +<p>"They hear too much! Look at this young +lubber"—giving him a shake—"pale as a mouldy +biscuit! No use aboard here an' poverty-poor in +the bargain! Why Stede don't walk him over the +side, I don't see. Here, get out, you swab!" and +he emphasized the name with a stiff cuff on the +ear. Job Howland interposed his long Yankee +body. His lean face bent with a scowl to the level +of the other's eyes. "Pharaoh Daggs," he +drawled evenly, "next time you touch that lad, +there'll be steel between your short ribs. Remember!"</p> + +<p>He turned to Jeremy who, poor boy, was utterly +and forlornly seasick. "Here, young 'un," he +said kindly, "—the <i>lee</i> rail!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + + +<p>Bright summer weather hovered over the Atlantic +as the <i>Revenge</i> ploughed smartly southward. +Jeremy grew more accustomed to his new manner +of life from day to day and as he found his sea-legs +he began to take a great pleasure in the +free, salt wind that sang in the rigging, the blue +sparkle of the swells, and the circling whiteness +of the offshore gulls. He was left much to himself, +for the Captain demanded his services only +at meal times and to set his cabin in order in the +morning. In the long intervals the boy sat, inconspicuous +in a corner of the fore-deck, watching +the gayly dressed ruffians of the crew, as they +threw dice or quarrelled noisily over their winnings. +He was assigned to no watch, but usually +went below at the same time as Job Howland, thus +keeping out of the way of Daggs, the man with +the broken nose. As Howland was in the port +watch, on deck from sunset to midnight, Jeremy +often took comfort in the sight of his loved stars +wheeling westward through the taut shrouds. He +would stand there with a lump in his throat as he +thought of his father's anguish on returning to +the island to find the sheep uncared for and the +young shepherd vanished. In a region desolate +as that, he knew that there was but one conclusion +for them to reach. Still, they might find the ashes +of the pirate fire and keep up a hope that he yet +lived.</p> + +<p>But the boy could not be unhappy for long. He +would find his way home soon, and he fairly shivered +with delight as he planned the grand reunion +that would take place when he should return. Perhaps +he even imagined himself marching up to +the door in sailor's blue cloth with a seaman's +cloak and cocked hat, pistol and cutlass in his belt +and a hundred gold guineas in his poke. Not for +worlds would he have turned pirate, but the romance +of the sea had touched him and he could +not help a flight of fancy now and then.</p> + +<p>Sometimes in the long hours of the watch, Job +would give him lessons in seamanship—teach him +the names of ropes and spars and show how each +was used. The boy's greatest delight was to steer +the ship when Job took his trick at the helm. This +was no small task for a boy even as strong as +Jeremy. The sloop, like all of her day, had no +wheel but was fitted with a massive hand tiller, +a great curved beam of wood that kicked amazingly +when it was free of its lashings. Of course, +no grown man could have held it in a seaway, but +during the calm summer nights Jeremy learned +to humor the craft along, her mainsail just drawing +in the gentle land breeze, and her head held +steadily south, a point west.</p> + +<p>One night—it was perhaps a week after Jeremy's +capture, and they had been sighting low +bits of land on both bows all day—Dave Herriot +came on deck about the middle of the watch and +told Curley, the Jamaican second mate, he might +go below. He set Job to take soundings and, +himself taking the tiller, swung her over to port +with the wind abeam. Jeremy went to the bows +where he could see the white line of shore ahead. +They drew in, steering by Job's soundings, and +by the time the watch changed were ready to cast +anchor in a small sandy bay. Herriot came forward, +scowling darkly under his bushy eyebrows, +and rumbling an occasional oath to himself. The +sloop, her anchor down and sails furled, swung +idly on the tide. The men were clearly mystified +as the sailing-master started to give orders. +"George Dunkin," he said, "take ten men of the +starboard watch, and go ashore to forage. There +be farms near here and any pigs or fowls you +may come across will be welcome. You, Bill +Livers," addressing the ship's painter, "take a +lantern and your paint-pot and come aft with me. +All the rest stay on deck and keep a double lookout, +alow an' aloft!" The forage party slipped +quietly off toward the beach in one of the boats. +The remainder of the crew looked blankly after +the retreating Bill Livers.</p> + +<p>"Hm," murmured Job, "has Stede Bonnet gone +<i>clean</i> crazy?"—and as Herriot let the painter +down over the bulwark at the stern—"Ay, he's +goin' to change her name, by the great Bull +Whale!"</p> + +<p>An hour before dawn the crew of the long-boat +returned, grumbling and empty-handed. Herriot +appeared preoccupied with some weightier matter +and scarcely deigned to notice their failure by +swearing. There was no singing as the anchor +was raised. A sort of gloom hung over the whole +ship. As she stole out to sea again, the men, one +by one, went aft and leaned outboard, peering +down at the broad, squat stern. Jeremy did likewise +and beheld in new white letters on the black +of the hull, the words <i>Royal James.</i> Next day in +the fo'c's'le council he learned why the renaming +of the <i>Revenge</i> had cast a pall of apprehension +over the crew. There were low-muttered tales +of disaster—of storm, shipwreck, and fire, and +that dread of all sailors—the unknown fate of +ships that never come back to port. Apparently +the rule was unfailing. Sooner or later the ship +that had been given a new name would come to +grief and her crew with her. Pharaoh Daggs cast +an eye of hatred at Jeremy and growled that "one +Jonah was enough to have abroad, without clean +drownin' all the luck this way," while the crew +looked black and shifted uneasily in their places.</p> + +<p>The bay where they had anchored overnight +must have been somewhere on the eastern end of +Long Island, a favorite landing place for pirates +at that time. All day they cruised along the hilly +southern shore. The men seemed unable to cast +off the gloom that had settled upon them. Stede +Bonnet sat in his cabin, never once coming on +deck, and drinking hard, a thing unusual for him. +Jeremy, who saw more of him than any of the +foremast hands, realized from his gray, set face +that the man was under a terrible strain of some +sort. He told Job what he had seen and the tall +New Englander looked very thoughtful. He took +the boy aside. "There'll be mutiny in this crew +before another night," he whispered. "They'll +never stand for what he's done. If it comes to +handspikes, you and I'd best watch our chance +to clear out. Pharaoh Daggs don't love us a +mite."</p> + +<p>But the mutiny was destined not to occur. An +hour before noon next day the lookout, constantly +stationed in the bows, gave a loud "Sail ho!" and +as Dave Herriot re-echoed the shout, all hands +tumbled on deck with a rush.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + + +<p>As the pirate sloop raced southward under full +sail, the form of the other ship became steadily +plainer. She was a brig, high-pooped, and tall-masted, +and apparently deeply laden. Major Bonnet, +who had come up at the first warning, seemed +his old cool self as he conned the enemy through +a spyglass. Jeremy had been detailed as a sort +of errand boy, and as he stood at the Captain's +side he heard him speaking to Herriot.</p> + +<p>"She's British, right enough," he was saying. +"I can make out her flag; but how many guns, 'tis +harder to tell. She sees us now, I think, for they +seem to be shaking out a topsail.... Ah, now +I can see the sun shine on her broadside—two<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">... three ... five in the lower port tier, and</span><br /> +three more above—sixteen in all. 'Twill be a fight, +it seems!"</p> + +<p>Aboard the <i>Royal James</i> the men were slaving +like ants, preparing for the battle. Every man +knew his duties. The gunners and swabbers were +putting their cannon in fettle below decks. Others +were rolling out round-shot from the hold and +storing powder in iron-cased lockers behind the +guns. Great tubs of sea water were placed conveniently +in the 'tween-decks and blankets were +put to soak for use in case of fire. Buckets of +vinegar water for swabbing the guns were laid +handy. In the galley the cook made hot grog. +Cutlasses were looked after, pistols cleaned and +loaded and muskets set out for close firing. Jeremy +was sent hither and thither on every imaginable +mission, a tremendous excitement running in +his veins.</p> + +<p>The sloop gained rapidly on her prey, hauling +over to windward as she sailed, and when the two +ships were almost within cannon range, Stede +Bonnet with his own hand bent the "Jolly Roger" +to the lanyard and sent the great black flag with +its skull and crossbones to fly from the masthead. +The grog was served out. No man would have +believed that the roaring, rollicking gang of cutthroats +who tossed off their liquor in cheers and +ribald laughter was identical with the grumbling, +sour-faced crew of twenty hours before. As they +finished, something came skipping over the water +astern and the first echoing report followed close. +The cannonade was on.</p> + +<p>A loud yell of defiance swept the length of the +<i>Royal James</i> as the men went to their posts. The +gun decks ran along both sides of the sloop a few +feet above the water line. They were like alleyways +beneath the main deck, barely wide enough +to admit the passage of a man or a keg of powder +behind the gun-carriages. These latter were not +fixed to the planking as afterward became the +fashion, but ran on trucks and were kept in their +places by rope tackles. In action, the recoil had to +be taken up by men who held the ends of these +ropes, rove through pulleys in the vessel's side. +Despite their efforts the gun would sometimes leap +back against the bulkhead hard enough to shatter +it. As the charge for each reloading had to be +carried sometimes half the length of the ship by +hand, it is easy to see that the men who served +the guns needed some strength and agility in +getting past the jumping carriages.</p> + +<p>Jeremy was sent below to help the gunners, as +the shot from the merchantman continued to +scream by. Job Howland was a gunner on the +port side and the boy naturally lent his services +to the one man aboard that he could call his friend. +There was much bustle in the alley behind the +closed ports but surprisingly little confusion was +apparent. The discipline seemed better than at +any time since the boy had been brought aboard +the black sloop.</p> + +<p>Job was ramming the wad home on the charge of +powder in his bow gun. The other four guns in +the port deck were being loaded at the same time, +three men tending each one.</p> + +<p>"Here, lad," sang out Job, as he put the single +iron shot in at the muzzle, "take one o' the wet +blankets out o' yon tub an' stand by to fight +sparks." Jeremy did as he was bid, then got out +of the way as the ports were flung open and the +guns run forward, with their evil bronze noses +thrust out into the sunlight.</p> + +<p>The sloop, running swiftly with the wind abeam, +had now drawn abreast of her unwieldy adversary. +The merchant captain, apparently, finding +himself out-speeded and being unable to spare his +gun crews to trim sails, had put the head of his +ship into the wind, where she stood, with canvas +flapping, her bows offering a steady mark to the +pirate.</p> + +<p>"Ready a port broadside!" came Bonnet's +ringing order, and then—"Fire!" Job Howland's +blazing match went to the touch-hole at the word +and his six-pounder, roaring merrily, jumped back +two good feet against the straining ropes of the +tackle. Instantly the next gun spoke and the next +and so on, all five in a space of a bare ten seconds. +Had they been fired simultaneously they might +have shaken the ship to pieces. Jeremy was half-deafened, +and his whole body was jarred. Thick +black smoke hung in the alleyway, for the ports +had been closed in order to reload in greater +safety. The boy felt the deck heel to starboard +under him and thought at first that a shot had +caught them under the waterline, but when he was +sent above to find out whether the broadside had +taken effect, he found that the sloop had come +about and was already driving north still to windward +of the enemy. Bonnet was giving his gunners +more time to load by running back and forth +and using his batteries alternately. Herriot had +the tiller and in response to Jeremy's question he +pointed to the fluttering rags of the brig's foresail +and the smoke that issued from a splintered hole +under her bow chains.</p> + +<p>Below in the gun deck the buccaneers, sweating +by their pieces, heard the news with cheers. The +sloop shook to the jarring report of the starboard +battery a moment later, and hardly had it ceased +when she came about on the other tack. "Hurrah," +cried Job's mates, "we'll show him this time! +Wind an' water—wind an' water!"</p> + +<p>The open traps showed the green seas swirling +past close below, and off across the swells the tall +side of the merchantman swaying in the trough +of the waves. "Ready!" came the order and every +gunner jumped to the breach, match in hand. Before +the command came to fire there was a crash +of splintering wood and a long, intermittent roar +came over the water. The brig had taken advantage +of her falling off the wind to deliver a +broadside in her own turn. Stede Bonnet's voice, +cool as ever, gave the order and four guns answered +the brig's discharge. The crew of the +middle cannon lay on the deck in a pitiable state, +two killed outright and the gunner bleeding from +a great splinter wound in the head. A shot had +entered to one side of the port, tearing the planking +to bits and after striking down the two gun-servers, +had passed into the fo'c's'le. Jeremy +jumped forward with his blanket in time to stamp +out a blaze where the firing-match had been +dropped, and with the help of one of the pirates +dragged the wounded man to his berth. Almost +every shot of the last volley had done damage +aboard the brig. Her freeboard, twice as high as +that of the sloop, had offered a target which for +expert gunners was hard to miss. Jagged openings +showed all along her side, and as she rose +on a swell, Job shouted, "See there! She's leakin' +now. 'Twas my last shot did that—right on her +waterline!"</p> + +<p>"All hands on deck to board her!" came a +shout, almost at the same instant. Jeremy hurrying +up with the rest found the sloop bearing down +straight before the wind, and only a dozen boat's +lengths from the enemy.</p> + +<p>A wild whoop went up among the pirates. +Every man had seized on a musket and was +crouching behind the rail. Bonnet alone stood on +the open deck, his buff coat blowing open and +his hand resting lightly on his sword. An occasional +cannon shot screamed overhead or splashed +away astern. Apparently the brig's batteries +were too greatly damaged and her crew too badly +shot up to offer an effective bombardment. She +was drifting helplessly under tattered ribbons of +canvas and the <i>Royal James</i>, whose sails had suffered +far less, bore down upon her opponent with +the swoop of a hawk.</p> + +<p>As she drew close aboard a scattered fusillade +of small arms broke out from the brig's poop, +wounding one man, a Portuguese, but for the most +part striking harmlessly against the bulwark. The +buccaneers held their fire till they were scarce a +boat's length distant. Then at the order they +swept the ship with a withering musket volley. +The brig was down by the head and lay almost +bow on so that her deck was exposed to Bonnet's +marksmen. Herriot brought his sloop about like +a flash and almost before Jeremy realized what +was toward, the ships had bumped together side +by side, and the howling mob of pirates was +swarming over the enemy's rail. Job Howland +and another man took great boat-hooks, with +which they grappled the brig's ports and kept the +two vessels from drifting apart. Jeremy was +alone upon the sloop's deck. He put the thickness +of the mast between him and the hail of bullets and +peered fearfully out at the terrible scene above.</p> + +<p>The crew of the brig had been too much disorganized +to repel the boarders as well as they +might, and the entire horde of wild barbarians had +scrambled to her deck, where a perfect inferno +now held sway. The air seemed full of flying cutlasses +that produced an incessant hiss and clangor. +Pistols banged deafeningly at close quarters and + +<img src="images/image050.png" style="float: left;" width="250" height="278" alt="Dave Herriot" /> + +there was the constant +undertone of groans, +cries and bellowed +oaths. Above the din +came the terrible, clear +voice of Stede Bonnet, +urging on his seadogs. +He had become a different +man from the moment +his foot touched +the merchantman's +deck. From the cool +commander he had changed to a devil incarnate, +with face distorted, eyes aflame, and a sword that +hacked and stabbed with the swift ferocity of +lightning. Jeremy saw him, fighting single-handed +with three men. His long sword played in +and out, to the right and to the left with a turn +and a flash, then, whirling swiftly, pinned a man +who had run up behind. Bonnet's feet moved +quickly, shifting ground as stealthily as a cat's +and in a second he had leaped to a safer position +with his back to the after-house. Two of his +opponents were down, and the third fighting +wearily and without confidence, when a huge, +flaxen-haired man burst from the hatch to the +deck and swung his broad cutlass to such effect +that the battling groups in his path gave way to +either side. The burly form of Dave Herriot opposed +the new enemy and as the two giants +squared off, sword ringing on sword, more than +one wounded sailor raised himself to a better position, +grinning with the Anglo-Saxon's unquenchable +love of a fair fight. Herriot was no mean +swordsman of the rough and ready seaman's type +and had a great physique as well, but his previous +labors—he had been the first man on board and +had already accounted for a fair share of the defenders—had +rendered him slow and arm-weary. +The ready parrying, blade to blade, ceased suddenly +as his foot slipped backward in a pool of +blood. The blond seaman seized his advantage +and swung a slicing blow that glanced off Herriot's +forehead, and felled the huge buccaneer to +the deck where he lay stunned, the quick red staining +his head-cloth. As the blond-haired man +stepped forward to finish the business, a long, +keen, straight blade interposed, caught his cutlass +in an upward parry and at the same time +pinked him painfully in the arm.</p> + +<p>Jumping back the seaman found himself faced +by the pitiless eyes of Stede Bonnet, who had +killed his last opponent and run in to save his +mate's life. That quick, darting sword baffled the +sailor. Swing and hack as he might, his blows +were caught in midair and fell away harmless, +while always the relentless point drove him back +and back. Forced to the rail, he stood his ground +desperately, pale and glistening with the sweat +of a man in the fear of death. Then his sword flew +up, the pirate captain stabbed him through the +throat and with a dying gasp the limp body fell +backward into the sea.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the pirates had steadily gained +ground in the hand to hand struggle and now a +bare half-dozen brave fellows held on, fighting +singly or in pairs, back to back. The brig's captain, +wounded in several places and seeing his +crew in a fair way to be annihilated, flung up a +tired arm and cried for quarter. Almost at once +the fighting ceased and half the combatants, utterly +exhausted, sank down among their dead and +wounded fellows. The deck was a long shambles, +red from the bits to the poop.</p> + +<p>While the hands of the prisoners were being +bound, Bonnet and all of his men not otherwise +employed hurried below to search for loot. The +man who had held the boat-hook astern left this +task and greedily clambered up the brig's side +lest he should miss his chance at the booty. Job +alone stuck to his post, and motioned Jeremy to +stay where he was. Cheers and yells of joy rang +from the after-hold of the merchantman where +the pirates had evidently discovered the ship's +store of wine.</p> + +<p>After a few moments Pharaoh Daggs thrust +his scarred face out of the companion, and with +a fierce roar of laughter waved a black bottle +above his head. The others followed, drinking +and babbling curses, and last of all Stede Bonnet, +pale, dishevelled, mad with blood and liquor, stood +bareheaded by the hatch. He raised his hand in +a gesture of silence and all the hubbub ceased. +"We have beaten them!" he cried between twitching +lips. "I Captain Thomas, the chiefest of all +the pirates, and my bully-boys of the <i>Royal +James</i>! We'll show 'em all! We'll show 'em all! +Blackbeard and all the rest! He, he, he!" and +his voice trailed off in crazy laughter. The men +of the crew stood about him on the brig's deck +dumbfounded by his words. Jeremy could hardly +breathe in his surprise. Suddenly he gave a start +and would have cried out but that Job Howland's +hand closed his mouth. A swiftly widening lane +of water separated the sloop from her late enemy.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + + +<p>As she cleared the side of the waterlogged merchantman, +the <i>Royal James</i> began to move. Her +sails which had been left flapping during the close +fighting, now filled with a bang and she went away +smartly on the starboard tack. Job had dragged +Jeremy aft and the two were huddled at the tiller, +partially screened by the mainsail, when a howl +of consternation broke out aboard the brig. Few +if any of the firearms were still loaded, or they +might have been shot to death, out of hand. As +it was, the sloop had drawn away to a distance of +nearly a quarter of a mile before any effort was +made to stop her.</p> + +<p>Then a single cannon roared and a round shot +whizzed by along the tops of the waves. When the +next report came, Jeremy could see the splash fall +far astern. They were out of range.</p> + +<p>The two runaways now felt comparatively safe. +It was certain that the brig was too badly damaged +to give chase even if she could keep afloat. +Jeremy felt a momentary pang at the thought of +leaving even that graceless crowd in such jeopardy, +but he remembered that they had the brig's +boats in which to leave the hulk, and his own present +danger soon gave him enough to occupy +him.</p> + +<p>Job lashed the tiller and going to the lanyard +at the mainmast, hauled down the black flag. Then +they both set to work cleaning up the deck. The +three dead men were given sea burial—slipped +overboard without other ceremony than the short +prayer for each which Jeremy repeated. The +gunner who lay in agony in his berth had his +wound bound up and was given a sip of brandy. +Then the lank New Englander went below to get +a meal, while Jeremy sluiced the gun decks with +sea water.</p> + +<p>Night was falling when Job reappeared on deck +with biscuit and beans and some preserves out of +the Captain's locker. There was little appetite +in Jeremy after what he had witnessed that day, +but his tall friend ate his supper with a relish and +seemed quite elated at the prospect of the voyage +to shore. He filled a clay pipe after the meal and +smoked meditatively awhile, then addressed the +boy with a queer hesitancy.</p> + +<p>"Sonny," he began, "since we picked you up, +I've been thinkin' every day, more an' more, what +I'd give to be back at your age with another +chance. Piratin' seemed a fine upstandin' trade +to me when I begun,—independent an' adventurous +too, it seemed. But it's not so fine—not so +fine!" He paused. "One or two or maybe five +years o' rough livin' an' rougher fightin', a powerful +waste o' money in drink an' such, an' in the +end—a dog's death by shootin' or starvation, or +the chains on Execution Dock." Another pause +followed and then, turning suddenly to Jeremy—"Lad, +I can get a Governor's pardon ashore, but +'twould mean nought to me if my old days came +back to trouble me. You're young an' you're honest +an' what's more you believe in God. Do you +figger a man can square himself after livin' like +I've lived?" The boy looked into the pirate's +homely, anxious face. He felt that he would always +trust Job Howland. "Ay," he answered +straightforwardly, and put out his hand. The +man gripped it with a sort of fierce eagerness that +was good to see and smiled the smile of a man at +peace with himself. Then he solemnly drew out +his clasp-knife and pricked a small cross in the +skin of his forearm. "That," said he, "is for a +sign that once I get out o' this here pickle I'll +never pirate nor free-trade no more."</p> + +<p>The wind sank to a mere breath as the darkness +gathered and Jeremy stood the first watch while +his tired friend settled into a deep sleep that lasted +till he was wakened a little after midnight. Then +the boy took his turn at sleeping.</p> + +<p>When the morning light shone into his eyes +he woke to find Job pacing the deck and casting +troubled looks at the sky. The wind was dead and +only an occasional whiff of light air moved the +idly swinging canvas. A tiny swell rocked the +sloop as gently as a cradle.</p> + +<p>"Well, my boy, we won't get far toward shore +at this gait," said Job cheerfully as Jeremy came +up. "Except for maybe three hours sailin' last +night, we've made no progress at all. I've got +some porridge cooked below. You bring it on deck +an' we'll have a snack."</p> + +<p>The meal finished, they turned to the rather trying +task of waiting for a breeze. About noon +Job climbed to the masthead for a reconnaissance +and on coming down reported a sail to the east, +but no sign of any wind. The sky was dull and +overcast so that Job made no effort to determine +their bearings. They figured that they had drifted +a dozen or more sea-miles to the west since the +battle, and were lying somewhere off the little port +of New York.</p> + +<p>The day passed, Job amusing Jeremy with tales +of his adventures and old sea-yarns and soon night +had overtaken them again. This time the boy had +the first nap. He was roused to take his watch +when Job saw by the stars that it was eight bells, +and, still yawning with sleep, the lad went to stand +by the rail. Everything was quiet on the sea, and +even the swell had died out, leaving a perfect calm. +There was no moon. The boy's head sank on his +breast and softly he slid to the deck. Drowsiness +had overcome him so gently that he slept before he +knew he was sleepy.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + + +<p>Jeremy's first waking sensation was the sound +of a hoarse confused shout and the rattle of oars +being shipped. He struggled to his feet, staring +into the dark astern. Almost at the same instant +there came a series of bumps along the sloop's +side, and as the boy rushed to the hatch to call +his ally, he heard feet pounding the deck. "Job!" +he cried, "Job!" and then a heavy hand smote +him on the mouth and he lost consciousness for a +time.</p> + +<p>The period during which he stood awake and +terrified had been so brief and so fraught with +terror that it never seemed real to the lad in memory. +There was something of the awful hopelessness +of nightmare about it. Always afterward he +had difficulty in convincing himself that he had +not slept steadily from the time he drowsed on +watch to the minute when he opened his eyes to +the light of morning and felt his aching head +throb against the hard deck.</p> + +<p>As he lay staring at the sky, a footstep approached +and some one stood over him. He turned +his eyes painfully to look and beheld the dark, +bearded visage of George Dunkin, the bo's'n, who +scowled angrily and kicked him in the ribs with +a heavy toe. "Get up, ye young lubber!" roared +the man and swore fiercely as the boy, unable to +move, still lay upon his back. A moment later +the bo's'n went away. To Jeremy's numb consciousness +came the realization that the pirates +had caught them again.</p> + +<p>The words of the Captain on his first day aboard +came back to the lad and made him shudder. +There had been stories current among the men +that gave a glimpse of how Stede Bonnet dealt +with those who were treacherous. Which of a +dozen awful deaths was in store for him? Ah, if +only they would spare the torture, he thought +that he could die bravely, a worthy scion of dauntless +stock. He thought of Job who must have been +seized in his bunk below. The poor fellow was to +have short happiness in his changed way of life, +it seemed.</p> + +<p>Jeremy tried to steel his nerves against the test +he was sure must follow soon. Instead of going +to pieces in terror, he succeeded in forcing himself +to the attitude of a young stoic. He had done +nothing of which he was ashamed, and he felt that +if he was called to face a just God in the next +twenty-four hours, he would be able to hold his +head up like a man.</p> + +<p>Time passed, and he heard a heavy tramp coming +along the deck. He was hoisted roughly by +hands under his arm-pits and placed upon his feet, +though he was still too weak to stand without support. +A dozen faces surrounded him, glaring angrily. +Out of a sort of mist that partly obscured +his vision came the terrible leer of the man with +the broken nose. The twisted mouth opened and +the man spoke with a deliberate ugliness. The +very absence of oaths seemed to make his slow +speech more deadly.</p> + +<p>"Ah, ye misbegotten young fool," he said, "so +there ye stand, scared like the cowardly spawn +ye are. We took ye, and kept ye, and fed ye. +What's more, we was friends to ye, eh mates? +An' how do ye treat yer friends? Leave 'em to +starve or drown on a sinkin' ship! Sneak off like +a dog an' a son of a cowardly dog!" Jeremy went +white with anger. "An' now"—Daggs' voice +broke in a sudden snarl—"an' now, we'll show ye +how we treat such curs aboard a ten-gun buccaneer! +Stand by, mates, to keel-haul him!"</p> + +<p>At this moment a second party of pirates +poured swearing out of the fo'c's'le hatch, dragging +Job Howland in their midst. He was stripped +to his shirt and under-breeches and had apparently +received a few bruises in the tussle below. +Jeremy's spirits were momentarily revived by +seeing that some of the buccaneers had suffered +like inconveniences, while the young ex-man-o'-war's-man +was gingerly feeling of a shapeless +<a name="pg_62"></a>blob that had been his nose. Dave Herriot, his +head tied up in a bandage, was superintending the +preparations for punishment. "Let's have the +boy first," he shouted.</p> + +<p>Aboard a square-rigger, keel-hauling was practiced +from the main yardarm. The victim was +dragged completely under the ship's bottom, +scraping over the jagged barnacles, and drawn +up on the other side, more often dead than living. +As the sloop had only fore and aft sails, they had +merely run a rope under the bottom, bringing both +ends together amidships. They now dragged the +boy forward, still in a half-fainting condition and +made fast his feet in a loop in one end of the +rope, then, stretching his arms along the deck in +the other direction, bound his wrists in a similar +way. He was practically made a part of the ring +of hemp that circled the ship's middle.</p> + +<p>Without further ceremony other than a parting +kick or two, the crew took their places at the rope, +ready to pull the lad to destruction. He set his +teeth and a wordless prayer went up from his +heart.</p> + +<p>The wrench of the rope at his ankles never came. +As he lay with his eyes closed, a high-pitched +voice broke the quiet. "If a man starts to haul +on that line, I'll shoot him dead!" Jeremy turned +his head and looked. There stood Stede Bonnet, +his face ashen gray and trembling, but with a +venomous fire in his sunken eyes. He held a pistol +in each hand and two more were thrust into his +waist-band. Not a man stirred in the crew.</p> + +<p>"That boy," went on the clear voice, "had no +hand in the business, and well you know it. It +is for me to give out punishments while I am +Captain of this sloop, and by God I shall be Captain +during my life. Pharaoh Daggs, step forward +and unloose the rope!" The man with the +broken nose fixed his light eyes on the Captain's +for a full five seconds. Bonnet's pistol muzzle +was as steady as a rock. Then the sailor's eyes +shifted and he obeyed with a sullen reluctance. +Jeremy, liberated, climbed to his knees and stood +up swaying. Just then there was a rush of feet +behind. He turned in time to see Job Howland +vanish head foremost over the rail in a long clean +dive. The astonished crew ran cursing to the +side and stared after him, but no faintest trace +of the man appeared. At dawn a breeze had +sprung up and now the little waves chopped along +below the ports with a sound like a mocking +chuckle. They had robbed the buccaneers of their +cruel sport.</p> + +<p>Mutiny might have broken out then and there, +but Stede Bonnet, cool as ever, stood amidships +with his arms crossed and a calm-looking pistol +in each fist. "Herriot," he remarked evenly, +"better set the men to cleaning decks and repairing +damage. We'll start down the Jersey +coast at once."</p> + +<p>Jeremy got to his bunk as best he might and +slept for the greater part of twenty-four hours. +When he awoke, the crew had just finished breakfast +and were sitting, every man by himself, counting +out gold pieces. Bonnet had divided the booty +found on the brig and in their greedy satisfaction +the pirates were, for the time at least, utterly +oblivious to former discontent. When he got up +and went to the galley for breakfast, Jeremy was +ignored by his fellows or treated as if nothing +had occurred. Indeed, there had been little real +ground for wishing to punish the boy aside from +the ugly temper occasioned by having to row a +night and a day in open boats. Only Pharaoh +Daggs bore real malice toward Jeremy and his +feelings were for the most part concealed under a +mask of contemptuous indifference.</p> + +<p>As the day progressed the lad found that matters +had resumed their accustomed course and +that he was in no immediate danger. He missed +his brave friend and co-partner as bitterly as if +he had been a brother, but partially consoled himself +with the thought that Job's act in jumping +overboard had probably spared him the awful torture +of the keel or some worse death. The Captain +would never have defended the runaway sailor as +he had done Jeremy, the boy was certain.</p> + +<p>All day the sloop made her way south at a brisk +rate, occasionally sighting low, white beaches to +starboard. Sometime in the first dog-watch her +boom went over and she ran her slim nose in past +Cape May, heading up the Delaware with the +hurrying tide, while the brig's long-boat, towing +behind, swung into her wake astern.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + + +<p>When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down +the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job +Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow +angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, +seizing a pistol as he went. Intrenching himself +behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him and +on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at +bay for several moments. The pistol, covering +the only path of attack, made them wary of approaching +too close. When, finally, a half-dozen +jumped forward at once, he pulled the trigger only +to find that the weapon had not been loaded. In +desperation he grasped the muzzle in his hand and +struck out fiercely with the heavy butt, beating +off his assailants time after time. This was well +enough at first, but the buccaneers, who cared +much less for a broken crown than for a bullet +wound, pressed in closer and closer, striking with +fists and marline-spikes. It was soon over. They +jammed him so far into the corner than his tireless +arm no longer had free play, and then bore +him down under sheer weight of numbers. When +he ceased to struggle they seized him fast and +carried him to the deck.</p> + +<p>Job was out of breath and much bruised +but had suffered no lasting hurt. He saw Jeremy +led forward, heard the men's cries and realized +that the torture was in store for them +both.</p> + +<p>Unbound, but helpless to interfere, he saw the +boy stretched on the deck and the rope attached +to his arms and legs. He suffered greater agony +than did Jeremy as the crew made ready to begin +their awful work, for he had seen keelhauling before. +And then suddenly Stede Bonnet was standing +by the companion and the ringing shout that +saved the boy's life struck on Job's ears. He +could hardly keep from cheering the Captain then +and there, but relief at Jeremy's delivery brought +with it a return of his quick wits. He himself +was in as great danger as ever.</p> + +<p>He was facing aft, and his eye, roving the deck +for a means of escape, lit on the brig's boat, which +the pirates had tied astern after reboarding the +sloop. She was trailing at the end of a painter, +her bows rising and falling on the choppy waves. +He waited only long enough to see that the Captain +succeeded in freeing Jeremy, then drew a +great breath and plunged over the side. Swimming +under water, he watched for the towed longboat +to come by overhead, and as her dark bulk +passed, he caught her keel with a strong grip of +his fingers, worked his way back and came up +gasping, his hands holding to the rudder ring in +her stern.</p> + +<p>The hot, still days had warmed the surface of +the sea to a temperature far above the normal, +or he must certainly have become exhausted in a +short time. As it was, he clung to his ring till +near noon, when, cautiously peering above the +gunwale, he saw the sloop's deck empty save for +a steersman, half asleep in the hot sun by the +tiller. With a great wrench of his arms the ex-buccaneer +lifted himself over the stern and slipped +as quietly as he was able into the boat's bottom. +There he lay breathless, listening for sounds of +alarm aboard the sloop. None came and after a +few moments he wriggled forward and made himself +snug under the bow-thwart. The boat carried +a water-beaker and a can of biscuit for emergency +use. After refreshing himself with these +and drying out his thin clothing in the sun, he +retreated under the shade of the thwart and slept +the sleep of utter fatigue.</p> + +<p>Late the next day he took a brief observation +of the horizon. There was sandy shore to the +east and from what he knew of the coast and the +ship's course he judged they must be nearing the +entrance to Delaware Bay. His long rest had restored +to him most of his vigor and although he +was sore in many places, he felt perfectly ready +to try an escape as soon as the sloop should +approach the land and offer him an opportunity.</p> + +<p>As the night went on the <i>Royal James</i> made +good speed up the Bay aided by a strong tide. A +little while before light she came close enough to +the west shore for Job to see the outlines of trees +on a bluff. He figured the distance to be not above +a mile at most. There was some question in his +mind whether he should cut the painter and use +the boat in getting away or swim for it. He decided +that it would be better for him in most ways +if the pirates still supposed him dead. So, quietly +as an otter, he slipped over the gunwale, paddled +away from the boat's side and set out for the land, +ploughing through the water with a long overarm +stroke.</p> + +<p>Job had a hard fight with the turning tide before +the trees loomed above his head and his feet +scraped gravel under the bank. When at last he +crept gasping out upon dry ground, it was miles +to the southward of his first destination. Dawn +had come and the early light silvered the rippling +cross-swells and glinted on the white wings of +the gulls. The big mariner shook the water from +his sides like a spaniel, stretched both long arms +to the warm sky, laughed as he thought of his +escape and turning his gaunt face to the northward +set out swiftly along the tree-clad bluffs.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + + +<p>Meanwhile the <i>Royal James</i> was far up inside +the Capes, sailing demurely along, the ports of +her gun deck closed and the British colors fluttering +from her top. Jeremy watched the shores they +passed with deep interest. He wondered if there +would be a chance for him to get away when they +came to anchor. There was nothing but hardship +in his lot aboard the sloop, now that Job was +gone. He was unnoticed for the most part by the +men of the crew, and when any of them spoke to +him it was with a cuff or a curse. As for Captain +Bonnet, he had relapsed into one of his black +moods. Nothing brought him on deck or made +him speak except to give Herriot monosyllabic +commands.</p> + +<p>Late the following day, after a slow progress +along the Delaware shore, the sloop hove to in a +wide roadstead and the anchor was run out. The +steeples and shipping of a little town were visible +by the water side, but no one put off to meet them. +To the surprise of all, Bonnet himself came on +deck, wearing a good coat and fresh ruffles and +with his hair powdered. He ordered the gig +lowered, then looked about the assembled crew +and addressed them good-humoredly enough. +"Now, my lads," said he, "I'm going ashore with +a picked boat's crew to get what news there is +about. You that go with me remember that you +are of the <i>Royal James</i>, honest merchant coaster, +and that I am Captain Thomas, likewise honest +navigator. We'll separate into every tavern and +ship-chandler's place along the wharves, pick up +the names of all ships that are soon to sail, and +their cargoes, and meet at the gig at eight bells. +Herriot and you men aboard here, keep a strict +watch. Daggs, I leave the boy in your charge. +Don't let him out of your sight."</p> + +<p>At the last words Jeremy's heart sank to his +boots. He knew how futile would be any attempt +to escape under the cold hawk-eyes of the man +with the broken nose. As the gig put off from +the sloop's side, the boy leaned dejectedly against +the rail. Pharaoh Daggs slouched up to him. +"Ah there, young 'un," said he with cynical +jocularity, "just thinkin' o' leavin' us, were ye, +when the old man took the gimp out o' ye?" The +bantering note vanished from the man's voice. +"I'ld like to break yer neck, ye young whelp, +but I won't—not just yet!" He seemed to be +licking his ugly chops at the thought of a future +occasion when he might allow himself this luxury. +Then he went on, half to himself it seemed. "Hm, +Bonnet's a queer 'un! Never <i>can</i> tell what he'll +do. Them eight men aboard that brig, now—never +was a rougher piece o' piracy since Morgan's day +than his makin' those beggars walk the plank. +Stood there an' roared an' laughed, he did, an' +pricked 'em behind till they tipped the board. +An' then to stop us from drownin' a blasted little +rat that'd tried to kill us all! Oh, he's bad, is +Stede—bad!" Jeremy gave a start as this +soliloquy progressed. He had wondered once or +twice what had become of the prisoners taken +aboard the brig. That attempted escape of Job's +had cost dear in human life it seemed. And his +own deliverance had been the mere whim of a +mad-man! He shuddered and thanked God fervently +for the fortune that had so far attended +him.</p> + +<p>There was a pause while the buccaneer seemed +to regard him with a sort of crafty hesitancy. +At length he spoke.</p> + +<p>"See here, boy," he said, his voice sinking to +a hoarse whisper, "how long had you been livin' +on that there island?"</p> + +<p>Jeremy looked up wonderingly. "Not long," +he answered, "only a day or two, really."</p> + +<p>"And you—nor none of yer folks—never went +nosin' 'round there to find nothin', did yer? Tell +me the truth, now!" Daggs leaned closer, a murderous +intensity in his face.</p> + +<p>"No," said Jeremy, squirming as the man's +fingers gripped his shoulder.</p> + +<p>The pirate gave him another long, piercing look +from his terrible eyes, then released him and went +forward, where he stood staring off toward the +shore.</p> + +<p>In his wretched loneliness the boy sank down +by the rail, his heart heavier than it had ever +been in his whole life. It might have been a +relief to him to cry. A great lump was in his +throat indeed and his eyes smarted, but he had +considered himself too old for tears almost since +he could walk, and now with the realization that +he was near shedding them, he forced his shoulders +back, shut his square jaw and resolved that +he would be a man, come what might. Darkness +settled over the river mouth. The form of Pharaoh +Daggs in black silhouette against the gray of the +sky sent a shudder through Jeremy. He recalled +with startling distinctness the solitary man he +had seen on the island the night of his capture. +The two figures were identical. Pondering, the +boy fell asleep.</p> + +<p>It was some four hours later that he woke to the +sound of hurrying oars close aboard. A subdued +shout came across the water. The voice was Stede +Bonnet's. "Stand by to take us on!" he cried. +A moment later the gig shot into sight, her crew +rowing like mad. They pulled in their oars, swept +up alongside the black sloop, and were caught +and pulled aboard by ready hands. "Cut the +cable!" cried the Captain as soon as he reached +the deck. The gig was swung up, the cable +chopped in two and the mainsail spread, and in +an incredibly short time the <i>Royal James</i> was +bowling along down the roadstead. Hardly had +she gotten under way when two long-boats appeared +astern and amid shouts and orders to +surrender from their crews, a scattered fusillade +of bullets came aboard. No one on the sloop was +hit, and as the sails began to draw properly the +pirate craft soon left her pursuers far to the rear.</p> + +<p>Jeremy, never one to watch others work, had +lent a hand wherever he was best able, during the +rush of the escape. When the sloop was well out +of range and the excitement had subsided, he +turned for the first time to look at a small group +that had been talking amidships. Two of the +figures were very well known to him—Bonnet and +Herriot. The light of a lantern, which the latter +held, fell upon the face of a boy no older than +Jeremy, dressed in the finest clothes the young +New Englander had ever seen.</p> + +<p>The lad's face was dark and resolute, his hair +black, smoothly brushed back and tied behind with +a small ribbon. His blue coat was of velvet, neatly +cut. Below his long flowered waistcoat were displayed +buff velvet breeches and silk stockings of +the same color. His shoes were of fine leather +and buckled with silver.</p> + +<p>In response to the oaths and rough questions +of the two pirates, the lad seemed to have little +to say. When he spoke it was with a scornful ring +in his voice. The first words Jeremy heard him +say were: "You'll understand it soon, I fancy. +We are well enough known along the bay and my +father, as I have said, is a friend of the Governor's. +There'll be ten ships after you before morning." +Herriot put back his head and roared with laughter. +"Hear the young braggart!" he shouted. +"Ten ships for such a milk-fed baby as he is!"</p> + +<p>"Well, my lad," said the Captain, "you'll be +treated well enough while we wait for the money +to be paid. Here, Jeremy!" As the young backwoodsman +came up, Bonnet continued, "Two boys +aboard is bad business, for you're sure to be +scheming to get away. However, it can't be +helped, just yet, and mind what I say,—there'll be +a bullet ready for the first one that tries it. Now +get below, the pair of you."</p> + +<p>Glad as he was to have a companion of his own +age aboard, Jeremy, boylike, was too shy to say +anything to the new arrival that night, and indeed +the other boy seemed to class him with the +rest of the pirates and to feel some repugnance +at his company. So the two unfortunate youngsters +slept fitfully, side by side, until broad daylight +next morning.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + + +<p>The "salt horse" which was served out for breakfast +aboard the <i>Royal James</i> made scant appeal +to the Delaware boy's appetite. He hardly touched +the portion which Jeremy offered him and kept +up his pose of proud aloofness all the morning. +It is scarcely a matter for wonder that he did +not at once make friends with Jeremy. The latter's +buckskin breeches and moccasins had been +taken from him when he came aboard and he was +now clad in his old leather tunic, a pair of seaman's +trousers, which bagged nearly to his ankles, +wrinkled, garterless wool socks and an old pair +of buckled shoes, stuffed with rags to make them +fit. His hair, never very manageable, had received +little attention during the voyage and now +was as wild and rough as that of a savage. It +would have required a long second glance for one +to see the fine qualities of grit and self-reliance +in the boy's keen face.</p> + +<p>The sloop was making great speed down the +middle channel of the Bay, her canvas straining +in a fine west breeze, and her deck canted far to +leeward. No boy could long withstand the pleasure +of sailing on such a day, and before noon +the young stranger had given in to a consuming +desire to know the names of things. Jeremy now +had the whole ship by heart and was filled with +joy at the opportunity of talking about her to +one more ignorant than himself. Of course, he + +<img src="images/image077.png" style="float: right;" width="250" height="276" alt="Bob" /> + +was as proud of the <i>Royal +James</i> as if he owned her. +How he glowed over his account +of the battle with the +brig! Nothing on the coast +could outsail the sloop, he +was sure. Indeed, it was +with some regret that he admitted +a hope of her being overtaken by the Delaware +boy's friends, and he was divided between +pride and despair as the day went on and no sail +appeared to the north. By noon his new acquaintance +was ravenously hungry, as was to be expected, +and over their pannikins of soup the last +reserve between them went by the board.</p> + +<p>"Are you his son?" asked the dark-haired lad, +nodding toward Herriot. Jeremy laughed and +described his adventure from the beginning while +the other marveled open-mouthed. "Are they +holding you for ransom, too?" asked he, as the +story ended. "No," replied Jeremy, "I reckon +they knew as soon as they saw me that there +wasn't much money to be gotten in my case. As +I figure it, they didn't dare leave me on the island +for fear I'ld have those three ships-of-war after +them." Both boys laughed as they thought of the +head-long flight of Stede Bonnet's company from +a garrison of fifteen sheep.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the Delaware boy, still chuckling, +"you know most of my story already. My father +is Clarke Curtis of New Castle. My own name is +Bob. Father owns some ships in the East India +trade and has a plantation up on the Brandywine +creek. Last night I was at our warehouse by the +wharves. Father was inside talking to one of his +captains who had just come to port. I wanted to +see the ship—she's a full-rigger, three or four +times as big as this, and fast too for her burden. +Well, I went down on the dock where she was +moored. There was nobody around and no lights +and she stood up above the wharf-side all dark and +big—her mainmast is as high as our church +steeple, you know—and I was just looking up at +her and wondering where the watchman was, when +four men came along down the wharf. I thought +perhaps 'twas Father and some of his men. When +they were quite close that biggest one, Herriot, +stepped up to me and before I could shout he put +his hand over my mouth and held me. They +gagged me fast and then one of them gave a +whistle, long and low. Pretty soon a boat came +up to the dock and they grabbed me and put me +in, spite of all I could do. They paddled along +to another wharf and took aboard some more men +and then started to row out as fast as they could. +I guess those boats that came after us were from +Father's ship. He must have missed me right +away. So now old Bonnet or Thomas or whatever +his name is thinks he's going to get a fat sum +out of me. That's all of my story, so far. But +there'll be another chapter yet!" Jeremy, for +both their sakes, sincerely hoped that there might.</p> + +<p>At sunset of that day the <i>Royal James</i> cleared +Cape Henlopen and held her course for the open +sea, while behind her in the gathering dusk the +coast grew hazy—faded out—was gone. The two +boys, sitting late into the first watch, shivered +with that fine ecstasy of adventure that can come +only in the shadowy mystery of star-lit decks and +the long, whispering ripple of a following sea.</p> + +<p>Jeremy, who twenty-four hours before had +thought of the ship as a place of utter desolation, +would not now have changed places with any boy +alive. He knew, perhaps for the first time, the +fulness of joy that comes into life with human +companionship. That night two lads at least +had golden dreams of a youthful kind. Ducats +and doubloons, princesses and plum-cake, swords +awave and cannon blazing, great galleons with +crimson sails—no wonder that they were smiling +in their sleep when George Dunkin held a lantern +over the bunk at the change of the watch.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + + +<p>The day came in dark with fog, which changed +a little after noon to driving scud. The wind had +gone around to the northeast and freshened steadily, +driving the waves in from the sea in steep +gray hills, quite different from anything Jeremy +had before experienced. The sloop, under three +reefs and a storm jib, began to make rough +weather of it, staggering up and down the long +slopes in an aimless, dizzy fashion that made +Jeremy and Bob very unhappy. The poor young +New Englander had to perform his regular tasks +no matter how he felt within, but once the work +was done he stumbled forward miserably and lay +upon his bunk. Bob was too wretched to talk +all day, and for the time at least cared very little +whether he was rescued or keel-hauled.</p> + +<p>Near nightfall Jeremy went aft to serve the +Captain's supper, and as he returned along the +reeling wet deck in the gathering dark, he stopped +a moment to look off to windward. The racing +white tops of the waves gleamed momentarily and +vanished. He was appalled at their height. While +the little vessel surged along in the trough, great +slopes of foam and black water rose on either +beam, up and up like tossing hillsides. Then +would come the staggering climb to the summit, +and for a dizzy second the terrified lad, clinging +to a shroud, could look for miles across the shifting +valleys. Before he could catch his breath, the +sloop pitched down the next declivity in a long, +sickening sag, and rocked for a brief instant at +the foot, her masts swaying in a great arc half +across the sky. Then she began to ascend. Shivering +and wide-eyed, the boy crept to his bunk, +where he fell asleep at last to the sound of screaming +wind and lashing water.</p> + +<p>At dawn and all next day the gale swept down +from the northeast unabated. The fo'c's'le was +thick with tobacco smoke and the wet reek of the +crew, for only the steersman and the lookout would +stay on deck. Bob, somewhat recovered from his +seasickness, lay wide-eyed in his bunk and heard +such tales of plunder and savagery on the high +seas as made his blood run cold. When Jeremy +came dripping down the ladder, early that afternoon, +he found the Delaware lad staring at Pharaoh +Daggs with a look of positive terror. The +buccaneer's evil face was lit up by the rays of +the smoky lantern, hung from a hook in one of +the deck beams. He sat on the edge of the fo'c's'le +table, his heavy shoulders hunched and a long +clay pipe in his teeth. "That night," he was +saying, "four on us went an' cut Sol Brig down +from where they'd hanged him. We got away, +down to the sloop an' out to sea with him. I didn't +have no cause to love the old devil, but I'd ha' +hated to have a ghost like his after me, so I lent +a hand. We wrapped him up decent an' gave +him sea-burial from his own deck, as he'd paced +for thirty year. An' <i>then</i>," he said with a snarl +and half-turning to face Jeremy, "we got them +two boys on deck! Both of 'em said 'twas the +other as told, so we treated 'em fair an' alike. We +stripped 'em an' laid in deep with the cat till there +wasn't no white skin left above the waist. Then +we sluiced 'em with sea water. When they could +feel pain again, we stretched 'em with rope an' +windlass till one died. T'other was a red-headed, +tough young devil, an' took such a deal of it that +we had to brain him with a handspike at the +last."</p> + +<p>Even the crew were silenced for a little by this +recital. Jeremy and Bob shivered in their places, +hardly daring to breathe. Then a Portuguese +spoke from the corner, his greedy little black +eyes glittering in his swarthy face.</p> + +<p>"Where wass da Cap'n's money—da gold 'e +'ada-not divide', eh?"</p> + +<p>Daggs gave a little start and leaned forward +scowling. "Who said he had any?" he asked +savagely. "Sol Brig kept himself to himself. He +never told secrets to any man aboard!" Then +he turned and with a black frown at the two boys, +climbed through the hatch into the howling +smother outside.</p> + +<p>Jeremy, always alert, saw one or two glances +exchanged among the pirates before the interminable +foul stream of fo'c's'le talk resumed its +course, but apparently the incident of the scarred +man's abrupt departure was soon forgotten.</p> + +<p>As the storm continued, Bonnet and Herriot +gave up their attempts to sail the <i>Royal James</i> +and contented themselves with keeping her afloat. +The gale was driving them southward at a good +rate and they were not ungrateful as they reflected +that it must have effectually put a stop +to all pursuit. Toward night the wind went down +a trifle, though the seas still ran in veritable +mountain ranges. The dawn of the following day +showed a clear sky to the north, and every prospect +of fair weather. Before breakfast all hands +were set to shaking out reefs and trimming sails, +a task which the tossing of the sloop made unusually +difficult. New halyards had to be fitted +in some places. Otherwise the vessel herself had +suffered but little. The brig's boat, towed astern +all through the flight down the bay, had been +swamped and cut loose on the first day of storm. +However, as the <i>Royal James</i> had two boats of +her own lashed on deck, this was not considered +a real loss.</p> + +<p>When the sun was high enough, Herriot took +his bearings, and gave the helmsman orders to +keep her headed west, a point north. The sloop +made a long beat of it to starboard, thrashing +up all night and most of the following day, before +she sighted the Virginia Capes. Slipping +through under cover of darkness, Bonnet resumed +his rôle of sober merchantman and sailed +the <i>James</i> up the Chesapeake under the British +flag, with a fine air of honesty.</p> + +<p>Jeremy and Bob regained their spirits as the +low shores unrolled ahead and passed astern, with +an occasional glimpse of a plantation house or +a village at the water's edge. As every fresh +estuary and arm of the bay opened on the bow, +the lads hoped and expected that the sloop would +enter. Bob thought the chances for escape or +rescue would be much increased if they came to +anchor in some harbor. Jeremy remembered the +Captain's half-promise to free him when they +reached the Chesapeake, and although he would +have been loth to part from his new friend, he felt +that he might render him better service ashore +than in his company aboard the pirate.</p> + +<p>It was two full days before the order was finally +given to anchor. They had put into the mouth +of a wide inlet far up on the Eastern shore, and +Bonnet had her brought into the wind at a good +distance from either side. The banks were high +and wooded, and as far as the boys could see +there was no sign of habitation anywhere about. +Their minds were both busy planning some way +of getting to land when Dave Herriot came up +behind them and put a huge hand into the collar +of each. "Come along below, lads," he said +gruffly. They went, completely mystified, until +the big sailing-master thrust them before him into +the port gun deck. Then Jeremy understood. +The old-fashioned arrangement of iron bars called +the "bilboes" was fastened to the bulkhead at the +bow end of the alleyway. It had two or three +sets of iron shackles chained to it and into the +smallest pair of these, meant for the wrists of +a grown victim, he locked an ankle of each of +the boys.</p> + +<p>"Ye'll stay <i>there</i> a while, till we sail again," +Herriot remarked as he departed. The lads stared +at each other, too glum to speak. Bob was pale +with rage at what he considered a dishonor, while +the Yankee boy's heart was heavy as he thought +of the opportunities for flight he had let slip on +the voyage up the bay. Within half an hour after +the anchor was dropped the young prisoners heard +the creak of the davit blocks, and a moment later +the splash of a boat taking water close to the +nearest gun-port. Jeremy stretched as far as his +chain would allow, and through a crevice saw four +men start to row toward shore. There was some +coarse jesting and laughter on deck, then one of +the crew sent a "Fare ye well, Bill!" after the +departing gig. The hail was answered by the +voice of the Jamaican, Curley. Half an hour later +the boat returned, carrying only three. Jeremy, +straining at his tether, made out that Curley was +not one of them. He sat down, thoughtful. "Well, +Bob," he said at last, "whether it's about your +ransom I can't say, but Bill Curley's been sent +ashore on some errand or other—and to be gone a +while, too, I figure."</p> + +<p>They could do little but wait for developments. +It was something of a surprise to both when Bonnet's +voice was heard on the deck above, soon after, +ordering the capstan manned. The anchor creaked +up and to the rattle of blocks the sail was hoisted. +They felt the sloop get under way once more. +When one of the foremast hands brought them +some biscuit and pork for supper, he told them +it was Herriot's orders that they be left in irons +for the present at least, and added, in response +to Jeremy's query, that they were headed south +under full canvas. The boys' thoughts were very +bitter as they tried to make themselves comfortable +on the bare planking. Fortunately, at their +age it requires more than a hard bed to banish +rest, and before the ship had made three sea-miles, +care and bodily misery alike were forgotten in +the heavy slumber of fatigue.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + + +<p>Job Howland's long legs, clad as they were in +nothing more cumbersome than a pair of under-breeches, +made light work of hills and ravines as +he held his way steadily up the Delaware shore. +Like most of the sailors of that day, he had gone +barefoot aboard ship since the beginning of the +warm weather and his soles were so calloused +that he hardly felt the need of shoes.</p> + +<p>At a shack on a little cove, just before midday, +he found several fishermen, to whom he applied +for clothing. They had pity on his plight, +fitted him out with a shirt, serviceable breeches +and rough boots, and gave him, as well, as much +biscuit and dried fish as he wished to carry. Thus +reinforced he continued to put the leagues behind +him till night, when he slept under a convenient +jack-pine. Early next morning he pushed on and +came without further adventure to the little port +of New Castle, just as the sun was setting.</p> + +<p>Job had been in the town before and now went +straight to the Red Hawk Tavern, a small place +on the water-front that catered chiefly to seafaring +men. The tavern-keeper, a brawny Swede, +to whose blue eyes half the seamen that plied along +the coast were familiar, held out a big hand to +him as he entered. He had known the tall mariner +when he had been on the Virginia bark before +Hornygold had captured it and had had no news +of him since. Job told him his whole story over +a hot meal in the back room, and it is merely indicative +of the public mind of that day that the +big Swede had not the slightest compunction in +sympathizing with him. Indeed, in most dockside +resorts it was a common thing for pirates +and honest seamen to fraternize with perfect goodwill. +The innkeeper offered him a bed for the +night, and next morning directed him to the governor's +house.</p> + +<p>Delaware, a far smaller and less developed colony +than her neighbors, Pennsylvania and Maryland, +had, nevertheless, her own government, located +at New Castle. The brick house of the +King's appointee was on the High Street—the +most imposing building in the town, excepting the +two churches. Job knocked at the door and was +admitted by a colored servant in livery, who gave +him a chair in the wide hall and asked him to +wait there.</p> + +<p>As the long Yankee fidgeted uncomfortably on +the edge of his seat, he heard voices raised in a +room opposite, the door of which was closed. +Some one, apparently growing angry, was saying:</p> + +<p>"Good Gad, man, are we to sit idle and let these +ruffianly thieves make off with our money—children—wives! +One good man-o'-war could teach +the scamps such a lesson as would scare half of +'em off the seas! Why, if I'd had even a good +culverin aboard the <i>Indian Queen</i> last night, I'd +have chased the beggars clear to Africa, an need +were. Governor, you <i>must</i> see this as we see it!"</p> + +<p>There was a reply in a lower tone and a moment +later the door opened for two gentlemen +to come out. One was thin and pale and seemed +a suave, cool fellow, Job thought. He was elegantly +dressed in gray. His companion, larger +and more strongly built, seemed to have become +very red in the face from suppressed emotion. +His linen ruffles were awry and his fists clenched +as he emerged. Without looking at Job, he +jammed his cocked hat upon his head and strode +out.</p> + +<p>The man in gray turned to the waiting seaman +and beckoned him into the room just vacated. +Job, as cool and self-possessed as if he were loading +his six-pounder under fire, told the story of his +experiences aboard the pirate sloop, finishing with +an account of the attempted flight with Jeremy, +their recapture and his escape. The Governor +listened gravely, starting once when the mariner +named Captain Bonnet. At the end he nodded. +"You shall have the pardon as ruled by the +Crown," he said. "But there is another side to +this affair. You say you slept at the Red Hawk. +Was there no talk there of a boy stolen from the +wharves late in the evening?" Job replied that he +had gone to bed early and had breakfasted and +left without hearing any gossip.</p> + +<p>"From what you say," went on the Governor, +"I should be ready to swear that the Captain +Thomas, who proclaimed himself by that name +in a tavern last night and later made off with +the son of Clark Curtis, was the same man as +your Stede Bonnet." Job hastened to relate the +incident of the buccaneer's crazed speech from the +brig's deck. He asked how the kidnapper had +been described. The features tallied almost exactly +with those of Stede Bonnet. In addition, +the schooner, as half a dozen men would swear, had +been painted black.</p> + +<p>Thus satisfied that Bob Curtis was aboard the +<i>Royal James</i>, the Governor wrote a formal pardon, +stating that "Job Howland, late a pirate, +having duly sworn his allegiance to his Majesty +the King, and repented of all unlawful acts committed +by him aforetime," was henceforward +granted full release from the penalty of his crimes +and was to be held an honest man during his good +behavior. Then he took the seaman with him and +passed quickly down to one of the larger warehouses +by the dockside.</p> + +<p>Standing in the doorway were the red-faced +gentleman whom Job had seen that morning and +a large man in sea boots, easily recognized as a +ship's officer. To the rather cool greeting of the +former the Governor returned a cheerful nod as +they came up. "Look here now, Curtis," he said, +"I can't spare those cannon, and that's flat, but +to show that I mean well by you, I've brought +a man whom you may find of some use. Tell him +your story, Howland."</p> + +<p>The tale was repeated, to the intense interest +of its two new hearers. "By Gad," cried Mr. Curtis, +slapping his thigh, as the seaman finished, +"that's a clue worth having! We know who the +scoundrel is, at least, and, of course, he'll be sure +to head for Carolina. Bonnet couldn't keep away +from that coast for more than six months if his +life depended upon it. Howland, if you care to +ship again, I'll make you gun-pointer aboard the +<i>Indian Queen</i> here. You say you want nothing +better than to get a crack at the pirate. We'll +make what preparations we can and get off at +once. This young friend of yours—about Bob's +age he must be—well, I'm glad my boy's got company! +Let's get to work aboard here now."</p> + +<p>Job fell to with a good will helping the <i>Indian +Queen's</i> crew get her ready for an encounter with +the pirates. She carried only two light serpentine +cannon of an ancient make, far below the standard +necessary to combat a well-armed schooner +like the <i>Royal James</i>. There were no other ships +in the harbor carrying guns, however, and it was +over the matter of procuring an armament that +Curtis had had words with the Governor. There +were six good culverins mounted in the fort below +the town. The planter had wished to borrow them +to fit out his vessel, urging that it was a matter +of concern to the whole colony. To this the Governor +replied that with the port stripped of defences +it would be possible for a pirate fleet to +enter and plunder without difficulty, while Curtis's +ship was careering over the seven seas on a wild-goose +chase. Naturally the personal element in +the affair blinded Curtis to the truth in this argument. +However, with the advent of Job Howland +and the news he bore, all differences were forgotten. +The planter and ship-owner now needed thorough, +rather than hurried, preparation. He sent +his overseer on horseback to Philadelphia to arrange +for the purchase of guns, and put all the +available carpenters and shipwrights to work on +the <i>Queen</i>, strengthening the improvised gun +decks and cutting the rows of ports.</p> + +<p>The northeast gale that sprang up next day +put a temporary stop to these activities and gave +Job an opportunity to get himself some decent +clothes and hobnob a while with his friend the +Swede. The whole waterfront was agog with the +news of the kidnapping, and everywhere the tall +New Englander went he was surrounded by a +knot of questioning seamen. Several coasting-skippers, +whose vessels lay ready-loaded at the +wharves, decided to put off sailing until some +news should indicate that the Bay was clear.</p> + +<p>When the storm had blown itself out the artisans +again set to work on the big East Indiaman. +Job, who had learned the science of gunnery under +good masters, supervised the placing of every +porthole with reference to ease and safety in firing +as well as to the effectiveness of a broadside. +He had a section of the deck forward of the capstan +reinforced stoutly to bear the weight of a +bow-chaser, on which he placed some dependence +in case of a running fight.</p> + +<p>It was about six days later, in the first week +of August, when two men came into New Castle +from different directions, one on horseback, the +other on foot. The first of these was Curtis's +overseer, returned from the larger colony up the +Bay, and bringing the good news that a score of +cannon were lying on the dock at the foot of Market +Street, in Philadelphia, ready to be shipped +aboard the <i>Queen</i> as soon as she was put in shape.</p> + +<p>The other was a sour-looking man of middle +height, lean and darkly sallow, dressed in good +sea clothes somewhat worn. He slipped through +the trees into a lane that led toward the wharves. +Coming unobtrusively into the Red Hawk Tavern +at a little after 7 o'clock in the evening, he +asked for a pint of rum, paid for it, and began +to talk politely to the Swede. Job was eating his +supper in one corner. He started when the man +entered, but made no exclamation, and shading +his face from the light, continued to watch him +narrowly. It was his old shipmate, Bill Curley, +the Jamaican. The pirate finished his rum and +giving the barkeep a civil "Good-night," passed +out into the ill-lighted street. When he was gone +Job rose and stepped to the bar. "Quick, Nels," +he whispered, "what did he ask you? He's one +of Bonnet's crew!" The Swede replied that he +had inquired the way to Clarke Curtis's house. +Job was armed with a good pistol. He made sure +it was primed and then set out up the street, keeping +a careful lookout.</p> + +<p>Soon he detected the figure of the Jamaican in +the gloom ahead, and followed it, keeping out of +earshot. The man went straight up High Street +to the town residence of the planter. There were +tall shrubs in the yard and he waited behind one +of these, apparently reconnoitering. Then he +stooped, took off his shoes, and carrying them in +one hand, advanced and pinned a piece of paper +to the door. Turning, he made his way back to +the gate and once on the soft earth of the road, +started to run in the direction from which he had +come. This brought him, in fifty yards, face to +face with a pistol muzzle, the butt of which was +held by his old friend, Job Howland. He stopped +in his tracks and at the big Yankee's command +held both arms above his head. Job jammed the +nose of his weapon against Curley's breastbone +and searched him without a word. Having removed +a long dirk and a pistol from the Jamaican's +waistband, he ordered him to face about +and walk back to the planter's house. When they +arrived there, Job took down the paper from the +door and knocked loudly. A negro boy, scared +almost into fits at the sight of the drawn pistol, +led the way into his master's room.</p> + +<p>Curtis rose with an ejaculation of surprise and +heard Job's brief account of the events leading +to Curley's capture. Then he took the paper and +read it, alternately frowning and exclaiming. As +he finished, he passed it to the New Englander. +It was a letter neatly drawn up and written in +Stede Bonnet's even, refined hand.<br /><br /><br /></p> + +<div style="margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%"> + +<div style="margin-right: 0em; text-align: right;">Aboard Sloop <i>Royal James,</i> now</div> +<div style="margin-right: 1.2em; text-align: right;">in an Inlet near the Head of the</div> +<div style="margin-right: 6em; text-align: right;">Chesapeake Bay.</div> + +To Mr. Clarke Curtis. Esq.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">of New Castle, in the Delaware Colony.</span><br /> + +Sir:<br /> + + +<p>Having now aboard us and in safe custody your son +Robert Curtis, we offer you the following terms for his +release and safe return to you. Namely, to wit:</p> + +<p>First, that you shall make no attempt to attack us in +an armed vessel, or otherwise to employ force upon us.</p> + +<p>Second, that you shall send a single man, carrying or +otherwise bringing, provided he is alone, a sum in gold +amounting to 5,000 pounds sterling.</p> + +<p>Third, that this man shall be on the sandbars at the +entrance to the Cape Fear River in Carolina at noon on +the 10th day of September in this year of grace 1718, +ready to deliver the sum before-mentioned and to take +in charge the boy, also before-mentioned.</p> + +<p>Failing the accomplishment of any or all of these +terms the boy will be immediately put to death without +stay or pity.</p> + +<p>Expecting you to act with discretion and for the welfare +of your son,</p> + +<div style="margin-right: 8em; text-align: right;">Ever your humble servant,</div> + +<div style="margin-right: 5em; text-align: right;">Captain Thomas.</div> +<div style="margin-right: 3em; text-align: right;">(Ship <i>Royal James</i>)</div><br /><br /> + +</div> + + +<p>"Well," remarked Job as he finished, "we know +where they'll be on September the 10th, at all +events. As for our friend here, we can safely +turn him over to the constable, I reckon. Here, +Curley—march!" And he ushered the Jamaican +out as they had entered. The gaol was only a few +doors down a cross street, and Job had soon delivered +his prisoner into capable hands. Then he +returned to Curtis's house.</p> + +<p>The shipowner was pacing up and down his +library, where the paper lay half-crumpled on the +floor. He looked up as Job entered and his brow +was wrinkled deep with lines of worry.</p> + +<p>"Gad!" he exclaimed, "this is awful! Must +we actually give up trying to punish the dog? +Why, he has us at his mercy, it seems. The money +I can raise, I believe, and it's not the thought of +losing it that cuts me. It's letting that gallows-hound +go unscathed. And if anything should slip +in the plans—good God, it's too terrible to think +of!"</p> + +<p>He dropped into an armchair, his head resting +in his hands. Job understood something of the +father's anguish and refrained from any comment. +Standing by the broad oak mantelpiece, he +mused over the chances of the boy's escape alive. +Knowing Bonnet's eccentricities, he would have +been the last to urge an armed attack in defiance +of the terms in the letter. He had not the slightest +doubt that the Captain, half-insane as he was, +would be capable of even more dastardly crimes +than the one he now threatened. Gradually an +idea took form in the ex-pirate's brain. It was a +bold one and needed to be executed boldly if at +all. When the grief-stricken gentleman raised his +head, Job turned and faced him. "Mr. Curtis," +he said, "there's one thing to be done, as far's +I can see, and I believe it's for me to do it. I've +told you about Jeremy Swan, the boy we took +aboard up north along. I think most as much +o' getting him out o' this scrape as you do o' savin' +your lad. Now here's my scheme. I know +that coast around Cape Fear like I know the black +schooner's deck. I'll get down there about the +first o' September, an' I reckon they'll be there +near the same time. I'll sneak up as close as I +can in a small boat, then crawl acrost the bars +till I'm near their moorin', an' swim out after +dark, so I can look over the lay o' things aboard. +It's just possible that I can get a word to one o' +the boys and maybe take 'em off without bein' +caught. You can be lyin' to, somewhere out o' +sight, and' if we get clean away, we'll take the +<i>Queen</i> around an' blow Bonnet out o' water. +That's the best I can offer, but if it works it'll +do the job up brown."</p> + +<p>Curtis had listened earnestly, amazed at the +daring of the man's suggestion. He reached out +a broad hand and took Job's hairy fist in a grip +that expressed the depth of his feelings. His eyes +were blinking and he could not trust his voice, but +the long Yankee knew that the risk he had offered +to undertake was appreciated. They talked far +into the night, planning the details of the attempt +and discussing measures to be employed should it +fail. They still had the best part of a month in +which to work.</p> + +<p>It was Job's suggestion that they should interest +the governments of North and South Carolina +to help in destroying Bonnet's craft. The pirate's +port of departure had been Charles Town and he +was to be fought in waters adjacent to both the +colonies. It seemed not unreasonable to hope that +there was aid to be obtained there. Next day they +asked the Governor's sanction to this proposal, +and were so far rewarded that in less than another +twenty-four hours a messenger had been +dispatched to Wilmington and Charles Town bearing +letters under the colony seal.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + + +<p>The <i>Royal James</i> hurried down the Chesapeake +for a day and a night before Captain Bonnet gave +orders to free the young prisoners below in the +bilboes. Jeremy and Bob came on deck stiff and +weary from their cramped quarters and very far +from happy in their minds. Rescue seemed farther +away than ever, and though they had laid many +plans for an escape by swimming, the sight of +the great stretch of water off either beam—the +shore was frequently a dozen miles away—quenched +their hopes in this direction.</p> + +<p>The crew seemed quite elated over something, +and talked and joked incessantly about the prospect +of action in the near future. Bonnet was +merrier than Jeremy had ever seen him, came +often on deck and even mixed a little in the conversation +of the foremast hands. On the night +that they cleared the Capes he served out double +noggins of rum to all the men aboard. There was +a good deal of prodigality in the way it was poured +out and a fine scene of carousal ensued, lasting +until after the watch changed at midnight. It was +the first time either of the boys had heard the +smashing chorus of "Fifteen Men" sung by the +whole fo'c's'le. Of course, the words had often +been hummed by one or two of the pirates, but it +took the hot cheer of the grog to open most of their +throats. At the final "Yo, ho, ho!" every cannikin +crashed on the deal table and the lantern +heaved to and fro overhead as if a gale were +blowing outside. There followed the howling refrain +that Jeremy had heard on the beach of the +island a month before—"An' we'll walk the bloody +beggars all below, all below—an' we'll walk the +bloody beggars all below!"</p> + +<p>The sentiment seemed too true to be picturesque +after what had happened aboard the brig. The +fierce-faced buccaneers, with their red, drunken +eyes, strained forward, every man, and yelled like +demons under the swaying lantern. Close behind +and above were the smoky beams and planking, +black with dancing shadows. Yet wild and exciting +as it all was, Jeremy felt sickened. There +was no illusion, no play-acting about it for him. +He had seen the awful reality—the murder and +the madness—and he had no admiration left for +the jolly buccaneer of story.</p> + +<p>On the following morning, and for two days +thereafter, the schooner cruised slowly along a +level sea under shortened sail. A double lookout +was kept constantly on duty and as they bore +up to the northward, Jeremy saw that they must +be watching for south-bound shipping out of the +Delaware. Bonnet was evidently gambling on the +chance that Bob's friends had given up the idea +of pursuit.</p> + +<p>Then one hot mid-afternoon the two boys were +startled from their places in the shade of the +after-companion by a quick shout from the man +at the masthead. They followed the direction of +his pointing arm with their eyes and as the +schooner heaved slowly on a gentle swell, they +caught a glimpse of a low, broad sail on the port +bow. The men were all on deck ready to trim +the sails for greater speed, but Herriot, after consulting +with the Captain, ordered the gunners and +gun-servers below to prepare ordnance. Bob and +Jeremy were under a tremendous strain of excitement. +The stranger ship might be one of the New +Castle fleet which Bob firmly believed to be searching +the seas to recapture him from Bonnet. +Should it prove to be so, their lives were in worse +danger than ever, for neither of the boys doubted +that the erratic Captain would kill them at once +if the fight went against him.</p> + +<p>However, their minds were soon set at rest on +this score. As the pirate drew up closer and +closer, the details of the other ship became visible +to those on deck. She also was schooner-rigged, +a trifle larger than the <i>Royal James</i>, but +without the latter's height of mast. Her low free-board +indicated that she was heavily cargoed. No +gunports could be seen along her sides.</p> + +<p>Bonnet now ordered an extra jib to be broken +out, and had the sloop brought around on the +port tack so that her course, instead of running +opposite to the stranger's, would obliquely cross +it. The wind, what little there was, came from +the West.</p> + +<p>As soon as the other ship perceived this change +in direction, she veered off her course closer to +the wind, and almost immediately the boys could +see the white flutter of some extra canvas being +spread at her bows. As this new piece filled out, +it proved to be a great balloon jib, which increased +her sail area by nearly half. Her head came off +the wind again and she went bowing along over +the swells to the southward faster than one would +have imagined possible. Bonnet had figured on +crossing her at close range, but as she swept onward +he realized that he would go by too far astern +to hail her if he kept his present direction. Herriot +himself took the tiller. As quickly as he could, +without loss of headway, he eased the <i>Royal James</i> +over till she was running nearly parallel with the +fleeing ship. His orders came quick and fast, +while the men trimmed the main and fore sheets +to the last hair's breadth of perfection. It was +to be a race, and a hard one.</p> + +<p>For nearly half an hour the sloops ran along +almost neck and neck and perhaps half a mile +apart. The pirates dared not risk pointing closer +to the wind in order to get into cannon range. +They would have lost so much speed that it would +have developed into a stern chase—useless since +they possessed only broadside batteries. The best +they could do was to hold their position, hoping +for luck in the wind.</p> + +<p>Bonnet scowled awhile at the British Jack that +still flew from the <i>James's</i> top, then went below +and brought up the black pirate flag. The buccaneers, +now all assembled on deck, gave it a cheerful +howl of greeting as it fluttered up to the main +truck. "Now we'll catch 'em, lads!" roared Herriot, +and they answered him with a second cheer.</p> + +<p>For once, however, the Jolly Roger seemed to +bring bad fortune instead of good. The wind +had hardly swept it easily to leeward once when +it fell back against the shrouds, hardly stirring. +The pirate sloop's deck righted slowly and her +limp sails drooped from the gaffs. A sudden flaw +in the breeze had settled about her, without interrupting +her rival's progress in the least. A glum +despair came over the crew. They lolled, for the +most part silent or grumbling curses, against the +rails, with here and there one trying to whistle up +a wind. The other sloop rapidly drew away to +the south.</p> + +<p>Bonnet had been talking to Herriot with quick +gestures and pointings. Now he walked forward +swiftly and the men got to their feet with a jump. +"We'll board the prize yet," said the Captain +short and sharp. "Now look alive—every one of +you!" He ordered one squad of men to the hold +for spars, another for rope, a third for a spare +mainjib. Meanwhile he set two men to making +a sort of stirrup out of blocks of wood. This was +fastened to the deck far up in the bows. When +the spars came up he had one of them rigged with +a tackle running to the foremast, and set its foot +in the wooden contrivance just finished. It swung +out forward like a great jibboom. The crew saw +what was in the Captain's mind and gave a ringing +yell of joy. A score of willing hands made +fast the stays to windward and others spread the +spare sail from the upper end of the spar. As the +last rope was bent, a strong draught of air came +over the water. The canvas shook, then filled, and +as the fresh breeze steadied in her sails the sloop +heeled far to port. She moved faster and faster, +while the white water surged away under her lee. +This was sailing worth while! The returning wind +had come in much stronger than before the flaw, +and was now almost worthy of at least one reef +under ordinary conditions. With her extra canvas, +the <i>James</i> was canted over perilously. Her +lee scuppers were often awash and a good deal +of water was coming into the port gundeck.</p> + +<p>But to the delight of all on board, including +the boys, who could hardly be blamed for relishing +the excitement, Bonnet refused to take in an +inch of sail. Instead, he ordered every available +man to the weather rail. The dead weight of +thirty seamen all leaning half-way over the side +served to keep the light craft ballasted for the +time being. Bob and Jeremy clung to the rail +amidships and vied with each other in stretching +out over the boiling seas that raced below.</p> + +<p>The fleeing ship, which had gained four or five +miles during the lull, was now in plain view again, +nearly straight ahead. Her deep lading was telling +against her now. The handicap of sail area +being overcome, the black pirate's shallow draft +and long lines gave her the advantage. Every +buccaneer in the crew was howling with excitement +as the race went on. The long main boom +of the <i>Royal James</i> skipped through the spray and +her mainsail was wet to the second line of reef +points, but Herriot held her square on the course +and Bonnet smiled grimly ahead, with a look that +meant he would run her under before he would +shorten sail. Hand over hand they overhauled +their rival, until once more the tiny figures of +men were visible over her rail. A little knot of +them were gathered aft, busy at something. Bonnet +seized his glass and scrutinized them intently. +Then he yelled to Herriot to ease the sloop off +to port. "They've got a gun astern there!" he +shouted. "They'll try our range in a minute." +Hardly had he spoken when a spout of foam went +up from the sea far to starboard, followed almost +instantly by the dull sound of an explosion. By +the time the gunners on the ship had loaded their +piece again the <i>James</i> had come over to their port +quarter and they had to shift the cannon's position. +The shot went close overhead, cutting a +corner from the black flag of the pirate. Bonnet +swore beneath his breath, then ordered the +cannoneers below to their batteries. They went +on the run. Jeremy and Bob stayed above watching +the operations on the enemy's deck. The two +sloops were less than three hundred yards apart +and the <i>James</i> had drawn nearly abeam when a +third shot came from her rival's deck gun. This +time it crashed into the pirate's hull far up by +the bits. Bonnet was by the fore hatch, sword in +hand, as was his custom during an action. Looking +coolly at the splintered bulwark forward, then +back at the enemy, he gave the sharp "Ready a +starboard broadside!" to the waiting gunners. He +allowed them time to have their matches alight, +then "Fire!" rang his clear voice. The deck +leaped under the boys' feet. The long, thunderous +bellow of the battery jarred out over the sea. +Even as they looked the enemy's maingaff, shot +away at the jaws, dangled loose from the peak +halyards, and her broad sail crumpled, puffing out +awkwardly in the breeze.</p> + +<p>At the same time a wide rent in her side above +the waterline gaped black as she topped a wave. +The gunners' cheer as they saw their handiwork +rose to a deafening yell, taken up by all hands, +when, a moment later, the British colors came +fluttering down aboard the other ship.</p> + +<p>Herriot ordered the improvised spinnaker and +the flying-jib taken in, then brought the buccaneer +sloop around and came up beside the newly captured +prize. All the pirates were behind the bulwarks +with muskets loaded, prepared for any +treachery that might be intended. However, as +they ranged alongside, the hostile crew lined up +on their deck, sullen but unarmed, and the Captain, +a big, gray-bearded man, held up a piece of +white cloth in token of surrender. Bonnet hailed +him, asking his name.</p> + +<p>"Captain Peter Manewaring of the sloop <i>Francis,</i> +Philadelphia for Charles Town," answered the +coasting skipper.</p> + +<p>"And I am Captain Thomas, in command of +the sloop <i>Royal James,</i>" Bonnet gave him in return. +"You will set your men to carrying over +into my ship all the powder you have aboard. As +soon as we are fast alongside I shall be pleased +to entertain you in the cabin."</p> + +<p>The sails were run down on both sloops and +their hulls were quickly lashed together with ropes. +Herriot superintended the operation of transferring +a half-dozen kegs of powder, some casks of +wine and the best food in the coaster's larder to +the hold of the black schooner. The cargo of the +<i>Francis</i> was a varied one, but not by any means a +poor prize. She carried some grain in bags forward, +a great number of bolts of cloth, chiefly +woollens, and other things of divers sorts, including +some fine mahogany chairs and tables newly +brought from England. The wine was merely incidental, +but proved very acceptable to the ever-thirsty +buccaneers.</p> + +<p>That night, with the nine men of the <i>Francis's</i> +crew lying in irons on the ballast, they drank deep +to their victory, and once more Jeremy and Bob +fell asleep to the rough half-harmony of their bellowings.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A stiff</span> easterly breeze whitened the gray seas +next morning. It was cloudy and seemed to be +getting ready for a blow. The pirate and her +prize had drifted all night, bound together, and +as day broke a tipsy lookout spied land to the +westward. Herriot came on deck hastily at the +call and himself went to the rail to heave the lead. +The soundings showed a bare four fathoms of +water. Bonnet was summoned and the crew, +hardly recovered from their orgy, staggered about +the deck preparing to get under way again. Seven +men, under Dunkin, were told off to man the +<i>Francis.</i> A dozen others were needed to plug her +shot-holes before she was really seaworthy. This +task being finally accomplished, the ropes were +taken off, the sails run up and the two sloops, +closehauled to starboard, set about beating off +shore.</p> + +<p>It was a terrible day for Jeremy and Bob. In +the crew there was the regular fighting, swearing +and vomiting that always followed a night of +carousal. The fact that they were short-handed +made the work harder and the grumbling louder +than ever. The bow of the <i>Royal James</i> was +partly shot away above the bits, and there was +a full day's work for every hand that could be +spared rigging canvas over the gap to prevent its +taking in water in case of a storm. Meanwhile the +fo'c's'le was in as filthy a state as could well be +imagined. Herriot thrust his head down the hatch +once during the morning and as he caught the +sickening stench of the place he called the two +boys, who had been up forward helping the +patching.</p> + +<p>"Here, young 'uns, get below and clean up," +he ordered sharply, and handed each lad a bucket +and a deck-brush. They filled the buckets and +went below reluctantly. At first it was impossible +for them to stay under hatches for more +than five minutes at a time, so they took turns in +running up for air and a fresh supply of water. +Gradually the flooding they gave the place told in +its atmosphere, and by noon they had put it into +decent shape again. Hardly had Jeremy come +on deck, weary and sickened with this task, when +Captain Bonnet called to him from the companion. +He made his way aft and entered the cabin. Bonnet +had just resumed his place at the broad table. +Opposite him and facing Jeremy was the big +slouched figure of Captain Manewaring. "Bring +the wine, Jeremy," said the buccaneer quietly, +and without turning. He was looking with steady +eyes at his guest. Jeremy went back along the +passage to the wine-locker under the companion +stairs and took from it two bottles of Madeira. +As he was closing the cupboard door, Bonnet's +voice cut the air like a knife. The two words he +spoke were not loud, but pronounced with a +terrible distinctness. "You lie!" was what he +said.</p> + +<p>Jeremy shivered and waited, listening. There +was no reply loud enough for him to hear through +the closed door of the cabin. After a moment +he tiptoed back and before turning the knob listened +again. Nothing but silence. He opened the +door with a pounding heart and stepped into the +room.</p> + +<p>The two men sat motionless in their places. +Bonnet held a cocked pistol in his right hand, its +point covering the other man's head. On the +table before Manewaring was a second pistol. His +face was drawn and gray and a fine sweat stood +upon his forehead. Jeremy shrank against the +wall, hardly breathing, his two bottles clutched +idiotically, one in each hand. The tense seconds +ticked on by the cabin clock.</p> + +<p>"Come—quick!" said the pirate, with a gesture +toward the other pistol. Manewaring's hand appeared +over the edge of the table and gave a +trembling jerk toward the pistol-butt. Then it +fell back into his lap. He gasped. A drop of +sweat ran down his temple into his gray beard. +Again the only sounds were the tick of the cabin +clock, the wash of the seas outside and the hoarse +breathing of the cornered man. At length he +moved with a sort of shudder, whispered the name +of his Maker and seized the butt of the pistol +desperately.</p> + +<p>Bonnet had raised his weapon, pointing to the +ceiling. "I shall count three, then fire," said he +in the same even voice.</p> + +<p>"One——" But before he spoke again his opponent +had jerked his muzzle down and fired. +Bonnet must have seen the flash of the intention +in his eyes, for he threw himself to the left at that +instant, and the shot went crashing through a +panel of the door. With the deliberate sureness +of Fate the pirate took aim at his adversary, who +whimpered and grovelled behind the table. Then +he shot him. Jeremy's knees went limp, but he +saved himself from falling and managed to set +the bottles on the table.</p> + +<p>Behind him as he staggered out, Stede Bonnet +poured himself a glass of wine and drank it with +a steady hand. The boy met a crowd of men at +the head of the companion, but was too shaken to +tell them what had happened. Herriot, going below, +heard the details of the duel from the Captain's +own lips. Under the sailing-master's orders +the body of the dead man was carried out +on deck, sewed into a piece of sailcloth and heaved +over the rail without more ado. Jeremy made his +way to his bunk and told Bob the story between +chattering teeth.</p> + +<p>There was silence on the ship that afternoon. +Bonnet's action had sobered his rough company +to the point where they ceased quarreling and +talked in undertones, gathering in little knots +about the slanted deck when not at work. The +two boys were glad enough to be out of the way. +Jeremy, tired and discouraged, sat on the bunk's +edge, his shoulders hunched and his eyes on the +floor. His young companion, who had more cause +for hope, watched him with sympathetic eyes. He +could see that the New England boy was too dejected +even to try to plan their escape—the usual +occupation of their hours together. Finally he +reached over, a bit shyly, and gave him a friendly +pat on the back.</p> + +<p>"Brace up, Jeremy," he said. "You're clean +tuckered out, but a rest and a nap'll help. Here, +cover yourself up and I'll do your work tonight. +Maybe I'll have a scheme thought up to tell you +in the morning."</p> + +<p>Jeremy cared little whether he slept or woke, +for the events of the past days, coupled with the +disappointment of not being set ashore as he had +hoped, had brought even his determined courage +to a low ebb. He was on the verge of a fever, and +Bob's prescription of rest and sleep was what he +most needed. Made snug at the back side of the +berth, where little or no light came, he fell into +a fitful slumber. Bob took a last look to see that +his friend was comfortable and went on deck.</p> + +<p>Pharaoh Daggs had taken a great deal of liquor +the night before, as was his wont when grog was +being passed. The rum he consumed seemed to +affect him very little. No one ever heard him sing, +though his cruel face, with its awful, livid scar, +would lean forward and sway to and fro with +the rhythm of the choruses. He could walk a reeling +deck or climb a slack shroud as well, to all +appearances, when he had taken a gallon as most +men when they were sober. From Newfoundland +to Trinidad he was known among the pirates as +a man whose head would stand drink like a sheet-iron +bucket. This reputation was made possible +by the fact that he was no talker at any time, and +when in liquor clamped his jaws like a sprung trap. +Whatever effect the alcohol may have had upon his +mind was not apparent because no thoughts passed +his lips. The rum did go to his head, however. +The instinctive effort of will that kept his legs +steady and his mouth shut had no root in thought. +Behind the veil of those light eyes, the brain of +Pharaoh Daggs, drunk, was like a seething pit, +one black fuddle of ugliness. To compensate for +the apparent lack of effect of liquor upon him, +the inward disturbance usually lasted long after +the more tipsy seamen had slept around to clear +heads.</p> + +<p>Today he lolled with his sneering face toward +the weather beam, a figure upon whose privacy +no one would care to trespass. The sound of the +shots and the tale of the duel had neither one +awakened in him any apparent interest. Through +the long afternoon till nearly five o'clock he +slouched by the fo'c's'le. Then with a leisurely +stretch he walked to the hatch, and peered down +it. Wheeling about he scanned the deck craftily, +looking at all the men in turn, before he descended +the ladder.</p> + +<p>In the half-light below he paused again, and +seemed to send his piercing glance into every +bunk, from the forward to the after bulkhead. +Finally, satisfied that no one else was in the fo'c's'le, +he went to his own sleeping place, on the +port side, and kneeling beside the berth hauled a +heavy sea-chest from beneath it.</p> + +<p>Jeremy's light sleep was broken by a scraping +sound close by. He opened his eyes without moving, +and from where he lay could see a man busy +at something opposite him. As the figure turned +and straightened, he knew it for the man with +the broken nose. The boy was instantly on the +alert, for he had every reason to distrust Daggs. +Without making a sound he worked nearer to the +edge of the bunk and pulled the cover up to hide +all but his eyes. The pirate hauled his chest out +farther into the middle of the floor, where more +light fell.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<img class="center" src="images/image117.png" width="400" height="172" alt="strongbox" /> +</div> + +<p>Then he knelt before it and unlocked it with +a key which he took from about his neck. Jeremy +almost expected to see a heap of gold coin as the +lid was raised. He was disappointed. A garment +of dark cloth, probably a cloak, and some dirty +linen were all that came to view. The buccaneer +lifted out a number of articles of seaman's gear +and laid them beside him. After them came a +leather pouch, quite heavy, Jeremy thought. The +man raised it carefully and weighed it in his hand. +It must have been his portion of the spoils taken +on the voyage. However, this was not what he +was after, it seemed, for a moment later it was +laid on the floor beside the other things. Next +he removed two pistols and a second pouch of +the sort used for powder and shot. There was +a long interval as he rummaged in the bottom +of the box, under other contents which Jeremy +could not see. At last the pirate stood up, holding +a rolled paper tied with string. Another long +moment he peered about him and listened. When +he had reassured himself, he untied the string +and opened the paper, a square document, perhaps +a foot each way. It was discolored and worn +at the edges, apparently quite old. What was inscribed +on it Jeremy could not see, stare as he +might. Daggs examined it a moment, then knelt, +preoccupied, and spread it upon the floor. With +one finger he traced a line along it, zigzagging +from one side diagonally to the foot, his lips moving +silently meanwhile. Then his other hand hovered +above the document for a time before he +planted his thumb squarely upon a spot near the +top.</p> + +<p>Jeremy's thoughts kept time with his racing +heart. He watched every motion of the buccaneer +with a fierce intentness that missed no detail. +Daggs had been quiet for a full two minutes, a +crafty gloating smile playing over his thin lips. +Now once more he touched a place upon the sheet +before him. "Right there, she'll be," he muttered. +Then, after slowly rolling up the paper, he +replaced it and locked the box. The eyes of the +boy in the bunk gleamed excitedly, for he was sure +now of the nature of the document. Beyond any +reasonable doubt, it was a chart. "Solomon +Brig's treasure!" he whispered to himself as the +tall figure of the man with the broken nose clambered +upward through the hatch.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + + +<p>Jeremy realized that his life would be in danger +if Daggs saw him coming on deck after what had +just happened. He lay still, therefore, in spite +of his desire to tell Bob what he had seen. The +rest of the afternoon his imagination painted pictures +of ironbound chests half-buried in the yellow +beach sand of some lonely island far down in +the tropics; gloomy caves beneath mysteriously +waving palm trees—caves whose black depths shot +forth a ruddy gleam of gold coin, when a chance +ray of light came through the shade; of shattered +hulks that lay ten fathoms down in the clear green +water of some still lagoon, where pure white coral +beds gave back the sleeping sunshine, and fishes +of all bright colors he had ever seen or dreamed +about swam through the ancient ports to stare +goggle-eyed at heaps of glistening gems.</p> + +<p>At last he must have slept, for Bob's voice in +his ear brought him back to the dingy fo'c's'le of +the <i>Royal James</i> with a start. The lantern was +lit and most of the port watch were snoring heavily +in their bunks after a hard day's work. Bob +took off his shoes and trousers and climbed into +the narrow berth beside his friend, who was now +wide awake. "Listen, Bob," whispered the New +England boy as soon as they were settled, "do +you remember the things Daggs has said, off and +on, about old Sol Brig—how there was always a +lot of gold that the men before the mast never +saw and how he must have saved it till he was +the richest of all the pirates? Well, who would +know what became of that money, if anybody did? +Daggs, of course, the only man that's left of Brig's +crew! I think Daggs knows, and what's more, I +believe I saw the very chart that shows where it +is." He went on to tell all he had seen that afternoon. +Bob was as excited as he when he had finished. +"We must try to get hold of that map or +else get a sight of it!" he exclaimed. Jeremy was +doubtful of the possibility of this. "You see," +he said, "the key is on a string 'round his neck. +The only way would be to break the chest open. +It's big and heavy and we should raise the whole +ship with the racket. Then, besides, I don't like +to steal the thing, even though he is a pirate." +Bob also felt that it would hardly be honest to +break into a man's box, no matter what his character +might be. "If we should just happen to +see the chart, though," he finally explained, "why, +we have just as much right to hunt for the treasure +as he has, or any one else." Jeremy agreed +to this solution of a knotty problem of honor and +both boys decided that for the present they had +no course in the matter but to wait for some accident +to put the paper in their way. However, +not to let any opportunities slip, they resolved to +watch Pharaoh Daggs constantly while he was +awake, in the hope of getting a second glimpse +of the treasured document.</p> + +<p>Jeremy had regained both strength and spirits +when he tumbled out next morning. The pall of +uneasiness which had hung over the ship all the +day before had lifted and the men, sobered once +more, went about their business as usual. The +boys set themselves to the task of watching with +much zeal. It was not so difficult as might be +expected. They had always been aware of the +presence of the man with the broken nose whenever +he was on deck. His sinister eye was too +unpleasant to meet without a shiver. Likewise +they felt an instinctive relief when he went out +of sight. For this reason it was no great matter +for either lad that happened to be present to note +the fact of the pirate's going below. Whenever +he left the deck for anything he was shadowed by +Bob or Jeremy as the case might be. For nearly +three days the mysterious chest remained untouched. +Of that the boys were sure.</p> + +<p>The threatened storm that had roughened the +sea on the day when Captain Manewaring met his +sudden end seemed to have spent itself in racing +clouds and gusts of wind. Fair weather followed +and for forty-eight hours the <i>James</i> and her prize +stood off the coast, heading up to the northeastward +with the wind on the port quarter.</p> + +<p>Bonnet had remained below, haggard and brooding, +suffering from one of the spells of reaction +that commonly followed his misdeeds. By night +of the second day he cast off his gloom and came +on deck, the old reckless light in his eye.</p> + +<p>"Here, Herriot," he called, as he appeared, +"we've got a rich prize in our fist and a richer +one coming. Let's be gay dogs all tonight. Give +the hands extra grog and I'll see you in the cabin +over a square bottle when the watch is changed."</p> + +<p>Before the mast the news was hailed with delighted +cheering. A keg of rum was rolled out +of the hold and set on the fo'c's'le table. Hardly +had darkness settled before half the men aboard +were drunk and the cannikins came back to the +spigot in an unending procession. There was too +much liquor available for the usual choruses to +be sung. Most of the pirates swilled it like pigs +and stopped for nothing till they could move no +longer, but lay helpless where they happened to +fall. Only a bare three men stayed sober enough +to sail the ship. Jeremy thanked his stars for fair +weather when he thought of the case they might +have been in had the orgy occurred in a night of +storm.</p> + +<p>Next day a few of the crew woke at breakfast +time. The rest snored out their drunken sleep +below. Daggs came on deck as usual, to the outward +eye quite his careless, ugly self. His two +young enemies watched him closely, for they suspected +that the drink he had taken had helped to +Jeremy's previous discovery. As the hours went +by, one after another of the buccaneers woke and +dragged himself on deck to growl the discomfort +out of him. By mid-afternoon Jeremy, going below, +found all the bunks empty. He slipped behind +a chest far up in the dark bow angle and +waited for a signal from Bob. The boys had seen +the man with the broken nose watching the decks +uneasily for hours and suspected that he meant +to go below as soon as the fo'c's'le was empty.</p> + +<p>Jeremy must have been in his hiding place close +to half an hour before he heard Bob's sharply +whistled tune close outside in the gun deck. He +ducked lower behind his box and presently heard +steps descending the ladder. A guarded observation +taken from a dark corner close to the floor +disclosed the slouching form of Daggs standing +by the table.</p> + +<p>The buccaneer took a long time for his cautious +survey of the fo'c's'le. Standing perfectly +still he turned his body from the hips and gave +the place a silent scrutiny before he set to work. +He proceeded just as he had done before and +quickly had the chest open and its contents spread +upon the planking. He had just unrolled the +chart when a shout from the hatch made him +leap to his feet. "Sail ho!" was being passed +from mouth to mouth above, and already there +were men on the ladder. In a fever of haste, +Daggs half-pushed, half-threw the chest under his +bunk and shoved the loose clothes and small arms +after it. The paper he still held in his hand. After +a second of indecision, while he looked over his +shoulder at the descending crowd of seamen, he +thrust it in on top of the box and stood erect, +flushed and swaying. The hands were preoccupied +and none seemed to notice his act. There +was a general scurrying of sailors to get out their +cutlasses and pistols, and in the confusion Jeremy +found an easy opportunity to crawl out of the hiding +place and busy himself like the rest.</p> + +<p>Going on deck a minute later, he found Bob +and whispered a brief account of what he had +seen. For the present there was much to be done +on deck. They ran hither and thither at Herriot's +commands, giving a hand at a rope or fetching +something mislaid in the cabin. The <i>James</i> +was under all her canvas and in hot pursuit of +a large sloop, visible some three miles to leeward. +The fleeing ship was driving straight to +sea before the strong west breeze, her sails spread +on both sides like the broad, stubby wings of a +white owl. Bonnet had his jury spar swung to +starboard from the foremast foot and bent the +big jib to balance his main and foresail. Bowing +her head deep into every trough as the waves +swept by, the black sloop ran after her prey at +dizzy speed. The crew gathered along the wet +bows, silent, intent on the game in hand. They +were drawing up perceptibly from moment to moment. +At last they were within half a mile—five +hundred yards—close astern. Aboard the +enemy they could see a small knot of men huddled +aft, working desperately at the breach of a +swivel-cannon. Bonnet ordered Herriot to stand +off to starboard for a broadside. But as the <i>James</i> +swerved outward, a flare of fire and a loud report +went up from her opponent's after part. +For a moment it seemed that her cannon had been +discharged at the pirate, but as they waited for +the splash of the shot, a thick smoke grew in a +cloud over the enemy's deck. The gun or a keg +of powder had exploded. As soon as the buccaneers +perceived it, they bellowed hoarse hurrahs +and prepared to board. The gunners swarmed up +from the port gun deck at the order and all lined +up along the rail howling defiance at the merchantman. +Jeremy saw that all were on deck and +touched Bob's arm.</p> + +<p>They made their way quietly below, and the +New Englander went to Daggs' berth. From beneath +it protruded the corner of the piece of paper. +Both boys knelt eagerly over it as Jeremy pulled +it into the light.</p> + +<p>It was, as they had expected, a chart. The +drawing was crudely done in ink, applied it seemed +with a stick, or possibly with a very badly fashioned +quill-pen. There was very little writing +upon it, and this of the raggedest sort. To their +intense disappointment it bore no name to tell +where in the seven seas it might be. That the +chart was of some coast was certain. A deep, +irregular bay occupied the central part of the +sheet. Two long promontories jutting from east +and west nearly closed the seaward or southern +end. The single word "Watter" was written beside +a dot high up on the paper and a little northeast +of the bay. An anchor, roughly drawn near +the northern shore and a small cross between two +parallel lines a short distance inland, completed +the information given, except for a crossed arrow +and letters indicating the cardinal points of the +compass.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/image127.png" width="400" height="375" alt="chart" /> +</div> + +<p>It required no great time for the two lads to +examine every line and mark. They looked up +and faced each other disappointed. Jeremy voiced +the thought which both had. "How are we to know +where the thing is?" he asked. Bob shook his +head and looked glum. Then he seized the paper +feverishly and turned it over. Its soiled yellow +back gave no clue. Not even the latitude and longitude +were printed. "Well," said Jeremy, finally, +"one thing we can do, and that's remember exactly +how it looks." He measured the length of +the bay with the middle joint of his forefinger. +"Three—four—and a bit over," he counted. "Anchorage +in that round cove to the northwest." +Then, measuring again, "And the cross is two +finger-joints northwest of the anchorage. What +those lines each side of it are I don't know, but I'll +remember them. And that dot marked "Watter" +is one and a half northeast of the mitten-shaped +cove. There—I guess we've got it all by heart +now." He had just finished speaking and both +of them were still looking intently at the map +when a fresh outburst of cheers and the beginning +of a sharp musketry fire were heard above. +Jeremy replaced the paper where he had found +it and they hurried up to look out of the hatchway.</p> + +<p>The two ships were now only half a cable's +length apart, running side by side. Few shots +were being returned by the merchantman and all +her crew were keeping out of sight behind the +solid rail.</p> + +<p>"All hands to board her," Bonnet sang out and +answering her tiller the <i>Royal James</i> swung over +till the two sloops' sides met with a jar. They +were fast in an instant and a score of whooping +buccaneers swept over the rail. From a place of +vantage the boys watched the short, bloody conflict +that followed. It seemed that several of the +enemy's crew, few as they were at the beginning, +had been killed by the explosion of the gun. Only +a half-dozen rose to meet the pirate onslaught. +Not one asked for mercy, even after Herriot had +shot down the captain, and the tide of sea-rovers +rushed at and over the little handful of defenders +in an overwhelming flood. There was no need of +the plank this time. Every man fell fighting and +died sword in hand. To the two young prisoners, +already sickened with the sight of blood, this +wholesale murder of a band of gallant seamen +came as a revolting climax. They stared at each +other, white-faced as they thought of the fate that +threatened them and all honest men who fell into +such ruthless hands. It was Bob's first sight of +a hand-to-hand sea-battle, and as the last merchant +sailor went down under the howling pack he +fainted and tumbled into Jeremy's arms. When +he came to his senses again the Yankee boy had +propped him up behind the companion and was +rubbing him vigorously. "I know how you feel," +he said in answer to Bob's stammered apology. +"It's all right and you've no call to be ashamed. +I came near it myself." The Delaware lad, who +had been almost as distressed at being guilty of +swooning as at the pillage of the merchant sloop, +felt a vast relief when he heard Jeremy's words, +and quickly got upon his feet once more.</p> + +<p>The pirates had cleared the enemy's deck of +bodies and blood and now were taking an inventory +of the sloop's cargo, if the shouts that came +from her hold meant anything. She was a little +larger than the <i>James</i> in length and beam, but +had carried no armament other than the now damaged +stern-chaser. The white letters at her stern +declared her the <i>Fortune</i> of New Castle. From +what Captain Bonnet said to his sailing-master as +they returned over the rail, Jeremy gathered that +she had been in light cargo and was not as rich +a prize as the <i>Francis</i>.</p> + +<p>The latter ship had now come up and was standing +off and on waiting for orders. Bonnet had lost +two men killed and several hurt in the fight, so that +the crew of the <i>Royal James</i>, without the prize +crew on board the <i>Francis</i>, now numbered scarce +a dozen able-bodied men. The question of manning +the newly captured sloop was finally settled +by transferring to her George Dunkin and his +seven seamen. Bonnet freed the men of the +<i>Francis</i> who had been in chains, and set them to +work their own ship under command of Herriot +and another pirate. He undertook to sail the +<i>James</i> himself, for by this time he was really an +able skipper, despite the fact that he had taken +to the sea so late in life. As the crew of the +<i>Francis</i> lined up before going aboard, the notorious +buccaneer faced them with a cold glitter +in his eyes. For a while he kept them wriggling +under his piercing scrutiny. Then he spoke, his +voice even and dangerous.</p> + +<p>"You will be under Mr. Herriot's orders. I +think you are wise enough not to try to mutiny +with him. But if you should undertake it, remember +that no sooner does your sloop draw away +to over one mile's distance than I will come after +you and blow you out of water without parley. +There are just enough sails left aboard your ship +to keep headway in a light breeze. Over with you +now!"</p> + +<p>As darkness deepened the three sloops set out +westward under shortened canvas, keeping so close +that the steersmen hailed each other frequently +through the night. Bob and Jeremy went to their +bunks gloomy and subdued. But Jeremy's sorrows +were lightened by the feeling that sometime, +somewhere, he would find a use for the chart, the +outline of which he had firmly fixed in his memory +that afternoon. And wondering how, he fell +asleep.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + + +<p>The fair weather held and for several days the +little fleet cruised west by south, then southerly +when they had picked up the Virginia Capes. The +pirate crew, in spite of their impatience to divide +the cumbersome booty they had helped to win, +kept in a fairly good temper. Hopes were high +and quarrels were quickly put aside with a "Take +it easy, boys—wait till the sharin's over." Bob +and Jeremy got off with a minimum of hard words +and might have considered their lot almost agreeable +but for one incident. The whippings which +were a regular part of boys' lives aboard ship +in those days, had always been administered by +George Dunkin. As bo's'n, it was not only his +right but his duty to lay in with a rope's end occasionally. +He was one of the fairest men in +Bonnet's company and Jeremy had never felt any +great injustice in the treatment Dunkin had accorded +him. Since his lieutenancy aboard the +prize-sloop, however, the bo's'n had necessarily +ceased to be the executive of punishment, and +when Monday, recognized on all the seas as whipping +day, came around, there was a very secret +hope in Jeremy's heart that the office would be +forgotten. As for Bob, he had so far escaped the +lash, it being understood that he was not an ordinary +ship's boy. As the day wore on, the Yankee +lad remained as inconspicuous as possible, and +began to think that he was safe. About mid-afternoon, +however, a gang of buccaneers, working +at the rent in the bows which still gave trouble, +shouted for a bucket of drinking water. Bob had +been snoozing in the shade of the sail, and when +he was roused at last, took his own time in carrying +out the order. When he appeared finally, there +was a good deal of swearing in the air. Daggs +reached out and jerked the boy into the center +of the group, his light eyes agleam under scowling +brows. "See here, you little runt," he hissed, +"don't think because the Cap'n's savin' you to kill +later, that you're the bloomin' mate of this ship! +Come here to the capstan, now!" Before Bob +was aware of what they meant to do, the angry +sailors had slung him over a capstan bar and tied +his hands and feet to a ring in the deck. After the +clothes had been pulled off his back, there was an +interval while the pirates quarrelled over who +should do the whipping. Daggs demanded the +right and finally prevailed by threatening the instant +disemboweling of his rivals. Bob was trembling +and white, not from fear but because of the +indignity of the punishment. The scarred executioner +spat on his hands, took the heavy rope and +squared his feet. "Shiver away, you cowardly +pup," said he, grinning at one side of his twisted +mouth. Then with a vicious whirl of his arm he +brought the hard hemp down on the boy's naked +shoulders—once, twice, three times—the lad lost +count. At last he nearly lost consciousness under +the torturing fire of the blows. When the buccaneer +ceased for lack of breath his victim hung +limp and twitching over the wooden bar. Long +welts that were beginning to drip red crossed and +recrossed his back. "Now, where's that other +whelp?" panted Daggs. Somebody went below +and dragged Jeremy to light. The boy was +brought up to the crowd at the capstan. He took +one look at Bob's pitiful, set stare and the red +drops on the deck, then turned blazing to face the +man with the broken nose.</p> + +<p>"You great coward!" he cried. The man was +staggered for an instant. Then his rage boiled up +and the tanned skin of his neck turned the color +of old mahogany. "I'll kill the boy," he whispered +hoarsely and drew back his heavy rope for +a swing at Jeremy's head.</p> + +<p>"Daggs"—a voice cut the air from close by his +side. "Daggs, who made you bo's'n of this +sloop?"</p> + +<p>The man whirled and nearly fell over, for Stede +Bonnet was at his elbow. "One more thing of this +kind aboard, and I'll maroon you," said the Captain +sharply, and added, "Gray, put this man in +irons and see that he gets only bread and water +for five days!" Then he turned on his heel and +went back to the cabin. So once more Jeremy's +life was saved by the Captain's whim. He half +carried, half supported his chum to their bunk and +after rubbing his back with grease, begged from +the galley, nursed him the rest of the day. By the +following afternoon the Delaware lad had recovered +his spirits and although he was still too +sore and stiff to go on deck, had no trouble in +eating the food Jeremy brought him. The absence +of Daggs made life assume a happier outlook and +it was not long before the boy was as right as +ever.</p> + +<p>August was nearly past. To the boys, who knew +little of the geography of the coast and nothing of +Bonnet's plans, it was something of a surprise +when the man at the tiller of the <i>James</i>, which +was in the lead, swung her head over to landward +one morning. Low shores, with a white line of +sand beneath the vivid dark green of trees, ran +along the western horizon. As the sloop ran in, +the boys expected to see the broad opening of some +bay but there was still no visible variation of the +coast line. No town was to be seen, nor even a +single hut, when they were close in. The trees +were live-oaks, Bob said, though Jeremy had never +seen one to know it before.</p> + +<p>The <i>Royal James</i> and her consorts held a slow +course along the shore for several hours. The +strip of sand was gradually widening and in places +stretched inland for a mile in dunes and hillocks, +traversed by little tidewater creeks. At last there +showed a narrow inlet between two dunes, and +Bonnet, who had now taken the helm, headed the +sloop cautiously for this opening. One of the men +constantly heaved the lead and cried the soundings +as the ship progressed. The pirate chief kept +to the left of the channel and finally passed +through into a wide lagoon, with a scant fathom +to spare at the shallowest place. The <i>Fortune</i> +entered without difficulty, but the deeply-laden +<i>Francis</i> grounded midway in and had to wait +several hours for the tide to float her.</p> + +<p>Listening to the talk of the crew, Bob heard +them say they had come into the mouth of the +Cape Fear River in Carolina. From what he knew +of the nearby coast he believed that it was a very +wild region, almost unsettled, and that there would +be slight chance of getting to safety, even if they +were able to effect an escape. This fear seemed +justified later in the day, when Bonnet said to one +of his men that there was no need of shackling +the boys as had been done in the Chesapeake. +Turning so that they could hear, he added, "Too +many Indians in these woods for the lads to try +to leave the ship." Jeremy, who had seen enough +of both pirates and Indians to last him a lifetime, +remarked to his friend that personally he would +risk his neck with one as soon as the other, but +Bob had heard terrible stories of the red men's +cruelty and did not agree with him. "We'd best +stay aboard and wait for a better chance," he +argued.</p> + +<p>All three of the sloops were leaky and needed +a thorough overhauling in various ways. As soon +as the <i>Francis</i> was off the bar, therefore, they +proceeded up the estuary for a distance of nearly +two miles and secured their vessels in shallow +water, where they could be careened at low tide.</p> + +<p>Next morning and for many hot days thereafter +the pirates and their prisoners toiled hard +at the refitting of the ships. Lumber was not +easy to come by in that desolate region and when +they had used up all their spare planking, Bonnet +took the <i>Royal James</i> out over the bar to hunt for +the wherewithal to do his patching. After a +cruise of a day and a night to the southward they +sighted a small fishing shallop which they quickly +overtook, and captured without a fight. The two +men in the shallop jumped overboard and swam +ashore when they saw the black flag, and Bonnet +was too much occupied in getting the prize back +to the river-mouth to give chase. It was an unfortunate +thing for him that he did not do so, +but of that presently. The shallop was run into +the river-mouth and broken up the next day. With +the fresh supply of lumber thus secured, the work +of repair went forward undelayed, and within a +few weeks the sloops were almost ready for sea +again.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + + +<p>It had been about the beginning of September +when the pirate fleet had sighted the live oaks on +the bars of the Cape Fear River. To Bob and +Jeremy those first days were uneventful but +hardly pleasant. Through the long still afternoons +a pitiless sun blazed into every corner of +the deck. Wide flats and hot-looking white dunes +stretched away on either hand. Only the line of +woods half a mile distant offered a suggestion of +green coolness. When the sun had set the fo'c's'le +held the heat like a baker's oven. One long, tossing +night of it sufficed for the two boys, and after +that they sought a corner of the deck away from +the snoring seamen and lying down on the bare +planks, contrived to sleep in reasonable comfort.</p> + +<p>The days were spent in hard work for the most +part. A good deal of washing and cleaning had +to be done aboard all three vessels, and as labor +requiring no special skill, it fell frequently to the +lot of Jeremy and Bob. It was small matter to +them whether they toiled or were idle, for the +blistering sun allowed no respite and it seemed +preferable to sweat over something useful than +over nothing at all.</p> + +<p>On the third day after the return of the <i>James</i> +from her foraging trip, Jeremy, who had been +scraping and tarring ropes for hours on end, +straightened his back with a discontented grunt +and looked away to the edge of the woods, his +eyebrows puckered in a frown. "Bob," he said +in a voice too low for any of their shipmates to +hear, "Bob, I'm going to run away if something +doesn't happen soon."</p> + +<p>"You'll be shot, like as not," answered the +Delaware boy.</p> + +<p>"Well, shot let it be," he replied doggedly. +"If I'm to stay aboard here all my life, I'd <i>rather</i> +be shot. It looks like the best chance we've had, +right now. Will you come tonight?"</p> + +<p>Bob thought for a moment. "I'm not afraid +of their catching us," he finally said. "It's the +Indians, after we're into the woods. You say you +know the Indians and trust them as long as they +are treated right. That may be true of the ones +you've known, but these Tuscaroras are different. +They don't talk the same language, and those +words you learned would mayhap go for curses +down here. I don't think we ought to try +it."</p> + +<p>Jeremy admitted that his previous acquaintance +stood for nothing, but argued, from the fact that +Bonnet had been trying to frighten them, that he +had probably exaggerated the danger. Finally, +not wishing to leave his friend if he could help it, +he agreed to abandon the plan for the present.</p> + +<p>They worked at the rope-tarring till suppertime, +then rose wearily, stretching, and went for +their salt-horse and biscuit. When the coarse rations +were eaten, it was nearly sunset. Jeremy +watched the sluggish water glide by below the +canted rail, till at last small quivering blurs of +light, the reflections of stars, began to gleam in +the ripples. A faint breeze, sprung up with the +coming of night, blew across the sweltering lagoon. +Bob, tired out, fell asleep, his head pillowed on the +deck. The pirates, some below in the bunks, some +stretched on the planking, lay like dead men. +After the hard labor of the day even the regular +watch slumbered undisturbed. Jeremy's thoughts +went drifting off into half-dreams as the soft black +water lulled him with its unending whisper. His +head nodded. He raised it, striving, he knew +not why, to keep awake. The gentle water-sounds +crept in again, soothing his drowsy ears. He was +close to sleep—so close that another moment would +have taken him across the border. But in that +little time the sharp double cry of a heron, flying +high over the lagoon, cut the night air and startled +the boy broad awake.</p> + +<p>As he stared off over the dim whiteness of the +bars, his senses astretch for a repetition of that +weird call, there was a faint splashing in the water +close to the sloop. One of the starpools was +blotted out in blackness at the instant he turned +to look over the rail. The boy's heart seemed to +be beating against the roof of his mouth. +Thoughts of alligators crossed his mind, for he +had heard of them from the pirates who had plied +in southern waters. As quietly as he could, he +moved to the rail and stood staring over, his eyes +bulging into the dark and his breath coming short +and fast. For perhaps a minute there was no +sight nor sound but the lapping water of the +lagoon. Then he became aware of a whiteness +drifting close, and heard a familiar voice whispering +his name. "Jeremy—Jeremy—it's Job!" +said the white blotch. It bumped softly along +the side, and at last the boy could see the homely +features of his old friend, pale through the gloom. +There was a loose rope-end dragging over the +side, and Job's hand feeling along the woodwork +came in contact with it.</p> + +<p>"Better not try to come aboard," whispered +Jeremy. "They're all on deck here. Can you +take us off?"</p> + +<p>There was silence for an instant as Job felt +for a hold in one of the gun ports. Then he raised +himself till his head was level with the deck.</p> + +<p>"Is the other lad there?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Ay," replied Jeremy. "He's here but he will +have to be wakened."<br /></p> + +<div class="center"><a name="facing_143"></a> +<img src="images/image143.png" width="342" height="523" alt="Don't say a word—sh!—easy there—are you awake?" /><br /> +"Don't say a word—sh!—easy there—are you awake?"<br /> +</div> + +<p><br />"Go to him and take his hand. Begin squeezing +soft-like, and press harder till he opens his eyes. +Don't startle him," was Job's admonition.</p> + +<p>The boy did as he was bid. A gentle grip on +the Delaware lad's palm brought him to his senses. +Jeremy was whispering in a cool, steady undertone, +"Bob, that's the lad—wake up, Bob—don't +say a word—sh!—easy there—are you awake?" +When he was rewarded by a nod of comprehension, +he told his comrade of Job's presence and +the chance they had to escape. Bob understood in +a moment. They returned to the rail and first one, +then the other let himself quietly down, holding +to the rope. Jeremy slipped into the water last.</p> + +<p>Luckily they could both swim, though the sloop +was so near the beach that swimming was hardly +necessary. The tall ex-pirate crawled out upon +the sand in the lead and they followed him quickly +over a dune and across another creek. They were +now far enough away for their flight to be unheard +and Job began to run, the boys close behind +him. They made a good mile to the south +before he allowed his panting runaways to stop +for breath. There in the reeds beside a narrow +estuary, they came upon a small dinghy, pulled +up. The seaman ran the boat into the water, +bundled the boys into the bottom astern, and was +quickly pulling down stream along the sharp +windings of the creek.</p> + +<p>When they had put three miles of sand and +water behind them, Job rested on his oars to +catch his breath. His voice came through the +hot dark, pantingly. "Lucky you stood up an' +came to the rail the way you did, lad," he said. +"I didn't know just how I was to reach you. +When you came to the side I could see it was +a boy, an' knew things was all right. Well—we'd +best be gettin' on—no tellin' how soon they +may find you're gone." Once more the big Yankee +bowed his back to the task in hand and a +silence fell, broken only by the faint sound of +the muffled oars and the swirl of water along the +sides. Not even the thrill of the escape could +keep the two tired boys awake, and it was nearly +an hour later that they were roused by voices +calling at no great distance. A tall black mass +on which showed a single moving light rose out +of the gloom ahead. The hail was repeated. "Oh, +there, Job Howland—boat ahoy! What luck?" +"All's well," replied Job, and ran in under the +ship's counter. A line was let down and as soon +as the skiff was made fast Bob and Jeremy and +their deliverer scrambled up to the open port.</p> + +<p>There was shouting and a moving to and fro +of lanterns, as they were ushered into the cabin, +and suddenly a tall man, half-clad, burst through +the door at the farther end. He had the tattered +form of Bob Curtis in his arms in an instant, +and great boy though he was, the Delaware lad +hugged his father ecstatically and wept.</p> + +<p>Job and Jeremy, pleased as they were to see +this reunion, were hardly comfortable in its presence +and made a vain attempt to withdraw gracefully. +The merchant was after them before they +could reach the door. "Here, Howland," he cried, +holding to Bob with one hand and seizing the ex-pirate's +arm with the other. "Don't you try to +leave yet. Gad, man, this is the happiest hour +I've had in years. I owe you so much that it +can't be put in figures. And this tall lad is Jeremy +that you've told me of. Look at the sunburn on +the pair of 'em—pretty desperate characters to +have aboard, I'm afraid!"</p> + +<p>His roar of laughter was joined by the other +three, as he showed the way to a couple of roomy +berths, built in at the end of the cabin. The two +boys were left, after a final boisterous "Good-night," +and proceeded to make themselves snug +between the linen sheets. Jeremy had never slept +in such luxury in his whole life, and moved gingerly +for fear of hurting something. At last their +exhilaration subsided enough for the rescued lads +to go to sleep once more. Jeremy's last thought +was a half-mournful one as he wondered how long +it must be before he, too, could throw himself +against the broad homespun wall of his father's +breast.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + + +<p>When they woke it was to the regular heave and +lurch of a sailing vessel in motion, and Jeremy, +looking out the port, beheld the crisp, sparkling +blue of open sea.</p> + +<p>There were two suits of every-day clothes upon +the cabin bench and into these the boys climbed, +impatient to get out on deck. The ship was the +big merchantman, <i>Indian Queen</i>, though Bob, used +as he was to her appearance, would hardly have +known her in her new guise. Long lines of black +cannon grimly faced the open ports along either +side. The rail had been built up solidly to a height +of about six feet, so that the main deck was now +a typical gun deck, open overhead. Her regular +crew of seasoned mariners was augmented by as +many more longshoremen, all good men, picked +for their courage and hand-to-hand fighting ability.</p> + +<p>Job, who acted as second mate and was in full +charge of the gun crews, took the boys proudly +from one big carronade to another, explaining +each improvement which his experience or ingenuity +had devised. His chief pride was the +long nine-pounder in the bows. She was a swivel +gun set on bearings so finely adjusted and well-greased +that one man could aim her. Job patted +her shiny brass rump lovingly as he looked across +the blue swells ahead. He could hardly wait for +the hour when he should set a match to her +breach.</p> + +<p>Clarke Curtis joined the group a few minutes +later, and they went together to the main cabin. +Bob's father, Mr. Ghent, the Captain, and Job +Howland settled themselves comfortably over long +pipes and glasses of port, and prepared to hear +the boys' story. Jeremy, bashful in such fine company, +was persuaded to recount his adventures +from the time Job had gone over the side till the +kidnapped Delaware boy had come aboard. Then +Bob took up the tale and told with much spirit +of the storm, the trip up the Chesapeake and the +subsequent pursuit of the <i>Francis</i> off the Capes. +From this point on the two lads told the story together, +eagerly interrupting each other to put in +some incident forgotten for the moment. When +they came to the discovery of Pharaoh Daggs' +chart, Job sat up with a jerk. "I always thought +he knew!" he exclaimed. "Jeremy, lad, could ye +draw me a picture of what 'twas like?" The +boy readily consented, and given a piece of paper, +proceeded to set down, from his memory of the +outline and from the general measurements he had +taken, a very fair copy of the original. The ex-buccaneer +leaned over him as he drew, and shook +his head doubtfully as the work went on. "No," +he said when the boy had finished, "I can't recall +such a bay just this minute. An' as there was +nothin' on it to tell where it might be, I don't +know as there's anything for us to do. Like as +not it's on some little island as isn't set down, so +'twould be scant use to look over the ship's charts. +Still, I'll try it." A half-day of poring over the +maps produced no result. There were bays large +and small that resembled the one Jeremy had +drawn, but none closely enough to warrant the +belief that it was the same. "Well," remarked +Job as he put away the charts, "Daggs'll never +live to reach his bay. He'll swing on Charles +Town Dock, an' I mistake not." But in that saying +at least the ex-pirate proved himself no +prophet.</p> + +<p>The light wind held and the <i>Indian Queen</i> made +reasonable speed down the coast for nearly two +days. Then, after drifting under short sail all +night, she made in with the dawn, past the small +island which nearly a century and a half later was +to be the scene of a great war's beginning, crept +up against the tide till noon and anchored off +the thriving port of Charles Town. Mr. Curtis and +Job went ashore in the cutter, as soon as all was +snug aboard. On landing they went directly to +the Governor's house.</p> + +<p>Governor Johnson was at home and gladly welcomed +the Delaware merchant, who was an old +acquaintance of his. When they had been shown +into a large room where the official business of +the colony was transacted, Mr. Curtis proceeded +at once to the point of his visit. He learned that +the messenger from Delaware had arrived and his +plea for aid had been duly considered. Johnson +was troubled at having no better answer for his +friend, but said that the treasury of the southern +colony had not yet recovered from the strain put +upon it four years before at the time of the Indian +massacres. He believed that he had no right at +this time to spend the public funds in fitting out +a fleet, unless it was to avenge an injury done +some member of the colony. His honest distress +at being unable to assist was so obvious that +neither the merchant nor his chief gunner felt +like urging their claim for help.</p> + +<p>Mr. Curtis told of the rescue of the two boys, +much to the discomfort of the blushing Job, and +they rose to take their departure, feeling no ill +will toward the Governor for his inability to help +them. As they started to go out of the room, a +loud insistent knock was heard. "Come in," said +Johnson, and immediately the door was opened +to admit a short, well-built gentleman, very much +flushed as to the face, and whose eyes fairly shot +forth sparks. He was followed by two other men, +dressed in rough clothes that seemed to have seen +recent hard usage. The leader advanced with +rapid steps. "Look'e here, Governor," he said, +"those confounded pirates are at us again. Here's +two of my men——"</p> + +<p>"Gently, Colonel Rhett," interrupted the Governor, +his eyes twinkling. "Allow me to introduce +Mr. Clarke Curtis of Delaware and his friend, Mr. +Howland. I believe your business and theirs will +fall very easily into one track. Pray be seated, +gentlemen."</p> + +<p>The Colonel shot a keen glance at these new +acquaintances and, when the four had taken chairs +around the table, began again more calmly to tell +his story. A fishing smack, one of a half-dozen +open boats belonging to him, had been cruising +along the coast to the eastward the week before, +and when about forty miles west of Cape Fear +had sighted a large black sloop under great spread +of sail, bearing down upon her. The two men in +the shallop put about and made for shore as fast +as they could, using oars and canvas alike, but +when they were still half a mile out they saw that +the pursuing ship flew a black pirate flag. When, +a few moments after, a round shot came dangerously +close to their stern, they leaped over the +side without more ado and succeeded in swimming +ashore, glad to come out of the adventure with +whole skins. After a perilous journey of many +leagues overland, they had just arrived in Charles +Town and reported the affair to Rhett, their employer. +"So you see," said the Colonel in conclusion, +"we're in for another siege of the kind +we had with <i>Blackbeard</i> unless we take some quick +action on this."</p> + +<p>Johnson sat thoughtful for a moment. "Let +me put the matter up to you exactly as it now +stands," he finally said. "There is a little money +in the treasury. But to buy and fit out properly +three ships would drain us almost as dry as we +were in 1715. Would you have me do that, +Rhett?" The Colonel shook his head. "No," he +replied, "you must not." Then after looking at +the floor for a moment he stood up with quick +decision. "See here," he said, "we can get +enough volunteers to do this whole business or +my name's not William Rhett." Mr. Curtis thrust +out a big hand. "My ship <i>Indian Queen</i>, twenty-one +guns, is in the harbor, ready for sea. She's +at your service," he smiled. The Colonel gripped +his hand delightedly. "Done," he cried, "and +now let's see what other commanders we can recruit. +Will you give me a commission, Governor?" +And receiving an affirmative reply, he led +the way down to the docks.</p> + +<p>Colonel Rhett was a well-known figure in +Charles Town. He owned a large plantation a +few miles inland, and conducted a fish warehouse +as well. Among tobacco growers, townsmen and +sea-captains alike he was widely acquainted and +respected as much as any man in the colony. His +courage and skill as a soldier were proverbial, for +he had been a leader in the suppression of the +Indian uprising. Certainly no man in the Carolinas +was better fitted for the task which he had +in hand. For two days he and his friends from +the <i>Queen</i> fairly lived on the wharves, and before +sunset of the second he had secured the services +of two sloops, the <i>Henry</i>, Captain John Masters, +and the <i>Sea Nymph</i>, Captain Fayrer Hall. Neither +ship was equipped for fighting, but by using cannon +from the town defences and borrowing some +half-dozen pieces from the heavily-armed <i>Indian +Queen</i>, a complement of eight guns for each sloop +was made up.</p> + +<p>On September 15th the three ships, in war trim +and carrying in their combined crews nearly 200 +men, crossed the Charles Town bar. Just before +they sailed news had come in that the notorious +pirate, Charles Vane, had passed to the south with +a prize, and Rhett's first course was laid along +the coast in that direction. Two or three days +of search in the creeks and inlets failed to reveal +any sign of the buccaneer, however, and much to +the relief of the impatient Mr. Curtis, they put +about for Cape Fear on the eighteenth. The progress +of the fleet up the coast was slow. Constant +rumors of pirates were received, and every hiding +place on the shore was examined as they went +along.</p> + +<p>Bob and Jeremy, wild with suppressed excitement, +could hardly brook this delay, for, as they +warned the officers of the expedition repeatedly, +there was every reason to expect that Bonnet +would leave the river soon, if he had not gone +already. For this reason the <i>Indian Queen</i> went +on in advance of the others and patrolled the +waters off the headland for four days, until Rhett +should come up.</p> + +<p>On the evening of the twenty-sixth he made +his appearance and as there was still light they +decided to enter the river-mouth. The tide was +just past flood. Rhett's flagship, the <i>Henry</i>, nosed +in first over the bar and was followed by the <i>Sea +Nymph.</i> The great, deep-draughted <i>Queen</i> advanced +to within a few lengths of the entrance, +but the soundings showed that even there she had +only a fathom or two to spare, and would certainly +come to grief if she adventured further. +As it was, even the lighter sloops ran aground +fifteen minutes later and were not launched again +till nearly dawn. Captain Ghent had anchored +the big ship as close in as he dared and she sat +bow-on to the channel-mouth. Her two consorts +were in plain sight a few hundred yards inside. +Rhett came back during the night in a small boat +and held a council of war with Curtis, Ghent and +Job Howland. He reported that a party of pirates +in longboats had come down river during the +evening to reconnoitre, but had beat a retreat as +soon as they had seen the <i>Henry's</i> guns.</p> + +<p>It was decided about half the crew of the <i>Queen</i> +should be added to the force of men on the two +sloops, while the big vessel herself was forced to +be content with standing guard off the entrance. +This was a bitter blow not only to Mr. Curtis, +but to Job and the boys, who had looked forward +to the battle with zest.</p> + +<p>Bob and Jeremy had been ordered to bed about +midnight, but they rose before light, in their excitement, +and sunrise found them in the bows with +Job, watching the long point of sand behind which +they knew the pirates lay. Preparations had been +made aboard the <i>Henry</i> and <i>Sea Nymph</i> for an +immediate advance up the river. Hardly had the +first slant beams of sunlight struck upon Rhett's +deck before the crew were lustily pulling at the +main halyards and winding in the anchor chain.</p> + +<p>But even before the two Carolina sloops were +under way there was an excited chorus of "Here +he comes!" and above the dune at the bend of +the river, appeared the headsails of the <i>Royal +James</i>. Bonnet had weighed his chances and decided +for a running fight. The pirate ship cleared +the point, nearly a mile away, and came flying +down, every inch of canvas drawing in the stiff +offshore breeze. It seemed for a moment as if +she might get safely past the Carolinians and out +to sea, with the <i>Queen</i> as her only antagonist. +Probably Bonnet had counted on the unexpectedness +of his maneuver to accomplish this result. +But if so, he had left out of his reckoning the +character of William Rhett. That gentleman hesitated +not an instant, but headed upstream directly +toward the enemy. Fortunately, he had two good +skippers in Masters and Hall, for the good Colonel +himself knew little of sailing. Thanks to +these lieutenants, the two attacking sloops were +let off the wind at exactly the right time, and filled +away down the river close together off the pirate's +starboard bow. Bonnet raced up abeam, +firing broadsides as fast as his men could load, +and his cannonade was answered in kind from +the <i>Henry</i>. She and the <i>Sea Nymph</i> began to +veer over to port, forcing the black sloop closer +and closer to shore, but the buccaneer Captain +refused to take in an inch of sail. His course +was all but justified. The speedy craft which he +commanded gained on her foes hand over hand +till, when only a few hundred yards from the narrow +mouth of the estuary, she led them both by +her own length.</p> + +<p>From the deck of the <i>Queen</i> Jeremy and Bob +could pick out the big form of Herriot at the +tiller. Just as the <i>Royal James</i> passed into the +lead, they saw him swing mightily on the long +steering-beam while at the same instant the main +sheet was hauled in. It was prettily done. The +pirate went hard over to starboard, kicking up a +wave of spray as she slewed. She sprang away +from under the bows of the <i>Henry</i> with only inches +to spare, for the bowsprit of Rhett's sloop tore +the edge of her mainsail in passing. The fierce +cheer that rose from the deck of the black buccaneer +was drowned in a jarring crash. She had +eluded her foe only to run, ten seconds later, upon +a submerged sand bar. It was now the Carolinians' +turn to cheer, though it soon appeared +that they might better have saved their breath for +other purposes. The <i>Henry</i>, unable to check her +speed, ran straight ahead, and hardly a minute +after her enemy's mishap was hard aground +twenty yards away. Both sloops lay careened to +starboard, so that the whole deck of the <i>Henry</i> +offered a fair target for Bonnet's musketry, while +the <i>Royal James's</i> port side was thrown up, a +stout defence against the small-arm fire of Rhett's +men. Owing to the slant of their decks it was +impossible to train the cannon of either ship.</p> + +<p>The <i>Sea Nymph</i>, meanwhile, in an effort to cut +off the course of the pirate, had put over straight +for the channel mouth, and before she could come +about her bows also were fast in the sand, and +she lay stern toward the other two, but out of +musket-shot, unable to take a hand in the hot +fight that followed. Had either the <i>Henry's</i> crew +or the buccaneers been able to send a proper broadside +from their position, it seems that they must +surely have blown their foe out of water, though +we need, of course, to make allowance for the comparative +feebleness of their ordnance in contrast +to that of the present day.</p> + +<p>The stranding of the three vessels had occupied +so short a time that the little group of witnesses +high up in the bow of the <i>Indian Queen</i> +had not yet exchanged a word. Clinging to the +rail, open-mouthed, they had seen the pirate make +her bold dash across the bows of her pursuers, +only to strike the bar in her instant of triumph, +then following with the quickness of events in a +dream, the grounding first of the <i>Henry</i>, afterwards +of the <i>Nymph</i>.</p> + +<p>Nor was there an appreciable pause in the spectacle, +for the pirates, who had been shooting steadily +during the race down river, wasted no time +in trying to get off the bar, but raked their nearby +adversaries' deck with a withering fire. Rhett's +crew tumbled into the scuppers, where they were +under the partial cover of the bulwark, but many +were killed, even before they could reach this shelter, +and living and dead rolled down together, as +in a ghastly comedy.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + + +<p>The boys, intent upon this awful scene, turned +as a shout from Job Howland swelled above the +uproar. The big gunner was at the breach of +his swivel-gun, ramrod in hand. The little group +scattered to one side or the other, leaving an open +space at the bow rail. At the same moment Job +put in his powder, a heavy charge, ramming it +home quickly, but with all care. On top of the +wadding went the round-shot, which was in its +turn hammered down under the powerful strokes +of the ramrod. Maneuvering the well-balanced +breech with both hands, the tall Yankee trained +his cannon upon the pirate sloop; allowed for distance, +raising the muzzle an inch or more; nosed +the wind and glanced at the foremast pennons; +then swung his piece a fraction of an inch to windward.</p> + +<p>At last with a shout of "'Ware fire!" he sprang +back and laid his match to the touch-hole. There +was a spurt of flame as the long nine roared above +the staccato bark of the musketry. Then they +saw a section of the pirate's upper rail leap clear +of her deck and fall overside. "Too high," said +Job shortly, though Ghent and Curtis had cheered +at the shot, for the distance was a good half-mile. +Job worked feverishly at his reloading, helped by +others of the <i>Queen's</i> gun crews. Again the +charge was a stout one, but this time the gunner +laid his muzzle pointblank at the top of the rail, +allowing only for wind. Once more he fired. Just +short of the <i>Royal James</i> went up a little tower +of spray. Job said not a word, but set his great +angular jaws and went about his work with all +the speed he had.</p> + +<p>"Look," said Jeremy to Bob, in a sudden burst +of understanding, "the tide's rising. See how it +runs in past our bows. In another five minutes +one of those boats will be afloat. Watch how the +<i>James</i> rocks up and down already! If she gets +off first, it'll go hard with Rhett, for Bonnet'll +let off a broadside as soon as his guns are level. +That's why Job's trying so hard to put a hole in +her."</p> + +<p>Almost as he spoke the report of the third shot +rolled out. The buccaneer sloop jumped sharply, +like a spurred horse. In her side, just at the water +line, a black streak had suddenly appeared. The +waves of the incoming tide no longer swayed her +buoyantly, for she wallowed on the bar like a log. +The effect of the shot, though it could be seen from +the <i>Sea Nymph</i>, where it was greeted with cheers, +was still unknown aboard the <i>Henry</i>. In the wash +of water as the tide rolled in, Rhett's sloop stood +almost on an even keel. The remnant of his crew +appeared to have taken heart, for a brisk fire now +answered that of the buccaneers. Suddenly a triumphant +shouting began aboard the stranded flagship, +soon answered in increasing volume from her +two consorts. The <i>Henry</i> was moving slowly off +the bar.</p> + +<p>On the black sloop there was a silence as of +death. Stede Bonnet, late gentleman of the island +of Barbadoes, honorably discharged as major from +the army of his Majesty, since turned sea-rover +for no apparent cause, and now one of the most +notorious plunderers of the coast, faced his last +fight. Outnumbered nearly ten to one, his ship +a stranded hulk, his cannon useless, surely he read +his doom. His men read it and turned sullenly +to haul down the tattered rag of black that still +hung from the masthead. But a last blaze of the +old mad courage flared up in the Captain, as he +faced them, dishevelled and bloody, from behind +cocked pistols. Above the tumult of the fusillade +his voice, usually so clear, rose hoarse with anger. +"I'll scatter the deck with the brains of any man +who will not fight to the end!" he cried.</p> + +<p>For a second the issue was in doubt. In another +instant the iron spell he held over his men must +have won them back. Herriot was already running +to his side. But before he reached his chief +a louder cheer from the attacking sloops made him +turn. The black "Roger" fluttered downward to +the deck.</p> + +<p>One of the captive sailors from the <i>Francis</i>, +fearing to be taken for a pirate if it came to +deck-fighting, had crept up behind the mast and +cut the flag halyards. The men's hearts fell with +the falling ensign and they stood irresolute while +the <i>Henry</i> went up alongside. There was now +water enough for her to come close aboard and +when she stood at a boat's length distant, Colonel +Rhett appeared at the rail. He pointed to +the muzzles of four loaded cannon aboard his sloop +and told Bonnet that he would proceed to blow +him into the air if he did not surrender in one minute's +time. There was little parley. The pirate +captain's flare of resistance had burned out and +pale and strangely shaken he handed over his +sword and submitted to the disarming of his men.</p> + +<p>It was now well along in the morning. The +prisoners whom Rhett had taken were rowed out in +small boats across the bar and put aboard the +<i>Indian Queen</i>. One by one they were hauled over +the side and placed below in chains. Job, Jeremy +and Bob stood at a little distance and counted +those who had been captured. Now and then they +were greeted by an ugly look and a curse as some +old shipmate recognized them. Last of all, Major +Bonnet passed, haggard and unkempt, his head +bowed in shame.</p> + +<p>"Thirty-five in all," finished Job. "Guess our +old and handsome friend, Pharaoh Daggs must +have got his gruel in that fight. Well, if ever man +deserved to die a violent death, it's him. I'd like +to make sure, though. Want to go over to the +<i>James</i> with me?" Both boys welcomed the opportunity +and as the longboat was just then starting +back, they were soon aboard the battered pirate, +so recently their home. Three or four dead men +lay on the canted deck, for no effort had been +made as yet to clean the ship. Bob and Jeremy +had no stomach for looking at the corpses of their +erstwhile companions and turned rather to explore +the cabin and fo'c's'le, leaving Job to hunt +for the body of their old enemy.</p> + +<p>In the long bunkroom some water had entered +with the rising tide and they found the lower side +a miniature lake. In the semi-darkness, seamen's +chests floated past like houses in a flood. One of +the big boxes was open, half its contents trailing +after it. Something familiar about the brass-bound +cover and the blue cloth that hung over +the side made Jeremy start. "Daggs' chest!" he +exclaimed and reached forward, pulling it up on +the dry planking. The two boys delved into the +damp rubbish it held. There were a few clothes, +a rusty pistol, an able seaman's certificate crumpled +and torn almost beyond recognition. The +sack of money and the chart were gone. After +searching in dark corners of the fo'c's'le and +fishing in the pool of leakage without discovering +what they sought, the boys returned to the box. +"Odd," said Jeremy at length. "Every other +chest is locked fast. Why should he have opened +his?" This seemed unanswerable. They returned +to the deck, to find Job peering into the green +water overside. "The body's not here," said the +big seaman, "unless he fell over the rail or was +thrown over. I'm looking to see if it's down +there." The sand shone clean and white through +the shallow water on every side. No trace of the +buccaneer was to be seen. Jeremy told of finding +the open chest. "Hm," mused Job, "looks like +he'd got away, though he may be dead; I'd like +to know for sure. Still," he added, his face clearing, +"chances are we'll never see nor hear of him +again." And putting the man with the broken +nose out of their thoughts, they rejoined their +friends on the big merchantman.</p> + +<p>Just before nightfall the Carolina sloops, which +had made an expedition up the river, returned +with Bonnet's two prizes in tow. They had been +abandoned in the effort to escape, and Rhett had +launched them without difficulty. A great sound +of hammering filled the air above the desert lagoon +for two days. The old <i>Revenge</i>, now so rechristened +since she had fallen into honest hands, +had to be floated, for there was still service in +her shattered black hull. A hundred men toiled +on and around her, and in a remarkably short time +a jury patch was made in her gaping side and her +hold pumped dry. Then crews were picked to +man the three captured sloops, and the flotilla was +ready to return triumphant. On the morning +when they stood out to sea, the twelve men of +Rhett's party who had been killed in action were +buried with military honors, saluted by the cannon +of the fleet.</p> + +<p>A voyage of three days, unmarred by any accident, +brought the victorious squadron into +Charles Town harbor. Joy knew no bounds among +the merchants and seamen along the docks. Indeed, +the rejoicing spread through the town to +the tune of church bells and the whole colony was +soon made aware of Rhett's victory.</p> + +<p>When the buccaneers had been taken ashore +under a heavy guard and locked up in the public +watchhouse, Mr. Curtis and Bob, with Job and +Jeremy, went ashore to stretch their legs. It +was a fine, fall day, warm as midsummer to Jeremy's +way of thinking. The docks were fascinatingly +full of merchandise. Great hogsheads of +molasses and rum from Jamaica, set ashore from +newly arrived ships, shouldered for room with +baled cotton and boxes of tobacco ready to be +loaded. There was a smell of spices and hot tar +where the sun beat down on the white decks and +tall spars of the shipping. Negroes, hitherto almost +unknown to the Yankee boy, handled bales +and barrels on the wharves, their gleaming black +bodies naked to the waist.</p> + +<p>Planters from the fertile country behind the +town rode in with their attendant black boys, and +gathered at the coffee-houses on King Charles +Street. It was to one of these, the "Scarlet Fish," +that the bluff Delaware man took his protégés for +dinner.</p> + +<p>The place was resplendent with polished deal +and shining pewter. Curtains of brightly colored +stuff hung at the high square windows, and on +the side where the sun entered, pots of flowers +stood in the broad window-shelves. There were +gay groups of men at the tables, and talk of the +pirates was going everywhere over the Madeira +and chocolate. It seemed the news of Job's gunnery +had been spread by Rhett's men, for some +of the diners recognized and pointed to him. A +pretty barmaid, with dimples in her elbows, curtsied +low as she set down his cup. "Oh, yes, +Captain Howland!" she answered as he gave his +order, blushed a deep pink and ran to the kitchen. +Whereupon Job, quite overcome, vowed that the +ladies of Carolina were the fairest in the world, +and Mr. Curtis roared heartily, saying that "Captain +Howland" it should be, and that before many +months, if he knew a good seadog.</p> + +<p>As they sat and sipped their coffee after a meal +that reflected glory upon the cook of the "Scarlet +Fish," Colonel Rhett came in and made his way +to their table through a hurly-burly of back-slappings +and "Bravos." As soon as he was able +to sit down in peace, he drew Mr. Curtis a little +aside to talk in private. The two boys were content +to watch the changing scene and listen to +the hearty badinage of the fashionable young +blades about the tables. It was, you must remember, +Jeremy's first experience of luxury, unless +the good, clean quarters and wholesome meals +aboard the <i>Queen</i> could be so called. He had never +read any book except the Bible, had never seen +more than a half-dozen pictures in his life. From +these and from the conversation of backwoodsmen +and, more recently, of pirates, he had been +forced to form all his conceptions of the world +outside of his own experience. It is a tribute to +his clean traditions and sturdy self-reliance that +he sat unabashed, pleased with the color, the gayety, +the richness, but able still to distinguish the +fine things from the sham, the honest things from +those which only appeared honest—to feel a thrill +of pride in his father's hard, rough-hewn life and +his own.</p> + +<p>Colonel Rhett's conference with Mr. Curtis being +over, the score was paid and the party took +their triumphal way to the door, Job turning his +sunburned face once or twice to glance regretfully +after the dimpled barmaid.</p> + +<p>That afternoon they were taken to the Governor's +house, where Job and each of the boys told +the story of their experiences in Bonnet's company. +These stories were sworn to as affidavits +and kept for use in the coming trial of the pirate +crew. It was a special dispensation of the Governor's +which allowed them to give their evidence +in this form instead of waiting in Charles Town +for the court to sit, and needless to say they were +heartily glad of it. The formalities over, Governor +Johnson led the party into the adjoining +room. He motioned them to sit down and faced +them with a smile. "Now, my lads," said he, +"the spoil taken on the <i>Royal James</i> has been +divided, and though, as you may guess, it had to +go a long way, there's a share left for each of +you." Jeremy and Bob stared at each other and +at their friends. The benign smiles of Mr. Curtis, +Colonel Rhett and Job showed that they had +known beforehand of this surprise. The Governor +was holding out a small leather sack in each +hand. "Here, catch," he laughed, and the two +astonished lads automatically did as they were +bid. In each purse there was something over +twenty guineas in gold. Before they had found +words to thank the Governor he laughed again +merrily. "Never mind a speech of acceptance," +said he. "Colonel Rhett, here, has something else +for you."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the Colonel. "You see, there +was a deal of junk in the Captain's cabin that +comes to me as Admiral of the expedition. I'd +be much pleased if you two lads would each pick +out anything that pleases you, as a personal gift +from myself and Stede Bonnet." As he spoke, +he took the cloth cover from a table which stood +at one side. On it the boys saw a shining array +of small arms, some glass and silver decanters +and a pile of books. The Colonel motioned Bob +forward. "Here you are, lad, take your choice," +he said. Bob stepped to the table and glanced +over the weapons eagerly. He finally selected a +silver-mounted pistol with the great pirate's name +engraved on the butt, and went with pride to show +it to his father.</p> + +<p>It was Jeremy's turn. He had no hesitation. +From the moment he had heard the offer his shining +eyes had been fastened upon one object, and +now he went straight to the table and picked up +the biggest and thickest of the heap of books, a +great leather-bound volume—Bunyan's "Pilgrim's +Progress." It is not the least inexplicable fact +in the career of the terrible Stede Bonnet that +he was a constant reader of such books as this +and the "Paradise Lost" of Milton. Bunyan's +great allegory had come at last into a place where +it could do more good than in the cabin bookshelf +of a ten-gun buccaneer. Jeremy, poor lad, +uneducated save for the rude lessons of his father +and the training of the open, had longed for books +ever since he could remember. He had affected +a gruff scorn when Bob had spoken from his well-schooled +knowledge, but inwardly it had been his +sole ground for jealousy of the Delaware boy. +That ponderous leather book was read many times +and thoroughly in after years, and it became the +foundation of such a library as was not often +met with in the colonies. Job gave the lad an +understanding smile and a pat on the back, for +Jeremy had told him of his passion for an education.</p> + +<p>The four grown men drank each other's health +and separated with many hearty handclasps. An +hour later the <i>Queen's</i> anchor was up and she was +moving out to sea upon the tide, cheered vigorously +from the docks and saluted by every vessel +she passed. The warm September dusk settled +over the ocean. A soft land breeze rustled in +the shrouds, and the great sails filled with a gentle +flapping. Slowly the tall ship bowed herself +to the northeast and settled away on her course +contentedly, while the water ran with a smooth +murmur beneath her forefoot. Jeremy, lying +wide-eyed in his bunk, where a single star shone +through the open port, thought it the sweetest +sound he had ever heard. He was homeward +bound at last.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/image172.png" width="400" height="170" alt="pistol and book" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + + +<p>There were brave days aboard the <i>Queen</i> as she +voyaged up the coast—days of sun and light winds +when the boys sat lazily in the blue shadow of +the sails, looking off through half-closed eyes toward +the faint line of shore that appeared and +disappeared to leeward; or listened to Job's long +tales of adventure up and down the high seas; +or fished with hand-lines over the taffrail, happy +if they pulled up even a goggle-eyed flounder. +Twice they ran into fog, and on those days, when +the wet dripped dismally off the shrouds and the +watch on deck sang mournful airs in the gray +gloom, the two lads settled into big chairs in the +cabin, beneath a mighty brass oil-lamp, and while +Bob sat bemused over Captain Dampier's Voyages, +Jeremy fought Apollyon with that good +knight Christian, in "Pilgrim's Progress." But +best of all were the days of howling fair weather, +when sky and sea were deep blue and the wind +boomed over out of the west, and the scattered +flecks of white cloud raced with the flying spray +below. Then all hands would stand by to slack +a sheet here or reef a sail there, and Ghent, who +was a bold sailor, would take the kicking tiller +with Job's help, and keep the big ship on her +course, the last possible foot of canvas straining +at the yardarms. High along the weather +rail, with the wind screaming in their ears or +down in the lee scuppers where the white-shot +green passed close below with a roar and a rush, +the boys would cling, yelling aloud their exultation. +It was more than the risk, more than the +dizzy movement that made them happy. With +every hour of that strong wind they were ten +knots farther north.</p> + +<p>So they sailed; and one morning when the mist +cleared, Mr. Curtis led both boys to the port rail +to show them where the green head of Cape Henlopen +stood, abeam. There was moisture in the +corners of his eyes as he pointed to it. "Thank +God, Bob, my lad, you're here to see the Delaware +again!" he said huskily.</p> + +<p>Up the blue bay they cruised in the fine October +weather and came in due time—a very long +time it seemed to some aboard—to the roadstead +opposite New Castle port. There was a boat over +almost before the anchor was dropped and a picked +crew rowed the Curtises, Job and Jeremy ashore +as fast as they dared without breaking oars. They +drew up across the swirling tidewater to the foot +of a long pier. It was black with people who +cheered continually, and somewhere above the +town a cannon was fired in salute, but all Bob +saw was a slender figure in white at the pier-edge +and all he heard was a woman's happy crying. +A message to his mother telling of his safety had +been sent from Charles Town three weeks before, +and there she was to welcome him. There was a +ladder further in along the pier, but before they +reached it some one had thrown a rope and Bob +swarmed up hand over hand. Jeremy, stricken +with a sudden shyness, watched the happy, tearful +scene that followed from the boat below.</p> + +<p>Women had had small part in his own life. +Since his mother's death he had known a few in +the frontier settlements, and they had been good +to him in a friendly way, but this ecstatic mother-love +was new and it made him feel awkward and +lonely.</p> + +<p>It seemed that all Delaware colony must be at +the waterfront. Every soul in the little town and +men from miles around had turned out to welcome +the returning vessel, for the news of Bonnet's +defeat had been brought in, days before, by +a Carolina coaster. There was bunting over doorways +and cheering in the streets as the Governor's +coach with the party of honor drove up the +main thoroughfare to the Curtis house.</p> + +<p>When they were within and the laughing crowds +had dispersed, Bob's mother came to Jeremy, put +her hands on his shoulders and looked long into +his face. She was a frail slip of a woman, dark +like her son, with a sensitive mouth and big, black +eyes full of courage. Jeremy flushed a slow scarlet +under her gaze, but his eyes never flinched as +he returned it.</p> + +<p>"A fine boy," she said, at length, "and my own +boy's good friend!" Then she smiled tenderly +and kissed him on the forehead. Jeremy was then +and there won over. All women were angels of +light to him from that moment.</p> + +<p>That night, alone in the white wilderness of +his first four-poster, the poor New England boy +missed his mother very hard, more perhaps than +he had ever missed her before. He fell asleep on +a pillow that was wet in spots—and he was not +ashamed.</p> + +<p>In the days that followed nothing in Delaware +Colony was too good for the young heroes. Jeremy +could never understand just <i>why</i> they were +heroes, but was forced to give up trying to explain +the matter to an admiring populace. As +for Bob, he gleefully accepted all the glory that +was offered and at last persuaded Jeremy to take +the affair as philosophically as himself. They +were in a fair way to be spoiled, but fortunately +there was enough sense of humor between them +to bring them off safe from the head-patting gentlemen +and tearfully rapturous ladies who gathered +at the brick house of afternoons.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the thing that really saved them from +the effects of too much petting was the trip up +the Brandywine to the Curtis plantation. It was +a fine ride of thirty miles and the trail led through +woods just turning red and yellow with the autumn +frosts. Jeremy, though he had been on a +horse only half a dozen times in his life, was a +natural athlete and without fear. He was quick +to learn and imitated Bob's erect carriage and +easy seat so well that long before they had reached +their journey's end he backed his tall roan like an +old-timer. With Job it was a different matter. +He was all sailor, and though the times demanded +that every man who travelled cross-country must +do it in the saddle, the lank New Englander would +have ridden a gale any day in preference to a +steed. Even Jeremy could afford to laugh at the +sorry figure his big friend made.</p> + +<p>The trail they followed was no more than a +rough cutting, eight or ten feet wide, running +through the forest. Here and there paths +branched off to right or left and up one of these +Bob turned at noon. It led them over a wooded +hill, then down a long slope into the valley of a +stream. "John Cantwell's plantation. We'll stop +here for a bite to eat," explained the boy. By the +water side, in a wide clearing, was a group of log +huts and farther along, a square house built of +rough gray stone.</p> + +<p>They rode up to the wide door which looked +down upon the river. In answer to Bob's hail a +colored boy in a red jacket ran out to take the +horses' heads and four black and white fox terriers +tore round the corner barking a chorus of +welcome. Bob jumped down with a laughing, "Ah +there, Rufus!" to the horse-boy, and proceeded +to roll the excited little dogs on their backs. As +Jeremy and Job dismounted, a big man in sober +gray came to the doorway. His strong, kindly +face broke into a smile as he caught sight of his +visitors. "Well, Bob, I'm mightily glad to see +thee back, lad! We got news from the town only +yesterday." He strode down the steps and took +the boy's hand in a hearty grip, then greeted the +others, as Bob introduced them. Jeremy marvelled +much at the cut of the man's coat, which +was without a collar, and at his continual use of +the plain <i>thee</i> and <i>thy</i>. But there was a direct +simplicity about all his ways, and a gentleness in +his eyes that won the boy to him instantly.</p> + +<p>One moment only he wandered at John Cantwell. +In the next he had forgotten everything +about him and stood open-mouthed, gazing at the +square doorway. In the sun-lit frame of it had +appeared a little girl of twelve. She was dressed +demurely in gray, set off with a bit of white kerchief. +Her long skirt hid her toes and her hands +were folded most properly. But above this sober +stalk bloomed the fairest face that Jeremy had +ever seen. She had merry hazel eyes, a straight +little nose and a firm little chin. Her plain bonnet +had fallen back from her head and the brown +curls that strayed recklessly about her cheeks +seemed to catch all the sunbeams in Delaware.</p> + +<p>For a very little time she stood, and then the +pursed red mouth could be controlled no longer. +She opened it in a whoop of joy and catching up +her skirts ran to smother Bob in a great hug. +Next moment Jeremy, still in a daze, was bowing +over her hand, as he had learned to do at New +Castle. She dropped him a little curtsey and +turned to meet Job.</p> + +<p>Betty Cantwell and her father were Quakers +from the Penn Colony to the north, Bob had time +to tell Jeremy as they entered. That accounted +for the staid simplicity of their dress and their +quaint form of speech—the plain language, as it +was called. Jeremy had heard of the Quakers, +though in New England they were much persecuted +for their beliefs by the Puritans. Here, +apparently, people not only allowed them to live, +but liked and honored them as well. He prayed +fervently that Betty might never chance to visit +Boston town. Yet already he half hoped that she +would. Of course, he would have grown bigger +by then, and would carry a sword and how he +would prick the thin legs of the first grim deacon +who dared so much as to speak to her! These +imaginings were put to rout at the dining-room +door by the delicious savor of roast turkey. One +of the black farmhands had shot the great bird +the day before, and the three travellers had arrived +just at the fortunate moment when it was +to be carved.</p> + +<p>It was a dinner never to be forgotten. The +twenty miles they had ridden through the crisp +air would have given them an appetite, even had +they not been normally good trenchermen, and +there were fine white potatoes and yams that accompanied +the turkey, not to mention some jelly +which Betty admitted having made herself, "with +cook's help." Bob joyfully attacked his heaped-up +plate and ate with relish every minute that he +was not talking. Jeremy could say not a word, +for opposite him was Betty and in her presence +he felt very large and awkward. His hands troubled +him. Indeed, had it been a possibility, he +would have eaten his turkey without raising them +above the table edge. As it was, he felt himself +blush every time a vast red fist came in evidence. +Yet he succeeded in making a good meal and would +not have been elsewhere for all Solomon Brig's +gold. Perhaps Job, who was neither talkative nor +under the spell of a lady's eyes, wielded the best +knife and fork of the three.</p> + +<p>Dinner over, and Bob's story finished, they were +taken to see the stable and the broad tilled fields +by the river bank, where corn stood shocked among +the stubble. Afternoon came and soon it was time +for them to start. There were laughing farewells +and a promise that they would stop on the return +trip, and before Jeremy could come back to earth +the gloom of the forest shut in above their heads +once more. They put the horses to a canter as +soon as the ridge was cleared, for there were still +ten miles to go and the light was waning. Jeremy +was very much at home in the woods, but +the chill, sombre depths that appeared and reappeared +on either hand seemed to warn him to +be prepared. He reached to the saddlebow, undid +the flap of the pistol holster, and made sure that +his weapon was loaded, then put it back, reassured. +The footing was bad, and they had to go +more slowly for a while. Then Bob, in the lead, +came to a more open space where light and ground +alike favored better speed. He spurred his horse +to a gallop and had turned to call to the others, +when suddenly the animal he rode gave a snort +of fear and stopped with braced forefeet. Bob, +caught off his guard, went over the horse's head +with a lurch and fell sprawling on the ground +in front. Then he gave a scream, for not two +feet away he saw the short, cruel head of a coiled +rattlesnake.</p> + +<p>Jeremy, riding close behind, pulled up beside +the other horse and threw himself off. Even as +he touched the ground a sharp whirr met his ear +and he saw the fat, still body and vibrating tail +of the snake. He wrenched the pistol from the +holster, took the quickest aim of his life and pulled +the trigger. After the shot apparently nothing +had changed. The whirr of the rattle went on +for a second or two, then gradually subsided. +Bob lay white-faced, and still as death. Jeremy +drew a step closer and then gave a choked cry of +relief. The snake's smooth, diamond-marked +body remained coiled for the spring. Its lithe +forepart was thrust forward from the top coil +and the venemous, blunt head—but the head was +no more. Jeremy's ball had taken it short off.</p> + +<p>Bob was unhurt, but badly shaken and frightened, +and they followed the trail slowly through +the dusk. Then just as the shadows that obscured +their way were turning to the deep dark of night +a small light became visible straight ahead. They +pushed on and soon were luxuriously stretched +before a log fire in the Curtis plantation house, +while Mrs. Robbins, the overseer's wife, poured +them a cup of hot tea.</p> + +<p>When bedtime came, Bob came over to Jeremy +and gave him a long grip of the hand, but said +never a word. There was no need of words, for +the New England boy knew that his chum would +never be quite happy till he could repay his act +in kind. Yet he could not tell Bob that the shooting +of a snake was but a small return for the gift +of a vision of one of heaven's angels. Each felt +himself the other's debtor as they got into the +great feather bed side by side.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + + +<p>Two boys turned loose on a present-day farm can +find enough interesting things to do to fill a book +much larger than this. For me to go into the +details of that week's visit to Avon Dale would +preclude any possible chance of your hearing the +end of this story. And there are still many things +that need telling.</p> + +<p>But though no great or grave adventure befell +the two boys while they stayed at the plantation, +you may imagine the days they spent together. +Back of the farm buildings lay the fields, all up +and down the river bank for miles. And back of +the fields, crowding close to the edge of the plowed +ground, the big trees of an age-old forest rose. +The great wild woods ran straight back from the +plantation for five hundred miles, broken only +by rivers and the steep slopes of the Alleghanies, +as yet hardly heard of by white men. Giant oaks, +ashes and tulip trees mingled with the pine and +hemlock growth. The hillsides where the sun +shone through were thick with rhododendron and +laurel. And all through this sylvan paradise the +upper branches and the underbrush teemed with +wild life. Squirrels, partridges and occasional +turkeys offered frequent marks for the long muzzle-loading +rifles, while a thousand little song birds +flitted constantly through the leaves. Jeremy had +never seen such hunting in his colder northern +country. The game was bigger and more dangerous +in New England, but never had he found +it so plentiful. As the boys were both good marksmen, +a great rivalry sprang up between them. +They scorned any but the hardest shots—the +bright eye of a squirrel above a hickory limb fifty +yards off or the downy form of a wood pigeon +preening in a tree top. Though a good deal of +powder and lead was spent in the process, they +were shooting like old leather-stocking hunters by +the end of the week.</p> + +<p>The last two days had to be spent indoors, for +a heavy autumn rain that came one night held +over persistently and drenched the valley with a +sullen, steady pour. Little muddy rivulets swept +down across the fields and joined the already +swollen current of the Brandywine. On the morning +when they started back, the river was running +high and fast and yellow along the low banks, +but a bright sun shone, and a fresh breeze out of +the west promised fair weather.</p> + +<p>The horses were left at the plantation. They +took their guns and a day's provisions and carried +a long, narrow-beamed canoe down to the +shore. It was a dugout, quite unlike the graceful +birch affairs that Jeremy had seen among the +Penobscots, but serviceable and seaworthy enough.</p> + +<p>Job, happy to be on the water once more, took +the stern paddle, Bob knelt in the bow, and Jeremy +squatted amidships with the blankets and guns. +With a cry of farewell to the kindly folk on the +bank, they shoved out and shot away down the +swift river.</p> + +<p>It was exciting work. The stream had overflowed +its banks for many yards and the brown +water swirled in eddies among the trees. To keep +the canoe in the main channel required judgment +and good steering. Job proved equal to the occasion +and though with their paddling the swiftness +of the current gave the craft a speed of over +ten miles an hour, he brought her down without +mishap into a wide-spreading cove. They rested, +drifting slowly across the slack water. "This +can't be far from Cantwell's," Bob was saying, +when Jeremy gave a startled exclamation, and +pointed toward the shore, some fifty yards away. +A little girl in a gray frock stood on the bank, her +arms full of golden rod and asters. She had not +seen the canoe, for she was looking behind her up +the bank. At that instant there was a crashing in +the brush and a big buck deer stepped out upon +the shore, tossing his gleaming antlers to which +a few shreds of summer "velvet" still clung. He +was not twenty feet from the girl, who faced him, +perfectly still, the flowers dropping one by one +from her apron.</p> + +<p>It was the rutting season and the buck was in +a fighting mood. But he was puzzled by this small +motionless antagonist. He hesitated a bare second +before launching his wicked charge. Then +as he bellowed his defiance there came a loud report. +The buck's haunches wavered, then straightened +with a jerk, as he made a great leap up the +bank and fell dead. From Jeremy's long-barrelled +gun a wisp of smoke floated away. Betty Cantwell +sat down very suddenly and seemed about to +cry, but as the canoe shot up to the shore she was +smiling once more. They took her aboard and +started down stream again. A few hundred yards +brought them to the edge of the Cantwell clearing, +where Bob hailed the negroes working in the field +and gave them orders for bringing down the dead +buck.</p> + +<p>At the landing John Cantwell was waiting in +some anxiety, for the sound of Jeremy's shot had +reached him at the house. Bob told the story, +somewhat to Jeremy's embarrassment, for nothing +was spared in the telling. The Quaker thanked +him with great earnestness and reproved his +daughter gently for straying beyond the plantation.</p> + +<p>After another of those famous dinners Job and +the boys returned to their craft, for there were +many miles to make before night. As Jeremy +took up the bow paddle he waved to Betty on the +bank, and thrilled with happiness at the shy smile +she gave him. Once again they were in the current, +shooting downstream toward tidewater.</p> + +<p>It was mid-afternoon when they crossed the +Brandywine bar and paddled past the docks of +Wilmington. Outside in the Delaware there was +a choppy sea that made their progress slower, and +the sun had set when the slim little craft ran in +for the beach above New Castle. The voyagers +shouldered their packs and made their way up +the High Street to the brick house.</p> + +<p>When the greetings were over and the boys +were changing their clothes before coming down +for supper, Clarke Curtis entered their room. +"Lads," he said, "I'd advise you to go early to +bed tonight. You'll need a long rest, for in the +morning you start overland for New York." At +Bob's exclamation of surprise he went on to explain +that the <i>Indian Queen</i> had weighed anchor +two days before for that port, and as there was +no other ship leaving the Delaware soon, he wished +the boys to board her at New York for the voyage +to New England. Both youngsters were overjoyed +at the prospect of an early start. Bob, who +had been promised that he could accompany his +chum, was hilarious over the news, while Jeremy +was too happy to speak.</p> + +<p>Later, as they were packing their belongings +for the trip, Job Howland came in. He, too, looked +excited. "Jeremy, boy," he said, "I'd have liked +to go north with you, but something else has come +my way. Mr. Curtis bought a new schooner, the +<i>Tiger</i>, last week, and she's being fitted out now +for a coast trader. He offered me the chance to +command her!"</p> + +<p>"Three cheers!" shouted Bob. "Then New +Castle will be your home port, and I'll see you +after every voyage!"</p> + +<p>The three comrades chatted of their prospects +a while and shortly went to bed.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + + +<p>The boys and their luggage were on their way +to Wilmington in the family chaise before dawn, +and it was scarce seven o'clock when they bade +farewell to the old colored serving-man and clambered +aboard the four-horse coach that connected +in Philadelphia with the mail coach for New York.</p> + +<p>The coaches of that day were cumbersome affairs, +huge of wheel, and with ridiculously small +bodies slung on wide strips of bull's hide which +served for springs. The driver's box was high +above the forward running gear. There were as +yet no "seats on top," such as were developed +in the later days of fast stage-coach service.</p> + +<p>In one of these rumbling, swaying conveyances +the boys rode the thirty miles to Philadelphia, +crossing the Schuylkill at Gray's Ferry about +noon. They had barely time for a bite of lunch in +the White Horse Tavern before the horn was +blown outside and they hurried to take their places +in the north-bound coach. Along the cobbled +streets of the bustling, red-brick town they rumbled +for a few moments, then out upon the smooth +dirt surface of the York Road, where the four +good horses were put to a gallop.</p> + +<p>The Delaware, opposite Trenton, was reached +by six o'clock, and there the half-dozen passengers +left the coach and were carried across on a +little ferry boat, rowed by an old man and his +two sons. They spent the night at an Inn and +next morning early boarded another coach bound +northeast over the sparsely settled hills of New +Jersey. The road was narrow and bad in places, +slackening their speed. Twice the horses were +changed, in little hamlets along the way. In the +late afternoon they crossed the marshy flats beyond +Newark and just after dusk emerged on the +Jersey side of the Hudson. A few lights glimmered +from the low Manhattan shore. The quaint +Dutch-English village which was destined to grow +in two hundred years to be the greatest city in +the world, lay quiet in the gathering dark.</p> + +<p>The ferry was just pulling out from shore, but +at the sound of the coach horn it swung back into +its slip and waited for the passengers to board.</p> + +<p>A gruff Hollander by the name of Peter Houter +was the ferryman. He stood at the clumsy steering-beam, +while four stout rowers manned the oars +of his wide, flat-bottomed craft. Approaching the +steersman, Bob asked where in the town he would +be likely to find the Captain of a merchantman +then taking cargo in the port. The Dutchman +named two taverns at which visiting seafaring +men could commonly be found. One was the +"Three Whales" and the other the "Bull and +Fish."</p> + +<p>Landing on the Manhattan shore, the boys +shouldered their luggage and trudged by ill-lighted +lanes across the island to the East River. As +they advanced along the dock-side, Jeremy distinguished +among the low-roofed houses a small +inn before which a great sign swung in the wind. +By the light which flickered through the windows +they could make out three dark monsters painted +upon the board, a white tree apparently growing +from the head of each. "The Three Whales," +laughed Jeremy, "and every one a-blowing! Let's +go in!"</p> + +<p>It was an ill-smelling and dingy room that they +entered. A score of men in rough sailor clothes +lounged at the tables or lolled at the bar. Two +pierced tin lanterns shed a faint smoky light over +the scene. Bob waited by their baggage at the +door, while Jeremy made his way from one group +to another, inquiring for Captain Ghent of the +<i>Indian Queen</i>. Several of the mariners nodded at +mention of the ship, but none could give him word +of the skipper's whereabouts.</p> + +<p>As he was turning to go out he noticed a man +drinking alone at a table in the darkest corner. +His eyes were fixed moodily on his glass and he +did not look up. Jeremy shivered, took a step +nearer, and almost cried out, for he had caught +a glimpse of a livid, diagonal scar cutting across +the nose from eyebrow to chin. It was such a +scar as could belong to only one man on earth. +Jeremy retreated to a darker part of the room +and watched till the man lifted his head. It was +Pharaoh Daggs and none other.</p> + +<p>A moment later the boy had hurried to Bob +outside and told him his news. "If we can find +Ghent," said Bob, "he will be able to summon +soldiers and have him placed under arrest."</p> + +<p>They hastened along the river front for a hundred +yards or more and came to the "Bull and +Fish." A man in a blue cloth coat was standing +by the door, looking up and down the street. He +gave a hail of greeting as they came up. It was +Captain Ghent.</p> + +<p>"I was just going down to the "Three Whales" +thinking you might have stopped there," he said. +Bob told him their news and the skipper's face +grew grave. "Better leave the bags here for the +present," he suggested and then, after a moment's +quiet talk with the landlord, he led the way toward +the other tavern. On the way he stopped a +red-jacketed soldier who was patrolling the dock. +After a word or two had been exchanged the soldier +fell in beside them, and just as they reached +the inn door two more hurried up.</p> + +<p>"Come in with me, Jeremy, and point out the +man," said Captain Ghent.</p> + +<p>The lad's heart beat like a triphammer as he +entered the tavern once more. A silence fell on +the room when the three soldiers were observed. +Jeremy crossed toward the dark corner. The +table was empty. He looked quickly about at the +faces of the drinkers, but Daggs was not there. +"He's gone," he said in a disappointed voice.</p> + +<p>The innkeeper came forward, wiping his hands +on his apron. "That fellow with the scar?" he +said. "He went out of here some five minutes +ago."</p> + +<p>"Which way?" asked Ghent. But no one in the +room could say.</p> + +<p>They passed out again, and Ghent smiled reassuringly +at the boys. "Well," he said, "like +as not he'll never cross our path again, so it's +only one rogue the more unhung."</p> + +<p>Jeremy failed to find much comfort in this philosophy, +but said no more, and soon found himself +snugly on board the big merchantman, where +his bunk and Bob's were already made up and +awaiting them.</p> + +<p>It was good to hear the creak of timbers and +feel the rocking of the tide once more. Jeremy +lay long awake that night thinking of many things. +At last he was on the final lap of his journey. +The <i>Indian Queen's</i> cargo would be stowed within +a day or two and she would start with him +toward home. He thought with a quiver of happiness +of the reunion with his father. Had he +quite given up hope for his boy? Jeremy had +heard of such a shock of joy being fatal. He +must be careful.</p> + +<p>He thought of the evil face of the broken-nosed +buccaneer. What was Daggs doing in New York? +Just then there was a faint sound as of creaking +cordage from beyond the side. Jeremy's bunk +was near the open port and by leaning over a little +he could see the river. Barely a boat's length +away, in the dark, a tall-masted, schooner-rigged +craft was slipping past on the outgoing tide, with +not so much as a harbor-light showing.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/image195.png" width="550" height="165" alt="shoreline" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> + + +<p>It was on the second morning after the boys had +reached New York that the <i>Indian Queen</i> went +down the harbor, her canvas drawing merrily in +the spanking breeze of dawn. The intervening +day had been spent at the dock-side, where wide-breeched +Dutch longshoremen were stoutly hustling +bales and boxes of merchandise into the hold. +Jeremy had watched the passers along the river +front narrowly, though he could not help having +a feeling that Pharaoh Daggs was gone. The +fancy would not leave his mind that there was +some connection between the vanished pirate and +the dark vessel he had seen stealing out on the +night tide.</p> + +<p>A strong southwest wind followed them all day +as the <i>Queen</i> ran past the low Long Island shore, +and that night, though Captain Ghent gave orders +to shorten sail, the ship still plunged ahead with +unchecked speed. They cleared the Nantucket +shoals next day and saw all through the afternoon +the sun glint on the lonely white dunes of +Cape Cod.</p> + +<p>Two more bright days of breeze succeeded and +they were working up outside the fringe of +islands, large and small, that dot the coast of +Maine.</p> + +<p>Jeremy was too excited even to eat. He stayed +constantly by the man at the helm and was often +joined there by Bob and the Captain, as they +drew nearer to the Penobscot Bay coast. In the +morning they dropped anchor in fifteen fathoms, +to leeward of a good-sized fir-clad island. Jeremy +had a dim recollection of having seen it from the +round-topped peak above his father's shack. His +heart beat high at the thought that tomorrow +might bring them to the place they sought, and +it was many hours before he went to sleep.</p> + +<p>At last the morning came, cloudless and bright, +with a little south breeze stirring. Before the +sun was fairly clear of the sea, the anchor had +been catted, and the <i>Queen</i> was moving gracefully +northeastward under snowy topsails.</p> + +<p>They cleared a wide channel between two islands +and Jeremy, forward with the lookout, gave +a mighty shout that brought his chum to his side +on the run. There to the east, across a dozen +miles of silver-shimmering sea, loomed a gray +peak, round and smooth as an inverted bowl. "It's +the island!" cried Jeremy, and Captain Ghent, +turning to the mate, gave a joyful order to get +more sail on the ship.</p> + +<p>About the middle of the forenoon the <i>Queen</i> +came into the wind and her anchor went down +with a roar and a splash, not three cables' lengths +from the spot in the northern bay where Jeremy +and his father had first landed their flock of sheep. +On the gray slope above the shore the boys could +see the low, black cabin, silent and apparently tenantless. +Behind it was the stout stockade of the +sheep-pen, also deserted, and above, the thin grass +and gray, grim ledges climbed toward the wooded +crest of the hill.</p> + +<p>Jeremy's face fell. "They must have gone," +he said. But Bob, standing by the rail as they +waited for the jollyboat to be lowered, pointed +excitedly toward the rocky westward shoulder of +the island. "Look there!" he cried. Three or +four white dots were moving slowly along the +face of the hill.</p> + +<p>"Sheep!" said Jeremy, taking heart. "They'd +not have left the sheep—unless——"</p> + +<p>But the boat was ready, below the side, and +the Captain and the two boys tumbled quickly +in. Five minutes later the four stout rowers sent +the bow far up the sand with a final heave on the +oars. They jumped out and hastened up the hill. +There was still no sign of life about the cabin, +but as they drew near a sudden sharp racket +startled them, and around the corner of the sheep-pen +tore a big collie dog, barking excitedly. He +hesitated a bare instant, then jumped straight at +Jeremy with a whine of frantic welcome.</p> + +<p>"Jock, lad!" cried the boy, joyfully burying +his face in the sable ruff of the dog's neck. In +response to his voice, the door of the cabin was +thrown open and a tall youth of nineteen stepped +out, hesitating as he saw the group below. Jeremy +shook off the collie and ran forward. "Don't +you know me, Tom?" he laughed. "I'm your +brother—back from the pirates!"</p> + +<p>The amazed look on the other's face slowly +gave place to one of half-incredulous joy as he +gripped the youngster's shoulders and looked long +into his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Know ye!" he said at length with a break in +his voice. "Certain I know ye, though ye've grown +half a foot it seems! But wait, we must tell father. +He's in bed, hurt."</p> + +<p>Tom turned to the door again. "Here, father," +he called breathlessly. "Here's Jeremy, home +safe and sound!" He seized his brother's hand +and led him into the cabin. In the half-darkness +at the back of the room the lad saw a rough bed, +and above the homespun blankets Amos Swan's +bearded face. He sprang toward him and flung +himself down by the bunk, his head against his +father's breast. He felt strong, well-remembered +fingers that trembled a little as they gripped his +arm. There was no word said.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> + + +<p>It was the savory smell of cooking hominy and +the sizzle of broiling fish that woke Jeremy next +morning. He drew a breath of pure ecstasy, rolled +over and began pummelling the inert form of Bob, +who had shared his blanket on an improvised bed +in the cabin. The Delaware boy opened an eye, +closed it again with carefully assumed drowsiness, +and the next instant leaped like a joyful wildcat +on his tormentor. There was a beautiful tussle +that was only broken off by Tom's announcement +of breakfast.</p> + +<p>Opposite the stone fireplace was a table of hewn +planks at which Bob, with Jeremy, Tom and their +father, were soon seated. The latter had bruised +his knee several days before, but was now sufficiently +recovered to walk about with the aid of +a stick.</p> + +<p>"Father," said Jeremy between mouthfuls, "I +want to see that cove again, where the pirates +landed. If we may take the fowling-piece, Bob +and I'll go across the island, after we've bade +good-by to Captain Ghent."</p> + +<p>"Ay, lad," Amos Swan replied, "you'll find the +cove just as they left it. An I mistake not, the +place where their fire was is still black upon the +beach, and the rum-barrels are lying up among the +driftwood. 'Twas there we found them—on the +second day. Ah, Jeremy, lad—little we thought +then we'd see you back safe and strong, and that +so soon!"</p> + +<p>The white frost of the November morning was +still gleaming on the grass when the two boys went +out. Against the cloudless sky the spires of the +dark fir trees were cut in clean silhouette. From +the <i>Indian Queen</i>, lying off shore, came the creak +of blocks and sheaves as the yards were trimmed, +and soon, her anchor catted home, she filled gracefully +away to the northward, while the Captain +waved a cheery farewell from the poop. He was +bound up the coast for Halifax, and was to pick +Bob up on his return voyage, a month later.</p> + +<p>When they had watched the ship's white sails +disappear behind the eastern headland, the boys +started up the hill behind the cabin. They carried +a lunch of bread and dried fish in a leather +pouch and across Jeremy's shoulder was one of +his father's guns. Bob was armed with the silver-mounted +pistol from Stede Bonnet's arsenal.</p> + +<p>It was a glorious morning for a trip of exploration +and the hearts of both lads were high as they +clambered out on the warm bare rock that crowned +the island.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it just as fine as I told you?" Jeremy +cried. "Look—those blue mountains yonder must +be twenty leagues away. And you can hardly +count the islands in this great bay! Off there +to the south is where I saw the <i>Revenge</i> for the +first time—just a speck on the sea, she was!"</p> + +<p>Bob, who had never seen the view from a really +high hill before, stood open-mouthed as he looked +about him. Suddenly he grasped Jeremy's arm.</p> + +<p>"See!" he exclaimed, "down there—isn't that +smoke?" He was pointing toward the low, +swampy region in the southwestern part of the +island. Jeremy watched intently, but there was +nothing to disturb the morning calm of sky and +shore.</p> + +<p>"That's queer," Bob said at last, with a puzzled +look. "I could take an oath I saw just the +faintest wisp of smoke over there. But I must +have been mistaken."</p> + +<p>"Well," laughed Jeremy, "we'll soon make +sure, for that's not far from where we're going."</p> + +<p>They scrambled down, and following the ridge, +turned south toward the lower bay at about the +point where Jeremy had been discovered by Dave +Herriot and the pirate Captain.</p> + +<p>Dodging through the tangle of undergrowth and +driftwood, they soon emerged on the loose sand +above the beach. As Amos Swan had said, the +rains had not yet washed away the black embers +of the great bonfire, and near by lay a barrel with +staves caved in. Looking at the scene, Jeremy +almost fancied he could hear again the wild chorus +of that drunken crew, most of whom had now +gone to their last accounting.</p> + +<p>"What say we walk down the shore a way?" +suggested Bob. "There might be a duck or two +in that reedy cove below here." And Jeremy, glad +to quit the place, led off briskly westward along +the sand.</p> + +<p>Soon they came to the entrance of a narrow, +winding tide-creek that ran back till it was hidden +from sight in the tall reeds. Just as they +reached the place, a large flock of sandpeeps flew +over with soft whistling, and lighting on the beach, +scurried along in a dense company, offering an +easy target. Bob, who was carrying the gun, +brought it quickly to his shoulder and was about +to fire when Jeremy stopped him with a low +"S-s-s-s-t!"</p> + +<p>Bob turned, following the direction of Jeremy's +outstretched arm, and for a second both +boys stood as if petrified, gazing up the tide-creek +toward the interior of the island. About +a quarter of a mile away, above the reeds, which +grew in rank profusion to a man's height or +higher, they saw a pair of slender masts, canted +far over.</p> + +<p>"A ship!" whispered Bob. "Deserted, though, +most likely."</p> + +<p>"No," Jeremy answered, "I don't think it. Her +cordage would have slacked off more and she +wouldn't look so trim. Bob, wasn't it near here +you saw that smoke?"</p> + +<p>"Jiminy!" said Bob, "so it was! Right over +in the marsh, close to those spars. It's some +vessel that's put in here to careen. Wonder where +her crew can be?"</p> + +<p>"That's what looks so queer to me," the other +boy replied. "They're keeping out of sight mighty +careful. Men from any honest ship would have +been all over the island the first day ashore. I +don't like the look of it. Let's get back and tell +father. Maybe we can find out who it is, afterwards."</p> + +<p>Bob argued at first for an immediate reconnaissance, +but when Jeremy pointed out the fact +that if the strangers were undesirable they would +surely have a guard hidden in the reeds up the +creek, he accepted the more discreet plan.</p> + +<p>They made their way quietly, but with as much +haste as possible back along the shore, past the +remnant of the fire, and up the hill into the thick +woods.</p> + +<p>Just as they crossed the ridge and began to see +the glint of the northern inlet through the trees, +Jeremy paused with a sudden exclamation.</p> + +<p>"Here's the spring," he said, "and look at the +sign above it. I never saw that before, for it +was dark when I was up here. I almost fell +in."</p> + +<p>The spring itself was nearly invisible to one +coming from this direction, but stuck in the fork +of a tree, beside it, was a weathered old piece of +ship's planking on which had been rudely cut the +single word <span class="smcap">WATTER</span>.</p> + +<p>"Some Captain who used to fill his casks here +must have put it up so that the spring would be +easier to find," Bob suggested. But Jeremy, striding +ahead, was thinking hard and did not answer.</p> + +<p>Amos Swan heard their news with a grave face. +No ship but the <i>Queen</i> had touched at the island +for several months to his knowledge, he said. He +agreed with the boys that the secrecy of the thing +looked suspicious. When Tom came in for the +noon meal, his father told him of the discovery +and they both decided to bring the sheep in at +once, and make preparations for possible trouble.</p> + +<p>Tom, armed, and accompanied by the boys, set +out soon after dinner for the western end of the +island, two miles from the shack. It was there +that the flock was accustomed to graze, shepherded +by the wise dog, Jock. Their way led along the +rocky northern slope, where the sheep had already +worn well-defined paths among the scrubby grass +and juniper patches, then up across a steep knoll +and through a belt of fir and hemlock. When at +length they came out from among the trees, the +pasture lay before them. There in a hollow a hundred +yards away the flock was huddled. Jock +became aware of their approach at that instant +and lifted his head in a short, choking bark. He +started toward them, but before he had taken a +dozen steps they could see that he was limping + +<img src="images/image206.png" style="float: left;" width="200" height="255" alt="Jock" /> + +painfully. Running forward, +Jeremy knelt beside the big +collie, then turned with a movement +of sudden dismay and +called to his comrades. He had +seen the broad splotch of vivid +red stained the dog's white +breast. Examination showed a +deep clean cut in the fur of the neck, from which +the blood still flowed sluggishly. But in spite of +his weakness and the pain he evidently suffered, +Jock could hardly wait to lead his masters back +to the flock. Hurrying on with him they crossed +a little rise of ground and came upon the sheep +which were crowded close to one another, panting +in abject terror.</p> + +<p>"Twenty-six—twenty-eight—yes, twenty-eight +and that's all!" Tom said. "There are two of +them missing!"</p> + +<p>Jock had limped on some twenty yards further +and now stood beside a juniper bush, shivering +with eagerness.</p> + +<p>Following him thither, the boys found him sniffing +at a blood-soaked patch of grass. The ground +for several feet around was cut up as if in some +sort of struggle. A few shreds of bloody wool, +caught in the junipers, told their own story.</p> + +<p>A man—probably several men—had been on the +spot not two hours before and had killed two of +the sheep. They had not succeeded in this without +a fight, in which the gallant old dog had been +stabbed with a seaman's dirk or some other sharp +weapon.</p> + +<p>Bob, scouting onward a short distance, found +the deep boot-tracks of two men in a wet place +between some rocks. They were headed south-eastward—straight +toward the reedy swamp +where the boys had seen the top-masts of the +strange vessel! The crew—whoever they might +be—had decided to leave no further doubt of their +intentions. They had opened hostilities and to +them had fallen first blood.</p> + +<p>With serious faces and guns held ready for an +attack the three lads turned toward home, driving +the scared flock before them. Old Jock, stiff and +limping from his wound, brought up the rear. +They reached the inlet at last, but it was sunset +when the last sheep was inside the stockade and +the cabin door was barred.</p> + +<p>That night the wind changed, and the cold gray +blanket of a Penobscot Bay fog shut down over +the island.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> + + +<p>The fog held for two days. On the third morning +Jeremy, on his knees by the hearth fire, was +squinting down the bright barrel of a flintlock. +He had been quiet for a long time. Bob felt the +tenseness of the situation himself, but he could +not understand the other's absolute silence. He +scowled as he sat on the floor, and savagely drove +a long-bladed hunting-knife into the cracks between +the hewn planks. At length a low whistle +from Jeremy caused him to pause and look up +quickly.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>A look of excitement was growing in Jeremy's +face.</p> + +<p>"Say, Bob!" he exclaimed, after a second or +two. "I've just remembered something that I've +been trying to bring to mind ever since we crossed +the island. You know the sign we saw up by the +spring? Well, somewhere, once before, I knew I'd +seen the word 'Watter' spelled that way. So have +you—do you remember?"</p> + +<p>Bob shook his head slowly. Then a look of +comprehending wonder came into his eyes. +"Yes," he cried. "It was on that old chart in +Pharaoh Daggs' chest!"</p> + +<p>"Right," said Jeremy. "And now that I think +about it, I believe this is the very island! Let's +see—the bay was shaped this way——" He had +seized a charred stick from the hearth and was +drawing on the floor.</p> + +<p>"Two narrow points, with quite a stretch of +water inside—a rounded cove up here, and a +mitten-shaped cove over here. And the anchor +was drawn—wait a minute—right here. Why, +Bob, look here! That's the same rounded cove +with the beach where the sloop anchored that +night they got me!"</p> + +<p>Bob could hardly contain himself. "I remember!" +he said. "And the dot, with the word 'Watter' +was one and a half finger-joints northeast +of the bay. Let's see, the bay itself was about +four joints long, wasn't it? Or a little over? +Anyhow, that would put the spring about—here."</p> + +<p>"Allowing for our not being able to remember +exactly the shape of the bay," Jeremy put in, +"that's just where the spring should be. Bob, +this is the island! And now that cross-mark between +the two straight lines—two finger-joints +northwest of the anchorage-cove, it was. That's +just about here." He marked the spot on the +floor with his stick.</p> + +<p>"Now we've got it all down. And if that cross-mark +shows where the treasure is——" Jeremy +paused and looked at Bob, his eyes shining.</p> + +<p>"Where would that be—up on the hill somewhere?" +asked Bob breathlessly.</p> + +<p>"About three-quarters of a mile south of the +spring—right on the ridge," Jeremy answered.</p> + +<p>"When shall we start?" Bob asked, his voice +husky with excitement.</p> + +<p>"Wait a bit," counselled Jeremy. "We daren't +tell father or Tom, for they'd think it just a wild-goose +chase, and we'd have to promise not to +leave the cabin. You know it <i>is</i> an improbable +sort of yarn. Besides, we'd better go careful. +Do you know who I think is at the head of that +crew, over in the creek?"</p> + +<p>"Who?" whispered Bob.</p> + +<p>Jeremy's face was pale as he leaned close.</p> + +<p>"Pharaoh Daggs!" He said the name beneath +his breath, almost as if he feared that the man +with the broken nose might hear him. And now +for the first time he told Bob of the schooner that +had slipped past in the dark that night in the +East River.</p> + +<p>"You're right, Jeremy," Bob agreed. "He'd +lose no time getting up here if he could find a +craft to carry him. You don't suppose they've +found Brig's treasure yet, do you?" he added in +dismay.</p> + +<p>"They can't have reached here more than a day +before us," Jeremy replied. "And if they haven't +it already aboard, they won't be able to do anything +while this fog holds. If it should lift tomorrow, +we'll have a chance to scout around up +there. But don't say a word to father."</p> + +<p>That night the boys slept little, for both were +in a fever of expectation. They were disappointed +in the morning to see the solid wall of fog still +surrounding the cabin. But Jeremy, sniffing the +air like the true woodsman that he was, announced +that there would be a change of weather before +night, and set about rubbing the barrel of the +flintlock till it gleamed. The day dragged slowly +by. At last, about three in the afternoon, a slight +wind from the northeast sprang up, and the +wreaths of vapor began to drift away seaward.</p> + +<p>Luckily for the boys' plans, both Tom and his +father were inside the sheep-stockade when Bob +took the pistols, powder and shot down from the +wall, and with Jeremy went quietly forth.</p> + +<p>Before the mist had wholly cleared, they were +well into the woods, climbing toward the summit +of the ridge. Each kept a careful watch about, +for they feared the possibility that a guard might +have been set to observe movements at the cabin.</p> + +<p>They reached the top without incident, however, +and turned westward along the watershed. +They were increasingly careful now, for if the +pirates were dependent on the spring for their +water, some of them might pass close by at any +moment. Bob, who was almost as expert a hunter +as Jeremy, followed noiselessly in the track of +the New England boy, moving like a shadow from +tree to tree.</p> + +<p>So they progressed for fifteen minutes or more. +Then Jeremy paused and beckoned to Bob, whispering +that they should separate a short +distance so as to cover a wider territory in their +search. They went on, Bob on the north slope, +Jeremy on the south, moving cautiously and examining +every rock and tree for some blaze that +might indicate the whereabouts of the treasure.</p> + +<p>More minutes passed. The sun was already +low, and Jeremy began to think about turning +toward home. Just then he came to the brink of +a narrow chasm in the ledge. Hardly more than +a cleft it was, three or four feet wide at its widest +part, and extending deep down between the walls +of rock. He was about to jump over and proceed +when his eye caught a momentary gleam in +the obscurity at the bottom of the crevice. He +peered downward for a second, then stood erect, +waving to Bob with both arms.</p> + +<p>The other boy caught his signal and came rapidly +through the trees to the spot, hurrying faster +as he saw the excitement in Jeremy's face.</p> + +<p>"What—what have you found?" he gasped +under his breath.</p> + +<p>Jeremy was already wriggling his way down +between the smooth rock walls, bracing himself +with back and knees. Within a few seconds he +had reached the bottom, some ten feet below. It +was a sloping, uneven floor of earth, lighted dimly +from above and from the south, where the ledge +shelved off down the hillside. The dirt was black +and damp, undisturbed for years save by the feeble +pushing of some pale, seedling plant. Jeremy +groped aimlessly at first, then, as his eyes became +accustomed to the half-light, peered closely into +the crevices along either side.</p> + +<p>Bob leaned over the edge, pointing. "Back +and to the left!" he whispered. Jeremy turned +as directed, felt along the earth and finally clutched +at something that seemed to glitter with a yellow +light. He turned his face upward and Bob read +utter disappointment in his eyes.</p> + +<p>The gleaming something which he held aloft +was nothing but a bit of discolored mica that had +reflected the faint light.</p> + +<p>Bob almost groaned aloud as he looked at it. +Then he took off his belt and passed an end of +it down for Jeremy to climb up by. The latter +took hold half-heartedly, and was commencing the +ascent when his moccasined foot slipped on a +low, arching hump in the damp earth. He went +down on one knee and as it struck the ground +there was a faint hollow thud. Astonished, the +boy remained in a kneeling posture and felt about +beneath him with his hands.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" whispered Bob.</p> + +<p>Jeremy stood erect again. "Some kind of old, +slippery wet wood," he answered. "It feels like—like +a barrel!"</p> + +<p>"I'm coming down!" said the Delaware boy, +and casting a cautious look around, he descended +into the depths of the crevice.</p> + +<p>With their hands and hunting-knives both boys +went to work feverishly to unearth the wooden +object. A few moments of breathless labor laid +bare the side and part of one end of a heavily-built, +oaken keg.</p> + +<p>"Now maybe we can lift it out," said Jeremy, +and taking a strong grip of the edge, they heaved +mightily together. It stirred a bare fraction of +an inch in its bed. "Again!" panted Jeremy, +and they made another desperate try. It was of +no avail. The keg seemed to weigh hundreds of +pounds.</p> + +<p>Mopping his forehead with his sleeve, Bob stood +up and looked his companion in the face. "Well," +he grinned, "the heavier the better!" "Right!" +Jeremy agreed. "But how'll we get it home? +We don't dare chop it open—too much noise—or +set fire to it, for they'd see the smoke. Besides +it's too damp to burn. Here—I'll see what's +in it, yet!"</p> + +<p>He crouched at the end of the barrel, whetted +his hunting-knife on his palm a few times, and +began to cut swiftly at a crack between two staves. +Gradually the blade worked into the wood, opening +a long narrow slot as Jeremy whittled away +first at one side, then at the other. From time +to time either he or Bob would stoop, trembling +with excitement to peer through the crack, but it +was pitch-dark inside the barrel.</p> + +<p>Jeremy kept at his task without rest, and as +his knife had more play, the shavings he cut from +the sides of the opening grew thicker and thicker. +First he, then Bob, would try, every few seconds, +to thrust a fist through the widening hole.</p> + +<p>At length Bob's hand, which was a trifle smaller +than Jeremy's, squeezed through. There was a +breathless instant, while he groped within the keg, +and then, with a struggle he pulled his hand forth. +In his fingers he clutched a broad yellow disc.</p> + +<p>"Gold!"</p> + +<p>They gasped the word together.</p> + +<p>Bob's face was awe-struck. "It's full of 'em—full +of pieces like this," he whispered, "right up +to within four inches of the top!"</p> + +<p>They bent over the huge gold coin. The queer +characters of the inscription, cut in deep relief, +were strange to both boys. Jeremy had seen Spanish +doubloons and the great double <i>moidores</i> of +Portugal, but never such a piece as this. It was +nearly two inches across and thick and heavy in +proportion.</p> + +<p>One after another Bob drew out dozens of the +shining coins, and they filled their pockets with +them till they felt weighted down. At length +Jeremy, looking up, was startled to see that the +sun had set and darkness was rapidly settling +over the island. They threw dirt over the barrel, +then with all possible speed clambered forth, and +taking up their guns, made their way home as +quietly as they had come.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX</h2> + + +<p>"No, lad, the risk is too great. Ye'd be in worse +plight than before, if they caught ye, and with a +score of the ruffians searching the island over, +ye'd run too long a chance. Better be satisfied +with what's here, and stay where we can at least +defend ourselves."</p> + +<p>Amos Swan was speaking. On the deal table +before him, a heap of great goldpieces gleamed in +the firelight while seated around the board were +his two sons and Bob.</p> + +<p>It was Tom who answered. "True enough, +father," he said, "and yet this gold is ours. We +own the island by the Governor's grant. If we +sit idle the pirates will surely find the treasure +and make off with it. But if we go up there at +night, as Jeremy suggests, the risk we run will +be smaller, and every time we make the trip we'll +add a thousand guineas to that pile there. Think +of it, father."</p> + +<p>The elder man frowned thoughtfully. "Well," +he said at length, "if you go with them, Tom, and +you go carefully, at night, we'll chance it, once +at least. Not tonight, though. It's late now and +you all need sleep. I'll take the first watch."</p> + +<p>At about ten o'clock of the evening following, +Jeremy, Bob and Tom stole out and up the hill in +the darkness. They were well-armed but carried +no lantern, the boys being confident of their ability +to find the cleft in the ledge without a light. +A half hour's walking brought them near the spot, +and Jeremy, who had almost an Indian's memory +for the "lay of the ground," soon led the way +to the edge of the chasm. Dim starlight shone +through the gap in the trees above the ledge, but +there was only darkness below in the pit. One by +one they felt their way down and at last all three +stood on the damp earth at the bottom. "Here's +the barrel—just as we left it. They haven't been +here yet!" Jeremy whispered.</p> + +<p>Working as quickly and as quietly as he could, +Bob reached into the opening in the keg and pulled +out the gold, piece by piece, while the others, taking +the coins from his fingers, filled their pockets, +and the leather pouches they had brought.</p> + +<p>It was breathlessly exciting work, for all three +were aware of the danger that they ran. When +finally they crawled forth, laden like sumpter-mules, +the perspiration was thick on Jeremy's +forehead. Knowing the character of Pharaoh +Daggs so well, he realized, better probably than +either of his companions, what fate they might expect +if they were discovered. So far, apparently, +the pirates had not thought of setting a night +guard on the ridge. If they continued to neglect +this precaution and failed to find the treasure +themselves, three more trips would——</p> + +<p>His calculations were interrupted by the sudden +snapping of a twig. He stopped, instantly +on the alert. Behind him Tom and Bob had also +paused. Neither of them had caused the sound. +It had seemed to come from the thick bush down +hill to the right. For an endlessly long half-minute +the three held their breath, listening. Then once +more something crackled, farther away this time, +and in a more southwesterly direction.</p> + +<p>Man or animal, whatever it was that made the +sounds, was moving rapidly away from them.</p> + +<p>Jeremy hunched the straps of his heavy pouch +higher up on his shoulder and led on again, faster +than before, and hurrying forward in Indian file, +they reached the cabin without further adventure.</p> + +<p>All through the next day they stood watch and +watch at the shack, ready for the attack which they +expected to develop sooner or later. But still it +appeared that the pirates preferred to keep out +of sight. The boys had told Amos Swan of the +noises they had heard the previous night and he +had listened with a grave countenance. It could +hardly have been other than one of the pirates, he +thought, for he was quite certain that except for a +few rabbits, there were no wild animals upon the +island. "Still," he said, "if you were moving +quietly, there's small reason to believe the man +knew you were near. If he did know and made +such a noise as that, he must have been a mighty +poor woodsman!"</p> + +<p>The boys, anxious that nothing should prevent +another trip to the treasure-keg, accepted this +logic without demur.</p> + +<p>The following night Amos Swan decided to go +with the boys himself, leaving Tom on guard at +the cabin. As before, they armed themselves with +guns, pistols and hunting-knives and ascended the +hillside in the inky dark. There were no stars +in sight and a faint breeze that came and went +among the trees foreboded rain. This prospect +of impending bad weather made itself felt in the +spirits of the three treasure-hunters. Jeremy, accustomed +as he was to the woods, drew a breath +of apprehension and looked scowlingly aloft as +he heard the dismal wind in the hemlock tops. +Ugh! He shook himself nervously and plunged +forward along the hillcrest. A few moments later +they were gathered about the barrel at the bottom +of the cleft.</p> + +<p>It was even darker than they had found it on +their previous visit. Jeremy and his father had +to grope in the pitchy blackness for the coins that +Bob held out to them. Their pockets were about +half-full when there came a whispered exclamation +from the Delaware boy.</p> + +<p>"There's some sort of box in here, buried in +the gold!" he said. "It's too big to pull out +through the hole. Where's your dirk, Jeremy?"</p> + +<p>The latter knelt astride the keg, and working +in the dark, began to enlarge the opening with +the blade of his hunting-knife. After a few minutes +he thrust his hand in and felt the box. It +was apparently of wood, covered with leather and +studded over with scores of nails. Its top was +only seven or eight inches wide by less than a +foot long, however, and in thickness it seemed +scarcely a hand's breadth.</p> + +<p>Big cold drops of rain were beginning to fall +as Jeremy resumed his cutting. He made the +opening longer as well as wider, and at last was +able by hard tugging to get the box through. He +thrust it into his pouch and they recommenced +the filling of their pockets with goldpieces.</p> + +<p>Before a dozen coins had been removed a sudden +red glare on the walls of the chasm caused +the three to leap to their feet. At the same instant +the rain increased to a downpour, and they +looked up to see a pine-knot torch in the opening +above them splutter and go out. The wet darkness +came down blacker than before.</p> + +<p>But in that second of illumination they had +seen framed in the torchlit cleft a pair of gleaming +light eyes and a cruelly snarling mouth set +in a face made horrible by the livid scar that +ran from chin to eyebrow across its broken +nose.</p> + +<p>Jeremy clutched at Bob and his father. "This +way!" he gasped through the hissing rain, and +plunged along the black chasm toward the southern +end, where it debouched upon the hillside. +They clambered over some boulders and emerged +in the undergrowth, a score of yards from the +point where the barrel had been found.</p> + +<p>"Come on," whispered Jeremy hoarsely, and +started eastward along the slope. Burdened as +they were, they ran through the woods at desperate +speed, the noise of their going drowned by +the descending flood.</p> + +<p>In the haste of flight it was impossible to keep +together. When Jeremy had put close to half a +mile between himself and the chasm, he paused +panting and listened for the others, but apparently +they were not near. He decided to cut across +the ridge, and started up the hill, when he heard +a crash in the brush just above him. "Father?" +he called under his breath. To his dismay he +was answered by a startled oath, and the next +moment he saw a tall figure coming at him swinging +a cutlass. The pirate was a bare ten feet +away. Jeremy aimed his pistol and pulled the +trigger, but only a dull click responded. The +priming was wet.<br /></p> + +<div class="center"><a name="facing_222"></a> +<img src="images/image223.png" width="334" height="511" alt="A sudden red glare on the walls of the chasm" /><br /> +A sudden red glare on the walls of the chasm. +</div> + +<p><br /><br />At that instant the cutlass passed his head +with an ugly sound and Jeremy, desperate, flung +his pistol straight at the pirate's face. As it +left his hand he heard it strike. Then as the man +went down with a groan, he doubled in his tracks +like a hare, and ran back, heading up across the +hill.</p> + +<p>It was not till he was over the ridge and well +down the slope toward home that he dropped to +a walk. His breath was coming in gasps that +hurt him like a knife between his ribs, and his +legs were so weak he could hardly depend on them. +He had run nearly two miles, up hill and down, +in heavy clothes drenched with rain, and carrying +a dozen pounds of gold besides the flintlock +fowling-piece which he still clutched in his left +hand. Somewhere behind him he had dropped the +box, found amid the treasure, but he was far +too tired to look for it. More dead than alive he +crawled, at last, up to the door of the cabin and +staggered in when Tom opened to his knock.</p> + +<p>While he gasped out his story, the older brother +looked more closely to the barring of the window-shutters +and put fresh powder in the priming-pans +of the guns.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes after Jeremy, his father appeared, +wet to the skin and with a grim look around his +bearded jaws. He, too, was spent with running, +but he would have gone out again at once when +he heard that Bob was still missing if the boys +had not dissuaded him. Jeremy was sure that if +Bob had escaped he would soon reach the cabin, +for he had the lay of the island well in mind now.</p> + +<p>And so, while Tom kept watch, they lay down +with their clothes on before the fire.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX</h2> + + +<p>The gray November morning dawned damp and +cold. In the sheer exhaustion that followed on +their adventure of the night before, Jeremy and +his father slept heavily till close to nine o'clock, +when Tom wakened them. His face was haggard +with watching, and he looked so worried that they +had no need to ask him if Bob had come in.</p> + +<p>It was a gloomy party that sat down to the +morning meal. The youngest could eat nothing +for thinking of his chum's fate. While his father +still spoke hopefully of the possibility that the +boy might have found a hiding place which he +dared not leave, Jeremy could only remember +the frightful, scarred visage of Pharaoh Daggs +looming in the torchlight. He knew that Bob +would find little mercy behind that cruel face, and +he could not throw off the conviction that the lad +had fallen into the clutches of the pirates.</p> + +<p>All day, standing at the loopholes, they waited +for some sign either of Bob's return, or, what +seemed more probable, an attack by the buccaneer +crew. But as the hours passed no moving form +broke the dark line of trees above them on the +slope.</p> + +<p>At length the dusk fell, and they gave up hope +of seeing the boy again, though on the other score +their vigilance was redoubled. The night went by, +however, as quietly as though the island were deserted.</p> + +<p>It was about two hours after sunrise that Jeremy +stole out to give fodder to the sheep, penned +in the stockade ever since the first alarm. He +had been gone a bare two minutes when he rushed +back into the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Look father," he cried. "In the bay—there's +a sloop coming in to anchor!"</p> + +<p>Amos Swan went to a northern loophole, and +peered forth. "What is she? Can ye make her +out? Seems to fly the British Jack all right," +he said. Following the two boys, he hurried outside. +Jeremy had run down the hill to the beach +where he stood, gazing intently at the craft, and +shading his eyes with his hand. After a moment +he turned excitedly. "Father," he shouted, "it's +the <i>Tiger!</i> I saw her only once, but I'd not forget +those fine lines of her. Look—there's Job, himself, +getting into the cutter!"</p> + +<p>A big man in a blue cloak had just stepped +into the stern sheets of the boat, and seeing the +figures on the shore, he now waved a hand in their +direction.</p> + +<p>Sure enough, in three minutes Captain Job +Howland jumped out upon the sand and with a +roar of greeting caught Jeremy's hand in his big +fist. "Well, lad," he laughed, "ye look glad to +see us. Didn't know we was headed up this way, +did ye? But here we be! Soon as the sloop was +ready Mr. Curtis had a light cargo for Boston +town, and he told me to coast up here on the same +trip. He wants Bob home again. Why—what ails +ye, boy?"</p> + +<p>They were climbing the path toward the shack, +when Job noticed the downcast look on Jeremy's +face, and interrupted himself.</p> + +<p>In a few words the boy told what had happened +during the brief week they had been on the island.</p> + +<p>"By the Great Bull Whale!" muttered the ex-buccaneer +in astonishment. "Sol Brig's treasure, +sure enough! And that devil, Daggs—see here, +if Bob's alive, we've got to get him out of that!" +He swung about and hailed the boat's crew, all +six of whom had remained on the beach.</p> + +<p>"Adams, and you, Mason, pull back to the sloop +and bring off all the men in the port watch, with +their cutlasses and small-arms. The rest of you +come up here."</p> + +<p>As soon as Job had shaken hands with Jeremy's +father and brother, they entered the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Now, Jeremy," said the skipper, "you say +this craft is careened on the other side of the +island, close to the place where Stede Bonnet +landed us that time? How many men have they?"</p> + +<p>"We don't know," the boy replied. "But I +don't think Daggs had time to gather a big crew, +and what's more, he'd figure the fewer the better +when it came to splitting up the gold. I doubt +if there's above fifteen men—maybe only fourteen +now." He grinned as he thought of the big pirate +who had attacked him in the woods.</p> + +<p>"Good," said Job. "We'll have sixteen besides +you, Mr. Swan, and your two boys. An even +twenty, counting myself. If we can't put that +crowd under hatches, I'm no sailorman."</p> + +<p>The crew of the <i>Tiger</i>, bristling with arms and +eager for action, now came up. Without wasting +time Job told them what was afoot and they moved +forward up the hill.</p> + +<p>Once among the trees the attacking party spread +out in irregular fan-formation, with Tom and Jeremy +scouting a little in advance. The stillness of +the woods was almost oppressive as they went +forward. All the men seemed to feel it and proceeded +with more and more caution. Used to the +hurly-burly of sea-fighting, they did not relish this +silent approach against an unseen enemy.</p> + +<p>Clearing the ridge they came down at length to +the edge of the beach, close to the old pirate anchorage, +and Jeremy led the way along through +the bushes toward the mouth of the reedy inlet. +Working carefully down the shore to the place +whence Bob and he had sighted the spars of the +buccaneer, he climbed above the reeds and peered +up the creek. To his surprise the masts had disappeared.</p> + +<p>"She's gone!" he gasped.</p> + +<p>Job and Tom looked in turn. Certain it was +that no vessel lay in the creek!</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they sighted the <i>Tiger</i>," suggested +Jeremy. "If so, they can't have gotten far. +They've likely taken the rest of the gold. And +Bob must be aboard, too, if he's still alive."</p> + +<p>As they turned to go back, one of the sailors +who had walked down to the reeds at the edge of +the creek, hurried up with a dark object in his +fist. He held it out as he drew near and they +saw that it was a pistol, covered with a mass of +black mud, Jeremy saw a gleam of metal through +the sticky lump, and quickly scraping away the +mud from the mounting he disclosed a silver plate +which bore the still terrible name "Stede Bonnet." +The boy gave a cry of pleasure as he saw +it, and thrust the weapon quickly into Job's hands.</p> + +<p>"Look!" he exclaimed. "It's Bob's pistol. +And there's only one way it could have gotten +where it was. He must have thrown it from the +sloop's deck as they went past, thinking we'd find +it. See here! They can't be gone more than a +few hours, for there's not a bit of rust on the iron +parts. Maybe we could catch them, Job, if we +hurry!"</p> + +<p>Job turned to his men and called, "What say +you, lads—shall we give them a chase?"</p> + +<p>A chorus of vociferous "Ay, Ay's" was the +answer.</p> + +<p>"Here we go, then!" he shouted, and led the +way back up the hill at a trot.</p> + +<p>As they reached the ridge, Jeremy cut over to +the left a little through the trees, so that his course +lay past the treasure cleft. When he reached it +he found just what he had expected—the shattered +staves of the barrel lying open on the ledge, +and several rough excavations in the dirt at the +bottom of the chasm, where the buccaneers had +searched greedily for more gold. The charred +remnants of a bonfire, a few yards further down +the cleft, showed that they had worked partly +at night.</p> + +<p>Leaving the ledge, the boy was hurrying back +to join the main party when he came out upon +an elevated space, clear of trees, from which one +could command a view of the sea to the west and +south. Involuntarily he paused, and shading his +eyes with his hand, swept the horizon slowly. Then +he gave a start, for straight away to the westward, +in a gap between two islands, was a white +speck of sail.</p> + +<p>"Job!" he yelled at the top of his lungs. +"Job!"</p> + +<p>The big skipper was only a short distance away, +and he came through the trees at a run followed +by most of his men, in answer to Jeremy's hail. +No words were necessary. The boy's pointing +finger led their eyes instantly to the far-off ship. +Job took a quick look at the sun and the distant +islands, to fix his bearings, then set out for the +northern inlet again, even faster than before.</p> + +<p>As they came running down the slope toward +the cabin, Amos Swan emerged, gun in hand, evidently +believing that they were in full rout before +the enemy.</p> + +<p>"They've left the island," panted Jeremy, as +he reached the door. "We saw their sail—we're +going to chase them! We're sure, now, that Bob's +aboard!"</p> + +<p>His father looked relieved.</p> + +<p>"Go—you and Tom!" he said. "I'll stay and +mind the island."</p> + +<p>Job, with a dozen of his men, was starting in +the cutter, and had already hailed the <i>Tiger</i> to +order the other boat sent ashore. Tom and Jeremy +hurried into the cabin, and stuffing some clothes +into Jeremy's sea-chest along with a brace of +good pistols and a cutlass apiece, were soon ready +to embark.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI</h2> + + +<p>There was a bustle of action aboard the sloop +when the boys swarmed up her side. One chanty +was being sung up forward, where half a dozen +sturdy seamen were heaving at the capstan bars, +and another was going amidships as the throat +of the long main gaff went to the top. Captain +Job stood on the afterdeck, constantly shouting +new orders. His big voice made itself heard above +the singing, the groan of tackle-blocks and the +crash of the canvas, flapping in the northwest +wind.</p> + +<p>It was a clear, sunny day, with a bite of approaching +winter in the air, and the boys were +glad to button their jackets tight and move into +the lee of the after-house.</p> + +<p>"Here, lads," Job cried, "there's work for you, +too. Take a run below, Jeremy, and bring up +an armload of cutlasses. See if any of those +muskets need cleaning, Tom."</p> + +<p>Jeremy scurried down the companion ladder, +and forward along the starboard gun deck to the +rack of small arms near the fo'c's'le hatch. Jeremy +was pleased to see that the sloop carried a +full complement of ten broadside guns, beside a +long brass cannon in the bows. In fact, she was +armed like a regular man-o'-war. The tubs were +filled and neat little piles of round-shot and cannister +stood beside each gun. The <i>Tiger</i>, he +thought, was likely to give a good account of +herself if she could come to grips with the buccaneers.</p> + +<p>Stepping on deck once more, his arms piled with +hangers, Jeremy found that the sloop had already +cleared the bay on her starboard tack and was just +coming about to make a long reach of it to port. +The pirate sail was no longer in sight in the west, +but as several islands filled the horizon in that +direction, it seemed likely that she had passed +beyond them.</p> + +<p>Jeremy approached the Captain. "How far +ahead do you think they are?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"When we sighted 'em, they were about four +sea-miles to the westward," answered Job. "If +they're making ordinary sailing, they've gained +close to three more, since then. But if they're +carrying much canvas it may be more. We shan't +come near them before dark, at any rate."</p> + +<p>He cast an eye aloft as he spoke, and Jeremy's +gaze followed. The <i>Tiger</i> was carrying topsails +and both jibs, with a single reef in her fore and +main sails. She was scudding along at a great +rate with the whitecaps racing by, close below +the lee gunports. Jeremy whistled with delight. +He had seen Stede Bonnet crowd canvas once or +twice, but never in so good a cause.</p> + +<p>The wind held from the northwest, gaining in +strength rather than decreasing, and the sloop, +heeled far to port, sped along close-hauled on a +west-sou'west course.</p> + +<p>After three-quarters of an hour of this kind +of sailing they were close to the group of islands, +and sighting a passage to the northward, swung +over on the other tack. A rough beat to starboard +brought them into the gap. Though they +crossed a grim, black shoal at the narrowest part, +Job did not shorten sail, but steered straight on +as fast as the wind would take him. And at length +they came clear of the headland and saw a great +stretch of open sea to the southwestward with +a faint, white dot of sail at its farthest edge.</p> + +<p>At the sight a hearty cheer went up from the +seamen, clustered along the port rail. A lean, +wind-browned man with keen black eyes came aft +to the tiller where Jeremy and Tom stood with +the Captain. It was Isaiah Hawkes, Job's first +mate, himself a Maine coast man. "It's all clear +sailin' ahead, sir," he said. "No more reefs or +islands 'twixt this an' Cape Cod, if they follow +the course they're on."</p> + +<p>The <i>Tiger</i> hung with fluttering canvas in the +wind's eye for a second or two, then settled away +on the port tack with a bang of her main boom.</p> + +<p>"Here, Isaiah, take the tiller," said Job, at +length. "Hold her as she is—two points to windward +of the other sloop. You'll want to set an +extra lookout tonight," he continued. "We shan't +be able to keep 'em in sight at this distance, if +they've sighted us, which most likely they have. +I'm going up to have a look at 'Long Poll' +now."</p> + +<p>Accompanied by the two boys, he made his way +along the steeply canted deck of the plunging +schooner to the breach of the swivel-gun at the +bow.</p> + +<p>"Ever seen this gal afore, Jeremy?" asked Job, +shouting to make himself heard above the hiss +and thunder of the water under the forefoot. +"She's the old gun we had aboard the <i>Queen</i>. +Stede Bonnet never had a piece like this. Cast +in Bristol, she was, in '94. There's the letters +that tells it." And he patted the bright breach +lovingly, sighting along the brazen barrel, and +swinging the nose from right to left till he brought +the gun to bear squarely on the white speck that +was the pirate sloop, still hull-down in the sea +ahead. "Come morning, Polly, my gal," he chuckled, +"we'll let you talk to 'em."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, the fiery disk of the sun was slipping +into the ocean across the starboard bow. +With sunset the breeze lightened perceptibly, and +Job ordered the reefs shaken out of the fore and +mainsails and an extra jib set. Then he and the +boys, who, although they had quarters aft, had +been assigned to the port watch, went below and +turned in.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII</h2> + + +<p>Jeremy, stumbling on deck at eight bells, pulled +his seaman's greatcoat up about his ears, for the +breeze came cold. He worked his way forward +along the high weather rail and took up his lookout +station on the starboard bow.</p> + +<p>Overhead the midnight sky burned bright with +stars that seemed to flicker like candle-flames in +the wind. A half-grown moon rode down the west +and threw a faint radiance across the heaving +seas. It was blowing harder now. The wind +boomed loud in the taut stays and the rising waves +broke smashingly over the bow at times, forcing +the foremast hands to cling like monkeys to the +rail and rigging.</p> + +<p>Captain Job, with Tom to help him, stood grimly +at the thrashing tiller and drove the sloop southwestward +at a terrific gait. The sails had been +single-reefed again during the mate's watch, but +with the wind still freshening the staunch little +craft was carrying an enormous amount of canvas. +Job Howland was a sailor of the breed that was to +reach its climax a hundred years later in the captains +of the great Yankee clippers—men who +broke sailing records and captured the world's +trade because they dared to walk their tall ships, +full-canvassed, past the heavy foreign merchantmen +that rolled under triple reefs in half a gale +of wind.</p> + +<p>One by one the hours of the watch went by. +Jeremy, drenched and shivering, but thrilling to +the excitement of the chase, stuck to his post at +the rail beside the long bow gun. His eyes were +fixed constantly on the sea ahead and abeam, while +his thoughts, racing on, followed the pirate +schooner close.</p> + +<p>How was Bob to be gotten off alive, he wondered, +for he had come to believe that his chum +was aboard the fleeing craft. If it came to a running +fight, their cannonade might sink her, in +which case the boy would be drowned along with +his captors. And there were other things that +could happen. Jeremy groaned aloud as he +thought of the fate that Pharaoh Daggs had once +so nearly meted out to him. He felt again the +bite of the hemp at his wrists, and saw that pitiless +gleam in the strange light eyes of the pirate. +Would Daggs try to settle his long score against +the boys by some unheard-of brutality?</p> + +<p>A sudden hail cut in upon his thoughts. "Sail +ho!" the lookout on the other side had cried.</p> + +<p>"Where away?" came Job's deep shout.</p> + +<p>"Three points on the port bow," answered the +seaman, "an' not above a league off!"</p> + +<p>Jeremy, straining his eyes into the night, made +out the dim patch of sail ahead.</p> + +<p>"How's she headed?" called the Captain again. +"Is she still on her port tack, or running before +the wind?"</p> + +<p>"Still beating up to the west!" the sailor replied.</p> + +<p>"Good," cried Job. "They think they can outsail +us. Keep her in sight and sing out if you +see her fall off the wind!"</p> + +<p>Half an hour later the watch was changed and +Jeremy scrambled into his warm bunk for a few +hours more sleep.</p> + +<p>It was broad daylight when he and Tom reached +the deck once more and went eagerly forward to +join the little knot of seamen in the bows. All +eyes were turned toward the horizon, ahead, where +the sails of the fleeing schooner loomed gray in +the morning haze.</p> + +<p>The wind which had shifted a little to the north +was still blowing stiffly, heeling both sloops over +at a sharp angle. The <i>Tiger</i> had gained somewhat +during the morning watch, but the pirates had +now evidently become desperate and put on all +the sail their craft would carry, so that the two +vessels sped on, league after league, without apparent +change of position.</p> + +<p>Job, who had now taken the tiller again, called +to Jeremy after a while. "Here, lad," he said, +when the boy reached the poop, "lend me a hand +with this kicker."</p> + +<p>Jeremy laid hold with a will, and found that +it took almost all his strength, along with that +of the powerful Captain, to hold the schooner on +her course. At times, when a big beam sea caught +her, she would yaw fearfully, falling off several +points, and could only be brought back to windward +by jamming the thrashing rudder hard +over.</p> + +<p>"We lose headway when she does that, don't +we, Job?" panted the boy after one such effort. +"And I reckon we couldn't lash the beam fast +to keep her this way, could we? No, I see, +it has to be free so as to move all the time. +Still——"</p> + +<p>As he staggered to and fro at the end of the +tiller, the boy thought rapidly. Finally he recommenced: +"Job—this may sound foolish to you—but +why couldn't we lash her on both sides, and +yet give her play—look—this way! Rig a little +pulley here and one here——" He indicated +places on the deck, close to the rail on either +quarter. "Then reeve a line from the tiller-end +through each one, and bring it back with three +or four turns around a windlass drum, a little +way for'ard, there. Then you could keep hold of +the arms of the windlass, and only let the tiller +move as much as you needed to, either way——"</p> + +<p>"By the Great Bull Whale," Job laughed, as +he grasped the boy's plan, "I wonder if that +wouldn't work! Jeremy, boy, we'll find out, anyhow. +Braisted!" he called to the ship's carpenter, +"up with some lumber and a good stout line +and a pair of spare blocks if you've got them. +Lively, now!"</p> + +<p>In a jiffy the carpenter had tumbled the tackle +out on the deck, and under the direction of Job, +began to rig it according to Jeremy's scheme. It +was a matter of a few moments only, once he +caught the idea. When at length the final stout +knot had been tied, Job, still keeping his mighty +clutch on the tiller beam, motioned to Jeremy to +take hold of the windlass. The boy jumped forward +eagerly and seized two of the rude spokes +that radiated horizontally from the hub. The +position was an awkward one, but with a slight +pull he found that he could swing the windlass +rapidly in either direction.</p> + +<p>"Avast there—avast!" came Job's bass bellow, +and looking over his shoulder, Jeremy saw the big +skipper flung from side to side in spite of himself +as the windlass was turned. The seamen +who had gathered to watch were roaring with +laughter, and Job himself was chuckling as he let +go the tiller and hurried to Jeremy's side. Taking +a grip on the spokes, he spun them back and +forth once or twice, to feel how the vessel answered +her helm under this new contraption, and +in a moment had it working handsomely. He was +using the first ship's steering-wheel.</p> + +<p>The sloop, which had yawed and lost some headway +during this interlude, now struck her stride +again, and drove along with her nose held steady, +a full half-point closer to the wind than had been +possible before. Job perceived this and loosed +one hand long enough to strike Jeremy a mighty +blow on the back.</p> + +<p>"She works, boy!" he cried. "And at this +gait we'll catch them before noon!"</p> + +<p>Indeed, the crew had already noticed the difference +in their sailing, and were lining the bows, +waving their caps in the air and yelling with excitement +as they watched the distance between +the two craft slowly shorten.</p> + +<p>An hour passed, and the gunners were sent +below to make ready their pieces, for the lead +of the pirate sloop had been cut to a bare +mile.</p> + +<p>Job had turned the wheel over to Hawkes, and +now, with three picked men to help him, was ramming +home a heavy charge of powder in the long +"nine." On top of it he drove down the round-shot, +then bent above the swivel-breach, swinging +it back and forth as he brought the cannon's muzzle +to bear on the topsails of the pirate schooner, +whose black hull was now plainly visible. He +sniffed the wind and measured the distance with +his eye. When his calculations were complete he +turned and held up his hand in signal to the helmsman. +As the swivel allowed movement only from +side to side, he must depend on the cant of the +deck for his elevation. Holding the long gunner's +match lighted in his hand, he waited for the +exact second when the schooner's bow was lifted +on a wave and swinging in the right direction, +then touched the powder train. There was a hiss +and flare, and at the end of a second or two a +terrific roar as the charge was fired. The smoke +was blown clear almost instantly, and every one +leaned forward, watching the sea ahead with tense +eagerness. At length a column of white spray +lifted, a scant hundred yards astern of the other +sloop. The crew cheered, for it was a splendid +shot at that distance and in a seaway. The sky +was thickening to windward, and it grew harder +momentarily to see objects at a distance. Job +was already at work, superintending the swabbing-out +of the gun and reloading with his own hands. +There was a long moment while he waited for a +favorable chance, then "Long Poll" shook the +deck once more with the crash of her discharge. +This time the shot fell just ahead and to windward +of the enemy—so close that the spray blew +back into the rigging.</p> + +<p>Job had bracketed his target, but the mist-clouds +that were sweeping past rendered his task a difficult +one. Grimly but with swift certainty of +movement he went about his preparations for a +third attempt.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was a shout from Jeremy, who +had climbed into the forestays for a better view. +"Look there!" he cried. "They're lowering a +boat. There's something white in it, like a flag +of truce!"</p> + +<p>In the lee of the pirate vessel a small boat could +be seen tossing crazily in the heavy seas. Job, +who had called for his spyglass, looked long and +earnestly at the tiny craft.</p> + +<p>"There's but one man in it," he announced +at length, "and he's showing a bit of something +white, as Jeremy says. Here, lad, you've the +best eyes on the sloop, see if you can make out +more."</p> + +<p>The boy focussed the glass on the little boat, +which was now drifting rapidly to the southeast, +already nearly opposite their bows. The figure in +it stood up, waving frantic arms to one side and +the other.</p> + +<p>"It's Bob!" Jeremy almost screamed. "That's +a signal we used to have when we were hunting. +It means 'Come here!'"</p> + +<p>He had hardly finished speaking when—"Port +your helm!" roared Job. "All hands stand by +to slack the fore and main sheets!"<br /></p> + +<div class="center"><a name="facing_247"></a> +<img src="images/image247.png" width="341" height="523" alt="Job had bracketed his target" /><br /> +Job had bracketed his target. +</div> + +<p><br /><br />The <i>Tiger</i> fell off the wind with a lurch and +spun away to leeward, bowing into the running +seas.</p> + +<p>Five minutes later they hauled Bob, drenched +and dripping, to the deck.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII</h2> + + +<p>The boy was pale and haggard and so weak he +could hardly stand alone, but he looked about +him with an eager grin as Tom and Jeremy helped +him toward the companion.</p> + +<p>"Why," he gasped, "here's old Job! What's +he doing up here!" as the latter strode aft to +seize his hand.</p> + +<p>"Ay, lad," laughed the big mariner, a mighty +relief showing in his face, "we're all your friends +aboard here. But how came those devils to let +you off so easy? We figured we'd have to fight +to get you, and mighty lucky to do it at that!"</p> + +<p>The schooner had come into the wind again +and was heading westward in pursuit of the pirate, +now hidden in the murk ahead. Bob was +helped to the cabin and propped up in a bunk +while his friends hastened to get some dry clothes +on him. A pull of brandy stopped his shivering.</p> + +<p>"I thought none of you would ever see me +alive," he said soberly. "But, Job, before I tell +you all about it, are you sure you've lost sight of +Daggs' sloop? They were worried about your +shooting, and figured the only chance they had +was to set me adrift and then get away in the +dirty weather, while you were fishing me out. +They'd never have given me up if that second +shot hadn't mighty near gone through and through +the old <i>Revenge</i>."</p> + +<p>"The <i>Revenge</i>!" said Job. "I thought I knew +the cut of that big mainsail, and she was painted +black, too! Well, their trick succeeded. Just this +minute we'd have no more chance of finding 'em +than a needle in a haystack. But it may clear +again before night, and then we'll see! Go ahead +now and spin your yarn, my lad!"</p> + +<p>And Bob, swigging hot tea and munching a +biscuit, began once more to tell his story.</p> + +<p>"After we separated, and started to run, up on +the hill that night," he said, "I seemed to lose all +my sense of direction for a while. I was scared +for one thing, I'll freely admit. When I saw +Daggs' face in the torchlight leaning over us, there +by the treasure barrel, it frightened me pretty +nearly out of my senses. So I started to run, without +an idea of where I was going, and by the time +I got my wits back, I couldn't tell just where I was, +in the rain and the dark. I seemed to be right +on top of the ridge, but I had zig-zagged several +times, I remembered, and when I tried to figure +which side of the hill I should go down, I couldn't +for the life of me decide. Finally I said to myself, +'Here, don't be a fool! Which way was the wind +blowing when we set out from the shack? Aha, +it was north,' says I. 'Very well, then, this must +be the way to the cabin—straight into the wind,' +And down the hill I started, bearing over to my +right, so as to come out just above the sheep-pen."</p> + +<p>"But—" interrupted Jeremy, "when that storm +came up the wind backed clear round into the +south—"</p> + +<p>"I know it now," Bob answered, "but I didn't +then. I kept right on, tickled that I was out of it +so well, and wondering where the rest of you had +gotten to. Pretty soon I came to some low land +that I didn't remember, but I saw a light off ahead +and to my right, and decided that was the cabin. +I blundered along through the trees till I was +quite close, and then I discovered that the light +came from a bonfire. I stopped for a second, +puzzled, for I was sure I must be near the cabin. +I wondered if the pirates had captured it. I stole +up still closer and watched the light and presently +a buccaneer walked in front of it.</p> + +<p>"That was enough for me. I turned and started +to run. And at about the third step I fell plump +into the arms of a pirate. You see I had walked +straight toward their part of the island by making +that silly mistake.</p> + +<p>"This fellow got a grip on my collar, and I +couldn't break loose, though I'll warrant his shins +are tender yet, where I kicked him. He hauled +me down to the fire, and he and three others who +were there looked me over. The one that had +caught me was a big mulatto—as ugly-looking a +customer as I ever saw. And the others were no +lambs. I'll tell you, my hearties, Daggs has +gathered up a pretty lot of rascals in this crew. +Not one of 'em but looks as if he'd knife you for +a copper farthing!</p> + +<p>"These four by the fire wasted no time, but went +through my pockets in a hurry. They took my +pistol and were quarreling about dividing the +goldpieces I had, when the rest of the crowd began +to appear. They were all wet, and in a bad temper +for a dozen other reasons. Plenty of curses came +my way, but no one laid a hand on me, for they had +a mighty fear of Pharaoh Daggs. When he finally +came, he swore at them till they slunk around like +whipped curs.</p> + +<p>"He was in an ugly mood that night. Seemingly +he was disappointed in the amount of treasure +they had found. Besides that, they had come +on one of their best men with his head beaten in, +and you and your father had gotten clean away. +Things looked black enough for me, I can tell you.</p> + +<p>"Daggs and the mulatto, who is his mate, +started in to question me, after they had grumbled +awhile. They knew already how many of you +there were at the cabin, but they asked about your +guns and supplies. Of course, I didn't make the +stronghold any weaker in the telling. When they +had all the information they thought they could +get out of me, they held a sort of council. Some +wanted to go right over before light and attack +the cabin. Others were for broaching a barrel of +rum first, and making thorough preparations. +Finally Daggs decided to put it off until they +could get some pitch and dry grass ready, so as to +set fire to the roof.</p> + +<p>"It was nearly daylight by this time, and they +started back through the reeds toward their sloop, +leading me along with them. We travelled half +a mile or so, down a crooked black trail only wide +enough for one man at a time, and ankle deep in +the mud of the swamp. When we reached the +schooner they stuck a pair of handcuffs on me +and put me down on the ballast. In spite of the +filth and the cold I was so dog-tired that I tumbled +on the nearest pile of old chains and went to sleep.</p> + +<p>"I woke up late in the afternoon, and I don't +think I was ever so stiff and uncomfortable and +hungry in my life. I made my way over to the +hatch and found I could reach the combing with +my hands, so I pulled myself up, after a mighty +hard tussle. Try it some time with your hands +tied!</p> + +<p>"Most of the pirates were forward in their +bunks, but one who was keeping watch on deck +took pity on me and gave me a couple of biscuits +and a swig of water. He was more or less talkative, +besides, and from him I learned that Daggs +planned to start about midnight for your side of +the island, carrying buckets of pitch and tinder, +so as to roast you out.</p> + +<p>"As you may imagine, this kind of talk nearly +turned me sick with fear, and right in the midst +of it Pharaoh Daggs came on deck.</p> + +<p>"He had that empty sort of glare in his eyes +that we used to see sometimes when he was drunk. +Of course, he walked straight and even, but as he +came over toward us, with his teeth showing and +his eyes fixed on a point just above the pirate's +shoulder, I almost yelled 'Look out!' If I had, +it might have cost me my life right there. He +walked along, light on his toes like a cat, till he +stood two feet from us. Then, so fast I hardly +knew what happened, he hit the other man on the +chin with his fist. That was all. The man dropped +with his head back against the rail. And Daggs +went off, chuckling to himself but not making any +noise. I don't think he saw me at all, for his +attack was more like the work of a mad dog than +of a man.</p> + +<p>"I crept away and got below decks as fast as +might be, and there I stayed hidden till after dark, +when some of the buccaneers rousted me out. A +keg of rum had been opened in the waist, and the +liquor was going freely. Most of the crew were +already drunk, but they had the sense to chain me +by one leg to the foremast, and then made me run +back and forth between them and the barrel. I +was only too glad. No cannikin was skimped +while I was at the spigot. I looked around and +remembered some of the wild nights we had seen +on the old <i>Revenge</i>. And then for the first time +I realized that the deck I stood on was the same! +They'd gotten hold of the old black sloop when +she was auctioned at Charles Town, patched up +her bottom and here she was—buccaneering once +more! Where the gang of cut-throats aboard her +were gathered, I don't know, but they put Stede +Bonnet's famous crew to shame.</p> + +<p>"Pharaoh Daggs was somewhere ashore with +two of the crew till nearly midnight. When he +returned, the rest were lying like pigs about the +deck. He had sobered slightly—enough to remember +the night's undertaking—but it was useless +to think of rousing those sots to any sort of +endeavor. He kicked one or two of them savagely +with his heavy boot, too, but it got hardly more +than a grunt from them.</p> + +<p>"He stood there cursing for a minute, then came +over and looked at the shackle that held me to the +foremast-foot, and shook it to make sure it was +solid before he went below. He had something +done up in a cloth that he held mighty tenderly, +and he seemed in a better humor.</p> + +<p>"I curled up on the deck and by wrapping myself +in a greatcoat which I found beside one of +the drunken pirates, succeeded in keeping reasonably +warm.</p> + +<p>"When morning came Daggs and his mulatto +mate managed to wake most of the men and forced +them to get out and forage for wood and water, +while they themselves crossed the ridge to reconnoitre. +I think it was about two hours after sunrise +when those of us who stayed aboard the sloop +saw figures running down the hill. The buccaneers +got out boarding-pikes and picked up cutlasses, but +in a moment Daggs reached the side, out of breath +with his haste.</p> + +<p>"'There's a ten-gun schooner in the northern +cove!' he cried. 'They're landing a boat now. +We haven't any time to lose—the tide's past full +already! Cut those moorings!'</p> + +<p>"The hemp lines were slashed through with cutlasses +and the men, with one accord, jumped to +the push-holes. The sloop was on an even keel and +just off the bottom. A few strong shoves started +her down the creek.</p> + +<p>"My hopes of escaping began to go down, for +there I was, still chained to the fore-stick like a +cow put out to grass. I looked around me in +desperation, for I wanted to leave you some sign +at least of my whereabouts. Then my eye fell on +a little heap of small arms that had been thrown +down near the forehatch. The pistols were useless +to me, as I had no powder, but among them I +saw the bright silver mountings of my own—the +one that used to be Stede Bonnet's.</p> + +<p>"We were drawing near the creek mouth, and +those of the crew who were not at the poles were +busy unfurling the sails. I picked the pistol up +unobserved and waited till we were just hauling +clear of the creek. Then I threw it overside and +saw it strike in the mud. Did you find it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Jeremy. "That's how we knew for +certain that you'd been captured."</p> + +<p>"Well," the Delaware boy went on, "there's not +much more to tell. The pirates made all sail to +the southwest, but after we cleared the islands, +there you were, roaring along in our wake. Daggs +thought that the <i>Revenge</i> was a faster sailer than +your craft, but he found he couldn't keep her as +close to the wind on this tack. I don't think he +wants to fight if he can help it, but he was getting +desperate this afternoon before the weather began +to thicken up. I heard him tell the mate he'd +rather come to broadside grips than risk having +you drop a shot through the black sloop's bottom +with that bowchaser. Then the mist started to +come over, and I guess Daggs saw his chance +right away. He called the crew aft and told them +what he was going to do, and a moment later I +found myself being lowered in a boat into that +wicked sea. I thought they were trying to drown +me out of hand, till they gave me a piece of white +cloth to wave. Then I got an inkling of their +idea.</p> + +<p>"Sure enough, no sooner was I fairly adrift +than I saw you put over in my direction, and +thinking Jeremy might be aboard, I gave him our +old signal. It worked, and here I am safe enough. +But meanwhile those devils have got off into the +mist, and it'll be hard to follow them."</p> + +<p>Job sat thoughtful, pulling at his pipe. He +seemed to be cogitating some of the points in +Bob's narrative, and the others kept silent, unwilling +to interrupt him. At length he blew a +great cloud of blue smoke toward the deck-beams +above and turning to the boy, asked, "Did Daggs +or any of the rest ever speak of the place where +they were going?"</p> + +<p>"They never talked about it openly," Bob replied, +"but from words dropped now and then by +the mulatto mate I figured they were heading down +for the Spanish Islands. I don't think they intend +putting in anywhere first, unless they land for +water in one of those out of the way inlets along +the Jersey coast."</p> + +<p>Job nodded. "That's about as I thought," he +answered. "So we'll hold on this tack till nightfall—we're +just off the Kennebec, now—and then +we'll run sou'-sou'east before the wind, to clear +Cape Cod. Daggs—if he figgers as I would in his +place—won't start to leeward right away, for he'd +rather have us in front of him than behind. And +unless I'm much mistaken he's in too much of a +hurry to waste time in doubling back up the coast. +All right Bob, lad, you'll be wanting sleep now, +so we'll leave you. On deck with you, boys!"</p> + +<p>And tucking the blankets about the drowsy +youngster in the bunk, Job led the way to the +companion.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV</h2> + + +<p>The mist was sweeping past in swirls and streaks, +and though the wind had abated somewhat, the +<i>Tiger</i> still ploughed along into the obscurity at a +fair rate of speed. Jeremy stayed forward with +the lookout, peering constantly into the gloom +ahead, and half expecting to see the ghostlike sails +of the <i>Revenge</i> whenever for a moment a gray +aisle opened in the mist. But there were only the +grim, uneasy seas and the shifting fog.</p> + +<p>Before darkness fell Job shortened sail, for he +did not wish to get too far ahead of the enemy. +And about the end of the second dog watch he gave +the order to slack sheets and fall away for the +southward run.</p> + +<p>The wind turned bitterly cold in the night, and +when the watch was changed Tom and Jeremy +staggered below, glad to escape from the stinging +snow that filled the air.</p> + +<p>But with that snow-flurry the weather cleared. +The sun rose to a day of bright blue water and +sharp wind, and hardly had its first level rays +shot across the ocean floor when the watch below +was tumbled out by a chorus of shouts from the +deck.</p> + +<p>Jeremy, as he burst upward through the hatchway, +cast an eager eye to either beam, then uttered +a whoop of joy, as he caught the gleam of white +canvas over the bows. There, straight ahead and +barely a league distant, raced the <i>Revenge</i> and +her pirate crew.</p> + +<p>Captain Job reached the deck only a couple of +jumps behind the boys, and an instant later his +deep voice boomed the order to shake out all reefs +and set the top-sails.</p> + +<p>Bob, who had slept the clock around and eaten +a hearty breakfast, soon appeared at Jeremy's +side, looking fit for any adventure. With Tom +they went up into the bows and were shortly joined +there by others of the crew, all intent on the +chase.</p> + +<p>The swells as they surged by from stern to bow +seemed to move more and more sluggishly. Beneath +a press of sail that would have made most +skippers fearful of running her under, Job was +driving the <i>Tiger</i> along at a terrific pace. Now +once more Jeremy's steering-wheel was proving its +worth. Job at the helm could hold the plunging +schooner on her course with far less danger of +being swung over into the trough than would have +been the case with the old hand tiller.</p> + +<p>But in spite of the schooner's headlong speed, +the distance between her and her quarry seemed +to lessen scarcely at all. The old <i>Revenge</i> with +her tall sticks and great spread of canvas was +flying down before the wind with all the speed that +had made her name a byword, and the man with +the broken nose was evidently willing to take as +many chances as his pursuers.</p> + +<p>All morning the chase went on. At noon, when +the winter sun flashed on the high white dunes of +Cape Cod, to starboard, the <i>Tiger</i> seemed to have +gained a little. Job, leaving the wheel for a bit, +came forward and measured the distance with +his eye. He shook his head. "Two miles," he +said. "At this rate we can't get within range +before dark." And he went back to his steering.</p> + +<p>But for once he was mistaken. For an hour or +more the buccaneers had been hauling over little +by little toward the coast, possibly with the idea +of running in and escaping overland as soon as +night should fall. Now the lookout in the foretop +of the <i>Tigers</i> gave a cheer.</p> + +<p>"They've caught a flaw in the wind!" he +shouted. "Watch us come up!"</p> + +<p>Sure enough the <i>Revenge</i> had sailed into an +area of light air to leeward of the Cape, and the +boys could see that their own sloop, which still +had the wind, was hauling up hand over hand on +her adversary.</p> + +<p>"By the Great Bull Whale!" roared Job, leaping +forward along the deck, "now's our chance! +Hold her as she is, Hawkes, while I load the long +gun."</p> + +<p>The big gunner-captain worked rapidly as +always, but before he had done ramming down the +round-shot, the pirate schooner was within range +for a long-distance try. She lay off the <i>Tiger's</i> +starboard bow, almost broadside on, but still too +far away to use her own guns.</p> + +<p>Job aimed with his usual care, but when at +length he put a match to the powder, the shot +flew harmlessly through the pirate's rigging, striking +the sea beyond. Almost at the same moment +the wind drew strongly in the sails of the <i>Revenge</i> +once more, and she began plunging southward at +a breakneck pace.</p> + +<p>Job ran aft for a word with the mate, who had +the wheel, then returned and again loaded the bowchaser, +this time with chainshot and an extra +heavy charge of powder to carry it. When he had +finished he stood by the breach in grim silence, +watching the chase.</p> + +<p>It soon became apparent that though the <i>Tiger</i> +could gain little on her rival in actual headway, +she was gradually pulling over closer to the +quarter of the <i>Revenge</i>. Hawkes, who was an excellent +seaman, humored the craft to starboard, +bit by bit, without sacrificing her forward speed.</p> + +<p>At the end of twenty minutes Job gave a satisfied +grunt, maneuvered the cannon back and forth +on its swivel base once or twice, and fired. Above +the roar of the discharge the boys heard the +screech of the whirling chainshot, and then in the +<i>Revenge's</i> mainsail appeared a great gaping rent, +through the tattered edges of which the wind +passed unhindered. There was a howl of joy from +the crew, and without waiting for an order, they +tumbled pell-mell down the hatches to man the +broadside cannon in the waist.</p> + +<p>Job stayed on deck, watching the enemy through +his spy-glass. Handicapped by her torn mainsail, +the <i>Revenge</i> was already falling abeam. When +they had hauled up to within five or six hundred +yards of her, Job called the men of the port watch +on deck to shorten sail. This done, and the two +sloops holding on southward at about an even gait, +the Captain took a turn below, where he looked +at each of the guns, gave a few sharp orders and +ran back to his station on the after deck.</p> + +<p>"All ready, Hawkes," he called, "bring us up +to within a hundred and fifty fathoms of her!"</p> + +<p>The mate spun the wheel to starboard, and the +schooner, answering, drew nearer to the enemy.</p> + +<p>"Close enough—port your helm," cried Job.</p> + +<p>But even as the <i>Tiger</i> swung into position for a +broadside, there came the roar of the pirate's +guns, and a shot crashed through the forestays, +while others, falling short, threw spray along the +deck.</p> + +<p>"All right below," shouted Captain Job, steady +as a church. "Ready a starboard broadside!" +And at his sharp "Fire!" the five cannon spoke in +quick succession. The deck rocked beneath +Jeremy's feet, where he stood by the companion, +ready to carry Job's orders below.</p> + +<p>As the dense smoke was swept away forward +on the wind, they could see the <i>Revenge</i>, her rigging +still further damaged by the volley, going +about on the starboard tack, and making straight +for the shore.</p> + +<p>"Put your helm hard down and bring her to the +wind!" roared Job, at the same time jumping +toward the mainsheet.</p> + +<p>The schooner swung to starboard, heeling +sharply as she caught the wind abeam, and was +in hot pursuit of her enemy before a full minute +had passed.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXV" id="CHAPTER_XXXV"></a>CHAPTER XXXV</h2> + + +<p>Little by little the <i>Tiger</i> pulled up to windward +of the buccaneer and the men below in the gun deck +could be heard cheering as their advance brought +the black sloop more and more nearly opposite the +yawning mouths of the <i>Tiger's</i> port carronades.</p> + +<p>The shore was now less than half a mile distant. +Though making all possible speed, the pirate +schooner seemed to rise on the waves with a more +sluggish heave than before. Job, watching her +through the spyglass, turned to Isaiah Hawkes.</p> + +<p>"Don't she look sort o' soggy to you?" he asked. +"I can't quite make out whether that's a hole in +her planking or—by the Great Hook Block! See +there, now, when she lifts! One of our shots +landed smack on her waterline. No wonder +they're trying to beach her!"</p> + +<p>A moment later the <i>Tiger</i> had hauled fairly +abreast and the two schooners plunged along a +bare hundred yards apart. Not a head showed +above the high weather bulwark of the <i>Revenge</i>. +Only the muzzles of her guns peered grimly from +their ports in her black side. There was something +sinister about this apparently deserted ship, +lurching drunkenly shoreward, with her torn sails +and broken rigging flapping in the breeze, and the +pirate flag flying at her peak.</p> + +<p>Job made a megaphone of his hands and raised +his voice in a hail.</p> + +<p>"Ahoy, <i>Revenge</i>!" he boomed. "Will you surrender +peacefully, and haul down that flag?"</p> + +<p>There was silence for a full ten seconds. Then +a musket cracked and a bullet imbedded itself in +the mainmast by Job's head.</p> + +<p>"All right, boys," he said, without moving, +"let 'em have it! Ready, port battery? Fire!" +Jeremy and Bob, clinging side by side to the hatch-combing, +felt the planking quiver under them at +the series of mighty discharges, and saw the pirate +schooner check and stagger like an animal that +has received its death wound.</p> + +<p>Only one of her guns was able to reply, the +round-shot screaming high and wide. But on she +went, and the steep beach below the dunes was +very close now.</p> + +<p>Captain Job stood by the hatchway. "All hands +up, ready to board her," he ordered, and the crew, +swarming on deck, ran to their places by the longboat +amidships.</p> + +<p>The <i>Tiger</i> was now in very shallow water, but +Job waited till he saw the other craft strike. +Then, "Bring her head to the wind, Hawkes!" he +cried, "And over with the boat, lads! Lively +now, or they'll get ashore!"</p> + +<p>Hardly was the order given when the boat shot +into the water. During the scramble of the seamen +for places on her thwarts, Jeremy and Bob +jumped down and crouched in the bows, unseen +by any but those nearest them. Ten seconds after +she hit the waves the boat was filled from gunwale +to gunwale with sailors, armed to the teeth +with pistols, cutlasses and boarding-pikes. Job, +last to leave the deck, spoke a word to Hawkes, +who remained in command, and jumped into the +sternsheets.</p> + +<p>"Now, give way!" he roared.</p> + +<p>The eight stout oars lashed through the water +and the boat sped shoreward like an arrow. Up +in the bows the two boys clutched their weapons +and waited. Neither one would have admitted that +he was scared, though they were both shivering +with something more than the cold. Besides his +precious pistol, Bob was gripping the hilt of a +murderous-looking hanger, which he had picked up +from the pile on deck in passing. Jeremy had been +able to secure no weapon but a short pike with a +heavy ashen staff and a knife-like blade at the +upper end. They peered over the bows in silence. +The longboat was close to the <i>Revenge's</i> quarter +now, but there was no sign of the pirates along +her rail.</p> + +<p>"Suppose they've got ashore?" asked Bob. +"I don't see—"</p> + +<p>"Down heads all!"</p> + +<p>It was Job's voice, and the boys together with +many of the seamen ducked instinctively at the +words. As they did so there came a crash of musketry, +followed by intermittent shots, and splinters +flew from the gunwale of the boat. Jeremy heard +a gasping cry behind him and a young sailor +toppled backward from the thwart. He fell between +the boys, and as they raised him in their +arms he died.</p> + +<p>Another seaman had been killed and three more +wounded by the pirate volley, which had been fired +from a distance of barely a dozen yards. Seeing +the effect of their fusillade, the buccaneers rose +cheering and yelling from behind the bulwarks of +the sloop in the evident belief that they had succeeded +in demoralizing the attacking force. But +the speed of the boat had hardly been checked. +In another instant the rowers shipped their oars +and the gunwale scraped along the free-board of +the schooner.</p> + +<p>"A guinea to the first man up!" cried Job, himself +reaching up with powerful fingers for a grip +by which to climb.</p> + +<p>There were no rope-ends hanging, and as the +<i>Revenge</i> in her stranded position lay much higher +forward than aft, the boys, standing in the bows, +found themselves faced by smooth planking too +high to scale.</p> + +<p>Jeremy started back over the thwarts, but heard +Bob calling to him and turned.</p> + +<p>"Here's a place to board!" the Delaware boy +was saying, and pointed toward the forward gun-port +which stood open just beyond and above the +bow of the longboat. In a twinkling Bob had +straddled through the hole, with Jeremy close +after him. It was dark in the 'tween-decks and +the two boys made their way forward on tiptoe, +waiting breathlessly for the attack they felt sure +would come. But apparently all the buccaneers +were busy above in the fierce fight that they could +hear raging along the rail. They moved on, undeterred, +till they reached the foot of the fo'c's'le +ladder, where Jeremy feeling along the bulkhead, +uttered an exclamation.</p> + +<p>"This is their gun-rack," he said. "And here's +a musket all loaded and primed! I'll take it +along!"</p> + +<p>The hatch cover had been drawn to, but Bob, +trying it from beneath, decided it was not fastened. +Both boys tugged at it and succeeded in +sliding it back an inch or two, where it stuck.</p> + +<p>The hubbub on deck was now terrific. They +could hear, above the general outcry, an occasional +sharply gasped command in Job's voice, or a +snarling oath from one of the buccaneers, but for +the most part it was a bedlam of unintelligible +shouts with a constant undertone of ringing steel +and the thud of shifting feet. Most of the firearms, +apparently, had been discharged, and in the +mêlée no one had time to reload.</p> + +<p>Bob, straining desperately at the hatch-cover, +spied Jeremy's pike-shaft, and thrusting it +through the narrow opening, pried with all his +strength. The hatch squeaked open reluctantly +and the boys squirmed through on to the deck.</p> + +<p>They gasped at the sight which met their eyes +as they emerged. Both of them had confidently +expected to find the pirates already beaten, and +fighting with their backs to the wall. But such +was far from being the case.</p> + +<p>On the deck amidships lay two men from the +<i>Tiger</i>, sorely wounded, while Job and two others +stood at bay above them, swinging cutlasses +mightily, and beating off, time after time, the +attacks of a dozen fierce pirate hanger-men. A +number of buccaneers had fallen but all who were +unwounded were raging like a pack of dogs about +the figures of Job and his two supporters.</p> + +<p>"They can't get up!" cried Bob, "The men +can't climb the side! Here, help me bring that +rope!" It was a matter of seconds only before +the boys had dashed across the deck and thrown +a rope's end to the men below in the longboat. +Then Jeremy turned and ran toward the waist. +Another man was down now. Job and a single +comrade were fighting back to back, parrying with +red blades the blows of half a score of the enemy. +Jeremy saw a gleam of yellow teeth between +wicked lips, and a flash of light eyes in the thick +of the assault. Then for a moment he had a +glimpse of the whole face of Pharaoh Daggs, +scarred and distorted with frightful passion—a +cruel wolf's face—and even as he looked, the +dripping sword-blade of the man with the broken +nose plunged between the ribs of Job's last henchman. +The wounded seaman staggered, leaning +his weight against his captain, but still kept his +guard up, defending himself feebly. Job hooked +his left arm about the poor lad's body and backed +with his burden toward the mainmast, slashing +fiercely around him with his tireless right arm the +while. When they reached the mast, Job leaned +his comrade against it, set his own back to the +wood, and battled on.</p> + +<p>But now a cheer resounded, and the buccaneers, +turning their heads, found themselves face to face +with the rush of half a dozen men from the <i>Tiger</i>, +while more could be seen swarming over the +rail.</p> + +<p>The knot of pirates broke to meet the attack, +but some of them stayed. Daggs and three others, +including the huge mulatto mate, closed in on Job, +cutting at him savagely. The wounded sailor had +fainted and slipped to the deck. Jeremy saw the +saddle-colored mate step swiftly to one side, then +come up from behind the mast, drawing a long +dirk from his sash as he neared Job's back. He +had lifted the knife and was stepping in for a +blow, when Jeremy pulled the trigger of his +musket. There must have been an extra heavy +charge of powder in the gun, for its recoil threw +the boy flat on the deck, and before he could regain +his feet he saw a man close above him and +caught the flash of a hanger in the air. Desperately +Jeremy rolled out of the way, and none too +soon, for the blade cut past his head with a nasty +<i>swish</i>. He scrambled up and caught a boarding-pike +from the deck as he did so. The pirate followed, +hacking at him with his cutlass, and for +seconds that seemed like hours the boy fought for +his life, parrying one stroke after another, till the +pike shaft was broken by the blows, and he was +left weaponless. As he ducked and turned in +despair, a man from the <i>Tiger</i> ran in and caught +the buccaneer on his flank, finishing him in short +order.</p> + +<p>The deck was now full of struggling groups, for +though a score of the longboat's crew had climbed +aboard, the pirates were putting up a fierce resistance. +Jeremy, panting from his encounter, +cast about for a weapon and soon found a cutlass, +with which he armed himself. He turned toward +the mainmast foot once more, and to his joy discovered +that his shot had taken effect. The +mulatto had disappeared under the trampling +mass of fighting men, and Job's tall figure still +towered by the mast. It took the lad only a +second, however, to realize that his Captain's +plight was serious. The big Yankee was fighting +wearily with a broken cutlass, and his face was +gray beneath the red stream of blood that ran +from a wound above his eye. Jeremy plunged into +the ruck of the battle, careless now of danger. +A sort of berserk rage possessed him at the sight +of that wound. He hewed his way frantically +toward the mast, and suddenly found Bob there beside +him, cutting and lunging like a demon. He +gasped out a cheer. But even as it left his throat, +the Captain's arm flew up convulsively, then +dropped out of sight in the mob.</p> + +<p>"Job's down!" cried Bob wildly, but the New +England boy's only reply was a half-choked +sob.</p> + +<p>Now the tables were turned of a sudden, for +three stout sea-dogs from the <i>Tiger</i>, finishing their +first opponents, dashed into the fray with a yell, +and Daggs, hewing his way to the mast, turned +to face the new attack with only two men left on +foot to back him.</p> + +<p>The fight was short and fierce. First one, then +the other of the buccaneers went down before the +furious assault of Job's seamen. At length only +the pirate chief was left to battle on, terrible and +silent, his face set in a ghastly grin, like the visage +of a lone wolf fighting his last fight.</p> + +<p>But the odds were too great. The men of the +<i>Tiger</i> pressed in relentlessly till at last a dozen +sword-points found their mark at once. And so +died Pharaoh Daggs, violently, as he had lived.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI</h2> + + +<p>It was Jeremy who, five minutes later, held Job's +head on his knees, while the weary, bleeding sailors +stood silently by with their hats off.</p> + +<p>The bo's'n, a grizzled veteran of many sea-fights, +was kneeling beside his Captain with an +ear to his side. There was hope in the man's face +when at length he looked up.</p> + +<p>"He's breathin' yet," was his verdict, +"breathin', but not much more. There's half +a score of cuts in him, different places. Here, +lads, rig a stretcher, an' let's get him back to +the ship."</p> + +<p>When the unconscious body of their big friend +had been placed gently in the boat, Bob and +Jeremy turned to each other with sober faces.</p> + +<p>"It was a costly sort of victory," said Bob. +"This deck's not a pretty sight, and there's +nothing much we can do to help. Let's have a +look at the cabin."</p> + +<p>They went below and forced open the door of +the after compartment, which had once housed the +great Stede Bonnet. Instead of its old immaculate +and almost scholarly appearance, the place now +had an air of desolation. It reeked of filth, stale +tobacco-smoke, and the spilled lees of liquor. In +the clutter on the cabin table lay two bulging sacks +and a small box.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Bob, as he felt the weight of one +of the bags, "here's the rest of Brig's gold!"</p> + +<p>But Jeremy's attention was occupied. He had +picked up the box from the table and was examining +it curiously.</p> + +<p>"See here, Bob," he cried, "this is the little +chest I was carrying the night we ran through the +woods. I dropped it when that pirate tackled me. +What do you suppose is in it?"</p> + +<p>The box was leather-covered and heavily +studded with nails. Jeremy tried the small padlock +and found it rusty and weak. A hard pull +on the staple and it came away in his hand. He +threw open the cover and the two boys stood back, +gasping with astonishment.</p> + +<p>There on the lining of soft buckskin lay twelve +great emeralds, gleaming with a clear green light +even in that dark place. They were perfectly +matched and as large as the end of a man's thumb, +each cut in a square pattern after the oldtime +fashion. Such stones they were as could have +come only from the coffers of an oriental king—the +ransom, perhaps, of a prince of the blood, or +of the favorite wife of some Maharajah, seized +in one of Solomon Brig's daredevil raids.</p> + +<p>Bob found breath at last.</p> + +<p>"It's a fortune!" he cried. "They're worth +more than all the gold together! And they're +yours, Jeremy—yours by right of discovery twice +over. You're rich—you and your father and +Tom! Think of it! You can buy a whole fleet +of big ships like the <i>Indian Queen</i>, and become a +great merchant. You and I'll be partners when +we're grown up!" Jubilant, he picked up one of +the sacks of gold and made his way to the deck, +followed by the half-dazed Jeremy, who carried +the rest of the treasure.</p> + +<p>The sun was close to setting when the <i>Tiger's</i> +boat made its last trip to the pirate sloop. This +time its errand was a sad one. Silently the crew +passed long, limp bundles across the rail, rowed +with them to the beach, and clambered up the +desolate dunes with picks and shovels in their +hands. There, where the wind moaned in the +beach-plum thickets and the white gulls wheeled +and screamed, they dug a long grave and laid the +dead to rest, pirates and honest men together +under the wintry sky.</p> + +<p>The boat returned and was hoisted aboard. Just +as the mainsail had been run up and the schooner +was filling away for her northward beat, a single +shout from the crosstrees caused every man to +turn his gaze shoreward into the gathering dark. +A faint glow seemed to hang in the air above the +pirate sloop. A little snaky flame wriggled its +way along a piece of sagging cordage, licked at +the edges of a torn sail, and flared outward in a +burst of red fire. A moment later, and the whole +schooner was ablaze, from waterline to masthead. +Jeremy, watching, fascinated, from the <i>Tiger's</i> +rail, thought of the night when he had first seen +that black hull, and of the burning brig that had +lit up the sky as the pirate sloop now illumined +it. Her fate was the same that she had meted out +to many a good ship.</p> + +<p>They were rapidly drawing away, now. The +great glare of the burning schooner faded out as +the flame devoured her fabric. The foremast +toppled and fell in a shower of sparks. The mainmast +followed. Only a feeble light flickered along +the edges of the low-lying hulk. The faint gleam +of it was visible, astern, for some time before it +was swallowed by the dark sea.</p> + +<p>The <i>Revenge</i> was gone.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>This is the end of my story.</p> + +<p>Of the voyage to Boston town; of how Job was +nursed back to health by Phineas Whipple, the +best surgeon in all the colonies; of the glorious +reunion when Amos Swan and Clarke Curtis rejoined +their sons; of the many pleasant things that +Bob and Jeremy found to do together, after the +Swans had come to live in Philadelphia—of all +these things there is not space enough in this book +for me to tell.</p> + +<p>Jeremy Swan grew up to be one of the great +Americans of his day: a man strong, wise and independent. +And although he became rich and +highly honored, he never lost the simplicity of +his ways.</p> + +<p>Sometimes when he was a hale old man of +seventy, he would take his grandson, who was +named Job Cantwell Swan, on his knee, and tell +him stories. But the story that young Job loved +best to hear and that old Jeremy loved best to +tell was about a boy in deerskin breeches, and the +wild days and nights he saw aboard the Black +Buccaneer.</p> + + +<p class="center"><br /> +THE END.<br /> +</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div style="margin-right: 5%; margin-left: 5%;"> +<p>Transcriber's Notes</p> + +<p>Page 43, 2nd paragraph - changed "broad-side" to "broadside" to match other instances</p> + +<p>Page 63, next to last line - added opening quote before "Herriot"</p> + +<p>Page 73, first line - corrected typo "priate" to "pirate"</p> + +<p>Page 88, 3rd paragraph - corrected typo "fidgetted" to "fidgeted"</p> + +<p>Page 91, 1st paragraph, next to last sentence - changed "a a man" to "a man"</p> + +<p>Page 102, second paragraph, 6th line - corrected typo "showly" to "slowly"</p> + +<p>Page 120, line 21 - added missing end quote at the end after "pirate."</p> + +<p>Page 164, 2nd paragraph, line 8 - added opening quote to "Daggs' chest!"</p> + +<p>Page 189, line 4 - corrected typo "somethinig" to "something"</p> + +<p>Page 196, last line - removed second "and"</p> + +<p>Page 231, 5th line from bottom - corrected typo "neck" to "deck"</p> + +<p>Page 268, 6th paragraph - changed "round-shot" to "roundshot" to match other instances</p> + +<p>Page 273, 2nd paragraph, line 2 - corrected typo "thmselves" to "themselves"</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Black Buccaneer, by Stephen W. 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Meader + +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: The Black Buccaneer + +Author: Stephen W. Meader + +Release Date: March 27, 2009 [EBook #28418] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BLACK BUCCANEER *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Bruce Thomas and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: "If a man starts to haul on that line, I'll shoot him +dead!" [See page 62.]] + + + THE BLACK BUCCANEER + + BY + + STEPHEN W. MEADER + + ILLUSTRATIONS BY THE AUTHOR + + + NEW YORK + + HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY + + + COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY + HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY, INC. + + Twelfth printing, May, 1940 + + + PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA + BY QUINN & BODEN COMPANY, INC., RAHWAY, N. J. + + + + + +FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS + + +"If a man starts to haul on that line, I'll shoot him +dead!" _Frontispiece_ + + FACING + PAGE + +"Ho, ho, young woodcock, and how do ye like the +company of Stede Bonnet's rovers?" 23 + +"Don't say a word--sh!--easy there--are you +awake?" 143 + +A sudden red glare on the walls of the chasm 223 + +Job had bracketed his target 247 + + + + +THE BLACK BUCCANEER + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +On the morning of the 15th of July, 1718, anyone who had been standing +on the low rocks of the Penobscot bay shore might have seen a large, +clumsy boat of hewn planking making its way out against the tide that +set strongly up into the river mouth. She was loaded deep with a +shifting, noisy cargo that lifted white noses and huddled broad, woolly +backs--in fact, nothing less extraordinary than fifteen fat Southdown +sheep and a sober-faced collie-dog. The crew of this remarkable craft +consisted of a sinewy, bearded man of forty-five who minded sheet and +tiller in the stern, and a boy of fourteen, tall and broad for his age, +who was constantly employed in soothing and restraining the bleating +flock. + +No one was present to witness the spectacle because, in those remote +days, there were scarcely a thousand white men on the whole coast of +Maine from Kittery to Louisberg, while at this season of the year the +Indians were following the migrating game along the northern rivers. The +nearest settlement was a tiny log hamlet, ten miles up the bay, which +the two voyagers had left that morning. + +The boy's keen face, under its shock of sandy hair, was turned toward +the sea and the dim outline of land that smudged the southern horizon. + +"Father," he suddenly asked, "how big is the Island?" + +"You'll see soon enough, Jeremy. Stop your questioning," answered the +man. "We'll be there before night and I'll leave you with the sheep. +You'll be lonesome, too, if I mistake not." + +[Illustration: Jeremy] + +"Huh!" snorted Jeremy to himself. + +Indeed it was not very likely that this lad, raised on the wildest of +frontiers, would mind the prospect of a night alone on an island ten +miles out at sea. He had seen Indian raids before he was old enough to +know what frightened him; had tried his best with his fists to save his +mother in the Amesbury massacre, six years before; and in a little +settlement on the Saco River, when he was twelve, he had done a man's +work at the blockhouse loophole, loading nearly as fast and firing as +true as any woodsman in the company. Danger and strife had given the +lad an alert self-confidence far beyond his years. + +Amos Swan, his father, was one of those iron spirits that fought out the +struggle with the New England wilderness in the early days. He had +followed the advancing line of colonization into the Northeast, hewing +his way with the other pioneers. What he sought was a place to raise +sheep. Instead of increasing, however, his flock had dwindled--wolves +here--lynxes there--dogs in the larger settlements. After the last +onslaught he had determined to move with his possessions and his two +boys--Tom, nineteen years old, and the smaller Jeremy--to an island too +remote for the attacks of any wild animal. + +So he had set out in a canoe, chosen his place of habitation and built a +temporary shelter on it for family and flock, while at home the boys, +with the help of a few settlers, had laid the keel and fashioned the +hull of a rude but seaworthy boat, such as the coast fishermen used. + +Preparations had been completed the evening before, and now, while Tom +cared for half the flock on the mainland, the father and younger son +were convoying the first load to their new home. + +In the day when these events took place, the hundreds of rocky bits of +land that line the Maine coast stood out against the gray sea as bleak +and desolate as at the world's beginning. Some were merely huge +up-ended rocks that rose sheer out of the Atlantic a hundred feet high, +and on whose tops the sea-birds nested by the million. The larger ones, +however, had, through countless ages, accumulated a layer of earth that +covered their gaunt sides except where an occasional naked rib of gray +granite was thrust out. Sparse grass struggled with the junipers for a +foothold along the slopes, and low black firs, whose seed had been +wind-blown or bird-carried from the mainland, climbed the rugged crest +of each island. Few men visited them, and almost none inhabited them. +Since the first long Norse galley swung by to the tune of the singing +rowers, the number of passing ships had increased and their character +had changed, but the isles were rarely touched at except by mishap--a +shipwreck--or a crew in need of water. The Indians, too, left the outer +ones alone, for there was no game to be killed there and the fishing was +no better than in the sheltered inlets. + +It was to one of the larger of these islands, twenty miles south of the +Penobscot Settlement and a little to the southwest of Mount Desert, that +a still-favoring wind brought the cumbersome craft near mid-afternoon. +In a long bay that cut deep into the landward shore Amos Swan had found +a pebbly beach a score of yards in length, where a boat could be run in +at any tide. As it was just past the flood, the man and boy had little +difficulty in beaching their vessel far up toward high water-mark. Next, +one by one, the frightened sheep were hoisted over the gunwale into the +shallow water. The old ram, chosen for the first to disembark, quickly +waded out upon dry land, and the others followed as fast as they were +freed, while the collie barked at their heels. The lightened boat was +run higher up the beach, and the man and boy carried load after load of +tools, equipment and provisions up the slope to the small log shack, +some two hundred yards away. + +Jeremy's father helped him drive the sheep into a rude fenced pen beside +the hut, then hurried back to launch his boat and make the return trip. +As he started to climb in, he patted the boy's shoulder. "Good-by, lad," +said he gently. "Take care of the sheep. Eat your supper and go to bed. +I'll be back before this time tomorrow." + +"Aye, Father," answered Jeremy. He tried to look cheerful and +unconcerned, but as the sail filled and the boat drew out of the cove he +had to swallow hard to keep up appearances. For some reason he could not +explain, he felt homesick. Only old Jock, the collie, who shouldered up +to him and gave his hand a companionable lick, kept the boy from +shedding a few unmanly tears. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +The shelter that Amos Swan had built stood on a small bare knoll, at an +elevation of fifty or sixty feet above the sea. Behind it and sheltering +it from easterly and southerly winds rose the island in sharp and rugged +ridges to a high hilltop perhaps a mile away. Between lay ascending +stretches of dark fir woods, rough outcroppings of stone and patches of +hardy grass and bushes. The crown of the hill was a bare granite ledge, +as round and nearly as smooth as an inverted bowl. + +Jeremy, scrambling through the last bit of clinging undergrowth in the +late afternoon, came up against the steep side of this rocky summit and +paused for breath. He had left Jock with the sheep, which comfortably +chewed the cud in their pen, and, slipping a sort pistol, heavy and +brass-mounted, into his belt, had started to explore a bit. + +He must have worked halfway round the granite hillock before he found a +place that offered foothold for a climb. A crevice in the side of the +rock in which small stones had become wedged gave him the chance he +wanted, and it took him only a minute to reach the rounded surface near +the top. The ledge on which he found himself was reasonably flat, nearly +circular, and perhaps twenty yards across. + +[Illustration] + +Its height above the sea must have been several hundred feet, for in the +clear light Jeremy could see not only the whole outline of the island +but most of the bay as well, and far to the west the blue masses of the +Camden Mountains. He was surprised at the size of the new domain spread +out at his feet. The island seemed to be about seven miles in length by +five at its widest part. Two deep bays cut into its otherwise rounded +outline. It was near the shore of the northern one that the hut and +sheep-pen were built. Southwesterly from the hill and farther away, +Jeremy could see the head of the second and larger inlet. Between the +bays the distance could hardly have been more than two miles, but a high +ridge, the backbone of the island, which ran westward from the hilltop, +divided them by its rugged barrier. + +Jeremy looked away up the bay where he could still see the speck of +white sail that showed his father hurrying landward on a long tack with +the west wind abeam. The boy's loneliness was gone. He felt himself the +lord of a great maritime province, which, from his high watchtower, he +seemed to hold in undisputed sovereignty. + +Beneath him and off to the southward lay a little island or two, and +then the cold blue of the Atlantic stretching away and away to the +world's rim. + +Even as he glowed with this feeling of dominion, he suddenly became +aware of a gray spot to the southwest, a tiny spot that nevertheless +interrupted his musing. It was a ship, apparently of good size, bound up +the coast, and bowling smartly nearer before the breeze. The boy's dream +of empire was shattered. He was no longer alone in his universe. + +The sun was setting, and he turned with a yawn to descend. Ships were +interesting, but just now he was hungry. At the edge of the crevice he +looked back once more, and was surprised to see a second sail behind the +first--a smaller vessel, it seemed, but shortening the distance between +them rapidly. He was surprised and somewhat disgusted that so much +traffic should pass the doors of this kingdom which he had thought to be +at the world's end. So he clambered down the cliff and made his way +homeward, this time following the summit of the ridge till he came +opposite the northern inlet. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +It was growing dark already in the dense fir growth that covered the +hillside, and when Jeremy suddenly stepped upon the moss at the brink of +a deep spring, he had to catch a branch to keep from falling in. There +was an opening in the trees above and enough light came through for him +to see the white sand bubbling at the bottom. + +At one edge the water lapped softly over the moss and trickled down the +northern slope of the hill in a little rivulet, which had in the course +of time shaped itself a deep, well-defined bed a yard or two across. +Following this, the boy soon came out upon the grassy slope beside the +sheep-pen. He looked in at the placid flock, brought a bucket of water +from the little stream, and, not caring to light a lantern, ate his +supper of bread and cheese outside the hut on the slope facing the bay. +The night settled chill but without fog. The boy wrapped his heavy +homespun cloak round him, snuggled close to Jock's hairy side, and in +his lonesomeness fell back on counting the stars as they came out. First +the great yellow planet in the west, then, high overhead, the sparkling +white of what, had he known it, was Vega; and in a moment a dozen +others were in view before he could number them--Regulus, Altair, Spica, +and, low in the south, the angry fire of Antares. + +For him they were unnamed, save for the peculiarities he discovered in +each. In common with most boys he could trace the dipper and find the +North Star, but he regrouped most of the constellations to suit himself, +and was able to see the outline of a wolf or the head of an Indian that +covered half the sky whenever he chose. He wondered what had become of +Orion, whose brilliant galaxy of stars appeals to every boy's fancy. It +had vanished since the spring. In it he had always recognized the form +of a brig he had seen hove-to in Portsmouth Harbor--high poop, +skyward-sticking bowsprit and ominous, even row of gun-ports where she +carried her carronades--three on a side. How those black cannon-mouths +had gaped at the small boy on the dock! He wondered-- + +"Boom...!" came a hollow sound that seemed to hang like mist in a long +echo over the island. Before Jeremy could jump to his feet he heard the +rumbling report a second time. He was all alert now, and thought +rapidly. Those sounds--there came another even as he stood there--must +be cannon-shots--nothing less. The ships he had seen from the hilltop +were men-of-war, then. Could the French have sent a fleet? He did not +know of any recent fighting. What could it mean? + +Deep night had settled over the island, and the fir-woods looked very +black and uninviting to Jeremy when he started up the hill once more. + +As their shadow engulfed him, he was tempted to turn back--how he was to +wish he had done so in the days that followed--but the hardy strain of +adventure in his spirit kept his jaw set and his legs working steadily +forward into the pitch-black undergrowth. Once or twice he stumbled over +fallen logs or tripped in the rocks, but he held on upward till the +trees thinned and he felt that the looming shape of the ledge was just +in front. His heart seemed to beat almost as loudly as the cannonade +while he felt his way up the broken stones. + +Panting with excitement, he struggled to the top and threw himself +forward to the southern edge. + +A dull-gray, quiet sea met the dim line of the sky in the south. Halfway +between land and horizon, perhaps a league distant, Jeremy saw two vague +splotches of darkness. Then a sudden flame shot out from the smaller +one, on the right. Seconds elapsed before his waiting ear heard the +booming roar of the report. He looked for the bigger ship to answer in +kind, but the next flash came from the right as before. This time he +saw a bright sheet of fire go up from the vessel on the left, +illuminating her spars and topsails. The sound of the cannon was drowned +in an instant by a terrific explosion. Jeremy trembled on his rock. The +ships were in darkness for a moment after that first great flare, and +then, before another shot could be fired, little tongues of flame began +to spread along the hull and rigging of the larger craft. Little by +little the fire gained headway till the whole upper works were a single +great torch. By its light the victorious vessel was plainly visible. She +was a schooner-rigged sloop-of-war, of eighty or ninety tons' burden, +tall-masted and with a great sweep of mainsail. Below her deck the +muzzles of brass guns gleamed in the black ports. As the blazing ship +drifted helplessly off to the east, the sloop came about, and, to +Jeremy's amazement, made straight for the southern bay of the island. He +lay as if glued to his rock, watching the stranger hold her course up +the inlet and come head to wind within a dozen boat-lengths of the +shore. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +One of the first things a backwoods boy learns is that it pays to mind +your own business, _after_ you know what the other fellow is going to +do. Jeremy had been threshing his brain for a solution to the scene he +had just witnessed. Whether the crew of the strange sloop, just then +effecting a landing in small boats, were friends or enemies it was +impossible to guess. Jeremy feared for the sheep. Fresh meat would be +welcome to any average ship's crew, and the lad had no doubt that they +would use no scruple in dealing with a youngster of his age. He must +know who they were and whether they intended crossing the island. There +was no feeling of mere adventure in his heart now. It was purely sense +of duty that drove his trembling legs down the hillside. He shivered +miserably in the night air and felt for his pistol-butt, which gave him +scant comfort. + +[Illustration] + +The ridge, which has already been described, bore in a southerly +direction from the base of the ledge, and sloped steeply to the head of +the southern inlet. High above the arm of the bay, where the sloop was +now moored, and scarcely a quarter of a mile from the shore, the ridge +projected in a rough granite crag like a bent knee. Jeremy had a very +fair plan of all this in his mind, for his trained woodsman's eye had +that afternoon noted every landmark and photographed it. He followed +this mental map as he stumbled through the trees. It seemed a long time, +perhaps twenty or thirty minutes, before he came out, stifling the sound +of his gasping breath, and crouched for a minute on the bare stone to +get his wind. Then he crawled forward along the rough cliff top, feeling +his way with his hands. Soon he heard a distant shout. A faint glow of +light shone over the edge of the crag. As he drew near, he saw, on the +beach below, a great fire of driftwood and some score or more of men +gathered in the circle of light. The distance was too great for him to +tell much about their faces, but Jeremy was sure that no English or +Colonial sloop-of-war would be manned by such a motley company. Their +clothes varied from the sea-boots and sailor's jerkin of the average +mariner to slashed leather breeches of antique cut and red cloth skirts +reaching from the girdle to the knees. Some of the group wore +three-cornered hats, others seamen's caps of rough wool, and here and +there a face grimaced from beneath a twisted rag rakishly askew. +Everywhere about them the fire gleamed on small-arms of one kind or +another. Nearly every man carried a wicked-looking hanger at his side +and most had one or two pistols tucked into waistband or holster. + +This desperate gang was in a constant commotion. Even as Jeremy watched, +a half dozen men were rolling a barrel up the beach. Wild howls greeted +its appearance and as it was hustled into the circle of bright light, +those who had been dancing, quarreling and throwing dice on the other +side of the fire fell over each other to join the mob that surrounded +it. The leaping flames threw a weird, uncertain brilliance upon the +scene that made Jeremy blink his eyes to be sure that it was real. With +every moment he had become more certain what manner of men these were. + +His lips moved to shape a single terrible word--"Pirates!" + +The buccaneers were much talked of in those days, and though the New +England ports were less troubled, because better guarded, than those +farther south, there had been many sea-rovers hanged in Boston within +Jeremy's memory. + +As if to clinch the argument a dozen of the ruffians swung their +cannikins of rum in the air and began to shout a song at the top of +their lungs. All the words that reached Jeremy were oaths except one +phrase at the end of the refrain, repeated so often that he began to +make out the sense of it. "Walk the bloody beggars all below!" it seemed +to be--or "overboard"--he could not tell which. Either seemed bad enough +to the boy just then and he turned to crawl homeward, with a sick +feeling at the pit of his stomach. + +His way led straight back across the ridge to the spring and thence down +to the shelter on the north shore. He made the best speed he was able +through the woods until he reached the height of land near the middle of +the island. He had crashed along caring only to reach the sheep-pen and +home, but as he stood for a moment to get his breath and his bearings, +the westerly breeze brought him a sound of voices on the ridge close by. +He prayed fervently that the wind which had warned him had served also +to carry away the sound of his progress. Cowering against a tree, he +stood perfectly still while the voices--there seemed to be two--came +nearer and nearer. One was a very deep, rough bass that laughed hoarsely +between speeches. The other voice was of a totally different sort, with +a cool, even tone, and a rather precise way of clipping the words. + +"See here, David," Jeremy understood the latter to say, "It's for you to +remember those bearings, not me. You're the sailor here. Give them again +now!" + +"Huh!" grunted Big Voice, "two hunder' an' ten north to a sharp rock; +three-score an' five northeast by east to an oak tree in a gully; two +an' thirty north to a fir tree blazed on the south; five north _an'_ +there you are!" He ended in a chuckle as if pleased by the accuracy of +his figures. + +"Ay, well enough," the other responded, "but it must be wrong, for +here's the blazed tree and no spring by it." + +Close below, Jeremy saw their lantern flash and a moment later the two +men were in full view striding among the trees. As he had almost +expected from their voices, one was a tremendous, bearded fellow in +sea-boots and jerkin and with a villainous turban over one eye, while +his companion was a lean, smooth-shaven man, dressed in a fine buff +coat, well-fitting breeches and hose, and shoes with gleaming buckles. + +They must have passed within ten feet of the terrified Jeremy while the +tossing lantern, swung from the hairy fist of the man called David, +shone all too distinctly upon the boy's huddled shape. When they were +gone by he allowed himself a sigh of relief, and shifted his weight from +one foot to the other. A twig broke loudly and both men stopped and +listened. "'Twas nought!" growled David. The other man paid no attention +to him other than to say, "Hold you the lantern here!" and advanced +straight toward Jeremy's tree. The boy froze against it, immovable, but +it was of no avail. + +"Aha," said the lean man, quietly, and gripped the lad's arm with his +hand. As he dragged him into the light, his companion came up, staring +with astonishment. A moment he was speechless, then began ripping out +oath after oath under his breath. "How," he asked at length, "did the +blarsted whelp come here?" The smaller man, who had been looking keenly +into Jeremy's face, suddenly addressed him: "Here you, speak up! Do you +live here?" he cried. "Ay," said the boy, beginning to get a grip on his +thoughts. + +"How long has there been a settlement here? There was none last Autumn," +continued the well-dressed man. Jeremy had recovered his wits and +reasoned quickly. He had little chance of escape for the present, while +he must at all costs keep the sheep safe. So he lied manfully, praying +the while to be forgiven. + +"'Tis a new colony," he mumbled, "a great new colony from Boston town. +There be three ships of forty guns each in the north harbor, and they be +watching for pirates in these parts," he finished. + +"Boy!" growled the bearded man, seizing Jeremy's wrist and twisting it +horribly. "Boy! Are you telling the truth?" With face white and set and +knees trembling from the pain, the lad nodded and kept his voice steady +as he groaned an "Ay!" + +The two men looked at each other, scowling. The giant broke silence. +"We'd best haul out now, Cap'n," he said. + +"And so I believe," the other replied, "But the water-casks are empty. +Here!" as he turned to Jeremy, "show us the spring." It was not far away +and the boy found it without trouble. + +"Now, Dave Herriot," said the Captain, "stay you here with the light, +that we may return hither the easier. Boy, come with me. Make no fuss, +either, or 'twill be the worse for you." And so saying he walked quickly +back toward the southern shore, holding the stumbling Jeremy's wrist in +a grip of iron. + +Crashing down the hill through the brush, the lad had scant time or will +for observing things about him, but as they crossed a gully he saw, or +fancied he saw, on the knee-shaped crag above, the slouched figure of a +buccaneer silhouetted against the sky. It was not the bearded giant +called Herriot, but another, Jeremy was sure. He had no time for +conjectures, for they plunged into the thicket and birch limbs whipped +him across the face. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +The events of that night made a terribly clear impression on the mind of +the young New Englander. Years afterward he would wake with a shiver, +imagining that the relentless hand of the pirate captain was again +dragging him toward an unknown fate. It must have been the darkness and +the sudden unexpectedness of it all that frightened him, for as soon as +they came down the rocks into the flaring firelight he was able to +control himself once more. The wild carouse was still in progress among +the crew. Fierce faces, with unkempt beards and cruel lips, leered redly +from above hairy, naked chests. Eyes, lit from within by liquor and from +without by the dancing flames, gleamed below black brows. Many of the +men wore earrings and metal bands about the knots of their pig-tails, +while silver pistol-butts flashed everywhere. + +As the Captain strode into the center of this group, the swinging chorus +fell away to a single drunken voice which kept on uncertainly from +behind the rum-barrel. + +"Silence!" said the Captain sharply. The voice dwindled and ceased. All +was quiet about the fire. "Men," went on Jeremy's captor, "clear heads, +all, for this is no time for drinking. We have found this boy upon the +hill, who tells of a fleet of armed ships not above a league from here. +We must set sail within an hour and be out of reach before dawn. Every +man now take a water-keg and follow me. You, Job Howland, keep the boy +and the watch here on the beach." + +Fresh commotion broke out as he finished. "Ay, ay, Captain Bonnet!" came +in a broken chorus, as the crew, partially sobered by the words, hurried +to the long-boat, where a line of small kegs lay in the sand. A moment +later they were gone, plowing up the hillside. Jeremy stood where he had +been left. A tall, slack-jointed pirate in the most picturesque attire +strolled over to the boy's side and looked him up and down with a +roguish grin. Under his cloak Jeremy had on fringed leather breeches and +tunic such as most of the northern colonists wore. The pirate, seeing +the rough moccasins and deerskin trousers, burst into a roar. "Ho, ho, +young woodcock, and how do ye like the company of Major Stede Bonnet's +rovers?" + +[Illustration: "Ho, ho, young woodcock, and how do ye like the company +of Stede Bonnet's rovers?"] + +The lad said nothing, shut his jaw hard and looked the big buccaneer +squarely in the face. There was no fear in his expression. The man +nodded and chuckled approvingly. "That's pluck, boy, that's pluck," said +he. "We'll clip the young cock's shank-feathers, and maybe make a +pirate of him yet." He stooped over to feel the buckskin fringe on +Jeremy's leg. The boy's hand went into his shirt like a flash. He had +pulled out the pistol and cocked it, when he felt both legs snatched +from under him. + +His head hit the ground hard and he lay dazed for a second or two. When +he regained his senses, Job Howland stood astride of him coolly tucking +the pistol into his own waist-band. "Ay," said Job, "ye'll be a fine +buccaneer, only ye should have struck with the butt. I heard the click." +The pirate seemed to hold no grudge for what had occurred and sat down +beside Jeremy in a friendly fashion. + +"Free tradin' ain't what it was," he confided. "When Billy Kidd cleared +for the southern seas twenty years agone, they say he had papers from +the king himself, and no man-of-war dared come anigh him." He swore +gently and reminiscently as he went on to detail the recent severities +of the Massachusetts government and the insecurity of buccaneers about +the Virginia capes. "They do say, tho', as Cap'n Edward Teach, that they +call Blackbeard, is plumb thick with all the magistrates and planters in +Carolina, an' sails the seas as safe as if he had a fleet of twenty +ships," said Job. "We sailed along with him for a spell last year, but +him an' the old man couldn't make shift to agree. Ye see this +Blackbeard is so used to havin' his own way he wanted to run Stede +Bonnet, too. That made Stede boilin', but we was undermanned just then +and had to bide our time to cut loose. + +"Cap'n Bonnet, ye see, is short on seamanship but long in his sword arm. +Don't ye never anger him. He's terrible to watch when he's raised. Dave +Herriot sails the ship mostly, but when we sight a big merchantman with +maybe a long nine or two aboard, then's when Stede Bonnet comes on deck. +That Frenchman we sunk tonight, blast her bloody spars"--here the lank +pirate interrupted himself to curse his luck, and continued--"probably +loaded with sugar and Jamaica rum from Martinique and headed up for the +French provinces. Well, we'll never know--that's sure!" He paused, bit +off the end of a rope of black tobacco and meditatively surveyed the +boy. "I'm from New England myself," said he after a time. "Sailed honest +out of Providence Port when I was a bit bigger nor you. Then when I was +growed and an able seaman on a Virginia bark in the African trade, along +comes Cap'n Ben Hornygold, the great rover of those days and picks us +up. Twelve of the likeliest he takes on his ship, the rest he maroons +somewhere south of the Cubas, and sends our bark into Charles Town under +a prize crew. So I took to buccaneering, and I must own I've always +found it a fine occupation--not to say that it's made me rich--maybe it +might if I'd kept all my sharin's." + +[Illustration: Job Howland] + +This life-history, delivered almost in one breath, had caused Howland an +immense amount of trouble with his quid of tobacco, which nearly choked +him as he finished. Except for the sound of his vast expectorations, the +pair on the beach were quiet for what seemed to Jeremy a long while. +Then on the rocks above was heard the clatter of shoes and the bumping +of kegs. Job rose, grasping the hand of his charge, and they went to +meet the returning sailors. + +To the young woodsman, utterly unused to the ways of the sea, the next +half-hour was a bewildering melee of hurrying, sweating toil, with +low-spoken orders and half-caught oaths and the glimmer of a dying fire +over all the scene. He was rowed to the sloop with the first boatload +and there Job Howland set him to work passing water-kegs into the hold. +He had had no rest in over twenty hours and his whole body ached as the +last barrel bumped through the hatch. All the crew were aboard and a +knot of swaying bodies turned the windlass to the rhythm of a muttered +chanty. The chain creaked and rattled over the bits till the dripping +anchor came out of water and was swung inboard. The mainsail and +foresail went up with a bang, as a dozen stalwart pirates manned the +halyards. + +Dave Herriot stood at the helm, abaft the cabin companion, and his bull +voice roared the orders as he swung her head over and the breeze +steadied in the tall sails. + +"Look alive there, mates!" he bellowed. "Stand by now to set the main +jib!" Like most of the pirate sloops-of-war, Stede Bonnet's _Revenge_ +was schooner-rigged. She carried fore and main top-sails of the old, +square style, and her long main boom and immense spread of jib gave her +a tremendous sail area for her tonnage. The breeze had held steadily +since sundown and was, if anything, rising a little. Short seas slapped +and gurgled at the forefoot with a pleasant sound. Jeremy, desperately +tired, had dropped by the mast, scarcely caring what happened to him. +The sloop slid out past the dark headlands, and heeled to leeward with a +satisfied grunt of her cordage that came gently to the boy's ears. His +head sank to the deck and he slept dreamlessly. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +A rough hand shook him awake. He was lying in a dingy bunk somewhere in +the gloom of the cramped forecastle. "Come, young'un," growled a voice, +strange to Jeremy, "you've slept the clock around! Cap'n wants you aft." + +The lad ached in all his bones as he rolled over toward the light. As he +came to a sitting position on the edge of the bunk, he gave a start, for +the face scowling down at him looked utterly fiendish to his sleepy +eyes. Its ugliness fairly shocked him awake. The man had a grim, bristly +jaw and a twisted mouth. His eyes were small and cruel, so light in +color that they looked unspeakably cold. The livid gray line of a +sword-cut ran from his left eyebrow to his right cheek, and his nose was +crushed inward where the scar crossed its bridge, giving him more the +look of an animal than of a man. A greasy red cloth bound his head and +produced a final touch of barbarity. To the half-dazed Jeremy there +seemed something strangely familiar about his pose, but as he still +stared he was jerked to his feet by the collar. "Don't stand there, you +lubber!" shouted the man with the broken nose. "Get aft, an' lively!" A +hard shove sent the boy spinning to the foot of the ladder. He climbed +dizzily and stumbled on deck, looking about him, uncertain where to go. +It must have been past noon, for the sun was on the starboard bow. + +The _Revenge_ was close-hauled and running southwest on a fresh west +wind. Dave Herriot leaned against the weather rail, a short clay pipe in +one fist and his bushy brown beard in the other. At the wheel was a +swarthy man with earrings, who looked like a Portuguese or a Spaniard. +Glancing over his shoulder, Jeremy saw most of the crew lolled about +forward of the fo'c's'le hatch. Herriot looked up and called him gruffly +but not unkindly, the boy thought. He advanced close to the +sailing-master, staggering a little on the uneven footing. + +"Now look sharp, lad," said the pirate in a stern voice, "and mind what +I tell 'ee. There's nought to fear aboard this sloop for them as does +what they're told. We run square an' fair, an' while Major Stede Bonnet +and David Herriot gives the orders, no man'll harm ye. _But_"--and a +hard look came into the tanned face--"if there's any runnin' for shore +'twixt now and come time to _set_ ye there, or if ever ye takes it in +yer head to disobey orders, we'll keel-haul ye straight and think no +more about it. You're big and strong, an' may make a foremast hand. For +the first on it, until ye get your sea legs, ye can be a sort o' cabin +boy. Cap'n wants ye below now. Quick!" + +Jeremy scrambled down the companionway indicated by a gesture of +Herriot's pipe. There was a door on each side and one at the end of the +small passage. He advanced and knocked at this last one, and was told, +in the Captain's clear voice, to open. + +Major Bonnet sat at a good mahogany table in the middle of the cabin. +Behind him were a bunk, two chairs and a rack of small arms, containing +half a dozen guns, four brace of pistols, and several swords. He had +been reading a book, evidently one of the score or more which stood in a +case on the right. Jeremy gasped, for he had never seen so many books in +all his life. As the Captain looked up, a stern frown came over his +face, never a particularly merry one. The boy, ignorant as he was of +pirates, could not help feeling that this man's quietly gentle +appearance fitted but ill with the blood-thirsty reputation he bore. His +clothes were of good quality and cut, his grayish hair neatly tied +behind with a black bow and worn unpowdered. His clean-shaven face was +long and austere--like a Boston preacher's, thought Jeremy--and although +the forehead above the intelligent eyes was high and broad, there was a +strange lack of humor in its vertical wrinkles. + +"Well, my lad," said the cool voice at last, "you're aboard the +_Revenge_ and a long way from your settlement, so you might as well make +the best of it. How long you _stay_ aboard depends on your behavior. We +might put into the Chesapeake, and if there are no cutters about, I'd +consider setting you ashore. But if you like the sea and take to it, +there's room for a hand in the fo'c's'le. Then again, if you try any +tricks, you'll leave us--feet first, over the rail." He leaned forward +and hissed slightly as he pronounced the last words. Something in the +eyes under his knotted gray brows struck deeper terror into the boy's +heart than either Herriot's threat or the cruel face of the man with the +broken nose. For that instant Bonnet seemed deadly as a snake. + +[Illustration: Stede Bonnet] + +Jeremy was much relieved when he was bidden to go. The sailing-master +stood by the companionway as he ascended. "You'll bunk for'ard," he +remarked curtly. "Go up with the crew now." The boy slipped into the +crowd that lay around the windlass as unobstrusively as he could. A +thick-set, bearded man with a great hairy chest, bare to the yellow sash +at his waist, was speaking. "Ay," he said, "a hundred Indians was dead +in the town before ever we landed. They didn't know where to run except +into the huts, an' those our round-shot plowed through like so much +grass--which was what they was, mostly. Then old Johnny Buck piped the +longboat overside and on shore we went, firin' all the time. Cap'n Vane +himself, with a dirk in his teeth and sword an' pistol out, goes +swearin' up the roadway an' we behind him, our feet stickin' in blood. A +few come out shootin' their little arrers at us, but we herded 'em an' +drove 'em, yellin' all the time. At close quarters their knives was no +match for cutlasses. So we went slashin' through the town, burnin' 'em +out an' stickin' 'em when they ran. Our sword arms was red to shoulder +that day, but we was like men far gone in rum an' never stayed while an +Indian held up head. Then we dropped and slept where we fell, across a +corp', like as not, clean tuckered, every man of us. Come mornin', the +sight and smell of the place made us sober enough and not a man in the +crew wanted to go further into the island. There was no gold in the +town, neither. All we got was a few hogs and sheep. We left the same +day, for it come on hot an' we had no way to clean up the mess. That +island must ha' been a nuisance to the whole Caribbean for weeks." + +Job Howland nodded and spat as the story ended. "Ye're right, George +Dunkin," he said. "That was a day's work. Vane's a hard man, I'm told, +an' that crew in the _Chance_ was one of his worst." He was interrupted +by a villainous old sea-dog with a sparse fringe of white beard, who +sprawled by the hatchway. He cleared his throat hoarsely and spoke with +a deep wheeze between sentences. + +"All that was nowt to our fight off Panama in the spring of 'eighty," he +growled. "We weren't slaughterin' Indians, but Spaniards that could +fight, an' did. What's more, they were three good barks and nigh three +hundred men to our sixty-eight men paddlin' in canoes. Ah, that was a +day's work, if you will! I saw Peter Harris, as brave a commander as +ever flew the black whiff, shot through both legs, but he was a-swingin' +his cutlass and tryin' to climb the Spaniard's side with the rest when +our canoe boarded. Through most of that battle we was standin' in +bottoms leakin' full of bullet holes, a-firin' into the Biscayner's +gun-ports, an' cheerin' the bloody lungs out of us! When we got aboard, +their hold was full of dead men an' their scuppers washin' red. They +asked no quarter an' on we went, up an' down decks, give an' take. At +the last, six men o' them surrendered. The rest--eighty from the one +ship--we fed to the sharks before we could swab decks next day. Eh, but +that was a v'yage, an' it cost the seas more good buccaneers than ever +was hanged. Harris an' Sawkins an' half o' their best men we left on the +Isthmus. But out of one galleon we took fifty thousand pieces-of-eight, +besides silver bars in cord piles. Think o' that, lads!" + +A fair, stocky, young deserter from a British man-of-war--his forearm +bore the tattooed service anchor--broke in, his eyes gleaming greedily +at the thought of the treasure. + +"That was in New Panama," he cried. "Do you mind old Ben Gasket we took +off Silver Key last summer! Eighty years old he was, and marooned there +for half his life. He was with Morgan at the great sack of Old Panama +before most on us was born. An' Old Ben, he said there was nigh two +hundred horse-loads o' gold an' pearls, rubies, emeralds and diamonds +took out o' that there town, an' it a-burnin' still, after they'd been +there a month. Talk o' wealth!" + +The man with the broken nose raised himself from his place by the +capstan and stretched his hairy arms with an evil, leering yawn. Every +eye turned to him and there was silence on the deck as he began to +speak. + +"Dollars--louis d'ors--doubloons?" said he. "There was one man got 'em. +Solomon Brig got 'em. All the rest was babes to him--babes an' beggars. +Billy Kidd was thought a great devil in his day, but when he met Brig's +six-gun sloop off Malabar, he turned tail, him an' his two great +galleons, an' ran in under the forts. Even then we'd ha' had him out an' +fought him, only that the old man had an Indian princess aboard he was +takin' in to Calicut for ransom. That was where Sol Brig got his broad +gold--kidnappin'. Twenty times we worked it--a dash in an' a fight out, +quick an' bloody--then to sea in the old red sloop, all her sails fair +pullin' the sticks out of her, an' maybe a man-o'-war blazin' away at +our quarter. Weeks after, we'd slip into some port bold as brass an' +there, sure enough, Brig would set the prisoner ashore an' load maybe a +hundred weight of little canvas bags or a stack of pig-silver half a +man's height. The very name of him made him safe. I'd take oath he could +have stole the Lord Mayor o' London and then put in for his ransom at +Execution Dock. + +"We got good lays, us before the mast, but there never was a fair +sharin' aboard that ship. One night I crawled aft an' looked in the +stern-port. 'Twas just after we'd got our lays for kidnappin' the +Governor o' Santiago--a rich town as you know. In the cabin sat ol' +Brig, a bare cutlass acrost his lap, countin' piles o' moidores that +filled the whole table. When a rope creaked the old fox saw me an' let +drive with his hanger. Where I was I couldn't dodge quick, an' the +blade took me here, acrost the face. Why he never knifed me, after, I +don't know." + +The scarred man stopped with the same abruptness that had marked his +beginning. His fierce, light eyes, like those of a sea-hawk, swept +slowly around the audience and lit on Jeremy. He reached forward, +clutched the boy's shirt, and with an ugly laugh jerked him to his feet. +"'Twas havin' boys aboard as killed Sol Brig," he rasped. + +[Illustration: Pharaoh Daggs] + +"They hear too much! Look at this young lubber"--giving him a +shake--"pale as a mouldy biscuit! No use aboard here an' poverty-poor in +the bargain! Why Stede don't walk him over the side, I don't see. Here, +get out, you swab!" and he emphasized the name with a stiff cuff on the +ear. Job Howland interposed his long Yankee body. His lean face bent +with a scowl to the level of the other's eyes. "Pharaoh Daggs," he +drawled evenly, "next time you touch that lad, there'll be steel between +your short ribs. Remember!" + +He turned to Jeremy who, poor boy, was utterly and forlornly seasick. +"Here, young 'un," he said kindly, "--the _lee_ rail!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +Bright summer weather hovered over the Atlantic as the _Revenge_ +ploughed smartly southward. Jeremy grew more accustomed to his new +manner of life from day to day and as he found his sea-legs he began to +take a great pleasure in the free, salt wind that sang in the rigging, +the blue sparkle of the swells, and the circling whiteness of the +offshore gulls. He was left much to himself, for the Captain demanded +his services only at meal times and to set his cabin in order in the +morning. In the long intervals the boy sat, inconspicuous in a corner of +the fore-deck, watching the gayly dressed ruffians of the crew, as they +threw dice or quarrelled noisily over their winnings. He was assigned to +no watch, but usually went below at the same time as Job Howland, thus +keeping out of the way of Daggs, the man with the broken nose. As +Howland was in the port watch, on deck from sunset to midnight, Jeremy +often took comfort in the sight of his loved stars wheeling westward +through the taut shrouds. He would stand there with a lump in his throat +as he thought of his father's anguish on returning to the island to +find the sheep uncared for and the young shepherd vanished. In a region +desolate as that, he knew that there was but one conclusion for them to +reach. Still, they might find the ashes of the pirate fire and keep up a +hope that he yet lived. + +But the boy could not be unhappy for long. He would find his way home +soon, and he fairly shivered with delight as he planned the grand +reunion that would take place when he should return. Perhaps he even +imagined himself marching up to the door in sailor's blue cloth with a +seaman's cloak and cocked hat, pistol and cutlass in his belt and a +hundred gold guineas in his poke. Not for worlds would he have turned +pirate, but the romance of the sea had touched him and he could not help +a flight of fancy now and then. + +Sometimes in the long hours of the watch, Job would give him lessons in +seamanship--teach him the names of ropes and spars and show how each was +used. The boy's greatest delight was to steer the ship when Job took his +trick at the helm. This was no small task for a boy even as strong as +Jeremy. The sloop, like all of her day, had no wheel but was fitted with +a massive hand tiller, a great curved beam of wood that kicked amazingly +when it was free of its lashings. Of course, no grown man could have +held it in a seaway, but during the calm summer nights Jeremy learned +to humor the craft along, her mainsail just drawing in the gentle land +breeze, and her head held steadily south, a point west. + +One night--it was perhaps a week after Jeremy's capture, and they had +been sighting low bits of land on both bows all day--Dave Herriot came +on deck about the middle of the watch and told Curley, the Jamaican +second mate, he might go below. He set Job to take soundings and, +himself taking the tiller, swung her over to port with the wind abeam. +Jeremy went to the bows where he could see the white line of shore +ahead. They drew in, steering by Job's soundings, and by the time the +watch changed were ready to cast anchor in a small sandy bay. Herriot +came forward, scowling darkly under his bushy eyebrows, and rumbling an +occasional oath to himself. The sloop, her anchor down and sails furled, +swung idly on the tide. The men were clearly mystified as the +sailing-master started to give orders. "George Dunkin," he said, "take +ten men of the starboard watch, and go ashore to forage. There be farms +near here and any pigs or fowls you may come across will be welcome. +You, Bill Livers," addressing the ship's painter, "take a lantern and +your paint-pot and come aft with me. All the rest stay on deck and keep +a double lookout, alow an' aloft!" The forage party slipped quietly off +toward the beach in one of the boats. The remainder of the crew looked +blankly after the retreating Bill Livers. + +"Hm," murmured Job, "has Stede Bonnet gone _clean_ crazy?"--and as +Herriot let the painter down over the bulwark at the stern--"Ay, he's +goin' to change her name, by the great Bull Whale!" + +An hour before dawn the crew of the long-boat returned, grumbling and +empty-handed. Herriot appeared preoccupied with some weightier matter +and scarcely deigned to notice their failure by swearing. There was no +singing as the anchor was raised. A sort of gloom hung over the whole +ship. As she stole out to sea again, the men, one by one, went aft and +leaned outboard, peering down at the broad, squat stern. Jeremy did +likewise and beheld in new white letters on the black of the hull, the +words _Royal James._ Next day in the fo'c's'le council he learned why +the renaming of the _Revenge_ had cast a pall of apprehension over the +crew. There were low-muttered tales of disaster--of storm, shipwreck, +and fire, and that dread of all sailors--the unknown fate of ships that +never come back to port. Apparently the rule was unfailing. Sooner or +later the ship that had been given a new name would come to grief and +her crew with her. Pharaoh Daggs cast an eye of hatred at Jeremy and +growled that "one Jonah was enough to have abroad, without clean +drownin' all the luck this way," while the crew looked black and shifted +uneasily in their places. + +The bay where they had anchored overnight must have been somewhere on +the eastern end of Long Island, a favorite landing place for pirates at +that time. All day they cruised along the hilly southern shore. The men +seemed unable to cast off the gloom that had settled upon them. Stede +Bonnet sat in his cabin, never once coming on deck, and drinking hard, a +thing unusual for him. Jeremy, who saw more of him than any of the +foremast hands, realized from his gray, set face that the man was under +a terrible strain of some sort. He told Job what he had seen and the +tall New Englander looked very thoughtful. He took the boy aside. +"There'll be mutiny in this crew before another night," he whispered. +"They'll never stand for what he's done. If it comes to handspikes, you +and I'd best watch our chance to clear out. Pharaoh Daggs don't love us +a mite." + +But the mutiny was destined not to occur. An hour before noon next day +the lookout, constantly stationed in the bows, gave a loud "Sail ho!" +and as Dave Herriot re-echoed the shout, all hands tumbled on deck with +a rush. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +As the pirate sloop raced southward under full sail, the form of the +other ship became steadily plainer. She was a brig, high-pooped, and +tall-masted, and apparently deeply laden. Major Bonnet, who had come up +at the first warning, seemed his old cool self as he conned the enemy +through a spyglass. Jeremy had been detailed as a sort of errand boy, +and as he stood at the Captain's side he heard him speaking to Herriot. + +"She's British, right enough," he was saying. "I can make out her flag; +but how many guns, 'tis harder to tell. She sees us now, I think, for +they seem to be shaking out a topsail.... Ah, now I can see the sun +shine on her broadside--two ... three ... five in the lower port tier, +and three more above--sixteen in all. 'Twill be a fight, it seems!" + +Aboard the _Royal James_ the men were slaving like ants, preparing for +the battle. Every man knew his duties. The gunners and swabbers were +putting their cannon in fettle below decks. Others were rolling out +round-shot from the hold and storing powder in iron-cased lockers behind +the guns. Great tubs of sea water were placed conveniently in the +'tween-decks and blankets were put to soak for use in case of fire. +Buckets of vinegar water for swabbing the guns were laid handy. In the +galley the cook made hot grog. Cutlasses were looked after, pistols +cleaned and loaded and muskets set out for close firing. Jeremy was sent +hither and thither on every imaginable mission, a tremendous excitement +running in his veins. + +The sloop gained rapidly on her prey, hauling over to windward as she +sailed, and when the two ships were almost within cannon range, Stede +Bonnet with his own hand bent the "Jolly Roger" to the lanyard and sent +the great black flag with its skull and crossbones to fly from the +masthead. The grog was served out. No man would have believed that the +roaring, rollicking gang of cutthroats who tossed off their liquor in +cheers and ribald laughter was identical with the grumbling, sour-faced +crew of twenty hours before. As they finished, something came skipping +over the water astern and the first echoing report followed close. The +cannonade was on. + +A loud yell of defiance swept the length of the _Royal James_ as the men +went to their posts. The gun decks ran along both sides of the sloop a +few feet above the water line. They were like alleyways beneath the main +deck, barely wide enough to admit the passage of a man or a keg of +powder behind the gun-carriages. These latter were not fixed to the +planking as afterward became the fashion, but ran on trucks and were +kept in their places by rope tackles. In action, the recoil had to be +taken up by men who held the ends of these ropes, rove through pulleys +in the vessel's side. Despite their efforts the gun would sometimes leap +back against the bulkhead hard enough to shatter it. As the charge for +each reloading had to be carried sometimes half the length of the ship +by hand, it is easy to see that the men who served the guns needed some +strength and agility in getting past the jumping carriages. + +Jeremy was sent below to help the gunners, as the shot from the +merchantman continued to scream by. Job Howland was a gunner on the port +side and the boy naturally lent his services to the one man aboard that +he could call his friend. There was much bustle in the alley behind the +closed ports but surprisingly little confusion was apparent. The +discipline seemed better than at any time since the boy had been brought +aboard the black sloop. + +Job was ramming the wad home on the charge of powder in his bow gun. The +other four guns in the port deck were being loaded at the same time, +three men tending each one. + +"Here, lad," sang out Job, as he put the single iron shot in at the +muzzle, "take one o' the wet blankets out o' yon tub an' stand by to +fight sparks." Jeremy did as he was bid, then got out of the way as the +ports were flung open and the guns run forward, with their evil bronze +noses thrust out into the sunlight. + +The sloop, running swiftly with the wind abeam, had now drawn abreast of +her unwieldy adversary. The merchant captain, apparently, finding +himself out-speeded and being unable to spare his gun crews to trim +sails, had put the head of his ship into the wind, where she stood, with +canvas flapping, her bows offering a steady mark to the pirate. + +"Ready a port broadside!" came Bonnet's ringing order, and then--"Fire!" +Job Howland's blazing match went to the touch-hole at the word and his +six-pounder, roaring merrily, jumped back two good feet against the +straining ropes of the tackle. Instantly the next gun spoke and the next +and so on, all five in a space of a bare ten seconds. Had they been +fired simultaneously they might have shaken the ship to pieces. Jeremy +was half-deafened, and his whole body was jarred. Thick black smoke hung +in the alleyway, for the ports had been closed in order to reload in +greater safety. The boy felt the deck heel to starboard under him and +thought at first that a shot had caught them under the waterline, but +when he was sent above to find out whether the broadside had taken +effect, he found that the sloop had come about and was already driving +north still to windward of the enemy. Bonnet was giving his gunners more +time to load by running back and forth and using his batteries +alternately. Herriot had the tiller and in response to Jeremy's question +he pointed to the fluttering rags of the brig's foresail and the smoke +that issued from a splintered hole under her bow chains. + +Below in the gun deck the buccaneers, sweating by their pieces, heard +the news with cheers. The sloop shook to the jarring report of the +starboard battery a moment later, and hardly had it ceased when she came +about on the other tack. "Hurrah," cried Job's mates, "we'll show him +this time! Wind an' water--wind an' water!" + +The open traps showed the green seas swirling past close below, and off +across the swells the tall side of the merchantman swaying in the trough +of the waves. "Ready!" came the order and every gunner jumped to the +breach, match in hand. Before the command came to fire there was a crash +of splintering wood and a long, intermittent roar came over the water. +The brig had taken advantage of her falling off the wind to deliver a +broadside in her own turn. Stede Bonnet's voice, cool as ever, gave the +order and four guns answered the brig's discharge. The crew of the +middle cannon lay on the deck in a pitiable state, two killed outright +and the gunner bleeding from a great splinter wound in the head. A shot +had entered to one side of the port, tearing the planking to bits and +after striking down the two gun-servers, had passed into the fo'c's'le. +Jeremy jumped forward with his blanket in time to stamp out a blaze +where the firing-match had been dropped, and with the help of one of the +pirates dragged the wounded man to his berth. Almost every shot of the +last volley had done damage aboard the brig. Her freeboard, twice as +high as that of the sloop, had offered a target which for expert gunners +was hard to miss. Jagged openings showed all along her side, and as she +rose on a swell, Job shouted, "See there! She's leakin' now. 'Twas my +last shot did that--right on her waterline!" + +"All hands on deck to board her!" came a shout, almost at the same +instant. Jeremy hurrying up with the rest found the sloop bearing down +straight before the wind, and only a dozen boat's lengths from the +enemy. + +A wild whoop went up among the pirates. Every man had seized on a musket +and was crouching behind the rail. Bonnet alone stood on the open deck, +his buff coat blowing open and his hand resting lightly on his sword. An +occasional cannon shot screamed overhead or splashed away astern. +Apparently the brig's batteries were too greatly damaged and her crew +too badly shot up to offer an effective bombardment. She was drifting +helplessly under tattered ribbons of canvas and the _Royal James_, whose +sails had suffered far less, bore down upon her opponent with the swoop +of a hawk. + +As she drew close aboard a scattered fusillade of small arms broke out +from the brig's poop, wounding one man, a Portuguese, but for the most +part striking harmlessly against the bulwark. The buccaneers held their +fire till they were scarce a boat's length distant. Then at the order +they swept the ship with a withering musket volley. The brig was down by +the head and lay almost bow on so that her deck was exposed to Bonnet's +marksmen. Herriot brought his sloop about like a flash and almost before +Jeremy realized what was toward, the ships had bumped together side by +side, and the howling mob of pirates was swarming over the enemy's rail. +Job Howland and another man took great boat-hooks, with which they +grappled the brig's ports and kept the two vessels from drifting apart. +Jeremy was alone upon the sloop's deck. He put the thickness of the mast +between him and the hail of bullets and peered fearfully out at the +terrible scene above. + +[Illustration: Dave Herriot] + +The crew of the brig had been too much disorganized to repel the +boarders as well as they might, and the entire horde of wild barbarians +had scrambled to her deck, where a perfect inferno now held sway. The +air seemed full of flying cutlasses that produced an incessant hiss and +clangor. Pistols banged deafeningly at close quarters and there was the +constant undertone of groans, cries and bellowed oaths. Above the din +came the terrible, clear voice of Stede Bonnet, urging on his seadogs. +He had become a different man from the moment his foot touched the +merchantman's deck. From the cool commander he had changed to a devil +incarnate, with face distorted, eyes aflame, and a sword that hacked and +stabbed with the swift ferocity of lightning. Jeremy saw him, fighting +single-handed with three men. His long sword played in and out, to the +right and to the left with a turn and a flash, then, whirling swiftly, +pinned a man who had run up behind. Bonnet's feet moved quickly, +shifting ground as stealthily as a cat's and in a second he had leaped +to a safer position with his back to the after-house. Two of his +opponents were down, and the third fighting wearily and without +confidence, when a huge, flaxen-haired man burst from the hatch to the +deck and swung his broad cutlass to such effect that the battling groups +in his path gave way to either side. The burly form of Dave Herriot +opposed the new enemy and as the two giants squared off, sword ringing +on sword, more than one wounded sailor raised himself to a better +position, grinning with the Anglo-Saxon's unquenchable love of a fair +fight. Herriot was no mean swordsman of the rough and ready seaman's +type and had a great physique as well, but his previous labors--he had +been the first man on board and had already accounted for a fair share +of the defenders--had rendered him slow and arm-weary. The ready +parrying, blade to blade, ceased suddenly as his foot slipped backward +in a pool of blood. The blond seaman seized his advantage and swung a +slicing blow that glanced off Herriot's forehead, and felled the huge +buccaneer to the deck where he lay stunned, the quick red staining his +head-cloth. As the blond-haired man stepped forward to finish the +business, a long, keen, straight blade interposed, caught his cutlass in +an upward parry and at the same time pinked him painfully in the arm. + +Jumping back the seaman found himself faced by the pitiless eyes of +Stede Bonnet, who had killed his last opponent and run in to save his +mate's life. That quick, darting sword baffled the sailor. Swing and +hack as he might, his blows were caught in midair and fell away +harmless, while always the relentless point drove him back and back. +Forced to the rail, he stood his ground desperately, pale and glistening +with the sweat of a man in the fear of death. Then his sword flew up, +the pirate captain stabbed him through the throat and with a dying gasp +the limp body fell backward into the sea. + +Meanwhile the pirates had steadily gained ground in the hand to hand +struggle and now a bare half-dozen brave fellows held on, fighting +singly or in pairs, back to back. The brig's captain, wounded in several +places and seeing his crew in a fair way to be annihilated, flung up a +tired arm and cried for quarter. Almost at once the fighting ceased and +half the combatants, utterly exhausted, sank down among their dead and +wounded fellows. The deck was a long shambles, red from the bits to the +poop. + +While the hands of the prisoners were being bound, Bonnet and all of his +men not otherwise employed hurried below to search for loot. The man who +had held the boat-hook astern left this task and greedily clambered up +the brig's side lest he should miss his chance at the booty. Job alone +stuck to his post, and motioned Jeremy to stay where he was. Cheers and +yells of joy rang from the after-hold of the merchantman where the +pirates had evidently discovered the ship's store of wine. + +After a few moments Pharaoh Daggs thrust his scarred face out of the +companion, and with a fierce roar of laughter waved a black bottle above +his head. The others followed, drinking and babbling curses, and last of +all Stede Bonnet, pale, dishevelled, mad with blood and liquor, stood +bareheaded by the hatch. He raised his hand in a gesture of silence and +all the hubbub ceased. "We have beaten them!" he cried between twitching +lips. "I Captain Thomas, the chiefest of all the pirates, and my +bully-boys of the _Royal James_! We'll show 'em all! We'll show 'em all! +Blackbeard and all the rest! He, he, he!" and his voice trailed off in +crazy laughter. The men of the crew stood about him on the brig's deck +dumbfounded by his words. Jeremy could hardly breathe in his surprise. +Suddenly he gave a start and would have cried out but that Job Howland's +hand closed his mouth. A swiftly widening lane of water separated the +sloop from her late enemy. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +As she cleared the side of the waterlogged merchantman, the _Royal +James_ began to move. Her sails which had been left flapping during the +close fighting, now filled with a bang and she went away smartly on the +starboard tack. Job had dragged Jeremy aft and the two were huddled at +the tiller, partially screened by the mainsail, when a howl of +consternation broke out aboard the brig. Few if any of the firearms were +still loaded, or they might have been shot to death, out of hand. As it +was, the sloop had drawn away to a distance of nearly a quarter of a +mile before any effort was made to stop her. + +Then a single cannon roared and a round shot whizzed by along the tops +of the waves. When the next report came, Jeremy could see the splash +fall far astern. They were out of range. + +The two runaways now felt comparatively safe. It was certain that the +brig was too badly damaged to give chase even if she could keep afloat. +Jeremy felt a momentary pang at the thought of leaving even that +graceless crowd in such jeopardy, but he remembered that they had the +brig's boats in which to leave the hulk, and his own present danger +soon gave him enough to occupy him. + +Job lashed the tiller and going to the lanyard at the mainmast, hauled +down the black flag. Then they both set to work cleaning up the deck. +The three dead men were given sea burial--slipped overboard without +other ceremony than the short prayer for each which Jeremy repeated. The +gunner who lay in agony in his berth had his wound bound up and was +given a sip of brandy. Then the lank New Englander went below to get a +meal, while Jeremy sluiced the gun decks with sea water. + +Night was falling when Job reappeared on deck with biscuit and beans and +some preserves out of the Captain's locker. There was little appetite in +Jeremy after what he had witnessed that day, but his tall friend ate his +supper with a relish and seemed quite elated at the prospect of the +voyage to shore. He filled a clay pipe after the meal and smoked +meditatively awhile, then addressed the boy with a queer hesitancy. + +"Sonny," he began, "since we picked you up, I've been thinkin' every +day, more an' more, what I'd give to be back at your age with another +chance. Piratin' seemed a fine upstandin' trade to me when I +begun,--independent an' adventurous too, it seemed. But it's not so +fine--not so fine!" He paused. "One or two or maybe five years o' rough +livin' an' rougher fightin', a powerful waste o' money in drink an' +such, an' in the end--a dog's death by shootin' or starvation, or the +chains on Execution Dock." Another pause followed and then, turning +suddenly to Jeremy--"Lad, I can get a Governor's pardon ashore, but +'twould mean nought to me if my old days came back to trouble me. You're +young an' you're honest an' what's more you believe in God. Do you +figger a man can square himself after livin' like I've lived?" The boy +looked into the pirate's homely, anxious face. He felt that he would +always trust Job Howland. "Ay," he answered straightforwardly, and put +out his hand. The man gripped it with a sort of fierce eagerness that +was good to see and smiled the smile of a man at peace with himself. +Then he solemnly drew out his clasp-knife and pricked a small cross in +the skin of his forearm. "That," said he, "is for a sign that once I get +out o' this here pickle I'll never pirate nor free-trade no more." + +The wind sank to a mere breath as the darkness gathered and Jeremy stood +the first watch while his tired friend settled into a deep sleep that +lasted till he was wakened a little after midnight. Then the boy took +his turn at sleeping. + +When the morning light shone into his eyes he woke to find Job pacing +the deck and casting troubled looks at the sky. The wind was dead and +only an occasional whiff of light air moved the idly swinging canvas. A +tiny swell rocked the sloop as gently as a cradle. + +"Well, my boy, we won't get far toward shore at this gait," said Job +cheerfully as Jeremy came up. "Except for maybe three hours sailin' last +night, we've made no progress at all. I've got some porridge cooked +below. You bring it on deck an' we'll have a snack." + +The meal finished, they turned to the rather trying task of waiting for +a breeze. About noon Job climbed to the masthead for a reconnaissance +and on coming down reported a sail to the east, but no sign of any wind. +The sky was dull and overcast so that Job made no effort to determine +their bearings. They figured that they had drifted a dozen or more +sea-miles to the west since the battle, and were lying somewhere off the +little port of New York. + +The day passed, Job amusing Jeremy with tales of his adventures and old +sea-yarns and soon night had overtaken them again. This time the boy had +the first nap. He was roused to take his watch when Job saw by the stars +that it was eight bells, and, still yawning with sleep, the lad went to +stand by the rail. Everything was quiet on the sea, and even the swell +had died out, leaving a perfect calm. There was no moon. The boy's head +sank on his breast and softly he slid to the deck. Drowsiness had +overcome him so gently that he slept before he knew he was sleepy. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +Jeremy's first waking sensation was the sound of a hoarse confused shout +and the rattle of oars being shipped. He struggled to his feet, staring +into the dark astern. Almost at the same instant there came a series of +bumps along the sloop's side, and as the boy rushed to the hatch to call +his ally, he heard feet pounding the deck. "Job!" he cried, "Job!" and +then a heavy hand smote him on the mouth and he lost consciousness for a +time. + +The period during which he stood awake and terrified had been so brief +and so fraught with terror that it never seemed real to the lad in +memory. There was something of the awful hopelessness of nightmare about +it. Always afterward he had difficulty in convincing himself that he had +not slept steadily from the time he drowsed on watch to the minute when +he opened his eyes to the light of morning and felt his aching head +throb against the hard deck. + +As he lay staring at the sky, a footstep approached and some one stood +over him. He turned his eyes painfully to look and beheld the dark, +bearded visage of George Dunkin, the bo's'n, who scowled angrily and +kicked him in the ribs with a heavy toe. "Get up, ye young lubber!" +roared the man and swore fiercely as the boy, unable to move, still lay +upon his back. A moment later the bo's'n went away. To Jeremy's numb +consciousness came the realization that the pirates had caught them +again. + +The words of the Captain on his first day aboard came back to the lad +and made him shudder. There had been stories current among the men that +gave a glimpse of how Stede Bonnet dealt with those who were +treacherous. Which of a dozen awful deaths was in store for him? Ah, if +only they would spare the torture, he thought that he could die bravely, +a worthy scion of dauntless stock. He thought of Job who must have been +seized in his bunk below. The poor fellow was to have short happiness in +his changed way of life, it seemed. + +Jeremy tried to steel his nerves against the test he was sure must +follow soon. Instead of going to pieces in terror, he succeeded in +forcing himself to the attitude of a young stoic. He had done nothing of +which he was ashamed, and he felt that if he was called to face a just +God in the next twenty-four hours, he would be able to hold his head up +like a man. + +Time passed, and he heard a heavy tramp coming along the deck. He was +hoisted roughly by hands under his arm-pits and placed upon his feet, +though he was still too weak to stand without support. A dozen faces +surrounded him, glaring angrily. Out of a sort of mist that partly +obscured his vision came the terrible leer of the man with the broken +nose. The twisted mouth opened and the man spoke with a deliberate +ugliness. The very absence of oaths seemed to make his slow speech more +deadly. + +"Ah, ye misbegotten young fool," he said, "so there ye stand, scared +like the cowardly spawn ye are. We took ye, and kept ye, and fed ye. +What's more, we was friends to ye, eh mates? An' how do ye treat yer +friends? Leave 'em to starve or drown on a sinkin' ship! Sneak off like +a dog an' a son of a cowardly dog!" Jeremy went white with anger. "An' +now"--Daggs' voice broke in a sudden snarl--"an' now, we'll show ye how +we treat such curs aboard a ten-gun buccaneer! Stand by, mates, to +keel-haul him!" + +At this moment a second party of pirates poured swearing out of the +fo'c's'le hatch, dragging Job Howland in their midst. He was stripped to +his shirt and under-breeches and had apparently received a few bruises +in the tussle below. Jeremy's spirits were momentarily revived by seeing +that some of the buccaneers had suffered like inconveniences, while the +young ex-man-o'-war's-man was gingerly feeling of a shapeless blob that +had been his nose. Dave Herriot, his head tied up in a bandage, was +superintending the preparations for punishment. "Let's have the boy +first," he shouted. + +Aboard a square-rigger, keel-hauling was practiced from the main +yardarm. The victim was dragged completely under the ship's bottom, +scraping over the jagged barnacles, and drawn up on the other side, more +often dead than living. As the sloop had only fore and aft sails, they +had merely run a rope under the bottom, bringing both ends together +amidships. They now dragged the boy forward, still in a half-fainting +condition and made fast his feet in a loop in one end of the rope, then, +stretching his arms along the deck in the other direction, bound his +wrists in a similar way. He was practically made a part of the ring of +hemp that circled the ship's middle. + +Without further ceremony other than a parting kick or two, the crew took +their places at the rope, ready to pull the lad to destruction. He set +his teeth and a wordless prayer went up from his heart. + +The wrench of the rope at his ankles never came. As he lay with his eyes +closed, a high-pitched voice broke the quiet. "If a man starts to haul +on that line, I'll shoot him dead!" Jeremy turned his head and looked. +There stood Stede Bonnet, his face ashen gray and trembling, but with a +venomous fire in his sunken eyes. He held a pistol in each hand and two +more were thrust into his waist-band. Not a man stirred in the crew. + +"That boy," went on the clear voice, "had no hand in the business, and +well you know it. It is for me to give out punishments while I am +Captain of this sloop, and by God I shall be Captain during my life. +Pharaoh Daggs, step forward and unloose the rope!" The man with the +broken nose fixed his light eyes on the Captain's for a full five +seconds. Bonnet's pistol muzzle was as steady as a rock. Then the +sailor's eyes shifted and he obeyed with a sullen reluctance. Jeremy, +liberated, climbed to his knees and stood up swaying. Just then there +was a rush of feet behind. He turned in time to see Job Howland vanish +head foremost over the rail in a long clean dive. The astonished crew +ran cursing to the side and stared after him, but no faintest trace of +the man appeared. At dawn a breeze had sprung up and now the little +waves chopped along below the ports with a sound like a mocking chuckle. +They had robbed the buccaneers of their cruel sport. + +Mutiny might have broken out then and there, but Stede Bonnet, cool as +ever, stood amidships with his arms crossed and a calm-looking pistol in +each fist. "Herriot," he remarked evenly, "better set the men to +cleaning decks and repairing damage. We'll start down the Jersey coast +at once." + +Jeremy got to his bunk as best he might and slept for the greater part +of twenty-four hours. When he awoke, the crew had just finished +breakfast and were sitting, every man by himself, counting out gold +pieces. Bonnet had divided the booty found on the brig and in their +greedy satisfaction the pirates were, for the time at least, utterly +oblivious to former discontent. When he got up and went to the galley +for breakfast, Jeremy was ignored by his fellows or treated as if +nothing had occurred. Indeed, there had been little real ground for +wishing to punish the boy aside from the ugly temper occasioned by +having to row a night and a day in open boats. Only Pharaoh Daggs bore +real malice toward Jeremy and his feelings were for the most part +concealed under a mask of contemptuous indifference. + +As the day progressed the lad found that matters had resumed their +accustomed course and that he was in no immediate danger. He missed his +brave friend and co-partner as bitterly as if he had been a brother, but +partially consoled himself with the thought that Job's act in jumping +overboard had probably spared him the awful torture of the keel or some +worse death. The Captain would never have defended the runaway sailor as +he had done Jeremy, the boy was certain. + +All day the sloop made her way south at a brisk rate, occasionally +sighting low, white beaches to starboard. Sometime in the first +dog-watch her boom went over and she ran her slim nose in past Cape May, +heading up the Delaware with the hurrying tide, while the brig's +long-boat, towing behind, swung into her wake astern. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's +cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow +angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he +went. Intrenching himself behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him +and on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at bay for several +moments. The pistol, covering the only path of attack, made them wary of +approaching too close. When, finally, a half-dozen jumped forward at +once, he pulled the trigger only to find that the weapon had not been +loaded. In desperation he grasped the muzzle in his hand and struck out +fiercely with the heavy butt, beating off his assailants time after +time. This was well enough at first, but the buccaneers, who cared much +less for a broken crown than for a bullet wound, pressed in closer and +closer, striking with fists and marline-spikes. It was soon over. They +jammed him so far into the corner than his tireless arm no longer had +free play, and then bore him down under sheer weight of numbers. When he +ceased to struggle they seized him fast and carried him to the deck. + +Job was out of breath and much bruised but had suffered no lasting hurt. +He saw Jeremy led forward, heard the men's cries and realized that the +torture was in store for them both. + +Unbound, but helpless to interfere, he saw the boy stretched on the deck +and the rope attached to his arms and legs. He suffered greater agony +than did Jeremy as the crew made ready to begin their awful work, for he +had seen keelhauling before. And then suddenly Stede Bonnet was standing +by the companion and the ringing shout that saved the boy's life struck +on Job's ears. He could hardly keep from cheering the Captain then and +there, but relief at Jeremy's delivery brought with it a return of his +quick wits. He himself was in as great danger as ever. + +He was facing aft, and his eye, roving the deck for a means of escape, +lit on the brig's boat, which the pirates had tied astern after +reboarding the sloop. She was trailing at the end of a painter, her bows +rising and falling on the choppy waves. He waited only long enough to +see that the Captain succeeded in freeing Jeremy, then drew a great +breath and plunged over the side. Swimming under water, he watched for +the towed longboat to come by overhead, and as her dark bulk passed, he +caught her keel with a strong grip of his fingers, worked his way back +and came up gasping, his hands holding to the rudder ring in her stern. + +The hot, still days had warmed the surface of the sea to a temperature +far above the normal, or he must certainly have become exhausted in a +short time. As it was, he clung to his ring till near noon, when, +cautiously peering above the gunwale, he saw the sloop's deck empty save +for a steersman, half asleep in the hot sun by the tiller. With a great +wrench of his arms the ex-buccaneer lifted himself over the stern and +slipped as quietly as he was able into the boat's bottom. There he lay +breathless, listening for sounds of alarm aboard the sloop. None came +and after a few moments he wriggled forward and made himself snug under +the bow-thwart. The boat carried a water-beaker and a can of biscuit for +emergency use. After refreshing himself with these and drying out his +thin clothing in the sun, he retreated under the shade of the thwart and +slept the sleep of utter fatigue. + +Late the next day he took a brief observation of the horizon. There was +sandy shore to the east and from what he knew of the coast and the +ship's course he judged they must be nearing the entrance to Delaware +Bay. His long rest had restored to him most of his vigor and although he +was sore in many places, he felt perfectly ready to try an escape as +soon as the sloop should approach the land and offer him an +opportunity. + +As the night went on the _Royal James_ made good speed up the Bay aided +by a strong tide. A little while before light she came close enough to +the west shore for Job to see the outlines of trees on a bluff. He +figured the distance to be not above a mile at most. There was some +question in his mind whether he should cut the painter and use the boat +in getting away or swim for it. He decided that it would be better for +him in most ways if the pirates still supposed him dead. So, quietly as +an otter, he slipped over the gunwale, paddled away from the boat's side +and set out for the land, ploughing through the water with a long +overarm stroke. + +Job had a hard fight with the turning tide before the trees loomed above +his head and his feet scraped gravel under the bank. When at last he +crept gasping out upon dry ground, it was miles to the southward of his +first destination. Dawn had come and the early light silvered the +rippling cross-swells and glinted on the white wings of the gulls. The +big mariner shook the water from his sides like a spaniel, stretched +both long arms to the warm sky, laughed as he thought of his escape and +turning his gaunt face to the northward set out swiftly along the +tree-clad bluffs. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +Meanwhile the _Royal James_ was far up inside the Capes, sailing +demurely along, the ports of her gun deck closed and the British colors +fluttering from her top. Jeremy watched the shores they passed with deep +interest. He wondered if there would be a chance for him to get away +when they came to anchor. There was nothing but hardship in his lot +aboard the sloop, now that Job was gone. He was unnoticed for the most +part by the men of the crew, and when any of them spoke to him it was +with a cuff or a curse. As for Captain Bonnet, he had relapsed into one +of his black moods. Nothing brought him on deck or made him speak except +to give Herriot monosyllabic commands. + +Late the following day, after a slow progress along the Delaware shore, +the sloop hove to in a wide roadstead and the anchor was run out. The +steeples and shipping of a little town were visible by the water side, +but no one put off to meet them. To the surprise of all, Bonnet himself +came on deck, wearing a good coat and fresh ruffles and with his hair +powdered. He ordered the gig lowered, then looked about the assembled +crew and addressed them good-humoredly enough. "Now, my lads," said he, +"I'm going ashore with a picked boat's crew to get what news there is +about. You that go with me remember that you are of the _Royal James_, +honest merchant coaster, and that I am Captain Thomas, likewise honest +navigator. We'll separate into every tavern and ship-chandler's place +along the wharves, pick up the names of all ships that are soon to sail, +and their cargoes, and meet at the gig at eight bells. Herriot and you +men aboard here, keep a strict watch. Daggs, I leave the boy in your +charge. Don't let him out of your sight." + +At the last words Jeremy's heart sank to his boots. He knew how futile +would be any attempt to escape under the cold hawk-eyes of the man with +the broken nose. As the gig put off from the sloop's side, the boy +leaned dejectedly against the rail. Pharaoh Daggs slouched up to him. +"Ah there, young 'un," said he with cynical jocularity, "just thinkin' +o' leavin' us, were ye, when the old man took the gimp out o' ye?" The +bantering note vanished from the man's voice. "I'ld like to break yer +neck, ye young whelp, but I won't--not just yet!" He seemed to be +licking his ugly chops at the thought of a future occasion when he might +allow himself this luxury. Then he went on, half to himself it seemed. +"Hm, Bonnet's a queer 'un! Never _can_ tell what he'll do. Them eight +men aboard that brig, now--never was a rougher piece o' piracy since +Morgan's day than his makin' those beggars walk the plank. Stood there +an' roared an' laughed, he did, an' pricked 'em behind till they tipped +the board. An' then to stop us from drownin' a blasted little rat that'd +tried to kill us all! Oh, he's bad, is Stede--bad!" Jeremy gave a start +as this soliloquy progressed. He had wondered once or twice what had +become of the prisoners taken aboard the brig. That attempted escape of +Job's had cost dear in human life it seemed. And his own deliverance had +been the mere whim of a mad-man! He shuddered and thanked God fervently +for the fortune that had so far attended him. + +There was a pause while the buccaneer seemed to regard him with a sort +of crafty hesitancy. At length he spoke. + +"See here, boy," he said, his voice sinking to a hoarse whisper, "how +long had you been livin' on that there island?" + +Jeremy looked up wonderingly. "Not long," he answered, "only a day or +two, really." + +"And you--nor none of yer folks--never went nosin' 'round there to find +nothin', did yer? Tell me the truth, now!" Daggs leaned closer, a +murderous intensity in his face. + +"No," said Jeremy, squirming as the man's fingers gripped his shoulder. + +The pirate gave him another long, piercing look from his terrible eyes, +then released him and went forward, where he stood staring off toward +the shore. + +In his wretched loneliness the boy sank down by the rail, his heart +heavier than it had ever been in his whole life. It might have been a +relief to him to cry. A great lump was in his throat indeed and his eyes +smarted, but he had considered himself too old for tears almost since he +could walk, and now with the realization that he was near shedding them, +he forced his shoulders back, shut his square jaw and resolved that he +would be a man, come what might. Darkness settled over the river mouth. +The form of Pharaoh Daggs in black silhouette against the gray of the +sky sent a shudder through Jeremy. He recalled with startling +distinctness the solitary man he had seen on the island the night of his +capture. The two figures were identical. Pondering, the boy fell asleep. + +It was some four hours later that he woke to the sound of hurrying oars +close aboard. A subdued shout came across the water. The voice was Stede +Bonnet's. "Stand by to take us on!" he cried. A moment later the gig +shot into sight, her crew rowing like mad. They pulled in their oars, +swept up alongside the black sloop, and were caught and pulled aboard by +ready hands. "Cut the cable!" cried the Captain as soon as he reached +the deck. The gig was swung up, the cable chopped in two and the +mainsail spread, and in an incredibly short time the _Royal James_ was +bowling along down the roadstead. Hardly had she gotten under way when +two long-boats appeared astern and amid shouts and orders to surrender +from their crews, a scattered fusillade of bullets came aboard. No one +on the sloop was hit, and as the sails began to draw properly the pirate +craft soon left her pursuers far to the rear. + +Jeremy, never one to watch others work, had lent a hand wherever he was +best able, during the rush of the escape. When the sloop was well out of +range and the excitement had subsided, he turned for the first time to +look at a small group that had been talking amidships. Two of the +figures were very well known to him--Bonnet and Herriot. The light of a +lantern, which the latter held, fell upon the face of a boy no older +than Jeremy, dressed in the finest clothes the young New Englander had +ever seen. + +The lad's face was dark and resolute, his hair black, smoothly brushed +back and tied behind with a small ribbon. His blue coat was of velvet, +neatly cut. Below his long flowered waistcoat were displayed buff velvet +breeches and silk stockings of the same color. His shoes were of fine +leather and buckled with silver. + +In response to the oaths and rough questions of the two pirates, the lad +seemed to have little to say. When he spoke it was with a scornful ring +in his voice. The first words Jeremy heard him say were: "You'll +understand it soon, I fancy. We are well enough known along the bay and +my father, as I have said, is a friend of the Governor's. There'll be +ten ships after you before morning." Herriot put back his head and +roared with laughter. "Hear the young braggart!" he shouted. "Ten ships +for such a milk-fed baby as he is!" + +"Well, my lad," said the Captain, "you'll be treated well enough while +we wait for the money to be paid. Here, Jeremy!" As the young +backwoodsman came up, Bonnet continued, "Two boys aboard is bad +business, for you're sure to be scheming to get away. However, it can't +be helped, just yet, and mind what I say,--there'll be a bullet ready +for the first one that tries it. Now get below, the pair of you." + +Glad as he was to have a companion of his own age aboard, Jeremy, +boylike, was too shy to say anything to the new arrival that night, and +indeed the other boy seemed to class him with the rest of the pirates +and to feel some repugnance at his company. So the two unfortunate +youngsters slept fitfully, side by side, until broad daylight next +morning. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +The "salt horse" which was served out for breakfast aboard the _Royal +James_ made scant appeal to the Delaware boy's appetite. He hardly +touched the portion which Jeremy offered him and kept up his pose of +proud aloofness all the morning. It is scarcely a matter for wonder that +he did not at once make friends with Jeremy. The latter's buckskin +breeches and moccasins had been taken from him when he came aboard and +he was now clad in his old leather tunic, a pair of seaman's trousers, +which bagged nearly to his ankles, wrinkled, garterless wool socks and +an old pair of buckled shoes, stuffed with rags to make them fit. His +hair, never very manageable, had received little attention during the +voyage and now was as wild and rough as that of a savage. It would have +required a long second glance for one to see the fine qualities of grit +and self-reliance in the boy's keen face. + +The sloop was making great speed down the middle channel of the Bay, her +canvas straining in a fine west breeze, and her deck canted far to +leeward. No boy could long withstand the pleasure of sailing on such a +day, and before noon the young stranger had given in to a consuming +desire to know the names of things. Jeremy now had the whole ship by +heart and was filled with joy at the opportunity of talking about her to +one more ignorant than himself. Of course, he was as proud of the _Royal +James_ as if he owned her. How he glowed over his account of the battle +with the brig! Nothing on the coast could outsail the sloop, he was +sure. Indeed, it was with some regret that he admitted a hope of her +being overtaken by the Delaware boy's friends, and he was divided +between pride and despair as the day went on and no sail appeared to the +north. By noon his new acquaintance was ravenously hungry, as was to be +expected, and over their pannikins of soup the last reserve between them +went by the board. + +[Illustration: Bob] + +"Are you his son?" asked the dark-haired lad, nodding toward Herriot. +Jeremy laughed and described his adventure from the beginning while the +other marveled open-mouthed. "Are they holding you for ransom, too?" +asked he, as the story ended. "No," replied Jeremy, "I reckon they knew +as soon as they saw me that there wasn't much money to be gotten in my +case. As I figure it, they didn't dare leave me on the island for fear +I'ld have those three ships-of-war after them." Both boys laughed as +they thought of the head-long flight of Stede Bonnet's company from a +garrison of fifteen sheep. + +"Well," said the Delaware boy, still chuckling, "you know most of my +story already. My father is Clarke Curtis of New Castle. My own name is +Bob. Father owns some ships in the East India trade and has a plantation +up on the Brandywine creek. Last night I was at our warehouse by the +wharves. Father was inside talking to one of his captains who had just +come to port. I wanted to see the ship--she's a full-rigger, three or +four times as big as this, and fast too for her burden. Well, I went +down on the dock where she was moored. There was nobody around and no +lights and she stood up above the wharf-side all dark and big--her +mainmast is as high as our church steeple, you know--and I was just +looking up at her and wondering where the watchman was, when four men +came along down the wharf. I thought perhaps 'twas Father and some of +his men. When they were quite close that biggest one, Herriot, stepped +up to me and before I could shout he put his hand over my mouth and held +me. They gagged me fast and then one of them gave a whistle, long and +low. Pretty soon a boat came up to the dock and they grabbed me and put +me in, spite of all I could do. They paddled along to another wharf and +took aboard some more men and then started to row out as fast as they +could. I guess those boats that came after us were from Father's ship. +He must have missed me right away. So now old Bonnet or Thomas or +whatever his name is thinks he's going to get a fat sum out of me. +That's all of my story, so far. But there'll be another chapter yet!" +Jeremy, for both their sakes, sincerely hoped that there might. + +At sunset of that day the _Royal James_ cleared Cape Henlopen and held +her course for the open sea, while behind her in the gathering dusk the +coast grew hazy--faded out--was gone. The two boys, sitting late into +the first watch, shivered with that fine ecstasy of adventure that can +come only in the shadowy mystery of star-lit decks and the long, +whispering ripple of a following sea. + +Jeremy, who twenty-four hours before had thought of the ship as a place +of utter desolation, would not now have changed places with any boy +alive. He knew, perhaps for the first time, the fulness of joy that +comes into life with human companionship. That night two lads at least +had golden dreams of a youthful kind. Ducats and doubloons, princesses +and plum-cake, swords awave and cannon blazing, great galleons with +crimson sails--no wonder that they were smiling in their sleep when +George Dunkin held a lantern over the bunk at the change of the watch. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +The day came in dark with fog, which changed a little after noon to +driving scud. The wind had gone around to the northeast and freshened +steadily, driving the waves in from the sea in steep gray hills, quite +different from anything Jeremy had before experienced. The sloop, under +three reefs and a storm jib, began to make rough weather of it, +staggering up and down the long slopes in an aimless, dizzy fashion that +made Jeremy and Bob very unhappy. The poor young New Englander had to +perform his regular tasks no matter how he felt within, but once the +work was done he stumbled forward miserably and lay upon his bunk. Bob +was too wretched to talk all day, and for the time at least cared very +little whether he was rescued or keel-hauled. + +Near nightfall Jeremy went aft to serve the Captain's supper, and as he +returned along the reeling wet deck in the gathering dark, he stopped a +moment to look off to windward. The racing white tops of the waves +gleamed momentarily and vanished. He was appalled at their height. While +the little vessel surged along in the trough, great slopes of foam and +black water rose on either beam, up and up like tossing hillsides. Then +would come the staggering climb to the summit, and for a dizzy second +the terrified lad, clinging to a shroud, could look for miles across the +shifting valleys. Before he could catch his breath, the sloop pitched +down the next declivity in a long, sickening sag, and rocked for a brief +instant at the foot, her masts swaying in a great arc half across the +sky. Then she began to ascend. Shivering and wide-eyed, the boy crept to +his bunk, where he fell asleep at last to the sound of screaming wind +and lashing water. + +At dawn and all next day the gale swept down from the northeast +unabated. The fo'c's'le was thick with tobacco smoke and the wet reek of +the crew, for only the steersman and the lookout would stay on deck. +Bob, somewhat recovered from his seasickness, lay wide-eyed in his bunk +and heard such tales of plunder and savagery on the high seas as made +his blood run cold. When Jeremy came dripping down the ladder, early +that afternoon, he found the Delaware lad staring at Pharaoh Daggs with +a look of positive terror. The buccaneer's evil face was lit up by the +rays of the smoky lantern, hung from a hook in one of the deck beams. He +sat on the edge of the fo'c's'le table, his heavy shoulders hunched and +a long clay pipe in his teeth. "That night," he was saying, "four on us +went an' cut Sol Brig down from where they'd hanged him. We got away, +down to the sloop an' out to sea with him. I didn't have no cause to +love the old devil, but I'd ha' hated to have a ghost like his after me, +so I lent a hand. We wrapped him up decent an' gave him sea-burial from +his own deck, as he'd paced for thirty year. An' _then_," he said with a +snarl and half-turning to face Jeremy, "we got them two boys on deck! +Both of 'em said 'twas the other as told, so we treated 'em fair an' +alike. We stripped 'em an' laid in deep with the cat till there wasn't +no white skin left above the waist. Then we sluiced 'em with sea water. +When they could feel pain again, we stretched 'em with rope an' windlass +till one died. T'other was a red-headed, tough young devil, an' took +such a deal of it that we had to brain him with a handspike at the +last." + +Even the crew were silenced for a little by this recital. Jeremy and Bob +shivered in their places, hardly daring to breathe. Then a Portuguese +spoke from the corner, his greedy little black eyes glittering in his +swarthy face. + +"Where wass da Cap'n's money--da gold 'e 'ada-not divide', eh?" + +Daggs gave a little start and leaned forward scowling. "Who said he had +any?" he asked savagely. "Sol Brig kept himself to himself. He never +told secrets to any man aboard!" Then he turned and with a black frown +at the two boys, climbed through the hatch into the howling smother +outside. + +Jeremy, always alert, saw one or two glances exchanged among the pirates +before the interminable foul stream of fo'c's'le talk resumed its +course, but apparently the incident of the scarred man's abrupt +departure was soon forgotten. + +As the storm continued, Bonnet and Herriot gave up their attempts to +sail the _Royal James_ and contented themselves with keeping her afloat. +The gale was driving them southward at a good rate and they were not +ungrateful as they reflected that it must have effectually put a stop to +all pursuit. Toward night the wind went down a trifle, though the seas +still ran in veritable mountain ranges. The dawn of the following day +showed a clear sky to the north, and every prospect of fair weather. +Before breakfast all hands were set to shaking out reefs and trimming +sails, a task which the tossing of the sloop made unusually difficult. +New halyards had to be fitted in some places. Otherwise the vessel +herself had suffered but little. The brig's boat, towed astern all +through the flight down the bay, had been swamped and cut loose on the +first day of storm. However, as the _Royal James_ had two boats of her +own lashed on deck, this was not considered a real loss. + +When the sun was high enough, Herriot took his bearings, and gave the +helmsman orders to keep her headed west, a point north. The sloop made a +long beat of it to starboard, thrashing up all night and most of the +following day, before she sighted the Virginia Capes. Slipping through +under cover of darkness, Bonnet resumed his role of sober merchantman +and sailed the _James_ up the Chesapeake under the British flag, with a +fine air of honesty. + +Jeremy and Bob regained their spirits as the low shores unrolled ahead +and passed astern, with an occasional glimpse of a plantation house or a +village at the water's edge. As every fresh estuary and arm of the bay +opened on the bow, the lads hoped and expected that the sloop would +enter. Bob thought the chances for escape or rescue would be much +increased if they came to anchor in some harbor. Jeremy remembered the +Captain's half-promise to free him when they reached the Chesapeake, and +although he would have been loth to part from his new friend, he felt +that he might render him better service ashore than in his company +aboard the pirate. + +It was two full days before the order was finally given to anchor. They +had put into the mouth of a wide inlet far up on the Eastern shore, and +Bonnet had her brought into the wind at a good distance from either +side. The banks were high and wooded, and as far as the boys could see +there was no sign of habitation anywhere about. Their minds were both +busy planning some way of getting to land when Dave Herriot came up +behind them and put a huge hand into the collar of each. "Come along +below, lads," he said gruffly. They went, completely mystified, until +the big sailing-master thrust them before him into the port gun deck. +Then Jeremy understood. The old-fashioned arrangement of iron bars +called the "bilboes" was fastened to the bulkhead at the bow end of the +alleyway. It had two or three sets of iron shackles chained to it and +into the smallest pair of these, meant for the wrists of a grown victim, +he locked an ankle of each of the boys. + +"Ye'll stay _there_ a while, till we sail again," Herriot remarked as he +departed. The lads stared at each other, too glum to speak. Bob was pale +with rage at what he considered a dishonor, while the Yankee boy's heart +was heavy as he thought of the opportunities for flight he had let slip +on the voyage up the bay. Within half an hour after the anchor was +dropped the young prisoners heard the creak of the davit blocks, and a +moment later the splash of a boat taking water close to the nearest +gun-port. Jeremy stretched as far as his chain would allow, and through +a crevice saw four men start to row toward shore. There was some coarse +jesting and laughter on deck, then one of the crew sent a "Fare ye well, +Bill!" after the departing gig. The hail was answered by the voice of +the Jamaican, Curley. Half an hour later the boat returned, carrying +only three. Jeremy, straining at his tether, made out that Curley was +not one of them. He sat down, thoughtful. "Well, Bob," he said at last, +"whether it's about your ransom I can't say, but Bill Curley's been sent +ashore on some errand or other--and to be gone a while, too, I figure." + +They could do little but wait for developments. It was something of a +surprise to both when Bonnet's voice was heard on the deck above, soon +after, ordering the capstan manned. The anchor creaked up and to the +rattle of blocks the sail was hoisted. They felt the sloop get under way +once more. When one of the foremast hands brought them some biscuit and +pork for supper, he told them it was Herriot's orders that they be left +in irons for the present at least, and added, in response to Jeremy's +query, that they were headed south under full canvas. The boys' thoughts +were very bitter as they tried to make themselves comfortable on the +bare planking. Fortunately, at their age it requires more than a hard +bed to banish rest, and before the ship had made three sea-miles, care +and bodily misery alike were forgotten in the heavy slumber of fatigue. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +Job Howland's long legs, clad as they were in nothing more cumbersome +than a pair of under-breeches, made light work of hills and ravines as +he held his way steadily up the Delaware shore. Like most of the sailors +of that day, he had gone barefoot aboard ship since the beginning of the +warm weather and his soles were so calloused that he hardly felt the +need of shoes. + +At a shack on a little cove, just before midday, he found several +fishermen, to whom he applied for clothing. They had pity on his plight, +fitted him out with a shirt, serviceable breeches and rough boots, and +gave him, as well, as much biscuit and dried fish as he wished to carry. +Thus reinforced he continued to put the leagues behind him till night, +when he slept under a convenient jack-pine. Early next morning he pushed +on and came without further adventure to the little port of New Castle, +just as the sun was setting. + +Job had been in the town before and now went straight to the Red Hawk +Tavern, a small place on the water-front that catered chiefly to +seafaring men. The tavern-keeper, a brawny Swede, to whose blue eyes +half the seamen that plied along the coast were familiar, held out a +big hand to him as he entered. He had known the tall mariner when he had +been on the Virginia bark before Hornygold had captured it and had had +no news of him since. Job told him his whole story over a hot meal in +the back room, and it is merely indicative of the public mind of that +day that the big Swede had not the slightest compunction in sympathizing +with him. Indeed, in most dockside resorts it was a common thing for +pirates and honest seamen to fraternize with perfect goodwill. The +innkeeper offered him a bed for the night, and next morning directed him +to the governor's house. + +Delaware, a far smaller and less developed colony than her neighbors, +Pennsylvania and Maryland, had, nevertheless, her own government, +located at New Castle. The brick house of the King's appointee was on +the High Street--the most imposing building in the town, excepting the +two churches. Job knocked at the door and was admitted by a colored +servant in livery, who gave him a chair in the wide hall and asked him +to wait there. + +As the long Yankee fidgeted uncomfortably on the edge of his seat, he +heard voices raised in a room opposite, the door of which was closed. +Some one, apparently growing angry, was saying: + +"Good Gad, man, are we to sit idle and let these ruffianly thieves make +off with our money--children--wives! One good man-o'-war could teach the +scamps such a lesson as would scare half of 'em off the seas! Why, if +I'd had even a good culverin aboard the _Indian Queen_ last night, I'd +have chased the beggars clear to Africa, an need were. Governor, you +_must_ see this as we see it!" + +There was a reply in a lower tone and a moment later the door opened for +two gentlemen to come out. One was thin and pale and seemed a suave, +cool fellow, Job thought. He was elegantly dressed in gray. His +companion, larger and more strongly built, seemed to have become very +red in the face from suppressed emotion. His linen ruffles were awry and +his fists clenched as he emerged. Without looking at Job, he jammed his +cocked hat upon his head and strode out. + +The man in gray turned to the waiting seaman and beckoned him into the +room just vacated. Job, as cool and self-possessed as if he were loading +his six-pounder under fire, told the story of his experiences aboard the +pirate sloop, finishing with an account of the attempted flight with +Jeremy, their recapture and his escape. The Governor listened gravely, +starting once when the mariner named Captain Bonnet. At the end he +nodded. "You shall have the pardon as ruled by the Crown," he said. "But +there is another side to this affair. You say you slept at the Red +Hawk. Was there no talk there of a boy stolen from the wharves late in +the evening?" Job replied that he had gone to bed early and had +breakfasted and left without hearing any gossip. + +"From what you say," went on the Governor, "I should be ready to swear +that the Captain Thomas, who proclaimed himself by that name in a tavern +last night and later made off with the son of Clark Curtis, was the same +man as your Stede Bonnet." Job hastened to relate the incident of the +buccaneer's crazed speech from the brig's deck. He asked how the +kidnapper had been described. The features tallied almost exactly with +those of Stede Bonnet. In addition, the schooner, as half a dozen men +would swear, had been painted black. + +Thus satisfied that Bob Curtis was aboard the _Royal James_, the +Governor wrote a formal pardon, stating that "Job Howland, late a +pirate, having duly sworn his allegiance to his Majesty the King, and +repented of all unlawful acts committed by him aforetime," was +henceforward granted full release from the penalty of his crimes and was +to be held an honest man during his good behavior. Then he took the +seaman with him and passed quickly down to one of the larger warehouses +by the dockside. + +Standing in the doorway were the red-faced gentleman whom Job had seen +that morning and a large man in sea boots, easily recognized as a ship's +officer. To the rather cool greeting of the former the Governor returned +a cheerful nod as they came up. "Look here now, Curtis," he said, "I +can't spare those cannon, and that's flat, but to show that I mean well +by you, I've brought a man whom you may find of some use. Tell him +your story, Howland." + +The tale was repeated, to the intense interest of its two new hearers. +"By Gad," cried Mr. Curtis, slapping his thigh, as the seaman finished, +"that's a clue worth having! We know who the scoundrel is, at least, +and, of course, he'll be sure to head for Carolina. Bonnet couldn't keep +away from that coast for more than six months if his life depended upon +it. Howland, if you care to ship again, I'll make you gun-pointer aboard +the _Indian Queen_ here. You say you want nothing better than to get a +crack at the pirate. We'll make what preparations we can and get off at +once. This young friend of yours--about Bob's age he must be--well, I'm +glad my boy's got company! Let's get to work aboard here now." + +Job fell to with a good will helping the _Indian Queen's_ crew get her +ready for an encounter with the pirates. She carried only two light +serpentine cannon of an ancient make, far below the standard necessary +to combat a well-armed schooner like the _Royal James_. There were no +other ships in the harbor carrying guns, however, and it was over the +matter of procuring an armament that Curtis had had words with the +Governor. There were six good culverins mounted in the fort below the +town. The planter had wished to borrow them to fit out his vessel, +urging that it was a matter of concern to the whole colony. To this the +Governor replied that with the port stripped of defences it would be +possible for a pirate fleet to enter and plunder without difficulty, +while Curtis's ship was careering over the seven seas on a wild-goose +chase. Naturally the personal element in the affair blinded Curtis to +the truth in this argument. However, with the advent of Job Howland and +the news he bore, all differences were forgotten. The planter and +ship-owner now needed thorough, rather than hurried, preparation. He +sent his overseer on horseback to Philadelphia to arrange for the +purchase of guns, and put all the available carpenters and shipwrights +to work on the _Queen_, strengthening the improvised gun decks and +cutting the rows of ports. + +The northeast gale that sprang up next day put a temporary stop to these +activities and gave Job an opportunity to get himself some decent +clothes and hobnob a while with his friend the Swede. The whole +waterfront was agog with the news of the kidnapping, and everywhere the +tall New Englander went he was surrounded by a knot of questioning +seamen. Several coasting-skippers, whose vessels lay ready-loaded at the +wharves, decided to put off sailing until some news should indicate that +the Bay was clear. + +When the storm had blown itself out the artisans again set to work on +the big East Indiaman. Job, who had learned the science of gunnery under +good masters, supervised the placing of every porthole with reference to +ease and safety in firing as well as to the effectiveness of a +broadside. He had a section of the deck forward of the capstan +reinforced stoutly to bear the weight of a bow-chaser, on which he +placed some dependence in case of a running fight. + +It was about six days later, in the first week of August, when two men +came into New Castle from different directions, one on horseback, the +other on foot. The first of these was Curtis's overseer, returned from +the larger colony up the Bay, and bringing the good news that a score of +cannon were lying on the dock at the foot of Market Street, in +Philadelphia, ready to be shipped aboard the _Queen_ as soon as she was +put in shape. + +The other was a sour-looking man of middle height, lean and darkly +sallow, dressed in good sea clothes somewhat worn. He slipped through +the trees into a lane that led toward the wharves. Coming unobtrusively +into the Red Hawk Tavern at a little after 7 o'clock in the evening, he +asked for a pint of rum, paid for it, and began to talk politely to the +Swede. Job was eating his supper in one corner. He started when the man +entered, but made no exclamation, and shading his face from the light, +continued to watch him narrowly. It was his old shipmate, Bill Curley, +the Jamaican. The pirate finished his rum and giving the barkeep a civil +"Good-night," passed out into the ill-lighted street. When he was gone +Job rose and stepped to the bar. "Quick, Nels," he whispered, "what did +he ask you? He's one of Bonnet's crew!" The Swede replied that he had +inquired the way to Clarke Curtis's house. Job was armed with a good +pistol. He made sure it was primed and then set out up the street, +keeping a careful lookout. + +Soon he detected the figure of the Jamaican in the gloom ahead, and +followed it, keeping out of earshot. The man went straight up High +Street to the town residence of the planter. There were tall shrubs in +the yard and he waited behind one of these, apparently reconnoitering. +Then he stooped, took off his shoes, and carrying them in one hand, +advanced and pinned a piece of paper to the door. Turning, he made his +way back to the gate and once on the soft earth of the road, started to +run in the direction from which he had come. This brought him, in fifty +yards, face to face with a pistol muzzle, the butt of which was held by +his old friend, Job Howland. He stopped in his tracks and at the big +Yankee's command held both arms above his head. Job jammed the nose of +his weapon against Curley's breastbone and searched him without a word. +Having removed a long dirk and a pistol from the Jamaican's waistband, +he ordered him to face about and walk back to the planter's house. When +they arrived there, Job took down the paper from the door and knocked +loudly. A negro boy, scared almost into fits at the sight of the drawn +pistol, led the way into his master's room. + +Curtis rose with an ejaculation of surprise and heard Job's brief +account of the events leading to Curley's capture. Then he took the +paper and read it, alternately frowning and exclaiming. As he finished, +he passed it to the New Englander. It was a letter neatly drawn up and +written in Stede Bonnet's even, refined hand. + + + Aboard Sloop _Royal James,_ now + in an Inlet near the Head of the + Chesapeake Bay. + + To Mr. Clarke Curtis. Esq. + of New Castle, in the Delaware Colony. + + Sir: + + Having now aboard us and in safe custody your son Robert Curtis, we + offer you the following terms for his release and safe return to + you. Namely, to wit: + + First, that you shall make no attempt to attack us in an armed + vessel, or otherwise to employ force upon us. + + Second, that you shall send a single man, carrying or otherwise + bringing, provided he is alone, a sum in gold amounting to 5,000 + pounds sterling. + + + Third, that this man shall be on the sandbars at the entrance to + the Cape Fear River in Carolina at noon on the 10th day of + September in this year of grace 1718, ready to deliver the sum + before-mentioned and to take in charge the boy, also + before-mentioned. + + Failing the accomplishment of any or all of these terms the boy + will be immediately put to death without stay or pity. + + Expecting you to act with discretion and for the welfare of your + son, + + Ever your humble servant, + + Captain Thomas. + (Ship _Royal James_) + + +"Well," remarked Job as he finished, "we know where they'll be on +September the 10th, at all events. As for our friend here, we can safely +turn him over to the constable, I reckon. Here, Curley--march!" And he +ushered the Jamaican out as they had entered. The gaol was only a few +doors down a cross street, and Job had soon delivered his prisoner into +capable hands. Then he returned to Curtis's house. + +The shipowner was pacing up and down his library, where the paper lay +half-crumpled on the floor. He looked up as Job entered and his brow was +wrinkled deep with lines of worry. + +"Gad!" he exclaimed, "this is awful! Must we actually give up trying to +punish the dog? Why, he has us at his mercy, it seems. The money I can +raise, I believe, and it's not the thought of losing it that cuts me. +It's letting that gallows-hound go unscathed. And if anything should +slip in the plans--good God, it's too terrible to think of!" + +He dropped into an armchair, his head resting in his hands. Job +understood something of the father's anguish and refrained from any +comment. Standing by the broad oak mantelpiece, he mused over the +chances of the boy's escape alive. Knowing Bonnet's eccentricities, he +would have been the last to urge an armed attack in defiance of the +terms in the letter. He had not the slightest doubt that the Captain, +half-insane as he was, would be capable of even more dastardly crimes +than the one he now threatened. Gradually an idea took form in the +ex-pirate's brain. It was a bold one and needed to be executed boldly if +at all. When the grief-stricken gentleman raised his head, Job turned +and faced him. "Mr. Curtis," he said, "there's one thing to be done, as +far's I can see, and I believe it's for me to do it. I've told you about +Jeremy Swan, the boy we took aboard up north along. I think most as much +o' getting him out o' this scrape as you do o' savin' your lad. Now +here's my scheme. I know that coast around Cape Fear like I know the +black schooner's deck. I'll get down there about the first o' September, +an' I reckon they'll be there near the same time. I'll sneak up as close +as I can in a small boat, then crawl acrost the bars till I'm near their +moorin', an' swim out after dark, so I can look over the lay o' things +aboard. It's just possible that I can get a word to one o' the boys and +maybe take 'em off without bein' caught. You can be lyin' to, somewhere +out o' sight, and' if we get clean away, we'll take the _Queen_ around +an' blow Bonnet out o' water. That's the best I can offer, but if it +works it'll do the job up brown." + +Curtis had listened earnestly, amazed at the daring of the man's +suggestion. He reached out a broad hand and took Job's hairy fist in a +grip that expressed the depth of his feelings. His eyes were blinking +and he could not trust his voice, but the long Yankee knew that the risk +he had offered to undertake was appreciated. They talked far into the +night, planning the details of the attempt and discussing measures to be +employed should it fail. They still had the best part of a month in +which to work. + +It was Job's suggestion that they should interest the governments of +North and South Carolina to help in destroying Bonnet's craft. The +pirate's port of departure had been Charles Town and he was to be +fought in waters adjacent to both the colonies. It seemed not +unreasonable to hope that there was aid to be obtained there. Next day +they asked the Governor's sanction to this proposal, and were so far +rewarded that in less than another twenty-four hours a messenger had +been dispatched to Wilmington and Charles Town bearing letters under the +colony seal. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +The _Royal James_ hurried down the Chesapeake for a day and a night +before Captain Bonnet gave orders to free the young prisoners below in +the bilboes. Jeremy and Bob came on deck stiff and weary from their +cramped quarters and very far from happy in their minds. Rescue seemed +farther away than ever, and though they had laid many plans for an +escape by swimming, the sight of the great stretch of water off either +beam--the shore was frequently a dozen miles away--quenched their hopes +in this direction. + +The crew seemed quite elated over something, and talked and joked +incessantly about the prospect of action in the near future. Bonnet was +merrier than Jeremy had ever seen him, came often on deck and even mixed +a little in the conversation of the foremast hands. On the night that +they cleared the Capes he served out double noggins of rum to all the +men aboard. There was a good deal of prodigality in the way it was +poured out and a fine scene of carousal ensued, lasting until after the +watch changed at midnight. It was the first time either of the boys had +heard the smashing chorus of "Fifteen Men" sung by the whole fo'c's'le. +Of course, the words had often been hummed by one or two of the pirates, +but it took the hot cheer of the grog to open most of their throats. At +the final "Yo, ho, ho!" every cannikin crashed on the deal table and the +lantern heaved to and fro overhead as if a gale were blowing outside. +There followed the howling refrain that Jeremy had heard on the beach of +the island a month before--"An' we'll walk the bloody beggars all below, +all below--an' we'll walk the bloody beggars all below!" + +The sentiment seemed too true to be picturesque after what had happened +aboard the brig. The fierce-faced buccaneers, with their red, drunken +eyes, strained forward, every man, and yelled like demons under the +swaying lantern. Close behind and above were the smoky beams and +planking, black with dancing shadows. Yet wild and exciting as it all +was, Jeremy felt sickened. There was no illusion, no play-acting about +it for him. He had seen the awful reality--the murder and the +madness--and he had no admiration left for the jolly buccaneer of story. + +On the following morning, and for two days thereafter, the schooner +cruised slowly along a level sea under shortened sail. A double lookout +was kept constantly on duty and as they bore up to the northward, Jeremy +saw that they must be watching for south-bound shipping out of the +Delaware. Bonnet was evidently gambling on the chance that Bob's friends +had given up the idea of pursuit. + +Then one hot mid-afternoon the two boys were startled from their places +in the shade of the after-companion by a quick shout from the man at the +masthead. They followed the direction of his pointing arm with their +eyes and as the schooner heaved slowly on a gentle swell, they caught a +glimpse of a low, broad sail on the port bow. The men were all on deck +ready to trim the sails for greater speed, but Herriot, after consulting +with the Captain, ordered the gunners and gun-servers below to prepare +ordnance. Bob and Jeremy were under a tremendous strain of excitement. +The stranger ship might be one of the New Castle fleet which Bob firmly +believed to be searching the seas to recapture him from Bonnet. Should +it prove to be so, their lives were in worse danger than ever, for +neither of the boys doubted that the erratic Captain would kill them at +once if the fight went against him. + +However, their minds were soon set at rest on this score. As the pirate +drew up closer and closer, the details of the other ship became visible +to those on deck. She also was schooner-rigged, a trifle larger than the +_Royal James_, but without the latter's height of mast. Her low +free-board indicated that she was heavily cargoed. No gunports could be +seen along her sides. + +Bonnet now ordered an extra jib to be broken out, and had the sloop +brought around on the port tack so that her course, instead of running +opposite to the stranger's, would obliquely cross it. The wind, what +little there was, came from the West. + +As soon as the other ship perceived this change in direction, she veered +off her course closer to the wind, and almost immediately the boys could +see the white flutter of some extra canvas being spread at her bows. As +this new piece filled out, it proved to be a great balloon jib, which +increased her sail area by nearly half. Her head came off the wind again +and she went bowing along over the swells to the southward faster than +one would have imagined possible. Bonnet had figured on crossing her at +close range, but as she swept onward he realized that he would go by too +far astern to hail her if he kept his present direction. Herriot himself +took the tiller. As quickly as he could, without loss of headway, he +eased the _Royal James_ over till she was running nearly parallel with +the fleeing ship. His orders came quick and fast, while the men trimmed +the main and fore sheets to the last hair's breadth of perfection. It +was to be a race, and a hard one. + +For nearly half an hour the sloops ran along almost neck and neck and +perhaps half a mile apart. The pirates dared not risk pointing closer to +the wind in order to get into cannon range. They would have lost so much +speed that it would have developed into a stern chase--useless since +they possessed only broadside batteries. The best they could do was to +hold their position, hoping for luck in the wind. + +Bonnet scowled awhile at the British Jack that still flew from the +_James's_ top, then went below and brought up the black pirate flag. The +buccaneers, now all assembled on deck, gave it a cheerful howl of +greeting as it fluttered up to the main truck. "Now we'll catch 'em, +lads!" roared Herriot, and they answered him with a second cheer. + +For once, however, the Jolly Roger seemed to bring bad fortune instead +of good. The wind had hardly swept it easily to leeward once when it +fell back against the shrouds, hardly stirring. The pirate sloop's deck +righted slowly and her limp sails drooped from the gaffs. A sudden flaw +in the breeze had settled about her, without interrupting her rival's +progress in the least. A glum despair came over the crew. They lolled, +for the most part silent or grumbling curses, against the rails, with +here and there one trying to whistle up a wind. The other sloop rapidly +drew away to the south. + +Bonnet had been talking to Herriot with quick gestures and pointings. +Now he walked forward swiftly and the men got to their feet with a jump. +"We'll board the prize yet," said the Captain short and sharp. "Now look +alive--every one of you!" He ordered one squad of men to the hold for +spars, another for rope, a third for a spare mainjib. Meanwhile he set +two men to making a sort of stirrup out of blocks of wood. This was +fastened to the deck far up in the bows. When the spars came up he had +one of them rigged with a tackle running to the foremast, and set its +foot in the wooden contrivance just finished. It swung out forward like +a great jibboom. The crew saw what was in the Captain's mind and gave a +ringing yell of joy. A score of willing hands made fast the stays to +windward and others spread the spare sail from the upper end of the +spar. As the last rope was bent, a strong draught of air came over the +water. The canvas shook, then filled, and as the fresh breeze steadied +in her sails the sloop heeled far to port. She moved faster and faster, +while the white water surged away under her lee. This was sailing worth +while! The returning wind had come in much stronger than before the +flaw, and was now almost worthy of at least one reef under ordinary +conditions. With her extra canvas, the _James_ was canted over +perilously. Her lee scuppers were often awash and a good deal of water +was coming into the port gundeck. + +But to the delight of all on board, including the boys, who could hardly +be blamed for relishing the excitement, Bonnet refused to take in an +inch of sail. Instead, he ordered every available man to the weather +rail. The dead weight of thirty seamen all leaning half-way over the +side served to keep the light craft ballasted for the time being. Bob +and Jeremy clung to the rail amidships and vied with each other in +stretching out over the boiling seas that raced below. + +The fleeing ship, which had gained four or five miles during the lull, +was now in plain view again, nearly straight ahead. Her deep lading was +telling against her now. The handicap of sail area being overcome, the +black pirate's shallow draft and long lines gave her the advantage. +Every buccaneer in the crew was howling with excitement as the race went +on. The long main boom of the _Royal James_ skipped through the spray +and her mainsail was wet to the second line of reef points, but Herriot +held her square on the course and Bonnet smiled grimly ahead, with a +look that meant he would run her under before he would shorten sail. +Hand over hand they overhauled their rival, until once more the tiny +figures of men were visible over her rail. A little knot of them were +gathered aft, busy at something. Bonnet seized his glass and scrutinized +them intently. Then he yelled to Herriot to ease the sloop off to port. +"They've got a gun astern there!" he shouted. "They'll try our range in +a minute." Hardly had he spoken when a spout of foam went up from the +sea far to starboard, followed almost instantly by the dull sound of an +explosion. By the time the gunners on the ship had loaded their piece +again the _James_ had come over to their port quarter and they had to +shift the cannon's position. The shot went close overhead, cutting a +corner from the black flag of the pirate. Bonnet swore beneath his +breath, then ordered the cannoneers below to their batteries. They went +on the run. Jeremy and Bob stayed above watching the operations on the +enemy's deck. The two sloops were less than three hundred yards apart +and the _James_ had drawn nearly abeam when a third shot came from her +rival's deck gun. This time it crashed into the pirate's hull far up by +the bits. Bonnet was by the fore hatch, sword in hand, as was his custom +during an action. Looking coolly at the splintered bulwark forward, then +back at the enemy, he gave the sharp "Ready a starboard broadside!" to +the waiting gunners. He allowed them time to have their matches alight, +then "Fire!" rang his clear voice. The deck leaped under the boys' feet. +The long, thunderous bellow of the battery jarred out over the sea. Even +as they looked the enemy's maingaff, shot away at the jaws, dangled +loose from the peak halyards, and her broad sail crumpled, puffing out +awkwardly in the breeze. + +At the same time a wide rent in her side above the waterline gaped black +as she topped a wave. The gunners' cheer as they saw their handiwork +rose to a deafening yell, taken up by all hands, when, a moment later, +the British colors came fluttering down aboard the other ship. + +Herriot ordered the improvised spinnaker and the flying-jib taken in, +then brought the buccaneer sloop around and came up beside the newly +captured prize. All the pirates were behind the bulwarks with muskets +loaded, prepared for any treachery that might be intended. However, as +they ranged alongside, the hostile crew lined up on their deck, sullen +but unarmed, and the Captain, a big, gray-bearded man, held up a piece +of white cloth in token of surrender. Bonnet hailed him, asking his +name. + +"Captain Peter Manewaring of the sloop _Francis,_ Philadelphia for +Charles Town," answered the coasting skipper. + +"And I am Captain Thomas, in command of the sloop _Royal James,_" Bonnet +gave him in return. "You will set your men to carrying over into my ship +all the powder you have aboard. As soon as we are fast alongside I shall +be pleased to entertain you in the cabin." + +The sails were run down on both sloops and their hulls were quickly +lashed together with ropes. Herriot superintended the operation of +transferring a half-dozen kegs of powder, some casks of wine and the +best food in the coaster's larder to the hold of the black schooner. The +cargo of the _Francis_ was a varied one, but not by any means a poor +prize. She carried some grain in bags forward, a great number of bolts +of cloth, chiefly woollens, and other things of divers sorts, including +some fine mahogany chairs and tables newly brought from England. The +wine was merely incidental, but proved very acceptable to the +ever-thirsty buccaneers. + +That night, with the nine men of the _Francis's_ crew lying in irons on +the ballast, they drank deep to their victory, and once more Jeremy and +Bob fell asleep to the rough half-harmony of their bellowings. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +A stiff easterly breeze whitened the gray seas next morning. It was +cloudy and seemed to be getting ready for a blow. The pirate and her +prize had drifted all night, bound together, and as day broke a tipsy +lookout spied land to the westward. Herriot came on deck hastily at the +call and himself went to the rail to heave the lead. The soundings +showed a bare four fathoms of water. Bonnet was summoned and the crew, +hardly recovered from their orgy, staggered about the deck preparing to +get under way again. Seven men, under Dunkin, were told off to man the +_Francis._ A dozen others were needed to plug her shot-holes before she +was really seaworthy. This task being finally accomplished, the ropes +were taken off, the sails run up and the two sloops, closehauled to +starboard, set about beating off shore. + +It was a terrible day for Jeremy and Bob. In the crew there was the +regular fighting, swearing and vomiting that always followed a night of +carousal. The fact that they were short-handed made the work harder and +the grumbling louder than ever. The bow of the _Royal James_ was partly +shot away above the bits, and there was a full day's work for every hand +that could be spared rigging canvas over the gap to prevent its taking +in water in case of a storm. Meanwhile the fo'c's'le was in as filthy a +state as could well be imagined. Herriot thrust his head down the hatch +once during the morning and as he caught the sickening stench of the +place he called the two boys, who had been up forward helping the +patching. + +"Here, young 'uns, get below and clean up," he ordered sharply, and +handed each lad a bucket and a deck-brush. They filled the buckets and +went below reluctantly. At first it was impossible for them to stay +under hatches for more than five minutes at a time, so they took turns +in running up for air and a fresh supply of water. Gradually the +flooding they gave the place told in its atmosphere, and by noon they +had put it into decent shape again. Hardly had Jeremy come on deck, +weary and sickened with this task, when Captain Bonnet called to him +from the companion. He made his way aft and entered the cabin. Bonnet +had just resumed his place at the broad table. Opposite him and facing +Jeremy was the big slouched figure of Captain Manewaring. "Bring the +wine, Jeremy," said the buccaneer quietly, and without turning. He was +looking with steady eyes at his guest. Jeremy went back along the +passage to the wine-locker under the companion stairs and took from it +two bottles of Madeira. As he was closing the cupboard door, Bonnet's +voice cut the air like a knife. The two words he spoke were not loud, +but pronounced with a terrible distinctness. "You lie!" was what he +said. + +Jeremy shivered and waited, listening. There was no reply loud enough +for him to hear through the closed door of the cabin. After a moment he +tiptoed back and before turning the knob listened again. Nothing but +silence. He opened the door with a pounding heart and stepped into the +room. + +The two men sat motionless in their places. Bonnet held a cocked pistol +in his right hand, its point covering the other man's head. On the table +before Manewaring was a second pistol. His face was drawn and gray and a +fine sweat stood upon his forehead. Jeremy shrank against the wall, +hardly breathing, his two bottles clutched idiotically, one in each +hand. The tense seconds ticked on by the cabin clock. + +"Come--quick!" said the pirate, with a gesture toward the other pistol. +Manewaring's hand appeared over the edge of the table and gave a +trembling jerk toward the pistol-butt. Then it fell back into his lap. +He gasped. A drop of sweat ran down his temple into his gray beard. +Again the only sounds were the tick of the cabin clock, the wash of the +seas outside and the hoarse breathing of the cornered man. At length he +moved with a sort of shudder, whispered the name of his Maker and seized +the butt of the pistol desperately. + +Bonnet had raised his weapon, pointing to the ceiling. "I shall count +three, then fire," said he in the same even voice. + +"One----" But before he spoke again his opponent had jerked his muzzle +down and fired. Bonnet must have seen the flash of the intention in his +eyes, for he threw himself to the left at that instant, and the shot +went crashing through a panel of the door. With the deliberate sureness +of Fate the pirate took aim at his adversary, who whimpered and +grovelled behind the table. Then he shot him. Jeremy's knees went limp, +but he saved himself from falling and managed to set the bottles on the +table. + +Behind him as he staggered out, Stede Bonnet poured himself a glass of +wine and drank it with a steady hand. The boy met a crowd of men at the +head of the companion, but was too shaken to tell them what had +happened. Herriot, going below, heard the details of the duel from the +Captain's own lips. Under the sailing-master's orders the body of the +dead man was carried out on deck, sewed into a piece of sailcloth and +heaved over the rail without more ado. Jeremy made his way to his bunk +and told Bob the story between chattering teeth. + +There was silence on the ship that afternoon. Bonnet's action had +sobered his rough company to the point where they ceased quarreling and +talked in undertones, gathering in little knots about the slanted deck +when not at work. The two boys were glad enough to be out of the way. +Jeremy, tired and discouraged, sat on the bunk's edge, his shoulders +hunched and his eyes on the floor. His young companion, who had more +cause for hope, watched him with sympathetic eyes. He could see that the +New England boy was too dejected even to try to plan their escape--the +usual occupation of their hours together. Finally he reached over, a bit +shyly, and gave him a friendly pat on the back. + +"Brace up, Jeremy," he said. "You're clean tuckered out, but a rest and +a nap'll help. Here, cover yourself up and I'll do your work tonight. +Maybe I'll have a scheme thought up to tell you in the morning." + +Jeremy cared little whether he slept or woke, for the events of the past +days, coupled with the disappointment of not being set ashore as he had +hoped, had brought even his determined courage to a low ebb. He was on +the verge of a fever, and Bob's prescription of rest and sleep was what +he most needed. Made snug at the back side of the berth, where little +or no light came, he fell into a fitful slumber. Bob took a last look to +see that his friend was comfortable and went on deck. + +Pharaoh Daggs had taken a great deal of liquor the night before, as was +his wont when grog was being passed. The rum he consumed seemed to +affect him very little. No one ever heard him sing, though his cruel +face, with its awful, livid scar, would lean forward and sway to and fro +with the rhythm of the choruses. He could walk a reeling deck or climb a +slack shroud as well, to all appearances, when he had taken a gallon as +most men when they were sober. From Newfoundland to Trinidad he was +known among the pirates as a man whose head would stand drink like a +sheet-iron bucket. This reputation was made possible by the fact that he +was no talker at any time, and when in liquor clamped his jaws like a +sprung trap. Whatever effect the alcohol may have had upon his mind was +not apparent because no thoughts passed his lips. The rum did go to his +head, however. The instinctive effort of will that kept his legs steady +and his mouth shut had no root in thought. Behind the veil of those +light eyes, the brain of Pharaoh Daggs, drunk, was like a seething pit, +one black fuddle of ugliness. To compensate for the apparent lack of +effect of liquor upon him, the inward disturbance usually lasted long +after the more tipsy seamen had slept around to clear heads. + +Today he lolled with his sneering face toward the weather beam, a figure +upon whose privacy no one would care to trespass. The sound of the shots +and the tale of the duel had neither one awakened in him any apparent +interest. Through the long afternoon till nearly five o'clock he +slouched by the fo'c's'le. Then with a leisurely stretch he walked to +the hatch, and peered down it. Wheeling about he scanned the deck +craftily, looking at all the men in turn, before he descended the +ladder. + +In the half-light below he paused again, and seemed to send his piercing +glance into every bunk, from the forward to the after bulkhead. Finally, +satisfied that no one else was in the fo'c's'le, he went to his own +sleeping place, on the port side, and kneeling beside the berth hauled a +heavy sea-chest from beneath it. + +Jeremy's light sleep was broken by a scraping sound close by. He opened +his eyes without moving, and from where he lay could see a man busy at +something opposite him. As the figure turned and straightened, he knew +it for the man with the broken nose. The boy was instantly on the alert, +for he had every reason to distrust Daggs. Without making a sound he +worked nearer to the edge of the bunk and pulled the cover up to hide +all but his eyes. The pirate hauled his chest out farther into the +middle of the floor, where more light fell. + +[Illustration] + +Then he knelt before it and unlocked it with a key which he took from +about his neck. Jeremy almost expected to see a heap of gold coin as the +lid was raised. He was disappointed. A garment of dark cloth, probably a +cloak, and some dirty linen were all that came to view. The buccaneer +lifted out a number of articles of seaman's gear and laid them beside +him. After them came a leather pouch, quite heavy, Jeremy thought. The +man raised it carefully and weighed it in his hand. It must have been +his portion of the spoils taken on the voyage. However, this was not +what he was after, it seemed, for a moment later it was laid on the +floor beside the other things. Next he removed two pistols and a second +pouch of the sort used for powder and shot. There was a long interval as +he rummaged in the bottom of the box, under other contents which Jeremy +could not see. At last the pirate stood up, holding a rolled paper tied +with string. Another long moment he peered about him and listened. When +he had reassured himself, he untied the string and opened the paper, a +square document, perhaps a foot each way. It was discolored and worn at +the edges, apparently quite old. What was inscribed on it Jeremy could +not see, stare as he might. Daggs examined it a moment, then knelt, +preoccupied, and spread it upon the floor. With one finger he traced a +line along it, zigzagging from one side diagonally to the foot, his lips +moving silently meanwhile. Then his other hand hovered above the +document for a time before he planted his thumb squarely upon a spot +near the top. + +Jeremy's thoughts kept time with his racing heart. He watched every +motion of the buccaneer with a fierce intentness that missed no detail. +Daggs had been quiet for a full two minutes, a crafty gloating smile +playing over his thin lips. Now once more he touched a place upon the +sheet before him. "Right there, she'll be," he muttered. Then, after +slowly rolling up the paper, he replaced it and locked the box. The eyes +of the boy in the bunk gleamed excitedly, for he was sure now of the +nature of the document. Beyond any reasonable doubt, it was a chart. +"Solomon Brig's treasure!" he whispered to himself as the tall figure of +the man with the broken nose clambered upward through the hatch. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +Jeremy realized that his life would be in danger if Daggs saw him coming +on deck after what had just happened. He lay still, therefore, in spite +of his desire to tell Bob what he had seen. The rest of the afternoon +his imagination painted pictures of ironbound chests half-buried in the +yellow beach sand of some lonely island far down in the tropics; gloomy +caves beneath mysteriously waving palm trees--caves whose black depths +shot forth a ruddy gleam of gold coin, when a chance ray of light came +through the shade; of shattered hulks that lay ten fathoms down in the +clear green water of some still lagoon, where pure white coral beds gave +back the sleeping sunshine, and fishes of all bright colors he had ever +seen or dreamed about swam through the ancient ports to stare +goggle-eyed at heaps of glistening gems. + +At last he must have slept, for Bob's voice in his ear brought him back +to the dingy fo'c's'le of the _Royal James_ with a start. The lantern +was lit and most of the port watch were snoring heavily in their bunks +after a hard day's work. Bob took off his shoes and trousers and climbed +into the narrow berth beside his friend, who was now wide awake. +"Listen, Bob," whispered the New England boy as soon as they were +settled, "do you remember the things Daggs has said, off and on, about +old Sol Brig--how there was always a lot of gold that the men before the +mast never saw and how he must have saved it till he was the richest of +all the pirates? Well, who would know what became of that money, if +anybody did? Daggs, of course, the only man that's left of Brig's crew! +I think Daggs knows, and what's more, I believe I saw the very chart +that shows where it is." He went on to tell all he had seen that +afternoon. Bob was as excited as he when he had finished. "We must try +to get hold of that map or else get a sight of it!" he exclaimed. Jeremy +was doubtful of the possibility of this. "You see," he said, "the key is +on a string 'round his neck. The only way would be to break the chest +open. It's big and heavy and we should raise the whole ship with the +racket. Then, besides, I don't like to steal the thing, even though he +is a pirate." Bob also felt that it would hardly be honest to break into +a man's box, no matter what his character might be. "If we should just +happen to see the chart, though," he finally explained, "why, we have +just as much right to hunt for the treasure as he has, or any one else." +Jeremy agreed to this solution of a knotty problem of honor and both +boys decided that for the present they had no course in the matter but +to wait for some accident to put the paper in their way. However, not to +let any opportunities slip, they resolved to watch Pharaoh Daggs +constantly while he was awake, in the hope of getting a second glimpse +of the treasured document. + +Jeremy had regained both strength and spirits when he tumbled out next +morning. The pall of uneasiness which had hung over the ship all the day +before had lifted and the men, sobered once more, went about their +business as usual. The boys set themselves to the task of watching with +much zeal. It was not so difficult as might be expected. They had always +been aware of the presence of the man with the broken nose whenever he +was on deck. His sinister eye was too unpleasant to meet without a +shiver. Likewise they felt an instinctive relief when he went out of +sight. For this reason it was no great matter for either lad that +happened to be present to note the fact of the pirate's going below. +Whenever he left the deck for anything he was shadowed by Bob or Jeremy +as the case might be. For nearly three days the mysterious chest +remained untouched. Of that the boys were sure. + +The threatened storm that had roughened the sea on the day when Captain +Manewaring met his sudden end seemed to have spent itself in racing +clouds and gusts of wind. Fair weather followed and for forty-eight +hours the _James_ and her prize stood off the coast, heading up to the +northeastward with the wind on the port quarter. + +Bonnet had remained below, haggard and brooding, suffering from one of +the spells of reaction that commonly followed his misdeeds. By night of +the second day he cast off his gloom and came on deck, the old reckless +light in his eye. + +"Here, Herriot," he called, as he appeared, "we've got a rich prize in +our fist and a richer one coming. Let's be gay dogs all tonight. Give +the hands extra grog and I'll see you in the cabin over a square bottle +when the watch is changed." + +Before the mast the news was hailed with delighted cheering. A keg of +rum was rolled out of the hold and set on the fo'c's'le table. Hardly +had darkness settled before half the men aboard were drunk and the +cannikins came back to the spigot in an unending procession. There was +too much liquor available for the usual choruses to be sung. Most of the +pirates swilled it like pigs and stopped for nothing till they could +move no longer, but lay helpless where they happened to fall. Only a +bare three men stayed sober enough to sail the ship. Jeremy thanked his +stars for fair weather when he thought of the case they might have been +in had the orgy occurred in a night of storm. + +Next day a few of the crew woke at breakfast time. The rest snored out +their drunken sleep below. Daggs came on deck as usual, to the outward +eye quite his careless, ugly self. His two young enemies watched him +closely, for they suspected that the drink he had taken had helped to +Jeremy's previous discovery. As the hours went by, one after another of +the buccaneers woke and dragged himself on deck to growl the discomfort +out of him. By mid-afternoon Jeremy, going below, found all the bunks +empty. He slipped behind a chest far up in the dark bow angle and waited +for a signal from Bob. The boys had seen the man with the broken nose +watching the decks uneasily for hours and suspected that he meant to go +below as soon as the fo'c's'le was empty. + +Jeremy must have been in his hiding place close to half an hour before +he heard Bob's sharply whistled tune close outside in the gun deck. He +ducked lower behind his box and presently heard steps descending the +ladder. A guarded observation taken from a dark corner close to the +floor disclosed the slouching form of Daggs standing by the table. + +The buccaneer took a long time for his cautious survey of the fo'c's'le. +Standing perfectly still he turned his body from the hips and gave the +place a silent scrutiny before he set to work. He proceeded just as he +had done before and quickly had the chest open and its contents spread +upon the planking. He had just unrolled the chart when a shout from the +hatch made him leap to his feet. "Sail ho!" was being passed from mouth +to mouth above, and already there were men on the ladder. In a fever of +haste, Daggs half-pushed, half-threw the chest under his bunk and shoved +the loose clothes and small arms after it. The paper he still held in +his hand. After a second of indecision, while he looked over his +shoulder at the descending crowd of seamen, he thrust it in on top of +the box and stood erect, flushed and swaying. The hands were preoccupied +and none seemed to notice his act. There was a general scurrying of +sailors to get out their cutlasses and pistols, and in the confusion +Jeremy found an easy opportunity to crawl out of the hiding place and +busy himself like the rest. + +Going on deck a minute later, he found Bob and whispered a brief account +of what he had seen. For the present there was much to be done on deck. +They ran hither and thither at Herriot's commands, giving a hand at a +rope or fetching something mislaid in the cabin. The _James_ was under +all her canvas and in hot pursuit of a large sloop, visible some three +miles to leeward. The fleeing ship was driving straight to sea before +the strong west breeze, her sails spread on both sides like the broad, +stubby wings of a white owl. Bonnet had his jury spar swung to +starboard from the foremast foot and bent the big jib to balance his +main and foresail. Bowing her head deep into every trough as the waves +swept by, the black sloop ran after her prey at dizzy speed. The crew +gathered along the wet bows, silent, intent on the game in hand. They +were drawing up perceptibly from moment to moment. At last they were +within half a mile--five hundred yards--close astern. Aboard the enemy +they could see a small knot of men huddled aft, working desperately at +the breach of a swivel-cannon. Bonnet ordered Herriot to stand off to +starboard for a broadside. But as the _James_ swerved outward, a flare +of fire and a loud report went up from her opponent's after part. For a +moment it seemed that her cannon had been discharged at the pirate, but +as they waited for the splash of the shot, a thick smoke grew in a cloud +over the enemy's deck. The gun or a keg of powder had exploded. As soon +as the buccaneers perceived it, they bellowed hoarse hurrahs and +prepared to board. The gunners swarmed up from the port gun deck at the +order and all lined up along the rail howling defiance at the +merchantman. Jeremy saw that all were on deck and touched Bob's arm. + +They made their way quietly below, and the New Englander went to Daggs' +berth. From beneath it protruded the corner of the piece of paper. Both +boys knelt eagerly over it as Jeremy pulled it into the light. + +It was, as they had expected, a chart. The drawing was crudely done in +ink, applied it seemed with a stick, or possibly with a very badly +fashioned quill-pen. There was very little writing upon it, and this of +the raggedest sort. To their intense disappointment it bore no name to +tell where in the seven seas it might be. That the chart was of some +coast was certain. A deep, irregular bay occupied the central part of +the sheet. Two long promontories jutting from east and west nearly +closed the seaward or southern end. The single word "Watter" was written +beside a dot high up on the paper and a little northeast of the bay. An +anchor, roughly drawn near the northern shore and a small cross between +two parallel lines a short distance inland, completed the information +given, except for a crossed arrow and letters indicating the cardinal +points of the compass. + +[Illustration] + +It required no great time for the two lads to examine every line and +mark. They looked up and faced each other disappointed. Jeremy voiced +the thought which both had. "How are we to know where the thing is?" he +asked. Bob shook his head and looked glum. Then he seized the paper +feverishly and turned it over. Its soiled yellow back gave no clue. Not +even the latitude and longitude were printed. "Well," said Jeremy, +finally, "one thing we can do, and that's remember exactly how it +looks." He measured the length of the bay with the middle joint of his +forefinger. "Three--four--and a bit over," he counted. "Anchorage in +that round cove to the northwest." Then, measuring again, "And the cross +is two finger-joints northwest of the anchorage. What those lines each +side of it are I don't know, but I'll remember them. And that dot marked +"Watter" is one and a half northeast of the mitten-shaped cove. There--I +guess we've got it all by heart now." He had just finished speaking and +both of them were still looking intently at the map when a fresh +outburst of cheers and the beginning of a sharp musketry fire were heard +above. Jeremy replaced the paper where he had found it and they hurried +up to look out of the hatchway. + +The two ships were now only half a cable's length apart, running side by +side. Few shots were being returned by the merchantman and all her crew +were keeping out of sight behind the solid rail. + +"All hands to board her," Bonnet sang out and answering her tiller the +_Royal James_ swung over till the two sloops' sides met with a jar. They +were fast in an instant and a score of whooping buccaneers swept over +the rail. From a place of vantage the boys watched the short, bloody +conflict that followed. It seemed that several of the enemy's crew, few +as they were at the beginning, had been killed by the explosion of the +gun. Only a half-dozen rose to meet the pirate onslaught. Not one asked +for mercy, even after Herriot had shot down the captain, and the tide of +sea-rovers rushed at and over the little handful of defenders in an +overwhelming flood. There was no need of the plank this time. Every man +fell fighting and died sword in hand. To the two young prisoners, +already sickened with the sight of blood, this wholesale murder of a +band of gallant seamen came as a revolting climax. They stared at each +other, white-faced as they thought of the fate that threatened them and +all honest men who fell into such ruthless hands. It was Bob's first +sight of a hand-to-hand sea-battle, and as the last merchant sailor went +down under the howling pack he fainted and tumbled into Jeremy's arms. +When he came to his senses again the Yankee boy had propped him up +behind the companion and was rubbing him vigorously. "I know how you +feel," he said in answer to Bob's stammered apology. "It's all right and +you've no call to be ashamed. I came near it myself." The Delaware lad, +who had been almost as distressed at being guilty of swooning as at the +pillage of the merchant sloop, felt a vast relief when he heard Jeremy's +words, and quickly got upon his feet once more. + +The pirates had cleared the enemy's deck of bodies and blood and now +were taking an inventory of the sloop's cargo, if the shouts that came +from her hold meant anything. She was a little larger than the _James_ +in length and beam, but had carried no armament other than the now +damaged stern-chaser. The white letters at her stern declared her the +_Fortune_ of New Castle. From what Captain Bonnet said to his +sailing-master as they returned over the rail, Jeremy gathered that she +had been in light cargo and was not as rich a prize as the _Francis_. + +The latter ship had now come up and was standing off and on waiting for +orders. Bonnet had lost two men killed and several hurt in the fight, so +that the crew of the _Royal James_, without the prize crew on board the +_Francis_, now numbered scarce a dozen able-bodied men. The question of +manning the newly captured sloop was finally settled by transferring to +her George Dunkin and his seven seamen. Bonnet freed the men of the +_Francis_ who had been in chains, and set them to work their own ship +under command of Herriot and another pirate. He undertook to sail the +_James_ himself, for by this time he was really an able skipper, despite +the fact that he had taken to the sea so late in life. As the crew of +the _Francis_ lined up before going aboard, the notorious buccaneer +faced them with a cold glitter in his eyes. For a while he kept them +wriggling under his piercing scrutiny. Then he spoke, his voice even and +dangerous. + +"You will be under Mr. Herriot's orders. I think you are wise enough not +to try to mutiny with him. But if you should undertake it, remember that +no sooner does your sloop draw away to over one mile's distance than I +will come after you and blow you out of water without parley. There are +just enough sails left aboard your ship to keep headway in a light +breeze. Over with you now!" + +As darkness deepened the three sloops set out westward under shortened +canvas, keeping so close that the steersmen hailed each other +frequently through the night. Bob and Jeremy went to their bunks gloomy +and subdued. But Jeremy's sorrows were lightened by the feeling that +sometime, somewhere, he would find a use for the chart, the outline of +which he had firmly fixed in his memory that afternoon. And wondering +how, he fell asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +The fair weather held and for several days the little fleet cruised west +by south, then southerly when they had picked up the Virginia Capes. The +pirate crew, in spite of their impatience to divide the cumbersome booty +they had helped to win, kept in a fairly good temper. Hopes were high +and quarrels were quickly put aside with a "Take it easy, boys--wait +till the sharin's over." Bob and Jeremy got off with a minimum of hard +words and might have considered their lot almost agreeable but for one +incident. The whippings which were a regular part of boys' lives aboard +ship in those days, had always been administered by George Dunkin. As +bo's'n, it was not only his right but his duty to lay in with a rope's +end occasionally. He was one of the fairest men in Bonnet's company and +Jeremy had never felt any great injustice in the treatment Dunkin had +accorded him. Since his lieutenancy aboard the prize-sloop, however, the +bo's'n had necessarily ceased to be the executive of punishment, and +when Monday, recognized on all the seas as whipping day, came around, +there was a very secret hope in Jeremy's heart that the office would be +forgotten. As for Bob, he had so far escaped the lash, it being +understood that he was not an ordinary ship's boy. As the day wore on, +the Yankee lad remained as inconspicuous as possible, and began to think +that he was safe. About mid-afternoon, however, a gang of buccaneers, +working at the rent in the bows which still gave trouble, shouted for a +bucket of drinking water. Bob had been snoozing in the shade of the +sail, and when he was roused at last, took his own time in carrying out +the order. When he appeared finally, there was a good deal of swearing +in the air. Daggs reached out and jerked the boy into the center of the +group, his light eyes agleam under scowling brows. "See here, you little +runt," he hissed, "don't think because the Cap'n's savin' you to kill +later, that you're the bloomin' mate of this ship! Come here to the +capstan, now!" Before Bob was aware of what they meant to do, the angry +sailors had slung him over a capstan bar and tied his hands and feet to +a ring in the deck. After the clothes had been pulled off his back, +there was an interval while the pirates quarrelled over who should do +the whipping. Daggs demanded the right and finally prevailed by +threatening the instant disemboweling of his rivals. Bob was trembling +and white, not from fear but because of the indignity of the punishment. +The scarred executioner spat on his hands, took the heavy rope and +squared his feet. "Shiver away, you cowardly pup," said he, grinning at +one side of his twisted mouth. Then with a vicious whirl of his arm he +brought the hard hemp down on the boy's naked shoulders--once, twice, +three times--the lad lost count. At last he nearly lost consciousness +under the torturing fire of the blows. When the buccaneer ceased for +lack of breath his victim hung limp and twitching over the wooden bar. +Long welts that were beginning to drip red crossed and recrossed his +back. "Now, where's that other whelp?" panted Daggs. Somebody went below +and dragged Jeremy to light. The boy was brought up to the crowd at the +capstan. He took one look at Bob's pitiful, set stare and the red drops +on the deck, then turned blazing to face the man with the broken nose. + +"You great coward!" he cried. The man was staggered for an instant. Then +his rage boiled up and the tanned skin of his neck turned the color of +old mahogany. "I'll kill the boy," he whispered hoarsely and drew back +his heavy rope for a swing at Jeremy's head. + +"Daggs"--a voice cut the air from close by his side. "Daggs, who made +you bo's'n of this sloop?" + +The man whirled and nearly fell over, for Stede Bonnet was at his elbow. +"One more thing of this kind aboard, and I'll maroon you," said the +Captain sharply, and added, "Gray, put this man in irons and see that +he gets only bread and water for five days!" Then he turned on his heel +and went back to the cabin. So once more Jeremy's life was saved by the +Captain's whim. He half carried, half supported his chum to their bunk +and after rubbing his back with grease, begged from the galley, nursed +him the rest of the day. By the following afternoon the Delaware lad had +recovered his spirits and although he was still too sore and stiff to go +on deck, had no trouble in eating the food Jeremy brought him. The +absence of Daggs made life assume a happier outlook and it was not long +before the boy was as right as ever. + +August was nearly past. To the boys, who knew little of the geography of +the coast and nothing of Bonnet's plans, it was something of a surprise +when the man at the tiller of the _James_, which was in the lead, swung +her head over to landward one morning. Low shores, with a white line of +sand beneath the vivid dark green of trees, ran along the western +horizon. As the sloop ran in, the boys expected to see the broad opening +of some bay but there was still no visible variation of the coast line. +No town was to be seen, nor even a single hut, when they were close in. +The trees were live-oaks, Bob said, though Jeremy had never seen one to +know it before. + +The _Royal James_ and her consorts held a slow course along the shore +for several hours. The strip of sand was gradually widening and in +places stretched inland for a mile in dunes and hillocks, traversed by +little tidewater creeks. At last there showed a narrow inlet between two +dunes, and Bonnet, who had now taken the helm, headed the sloop +cautiously for this opening. One of the men constantly heaved the lead +and cried the soundings as the ship progressed. The pirate chief kept to +the left of the channel and finally passed through into a wide lagoon, +with a scant fathom to spare at the shallowest place. The _Fortune_ +entered without difficulty, but the deeply-laden _Francis_ grounded +midway in and had to wait several hours for the tide to float her. + +Listening to the talk of the crew, Bob heard them say they had come into +the mouth of the Cape Fear River in Carolina. From what he knew of the +nearby coast he believed that it was a very wild region, almost +unsettled, and that there would be slight chance of getting to safety, +even if they were able to effect an escape. This fear seemed justified +later in the day, when Bonnet said to one of his men that there was no +need of shackling the boys as had been done in the Chesapeake. Turning +so that they could hear, he added, "Too many Indians in these woods for +the lads to try to leave the ship." Jeremy, who had seen enough of both +pirates and Indians to last him a lifetime, remarked to his friend that +personally he would risk his neck with one as soon as the other, but Bob +had heard terrible stories of the red men's cruelty and did not agree +with him. "We'd best stay aboard and wait for a better chance," he +argued. + +All three of the sloops were leaky and needed a thorough overhauling in +various ways. As soon as the _Francis_ was off the bar, therefore, they +proceeded up the estuary for a distance of nearly two miles and secured +their vessels in shallow water, where they could be careened at low +tide. + +Next morning and for many hot days thereafter the pirates and their +prisoners toiled hard at the refitting of the ships. Lumber was not easy +to come by in that desolate region and when they had used up all their +spare planking, Bonnet took the _Royal James_ out over the bar to hunt +for the wherewithal to do his patching. After a cruise of a day and a +night to the southward they sighted a small fishing shallop which they +quickly overtook, and captured without a fight. The two men in the +shallop jumped overboard and swam ashore when they saw the black flag, +and Bonnet was too much occupied in getting the prize back to the +river-mouth to give chase. It was an unfortunate thing for him that he +did not do so, but of that presently. The shallop was run into the +river-mouth and broken up the next day. With the fresh supply of lumber +thus secured, the work of repair went forward undelayed, and within a +few weeks the sloops were almost ready for sea again. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +It had been about the beginning of September when the pirate fleet had +sighted the live oaks on the bars of the Cape Fear River. To Bob and +Jeremy those first days were uneventful but hardly pleasant. Through the +long still afternoons a pitiless sun blazed into every corner of the +deck. Wide flats and hot-looking white dunes stretched away on either +hand. Only the line of woods half a mile distant offered a suggestion of +green coolness. When the sun had set the fo'c's'le held the heat like a +baker's oven. One long, tossing night of it sufficed for the two boys, +and after that they sought a corner of the deck away from the snoring +seamen and lying down on the bare planks, contrived to sleep in +reasonable comfort. + +The days were spent in hard work for the most part. A good deal of +washing and cleaning had to be done aboard all three vessels, and as +labor requiring no special skill, it fell frequently to the lot of +Jeremy and Bob. It was small matter to them whether they toiled or were +idle, for the blistering sun allowed no respite and it seemed preferable +to sweat over something useful than over nothing at all. + +On the third day after the return of the _James_ from her foraging trip, +Jeremy, who had been scraping and tarring ropes for hours on end, +straightened his back with a discontented grunt and looked away to the +edge of the woods, his eyebrows puckered in a frown. "Bob," he said in a +voice too low for any of their shipmates to hear, "Bob, I'm going to run +away if something doesn't happen soon." + +"You'll be shot, like as not," answered the Delaware boy. + +"Well, shot let it be," he replied doggedly. "If I'm to stay aboard here +all my life, I'd _rather_ be shot. It looks like the best chance we've +had, right now. Will you come tonight?" + +Bob thought for a moment. "I'm not afraid of their catching us," he +finally said. "It's the Indians, after we're into the woods. You say you +know the Indians and trust them as long as they are treated right. That +may be true of the ones you've known, but these Tuscaroras are +different. They don't talk the same language, and those words you +learned would mayhap go for curses down here. I don't think we ought to +try it." + +Jeremy admitted that his previous acquaintance stood for nothing, but +argued, from the fact that Bonnet had been trying to frighten them, that +he had probably exaggerated the danger. Finally, not wishing to leave +his friend if he could help it, he agreed to abandon the plan for the +present. + +They worked at the rope-tarring till suppertime, then rose wearily, +stretching, and went for their salt-horse and biscuit. When the coarse +rations were eaten, it was nearly sunset. Jeremy watched the sluggish +water glide by below the canted rail, till at last small quivering blurs +of light, the reflections of stars, began to gleam in the ripples. A +faint breeze, sprung up with the coming of night, blew across the +sweltering lagoon. Bob, tired out, fell asleep, his head pillowed on the +deck. The pirates, some below in the bunks, some stretched on the +planking, lay like dead men. After the hard labor of the day even the +regular watch slumbered undisturbed. Jeremy's thoughts went drifting off +into half-dreams as the soft black water lulled him with its unending +whisper. His head nodded. He raised it, striving, he knew not why, to +keep awake. The gentle water-sounds crept in again, soothing his drowsy +ears. He was close to sleep--so close that another moment would have +taken him across the border. But in that little time the sharp double +cry of a heron, flying high over the lagoon, cut the night air and +startled the boy broad awake. + +As he stared off over the dim whiteness of the bars, his senses astretch +for a repetition of that weird call, there was a faint splashing in the +water close to the sloop. One of the starpools was blotted out in +blackness at the instant he turned to look over the rail. The boy's +heart seemed to be beating against the roof of his mouth. Thoughts of +alligators crossed his mind, for he had heard of them from the pirates +who had plied in southern waters. As quietly as he could, he moved to +the rail and stood staring over, his eyes bulging into the dark and his +breath coming short and fast. For perhaps a minute there was no sight +nor sound but the lapping water of the lagoon. Then he became aware of a +whiteness drifting close, and heard a familiar voice whispering his +name. "Jeremy--Jeremy--it's Job!" said the white blotch. It bumped +softly along the side, and at last the boy could see the homely features +of his old friend, pale through the gloom. There was a loose rope-end +dragging over the side, and Job's hand feeling along the woodwork came +in contact with it. + +"Better not try to come aboard," whispered Jeremy. "They're all on deck +here. Can you take us off?" + +There was silence for an instant as Job felt for a hold in one of the +gun ports. Then he raised himself till his head was level with the deck. + +"Is the other lad there?" he asked. + +"Ay," replied Jeremy. "He's here but he will have to be wakened." + +[Illustration: "Don't say a word--sh!--easy there--are you awake?"] + +"Go to him and take his hand. Begin squeezing soft-like, and press +harder till he opens his eyes. Don't startle him," was Job's admonition. + +The boy did as he was bid. A gentle grip on the Delaware lad's palm +brought him to his senses. Jeremy was whispering in a cool, steady +undertone, "Bob, that's the lad--wake up, Bob--don't say a +word--sh!--easy there--are you awake?" When he was rewarded by a nod of +comprehension, he told his comrade of Job's presence and the chance they +had to escape. Bob understood in a moment. They returned to the rail and +first one, then the other let himself quietly down, holding to the rope. +Jeremy slipped into the water last. + +Luckily they could both swim, though the sloop was so near the beach +that swimming was hardly necessary. The tall ex-pirate crawled out upon +the sand in the lead and they followed him quickly over a dune and +across another creek. They were now far enough away for their flight to +be unheard and Job began to run, the boys close behind him. They made a +good mile to the south before he allowed his panting runaways to stop +for breath. There in the reeds beside a narrow estuary, they came upon a +small dinghy, pulled up. The seaman ran the boat into the water, bundled +the boys into the bottom astern, and was quickly pulling down stream +along the sharp windings of the creek. + +When they had put three miles of sand and water behind them, Job rested +on his oars to catch his breath. His voice came through the hot dark, +pantingly. "Lucky you stood up an' came to the rail the way you did, +lad," he said. "I didn't know just how I was to reach you. When you came +to the side I could see it was a boy, an' knew things was all right. +Well--we'd best be gettin' on--no tellin' how soon they may find you're +gone." Once more the big Yankee bowed his back to the task in hand and a +silence fell, broken only by the faint sound of the muffled oars and the +swirl of water along the sides. Not even the thrill of the escape could +keep the two tired boys awake, and it was nearly an hour later that they +were roused by voices calling at no great distance. A tall black mass on +which showed a single moving light rose out of the gloom ahead. The hail +was repeated. "Oh, there, Job Howland--boat ahoy! What luck?" "All's +well," replied Job, and ran in under the ship's counter. A line was let +down and as soon as the skiff was made fast Bob and Jeremy and their +deliverer scrambled up to the open port. + +There was shouting and a moving to and fro of lanterns, as they were +ushered into the cabin, and suddenly a tall man, half-clad, burst +through the door at the farther end. He had the tattered form of Bob +Curtis in his arms in an instant, and great boy though he was, the +Delaware lad hugged his father ecstatically and wept. + +Job and Jeremy, pleased as they were to see this reunion, were hardly +comfortable in its presence and made a vain attempt to withdraw +gracefully. The merchant was after them before they could reach the +door. "Here, Howland," he cried, holding to Bob with one hand and +seizing the ex-pirate's arm with the other. "Don't you try to leave yet. +Gad, man, this is the happiest hour I've had in years. I owe you so much +that it can't be put in figures. And this tall lad is Jeremy that you've +told me of. Look at the sunburn on the pair of 'em--pretty desperate +characters to have aboard, I'm afraid!" + +His roar of laughter was joined by the other three, as he showed the way +to a couple of roomy berths, built in at the end of the cabin. The two +boys were left, after a final boisterous "Good-night," and proceeded to +make themselves snug between the linen sheets. Jeremy had never slept in +such luxury in his whole life, and moved gingerly for fear of hurting +something. At last their exhilaration subsided enough for the rescued +lads to go to sleep once more. Jeremy's last thought was a half-mournful +one as he wondered how long it must be before he, too, could throw +himself against the broad homespun wall of his father's breast. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +When they woke it was to the regular heave and lurch of a sailing vessel +in motion, and Jeremy, looking out the port, beheld the crisp, sparkling +blue of open sea. + +There were two suits of every-day clothes upon the cabin bench and into +these the boys climbed, impatient to get out on deck. The ship was the +big merchantman, _Indian Queen_, though Bob, used as he was to her +appearance, would hardly have known her in her new guise. Long lines of +black cannon grimly faced the open ports along either side. The rail had +been built up solidly to a height of about six feet, so that the main +deck was now a typical gun deck, open overhead. Her regular crew of +seasoned mariners was augmented by as many more longshoremen, all good +men, picked for their courage and hand-to-hand fighting ability. + +Job, who acted as second mate and was in full charge of the gun crews, +took the boys proudly from one big carronade to another, explaining each +improvement which his experience or ingenuity had devised. His chief +pride was the long nine-pounder in the bows. She was a swivel gun set on +bearings so finely adjusted and well-greased that one man could aim +her. Job patted her shiny brass rump lovingly as he looked across the +blue swells ahead. He could hardly wait for the hour when he should set +a match to her breach. + +Clarke Curtis joined the group a few minutes later, and they went +together to the main cabin. Bob's father, Mr. Ghent, the Captain, and +Job Howland settled themselves comfortably over long pipes and glasses +of port, and prepared to hear the boys' story. Jeremy, bashful in such +fine company, was persuaded to recount his adventures from the time Job +had gone over the side till the kidnapped Delaware boy had come aboard. +Then Bob took up the tale and told with much spirit of the storm, the +trip up the Chesapeake and the subsequent pursuit of the _Francis_ off +the Capes. From this point on the two lads told the story together, +eagerly interrupting each other to put in some incident forgotten for +the moment. When they came to the discovery of Pharaoh Daggs' chart, Job +sat up with a jerk. "I always thought he knew!" he exclaimed. "Jeremy, +lad, could ye draw me a picture of what 'twas like?" The boy readily +consented, and given a piece of paper, proceeded to set down, from his +memory of the outline and from the general measurements he had taken, a +very fair copy of the original. The ex-buccaneer leaned over him as he +drew, and shook his head doubtfully as the work went on. "No," he said +when the boy had finished, "I can't recall such a bay just this minute. +An' as there was nothin' on it to tell where it might be, I don't know +as there's anything for us to do. Like as not it's on some little island +as isn't set down, so 'twould be scant use to look over the ship's +charts. Still, I'll try it." A half-day of poring over the maps produced +no result. There were bays large and small that resembled the one Jeremy +had drawn, but none closely enough to warrant the belief that it was the +same. "Well," remarked Job as he put away the charts, "Daggs'll never +live to reach his bay. He'll swing on Charles Town Dock, an' I mistake +not." But in that saying at least the ex-pirate proved himself no +prophet. + +The light wind held and the _Indian Queen_ made reasonable speed down +the coast for nearly two days. Then, after drifting under short sail all +night, she made in with the dawn, past the small island which nearly a +century and a half later was to be the scene of a great war's beginning, +crept up against the tide till noon and anchored off the thriving port +of Charles Town. Mr. Curtis and Job went ashore in the cutter, as soon +as all was snug aboard. On landing they went directly to the Governor's +house. + +Governor Johnson was at home and gladly welcomed the Delaware merchant, +who was an old acquaintance of his. When they had been shown into a +large room where the official business of the colony was transacted, Mr. +Curtis proceeded at once to the point of his visit. He learned that the +messenger from Delaware had arrived and his plea for aid had been duly +considered. Johnson was troubled at having no better answer for his +friend, but said that the treasury of the southern colony had not yet +recovered from the strain put upon it four years before at the time of +the Indian massacres. He believed that he had no right at this time to +spend the public funds in fitting out a fleet, unless it was to avenge +an injury done some member of the colony. His honest distress at being +unable to assist was so obvious that neither the merchant nor his chief +gunner felt like urging their claim for help. + +Mr. Curtis told of the rescue of the two boys, much to the discomfort of +the blushing Job, and they rose to take their departure, feeling no ill +will toward the Governor for his inability to help them. As they started +to go out of the room, a loud insistent knock was heard. "Come in," said +Johnson, and immediately the door was opened to admit a short, +well-built gentleman, very much flushed as to the face, and whose eyes +fairly shot forth sparks. He was followed by two other men, dressed in +rough clothes that seemed to have seen recent hard usage. The leader +advanced with rapid steps. "Look'e here, Governor," he said, "those +confounded pirates are at us again. Here's two of my men----" + +"Gently, Colonel Rhett," interrupted the Governor, his eyes twinkling. +"Allow me to introduce Mr. Clarke Curtis of Delaware and his friend, Mr. +Howland. I believe your business and theirs will fall very easily into +one track. Pray be seated, gentlemen." + +The Colonel shot a keen glance at these new acquaintances and, when the +four had taken chairs around the table, began again more calmly to tell +his story. A fishing smack, one of a half-dozen open boats belonging to +him, had been cruising along the coast to the eastward the week before, +and when about forty miles west of Cape Fear had sighted a large black +sloop under great spread of sail, bearing down upon her. The two men in +the shallop put about and made for shore as fast as they could, using +oars and canvas alike, but when they were still half a mile out they saw +that the pursuing ship flew a black pirate flag. When, a few moments +after, a round shot came dangerously close to their stern, they leaped +over the side without more ado and succeeded in swimming ashore, glad to +come out of the adventure with whole skins. After a perilous journey of +many leagues overland, they had just arrived in Charles Town and +reported the affair to Rhett, their employer. "So you see," said the +Colonel in conclusion, "we're in for another siege of the kind we had +with _Blackbeard_ unless we take some quick action on this." + +Johnson sat thoughtful for a moment. "Let me put the matter up to you +exactly as it now stands," he finally said. "There is a little money in +the treasury. But to buy and fit out properly three ships would drain us +almost as dry as we were in 1715. Would you have me do that, Rhett?" The +Colonel shook his head. "No," he replied, "you must not." Then after +looking at the floor for a moment he stood up with quick decision. "See +here," he said, "we can get enough volunteers to do this whole business +or my name's not William Rhett." Mr. Curtis thrust out a big hand. "My +ship _Indian Queen_, twenty-one guns, is in the harbor, ready for sea. +She's at your service," he smiled. The Colonel gripped his hand +delightedly. "Done," he cried, "and now let's see what other commanders +we can recruit. Will you give me a commission, Governor?" And receiving +an affirmative reply, he led the way down to the docks. + +Colonel Rhett was a well-known figure in Charles Town. He owned a large +plantation a few miles inland, and conducted a fish warehouse as well. +Among tobacco growers, townsmen and sea-captains alike he was widely +acquainted and respected as much as any man in the colony. His courage +and skill as a soldier were proverbial, for he had been a leader in the +suppression of the Indian uprising. Certainly no man in the Carolinas +was better fitted for the task which he had in hand. For two days he and +his friends from the _Queen_ fairly lived on the wharves, and before +sunset of the second he had secured the services of two sloops, the +_Henry_, Captain John Masters, and the _Sea Nymph_, Captain Fayrer Hall. +Neither ship was equipped for fighting, but by using cannon from the +town defences and borrowing some half-dozen pieces from the +heavily-armed _Indian Queen_, a complement of eight guns for each sloop +was made up. + +On September 15th the three ships, in war trim and carrying in their +combined crews nearly 200 men, crossed the Charles Town bar. Just before +they sailed news had come in that the notorious pirate, Charles Vane, +had passed to the south with a prize, and Rhett's first course was laid +along the coast in that direction. Two or three days of search in the +creeks and inlets failed to reveal any sign of the buccaneer, however, +and much to the relief of the impatient Mr. Curtis, they put about for +Cape Fear on the eighteenth. The progress of the fleet up the coast was +slow. Constant rumors of pirates were received, and every hiding place +on the shore was examined as they went along. + +Bob and Jeremy, wild with suppressed excitement, could hardly brook this +delay, for, as they warned the officers of the expedition repeatedly, +there was every reason to expect that Bonnet would leave the river soon, +if he had not gone already. For this reason the _Indian Queen_ went on +in advance of the others and patrolled the waters off the headland for +four days, until Rhett should come up. + +On the evening of the twenty-sixth he made his appearance and as there +was still light they decided to enter the river-mouth. The tide was just +past flood. Rhett's flagship, the _Henry_, nosed in first over the bar +and was followed by the _Sea Nymph._ The great, deep-draughted _Queen_ +advanced to within a few lengths of the entrance, but the soundings +showed that even there she had only a fathom or two to spare, and would +certainly come to grief if she adventured further. As it was, even the +lighter sloops ran aground fifteen minutes later and were not launched +again till nearly dawn. Captain Ghent had anchored the big ship as close +in as he dared and she sat bow-on to the channel-mouth. Her two consorts +were in plain sight a few hundred yards inside. Rhett came back during +the night in a small boat and held a council of war with Curtis, Ghent +and Job Howland. He reported that a party of pirates in longboats had +come down river during the evening to reconnoitre, but had beat a +retreat as soon as they had seen the _Henry's_ guns. + +It was decided about half the crew of the _Queen_ should be added to the +force of men on the two sloops, while the big vessel herself was forced +to be content with standing guard off the entrance. This was a bitter +blow not only to Mr. Curtis, but to Job and the boys, who had looked +forward to the battle with zest. + +Bob and Jeremy had been ordered to bed about midnight, but they rose +before light, in their excitement, and sunrise found them in the bows +with Job, watching the long point of sand behind which they knew the +pirates lay. Preparations had been made aboard the _Henry_ and _Sea +Nymph_ for an immediate advance up the river. Hardly had the first slant +beams of sunlight struck upon Rhett's deck before the crew were lustily +pulling at the main halyards and winding in the anchor chain. + +But even before the two Carolina sloops were under way there was an +excited chorus of "Here he comes!" and above the dune at the bend of the +river, appeared the headsails of the _Royal James_. Bonnet had weighed +his chances and decided for a running fight. The pirate ship cleared the +point, nearly a mile away, and came flying down, every inch of canvas +drawing in the stiff offshore breeze. It seemed for a moment as if she +might get safely past the Carolinians and out to sea, with the _Queen_ +as her only antagonist. Probably Bonnet had counted on the +unexpectedness of his maneuver to accomplish this result. But if so, he +had left out of his reckoning the character of William Rhett. That +gentleman hesitated not an instant, but headed upstream directly toward +the enemy. Fortunately, he had two good skippers in Masters and Hall, +for the good Colonel himself knew little of sailing. Thanks to these +lieutenants, the two attacking sloops were let off the wind at exactly +the right time, and filled away down the river close together off the +pirate's starboard bow. Bonnet raced up abeam, firing broadsides as fast +as his men could load, and his cannonade was answered in kind from the +_Henry_. She and the _Sea Nymph_ began to veer over to port, forcing the +black sloop closer and closer to shore, but the buccaneer Captain +refused to take in an inch of sail. His course was all but justified. +The speedy craft which he commanded gained on her foes hand over hand +till, when only a few hundred yards from the narrow mouth of the +estuary, she led them both by her own length. + +From the deck of the _Queen_ Jeremy and Bob could pick out the big form +of Herriot at the tiller. Just as the _Royal James_ passed into the +lead, they saw him swing mightily on the long steering-beam while at the +same instant the main sheet was hauled in. It was prettily done. The +pirate went hard over to starboard, kicking up a wave of spray as she +slewed. She sprang away from under the bows of the _Henry_ with only +inches to spare, for the bowsprit of Rhett's sloop tore the edge of her +mainsail in passing. The fierce cheer that rose from the deck of the +black buccaneer was drowned in a jarring crash. She had eluded her foe +only to run, ten seconds later, upon a submerged sand bar. It was now +the Carolinians' turn to cheer, though it soon appeared that they might +better have saved their breath for other purposes. The _Henry_, unable +to check her speed, ran straight ahead, and hardly a minute after her +enemy's mishap was hard aground twenty yards away. Both sloops lay +careened to starboard, so that the whole deck of the _Henry_ offered a +fair target for Bonnet's musketry, while the _Royal James's_ port side +was thrown up, a stout defence against the small-arm fire of Rhett's +men. Owing to the slant of their decks it was impossible to train the +cannon of either ship. + +The _Sea Nymph_, meanwhile, in an effort to cut off the course of the +pirate, had put over straight for the channel mouth, and before she +could come about her bows also were fast in the sand, and she lay stern +toward the other two, but out of musket-shot, unable to take a hand in +the hot fight that followed. Had either the _Henry's_ crew or the +buccaneers been able to send a proper broadside from their position, it +seems that they must surely have blown their foe out of water, though we +need, of course, to make allowance for the comparative feebleness of +their ordnance in contrast to that of the present day. + +The stranding of the three vessels had occupied so short a time that the +little group of witnesses high up in the bow of the _Indian Queen_ had +not yet exchanged a word. Clinging to the rail, open-mouthed, they had +seen the pirate make her bold dash across the bows of her pursuers, only +to strike the bar in her instant of triumph, then following with the +quickness of events in a dream, the grounding first of the _Henry_, +afterwards of the _Nymph_. + +Nor was there an appreciable pause in the spectacle, for the pirates, +who had been shooting steadily during the race down river, wasted no +time in trying to get off the bar, but raked their nearby adversaries' +deck with a withering fire. Rhett's crew tumbled into the scuppers, +where they were under the partial cover of the bulwark, but many were +killed, even before they could reach this shelter, and living and dead +rolled down together, as in a ghastly comedy. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + +The boys, intent upon this awful scene, turned as a shout from Job +Howland swelled above the uproar. The big gunner was at the breach of +his swivel-gun, ramrod in hand. The little group scattered to one side +or the other, leaving an open space at the bow rail. At the same moment +Job put in his powder, a heavy charge, ramming it home quickly, but with +all care. On top of the wadding went the round-shot, which was in its +turn hammered down under the powerful strokes of the ramrod. Maneuvering +the well-balanced breech with both hands, the tall Yankee trained his +cannon upon the pirate sloop; allowed for distance, raising the muzzle +an inch or more; nosed the wind and glanced at the foremast pennons; +then swung his piece a fraction of an inch to windward. + +At last with a shout of "'Ware fire!" he sprang back and laid his match +to the touch-hole. There was a spurt of flame as the long nine roared +above the staccato bark of the musketry. Then they saw a section of the +pirate's upper rail leap clear of her deck and fall overside. "Too +high," said Job shortly, though Ghent and Curtis had cheered at the +shot, for the distance was a good half-mile. Job worked feverishly at +his reloading, helped by others of the _Queen's_ gun crews. Again the +charge was a stout one, but this time the gunner laid his muzzle +pointblank at the top of the rail, allowing only for wind. Once more he +fired. Just short of the _Royal James_ went up a little tower of spray. +Job said not a word, but set his great angular jaws and went about his +work with all the speed he had. + +"Look," said Jeremy to Bob, in a sudden burst of understanding, "the +tide's rising. See how it runs in past our bows. In another five minutes +one of those boats will be afloat. Watch how the _James_ rocks up and +down already! If she gets off first, it'll go hard with Rhett, for +Bonnet'll let off a broadside as soon as his guns are level. That's why +Job's trying so hard to put a hole in her." + +Almost as he spoke the report of the third shot rolled out. The +buccaneer sloop jumped sharply, like a spurred horse. In her side, just +at the water line, a black streak had suddenly appeared. The waves of +the incoming tide no longer swayed her buoyantly, for she wallowed on +the bar like a log. The effect of the shot, though it could be seen from +the _Sea Nymph_, where it was greeted with cheers, was still unknown +aboard the _Henry_. In the wash of water as the tide rolled in, Rhett's +sloop stood almost on an even keel. The remnant of his crew appeared to +have taken heart, for a brisk fire now answered that of the buccaneers. +Suddenly a triumphant shouting began aboard the stranded flagship, soon +answered in increasing volume from her two consorts. The _Henry_ was +moving slowly off the bar. + +On the black sloop there was a silence as of death. Stede Bonnet, late +gentleman of the island of Barbadoes, honorably discharged as major from +the army of his Majesty, since turned sea-rover for no apparent cause, +and now one of the most notorious plunderers of the coast, faced his +last fight. Outnumbered nearly ten to one, his ship a stranded hulk, his +cannon useless, surely he read his doom. His men read it and turned +sullenly to haul down the tattered rag of black that still hung from the +masthead. But a last blaze of the old mad courage flared up in the +Captain, as he faced them, dishevelled and bloody, from behind cocked +pistols. Above the tumult of the fusillade his voice, usually so clear, +rose hoarse with anger. "I'll scatter the deck with the brains of any +man who will not fight to the end!" he cried. + +For a second the issue was in doubt. In another instant the iron spell +he held over his men must have won them back. Herriot was already +running to his side. But before he reached his chief a louder cheer from +the attacking sloops made him turn. The black "Roger" fluttered +downward to the deck. + +One of the captive sailors from the _Francis_, fearing to be taken for a +pirate if it came to deck-fighting, had crept up behind the mast and cut +the flag halyards. The men's hearts fell with the falling ensign and +they stood irresolute while the _Henry_ went up alongside. There was now +water enough for her to come close aboard and when she stood at a boat's +length distant, Colonel Rhett appeared at the rail. He pointed to the +muzzles of four loaded cannon aboard his sloop and told Bonnet that he +would proceed to blow him into the air if he did not surrender in one +minute's time. There was little parley. The pirate captain's flare of +resistance had burned out and pale and strangely shaken he handed over +his sword and submitted to the disarming of his men. + +It was now well along in the morning. The prisoners whom Rhett had taken +were rowed out in small boats across the bar and put aboard the _Indian +Queen_. One by one they were hauled over the side and placed below in +chains. Job, Jeremy and Bob stood at a little distance and counted those +who had been captured. Now and then they were greeted by an ugly look +and a curse as some old shipmate recognized them. Last of all, Major +Bonnet passed, haggard and unkempt, his head bowed in shame. + +"Thirty-five in all," finished Job. "Guess our old and handsome friend, +Pharaoh Daggs must have got his gruel in that fight. Well, if ever man +deserved to die a violent death, it's him. I'd like to make sure, +though. Want to go over to the _James_ with me?" Both boys welcomed the +opportunity and as the longboat was just then starting back, they were +soon aboard the battered pirate, so recently their home. Three or four +dead men lay on the canted deck, for no effort had been made as yet to +clean the ship. Bob and Jeremy had no stomach for looking at the corpses +of their erstwhile companions and turned rather to explore the cabin and +fo'c's'le, leaving Job to hunt for the body of their old enemy. + +In the long bunkroom some water had entered with the rising tide and +they found the lower side a miniature lake. In the semi-darkness, +seamen's chests floated past like houses in a flood. One of the big +boxes was open, half its contents trailing after it. Something familiar +about the brass-bound cover and the blue cloth that hung over the side +made Jeremy start. "Daggs' chest!" he exclaimed and reached forward, +pulling it up on the dry planking. The two boys delved into the damp +rubbish it held. There were a few clothes, a rusty pistol, an able +seaman's certificate crumpled and torn almost beyond recognition. The +sack of money and the chart were gone. After searching in dark corners +of the fo'c's'le and fishing in the pool of leakage without discovering +what they sought, the boys returned to the box. "Odd," said Jeremy at +length. "Every other chest is locked fast. Why should he have opened +his?" This seemed unanswerable. They returned to the deck, to find Job +peering into the green water overside. "The body's not here," said the +big seaman, "unless he fell over the rail or was thrown over. I'm +looking to see if it's down there." The sand shone clean and white +through the shallow water on every side. No trace of the buccaneer was +to be seen. Jeremy told of finding the open chest. "Hm," mused Job, +"looks like he'd got away, though he may be dead; I'd like to know for +sure. Still," he added, his face clearing, "chances are we'll never see +nor hear of him again." And putting the man with the broken nose out of +their thoughts, they rejoined their friends on the big merchantman. + +Just before nightfall the Carolina sloops, which had made an expedition +up the river, returned with Bonnet's two prizes in tow. They had been +abandoned in the effort to escape, and Rhett had launched them without +difficulty. A great sound of hammering filled the air above the desert +lagoon for two days. The old _Revenge_, now so rechristened since she +had fallen into honest hands, had to be floated, for there was still +service in her shattered black hull. A hundred men toiled on and around +her, and in a remarkably short time a jury patch was made in her gaping +side and her hold pumped dry. Then crews were picked to man the three +captured sloops, and the flotilla was ready to return triumphant. On the +morning when they stood out to sea, the twelve men of Rhett's party who +had been killed in action were buried with military honors, saluted by +the cannon of the fleet. + +A voyage of three days, unmarred by any accident, brought the victorious +squadron into Charles Town harbor. Joy knew no bounds among the +merchants and seamen along the docks. Indeed, the rejoicing spread +through the town to the tune of church bells and the whole colony was +soon made aware of Rhett's victory. + +When the buccaneers had been taken ashore under a heavy guard and locked +up in the public watchhouse, Mr. Curtis and Bob, with Job and Jeremy, +went ashore to stretch their legs. It was a fine, fall day, warm as +midsummer to Jeremy's way of thinking. The docks were fascinatingly full +of merchandise. Great hogsheads of molasses and rum from Jamaica, set +ashore from newly arrived ships, shouldered for room with baled cotton +and boxes of tobacco ready to be loaded. There was a smell of spices and +hot tar where the sun beat down on the white decks and tall spars of +the shipping. Negroes, hitherto almost unknown to the Yankee boy, +handled bales and barrels on the wharves, their gleaming black bodies +naked to the waist. + +Planters from the fertile country behind the town rode in with their +attendant black boys, and gathered at the coffee-houses on King Charles +Street. It was to one of these, the "Scarlet Fish," that the bluff +Delaware man took his proteges for dinner. + +The place was resplendent with polished deal and shining pewter. +Curtains of brightly colored stuff hung at the high square windows, and +on the side where the sun entered, pots of flowers stood in the broad +window-shelves. There were gay groups of men at the tables, and talk of +the pirates was going everywhere over the Madeira and chocolate. It +seemed the news of Job's gunnery had been spread by Rhett's men, for +some of the diners recognized and pointed to him. A pretty barmaid, with +dimples in her elbows, curtsied low as she set down his cup. "Oh, yes, +Captain Howland!" she answered as he gave his order, blushed a deep pink +and ran to the kitchen. Whereupon Job, quite overcome, vowed that the +ladies of Carolina were the fairest in the world, and Mr. Curtis roared +heartily, saying that "Captain Howland" it should be, and that before +many months, if he knew a good seadog. + +As they sat and sipped their coffee after a meal that reflected glory +upon the cook of the "Scarlet Fish," Colonel Rhett came in and made his +way to their table through a hurly-burly of back-slappings and "Bravos." +As soon as he was able to sit down in peace, he drew Mr. Curtis a little +aside to talk in private. The two boys were content to watch the +changing scene and listen to the hearty badinage of the fashionable +young blades about the tables. It was, you must remember, Jeremy's first +experience of luxury, unless the good, clean quarters and wholesome +meals aboard the _Queen_ could be so called. He had never read any book +except the Bible, had never seen more than a half-dozen pictures in his +life. From these and from the conversation of backwoodsmen and, more +recently, of pirates, he had been forced to form all his conceptions of +the world outside of his own experience. It is a tribute to his clean +traditions and sturdy self-reliance that he sat unabashed, pleased with +the color, the gayety, the richness, but able still to distinguish the +fine things from the sham, the honest things from those which only +appeared honest--to feel a thrill of pride in his father's hard, +rough-hewn life and his own. + +Colonel Rhett's conference with Mr. Curtis being over, the score was +paid and the party took their triumphal way to the door, Job turning his +sunburned face once or twice to glance regretfully after the dimpled +barmaid. + +That afternoon they were taken to the Governor's house, where Job and +each of the boys told the story of their experiences in Bonnet's +company. These stories were sworn to as affidavits and kept for use in +the coming trial of the pirate crew. It was a special dispensation of +the Governor's which allowed them to give their evidence in this form +instead of waiting in Charles Town for the court to sit, and needless to +say they were heartily glad of it. The formalities over, Governor +Johnson led the party into the adjoining room. He motioned them to sit +down and faced them with a smile. "Now, my lads," said he, "the spoil +taken on the _Royal James_ has been divided, and though, as you may +guess, it had to go a long way, there's a share left for each of you." +Jeremy and Bob stared at each other and at their friends. The benign +smiles of Mr. Curtis, Colonel Rhett and Job showed that they had known +beforehand of this surprise. The Governor was holding out a small +leather sack in each hand. "Here, catch," he laughed, and the two +astonished lads automatically did as they were bid. In each purse there +was something over twenty guineas in gold. Before they had found words +to thank the Governor he laughed again merrily. "Never mind a speech of +acceptance," said he. "Colonel Rhett, here, has something else for you." + +"Yes," replied the Colonel. "You see, there was a deal of junk in the +Captain's cabin that comes to me as Admiral of the expedition. I'd be +much pleased if you two lads would each pick out anything that pleases +you, as a personal gift from myself and Stede Bonnet." As he spoke, he +took the cloth cover from a table which stood at one side. On it the +boys saw a shining array of small arms, some glass and silver decanters +and a pile of books. The Colonel motioned Bob forward. "Here you are, +lad, take your choice," he said. Bob stepped to the table and glanced +over the weapons eagerly. He finally selected a silver-mounted pistol +with the great pirate's name engraved on the butt, and went with pride +to show it to his father. + +It was Jeremy's turn. He had no hesitation. From the moment he had heard +the offer his shining eyes had been fastened upon one object, and now he +went straight to the table and picked up the biggest and thickest of the +heap of books, a great leather-bound volume--Bunyan's "Pilgrim's +Progress." It is not the least inexplicable fact in the career of the +terrible Stede Bonnet that he was a constant reader of such books as +this and the "Paradise Lost" of Milton. Bunyan's great allegory had +come at last into a place where it could do more good than in the cabin +bookshelf of a ten-gun buccaneer. Jeremy, poor lad, uneducated save for +the rude lessons of his father and the training of the open, had longed +for books ever since he could remember. He had affected a gruff scorn +when Bob had spoken from his well-schooled knowledge, but inwardly it +had been his sole ground for jealousy of the Delaware boy. That +ponderous leather book was read many times and thoroughly in after +years, and it became the foundation of such a library as was not often +met with in the colonies. Job gave the lad an understanding smile and a +pat on the back, for Jeremy had told him of his passion for an +education. + +The four grown men drank each other's health and separated with many +hearty handclasps. An hour later the _Queen's_ anchor was up and she was +moving out to sea upon the tide, cheered vigorously from the docks and +saluted by every vessel she passed. The warm September dusk settled over +the ocean. A soft land breeze rustled in the shrouds, and the great +sails filled with a gentle flapping. Slowly the tall ship bowed herself +to the northeast and settled away on her course contentedly, while the +water ran with a smooth murmur beneath her forefoot. Jeremy, lying +wide-eyed in his bunk, where a single star shone through the open port, +thought it the sweetest sound he had ever heard. He was homeward bound +at last. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + +There were brave days aboard the _Queen_ as she voyaged up the +coast--days of sun and light winds when the boys sat lazily in the blue +shadow of the sails, looking off through half-closed eyes toward the +faint line of shore that appeared and disappeared to leeward; or +listened to Job's long tales of adventure up and down the high seas; or +fished with hand-lines over the taffrail, happy if they pulled up even a +goggle-eyed flounder. Twice they ran into fog, and on those days, when +the wet dripped dismally off the shrouds and the watch on deck sang +mournful airs in the gray gloom, the two lads settled into big chairs in +the cabin, beneath a mighty brass oil-lamp, and while Bob sat bemused +over Captain Dampier's Voyages, Jeremy fought Apollyon with that good +knight Christian, in "Pilgrim's Progress." But best of all were the days +of howling fair weather, when sky and sea were deep blue and the wind +boomed over out of the west, and the scattered flecks of white cloud +raced with the flying spray below. Then all hands would stand by to +slack a sheet here or reef a sail there, and Ghent, who was a bold +sailor, would take the kicking tiller with Job's help, and keep the big +ship on her course, the last possible foot of canvas straining at the +yardarms. High along the weather rail, with the wind screaming in their +ears or down in the lee scuppers where the white-shot green passed close +below with a roar and a rush, the boys would cling, yelling aloud their +exultation. It was more than the risk, more than the dizzy movement that +made them happy. With every hour of that strong wind they were ten knots +farther north. + +So they sailed; and one morning when the mist cleared, Mr. Curtis led +both boys to the port rail to show them where the green head of Cape +Henlopen stood, abeam. There was moisture in the corners of his eyes as +he pointed to it. "Thank God, Bob, my lad, you're here to see the +Delaware again!" he said huskily. + +Up the blue bay they cruised in the fine October weather and came in due +time--a very long time it seemed to some aboard--to the roadstead +opposite New Castle port. There was a boat over almost before the anchor +was dropped and a picked crew rowed the Curtises, Job and Jeremy ashore +as fast as they dared without breaking oars. They drew up across the +swirling tidewater to the foot of a long pier. It was black with people +who cheered continually, and somewhere above the town a cannon was fired +in salute, but all Bob saw was a slender figure in white at the +pier-edge and all he heard was a woman's happy crying. A message to his +mother telling of his safety had been sent from Charles Town three weeks +before, and there she was to welcome him. There was a ladder further in +along the pier, but before they reached it some one had thrown a rope +and Bob swarmed up hand over hand. Jeremy, stricken with a sudden +shyness, watched the happy, tearful scene that followed from the boat +below. + +Women had had small part in his own life. Since his mother's death he +had known a few in the frontier settlements, and they had been good to +him in a friendly way, but this ecstatic mother-love was new and it made +him feel awkward and lonely. + +It seemed that all Delaware colony must be at the waterfront. Every soul +in the little town and men from miles around had turned out to welcome +the returning vessel, for the news of Bonnet's defeat had been brought +in, days before, by a Carolina coaster. There was bunting over doorways +and cheering in the streets as the Governor's coach with the party of +honor drove up the main thoroughfare to the Curtis house. + +When they were within and the laughing crowds had dispersed, Bob's +mother came to Jeremy, put her hands on his shoulders and looked long +into his face. She was a frail slip of a woman, dark like her son, with +a sensitive mouth and big, black eyes full of courage. Jeremy flushed a +slow scarlet under her gaze, but his eyes never flinched as he returned +it. + +"A fine boy," she said, at length, "and my own boy's good friend!" Then +she smiled tenderly and kissed him on the forehead. Jeremy was then and +there won over. All women were angels of light to him from that moment. + +That night, alone in the white wilderness of his first four-poster, the +poor New England boy missed his mother very hard, more perhaps than he +had ever missed her before. He fell asleep on a pillow that was wet in +spots--and he was not ashamed. + +In the days that followed nothing in Delaware Colony was too good for +the young heroes. Jeremy could never understand just _why_ they were +heroes, but was forced to give up trying to explain the matter to an +admiring populace. As for Bob, he gleefully accepted all the glory that +was offered and at last persuaded Jeremy to take the affair as +philosophically as himself. They were in a fair way to be spoiled, but +fortunately there was enough sense of humor between them to bring them +off safe from the head-patting gentlemen and tearfully rapturous ladies +who gathered at the brick house of afternoons. + +Perhaps the thing that really saved them from the effects of too much +petting was the trip up the Brandywine to the Curtis plantation. It was +a fine ride of thirty miles and the trail led through woods just turning +red and yellow with the autumn frosts. Jeremy, though he had been on a +horse only half a dozen times in his life, was a natural athlete and +without fear. He was quick to learn and imitated Bob's erect carriage +and easy seat so well that long before they had reached their journey's +end he backed his tall roan like an old-timer. With Job it was a +different matter. He was all sailor, and though the times demanded that +every man who travelled cross-country must do it in the saddle, the lank +New Englander would have ridden a gale any day in preference to a steed. +Even Jeremy could afford to laugh at the sorry figure his big friend +made. + +The trail they followed was no more than a rough cutting, eight or ten +feet wide, running through the forest. Here and there paths branched off +to right or left and up one of these Bob turned at noon. It led them +over a wooded hill, then down a long slope into the valley of a stream. +"John Cantwell's plantation. We'll stop here for a bite to eat," +explained the boy. By the water side, in a wide clearing, was a group of +log huts and farther along, a square house built of rough gray stone. + +They rode up to the wide door which looked down upon the river. In +answer to Bob's hail a colored boy in a red jacket ran out to take the +horses' heads and four black and white fox terriers tore round the +corner barking a chorus of welcome. Bob jumped down with a laughing, "Ah +there, Rufus!" to the horse-boy, and proceeded to roll the excited +little dogs on their backs. As Jeremy and Job dismounted, a big man in +sober gray came to the doorway. His strong, kindly face broke into a +smile as he caught sight of his visitors. "Well, Bob, I'm mightily glad +to see thee back, lad! We got news from the town only yesterday." He +strode down the steps and took the boy's hand in a hearty grip, then +greeted the others, as Bob introduced them. Jeremy marvelled much at the +cut of the man's coat, which was without a collar, and at his continual +use of the plain _thee_ and _thy_. But there was a direct simplicity +about all his ways, and a gentleness in his eyes that won the boy to him +instantly. + +One moment only he wandered at John Cantwell. In the next he had +forgotten everything about him and stood open-mouthed, gazing at the +square doorway. In the sun-lit frame of it had appeared a little girl of +twelve. She was dressed demurely in gray, set off with a bit of white +kerchief. Her long skirt hid her toes and her hands were folded most +properly. But above this sober stalk bloomed the fairest face that +Jeremy had ever seen. She had merry hazel eyes, a straight little nose +and a firm little chin. Her plain bonnet had fallen back from her head +and the brown curls that strayed recklessly about her cheeks seemed to +catch all the sunbeams in Delaware. + +For a very little time she stood, and then the pursed red mouth could be +controlled no longer. She opened it in a whoop of joy and catching up +her skirts ran to smother Bob in a great hug. Next moment Jeremy, still +in a daze, was bowing over her hand, as he had learned to do at New +Castle. She dropped him a little curtsey and turned to meet Job. + +Betty Cantwell and her father were Quakers from the Penn Colony to the +north, Bob had time to tell Jeremy as they entered. That accounted for +the staid simplicity of their dress and their quaint form of speech--the +plain language, as it was called. Jeremy had heard of the Quakers, +though in New England they were much persecuted for their beliefs by the +Puritans. Here, apparently, people not only allowed them to live, but +liked and honored them as well. He prayed fervently that Betty might +never chance to visit Boston town. Yet already he half hoped that she +would. Of course, he would have grown bigger by then, and would carry a +sword and how he would prick the thin legs of the first grim deacon who +dared so much as to speak to her! These imaginings were put to rout at +the dining-room door by the delicious savor of roast turkey. One of the +black farmhands had shot the great bird the day before, and the three +travellers had arrived just at the fortunate moment when it was to be +carved. + +It was a dinner never to be forgotten. The twenty miles they had ridden +through the crisp air would have given them an appetite, even had they +not been normally good trenchermen, and there were fine white potatoes +and yams that accompanied the turkey, not to mention some jelly which +Betty admitted having made herself, "with cook's help." Bob joyfully +attacked his heaped-up plate and ate with relish every minute that he +was not talking. Jeremy could say not a word, for opposite him was Betty +and in her presence he felt very large and awkward. His hands troubled +him. Indeed, had it been a possibility, he would have eaten his turkey +without raising them above the table edge. As it was, he felt himself +blush every time a vast red fist came in evidence. Yet he succeeded in +making a good meal and would not have been elsewhere for all Solomon +Brig's gold. Perhaps Job, who was neither talkative nor under the spell +of a lady's eyes, wielded the best knife and fork of the three. + +Dinner over, and Bob's story finished, they were taken to see the stable +and the broad tilled fields by the river bank, where corn stood shocked +among the stubble. Afternoon came and soon it was time for them to +start. There were laughing farewells and a promise that they would stop +on the return trip, and before Jeremy could come back to earth the gloom +of the forest shut in above their heads once more. They put the horses +to a canter as soon as the ridge was cleared, for there were still ten +miles to go and the light was waning. Jeremy was very much at home in +the woods, but the chill, sombre depths that appeared and reappeared on +either hand seemed to warn him to be prepared. He reached to the +saddlebow, undid the flap of the pistol holster, and made sure that his +weapon was loaded, then put it back, reassured. The footing was bad, and +they had to go more slowly for a while. Then Bob, in the lead, came to a +more open space where light and ground alike favored better speed. He +spurred his horse to a gallop and had turned to call to the others, when +suddenly the animal he rode gave a snort of fear and stopped with braced +forefeet. Bob, caught off his guard, went over the horse's head with a +lurch and fell sprawling on the ground in front. Then he gave a scream, +for not two feet away he saw the short, cruel head of a coiled +rattlesnake. + +Jeremy, riding close behind, pulled up beside the other horse and threw +himself off. Even as he touched the ground a sharp whirr met his ear +and he saw the fat, still body and vibrating tail of the snake. He +wrenched the pistol from the holster, took the quickest aim of his life +and pulled the trigger. After the shot apparently nothing had changed. +The whirr of the rattle went on for a second or two, then gradually +subsided. Bob lay white-faced, and still as death. Jeremy drew a step +closer and then gave a choked cry of relief. The snake's smooth, +diamond-marked body remained coiled for the spring. Its lithe forepart +was thrust forward from the top coil and the venemous, blunt head--but +the head was no more. Jeremy's ball had taken it short off. + +Bob was unhurt, but badly shaken and frightened, and they followed the +trail slowly through the dusk. Then just as the shadows that obscured +their way were turning to the deep dark of night a small light became +visible straight ahead. They pushed on and soon were luxuriously +stretched before a log fire in the Curtis plantation house, while Mrs. +Robbins, the overseer's wife, poured them a cup of hot tea. + +When bedtime came, Bob came over to Jeremy and gave him a long grip of +the hand, but said never a word. There was no need of words, for the New +England boy knew that his chum would never be quite happy till he could +repay his act in kind. Yet he could not tell Bob that the shooting of a +snake was but a small return for the gift of a vision of one of heaven's +angels. Each felt himself the other's debtor as they got into the great +feather bed side by side. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + +Two boys turned loose on a present-day farm can find enough interesting +things to do to fill a book much larger than this. For me to go into the +details of that week's visit to Avon Dale would preclude any possible +chance of your hearing the end of this story. And there are still many +things that need telling. + +But though no great or grave adventure befell the two boys while they +stayed at the plantation, you may imagine the days they spent together. +Back of the farm buildings lay the fields, all up and down the river +bank for miles. And back of the fields, crowding close to the edge of +the plowed ground, the big trees of an age-old forest rose. The great +wild woods ran straight back from the plantation for five hundred miles, +broken only by rivers and the steep slopes of the Alleghanies, as yet +hardly heard of by white men. Giant oaks, ashes and tulip trees mingled +with the pine and hemlock growth. The hillsides where the sun shone +through were thick with rhododendron and laurel. And all through this +sylvan paradise the upper branches and the underbrush teemed with wild +life. Squirrels, partridges and occasional turkeys offered frequent +marks for the long muzzle-loading rifles, while a thousand little song +birds flitted constantly through the leaves. Jeremy had never seen such +hunting in his colder northern country. The game was bigger and more +dangerous in New England, but never had he found it so plentiful. As the +boys were both good marksmen, a great rivalry sprang up between them. +They scorned any but the hardest shots--the bright eye of a squirrel +above a hickory limb fifty yards off or the downy form of a wood pigeon +preening in a tree top. Though a good deal of powder and lead was spent +in the process, they were shooting like old leather-stocking hunters by +the end of the week. + +The last two days had to be spent indoors, for a heavy autumn rain that +came one night held over persistently and drenched the valley with a +sullen, steady pour. Little muddy rivulets swept down across the fields +and joined the already swollen current of the Brandywine. On the morning +when they started back, the river was running high and fast and yellow +along the low banks, but a bright sun shone, and a fresh breeze out of +the west promised fair weather. + +The horses were left at the plantation. They took their guns and a day's +provisions and carried a long, narrow-beamed canoe down to the shore. It +was a dugout, quite unlike the graceful birch affairs that Jeremy had +seen among the Penobscots, but serviceable and seaworthy enough. + +Job, happy to be on the water once more, took the stern paddle, Bob +knelt in the bow, and Jeremy squatted amidships with the blankets and +guns. With a cry of farewell to the kindly folk on the bank, they shoved +out and shot away down the swift river. + +It was exciting work. The stream had overflowed its banks for many yards +and the brown water swirled in eddies among the trees. To keep the canoe +in the main channel required judgment and good steering. Job proved +equal to the occasion and though with their paddling the swiftness of +the current gave the craft a speed of over ten miles an hour, he brought +her down without mishap into a wide-spreading cove. They rested, +drifting slowly across the slack water. "This can't be far from +Cantwell's," Bob was saying, when Jeremy gave a startled exclamation, +and pointed toward the shore, some fifty yards away. A little girl in a +gray frock stood on the bank, her arms full of golden rod and asters. +She had not seen the canoe, for she was looking behind her up the bank. +At that instant there was a crashing in the brush and a big buck deer +stepped out upon the shore, tossing his gleaming antlers to which a few +shreds of summer "velvet" still clung. He was not twenty feet from the +girl, who faced him, perfectly still, the flowers dropping one by one +from her apron. + +It was the rutting season and the buck was in a fighting mood. But he +was puzzled by this small motionless antagonist. He hesitated a bare +second before launching his wicked charge. Then as he bellowed his +defiance there came a loud report. The buck's haunches wavered, then +straightened with a jerk, as he made a great leap up the bank and fell +dead. From Jeremy's long-barrelled gun a wisp of smoke floated away. +Betty Cantwell sat down very suddenly and seemed about to cry, but as +the canoe shot up to the shore she was smiling once more. They took her +aboard and started down stream again. A few hundred yards brought them +to the edge of the Cantwell clearing, where Bob hailed the negroes +working in the field and gave them orders for bringing down the dead +buck. + +At the landing John Cantwell was waiting in some anxiety, for the sound +of Jeremy's shot had reached him at the house. Bob told the story, +somewhat to Jeremy's embarrassment, for nothing was spared in the +telling. The Quaker thanked him with great earnestness and reproved his +daughter gently for straying beyond the plantation. + +After another of those famous dinners Job and the boys returned to their +craft, for there were many miles to make before night. As Jeremy took +up the bow paddle he waved to Betty on the bank, and thrilled with +happiness at the shy smile she gave him. Once again they were in the +current, shooting downstream toward tidewater. + +It was mid-afternoon when they crossed the Brandywine bar and paddled +past the docks of Wilmington. Outside in the Delaware there was a choppy +sea that made their progress slower, and the sun had set when the slim +little craft ran in for the beach above New Castle. The voyagers +shouldered their packs and made their way up the High Street to the +brick house. + +When the greetings were over and the boys were changing their clothes +before coming down for supper, Clarke Curtis entered their room. "Lads," +he said, "I'd advise you to go early to bed tonight. You'll need a long +rest, for in the morning you start overland for New York." At Bob's +exclamation of surprise he went on to explain that the _Indian Queen_ +had weighed anchor two days before for that port, and as there was no +other ship leaving the Delaware soon, he wished the boys to board her at +New York for the voyage to New England. Both youngsters were overjoyed +at the prospect of an early start. Bob, who had been promised that he +could accompany his chum, was hilarious over the news, while Jeremy was +too happy to speak. + +Later, as they were packing their belongings for the trip, Job Howland +came in. He, too, looked excited. "Jeremy, boy," he said, "I'd have +liked to go north with you, but something else has come my way. Mr. +Curtis bought a new schooner, the _Tiger_, last week, and she's being +fitted out now for a coast trader. He offered me the chance to command +her!" + +"Three cheers!" shouted Bob. "Then New Castle will be your home port, +and I'll see you after every voyage!" + +The three comrades chatted of their prospects a while and shortly went +to bed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + + +The boys and their luggage were on their way to Wilmington in the family +chaise before dawn, and it was scarce seven o'clock when they bade +farewell to the old colored serving-man and clambered aboard the +four-horse coach that connected in Philadelphia with the mail coach for +New York. + +The coaches of that day were cumbersome affairs, huge of wheel, and with +ridiculously small bodies slung on wide strips of bull's hide which +served for springs. The driver's box was high above the forward running +gear. There were as yet no "seats on top," such as were developed in the +later days of fast stage-coach service. + +In one of these rumbling, swaying conveyances the boys rode the thirty +miles to Philadelphia, crossing the Schuylkill at Gray's Ferry about +noon. They had barely time for a bite of lunch in the White Horse Tavern +before the horn was blown outside and they hurried to take their places +in the north-bound coach. Along the cobbled streets of the bustling, +red-brick town they rumbled for a few moments, then out upon the smooth +dirt surface of the York Road, where the four good horses were put to a +gallop. + +The Delaware, opposite Trenton, was reached by six o'clock, and there +the half-dozen passengers left the coach and were carried across on a +little ferry boat, rowed by an old man and his two sons. They spent the +night at an Inn and next morning early boarded another coach bound +northeast over the sparsely settled hills of New Jersey. The road was +narrow and bad in places, slackening their speed. Twice the horses were +changed, in little hamlets along the way. In the late afternoon they +crossed the marshy flats beyond Newark and just after dusk emerged on +the Jersey side of the Hudson. A few lights glimmered from the low +Manhattan shore. The quaint Dutch-English village which was destined to +grow in two hundred years to be the greatest city in the world, lay +quiet in the gathering dark. + +The ferry was just pulling out from shore, but at the sound of the coach +horn it swung back into its slip and waited for the passengers to board. + +A gruff Hollander by the name of Peter Houter was the ferryman. He stood +at the clumsy steering-beam, while four stout rowers manned the oars of +his wide, flat-bottomed craft. Approaching the steersman, Bob asked +where in the town he would be likely to find the Captain of a +merchantman then taking cargo in the port. The Dutchman named two +taverns at which visiting seafaring men could commonly be found. One was +the "Three Whales" and the other the "Bull and Fish." + +Landing on the Manhattan shore, the boys shouldered their luggage and +trudged by ill-lighted lanes across the island to the East River. As +they advanced along the dock-side, Jeremy distinguished among the +low-roofed houses a small inn before which a great sign swung in the +wind. By the light which flickered through the windows they could make +out three dark monsters painted upon the board, a white tree apparently +growing from the head of each. "The Three Whales," laughed Jeremy, "and +every one a-blowing! Let's go in!" + +It was an ill-smelling and dingy room that they entered. A score of men +in rough sailor clothes lounged at the tables or lolled at the bar. Two +pierced tin lanterns shed a faint smoky light over the scene. Bob waited +by their baggage at the door, while Jeremy made his way from one group +to another, inquiring for Captain Ghent of the _Indian Queen_. Several +of the mariners nodded at mention of the ship, but none could give him +word of the skipper's whereabouts. + +As he was turning to go out he noticed a man drinking alone at a table +in the darkest corner. His eyes were fixed moodily on his glass and he +did not look up. Jeremy shivered, took a step nearer, and almost cried +out, for he had caught a glimpse of a livid, diagonal scar cutting +across the nose from eyebrow to chin. It was such a scar as could belong +to only one man on earth. Jeremy retreated to a darker part of the room +and watched till the man lifted his head. It was Pharaoh Daggs and none +other. + +A moment later the boy had hurried to Bob outside and told him his news. +"If we can find Ghent," said Bob, "he will be able to summon soldiers +and have him placed under arrest." + +They hastened along the river front for a hundred yards or more and came +to the "Bull and Fish." A man in a blue cloth coat was standing by the +door, looking up and down the street. He gave a hail of greeting as they +came up. It was Captain Ghent. + +"I was just going down to the "Three Whales" thinking you might have +stopped there," he said. Bob told him their news and the skipper's face +grew grave. "Better leave the bags here for the present," he suggested +and then, after a moment's quiet talk with the landlord, he led the way +toward the other tavern. On the way he stopped a red-jacketed soldier +who was patrolling the dock. After a word or two had been exchanged the +soldier fell in beside them, and just as they reached the inn door two +more hurried up. + +"Come in with me, Jeremy, and point out the man," said Captain Ghent. + +The lad's heart beat like a triphammer as he entered the tavern once +more. A silence fell on the room when the three soldiers were observed. +Jeremy crossed toward the dark corner. The table was empty. He looked +quickly about at the faces of the drinkers, but Daggs was not there. +"He's gone," he said in a disappointed voice. + +The innkeeper came forward, wiping his hands on his apron. "That fellow +with the scar?" he said. "He went out of here some five minutes ago." + +"Which way?" asked Ghent. But no one in the room could say. + +They passed out again, and Ghent smiled reassuringly at the boys. +"Well," he said, "like as not he'll never cross our path again, so it's +only one rogue the more unhung." + +Jeremy failed to find much comfort in this philosophy, but said no more, +and soon found himself snugly on board the big merchantman, where his +bunk and Bob's were already made up and awaiting them. + +It was good to hear the creak of timbers and feel the rocking of the +tide once more. Jeremy lay long awake that night thinking of many +things. At last he was on the final lap of his journey. The _Indian +Queen's_ cargo would be stowed within a day or two and she would start +with him toward home. He thought with a quiver of happiness of the +reunion with his father. Had he quite given up hope for his boy? Jeremy +had heard of such a shock of joy being fatal. He must be careful. + +He thought of the evil face of the broken-nosed buccaneer. What was +Daggs doing in New York? Just then there was a faint sound as of +creaking cordage from beyond the side. Jeremy's bunk was near the open +port and by leaning over a little he could see the river. Barely a +boat's length away, in the dark, a tall-masted, schooner-rigged craft +was slipping past on the outgoing tide, with not so much as a +harbor-light showing. + +[Illustration] + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + + +It was on the second morning after the boys had reached New York that +the _Indian Queen_ went down the harbor, her canvas drawing merrily in +the spanking breeze of dawn. The intervening day had been spent at the +dock-side, where wide-breeched Dutch longshoremen were stoutly hustling +bales and boxes of merchandise into the hold. Jeremy had watched the +passers along the river front narrowly, though he could not help having +a feeling that Pharaoh Daggs was gone. The fancy would not leave his +mind that there was some connection between the vanished pirate and the +dark vessel he had seen stealing out on the night tide. + +A strong southwest wind followed them all day as the _Queen_ ran past +the low Long Island shore, and that night, though Captain Ghent gave +orders to shorten sail, the ship still plunged ahead with unchecked +speed. They cleared the Nantucket shoals next day and saw all through +the afternoon the sun glint on the lonely white dunes of Cape Cod. + +Two more bright days of breeze succeeded and they were working up +outside the fringe of islands, large and small, that dot the coast of +Maine. + +Jeremy was too excited even to eat. He stayed constantly by the man at +the helm and was often joined there by Bob and the Captain, as they drew +nearer to the Penobscot Bay coast. In the morning they dropped anchor in +fifteen fathoms, to leeward of a good-sized fir-clad island. Jeremy had +a dim recollection of having seen it from the round-topped peak above +his father's shack. His heart beat high at the thought that tomorrow +might bring them to the place they sought, and it was many hours before +he went to sleep. + +At last the morning came, cloudless and bright, with a little south +breeze stirring. Before the sun was fairly clear of the sea, the anchor +had been catted, and the _Queen_ was moving gracefully northeastward +under snowy topsails. + +They cleared a wide channel between two islands and Jeremy, forward with +the lookout, gave a mighty shout that brought his chum to his side on +the run. There to the east, across a dozen miles of silver-shimmering +sea, loomed a gray peak, round and smooth as an inverted bowl. "It's the +island!" cried Jeremy, and Captain Ghent, turning to the mate, gave a +joyful order to get more sail on the ship. + +About the middle of the forenoon the _Queen_ came into the wind and her +anchor went down with a roar and a splash, not three cables' lengths +from the spot in the northern bay where Jeremy and his father had first +landed their flock of sheep. On the gray slope above the shore the boys +could see the low, black cabin, silent and apparently tenantless. Behind +it was the stout stockade of the sheep-pen, also deserted, and above, +the thin grass and gray, grim ledges climbed toward the wooded crest of +the hill. + +Jeremy's face fell. "They must have gone," he said. But Bob, standing by +the rail as they waited for the jollyboat to be lowered, pointed +excitedly toward the rocky westward shoulder of the island. "Look +there!" he cried. Three or four white dots were moving slowly along the +face of the hill. + +"Sheep!" said Jeremy, taking heart. "They'd not have left the +sheep--unless----" + +But the boat was ready, below the side, and the Captain and the two boys +tumbled quickly in. Five minutes later the four stout rowers sent the +bow far up the sand with a final heave on the oars. They jumped out and +hastened up the hill. There was still no sign of life about the cabin, +but as they drew near a sudden sharp racket startled them, and around +the corner of the sheep-pen tore a big collie dog, barking excitedly. He +hesitated a bare instant, then jumped straight at Jeremy with a whine of +frantic welcome. + +"Jock, lad!" cried the boy, joyfully burying his face in the sable ruff +of the dog's neck. In response to his voice, the door of the cabin was +thrown open and a tall youth of nineteen stepped out, hesitating as he +saw the group below. Jeremy shook off the collie and ran forward. "Don't +you know me, Tom?" he laughed. "I'm your brother--back from the +pirates!" + +The amazed look on the other's face slowly gave place to one of +half-incredulous joy as he gripped the youngster's shoulders and looked +long into his eyes. + +"Know ye!" he said at length with a break in his voice. "Certain I know +ye, though ye've grown half a foot it seems! But wait, we must tell +father. He's in bed, hurt." + +Tom turned to the door again. "Here, father," he called breathlessly. +"Here's Jeremy, home safe and sound!" He seized his brother's hand and +led him into the cabin. In the half-darkness at the back of the room the +lad saw a rough bed, and above the homespun blankets Amos Swan's bearded +face. He sprang toward him and flung himself down by the bunk, his head +against his father's breast. He felt strong, well-remembered fingers +that trembled a little as they gripped his arm. There was no word said. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + + +It was the savory smell of cooking hominy and the sizzle of broiling +fish that woke Jeremy next morning. He drew a breath of pure ecstasy, +rolled over and began pummelling the inert form of Bob, who had shared +his blanket on an improvised bed in the cabin. The Delaware boy opened +an eye, closed it again with carefully assumed drowsiness, and the next +instant leaped like a joyful wildcat on his tormentor. There was a +beautiful tussle that was only broken off by Tom's announcement of +breakfast. + +Opposite the stone fireplace was a table of hewn planks at which Bob, +with Jeremy, Tom and their father, were soon seated. The latter had +bruised his knee several days before, but was now sufficiently recovered +to walk about with the aid of a stick. + +"Father," said Jeremy between mouthfuls, "I want to see that cove again, +where the pirates landed. If we may take the fowling-piece, Bob and I'll +go across the island, after we've bade good-by to Captain Ghent." + +"Ay, lad," Amos Swan replied, "you'll find the cove just as they left +it. An I mistake not, the place where their fire was is still black +upon the beach, and the rum-barrels are lying up among the driftwood. +'Twas there we found them--on the second day. Ah, Jeremy, lad--little we +thought then we'd see you back safe and strong, and that so soon!" + +The white frost of the November morning was still gleaming on the grass +when the two boys went out. Against the cloudless sky the spires of the +dark fir trees were cut in clean silhouette. From the _Indian Queen_, +lying off shore, came the creak of blocks and sheaves as the yards were +trimmed, and soon, her anchor catted home, she filled gracefully away to +the northward, while the Captain waved a cheery farewell from the poop. +He was bound up the coast for Halifax, and was to pick Bob up on his +return voyage, a month later. + +When they had watched the ship's white sails disappear behind the +eastern headland, the boys started up the hill behind the cabin. They +carried a lunch of bread and dried fish in a leather pouch and across +Jeremy's shoulder was one of his father's guns. Bob was armed with the +silver-mounted pistol from Stede Bonnet's arsenal. + +It was a glorious morning for a trip of exploration and the hearts of +both lads were high as they clambered out on the warm bare rock that +crowned the island. + +"Isn't it just as fine as I told you?" Jeremy cried. "Look--those blue +mountains yonder must be twenty leagues away. And you can hardly count +the islands in this great bay! Off there to the south is where I saw the +_Revenge_ for the first time--just a speck on the sea, she was!" + +Bob, who had never seen the view from a really high hill before, stood +open-mouthed as he looked about him. Suddenly he grasped Jeremy's arm. + +"See!" he exclaimed, "down there--isn't that smoke?" He was pointing +toward the low, swampy region in the southwestern part of the island. +Jeremy watched intently, but there was nothing to disturb the morning +calm of sky and shore. + +"That's queer," Bob said at last, with a puzzled look. "I could take an +oath I saw just the faintest wisp of smoke over there. But I must have +been mistaken." + +"Well," laughed Jeremy, "we'll soon make sure, for that's not far from +where we're going." + +They scrambled down, and following the ridge, turned south toward the +lower bay at about the point where Jeremy had been discovered by Dave +Herriot and the pirate Captain. + +Dodging through the tangle of undergrowth and driftwood, they soon +emerged on the loose sand above the beach. As Amos Swan had said, the +rains had not yet washed away the black embers of the great bonfire, and +near by lay a barrel with staves caved in. Looking at the scene, Jeremy +almost fancied he could hear again the wild chorus of that drunken crew, +most of whom had now gone to their last accounting. + +"What say we walk down the shore a way?" suggested Bob. "There might be +a duck or two in that reedy cove below here." And Jeremy, glad to quit +the place, led off briskly westward along the sand. + +Soon they came to the entrance of a narrow, winding tide-creek that ran +back till it was hidden from sight in the tall reeds. Just as they +reached the place, a large flock of sandpeeps flew over with soft +whistling, and lighting on the beach, scurried along in a dense company, +offering an easy target. Bob, who was carrying the gun, brought it +quickly to his shoulder and was about to fire when Jeremy stopped him +with a low "S-s-s-s-t!" + +Bob turned, following the direction of Jeremy's outstretched arm, and +for a second both boys stood as if petrified, gazing up the tide-creek +toward the interior of the island. About a quarter of a mile away, above +the reeds, which grew in rank profusion to a man's height or higher, +they saw a pair of slender masts, canted far over. + +"A ship!" whispered Bob. "Deserted, though, most likely." + +"No," Jeremy answered, "I don't think it. Her cordage would have slacked +off more and she wouldn't look so trim. Bob, wasn't it near here you saw +that smoke?" + +"Jiminy!" said Bob, "so it was! Right over in the marsh, close to those +spars. It's some vessel that's put in here to careen. Wonder where her +crew can be?" + +"That's what looks so queer to me," the other boy replied. "They're +keeping out of sight mighty careful. Men from any honest ship would have +been all over the island the first day ashore. I don't like the look of +it. Let's get back and tell father. Maybe we can find out who it is, +afterwards." + +Bob argued at first for an immediate reconnaissance, but when Jeremy +pointed out the fact that if the strangers were undesirable they would +surely have a guard hidden in the reeds up the creek, he accepted the +more discreet plan. + +They made their way quietly, but with as much haste as possible back +along the shore, past the remnant of the fire, and up the hill into the +thick woods. + +Just as they crossed the ridge and began to see the glint of the +northern inlet through the trees, Jeremy paused with a sudden +exclamation. + +"Here's the spring," he said, "and look at the sign above it. I never +saw that before, for it was dark when I was up here. I almost fell in." + +The spring itself was nearly invisible to one coming from this +direction, but stuck in the fork of a tree, beside it, was a weathered +old piece of ship's planking on which had been rudely cut the single +word WATTER. + +"Some Captain who used to fill his casks here must have put it up so +that the spring would be easier to find," Bob suggested. But Jeremy, +striding ahead, was thinking hard and did not answer. + +Amos Swan heard their news with a grave face. No ship but the _Queen_ +had touched at the island for several months to his knowledge, he said. +He agreed with the boys that the secrecy of the thing looked suspicious. +When Tom came in for the noon meal, his father told him of the discovery +and they both decided to bring the sheep in at once, and make +preparations for possible trouble. + +Tom, armed, and accompanied by the boys, set out soon after dinner for +the western end of the island, two miles from the shack. It was there +that the flock was accustomed to graze, shepherded by the wise dog, +Jock. Their way led along the rocky northern slope, where the sheep had +already worn well-defined paths among the scrubby grass and juniper +patches, then up across a steep knoll and through a belt of fir and +hemlock. When at length they came out from among the trees, the pasture +lay before them. There in a hollow a hundred yards away the flock was +huddled. Jock became aware of their approach at that instant and lifted +his head in a short, choking bark. He started toward them, but before he +had taken a dozen steps they could see that he was limping painfully. +Running forward, Jeremy knelt beside the big collie, then turned with a +movement of sudden dismay and called to his comrades. He had seen the +broad splotch of vivid red stained the dog's white breast. Examination +showed a deep clean cut in the fur of the neck, from which the blood +still flowed sluggishly. But in spite of his weakness and the pain he +evidently suffered, Jock could hardly wait to lead his masters back to +the flock. Hurrying on with him they crossed a little rise of ground and +came upon the sheep which were crowded close to one another, panting in +abject terror. + +[Illustration: Jock] + +"Twenty-six--twenty-eight--yes, twenty-eight and that's all!" Tom said. +"There are two of them missing!" + +Jock had limped on some twenty yards further and now stood beside a +juniper bush, shivering with eagerness. + +Following him thither, the boys found him sniffing at a blood-soaked +patch of grass. The ground for several feet around was cut up as if in +some sort of struggle. A few shreds of bloody wool, caught in the +junipers, told their own story. + +A man--probably several men--had been on the spot not two hours before +and had killed two of the sheep. They had not succeeded in this without +a fight, in which the gallant old dog had been stabbed with a seaman's +dirk or some other sharp weapon. + +Bob, scouting onward a short distance, found the deep boot-tracks of two +men in a wet place between some rocks. They were headed +south-eastward--straight toward the reedy swamp where the boys had seen +the top-masts of the strange vessel! The crew--whoever they might +be--had decided to leave no further doubt of their intentions. They had +opened hostilities and to them had fallen first blood. + +With serious faces and guns held ready for an attack the three lads +turned toward home, driving the scared flock before them. Old Jock, +stiff and limping from his wound, brought up the rear. They reached the +inlet at last, but it was sunset when the last sheep was inside the +stockade and the cabin door was barred. + +That night the wind changed, and the cold gray blanket of a Penobscot +Bay fog shut down over the island. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + + +The fog held for two days. On the third morning Jeremy, on his knees by +the hearth fire, was squinting down the bright barrel of a flintlock. He +had been quiet for a long time. Bob felt the tenseness of the situation +himself, but he could not understand the other's absolute silence. He +scowled as he sat on the floor, and savagely drove a long-bladed +hunting-knife into the cracks between the hewn planks. At length a low +whistle from Jeremy caused him to pause and look up quickly. + +"What is it?" he asked. + +A look of excitement was growing in Jeremy's face. + +"Say, Bob!" he exclaimed, after a second or two. "I've just remembered +something that I've been trying to bring to mind ever since we crossed +the island. You know the sign we saw up by the spring? Well, somewhere, +once before, I knew I'd seen the word 'Watter' spelled that way. So have +you--do you remember?" + +Bob shook his head slowly. Then a look of comprehending wonder came into +his eyes. "Yes," he cried. "It was on that old chart in Pharaoh Daggs' +chest!" + +"Right," said Jeremy. "And now that I think about it, I believe this is +the very island! Let's see--the bay was shaped this way----" He had +seized a charred stick from the hearth and was drawing on the floor. + +"Two narrow points, with quite a stretch of water inside--a rounded cove +up here, and a mitten-shaped cove over here. And the anchor was +drawn--wait a minute--right here. Why, Bob, look here! That's the same +rounded cove with the beach where the sloop anchored that night they got +me!" + +Bob could hardly contain himself. "I remember!" he said. "And the dot, +with the word 'Watter' was one and a half finger-joints northeast of the +bay. Let's see, the bay itself was about four joints long, wasn't it? Or +a little over? Anyhow, that would put the spring about--here." + +"Allowing for our not being able to remember exactly the shape of the +bay," Jeremy put in, "that's just where the spring should be. Bob, this +is the island! And now that cross-mark between the two straight +lines--two finger-joints northwest of the anchorage-cove, it was. That's +just about here." He marked the spot on the floor with his stick. + +"Now we've got it all down. And if that cross-mark shows where the +treasure is----" Jeremy paused and looked at Bob, his eyes shining. + +"Where would that be--up on the hill somewhere?" asked Bob breathlessly. + +"About three-quarters of a mile south of the spring--right on the +ridge," Jeremy answered. + +"When shall we start?" Bob asked, his voice husky with excitement. + +"Wait a bit," counselled Jeremy. "We daren't tell father or Tom, for +they'd think it just a wild-goose chase, and we'd have to promise not to +leave the cabin. You know it _is_ an improbable sort of yarn. Besides, +we'd better go careful. Do you know who I think is at the head of that +crew, over in the creek?" + +"Who?" whispered Bob. + +Jeremy's face was pale as he leaned close. + +"Pharaoh Daggs!" He said the name beneath his breath, almost as if he +feared that the man with the broken nose might hear him. And now for the +first time he told Bob of the schooner that had slipped past in the dark +that night in the East River. + +"You're right, Jeremy," Bob agreed. "He'd lose no time getting up here +if he could find a craft to carry him. You don't suppose they've found +Brig's treasure yet, do you?" he added in dismay. + +"They can't have reached here more than a day before us," Jeremy +replied. "And if they haven't it already aboard, they won't be able to +do anything while this fog holds. If it should lift tomorrow, we'll +have a chance to scout around up there. But don't say a word to father." + +That night the boys slept little, for both were in a fever of +expectation. They were disappointed in the morning to see the solid wall +of fog still surrounding the cabin. But Jeremy, sniffing the air like +the true woodsman that he was, announced that there would be a change of +weather before night, and set about rubbing the barrel of the flintlock +till it gleamed. The day dragged slowly by. At last, about three in the +afternoon, a slight wind from the northeast sprang up, and the wreaths +of vapor began to drift away seaward. + +Luckily for the boys' plans, both Tom and his father were inside the +sheep-stockade when Bob took the pistols, powder and shot down from the +wall, and with Jeremy went quietly forth. + +Before the mist had wholly cleared, they were well into the woods, +climbing toward the summit of the ridge. Each kept a careful watch +about, for they feared the possibility that a guard might have been set +to observe movements at the cabin. + +They reached the top without incident, however, and turned westward +along the watershed. They were increasingly careful now, for if the +pirates were dependent on the spring for their water, some of them might +pass close by at any moment. Bob, who was almost as expert a hunter as +Jeremy, followed noiselessly in the track of the New England boy, moving +like a shadow from tree to tree. + +So they progressed for fifteen minutes or more. Then Jeremy paused and +beckoned to Bob, whispering that they should separate a short distance +so as to cover a wider territory in their search. They went on, Bob on +the north slope, Jeremy on the south, moving cautiously and examining +every rock and tree for some blaze that might indicate the whereabouts +of the treasure. + +More minutes passed. The sun was already low, and Jeremy began to think +about turning toward home. Just then he came to the brink of a narrow +chasm in the ledge. Hardly more than a cleft it was, three or four feet +wide at its widest part, and extending deep down between the walls of +rock. He was about to jump over and proceed when his eye caught a +momentary gleam in the obscurity at the bottom of the crevice. He peered +downward for a second, then stood erect, waving to Bob with both arms. + +The other boy caught his signal and came rapidly through the trees to +the spot, hurrying faster as he saw the excitement in Jeremy's face. + +"What--what have you found?" he gasped under his breath. + +Jeremy was already wriggling his way down between the smooth rock walls, +bracing himself with back and knees. Within a few seconds he had +reached the bottom, some ten feet below. It was a sloping, uneven floor +of earth, lighted dimly from above and from the south, where the ledge +shelved off down the hillside. The dirt was black and damp, undisturbed +for years save by the feeble pushing of some pale, seedling plant. +Jeremy groped aimlessly at first, then, as his eyes became accustomed to +the half-light, peered closely into the crevices along either side. + +Bob leaned over the edge, pointing. "Back and to the left!" he +whispered. Jeremy turned as directed, felt along the earth and finally +clutched at something that seemed to glitter with a yellow light. He +turned his face upward and Bob read utter disappointment in his eyes. + +The gleaming something which he held aloft was nothing but a bit of +discolored mica that had reflected the faint light. + +Bob almost groaned aloud as he looked at it. Then he took off his belt +and passed an end of it down for Jeremy to climb up by. The latter took +hold half-heartedly, and was commencing the ascent when his moccasined +foot slipped on a low, arching hump in the damp earth. He went down on +one knee and as it struck the ground there was a faint hollow thud. +Astonished, the boy remained in a kneeling posture and felt about +beneath him with his hands. + +"What is it?" whispered Bob. + +Jeremy stood erect again. "Some kind of old, slippery wet wood," he +answered. "It feels like--like a barrel!" + +"I'm coming down!" said the Delaware boy, and casting a cautious look +around, he descended into the depths of the crevice. + +With their hands and hunting-knives both boys went to work feverishly to +unearth the wooden object. A few moments of breathless labor laid bare +the side and part of one end of a heavily-built, oaken keg. + +"Now maybe we can lift it out," said Jeremy, and taking a strong grip of +the edge, they heaved mightily together. It stirred a bare fraction of +an inch in its bed. "Again!" panted Jeremy, and they made another +desperate try. It was of no avail. The keg seemed to weigh hundreds of +pounds. + +Mopping his forehead with his sleeve, Bob stood up and looked his +companion in the face. "Well," he grinned, "the heavier the better!" +"Right!" Jeremy agreed. "But how'll we get it home? We don't dare chop +it open--too much noise--or set fire to it, for they'd see the smoke. +Besides it's too damp to burn. Here--I'll see what's in it, yet!" + +He crouched at the end of the barrel, whetted his hunting-knife on his +palm a few times, and began to cut swiftly at a crack between two +staves. Gradually the blade worked into the wood, opening a long narrow +slot as Jeremy whittled away first at one side, then at the other. From +time to time either he or Bob would stoop, trembling with excitement to +peer through the crack, but it was pitch-dark inside the barrel. + +Jeremy kept at his task without rest, and as his knife had more play, +the shavings he cut from the sides of the opening grew thicker and +thicker. First he, then Bob, would try, every few seconds, to thrust a +fist through the widening hole. + +At length Bob's hand, which was a trifle smaller than Jeremy's, squeezed +through. There was a breathless instant, while he groped within the keg, +and then, with a struggle he pulled his hand forth. In his fingers he +clutched a broad yellow disc. + +"Gold!" + +They gasped the word together. + +Bob's face was awe-struck. "It's full of 'em--full of pieces like this," +he whispered, "right up to within four inches of the top!" + +They bent over the huge gold coin. The queer characters of the +inscription, cut in deep relief, were strange to both boys. Jeremy had +seen Spanish doubloons and the great double _moidores_ of Portugal, but +never such a piece as this. It was nearly two inches across and thick +and heavy in proportion. + +One after another Bob drew out dozens of the shining coins, and they +filled their pockets with them till they felt weighted down. At length +Jeremy, looking up, was startled to see that the sun had set and +darkness was rapidly settling over the island. They threw dirt over the +barrel, then with all possible speed clambered forth, and taking up +their guns, made their way home as quietly as they had come. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + + +"No, lad, the risk is too great. Ye'd be in worse plight than before, if +they caught ye, and with a score of the ruffians searching the island +over, ye'd run too long a chance. Better be satisfied with what's here, +and stay where we can at least defend ourselves." + +Amos Swan was speaking. On the deal table before him, a heap of great +goldpieces gleamed in the firelight while seated around the board were +his two sons and Bob. + +It was Tom who answered. "True enough, father," he said, "and yet this +gold is ours. We own the island by the Governor's grant. If we sit idle +the pirates will surely find the treasure and make off with it. But if +we go up there at night, as Jeremy suggests, the risk we run will be +smaller, and every time we make the trip we'll add a thousand guineas to +that pile there. Think of it, father." + +The elder man frowned thoughtfully. "Well," he said at length, "if you +go with them, Tom, and you go carefully, at night, we'll chance it, once +at least. Not tonight, though. It's late now and you all need sleep. +I'll take the first watch." + +At about ten o'clock of the evening following, Jeremy, Bob and Tom stole +out and up the hill in the darkness. They were well-armed but carried no +lantern, the boys being confident of their ability to find the cleft in +the ledge without a light. A half hour's walking brought them near the +spot, and Jeremy, who had almost an Indian's memory for the "lay of the +ground," soon led the way to the edge of the chasm. Dim starlight shone +through the gap in the trees above the ledge, but there was only +darkness below in the pit. One by one they felt their way down and at +last all three stood on the damp earth at the bottom. "Here's the +barrel--just as we left it. They haven't been here yet!" Jeremy +whispered. + +Working as quickly and as quietly as he could, Bob reached into the +opening in the keg and pulled out the gold, piece by piece, while the +others, taking the coins from his fingers, filled their pockets, and the +leather pouches they had brought. + +It was breathlessly exciting work, for all three were aware of the +danger that they ran. When finally they crawled forth, laden like +sumpter-mules, the perspiration was thick on Jeremy's forehead. Knowing +the character of Pharaoh Daggs so well, he realized, better probably +than either of his companions, what fate they might expect if they were +discovered. So far, apparently, the pirates had not thought of setting a +night guard on the ridge. If they continued to neglect this precaution +and failed to find the treasure themselves, three more trips would---- + +His calculations were interrupted by the sudden snapping of a twig. He +stopped, instantly on the alert. Behind him Tom and Bob had also paused. +Neither of them had caused the sound. It had seemed to come from the +thick bush down hill to the right. For an endlessly long half-minute the +three held their breath, listening. Then once more something crackled, +farther away this time, and in a more southwesterly direction. + +Man or animal, whatever it was that made the sounds, was moving rapidly +away from them. + +Jeremy hunched the straps of his heavy pouch higher up on his shoulder +and led on again, faster than before, and hurrying forward in Indian +file, they reached the cabin without further adventure. + +All through the next day they stood watch and watch at the shack, ready +for the attack which they expected to develop sooner or later. But still +it appeared that the pirates preferred to keep out of sight. The boys +had told Amos Swan of the noises they had heard the previous night and +he had listened with a grave countenance. It could hardly have been +other than one of the pirates, he thought, for he was quite certain that +except for a few rabbits, there were no wild animals upon the island. +"Still," he said, "if you were moving quietly, there's small reason to +believe the man knew you were near. If he did know and made such a noise +as that, he must have been a mighty poor woodsman!" + +The boys, anxious that nothing should prevent another trip to the +treasure-keg, accepted this logic without demur. + +The following night Amos Swan decided to go with the boys himself, +leaving Tom on guard at the cabin. As before, they armed themselves with +guns, pistols and hunting-knives and ascended the hillside in the inky +dark. There were no stars in sight and a faint breeze that came and went +among the trees foreboded rain. This prospect of impending bad weather +made itself felt in the spirits of the three treasure-hunters. Jeremy, +accustomed as he was to the woods, drew a breath of apprehension and +looked scowlingly aloft as he heard the dismal wind in the hemlock tops. +Ugh! He shook himself nervously and plunged forward along the hillcrest. +A few moments later they were gathered about the barrel at the bottom of +the cleft. + +It was even darker than they had found it on their previous visit. +Jeremy and his father had to grope in the pitchy blackness for the coins +that Bob held out to them. Their pockets were about half-full when there +came a whispered exclamation from the Delaware boy. + +"There's some sort of box in here, buried in the gold!" he said. "It's +too big to pull out through the hole. Where's your dirk, Jeremy?" + +The latter knelt astride the keg, and working in the dark, began to +enlarge the opening with the blade of his hunting-knife. After a few +minutes he thrust his hand in and felt the box. It was apparently of +wood, covered with leather and studded over with scores of nails. Its +top was only seven or eight inches wide by less than a foot long, +however, and in thickness it seemed scarcely a hand's breadth. + +Big cold drops of rain were beginning to fall as Jeremy resumed his +cutting. He made the opening longer as well as wider, and at last was +able by hard tugging to get the box through. He thrust it into his pouch +and they recommenced the filling of their pockets with goldpieces. + +Before a dozen coins had been removed a sudden red glare on the walls of +the chasm caused the three to leap to their feet. At the same instant +the rain increased to a downpour, and they looked up to see a pine-knot +torch in the opening above them splutter and go out. The wet darkness +came down blacker than before. + +But in that second of illumination they had seen framed in the torchlit +cleft a pair of gleaming light eyes and a cruelly snarling mouth set in +a face made horrible by the livid scar that ran from chin to eyebrow +across its broken nose. + +Jeremy clutched at Bob and his father. "This way!" he gasped through the +hissing rain, and plunged along the black chasm toward the southern end, +where it debouched upon the hillside. They clambered over some boulders +and emerged in the undergrowth, a score of yards from the point where +the barrel had been found. + +"Come on," whispered Jeremy hoarsely, and started eastward along the +slope. Burdened as they were, they ran through the woods at desperate +speed, the noise of their going drowned by the descending flood. + +In the haste of flight it was impossible to keep together. When Jeremy +had put close to half a mile between himself and the chasm, he paused +panting and listened for the others, but apparently they were not near. +He decided to cut across the ridge, and started up the hill, when he +heard a crash in the brush just above him. "Father?" he called under his +breath. To his dismay he was answered by a startled oath, and the next +moment he saw a tall figure coming at him swinging a cutlass. The pirate +was a bare ten feet away. Jeremy aimed his pistol and pulled the +trigger, but only a dull click responded. The priming was wet. + +[Illustration: A sudden red glare on the walls of the chasm.] + +At that instant the cutlass passed his head with an ugly sound and +Jeremy, desperate, flung his pistol straight at the pirate's face. As it +left his hand he heard it strike. Then as the man went down with a +groan, he doubled in his tracks like a hare, and ran back, heading up +across the hill. + +It was not till he was over the ridge and well down the slope toward +home that he dropped to a walk. His breath was coming in gasps that hurt +him like a knife between his ribs, and his legs were so weak he could +hardly depend on them. He had run nearly two miles, up hill and down, in +heavy clothes drenched with rain, and carrying a dozen pounds of gold +besides the flintlock fowling-piece which he still clutched in his left +hand. Somewhere behind him he had dropped the box, found amid the +treasure, but he was far too tired to look for it. More dead than alive +he crawled, at last, up to the door of the cabin and staggered in when +Tom opened to his knock. + +While he gasped out his story, the older brother looked more closely to +the barring of the window-shutters and put fresh powder in the +priming-pans of the guns. + +Ten minutes after Jeremy, his father appeared, wet to the skin and with +a grim look around his bearded jaws. He, too, was spent with running, +but he would have gone out again at once when he heard that Bob was +still missing if the boys had not dissuaded him. Jeremy was sure that +if Bob had escaped he would soon reach the cabin, for he had the lay of +the island well in mind now. + +And so, while Tom kept watch, they lay down with their clothes on before +the fire. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + + +The gray November morning dawned damp and cold. In the sheer exhaustion +that followed on their adventure of the night before, Jeremy and his +father slept heavily till close to nine o'clock, when Tom wakened them. +His face was haggard with watching, and he looked so worried that they +had no need to ask him if Bob had come in. + +It was a gloomy party that sat down to the morning meal. The youngest +could eat nothing for thinking of his chum's fate. While his father +still spoke hopefully of the possibility that the boy might have found a +hiding place which he dared not leave, Jeremy could only remember the +frightful, scarred visage of Pharaoh Daggs looming in the torchlight. He +knew that Bob would find little mercy behind that cruel face, and he +could not throw off the conviction that the lad had fallen into the +clutches of the pirates. + +All day, standing at the loopholes, they waited for some sign either of +Bob's return, or, what seemed more probable, an attack by the buccaneer +crew. But as the hours passed no moving form broke the dark line of +trees above them on the slope. + +At length the dusk fell, and they gave up hope of seeing the boy again, +though on the other score their vigilance was redoubled. The night went +by, however, as quietly as though the island were deserted. + +It was about two hours after sunrise that Jeremy stole out to give +fodder to the sheep, penned in the stockade ever since the first alarm. +He had been gone a bare two minutes when he rushed back into the cabin. + +"Look father," he cried. "In the bay--there's a sloop coming in to +anchor!" + +Amos Swan went to a northern loophole, and peered forth. "What is she? +Can ye make her out? Seems to fly the British Jack all right," he said. +Following the two boys, he hurried outside. Jeremy had run down the hill +to the beach where he stood, gazing intently at the craft, and shading +his eyes with his hand. After a moment he turned excitedly. "Father," he +shouted, "it's the _Tiger!_ I saw her only once, but I'd not forget +those fine lines of her. Look--there's Job, himself, getting into the +cutter!" + +A big man in a blue cloak had just stepped into the stern sheets of the +boat, and seeing the figures on the shore, he now waved a hand in their +direction. + +Sure enough, in three minutes Captain Job Howland jumped out upon the +sand and with a roar of greeting caught Jeremy's hand in his big fist. +"Well, lad," he laughed, "ye look glad to see us. Didn't know we was +headed up this way, did ye? But here we be! Soon as the sloop was ready +Mr. Curtis had a light cargo for Boston town, and he told me to coast up +here on the same trip. He wants Bob home again. Why--what ails ye, boy?" + +They were climbing the path toward the shack, when Job noticed the +downcast look on Jeremy's face, and interrupted himself. + +In a few words the boy told what had happened during the brief week they +had been on the island. + +"By the Great Bull Whale!" muttered the ex-buccaneer in astonishment. +"Sol Brig's treasure, sure enough! And that devil, Daggs--see here, if +Bob's alive, we've got to get him out of that!" He swung about and +hailed the boat's crew, all six of whom had remained on the beach. + +"Adams, and you, Mason, pull back to the sloop and bring off all the men +in the port watch, with their cutlasses and small-arms. The rest of you +come up here." + +As soon as Job had shaken hands with Jeremy's father and brother, they +entered the cabin. + +"Now, Jeremy," said the skipper, "you say this craft is careened on the +other side of the island, close to the place where Stede Bonnet landed +us that time? How many men have they?" + +"We don't know," the boy replied. "But I don't think Daggs had time to +gather a big crew, and what's more, he'd figure the fewer the better +when it came to splitting up the gold. I doubt if there's above fifteen +men--maybe only fourteen now." He grinned as he thought of the big +pirate who had attacked him in the woods. + +"Good," said Job. "We'll have sixteen besides you, Mr. Swan, and your +two boys. An even twenty, counting myself. If we can't put that crowd +under hatches, I'm no sailorman." + +The crew of the _Tiger_, bristling with arms and eager for action, now +came up. Without wasting time Job told them what was afoot and they +moved forward up the hill. + +Once among the trees the attacking party spread out in irregular +fan-formation, with Tom and Jeremy scouting a little in advance. The +stillness of the woods was almost oppressive as they went forward. All +the men seemed to feel it and proceeded with more and more caution. Used +to the hurly-burly of sea-fighting, they did not relish this silent +approach against an unseen enemy. + +Clearing the ridge they came down at length to the edge of the beach, +close to the old pirate anchorage, and Jeremy led the way along through +the bushes toward the mouth of the reedy inlet. Working carefully down +the shore to the place whence Bob and he had sighted the spars of the +buccaneer, he climbed above the reeds and peered up the creek. To his +surprise the masts had disappeared. + +"She's gone!" he gasped. + +Job and Tom looked in turn. Certain it was that no vessel lay in the +creek! + +"Perhaps they sighted the _Tiger_," suggested Jeremy. "If so, they can't +have gotten far. They've likely taken the rest of the gold. And Bob must +be aboard, too, if he's still alive." + +As they turned to go back, one of the sailors who had walked down to the +reeds at the edge of the creek, hurried up with a dark object in his +fist. He held it out as he drew near and they saw that it was a pistol, +covered with a mass of black mud, Jeremy saw a gleam of metal through +the sticky lump, and quickly scraping away the mud from the mounting he +disclosed a silver plate which bore the still terrible name "Stede +Bonnet." The boy gave a cry of pleasure as he saw it, and thrust the +weapon quickly into Job's hands. + +"Look!" he exclaimed. "It's Bob's pistol. And there's only one way it +could have gotten where it was. He must have thrown it from the sloop's +deck as they went past, thinking we'd find it. See here! They can't be +gone more than a few hours, for there's not a bit of rust on the iron +parts. Maybe we could catch them, Job, if we hurry!" + +Job turned to his men and called, "What say you, lads--shall we give +them a chase?" + +A chorus of vociferous "Ay, Ay's" was the answer. + +"Here we go, then!" he shouted, and led the way back up the hill at a +trot. + +As they reached the ridge, Jeremy cut over to the left a little through +the trees, so that his course lay past the treasure cleft. When he +reached it he found just what he had expected--the shattered staves of +the barrel lying open on the ledge, and several rough excavations in the +dirt at the bottom of the chasm, where the buccaneers had searched +greedily for more gold. The charred remnants of a bonfire, a few yards +further down the cleft, showed that they had worked partly at night. + +Leaving the ledge, the boy was hurrying back to join the main party when +he came out upon an elevated space, clear of trees, from which one could +command a view of the sea to the west and south. Involuntarily he +paused, and shading his eyes with his hand, swept the horizon slowly. +Then he gave a start, for straight away to the westward, in a gap +between two islands, was a white speck of sail. + +"Job!" he yelled at the top of his lungs. "Job!" + +The big skipper was only a short distance away, and he came through the +trees at a run followed by most of his men, in answer to Jeremy's hail. +No words were necessary. The boy's pointing finger led their eyes +instantly to the far-off ship. Job took a quick look at the sun and the +distant islands, to fix his bearings, then set out for the northern +inlet again, even faster than before. + +As they came running down the slope toward the cabin, Amos Swan emerged, +gun in hand, evidently believing that they were in full rout before the +enemy. + +"They've left the island," panted Jeremy, as he reached the door. "We +saw their sail--we're going to chase them! We're sure, now, that Bob's +aboard!" + +His father looked relieved. + +"Go--you and Tom!" he said. "I'll stay and mind the island." + +Job, with a dozen of his men, was starting in the cutter, and had +already hailed the _Tiger_ to order the other boat sent ashore. Tom and +Jeremy hurried into the cabin, and stuffing some clothes into Jeremy's +sea-chest along with a brace of good pistols and a cutlass apiece, were +soon ready to embark. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + + +There was a bustle of action aboard the sloop when the boys swarmed up +her side. One chanty was being sung up forward, where half a dozen +sturdy seamen were heaving at the capstan bars, and another was going +amidships as the throat of the long main gaff went to the top. Captain +Job stood on the afterdeck, constantly shouting new orders. His big +voice made itself heard above the singing, the groan of tackle-blocks +and the crash of the canvas, flapping in the northwest wind. + +It was a clear, sunny day, with a bite of approaching winter in the air, +and the boys were glad to button their jackets tight and move into the +lee of the after-house. + +"Here, lads," Job cried, "there's work for you, too. Take a run below, +Jeremy, and bring up an armload of cutlasses. See if any of those +muskets need cleaning, Tom." + +Jeremy scurried down the companion ladder, and forward along the +starboard gun deck to the rack of small arms near the fo'c's'le hatch. +Jeremy was pleased to see that the sloop carried a full complement of +ten broadside guns, beside a long brass cannon in the bows. In fact, +she was armed like a regular man-o'-war. The tubs were filled and neat +little piles of round-shot and cannister stood beside each gun. The +_Tiger_, he thought, was likely to give a good account of herself if she +could come to grips with the buccaneers. + +Stepping on deck once more, his arms piled with hangers, Jeremy found +that the sloop had already cleared the bay on her starboard tack and was +just coming about to make a long reach of it to port. The pirate sail +was no longer in sight in the west, but as several islands filled the +horizon in that direction, it seemed likely that she had passed beyond +them. + +Jeremy approached the Captain. "How far ahead do you think they are?" he +asked. + +"When we sighted 'em, they were about four sea-miles to the westward," +answered Job. "If they're making ordinary sailing, they've gained close +to three more, since then. But if they're carrying much canvas it may be +more. We shan't come near them before dark, at any rate." + +He cast an eye aloft as he spoke, and Jeremy's gaze followed. The +_Tiger_ was carrying topsails and both jibs, with a single reef in her +fore and main sails. She was scudding along at a great rate with the +whitecaps racing by, close below the lee gunports. Jeremy whistled with +delight. He had seen Stede Bonnet crowd canvas once or twice, but never +in so good a cause. + +The wind held from the northwest, gaining in strength rather than +decreasing, and the sloop, heeled far to port, sped along close-hauled +on a west-sou'west course. + +After three-quarters of an hour of this kind of sailing they were close +to the group of islands, and sighting a passage to the northward, swung +over on the other tack. A rough beat to starboard brought them into the +gap. Though they crossed a grim, black shoal at the narrowest part, Job +did not shorten sail, but steered straight on as fast as the wind would +take him. And at length they came clear of the headland and saw a great +stretch of open sea to the southwestward with a faint, white dot of sail +at its farthest edge. + +At the sight a hearty cheer went up from the seamen, clustered along the +port rail. A lean, wind-browned man with keen black eyes came aft to the +tiller where Jeremy and Tom stood with the Captain. It was Isaiah +Hawkes, Job's first mate, himself a Maine coast man. "It's all clear +sailin' ahead, sir," he said. "No more reefs or islands 'twixt this an' +Cape Cod, if they follow the course they're on." + +The _Tiger_ hung with fluttering canvas in the wind's eye for a second +or two, then settled away on the port tack with a bang of her main +boom. + +"Here, Isaiah, take the tiller," said Job, at length. "Hold her as she +is--two points to windward of the other sloop. You'll want to set an +extra lookout tonight," he continued. "We shan't be able to keep 'em in +sight at this distance, if they've sighted us, which most likely they +have. I'm going up to have a look at 'Long Poll' now." + +Accompanied by the two boys, he made his way along the steeply canted +deck of the plunging schooner to the breach of the swivel-gun at the +bow. + +"Ever seen this gal afore, Jeremy?" asked Job, shouting to make himself +heard above the hiss and thunder of the water under the forefoot. "She's +the old gun we had aboard the _Queen_. Stede Bonnet never had a piece +like this. Cast in Bristol, she was, in '94. There's the letters that +tells it." And he patted the bright breach lovingly, sighting along the +brazen barrel, and swinging the nose from right to left till he brought +the gun to bear squarely on the white speck that was the pirate sloop, +still hull-down in the sea ahead. "Come morning, Polly, my gal," he +chuckled, "we'll let you talk to 'em." + +As he spoke, the fiery disk of the sun was slipping into the ocean +across the starboard bow. With sunset the breeze lightened perceptibly, +and Job ordered the reefs shaken out of the fore and mainsails and an +extra jib set. Then he and the boys, who, although they had quarters +aft, had been assigned to the port watch, went below and turned in. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + + +Jeremy, stumbling on deck at eight bells, pulled his seaman's greatcoat +up about his ears, for the breeze came cold. He worked his way forward +along the high weather rail and took up his lookout station on the +starboard bow. + +Overhead the midnight sky burned bright with stars that seemed to +flicker like candle-flames in the wind. A half-grown moon rode down the +west and threw a faint radiance across the heaving seas. It was blowing +harder now. The wind boomed loud in the taut stays and the rising waves +broke smashingly over the bow at times, forcing the foremast hands to +cling like monkeys to the rail and rigging. + +Captain Job, with Tom to help him, stood grimly at the thrashing tiller +and drove the sloop southwestward at a terrific gait. The sails had been +single-reefed again during the mate's watch, but with the wind still +freshening the staunch little craft was carrying an enormous amount of +canvas. Job Howland was a sailor of the breed that was to reach its +climax a hundred years later in the captains of the great Yankee +clippers--men who broke sailing records and captured the world's trade +because they dared to walk their tall ships, full-canvassed, past the +heavy foreign merchantmen that rolled under triple reefs in half a gale +of wind. + +One by one the hours of the watch went by. Jeremy, drenched and +shivering, but thrilling to the excitement of the chase, stuck to his +post at the rail beside the long bow gun. His eyes were fixed constantly +on the sea ahead and abeam, while his thoughts, racing on, followed the +pirate schooner close. + +How was Bob to be gotten off alive, he wondered, for he had come to +believe that his chum was aboard the fleeing craft. If it came to a +running fight, their cannonade might sink her, in which case the boy +would be drowned along with his captors. And there were other things +that could happen. Jeremy groaned aloud as he thought of the fate that +Pharaoh Daggs had once so nearly meted out to him. He felt again the +bite of the hemp at his wrists, and saw that pitiless gleam in the +strange light eyes of the pirate. Would Daggs try to settle his long +score against the boys by some unheard-of brutality? + +A sudden hail cut in upon his thoughts. "Sail ho!" the lookout on the +other side had cried. + +"Where away?" came Job's deep shout. + +"Three points on the port bow," answered the seaman, "an' not above a +league off!" + +Jeremy, straining his eyes into the night, made out the dim patch of +sail ahead. + +"How's she headed?" called the Captain again. "Is she still on her port +tack, or running before the wind?" + +"Still beating up to the west!" the sailor replied. + +"Good," cried Job. "They think they can outsail us. Keep her in sight +and sing out if you see her fall off the wind!" + +Half an hour later the watch was changed and Jeremy scrambled into his +warm bunk for a few hours more sleep. + +It was broad daylight when he and Tom reached the deck once more and +went eagerly forward to join the little knot of seamen in the bows. All +eyes were turned toward the horizon, ahead, where the sails of the +fleeing schooner loomed gray in the morning haze. + +The wind which had shifted a little to the north was still blowing +stiffly, heeling both sloops over at a sharp angle. The _Tiger_ had +gained somewhat during the morning watch, but the pirates had now +evidently become desperate and put on all the sail their craft would +carry, so that the two vessels sped on, league after league, without +apparent change of position. + +Job, who had now taken the tiller again, called to Jeremy after a while. +"Here, lad," he said, when the boy reached the poop, "lend me a hand +with this kicker." + +Jeremy laid hold with a will, and found that it took almost all his +strength, along with that of the powerful Captain, to hold the schooner +on her course. At times, when a big beam sea caught her, she would yaw +fearfully, falling off several points, and could only be brought back to +windward by jamming the thrashing rudder hard over. + +"We lose headway when she does that, don't we, Job?" panted the boy +after one such effort. "And I reckon we couldn't lash the beam fast to +keep her this way, could we? No, I see, it has to be free so as to move +all the time. Still----" + +As he staggered to and fro at the end of the tiller, the boy thought +rapidly. Finally he recommenced: "Job--this may sound foolish to +you--but why couldn't we lash her on both sides, and yet give her +play--look--this way! Rig a little pulley here and one here----" He +indicated places on the deck, close to the rail on either quarter. "Then +reeve a line from the tiller-end through each one, and bring it back +with three or four turns around a windlass drum, a little way for'ard, +there. Then you could keep hold of the arms of the windlass, and only +let the tiller move as much as you needed to, either way----" + +"By the Great Bull Whale," Job laughed, as he grasped the boy's plan, "I +wonder if that wouldn't work! Jeremy, boy, we'll find out, anyhow. +Braisted!" he called to the ship's carpenter, "up with some lumber and a +good stout line and a pair of spare blocks if you've got them. Lively, +now!" + +In a jiffy the carpenter had tumbled the tackle out on the deck, and +under the direction of Job, began to rig it according to Jeremy's +scheme. It was a matter of a few moments only, once he caught the idea. +When at length the final stout knot had been tied, Job, still keeping +his mighty clutch on the tiller beam, motioned to Jeremy to take hold of +the windlass. The boy jumped forward eagerly and seized two of the rude +spokes that radiated horizontally from the hub. The position was an +awkward one, but with a slight pull he found that he could swing the +windlass rapidly in either direction. + +"Avast there--avast!" came Job's bass bellow, and looking over his +shoulder, Jeremy saw the big skipper flung from side to side in spite of +himself as the windlass was turned. The seamen who had gathered to watch +were roaring with laughter, and Job himself was chuckling as he let go +the tiller and hurried to Jeremy's side. Taking a grip on the spokes, he +spun them back and forth once or twice, to feel how the vessel answered +her helm under this new contraption, and in a moment had it working +handsomely. He was using the first ship's steering-wheel. + +The sloop, which had yawed and lost some headway during this interlude, +now struck her stride again, and drove along with her nose held steady, +a full half-point closer to the wind than had been possible before. Job +perceived this and loosed one hand long enough to strike Jeremy a mighty +blow on the back. + +"She works, boy!" he cried. "And at this gait we'll catch them before +noon!" + +Indeed, the crew had already noticed the difference in their sailing, +and were lining the bows, waving their caps in the air and yelling with +excitement as they watched the distance between the two craft slowly +shorten. + +An hour passed, and the gunners were sent below to make ready their +pieces, for the lead of the pirate sloop had been cut to a bare mile. + +Job had turned the wheel over to Hawkes, and now, with three picked men +to help him, was ramming home a heavy charge of powder in the long +"nine." On top of it he drove down the round-shot, then bent above the +swivel-breach, swinging it back and forth as he brought the cannon's +muzzle to bear on the topsails of the pirate schooner, whose black hull +was now plainly visible. He sniffed the wind and measured the distance +with his eye. When his calculations were complete he turned and held up +his hand in signal to the helmsman. As the swivel allowed movement only +from side to side, he must depend on the cant of the deck for his +elevation. Holding the long gunner's match lighted in his hand, he +waited for the exact second when the schooner's bow was lifted on a wave +and swinging in the right direction, then touched the powder train. +There was a hiss and flare, and at the end of a second or two a terrific +roar as the charge was fired. The smoke was blown clear almost +instantly, and every one leaned forward, watching the sea ahead with +tense eagerness. At length a column of white spray lifted, a scant +hundred yards astern of the other sloop. The crew cheered, for it was a +splendid shot at that distance and in a seaway. The sky was thickening +to windward, and it grew harder momentarily to see objects at a +distance. Job was already at work, superintending the swabbing-out of +the gun and reloading with his own hands. There was a long moment while +he waited for a favorable chance, then "Long Poll" shook the deck once +more with the crash of her discharge. This time the shot fell just ahead +and to windward of the enemy--so close that the spray blew back into the +rigging. + +Job had bracketed his target, but the mist-clouds that were sweeping +past rendered his task a difficult one. Grimly but with swift certainty +of movement he went about his preparations for a third attempt. + +Suddenly there was a shout from Jeremy, who had climbed into the +forestays for a better view. "Look there!" he cried. "They're lowering a +boat. There's something white in it, like a flag of truce!" + +In the lee of the pirate vessel a small boat could be seen tossing +crazily in the heavy seas. Job, who had called for his spyglass, looked +long and earnestly at the tiny craft. + +"There's but one man in it," he announced at length, "and he's showing a +bit of something white, as Jeremy says. Here, lad, you've the best eyes +on the sloop, see if you can make out more." + +The boy focussed the glass on the little boat, which was now drifting +rapidly to the southeast, already nearly opposite their bows. The figure +in it stood up, waving frantic arms to one side and the other. + +"It's Bob!" Jeremy almost screamed. "That's a signal we used to have +when we were hunting. It means 'Come here!'" + +He had hardly finished speaking when--"Port your helm!" roared Job. "All +hands stand by to slack the fore and main sheets!" + +[Illustration: Job had bracketed his target.] + +The _Tiger_ fell off the wind with a lurch and spun away to leeward, +bowing into the running seas. + +Five minutes later they hauled Bob, drenched and dripping, to the deck. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + + +The boy was pale and haggard and so weak he could hardly stand alone, +but he looked about him with an eager grin as Tom and Jeremy helped him +toward the companion. + +"Why," he gasped, "here's old Job! What's he doing up here!" as the +latter strode aft to seize his hand. + +"Ay, lad," laughed the big mariner, a mighty relief showing in his face, +"we're all your friends aboard here. But how came those devils to let +you off so easy? We figured we'd have to fight to get you, and mighty +lucky to do it at that!" + +The schooner had come into the wind again and was heading westward in +pursuit of the pirate, now hidden in the murk ahead. Bob was helped to +the cabin and propped up in a bunk while his friends hastened to get +some dry clothes on him. A pull of brandy stopped his shivering. + +"I thought none of you would ever see me alive," he said soberly. "But, +Job, before I tell you all about it, are you sure you've lost sight of +Daggs' sloop? They were worried about your shooting, and figured the +only chance they had was to set me adrift and then get away in the +dirty weather, while you were fishing me out. They'd never have given me +up if that second shot hadn't mighty near gone through and through the +old _Revenge_." + +"The _Revenge_!" said Job. "I thought I knew the cut of that big +mainsail, and she was painted black, too! Well, their trick succeeded. +Just this minute we'd have no more chance of finding 'em than a needle +in a haystack. But it may clear again before night, and then we'll see! +Go ahead now and spin your yarn, my lad!" + +And Bob, swigging hot tea and munching a biscuit, began once more to +tell his story. + +"After we separated, and started to run, up on the hill that night," he +said, "I seemed to lose all my sense of direction for a while. I was +scared for one thing, I'll freely admit. When I saw Daggs' face in the +torchlight leaning over us, there by the treasure barrel, it frightened +me pretty nearly out of my senses. So I started to run, without an idea +of where I was going, and by the time I got my wits back, I couldn't +tell just where I was, in the rain and the dark. I seemed to be right on +top of the ridge, but I had zig-zagged several times, I remembered, and +when I tried to figure which side of the hill I should go down, I +couldn't for the life of me decide. Finally I said to myself, 'Here, +don't be a fool! Which way was the wind blowing when we set out from the +shack? Aha, it was north,' says I. 'Very well, then, this must be the +way to the cabin--straight into the wind,' And down the hill I started, +bearing over to my right, so as to come out just above the sheep-pen." + +"But--" interrupted Jeremy, "when that storm came up the wind backed +clear round into the south--" + +"I know it now," Bob answered, "but I didn't then. I kept right on, +tickled that I was out of it so well, and wondering where the rest of +you had gotten to. Pretty soon I came to some low land that I didn't +remember, but I saw a light off ahead and to my right, and decided that +was the cabin. I blundered along through the trees till I was quite +close, and then I discovered that the light came from a bonfire. I +stopped for a second, puzzled, for I was sure I must be near the cabin. +I wondered if the pirates had captured it. I stole up still closer and +watched the light and presently a buccaneer walked in front of it. + +"That was enough for me. I turned and started to run. And at about the +third step I fell plump into the arms of a pirate. You see I had walked +straight toward their part of the island by making that silly mistake. + +"This fellow got a grip on my collar, and I couldn't break loose, though +I'll warrant his shins are tender yet, where I kicked him. He hauled me +down to the fire, and he and three others who were there looked me +over. The one that had caught me was a big mulatto--as ugly-looking a +customer as I ever saw. And the others were no lambs. I'll tell you, my +hearties, Daggs has gathered up a pretty lot of rascals in this crew. +Not one of 'em but looks as if he'd knife you for a copper farthing! + +"These four by the fire wasted no time, but went through my pockets in a +hurry. They took my pistol and were quarreling about dividing the +goldpieces I had, when the rest of the crowd began to appear. They were +all wet, and in a bad temper for a dozen other reasons. Plenty of curses +came my way, but no one laid a hand on me, for they had a mighty fear of +Pharaoh Daggs. When he finally came, he swore at them till they slunk +around like whipped curs. + +"He was in an ugly mood that night. Seemingly he was disappointed in the +amount of treasure they had found. Besides that, they had come on one of +their best men with his head beaten in, and you and your father had +gotten clean away. Things looked black enough for me, I can tell you. + +"Daggs and the mulatto, who is his mate, started in to question me, +after they had grumbled awhile. They knew already how many of you there +were at the cabin, but they asked about your guns and supplies. Of +course, I didn't make the stronghold any weaker in the telling. When +they had all the information they thought they could get out of me, +they held a sort of council. Some wanted to go right over before light +and attack the cabin. Others were for broaching a barrel of rum first, +and making thorough preparations. Finally Daggs decided to put it off +until they could get some pitch and dry grass ready, so as to set fire +to the roof. + +"It was nearly daylight by this time, and they started back through the +reeds toward their sloop, leading me along with them. We travelled half +a mile or so, down a crooked black trail only wide enough for one man at +a time, and ankle deep in the mud of the swamp. When we reached the +schooner they stuck a pair of handcuffs on me and put me down on the +ballast. In spite of the filth and the cold I was so dog-tired that I +tumbled on the nearest pile of old chains and went to sleep. + +"I woke up late in the afternoon, and I don't think I was ever so stiff +and uncomfortable and hungry in my life. I made my way over to the hatch +and found I could reach the combing with my hands, so I pulled myself +up, after a mighty hard tussle. Try it some time with your hands tied! + +"Most of the pirates were forward in their bunks, but one who was +keeping watch on deck took pity on me and gave me a couple of biscuits +and a swig of water. He was more or less talkative, besides, and from +him I learned that Daggs planned to start about midnight for your side +of the island, carrying buckets of pitch and tinder, so as to roast you +out. + +"As you may imagine, this kind of talk nearly turned me sick with fear, +and right in the midst of it Pharaoh Daggs came on deck. + +"He had that empty sort of glare in his eyes that we used to see +sometimes when he was drunk. Of course, he walked straight and even, but +as he came over toward us, with his teeth showing and his eyes fixed on +a point just above the pirate's shoulder, I almost yelled 'Look out!' If +I had, it might have cost me my life right there. He walked along, light +on his toes like a cat, till he stood two feet from us. Then, so fast I +hardly knew what happened, he hit the other man on the chin with his +fist. That was all. The man dropped with his head back against the rail. +And Daggs went off, chuckling to himself but not making any noise. I +don't think he saw me at all, for his attack was more like the work of a +mad dog than of a man. + +"I crept away and got below decks as fast as might be, and there I +stayed hidden till after dark, when some of the buccaneers rousted me +out. A keg of rum had been opened in the waist, and the liquor was going +freely. Most of the crew were already drunk, but they had the sense to +chain me by one leg to the foremast, and then made me run back and +forth between them and the barrel. I was only too glad. No cannikin was +skimped while I was at the spigot. I looked around and remembered some +of the wild nights we had seen on the old _Revenge_. And then for the +first time I realized that the deck I stood on was the same! They'd +gotten hold of the old black sloop when she was auctioned at Charles +Town, patched up her bottom and here she was--buccaneering once more! +Where the gang of cut-throats aboard her were gathered, I don't know, +but they put Stede Bonnet's famous crew to shame. + +"Pharaoh Daggs was somewhere ashore with two of the crew till nearly +midnight. When he returned, the rest were lying like pigs about the +deck. He had sobered slightly--enough to remember the night's +undertaking--but it was useless to think of rousing those sots to any +sort of endeavor. He kicked one or two of them savagely with his heavy +boot, too, but it got hardly more than a grunt from them. + +"He stood there cursing for a minute, then came over and looked at the +shackle that held me to the foremast-foot, and shook it to make sure it +was solid before he went below. He had something done up in a cloth that +he held mighty tenderly, and he seemed in a better humor. + +"I curled up on the deck and by wrapping myself in a greatcoat which I +found beside one of the drunken pirates, succeeded in keeping reasonably +warm. + +"When morning came Daggs and his mulatto mate managed to wake most of +the men and forced them to get out and forage for wood and water, while +they themselves crossed the ridge to reconnoitre. I think it was about +two hours after sunrise when those of us who stayed aboard the sloop saw +figures running down the hill. The buccaneers got out boarding-pikes and +picked up cutlasses, but in a moment Daggs reached the side, out of +breath with his haste. + +"'There's a ten-gun schooner in the northern cove!' he cried. 'They're +landing a boat now. We haven't any time to lose--the tide's past full +already! Cut those moorings!' + +"The hemp lines were slashed through with cutlasses and the men, with +one accord, jumped to the push-holes. The sloop was on an even keel and +just off the bottom. A few strong shoves started her down the creek. + +"My hopes of escaping began to go down, for there I was, still chained +to the fore-stick like a cow put out to grass. I looked around me in +desperation, for I wanted to leave you some sign at least of my +whereabouts. Then my eye fell on a little heap of small arms that had +been thrown down near the forehatch. The pistols were useless to me, as +I had no powder, but among them I saw the bright silver mountings of my +own--the one that used to be Stede Bonnet's. + +"We were drawing near the creek mouth, and those of the crew who were +not at the poles were busy unfurling the sails. I picked the pistol up +unobserved and waited till we were just hauling clear of the creek. Then +I threw it overside and saw it strike in the mud. Did you find it?" + +"Yes," said Jeremy. "That's how we knew for certain that you'd been +captured." + +"Well," the Delaware boy went on, "there's not much more to tell. The +pirates made all sail to the southwest, but after we cleared the +islands, there you were, roaring along in our wake. Daggs thought that +the _Revenge_ was a faster sailer than your craft, but he found he +couldn't keep her as close to the wind on this tack. I don't think he +wants to fight if he can help it, but he was getting desperate this +afternoon before the weather began to thicken up. I heard him tell the +mate he'd rather come to broadside grips than risk having you drop a +shot through the black sloop's bottom with that bowchaser. Then the mist +started to come over, and I guess Daggs saw his chance right away. He +called the crew aft and told them what he was going to do, and a moment +later I found myself being lowered in a boat into that wicked sea. I +thought they were trying to drown me out of hand, till they gave me a +piece of white cloth to wave. Then I got an inkling of their idea. + +"Sure enough, no sooner was I fairly adrift than I saw you put over in +my direction, and thinking Jeremy might be aboard, I gave him our old +signal. It worked, and here I am safe enough. But meanwhile those devils +have got off into the mist, and it'll be hard to follow them." + +Job sat thoughtful, pulling at his pipe. He seemed to be cogitating some +of the points in Bob's narrative, and the others kept silent, unwilling +to interrupt him. At length he blew a great cloud of blue smoke toward +the deck-beams above and turning to the boy, asked, "Did Daggs or any of +the rest ever speak of the place where they were going?" + +"They never talked about it openly," Bob replied, "but from words +dropped now and then by the mulatto mate I figured they were heading +down for the Spanish Islands. I don't think they intend putting in +anywhere first, unless they land for water in one of those out of the +way inlets along the Jersey coast." + +Job nodded. "That's about as I thought," he answered. "So we'll hold on +this tack till nightfall--we're just off the Kennebec, now--and then +we'll run sou'-sou'east before the wind, to clear Cape Cod. Daggs--if he +figgers as I would in his place--won't start to leeward right away, for +he'd rather have us in front of him than behind. And unless I'm much +mistaken he's in too much of a hurry to waste time in doubling back up +the coast. All right Bob, lad, you'll be wanting sleep now, so we'll +leave you. On deck with you, boys!" + +And tucking the blankets about the drowsy youngster in the bunk, Job led +the way to the companion. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + + +The mist was sweeping past in swirls and streaks, and though the wind +had abated somewhat, the _Tiger_ still ploughed along into the obscurity +at a fair rate of speed. Jeremy stayed forward with the lookout, peering +constantly into the gloom ahead, and half expecting to see the ghostlike +sails of the _Revenge_ whenever for a moment a gray aisle opened in the +mist. But there were only the grim, uneasy seas and the shifting fog. + +Before darkness fell Job shortened sail, for he did not wish to get too +far ahead of the enemy. And about the end of the second dog watch he +gave the order to slack sheets and fall away for the southward run. + +The wind turned bitterly cold in the night, and when the watch was +changed Tom and Jeremy staggered below, glad to escape from the stinging +snow that filled the air. + +But with that snow-flurry the weather cleared. The sun rose to a day of +bright blue water and sharp wind, and hardly had its first level rays +shot across the ocean floor when the watch below was tumbled out by a +chorus of shouts from the deck. + +Jeremy, as he burst upward through the hatchway, cast an eager eye to +either beam, then uttered a whoop of joy, as he caught the gleam of +white canvas over the bows. There, straight ahead and barely a league +distant, raced the _Revenge_ and her pirate crew. + +Captain Job reached the deck only a couple of jumps behind the boys, and +an instant later his deep voice boomed the order to shake out all reefs +and set the top-sails. + +Bob, who had slept the clock around and eaten a hearty breakfast, soon +appeared at Jeremy's side, looking fit for any adventure. With Tom they +went up into the bows and were shortly joined there by others of the +crew, all intent on the chase. + +The swells as they surged by from stern to bow seemed to move more and +more sluggishly. Beneath a press of sail that would have made most +skippers fearful of running her under, Job was driving the _Tiger_ along +at a terrific pace. Now once more Jeremy's steering-wheel was proving +its worth. Job at the helm could hold the plunging schooner on her +course with far less danger of being swung over into the trough than +would have been the case with the old hand tiller. + +But in spite of the schooner's headlong speed, the distance between her +and her quarry seemed to lessen scarcely at all. The old _Revenge_ with +her tall sticks and great spread of canvas was flying down before the +wind with all the speed that had made her name a byword, and the man +with the broken nose was evidently willing to take as many chances as +his pursuers. + +All morning the chase went on. At noon, when the winter sun flashed on +the high white dunes of Cape Cod, to starboard, the _Tiger_ seemed to +have gained a little. Job, leaving the wheel for a bit, came forward and +measured the distance with his eye. He shook his head. "Two miles," he +said. "At this rate we can't get within range before dark." And he went +back to his steering. + +But for once he was mistaken. For an hour or more the buccaneers had +been hauling over little by little toward the coast, possibly with the +idea of running in and escaping overland as soon as night should fall. +Now the lookout in the foretop of the _Tigers_ gave a cheer. + +"They've caught a flaw in the wind!" he shouted. "Watch us come up!" + +Sure enough the _Revenge_ had sailed into an area of light air to +leeward of the Cape, and the boys could see that their own sloop, which +still had the wind, was hauling up hand over hand on her adversary. + +"By the Great Bull Whale!" roared Job, leaping forward along the deck, +"now's our chance! Hold her as she is, Hawkes, while I load the long +gun." + +The big gunner-captain worked rapidly as always, but before he had done +ramming down the round-shot, the pirate schooner was within range for a +long-distance try. She lay off the _Tiger's_ starboard bow, almost +broadside on, but still too far away to use her own guns. + +Job aimed with his usual care, but when at length he put a match to the +powder, the shot flew harmlessly through the pirate's rigging, striking +the sea beyond. Almost at the same moment the wind drew strongly in the +sails of the _Revenge_ once more, and she began plunging southward at a +breakneck pace. + +Job ran aft for a word with the mate, who had the wheel, then returned +and again loaded the bowchaser, this time with chainshot and an extra +heavy charge of powder to carry it. When he had finished he stood by the +breach in grim silence, watching the chase. + +It soon became apparent that though the _Tiger_ could gain little on her +rival in actual headway, she was gradually pulling over closer to the +quarter of the _Revenge_. Hawkes, who was an excellent seaman, humored +the craft to starboard, bit by bit, without sacrificing her forward +speed. + +At the end of twenty minutes Job gave a satisfied grunt, maneuvered the +cannon back and forth on its swivel base once or twice, and fired. +Above the roar of the discharge the boys heard the screech of the +whirling chainshot, and then in the _Revenge's_ mainsail appeared a +great gaping rent, through the tattered edges of which the wind passed +unhindered. There was a howl of joy from the crew, and without waiting +for an order, they tumbled pell-mell down the hatches to man the +broadside cannon in the waist. + +Job stayed on deck, watching the enemy through his spy-glass. +Handicapped by her torn mainsail, the _Revenge_ was already falling +abeam. When they had hauled up to within five or six hundred yards of +her, Job called the men of the port watch on deck to shorten sail. This +done, and the two sloops holding on southward at about an even gait, the +Captain took a turn below, where he looked at each of the guns, gave a +few sharp orders and ran back to his station on the after deck. + +"All ready, Hawkes," he called, "bring us up to within a hundred and +fifty fathoms of her!" + +The mate spun the wheel to starboard, and the schooner, answering, drew +nearer to the enemy. + +"Close enough--port your helm," cried Job. + +But even as the _Tiger_ swung into position for a broadside, there came +the roar of the pirate's guns, and a shot crashed through the forestays, +while others, falling short, threw spray along the deck. + +"All right below," shouted Captain Job, steady as a church. "Ready a +starboard broadside!" And at his sharp "Fire!" the five cannon spoke in +quick succession. The deck rocked beneath Jeremy's feet, where he stood +by the companion, ready to carry Job's orders below. + +As the dense smoke was swept away forward on the wind, they could see +the _Revenge_, her rigging still further damaged by the volley, going +about on the starboard tack, and making straight for the shore. + +"Put your helm hard down and bring her to the wind!" roared Job, at the +same time jumping toward the mainsheet. + +The schooner swung to starboard, heeling sharply as she caught the wind +abeam, and was in hot pursuit of her enemy before a full minute had +passed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + + +Little by little the _Tiger_ pulled up to windward of the buccaneer and +the men below in the gun deck could be heard cheering as their advance +brought the black sloop more and more nearly opposite the yawning mouths +of the _Tiger's_ port carronades. + +The shore was now less than half a mile distant. Though making all +possible speed, the pirate schooner seemed to rise on the waves with a +more sluggish heave than before. Job, watching her through the spyglass, +turned to Isaiah Hawkes. + +"Don't she look sort o' soggy to you?" he asked. "I can't quite make out +whether that's a hole in her planking or--by the Great Hook Block! See +there, now, when she lifts! One of our shots landed smack on her +waterline. No wonder they're trying to beach her!" + +A moment later the _Tiger_ had hauled fairly abreast and the two +schooners plunged along a bare hundred yards apart. Not a head showed +above the high weather bulwark of the _Revenge_. Only the muzzles of her +guns peered grimly from their ports in her black side. There was +something sinister about this apparently deserted ship, lurching +drunkenly shoreward, with her torn sails and broken rigging flapping in +the breeze, and the pirate flag flying at her peak. + +Job made a megaphone of his hands and raised his voice in a hail. + +"Ahoy, _Revenge_!" he boomed. "Will you surrender peacefully, and haul +down that flag?" + +There was silence for a full ten seconds. Then a musket cracked and a +bullet imbedded itself in the mainmast by Job's head. + +"All right, boys," he said, without moving, "let 'em have it! Ready, +port battery? Fire!" Jeremy and Bob, clinging side by side to the +hatch-combing, felt the planking quiver under them at the series of +mighty discharges, and saw the pirate schooner check and stagger like an +animal that has received its death wound. + +Only one of her guns was able to reply, the round-shot screaming high and +wide. But on she went, and the steep beach below the dunes was very +close now. + +Captain Job stood by the hatchway. "All hands up, ready to board her," +he ordered, and the crew, swarming on deck, ran to their places by the +longboat amidships. + +The _Tiger_ was now in very shallow water, but Job waited till he saw +the other craft strike. Then, "Bring her head to the wind, Hawkes!" he +cried, "And over with the boat, lads! Lively now, or they'll get +ashore!" + +Hardly was the order given when the boat shot into the water. During the +scramble of the seamen for places on her thwarts, Jeremy and Bob jumped +down and crouched in the bows, unseen by any but those nearest them. Ten +seconds after she hit the waves the boat was filled from gunwale to +gunwale with sailors, armed to the teeth with pistols, cutlasses and +boarding-pikes. Job, last to leave the deck, spoke a word to Hawkes, who +remained in command, and jumped into the sternsheets. + +"Now, give way!" he roared. + +The eight stout oars lashed through the water and the boat sped +shoreward like an arrow. Up in the bows the two boys clutched their +weapons and waited. Neither one would have admitted that he was scared, +though they were both shivering with something more than the cold. +Besides his precious pistol, Bob was gripping the hilt of a +murderous-looking hanger, which he had picked up from the pile on deck +in passing. Jeremy had been able to secure no weapon but a short pike +with a heavy ashen staff and a knife-like blade at the upper end. They +peered over the bows in silence. The longboat was close to the +_Revenge's_ quarter now, but there was no sign of the pirates along her +rail. + +"Suppose they've got ashore?" asked Bob. "I don't see--" + +"Down heads all!" + +It was Job's voice, and the boys together with many of the seamen ducked +instinctively at the words. As they did so there came a crash of +musketry, followed by intermittent shots, and splinters flew from the +gunwale of the boat. Jeremy heard a gasping cry behind him and a young +sailor toppled backward from the thwart. He fell between the boys, and +as they raised him in their arms he died. + +Another seaman had been killed and three more wounded by the pirate +volley, which had been fired from a distance of barely a dozen yards. +Seeing the effect of their fusillade, the buccaneers rose cheering and +yelling from behind the bulwarks of the sloop in the evident belief that +they had succeeded in demoralizing the attacking force. But the speed of +the boat had hardly been checked. In another instant the rowers shipped +their oars and the gunwale scraped along the free-board of the schooner. + +"A guinea to the first man up!" cried Job, himself reaching up with +powerful fingers for a grip by which to climb. + +There were no rope-ends hanging, and as the _Revenge_ in her stranded +position lay much higher forward than aft, the boys, standing in the +bows, found themselves faced by smooth planking too high to scale. + +Jeremy started back over the thwarts, but heard Bob calling to him and +turned. + +"Here's a place to board!" the Delaware boy was saying, and pointed +toward the forward gun-port which stood open just beyond and above the +bow of the longboat. In a twinkling Bob had straddled through the hole, +with Jeremy close after him. It was dark in the 'tween-decks and the two +boys made their way forward on tiptoe, waiting breathlessly for the +attack they felt sure would come. But apparently all the buccaneers were +busy above in the fierce fight that they could hear raging along the +rail. They moved on, undeterred, till they reached the foot of the +fo'c's'le ladder, where Jeremy feeling along the bulkhead, uttered an +exclamation. + +"This is their gun-rack," he said. "And here's a musket all loaded and +primed! I'll take it along!" + +The hatch cover had been drawn to, but Bob, trying it from beneath, +decided it was not fastened. Both boys tugged at it and succeeded in +sliding it back an inch or two, where it stuck. + +The hubbub on deck was now terrific. They could hear, above the general +outcry, an occasional sharply gasped command in Job's voice, or a +snarling oath from one of the buccaneers, but for the most part it was a +bedlam of unintelligible shouts with a constant undertone of ringing +steel and the thud of shifting feet. Most of the firearms, apparently, +had been discharged, and in the melee no one had time to reload. + +Bob, straining desperately at the hatch-cover, spied Jeremy's +pike-shaft, and thrusting it through the narrow opening, pried with all +his strength. The hatch squeaked open reluctantly and the boys squirmed +through on to the deck. + +They gasped at the sight which met their eyes as they emerged. Both of +them had confidently expected to find the pirates already beaten, and +fighting with their backs to the wall. But such was far from being the +case. + +On the deck amidships lay two men from the _Tiger_, sorely wounded, +while Job and two others stood at bay above them, swinging cutlasses +mightily, and beating off, time after time, the attacks of a dozen +fierce pirate hanger-men. A number of buccaneers had fallen but all who +were unwounded were raging like a pack of dogs about the figures of Job +and his two supporters. + +"They can't get up!" cried Bob, "The men can't climb the side! Here, +help me bring that rope!" It was a matter of seconds only before the +boys had dashed across the deck and thrown a rope's end to the men below +in the longboat. Then Jeremy turned and ran toward the waist. Another +man was down now. Job and a single comrade were fighting back to back, +parrying with red blades the blows of half a score of the enemy. Jeremy +saw a gleam of yellow teeth between wicked lips, and a flash of light +eyes in the thick of the assault. Then for a moment he had a glimpse of +the whole face of Pharaoh Daggs, scarred and distorted with frightful +passion--a cruel wolf's face--and even as he looked, the dripping +sword-blade of the man with the broken nose plunged between the ribs of +Job's last henchman. The wounded seaman staggered, leaning his weight +against his captain, but still kept his guard up, defending himself +feebly. Job hooked his left arm about the poor lad's body and backed +with his burden toward the mainmast, slashing fiercely around him with +his tireless right arm the while. When they reached the mast, Job leaned +his comrade against it, set his own back to the wood, and battled on. + +But now a cheer resounded, and the buccaneers, turning their heads, +found themselves face to face with the rush of half a dozen men from the +_Tiger_, while more could be seen swarming over the rail. + +The knot of pirates broke to meet the attack, but some of them stayed. +Daggs and three others, including the huge mulatto mate, closed in on +Job, cutting at him savagely. The wounded sailor had fainted and slipped +to the deck. Jeremy saw the saddle-colored mate step swiftly to one +side, then come up from behind the mast, drawing a long dirk from his +sash as he neared Job's back. He had lifted the knife and was stepping +in for a blow, when Jeremy pulled the trigger of his musket. There must +have been an extra heavy charge of powder in the gun, for its recoil +threw the boy flat on the deck, and before he could regain his feet he +saw a man close above him and caught the flash of a hanger in the air. +Desperately Jeremy rolled out of the way, and none too soon, for the +blade cut past his head with a nasty _swish_. He scrambled up and caught +a boarding-pike from the deck as he did so. The pirate followed, hacking +at him with his cutlass, and for seconds that seemed like hours the boy +fought for his life, parrying one stroke after another, till the pike +shaft was broken by the blows, and he was left weaponless. As he ducked +and turned in despair, a man from the _Tiger_ ran in and caught the +buccaneer on his flank, finishing him in short order. + +The deck was now full of struggling groups, for though a score of the +longboat's crew had climbed aboard, the pirates were putting up a fierce +resistance. Jeremy, panting from his encounter, cast about for a weapon +and soon found a cutlass, with which he armed himself. He turned toward +the mainmast foot once more, and to his joy discovered that his shot had +taken effect. The mulatto had disappeared under the trampling mass of +fighting men, and Job's tall figure still towered by the mast. It took +the lad only a second, however, to realize that his Captain's plight was +serious. The big Yankee was fighting wearily with a broken cutlass, and +his face was gray beneath the red stream of blood that ran from a wound +above his eye. Jeremy plunged into the ruck of the battle, careless now +of danger. A sort of berserk rage possessed him at the sight of that +wound. He hewed his way frantically toward the mast, and suddenly found +Bob there beside him, cutting and lunging like a demon. He gasped out a +cheer. But even as it left his throat, the Captain's arm flew up +convulsively, then dropped out of sight in the mob. + +"Job's down!" cried Bob wildly, but the New England boy's only reply was +a half-choked sob. + +Now the tables were turned of a sudden, for three stout sea-dogs from +the _Tiger_, finishing their first opponents, dashed into the fray with +a yell, and Daggs, hewing his way to the mast, turned to face the new +attack with only two men left on foot to back him. + +The fight was short and fierce. First one, then the other of the +buccaneers went down before the furious assault of Job's seamen. At +length only the pirate chief was left to battle on, terrible and +silent, his face set in a ghastly grin, like the visage of a lone wolf +fighting his last fight. + +But the odds were too great. The men of the _Tiger_ pressed in +relentlessly till at last a dozen sword-points found their mark at once. +And so died Pharaoh Daggs, violently, as he had lived. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + + +It was Jeremy who, five minutes later, held Job's head on his knees, +while the weary, bleeding sailors stood silently by with their hats off. + +The bo's'n, a grizzled veteran of many sea-fights, was kneeling beside +his Captain with an ear to his side. There was hope in the man's face +when at length he looked up. + +"He's breathin' yet," was his verdict, "breathin', but not much more. +There's half a score of cuts in him, different places. Here, lads, rig a +stretcher, an' let's get him back to the ship." + +When the unconscious body of their big friend had been placed gently in +the boat, Bob and Jeremy turned to each other with sober faces. + +"It was a costly sort of victory," said Bob. "This deck's not a pretty +sight, and there's nothing much we can do to help. Let's have a look at +the cabin." + +They went below and forced open the door of the after compartment, which +had once housed the great Stede Bonnet. Instead of its old immaculate +and almost scholarly appearance, the place now had an air of desolation. +It reeked of filth, stale tobacco-smoke, and the spilled lees of +liquor. In the clutter on the cabin table lay two bulging sacks and a +small box. + +"Well," said Bob, as he felt the weight of one of the bags, "here's the +rest of Brig's gold!" + +But Jeremy's attention was occupied. He had picked up the box from the +table and was examining it curiously. + +"See here, Bob," he cried, "this is the little chest I was carrying the +night we ran through the woods. I dropped it when that pirate tackled +me. What do you suppose is in it?" + +The box was leather-covered and heavily studded with nails. Jeremy tried +the small padlock and found it rusty and weak. A hard pull on the staple +and it came away in his hand. He threw open the cover and the two boys +stood back, gasping with astonishment. + +There on the lining of soft buckskin lay twelve great emeralds, gleaming +with a clear green light even in that dark place. They were perfectly +matched and as large as the end of a man's thumb, each cut in a square +pattern after the oldtime fashion. Such stones they were as could have +come only from the coffers of an oriental king--the ransom, perhaps, of +a prince of the blood, or of the favorite wife of some Maharajah, seized +in one of Solomon Brig's daredevil raids. + +Bob found breath at last. + +"It's a fortune!" he cried. "They're worth more than all the gold +together! And they're yours, Jeremy--yours by right of discovery twice +over. You're rich--you and your father and Tom! Think of it! You can buy +a whole fleet of big ships like the _Indian Queen_, and become a great +merchant. You and I'll be partners when we're grown up!" Jubilant, he +picked up one of the sacks of gold and made his way to the deck, +followed by the half-dazed Jeremy, who carried the rest of the treasure. + +The sun was close to setting when the _Tiger's_ boat made its last trip +to the pirate sloop. This time its errand was a sad one. Silently the +crew passed long, limp bundles across the rail, rowed with them to the +beach, and clambered up the desolate dunes with picks and shovels in +their hands. There, where the wind moaned in the beach-plum thickets and +the white gulls wheeled and screamed, they dug a long grave and laid the +dead to rest, pirates and honest men together under the wintry sky. + +The boat returned and was hoisted aboard. Just as the mainsail had been +run up and the schooner was filling away for her northward beat, a +single shout from the crosstrees caused every man to turn his gaze +shoreward into the gathering dark. A faint glow seemed to hang in the +air above the pirate sloop. A little snaky flame wriggled its way along +a piece of sagging cordage, licked at the edges of a torn sail, and +flared outward in a burst of red fire. A moment later, and the whole +schooner was ablaze, from waterline to masthead. Jeremy, watching, +fascinated, from the _Tiger's_ rail, thought of the night when he had +first seen that black hull, and of the burning brig that had lit up the +sky as the pirate sloop now illumined it. Her fate was the same that she +had meted out to many a good ship. + +They were rapidly drawing away, now. The great glare of the burning +schooner faded out as the flame devoured her fabric. The foremast +toppled and fell in a shower of sparks. The mainmast followed. Only a +feeble light flickered along the edges of the low-lying hulk. The faint +gleam of it was visible, astern, for some time before it was swallowed +by the dark sea. + +The _Revenge_ was gone. + + * * * * * + +This is the end of my story. + +Of the voyage to Boston town; of how Job was nursed back to health by +Phineas Whipple, the best surgeon in all the colonies; of the glorious +reunion when Amos Swan and Clarke Curtis rejoined their sons; of the +many pleasant things that Bob and Jeremy found to do together, after the +Swans had come to live in Philadelphia--of all these things there is +not space enough in this book for me to tell. + +Jeremy Swan grew up to be one of the great Americans of his day: a man +strong, wise and independent. And although he became rich and highly +honored, he never lost the simplicity of his ways. + +Sometimes when he was a hale old man of seventy, he would take his +grandson, who was named Job Cantwell Swan, on his knee, and tell him +stories. But the story that young Job loved best to hear and that old +Jeremy loved best to tell was about a boy in deerskin breeches, and the +wild days and nights he saw aboard the Black Buccaneer. + + + THE END. + + + + +Transcriber's Notes + +Page 43, 2nd paragraph - changed "broad-side" to "broadside" to match +other instances + +Page 63, next to last line - added opening quote before "Herriot" + +Page 73, first line - corrected typo "priate" to "pirate" + +Page 88, 3rd paragraph - corrected typo "fidgetted" to "fidgeted" + +Page 91, 1st paragraph, next to last sentence - changed "a a man" to "a +man" + +Page 102, second paragraph, 6th line - corrected typo "showly" to +"slowly" + +Page 120, line 21 - added missing end quote at the end after "pirate." + +Page 164, 2nd paragraph, line 8 - added opening quote to "Daggs' chest!" + +Page 189, line 4 - corrected typo "somethinig" to "something" + +Page 196, last line - removed second "and" + +Page 231, 5th line from bottom - corrected typo "neck" to "deck" + +Page 268, 6th paragraph - changed "round-shot" to "roundshot" to match +other instances + +Page 273, 2nd paragraph, line 2 - corrected typo "thmselves" to +"themselves" + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Black Buccaneer, by Stephen W. 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