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diff --git a/37357.txt b/37357.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c6f063b --- /dev/null +++ b/37357.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7094 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Annie o' the Banks o' Dee, by Gordon Stables + +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: Annie o' the Banks o' Dee + +Author: Gordon Stables + +Release Date: September 10, 2011 [EBook #37357] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANNIE O' THE BANKS O' DEE *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Annie o' the Banks o' Dee +By Gordon Stables +Illustrations by none +Published by F.V. White & Co, 14 Bedford Street, Strand, London WC. +This edition dated 1899. + +Annie o' the Banks o' Dee, by Gordon Stables. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +________________________________________________________________________ +ANNIE O' THE BANKS O' DEE, BY GORDON STABLES. + +CHAPTER ONE. + +AT BILBERRY HALL. + + "It may not be, it cannot be + That such a gem was meant for me; + But oh! if it had been my lot, + A palace, not a Highland cot, + That bonnie, simple gem had thrown + Bright lustre o'er a jewelled crown; + For oh! the sweetest lass to me + Is Annie--Annie o' the Banks o' Dee?" + + Old Song. + +Far up the romantic Dee, and almost hidden by the dark waving green of +spruce trees and firs, stands the old mansion-house of Bilberry Hall. + +Better, perhaps, had it still been called a castle, as undoubtedly it +had been in the brave days of old. The many-gabled, turreted building +had formerly belonged to a family of Gordons, who had been deprived of +house and lands in the far north of Culloden, after the brutal soldiery +of the Bloody Duke had laid waste the wild and extensive country of +Badenoch, burning every cottage and house, murdering every man, and more +than murdering every woman and child, and "giving their flesh to the +eagles," as the old song hath it. + +But quiet indeed was Bilberry Hall now, quiet even to solemnity, +especially after sunset, when the moon sailed up from the woods of the +west, when only the low moan of the wind through the forest trees could +be heard, mingling with the eternal murmur of the broad winding river, +or now and then the plaintive cry of a night bird, or the mournful +hooting of the great brown owl. + +It was about this time that Laird McLeod would summon the servants one +and all, from the supercilious butler down to Shufflin' Sandie himself. + +Then would he place "the big ha' Bible" before him on a small table, +arrange his spectacles more comfortably astride his nose, clear his +throat, and read a long chapter. + +One of the Psalms of David in metre would then be sung. There wasn't a +deal of music in the Laird's voice, it must be confessed. It was a +deep, hoarse bass, that reminded one of the groaning of an old +grandfather's clock just before it begins to strike. But when the maids +took up the tune and sweet Annie Lane chimed in, the psalm or hymn was +well worth listening to. + +Then with one accord all fell on their knees by chairs, the Laird +getting down somewhat stiffly. With open eyes and uplifted face he +prayed long and earnestly. The "Amen" concluded the worship, and all +retired save Annie, the Laird's niece and almost constant companion. + +After, McLeod would look towards her and smile. + +"I think, my dear," he would say, "it is time to bring in the tumblers." +There was always a cheerful bit of fire in the old-fashioned grate, and +over it from a sway hung a bright little copper kettle, singing away +just as the cat that sat on the hearth, blinking at the fire, was doing. + +The duet was the pleasantest kind of music to the Laird McLeod in his +easy-chair, the very image of white-haired contentment. + +Annie Lane--sixteen years of age she was, and beautiful as a rosebud-- +would place the punch-bowl on the little table, with its toddy-ladle, +and flank it with a glass shaped like a thistle. Into the bowl a +modicum of the oldest whisky was poured, and sugar added; the good +Squire, or Laird, with the jolly red face, smiled with glee as the water +bubbled from the spout of the shining kettle. + +"Now your slippers, dear," Annie would say. Off came the "brogue shoes" +and on went a pretty pair of soft and easy slippers; by their flowery +ornamentation it was not difficult to tell who had made them. + +A long pipe looked rather strange between such wee rosy lips; +nevertheless, Annie lit that pipe, and took two or three good draws to +make sure it was going, before handing it to her uncle. Then she bent +over the back of the chair and kissed him on the bald pate, before going +out with her maid for a walk on the lawn. + +It might be in the sweet summer time, when those green grassy terraces +were perfumed with roses of every hue, or scented with the sweet +syringa; in spring, when every tree and bush were alive with bird song; +in red-berried autumn, or in the clear frost of a winter's night, when +the world was all robed in its white cocoon and every bush, brake, or +tree had branches like the whitest of coral. + +Jeannie Lee, the maid, was a great favourite with Annie, and Jeannie +dearly loved her young mistress, and had done so for ten long years, +ever since she had arrived at Bilberry Hall a toddling wee thing of six, +and, alas! an orphan. Both father and mother had died in one week. +They had loved each other in life, and in death were not divided. +Jeannie was just four years older than her mistress, but she did not +hesitate to confide to her all her secrets, for Jeannie was a bonnie +lassie. + + "She whiles had a sweetheart, + And whiles she had two." + +Well, but strange as it may appear, Annie, young as she was, had two +lovers. There was a dashing young farmer--Craig Nicol by name--he was +well-to-do, and had dark, nay, raven hair, handsome face and manly +figure, which might well have captivated the heart of any girl. At +balls and parties, arrayed in tartan, he was indeed a splendid fellow. +He flirted with a good many girls, it is true, but at the bottom of his +heart there was but one image--that of Annie Lane. Annie was so young, +however, that she did not know her own mind. And I really think that +Craig Nicol was somewhat impetuous in his wooing. Sometimes he almost +frightened her. Poor Craig was unsophisticated, and didn't know that +you must woo a woman as you angle for a salmon. + +He was a very great favourite with the Laird at all events, and many +were the quiet games of cards they played together on winter evenings, +many the bowl of punch they quaffed, before the former mounted his good +grey mare and went noisily cantering homewards. + +No matter what the weather was, Craig would be in it, wind or rain, hail +or snow. Like Burns's Tam o' Shanter was Craig. + + "Weel mounted on his grey mare, Meg, + A better never lifted leg, + Tam skelpit on through dub and mire, + Despising wind and rain and fire, + Whiles holding fast his gude blue bonnet, + Whiles crooning o'er some auld Scots sonnet." + +Yes, indeed. Craig Nicol was a dashing young blade, and at times Annie +thought she almost loved him. + +But what of the girl's other lover? Well, he was one of a very +different stamp. A laird he was too, and a somewhat wealthy one, but he +was not a week under fifty. + +He, too, was a constant visitor at Bilberry Hall, and paid great +attention to Annie, though he treated her in a kind and fatherly sort of +manner, and Annie really liked the man, though little did she think he +was in love with her. + +One lovely moonlight night in autumn, however, when Laird Fletcher--for +that was his name--found himself seated beside Annie and her maid in an +arbour that overlooked the dreamy, hazy forest, he suddenly said to +Jeannie: + +"Jeannie, I'd be the happiest man on earth if I only had this darling +child to be my bride." + +Annie never spoke. She simply smiled, thinking he was in fun. + +But after a pause the Laird took Annie's hand: + +"Ah! dear lassie, I'll give you plenty of time to think of it. I'd care +for you as the apple of my eye; I'd love you with a love that younger +men cannot even dream of, and not a lady in all the land should be +dressed so braw as my own wee dove." + +Annie drew her hand from his; then--I can't tell why--perhaps she did +not know herself, she put her little white hands to her face and burst +into tears. + +With loving words and kind, he tried to soothe her, but like a startled +deer she sprang away from him, dashed across the lawn, and sought +shelter in her own boudoir. + +The Laird, honest fellow, was sad, and sorry, too, that he had proposed +to Annie; but then he really was to be excused. What is it a man will +not do whom love urges on? + +Laird Fletcher was easy-minded, however, and hopeful on the whole. + +"Ah! well," he said to himself; "she'll come round in time, and if that +black-haired young farmer were only _out of the way_, I'd win the battle +before six months were over. Gives himself a mighty deal too much side, +he does. Young men are mostly fools--I'll go into the house and smoke a +pipe with my aged friend, McLeod." + +Shufflin' Sandie seemed to spring from the earth right in front of him. + +A queer little creature was Sandie, soul and body, probably thirty years +old, but looking older; twinkling ferrety eyes and red hair, a tuft of +which always stuck up through a hole on the top of the broad Prince +Charlie bonnet he wore; a very large nose always filled with snuff; and +his smile was like the grin of a vixen. + +Sandie was the man-of-all-work at Bilberry. He cleaned knives and boots +in-doors, ran errands, and did all kinds of odd jobs out of doors. But +above all Sandie was a fisherman. Old as he was, Squire McLeod, or +Laird, as he was most often called, went to the river, and Sandie was +always with him. The old man soon tired; then Sandie took the rod, and +no man on all Deeside could make a prettier cast than he. The salmon +used to come at his call. + +"Hullo!" said Laird Fletcher, "where did _you_ come from?" + +"Just ran round, sir, to see if you wanted your horse." + +"No, no, Sandie, not for another hour or two." + +The truth is that Sandie had been behind the arbour, listening to every +word that was said. + +Sandie slept in a loft above the stable. It was there he went now, and +threw himself on his bed to think. + +"Folks shouldn't speak aloud to themselves," he thought, "as Laird +Fletcher does. Wants Farmer Nicol got out of the way, does he? The old +rascal! I've a good mind to tell the police. But I think I'd better +tell Craig Nicol first that there is danger ahead, and that he mustn't +wear his blinkers. Poor man! Indeed will I! Then I might see what the +Laird had to say as well. That's it, Sandie, that's it. I'll have twa +strings to my bow." + +And Sandie took an enormous pinch of snuff and lay back again to muse. + +I never myself had much faith to put in an ignorant, deformed, +half-dwarfed creature, and Shufflin' Sandie was all that, both +physically and morally. + +I don't think that Sandie was a thief, but I do believe he would have +done almost anything to turn an honest penny. Indeed, as regards +working hard there was nothing wrong with Sandie. Craig Nicol, the +farmer, had given him many a half-crown, and now he saw his way, or +thought he did, to earn another. + +Well, Sandie, at ten o'clock, brought round Laird Fletcher's horse, and +before mounting, the Laird, who, with all his wealth, was a wee bit of a +niggard, gave him twopence. + +"The stingy, close-fisted, old tottering brute. Tuppince, eh!" + +Shufflin' Sandy shook his fist after the Laird. + +"_You_ marry our bonnie Annie?" he said, half-aloud. "Man, I'd sooner +see the dearie floating down the Dee like a dead hare than to see her +wedded to an old fossil like you." + +Sandie went off now to his bed in the loft, and soon all was peace +around Bilberry Hall, save when the bloodhounds in their kennels lifted +up their bell-like voices, giving warning to any tramp, or poacher that +might come near the Hall. + +Annie knelt reverently down and said her prayers before getting into +bed. + +The tears were in her eyes when she got up. + +"Oh," she said to her maid, "I hope I haven't hurt poor Mr Fletcher's +feelings! He really is a kind soul, and he was very sincere." + +"Well, never mind, darling," said Jeannie; "but, lor, if he had only +asked _my_ price I would have jumped at the offer." + +CHAPTER TWO. + +"THERE IS DANGER IN THE SKY." + +"What!" said Annie Lane, "would you really marry an old man?" + +"Ay, that would I," said the maid. "He's got the money. Besides, he is +not so very old. But let me sing a bit of a song to you--very quietly, +you know." + +Jeannie Lee had a sweet voice, and when she sang low, and to Annie +alone, it was softer and sweeter still, like a fiddle with a mute on the +bridge. This is the little song she sang: + + "What can a young lassie, what shall a young lassie, + What can a young lassie do with an old man? + Bad luck on the penny that tempted my minnie + To sell her poor Jenny for silver and land. + + "He's always complaining from morning till eenin', + He coughs and he hobbles the weary day long; + He's stupid, and dozin', his blood it is frozen-- + Oh! dreary's the night wi' a crazy old man! + + "He hums and he hankers, he frets and he cankers-- + I never can please him, do all that I can; + He's peevish and jealous of all the young fellows-- + Oh! grief on the day I met wi' an old man! + + "My old Aunty Kitty upon me takes pity: + I'll do my endeavour to follow her plan; + I'll cross him and rack him until I heart-break him, + And then his old brass will buy a new pan!" + +"But, oh, how cruel!" said Annie. "Oh, I wish you would marry that +Laird Fletcher--then he would bother me no more. Will you, Jeannie, +dear?" + +Jeannie Lee laughed. + +"It will be you he will marry in the long run," she said; "now, I don't +set up for a prophet, but remember my words: Laird Fletcher will be your +husband, and he will be just like a father to you, and your life will +glide on like one long and happy dream." + +It will be observed that Jeannie could talk good English when she cared +to. When speaking seriously--the Scots always do--the Doric is for the +most part of the fireside dialect. + +"And now, darling," continued Annie's maid, "go to sleep like a baby; +you're not much more, you know. There, I'll sing you a lullaby, an old, +old one: + + "`Hush, my dear, lie still and slumber, + Holy angels guard thy bed; + Countless blessings without number + Gently falling on thy head.'" + +The blue eyes tried to keep open, but the eyelids would droop, and soon +Annie o' the Banks o' Dee was wafted away to the drowsy land. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Shufflin' Sandie was early astir next morning. First he fed and +attended to his horses, for he loved them as if they had been brothers; +then he went to the kennels to feed the hounds, and in their joy to see +him they almost devoured him alive. + +This done, Sandie had a big drink of water from the pump, for Sandie had +had a glass too much the night before. + +He was none the worse, however; so he hied him to the kitchen. + +There were lots of merry Scotch lassies here, and they delighted to +torment and tease Sandie. + +"Sandie," said one, "I've a good mind to tie the dish-cloth round your +head." + +"Tie it round your own," said Sandie. "Anything becomes a good-looking +face, my bonnie Betsy." + +"Sandie," said another buxom girl, "you were drunk last night. I'm sure +of it." + +"No, not so very full, Fanny. I hadn't enough to get happy and jolly +on." + +"But wouldn't you like a hair of the doggie that bit you this morning?" + +"Indeed would I, Fanny. I never say no to a drop of good Scotch." + +"Well, ye'll have to go to the village. Ye'll get none here. Just make +your brose, and be content." + +Sandie did as he was bidden. Into a huge wooden bowl, called a "caup," +he put three large handfuls of fine oatmeal and a modicum of salt. The +kettle was boiling wildly on the fire, so the water was poured on and +stirred, and the "brose" was made. + +A huge piece of butter was placed in the centre, and the bowl was +flanked by a quart of new milk. + +And this was Shufflin' Sandie's breakfast, and when he had finished all +save the bit he always left for Collie and the cat, he gave a sigh of +contentment, and lit his pipe. + +And now the lasses began their banter again. + +"That's the stuff to make a man of you," said Fanny. + +"Make a man of an ill-shapen dwarf like him," said Maggie Reid. "Well! +well! well!" + +"Hush, Mag," cried Fanny, "hush! God could have made you just as +misshapen as poor Sandie." + +But Sandie took no heed. He was thinking. Soon he arose, and before +Fanny could help herself, he had kissed her. Fanny threw the dish-cloth +after him, but the laugh was all against her. + +The Laird would be downstairs now, so Sandie went quietly to the +breakfast-room door and tapped. + +"Come in, Sandie," cried the Laird. "I know it is you." + +The Laird had a good Scotch breakfast before him. Porridge, fresh +herrings and mashed potatoes, with ducks' eggs to follow and marmalade +to finish off with. + +"Will you have a thistle, Sandie?" + +"Indeed I will, sir, and glad to." + +"Well, there's the bottle, and yonder's the glass. Help yourself, lad." + +Sandie did that, right liberally, too. + +"Horses and hounds all well, Sandie?" + +"All beautiful, Laird. And I was just going to ask if I could have the +bay mare, Jean, to ride o'er to Birnie-Boozle (Craig Nicol's farm +possessed that euphonic name). I've news for the fairmer." + +"All right, Sandie. Take care you don't let her down, though." + +"I'll see to her, Laird." + +And away went Sandie exultant, and in ten minutes more was clattering +along the Deeside road. + +It was early autumn, and the tints were just beginning to show red and +yellow on the elms and sycamores, but Sandie looked at nothing save his +horse's neck. + +"Was the farmer at home?" + +"Yes; and would Sandie step into the parlour for a minute. Mary would +soon find him." + +"Why, Sandie, man, what brings you here at so early an hour?" + +Sandie took a lordly pinch of snuff, and handed the box to Craig Nicol. + +"I've something to tell ye, sir. But, hush! take a peep outside, for +fear anybody should be listening." + +"Now," he continued, in a half-whisper, "ye'll never breathe a word of +what I'm going to tell you?" + +"Why, Sandie, I never saw you look so serious before. Sit down, and +I'll draw my chair close to yours." + +The arrangement completed, Sandie's face grew still longer, and he told +him all he heard while listening behind the arbour. + +"I own to being a bit inquisitive like," he added; "but man, farmer, it +is a good thing for you on this occasion that I was. I've put you on +your guard." + +Craig laughed till the glasses on the sideboard jingled and rang. + +"Is that all my thanks?" said Sandie, in a disheartened tone. + +"No, no, my good fellow. But the idea of that old cockalorum--though he +is my rival--doing a sturdy fellow like me to death is too amusing." + +"Well," said Sandie, "he's just pretty tough, though he is a trifle old. +He can hold a pistol or a jock-the-leg knife easily enough; the dark +nights will soon be here. He'd be a happy man if you were dead, so I +advise you to beware." + +"Well, well, God bless you, Sandie; when I'm saying my prayers to-night +I'll think upon you. Now have a dram, for I must be off to ride round +the farm." + +Just before his exit, the farmer, who, by the way, was a favourite all +over the countryside, slipped a new five-shilling piece into Sandie's +hand, and off the little man marched with a beaming face. + +"I'll have a rare spree at Nancy Wilson's inn on Saturday," he said. +"I'll treat the lads and lassies too." + +But Shufflin' Sandie's forenoon's work was not over yet. + +He set spurs to his mare, and soon was galloping along the road in the +direction of Laird Fletcher's mansion. + +The Laird hadn't come down yet. He was feeling the effects of last +evening's potations, for just as-- + + "The Highland hills are high, high, high, + The Highland whisky's strong." + +Sandie was invited to take a chair in the hall, and in about half an +hour Laird Fletcher came shuffling along in dressing-gown and slippers. + +"Want to speak to me, my man?" + +"Seems very like it, sir," replied Sandie. + +"Well, come into the library." + +The Laird led the way, and Sandie followed. + +"I've been thinkin' all night, Laird, about the threat I heard ye make +use of--to kill the farmer of Birnie-Boozle." + +Gentlemen of fifty who patronise the wine of Scotland are apt to be +quick-tempered. + +Fletcher started to his feet, purple-faced and shaking with rage. + +"If you dare utter such an expression to me again," he cried, banging +his fist on the table, "I won't miss you a kick till you're on the +Deeside road." + +"Well, well, Laird," said Sandie, rising to go, "I can take my leave +without kicking, and so save your old shanks; but look here. I'm going +to ride straight to Aberdeen and see the Fiscal." + +Sandie was at the door, when Laird Fletcher cooled down and called him +back. + +"Come, come, my good fellow, don't be silly; sit down again. You must +never say a word to anyone about this. You promise?" + +"I promise, if ye square me." + +"Well, will a pound do it?" + +"Look here, Laird, I'm saving up money to buy a house of my own, and +keep dogs; a pound won't do it, but six might." + +"Six pounds!" + +"Deuce a dollar less, Laird." The Laird sighed, but he counted out the +cash. It was like parting with his heart's blood. But to have such an +accusation even pointed at him would have damned his reputation, and +spoilt all his chances with Annie o' the Banks o' Dee. Shufflin' Sandie +smiled as he stowed the golden bits away in an old sock. He then +scratched his head and pointed to the decanter. + +The Laird nodded, and Sandie drank his health in one jorum, and his +success with Miss Lane in another. Sly Sandie! + +But his eyes were sparkling now, and he rode away singing "Auld Lang +Syne." + +He was thinking at the same time about the house and kennels he should +build when he managed to raise two hundred pounds. + +"I'll save every sixpence," he said to himself. "When I've settled down +I'll marry Fanny." + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +That same forenoon Craig called at Bilberry Hall. He was dressed for +the hill in a dark tweed kilt, with a piece of leather on his left +shoulder. + +He had early luncheon with McLeod, Annie presiding. In her pretty white +bodice she never looked more lovely. So thought Craig. + +"Annie, come to the hill with me. _Do_." + +"Annie, go," added her uncle. + +"Well, I'll go, and bring you some birds, uncle dear, and Sandie shall +ghillie me." + +"_I_ have a ghillie," said Craig. + +"Never mind. Two are better than one." + +They had really a capital day of it, for the sun shone brightly and the +birds laid close. + +Gordon setters are somewhat slow, and need a drink rather often, but +they are wondrous sure, and Bolt, the retriever, was fleet of foot to +run down a wounded bird. So just as the sun was sinking behind the +forests of the west, and tingeing the pine trees with crimson, they +wended their way homeward, happy--happy with the health that only the +Highland hills can give. + +Shufflin' Sandie had had several drops from Craig's flask, but he had +also had good oatcakes and cheese, so he was as steady as a judge of +session. + +When near to Bilberry Hall, Nicol and Annie emptied their guns in the +air, and thus apprised of their approach, white-haired old McLeod came +out to bid them welcome. + +A good dinner! + +A musical evening! + +Prayers! The tumblers! Then, bidding Annie a fond adieu, away rode the +jolly young farmer. + +Shufflin' Sandie's last words to him were these: + +"Mind what I told you. There's danger in the sky. Good-night, and God +be with you, Farmer Craig." + +CHAPTER THREE. + +SANDIE TELLS THE OLD, OLD STORY. + +"I wonder," said Craig Nicol to himself that night, before going to bed, +and just as he rose from his knees, "if there can be anything in +Shufflin' Sandie's warning. I certainly don't like old Father Fletcher, +close-fisted as he is, and stingy as any miser ever I met. I don't like +him prowling round my darling Annie either. And _he_ hates _me_, though +he lifts his hat and grimaces like a tom-cat watching a bird whenever we +meet. I'll land him one, one of these days, if he can't behave +himself." + +But for quite a long time there was no chance of "landing the Laird +one," for Fletcher called on Annie at times when he knew Craig was +engaged. + +And so the days and weeks went by. Laird Fletcher's wooing was carried +on now on perfectly different lines. He brought Annie many a little +knick-knack from Aberdeen. It might be a bracelet, a necklet of gold, +or the last new novel; but never a ring. No; that would have been too +suggestive. + +Annie accepted these presents with some reluctance, but Fletcher looked +at her so sadly, so wistfully, that rather than hurt his feelings she +did receive them. + +One day Annie, the old Laird and the younger started for Aberdeen, all +on good horses--they despised the train--and when coming round the +corner on his mare, whom should they meet face to face but Craig Nicol? +And this is what happened. + +The old man raised his hat. + +The younger Laird smiled ironically but triumphantly. + +Annie nodded, blushed, and smiled. + +But the young farmer's face was blanched with rage. He was no longer +handsome. There was blood in his eye. He was a devil for the present. +He plunged the spurs into his horse's sides and went galloping furiously +along the road. + +"Would to God," he said, "I did not love her! Shall I resign her? No, +no! I cannot. Yet-- + + "`Tis woman that seduces all mankind; + By her we first were taught the wheedling arts.'" + +Worse was to follow. + +Right good fellow though he was, jealousy could make a very devil of +Craig. + + "For jealousy is the injured woman's hell." + +And man's also. One day, close by the Dee, while Craig was putting his +rod together previous to making a cast, Laird Fletcher came out from a +thicket, also rod in hand. + +"Ah, we cannot fish together, Nicol," said the Laird haughtily. "We are +rivals." + +Then all the jealousy in Nicol's bosom was turned for a moment into +fury. + +"You--_you_! You old stiff-kneed curmudgeon! You a rival of a young +fellow like me! Bah! Go home and go to bed!" + +Fletcher was bold. + +"Here!" he cried, dashing his rod on the grass; "I don't stand language +like that from anyone!" + +Off went his coat, and he struck Craig a well-aimed blow under the chin +that quite staggered him. + +Ah! but even skill at fifty is badly matched by the strength and agility +of a man in his twenties. In five minutes' time Fletcher was on the +grass, his face cut and his nose dripping with blood. + +Craig stood over him triumphantly, but the devil still lurked in his +eyes. + +"I'm done with you for the time," said Fletcher, "but mark me, I'll do +for you yet!" + +"Is that threatening my life, you old reprobate? You did so before, +too. Come," he continued fiercely, "I will help you to wash some of +that blood off your ugly face." + +He seized him as he spoke, and threw him far into the river. + +The stream was not deep, so the Laird got out, and went slowly away to a +neighbouring cottage to dry his clothes and send for his carriage. + +"Hang it!" said Craig aloud; "I can't fish to-day." + +He put up his rod, and was just leaving, when Shufflin' Sandie came upon +the scene. He had heard and seen all. + +"Didn't I tell ye, sir? He'll kill ye yet if ye don't take care. Be +warned!" + +"Well," said Craig, laughing, "he is a scientific boxer, and he hurt me +a bit, but I think I've given him a drubbing he won't soon forget." + +"No," said Sandie significantly; "he--won't--forget. Take my word for +that." + +"Well, Sandie, come up to the old inn, and we'll have a glass together." + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +For a whole fortnight Laird Fletcher was confined to his rooms before he +felt fit to be seen. + +"A touch of neuralgia," he made his housekeeper tell all callers. + +But he couldn't and dared not refuse to see Shufflin' Sandie when he +sent up his card--an old envelope that had passed through the +post-office. + +"Well," said the Laird, "to what am I indebted for the honour of _this_ +visit?" + +"Come off that high horse, sir," said Sandie, "and speak plain English. +I'll tell you," he added, "I'll tell you in a dozen words. I'm going to +build a small house and kennels, and I'm going to marry Fanny--the +bonniest lassie in all the world, sir. Ah! won't I be happy, just!" + +He smiled, and took a pinch, then offered the box to the Laird. + +The Laird dashed it aside. + +"What in thunder?" he roared, "has your house or marriage to do with +me?" + +"Ye'll soon see that, my Laird. I want forty pounds, or by all the +hares on Bilberry Hill I'll go hot-foot to the Fiscal, for I heard your +threat to Craig Nicol by the riverside." + +Half-an-hour afterwards Shufflin' Sandie left the Laird to mourn, but +Sandie had got forty pounds nearer to the object of his ambition, and +was happy accordingly. + +As he rode away, the horse's hoofs making music that delighted his ear, +Sandie laughed aloud to himself. + +"Now," he thought, "if I could only just get about fifty pounds more, +I'd begin building. Maybe the old Laird'll help me a wee bit; but I +must have it, and I must have Fanny. My goodness! how I do love the +lassie! Her every look or glance sends a pang to my heart. I cannot +bear it; I _shall_ marry Fanny, or into the deepest, darkest kelpie's +pool in the Dee I'll fling myself. + + "`O love, love! Love is like a dizziness, + That winna let a poor body go about his bus-i-ness.'" + +Shufflin' Sandie was going to prove no laggard in love. But his was a +thoroughly Dutch peasant's courtship. + +He paid frequent visits by train to the Granite City, to make purchases +for the good old Laird McLeod. And he never returned without a little +present for Fanny. It might be a bonnie ribbon for her hair, a bottle +of perfume, or even a bag of choice sweets. But he watched the chance +when Fanny was alone in the kitchen to slip them into her hand +half-shyly. + +Once he said after giving her a pretty bangle: + +"I'm not so very, _very_ ugly, am I, Fanny?" + +"'Deed no, Sandie!" + +"And I'm not so crooked and small as they would try to make me believe. +Eh, dear?" + +"'Deed no, Sandie, and I ay take your part against them all. And that +you know, Sandie." + +How sweet were those words to Sandie's soul only those who love, but are +in doubt, may tell. + + "Tis sweet to love, but sweeter far + To be beloved again; + But, ah! how bitter is the pain + To love, yet love in vain!" + +"Ye haven't a terrible lot of sweethearts, have you, Fanny?" + +"Well, Sandie, I always like to tell the truth; there's plenty would +make love to me, but I can't bear them. There's ploughman Sock, and +Geordie McKay. Ach! and plenty more." + +She rubbed away viciously at the plate she was cleaning. + +"And I suppose," said Sandie, "the devil a one of them has one sixpence +to rub against another?" + +"Mebbe not," said Fanny. "But, Fanny--" + +"Well, Sandie?" + +"I--I really don't know what I was going to say, but I'll sing it." + +Sandie had a splendid voice and a well-modulated one. + + "My love is like a red, red rose, + That's newly sprung in June; + My love is like a melody, + That's sweetly played in tune. + + "As fair art thou, my bonnie lass, + So deep in love am I; + And I will love you still, my dear, + Till a' the seas go dry. + + "Till a' the seas go dry, my lass, + And the rocks melt with the sun; + Yes, I will love you still, my dear, + Till sands of life are run." + +The tears were coursing down the bonnie lassie's cheeks, so plaintive +and sweet was the melody. + +"What! ye're surely not crying, are ye?" said Sandie, approaching and +stretching one arm gently round her waist. + +"Oh, no, Sandie; not me!" + +But Sandie took the advantage, and kissed her on the tear-bedewed +cheeks. + +She didn't resist. + +"I say, Fanny--" + +"Yes, Sandie." + +"It'll be a bonnie night to-night, the moon as bright as day. Will you +steal out at eight o'clock and take a wee bit walk with me? Just meet +me on the hill near Tammie Gibb's ruined cottage. I've something to +tell you." + +"I'll--I'll try," said Fanny, blushing a little, as all innocent Scotch +girls do. + +Sandie went off now to his work as happy as the angels. + +And Fanny did steal out that night. Only for one short hour and a half. +Oh, how short the time did seem to Sandie! + +It is not difficult to guess what Sandie had to tell her. + +The old, old story, which, told in a thousand different ways, is ever +the same, ever, ever new. + +And he told her of his prospects, of the house--a but and a ben, or two +rooms--he was soon to build, and his intended kennels, though he would +still work for the Laird. + +"Will ye be my wife? Oh, will you, Fanny?" + +"Yes." + +It was but a whispered word, but it thrilled Sandie's heart with joy. + +"My ain dear dove!" he cried, folding her in his arms. + +They were sitting on a mossy bank close by the forest's edge. + +Their lips met in one long, sweet kiss. + +Yes, peasant love I grant you, but I think it was leal and true. + + "They might be poor--Sandie and she; + Light is the burden love lays on; + Content and love bring peace and joy. + What more have queens upon a throne?" + +Homeward through the moonlight, hand-in-hand, went the rustic lovers, +and parted at the gate as lovers do. + +Sandie was kind of dazed with happiness. He lay awake nearly all the +livelong night, till the cocks began to crow, wondering how on earth he +was to raise the other fifty pounds and more that should complete his +happiness. Then he dozed off into dreamland. + +He was astir, all the same, at six in the morning. And back came the +joy to his heart like a great warm sea wave. + +He attended to his horses and to the kennel, singing all the time; then +went quietly in to make his brose. + +Some quiet, sly glances and smiles passed between the betrothed--Scotch +fashion again--but that was all. Sandie ate his brose in silence, then +took his departure. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +One morning a letter arrived from Edinburgh from a friend of Craig +Nicol. + +Craig was sitting at the table having breakfast when the servant brought +it in and laid it before him. His face clouded as he read it. + +The friend's name was Reginald Grahame, and he was a medical student in +his fourth year. He had been very kind to Craig in Edinburgh, taking +him about and showing him all the sights in this, the most romantic city +on earth-- + + "Edina, Scotia's darling seat." + +Nevertheless, Craig's appetite failed, and he said "Bother!" only more +so, as he pitched the letter down on the table. + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +"THIS QUARREL, I FEAR, MUST END IN BLOOD." + +Reginald Grahame was just as handsome a young fellow as ever entered the +quad of Edinburgh University. Not the same stamp or style as Craig; +equally as good-looking, but far more refined. + +"My dear boy," ran the letter,--"next week look out for me at +Birnie-Boozle. I'm dead tired of study. I'm run down somewhat, and +will be precious glad to get a breath of your Highland air and a bit of +fishing. I'm only twenty-one yet, you know, and too young for my M.D. +So I'm going soon to try to make a bit of money by taking out a patient +and her daughter to San Francisco, then overland to New York, and back +home. Why, you won't know your old friend when he comes back," etc, +etc. + +"Hang my luck!" said Craig, half-aloud. "This is worse than a dozen +Laird Fletchers. Annie has never said yet that she loved me, and I feel +a presentiment that I shall be cut out now in earnest. Och hey! But +I'll do my best to prevent their meeting. It may be mean, but I can't +help it. Indeed, I've half a mind to pick a quarrel with him and let +him go home." + +Next week Reginald did arrive, looking somewhat pale, for his face was +"Sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought," but very good-looking for +all that. Probably his paleness added to the charm of his looks and +manner, and there was the gentleman in every movement, grace in every +turn. + +They shook hands fervently at the station, and soon in Craig's dogcart +were rattling along towards Birnie-Boozle. + +Reginald's reception was everything that could be desired, and the +hospitality truly Highland. Says Burns the immortal: + + "In Heaven itself I'll seek nae mair + Than just a Highland welcome!" + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +For over a week--for well-nigh a fortnight, indeed--they fished by the +river, and caught many a trout, as well as lordly salmon, without seeing +anyone belonging to Bilberry Hall, except Shufflin' Sandie, for whom the +grand old river had irresistible attractions. + +Sandie smelt a rat, though, and imagined he knew well enough why Craig +Nicol did not bring his friend to the Hall. Before falling asleep one +night, Craig had an inspiration, and he slept more soundly after it. + +He would take his friend on a grand Highland tour, which should occupy +all his vacation. + +Yes. But man can only propose. God has the disposal of our actions. +And something happened next that Craig could not have calculated on. + +They had been to the hill, which was still red and crimson with the +bonnie blooming heather, and were coming down through the forest, not +far from Bilberry Hall, when suddenly they heard a shot fired, then the +sounds of a fearful struggle. + +Both young men grasped their sturdy cudgels and rushed on. They found +two of McLeod's gamekeepers engaged in a terrible encounter with four +sturdy poachers. But when Craig and his friend came down they were man +to man, and the poachers fled. + +Not, however, before poor Reginald was stabbed in the right chest with a +_skean dhu_, the little dagger that kilted Highlanders wear in their +right stocking. + +The young doctor had fallen. The keepers thought he was dead, the blood +was so abundant. + +But he had merely fainted. They bound his wound with scarves, made a +litter of spruce branches, and bore him away to the nearest house, and +that was the Hall. Craig entered first, lest Annie should be +frightened, and while Shufflin' Sandie rode post-haste for the doctor +poor Reginald was put to bed downstairs in a beautiful room that +overlooked both forest and river. + +So serious did the doctor consider the case that he stayed with him all +night. + +A rough-looking stick was this country surgeon, in rough tweed jacket +and knickerbockers, but tender-hearted to a degree. + +Craig had gone home about ten, somewhat sad-hearted and hopeless. Not, +it must be confessed, for his friend's accident, but Reginald would now +be always with Annie, for she had volunteered to nurse him. + +But Craig rode over every day to see the wounded man for all that. + +"He has a tough and wondrous constitution," said Dr McRae. "He'll pull +through under my care and Annie's gentle nursing." + +Craig Nicol winced, but said nothing. Reginald had brought a dog with +him, a splendid black Newfoundland, and that dog was near him almost +constantly. + +Sometimes he would put his paws on the coverlet, and lean his cheek +against his master in a most affectionate way. Indeed, this action +sometimes brought the tears to Annie's eyes. + +No more gentle or kind nurse could Reginald have had than Annie. + +To the guileless simplicity of a child was added all the wisdom of a +woman. And she obeyed to the very letter all the instructions the +doctor gave her. She was indefatigable. Though Fanny relieved her for +hours during the day, Annie did most of the night work. + +At first the poor fellow was delirious, raving much about his mother and +sisters. With cooling lotions she allayed the fever in his head. Ay, +she did more: she prayed for him. Ah! Scots folk are strange in +English eyes, but perhaps some of them are saints in God's. + +Reginald, however, seemed to recover semiconsciousness all at once. The +room in which he lay was most artistically adorned, the pictures +beautifully draped, coloured candles, mirrors, and brackets everywhere. +He looked around him half-dazed; then his eyes were fixed on Annie. + +"Where am I?" he asked. "Is this Heaven? Are you an--an--angel?" + +He half-lifted himself in the bed, but she gently laid him back on the +snow-white pillows again. + +"You must be good, dear," she said, as if he had been a baby. "Be good +and try to sleep." + +And the eyes were closed once more, and the slumber now was sweet and +refreshing. When he awoke again, after some hours, his memory had +returned, and he knew all. His voice was very feeble, but he asked for +his friend, Craig Nicol. But business had taken Craig away south to +London, and it would be a fortnight before he could return. + +Ah! what a happy time convalescence is, and happier still was it for +Reginald with a beautiful nurse like Annie--Annie o' the Banks o' Dee. + +In a week's time he was able to sit in an easy-chair in the +drawing-room. Annie sang soft, low songs to him, and played just as +softly. She read to him, too, both verse and prose. Soon he was able +to go for little drives, and now got rapidly well. + +Is it any wonder that, thrown together in so romantic a way, these two +young people fell in love, or that when he plighted his troth Annie +shyly breathed the wee word Yes? + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Craig Nicol came back at last, and he saw Reginald alone. + +Reginald--impulsive he ever was--held out his hand and asked for +congratulations on his engagement to Annie. + +Craig almost struck that hand away. His face grew dark and lowering. + +"Curse you!" he cried. "You were my friend once, or pretended to be. +Now I hate you; you have robbed me of my own wee lamb, my sweetheart, +and now have the impudence--the confounded impertinence--to ask me to +congratulate you! You are as false as the devil in hell!" + +"Craig Nicol," said Reginald, and his cheeks flushed red, "I am too weak +to fight you now, but when I am well you shall rue these words! _Au +revoir_. We meet again." + +This stormy encounter took place while the young doctor sat on a +rocking-chair on the gravelled terrace. Shufflin Sandie was close at +hand. + +"Gentlemen," said Sandie, "for the Lord's sake, don't quarrel!" + +But Craig said haughtily, "Go and mind your own business, you blessed +Paul Pry." + +Then he turned on his heel and walked briskly away, and soon after his +horse's hoofs might have been heard clattering on the road as he dashed +briskly on towards his farm of Birnie-Boozle. + +Annie Lane came round from the flower-garden at the west wing of +Bilberry Hall. She carried in her hand a bouquet of autumnal roses and +choice dahlias--yellow, crimson, and white; piped or quilled cactus and +single. She was singing low to herself the refrain of that bonnie old +song: + + "When Jackie's far awa' at sea, + When Jackie's far awa' at sea, + What's a' the pleasure life can gie, + When Jackie's far awa'?" + +Perhaps she never looked more innocently happy or more beautiful than +she did at that moment. + + "Like dew on the gowans lying + Was the fa' o' her fairy feet; + And like winds in summer sighing, + Her voice was low and sweet." + +But when she noticed the pallor on her lovers cheek she ceased singing, +and advanced more quickly towards him. + +"Oh, my darling," she cried, "how pale you are! You are ill! You must +come in. Mind, I am still your nursie." + +"No, no; I am better here. I have the fresh air. But I am only a +little upset, you know." + +"And what upset you, dear Reginald?" + +She had seated herself by his side. She had taken his hand, and had +placed two white wee fingers on his pulse. + +"I'll tell you, Annie mine--" + +"Yes, I'm yours, and yours only, and ever shall be." + +"Craig Nicol has been here, and we have quarrelled. He has cursed and +abused me. He says I have stolen your heart from him, and now he must +for ever hate me." + +"But, oh, Reginald, he never had my heart!" + +"I never knew he had sought it, dearest." + +"Yet he did. I should have told you before, but he persecuted me with +his protestations of love. Often and often have I remained in my room +all the evening long when I knew he was below." + +"Well, he cursed me from the bottom of his heart and departed. Not +before I told him that our quarrel could not end thus, that I was too +proud to stand abuse, that when well I should fight him." + +"Oh, no--no--no! For my sake you must not fight." + +"Annie, my ain little dove, do you remember these two wee lines: + + "`I could not love thee half so much, + Loved I not honour more.' + +"There is no hatred so deep and bitter as that between two men who have +once been friends. No; both Craig and I will be better pleased after we +fight; but this quarrel I fear must end in blood." + +Poor Annie shuddered. Just at that moment Shufflin' Sandie appeared on +the scene. He was never far away. + +"Can I get ye a plaid, Mr Grahame, to throw o'er your legs? It's +gettin' cold now, I fear." + +"No, no, my good fellow; we don't want attendance at present. Thank you +all the same, however." + +Oscar, Reginald's great Newfoundland, came bounding round now to his +master's side. He had been hunting rats and rabbits. The embrace he +gave his master was rough, but none the less sincere. Then he lay down +by his feet, on guard, as it were; for a dog is ever suspicious. + +Annie was very silent and very sad. Reginald drew her towards him, and +she rested her head on his shoulder. But tears bedimmed her blue eyes, +and a word of sympathy would have caused her to burst into a fit of +weeping that would probably have been hysterical in its nature. So +Reginald tried to appear unconcerned. + +They sat in silence thus for some time. The silence of lovers is +certainly golden. + +Presently, bright, neatly-dressed Fanny came tripping round, holding in +advance of her a silver salver. + +"A letter, sir," she said, smiling. + +Reginald took it slowly from the salver, and his hand shook visibly. + +"Annie," he said, somewhat sadly, "I believe this contains my sailing +orders." + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +A DISCOVERY THAT APPALLED AND SHOCKED EVERYONE. + +Reginald had guessed aright. The good barque _Wolverine_ would sail +from Glasgow that day month, wind and weather permitting, for the South +Atlantic, and round the Horn to the South Pacific Islands and San +Francisco. + +This was from the captain; but a note was enclosed from Mrs Hall, +Reginald's pet aunt, hoping he was quite restored to health and +strength, and would join them some hours before sailing. She felt +certain, she said, that the long voyage would quite restore her, and her +daughter Ilda and wee niece Matty were wild with delight at the prospect +of being-- + + "All alone on the wide, wide sea." + +"Oh, my darling!" cried Annie, "I believe my heart will break to lose +you." + +"But it will not be for long, my love--a year at most; and, oh, our +reunion will be sweet! You know, Annie, I am _very_ poor, with scarce +money enough to procure me an outfit. It is better our engagement +should not be known just yet to the old Laird, your uncle. He would +think it most presumptuous in me to aspire to the hand of his heiress. +But I shall be well and strong long before a month; and think, dearest, +I am to have five hundred pounds for acting as private doctor and nurse +to Mrs Hall! When I return I shall complete my studies, set up in +practice, and then, oh, then, Annie, you and I shall be married! + + "`Two souls with but a single thought, + Two hearts that beat as one.'" + +But the tears were now silently chasing each other down her cheeks. + +"Cheer up, my own," said Reginald, drawing her closer to him. + +Presently she did, and then the woman, not the child, came uppermost. + +"Reginald," she said, "tell me, is Miss Hall very beautiful?" + +"I hardly know how to answer you, Annie. I sometimes think she is. +Fragile, rather, with masses of glittering brown hair, and hazel eyes +that are sometimes very large, as she looks at you while you talk. +But," he added, "there can be no true love unless there is a little +jealousy. Ah, Annie," he continued, smiling, "I see it in your eye, +just a tiny wee bit of it. But it mustn't increase. I have plighted my +troth to you, and will ever love you as I do now, as long as the sun +rises over yonder woods and forests." + +"I know, I know you will," said Annie, and once more the head was laid +softly on his shoulder. + +"There is one young lady, however, of whom you have some cause to be +jealous." + +"And she?" + +"I confess, Annie, that I loved her a good deal. Ah, don't look sad; it +is only Matty, and she is just come five." + +Poor Annie laughed in a relieved sort of way. The lovers said little +more for a time, but presently went for a walk in the flower-gardens, +and among the black and crimson buds of autumn. Reginald could walk but +slowly yet, and was glad enough of the slight support of Annie's arm. + +"Ah, Annie," he said, "it won't be long before you shall be leaning on +my arm instead of me on yours." + +"I pray for that," said the child-woman. + +The gardens were still gay with autumnal flowers, and I always think +that lovers are a happy adjunct to a flower-garden. But it seemed to be +the autumn buds that were the chief attraction for Reginald at present. +They were everywhere trailing in vines over the hedgerows, supported on +their own sturdy stems or climbing high over the gables and wings of the +grand old hall. + +The deadly nightshade, that in summer was covered with bunches of +sweetest blue, now grew high over the many hedges, hung with fruitlike +scarlet bunches of the tiniest grapes. The _Bryonia Alba_, sometimes +called the devil's parsnip, that in June snows the country hedges over +with its wealth of white wee flowers, was now splashed over with crimson +budlets. The holly berries were already turning. The black-berried ivy +crept high up the shafts of the lordly Lombardy poplars. Another tiny +berry, though still green, grew in great profusion--it would soon be +black--the fruit of the privet. The pyrocanthus that climbs yonder wall +is one lovely mass of vermilion berries in clusters. These rival in +colour and appearance the wealth of red fruit on the rowan trees or +mountain ashes. + +"How beautiful, Annie," said Reginald, gazing up at the nodding berries. +"Do you mind the old song, dear?-- + + "`Oh, rowan tree, oh, rowan tree, + Thou'lt ay be dear to me; + Begirt thou art with many thoughts + Of home and infancy. + + "`Thy leaves were ay the first in spring + Thy flowers the summer's pride; + There wasn't such a bonnie tree + In a' the countryside, + Oh, rowan tree!'" + +"It is very beautiful," said Annie, "and the music is just as beautiful, +though plaintive, and even sad. I shall play it to you to-night." + +But here is an arbour composed entirely of a gigantic briar, laden with +rosy fruit. Yet the king-tree of the garden is the barberry, and I +never yet knew a botanist who could describe the lavish loveliness of +those garlands of rosy coral. With buds of a somewhat deeper shade the +dark yews were sprinkled, and in this fairy-like garden or arboretum +grew trees and shrubs of every kind. + +Over all the sun shone with a brilliancy of a delightful September day. +The robins followed the couple everywhere, sometimes even hopping on to +Reginald's shoulder or Annie's hat, for these birds seem to know by +instinct where kindness of heart doth dwell. + +"Annie," said Reginald, after a pause, "I am very, very happy." + +"And I, dear," was the reply, "am very hopeful." + +How quickly that month sped away. Reginald was as strong as ever again, +and able to play cards of an evening with Laird McLeod or Laird +Fletcher, for the latter, knowing that the farmer of Birnie-Boozle came +here no longer, renewed his visits. + +I shall not say much about the parting. They parted in tears and in +sorrow, that is all; with many a fond vow, with many a fond embrace. + +It has often grieved me to think how very little Englishmen know about +our most beautiful Scottish songs. Though but a little simple thing, +"The Pairtin'" (parting) is assuredly one of the most plaintively +melodious I know of in any language. It is very _apropos_ to the +parting of Reginald and Annie o' the Banks o' Dee. + + "Mary, dearest maid, I leave thee, + Home and friends, and country dear, + Oh, ne'er let our pairtin' grieve thee, + Happier days may soon be here. + + "See, yon bark so proudly bounding, + Soon shall bear me o'er the sea; + Hark! the trumpet loudly sounding, + Calls me far from love and thee. + + "Summer flowers shall cease to blossom, + Streams run backward from the sea; + Cold in death must be this bosom + Ere it cease to throb for thee. + + "Fare thee well--may every blessing + Shed by Heaven around thee fa'; + One last time thy lov'd form pressing-- + Think on me when far awa'." + +"If you would keep song in your hearts," says a writer of genius, "learn +to sing. There is more merit in melody than most people are aware of. +Even the cobbler who smoothes his wax-ends with a song will do as much +work in a day as one given to ill-nature would do in a week. Songs are +like sunshine, they run to cheerfulness, and fill the bosom with such +buoyancy, that for the time being you feel filled with June air or like +a meadow of clover in blossom." + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +How lonely the gardens and the Hall itself seemed to Annie now that her +lover had gone, and how sad at heart was she! + +Well, and how reluctant am I myself to leave all these pleasant scenes, +and bring before the mind's eye an event so terrible and a deed so dark +that I almost shudder as I describe it; but as the evolution of this +ower-true tale depends upon it, I am obliged to. + +First, I must tell you that just two days before joining his ship, +Reginald had to go to Aberdeen to see friends and bid them adieu. + +But it happened that Craig Nicol had made a visit on foot to Aberdeen +about the same time. Thirty, or even forty, miles was not too much for +a sturdy young fellow like him. He had told his housekeeper a week +before that he was to draw money from the bank--a considerable sum, too. + +This was foolish of him, for the garrulous old woman not only boasted to +the neighbouring servants of the wealth of her master, but even told +them the day he would leave for the town. + +Poor Craig set off as merrily as any half-broken hearted lover could be +expected to do. But, alas! after leaving Aberdeen on his homeward +journey, he had never been seen alive again by anyone who knew him. + +As he often, however, made a longer stay in town than he had first +intended, the housekeeper and servants of Birnie-Boozle were not for a +time alarmed; but soon the assistance of the police was called in, with +the hopes of solving the mystery. All they did find out, however, was +that he had left the Granite City well and whole, and that he had called +at an inn called the Five Mile House on the afternoon to partake of some +refreshment. After that all was a dread and awful blank. There was not +a pond, however, or copse along from this inn that was not searched. +Then the river was dragged by men used to work of this sort. + +But all in vain. The mystery remained still unrevealed. Only the +police, as usual, vaunted about having a clue, and being pressed to +explain, a sergeant said: + +"Why, only this: you see he drew a lot of cash from the bank in notes +and gold, and as we hear that he is in grief, there is little doubt in +our minds that he has gone, for a quiet holiday to the Continent, or +even to the States." + +Certain in their own minds that this was the case, the worthy police +force troubled themselves but little more about the matter. They +thought they had searched everywhere; but one place they had forgotten +and missed. From the high road, not many miles from Birnie-Boozle, a +road led. It was really little more than a bridle-path, but it +shortened the journey by at least a mile, and when returning from town +Craig Nicol always took advantage of this. + +Strange, indeed, it was, that no one, not even the housekeeper, had +thought of giving information about this to the police. But the +housekeeper was to be excused. She was plunged deeply in grief. She +and she only would take no heed of the supposed clue to the mystery that +the sergeant made sure he had found. + +"Oh, oh," she would cry, "my master is dead! I know, I know he is. In +a dream he appeared to me. How wan and weird he looked, and his +garments were drenched in blood and gore. Oh, master, dear, kind, good +master, I shall never, never see you more!" And the old lady wrung her +hands and wept and sobbed as if her very heart would break. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Reginald's ship had been about two days at sea. The wind was fair and +strong, so that she had made a good offing, and was now steering south +by west, bearing up for the distant shores of South America. + +And it was now that a discovery was made that appalled and shocked +everyone in all the countryside. + +CHAPTER SIX. + +A VERDICT OF MURDER. + +About half-way up the short cut, or bridle-path, was a dark, dingy +spruce-fir copse. It was separated from the roads by a high whitethorn +hedge, trailed over with brambles, the black, shining, rasp-like fruit +of which were now ripe and juicy. They were a great attraction to the +wandering schoolboy. Two lads, aged about eight or ten--great +favourites with Craig's housekeeper--were given a basket each in the +forenoon and sent off to pick the berries and to return to tea about +four o'clock. + +There was a gate that entered from the path, but it was seldom, if ever, +opened, save probably by the wood-cutters. + +Well, those two poor little fellows returned hours and hours before +tea-time. They were pale and scared-looking. In their terror they had +even dropped their baskets. + +"Oh, the man! the man!" they cried, as soon as they entered. "The poor, +dead man!" + +Although some presentiment told the aged housekeeper that this must +indeed be the dead body of her unhappy master, she summoned courage to +run herself to the police-station. An officer was soon on the fatal +spot, guided by the braver of the two little lads. With his big knife +the policeman hacked away some of the lower branches of the spruce-fir, +and thus let in the light. + +It was indeed Craig, and there was little doubt that he had been foully +murdered. But while one officer took charge of the corpse, he did not +touch it, but dispatched another to telegraph to Aberdeen at once for a +detective. He arrived by the very next train, accompanied by men with a +letter. The news had spread like wildfire, and quite a crowd had by +this time gathered in the lane, but they were kept far back from the +gate lest their footsteps should deface any traces of the murder. Even +the imprint of a shoe might be invaluable in clearing up an awful +mystery like this. Mr C., the detective, and the surgeon immediately +started their investigations. + +It was only too evident that Craig Nicol had been stabbed to the heart. +His clothes were one mass of gore, and hard with blood. On turning the +body over, a discovery was made that caused the detective's heart to +palpitate with joy. Here, underneath it, was found a Highlander's +_skean dhu_ (stocking dirk). The little sheath itself was found at a +distance of a few yards, and it must evidently have been dropped by the +murderer, in his haste to conceal the body. + +"Ha! this is indeed a clue," said the detective. "This knife did the +deed, George. See, it is encrusted with blood." + +"I think so, sir." + +"And look, on the silver back of the little sheath are the letters R.G." + +He took the dagger in his hand, and went back to the little crowd. + +"Can anyone identify this knife?" he asked, showing it to them. + +No one could. + +"Can you?" said the detective, going to the rear and addressing +Shufflin' Sandie. Sandie appeared to be in deep grief. + +"Must I tell?" + +"You needn't now, unless you like, but you must at the inquest." + +"Then, sir, I may as well say it now. The knife belongs to Mr +Grahame." + +A thrill of horror went through the little crowd, and Sandy burst into +tears. + +"Where does he live, this Mr Grahame?" + +"He did live at Bilberry Hall, sir," blubbered Sandie; "but a few days +ago he sailed away for the Southern Seas." + +"Was he poor or rich, Sandie?" + +"As poor as a church mouse, sir. I've heard him tell Miss Annie Lane +so. For I was always dandlin' after them." + +"Thank you; that will do in the meantime." + +Craig had evidently been robbed, for the pockets were turned inside out, +and another discovery made was this: the back of the coat was covered +with dust or dried mud, so that, in all human probability, he must have +been murdered on the road, then dragged and hidden here. There was a +terrible bruise on one side of the head, so it was evident enough to the +surgeon, as well as to the detective, that the unfortunate man must +first have been stunned and afterwards stabbed. There was evidence, +too, that the killing had been done on the road; there were marks of the +gravel having been scraped away, and this same gravel, blackened with +blood, was found in the ditch. + +The detective took his notes of the case, then calling his man, +proceeded to have the man laid on the litter. The body was not taken +home, but to the barn of an adjoining cottage. + +Here when the coroner was summoned and arrived from Aberdeen, part of +the inquest was held. After viewing the body, the coroner and jury went +to Birnie-Boozle, and here more business was gone through. + +The housekeeper was the first to be examined. She was convulsed with +grief, and could only testify as to the departure and date of departure +of her master for the distant city, with the avowed intention of drawing +money. + +"That will do, my good woman; you can retire." + +The next witness to be examined was Shufflin' Sandie. He was +exceedingly cool, and took a large pinch of snuff before answering a +question. + +"Were not Craig Nicol and Reginald Grahame particular friends?" + +"Once upon a time, sir; but he was awfully jealous was Craig, and never +brought Grahame to the Hall; but after the fight with thae devils of +poachers, Grahame was carried, wounded, to Bilberry Hall, and nursed by +Miss Annie. Not much wonder, sir, that they fell in love. I would have +done the same myself. I--" + +"Now, don't be garrulous." + +"Oh, devil a garrylus; I'll not say another word if ye like." + +"Well, go on." + +"Well, sir, they were engaged. Then one day Craig comes to the Hall, +and there was terrible angry words. Craig cursed Grahame and called him +all the ill names he could lay his tongue to." + +"And did Grahame retaliate?" + +"Indeed did he, sir; he didn't swear, but he said that as soon as he was +well, the _quarrel should end in blood_." (Sensation in court.) "Had +Craig any other enemy?" + +"That he had--old Laird Fletcher. They met at the riverside one day, +and had a row, and fought. I saw and heard everything. Craig Nicol +told the old Laird that he would have nobody snuffling round his lady +love. Then they off-coat and fought. Man! it was fine! The Laird put +in some good ones, but the young 'un had it at last. Then he flung the +Laird into the river, and when he got out he threatened to do for poor +Craig Nicol." (Sensation.) + +Sandie paused to wipe his eyes with his sleeve, and took snuff before he +could proceed. + +"You think," said the coroner, "that Laird Fletcher meant to carry out +his threat?" + +"I don't know. I only know this--he was in doonright devilish earnest +when he made it." + +"I am here," said Laird Fletcher, "and here, too, are five witnesses to +prove that I have not been twice outside my own gate since Craig Nicol +started for Aberdeen. Once I was at the Hall, and my groom here drove +me there and back; I was too ill to walk." + +The witnesses were examined on oath, and no alibi was ever more clearly +proven. Laird Fletcher was allowed to leave the court without a stain +on his character. + +"I am sorry to say, gentlemen," addressing the jury, "that there appears +no way out of the difficulty, and that his poverty would alone have led +Grahame to commit the terrible deed, to say nothing of his threat that +the quarrel would end in blood. Poor Craig Nicol has been robbed, and +foully, brutally murdered, and Reginald Grahame sails almost immediately +after for the South Seas. I leave the verdict with you." + +Without leaving the box, and after a few minutes of muttered +conversation, the foreman stood up. + +"Have you agreed as to your verdict?" + +"Unanimously, sir." + +"And it is?" + +"Wilful murder, sir, committed by the hands of Reginald Grahame." + +"Thank you. And now you may retire." + +Ill news travels apace, and despite all that Fanny and Annie's maid +could do, the terrible accusation against her lover soon reached our +poor heroine's ears. + +At first she wept most bitterly, but it was not because she believed in +Reginald's guilt. No, by no means. It was because she felt sorrow for +him. He was not here to defend himself, as she was sure he could. +Perhaps love is blind, and lovers cannot see. + +But true love is trusting. Annie had the utmost faith in Reginald +Grahame--a faith that all the accusations the world could make against +him could not shake, nor coroners' verdicts either. + +"No, no, no," she exclaimed to her maid passionately, through her tears, +"my darling is innocent, though things look black against him. Ah! how +unfortunate that he should have gone to the city during those three +terrible days!" She was silent for a couple of minutes. "Depend upon +it, Jeannie," she added, "someone else was the murderer. And for all +his alibi, which I believe to be got up, I blame that Laird Fletcher." + +"Oh, don't, dearest Annie," cried the maid, "believe me when I say I +could swear before my Maker that he is not guilty." + +"I am hasty, because in sorrow," said Annie. "I may alter my mind soon. +Anyhow, he does not look the man to be guilty of so terrible a crime, +and he has been always kind and fatherly to me, since the day I ran away +from the arbour. Knowing that I am engaged, he will not be less so now. +But, oh, my love, my love! Reginald, when shall I ever see thee again? +I would die for thee, with thee; as innocent thou as the babe unborn. +Oh Reginald my love, my love!" + +Her perfect confidence in her lover soon banished Annie's grief. He +would return. He might be tried, she told herself, but he would leave +the court in robes of white, so to speak, able to look any man in the +face, without spot or stain on his character. Then they would be +wedded. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +A whole month flew by, during which--so terrible is justice--an +expedition was sent to San Francisco overland, with policemen, to meet +the _Wolverine_ there, and at once to capture their man. + +They waited and waited a weary time. Six months flew by, nine months, a +year; still she came not, and at last she was classed among the ships +that ne'er return. + +Reginald Grahame will never be seen again--so thought the 'tecs--"Till +the sea gives up the dead." + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +BUYING THE BONNIE THINGS. + +To say that Annie was not now in grief would be wrong. Still hope told +a flattering tale. And that tale sufficed to keep her heart up. + +He must have been wrecked somewhere, but had she not prayed night and +day for him? Yes, he was safe--must be. Heaven would protect him. +Prayers are heard, and he _would_ return safe and sound, to defy his +enemies and his slanderers as well. + +Fletcher had been received back into favour. Somewhat penurious he was +known to be, but so kind and gentle a man as he could never kill. Had +she not seen him remove a worm from the garden path lest it might be +trodden upon by some incautious foot? + +He kept her hopes up, too, and assured her that he believed as she did, +that all would come right in the end. If everybody else believed that +the _Wolverine_ was a doomed ship, poor Annie didn't. + +There came many visitors to the Hall, young and middle-aged, and more +than one made love to Annie. She turned a deaf ear to all. But now an +event occurred that for a time banished some of the gloom that hung +around Bilberry Hall. + +About two months before this, one morning, after old Laird McLeod had +had breakfast, Shufflin' Sandie begged for an audience. + +"Most certainly," said McLeod. "Show the honest fellow in." + +So in marched Sandie, bonnet in hand, and determined on this occasion to +speak the very best English he could muster. + +"Well, Sandie?" + +"Well, Laird. I think if a man has to break the ice, he'd better do it +at once and have done with it. Eh? What think _you_?" + +"That's right, Sandie." + +"Well, would you believe that a creature like me could possibly fall in +love over the ears, and have a longing to get married?" + +"Why not, Sandie? I don't think you so bad-looking as some other folks +call you." + +Sandie smiled and took a pinch. + +"Not to beat about the bush, then, Laird, I'm just awfully gone on +Fanny." + +"And does she return your affection?" + +"That she does, sir; and sitting on a green bank near the forest one +bonnie moonlit night, she promised to be my wife. You wouldn't turn me +away, would you, sir, if I got married?" + +"No, no; you have been a faithful servant for many a day." + +"Well, now, Laird, here comes the bit. I want to build a bit housie on +the knoll, close by the forest, just a but and a ben and a kennel. Then +I would breed terriers, and make a bit out of that. Fanny would see to +them while I did your work. But man, Laird, I've scraped and scraped, +and saved and saved, and I've hardly got enough yet to begin life with." + +"How much do you need?" + +"Oh, Laird, thirty pounds would make Fanny and me as happy as a duke and +duchess." + +"Sandie, I'll lend it to you. I'll take no interest. And if you're +able some time to pay it back, just do it. That will show you are as +honest as I believe you are." + +The tears sprang, or seemed to spring, to Sandie's eyes, and he had to +take another big noseful of snuff to hide his emotions. + +"May the Lord bless ye, Laird! I'll just run over now and tell Fanny." + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +It does not take so long to build a Highland cot as it would to erect a +Crystal Palace, and in three weeks' time Shufflin' Sandie's house was +complete and furnished. He had even laid out a garden or kail-yard, and +planted a few suitable trees. Then, when another month had passed away, +Sandie once more sought audience of the good Laird, and formally begged +for Fanny's hand. + +Next the wedding-day was settled, and the minister's services +requisitioned. And one day Shufflin' Sandie set off for Aberdeen by +train to buy the "bonnie things," as they are termed. + +Perhaps there are no more beautiful streets in Great Britain than Union +Street and King Street, especially as seen by moonlight. They then look +as if built of the whitest and purest of marble. While the beautiful +villas of Rubislaw, with their charming flower-gardens, are of all sorts +of architecture, and almost rival the snow in their sheen. + +Fanny was charmed. Strange to say this simple servant lassie had never +been to the city before. It was all a kind of fairyland to her, and, +look wherever she might, things of beauty met her eyes. And the +windows--ah, the windows! She must pull Sandie by the sleeve every +other minute, for she really could not pass a draper's shop nor a +jeweller's without stopping to glance in and admire. + +"Oh!" she would cry, "look, look, Sandie, dear, at the chains and the +watches, and the bracelets and diamonds and pearls. Surely all the gold +in Ophir is there!" + +One particularly well-dressed window--it was a ladies' drapery shop-- +almost startled her. She drew back and blushed a little as her eyes +fell on a full-length figure of a lady in fashionable array. + +"Oh, Sandie, is she living?" + +"De'il a living?" said Sandie. "Her body's timber, and her face and +hands are made out of cobbler's wax. That's how living she is." + +"But what a splendid dress! And yonder is another. Surely Solomon in +all his glory was not arrayed like one of these!" + +"Well, Fanny, lassie, beautiful though this shop be, it is a pretty +cheap one, so we'll buy your marriage dress here." + +The shop-walker was very obsequious. "Marriage dress, sir. Certainly, +sir. Third counter down, my lady." + +Fanny had never been so addressed before, and she rose several inches in +her own estimation. + +"I--that is, she--is needing a marriage dress, missie." + +"Ready-made?" + +"Ay, that'll do, if it isn't over dear. Grand though we may look in our +Sunday clothes, we're not o'er-burdened with cash; but we're going to be +married for all that." + +Sandie chuckled and took snuff, and Fanny blushed, as usual. + +"I'm sure I wish you joy," said the girl in black. + +"I'm certain ye do. You're a bit bonnie lassie yerself, and some day +ye'll get a man. Ye mind what the song says: + + "`Oh, bide ye yet, and bide ye yet, + Ye little know what may betide ye yet; + Some bonnie wee mannie may fa' to your lot, + So ay be canty and thinkin' o't.'" + +The girl in black certainly took pleasure in fitting Fanny, and, when +dressed, she took a peep in the tall mirror--well, she didn't know +herself! She was as beautiful as one of the wax figures in the window. +Sandy was dazed. He took snuff, and, scarce knowing what he was doing, +handed the box to the lassie in black who was serving them. + +Well, in an hour's time all the bonnie things that could be purchased in +this shop were packed in large pasteboard boxes, and dispatched to the +station waiting-room. + +But before sallying forth Sandie and Fanny thought it must be the +correct thing to shake hands with the girl in black, much to her +amusement. + +"Good-bye, my lady; good-bye, sir. I hope you were properly served." +This from the shop-walker. + +"That we were," said Sandie. "And, man, we'll be married--Fanny and +me--next week. Well, we're to be cried three times in one day from the +pulpit. To save time, ye see. Well, I'll shake hands now, and say +good-day, sir, and may the Lord be ay around you. Good-bye." + +"The same to you," said the shop-walker, trying hard to keep from +laughing. "The same to you, sir, and many of them." + +There were still a deal of trinkets to be bought, and many gee-gaws, but +above all the marriage ring. Sandie did feel very important as he put +down that ten shillings and sixpence on the counter, and received the +ring in what he called a bonnie wee boxie. + +"Me and Fanny here are going to be married," he couldn't help saying. + +"I'm sure I wish ye joy, sir, and"--here the shopman glanced at +Fanny--"I envy you, indeed I do." + +Sandie must now have a drop of Scotch. Then they had dinner. Sandie +couldn't help calling the waiter "sir," nor Fanny either. + +"Hold down your ear, sir," Sandie said, as the waiter was helping him to +Gorgonzola. "We're going to be married, Fanny and I. Cried three times +in one Sunday. What think ye of that?" + +Of course, the waiter wished him joy, and Sandie gave him a shilling. + +"I hope you'll not be offended, sir, but just drink my health, you +know." + +The joys of the day ended up with a visit to the theatre. Fanny was +astonished and delighted. + +Oh, what a day that was! Fanny never forgot it. They left by a +midnight train for home, and all the way, whenever Fanny shut her eyes, +everything rose up before her again as natural as life--the charming +streets, the gay windows, and the scenes she had witnessed in the +theatre, and the gay crowds in every street. And so it was in her +dreams, when at last she fell asleep. + +But both Fanny and Sandie went about their work next day in their +week-day clothes as quietly as if nothing very extraordinary had +happened, or was going to happen in a few days' time. + +Of course, after he had eaten his brose, Sandie must "nip up," as he +phrased it, to have a look at the cottage. + +Old Grannie Stewart--she was only ninety-three--was stopping here for +the present, airing it, burning fires in both rooms, for fear the young +folks might catch a chill. + +"Ah, grannie!" cried Sandie, "I'm right glad to see you. And look, I've +brought a wee drappie in a flat bottle. Ye must just taste. It'll warm +your dear old heart." + +The old lady's eyes glittered. + +"Well," she said, "it's not much of that comes my way, laddie. My blood +is not so thick as it used to be. For--would you believe it!--I think +I'm beginnin' to grow auld." + +"Nonsense," said Sandie. + +Old or young the old dame managed to whip off her drop of Scotch, though +it brought the water to her eyes. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +And now all preparations were being made for the coming marriage. + +For several days Sandie had to endure much chaff and wordy persecution +from the lads and lasses about his diminutive stature and his uncouth +figure. + +Sandie didn't mind. Sandie was happy. Sandie took snuff. + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +A SCOTTISH PEASANT'S WEDDING AND A BALL. + +Old Laird McLeod had a right good heart of his own, and willingly +permitted the marriage to take place in his drawing-room. There were +very few guests, however. + +The grey-haired old minister was there in time to taste the wine of +Scotland before the ceremony began, which, after all, though short, was +very solemn. No reading of prayers. The prayer that was said was from +the heart, not from a book; that sort of prayer which opens Heaven. + +A long exhortation followed, hands were joined, the minister laid his +above, and Sandie and Fanny were man and wife. Then the blessing. + +I don't know why it was, but Fanny was in tears most of the time. + +The marriage took place in the afternoon; and dinner was to follow. + +Annie good-naturedly took Fanny to her own room and washed away her +tears. + +In due time both sailed down to dinner. And a right jolly dinner it +was, too. Fanny had never seen anything like it before. Of course that +lovely haunch of tender venison was the _piece de resistance_, while an +immense plum-pudding brought up the rear. Dessert was spread, with some +rare wines--including whisky--but Sandie could scarce be prevailed upon +to touch anything. He was almost awed by the presence of the reverend +and aged minister, who tried, whenever he could, to slip in a word or +two about the brevity of life, the eternity that was before them all, +the Judgment Day, and so on, and so forth. But the minister, for all +that, patronised the Highland whisky. + +"No, no," he said, waving the port wine away. "`Look not thou upon the +wine when it is red; when it giveth his colour to the cup... at the last +it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder.'" + +It was observed, however, that as he spoke he filled his glass with +Glenlivet. + +Well, I suppose no man need care to look upon the wine when it is red, +if his tumbler be flanked by a bottle of Scotch. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +The dinner ended, there was the march homeward to Sandie's wee house on +the knoll, pipers first, playing right merrily; Sandie and his bride +arm-in-arm next; then, four deep, lads and lasses gay, to the number of +fifty at least. + +And what cheering and laughing as they reached the door. But finally +all departed to prepare for the ball that was to take place later on in +the great barn of Bilberry Hall. + +And it was a barn, too!--or, rather, a loft, for it was built partly on +a brae, so that after climbing some steps you found yourself on level +ground, and entered a great door. + +Early in the evening, long ere lad and lass came linking to the door, +the band had taken their places on an elevated platform at one side of, +but in the middle of, the hall. + +The floor was swept and chalked, the walls all around densely decorated +with evergreens, Scotch pine and spruce and heather galore, with here +and there hanging lamps. + +Boys and girls, however, hovered around the doorway and peeped in now +and then, amazed and curious. To them, too, the tuning of the +musicians' fiddles sent a thrill of joy expectant to their little souls. +How they did long, to be sure, for the opening time. + +As the vultures scent a battle from afar, so do the Aberdeen "sweetie" +wives scent a peasant's ball. And these had already assembled to the +number of ten in all, with baskets filled to overflowing with packets of +sweets. These would be all sold before morning. These sweetie wives +were not young by any means--save one or two-- + + "But withered beldames, auld and droll, + Rig-woodie hags would spean a foal." + +They really looked like witches in their tall-crowned white cotton caps +with flapping borders. + +A half-hour goes slowly past. The band is getting impatient. A sweet +wee band it is--three small fiddles, a 'cello, a double bass, and +clarionet. The master of ceremonies treats them all to a thistle of the +wine of the country. Then the leader gives a signal, and they strike +into some mournfully plaintive old melodies, such as "Auld Robin Grey," +"The Flowers o' the Forest," "Donald," etc, enough to draw tears from +anyone's eyes. + +But now, hurrah! in sails Fanny with Shufflin' Sandie on her arm, +looking as bright as a new brass button. There is a special seat for +them, and for the Laird, Annie, and the quality generally, at the far +end of the hall--a kind of arbour, sweetly bedecked with heather, and +draped with McLeod tartan. Here they take their seats. There is a row +of seats all round the hall and close to the walls. + +And now crowd in the Highland lads and lasses gay, the latter mostly in +white, with ribbons in their hair, and tartan sashes across their +breasts and shoulders. Very beautiful many look, with complexions such +as duchesses might envy, and their white teeth flashing like pearls as +they whisper to each other and smile. + +As each couple file in at the door, the gentleman takes his partner to a +seat, bows and retires to his own side, for the ladies and gentlemen are +seated separately, modestly looking at each other now and then, the lads +really infinitely more shy than the lasses. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Now Laird McLeod slowly rises. There is a hush now, and all eyes are +turned towards the snowy-haired grand old man. + +"Ladies and gentlemen all," he says, "I trust you will enjoy a really +happy evening, and I am sure it will be an innocent one. `Youth's the +season made for joy.' I have only to add that the bridegroom himself +will open the ball with a hornpipe." + +A deafening cheer rang out, the musicians struck up that inimitable +College Hornpipe, and next moment, arrayed in his best clothes, +Shufflin' Sandie was in the middle of the floor. He waited, bowing to +the McLeod and the ballroom generally, till the first measure was +played. Then surely never did man-o'-war sailor dance as Sandie danced! +His legs seemed in two or three places at one time, and so quickly did +he move that scarce could they be seen. He seemed, indeed, to have as +many limbs as a daddy-long-legs. He shuffled, he tripled and +double-tripled, while the cracking of his thumbs sounded for all the +world like a nigger's performance with the bones. Then every wild, +merry "Hooch!" brought down the house. Such laughing and clapping of +hands few have ever heard before. Sandie's uncouth little figure and +droll face added to the merriment, and when he had finished there was a +general cry of "Encore!" Sandie danced another step or two, then bowed, +took a huge pinch of snuff, and retired. + +But the ball was not quite opened yet. A foursome reel was next danced +by the bride and Annie herself, with as partners Shufflin' Sandie and +McLeod's nephew, a handsome young fellow from Aberdeen. It was the Reel +of Tulloch, and, danced in character, there is not much to beat it. + +Then came a cry of "Fill the floor!" and every lad rushed across the +hall for his partner. The ball was now indeed begun. And so, with +dance after dance, it went on for hours: + + "Lads and lassies in a dance; + Nae cotillion brent new frae France; + But hornpipes, jigs, strathspeys, and reels + Put life and mettle in their heels." + +Sandie hardly missed a dance. He was indeed the life and soul of the +ballroom. + +The sweetie wives were almost sold out already, for every Jock must +treat his own Jeannie, or the other fellow's Jeannie, to bags and +handfuls of sweets. And the prettier the girl was the more she +received, till she was fain to hand them over to her less good-looking +sisters. + +But at midnight there came a lull--a lull for refreshments. +White-aproned servants staggered in with bread, butter, and cheese, and +bucketfuls of strong whisky punch. + +There was less reserve now. The lads had their lasses at either side of +the hall, and for the most part on their knees. Even the girls must +taste the punch, and the lads drank heartily--not one mugful each, but +three! Nevertheless, they felt like giants refreshed. + +"And now the fun grew fast and furious"--and still more so when, arrayed +in all the tartan glory of the Highland dress, two stalwart pipers +stalked in to relieve the band, grand men and athletes! + + "They screwed their pipes and made them skirl, + Till roofs and rafters all did dirl. + The pipers loud and louder blew, + The dancers quick and quicker flew." + +But at two o'clock again came a lull; more biscuits, more +bread-and-cheese, and many more buckets of toddy or punch. And during +this lull, accompanied by the violins, Sandie sang the grand old +love-song called "The Rose of Allandale." It was duly appreciated, and +Sandie was applauded to the "ring of the bonnet," as he himself phrased +it. + +Then Annie herself was led to the front by her uncle. Everyone was +silent and seemingly dazzled by her rare but childlike beauty. + +Her song was "Ever of thee I'm fondly dreaming." Perhaps few were near +enough to see, but the tears were in the girl's eyes, and almost +streaming over more than once before she had finished. + +And now McLeod and his party took their leave, Sandie and his bride +following close behind. + +The ball continued after this, however, till nearly daylight in the +morning. Then "Bob at the Booster"--a kind of kiss-in-the-ring dance-- +brought matters to a close, and, wrapped in plaids and shawls, the +couples filed away to their homes, over the fields and through the +heather. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Next day Shufflin' Sandie was working away among his horses as quietly +and contentedly as if he had not been married at all yesterday, or spent +the evening in a ballroom. + +Before, however, leaving his little cottage by the wood, he had +dutifully made his wife a cup of tea, and commanded her to rest for +hours before turning out to cook their humble dinner. And dutifully she +obeyed. + +The Laird and Sandie came to an arrangement that same forenoon as to how +much work he was to do for him and how much for himself. + +"Indeed, sir," he told McLeod, "I'll just get on the same as I did +before I got the wife. My kail-yard's but small as yet, and it'll be +little trouble to dig and rake in the evening." + +"Very well, Sandie. Help yourself to a glass there." + +Sandie needed no second bidding. He was somewhat of an enthusiast as +far as good whisky was concerned; perfectly national, in fact, as +regarded the wine of "poor auld Scotland." + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Nearly three years passed away. The ship had not returned. She never +would, nor could. + +CHAPTER NINE. + +A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. + +Nearly three years! What a long, lonesome time it had been for Annie! +Yet she still had somewhat of hope--at times, that is. + +Her cousin, Mr Beale, from the city, had spent his holiday very +delightfully at Bilberry Hall; he had gone shooting, and fishing also, +with Annie; yet, much though he admired her, and could have loved her, +he treated her with the greatest respect, condoled with her in her +sorrow, and behaved just like a brother to her. + +Her somewhat elderly lover was different. Lover he was yet, though now +fifty and three years of age, but fatherly and kind to a degree. + +"We all have griefs to bear in this world, Annie dear," he said once. +"They are burdens God sends us to try our patience. But your sorrow +must soon be over. Do you know, dear, that it is almost sinful to +grieve so long for the dead?" + +"Dead!" cried Annie. "Who knows, or can tell?" + +"Oh, darling, I can no longer conceal it from you. Perhaps I should +have told you a year ago. Here is the newspaper. Here is the very +paragraph. The figurehead of the unfortunate _Wolverine_ and one of her +boats have been picked up in the midst of the Pacific Ocean, and there +can remain no doubt in the mind of anyone that she foundered with all +hands. The insurance has been paid." + +Annie sat dumb for a time--dumb and dry-eyed. She could not weep much, +though tears would have relieved her. She found voice at last. + +"The Lord's will be done," she said, simply but earnestly. + +Laird Fletcher said no more _then_. But he certainly was very far from +giving up hope of eventually leading Annie to the altar. + +And now the poor sorrowing lassie had given up all hope. She was, like +most Scotch girls of her standing in society, pious. She had learnt to +pray at her mother's knee, and, when mother and father were taken away, +at her uncle's. And now she consoled herself thus. + +"Dear uncle," she said, "poor Reginald is dead; but I shall meet him in +a better world than this." + +"I trust so, darling." + +"And do you know, uncle, that now, as it is all over, I am almost +relieved. A terrible charge hung over him, and oh! although my very +soul cries out aloud that he was not guilty, the evidence might have led +him to a death of shame. And I too should have died." + +"You must keep up your heart. Come, I am going to Paris for a few weeks +with friend Fletcher, and you too must come. Needn't take more than +your travelling and evening dresses," he added. "We'll see plenty of +pretty things in the gay city." + +So it was arranged. So it was carried out. They went by steamer, this +mode of travelling being easier for the old Highlander. + +Fletcher and McLeod combined their forces in order to give poor Annie "a +real good time," as brother Jonathan would say. And it must be +confessed at the end of the time, when they had seen everything and gone +everywhere, Annie was calmer and happier than she ever remembered being +for years and years, and on their return from Paris she settled down +once more to her old work and her old ways. + +But the doctor advised more company, so she either visited some friends, +or had friends to visit her, almost every night. + +Old Laird McLeod delighted in music, and if he did sit in his easy-chair +with eyes shut and hands clasped in front of him, he was not asleep, but +listening. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +How little do we know when evil is about to befall us! + +It was one lovely day in spring. Annie had kissed her uncle on his +bald, shining head, and gone off to gather wildflowers, chaperoned by +Jeannie, her maid, and accompanied by Laird Fletcher. This man was a +naturalist--not a mere classifier. He did not fill cases with beetles +or moths, give them Latin names, and imagine that was all. He knew the +life story and habits of almost every flower and tree, and every +creature that crept, crawled, or flew. + +So he made just the kind of companion for Annie that she delighted in. +When he found himself thus giving her pleasure he felt hopeful--nay, +sure--that in the end his suit would be successful. + +It was indeed a beautiful morning. Soft and balmy winds sighing through +the dark pine tree tops, a sky of moving clouds, with many a rift of +darkest blue between, birds singing on the bonnie silver birches, their +wild, glad notes sounding from every copse, the linnet on the yellow +patches of whins or gorse that hugged the ground and perfumed the air +for many a yard around, and the wild pigeon murmuring his notes of love +in every thicket of spruce. Rare and beautiful wildflowers everywhere, +such as never grow in England, for every country has its own sweet +flora. + +The little party returned a few minutes before one o'clock, not only +happy, but hungry too. To her great alarm Annie found her uncle still +sitting on his chair, but seemingly in a stupor of grief. Near his +chair lay a foolscap letter. + +"Oh, uncle dear, are you ill?" + +"No, no, child. Don't be alarmed; it has pleased God to change our +fortunes, that is all, and I have been praying and trying hard to say +`Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven,'--I cannot yet. I may +ere long." + +But Annie was truly alarmed. She picked up the lawyer's letter and read +it twice over ere she spoke. And her bonnie face grew ghastly pale now. + +"Oh, uncle dear," she said at last, "what does this mean? Tell me, tell +me." + +"It means, my child, that we are paupers in comparison to the state in +which we have lived for many years. That this mansion and grounds are +no longer our own, that I must sell horses and hounds and retire to some +small cottage on the outskirts of the city--that is all." + +"Cheer up, uncle," said Annie, sitting down on his knee with an arm +round his neck, as she used to do when a child. "You still have me, and +I have you. If we can but keep Jeannie we may be happy yet, despite all +that fate can do." + +"God bless you, my child! You have indeed been a comfort to me. But +for you, I'd care nothing for poverty. I may live for ten years and +more yet, to the age of my people and clansmen, but as contentedly in a +cottage as in a castle. God has seen fit to afflict us, but in His +mercy He will temper the wind to the shorn lamb." + +Luncheon was brought in, but neither McLeod nor his niece did much +justice to it. The weather, however, remained bright and clear, and as +the two went out to the beautiful arbour and seated themselves, they +could hear the birds--mavis, chaffinch, and blackie--singing their wild, +ringing lilts, as if there was no such thing as sorrow in all this wide +and beautiful world. + +"Uncle," said Annie at last, "tell me the sad story. I can bear it +now." + +"Then, dear, I shall, but must be very brief. I love not to linger over +sorrow and tribulation. The young fellow Francis Robertson, then, who +now lays claim to the estate, is, to tell the honest truth, a _roue_ and +a blackguard from the Australian diggings. He is but twenty-two. Even +when a boy he was rough and wild, and at fifteen he was sentenced to six +years' imprisonment for shooting a man at the gold diggings. He has but +recently come out of gaol and found solicitors in Australia and here to +take up the cudgels for him. His father disappeared long, long ago, and +I, not knowing that, before his death, he had married, and had one son, +succeeded to this estate. But, ah me! the crash has come." + +"But may this young fellow not be an impostor?" + +"Nay, child, nay. You see what the letter says: that if I go to law I +can only lose; but that if I trouble and tire Robertson with a lawsuit +he will insist upon back rents being paid up. No," he added, after a +pause, "he is fair enough. He may be good enough, too, though +passionate. Many a wild and bloody scene is enacted at the diggings, +but in this case the police seem to have been wonderfully sharp. Ah, +well; he will be here to-morrow, and we will see." + +That was an anxious and sleepless night for poor Annie. In vain did her +maid try to sing her off into dreamland. She tossed and dozed all night +long. + +Then came the eventful day. And at twelve o'clock came young Francis +Robertson, with a party of witnesses from Australia. + +McLeod could tell him at once to be the heir. He was the express image +of his dead father. + +The Laird and his solicitor, hastily summoned from Aberdeen, saw them +alone in the drawing-room, only Annie being there. Robertson was tall, +handsome, and even gentlemanly. The witnesses were examined. Their +testimony under oath was calm, clear, and to the point. Not a question +they did not answer correctly. The certificate of birth, too, was +clear, and succinct. There were no longer any doubts about anything. + +Then Laird McLeod--laird now, alas! only by courtesy--retired with his +advocate to another room to consult. + +Said the advocate: "My dear Laird, this is a sad affair; but are you +convinced that this young fellow is the rightful owner?" + +"He is, as sure as yonder sun is shining." + +"And so am I convinced," said the advocate. "Then there must be no +lawsuit?" + +"No, none." + +"That is right. At your age a long and troublesome lawsuit would kill +you." + +"Then, my dear Duncan," said Laird McLeod, "look out for a pretty +cottage for me at once." + +"I will do everything for you, and I know of the very place you want--a +charming small villa on the beautiful Rubislaw Road. Choose the things +you want. Have a sale and get rid of the others. Keep up your heart, +and all will yet be well. But we must act expeditiously." + +And so they did. And in a fortnight's time all was settled, and the +little villa furnished. + +Till the day of the sale Francis Robertson was a guest at the Hall. + +Now I must state a somewhat curious, but not altogether rare, +occurrence. The young man, who really might be rash, but was not +bad-hearted, sought audience of the Laird on the very day before the +sale. + +"My dear uncle," he said, "I would rather you did not leave. Be as you +were before. I will occupy but a small portion of the house. Stay with +me." + +"Francis Robertson," replied McLeod, "we _go_. I'll be no man's guest +in a house that once was mine." + +"Be it so, sir. But I have something further to add." + +"Speak on." + +"From the first moment I saw her I fell in love with Miss Annie Lane. +Will you give me her hand?" + +"Have you spoken to herself?" + +"I have not dared to." McLeod at once rang the bell and summoned Annie, +his niece. + +"Annie, dear, this gentleman, your relation, says he loves you, and asks +for your hand. Think you that you could love him?" + +Annie drew herself haughtily up. She said but one word, a decisive and +emphatic one: "_No_." + +"You have had your answer," said McLeod. Francis bowed and went +somewhat mournfully away. + +CHAPTER TEN. + +"WHAT MUST BE MUST--'TIS FATE." + +The old Laird McLeod possessed that true Christian feeling which we so +rarely see displayed in this age, and as he left the door of the old +mansion where he had lived so long and so happily he held out his hand +to Francis. + +"God bless you, lad, anyhow. Be good, and you'll prosper." + +"The wicked prosper," said Francis. + +"All artificial, lad, and only for a time. Never can they be said to be +truly happy." + +"Good-bye--or rather, _au revoir_." + +"_Au revoir_." + +Then the old man clambered slowly into the carriage. Poor Annie was +already there. She cast just one longing, lingering look behind, then +burst into an uncontrollable fit of weeping. But the day was beautiful, +the trees arrayed in the tender tints of spring, while high above, +against a fleecy cloud, she could see a laverock (lark), though she +could not hear it. But his body was quivering, and eke his wings, with +the joy that he could not control. Woods on every side, and to the +right the bonnie winding Dee, its wavelets sparkling in the sunshine. + +Everything was happy; why should not she be? So she dried her tears, +and while her uncle dozed she took her favourite author from her +satchel, and was soon absorbed in his poems. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +After they had settled down in McLeod Cottage, as the snow-white pretty +villa had now been called, I do believe that they were happier than when +in the grand old mansion, with all its worries and work and trouble. +They were not very well off financially, that was all. + +But it was a new pleasure for Annie and her maid to do shopping along +Union Street the beautiful, and even round the quaint old New Market. +She used to return happy and exultant, to show her uncle the bargains +she had made. + +One night Annie had an inspiration. She was a good musician on piano +and zither. Why not give lessons? + +She would. Nor was she very long in finding a pupil or two. This added +considerably to the fund for household expenditure. But nevertheless +the proud old Highlander McLeod thought it was somewhat _infra +dignitate_. But he bore with this because it seemed to give happiness +to the child, as he still continued to call her. + +So things went on. And so much rest did the Laird now have that for a +time, at least, his life seemed all one happy dream. They soon made +friends, too, with their neighbours, and along the street wherever Annie +went she was known, for she was always followed by a grand and noble +dog, a Great Dane, as faithful and as true as any animal could well be. + +One evening she and Jeannie, her maid, were walking along a lovely +tree-shaded lane, just as the beams of the setting sun were glimmering +crimson through the leafy grandeur of the great elms. For some purpose +of his own the dog was in an adjoining field, when suddenly, at the bend +of the road, they were accosted by a gigantic and ragged tramp, who +demanded money on the pain of death. Both girls shrieked, and suddenly, +like a shell from a great gun, darted the dog from the hedge, and next +moment that tramp was on his back, his ragged neckerchief and still more +ragged waistcoat were torn from his body, and but for Annie his throat +would have been pulled open. + +But while Jeannie trembled, Annie showed herself a true McLeod, though +her name was Lane. She called the dog away; then she quickly possessed +herself of the tramp's cudgel. Annie was not tall, but she was strong +and determined. + +"Get up at once," she cried, "and march back with us. If you make the +least attempt to escape, that noble dog shall tear your windpipe out!" + +Very sulkily the tramp obeyed. + +"I'm clean copped. Confound your beast of a dog!" + +Within a few yards of her own door they met a policeman, who on hearing +of the assault speedily marched the prisoner off to gaol. + +When she related the adventure to her uncle he was delighted beyond +measure, and must needs bless her and kiss her. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +They had parted with the carriage. Needs must where poverty and the +devil drives! But they still had a little phaeton, and in this the old +man and his niece enjoyed many a delightful drive. He would take her to +concerts, too, and to the theatre also, so that, on the whole, life was +by no means a galling load to anyone. + +But a very frequent visitor at McLeod Cottage was Laird Fletcher. Not +only so, but he took the old man and Annie frequently out by train. His +carriage would be waiting at the station, and in this they drove away to +his beautiful home. + +The house itself was modern, but the grounds, under the sweet joy of +June, looked beautiful indeed. It was at some considerable distance +from the main road, and so in the gardens all was delightfully still, +save for the music of happy song-birds or the purr of the turtle-dove, +sounding low from the spreading cedars. + + "A pleasing land of drowsyhead it was, + Of dreams that wave before the half-shut eye; + And of gay castles in the clouds that pass, + For ever flushing round a summer sky. + There eke the soft delights, that witchingly + Instil a wanton sweetness through the breast, + And the calm pleasures always hovered nigh; + But whate'er smacked of 'noyance or unrest + Was far, far off expelled from this delicious nest." + +Through these lovely rose-gardens and tree-shaded lawns frequently now +wandered Annie, alone with Fletcher. He was so gentle, winning, and +true that she had come to like him. Mind, I say nothing of love. And +she innocently and frankly told him so as they sat together in a natural +bower beneath a spreading deodar cedar. He was happy, but he would not +risk his chance by being too precipitate. + +Another day in the same arbour, after a moment or two of silence, she +said: "Oh, I wish you were my uncle!" Fletcher winced a little, but +summoned up courage to say: + +"Ah, Annie, could we not be united by a dearer tie than that? Believe +me, I love you more than life itself. Whether that life be long or +short depends upon you, Annie." + +But she only bent her head and cried, childlike. + +"Ah, Mr Fletcher," she said at last, "I have no heart to give away. It +lies at the bottom of the sea." + +"But love would come." + +"We will go to the house now, I think," and she rose. + +Fletcher, poor fellow, silently, almost broken-heartedly, followed, and, +of course, the Great Dane was there. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +That night she told her uncle all. He said not a word. She told her +maid in the bedroom. + +"Oh, Miss Annie," said Jeanie, "I think you are very, very foolish. You +refuse to marry this honest and faithful man, but your mourning will +not, cannot restore the dead. Reginald Grahame is happier, a thousand, +million times more happy, than anyone can ever be on this earth. +Besides, dear, there is another way of looking at the matter. Your poor +Uncle McLeod is miles and miles from the pines, from the heath and the +heather. He may not complain, but the artificial life of a city is +telling on him. What a quiet and delightful life he would have at Laird +Fletcher's!" + +Annie was dumb. She was thinking. Should she sacrifice her young life +for the sake of her dear uncle? Ah, well, what did life signify to her +now? _He_ was dead and gone. + +Thus she spoke: + +"You do not think my uncle is ill, Jeannie?" + +"I do not say he is _ill_, but I do say that he feels his present life +irksome at times, and you may not have him long, Miss Annie. Now go to +sleep like a baby and dream of it." + +And I think Annie cried herself asleep that night. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +"It becomes not a maiden descended from the noble clan McLeod to be +otherwise than brave," she told herself next morning. "Oh, for dear +uncle's sake I feel I could--" But she said no more to herself just +then. + +Fletcher called that very day, and took them away again to his bonnie +Highland home. It was a day that angels would have delighted in. And +just on that same seat beneath the same green-branched cedar Fletcher +renewed his wooing. But he, this time, alluded to the artificial city +life that the old Laird had to lead, he who never before during his old +age had been out of sight of the waving pines and the bonnie blooming +heather. + +Fletcher was very eloquent to-day. Love makes one so. Yet his wooing +was strangely like that of Auld Robin Grey, especially when he finished +plaintively, appealingly, with the words: + +"Oh, Annie, for his sake will you not marry me?" + +Annie o' the Banks o' Dee wept just a little, then she wiped her tears +away. He took her hand, and she half-whispered: "What must be +_must_--'tis fate." + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +THE "WOLVERINE" PUTS OUT TO SEA. + +With the exception of the _Sunbeam_, probably no more handsome steam +yacht ever left Southampton Harbour than the _Wolverine_. She was all +that a sailor's fancy could paint. + +Quite a crowd of people were on the quay to witness her departure on her +very long and venturesome cruise. Venturesome for this reason, that, +though rigged as a steam barque, she was but little over four hundred +tons register. + +Seamen on shore, as they glanced at her from stem to stem, alow and +aloft, criticised her freely. But Jack's opinion was on the whole well +embodied in a sentence spoken by a man-o'-wars-man, as he hitched up his +nether garments and turned his quid in his mouth: + +"My eyes, Bill and Elizabeth Martin, she is a natty little craft! I've +been trying to find a flaw in her, or a hole, so to speak, but there's +ne'er a one, Bill--above water, anyhow. Without the steam she reminds +me of the old Aberdeen clippers. Look at her bilge, her lines, her +bows, her jibboom, with its smart and business-like curve. Ah, Bill, +how different to sail in a yacht like that from living cooped up in a +blooming iron tank, as we are in our newest-fashioned man-o'-war +teakettles! Heigho! Blowed if I wouldn't like to go on board of her! +Why, here is the doctor--splendid young fellow!--coming along the pier +now. I'll overhaul him and hail him. Come on, Bill!" + +Reginald Grahame was coming somewhat slowly towards them. It was just a +day or two before the discovery of Craig Nicol's murder and the finding +of his body in the wood. + +Reginald was thinking of Bilberry Hall and Annie o' the Banks o' Dee. +Sorrow was depicted in every lineament of his handsome but mobile and +somewhat nervous countenance. Was he thinking also of the cold, stiff +body of his quondam friend Craig, hidden there under the dark spruce +trees, the tell-tale knife beside him? Who can say what the innermost +workings of his mind were? Some of the most bloodthirsty pirates of old +were the handsomest men that ever trod the deck of a ship. We can judge +no man's heart from his countenance. And no woman's either. There be +she-devils who bear the sweet and winning features of saints. Our +Scottish Queen Mary was beautiful, and as graceful as beautiful. + + "If to her share some human errors fall, + Look in her face, and you'll forget them all." + +"Beggin' yer pardon, sir," said Jack, touching his hat and scraping a +bit, like a horse with a loose shoe, "we're only just two blooming +bluejackets, but we've been a-admiring of your craft--outside like. +D'ye think, sir, they'd let us on board for a squint?" + +"Come with me, my lads. I'll take you on board." + +Next minute, in company with Reginald--who was now called _Dr._-- +Grahame, they were walking the ivory-white decks. Those two honest +man-o'-war sailors were delighted beyond measure with all they saw. + +"Why," said Jack--he was chief spokesman, for Bill was mute--"why, +doctor, you have _sailors_ on board!--and mind you, sir, you don't find +real sailors nowadays anywhere else except in the merchant service. We +bluejackets are just like our ships--fighting machines. We ain't hearts +of oak any longer, sir." + +"No," said the doctor, "but you are hearts of iron. Ha! here comes the +postman, with a letter for me, too. Thank you, postie." + +He gave him sixpence, and tore the letter open, his hand shaking +somewhat. Yes, it was from Annie. He simply hurriedly scanned it at +present, but he heaved a sigh of relief as he placed it in his bosom. +Then he rejoined the bluejackets. + +"Well, sir, we won't hinder you. I see you've got the Blue Peter up. +But never did I see cleaner white decks; every rope's end coiled, too. +The capstan itself is a thing o' beauty; all the brasswork looks like +gold, all the polished woodwork like ebony; and, blow me, Bill, just +look at that binnacle! Blest if it wouldn't be a beautiful ornament for +a young lady's boodwar (boudoir)! Well, sir, we wishes you a pleasant, +happy voyage and a safe return. God bless you, says Jack, and +good-bye." + +"Good-bye to you, lads; and when you go to war, may you send the foe to +the bottom of the ocean. There,"--he handed Jack a coin as he +spoke--"drink _bon voyage_ to us." + +"Ah, that will we!" + +The sailors once more scraped and bowed, and Reginald hurried below to +read Annie's letter. It was just a lover's letter--just such a letter +as many of my readers have had in their day--so I need not describe it. + +Reginald sat in his little cabin--it was only six feet square--with his +elbow leaning on his bunk, his hand under his chin, thinking, thinking, +thinking. Then an idea struck him. The skipper of the yacht--called +"captain" by courtesy--and Reginald were already the best of friends. +Indeed, Dickson--for that was his name--was but six or seven years older +than Reginald. + +"Rat-tat-tat!" at the captain's door. His cabin was pretty large, and +right astern, on what in a frigate would be called "the fighting deck." +This cabin was of course right abaft the main saloon, and had a private +staircase, or companion, that led to the upper deck. + +"Hullo, doctor, my boy!" + +"Well, just call me Grahame, _mon ami_." + +"If you'll call me Dickson, that'll square it." + +"Well, then, Dickson, I'm terribly anxious to get out and away to sea. +If not soon, I feel I may run off--back to my lady love. When do we +sail for sure?" + +The captain got up and tapped the glass. + +"Our passengers come on board this afternoon, bag and baggage, and +to-morrow morning early we loose off, and steam out to sea--if it be a +day on which gulls can fly." + +"Thanks, a thousand times. And now I won't hinder you." + +"Have a drop of rum before you go, and take a cigar with you." + +Reginald's heart needed keeping up, so he did both. + +"When I am on the sea," he said, "I shall feel more happy. Ay, but +Annie, I never can forget you." + +More cheerily now, he walked briskly off to the hotel to meet his +patients. There were two, Mr and Mrs Hall, wealthy Americans; +besides, there were, as before mentioned, Miss Hall and the child Matty. +They were all very glad to see Reginald. + +"You are very young," said Mr Hall, offering him a cigar. + +"I think," he answered, "I am very fit and fresh, and you will find me +very attentive." + +"I'm sure of it," said Mrs Hall. + +Little Matty took his hand shyly between her own two tiny ones. + +"And Matty's su'e too," she said, looking up into his face. + +They say that American children are thirteen years of age when born. I +know they are precocious, and I like them all the better for it. This +child was very winning, very pert and pretty, but less chubby, and more +intellectual-looking than most British children. For the life of him +Reginald could not help lifting her high above his head and kissing her +wee red lips as he lowered her into his arms. + +"You and I are going to be good friends always, aren't we?" + +"Oh, yes, doc," she answered gaily; "and of torse the dleat (great) big, +big dog." + +"Yes, and you may ride round the decks on him sometimes." + +Matty clapped her hands with joy. + +"What a boo'ful moustache you has!" she said. + +"You little flatterer!" he replied, as he set her down. "Ah! you have +all a woman's wiles." + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Everything was on board, and the _Wolverine_ was ready to sail that +night. But the captain must go on shore to see his friends and bid them +adieu first. + +The night closed in early, but the sky was studded with stars, and a +three-days'-old moon shone high in the west like a scimitar of gold. +This gave Reginald heart. Still, it might blow big guns before morning, +and although he sat up pretty late, to be initiated by Mr Hall into the +game of poker, he went often to the glass and tapped it. The glass was +steadily and moderately high. Reginald turned into his bunk at last, +but slept but little, and that little was dream-perturbed. + +Early in the morning he was awakened by the roar of steam getting up. +His heart leaped for joy. It is at best a wearisome thing, this being +idle in harbour before sailing. + +But at earliest dawn there was much shouting and giving of orders; the +men running fore and aft on deck; other men on shore casting off +hawsers. Then the great screw began slowly to churn up the murky water +astern. The captain himself was on the bridge, the man at the wheel +standing by to obey his slightest command. + +And so the _Wolverine_ departed, with many a cheer from the shore--ay, +and many a blessing. + +As she went out they passed a man-o'-war, in which the captain had many +friends. Early as it was, the commander had the band up, and sweetly +across the water came the music of that dear old song I myself have +often heard, when standing out to sea, "Good-bye, sweetheart, good-bye." + +By eventide they were standing well down towards the Bay of Biscay, +which they would leave on their port quarter. They would merely skirt +it, bearing up for Madeira. But a delightful breeze had sprung up; the +white sails were set, and she was running before it, right saucily, too, +bobbing and curtseying to each rippling wavelet very prettily, as much +as to say: "Ah! you dear old sea, we have been together before now. You +will never lose your temper with me, will you?" It is well, indeed, +that sailors do not know what is before them. + +The dinner-hour was seven. Mr and Mrs Hall were seated on chairs on +the quarter-deck. Neither was over-well, but Ilda and Reginald were +pacing briskly up and down the quarter-deck, chatting pleasantly. I +think, though, that Ilda had more to say than he. American girls are +born that way. + +Wee Matty was making love to Oscar, the splendid and good-natured +Newfoundland. Nobody more happy than bonnie Matty, bonnie and gay, for +her happiness, indeed, was a species of merry madness. Only no one +could have heard her childish, gleesome and silvery laugh without +laughing with her. + +The bell at last! Reginald took Ilda down below, then hurried on deck +to help his patients. Matty and Oscar seemed to come tumbling down. + +And so the evening passed away, the stars once more glittering like +crystal gems, the great star Sirius shining in ever-changing rays of +crimson and blue. + +It was indeed a goodly night, and Reginald slept to-night. The incubus +Love had fled away. + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +"I SAY, CAP," SAID MR HALL, "I SHOULD MAROON A FELLOW LIKE THAT!" + +While the whole countryside--ay, and the Granite City itself--were +thrilled with awe and horror at the brutal murder of poor unoffending +Craig Nicol, the _Wolverine_ was making her way on the wings of a +delightful ten-knot breeze to the Isle of Madeira. + +Reginald had ascertained that there was nothing very serious the matter +with Mr and Mrs Hall. They were run down, however, very much with the +gaieties of Paris and London, to say nothing of New York, and thought +rightly that a long sea voyage would be the best thing to restore them. + +Madeira at last! The beach, with its boulders or round sea-smoothed +stones, was a difficult one to land upon. The waves or breakers hurled +these stones forward with a hurtling sound that could be heard miles and +miles away, then as quickly sucked them back again. Nevertheless, the +boat was safely beached, and there were men with willing hands and broad +shoulder to carry Mr and Mrs Hall and daughter safely on to dry land. + +Reginald was sure of foot, and lifting Matty in his arms as she crowed +with delight, he bore her safe on shore. The great Newfoundland +despised a boat, and hardly was she well off the yacht ere he leaped +overboard with a splash. And he also landed, shaking himself free of +gallons of water, which made rainbows and halos around him. He drenched +his master pretty severely. But it was a fine joke to Oscar, so, +grinning and laughing as only this breed can, he went tearing along the +beach and back again at the rate of fifteen knots an hour. When he did +come back, he licked his master's hand and little Matty's face. +"Nothing like a good race," he seemed to say, "to set the blood in +motion after a long bath." + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +While the party sit in the piazza of a beautiful tree-shaded hotel, +sipping iced sherbet, let me say a word about the nature of the +_Wolverine's_ voyage. + +The yacht did not belong to the Halls. She was lent them for the cruise +round the Horn to the South Pacific, and many a beautiful island they +meant to visit, and see many a strange and wondrous sight. For hitherto +all their travelling experiences had been confined to Europe. But your +true American wants to see all the world when he can afford it. + +It was health the Halls were in search of, combined with pleasure if +possible; but they meant to collect all the curios they could get, and +they also felt certain--so Mrs Hall said--that they would find the +South Sea savages very interesting persons indeed. + +So have I myself found them, especially when their spears were whisking +over my boat and they were dancing in warlike frenzy on the beach. In +such cases, however, a shot or two from a good revolver has a +wonderfully persuasive and calmative effect on even Somali Indians. + +We British have called Scotland and England an isle of beauty, but I +question very much if it can cope with Madeira. Here not only have we +splendid mountains, clad in all the beauty of tropical and sub-tropical +shrubs and trees, tremendous cliffs and gorges, raging torrents and +cataracts, with many a bosky dell, lovely even as those birchen glades +in Scotia, but in this heavenly isle there is the sunshine that +overspreads all and sparkles on the sea. And that sea, too!--who could +describe the splendour of its blue on a calm day, patched here and there +towards the shore with browns, seagreens, and opals? No wonder that +after making several visits and picnics in shore and high among the +mountains, borne there by sturdy Portuguese in hammocks, Mrs Hall +should declare that she felt better already. + +It was with some reluctance that Mr Hall ordered the anchor to be got +up at last, and all sail made for the Canaries. Near sunset was it when +they sailed slowly away, a sunset of indescribable beauty. A great grey +misty bank of cloud was hanging many degrees above the mountains, but +beneath it was more clear and streaked with long trailing cloudlets of +crimson, light yellow, and purple, the rifts between being of the +deepest sea-green. But over the hills hung a shadow or mist of smoky +blue. + +Then descended the sun, sinking in the waters far to the west, a ball of +crimson fire with a pathway of blood 'twixt the horizon and the yacht. + +Then night fell, with but a brief twilight. There was going to be a +change, however. The mate, a sturdy, red-faced, weather-beaten, but +comely fellow, sought the captain's cabin and reported a rapidly-falling +glass, and the gradual obliteration of the stars, that erst had shone so +sweetly. + +How swiftly comes a squall at times in these seas! A huge bank of +blackest darkness was seen rapidly advancing towards the ship, and +before sail could be taken in or steam got up she was in the grasp of +that merciless demon squall. + +For a minute or two she fled before it and the terrible waves, quivering +the while from stem to stern like a dying deer. + +Then high above the roaring of the wind, and booming and hissing of the +waves, great guns were heard. It seemed so, at least, but it was but +the bursting of the bellying sails, and platoon-firing next, as the rent +ribbons of canvas crackled and rattled in the gale. + +To lie to was impossible now. With the little sail they had left they +must fly on and on. Men staggered about trying to batten down, but for +a time in vain. + +Then came a huge pooping wave, that all but swept the decks. It smashed +the bulwarks, it carried away a boat, and, alas! one poor fellow found a +watery grave. He must have been killed before being swept overboard. +Anyhow, he was seen no more. Everything movable was carried forward +with tremendous force. Even the winch was unshipped, and stood partly +on end. + +The man at the wheel and the men battening down were carried away on the +current, but though several were badly bruised, they were otherwise +unhurt. Sturdy Captain Dickson had rushed to the wheel, else would the +_Wolverine_ have broached to and sunk in a few minutes. + +The water had poured down the companions like cataracts, and it drowned +out the half-lit fires. Mr Hall and party had shut themselves up in +their state-rooms, but everything in the saloon was floating in water +two feet deep. + +However, this storm passed away almost as quickly as it had come, and +once more the seas calmed down, and sky and waters became brightly, +ineffably blue. The ship was baled out, and, as the wind had now gone +down, fires were got up, and the _Wolverine_ steamed away for the +Canaries and the marvellous Peak of Teneriffe. + +But poor Bill Stevens's death had cast a general gloom throughout the +ship. He was a great favourite fore and aft, always merry, always +laughing or singing, and a right good sailor as well. + +So next morning, when red and rosy the sun rose over the sea, orders +were sent forward for the men to "lay aft" at nine o'clock for prayers. +Then it was "wash and scrub decks, polish the wood, and shine the +brasswork." + +Right rapidly did the sun dry the decks, so that when Mrs Hall, who had +received a bad shock, was helped on deck by Reginald, everything 'twixt +fo'c'sle and wheel looked clean and nice. The winch had not been badly +damaged, and was soon set to rights. + +I should not forget to mention that the only one not really alarmed +during the terrible black Squall was that busy, merry wee body Matty. +When she saw the cataract of waters coming surging in, she speedily +mounted the table. The fiddles had been put on, and to these she held +fast; and she told Reginald all this next morning, adding, "And, oh, +doc, it was so nice--dust (just) like a swinging-rope!" + +But she had had a companion; for, after swimming several times round the +table, as if in search of dry land, the beautiful dog clambered up on +the table beside Matty. To be sure, he shook himself, but Matty shut +her eyes, and wiped her face, and on the whole was very glad of his +company. + +How solemn was that prayer of Mr Hall for the dead. Granted that he +was what is so foolishly called "a Dissenter" in England, his heart was +in the right place, and he prayed right from that Even his slight nasal +twang in no way detracted from the solemnity of that prayer. Ilda Hall +had her handkerchief to her face, but poor little cabin-boy Ralph +Williams wept audibly. For the drowned sailor had ever been kind to +him. + +The captain was certainly a gentleman, and an excellent sailor, but he +had sea ways with him, and now he ordered the main-brace to be spliced; +so all the Jacks on board soon forgot their grief. + +"His body has gone to Davy Jones," said one, "but his soul has gone +aloft." + +"Amen," said others. + +They stayed at Orotava long enough to see the sights, and Reginald +himself and a sailor got high up the peak. He was on board in time for +dinner, but confessed to being tired. He had not forgotten to bring a +splendid basket of fruit with him, however, nor wildflowers rich and +rare. + +A long lonely voyage was now before them--south-west and away to Rio de +Janeiro--so ere long everyone on board had settled quietly down to a sea +life. + +I must mention here that it was the first mate that had chosen the crew. +He had done so somewhat hastily, I fear, and when I say that there were +two or three Spaniards among them, and more than one Finn, need I add +that the devil was there also? + +One Finn in particular I must mention. He was tall to awkwardness. +Somewhat ungainly all over, but his countenance was altogether +forbidding. He had an ugly beard, that grew only on his throat, but +curled up over his chin--certainly not adding to his beauty. + +Christian Norman was his name; his temper was vile, and more than once +had he floored poor boy Williams, and even cut his head. He smoked as +often as he had the chance, and would have drunk himself to +insensibility if supplied with vile alcohol. + +"I don't like him," said the captain one evening at dinner. + +"Nor I," said Reginald. + +"I say, cap," said Mr Hall, "I'd maroon a fellow like that! If you +don't, mark my words, he will give us trouble yet." + +And he did, as the sequel will show. + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +THE BREAKDOWN--SAVAGES! + +Captain Dickson was just as kind to Norman, the Finn, as he was to +anyone else. Perhaps more so. Not that he dreaded him. Dickson would +have shot him with as little compunction as shooting a panther had he +given him even a mutinous answer. But he often let him have double +allowance of rum. "You're a big man," he would say; "you need a little +more than the little ones." + +Norman would smile grimly, but swallow it. He would even buy the men's, +for he seemed to have plenty of money. When half-seas-over Norman would +swagger and rant and sing, and with little provocation he would have +fought. The other Finns and the Spaniard, besides an Englishman or two, +always took Norman's side in an argument. + +So things went on until Rio was reached. What a splendid harbour--ships +of all nations here; what a romantic city as seen from the sea, and the +surroundings how romantic, rivalling even Edinburgh itself in beauty! + +It was early summer here, too. They had left autumn and the coming +winter far away in the dreary north. I shall make no attempt to +describe the floral grandeur of the country here. I have done so +before. But not only Reginald, but all the Halls, and Matty as well, +were able to walk round and admire the tropical vegetation and the +gorgeous flowers in the gardens; and in the town itself the fish-market +and fruit-market were duly wondered at, for everything was new and +strange to the visitors. + +Further out into the country they drove all among the peaked and +marvellous mountains and the foliaged glens, and Matty, who sat on +Reginald's knee, clapped her hands with delight to see the wee, wee +humming-birds buzzing from flower to flower "like chips of rainbows," as +Ilda phrased it, and the great butterflies as big as fans that floated +in seeming idleness here, there, and everywhere. + +A whole week was spent here, and every day afforded fresh enjoyments. +But they must sail away at last. The captain had half-thought of +leaving the Finn Norman here, but the man seemed to have turned over a +new leaf, so he relented. + +South now, with still a little west in it. The good ship encountered +more bad weather. Yet so taut and true was she, and so strong withal, +that with the exception of the waves that dashed inboards--some of them +great green seas that rolled aft like breakers on a stormy beach--she +never leaked a pint. + +Captain Dickson and his mate paid good attention to the glass, and never +failed to shorten sail and even batten down in time, and before the +approach of danger. + +But all went well and the ship kept healthy. Indeed, hardly was there a +sick man among the crew. Little Matty was the life and soul of the +yacht. Surely never on board ship before was there such a merry little +child! Had anyone been in the saloon as early as four, or even three, +bells in the morning watch, they might have heard her lightsome laugh +proceeding from her maid's cabin; for Matty was usually awake long +before the break of day, and it is to be presumed that Maggie, the maid, +got little sleep or rest after that. + +Reginald used to be on deck at seven bells, and it was not long before +he was joined by Matty. Prettily dressed the wee thing was, in white, +with ribbons of blue or crimson, her bonnie hair trailing over her back +just as wild and free as she herself was. + +Then up would come Oscar, the great Newfoundland. Hitherto it might +have been all babyish love-making between Reginald and Matty. + +"I loves 'oo," she told him one morning, "and when I'se old eno' I'se +doin' (going) to mally 'oo." + +Reginald kissed her and set her down on the deck. + +But the advent of the grand dog altered matters considerably. He came +on deck with a dash and a spring, laughing, apparently, all down both +sides. + +"You can't catch me," he would say, or appear to say, to Matty. + +"I tan tatch 'oo, twick!" she would cry, and off went the dog forward at +the gallop, Matty, screaming with laughter, taking up the running, +though far in the rear. + +Smaller dogs on board ship are content to carry and toss and play with a +wooden marlin-spike. Oscar despised so puny an object. He would not +have felt it in his huge mouth. But he helped himself to a capstan bar, +and that is of great length and very heavy. Nevertheless, he would not +drop it, and there was honest pride in his beaming eye as he swung off +with it. He had to hold his head high to balance it. But round and +round the decks he flew, and if a sailor happened to cross his hawse the +bar went whack! across his shins or knees, and he was left rubbing and +lamenting. + +Matty tried to take all sorts of cross-cuts between the masts or boats +that lay upside down on the deck, but all in vain. But Oscar would tire +at last, and let the child catch him. + +"Now I'se tatched 'oo fairly!" she would cry, seizing him by the shaggy +mane. + +Oscar was very serious now, and licked the child's cheek and ear in the +most affectionate manner, well knowing she was but a baby. + +"Woa, horsie, woa!" It was all she could do to scramble up and on to +Oscar's broad back. Stride-legs she rode, but sometimes, by way of +practical joke, after she had mounted the dog would suddenly sit down, +and away slid Matty, falling on her back, laughing and sprawling, all +legs and arms, white teeth, and merry, twinkling eyes of blue. + +"Mind," she would tell Oscar, after getting up from deck and preparing +to remount, "if 'oo sits down adain, 'oo shall be whipped and put into +the black hole till the bow-mannie (an evil spirit) tomes and takes 'oo +away!" + +Oscar would now ride solemnly aft, 'bout ship and forward as far as the +fo'c's'le, and so round and round the deck a dozen times at least. + +When dog and child were tired of playing together, the dog went in +search of breakfast down below, to the cook's galley. There was always +the stockpot, and as every man-jack loved the faithful fellow he didn't +come badly off. + +But even Norman the Finn was a favourite of Matty's, and he loved the +child. She would run to him of a morning, when his tall form appeared +emerging from the fore-hatch. He used to set her on the capstan, from +which she could easily mount astride on his shoulders, grasping his hair +to steady herself. + +How she laughed and crowed, to be sure, as he went capering round the +deck, sometimes pretending to rear and jib, like a very wicked horse +indeed, sometimes actually bucking, which only made Matty laugh the +more. + +Ring, ding, ding!--the breakfast bell; and the child was landed on the +capstan once more and taken down--now by her devoted sweetheart, +Reginald Grahame. + +The ship was well found. Certainly they had not much fresh meat, but +tinned was excellent, and when a sea-bank was anywhere near, as known +from the colour of the water, Dickson called away a boat and all hands, +and had fish for two days at least. Fowls and piggies were kept +forward. Well, on the whole she was a very happy ship, till trouble +came at last. + +It was Mr Hall's wish to go round the stormy and usually ice-bound +Horn. The cold he felt certain would brace up both himself and his +wife. But he wished to see something of the romantic scenery of +Magellan's Straits first, and the wild and savage grandeur of Tierra del +Fuego, or the Land of Fire. They did so, bearing far to the south for +this purpose. + +The weather was sunny and pleasant, the sky blue by day and star-studded +by night, while high above shone that wondrous constellation called the +Southern Cross. Indeed, all the stars seemed different from what they +were used to in their own far northern land. + +Now, there dwells in this fierce land a race of the most implacable +savages on earth. Little is known of them except that they are +cannibals, and that their hands are against everyone. But they live +almost entirely in boats, and never hesitate to attack a sailing ship if +in distress. + +Hall and Dickson were standing well abaft on the quarter-deck smoking +huge cigars, Mr Hall doing the "yarning," Dickson doing the laughing, +when suddenly a harsh grating sound caused both to start and listen. + +Next minute the vessel had stopped. There she lay, not a great way off +the shore, in a calm and placid sea, with not as much wind as would lift +a feather, "As idle as a painted ship, upon a painted ocean." + +In a few minutes' time the Scotch engineer, looking rather pale, came +hurrying aft. + +"Well, Mr McDonald, what is the extent of the damage? Shaft broken?" + +"Oh, no, sir, and I think that myself and men can put it all to rights +in four days, if not sooner, and she'll be just as strong as ever." + +"Thank you, Mr McDonald; so set to work as soon as possible, for mind +you, we are lying here becalmed off an ugly coast. The yacht would make +very nice pickings for these Land of Fire savages." + +"Yes, I know, sir; and so would we." + +And the worthy engineer departed, with a grim smile on his face. He +came back in a few minutes to beg for the loan of a hand or two. + +"Choose your men, my good fellow, and take as many as you please." + +Both Hall and Dickson watched the shore with some degree of anxiety. It +was evident that the yacht was being swept perilously near to it. The +tide had begun to flow, too, and this made matters worse. Nor could +anyone tell what shoal water might lie ahead of them. + +There was only one thing to be done, and Dickson did it. He called away +every boat, and by means of hawsers to each the _Wolverine_ was finally +moved further away by nearly a mile. + +The sailors were now recalled, and the boats hoisted. The men were +thoroughly exhausted, so the doctor begged the captain to splice the +main-brace, and soon the stewardess was seen marching forward with +"Black Jack." Black Jack wasn't a man, nor a boy either, but simply a +huge can with a spout to it, that held half a gallon of rum at the very +least. + +The men began to sing after this, for your true sailor never neglects an +opportunity of being merry when he can. Some of them could sing +charmingly, and they were accompanied by the carpenter on his violin. +That grand old song, "The Bay of Biscay," as given by a bass-voiced +sailor, was delightful to listen to. As the notes rose and fell one +seemed to hear the shrieking of the wind in the rigging, the wild +turmoil of the dashing waters, and the deep rolling of the thunder that +shook the doomed ship from stem to stern. + +"Hullo?" cried Hall, looking shorewards. "See yonder--a little black +fleet of canoes, their crews like devils incarnate!" + +"Ha!" said Dickson. "Come they in peace or come they in war, we shall +be ready. Lay aft here, lads. Get your rifles. Load with ball +cartridge, and get our two little guns ready and loaded with grape." + +The savages were indeed coming on as swift as the wind, with wild shouts +and cries, meant perhaps only to hurry the paddle-men, but startling +enough in all conscience. + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +AGAINST FEARFUL ODDS. + +Hardly a heart on board that did not throb with anxiety, if not with +fear, as that fiendish-looking cannibal fleet drew swiftly nigh. Armed +with bows and arrows and spears were they, and Dickson could see also +the glitter of ugly creases in the bottom of each canoe. Not tall men +were any of them; all nearly naked, however, broad-shouldered, fierce, +and grim. + +The yacht was now stern on to the shore, but at a safe distance. +Nevertheless, by the soundings they could tell that the water just here +was not so deep as that further in; so both anchors were let go, the +chains rattling like platoon-firing as these safeguards sank to the +bottom. + +There was no fear about Matty. To the astonishment of all she had +clambered up into the dinghy that hung from davits abaft the binnacle. + +"Hillo!" she was shouting, as she waved a wee red flag. "Hillo! 'oo +bootiful neglos! Tome twick, Matty wants to buy some-fink!" + +These dark boats and their savage crews were soon swarming round the +_Wolverine_, but they had come to barter skins for tobacco, rum, and +bread, not to fight, it seemed. + +Peaceful enough they appeared in all conscience. Yet Dickson would not +permit them to board. But both he and Hall made splendid deals. A +dozen boxes of matches bought half-a-dozen splendid and well-cured otter +skins, worth much fine gold; tobacco bought beautiful large guanaca +skins; bread fetched foxes' skins and those of the tuen-tuen, a charming +little rodent; skins, also well-cured, of owls, hawks, rock-rabbits, and +those of many a beautiful sea-bird. + +The barter, or nicker, as the Yankee called it, pleased both sides, and +the savages left rejoicing, all the more so in that, although the +skipper would give them no rum to carry away with them, he spliced a +kind of savage main-brace, and everyone swallowed a glass of that rosy +fluid as a baby swallows its mother's milk. + +"The moon will be shining to-night, Hall," said the captain, "and we'll +have a visit from these fire-fiends of another description. Glad we +have got her anchored, anyhow." + +Soon after sunset the moon sailed majestically through the little fleecy +clouds lying low on the horizon. She soon lost her rosy hue, and then +one could have seen to pick up pins and needles on the quarter-deck. +She made an immense silver triangular track from ship to shore. Matty +was then on deck with Oscar, both merry as ever. But Reginald now took +her in his arms and carried her below for bed. Both Dickson and Hall +went below to console and hearten the ladies. + +"Those fire savages will pay us a visit," said Hall, "but you are not to +be afraid. We will wipe them off the face of the creation world. Won't +we, skipper?" + +"That will we!" nodded Dickson. + +But neither Mrs Hall nor Ilda could be persuaded to retire. If a +battle was to be fought they would sit with fear and trembling till all +was over. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Out from under the dark shadows of the terrible snow-peaked mountain, +that fell far over the water, just before eight bells in the first +watch--the midnight hour--crept a fleet of canoes, silently--oh, so +silently! But presently they got into that track of moonlit sea, so +that they could be counted. Thirteen! Ominous number--but ominous for +whom? + +In twenty minutes the plash of the paddles could be distinctly heard, +and the warriors could be seen, armed with spear and bow and deadly +crease. + +"Standoff! Standoff!" + +It was a shout from Dickson. + +But it was answered by a wilder shout of defiance and rage, and a cloud +of arrows flew inboards. + +"Now then, lads!" cried the captain, "give them fits! Quick is the +word!" + +The six-pounder Armstrong was trained on the foremost boat, with +terrible effect. "Bang!" went the gun. Heavens! what a sight! No less +than three canoes went down, with the dead and the shrieking wounded. +The others but sped onwards the faster, however. A rifle volley now. +Then the other gun was fired almost straight down among them, with awful +results so far as the savages were concerned. + +Hall was coolly emptying his revolvers as soon as his fingers could fill +them. Had it been daylight his practice would have been better; as it +was, there was nothing to be ashamed of. + +But now the canoes were close under the ship's bows and sides. They +would attempt to board. + +They did, and partly succeeded, cutting through the netting easily with +their knives. The sailors fought like true British tars, repelling the +fiends with revolvers, with the butts of their rifles, and smashing many +a chest and skull even with capstan bars. The officers defended the +bows. + +No less than six savages managed to get inboards. The Newfoundland was +slightly wounded; then he was like a wild beast. He downed one savage, +and, horrible to say, seizing him by the windpipe, drew it clean away +from the lungs. The others were seen to by the sailors, and their +bodies tossed overboard. + +The fire-fiends had had enough of it, and prepared to retire. Grape was +once more brought to bear on them, and two more canoes were sunk. + +The loss to the _Wolverine_ was one man killed and three wounded, but +not severely. As long as a canoe was visible, a determined rifle fire +was kept up, and many must have fallen. + +When Hall and Reginald went below to report the victory, they found the +ladies somewhat nervous, and there was little Matty on the table-top, +barefooted and in her night-dress. The strange little Yankee maiden +wouldn't stop in her state-room, and even when the battle was raging +fiercest she had actually tried to reach the deck! + +Then Oscar came down, laughing and gasping, and Matty quickly lowered +herself down to hug her darling horsie, as she called him. + +"Oh, look, auntie!" she cried, after she had thrown her little arms +around his great neck and kissed him over and over again, "my pinny is +all bluggy!" + +The night-dress was indeed "bluggy," for poor Oscar had an ugly spear +wound in his shoulder. But the doctor soon stitched it, the faithful +fellow never even wincing. Then he licked the doctors red hands and +Matty's ear, and then went off on deck to bed. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Next morning broke bright and crisp and clear, but it was cold, for +autumn reigned in this dreary land. Once more a service for the dead, +and as the body sank into the deep the poor sailor's messmates turned +sadly away, and more than one brought his arm to bear across his eyes. + +As another attack was to be feared, it was determined to punish the +islanders--to carry the war on shore, in fact--and so the four large +boats were called away, only a few men being left on board to defend the +ship. The guns were too heavy to take, but every man had a rifle, two +revolvers and a cutlass. + +For so small a vessel, the _Wolverine_ was heavily manned, for from the +beginning Captain Dickson had expected grim fighting. + +This attack was more than the natives had calculated on. They did not +stand the onset an instant, but fled from their village helter-skelter +to the almost inaccessible mountains beyond, dropping their spears and +bows to accelerate their flight. But the fire which was poured on them +was a withering one, and brought many to the ground. + +Emboldened by their success, Hall, with Dickson and his brave fellows, +made a journey of several miles into the interior. The mountains were +everywhere rugged and stern, and covered on their summits with snow that +no doubt was perpetual. + +But in the valleys beneath, which were quite uninhabited except by wild +beasts and birds, were beautiful forests of dark waving cypresses, lofty +pines, and beeches, their leaves tinted now with rose and yellow. Very +silent and solemn were these woods; but for the savages that even now +might be hidden in their dark depths, they seemed to woo one to that +peace that only a forest can give. + +A stream was meandering through the valley here, and many a glad fish +leaped up from the pools, his scales shining like a rainbow in the +sunlight. + +All haste was now made to regain the shore, where but a few sailors had +been left to guard the boats. Only just in time, for the savages were +gathering for another attack, and coming down the hillsides in streams. + +A hot volley or two dispersed them, however, and they once more hid +behind the rocks. + +Here in the village was evidence that these fire-fiends had been sitting +down to a terrible feast of roasted human flesh! Doubtless they had +killed the wounded and cooked them. It is a terrible thing to think of, +but I have proof that a woman will eat of the dead body of either +husband or brother, and the children too will ravenously partake. I +dare not tell in a story like this the horrors of savage life that I +have witnessed. I wish to interest, but not to horrify, my readers. + +This village was probably one of the largest in the islands which +constitute the Tierra del Fuego group. It consisted of nearly nine +hundred huts in all, some well-built and comparatively comfortable. +First and foremost it was looted, a large cargo of precious skins being +secured. Some bows and arrows, spears, etc, were taken as curios; then, +just as the sun was sinking red behind the sea, every hut and house was +fired. + +The blaze was tremendous; and back to the ship, by means of its light, +the boats were steered. A breeze having sprung up increased the +magnificence of the conflagration, and the sparks, like showers of +golden snow, were carried far inland and up the mountain sides. + +No wonder that Matty was clapping her wee hands and crowing with delight +at the beauty of the "bonfire," as she called it. + +Happy indeed were the adventurers when the breeze waxed steadier and +stronger. It blew from the west, too. The anchors were quickly +hoisted, the ship's head turned to the east, and before two days had +fled she had wormed her way out once more into the open ocean. The +engines had by this time been repaired, but were not now needed, for the +breeze, though abeam, was steady, and good progress was made. + +A few days more, and the wind having died down, clear sky by day, +star-studded at night, and with sharp frost, the _Wolverine_ was once +more under steam and forcing her way round the storm-tormented Horn. +For the waves are ofttimes houses high here when no wind is blowing, and +they break and toss their white spray far over the green and glittering +sides of the snow-clad bergs. + + "And now there came both mist and snow, + And it grew wondrous cold; + And ice mast-high came floating by, + As green as emerald. + + "The ice was here, the ice was there, + The ice was all around; + It cracked and growled, and roared and howled, + Like noises in a swound." + +But at this time a greater danger than that from the ice was +threatening, for Norman the Finn was hatching mutiny. Verily a curse +seemed to follow the ship wherever she went. + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +MUTINY--THE COMING STORM. + +Nobody would have credited Williams, the cabin-boy, with very much +'cuteness. We never know the hidden depths of even a young lad's mind. + +The Finn Norman had in his two countrymen and in the Spaniards five men +willing to do anything. To put it plainly, for gold they would use +their knives against their dearest friends, and rejoice in it too. + +Norman had not only a body of fearful physical strength, but a winning +and persuasive tongue, and he wheedled over no less than three +Englishmen, or rather Scotsmen, to join his forces. + +Late one night a half-whispered conversation was held near to the winch. +The Finn had been here before--that is, up in the South Pacific--and he +could guide them to an island of gold. And what was it that gold could +not purchase in this world? he added. "Everyone of you shall be +wealthy. We shall then scrape the vessel from stem to stern, alter her +name and rigging, and after loading up with gold, sail for distant +Australia. There we shall sell the ship and, going to the diggings for +a time, to avoid suspicion, will in a few months return to Sidney or +Melbourne as lucky miners. Then hurrah for home!" + +"We will join," said the Scotsman, "on one condition." + +"And that is?" + +"There must be no murder." + +"Your request is granted. We will rise suddenly, batten down the men +below, then rushing aft we shall secure the officers in the saloon. The +vessel will then be ours. But we shall maroon the men on the nearest +land, with biscuits and a few arms. The women will be best on board," +he grinned. + +"Bah!" said a Spaniard, drawing his ugly knife. "Let us throat them. +Dead men tell no tales, you know. Take my advice." + +But the marooning was finally decided on, and the mutineers retired to +their bunks or to their duty. + +Little did they know that the cabin-boy, with listening ears, though +almost frightened out of his life, was hiding behind the winch and had +heard every word they had said. + +As soon as it was possible he escaped, and going at once aft, he +reported in a frightened whisper all the details of the terrible plot. + +"Horrible!" said Dickson. + +"Strikes me," said Hall, "that there must be a Jonah on board, or a +murderer. Let us draw for him, putting all names in a hat, and then +lynch the fellow!" + +"If," said Dickson, "there be a murderer on board, the fellow is that +Finn." + +"Seize the scoundrel at once, then," cried Hall, "and throw him to the +sharks or put him in irons." + +"No, I'll wait, and Williams shall be our spy." + +Nearly all the mutineers were in the same watch, only one good man and +true being among them. Norman played his game well. He knew that if +suspected at all, they would be watched by night, so he chose broad +daylight for the awful _denouement_. While the men were below at +dinner, those in the cabin all having luncheon, then Norman suddenly +gave the preconcerted signal. + +The hatches were thrown on in a moment, and screwed down by two men, +while the main band rushed aft and secured the saloon door. + +"If you value your lives in there," savagely shouted the Finn down +through the skylight, as that too was being fastened securely down, +"you'll keep quiet." + +Hall had both his revolvers out in a trice, and fired; but the skylights +were closed, and no harm or good was done. + +Next the mutineers threw open the fore-hatch, and at pistol point +ordered every man into the half-deck cabin abaft the galley and abaft +the sailors' sleeping bunks. + +"I'll shoot the first man dead," cried Norman, "who does not look +active!" + +The communication door was then secured, and all was deemed safe. They +would bear north now, and make for the nearest island. + +The rum store was near the foot of the stair, or companion, and close to +the stewardess's pantry. The key hung there, so more than a gallon of +rum was got up and taken forward. + +The engineers were told that if they did not crack on, they would be had +on deck and made to walk the plank. + +The Finn had not meant that any orgie should take place; but take place +it did, and a fearful one too. The man at the wheel kept on for fear of +death, and so did the engineers. + +By twelve o'clock, or eight bells, in the first watch, the fellows were +helplessly drunk and lying about in the galley in all directions. + +Little Williams, the cabin-boy, had been overlooked. Wise he was +indeed, for now he very quietly hauled on the fore-hatch--ay, and +screwed it down. Then he went quickly aft and succeeded in releasing +the officers. The men were next set free, and the door between secured +aft. + +In ten minutes' time every mutineer in the ship was in irons. Surely no +mutiny was ever before quelled in so speedy and bloodless a manner! + +"I knew," said Hall, "that we had a Jonah on board, and that Jonah is +the double-dyed villain Christian Norman. Say, Captain Dickson, is it +going to be a hanging match?" + +"I am almost tempted to hang the ringleader," replied Dickson, "but this +would be far too tragical, especially with ladies on board. Remember +that, be his heart what it may, there is just one little good spot in +his character. He dearly loved little Matty, and she loved him." + +"Well, sir, what are you going to do about it? I'd like to know that." + +"This. I cannot pardon any single one of these villains. The Scotsmen, +indeed, are worse in a manner of speaking than the Finns or cowardly +Spaniards. I shall mete out to them the same punishment, though in a +lesser degree, that they would have meted out to us. Not on the +inhospitable snow-clad shores of the Tierra del Fuego islands shall they +be placed, but on the most solitary isle I can find in some of the South +Pacific groups." + +Now things went on more pleasantly for a time. The prisoners were not +only in leg-irons, but manacled, and with sentries placed over them +watch and watch by night and by day. These men had orders to shoot at +once any man who made the slightest attempt to escape. + +It was about a week after this, the _Wolverine_ had safely rounded the +stormy Cape, and was now in the broad Pacific. A sailor of the name of +Robertson had just gone on sentry, when, without a word of warning, +Norman the Finn suddenly raised himself to his feet and felled him with +his manacled hands. The strength of the fellow was enormous. But the +ring of a rifle was heard next minute, and Norman fell on his face, shot +through the heart. + +He was thrown overboard that same evening with scant ceremony. + +"I feel happier now," said Hall, "that even our Jonah is no more. Now +shall our voyage be more lucky and pleasant." + +Ah! but was it? + +The _Wolverine_ was purposely kept well out of the ordinary track of +ships coming or going from either China or Australia. And luck or not +luck, after ten days' steaming westward and north, they sighted an +island unknown to the navigator, unknown to any chart. It was small, +but cocoa-nuts waved from the summit of its lofty hills. + +Here, at all events, there must be fruit in abundance, with probably +edible rodents, and fish in the sea. And here the mutineers were +marooned. Not without fishing gear were they left, nor without a small +supply of biscuits, and just three fowling pieces and ammunition, with +some axes and carpenter's tools. + +They deserved a worse fate, but Dickson was kind at heart. + +Well, at any rate, they pass out of our story. On that island they +probably are until this day. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Everyone on the _Wolverine_ seemed to breathe more freely now, and the +vessel was once more headed eastwards to regain her direct route to +California and San Francisco. + +For a whole week the breeze blew so pleasantly and steadily that fires +were bunked and all sail set. The very ship herself seemed to have +regained cheerfulness and confidence, and to go dancing over the sunlit +sea, under her white wing-like studding sails, as if she were of a +verity a thing of life. Those on board soon forgot all their trials and +misery. The mutineers were themselves forgotten. Matty and Oscar (who +had recovered from his spear wound) resumed their romps on deck, and +surely never did sea-going yacht look more snug and clean than did the +_Wolverine_ at this time. + +She was still far out of the usual track of ships, however, though now +bearing more to the nor'ard. So far north were they, indeed, that the +twilight at morn or even was very short indeed. In the tropics, it is +not figurative language, but fact, to say that, the red sun seemed to +leap from behind the clear horizon. But a few minutes before this one +might have seen, high in the east, purple streaks of clouds, changing +quickly to crimson or scarlet, then the sun, like a huge blood orange, +dyeing the rippling sea. + +At night the descent was just as sudden, but my pen would fail did I try +to describe the evanescent beauty of those glorious sunsets. + +Light and sunshine are ever lovely; so is colour; but here was light and +colour co-mingled in a transformation scene so grand, so vast, that it +struck the heart of the beholder with a species of wonder not unmixed +with awe. And the beholders were usually silent. Then all night long +in the west played the silent lightning, bringing into shape and form +many a rock-like, tower-like cloud. It was behind these clouds of the +night that this tropical lightning played and danced and shimmered. + +Then at times they came into a sea of phosphorescent light. It was seen +all around, but brighter where the vessel raised ripples along the +quarter. It dropped like fire from her bows, ay, and even great fishes +could be seen--sharks in all probability--sinking down, down, down into +the sea's dark depths, like fishes of fire, till at last they were +visible only like little balls of light, speedily to be extinguished. + +About this latitude flying gurnets leapt on board by the score on some +nights, and a delightful addition indeed did they prove to the matutinal +_menu_. Sometimes a huge octopus would be seen in the phosphorescent +sea. It is the devil-fish of the tropics, and, with his awful head and +arms, so abhorrent and nightmarish was the sight that it could not be +beheld without a shudder. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +The Pacific Ocean! Yes, truly, very often pacific enough; so much so +that with ordinary luck one might sail across its waters in a dinghy +boat. But there are times when some portions of it are swept by +terrific circular storms. Ah! happy is the ship that, overtaken by one +of these, can manage to keep well out and away from its vortex. + +One evening the sun went down amidst a chaos of dark and threatening +clouds, from which thunder was occasionally heard like the sound of +distant artillery, but muttering, and more prolonged. The glass went +tumbling down. Captain Dickson had never seen it so low. The wind too +had failed, and before sunset the sea lay all around them, a greasy +glitter on its surface like mercury, with here and there the fin of a +basking shark appearing on the surface. Even the air was stifling, +sickening almost, as if the foetus of the ocean's slimy depths had been +stirred up and risen to the surface. + +All sail was speedily taken in, and by the aid of oil, the fires were +quickly roaring hot beneath the boilers. + +Higher and higher rose that bank of clouds, darkening the sky. Then-- + + "The upper air burst into life! + And a hundred fire flags sheen; + To and fro they were hurried about, + And to and fro, and in and out, + The wan stars danced between." + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +SHIPWRECK--THE WHITE QUEEN OF THE ISLE OF FLOWERS. + +To and fro, to and fro, on the quarter-deck walked the imperturbable +Yankee, Mr Hall, quietly pulling at his huge cigar. He had seen the +ladies, and had told them straight that it was to be a fearful storm, +and now he would wait to see what Fate had in store for them. + +But more impatient far was Captain Dickson. Would steam never be got +up? He had an idea which way the storm would come, and he wanted to +steam southwards, and as much out of its track as possible. + +At last the steam begins to roar, and now the screw revolves, and the +good ship cleaves its way through the darkness of sky and sea. Dickson +is somewhat relieved. He puts two men to the wheel, and sailors lash +them to it. Well Dickson knows that the storm will be a fearful one. + +Who is this fluttering up along the deck? A little dot all in white-- +nothing on but a night-dress. Matty, of course. + +"I lunned away," she explained, "and tomed (came up) to see the +lightnin's flash." + +"Oh, my darling!" cried Reginald, "you must come with me at once!" + +He picked the little fairy up, and quickly had her safely below again. + +The men were busy battening down when he returned to deck. Here and +there along the bulwarks loose ropes were left that the men, if needful, +might lash themselves to the rigging. + +But now the rain began to come down, first in scattered drops, then in a +hot and awful torrent. Louder and louder roared the thunder, brighter +and still more vivid flashed the lightning. The thunder-claps followed +the lightning so quickly that Dickson knew it was very near. + +"Lash yourselves, lads!" the skipper roared through the +speaking-trumpet. "She is coming!" + +Ah! come she did. And no shoreman can ever tell what the vehemence of a +circular hurricane like this sweeping across the ocean is like in +strength and vehemence. + +Dickson had just time to shout, "The first shock will be the strongest, +boys," when the terrible storm burst upon the doomed ship with a +violence indescribable, and a noise like a hundred great guns fired at +once. + +Thrown at first almost on her beam-ends, she soon righted, and now she +was tossed about like a cork. High up on a mighty wave at one moment, +down in a dark gulf the next. The foam of the breaking waters and the +incessant lightning was the only light they had, and in this glare the +faces of the crew looked blue and ghastly. + +Bravely did the men stick to the wheel. Hall himself had gone early +below to comfort the ladies. Yet, although the waves and spray were +making a clean breach over the ship, luckily she was well battened down, +and it was dry below. The seas that tumbled inboard were hot and +seething. + +Mr Hall prevailed upon his wife and daughter to lie down on the +lockers, or couches, and to these he did his best to lash them; but so +great was the uncertain motion, that he had to clutch with one hand to +the table while he did so. + +The air down below was as hot as the waters on deck; hot and sulphurous, +so that the perspiration stood on the brows of all below. It was indeed +a fearful storm. + +But it lulled at last, though two men had been called to their account-- +swept overboard in the clutches of a great green sea. + +It lulled; but the intensity of the pitchy darkness still continued. It +was no longer a circular storm, but a gale, settling down to less than +half a gale towards the commencement of the morning watch. But the +binnacle had been washed away, and the men were steering only by blind +chance. + +Just as daylight, grey and gloomy, began to appear in the east, an awful +tell-tale rasping was heard beneath the keel of the _Wolverine_, and +almost at once two of her masts went by the board. + +"Axes, men!" cried Dickson--"axes, and clear away the wreck!" + +It was a dangerous and difficult task, with every now and then a huge +sea rushing in from astern, and all but sweeping the decks. + +Daylight came in quickly now, though clouds seemingly a mile in depth +obscured the sun, and the horizon was close on board of them all around. + +But yonder, looming through the mist, was a coral shore, with huge +rugged, and apparently volcanic, mountains rising behind it. Fearing +she would soon break up, Captain Dickson determined to lower a boat at +all hazards, manned by four of his strongest and best sailors. In this +Hall begged that his wife might go with the maid, and the request was +granted. Mr Hall watched that boat as she rose and fell on the +troubled waters with the greatest anxiety and dread. Suddenly he +staggered and clutched the rigging, and his eyes seemed starting from +his head. + +"Oh, my God! my God!" he cried. "My wife! my wife!" + +For a bigger wave than any, a huge breaker or bore, in fact came rushing +from seawards and engulfed the unfortunate boat. + +And she was never seen, nor anyone who had gone in her. The crew and +poor Mrs Hall, with her maid, now-- + + "Lie where pearls lie deep, + Yet none o'er their low bed may weep." + +Mr Hall was led below by the kind-hearted captain himself, and threw +himself on a couch in an agony of grief. Dickson forced him to take a +large stimulant, and put a man to watch him, fearing he might rush on +deck and pitch himself into the sea. + +As to their whereabouts, or the latitude and longitude of that strange, +wild island, Dickson knew nothing. He had many times and oft sailed +these seas, and was certain he had never seen those lofty peaks and +rugged hills before. Although the wind continued, and the keel was +breaking up, although she was fast making water below, he determined to +hang on to her as long as possible, for there was a probability that the +storm might soon die away. + +Some of the crew, however, grew impatient at last, and, in spite of +threats, lowered another boat, into which crowded six men. + +Alas! they, too, went down before they were many yards from the wreck. + +But see these figures now flitting up and down on the coral sands! And, +strangest sight of all, there is among those dusky, almost naked +savages, the tall and commanding figure of a white woman, dressed in +skins. The savages are evidently obeying her slightest behest, for a +queen she is. + +With ropes of grass they are stoutly binding together three large +canoes, flanked by outriggers, thus forming a kind of wide raft. Then +these are launched, and right rapidly do the paddles flash and drip and +ply, as the triple craft nears the ship. The raft seems to come through +the seas rather than over them, but busy hands are baling, and, by the +time this strange construction arrives on the lee bow, the canoes are +free of water. + +The _Wolverine_ has but few on board her now, only eight men of the +crew, with the officers, little Matty, Hall, and Miss Hall. These +latter are lowered first, with three men. They are safely landed +through the surf, and Dickson can see the strange white woman advance +towards them with outstretched arms. + +The raft comes back again, and all on board are now taken off, Captain +Dickson being the last to leave the doomed ship. + +Oscar, the grand Newfoundland, prefers to swim. No terrors have the +waves or surf for him, and he is on shore barking joyfully as he races +up and down the beach long before the raft rasps upon the silver sands. + +The strange, skin-dressed lady met them. She was English, and dubbed +herself Queen of the Isle of Flowers. + +"For ten long years," she told Captain Dickson, "I have been here, and +yours is the first ship I have seen. But come to my house behind the +hills, and I will tell you my strange story later on." + +Though drenched to the skin, they all most gladly followed the Queen, up +glens, and by zigzag paths, and over wild hills, till at last they came +to one of the wildest and most beautiful valleys these adventurers had +ever beheld. Now they could understand how the Queen had named it the +Isle of Flowers. + +A beautiful stream went meandering through the valley with every species +of tropical or semi-tropical flowering trees it is possible to imagine +growing on its banks. No wonder that Matty, whom Reginald carried in +his strong arms, cried: + +"Oh, doc, dear, zis (this) is surely fairyland! Oh, doc, I'se dizzy wi' +beauty!" + +"Hurry on," said the Queen; "a keen wind is blowing on this hilltop." + +In the midst of a forest of magnolias that scented the air all around, +they found the road that led to the Queen's palace. A long, low +building it was, and seemingly comfortable; but the path that led to it +was bordered on each side with human skulls placed upon poles. + +Noticing Dickson's look of horror, she smiled. + +"These are the skulls of our enemies--a tribe that in war canoes visited +our island a few years ago, but never found their way back. My people +insisted on placing those horrid relics there. Had I refused my +permission, I should have been deposed, probably even slain." + +Into one room she showed the ladies, the officers and few remaining men +into another. Here were couches all around, with comfortable mats of +grass, and on these, tired and weary, everyone lay and many slept, till +their garments were dried in the sun by the Queen's servants. + +It was afternoon now, but the wind had lulled, and soon it was night, +clear and starry. The vessel had gone on shore at low tide, but some +time during the middle watch a great wave had lifted her and thrown her +on her beam-ends high up on the coral sands. + +Next morning, when Dickson and Reginald went over the hills, after a +hearty breakfast of roast yams and delicious fish, they found that the +sea had receded so far that they could walk around the wreck on the dry +sand. + +That day was spent--with the assistance of the Queen's special +servants--in saving from the vessel everything of value, especially +stores, and the ship's instruments. + +Casks of rum and flour, casks of beans, and even butter, with nearly all +the bedding and clothes. These latter were spread on the beach to dry. +Inland, to the Queen's mansion, everything else was borne on litters. + +But the greatest "save" of all was the arms and ammunition, to say +nothing of tools of every description, and canvas wherewith good tents +might be built later on. + +When all was secured that could be secured, and the remainder of the +crew had joined them-- + +"Men," said Dickson, "let us pray." + +Down on the coral strand knelt the shipwrecked men, while, with eyes +streaming with tears, Captain Dickson prayed as perhaps he had never +prayed before, to that Heavenly Father who had spared the lives of those +before him. + +The natives stood aside wonderingly, but they listened intently and +earnestly when, led by their captain, the mariners sang a portion of +that beautiful psalm: + + "God is our refuge and our strength, + In straits a present aid; + Therefore, although the earth remove, + We will not be afraid." + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +CRUSOES ON THE ISLAND OF FLOWERS--A THREATENED ARMADA. + +For weeks and weeks mourned poor Hall for his wife; for weeks and weeks +mourned he. He was like Rachel weeping for her children, who would not +be comforted "because they were not." + +But the anguish of his grief toned down at last. His sorrow was deep +still, but he could listen now to the consolations that Dickson never +forgot to give him morn, noon, and night. + +"Ah, well," he said at last, "I shall meet her again in the Bright +Beyond, where farewells are never said, where partings are unknown. +That thought must be my solace." + +And this thought did console both him and Ilda, his daughter. As for +Matty, she was too young to know what grief really was, and romped with +Reginald's dog in the Queen's beautiful gardens, just as she had done on +board the unfortunate yacht--now, alas! a yacht no more. + +But busy weeks these had been for the shipwrecked mariners. Yet far +from unhappy. They were Crusoes now to all intents and purposes, and +acting like Crusoes, having saved all the interior stores, etc, that +they could, knowing well that the very next storm would not leave a +timber of the poor _Wolverine_. So at every low tide they laboured at +breaking her up. At high tide they worked equally energetically in +building a wooden house on a bit of tableland, that was easy of access, +and could not be reached by a tide, however high. + +The house was very strong, for the very best wood in the ship was used. +Moreover, its back was close to the straight and beetling mountain +cliff. + +The six men of the crew that were saved worked like New Hollanders, as +sailors say. The house had sturdy doors, and the vessel's windows were +transhipped. But this wooden house did not actually touch the ground, +but was built on two-foot high stone supports. Soot could be strewn +around them, and the white ants thus kept at bay. Stone, or rather +scoria, steps led up to the dwelling, one end of which was to be not +only the sleeping-place of the men, but a kind of recreation-room as +well, for Dickson had succeeded in saving even the piano and violins. +The other room to the right was not so large, but, being furnished from +the saloon of the _Wolverine_, was almost elegant, and when complete was +always decorated and gay with lovely wildflowers. Indeed, all the +flowers here were wild. + +The Queen had begged that Miss Hall and wee Matty might sleep at the +palace. This was agreed to; but to luncheon not only they but the Queen +herself came over every fine day, and the days were nearly all fine. + +One day a big storm blew and howled around the rocky mountain peaks. It +increased in violence towards evening, and raged all night. Next day +scarcely a timber of the wrecked yacht was to be seen, save a few spars +that the tempest had cast up on the white and coralline beach. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Captain Dickson was far indeed from being selfish, and quite a quantity +of saloon and cabin furniture saved from the wreck was carried on the +backs of the natives over the mountain tracks to the beautiful Valley of +Flowers, to furnish and decorate the house of the Queen. + +Her Majesty was delighted, and when her rooms were complete she gave a +great dinner-party, or rather banquet. She had much taste, and the +table was certainly most tastefully decorated. The _menu_ was a small +one. There was fish, however, excellently cooked. + +"I taught my cook myself," said her Majesty, smiling. + +This was followed by the _piece de resistance_, a roast sucking-pig. +The _entree_ was strange, namely, fillets of a species of iguana lizard. +The huge and terrible-looking iguana lizard, as found on the coast of +Africa, crawling on the trees, is very excellent eating, and so were +these fillets. + +But the fruits were the most delicious anyone around the festive board +had ever tasted. There were, strangely enough, not only blushing +pine-apples, but guavas, which eat like strawberries smothered in cream; +mangoes, and many other fragrant fruits no one there could name. + +Dickson had supplied the wine, but very little was used. Goats' milk +and excellent coffee supplied its place. + +Poor Hall was still a patient of Reginald's, and the latter compelled +him to take a little wine for his grief's sake. + +Just a word or two about Queen Bertha. Though but twenty and five, her +dark hair was already mixed with threads of silver. She was tall for a +woman, very beautiful and very commanding. She never stirred abroad in +her picturesque dress of skins without having in her hand a tall staff, +much higher than herself. It was ornamented--resplendent, in fact--with +gold, silver, precious stones and pearls. + +"This is my sceptre," she said, "and all my people respect it." She +smiled as she added: "I make them do so. I can hypnotise a man with a +touch of it; but if a fellow is fractious, I have a strong arm, and he +feels the weight of it across his shins. He must fling himself at my +feet before I forgive him. My history, gentlemen, is a very brief one, +though somewhat sad and romantic. I am the daughter of a wealthy +English merchant, who had a strange longing to visit in one of his own +ships the shores of Africa and the South Sea Islands. He did so +eventually, accompanied by my dear mother and myself, then little more +than a child, for I was only fifteen; also an elder brother. Alas! we +were driven far out of our way by a gale, or rather hurricane, of wind, +and wrecked on this island. My father's last act was to tie me to a +spar. That spar was carried away by the tide, and in the _debris_ of +the wreck I was washed up on shore. Every soul on board perished except +myself. The superstitious natives looked upon the dark-haired maiden as +some strange being from another world, and I was revered and made much +of from the first. I soon had proof enough that the islanders were +cannibals, for they built great fires on the beach and roasted the +bodies of the sailors that were washed up. There were, indeed, but few, +for the sharks had first choice, and out yonder in that blue and sunlit +sea the sharks are often in shoals and schools. Some devoured the human +flesh raw, believing that thus they would gain extra strength and +bravery in the day of battle." + +"Are there many battles, then?" asked Reginald. + +"Hitherto, doctor, my people have been the invaders of a larger island +lying to the east of us. Thither they go in their war canoes, and so +far fortune has favoured them. They bring home heads and human flesh. +The flesh they eat, the heads they place on the beach till cleaned and +whitened by crabs and ants; then they are stuck on poles in my somewhat +ghastly avenue. I have tried, but all in vain, to change the +cannibalistic ways of my people. They come to hear me preach salvation +on Sundays, and they join in the hymns I sing; but human flesh they will +have. Yes, on the whole I am very happy, and would not change my lot +with Victoria of Britain herself. My people do love me, mind, and I +would rather be somebody in this savage though beautiful island than +nobody in the vortex of London society. + +"But I have one thing else to tell you. The Red-stripe savages of the +isle we have so often conquered are gathering in force, and are +determined to carry the war into our country; with what results I cannot +even imagine, for they are far stronger numerically than we are, though +not so brave. These savages are also cannibals; not only so, but they +put their prisoners to tortures too dreadful even to think of. It will +be many months before they arrive, but come they will. I myself shall +lead my army. This will inspire my people with pluck and from the +hilltops I hope you will see us repel the Armada in beautiful style." + +She laughed right merrily as she finished her narrative. + +"But my dear Queen," said Dickson, "do you imagine that myself and my +brave fellows saved from the wreck will be contented to act as mere +spectators from the hills, like the `gods' in a theatre gallery, looking +down on a play? Nay, we must be beside you, or near you, actors in the +same drama or tragedy. Lucky it is, doctor, that we managed to save our +two six-pounders, our rifles, and nearly all our ammunition. Why are +they called the Red-stripe savages, your Majesty?" + +"Because, though almost naked, their bodies when prepared for war are +all barred over with red paint. The face is hideous, for an eye is +painted on the forehead, and a kind of cap with the pricked ears of the +wild fox, which is half a wolf, worn on the head. Their arms are bows, +spears, shields of great size, which quite cover them, and terrible +black knives." + +"Our shrapnel, believe me, lady, will go through all that, and their +heads as well." + +"Though loth to seek your assistance," said Queen Bertha, "in this case +I shall be glad of it. For if they succeed in conquering us the +massacre would be awful. Not a man, woman or child would be left alive +on our beautiful island." + +"Assuredly we shall conquer them," said Dickson. "The very sound of our +guns and crack of our rifles will astonish and demoralise them. Not a +boat shall return of their invincible Armada; perhaps not a savage will +be left alive to tell the tale hereafter." + +"That would indeed be a blessing to us. And my people have +half-promised not to make war on them again. We should therefore live +in peace, and fear no more Armadas." + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Mr Hall was now brightening up again, and all the survivors of the +unfortunate _Wolverine_, having something to engage their attention, +became quite jolly and happy. I scarce need mention Matty. The child +was happy under all circumstances. + +Ilda, too, was contented. Perhaps never more so than when taking long +walks with Reginald up the lovely valley, gathering wildflowers, or +fishing in the winding river. + +Ilda was really beautiful. Her beauty was almost of the classical type, +and her voice was sweet to listen to. So thought Reginald. + +"How charmingly brown the sun has made you, dear Ilda," said Reginald, +as she leant on his arm by the riverside. + +He touched her lightly on the cheek as he spoke. Her head fell lightly +on his shoulder just then, as if she were tired, and he noticed that +there were tears in her eyes. + +"No, not tired," she answered, looking up into his face. + +Redder, sweeter lips surely no girl ever possessed. + +For just a moment he drew her to his breast and kissed those lips. + +Ah, well, Reginald Grahame was only a man. + +I fear that Ilda was only a woman, and that she really loved the +handsome, brown-faced and manly doctor. + +They had now been one year and two months away from Scotland, and at +this very moment the Laird Fletcher was paying all the attention in his +power to Annie o' the Banks o' Dee. He was really a modern "Auld Robin +Grey." + + "My mither she fell sick, + An' my Jamie at the sea; + Then Aold Robin Grey came a-courting me." + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +A CANNIBAL BREWER AND CANNIBAL BEER. + +Queen Bertha of the Isle of Flowers had industriously laboured among her +people. It gave her pleasure to do so. She even taught them English, +which all could now speak after a fashion. + +Well, while Dickson and Hall were drilling a small company of blacks as +soldiers, and trying to make them experts in the use of the rifle--for +they had over a score of these to spare--Reginald spent much of his time +on the hills with his gun, shooting small wild pigs, rock-rabbits, +tuen-tuens, etc. He was always accompanied by Ilda, merry Matty, and +Oscar the Newfoundland. No matter where a wild bird fell, in river or +lake, or in the bush, Oscar found it, and laid it at his master's feet. + +But one day Reginald, while shooting, made a singular discovery indeed. +Far up in the hills they came upon the grass hut of a very peculiar old +man indeed. Before reaching the place quite, they met three natives, +and they were evidently intoxicated, staggering, laughing, singing and +dancing. + +The old man was seated in his doorway. Around his hut were at least a +dozen huge clay jars, with clay lids, and these contained beer of some +sort. He was the most hideous old wretch that Reginald had yet clapped +eyes on. Even Matty was terrified, and hugged the great dog round the +neck as she gazed on that awful-looking and repulsive creature. + +"These jars," said Reginald, "evidently contain some intoxicating drink. +And the old brewer doesn't look a beauty, nor a saint either!" + +Nor did he. Here he is, as I myself have seen him more than once. +Squatting tailor-fashion outside the door of his dark and windowless +hut, a man with a mop of rough silvery hair, thin lips, drawn back into +a grin, so that one could see all his awful teeth--tusks they really +seemed to be, each one filed into a pointed triangle, the better to tear +human flesh. They were stained red. His eyes were red also, and like +those of some scared wild beast and cheeks and brow were covered with +symmetrical scars. But he was a brewer, and very busy plying his trade. +Beside him were open cocoa-nuts and bunches of fragrant herbs. + +"Go on," said Reginald; "don't let us interfere with business, pray." + +The horrid creature put a huge lump of cocoa-nut into his mouth, then +some herbs, and chewed the lot together; then taking a mouthful of water +from a chatty, he spat the whole mass into a jar and proceeded as +before. This awful mess of chewed cocoa-nut, herbs, and saliva ferments +into a kind of spirit. This is poured off and mixed with water, and lo! +the beer of the cannibal islanders! + +Reginald, noticing a strange-looking chain hanging across the old man's +scarred and tattooed chest, begged to examine it. To his astonishment, +it consisted entirely of beautiful pearls and small nuggets of gold. + +"Where did this come from, my man?" + +"Ugh! I catchee he plenty twick. Plenty mo'. Ver' mooch plenty." + +Reginald considered for a moment. Money was no good to an old wretch +like this, but he wore around his waist a beautiful crimson sash. This +he divested himself of, and held it up before the cannibal brewer. + +"I will give you this for your chain," he said, "and another as good +to-morrow, if you will come now and show us where you find these +things." + +The old man at once threw the chain at Reginald's feet, and seized the +scarf delightedly. + +"I come quick--dis moment!" he cried. And he was as good as his word. + +It was a long walk, and a wild one. Sometimes Reginald carried Matty; +sometimes she rode on the great dog. But they arrived at last at the +entrance to a gloomy defile, and here in the hillsides were openings +innumerable, evidently not made by hands of man. Here, however, was an +El Dorado. Caves of gold! for numerous small nuggets were found on the +floors and shining in the white walls around them. + +It was evident enough that it only needed digging and a little hard work +to make a pile from any single one of these caves. + +Next about the pearls. The old savage took the party to the riverside. +He waded in, and in five minutes had thrown on shore at least a hundred +pearl oysters. These, on coming to bank, he opened one by one, and ten +large and beautiful white pearls were found, with ever so many +half-faced ones. + +Strange and wondrous indeed was the story that Reginald Grahame had to +relate in private to Mr Hall and Captain Dickson on his return to his +home by the sea. + +At present the trio kept the secret to themselves. That gold was to be +had for the gathering was evident enough. But to share it with six men +was another question. It might be better, at all events, if they were +first and foremost to make their own pile. Anyhow, the men's services +might be required; in that case they could choose their own claims, +unless Reginald claimed the whole ravine. This he was entitled to do, +but he was very far indeed from being mean and greedy. + +But so intricate was the way to the ravine of gold that without a guide +no one could possibly find it. + +For six whole weeks no gold digging was thought about. Matters of even +greater import occupied the minds of the white men. + +The company of blacks was beautifully drilled by this time, and made +fairly good marksmen with the rifle. They were, indeed, the boldest and +bravest on the island, and many of them the Queen's own bodyguards. + +Well, the bay enclosed by the reefs on one of which the _Wolverine_ had +struck was the only landing-place in the whole island. Every other part +of the shore was guarded by precipitous rocks a thousand feet high at +least, rising sheer and black out of the ocean. The Armada must come +here, then, if anywhere; and, moreover, the bay faced the enemy's own +island, although, with the exception of a mountain peak or two, seen +above the horizon, it was far too distant to be visible. + +A grass watch-tower was built on the brow of a hill, and a sentry +occupied this by night as well as by day. Only keen-eyed blacks were +chosen for this important duty, and they were told that if any +suspicious sign was observed they must communicate immediately with +Captain Dickson. + +And now, facing the sea, a strong palisaded fort was built, and +completely clayed over, so as to be almost invisible from the sea. It +was roofed over with timber, as a protection against the enemy's arrows; +it was also loop-holed for rifles, and here, moreover, were mounted the +two six-pounders. Plenty of ammunition for both rifles and guns was +placed at a safe distance from the ports. + +One evening the sentry ran below to report that, seeing a glare in the +sky, he had climbed high up the mountain side, and by aid of the +night-glass could see that fires were lighted on the brow of every low +hill on the enemy's island, and that savages in rings were wildly +dancing around them. The sentry had no doubt that the attack on the +Isle of Flowers would soon follow this. Dickson thanked the man +heartily for his attention, gave him coffee and biscuit, and sent him +back to the sentry hut. So kind was the captain, and so interested in +the welfare of the blacks, that any one of those he had trained would +have fought at fearful odds for him. For kindness towards, a savage +soon wins his heart, and his respect as well. + +Three days more passed by--oh, so slowly and wearily! For a cloud +hovered over the camp that the white men tried in vain to dispel. There +was this fearful Armada to face and to fight, and the anxiety born of +thinking about it was harder to bear than the actual battle itself would +be. + +Dickson was a strictly pious man. Never a morning and never an evening +passed without his summoning his men to prayers, and in true Scottish +fashion reading a portion from the little Bible which, like General +Gordon, he never failed to carry in his bosom. + +I think he did good. I think he made converts. Mind, without any +preaching. He simply led these darkened intellects to the Light, the +glorious Light of revealed religion. + +The portion of the fort where the guns were placed was so fashioned as +to be able to cover a wide space of sea on both sides, and from this +arrangement Dickson expected great results. + +A whole week had worn away since the first fires had been seen from the +hilltop; but every night those fires had blazed. + +It was evident enough the enemy was endeavouring to propitiate their +gods before sailing. For by day, on climbing a mountain, Dickson, by +means of his large telescope, could see on the beach that human +sacrifices were being offered up. + +It was fearful to behold. Men, or perhaps women, were chained to stakes +on the beach, and pyres of wood built around them. As the fire curled +up through the smoke in tongues, he could see the wretches writhing in +agony, while round them danced the spear-armed savages. + +Reginald had little to do at present, and would have but little to do +until summoned to tight. So he was often at the Queen's palace, and a +very delightful conversationalist she proved herself to be. She had +avowed her intention of being at the great battle herself. Her +presence, and the sway of her pole-like sceptre, she assured the doctor, +would give her people confidence, and mayhap be the turning point which +would lead to victory. + +Many a ramble together had Reginald and Ilda, nearly always followed by +sweet wee Matty and her canine favourite Oscar. + +One day, however, Matty was at the seaside camp, and Reginald went out +with Ilda alone to collect bouquets for the Queen's table. The day was +a hot one, but both were young, and when they zigzagged up a mountain +side they found not only shade on a green mound beneath some spreading +trees, but coolness as well. + +All this morning Reginald had been thinking sorrowfully about his lost +love, as he now called Annie, and of the country he never expected again +to see, because never did ships visit this unknown island unless driven +hither by storm or tempest. + +But now there was the soft and dreamy light of love in Ilda's eyes, if +ever there were in a woman's. + +Reginald was very far indeed from being unfaithful at heart to his +betrothed, but--well, he could not help thinking how strangely beautiful +Ilda was. When she leant towards him and gave one coy glance into his +face, it might have been but passion--I cannot say; it might be budding +love. At all events, he drew her to his breast and kissed those red +lips over and over again, she blushing, but unresisting as before. + +What he might have said I do not know. But at that moment a half-naked +armed savage burst hurriedly in upon the scene. + +"Come, sah, come; de capatin he sendee me. De bad black mans' war +canoes dey is coming, too. Plenty big boat, plenty spear and bow." + +Reginald thought no more of love just then. His Scottish blood was on +fire, and when he had seen Ilda safe in the palace he bade her an +affectionate but hurried farewell, and hurried away to the front. + +The Armada was coming in deadly earnest, and no one in the Isle of +Flowers could even guess how matters might end. + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +GOLD AND PEARLS--JACK CAROUSING. + +No confusion here in the fort. The men were all in, the other +spear-armed corps of at least five hundred were hidden in the bush at +the base of the mountain side. Inside everything was being conducted as +quietly and regularly as--as--well, as a marriage in church. + +But looking seaward, even without the aid of a glass, the great Armada +could be seen approaching. + +Huge black many-paddled war canoes, forty in all, and probably with +fifty men in each, or nearly a thousand altogether. + +Nearer and nearer they swept with many a wild or warlike shout that was +meant to strike terror into the hearts of the Flower Islanders. They +were soon so near that the rattling of their spears as they struck them +against their big shields could be distinctly heard. + +So near now that with a small opera-glass which the doctor carried, he +could see their painted skins and faces, and the red and horrible +streaks. + +And now it was time to fire the first gun. A shot or shell would have +carried much further, but grape would be ever so much more demoralising. +Dickson himself trained that gun on the foremost or leading boat. + +The surprise of the enemy was indeed great. Never had they seen a gun +fired before, nor heard the roar of one. But yonder on shore and in +front of the barricaded fort they could see a balloon of white smoke, +with a stream of red fire in the centre. Then the roar of that piece of +ordnance was appalling. Next moment the crowded boat or war canoe was +filled with corpses and the shrieking, bleeding wounded. But she was in +splinters, and quickly filled and sank. The other boats lay on their +paddles for a minute, uncertain what to do. + +Meanwhile, and just as Reginald was quickly sponging out the gun +previous to reloading, and all was silent for a time, a curious thing +occurred. + +In at the tiny back door of the fort, which had not yet been closed, +rushed a tiny, laughing figure, all in white and barefooted. It was +Matty, and in jumped honest Oscar next. She was laughing merrily. + +"Oh!" she cried, clapping her hands with glee. "They put me to bed, but +I dot up again and runned away twickly, and I'se come to 'ssist!" + +"Oh, my darling!" cried Reginald, in great concern, "why did you come?" + +"I can tally (carry) tartridges and powder." + +"No, no, no, dear. You must obey me. Here, there is my coat, and in +that corner you must sit till all the fight is over." + +Matty said: "Tiss me, then." + +He kissed her, and down she sat with the dog beside her, and looked very +demure indeed, with that one wee forefinger in her mouth. + +Strange to say, she soon fell fast asleep, with her head pillowed on the +dog's back, one hand clutching his mane. + +The battle now became general all along the line. For the riflemen in +the back, as well as those within the fort, began to fire. + +And now slowly down the hill came Bertha, the Island Queen, sceptre-pole +in hand, and dressed in skins of dazzling white. A very imposing figure +she looked. But her presence gave extra courage to her people. + +The officers in almost every boat were picked off easily, so short was +now the range. + +It must be admitted that the enemy showed no lack of courage, though +boat after boat was sunk to the number of six, and rifles rang out from +the bush and fort in a series of independent but incessant firing, and +well did the foe understand that their main safety now consisted in +landing as soon as they possibly could. They knew that in a +hand-to-hand fight the "fire-sticks," as savages call our rifles, would +be of little avail. + +The guns were worked with splendid results, however, and by the time the +war canoes were beached only about four hundred men were left to fight. +But these cannibals knew no fear. + +One more telling volley from the bush, one more shot from a six-pounder, +then from behind a bush rushed the white Queen waving aloft her sceptre, +and instantly from their cover, spear-armed, now rushed the Flower +Islanders, one thousand strong at least The fight was a fearful one. +Dickson, Hall, with Reginald and the men in the fort, joined with +revolver and cutlass. The Queen was in the front. No, she fought not, +but her presence there was like that of Joan of Arc. + +Many of the invaded fell dead and wounded; but even the fierce foe was +forced to yield at last, and the miserable remnant of them tried once +more to reach their boats. + +They never did. It was a war of extermination, and the invaders were +utterly and completely wiped out Never a boat, never a man returned home +to their distant island to tell the fearful tale. + +The Flower Islanders expected now a grand feast. Here was flesh--human +flesh. + +The Queen forbade it, and Dickson himself gave orders that every body-- +the wounded had been stabbed--should be rowed out to sea and thrown +overboard to feed the sharks. They demurred. Dickson was determined +and stern. If not obeyed instantly, he should turn the guns on the +would-be cannibals. + +Reginald suggested as a kind of compromise that each man who had been +fighting should receive a large biscuit and a glass of rum. It was a +happy thought, and after this the work was set about merrily. The +sea-burial occupied all the afternoon till within an hour of sunset. +Then the canoes returned. All was over. The Armada was no more. + +But around him now Dickson gathered the Flower Island Army, and offered +up a prayer of thanks to the God of Battle, who had fought on their +side, and the islanders seemed much impressed. The enemy would probably +never attempt invasion again--in our heroes' time, at all events. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +The Queen gave a banquet that night, she herself presiding. Of course, +nothing was talked about except the incidents of the recent terrible +battle. + +Matty came in for a share of praise, but was told she really must not +run away again. And she promised, only adding that she thought she +could "'ssist the poor dear doc." + +The banquet lasted till late. The Queen had not forgotten how to play +and sing. Dickson and Reginald were both good musicians, and one or two +blacks gave inimitable performances, partly gesture, partly song; which +would assuredly have brought down the house if given in a London +music-hall. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Being freed now for a time from any fear of further invasion, attention +was turned to the gold mines and to the pearl-fishing. At a meeting on +the hillside it was resolved that the men--they were all honest +fellows--should be admitted to the secret. To have shut them out would +hardly have been fair, so thought all. + +Well, naturally enough, Reginald chose what he considered the best two +claims; then came Dickson's choice; then Mr Hall's, and after these the +six white sailors, and they were willing to dig like heroes. + +They divided the work of the day into two parts. One was spent at the +gold mines, the other in fishing for pearls. They were remarkably +successful with the latter, but for nine months at least the gold came +but slowly in, and this was disheartening. Nevertheless, they continued +to dig and dig, assisted by native labour. The savages often found +nuggets among the _debris_ that had been overlooked by the white men, +and these they dutifully presented to the owners of the claims. + +It must be admitted that the men were most energetic, for while their +officers were always at the Queen's palace by five o'clock, and ready +for dinner, the men often worked by moonlight, or even by the glimmer of +lanterns. They were slowly accumulating wealth. + +Success crowned Reginald's efforts at last, though. For, to his extreme +wonderment and delight, he struck a splendid pocket. + +It was deep down at the far end of the cave, and the mould was of a +sandy nature, much of it apparently powdered quartz, broken, perhaps, by +the awful pressure of the mountain above. But the very first nugget he +pulled from here was as large as a pineapple, and many more followed, +though none so large. + +No wonder his heart palpitated with joy and excitement, or that his +comrades crowded round to shake his hand and congratulate him. But that +cave had already made Reginald a fairly wealthy man. His success, +moreover, encouraged the others to dig all the harder, and not without +excellent results. It seemed, indeed, that not only was this island a +flowery land, but an isle of gold. And the further they dug into the +hill the more gold did they find. The men were very happy. + +"Oh, Bill," said one to his pal one night at supper, "if ever we does +get a ship home from this blessed isle, won't my Polly be glad to see me +just!" + +"Ay, Jack, she will; but I ain't in any particular hurry to go yet, you +know." + +"Well, it's two years come Monday since we sailed away from the +beautiful Clyde. Heigho! I shouldn't wonder if Polly has given me up +for good and all, and married some counter-jumping land-lubber of a +draper or grocer." + +"Never mind, Jack; there's as good fish in the sea as ever came out of +it yet. Pass the rum. This is Saturday night, and it was just real +good of Captain Dickson to send us an extra drop of the rosy. Fill your +glasses, gentlemen, for a toast and a song. That digging has made me a +mighty deal too tired to think of dancing to the sweetest jig e'er a +fiddler could scrape out." + +"Well, give us your toast, Bill. We're all primed and waiting." + +"My toast ain't a very short one, but here it goes: `May the next year +be our very last in this 'ere blessed island; may we all go home with +bags of gold, and find our sweethearts true and faithful.'" + +"Hear, hear!" And every glass was drained to the bottom. "Now for the +song." + +"Oh, only an old ditty o' Dibdin's, and I'd rather be on the heavin' +ocean when I sings it. There is no accompaniment to a song so fetching +as that which the boom and the wash of the waves make. Them's my +sentiments, boys. + + "Wives and Sweethearts. + + "'Tis said we ve't'rous diehards, when we leave the shore, + Our friends should mourn, + Lest we return + To bless their sight no more; + But this is all a notion + Bold Jack can't understand, + Some die upon the ocean, + And some die on the land. + Then since 'tis clear, + Howe'er we steer, + No man's life's under his command; + Let tempests howl + And billows roll, + And dangers press; + In spite of these there are some joys + Us jolly tars to bless, + For Saturday night still comes, my boys, + To drink to Poll and Bess. + +"Hurrah!" But just at this moment a strange and ominous sound, like +distant thunder, put a sudden stop to the sailors' Saturday night. All +started to their feet to listen. + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +"OH, AWFUL! WHAT CAN IT BE?" CRIED REGINALD. + +I do not hesitate to say that the possession of unprotected wealth +maketh cowards of most people. The anxiety connected therewith may keep +one awake at night, and bring on a state of nervousness that shall end +in a break-up of the general health. But no thought of ever losing the +precious nuggets and pearls that had cost him so much hard work came +into the mind of Reginald Grahame, until an event took place which +proved that gold may tempt even those we trust the most. + +Harry Jenkins was a bright little sailor, the pet of his mess. He was +always singing when at work in the diggings, and he generally managed to +keep his comrades in excellent humour, and laughing all the time. In +their messroom of an evening they were all frank and free, and hid +nothing one from the other. For each believed in his pal's honesty. + +"I have a thousand pounds' worth of nuggets at least!" said Harry one +evening. + +"And I," said Bill Johnson, "have half as much again." + +They showed each other their gold, comparing nuggets, their very eyes +glittering with joy as they thought of how happy they should be when +they returned once more to their own country. Then they each stowed +away their wealth of nuggets and pearls, placed in tiny canvas bags +inside their small sea-chests. + +This was about a week after that pleasant Saturday night which was so +suddenly broken up by the muttering of subterranean thunder and the +trembling of the earth. + +But earthquakes were frequent in the island, though as yet not severe. +The Queen was by no means alarmed, but Ilda was--terribly so. + +"Oh," she cried, "I wish I were away and away from this terrible +island!" + +The Queen comforted her all she could. + +"I have a presentiment," replied the poor girl, "that this is not the +last nor the worst." + +But when days and days passed away, and there were no more signs of +earth-tremor, she regained courage, and was once more the same happy +girl she had been before. + +Then the occurrence took place that made Reginald suspicious of the +honesty of some of those British sailors. + +One morning Harry was missing. They sought him high, they sought him +low, but all in vain. Then it occurred to Johnson to look into his box. +The box, with all his gold and pearls, was gone! + +Harry's box had been left open, and it was found to be empty. No one +else had lost anything. However, this was a clue, and the officers set +themselves to unravel the mystery at once. Nor was it long before they +did so. Not only was one of the largest canoes missing, with a sail +that had been rigged on her, but two of the strongest natives and best +boatmen. + +It was sadly evident that Harry was a thief, and that he had bribed +these two savages to set out to sea with him. + +There was a favouring breeze for the west, and Harry no doubt hoped +that, after probably a week's sailing, he would reach some of the more +civilised of the Polynesian islands, and find his way in a ship back to +Britain. Whether he did so may never be known, but the fact that the +breeze increased to over half a gale about three days after he had fled, +makes it rather more than probable that the big canoe was swamped, and +that she foundered, going down with the crew and the ill-gotten gold as +well. Only a proof that the wicked do not always prosper in this world. + +Poor Johnson's grief was sad to witness. + +"On my little store," he told his messmates, wringing his hands, and +with the tears flowing over his cheeks, "I placed all my future +happiness. I care not now what happens. One thing alone I know: life +to me has no more charms, and I can never face poor Mary again." + +He went to the diggings again in a halfhearted kind of way, and for a +day or two was fairly successful; but it was evident that his heart was +almost broken, and that if something were not done he might some evening +throw himself over a cliff, and so end a life that had become +distasteful to him. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +So one morning Reginald had an interview with his messmates. + +"I myself," he said, "must have already collected over twenty thousand +pounds in nuggets and pearls, and will willingly give of this my store +five hundred pounds worth of gold by weight, if you, Captain Dickson, +and you, Hall, will do the same. Thus shall we restore reason and +happiness to a fellow-creature, and one of the best-hearted sailors that +ever lived and sailed the salt, salt seas." + +Both Dickson and Hall must need shake hands with Reginald, and, while +the tears stood in his eyes, the former said: + +"That will we, my dear boy, and God will bless your riches, and restore +you all your desires whenever we reach our British shores again." + +And so that very night there was no more happy man than Johnson. + +Another Saturday night in the men's mess. Dickson willingly spliced the +main-brace twice over, and the night passed pleasantly on with yarn and +song till midnight. But the thief Harry was never mentioned. It was +better thus. Already, perhaps, the man had met his doom, and so they +forgave him. Yet somehow this incident rankled in Reginald's bosom, and +made him very uneasy. + +"I say," he said to Dickson one day, "I confess that the flight of Harry +Jenkins with poor Johnson's gold has made me suspicious." + +"And me so as well," said Dickson. + +"I mean," said Reginald, "to bury my treasure, and I have already +selected a spot." + +"You have? Then I shall bury mine near yours. I have ever liked you, +doctor, since first we met, and we have been as brothers." + +They shook hands. + +Appealed to, Mr Hall said straight: + +"I am a wealthy man, and, if ever I reach America, I shall have more +than I can spend. I shall leave mine in the box where it is. I admit," +he added, "that if there be one thief among six men, there may be two, +and gold is a great temptation. But I'll go with you at the dead of +night, and help to carry, and help you to bury your treasure." + +They thanked him heartily, and accepted his kindly assistance. + +The spot at which Reginald had chosen to hide his gold and treasure was +called Lone Tree Hill. It was on a bare, bluff mountain side. Here +stood one huge eucalyptus tree, that might have been used as a landmark +for ships at sea had it been in the track of vessels. But this island, +as I have already said, was not so. + +Strangely enough, all around this tree the hill was supposed to be +haunted by an evil spirit, and there was not a native who would go +anywhere near it, even in broad daylight. The spirit took many forms, +sometimes rushing down in the shape of a fox, or even wild pig, and +scaring the natives into convulsions, but more often, and always before +an earthquake, the spirit was seen in the shape of a round ball of flame +on the very top of the tree. + +This was likely enough. I myself have seen a mysterious flame of this +kind on the truck or highest portion of a ship's mast, and we sailors +call it Saint Elmo's fire. I have known sailors, who would not have +been afraid to bear the brunt of battle in a man-o'-war, tremble with +superstitious dread as they beheld that mysterious quivering flame at +the mast-head. Some evil, they would tell you, was sure to happen. A +storm invariably followed. Well, generally a gale wind did, owing to +the electric conditions of the atmosphere. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +A bright scimitar of moon was shining at midnight when Dickson and +Reginald, assisted by Hall, stole silently out and away to the hills to +bury their treasure. + +There were few sounds to be heard to-night on the island. Far out in +the bay there was at times the splash of a shark or the strange cooing +of a porpoise, and in the valley the yapping of foxes in pursuit of +their prey. The mournful hooting of great owls sounded from the woods, +with now and then the cry of a night bird, or shriek of wounded bird. + +It was a long and stiff walk to Lone Tree Hill; but arrived there, they +set to work at once to dig at the eucalyptus root. The holes made-- +Dickson's to the east, Reginald's to the west--the nuggets, enclosed in +strong tarpaulin bags, were laid in, and next the pearls, in small +cash-boxes, were placed above these. The earth was now filled in, and +the sods replaced so carefully and neatly that no one could have told +that the earth had ever been broken or the sods upturned. + +Then, breathing a prayer for the safety of their treasure, on which so +much might depend in future, they walked silently down the hill and back +to the camp. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +But that very night--or rather towards morning--an event took place that +alarmed all hands. + +The earth shook and trembled, and finally heaved; and it felt as if the +house were a ship in the doldrums crossing the Line. Everyone was +dashed on to the floor, and for a time lay there almost stunned, giddy, +and even sick. It passed off. But in an hour's time a worse shock +followed, and all hands rushed into the open air to seek for safety. + +Outside it was not only hot and stifling--for not a breath of wind was +blowing--but the air had a strange and almost suffocating sulphurous +odour. And this was soon accounted for. Now, not far from Lone Tree +Mountain was a high and conical hill. + +From this, to the great astonishment of all, smoke and flames were now +seen issuing. The flames leapt in marvellous tongues high up through +the smoke. There was the whitest of steam mingling with the smoke, and +anon showers of dust, scorai, and stones began to fall. + +For a minute or two the sight quite demoralised the trio. But the men, +too, had run out, and all had thrown themselves face down on the ground +while the heaving of the earth continued. It was a new experience, and +a terrible one. Dickson went towards them now. + +"I do not think, boys, that the danger is very extreme," he said. "But +I advise you to keep out of doors as much as possible, in case of a +greater shock, which may bring down our humble dwelling. And now, Hall, +and you, Reginald," he added, "the ladies at the palace will, I fear, be +in great terror. It is our duty to go to them. Our presence may help +to cheer them up." + +Daylight was beginning to dawn, though from rolling clouds of smoke in +the far east the sun could only be seen like a red-hot iron shot. It +was evident enough to our heroes when they had climbed the highest +intervening hill, that the island from which the Armada had come was far +more severely stricken than this Isle of Flowers was. + +But as they still gazed eastward at the three or four blazing mountains +on that island, they started and clung together with something akin to +terror in every heart. + +"Oh, awful! What can it be?" cried Reginald. + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +A TERRIBLE TIME. + +Never until the crack of doom might they hear such another report as +that which now fell upon their ears. At almost the same moment, in a +comminglement of smoke and fire, a huge dark object was seen to be +carried high into the air, probably even a mile high. It then took a +westerly direction, and came towards the Isle of Flowers, getting larger +every second, till it descended into the sea, end on, and not two miles +away. It was seen to be a gigantic rock, perhaps many, many acres in +extent. + +The waters now rose on every side, the noise was deafening; then in, +landwards, sped a huge bore, breaker, or wave, call it what you please, +but darkness almost enveloped it, and from this thunders roared and +zigzag lightning flashed as it dashed onwards to the island shore. The +men they had left behind had speedily climbed the rocks behind the camp, +for although the wave did not reach so high, the spray itself would have +suffocated them, had they not looked out for safety. + +It was an awful moment. But the wave receded at last, and the sea was +once more calm. Only a new island had been formed by the fall of the +rock into the ocean's coral depths, and for a time the thunder and +lightning ceased. Not the volcanic eruptions, however. And but for the +blaze and lurid light of these the enemy's isle, as it was called, must +have been in total darkness. Truly a terrible sight! But our heroes +hurried on. + +Just as they had expected, when they reached the Queen's palace they +found poor Miss Hall, and even little Matty--with all her innocent +courage--in a state of great terror. The Queen alone was +self-possessed. She had seen a volcanic eruption before. Ilda was +lying on the couch with her arms round Matty's waist Matty standing by +her side. The child was now seven years of age, and could talk and +think better. Reginald, after kissing Ilda's brow, sat down beside +them, and Matty clambered on his knee. + +Meanwhile, the darkness had increased so much that the Queen called upon +her dusky attendants to light the great oil lamp that swung from the +roof. The Queen continued self-possessed, and tried to comfort her +guests. + +"It will soon be over," she said. "I am assured of that. My experience +is great." + +But Matty refused all consolation. + +"I'se never been a very great sinner, has I?" she innocently asked +Reginald, as she clung round his neck. + +"Oh, no, darling," he said; "you are too young to be much of a sinner." + +"You think God won't be angry, and will take you and me and Ilda and +Queen Bertha straight up to Heaven, clothes and all?" + +"My child," said Reginald, "what has put all this into your head?" + +"Oh," she answered, "because I know the Day of Judgment has come." + +Well, there was some excuse for the little innocent thinking so. + +Without the thickest darkness reigned. Dickson and Hall went to the +door, but did not venture out. Scoria was falling, and destroying all +the shrubs and flowers in the beautiful valley. The river was mixed +with boiling lava, and the noise therefrom was like a thousand engines +blowing off steam at one and the same time. Surely never was such loud +and terrible thunder heard before; and the lightning was so vivid and so +incessant that not only did the island itself seem all ablaze, but even +the distant sea. Crimson and blue fire appeared to lick its surface in +all directions. + +But the burning mountain itself was the most wondrous sight eyes of man +could look upon. The smoke and steam rose and rolled amidst the play of +lightning miles high apparently. The peak of the mountain itself shot +up a continuous stream of orange-yellow flame, in which here and there +small black spots could be seen--rocks and stones, without a doubt. + +But the cone of the great hill itself was marvellously beautiful. For +rivers of lava--Dickson counted nine in all--were rushing down its sides +in a straight course, and these were streams of coloured fire, almost +every one a different hue--deep crimson, green, and blue, and even +orange. + +Were it not for the terror of the sight, our heroes would have enjoyed +it. Reginald carried Matty to the door to see the beauty of the burning +mountain. She took one brief glance, then shudderingly held closer to +Reginald's neck. + +"Take me back, take me back!" she cried in an agony of fear. "That is +the bad place! Oh, when will God come and take us away?" + +All that fearful day and all the following night scoria and ashes +continued to fall, the thunder never ceased, and the lightning was still +incessant. There was no chance now of getting back to camp, and they +trembled to think of what might have taken place. + +Towards morning, however, a wondrous change took place. The sky got +clearer, a star or two shone through the rifts of heavy, overhanging +clouds. The fire no longer rose from the mountain, only a thick +balloon-shaped white cloud lay over it. Then the rain began to fall, +and, strangely enough, mingled with the rain, which felt warm, were +gigantic hailstones and pieces of ice as large as six-pound shells. +Then up rose the glorious sun. Like a red ball of fire he certainly +was; but oh, what a welcome sight! + +That forenoon, all being now peace and quiet, Dickson and his comrades +determined to march back to camp and ease their minds. After a long and +toilsome journey over the hills, many of which were covered with ashes, +they reached camp, and were glad to find the men alive, and the house +intact. A rampart had been built around the barracks, as Hall called +it, and inside was a large drill-yard. + +Dickson served out rum to the men, and they soon were cheerful enough +once more. The guns had been mounted on the walls, and all rifles were +stowed away inside. This was at a suggestion from Hall. + +"You never can trust those niggers," he said quietly, shaking his head. + +And well it was, as it turned out, that Dickson had taken Mr Hall's +advice. + +That same afternoon, about two o'clock, the same savages who had fought +with rifles from the bush against the invaders came hurriedly and +somewhat excitedly into camp. The spokesman, a tall and +splendid-looking native, gesticulated wildly, as he almost shouted in +the officers' ears: + +"To-mollow molning dey come! All dis island rise! Dey come to kill and +eat!" + +The officers were astonished. What had they done to deserve so terrible +a fate? + +"Dey blame you for all. Oh, be plepared to fight. Gib us guns, and we +too will fight plenty much. Foh true!" + +A very uneasy night was passed, but the yard and guns had been cleared +of cinders and scoria, the bulwarks strengthened, and before the sun +once more shone red over the sea Dickson was prepared for either battle +or siege. Everyone had been assigned his quarters. + +The day was still, hot, and somewhat sultry. Luckily the little +garrison was well provisioned, and the water would last a week or even +longer. Low muttering thunders were still heard in the direction of the +volcano, and sometimes the earth shook and trembled somewhat, but it was +evident that the subterranean fires had burnt themselves out, and it +might be a score of years before another eruption occurred. + +It was evident that the savages did not think so. For as long as the +cloud hung over the peak they did not consider themselves safe. About +twelve o'clock that day distant shouts and cries were heard in the +nearest glen, and presently an undisciplined mob of nearly a thousand +howling savages, armed with bows and spears and broad black knives, +appeared on the sands, in their war-paint. It was evidently their +intention to storm the position, and determinedly too. They halted, +however, and seemed to have a hasty consultation. Then a chief boldly +advanced to the ramparts to hold a parley. His speech was a curious +one, and he himself, dressed partly in skins and leaning on a spear like +a weaver's beam, was a strangely wild and romantic figure. + +The officers appeared above the ramparts to look and to listen. + +"Hear, O white men!" cried the savage chief, in fairly good English; +"'tis you who brought dis evil on us. We now do starve. De rice and de +fruit and de rats and most all wild beasts dey kill or hide demselves. +In de sea all round de fish he die. We soon starve. But we not wish to +fight. You and your men saved us from the foe that came in der big +black war canoe. Den you try to teach us God and good. But we all same +as before now. We must fight, eat and live, if you do not leave the +island. Plenty big canoe take you off. Den de grass and trees and +fruit will grow again, and we shall be happy and flee onct mo'." + +"An end to this!" cried Dickson angrily. "Fight as you please, and as +soon as you please. But mind, you will have a devilish hot reception, +and few of you will return to your glens to tell the tale. Away!" + +As soon as the chief had returned and communicated to his men the result +of the interview, they shrieked and shouted and danced like demons. +They brandished their spears aloft and rattled them against their +shields. Then, with one continuous maddened howl, they dashed onwards +to scale the ramparts. "Blood! blood!" was their battle cry. + +Well knowing that if once they got inside the little garrison would soon +be butchered, Dickson immediately had both guns trained on them. He +himself did so. + +"Bang! bang!" they went, and the grape made fearful havoc in the close +and serried ranks of the cannibals. The rifles kept up a withering +fire. Again, and quickly too, the guns were loaded and run out, and +just as the enemy had scaled the brae they were once more met by the +terrible fire, and positively hewn down before it. + +Not even savages could stand this. They became demoralised, and fled +incontinently. And they soon disappeared, carrying many of their dead +with them. Far along the beach went they, and as stakes were placed in +the ground, large fires built around them, and one or more of the dead +thrown on each, it was evident that they had made up their minds not to +starve. + +One of the blacks was now sent out from the fort to make a circuit round +the hills, and then, mingling with the savages, to find out out what was +their intention. + +He returned in a few hours, and while the awful feast was still going +on. A night attack was determined on, and they believed they would +inherit strength and bravery by eating their dead comrades. That was +the scout's report. + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +MORE FEARFUL FIGHTING--GOLDEN GULCH--"A SHIP! A SHIP!" + +Forewarned is, or ought to be, forearmed. Nevertheless, it must be +confessed that Dickson and the others greatly dreaded an attack by +savages under cover of the moonless darkness of a tropical night. All +was done that could be done to repel the fury of the onslaught. But +come it must and would. + +Just as the sun was sinking behind the western mountains, amidst lurid +and threatening clouds, a happy thought occurred to one of the sailors. + +"Sir," he said to Dickson, "the darkness will be our greatest foe, will +it not?" + +"Certainly. If these demon cannibals would but show front in daylight +we could easily disperse them, as we did before. Have you any plans, +McGregor?" + +"I'm only a humble sailor," said McGregor, "but my advice is this. We +can trust the honest blacks we have here within the fort?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, let them throw up a bit of sand cover for themselves down here on +the beach and by the sea. Each man should wear a bit of white cotton +around his arm, that we may be able to distinguish friend from foe. Do +you follow me, sir?" + +"Good, McGregor. Go on." + +"Well, captain, the cannibals are certain to make direct for the +barracks and attempt to scale as they did before. I will go in command +of our twenty black soldiers, and just as you pour in your withering +grape and rifle bullets we shall attack from the rear, or flank, rather, +and thus I do not doubt we shall once more beat them off." + +"Good again, my lad; but remember we cannot aim in the darkness." + +"That can be provided against. We have plenty of tarry wood here, and +we can cut down the still standing brush, and making two huge bonfires, +deluge the whole with kerosene when we hear the beggars coming and near +at hand. Thus shall you have light to fight." + +"McGregor, my lad, I think you have saved the fort and our lives. Get +ready your men and proceed to duty. Or, stay. While they still are at +their terrible feast and dancing round the fires, you may remain +inside." + +"Thanks, sir, thanks." + +The men had supper at eleven o'clock and a modicum of rum each. The +British sailor needs no Dutch courage on the day of battle. + +The distant fires burnt on till midnight. Then, by means of his +night-glass, Dickson could see the tall chieftain was mustering his men +for the charge. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Half an hour later they came on with fiendish shouts and howling. Then +brave McGregor and his men left the barracks and hid in the darkling to +the left and low down on the sands. + +The enemy advanced from the right. Their chief was evidently a poor +soldier, or he would have caused them to steal as silently as panthers +upon the fort. When within a hundred yards, Dickson at one side and +Reginald at the other, each accompanied by a man carrying a keg of +kerosene, issued forth at the back door. + +In three minutes more the flames sprang up as if by magic. They leaped +in great white tongues of fire up the rock sides, from which the rays +were reflected, so that all round the camp was as bright as day. + +The astonished savages, however, came on like a whirlwind, till within +twenty yards of the brae on which stood the fort. Then Mr Hall, the +brave and imperturbable Yankee, "gave them fits," as he termed it. He +trained a gun on them and fired it point-blank. The yells and awful +howlings of rage and pain told how well the grape had done its deadly +work, and that many had fallen never to rise again. + +The tall, skin-clad chief now waved his spear aloft, and shouted to his +men, pointing at the fort. That dark cloud was a mass of frenzied +savages now. They leaped quickly over their dead and wounded, and +rushed for the hill. But they were an easy mark, and once again both +guns riddled their ranks. They would not be denied even yet. + +But lo! while still but half-way up the hill, to their astonishment and +general demoralisation, they were attacked by a terrible rifle fire from +the flank. Again and again those rifles cracked, and at so close a +range that the attacking party fell dead in twos and threes. + +But not until two more shots were fired from the fort, not until the +giant chief was seen to throw up his arms and fall dead in his tracks, +did they hurriedly rush back helter-skelter, and seek safety in flight. + +The black riflemen had no mercy on their brother-islanders. Their blood +was up. So was McGregor's, and they pursued the enemy, pouring in +volley after volley until the darkness swallowed them up. + +The slaughter had been immense. The camp was molested no more. But at +daybreak it was observed that no cloud hung any longer on the volcanic +peak. The savages were still grouped in hundreds around their now +relighted fires, and it was evident a new feast was in preparation. + +But something still more strange now happened. Accompanied by two +gigantic spear-armed men of the guard, the Queen herself was seen to +issue from the glen, and boldly approach the rebels. What she said may +never be known. But, while her guard stood like two statues, she was +seen to be haranguing the cannibals, sometimes striking her sceptre-pole +against the hard white sand, sometimes pointing with it towards the +volcanic mountain. + +But see! another chief approaches her, and is apparently defying her. +Next moment there is a little puff of white smoke, and the man falls, +shot through the head. + +And now the brave and romantic Queen nods to her guards, and with their +spears far and near the fires are dispersed and put out. + +This was all very interesting, as well as wonderful, to the onlookers at +the fort, but when the Queen was seen approaching the little garrison, a +little white flag waving from her pole, and followed by all the natives, +astonishment was at its height. + +Humbly enough they approached now, for the Queen in their eyes was a +goddess. With a wave of her sceptre she stopped them under the brae, or +hill, and Dickson and Reginald hurried down to meet her floral majesty. + +"Had I only known sooner," she said sympathisingly, "that my people had +rebelled and attempted to murder you, I should have been here long, long +before now. These, however, are but the black sheep of my island, and +now at my command they have come to sue for pardon." + +"And they will lay down their arms?" + +"Yes, every spear and bow and crease." + +"Then," said Dickson, "let them go in single file and heap them on the +still smouldering fire up yonder." + +Queen Bertha said something to them in their own language, and she was +instantly obeyed. The fire so strangely replenished took heart and +blazed up once more, and soon the arms were reduced to ashes, and the +very knives bent or melted with the fierce heat. + +"Go home now to your wives and children," she cried imperiously. "For a +time you shall remain in disgrace. But if you behave well I will gladly +receive you once more into my favour. Disperse! Be off!" + +All now quietly dispersed, thankfully enough, too, for they had expected +decapitation. But ten were retained to dig deep graves near the sea and +bury the dead. There were no wounded. This done, peace was restored +once more on the Island of Flowers. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Three weeks of incessant rain followed. It fell in torrents, and the +river itself overflowed its banks, the fords being no longer of any use, +so that the men were confined to their barracks. + +It was a long and a dreary time. Very much indeed Reginald would have +liked to visit the palace, to romp with little Matty, and listen to the +music of Ilda's sweet voice. + +"As for Annie--she must have given me up for dead long ere now," he said +to himself. "Why, it is two years and nine months since I left home. +Yes, something tells me that Annie is married, and married to--to--my +old rival the Laird. Do I love Ilda? I dare not ask myself the +question. Bar Annie herself, with sweet, baby, innocent face, I have +never known a girl that so endeared herself to me as Ilda has done. +And--well, yes, why deny it?--I long to see her." + +One day the rain ceased, and the sun shone out bright and clear once +more. The torrents from the mountains were dried up, and the river +rapidly went down. This was an island of surprises, and when, three +days after this, Reginald, accompanied by Hall and Dickson, went over +the mountains, they marvelled to find that the incessant downpour of +rain had entirely washed the ashes from the valley, and that it was once +more smiling green with bud and bourgeon. In a week's time the flowers +would burst forth in all their glory. + +The ford was now easily negotiable, and soon they were at the Queen's +palace. Need I say that they received a hearty welcome from her Majesty +and Ilda? Nor did it take Matty a minute to ensconce herself on +Reginald's knee. + +"Oh," she whispered, "I'se so glad you's come back again! Me and Ilda +cried ourselves to sleep every, every night, 'cause we think the bad +black men kill you." + +Ilda crying for him! Probably praying for him! The thought gave him +joy. Then, indeed, she loved him. No wonder that he once again asked +himself how it would all end. + +The weather now grew charming. Even the hills grew green again, for the +ashes and _debris_ from the fire-hill, as the natives called it, had +fertilised the ground. And now, accompanied by Ilda and Matty, who +would not be left behind, an expedition started for the valley of gold. +The road would be rough, and so a hammock had been sent for from the +camp, and two sturdy natives attached it to a long bamboo pole. Matty, +laughing with delight, was thus borne along, and she averred that it was +just like flying. + +Alas! the earthquake had been very destructive in Golden Gulch. Our +heroes hardly knew it. Indeed, it was a glen no longer, but filled +entirely up with fallen rocks, lava, and scoria. + +They sighed, and commenced the return journey. But first a visit must +be paid to Lone Tree Mountain. For Reginald's heart lay there. + +"From that elevation," said Reginald, "we shall be able to see the +beautiful ocean far and near." + +The tree at last! It was with joy indeed they beheld it. Though +damaged by the falling scoria, it was once more green; but the grave in +which the gold and pearls lay was covered three feet deep in lava and +small stones. The treasure, then, was safe! + +They were about to return, when Ilda suddenly grasped Reginald's arm +convulsively. + +"Look! look!" she cried, pointing seawards. "The ship! the ship! We +are saved! We are saved!" + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +"SHE THREW HERSELF ON THE SOFA IN AN AGONY OF GRIEF." + +Nearer and nearer drew that ship, and bigger and bigger she seemed to +grow, evidently with the intention of landing on the island. + +Even with the naked eye they soon could see that her bulwarks were badly +battered, and that her fore-topmast had been carried away. + +Back they now hurried to leave Ilda and Matty at the palace. Then +camp-wards with all speed; and just as they reached the barracks they +could hear the rattling of the chains as both anchors were being let go +in the bay. + +A boat now left the vessel's side, and our three heroes hurried down to +meet it. + +The captain was a red-faced, white-haired, hale old man, and one's very +_beau-ideal_ of a sailor. He was invited at once up to the barracks, +and rum and ship biscuits placed before him. Then yarns were +interchanged, Captain Cleaver being the first to tell the story of his +adventures. Very briefly, though, as seafarers mostly do talk. + +"Left Rio three months ago, bound for San Francisco. Fine weather for a +time, and until we had cleared the Straits. Then--oh, man! may I never +see the like again! I've been to sea off and on for forty years and +five, but never before have I met with such storms. One after another, +too; and here we are at last. In the quiet of your bay, I hope to make +good some repairs, then hurry on our voyage. And you?" he added. + +"Ah," said Dickson, "we came infinitely worse off than you. Wrecked, +and nearly all our brave crew drowned. Six men only saved, with us +three, Mr Hall's daughter and a child. The latter are now with the +white Queen of this island. We managed to save our guns and provisions +from our unhappy yacht and that was all." + +"Well, you shall all sail to California with me. I'll make room, for I +am but lightly loaded. But I have not yet heard the name of your craft, +nor have you introduced me to your companions." + +"A sailor's mistake," laughed Dickson; "but this is Mr Hall, who was a +passenger; and this is Dr Reginald Grahame. Our vessel's name was the +_Wolverine_." + +"And she sailed from Glasgow nearly three years ago?" + +Captain Cleaver bent eagerly over towards Dickson as he put the +question. + +"That is so, sir." + +"Why, you are long since supposed to have foundered with all hands, and +the insurance has been paid to your owners." + +"Well, that is right; the ship is gone, but _we_ are alive, and our +adventures have been very strange and terrible indeed. After dinner I +will tell you all. But now," he added, with a smile, "if you will only +take us as far as 'Frisco, we shall find our way to our homes." + +Captain Cleaver's face was very pale now, and he bit his lips, as he +replied: + +"I can take you, Captain Dickson, your six men, Mr Hall and the ladies, +but I cannot sail with this young fellow." He pointed to Reginald. "It +may be mere superstition on my part," he continued, "but I am an old +sailor, you know, and old sailors have whims." + +"I cannot see why I should be debarred from a passage home," said +Reginald. + +"I am a plain man," said Cleaver, "and I shall certainly speak out, if +you pretend you do not know." + +"I do _not_ know, and I command you to speak out." + +"Then I will. In Britain there is a price set upon your head, sir, and +you are branded as a _murderer_!" + +Dickson and Hall almost started from their seats, but Reginald was +quiet, though deathly white. + +"And--and," he said, in a husky voice, "whom am I accused of murdering?" + +"Your quondam friend, sir, and rival in love, the farmer Craig Nicol." + +"I deny it _in toto_!" cried Reginald. + +"Young man, I am not your judge. I can only state facts, and tell you +that your knife was found bloodstained and black by the murdered man's +side. The odds are all against you." + +"This is truly terrible!" said Reginald, getting red and white by turns, +as he rapidly paced the floor. "What can it mean?" + +"Captain Dickson," he said at last, "do you believe, judging from all +you have seen of me, that I could be guilty of so dastardly a deed, or +that I could play and romp with the innocent child Matty with, +figuratively speaking, blood between my fingers, and darkest guilt at my +heart? Can you believe it?" + +Dickson held out his hand, and Reginald grasped it, almost in despair. + +"Things look black against you," he said, "but I do _not_ believe you +guilty." + +"Nor do I," said Hall; "but I must take the opportunity of sailing with +Captain Cleaver, I and my daughter and little Matty." + +Reginald clasped his hand to his heart. + +"My heart will break!" he said bitterly. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +In a few days' time Cleaver's ship was repaired, and ready for sea. So +was Hall, and just two of the men. The other four, as well as Dickson +himself, elected to stay. There was still water to be laid in, however, +and so the ship was detained for forty-eight hours. + +One morning his messmates missed Reginald from his bed. It was cold, +and evidently had not been slept in for many hours. + +"Well, well," said Dickson, "perhaps it is best thus, but I doubt not +that the poor unhappy fellow has thrown himself over a cliff, and by +this time all his sorrows are ended for ay." + +But Reginald had had no such intention. While the stars were yet +shining, and the beautiful Southern Cross mirrored in the river's depth, +he found himself by the ford, and soon after sunrise he was at the +palace. + +Ilda was an early riser and so, too, was wee Matty. Both were surprised +but happy to see him. He took the child in his arms, and as he kissed +her the tears rose to his eyes, and all was a mist. + +"Dear Matty," he said, "run out, now; I would speak with Ilda alone." + +Half-crying herself, and wondering all the while, Matty retired +obediently enough. + +"Oh," cried Ilda earnestly, and drawing her chair close to his, "you are +in grief. What can have happened?" + +"Do not sit near me, Ilda. Oh, would that the grief would but kill me! +The captain of the ship which now lies in the bay has brought me +terrible news. I am branded with murder! Accused of slaying my quondam +friend and rival in the affections of her about whom I have often spoken +to you--Annie Lane." + +Ilda was stricken dumb. She sat dazed and mute, gazing on the face of +him she loved above all men on earth. + +"But--oh, you are not--_could_ not--be guilty! Reginald--my own +Reginald!" she cried. + +"Things are terribly black against me, but I will say no more now. Only +the body was not found until two days after I sailed, and it is believed +that I was a fugitive from justice. That makes matters worse. Ilda, I +could have loved you, but, ah! I fear this will be our last interview +on earth. Your father is sailing by this ship, and taking you and my +little love Matty with him." + +She threw herself in his arms now, and wept till it verily seemed her +heart would break. Then he kissed her tenderly, and led her back to her +seat. + +"Brighter times may come," he said. "There is ever sunshine behind the +clouds. Good-bye, darling, good-bye--and may every blessing fall on +your life and make you happy. Say good-bye to the child for me; I dare +not see her again." + +She half rose and held out her arms towards him, but he was gone. The +door was closed, and she threw herself now on the sofa in an agony of +grief. + +The ship sailed next day. Reginald could not see her depart. He and +one man had gone to the distant hill. They had taken luncheon with +them, and the sun had almost set before they returned to camp. + +"Have they gone?" was the first question when he entered the +barrack-hall. + +"They have gone." + +That was all that Dickson said. + +"But come, my friend, cheer up. No one here believes you guilty. All +are friends around you, and if, as I believe you to be, you are +innocent, my advice is this: Pray to the Father; pray without ceasing, +and He will bend down His ear and take you out of your troubles. +Remember those beautiful lines you have oftentimes heard me sing: + + "`God is our comfort and our strength, + In straits a present aid; + Therefore although the earth remove, + We will not be afraid.' + +"And these: + + "`He took me from a fearful pit, + And from the miry clay; + And on a rock he set my feet, + Establishing my way.'" + +"God bless you for your consolation. But at present my grief is all so +fresh, and it came upon me like a bolt from the blue. In a few days I +may recover. I do not know. I may fail and die. It may be better if I +do." + +Dickson tried to smile. + +"Nonsense, lad. I tell you all will yet come right, and you will see." + +The men who acted as servants now came in to lay the supper. The table +was a rough one indeed, and tablecloth there was none. Yet many a +hearty meal they had made off the bare boards. + +"I have no appetite, Dickson." + +"Perhaps not; but inasmuch as life is worth living, and especially a +young life like yours, eat you must, and we must endeavour to coax it." + +As he spoke he placed a bottle of old rum on the table. He took a +little himself, as if to encourage his patient, and then filled out half +a tumblerful and pushed it towards Reginald. Reginald took a sip or +two, and finally finished it by degrees, but reluctantly. Dickson +filled him out more. + +"Nay, nay," Reginald remonstrated. + +"Do you see that couch yonder?" said his companion, smiling. + +"Yes." + +"Well, as soon as you have had supper, on that you must go to bed, and I +will cover you with a light rug. Sleep will revive you, and things +to-morrow morning will not look quite so dark and gloomy." + +"I shall do all you tell me." + +"Good boy! but mind, I have even Solomon's authority for asking you to +drink a little. `Give,' he says, `strong drink to him Who is ready to +perish... Let him drink... and remember his misery no more.' And our +irrepressible bard Burns must needs paraphrase these words in verse: + + "`Give him strong drink, until he wink, + That's sinking in despair; + And liquor good to fire his blood, + That's pressed wi' grief and care. + There let him bouse and deep carouse + Wi' bumpers flowing o'er; + Till he forgets his loves or debts, + An' minds his griefs no more.'" + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +"OH, MERCIFUL FATHER! THEY ARE HERE." + +Well, it seemed there was very little chance of poor Reginald (if we +dare extend pity to him) forgetting either his loves or the terrible +incubus that pressed like a millstone on heart and brain. + +Captain Dickson was now doctor instead of Grahame, and the latter was +his patient. Two things he knew right well: first, that in three or +four months at the least a ship of some kind would arrive, and Reginald +be taken prisoner back to England; secondly, that if he could not get +him to work, and thus keep his thoughts away from the awful grief, he +might sink and die. He determined, therefore, to institute a fresh +prospecting party. Perhaps, he told the men, the gold was not so much +buried but that they might find their way to it. + +"That is just what we think, sir, and that is why we stayed in the +island with you and Dr Grahame instead of going home in the _Erebus_. +Now, sir," continued the man, "why not employ native labour? We have +plenty of tools, and those twenty stalwart blacks that fought so well +for us would do anything to help us. Shall I speak to them, captain?" + +"Very well, McGregor; you seem to have the knack of giving good advice. +It shall be as you say." + +After a visit to the Queen, who received them both with great +cordiality, and endeavoured all she could to keep up poor Reginald's +heart, they took their departure, and bore up for the hills, accompanied +by their black labourers, who were as merry as crickets. Much of the +lava, or ashes, had been washed away from the Golden Mount, as they +termed it, and they could thus prospect with more ease in the gulch +below. + +In the most likely part, a place where crushed or powdered quartz +abound, work was commenced in downright earnest. + +"Here alone have we any chance, men," said Captain Dickson cheerily. + +"Ah, sir," said McGregor, "you have been at the diggings before, and so +have I." + +"You are right, my good fellow; I made my pile in California when little +more than a boy. I thought that this fortune was going to last me for +ever, and there was no extravagance in New York I did not go in for. +Well, my pile just vanished like mist before the morning sun, and I had +to take a situation as a man before the mast, and so worked myself up to +what I am now, a British master mariner." + +"Well, sir," said Mac, "you have seen the world, anyhow, and gained +experience, and no doubt that your having been yourself a common sailor +accounts for much of your kindness to and sympathy for us poor Jacks." + +"Perhaps." + +Mining work was now carried on all day long, and a shaft bored into the +mountain side. This was their only chance. Timber was cut down and +sawn into beams and supports, and for many weeks everything went on with +the regularity of clock-work; but it was not till after a month that +fortune favoured the brave. Then small nuggets began to be found, and +to these succeeded larger ones; and it was evident to all that a +well-lined pocket was found. In this case both the officers and men +worked together, and the gold was equally divided between them. They +were indeed a little Republic, but right well the men deserved their +share, for well and faithfully did they work. + +Two months had passed away since the departure of the _Erebus_, and soon +the detectives must come. Reginald's heart gave a painful throb of +anxiety when he thought of it. Another month and he should be a +prisoner, and perhaps confined in a hot and stuffy cell on board ship. +Oh! it was terrible to think of! But work had kept him up. Soon, +however, the mine gave out, and was reluctantly deserted. Every night +now, however, both Dickson and Reginald dined and slept at the palace of +Queen Bertha. With her Reginald left his nuggets. + +"If I should be condemned to death," he said,--"and Fate points to that +probability--the gold and all the rest is yours, Dickson." + +"Come, sir, come," said the Queen, "keep up your heart. You say you are +not guilty." + +They were sitting at table enjoying wine and fruit, though the latter +felt like sawdust in Reginald's hot and nerve-fevered mouth. + +"I do not myself believe I am guilty, my dear lady," he answered. + +"You do not _believe_?" + +"Listen, and I will tell you. The knife found--it was mine--by the side +of poor Craig Nicol is damning evidence against me, and this is my +greatest fear. Listen again. All my life I have been a sleep-walker or +somnambulist." + +The Queen was interested now, and leaned more towards him as he spoke. + +"You couldn't surely--" she began. + +"All I remember of that night is this--and I feel the cold sweat of +terror on my brow as I relate it--I had been to Aberdeen. I dined with +friends--dined, not wisely, perhaps, but too well. I remember feeling +dazed when I left the train at--Station. I had many miles still to +walk, but before I had gone there a stupor seemed to come over me, and I +laid me down on the sward thinking a little sleep would perfectly +refresh me. I remember but little more, only that I fell asleep, +thinking how much I would give only to have Craig Nicol once more as my +friend. Strange, was it not? I seemed to awake in the same place where +I had lain down, but cannot recollect that I had any dreams which might +have led to somnambulism. But, oh, Queen Bertha, my stocking knife was +gone! I looked at my hands. `Good God!' I cried, for they were +smeared with blood! And I fainted away. I have no more to say," he +added, "no more to tell. I will tell the same story to my solicitor +alone, and will be guided by all he advises. If I have done this deed, +even in my sleep, I deserve my fate, whate'er it may be, and, oh, Queen +Bertha, the suspense and my present terrible anxiety is worse to bear +than death itself could be." + +"From my very inmost heart I pity you," said the Queen. + +"And I too," said Dickson. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +It was now well-nigh three months since the _Erebus_ had left, and no +other vessel had yet arrived or appeared in sight. + +But one evening the Queen, with Reginald and Dickson, sat out of doors +in the verandah. They were drinking little cups of black coffee and +smoking native cigarettes, rolled round with withered palm leaves in +lieu of paper. It was so still to-night that the slightest sound could +be heard: even leaves rustling in the distant woods, even the whisk of +the bats' wings as they flew hither and thither moth-hunting. It was, +too, as bright as day almost, for a round moon rode high in the clear +sky, and even the brilliant Southern Cross looked pale in her dazzling +rays. There had been a lull in the conversation for a few minutes, but +suddenly the silence was broken in a most unexpected way. From seaward, +over the hills, came the long-drawn and mournful shriek of a steamer's +whistle. + +"O, Merciful Father!" cried Reginald, half-rising from his seat, but +sinking helplessly back again--"they are here!" + +Alas! it was only too true. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +When the _Erebus_ left the island, with, as passengers, Mr Hall and +poor, grief-stricken Ilda, she had a good passage as far as the Line, +and here was becalmed only a week, and made a quick voyage afterwards to +the Golden Horn. Here Mr Hall determined to stay for many months, to +recruit his daughter's health. All the remedies of San Francisco were +at her command. She went wherever her father pleased, but every +pleasure appeared to pall upon her. Doctors were consulted, and +pronounced the poor girl in a rapid decline. There was a complete +collapse of the whole nervous system, they said, and she must have +received some terrible shock. Mr Hall admitted it, asking at the same +time if the case were hopeless, and what he could do. + +"It is the last thing a medical man should do," replied the physician, +"to take hope away. I do not say she may not recover with care, but--I +am bound to tell you, sir--the chances of her living a year are somewhat +remote." + +Poor Mr Hall was silent and sad. He would soon be a lonely man indeed, +with none to comfort him save little Matty, and she would grow up and +leave him too. + +Shortly after the arrival of the _Erebus_ at California, a sensational +heading to a Scotch newspaper caught the eye of the old Laird McLeod, as +he sat with his daughter one morning at breakfast: + + "Remarkable Discovery. + The Supposed Murderer of Craig Nicol + Found on a Cannibal Island." + +The rest of the paragraph was but brief, and detailed only what we +already know. But Annie too had seen it, and almost fainted. And this +very forenoon, too, Laird Fletcher was coming to McLeod Cottage to ask +her hand formally from her father. + +Already, as I have previously stated, she had given a half-willing +consent. But now her mind was made up. She would tell Fletcher +everything, and trust to his generosity. She mentioned to Jeannie, her +maid, what her intentions were. + +"I would not utterly throw over Fletcher," said Jeannie. "You never +know what may happen." + +Jeannie was nothing if not canny. Well, Fletcher did call that +forenoon, and she saw him before he could speak to her old uncle--saw +him alone. She showed him the paper and telegram. Then she boldly told +him that while her betrothed, whom she believed entirely innocent of the +crime laid at his door, was in grief and trouble, all thoughts of +marriage were out of the question entirely. + +"And you love this young man still?" + +"Ay, Fletcher," she said, "and will love him till all the seas run dry." + +The Laird gave her his hand, and with tears running down her cheeks, she +took it. + +"We still shall be friends," he said. + +"Yes," she cried; "and, oh, forgive me if I have caused you grief. I am +a poor, unhappy girl!" + +"Every cloud," said Fletcher, "has a silver lining." + +Then he touched her hand lightly with his lips, and next moment he was +gone. + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +THE CRUISE OF THE "VULCAN." + +The next news concerning what was called the terrible Deeside murder was +that a detective and two policemen had started for New York, that thence +they would journey overland to San Francisco, and there interview the +captain of the _Erebus_ in order to get the latitude and longitude of +the Isle of Flowers. They would then charter a small steamer and bring +the accused home for trial--and for justice. + +It is a long and somewhat weary journey, this crossing America by train, +but the detective and his companions were excited by the adventure they +were engaged on, and did not mind the length of the way. + +The _Vulcan_, which they finally chartered at 'Frisco, was a small, but +clean and pretty steamer, that was used for taking passengers (a few +select ones only) to view the beauties of the Fiji Islands. + +Many a voyage had she made, but was as sturdy and strong as ever. + +It must be confessed, however, that Master Mariner Neaves did not +half-like his present commission, but the liberality of the pay +prevailed, and so he gave in. His wife and her maid, who acted also as +stewardess, had always accompanied him to sea, and she refused to be +left on this expedition. + +So away they sailed at last, and soon were far off in the blue Pacific, +steering southwards with a little west in it. + +And now a very strange discovery was brought to light. They had been +about a day and a half at sea, when, thinking he heard a slight noise in +the store-room, Captain Neaves opened it. To his intense surprise, out +walked a beautiful little girl of about seven. She carried in her hand +a grip-sack, and as she looked up innocently in Neaves's face, she said +naively: + +"Oh, dear, I is so glad we are off at last. I'se been so very lonely." + +"But, my charming little stowaway, who on earth are you, and how did you +come here?" + +"Oh," she answered, "I am Matty. I just runned away, and I'se goin' +south with you to see poor Regie Grahame. That's all, you know." + +"Well, well, well!" said Neaves wonderingly. "A stranger thing than +this surely never happened on board the saucy _Vulcan_, from the day she +first was launched!" Then he took Matty by the hand, and laughing in +spite of himself, gave her into the charge of his wife. "We can't turn +back," he explained; "that would be unlucky. She must go with us." + +"Of course," said Matty, nodding her wise wee head. "You mustn't go +back." + +And so it was settled. But Matty became the sunshine and life of all on +board. Even the detective caught the infection, and the somewhat +solemn-looking and important policeman as well. All were in love with +Matty in less than a week. If Neaves was master of the _Vulcan_, Matty +was mistress. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Well, when that ominous whistle was heard in the bay of Flower Island, +although utterly shaken and demoralised for a time, Reginald soon +recovered. Poor Oscar, the Newfoundland, had laid his great head on his +master's knees and was gazing up wonderingly but pityingly into his +face. + +"Oh, Queen Bertha," said Reginald sadly, as he placed a hand on the +dog's great head, "will--will you keep my faithful friend till all is +over?" + +"That I shall, and willingly. Nothing shall ever come over him; and +mind," she said, "I feel certain you will return to bring him away." + +Next morning broke sunny and delightful. All the earth in the valley +was carpeted with flowers; the trees were in their glory. Reginald +alone was unhappy. At eight o'clock, guided by two natives, the +detectives and policemen were seen fording the river, on their way to +the palace. Reginald had already said good-bye to the Queen and his +beautiful brown-eyed dog. + +"Be good, dear boy, and love your mistress. I will come back again in +spirit if not in body. Good-bye, my pet, good-bye." + +Then he and Dickson went quietly down to meet the police. The detective +stopped and said "Good-morning" in a kindly, sympathetic tone. + +"Good-morning," said Reginald sadly. "I am your prisoner." + +The policeman now pulled out the handcuffs. The detective held up his +hand. + +"If you, Grahame," he said, "will assure me on your oath that you will +make no attempt to escape or to commit suicide, you shall have freedom +on board--no irons, no chains." + +The prisoner held up his hand, and turned his eyes heavenwards. + +"As God is my last Judge, sir," he said, "I swear before Him I shall +give you not the slightest trouble. I know my fate, and can now face +it." + +"Amen," said the detective. "And now we shall go on board." + +Reginald took one last longing, lingering look back at the palace; the +Queen was there, and waved him farewell; then, though the tears were +silently coursing down his cheeks, he strode on bravely by Dickson's +side. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Arrived on board, to his intense surprise, Matty was the first to greet +him. She fairly rushed into his arms, and he kissed her over and over +again. Then she told him all her own little story. + +Now the men came off with their boxes, and Dickson with his traps. The +_Vulcan_ stayed not two hours altogether after all were on board. Steam +was got up, and away she headed back once more for 'Frisco, under full +steam. I think that Reginald was happier now than he had been for +months. The bitterness of death seemed to be already past, and all he +longed for was rest, even should that rest be in the grave. Moreover, +he was to all intents and purposes on parole. Though he took his meals +in his own cabin, and though a sentry was placed at the door every +night, he was permitted to walk the deck by day, and go wherever he +liked, and even to play with Matty. + +"I cannot believe that the poor young fellow is guilty of the terrible +crime laid to his charge," said Mrs Neaves to her husband one day. + +"Nor I either, my dear; but we must go by the evidence against him, and +I do not believe he has the slightest chance of life." + +"Terrible!" + +Yet Mrs Neaves talked kindly to him for all that when she met him on +the quarter-deck; but she never alluded to the dark cloud that hung so +threateningly over his life. The more she talked to him, the more she +believed in his innocence, and the more she liked him, although she +tried hard not to. + +Matty was Reginald's almost constant companion, and many an otherwise +lonely hour she helped to cheer and shorten. + +He had another companion, however--his Bible. All hope for this world +had fled, and he endeavoured now to make his peace with the God whom he +had so often offended and sinned against. + +Captain Dickson and he often sat together amidships or on the +quarter-deck, and the good skipper of the unfortunate _Wolverine_ used +to talk about all they should do together when the cloud dissolved into +thin air, and Reginald was once more free. + +"But, ah, Dickson," said the prisoner, "that cloud will not dissolve. +It is closed aboard of me now, but it will come lower and lower, and +then--it will burst, and I shall be no more. No, no, dear friend, I +appreciate the kindness of your motives in trying to cheer me, but my +hopes of happiness are now centred in the Far Beyond." + +If a man in his terrible position could ever be said to experience +pleasure at all, Reginald did when the four honest sailors came to see +him, as they never failed to do, daily. Theirs was heart-felt pity. +Their remarks might have been a little rough, but they were kindly +meant, and the consolation they tried to give was from the heart. + +"How is it with you by this time?" McGregor said one day. "You mustn't +mope, ye know." + +"Dear Mac," replied Reginald, "there is no change, except that the +voyage will soon be at an end, just as my voyage of life will." + +"Now, sir, I won't have that at all. Me and my mates here have made up +our minds, and we believe you ain't guilty at all, and that they dursn't +string you up on the evidence that will go before the jury." + +"I fear not death, anyhow, Mac. Indeed, I am not sure that I might not +say with Job of old, `I prefer strangling rather than life.'" + +"Keep up your pecker, sir; never say die; and don't you think about it. +We'll come and see you to-morrow again. Adoo." + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Yes, the voyage was coming to a close, and a very uneventful one it had +been. When the mountains of California at last hove in sight, and +Skipper Neaves informed Reginald that they would get in to-morrow night, +he was rather pleased than otherwise. But Matty was now in deepest +grief. This strange child clung around his neck and cried at the +thoughts of it. + +"Oh, I shall miss you, I shall miss you!" she said. "And you can't take +poor Matty with you?" + +And now, to console her, he was obliged to tell her what might have been +called a white lie, for which he hoped to be forgiven. + +"But Matty must not mourn; we shall meet again," he said. "And perhaps +I may take Matty with me on a long cruise, and we shall see the Queen of +the Isle of Flowers once more, and you and dear Oscar, your beautiful +Newfoundland, shall play together, and romp just as in the happy days of +yore. Won't it be delightful, dear?" + +Matty smiled through her tears, only drawing closer to Reginald's breast +as she did. + +"Poor dear doggy Oscar?" she said. "He will miss you so much?" + +"Yes, darling; his wistful, half-wondering glance I never can forget. +He seemed to refuse to believe that I could possibly leave him, and the +glance of love and sorrow in the depths of his soft brown eyes I shall +remember as long as I live." + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +The first to come on board when the vessel got in was Mr Hall himself +and Ilda. The girl was changed in features, somewhat thinner, paler, +and infinitely more sad-looking. But with loving abandon she threw +herself into Reginald's arms and wept. + +"Oh, dear," she cried, "how sadly it has all ended!" Then she +brightened up a little. "We--that is, father and I--are going to Italy +for the winter, and I may get well, and we may meet again. God in +Heaven bless you, Reginald!" + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Then the sad partings. I refuse to describe them. I would rather my +story were joyful than otherwise, and so I refrain. + +It was a long, weary journey that to New York, but it ended at last, and +Reginald found himself a prisoner on board the _B--Castle_ bound for +Britain's far-off shores. + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +MEETING AND PARTING. + +Reginald was infinitely more lonely now and altogether more of a +prisoner too. Neither Captain Dickson nor the four sailors returned by +the same ship, so, with the exception of the detective, who really was a +kind-hearted and feeling man, he had no one to converse with. + +He was permitted to come up twice a day and walk the deck forward by way +of exercise, but a policeman always hovered near. If the truth must be +told, he would have preferred staying below. The passengers were +chiefly Yankees on their way to London Paris, and the Riviera, but as +soon as he appeared there was an eager rush forward as far as midships, +and as he rapidly paced the deck, the prisoner was as cruelly criticised +as if he had been some show animal or wild beast. It hurt Reginald not +a little, and more than once during his exercise hour his cheeks would +burn and tingle with shame. + +When he walked forward as far as the winch, he turned and walked aft +again, and it almost broke his heart--for he dearly loved children--to +see those on the quarter-deck clutch their mothers' skirts, or hide +behind them screaming. + +"Oh, ma, he's coming--the awful man is coming?" + +"He isn't so terrible-looking, is he, auntie?" said a beautiful young +girl one day, quite aloud, too. + +"Ah, child, but remember what he has done. Even a tiger can look soft +and pleasant and beautiful at times." + +"Well," said another lady, "he will hang as high as Haman, anyhow!" + +"And richly deserves it," exclaimed a sour-looking, scraggy old maid. +"I'm sure I should dearly like to see him strung. He won't walk so +boldly along the scaffold, I know, and his face will be a trifle whiter +then!" + +"Woman!" cried an old white-haired gentleman, "you ought to be downright +ashamed of yourself, talking in that manner in the hearing of that +unfortunate man; a person of your age might know just a little better!" +The old maid tossed her yellow face. "And let me add, madam, that but +for God's grace and mercy you might occupy a position similar to his. +Good-day, miss!" + +There was a barrier about the spot where the quarter-deck and midships +joined. Thus far might steerage passengers walk aft, but no farther. +To this barrier Reginald now walked boldly up, and, while the ladies for +the most part backed away, as if he had been a python, and the children +rushed screaming away, the old gentleman kept where he was. + +"God bless you, sir," said Reginald, loud enough for all to hear, "for +defending me. The remarks those unfeeling women make in my hearing +pierce me to the core." + +"And God bless you, young man, and have mercy on your soul." He held +out his hand, and Reginald shook it heartily. "I advise you, Mr +Grahame, to make your peace with God, for I cannot see a chance for you. +I am myself a New York solicitor, and have studied your case over and +over again." + +"I care not how soon death comes. My hopes are yonder," said Reginald. + +He pointed skywards as he spoke. + +"That's good. And remember: + + "`While the lamp holds out to burn, + The greatest sinner may return.' + +"I'll come and see you to-morrow." + +"A thousand thanks, sir. Good-day." + +Mr Scratchley, the old solicitor, was as good as his word, and the two +sat down together to smoke a couple of beautiful Havana cigars, very +large and odorous. The tobacco seemed to soothe the young man, and he +told Scratchley his story from beginning to end, and especially did he +enlarge on the theory of somnambulism. This, he believed, was his only +hope. But Scratchley cut him short. + +"See here, young man; take the advice of one who has spent his life at +the Bar. Mind, I myself am a believer in spiritualism, but keep that +somnambulism story to yourself. I must speak plainly. It will be +looked upon by judge and jury as cock-and-bull, and it will assuredly do +you more harm than good. Heigho!" he continued. "From the bottom of my +heart I pity you. So young, so handsome. Might have been so happy and +hopeful, too! Well, good-bye. I'll come again." + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Mr Scratchley was really a comfort to Reginald. But now the voyage was +drawing near its close. They had passed the isles of Bute and Arran, +and had entered on the wild, romantic beauties of the Clyde. + +It was with a feeling of utter sadness and gloom, however, that the +prisoner beheld them. Time was when they would have delighted his +heart. Those days were gone, and the darkness was all ahead. The glad +sunshine sparkled in the wavelets, and, wheeling hither and thither, +with half-hysterical screams of joy, were the white-winged, free, and +happy gulls; but in his present condition of mind things the most +beautiful saddened him the most. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Two days are past and gone, and Reginald is now immured in gaol to await +his trial. It was lightsome and comfortable, and he had books to read, +and a small, cheerful fire. He had exercise also in the yard, and even +the gaolers talked kindly enough to him; but all the same he was a +prisoner. + +His greatest trial had yet to come--the meeting with--ah! yes, and the +parting from--Annie--his Annie--Annie o' the Banks o' Dee. + +One day came a letter from her, which, though it had been opened and +read by the authorities, was indeed a sweet boon to him. He read it +over and over again, lover-like. It burned with affection and love, a +love that time and absence had failed to quench. But she was coming to +see him, "she and her maid, Jeannie Lee," she continued. Her uncle was +well and hearty, but they were no longer owners of the dear old house +and lands of Bilberry. She would tell him all her story when she saw +him. And the letter ended: "With unalterable love, your _own_ Annie." + +The ordeal of such a meeting was one from which Reginald naturally +shrank; but this over, he would devote himself entirely to communion +with Heaven. Only Heavenly hopes could now keep up his heart. + +The day came, and Annie, with Jeannie, her maid, arrived at the prison. + +He held Annie at arms' length for a few seconds. Not one whit altered +was she. Her childlike and innocent beauty was as fresh now, and her +smile as sweet, though somewhat more chastened, as when he had parted +with her in sorrow and tears more than three years ago. He folded her +in his arms. At this moment, after a preliminary knock at the door, the +gaoler entered. + +"The doctor says," he explained, "that your interview may last an hour, +and that, fearing it may be too much for you, he sends you this. And a +kindly-hearted gent he is." + +He placed a large glass of brandy and water before Reginald as he spoke. + +"What! Must I drink all this?" + +"Yes--and right off, too. It is the doctor's orders." + +The prisoner obeyed, though somewhat reluctantly. Even now he needed no +Dutch courage. Then, while Jeannie took a book and seated herself at +some little distance, the lovers had it all to themselves, and after a +time Annie felt strong enough to tell her story. We already know it. + +"Yes, dear, innocent Reginald, we were indeed sorry to leave bonnie +Bilberry Hall, and live in so small a cottage. And though he has kept +up wonderfully well, still, I know he longs at times for a sight of the +heather. He is not young now, darling, and yet he may live for very +many years. But you were reported as lost, dear, and even the +figurehead of the _Wolverine_ and a boat was found far away in the +Pacific. Then after that, dearest, all hope fled. I could never love +another. The new heir of Bilberry Hall and land proposed to me. My +uncle could not like him, and I had no love to spare. My heart was in +Heaven with you, for I firmly believed you drowned and gone before. +Then came Laird Fletcher. Oh, he was very, very kind to us, and often +took uncle and myself away in his carriage to see once more the bonnie +Highland hills. And I used to notice the tears standing in dear uncle's +eyes when he beheld the glory and romance of his own dear land, and the +heather. And then I used to pity poor uncle, for often after he came +home from a little trip like this he used to look so forlornly at all +his humble surroundings. Well, dear, from kindness of every kind +Fletcher's feelings for me seemed to merge into love. Yes, true love, +Reginald. But I could not love him in return. My uncle even pleaded a +little for Fletcher. His place is in the centre of the Deeside +Highlands, and, oh, the hills are high, and the purple heather and +crimson heath, surrounded by dark pine forests, are a sight to see in +autumn. Well, you were dead, Reginald, and uncle seemed pining away; +and so when one day Fletcher pleaded more earnestly than ever, crying +pathetically as he tried to take my hand, `Oh, Annie, my love, my life, +I am unworthy of even your regard, but for sake of your dear old uncle +won't you marry me?' then, Reginald, I gave a half-consent, but a wholly +unwilling one. Can you forgive me?" + +He pressed her closer to his heart by way of answer. + +How quickly that hour sped away lovers only know. But it ended all too +soon. The parting? Ay, ay; let this too be left to the imagination of +him or her who knows what true love is. + +After Annie had gone, for the first time since his incarceration +Reginald collapsed. He threw himself on his bed and sobbed until verily +he thought his heart would break. Then the gaoler entered. + +"Come, come, my dear lad," said the man, walking up to the prisoner and +laying a kindly and sympathetic hand on his shoulder. "Keep up, my boy, +keep up. We have all to die. God is love, lad, and won't forsake you." + +"Oh," cried the prisoner, "it is not death I fear. I mourn but for +those I leave behind." + +A few more weeks, and Reginald's case came on for trial. + +It was short, perhaps, but one of the most sensational ever held in the +Granite City, as the next chapter will prove. + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +A SENSATIONAL MURDER TRIAL. + +The good people of Aberdeen--yclept the Granite City--are as fond of +display and show as even the Londoners, and the coming of the lords, who +are the judges that try the principal cases, is quite an event of the +year, and looked forward to with longing, especially by the young +people. + +Ah! little they think of or care for the poor wretches that, in charge +of warders or policemen, or both, are brought up from their cells, to +stand pale and trembling before the judge. + +The three weeks that intervened between the departure of poor, unhappy +Annie from his cell and the coming of the lords were the longest that +Reginald ever spent in life--or appeared to be, for every hour was like +a day, every day seemed like a month. + +The gaoler was still kind to him. He had children of his own, and in +his heart he pitied the poor young fellow, around whose neck the halter +would apparently soon be placed. He had even--although I believe this +was against the rules--given Reginald some idea as to the day his trial +would commence. + +"God grant," said Reginald, "they may not keep me long. Death itself is +preferable to the anxiety and awful suspense of a trial." + +But the three weeks passed away at last, and some days to that, and +still the lords came not. The prisoner's barred window was so +positioned that he could see down Union Street with some craning of the +neck. + +One morning, shortly after he had sent away his untouched breakfast, he +was startled by hearing a great commotion in the street, and the hum of +many voices. The pavements were lined with a sea of human beings. +Shortly after this he heard martial music, and saw men on the march with +nodding plumes and fixed bayonets. Among them, guarded on each side, +walked lords in their wigs and gowns. Reginald was brave, but his heart +sank to zero now with terror and dread. He felt that his hour had come. +Shortly the gaoler entered. + +"Your case is to be the first," he said. "Prepare yourself. It will +come off almost immediately." + +He went away, and the prisoner sank on his knees and prayed as surely he +never prayed before. The perspiration stood in great drops on his +forehead. + +Another weary hour passed by, and this time the door was opened to his +advocate. His last words were these: + +"All you have got to do is to plead `Not guilty'; then keep silent. If +a question is put to you, glance at me before you answer. I will nod if +you must answer, and shake my head if you need not." + +"A thousand thanks for all your kindness, sir. I'm sure you will do +your best." + +"I will." + +Once more the gaoler entered. + +"The doctor sends you this," he said. "And drink it you must, or you +may faint in the dock, and the case be delayed." + +At last the move was made. Dazed and dizzy, Reginald hardly knew +whither he was being led, until he found himself in the dock confronting +the solemn and sorrowful-looking judge. He looked just once around the +court, which was crowded to excess. He half-expected, I think, to see +Annie there, and was relieved to find she was not in court. But yonder +was Captain Dickson and the four sailors who had remained behind to +prosecute the gold digging. Dickson smiled cheerfully and nodded. Then +one of the policemen whispered attention, and the unhappy prisoner at +once confronted the judge. + +"Reginald Grahame," said the latter after some legal formalities were +gone through, "you are accused of the wilful murder of Craig Nicol, +farmer on Deeside, by stabbing him to the heart with a dirk or _skean +dhu_. Are you guilty or not guilty?" + +"Not guilty, my lord." This in a firm voice, without shake or tremolo. + +"Call the witnesses." + +The first to be examined was Craig's old housekeeper. She shed tears +profusely, and in a faint tone testified to the departure of her master +for Aberdeen with the avowed intention of drawing money to purchase +stock withal. She was speedily allowed to stand down. + +The little boys who had found the body beneath the dark spruce-fir in +the lonely plantation were next interrogated, and answered plainly +enough in their shrill treble. + +Then came the police who had been called, and the detective, who all +gave their evidence in succinct but straightforward sentences. + +All this time there was not a sound in the court, only that sea of faces +was bent eagerly forward, so that not a word might escape them. The +excitement was intense. + +Now came the chief witness against Reginald; and the bloodstained dirk +was handed to Shufflin' Sandie. + +"Look at that, and say if you have seen it before?" said the judge. + +"As plain as the nose on your lordship's face!" said Sandie, smiling. + +That particular nose was big, bulbous, and red. Sandie's reply, +therefore, caused a titter to run through the court. The judge frowned, +and the prosecution proceeded. + +"Where did you last see it?" + +"Stained with blood, sir; it was found beneath the dead man's body." + +On being questioned, Sandie also repeated his evidence as given at the +coroner's inquest, and presently was allowed to stand down. + +Then the prisoner was hissed by the people. The judge lost his temper. +He had not quite got over Sandie's allusion to his nose. + +"If," he cried, "there is the slightest approach to a repetition of that +unseemly noise, I will instantly clear the court?" + +The doctor who had examined the body was examined. + +"Might not the farmer have committed suicide?" he was asked. + +"Everything is against that theory," the doctor replied, "for the knife +belonged to Grahame; besides, the deed was done on the road, and from +the appearance of the deceased's coat, he had evidently been hauled +through the gateway on his back, bleeding all the while, and so hidden +under the darkling spruce pine." + +"So that _felo de se_ is quite out of the question?" + +"Utterly so, my lord." + +"Stand down, doctor." + +I am giving the evidence only in the briefest epitome, for it occupied +hours. The advocate for the prosecution made a telling speech, to which +the prisoner's solicitor replied in one quite as good. He spoke almost +ironically, and laughed as he did so, especially when he came to the +evidence of the knife. His client at the time of the murder was lying +sound asleep at a hedge-foot. What could hinder a tramp, one of the +many who swarm on the Deeside road, to have stolen the knife, followed +Craig Nicol, stabbed him, robbed and hidden the body, and left the knife +there to turn suspicion on the sleeping man? "Is it likely," he added, +"that Reginald--had he indeed murdered his quondam friend--would have +been so great a fool as to have left the knife there?" He ended by +saying that there was not a jot of trustworthy evidence on which the +jury could bring in a verdict of guilty. + +But, alas! for Reginald. The judge in his summing up--and a long and +eloquent speech it was--destroyed all the good effects of the +solicitor's speech. "He could not help," he said, "pointing out to the +jury that guilt or suspicion could rest on no one else save Grahame. As +testified by a witness, he had quarrelled with Nicol, and had made use +of the remarkable expression that `the quarrel would end in blood.' The +night of the murder Grahame was not sober, but lying where he was, in +the shade of the hedge, Nicol must have passed him without seeing him, +and then no doubt Grahame had followed and done that awful deed which in +cool blood he might not even have thought about Again, Grahame was poor, +and was engaged to be married. The gold and notes would be an incentive +undoubtedly to the crime, and when he sailed away in the _Wolverine_ he +was undoubtedly a fugitive from justice, and in his opinion the jury had +but one course. They might now retire." + +They were about to rise, and his lordship was about to withdraw, when a +loud voice exclaimed: + +"Hold! I desire to give evidence." + +A tall, bold-looking seafarer stepped up, and was sworn. + +"I have but this moment returned from a cruise around Africa," he said. +"I am bo's'n's mate in H.M.S. _Hurricane_. We have been out for three +years. But, my lord, I have some of the notes here that the Bank of +Scotland can prove were paid to Craig Nicol, and on the very day after +the murder must have taken place I received these notes, for value +given, from the hands of Sandie yonder, usually called Shufflin' Sandie. +I knew nothing about the murder then, nor until the ship was paid off; +but being hurried away, I had no time to cash the paper, and here are +three of them now, my lord." They were handed to the jury. "They were +smeared with blood when I got them. Sandie laughed when I pointed this +out to him. He said that he had cut his finger, but that the blood +would bring me luck." (Great sensation in court.) + +Sandie was at once recalled to the witness-box. His knees trembled so +that he had to be supported. His voice shook, and his face was pale to +ghastliness. + +"Where did you obtain those notes?" said the judge sternly. + +For a moment emotion choked the wretch's utterance. But he found words +at last. + +"Oh, my lord my lord, I alone am the murderer! I killed one man--Craig +Nicol--I cannot let another die for my crime! I wanted money, my lord, +to help to pay for my new house, and set me up in life, and I dodged +Nicol for miles. I found Mr Grahame asleep under a hedge, and I stole +the stocking knife and left it near the man I had murdered. When I +returned to the sleeping man, I had with me--oh, awful!--some of the +blood of my victim that I had caught in a tiny bottle as it flowed from +his side,"--murmurs of horror--"and with this I smeared Grahame's +hands." + +Here Sandie collapsed in a dead faint, and was borne from the court. + +"Gentlemen of the jury," said the judge, "this evidence and confession +puts an entirely new complexion on this terrible case. The man who has +just fainted is undoubtedly the murderer." The jury agreed. "The +present prisoner is discharged, but must appear to-morrow, when the +wretched dwarf shall take his place in the dock." + +And so it was. Even the bloodstained clothes that Sandie had worn on +the night of the murder had been found. The jury returned a verdict of +guilty against him without even leaving the box. The judge assumed the +black cap, and amidst a silence that could be felt, condemned him to +death. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Reginald Grahame was a free man, and once more happy. The court even +apologised to him, and wished him all the future joys that life could +give. + +But the wretched culprit forestalled justice, and managed to strangle +himself in his cell. And thus the awful tragedy ended. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +"I knew it, I knew it!" cried Annie, as a morning or two after his +exculpation Reginald presented himself at McLeod Cottage. And the +welcome he received left nothing to be desired. + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +THE LAST CRUISE TO THE ISLAND OF FLOWERS. + +In quite a ship-shape form was poor Reginald's release from prison, and +from the very jaws of death. Met at the door by his friends and old +shipmates. Dickson was there, with his four brave sailors, and many was +the fellow-student who stretched out his hands to shake Reginald's, as +pale and weakly he came down the steps. Then the students formed +themselves into procession--many who read these lines may remember it-- +and, headed by a brass band, marched with Dickson and the sailors, who +bore Reginald aloft in an armchair, marched to the other end of Union +Street, then back as far as a large hotel. Here, after many a ringing +cheer, they dismissed themselves. But many returned at eventide and +partook of a sumptuous banquet in honour of Reginald, and this feast was +paid for by Dickson himself. The common sailors were there also, and +not a few strange tales they had to tell, their memories being refreshed +by generous wine. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +And now our story takes a leap of many months, and we find the _Highland +Mary_, a most beautiful yacht, somewhat of the _Wolverine_ type, far, +far at sea, considerable to nor'ard of the Line, however, but bounding +on under a spread of whitest canvas, over just such a sea as the sailor +loves. No big waves here, but wavelets of the darkest steel-blue, and +each one wrinkled and dimpled with the warm, delightful breeze, kissed +by the sunlight, and reflecting the glory in millions of broken rays, as +if the sea were besprinkled with precious stones and diamonds of purest +ray serene. + +Let us take a look on deck. We cannot but be struck with the neatness +and brightness of everything our eyes fall upon. The fires are out. +There is no roaring steam, no clouds of dark, dense smoke, no grind and +grind of machinery, and no fall of black and sooty hailstones from the +funnel. Ill indeed would this have accorded with the ivory whiteness of +the quarter-deck, with the snow-white table linen, which one can catch a +glimpse of down through the open skylight. But worst of all would it +accord with the dainty dresses of the ladies, or the snowy sailor garb +of the officers. The ladies are but two in reality, Annie herself--now +Mrs Reginald Grahame--and daft, pretty wee Matty. But there is Annie's +maid, Jeannie Lee, looking as modest and sweet as she ever did. Annie +is seated in a cushioned chair, and, just as of old, Matty is on +Reginald's knee. If Annie is not jealous of her, she certainly is not +jealous of Annie. In her simple, guileless young heart, she believes +that she comes first in Reginald's affections, and that Annie has merely +second place. + +I daresay it is the bracing breeze and the sunshine that makes Matty +feel so happy and merry to-day. Well, sad indeed would be the heart +that rejoiced not on such a day as this! Why, to breathe is joy itself; +the air seems to fill one with exhilaration, like gladsome, sparkling +wine. + +Here is Captain Dickson. He never did look jollier, with his rosy, +laughing face, his gilt-bound cap and his jacket of blue, than he does +now. He is half-sitting, half-standing on the edge of the skylight, and +keeping up an animated conversation with Annie. Poor Annie, her +troubles and trials seem over now, and she looks quietly, serenely +happy; her bonnie face--set off by that tiny flower-bedecked bride's +bonnet--is radiant with smiles. + +But Matty wriggles down from Reginald's knee at last, and is off to have +a game of romps with Sigmund, the splendid Dane. Sigmund is +four-and-thirty inches high at the shoulder, shaped in body somewhat +like a well-built pointer, but in head like a long-faced bull-terrier. +His coat is short, and of a slatey-blue; his tail is as straight and +strong as a capstan bar. At any time he has only to switch it across +Matty's waist, when down she rolls on the ivory-white decks. Then +Sigmund bends down, and gives her cheek just one loving lick, to show +there is no bad feeling; but so tickled is he at the situation, that +with lips drawn back and pearly teeth showing in a broad smile, he must +set out on a wild and reckless rush round and round the decks from winch +to binnacle. If a sailor happens to get in his way, he is flung right +into the air by the collision, and is still on his back when Sigmund +returns. But the dog bounds over the fallen man, and continues his mad +gallop until, fairly exhausted, he comes back to lie down beside Matty, +with panting breath, and about a yard, more or less, of a red-ribbon of +tongue depending from one side of his mouth. + +Matty loves Sigmund, but she loves Oscar more, and wonders if she will +ever see him once again; and she wonders, too, if Sigmund and Oscar will +agree, or if they will fight, which would be truly terrible to think of. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Yonder is McGregor. He is elevated to the rank of bo's'n, and the three +other sailors that came home in the _Vulcan_ are here too. With the +pile in gold and pearls they made on the Isle of Flowers, they needn't +have been now serving before the mast. This would probably be their +last voyage, for they meant to go into business on shore. But they +loved the sea, and they loved Reginald and Dickson too. So here they +were, and many more tars also; and when the main-brace was spliced of a +Saturday night, it would have been good for anyone to have come forward +to the bows and listened to the songs sung and the tales told by honest +Jack. + +But how came Matty on board? The story is soon told, and it is a sad +one. A few weeks after his marriage, being in London, and dropping into +the Savoy Hotel on the now beautiful Embankment, Reginald found Mr Hall +standing languid and lonely by the bar with a little glass of green +liquor in his hand. + +"Delighted to see you! What a pleasant chance meeting to be sure!" + +Then Matty ran up for her share of the pleasure, and was warmly greeted. + +Ah! but Mr Hall had a sad story to tell. "I am now a lonely, childless +man," he said. "What!" cried Reginald--"is Ilda--" + +"She is dead and gone. Lived but a week in Italy--just one short week. +Faded like a flower, and--ah, well, her grave is very green now, and all +her troubles are over. But, I say, Grahame, we have all to die, and if +there is a Heaven, you know, I daresay we shall be all very happy, and +there won't be any more partings nor sad farewells." + +Reginald had to turn away his head to hide the rising tears, and there +was a ball in his throat that almost choked him, and quite forbade any +attempt at speaking. + +The two old friends stayed long together, and it was finally arranged +that Mr Hall should pay a long visit to the old Laird McLeod, and that +Reginald should have the loan of his little favourite Matty in a voyage +to the South Sea Island. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +The cruise of the _Highland Mary_ was a long but most pleasant and +propitious one. They steamed through the Straits of Magellan, and were +delighted when the yacht, under, a favouring breeze, went stretching +west and away out into the blue and beautiful Pacific Ocean. + +Dickson had taken his bearings well, and at last they found themselves +at anchor in the bay off the Isle of Flowers, opposite the snow-white +coralline beach and the barracks and fort where they had not so long ago +seen so much fighting and bloodshed. + +Was there anyone happier, I wonder, at seeing her guests, her dear old +friends, than Queen Bertha? Well, if there was, it was honest Oscar on +meeting his long-lost master. + +Indeed, the poor dog hardly knew what to do with joy. He whined, he +cried, he kissed and caressed his master, and scolded him in turns. +Then he stood a little way off and barked at him. "How could you have +left your poor Oscar so long?" he seemed to say. Then advancing more +quietly, he once more placed a paw on each of his master's shoulders and +licked his ear. "I love you still," he said. + +After this he welcomed Matty, but in a manner far more gentle, for he +ever looked upon her as a baby--his own baby, as it were. And there she +was, her arms around his massive neck, kissing his bonnie broad brow-- +just a baby still. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +The Isle of Flowers was very lovely now, and the valley-- + +"Oh?" cried Annie, in raptures, as she gazed down the verdant strath. +"Surely this is fairyland itself!" + +The ladies, and Jeannie as well, were the guests of the Queen during the +long, happy month they stayed on the island. + +There was no more gold-seeking or pearl-fishing to any great extent. +Only one day they all went up the valley and had a delightful picnic by +the winding river and under the shade of the magnolia trees. Reginald +and Dickson both waded into the river, and were lucky enough, when they +came out with their bags full of oysters, to find some rare and +beautiful pearls. They were as pure as any Scotch ever taken from the +Tay, and had a pretty pinkish hue. + +But now Jeannie Lee herself must bare her shapely legs and feet and try +her luck. She wanted one big pearl for her dear mistress, she said, and +three wee ones for a ring for somebody. Yes, and she was most +successful, and Annie is wearing that large pearl now as I write. And +the three smaller? Well, I may as well tell it here and be done with +it. McGregor, the handsome, bold sailor, had asked Jeannie to be his +wife, and she had consented. The ring was for Mac. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +On Lone Tree Mountain, assisted by the men, Dickson and Reginald soon +set to digging, and found all their gold and pearls safe and sound. + +And now parting time came, and farewells were said, the Queen saying she +should live in hopes of seeing them back again. + +"God bless you all, my children." + +"And God bless you, Queen Bertha." + +With ringing British cheers, the little band playing "Good-bye, +Sweetheart, Good-bye," the _Highland Mary_ sailed slowly, and, it +appeared, reluctantly, away from the Isle of Flowers. At sunset it was +seen but as a little blue cloud low down on the western horizon. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +To Matty's surprise the two great dogs made friends with each other at +once, and every day during that long voyage homewards they romped and +played together, with merry Matty as their constant companion, and never +quarrelled even once. + +British shores and the snow-white steeples and spires of bonnie Aberdeen +at last! The first thing that Reginald did was to hire a carriage, and, +accompanied by Annie and the honest dog Oscar, drive straight to +McLeod's cottage. + +To their surprise and alarm they found the house empty and the windows +boarded up. + +"Oh, Annie!" cried Reginald. "I fear the worst. Your poor uncle has +gone." + +Annie had already placed her handkerchief to her eyes. + +"Beg pardon," said the jarvey, "but is it Laird McLeod you're a-talking +about? Oh, yes; he's gone this six months! Man! I knew the old man +well. Used to drive him most every day of his life. But haven't you +heard, sir?" + +"No, my good fellow; we have not been on shore two hours. Tell us." + +"There isn't much to tell, sir, though it was sad enough. For the young +Laird o' Bilberry Hall shot himself one morning by accident while out +after birds. Well, of course, that dear soul, the old Laird, is gone +back to his estate, and such rejoicings as there was you never did see." + +"And he is not dead, then?" + +"Dead! He is just as lively as a five-year-old!" + +This was indeed good news. They were driven back to the ship, and that +same afternoon, accompanied by Matty, after telegraphing for the +carriage to meet them, they started by train up Deeside. + +Yes, the carriage was there, and not only the Laird, but Mr Hall as +well. + +I leave anyone who reads these lines to imagine what that happy reunion +was like, and how pleasantly spent was that first evening, with so much +to say, so much to tell. + +But a house was built for Mr Hall on the estate, and beautiful gardens +surrounded it, and here he meant to settle down. + +Jeannie was married in due course, but she and McGregor took a small +farm near to Bilberry Hall, and on the estate, while Reginald and his +wife lived in the mansion itself. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Many years have passed away since the events I have related in this +"ower-true" tale. Matty is a tall girl now, and her uncle's constant +companion. Reginald and Annie are lovers still--"happy, though +married." The heather still blooms bonnie on the hills; dark wave the +pine trees in the forests around; the purring of the dove is heard +mournfully sounding from the thickets of spruce, and the wildflowers +grow on every bank and brae; but--the auld Laird has worn away. His +home is under the long green grass and the daisies; yet even when the +snow-clads that grave in a white cocoon, Annie never forgets to visit +it, and rich and rare are the flowers that lie at its head. + +And so my story ends, so drops the curtain down. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +The End. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Annie o' the Banks o' Dee, by Gordon Stables + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANNIE O' THE BANKS O' DEE *** + +***** This file should be named 37357.txt or 37357.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/3/5/37357/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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